Monthly Archives: December 2023

Twitch clears up its confusing sexual content guidelines

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Twitch has finally streamlined its confusing guidelines surrounding sexual content after a creator was able to appear seemingly topless in a stream posted on the website. The incident compelled viewers to question what kind of content could actually appear — and what could get you banned — on livestreams. Following feedback from users, Twitch has merged the two separate sexual content policy sections on its guidelines page and clarified that some materials that were previously prohibited are now allowed on the platform, as long as they’re properly labeled. 

They include content that “deliberately highlight breasts, buttocks and pelvic region” when fully clothed, which Twitch admits has caused female-presenting streamers to be “disproportionately penalized.” The website now also allows streams to show drawn, animated or sculpted female-presenting breasts, genitalia or buttocks that are fully exposed. That said, fictionalized sexual acts and masturbation are still prohibited. Videos that show writing on female-presenting breasts and buttocks are now allowed, as well, along with videos that contain strip tease dances. Meanwhile, dance moves that include “twerking” and “grinding” can now be shown in videos even without being labeled. 

In addition to clarifying its sexual content policy, Twitch has also altered its homepage algorithm so that it’ll no longer recommend content that had been labeled with Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; Gambling; and/or Sexual Themes. The website explains that while viewers must deliberately click on videos on the homepage to watch them, parts of streams with those themes were still visible even to those who may be uncomfortable seeing them due to their thumbnails. Now, viewers must explicitly seek out videos containing those themes. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitch-clears-up-its-confusing-sexual-content-guidelines-065648446.html?src=rss

Source: Engadget – Twitch clears up its confusing sexual content guidelines

The Rise of Linux AI Assistants

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In the realm of technology, the fusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Linux operating system marks a significant milestone. Linux AI Assistants, leveraging the power of conversational AI, are transforming the landscape of productivity and assistance. This article delves into the intricacies of these assistants, unraveling their capabilities, applications, and the potential they hold in our increasingly digital world.

Source: LXer – The Rise of Linux AI Assistants

Apple now needs a judge's order to hand over push notification records

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Following the revelation that our mobile push notification records can be handed over to law enforcements, Apple put the blame on the Department of Justice (DOJ) for preventing tech companies from revealing such process. Meanwhile, the company also updated its Legal Process Guidelines document to state that “a subpoena or greater legal process” was required to obtain the relevant records. However, Reuters spotted that a week later, Apple quietly tweaked this particular line to match Google’s stricter policy on this matter:

“The Apple ID associated with a registered APNs token and associated records may be obtained with an order under 18 U.S.C. §2703(d) or a search warrant.”

In other words, law enforcement will now need a judge’s consent in order to obtain push notification data from Apple — as is the case with Google all this time, according to a statement provided to Reuters. Engadget reached out to Apple, but it refused to comment on the updated guidelines.

The “push notification spying” concerns were originally brought to light by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden who, in an open letter to the DOJ, claimed that foreign governments have been demanding Google and Apple to provide push notification records. Given how push notifications go through these companies’ servers, the senator is worried that “Apple and Google are in a unique position to facilitate government surveillance of how users are using particular apps.”

Wyden then addressed the elephant in the room, by arguing that these two tech giants “should be permitted to be transparent about the legal demands they receive, particularly from foreign governments.” Apple’s response regarding the DOJ’s suppression appears to align with the senator’s claims, but it’s unclear whether the department will take action on both tech companies’ stepped-up transparency on push notification surveillance.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-now-needs-a-judges-order-to-hand-over-push-notification-records-052710429.html?src=rss

Source: Engadget – Apple now needs a judge’s order to hand over push notification records

Cruise drops nine executives following its robotaxi accident probe

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A few weeks after Cruise’s CEO Kyle Vogt and co-founder Daniel Kan resigned, the company has also dismissed nine executives considered as “key” figures for the firm. According to Reuters and other sources, GM’s robotaxi unit sent an internal memo to staff members announcing the executives’ departure while regulators are investigating an incident wherein a pedestrian was dragged by a Cruise vehicle after being struck by another car. Authorities are accusing the company of withholding a video that allegedly shows the victim underneath its vehicle. 

“Following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise’s response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise,” the memo reportedly reads. “We are committed to full transparency and are focused on rebuilding trust and operating with the highest standards when it comes to safety, integrity, and accountability. As a result, we believe that new leadership is necessary to achieve these goals.”

One of the executives who was dismissed was Gil West, who served as Cruise’s Chief Operating Officer. A spokesperson also confirmed to Reuters that Jeff Bleich and David Estrada, who were the company’s Chief Legal and Policy Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, respectively, were among the nine executives who were let go. 

This is just the latest update in the major upheaval Cruise is going through. The California DMV suspended the company’s driverless permit in October, the same month the incident happened. In November, Cruise recalled 950 of its robotaxis following reports that they had trouble identifying children and that the company knew about it but kept the vehicles on the streets anyway. The robotaxi company eventually suspended even its manual operations as part of a safety probe by a third-party firm. Vogt also reportedly announced before he left the company that layoffs are on the horizon, so these executives may not be the only personnel leaving Cruise before the year ends. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cruise-drops-nine-executives-in-the-midst-of-an-accident-probe-involving-its-vehicle-044408544.html?src=rss

Source: Engadget – Cruise drops nine executives following its robotaxi accident probe

Human Brain Cells Hooked Up To a Chip Can Do Speech Recognition

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An anonymous reader quotes a report from MIT Technology Review: Brain organoids, clumps of human brain cells grown in a dish, can be hooked up to an electronic chip and carry out simple computational tasks, a new study shows. Feng Guo and his team at Indiana University Bloomington generated a brain organoid from stem cells, attached it to a computer chip, and connected their setup, known as Brainoware, to an AI tool. They found that this hybrid system could process, learn, and remember information. It was even able to carry out some rudimentary speech recognition. The work, published today in Nature Electronics, could one day lead to new kinds of bio-computers that are more efficient than conventional computers.

“This is a first demonstration of using brain organoids [for computing],” says Guo. “It’s exciting to see the possibilities of organoids for biocomputing in the future.” With Brainoware, Guo aimed to use actual brain cells to send and receive information. When the researchers applied electrical stimulation to the hybrid system they’d built, Brainoware responded to those signals, and changes occurred in its neural networks. According to the researchers, this result suggests that the hybrid system did process information, and could perhaps even perform computing tasks without supervision. Guo and his colleagues then attempted to see if Brainoware could perform any useful tasks. In one test, they used Brainoware to try to solve mathematical equations. They also gave it a benchmark test for speech recognition, using 240 audio clips of eight people pronouncing Japanese vowels. The clips were converted into electrical signals and applied to the Brainoware system. This generated signals in the neural networks of the brain organoid, which were then fed into an AI tool for decoding.

The researchers found that the brain organoid — AI system could decode the signals from the audio recordings, which is a form of speech recognition, says Guo. “But the accuracy was low,” he says. Although the system improved with training, reaching an accuracy of about 78%, it was still less accurate than artificial neural networks, according to the study. Lena Smirnova, an assistant professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University, points out that brain organoids do not have the ability to truly hear speech but simply exhibit “a reaction” to pulses of electrical stimulation from the audio clips. And the study did not demonstrate whether Brainoware can process and store information over the long term or learn multiple tasks. Generating brain cell cultures in a lab and maintaining them long enough to perform computations is also a huge undertaking. Still, she adds, “it’s a really good demonstration that shows the capabilities of brain organoids.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – Human Brain Cells Hooked Up To a Chip Can Do Speech Recognition

11 Best Linux Distributions for Power Users

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As a free and open-source operating system, Linux has spawned several distributions over time, spreading its wings to encompass a large community of users. This guide highlights 11 Linux distributions and aims to shed light on their targeted users.

The post 11 Best Linux Distributions for Power Users appeared first on Linux Today.



Source: Linux Today – 11 Best Linux Distributions for Power Users

Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, December 14, 2023

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If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 14, 2023, read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is a bit harder than average; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 14, Wordle #908! 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 Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.

Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if they’re correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn’t in the day’s secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)

Ready for the hints? Let’s go!

Does today’s Wordle have any unusual letters?

We’ll define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters’ phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it “Edwin Shirdloo,” like a name, and pretend he’s a friend of yours.)

Four of the letters in today’s word are common. One other letter appears toward the end of the alphabet. 

Can you give me a hint for today’s Wordle?

Today is another word that we use all the time but that is difficult to describe. Grammar teachers probably have a name for it. It’s something you might use to indicate what you wish you had done. 

Does today’s Wordle have any double or repeated letters?

No, there are five different letters today.

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There are two vowels in today’s word.

What letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s word starts with W.

What letter does today’s Wordle end with?

Today’s word ends with D.

What is the solution to today’s Wordle?

Ready? Today’s word is WOULD.

How I solved today’s Wordle

ARISE gave me bupkis; TOUCH gave me the O and U. For a minute here I thought we might be in another HOUND/BOUND/ROUND situation, so I guessed YOUNG to see if that N would be in the right spot (while also revealing whether it might be an -NG word). No hits. Huh. 

At this point I had used all of the common letters and a bunch of uncommon ones. What’s even left? Finally I realized that -LD could be an ending, and it would go nicely with the W that we hadn’t used yet.

Wordle 908 4/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

A primer on Wordle basics

The idea of Wordle is to guess the day’s secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you’ll see an empty grid of letters. It’s up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word. 

Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word: 

  • Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and it’s in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)

  • Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)

  • Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)

With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then it’s game over.

The best starter words for Wordle

What should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that’s still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn’t a single “best” starting word, but the New York Times’s Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:

  • CRANE

  • TRACE

  • SLANT

  • CRATE

  • CARTE

Meanwhile, an MIT analysis found that you’ll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:

  • SALET

  • REAST

  • TRACE

  • CRATE

  • SLATE

Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it’s better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.

How to win at Wordle

We have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if you’re a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.

The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, don’t waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.

One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldn’t have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.

Wordle alternatives

If you can’t get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:



Source: LifeHacker – Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, December 14, 2023

Instagram is making it easier to remove spammy followers

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Meta is rolling out a suite of new tools on Instagram that give users more control over how much spam content and bots they will see on their feeds. People will also be told if something they posted is in accordance with community guidelines. The new tools will be introduced gradually in the coming weeks.

Instagram has developed and improved its automated detection system that checks for spam across comments, tags, story views and followers. The moderation systems will flag fake followers and spam-filled content and give users the option to delete those items in bulk to save users time. Any suspected spam or bot account will get filtered into a separate inbox for you to review, and if an account isn’t spam, you can approve a request and they’ll be added to your following list. Otherwise, all accounts will be automatically removed after 30 days. Posts by profiles that get tagged as spam won’t appear on the content creators’ accounts unless they get approved. An account holder can view, bulk delete or approve any tag requests flagged by the system.

Instagram will also send in-app notifications if it detects posts that violate its content policies. This follows Instagram’s most recent update that shows when posts are blocked from appearing on the Explore page, which should stop account holders from repeating those mistakes. For Stories though, Instagram said it is still experimenting with hiding views from accounts that the platform deems as spam.

The company already introduced the “Hidden Words” tool in 2021, which hides messages with questionable keywords. In the coming update, Instagram said it will start to edit out suspected spam through the advanced comment filtering tool. The issue of harassment and spam has long been a focal point for Instagram. It has had to deal with bots storming the platform and proliferating sexually explicit content. However, the company needs to strike a balance between policing inappropriate content and allowing for the free exchange of ideas on its platform. Recently, Instagram has faced scrutiny for allegedly censoring pro-Palestinian content amid the ongoing war in the Gaza.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-is-making-it-easier-to-remove-spammy-followers-021801458.html?src=rss

Source: Engadget – Instagram is making it easier to remove spammy followers

Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, December 14, 2023

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If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, December 14, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 14, NYT Connections #186! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Connections game. 

If you want an easy way to come back to our Connections hints every day, bookmark this page. You can also find our past hints there as well, in case you want to know what you missed in a previous puzzle.

Below, I’ll give you some oblique hints at today’s Connections answers. And farther down the page, I’ll reveal the themes and the answers. Scroll slowly and take just the hints you need!

NYT Connections board for December 14, 2023: SPOON, BUG, SCREEN, FORK, BOWL, PART, HOUND, FOX, FIELD, BADGER, SPLIT, DOME, NAG, LINING, ARENA, DIVIDE.

Credit: Connections/NYT

Does today’s Connections game require any special knowledge?

Nope, nothing too specialized today. 

Hints for the themes in today’s Connections puzzle

Here are some spoiler-free hints for the groupings in today’s Connections:

  • Yellow category – To hassle someone.

  • Green category – To break in half.

  • Blue category – Where you might play a game.

  • Purple category – All that glitters is not gold…

Does today’s Connections game involve any wordplay?

Just a fill-in-the-blank for purple. 

Ready to hear the answers? Keep scrolling if you want a little more help.

BEWARE: Spoilers follow for today’s Connections puzzle!

We’re about to give away some of the answers. Scroll slowly if you don’t want the whole thing spoiled. (The full solution is a bit further down.)

What are the ambiguous words in today’s Connections?

  • A NAG can be an old horse, or a verb meaning to BADGER someone. 

  • You might use a FORK, SPOON, and BOWL together, but these words are in different categories today. 

  • A SCREEN can be for a window, or it can be the surface on which a movie is shown—hence the moniker “silver SCREEN” as a synechdoche for the movie industry. 

What are the categories in today’s Connections?

  • Yellow: PESTER

  • Green: SEPARATE

  • Blue: SPORTS VENUES

  • Purple: SILVER ____

DOUBLE BEWARE: THE SOLUTION IS BELOW

Ready to learn the answers to today’s Connections puzzle? I give them all away below.

What are the yellow words in today’s Connections?

The yellow grouping is considered to be the most straightforward. The theme for today’s yellow group is PESTER and the words are: BADGER, BUG, HOUND, NAG.

What are the green words in today’s Connections?

The green grouping is supposed to be the second-easiest. The theme for today’s green category is SEPARATE and the words are: DIVIDE, PART, FORK, SPLIT.

What are the blue words in today’s Connections?

The blue grouping is the second-hardest. The theme for today’s blue category is SPORTS VENUES and the words are: ARENA, BOWL, DOME, FIELD.

What are the purple words in today’s Connections?

The purple grouping is considered to be the hardest. The theme for today’s purple category is SILVER ____ and the words are: FOX, LINING, SCREEN, SPOON.

How I solved today’s Connections

BADGER has to be the animal, right? Unless it means to BADGER somebody about something—to BUG them, to NAG them, to HOUND them. And they’re all animal words. Cute. 🟨

PART, DIVIDE, SPLIT, and FORK (as in a FORK in the road) are all words for separation. 🟦 FIELD, ARENA, DOME, and BOWL are all places you might play a football game. 🟩 And finally, we have a silver SPOON, a silver FOX, the silver SCREEN, and a silver LINING to a dark cloud. 🟪

Connections 

Puzzle #186
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪

How to play Connections

I have a full guide to playing Connections, but here’s a refresher on the rules:

First, find the Connections game either on the New York Times website or in their Crossword app. You’ll see a game board with 16 tiles, each with one word or phrase. Your job is to select a group of four tiles that have something in common. Often they are all the same type of thing (for example: RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW are all types of wet weather) but sometimes there is wordplay involved (for example, BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH are all types of lists: bucket list, guest list, and so on).

Select four items and hit the Submit button. If you guessed correctly, the category and color will be revealed. (Yellow is easiest, followed by green, then blue, then purple.) If your guess was incorrect, you’ll get a chance to try again.

You win when you’ve correctly identified all four groups. But if you make four mistakes before you finish, the game ends and the answers are revealed.

How to win Connections

The most important thing to know to win Connections is that the groupings are designed to be tricky. Expect to see overlapping groups. For example, one puzzle seemed to include six breakfast foods: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. But BACON turned out to be part of a group of painters along with CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, and EGG was in a group of things that come by the dozen (along with JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). So don’t hit “submit” until you’ve confirmed that your group of four contains only those four things.

If you’re stuck, another strategy is to look at the words that seem to have no connection to the others. If all that comes to mind when you see WHISTLER is the painting nicknamed “Whistler’s Mother,” you might be on to something. When I solved that one, I ended up googling whether there was a painter named Close, because Close didn’t fit any of the obvious themes, either.

Another way to win when you’re stuck is, obviously, to read a few helpful hints–which is why we share these pointers every day. Check back tomorrow for the next puzzle!



Source: LifeHacker – Today’s NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, December 14, 2023

Ukrainian cells and Internet still out, 1 day after suspected Russian cyberattack

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A service center for "Kyivstar", a Ukrainian telecommunications company, that provides communication services and data transmission based on a broad range of fixed and mobile technologies.

Enlarge / A service center for “Kyivstar”, a Ukrainian telecommunications company, that provides communication services and data transmission based on a broad range of fixed and mobile technologies. (credit: Getty Images)

Ukrainian civilians on Wednesday grappled for a second day of widespread cellular phone and Internet outages after a cyberattack, purportedly carried out by Kremlin-supported hackers, hit the country’s biggest mobile phone and Internet provider a day earlier.

Two separate hacking groups with ties to the Russian government took responsibility for Tuesday’s attack striking Kyivstar, which has said it serves 24.3 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million home Internet users. One group, calling itself Killnet, said on Telegram that “an attack was carried out on Ukrainian mobile operators, as well as on some banks,” but didn’t elaborate or provide any evidence. A separate group known as Solntsepek said on the same site that it took “full responsibility for the cyberattack on Kyivstar” and had “destroyed 10,000 computers, more than 4,000 servers, and all cloud storage and backup systems.” The post was accompanied by screenshots purporting to show someone with control over the Kyivstar systems.

In the city of Lviv, street lights remained on after sunrise and had to be disconnected manually, because Internet-dependent automated power switches didn’t work, according to NBC News. Additionally, the outage prevented shops throughout the country from processing credit payments and many ATMs from functioning, the Kyiv Post said.

Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – Ukrainian cells and Internet still out, 1 day after suspected Russian cyberattack

3 Ways to Change a Users Default Shell in Linux

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In this guide, we will explore the process of changing a user’s default shell in Linux. The shell is a program that accepts and interprets commands; there are several open-source shells such as bash, sh, ksh, zsh, fish, and many other lesser-known shells available on Linux.

The post 3 Ways to Change a Users Default Shell in Linux appeared first on Linux Today.



Source: Linux Today – 3 Ways to Change a Users Default Shell in Linux

Instagram Notes can now include two-second looping videos

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Instagram inboxes are about to get a little busier. The app is adding two-second looping videos and direct replies to Notes, the status update-like feature that lives at the top of users’ inboxes.

The feature was first introduced a year ago as a way to share quick text updates with your mutual followers and close friends. Since then, the company has also added music and translation capabilities to the feature. Now, with the latest change, users will also be able to share 2-second looping videos in the space, almost like a mini Boomerang. The clip will appear at the top of your friends’ inboxes in place of your normal profile photo.

At the same time, Meta is also adding the ability for people to interact with their friends’ notes similar to how you might respond to a Stories post. Tapping on a note at the top of your inbox brings up a shortcut to reply with a GIF, sticker, voice note, photo or text. Replies to notes are routed to users’ inboxes alongside other messages.

The updates come as Meta has looked for more low-pressure ways to encourage users to share on its apps, including with smaller groups of friends. The company recently rolled out the ability to share feed posts and Reels with “close friends” only. It’s also recently been spotted working on a feature called “flipside,” which could offer a finsta-like space directly in users’ profiles.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-notes-can-now-include-two-second-looping-videos-010755739.html?src=rss

Source: Engadget – Instagram Notes can now include two-second looping videos

Google Maps Ditches Cloud-Based Location History

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Google Maps will soon give you the option to store your location data on your device instead of in the cloud. Android Police reports: In the coming year, Google is planning to switch things up by defaulting to saving your Timeline directly on your device instead of the cloud. You’ll also have the option to wipe out bits or the whole information dossier whenever you want and disable location history completely. When you’re jumping ship to a new device and want to keep your data close, you always have the option to back it up in the cloud. Google assures you that it’ll lock it up with encryption.

Another significant update is the shorter default amount of time before your location history is auto-deleted. Soon, when you turn on location history, the default auto-delete time shrinks to three months. In the past, it used to hang around for 18 months by default. If you’re the sentimental type, you can extend the Timeline’s lifespan or turn off the auto-delete option. Google Maps has another nifty trick up its sleeve: soon, you can erase all traces of your trips with just a few taps. Say you’ve got a favorite hangout spot and you want to keep it to yourself. You can wipe the slate clean right from the app, whether it’s searches, directions, visits, or shares. This handy feature is making its debut on Maps for Android and iOS in the next few weeks.

Finally, you will soon be able to click on the blue dot on the map to view your Location History and Timeline at a glance. It allows you to tweak what you share and store on Maps, all without having to dive into the settings. Currently, the blue dot only gives you some neat shortcuts for parking saves and location sharing.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – Google Maps Ditches Cloud-Based Location History

Why You Shouldn’t Buy a USB-C Charging Case for Your AirPods Pro

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Apple’s AirPods Pro recently received their most visible upgrade in years, as the company swapped out the Lighting-powered charging case for a USB-C model. And now, Apple has officially begun selling the MagSafe USB-C AirPods Pro 2 case (and only the case) as a standalone product. The Verge was the first to notice the new listing, which offers the USB-C AirPods Pro 2 charging case for $99.

If you bought a pair of AirPods Pro 2 before Apple updated them with USB-C, then you might find the option enticing, as it saves you having to spend the $249 Apple charges for the latest AirPods Pro 2 if all you want is the new case. But if your Lightning-based charging case isn’t having any issues, or if you haven’t upgraded to the iPhone 15 yet, then you’re honestly better off just waiting until you actually need new earbuds, as nearly $100 is a lot to ask for a minor upgrade—especially when you won’t get all the other features added to the new generation of AirPods Pro.

Apple only switched to USB-C charging to bring its top-of-the-line earbuds in line with the iPhone 15, the first iPhone to ship with USB-C. However, Apple also went out of its way to add a few new features to the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, which aren’t available if you have the first iteration of the AirPods Pro 2, even if you upgrade the case. This means you’d still be missing out on lossless audio with the Vision Pro, Apple’s upcoming VR/AR headset, as well as a few other upgrades—features all built into the earbuds themselves.

Sure, if you’ve upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max (or any of the iPhone 15 lineup) and don’t want to have to worry about carrying around multiple charging cables, then purchasing the standalone case will solve that problem for you. But at 40% of the price of a whole new set of earbuds, that convenience will cost you.



Source: LifeHacker – Why You Shouldn’t Buy a USB-C Charging Case for Your AirPods Pro

GM's Cruise Robotaxi Unit Dismisses Nine Execs After Safety Probe

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According to Reuters, General Motors’ Cruise robotaxi unit dismissed nine executives amid an ongoing safety investigation, which the company confirmed included Chief Operating Officer Gil West. The company conducted a full safety review following an incident in San Francisco where a pedestrian was struck and dragged by one of its cars. GM already halted service nationwide and removed its cars from public roads. Reuters reports: CEO Kyle Vogt and co-founder Dan Kan both resigned in recent weeks and Cruise is preparing for a round of layoffs this month. “Following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise’s response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise,” according to the memo. “We are committed to full transparency and are focused on rebuilding trust and operating with the highest standards when it comes to safety, integrity, and accountability,” the memo said. “As a result, we believe that new leadership is necessary to achieve these goals.”

The Cruise spokesperson confirmed that among those dismissed was also Chief Legal and Policy Officer Jeff Bleich and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs David Estrada. Cruise’s troubles are also a setback for an industry dependent on public trust and the cooperation of regulators. The unit had in recent months touted ambitious plans to expand to more cities, offering fully autonomous taxi rides. The investigation, led by law firm Quinn Emmanuel, is expected to last until January, GM has said. “The personnel decisions made today are a necessary step for Cruise to move forward as it focuses on accountability, trust and transparency,” GM said in a statement.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – GM’s Cruise Robotaxi Unit Dismisses Nine Execs After Safety Probe

Guidemaster: A cheat sheet for comparing the iPhone 15 lineup’s cameras

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iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max lined up on a table

Enlarge / The iPhone 15 lineup.

Over the past couple of years of reviewing the iPhone, we’ve often jokingly called them “smartcameras” rather than smartphones, as the camera features are really what sell people on upgrading to new models.

So, for our final Apple gift guide, we’ll revisit some of what we explored in our iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro review with a special focus on the cameras. If you’re looking to grab a new iPhone for yourself or someone in your family, which camera is best?

The idea here is to provide a top-level, quick summary of the features of each iPhone camera as they pertain to specific uses to make for an easy buying guide for last-minute holiday shoppers who want a quick answer. We’ll go over each phone and survey its features, detailing their relevant uses and noting some recommendations and considerations along the way.

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Source: Ars Technica – Guidemaster: A cheat sheet for comparing the iPhone 15 lineup’s cameras

The Best Nintendo Switch Game Deals You Can Still Get in Time for Christmas

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First party Nintendo Switch games are the Apple products of the video game industry: They rarely go on sale. Nintendo’s flagship series—Zelda, Mario, and Pokémon, among others—tend to hold their value for years, so when you spot them on a decent sale, it’s worth paying attention, you should pay attention.

If you’re looking to pick up a Switch game at a good price for holiday gifting purposes, the following top-tier titles are currently at near their best prices of the year, and all will arrive by Christmas.

The best Christmas deals on Nintendo Switch games

Barring a few Black Friday deals, the first-party Nintendo titles below are currently at their best prices of the season (from reputable sellers, at least). As of this writing, all these games will also make it to your doorstep in time for Christmas—just make sure to double-check the arrival date if you’re shopping closer to the holiday. (For the most part, Amazon Prime members get two-day shipping, so as long as you order by Dec. 22, you should get receive your order in time.)



Source: LifeHacker – The Best Nintendo Switch Game Deals You Can Still Get in Time for Christmas

Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Now Available On Meta's Quest VR Headsets

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A beta version of the Xbox Cloud Gaming app is now available for the Meta Quest headsets, allowing you to stream hundreds of Xbox games with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. The Verge reports: The beta app is available from the Meta Quest Store, and you’ll simply need to pair a supported Bluetooth controller to start playing. You can use an Xbox controller (that supports Bluetooth), a PS4 one, or even Nintendo’s Switch Pro controllers. Support for PS5 controllers is “coming in the future,” according to Meta.

There are a variety of display sizes for an immersive VR environment to stream Xbox games in or even an Xbox-themed virtual space on the latest Quest 3 and Pro headsets that takes advantage of full-color passthrough.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Now Available On Meta’s Quest VR Headsets