Meta made a quiet policy update last year allowing advertisers on Facebook and Instagram to say the 2020 election was rigged. It’s a change that mirrors shifts at Google and the rest of the tech industry. Silicon Valley has made one thing clear: you can’t use their ad systems to question the legitimacy of the American…
Source: Gizmodo – Big Tech Officially Accepts Blood Money to Promote the Big Lie
Amazon said on Wednesday that it was removing seven eyedrops products from its website after the Food and Drug Administration warned the company that the eyedrops had not been recognized as safe and effective. From a report: The F.D.A. said in a letter to Andrew Jassy, Amazon’s chief executive, on Monday that Amazon had violated federal regulations by selling the eyedrops, which claimed to help with problems including pink eye, dry eyes, eyestrain and floaters. “These products are especially concerning from a public health perspective,” the F.D.A. letter said. “Ophthalmic drug products, which are intended for administration into the eyes, in general pose a greater risk of harm to users because the route of administration for these products bypasses some of the body’s natural defenses.”
The eyedrops named in the letter are: Similasan Pink Eye Relief, The Goodbye Company Pink Eye, Can-C Eye Drops, Optique 1 Eye Drops, OcluMed Eye Drops, TRP Natural Eyes Floaters Relief, and Manzanilla Sophia Chamomile Herbal Eye Drops. None of the eyedrops appeared to be available for purchase on Amazon on Wednesday morning. The company said in an emailed statement on Wednesday that “safety is a top priority.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Amazon To Stop Selling Seven Eyedrops After FDA Warning
Enlarge / Anker’s latest MagGo portable charger, already Qi2 equipped, will soon be able to charge iPhones, Androids, and other devices at 15 W. (credit: Anker)
Qi2 is either a big step forward or a “Wait, that’s it?” moment, depending on what kind of wireless charging you’re used to using.
If you’ve only ever used standard Qi chargers with devices that don’t have their own schemes, the Wireless Power Consortium’s announcement today of the first Qi 2.0 devices being ready to launch before the holidays, with more than 100 in the queue behind them, is great. Qi2 sports a “Magnetic Power Profile” (MPP), created with help by Apple’s MagSafe team, to help align devices and chargers’ coils for faster, more efficient charging. Qi2-certified devices set onto Qi2 chargers can achieve 15 W charging, up from 7.5 W in the standard Qi scheme.
That brings Qi2 devices up to the same speed as iPhones on MagSafe chargers, and it clears up some consumer confusion about how fast a device might charge on Qi, MagSafe, or proprietary chargers. Should a phone and charger be Qi2 certified, you can now expect about 15 W out of it, regardless of whatever Google, Apple, or third party is behind them. Android and iPhone users alike are no longer beholden to their primary hardware vendor if they want 15 W of wireless juice.
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Source: Ars Technica – Qi2’s wireless charging brings magnets—and slightly faster speeds
There are only a handful of trusted end-to-end encrypted email providers. Of those, Tuta (which has long been known as “Tutanota” but recently rebranded ) is one of the more well-known. This week, the company found itself on the defensive after being labeled a “front” for law enforcement and intelligence services. In…
Source: Gizmodo – Encrypted Email Service Tuta Denies It’s a ‘Honeypot’ for Five Eyes Intelligence
The evolution of MoviePass continues, with today’s announcement that the subscription movie theater service (which has quite the tumultuous past) will now offer a virtual card—hopefully making online ticket purchases easier, including at theaters offering increasingly popular premium formats like IMAX.
Source: Gizmodo – MoviePass Enters the Future, Announces a Virtual Card
With so many things in flux at Marvel Studios, there’s news that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton has departed the director’s chair of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. A move that leaves us speculating about the crossover film’s future, if anything.
Source: Gizmodo – Destin Daniel Cretton Departs Marvel’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
Enlarge / The Microsoft Copilot logo. (credit: Microsoft)
On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that Bing Chat—its famously once-unhinged AI chatbot—has been officially renamed “Microsoft Copilot.” The company also announced it will support OpenAI’s recently released GPTs, which are custom roles for its ChatGPT AI assistant.
The rebranding move consolidates Bing Chat into Microsoft’s somewhat confusing “Copilot” AI assistant naming scheme, which has a lineage that began with GitHub Copilot in 2021. In March this year, Microsoft announced Dynamics 365 Copilot, Copilot in Windows, Microsoft Security Copilot, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Now Bing Chat is just “Microsoft Copilot”—its sixth copilot so far. Pretty soon, Microsoft will need a Branding Copilot to keep them all straight.
Regarding the naming scheme, Microsoft customer Amit Malik took to X and wrote, “I love Microsoft, but this whole copilot thing is becoming more confusing than it should be. Microsoft Copilot, Windows Copilot, M365 Copilot, then all the m365 apps, D365 copilot and so on. AI was supposed to simplify, not otherwise.” Note that Malik wrote that in September—nearly two months before the recent announcement.
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Source: Ars Technica – Bing Chat is now “Microsoft Copilot” in potentially confusing rebranding move
Microsoft and Nvidia want to help developers run and configure AI models on their Windows PCs. During the Microsoft Ignite event on Wednesday, Microsoft announced Windows AI Studio: a new hub where developers can access AI models and tweak them to suit their needs. From a report: Windows AI Studio allows developers to access development tools and models from the existing Azure AI Studio and other services like Hugging Face. It also offers an end-to-end “guided workspace setup” with model configuration UI and walkthroughs to fine-tune various small language models (SLMs), such as Microsoft’s Phi, Meta’s Llama 2, and Mistral.
Windows AI Studio lets developers test the performance of their models using Prompt Flow and Gradio templates as well. Microsoft says it’s going to roll out Windows AI Studio as a Visual Studio Code extension in the “coming weeks.” Nvidia, similarly, revealed updates to TensorRT-LLM, which the company initially launched for Windows as a way to run large language models (LLMs) more efficiently on H100 GPUs. However, this latest update brings TensorRT-LLM to PCs powered by GeForce RTX 30 and 40 Series GPUs with 8GB of RAM or more.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Microsoft and Nvidia Are Making It Easier To Run AI Models on Windows
It’s been a long time coming, but the Switch version of Outer Wilds now has an official release date of December 7, developers Annapurna Interactive and Mobius Digital announced during the Nintendo Indie World Showcase on Tuesday. Pre-orders for the digital version are now open, with a physical edition expected in early 2024.
Outer Wilds is already available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 but there have clearly been some delays with the Nintendo Switch version, which was initially expected in 2021. For whatever reason, this seems to be a common issue with Nintendo Switch ports: We’ve reported on several other third-party publishers who have experienced setbacks in bringing their games to the Switch.
For the uninitiated, the popular game launches players into space for a little exploration, but things take an unexpected turn. Players soon realize they’re stuck in a time loop. They’ll have just 22 minutes to figure out what’s happening before the sun goes supernova and forces them to start over again and again and again. Players must use the knowledge gained from each loop to bypass earlier obstacles and make it to the end.
Nintendo Switch users can purchase just Outer Wilds for $25 or Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition, featuring Outer Wilds and the Echoes of the Eye expansion for $38. Both editions are available for pre-order and currently 20 percent off until December 12.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/outer-wilds-is-actually-finally-coming-to-switch-in-december-195942023.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Outer Wilds is actually, finally coming to Switch in December
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Yuichiro Chino)
The Federal Communications Commission today approved rules that prohibit discrimination in access to broadband services, rejecting fervent opposition from Internet service providers and Republicans. The broadband industry is likely to sue the FCC in an attempt to block the rules.
The digital discrimination rules were approved in a 3-2 party-line vote. “Under these rules, the FCC can protect consumers by directly addressing companies’ policies and practices if they differentially impact consumers’ access to broadband Internet access service or are intended to do so, and by applying these protections to ensure communities see equitable broadband deployment, network upgrades, and maintenance,” an FCC announcement today said.
The rules and a related complaint process will ensure that the FCC “can investigate possible instances of discrimination of broadband access, work with companies to solve problems, facilitate mediation, and, when necessary, penalize companies for violating the rules,” the agency also said.
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Source: Ars Technica – Cable lobby and Ted Cruz are disappointed as FCC bans digital discrimination
A group of lawmakers from a House of Representatives committee wants Apple, like many Jon Stewart enthusiasts, to explain why its streaming arm abruptly canceled the talk show The Problem With Jon Stewart. The current affairs TV series hosted by Jon Stewart briefly made its debut on Apple TV+ in 2021 but its time on air ended when the show received the ax for a third season, reportedly due to “disagreements” over show topics.
According to Reuters, Lawmakers want to know if the show’s coverage and criticism of China has anything to do with the show’s cancellation. The government officials have asked Apple to speak on the issue by Dec 15, 2023.
In a letter to the tech giant, the House members wrote that while Apple has the right to determine what content it deems appropriate for its platform, “the coercive tactics of a foreign power should not be directly or indirectly influencing these determinations.” This effort is bipartisan, with members from both Republican and Democratic parties affiliated with the House of Representatives’ Select Committee on Competition with the Chinese Communist Party.
“As China is to America, Texas is to Illinois” – @JonStewart on how corporations pit states against each other to offer the fewest worker protections and biggest tax incentives. pic.twitter.com/q6L1lSjoPx
— The Problem With Jon Stewart (@TheProblem) July 27, 2023
Roughly 19 percent of Apple sales come from China, with over $72.5 billion in net sales reported for the company’s fiscal 2023, which closed in September. It might make sense that the company would avoid streaming a show with strong political opinions that could impact its bottom line in such a significant way. But the show discussed several hot-button topics, including artificial intelligence and gun control. According to the New York Times, sources familiar with the matter said that, beyond discussions about China, the show’s criticism of topics like artificial intelligence played a role in the decision to cut the show.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lawmakers-question-apple-over-cancellation-of-jon-stewarts-show-192316298.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Lawmakers question Apple over cancellation of Jon Stewart’s show
An anonymous reader writes: A newspaper run by the Communist Party of Vietnam is reporting the “disappearance” of a number of popular channels from pay TV packages. Citing National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild as examples, the paper notes they’re owned by Disney. Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications is said to be “concerned” that the withdrawal will allow piracy to run rampant in Vietnam. Multiple high-level trade reports in the U.S. note that piracy has been rampant for years.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Disney Pulls TV Channels From Vietnam, Govt ‘Concerned’ Piracy Will Run Riot
The gamma-ray burst, affectionately dubbed ‘BOAT’ (Brightest of All Time), has been found to emit gamma-rays with energies reaching up to 13 teraelectronvolts, as revealed by a collaboration of scientists who have studied these emissions.
Source: Gizmodo – We Finally Know the True Power of BOAT—the Brightest Known Gamma-Ray Burst
When the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) unveiled its Qi2 charging standard earlier this year, we noted that it was built using Apple’s MagSafe technology. So it only makes sense that the iPhone 15 line will be among the first smartphones to adopt the new wireless charging method. It’s honestly quite rare to see Apple jumping on-board with a new technology so quickly, though the company has allowed for Qi wireless charging in the past.
In other words, new wireless iPhone 15 chargers are coming soon, this holiday season as a matter of fact. The WPC says companies like Belkin, Mophie, Anker and Aircharge have all pre-announced Qi2 products that should integrate with Apple’s latest and greatest. All told, over 100 devices are currently undergoing testing with an eye toward a near-future release. This includes Anker’s recently-announced MagGo lineup of chargers.
So what’s the big deal with Qi2? The WPC advertises faster charging, higher efficiency and greater convenience. It’s replacing the original Qi charging standard, which is over 13 years old now so, yeah, it’s time for a refresh. The Qi2 platform offers support for 15-watt charging and boasts foreign object detection, in addition to enhanced safety features to prevent device damage or battery life shortening.
Perhaps the greatest draw for Qi2, however, is with regard to interoperability. This is a new standard that should be adopted industry-wide, so you’ll be able to, in theory, use one Qi2 charger with a broad range of devices, no matter where you live in the world. The protocol even allows for the charging of unusually-shaped accessories that typically struggle with a flat charging pad.
All Qi2 devices will feature an obvious logo for branding purposes, so you know you aren’t about to use a knockoff charger. As a final aside, it’s pronounced “chee two” if you find yourself at a dinner party or something. Just a heads up.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-iphone-15-series-will-work-with-the-upcoming-qi2-wireless-charging-standard-190807866.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – The iPhone 15 series will work with the upcoming Qi2 wireless charging standard
The first trailer for Sony’s Madame Web movie weaves a very peculiar tale out of an even more peculiar choice for the studio’s next Spider-Man spinoff film. But part of that peculiarity is in the host of Marvel Comics characters the film wants to bring to the big screen—and we’ve got a quick rundown on who’s who if…
Source: Gizmodo – A Quick Guide to the Spider-Heroes and Villains in Madame Web’s Trailer
Cameo has added a pair of timeless superstars to its stable of celebrities (a term used loosely in some cases) available for personalized video greetings. Cookie Monster and Elmo, who may or may not have fallen on hard times, will shamelessly plug their services on the six-year-old platform, offering to count to your kid’s age or rattle off words that start with the same letter as your child’s name — for $25 a pop. Perhaps that relatively low price for the Sesame Street icons is because humans don’t appear to record their voices: Cameo describes the characters as “powered by artificial intelligence.”
Cookie Monster and Elmo join a Cameo crew that also includes Kenny G ($350 per message), Danica McKellar ($150) and Billy Dee Williams ($300), among many others. Other animated characters on the platform include Thomas the Tank Engine, Grumpy Bear (from Care Bears) and JJ from CoComelon.
“Hiya, it me, Cookie Monster,” the perpetually hungry, AI-fueled blue Muppet says in a sample Cameo on the service’s website. “Me so excited to meet you and maybe share a cookie or two. Me love to sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ say goodnight before bedtime or just say hi. Me can’t wait.”
Disclosures on the websites for the Sesame Street characters notify customers that AI powers them. “Elmo is a virtual character powered by artificial intelligence,” the description reads. “They will take the details you give them and craft a custom video just for you!” Engadget reached out to Cameo to clarify which parts of the message are AI-generated; we’ll update this article if we hear back.
Whether parents will find it worth paying for “personalized” greetings conjured by artificial intelligence remains to be seen. Still, at least the algorithmically created furry monster messages only cost around 12 percent of the price of Michael Rapaport.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-powered-elmo-and-cookie-monster-are-shilling-25-video-messages-on-cameo-185614571.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – AI-powered Elmo and Cookie Monster are shilling video messages on Cameo
Amazon just released a questionable-looking robot for patrolling businesses. Taking a page out of Wall-E’s design, Amazon’s new Astro for Business looks almost comical.
Source: Gizmodo – I Cannot Take Amazon’s New Robot for Business Seriously
Enlarge / Anti-satellite weapons from Mission Shakti are displayed during Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2020 in New Delhi, India. (credit: Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images)
More than two dozen private space companies have signed on to a statement that supports an end to destructive anti-satellite testing in space.
The statement comes two years after Russia shot down one of its older satellites, Kosmos 1408, with a Nudol missile launched from the ground. The test, intended to demonstrate Russia’s capability to shoot down assets in space, showered more than 1,500 pieces of debris into low-Earth orbit. This has forced the International Space Station and Chinese Tiangong station to perform avoidance maneuvers, along with many private and government-owned satellites.
Russia is not the only country to perform such tests. India recently did so, and in the more distant past, China and the US have also demonstrated such capabilities.
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Source: Ars Technica – Space companies say ASAT tests threaten economic development
Tencent dismissed concerns that US export controls will constrain its AI development capabilities, at least for the foreseeable future. From a report: The Shenzhen-based company has stockpiled Nvidia’s H800 artificial intelligence accelerators, enough to develop its proprietary Hunyuan AI model for at least another couple of generations, President Martin Lau said on an analyst call after earnings on Wednesday. “Right now we actually have one of the largest inventories of AI chips in China among all the players,” Lau said. “We were the first to put in orders for H800 and that allows us to have a pretty good inventory of H800 chips. So we have enough chips to continue our development.”
The Biden administration in October escalated export controls on AI semiconductors heading to China, depriving the Asian nation from access to a broad range of the world’s best AI-training hardware. The purpose of the measures is to prevent China’s military from obtaining the advanced technology, Washington argues, but they’re also making business harder for the country’s private sector. Elsewhere in China, AI industry veteran Kai-Fu Lee’s unicorn startup 01.AI has been buying up the Nvidia chips it needs to develop its own foundation models, with Lee saying the company has enough semiconductors for the next 18 months.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Tencent Stockpiled Nvidia AI Chips for ‘a Couple of Generations’
It has been a year since Apple enabled emergency SOS via satellite on all iPhone 14 units in the US. The feature lets users text emergency services for help when they don’t have cell service. The company is offering two years of free access upon activating an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15.
Apple has not said how much it will charge for the feature when the free access period ends. However, users won’t have to worry about that for a couple more years. Apple says existing iPhone 14 users (i.e. those who activated their phone before Wednesday in a country where the service is available) will get free access for an extra year.
“Emergency SOS via satellite has helped save lives around the world. From a man who was rescued after his car plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles to lost hikers found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy, we continue to hear stories of our customers being able to connect with emergency responders when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to,” Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide iPhone product marketing, said. “We are so happy iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users can take advantage of this groundbreaking service for two more years for free.”
Apple is extending the free access period for many users not long after it emerged that Qualcomm’s bid to offer a similar feature on Android devices has sputtered out. Iridium, its partner on the Snapdragon Satellite project, said smartphone makers have opted not to include the tech in their devices. Qualcomm noted that OEMs are looking for “standards-based solutions.” The costs involved in the initiative may have put them off too.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-extends-free-emergency-sos-satellite-access-for-existing-iphone-14-owners-183256442.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Apple extends free emergency SOS satellite access for existing iPhone 14 owners
