It’s been a tumultuous decade but Rick Riordan is finally all in again on Percy Jackson and Hollywood. The creator of the popular book franchise was famously unimpressed about how Fox treated his characters with its two movie adaptations, 2010’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and 2013’s Percy…
Source: Gizmodo – Percy Jackson’s Creator Is Way More Excited About the Series Than the Movies
YouTube introduced a dedicated news-watching experience to help viewers across 40 countries find the latest stories from reputable sources, the company announced on Wednesday. The aim is to make reliable news more readily accessible with two added features including a watch page and a “Shorts Innovation Program.”
Source: Gizmodo – YouTube Launches What It Claims Is an ‘Authoritative News’ Hub
A sweeping analysis of European and Asian genomes over the last 40,000 years reveals when and how some genetic exchange occurred between Homo sapiens and our closest cousins, Homo neanderthalensis. It also shows how the Neanderthals’ genetic footprint depended on later exchanges between members of our own species.
Source: Gizmodo – New Study Explores Why Some People Have So Much Neanderthal DNA
Google is making a few changes to the way its search and address bar — known as the omnibox — works in the Chrome browser. The changes are individually pretty small, but there’s an important and somewhat unexpected trend in them all: Google is making it easier for you to move around the web without having to do so many Google searches. From a report: If you’re in Chrome on desktop or mobile, the browser will now try and correct your URL typos, so when you type thevrege.com or ninteendo.com, you’ll get autocomplete suggestions based on the right site and not whatever is behind those misspelled domains. The omnibox’s autocomplete will now be smarter in general, predicting the site you’re looking for based on keywords rather than just guessing what URL you’re typing. Chrome can also now search within your bookmarks for sites and files related to what you’re typing.
All those features are based on your own browsing history and bookmarks, so it’s just Chrome becoming slightly more personalized. But the last change is web-wide and is pretty off-brand for Google: when you start to type in the name of a popular website, the omnibox will show that site’s URL in the list of suggestions, and you can select it to go right to that site. (You might have seen this one already: it’s been rolling out for a couple of weeks and should be live to everyone now.)
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Google is Tweaking Chrome’s Search Bar To Make It Easier To Navigate the Web
The Internal Revenue Service will offer a pilot run of its free, electronic tax filing service, called Direct File, in thirteen states for the 2024 tax season.
Source: Gizmodo – The IRS Comes for TurboTax With Free ‘Direct File’ Service in 13 States Next Year
Enlarge / The ThinkPad P1 showing off its ThinkPad branding. (credit: Lenovo)
Today’s Dealmaster ranges from Lenovo laptops to Lego toys. As we head into the holiday shopping season, our list of deals includes popular tech favorites like Anker chargers, Apple AirTag trackers, LG OLED TVs, and Lenovo mobile workstations. Or, for a fun and whimsical gift, check out Lego’s Advent calendar to unwrap a small surprise each day.
Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.
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Source: Ars Technica – Dealmaster: Lenovo deals, sales on charging solutions, and more
Enlarge (credit: Steven Puetzer | The Image Bank)
X has confirmed a Fortune report revealing that the platform formerly known as Twitter has begun charging a $1 annual fee to new users in New Zealand and the Philippines. Unless new users in these locations cough up the dollar, they’ll be blocked from accessing basic platform features, including posting, replying, or quoting posts.
The new fee kicked in yesterday, X Support posted on X.
“Starting today, we’re testing a new program (Not-a-Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines,” X Support said. “New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to be able to post and interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.”
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Source: Ars Technica – Elon Musk launches test to see if users are willing to pay a year for X
Acceptable levels of “forever chemicals” in drinking water should be reduced tenfold and a new national chemicals agency created to protect public health, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has told the UK government. From a report: The chartered body wants to see a reduction in the cap on levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in tap water. PFAS are a family of about 10,000 widely used chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment. Some have been linked to cancers, liver and thyroid disease, immune and fertility problems, and developmental defects in unborn children.
The current limit in UK drinking water, which is a guideline and not a statutory cap, is 100 nanograms a litre for individual PFAS. The RSC wants this reduced to 10ng/l and a new overall limit introduced of 100ng/l for a wider range of PFAS in drinking water. “In the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s (DWI) own words, levels above 10ng/l pose a medium or high risk to public health,” said Stephanie Metzger, a policy adviser at the RSC. “We’re seeing more studies that link PFAS to a range of very serious medical conditions, and so we urgently need a new approach for the sake of public health.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Scientists Call on Ministers To Cut Limits For ‘Forever Chemicals’ in UK Tap Water
After rumors began to swirl that Sam Altman’s OpenAI tapped Jony Ive on a secret piece of hardware, the company’s wunderkind CEO says he has no plans to compete with the smartphone market.
Source: Gizmodo – OpenAI’s Sam Altman Says He Has ‘No Interest’ in Competing With Smartphones
When The Hunger Games movie came out in 2012, the world was set on fire. Jennifer Lawrence became a superstar, the books stayed on bestseller lists for months, and another three films were quickly announced. The prequel story based on the newly released book of the same name, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds…
Source: Gizmodo – The Hunger Games Films Were Exceptional But Got Overshadowed
Google is expanding a feature that allows Android users to add their state ID or driver’s license to Wallet. Starting today, folks in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia can store a digital version of their ID in the app. Google first enabled the option in Maryland in June. Apple also allows folks in certain locales to add a digital copy of their ID to Apple Wallet.
For now, you’ll be able to use a digital ID stored in Google Wallet at TSA PreCheck lines at select airports. Google plans to enable more ways to use the digital version of your ID later this year, such as for renting a car through an app. The idea is that the app will only gain access to necessary information, such as your name and driving eligibility.
Digital IDs that are added to Google Wallet are encrypted, so no one will have access to personal information stored there unless you choose to share it. Authentication such as a fingerprint unlock is needed to access the ID. You’ll also be able to select which information fields you share when you present your digital ID.
To add an ID issued by Arizona, Colorado, Georgia or Maryland to Google Wallet, your device will need to be running Android 8 or newer. First, open the Google Wallet app, tap the Add to Wallet button, select the ID Card option and choose the state that issued the ID. Then you’ll need to scan the ID and take a quick selfie video to verify that you’re the person to whom the ID belongs. Google will then authenticate your ID with the issuer.
If you lose your phone or someone steals it, you can delete your digital ID remotely via your Google account settings. You can also ask your state’s DMV to remove the ID from Google Wallet.
Meanwhile, it’s now possible to create a digital pass in Google Wallet by taking a photo or screenshot of any barcode or QR code. The aim is to let you add passes that Wallet doesn’t natively support, such as your library card or gym membership, to the app.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/android-users-in-arizona-colorado-and-georgia-can-now-add-state-ids-to-google-wallet-165536898.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Android users in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia can now add state IDs to Google Wallet
An experimental gene therapy that uses a modified herpes virus shows promise as a brain cancer treatment, according to new research. The Phase I study found evidence that the virus could safely induce an immune response that attacked the often-fatal cancer. It also seemed to extend the length of survival in those who…
Source: Gizmodo – Experimental Therapy Fights Brain Cancer with Modified Herpes Virus
Google security researchers say they have found evidence that government-backed hackers linked to Russia and China are exploiting a since-patched vulnerability in WinRAR, the popular shareware archiving tool for Windows. From a report: The WinRAR vulnerability, first discovered by cybersecurity company Group-IB earlier this year and tracked as CVE-2023-38831, allows attackers to hide malicious scripts in archive files that masquerade as seemingly innocuous images or text documents. Group-IB said the flaw was exploited as a zero-day — since the developer had zero time to fix the bug before it was exploited — as far back as April to compromise the devices of at least 130 traders.
Rarlab, which makes the archiving tool, released an updated version of WinRAR (version 6.23) on August 2 to patch the vulnerability. Despite this, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) said this week that its researchers have observed multiple government-backed hacking groups exploiting the security flaw, noting that “many users” who have not updated the app remain vulnerable. In research shared with TechCrunch ahead of its publication, TAG says it has observed multiple campaigns exploiting the WinRAR zero-day bug, which it has tied to state-backed hacking groups with links to Russia and China.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Russia and China-backed Hackers Are Exploiting WinRAR Zero-Day Bug, Google Says
Amazon is now offering drone prescription deliveries in College Station, TX. Customers will be eligible for aerial deliveries of “more than 500 medications” for common conditions like the flu, asthma and pneumonia. The home of Texas A&M has enjoyed Prime Air drone deliveries of (non-medical) Amazon shipments since 2022.
The company says medications will arrive within an hour of placing their order, and there won’t be an additional fee to use the service. The drones fly at 40 to 120 meters, an altitude Amazon says presents minimal obstacles.
After arriving at the customer’s home, the drone “slowly and safely” lowers itself to a delivery marker. Once the zone is clear, it sets down the package and flies back to its base. Amazon claims cameras and other sensors on the automated devices feed into a neural network that prevents the flying machines from colliding with people, pets and power lines. “Customers pick up packages without any interaction with the drone,” says Amazon.
“We’re taught from the first days of medical school that there is a golden window that matters in clinical medicine,” Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy, said in an announcement blog post published Wednesday. “That’s the time between when a patient feels unwell and when they’re able to get treatment. We’re working hard at Amazon to dramatically narrow the golden window from diagnosis to treatment, and drone delivery marks a significant step forward.”
Texas has established itself as a hotbed for early drone delivery trials. In addition to Amazon, Alphabet’s Wing began offering them in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — including via a partnership with Walmart. Amazon Prime Air also operates in Lockeford, CA. The company uses an upgraded drone model it debuted last year, which is lighter and can fly longer than its predecessor.
A report from earlier this year said Amazon had only made a handful of deliveries due to FAA regulations. In today’s announcement, Amazon said its drones “have safely delivered hundreds of household items in College Station since December 2022.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-now-offers-drone-deliveries-for-prescription-medications-in-texas-163730205.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Amazon now offers drone deliveries for prescription medications in Texas
Enlarge / Advocates gather on April 17, 2023, in Washington, DC, to call out tax prep firms like TurboTax-maker Intuit and H&R Block, and to support the Internal Revenue Service’s exploration of free tax filing. (credit: Getty Images | Tasos Katopodis )
The Internal Revenue Service yesterday announced details for a pilot of its free filing program for the 2024 tax season. People in 13 states “may be eligible to participate in the 2024 Direct File pilot, a new service that will provide taxpayers with the choice to electronically file their federal tax return directly with the IRS for free,” the IRS said.
The pilot “will allow the IRS to identify issues and make changes prior to any potential large-scale launch in the future,” the agency said. It will assess customer support and technology needs, and help “evaluate the costs, benefits and operational challenges associated with providing a voluntary Direct File option to taxpayers.” That includes testing fraud detection and integration with state systems.
Pilot eligibility is for those with “relatively simple returns” because it “is limited by the types of income, tax credits and deductions that the product can initially support.” The IRS said it invited all 50 states, but only some are participating at first:
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Source: Ars Technica – IRS to offer free tax filing in competition against much-criticized TurboTax
The best time-travel movie you haven’t seen yet is coming in early 2024. io9 can confirm that the North American rights to River, Junta Yamaguchi’s follow-up to the 2021 hit Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, have been picked up by Cineverse with the aim to release the film on its streaming service AsianCrush in early…
Source: Gizmodo – Incredible Time-Loop Comedy River Coming to the U.S. in 2024
Earlier this year Netflix revealed that the second season of Dead End: Paranormal Park—the long-in-the-works adaptation of Hamish Steele’s supernatural comic series DeadEndia—would be its last, leaving the story of Barney, Norma, and their friends at Phoenix Parks unfinished. But now fans will see at least one version…
Source: Gizmodo – Hamish Steele Talks Bringing an End to DeadEndia
Amazon has started delivering prescription medications by drone in a Texas city, broadening its still-experimental effort to deliver goods by air. From a report: The online retailer recently began listing drone delivery as an option for Amazon Pharmacy customers who are participating in a test program in College Station, one of two US cities where Amazon is delivering products using its unmanned, riding-lawnmower-sized vehicles. The company made the effort public on Wednesday ahead of a logistics press event held at a warehouse near Amazon’s Seattle headquarters.
Quick delivery of medical supplies has emerged as one of the leading candidates for a viable delivery-by-drone business. Alphabet’s Wing, United Parcel Service and drone startup Zipline have all set out to deliver medical goods, sometimes in trial programs centered around hospital campuses or planned communities. In most places, drone use remains limited to narrowly prescribed tests as regulators hash out regulations to limit risk to other aircraft and people on the ground.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Amazon Starts Delivering Medications by Drone in Texas City
Enlarge (credit: Amazon)
Amazon has a plan to deploy 100,000 electric vans to its delivery fleet by 2030. At the rate it’s going, that might happen a little sooner. On Thursday, it announced that it now has 10,000 Rivian electric delivery vans in service—up from 5,000 earlier this July.
Rivian’s big order from Amazon was placed in 2019 as part of the online retailer and web service provider’s plan to become carbon neutral by the year 2040. Earlier that year Amazon was an investor in a $700 million financing round for the EV startup, which makes electric SUVs and pickup trucks in addition to the Amazon electric delivery vans.
At the time, Jeff Bezos wanted all 100,000 Rivian vans on the road by 2024, but even before the coronavirus pandemic landed in March 2020, that had been revised to 2030. The first Rivian EDVs went into service in 2021.
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Source: Ars Technica – Amazon adds its 10,000th Rivian electric delivery van to its fleet
Everyone knows (or may have had experience being) the colleague or classmate who’s taken the easy route on an assignment knowing someone else will swoop in to save the day. New research suggests that the same phenomena, which psychologists call “social loafing,” may also apply when a teammate is made of software and…
Source: Gizmodo – Humans Are More Likely to Slack Off When Working With Robots, Study Finds
