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Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Technology News and More-Wednesday Edition...

 Technology News and More...





Webb telescope discovers 6 rogue worlds. They didn't form the way you'd expect.
300+Mashable / 21h
Sometimes, planets go rogue. Scientists used the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to spot six of these rogue objects, which move through the cosmos untethered from any solar system . They're a little bigger than the gas giant Jupiter , and the discovery suggests these worlds formed similar to the way stars form — rather than how planets are usually created. Astronomers have waited for years to


Zuckerberg regrets bowing to Biden 'pressure' over Covid
4KBBC News / 20h
The billionaire says White House officials pressured Meta to remove content 'for months' in 2021.


29 best Marriott hotels in the world
1KThe Points Guy / 12h
Marriott is the largest hotel company in the world. It offers an incredibly diverse catalog of properties, from budget-friendly options to high-priced stunners around the globe. With over 30 Marriott hotel brands and more than 8,000 properties worldwide, it’s a tall order to find the absolute best of the best. But the best Marriott properties come in all shapes and sizes — just because a hotel is



Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Wednesday, August 28, 2024
LifeHacker / 54min
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for August 28, 2024 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is medium difficult; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 28, Wordle #1,166! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on the New York Time


Can Tech Executives Be Held Responsible for What Happens on Their Platforms?
200+NYT > Technology / 2h
The arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder, as part of an investigation into illicit activities on the messaging app set off worries about the personal liability of tech executives.


How to watch Maria vs. Gauff in the 2024 US Open online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Maria vs. Gauff in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+ . Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final of last year's US Open to take her first Grand Slam title, but can she go all the way again? The trouble with being a defending champion is that everyone wants to take your crown, so i


How to watch Berrettini vs. Fritz in the 2024 US Open online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Berrettini vs. Fritz in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+ . Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The second round of the US Open is offering some really interesting matchups, but Berrettini vs. Fritz might be the best. Fritz will be the favorite in front of a passionate home support, but Berrettini has been building some mo


How to watch Shevchenko vs. Tiafoe in the 2024 US Open online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Shevchenko vs. Tiafoe in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+ . Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The US Open has already thrown together some really interesting matchups, and that most definitely includes the second-round faceoff between Shevchenko and Tiafoe. The home support will be hoping that Tiafoe can take the win an


How to watch Djere vs. Djokovic in the 2024 US Open online for free
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Live stream Djere vs. Djokovic in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+ . Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . Djokovic strolled through the first round of the US Open , but he has a long way to go before he can stand alone as the record Grand Slam winner. Of course, we're not doubting that he can do it. Novak Djokovic can seemingly do eve


How to watch Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury online
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Watch Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass . Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . The WNBA plays on this week with Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury. Minnesota have already clinched a spot in the playoffs, while Phoenix are hoping to secure a place postseason. Will Minnesota take their foot off gas, or do everything


How to watch Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky online
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: Watch Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass . Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN . As we head into the home stretch of the WNBA season, all eyes are on the playoffs. Chicago Sky are still in contention for a playoff spot as they host Washington Mystics. It's all to play for in Chicago. The Mystics have one of the poo


Zepto, snagging $1 billion in 90 days, projects 150% annual growth
TechCrunch / 3h
Zepto co-founder Aadit Palicha told a group of analysts and investors on Tuesday that the Indian delivery startup anticipates growth of 150% in the next 12 months, a remarkable figure suggesting the fast-growing quick commerce market in India is showing no signs of slowing down. Palicha shared these insights during a call organized by an […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal us


Man posing as teen YouTuber jailed for global sextortion
25BBC News / 3h
Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed blackmailed 286 people - majority of them children - from 20 countries.


Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 28
Mashable / 3h
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle . As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 28's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. SEE ALSO: Mahjong


India’s VerSe buys Valueleaf to boost digital marketing
30TechCrunch / 4h
VerSe Innovation, India's content tech startup, has acquired digital marketing firm Valueleaf Group to bolster its presence in the Indian digital ad space. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 28
Mashable / 5h
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the e


Hotshot is heating up AI video-making – here's how you can try it for free
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
The competition among AI video makers is already simmering, but the temperature just went up again thanks to a new option called Hotshot, built by just four people. The new AI video generator offers a free alternative to Runway, OpenAI’s Sora, Luma’s Dream Machine, and other text-to-video AI models, with some impressive results borne from its earlier efforts in AI photo creation. Hotshot’s latest


Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Interview to Air on CNN on Thursday
500+NYT > Technology / 6h
The joint interview, airing at 9 p.m. Eastern, is the first time the vice president will face sustained questions from a journalist since President Biden withdrew from the race.


Esports champ wants to get into real world of motorsport
BBC News / 6h
Luke Bennett won a cash prize after winning the sim racing event at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.


Delta’s SkyMiles Outrage: 425,000 Points for an Empty Business Class Seat—Other Flyers Pay Only 90,000!
View from the Wing / 6h
Delta will charge you 425,000 SkyMiles one-way Atlanta to Santiago, Chile in business class on April 17th. And Delta will happily make award space on this flight available to its partners . So if you're an Air France KLM Flying Blue member, the same flight that Delta charges 425,000 miles to SkyMiles members can be booked for just 90,000 Flying Blue points. Continue reading ...


Barbie Phone by HMD: An All-Pink Glittery Dumb Phone That Flips
Wired / 7h
You get a pink battery, pink charging cable, and a litany of shiny add-ons—stick-on gems, charms, and a beaded lanyard—to trick out HMD's new Barbie-themed handset.


Barbie can beat smartphone addiction, firm claims
26BBC News / 7h
Manufacturer HMD says it is trying to help people who want less 'digital impact' in their lives.


The retro Barbie flip phone arrives in October, only 15 months after the movie
Engadget / 7h
HMD’s Barbie Phone, the novelty device for Y2K-nostalgic hot pink aficionados , finally has pricing and release info. The Mattel-sanctioned champion of tardy movie tie-ins launches in October — only 15 months after Greta Gerwig’s movie hit theaters! — for $129. The handset is the creation of Human Mobile Devices (HMD) , which currently owns the branding rights to Nokia phones . Rather than a smar


NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Wednesday, August 28 (game #444)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues. What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers , Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.


Quordle today – hints and answers for Wednesday, August 28 (game #947)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles. S PO


NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Wednesday, August 28 (game #178)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today , NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read


The Shokz Openrun Pro 2 have sprinted into view, and they look like the best bone conduction headphones yet
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Shokz has announced the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, a new contender for the best bone conduction headphones designed for runners, and the best running headphones . With audio upgrades promising deeper bass, and a longer battery life than the original OpenRun Pro, they look set to be Shokz’ best headphones yet. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 retain the same look and feel of their predecessors, the original Shok


One busted valve led to the failure of Astrobotic’s $108M Peregrine lunar lander mission
TechCrunch / 7h
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander failed to reach the moon because of a problem with a single valve in the propulsion system, according to a report on the mission released Tuesday. Company leadership said in a press conference that engineers have redesigned the valve and introduced additional redundancy into the propulsion system of its next lander, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. F


What Is Wi-Fi Calling, and Should You Use It?
84How-To Geek / 7h
If your home or office has spotty cellular coverage, Wi-Fi calling is a nifty little solution that can make your life a lot easier. Here's everything you need to know about Wi-Fi calling, and how to start using it.


Self-storage rooftops will become a nationwide 100MW+ solar farm
81Engadget / 7h
Electrek reports that a solar energy company is renting 8.5 million square feet of roof space from the National Storage Affiliates Trust’s (NSA) buildings for its newest solar panel project. The commercial and community solar developer Solar Landscape’s new rooftop solar panel grid on the NSA’s 1,052 self-storage facilities and properties across 42 states and Puerto Rico are expected to produce a


Trump Sounds Like He’s Dying Inside as He Shills New Digital Trading Cards
100+Futurism / 7h
Sad Sack In a new video, ex-president Donald Trump is a shell of his former boisterous self as he shills a new collection of his laughably ugly digital trading cards . Posted on X-formerly-Twitter, Trump seems barely able to muster any enthusiasm when boasting that he has some "very exciting news" about the latest drop of his non-fungible token (NFT) trading cards. "By popular demand, I am doing


Old and new Ryzen CPUs get a speed boost from optional Windows update
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / AMD's Ryzen 7 7700X. (credit: Andrew Cunningham) Among AMD’s explanations for the somewhat underwhelming Ryzen 9000 performance reports from reviewers earlier this month: that the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update would bring some improvements to the CPU scheduler that would boost the performance of the new CPUs and their Zen 5-based architecture. But rather than make Ryzen owners wait fo


“Exploitative” IT firm has been delaying 2,000 recruits’ onboarding for years
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge (credit: Getty ) Indian IT firm Infosys has been accused of being “exploitative” after allegedly sending job offers to thousands of engineering graduates but still not onboarding any of them after as long as two years. The recent graduates have reportedly been told they must do repeated, unpaid training in order to remain eligible to work at Infosys. Last week, the Nascent Information Tec


How to Clean Up Your Instagram Feed
How-To Geek / 8h
Are you unhappy with the content appearing on your Instagram feed? Unfortunately, there isn't a one-click solution to change what shows up on your feed. However, you can follow certain steps to clean up your Instagram feed and tailor it to something you'd prefer to see.


Google's Gemini AI can now take notes on your Meet video calls
Engadget / 8h
Google Meet is getting a new AI tool called take notes for me , which will generate summaries of key points during a video call. Rather than offering a word-by-word transcription, this feature uses Gemini AI to record key discussion points in a Google Doc that will appear in the meeting owner's Google Drive. The document can be automatically sent to the attendees or added to the calendar event af


After Elon Musk Bends Knee to Donald Trump, Trump Throws Him Under the Bus
200+Futurism / 8h
Cabinet Loss Elon Musk has done a lot of cheerleading for presidential candidate Donald Trump lately, from organizing a pro-Trump super PAC , to hosting a bizarre, malfunctioning interview with him on X-formerly-Twitter. But if Musk expects to be rewarded for his loyalty, he may be in for a rude awakening. Though Trump has teased that the billionaire business magnate could have a role in his admi


A Look Inside the Airbus Factory Revolutionizing the World of Airplanes
23Wired / 8h
In Hamburg, aviation giant Airbus is transforming aircraft production with state-of-the-art robotics technology on its planes. We go on a behind-the-scenes visit for the delivery of an A321neo.


CNN’s Dana Bash to Interview Harris and Walz on Thursday
500+NYT > Technology / 8h
The joint interview will air on CNN at 9 p.m. Eastern.


Your Internet Provider Might Have Got Hacked
How-To Geek / 8h
Since July 12, four unnamed American Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been hacked. They all used the same platform to manage and control their vast networking enterprise. By infiltrating this platform, hackers managed to steal customer credentials, which were otherwise encrypted.


The 13 Best Things to Cook in Your New Air Fryer
LifeHacker / 8h
You’ve finally purchased your first air fryer. Let me start by saying, I’m so happy for you. This small countertop convection oven is about to be your new favorite appliance. It won’t replace your other ones—the oven, toaster, and stovetop are fit for certain purposes—but it delivers on speed and crispiness like no other. It can cook with microwave-like speed (some meals 50% to 75% faster) withou


Used Pelotons Are Still a Good Deal (Even With the New $95 Fee)
LifeHacker / 8h
The used market for Peloton exercise bikes has always been a strength of the brand. The bikes hold up well to years of use, there’s no model-number churn to worry about, and you can reactivate a Bike you bought off Craigslist the same as if it were brand new. That’s changing, though: Peloton will now charge buyers $95 to set up a used Bike. The news comes from Peloton’s Q4 shareholder letter , as


A hundred years of curiosity
MIT Technology Review / 8h
Any facet of Josef Eisinger’s remarkably wide-ranging century of life would be enough to shape the entire identity of another person. If you were to ask how his experience has intersected with history, for example, he might tell you about escaping the Nazis’ reign of terror in his native Austria by fleeing to Britain by himself as a teenager, or about the years he spent being shuffled between int


This is MIT and yes, we have bananas
24MIT Technology Review / 8h
Attending lectures and movies in 26-100 has been an integral part of the MIT experience for generations of students, but since 2018 they have also embraced what’s become another quintessential Institute experience just across the hall: picking up a banana in 26-110, officially the Karl Taylor Compton Room but now better known as the MIT Banana Lounge. Open 24 hours a day during the school year, t


In molecules, one chemist sees art
MIT Technology Review / 8h
One Tuesday morning this past January, So Young Lee walked into a lab on the fourth floor of Building 18 and discovered that her equipment had exploded. It was a minor explosion—thankfully, no one was hurt—but the chemical she had painstakingly made had splattered all over the walls, the ceiling, and the broken shards of the glass tube that once contained it. This incident would cost her time and


Transformative spaces
MIT Technology Review / 8h
MIT people often find their greatest moments of inspiration in each other’s company. And two big, beautiful additions to West Campus now underway will open up new spaces for connection, collaboration, rigorous exploration, and joyful play. Stretching along Mass. Ave. and Vassar Street, the familiar brick face of the historic Metropolitan Storage Warehouse may evoke a medieval castle. But inside,


Not just another band from Boston
43MIT Technology Review / 8h
In 1976, Tom Scholz ’69, SM ’70, was a 29-year-old product design engineer working at Polaroid on audio electronics and tape-recording technology, with 11 patents under his belt. But few colleagues knew what Scholz did after hours, why he often came in late, or why he was, in his own words, “a horrible employee.” For five years, Scholz had been painstakingly crafting music and lyrics, and perfect


Thousands celebrate Tech Reunions ’24
MIT Technology Review / 8h
Take a beautiful spring weekend, add brass rats and Tim the Beaver swag, mix in technology talks and outdoor activities, fuse it all together with a lot of socializing, and what do you get? MIT Tech Reunions, which this year drew more than 3,300 alumni, family, and friends to campus. Events got under way when the 50th-reunion Class of 1974 led the traditional procession into Killian Court for the


How a butterfly’s scales are born
MIT Technology Review / 8h
A butterfly’s wing is covered in hundreds of thousands of tiny scales, like miniature shingles on a paper-thin roof. A single scale is as small as a speck of dust yet surprisingly complex, with a corrugated surface that helps wick away water, manage heat, and reflect light to give a butterfly its signature shimmer. MIT researchers have now captured the moments when an individual scale begins to d


Screening new materials with computer vision
MIT Technology Review / 8h
Boosting the performance of solar cells and other devices will require novel electronic materials that researchers are working to identify with the help of AI. Now a computer vision technique developed by MIT engineers offers a speedy way to confirm that such materials perform as expected—one of the biggest bottlenecks in the screening process. The technique automatically analyzes images of semic


A tool that lets users fight misinformation online
MIT Technology Review / 8h
Social media platforms are often urged to fight the spread of misinformation through content moderation, but two MIT-affiliated researchers are proposing an alternative: empowering users themselves to identify which information sources are trustworthy. The Trustnet browser extension , built by EECS professor David Karger and Farnaz Jahanbakhsh, SM ’21, PhD ’23, an assistant professor at the Unive


Lakes and seas on Titan may be shaped by waves
MIT Technology Review / 8h
Saturn’s moon Titan is the only body in the solar system besides Earth that has active lakes and seas—in this case thought to have formed as liquid methane and ethane flooded a landscape crisscrossed with river valleys. Now MIT geologists have found evidence that those mysterious features may be shaped by waves. Until now, scientists have found indirect and conflicting signs of wave activity by s


Celeb Facebook Ads Keep Trying to Scam Me (And I'm Not the Only One)
How-To Geek / 8h
Bad actors have always been a prevalent issue on the internet. You'd think that "Big Tech" has created advanced systems to catch and stop fraudsters before they had a chance to swindle money, but it turns out that things are actually taking a turn for the worse with sophisticated scam ads.


X’s Grok will direct users to Vote.gov after bungling basic ballot question
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto ) Elon Musk's X platform made a change to its AI assistant, Grok, that may prevent it from giving users false information on election ballot deadlines and other election-related matters. From now on, X says that Grok will direct users to Vote.gov when asked election-related questions. X, formerly Twitter, made the change about two weeks after five secretar


Turns out Martin Shkreli copied his $2M Wu-Tang album—and sent it to “50 different chicks”
200+Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / Martin Shkreli—he's back, and he's still got copies of that Wu-Tang Clan album. (credit: Getty | Eduardo Munoz Alvarez ) The members of PleasrDAO are, well, pretty dis pleased with Martin Shkreli. The "digital autonomous organization" spent $4.75 million to buy the fabled Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin , which had only been produced as a single copy. The album had once b


NASA has to be trolling with the latest cost estimate of its SLS launch tower
100+Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / Teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor Bechtel National, Inc. continue construction on the base of the platform for the new mobile launcher at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (credit: NASA/Isaac Watson) NASA's problems with the mobile launch tower that will support a larger version of its Space Launch System rocket are g


Debate over “open source AI” term brings new push to formalize definition
22Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / A man peers over a glass partition, seeking transparency. (credit: Image Source via Getty Images ) The Open Source Initiative (OSI) recently unveiled its latest draft definition for "open source AI," aiming to clarify the ambiguous use of the term in the fast-moving field. The move comes as some companies like Meta release trained AI language model weights and code with usage restrictio


CNN’s Dana Bash to Interview Harris and Walz on Thursday
100+NYT > Technology / 9h
The joint interview will air on CNN at 9 p.m. Eastern.


Frontier adds 11 new routes, including new JFK service and return to Dulles
37The Points Guy / 9h
The network shakeup continues at Frontier Airlines. The Denver-based ultra-low-cost carrier unveiled nearly a dozen new routes Tuesday, each of which will launch this fall. Among the new routes are the carrier’s fourth and fifth nonstop destinations from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Prior to this summer, the carrier had never served this airport. Frontier is also r


First Class Passenger Caught Watching Porn On American Airlines Flight
View from the Wing / 9h
An American Airlines passenger reported shock that “the guy in 2D” next to him in first class was “blatantly watching porn” as the plane waited for takeoff. Continue reading ...


7 Android Security Features You Should Be Using
How-To Geek / 9h
Your Android phone comes with many features that improve the security of your data and device. These can help you find a lost phone, restrict access to specific apps, protect sensitive information, and more. Here are some key security features you should always keep enabled on your smartphone.


Meta and Instagram spotted developing a new social music-sharing feature
28TechCrunch / 9h
Meta and Spotify are exploring deeper music integration in Meta’s Instagram app. New findings indicate the companies are testing a feature that would allow users to continuously share what music they’re listening to through Instagram’s Notes. The new functionality was first spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, who often finds unreleased features while they’re still […] © 2024 TechCrunc


Sony may be considering the handheld market again, but please don't let it be a repeat of the PS Vita
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Remember when Sony released portable gaming systems that, at their peak, stood toe-to-toe with the handheld king Nintendo? Apparently, Sony remembers as well, at least according to a reported statement from the tech giant. Well-known leaker, Tom Henderson , claims Sony is “paying very close attention to the current handheld market” due to its success with the PlayStation Portal . The Portal indee


Windows Terminal Can Now Save Your Sessions
How-To Geek / 9h
Windows Terminal is the main app for command-line work in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Terminal 1.21 update is now rolling out, and another update is on the way with more features.


NASA's Moon Launcher Is in Big Trouble
62Futurism / 9h
NASA's efforts to return astronauts to the lunar surface and build an entire space station circling the Moon just got even more expensive. The space agency's gigantic Space Launch System (SLS), a rocket designed to launch its Orion capsule to the Moon, will need an entirely separate launch tower, dubbed Mobile Launcher 2, starting with Artemis IV. That's because that mission is designed to kickst


Photo Sphere Is the Best Pixel Camera Mode Google Removed
How-To Geek / 9h
A long time ago, in the burgeoning smartphone era, Google launched Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on the Nexus 4. Along with it came a brand new camera mode called "Photo Sphere," which allowed for taking full 360-degree photos. It was a big hit, but Google removed the feature in 2023, and that's a shame.


Use the ‘Cousins and Coworkers’ Method to Store Miscellaneous Items That Don’t Have a Home
LifeHacker / 9h
If you've read any of my organization-oriented posts in recent weeks, you've almost surely noticed I am a heavy advocate of the Organizational Triangle's principles of storing similar items together and making sure everything you own has a designated spot—it streamlines the process of organizing and decluttering your home. But there is one flaw to that strategy: What do you do with those items th


Lyft is testing a new rider verification safety measure
Engadget / 9h
Lyft is piloting its own rider verification program , much as Uber did earlier this year . This feature confirms to drivers that the person getting in their vehicle is who they say they are. The program is launching first in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Phoenix and Seattle. Lyft will confirm riders' legal names using third-party databases, but has not disclosed


This cybercrime group claims it can help hackers beat CAPTCHA locks
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Cybersecurity experts have reported discovering an threat actor selling CAPTCHA-solving services to its customers. Arkose Cyber Threat Intelligence Research (ACTIR) says the Greasy Opal group is allegedly based in the Czech Republic and has, in the past decade and a half, sold all kinds of software, both legitimate and illegal. However, it drew the attention of the researchers with the CAPTCHA-so


Volkswagen and Mercedes announce EV gaming upgrades to help you survive lengthy charging breaks
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Volkswagen is the latest automotive manufacturer to announce a partnership with mobile gaming platform AirConsole, which allows drivers and passengers to stream a number of gaming titles when stationary. Initially to be rolled out in the VW ID.7 Pro S and VW ID.7 Touring Pro S models, with various other all-electric ID products running ID. software 4.0 slated to receive the update in the coming m


Earn double points on Best Western stays worldwide with new fall promotion
The Points Guy / 10h
A new promotion allows Best Western Rewards members to earn double points on all stays between Sept. 3 and Nov. 18. At more than 4,000 properties worldwide, members can earn double points on base rate stays after registering for the promotion — and there is no limit to how many bonus points members can earn with this new offer. Existing bookings within the September-to-November stay window also c


Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ review: A capable AI PC, but Windows on Arm issues remain
Engadget / 10h
It's only been four months since we reviewed the latest Intel version of the XPS 13 , but now Dell has released a model built for Microsoft's Copilot+ AI PC initiative . It's running Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Elite chip , making it an Arm-based laptop like the recent Surface Pro and Surface Laptop . But with that mobile-focused hardware comes new expectations: More battery efficiency than Intel


Google is bringing AI summaries to ‘Files’ so you can find your docs quicker
Mashable / 10h
Google is full speed ahead on AI-powered features for Android devices, and a new summarization tool for Files might be added to the list. Sleuths at Android Authority and 9to5Google looked into the code of an upcoming beta release and discovered a feature that will provide AI summaries for documents saved in Google's Files app. At this point, it's possible the feature will be scrapped or saved fo


iMessage Is Still Missing These 5 Google Messages Features
How-To Geek / 10h
If you own an iPhone, you almost certainly use iMessage to message other iPhone users. That gives you group chats, high-quality images, and beautiful blue bubbles. But it doesn't give you everything; iMessage is missing all kinds of features that you can get with Google Messages instead.


Tattoo ink sold on Amazon has high levels of weird and rare bacteria
92Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / BARCELONA, SPAIN - 2021/10/02: Spanish tattoo artist Oscar Garcia works on a man, during the Expo. Fira de Barcelona hosts the XXIV edition of the Barcelona Tattoo Expo where tattoo artists from Spain and other countries exhibit tattoos and tattoo material such as ink, needles and special machinery for tattoo work. (Photo by Ramon Costa/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) The Food


Return to Moria arrives on Steam with mining, crafting, and a “Golden Update”
Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / It's hard work, survival crafting, but there are moments for song, dance, and tankards. (credit: North Beach Games) The dwarves of J.R.R. Tolkien's writing are, according to the author himself, "a tough, thrawn race for the most part, secretive, retentive of the memory of injuries (and of benefits)," and "lovers… of things that take shape under the hands of the craftsmen rather than thi


Uncrewed Boeing Starliner Delays Other NASA Missions Like Crew 9
Next Big Future / 10h
Boeing Starliner is designed to operate autonomously and previously completed two uncrewed flights. NASA and Boeing will work together to adjust end-of-mission planning and Starliner’s systems to set up for the uncrewed return in the coming weeks. Starliner must return to Earth before the Crew-9 mission launches to ensure a docking port is available on ... Read more


Peloton CEO Says Company Has Crashed So Hard He's Had to Sell Almost All His Possessions
400+Futurism / 10h
Riches to Rags There aren't a lot of people who'd say they're nostalgic for the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but you can probably count John Foley, the now-former head honcho at Peloton, as one of them. Peloton, a manufacturer of high-tech exercise equipment, was initially a huge winner of the pandemic economy, when millions of people suddenly needed a way to work out without leaving the house


X is working on its own version of Zoom for some reason
51Engadget / 10h
X, in its quest to become an “everything app,” is working a new feature that seems to be geared more for its own employees than its actual users. The company is testing its own version of Zoom, called X Conference. X employee Chris Park said the company was testing the tool internally, in a post on X spotted by TechCrunch. Based on Park’s screenshot and description of the tool, it sounds like it’


Xbox Cloud Gaming Expands to More Fire TV Devices
How-To Geek / 10h
Amazon has announced that Microsoft's cloud gaming service is now available on more Fire TV streaming devices with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.


China Conquers Mexico’s Automotive Market, and the US Is Worried
33Wired / 10h
Led by the automaker BYD, China has established itself as the main car supplier in Mexico. The US worries China could use Mexico as a “back door” to sidestep tariffs and gain footing in the US market.


A four-pack of Samsung SmartTag 2 trackers drops to $60 for Labor Day
Engadget / 10h
Samsung’s SmartTag 2 has dropped to a record-low price. Woot has a four-pack of the item trackers for only $60. That’s $40 off the bundle’s usual price and $10 under its previous low. Included in Engadget’s list of the best Bluetooth trackers , Samsung’s device supports Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Samsung’s network of Galaxy phones. Samsung’s second-gen AirTag alternative has an oblong


Delta 12Status: Free SkyMiles For Seahawks Fans
1KOne Mile at a Time / 10h
Delta Air Lines has been growing its presence in Seattle for several years now, and has been trying to steal market share from Alaska Airlines. Seattle is a different market than most, in the sense that many locals are fiercely loyal, and like giving business to companies that they perceive to be part of their community. As a result, Delta hasn’t just been growing its presence in Seattle in terms


These Switch Games Are Better With Nintendo's Smartphone App
How-To Geek / 10h
Nintendos bizarre decision to relegate the Switchs voice chat to smartphones meant that the Nintendo Switch Online app created as its conduit was dead on arrival. Yet while its story ended there for most people, development did not. Four games received expanded functionality that you might have missed out on.


You Can Now Customize Your DualSense Edge Controller on Windows
LifeHacker / 10h
If you use Sony's DualSense Edge controller , you're used to customization: You can choose what each button on the controller does (minus L2 and R2), change the sensitivity of the sticks, and save different configurations to quickly swap between button layouts for different situations. These settings are managed on your PS5, which makes sense. But while Sony lets you connect a DualSense Edge to y


Five Signs That a Political Donation Request Is a Scam
LifeHacker / 10h
Right now, your phone and inbox are likely inundated with requests for political donations . These texts, emails, and phone calls often describe things in desperate terms, placing the outcome of an election squarely on your shoulders. You might want to donate to the candidates you support, or to fund the causes that are in line with your beliefs, but it's important to be aware that many of these


$521 million in US grants approved for the construction of more EV stations
36Engadget / 10h
The Biden Administration’s promise to put more electric vehicle charging stations on America’s roadway hasn’t exactly gone to plan but a new round of federal grants could help. Reuters reports that $521 million in federal grants have been awarded to grow EV infrastructure and build more charging ports on America’s roadways. The Energy Department and the Federal Highway Administration have allocat


Why I chose the Hilton Aspire as my first cobranded hotel card — and how I’ll use the welcome bonus
The Points Guy / 11h
I’m a big proponent of creating a spending strategy when applying for a new credit card. That way, I never miss out on a welcome bonus and don’t overspend trying to achieve one. I’m also a fan of planning ahead, especially when it comes to how I’ll use my credit card rewards , whether they take the form of points, miles or cash back. As such, when I decided to apply for my latest card, I opted fo


Plex Is Shutting Down Its TIDAL Integration
How-To Geek / 11h
Plexs integration with TIDAL allowed you to listen to the streaming services entire music catalog right in your Plex app, alongside any music you might own in your self-hosted library. Unfortunately, that will soon stop working.


Promising Drug for Mpox Fails in Trials as Virus Spreads in Africa
25Wired / 11h
In a trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the drug tecovirimat, also known as TPOXX, was found to be no better than placebo at clearing mpox lesions.


This Walmart Labor Day deal discounts the Ninja Creami by $50
Engadget / 11h
Labor Day is nearly upon us, so the deals are rolling in. Case in point? The Walmart Labor Day sale includes the Ninja Creami ice cream maker for $150, which is a discount of $50 . This isn’t the lowest price we’ve ever seen for the innovative gadget, but it’s close. This isn’t your ordinary ice cream maker, as we mentioned in our Ninja Creami review . The design is based on high-end machines fou


Feds award $521 million in EV charger funds, but rollout remains slow
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) The federal government awarded another $521 million in EV charger funding today. It's the latest tranche of money to be awarded from a $7.5 billion program authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to build out fast chargers along interstate highways as well as bringing charging infrastructure to underserved communities . $321 million from today's a


Tetris Forever includes 15 classic versions alongside documentary footage
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Tetris Forever includes several versions of the game that had been released over the years. [credit: Nintendo ] A combination documentary and classic game compilation called Tetris Forever is headed to PC, Nintendo Switch, and other platforms later this year, according to an announcement. The game will include 15 Tetris games, from an "accurate" version of the first Tetris for the Electronika 60


Teenage Maurice Sendak illustrated his teacher’s 1947 pop-sci book
31Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / A young Maurice Sendak’s illustration of two possible outcomes of atomic power for the 1947 pop-sci book Atomics for the Millions . (credit: McGraw Hill/Public domain) Beloved American children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak probably needs no introduction. His 1963 book, Where the Wild Things Are , is an all-time classic in the picture genre that has delighted generations of ki


Cerebras Inference – Cloud Access to Wafer Scale AI Chips
Next Big Future / 11h
Cerebras is a startup that makes wafer sized AI chips. They are making a data center with those AI wafer chips to provide super-fast AI inference. ‣ Llama3.1-70B at 450 tokens/s – 20x faster than GPUs ‣ 60c per M tokens – a fifth the price of hyperscalers ‣ Full 16-bit precision for full model ... Read more


How Techstars, Meta helped profitable LatAm startup Mercately raise a $2.6M seed
TechCrunch / 11h
In Latin American countries like Brazil and Chile, messaging platform WhatsApp has become one of the most popular apps to use to buy things online. It was even the e-commerce platform of choice in the region during the pandemic. But WhatsApp is designed to be a messaging platform, not an e-commerce site. A startup called […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


Caught Off-Guard: Your Plane Seatmate Overprepares for the Worst. How Do You React? [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 11h
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading ...


AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 may get revealed at the Apple September event
Mashable / 11h
Apple just confirmed its annual big event, where the company releases its brand new iPhones, for Sept. 9th — and the Apple leakers are already at it. According to Apple leaker Kosutami, Apple is expected to announce not just one, but two new AirPods products at the September Apple event: AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3. "The new AirPods Pro is coming—perform with Digital ANC that much better than pre


KLM Adds Airbus A321neo To Fleet, With 227 Seats
100+One Mile at a Time / 11h
It’s a big day for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, as the airline has just taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, which represents the start of the carrier’s narrow body fleet renewal. The A321neo is an awesome aircraft, though the airline sure selected an “efficient” configuration. KLM replacing Boeing 737s with Airbus A321neos Back in 2021, Air France-KLM placed a massive order for up to 160 Air


The 6 best cruise lines for girlfriend getaways
100+The Points Guy / 11h
If you’re scouting for a vacation to take with your best gal pals where you can get pampered, barhop and dine at fun, eclectic restaurants, a cruise checks off all the boxes. Even better? You only have to unpack once, and there’s no driving involved. This super-flexible vacation option takes the stress out of satisfying a mix of personalities and travel styles. You arrive on embarkation day ready


The US Grid Is Adding Batteries at a Much Faster Rate Than Natural Gas
100+Wired / 11h
The shift toward renewables is officially in high gear.


AMD reportedly hacked again — criminals offer data for sale online
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
AMD has reportedly been the victim of a data breach which compromised internal communications and sensitive employee information, experts have said. Criminal organizations IntelBroker and EnergyWeaponUser took credit for the attack, with the stolen data apparently consisting of sensitive employee information such as user credentials, internal resolutions, and case descriptions. The data was liste


Starliner Is Such a Disaster That Boeing May Cancel the Entire Project
100+Futurism / 11h
Over the weekend, NASA finally announced its decision: Boeing's plagued Starliner is coming back empty-handed . Instead, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — who flew up on the troubled capsule — will get a ride on board SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February . It's an extremely unfortunate development for Boeing, a company that has been battling with Starliner's development for years now.


We Now Know When Google Will Roll Out Android 15
LifeHacker / 11h
Google may have released the Pixel 9 line of smartphones , but they don't come with Android 15 . Unlike Apple, whose newest smartphones tend to ship with the latest big iOS update, your Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro is running Android 14 . But they won't be for long: As of Tuesday morning, we now know when Android 15 will roll out to compatible devices. Android Authority was the first to break the news


Will HP still demand $4B from Mike Lynch’s estate?


TechCrunch / 11h
Before entrepreneur and investor Mike Lynch died along with six others after the yacht they were on capsized in a storm last week, the party was celebrating Lynch’s victory in the U.S. criminal courts. In June, he was acquitted of all counts of fraud connected to HP’s 2011 acquisition of his company, Autonomy. But it […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on the long-awaited reunion shows
49Mashable / 12h
Oasis, one of the biggest bands ever, broke up for 15 years because of a longtime feud between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. They couldn't get along, and their fans suffered for it. But now Oasis is coming back — barring some massive blow-up between Liam and Noel — and the internet is really excited. See, the Gallagher bros are some of entertainment's best characters. They're wonderful shit-t


The Largest Xbox Controller Was a Monster, Here's Why We Need Another
How-To Geek / 12h
Gaming history has seen countless bizarre peripherals, from the NES Power Glove to the GameCube's infamous chainsaw controller. Some of these are clever; others are questionable. But there's nothing quite like the massive controller created for Xbox exclusive Steel Battalion .


Your next professor at this college could be ChatGPT
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Arizona State University (ASU) has made ChatGPT its busiest faculty member this year. The AI chatbot helps students write academic papers, simulates patients for healthcare students, and recruits participants for research studies, among hundreds of other roles. ASU and OpenAI agreed to work together earlier this year, deploying an adapted version of ChatGPT designed to help with teaching, researc


Apple shuffles CFOs for the first time in a decade
21Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / A building at Apple Park, the company's Cupertino, California, HQ. (credit: Apple) Apple has announced a major change on its leadership team: Longtime Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri will step down from his role on January 1, 2025. Maestri has, by all appearances, had a resoundingly successful run since he took on the CFO role a decade ago in 2014. In his tenure, Apple had its stro


Snapchat Finally Has a Real iPad App
How-To Geek / 12h
After years of neglect, the iPad is finally getting some love from from Snapchat. The comapny just released a version of Snapchat optimized for the iPad, though it's still not a perfect experience.


Ralph Lauren and La Roche-Posay: These are a few of my favorite things from Amex at the US Open
The Points Guy / 12h
It’s the last week of August, which means tennis fans from New York City and around the world are hopping on the Queens-bound 7 train for one reason and one reason only: The U.S. Open tennis championship is back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. From Aug. 26 through Sept. 8, attendees can enjoy all the perks of the Open, including one of my favorite parts: the credit card loung


Watch out Windows — Linux market share could hit a major milestone soon
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
After the Crowdstrike incident shone a light on Windows’ utter dominance across enterprise in late July 2024, users may be relieved to hear perennial up-and-comer Linux may be on course to hit 5% market share by 2025. While new data from StatCounter , providing data for July 2024, shows that Windows is still the stalwart favourite with 72% market share, Linux was recorded as having reached 4.5% m


New Year’s Eve Hotel Stay Elite Status Credit: How Does It Work?
26One Mile at a Time / 12h
With most major hotel loyalty programs , elite status is based on qualifying activity within a calendar year. So, how exactly does elite status credit work for a hotel stay on December 31? Does it count toward the previous year or the following year? An OMAAT reader just asked me this, and I figure it’s a niche topic that’s worth dedicating a post to, especially since people sometimes plan last m


Tech giants are looking to repurpose old power stations for data center demand
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
The rising demand for AI is driving leading tech companies to explore alternative solutions for powering their data centers. Microsoft, in particular, is considering the potential use of nuclear energy to meet these needs. The challenges confronting firms like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon extend beyond securing affordable and green energy sources, however. They are also grappling with the proble


Why AI can’t spell ‘strawberry’
45TechCrunch / 12h
How many times does the letter R appear in the word “strawberry?” According to formidable AI products like GPT-4o and Claude, the answer is twice. Large language models can write essays and solve equations in seconds. They can synthesize terabytes of data faster than humans can open up a book. Yet, these seemingly omniscient AIs […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


The SEC just made life a little easier for smaller VCs
TechCrunch / 12h
The SEC has updated its limits to the amount of money a “qualified venture fund” can raise to $12 million from $10 million. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


6 Reasons to Install Windows on a Steam Deck
How-To Geek / 12h
Windows can now be easily installed on the Steam Deck, and while the Linux-based SteamOS has its perks, there are plenty of good reasons to make the switch. Whether you're into modding, running external apps, or just prefer the user interface, it might be worth checking out.


The best credit cards for college students
24The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Building credit as a college student is an essential step to a life of financial responsibility, helping you form a solid relationship with the money (and plastic!) in your wallet. Opening up your own line of credit as a young adult can be daunting, but the short- and long-term benefits are undeniable. In


HP secures up to $50 million in CHIPS Act funding to expand an Oregon facility
Engadget / 12h
HP is the latest recipient of CHIPS and Science Act funding. The Biden-Harris Administration said on Tuesday that the Department of Commerce has agreed to preliminary terms with the company to funnel up to $50 million into modernizing the company’s Oregon-based plant. The expansion of HP’s “lab-to-fab” facility, which combines R&D with chip manufacturing, is expected to create over 250 jobs. Once


How Election Years Can Create Financial Stress (and What to Do About It)
LifeHacker / 12h
Election years are stressful across the board, and your personal finances are not immune. The prospect of a new government and potential policy shifts can create a whirlwind of speculation, leading to market volatility that can