Monthly Archives: December 2023

Daily Telescope: A colorful heart with a blue core

Posted on by

Read 3 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – Daily Telescope: A colorful heart with a blue core

How to Wrap Absolutely Any Gift (Even If You’ve Run Out of Tape or Paper)

Posted on by

The holidays are here, which means you have a lot of stuff to do. You have to make travel plans to visit loved ones, hosting plans for visiting loved ones, party plans, shopping plans, cleaning plans, decorating plans, and every other kind of plan. While most of these plans are well within a grown adult’s capabilities, there’s one plan that confounds even the smartest people: wrapping all those gifts.

If you’ve ever sat down to wrap a mountain of gifts only to have a nervous breakdown some unknown time later when you run out of tape, you know how surprisingly stressful the gift-wrapping process can be. Even simple, classic boxes can turn out looking like you wrapped them in a dark room after a long day—and oddly shaped gifts can often seem impossible. But don’t despair—wrapping gifts, even those with non-standard packaging (or no packaging at all), is easier than you think.

How to wrap a gift

First things first: the fundamentals. If your approach to wrapping gifts is to haphazardly apply wrapping paper with gobs of tape, resulting in what holiday scientists call abominations, rejoice: Wrapping a traditional box-shaped gift is actually easy once you know the basic approach, and there are plenty of gift wrapping hacks and ideas out there if you’re looking to up your wrapping game or facing a specifically challenging gift shape.

Classic methods

The easiest way to wrap a gift is to put that gift into a traditional square or rectangular box, if you can. That way you can employ the classic approach:

  1. Place the box face-down on the back of the wrapping paper, still attached to the roll. You should have enough paper on either side to come up about three-quarters of the height of the box.

  2. Fold the free end of the paper over the box until it can fold over the other end of the box and touch the back of the paper.

  3. Cut your paper, adding a three-inch margin past the edge of the box.

  4. Trim the paper so you have the same margins all around.

  5. Flip your box so it’s face-up.

  6. Fold about two inches of paper over the top of the box on the shorter side and secure with tape.

  7. Pull the other side over the top of the box and secure with tape. For extra style points, you can fold it under itself and use double-sided tape to create a neat seam instead of a taped edge in the middle of the box.

  8. On the ends, fold the paper into triangles on top and bottom, crease, and fold up. Then pull the edge down and tape. Repeat on the other end.

Voila! A cromulently wrapped gift (you can see it done here). Some of the folding isn’t 100% necessary, but results in a neater-looking job. And you can employ double-sided tape to hide it, creating a seamless look, but this is also extra credit and not absolutely required.

If speed is more important than an exquisite final product, you can do some speed wrapping:

  1. Measure your paper so it wraps all the way around your box with two inches extra.

  2. Place the box on its narrow side, diagonally across the back of the paper.

  3. Take the corner closest to you and fold it so it lines up with the edge of the box to your left, secure with tape.

  4. Fold along the edge created and bring the flap of paper up flush with the box edge. Secure with tape.

  5. Repeat on the other three sides.

These classic approaches require a lot of tape, which means you will likely run out of tape. Plus, all that tape can get maddening and messy, especially as you grow increasingly frantic as the clock winds down toward gifting deadlines. But you don’t actually need tape to wrap a gift:

  1. Cut your paper so you have two-inch margins all around your box.

  2. Turn the paper so it’s a diamond shape, place the box in the middle.

  3. Fold the bottom point of the diamond up and tuck it under the box.

  4. Fold in both sides and fold up along the top of the box.

  5. Holding those ends in place (awkwardly with your wrist), fold the top down and over.

  6. Tuck the point under the folded sides.

You can see it done here—no tape used at all!

Pro tip: Just as with any artistic endeavor, the key is in the finishing. Now that you have a perfectly wrapped gift, add some ribbon to really play up the fact that you’re better than everyone else—and for the final coup de grace, use custom labels. You can use a fancy label maker to create labels, grab some label templates for your printer, or just buy some custom gift tags.

Different materials

Having no tape is one thing, but what if you have no wrapping paper (or you’re concerned about the environmental impact)? You have plenty of options:

  • Other papers. Newspaper, butcher paper, tissue paper, brown paper bags (like the kind you get at the grocery store) cut into sheets—the fundamental quality of wrapping paper is paper, after all. If you have leftover wallpaper from a renovation project, that can be used as well. Using paper without any design on it also affords the opportunity to add unique, custom doodling and art to each one.

  • Containers. If your gift isn’t in a box, you don’t need to go buy a box and wrap it if you have an alternative container. Old (cleaned) jars, metal tins, or cans (paint cans, for example, if properly cleaned) can contain a gift. If you do need a small box, turning a cereal box inside-out can serve pretty well.

  • Fabric. Fabric can be a terrific way to wrap a gift that feels both more upscale and more personal and craft-y. You can go full elegant and use Japanese furoshiki, or make your own fabric gift bags, turn old sweaters into gift bags, or even use old towels, pillowcases, and sheets to wrap up your gifts.

  • Trash. If you don’t have any of the above materials, you can whip something up from the stuff you normally throw away. Toilet paper or paper towel rolls can be transformed into nifty gift boxes with a few cuts and folds—they work very well for loose jewelry that doesn’t have its own box. In a pinch, aluminum foil can make a glam wrapping paper. And empty (and cleaned) chip bags can be cut, turned inside out, and used as shiny wrapping paper in a pinch.

Different shapes

Of course, classic wrapping techniques—no matter the materials involved—work best when you have a nice square-ish shape to cover. What happens when you’re trying to wrap something that isn’t (and can’t be) in a box? You have a few choices here:

  • Illusion. If you have some oddly shaped things, combine them and make them look like a totally different and hilariously inappropriate gift (toilets are a popular shape!).

  • Literal. You could also just wrap it in a straightforward way that does nothing to hide what the gift is. This works best if the gift comes in several parts that can be wrapped individually and then placed together.

  • Envelopes and bags. One of the easiest ways to wrap an oddly shaped gift is to place it in a gift bag. TikTok shows us that you can make your own gift envelope from wrapping paper (or any kind of paper, really) just by cutting an appropriate amount of paper and folding/taping it into shape.

    • Pro tip: Use a piece of cardboard on the bottom of your DIY gift bag/envelope to add some stability.

There are also some shape-specific approaches for gifts that aren’t boxes:

  • Cylindrical. There are two simple ways to wrap a cylindrical object. Both start with cutting a piece of wrapping paper that will go all the way around the gift with an inch or so of overlap. One approach is to make a series of cuts to the top and bottom of your paper, then wrap the gift and tuck the tabs you’ve created in to create a neat top and bottom. Alternatively, cinch the paper at the top and bottom with a ribbon to get a “party favor” look.

  • Bottles. These are kind of a sub-category of cylinders, so you can use a hybrid of the two approaches above: Cut tabs into the bottom of your paper to fold over into a nice base, but use the ribbon “party favor” approach at the top.

  • Flat and round. For large, flat objects like a tennis racquet or guitar, trace their shape onto your paper, adding a healthy margin of three to four inches. Then cut the shape out twice and sandwich the gift between like you’re making a pie.

  • Spherical. When wrapping a spherical gift, fabric is your easiest choice, as you can simply wrap the fabric around it and cinch the top with some ribbon. For a more “finished” look, use a variation on the envelope technique above that takes the dimensions of your gift into account, as seen here. The easiest choice? An appropriately sized gift bag of any kind.

Alternatives

For very large gifts like a bicycle or exercise equipment (or if you live in a world where commercials are real, an entire new car), it might not be worth it to wrap them at all—just slap a bow on there and keep them out of sight until it’s time for the gift exchange. In fact, if your gift-giving cohort is amenable, you can skip gift wrapping entirely and just put your gifts in a bag until it’s time to exchange.

If you need things wrapped but you don’t trust your ability to take simple measurements, make crisp seams, and apply tape without inviting ruin (you are my people), don’t forget that we live in a consumerist society and there are professional wrapping services out there you can avail yourself of. Many stores will happily wrap your purchases if you ask (sometimes for free), and there is probably a wrapping service in your area (or a mobile one that will come to you) if you Google for it (you can find a small directory of these services here).

Gift wrapping is also a side hustle for some folks, so it’s worth it to check places like TaskRabbit or Thumbtack for wrapping services in your area.



Source: LifeHacker – How to Wrap Absolutely Any Gift (Even If You’ve Run Out of Tape or Paper)

Impressions from Coolest Projects South Africa 2023

Posted on by

The day after the successful meetup with our Global Clubs Partner organisations based in Africa, our team and some of our partners enjoyed participating in the Coolest Projects South Africa 2023 event to meet young tech creators and help out as project judges. Here are some of our impressions.

Our team and partners at Coolest Projects South Africa 2023.

A day of Coolest Projects

This is the fourth year of a partner-run, regional version of Coolest Projects — our world-leading showcase for young tech creators — taking place in South Africa, led by David Campey. David is Director of Coder LevelUp, one of our Global Clubs Partners growing and supporting a network of CoderDojos and Code Clubs in the country, and involved in the CoderDojo movement for a whole decade.

A waterbottle with a Coolest Projects South Africa sticker.

There was a buzz of anticipation and excitement at the Cape Town Science Centre as young coders from age 5 to 18 and various backgrounds gathered on this sunny Saturday morning to showcase their coding creations and inventions at Coolest Projects South Africa. From fun games and animations on Scratch, to cool websites created with HTML and CSS, to fantastic Python-based hardware solutions to real-world challenges — every young creator brought along a project they’d created to proudly showcase and celebrate.

Luhle’s language-inspired coding project

While chatting with the creators and discovering what had motivated their projects, we met up with 11-year-old Luhle, who was delighted to take us through the ‘Moon conversation’ animation she had coded in Scratch.

A young tech creator with her Scratch project at Coolest Projects South Africa 2023.
11-year-old Luhle proudly showcases her ‘Moon conversation’ Scratch animation at the Coolest Projects South Africa 2023 event.

The animation involved a Spanish conversation between two people who journeyed to the moon and back. Luhle had created her animation because of her love for languages and in response to a challenge posed to her class by her teacher: to learn 5 languages. While her mother tongue is isiXhosa, she is confident in English, is learning Afrikaans, has started teaching herself Spanish, and would love to learn Korean.

Kayden’s innovative hardware creation

We also met with 16-year-old Kayden, who showcased a project he’d made to address a real-world challenge. He told us he had always struggled to concentrate in class — a challenge that many young people face — and he wanted to build an alternative solution to the established medications. Using vibration sensors and two microcontrollers, he created a digital device to prompt users when they are no longer paying attention in class. With his friend Carl, he successfully tested the device on a meaningful sample of Grade 1–3 learners (ages 7–9).

A young tech creator with his hardware project at Coolest Projects South Africa 2023.
16-year-old Kayden listens intently as one of the Coolest Projects judges, Akwabi Paul from Kenya, commends his invention and advises him on next steps. Listening in are two other judges, Solomon from The Gambia and Sylvester from Malawi.

Kayden is now developing this low-cost innovative solution to include a heart rate monitor to help to detect when a user loses focus, and he wants this to be a solution that’s widely accessible and affordable for all South African children. One of the judges, our partner Akwabi Paul from Tech Kidz Africa in Kenya, was greatly impressed and motivated by Kayden’s work, and took time to advise Kayden on the next steps to turn his invention into a commercial product.

The coding club at CBC St Johns Parklands

During the event we also met members of Mrs Hill’s coding club and learnt about Mrs Hill’s experience of nurturing a love and interest for coding and robotics at CBC St Johns Parklands in Cape Town.

Since 2020, Mrs Hills has been providing coding lessons to all school classes — learners aged 6 to 12 years — as well as an after-school coding and robotics club. She approaches her lessons by introducing and demonstrating coding skills and then presenting her learners with a problem to solve collaboratively. In her words, ‘Learners find more interest in learning practically.’

That’s why Coolest Projects is the perfect fit for her and her young people. 4 of her club members took part in Coolest Projects South Africa 2022. This year, she was proud to enter 11 participants, 3 of whom were chosen as judges’ favourites.

Here’s to the young creators and more Coolest Projects events

After the showcasing and judging, the Coolest Projects South Africa event culminated in a hearty celebration of all that the young tech creators had presented. David Campey’s passion for nurturing coding literacy, digital making skills, and innovative thinking among learners from different walks of life made the whole day a truly enjoyable, inclusive event for the young creators.

Coolest Projects logo.

It was inspiring, no doubt, for our other African partners who participated as judges and are now keen to host Coolest Projects events back in their home countries.  

Get involved in Coolest Projects

If you and your young people based anywhere on the globe feel inspired to showcase digital tech creations, you can get involved in our Coolest Projects 2024 online showcase! It’s free and open to any young tech creator up to age 18.

Sign up to the Coolest Projects newsletter to be the first to hear all updates, for example when showcase registration opens on 14 February.

The post Impressions from Coolest Projects South Africa 2023 appeared first on Raspberry Pi Foundation.



Source: Raspberry Pi – Impressions from Coolest Projects South Africa 2023

Real vs. Fake: We compared all Instagram Growth Services – The Results

Posted on by

Instagram continues to be a robust platform for people, brands, and influencers to build relationships with their respective communities. However, the platform’s validity has been called into question due to the proliferation of false followers and bots. Instagram growth services are plentiful, but UpGrow stands out as the only one truly dedicated to providing organic expansion.

The Emergence of the Bot Menace

Instagram users have long been concerned about the effects of fake followers and bots on the platform, particularly on the reputation of influencers and companies. These bot accounts can artificially exaggerate metrics like the number of followers, likes, and comments. In addition to misleading people, this dishonest method also discourages genuine participation.

UpGrow is the best Instagram growth Alternative

In the bustling world of Instagram growth, UpGrow emerges as the superior alternative, outshining established names like PathSocial, Plixi, Upleap, Kicksta, and Ampfluence. As the best PathSocial alternative, UpGrow offers a more robust AI-driven strategy for organic engagement. Plixi users looking for a switch will find UpGrow’s targeted interaction methods a breath of fresh air, marking it as the most effective Plixi alternative for genuine growth. As an Upleap alternative, UpGrow stands out with its commitment to fostering real connections rather than just boosting numbers. Those accustomed to Kicksta’s services will see UpGrow as the ideal Kicksta alternative, with its innovative approach to building a loyal follower base. Lastly, as an Ampfluence alternative, UpGrow triumphs with its blend of human touch and advanced analytics, ensuring an authentic increase in followers that truly resonate with your brand’s message. In the competitive arena of Instagram growth, UpGrow’s tailored, data-driven services position it as the prime choice for users seeking impactful and sustainable growth.

UpGrow’s Pledge to Authenticity

When UpGrow came onto the scene, it was like a breath of fresh air for Instagram users aiming to gain more followers.

UpGrow sets itself apart by avoiding the use of bots and phony followers in its growth techniques, demonstrating a firm dedication to authenticity. The company’s stance on bots, spam, and other marketing tricks is crystal clear.

The company has a strict policy of not using any automated systems, spam, or other tricks.

The Human Touch in UpGrow’s Approach

UpGrow combines the efficiency of AI with the knowledge of human IG specialists, setting it apart from services that rely primarily on automation. This novel combination guarantees that the growth techniques used are consistent with authentic user interactions and are thus both effective and efficient. Unlike many competing automated solutions, UpGrow prioritizes authenticity by incorporating human input.

Guaranteed Growth or Money Back

UpGrow takes a bold step by offering a money-back guarantee on its growth services. This guarantee demonstrates the firm’s conviction in its potential to achieve genuine organic expansion. UpGrow is so confident in the efficacy of its AI-powered growth engine that it offers a 100% money-back guarantee.

Smart AI-Targeting: Quality Over Quantity

UpGrow employs savvy AI-targeting as one of its primary weapons in the war against bots. The platform’s primary goal isn’t merely to amass a large number of followers, but rather to attract genuine users who will take an active interest in the content being shared. Through UpGrow’s AI, users may apply filters based on demographic information such as location, age, gender, language, interests, and hashtags to ensure that their Instagram account is growing in a way that is most beneficial to it.

Active and Engaging Followers: The UpGrow Difference

Fostering a community of active and engaged followers is more important than focusing on raw statistics in the fight against phony followers. UpGrow prides itself on recruiting followers who go beyond being mere spectators. These are the people that are always ready to comment on and share a user’s Instagram posts and stories, making for a lively and active audience.

UpGrow Boost: Accelerating Authentic Growth

UpGrow presents the Boost function as part of its ongoing effort to promote real Instagram expansion. This AI-powered breakthrough expedites monthly follower increases by utilizing sophisticated pattern identification and clever real Instagram growth. A startling 275% rise in monthly followers has been reported by early adopters of UpGrow Boost, demonstrating the efficacy of this cutting-edge growth technology.

Instagram Compliance and User Safety

UpGrow’s dedication to Instagram’s policies and its users’ security remains unwavering as the war against fraudulent engagement heats up. Since its launch in 2016, the service has helped Instagrammers achieve millions of organic followers without violating any of the platform’s rules. With UpGrow, users may experience growth without fear of jeopardizing the security of their accounts.

Final Verdict

UpGrow triumphs over false followers on Instagram and takes center stage as the champion of true growth. UpGrow provides customers with a growth solution that not only meets but exceeds their expectations by combining the power of AI with the knowledge and experience of real humans and a commitment to Instagram’s policies and guidelines.

Navigating the complexities of Instagram growth can be daunting, but UpGrow’s suite of free Instagram AI tools offers a helping hand. These tools harness artificial intelligence to provide users with actionable insights and analytics that can inform their content strategies. From generating relevant hashtags that aim to increase discoverability to analyzing engagement data for better audience understanding, these resources are designed for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of their Instagram metrics. UpGrow’s AI tools are a resource for those who prefer data-backed decisions, offering a level of analysis that could potentially enhance the quality of interactions on their posts. For creators and businesses alike, tapping into AI capabilities could be a game-changer in managing and growing their Instagram presence effectively.

UpGrow is a shining example of honesty and dependability in a social media world overrun by bots. As Instagram users seek real relationships and meaningful engagement, UpGrow’s fight against phony followers is a demonstration of the company’s dedication to the true meaning of social media.



Source: TG Daily – Real vs. Fake: We compared all Instagram Growth Services – The Results

Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, December 7, 2023

Posted on by

If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 7, 2023 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is going to take some time for most of us to figure out, but it’s not too hard; I got it in 4. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 7, Wordle #901! 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.)

Only three of our letter slots are filled with common letters; the other two I’d say are neither unusual nor common.

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

You’ll want to get some shut-eye.

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

Yep, today has a double vowel.

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

Just one, but it’s in there twice.

What letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s word starts with S.

What letter does today’s Wordle end with?

Today’s word ends with P.

What is the solution to today’s Wordle?

Ready? Today’s word is SLEEP.

How I solved today’s Wordle

The yellow S and E from ARISE are promising, but I need more information before I start guessing. The lack of any hits at all on TOUCH was interesting. Where else can I put that E besides at the end of the word? Might it be doubled? I try SEEDY, and that told me that the word does have two E’s, and they must be in the middle of the word: S_EE_. Looks like it must be SLEEP!

Wordle 901 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 7, 2023

Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Thursday, December 7, 2023

Posted on by

In which I lose my first Connections game ever. Join me for this historic moment and learn from my mistakes. If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Thursday, December 7, 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 7, NYT Connections #179! 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 7, 2023: ALFA, BET, POM, MA, USA, YO, LA, TANGO, BRAVO, OK, BOO, E, HI, TOM, HALLMARK, ROMEO.

Credit: Connections/NYT

Does today’s Connections game require any special knowledge?

Do you know what a radiotelephonic spelling alphabet is? Good, you’re all set. If you watch TV, that will help, too.

Hints for the themes in today’s Connections puzzle

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

  • Yellow category – These are abbreviations. (I won’t say of what, though.)

  • Green category – Watching TV.

  • Blue category – Spelling words.

  • Purple category – Doubled up.

Does today’s Connections game involve any wordplay?

Yes. There are abbreviations, code words, and words that can be repeated. Good luck.

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?

  • ALFA can refer to the car maker (as in the ALFA ROMEO) or it can be the letter A in the NATO phonetic alphabet. Browse that list and see if any others look familiar, hint hint.

  • HI is how you say hello. It’s also what you’d need to write on a postcard to mail it to Hawaii. 

  • E is a letter. It’s also a television channel about entertainment. (And it’s a party drug, but that’s not important today.)

What are the categories in today’s Connections?

  • Yellow: STATE ABBREVIATIONS

  • Green: CABLE CHANNELS

  • Blue: IN THE NATO ALPHABET

  • Purple: ____-____

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 STATE ABBREVIATIONS and the words are: HI, LA, MA, OK.

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 CABLE CHANNELS and the words are: BET, E, HALLMARK, USA.

What are the blue words in today’s Connections?

The blue grouping is the second-hardest. The theme for today’s blue category is IN THE NATO ALPHABET and the words are: ALFA, BRAVO, ROMEO, TANGO.

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 ____-____ and the words are: BOO, POM, TOM, YO.

How I solved today’s Connections

OK, I know they are trying to trick me, with ALFA/BET and YO/LA/TANGO, among other cutesy setups. (The band, by the way, is Yo La Tengo. Nice try, Connections.) ALFA would have to be ALFA/ROMEO, the car, right? But then I remember that the alphabet used by pilots and air traffic control is designed to be readable and pronounceable by people in multiple languages, and they sometimes spell the word for letter A–Alpha–as ALFA. BRAVO, ROMEO, and TANGO are also in that alphabet. 🟦 (This is one of the random things I memorized as a child, for some reason: alpha, bravo, charlie, delta, echo, foxtrot, golf, hotel, india, kilo, lima…)

Now I feel very smart, yet I have no clue what to make of the rest. Hmm…BET and E are television channels; could they go with HALLMARK and USA? They do. 🟩 

After several more minutes of staring at the board, I think of MA-MA and BOO-BOO, children’s words. How about YO-YO and POM-POM? I’m one away. I swap POM for LA, and I’m getting colder. I make three more random guesses, and finally admit defeat. This is the first Connections game I have ever lost. TOM-TOM should have been in that group; MA-MA was not. And the rest were state abbreviations. 

Connections 
Puzzle #179
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟨🟪
🟪🟨🟨🟪
🟨🟪🟨🟪
🟨🟨🟨🟪

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 7, 2023

NASA’s asteroid mission struck its target, but then dodged a bullet

Posted on by

Read 24 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – NASA’s asteroid mission struck its target, but then dodged a bullet

The Meta Quest 3 Is Still Searching for a Reason to Exist

Posted on by

Virtual reality is suffering from an identity problem. Users’ first experiences are generally awe-inspiring, but once the “wow” factor of entering a fully immersive 3D world wears off, you’re left with the question, “but what is it for?”

Meta’s Quest 3 VR headset does not provide a compelling answer, but it does offer some intriguing glimpses at our possible VR future. It ultimately works better as a toy than as a tool, but it’s an insanely great toy. 

What’s improved about the Quest 3?

Meta’s line of VR headsets are the only major stand-alone VR gear out, so the Quest 3’s main competition is the last generation of Meta’s VR gear, and the Quest 3 is better than the Quest 2 in every way but the price (the Quest 2’s new base price is $299.99, whereas the Quest 3 is $499.99) The 3’s display resolution is higher—2064×2208 per eye with a 90Hz refresh rate versus 1832×1920 on the Quest 2. (The Quest 3 even supports 120Hz, but Meta notes this is currently experimental only.)

The Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor is faster then the Quest 2’s first-get Snapdragon. It has 8GB of DRAM compared to the Quest 2’s 6GB. The new pancake lenses are way better than the fresnel lenses of the Quest 2. The headset is slimmer and more comfortable to wear. The controllers are lighter and feature improved haptics. It even looks cooler.

But the Quest’s 3’s most striking improvement over the Quest 2 may be its array of six front-facing cameras that take you out of the blurry black-and-white of the Quest 2 and into a possible future where augmented reality exists alongside virtual reality.

Quest 3 specs

  • Processor: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2

  • DRAM: 8GB

  • Display resolution: 2064×2208 per eye

  • Refresh rate: 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz (experimental setting only)

  • Field of view: 110 degrees horizontal, 96 degrees vertical

  • Lens adjustment: Accommodated IPD range: 53-75 mm

  • Cameras: 4 IR cameras and 2 RGB cameras

  • Audio: Stereo speakers compatible with 3D spatial audio, 3.5mm audio jack

  • Storage: 128GB or 512GB

  • Battery life: 1.5–2.9 hours, depending on usage (according to Meta)

  • Charge time: 2.3 hours via 18W power adapter

  • Wifi: Wi-Fi 6E

  • Headset weight: 515g

Recommended products

Virtual reality’s “thank God that’s over” effect

As advanced as the Quest 3 is, it’s up against a serious problem that I call the “thank god that’s over” effect. I’ve had great experiences in virtual reality—fake-fishing with my kid on father’s day, watching Dr. Phil re-runs with strangers, pornography—but no matter how much I enjoy anything VR, every time I take the headset off, I feel a palpable sense of relief. 

For me, and other’s I’ve spoken to, being immersed in virtual reality is mentally overwhelming. It’s partly from the bright colored lights bombarding your eyes. It’s partly from the uncanny nature of the experience itself. Then there’s the slightly queasy feeling caused by microsecond lag in motion (and I’m actually not as prone to VR sickness as many). Just the weight and snugness of feeling the thing strapped to your face can be off-putting. It all adds up to a claustrophobic, unsettling experience that some primal part of me ceaselessly wants to escape. Eventually, even the thought of attaching the thing to my face becomes a deterrent, and my shiny VR gear is relegated to a closet, to break out only for friends who have never used VR before.

A more gentle immersion into virtual reality

The Quest 3’s cameras do a lot to alleviate that sense of “I gotta get out of here.” When you start it up, instead of being fully inside the machine, your lobby is a full color, real-time video stream of your living room. It’s blurry, but way less jarring than plunging into the full-reality-separation of “immersive” VR. From there, you can choose to step into a virtual space, with the knowledge that a tap on the side of the helmet will bring you back to the living room, or stay in that half-in, half-out world for an augmented reality experience.

The front-facing cameras also allow for useful hand and finger tracking too, although in most situations, I preferred the controllers—clicking a button is easier than remembering which gesture does what. The improved controllers are lighter and more compact than the Quest 2’s, and they don’t have that weird ring thing from the last generation. For newer, non-gamer users, they’re more comfortable and intuitive.

Technology that makes people less sick

The faster processor, better resolution, and extra RAM means the Quest 3 is able to “keep up” with your face movements and display graphics with higher frame-rate and less latency. Theoretically, that means it’s less likely to make you feel queasy than previous Quest generations. I didn’t actually notice much difference in practice; it still makes me mildly ill, especially when moving quickly—stationary VR experiences like Beat Saber remain the best VR experiences. Motion-sensitivity aside, the Quest 3’s graphical and computational performance is way better than the Quest 2’s—visuals are brighter, with a 15% wider field-of-view than the last generation, and games and apps load noticeably more quickly. 

The physical design of the Quest 3 headset is way better

The Quest 3 headset’s design is a huge improvement over the Quest 2. Even though the Quest 3 is slightly heavier than the Quest 2 (515g vs. 503g), the weight is better distributed, so the headset itself is more comfortable, slimmer, and more spread out, which lessens the off-balance feeling that can make virtually reality subtly unpleasant. There are also much-needed air vents to instances of lessen fogged up lenses when the experience gets strenuous.

The improvement in weight distribution isn’t the kind of thing you notice in 30 seconds, but when you wear it for an hour or so, it’s a huge improvement, and does a surprising amount to make virtual reality feel less claustrophobic. For a bit, anyway. Even with the improved ergonomics, the Quest 3 still gives me that uncomfortable, too-hot, “why is this thing strapped to my face?” feeling after prolonged use, if less so than other headsets I’ve tried. 

The improved head-strap is easier to adjust to get a good fit to your face. With the Quest 2, buying an improved head-strap was practically mandatory, but here, the right-out-of-the-box strap works fine. (That said, it would be nice if Quest 2 accessories were compatible with the new headset, but I suppose the change in design makes that impossible.) 

Glasses-wearers are also in luck: While you can get prescription lenses for the Quest 3 (another must with the Quest 2), the device’s adjustable glasses spacer is built in and works on all but the most oversized spectacles.

All that is great, but what is the Quest 3 good for?

From a technological and design perspective, the Quest 3 is an impressive piece of kit, but none of that matters if you can’t use it for anything. To get to the soul of the Quest 3, I put it through its paces by using it for gaming, productivity, and socialization. Maybe unsurprisingly, the winner was gaming.

The Meta Quest 3 is a first-rate augmented and virtual reality gaming console

The Quest 3 is fantastic for gaming. I checked out Assassin’s Creed: Nexus for a “traditional” VR-style game and Drop Dead: The Cabin for a look at the possibilities of mixed-reality gaming. Both are excellent examples of the kind of fun you can have in virtual reality.

Without getting fully into “game review” territory, AC: Nexus is great. A lot of VR games are still glorified tech demos, but Nexus feels close to an actual game. It’s not there yet, but it’s close. Nexus is short and simple compared to “real” Assassin’s Creed games, but its 16 levels are impressively immersing. The combat, parkour, and stealth actually work, and the beefed up Quest 3 hardware makes the game run like butter. Graphically, it’s maybe on par with a PlayStation 3 title, but you can’t get inside a PS3 game.

Drop Dead: The Cabin, Home Invasion mode
Those aren’t my real window and door.
Credit: Soul Assembly/Stephen Johnson

But I had the most fun with Drop Dead: The Cabin. It’s a pretty standard “shoot a lot of zombies” title, but the “home invasion” mode shows off the possibility of AR gaming. You map the room you’re playing in, and the game overlays fictional elements into your house. The screenshot above doesn’t really do the impressive tech justice—you have to see it in motion. It’s got a classic coin-op arcade vibe of simplicity and ever-increasing difficulty that make it perfect for the short play-time and lack of complexity of VR gaming. 

The Quest 3 also shines when it’s connected to a PC and used as VR monitor. You’ll need a fairly powerful PC, but if you have that, you can either physically or virtually link your Quest 3 to it to play more “advanced” games than the standalone headset will allow like Half-Life: Alyx. Linking to a PC might be the Quest’s killer app, and it makes the $500 price tag seems less outrageous. A Vive headset, which doesn’t act as a standalone unit, costs nearly twice that much, and the performance is comparable. 

Can you do productive things with a Quest 3?

PianoVision Screenshot
All the ladies love how I play “Camptown Races.”
Credit: ZarApps/Stephen Johnson

To see if I could do something “useful” with my Quest 3, I installed Pianovision and attempted to learn to a little music. The concept is solid—a virtual piano tutor allows you to you learn piano, Guitar Hero style—but it’s not great in practice. You can use Pianovision to learn to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” but the fiddly adjustments needed to overlay a virtual keyboard over a real one are annoying, and I never managed to get them exactly right. Worse, the lag time between pressing a key and hearing the note is noticeable, rendering it fairly useless for true music study (unless you want to play off the beat). Playing a “keyboard” that doesn’t exist is another option, but the finger-recognition isn’t good enough to make it work, and not being able to feeling the keyboard makes playing it extremely difficult. In other words, it’s all more trouble than it’s worth.

I can’t make much of a case for using the Quest 3 for work-based productivity either. I was able to use Virtual Desktop to control my Mac from the cyber-verse, which is cool for sure, but the virtual keyboard is as awkward and slow as the air-piano, and using the Quest controller as a mouse isn’t great either. Like a virtual piano, it’s an appreciably worse experience than just using the real thing, and any benefits it offers are marginal—a lot more work with little reward. 

There are collaborative possibilities with the Quest 3, but I don’t know how realistic they are at this time. To think that anyone you work with is going to have a VR headset and be willing to strap one on when you could have a Zoom meeting instead is laughable. 

Can you use the Quest 3 to make new friends?

There are two main avenues people use to hang out in VR: Meta Horizon Worlds and VRChat. They’re both terrible, but each offers a unique flavor of awful. Horizon World’s tightly controlled social spaces and user created worlds are an empty wasteland, while VRChat’s anything-goes style attracts a lot of people, but they’re extremely annoying people. Just about everyone in either place is 10 years old, and not the kind of 10-year-olds with good parents. So pick your poison: A handful of 10-year-olds being annoying in an orderly, corporately controlled space, or 5,000 10-year-olds spamming and screaming in VRChat. I spent several hours searching for a human connection in these two social spaces, and my overall verdict is that I never want to do anything like that again for the rest of my life.

Can you use the Quest 3 to get fit?

Thrill of the Fight
This guy came to my house and punched me in the face.
Credit: Sealost Interactive, LLC

If you think virtual reality fitness might work for you, the Quest 3 provides a better overall experience than the Quest 2, mainly due to the improved headgear. The vents in headset means less fogged up views when things get sweaty, and the better ergonomics makes things more comfortable overall. That said, the Quest 2 is $200 cheaper than the Quest 3, and while there are new passthrough options in some VR fitness programs (including my personal favorite, Thrill of the Fight), if you’re buying it as a workout gadget, the improvements the Quest 3 offers over the Quest 2 probably aren’t worth it.

The bottom line: It’s a toy, but a really great toy

Richie's Plank Experience
The original and still the champion
Credit: Toast Interactive/Stephen Johnson

My all-time favorite app for both the Quest 2 and the Quest 3 remains Richie’s Plank Experience. Released in 2016, this tech demo puts users in an elevator that ascends many stories into the sky. The doors slide and open to reveal a wooden plank hanging in mid-air. That’s basically it. The fun comes from letting other people try it and watching them experience the terrifying feeling of being on a board teetering 200 feet above the street. It’s not useful, deep, or life-changing, but it’s hilarious.

While the Quest 3’s technological and ergonomic improvements point to the possibility of VR becoming useful in the future, at present, it’s but a cool novelty that will make you say “wow” or “I am going to fall off this building.” It’s a cheap thrill, but sometimes cheap thrills make life feel worth living, so if you’re looking for a fun gift for the techie in your life, or if you just want to blow your Grandpa’s mind, the Quest 3 should top your gift list. If you’re expecting to live in the virtual world, you might have to give it a few years.



Source: LifeHacker – The Meta Quest 3 Is Still Searching for a Reason to Exist

Ex-Twitter exec sues Musk, says he was fired for objecting to budget cuts

Posted on by
Twitter's old bird logo next to the X logo that replaced it.

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto )

A former Twitter security executive sued Elon Musk and X Corp. yesterday, alleging that he was unlawfully fired for objecting to steep budget cuts implemented shortly after Musk bought the social network.

Alan Rosa, who was fired on December 6, 2022, “was Head of Global Information Technology and Information Security and worked remotely for Twitter performing the majority of his job duties from his home in New Jersey,” said the lawsuit filed in US District Court for the District of New Jersey. He also sometimes worked in Twitter’s New York and California offices.

Rosa was required to resolve his claims through arbitration and says that he filed a demand for arbitration in April 2023 and paid his arbitration filing fee. Rosa alleges that “Twitter has refused to pay its portion of the arbitration fees despite being ordered by JAMS [Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services] to do so.”

Read 17 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – Ex-Twitter exec sues Musk, says he was fired for objecting to budget cuts

Use Your Instacart+ Membership to Get Peacock Premium for Free

Posted on by

If you’ve been on the hunt for a new grocery delivery service, a new partnership between Instacart and Peacock is worth checking out. Under the promotion, Instacart+ members can get a free Peacock Premium subscription for as long as their Instacart membership is active.

How do Instacart and Peacock work?

Instacart is a phone app that lets you shop for groceries from home. A shopper will receive your order and go to the grocery store, buy your list, and deliver it to your door. You get unlimited free delivery on orders over $35, a 5% credit back on eligible pickup orders, and you can share your account with family members to split the cost. It costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year.

Peacock is a streaming platform owned by NBCUniversal. This deal gets you Peacock Premium, which is the version with ads that costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 a year. You can watch many movies and shows, including Peacock Originals, and live sports and events.

How to get Instacart for free

You can try Instacart for two weeks for free by going to their homepage and signing up for a free trial. Those who have the following credit cards also get Instacart as one of the included perks:

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve

  • Chase Sapphire

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred

  • Chase Freedom

  • Chase Freedom Flex

  • Chase Freedom Unlimited

  • Chase Freedom Rise

  • Chase Freedom Student

  • Chase Slate

  • Chase Slate Edge

  • J.P. Morgan Reserve

  • Instacart Mastercard

How to get Peacock with an Instacart subscription

Unlike a lot of these promotional signup deals, both new and returning Instacart members can still get this deal. Unfortunately, current Peacock subscribers are not eligible. To sign up, all you have to do is head to the Instacart website and do the following:

  • Log in to your Instacart account.

  • Select the 3 horizontal lines in the upper left corner.

  • If you don’t see the 3 horizontal lines in the app, tap Account at the bottom of your screen.

  • Select Your Instacart+ Membership.

  • Under Unlock special offers, select Activate under the Peacock offer.

  • Select Activate Peacock now.

  • You’ll then be redirected to Peacock’s website, where you can sign in or create an account to activate your benefit.



Source: LifeHacker – Use Your Instacart+ Membership to Get Peacock Premium for Free

Intel accuses AMD of selling old CPUs with new model numbers, which Intel also does

Posted on by
A now-deleted Intel presentation makes a good point, but with a side of disingenuousness.

Enlarge / A now-deleted Intel presentation makes a good point, but with a side of disingenuousness.

AMD changed the way it numbers its Ryzen laptop processors last year, switching to a new system that simultaneously provides more concrete information than the old one while also partially obfuscating the exact age of the various CPU and GPU architectures being mixed-and-matched.

For instance, a knowledgeable buyer can look at the “3” in the Ryzen 5 7530U processor and determine that it uses an older Zen 3-based CPU core. But a less-knowledgeable buyer could be forgiven for looking at the “7000” part and assuming that the chip is significantly newer and better than 2021’s Ryzen 5600U, when in reality the two are substantially identical.

Intel came out swinging against this naming scheme in a confrontational slide deck this week—now deleted, but preserved for posterity by VideoCardz—where it accuses AMD of selling “snake oil” by using older processor architectures in ostensibly “new” chips.

Read 11 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – Intel accuses AMD of selling old CPUs with new model numbers, which Intel also does

Quantum computer performs error-resistant operations with logical qubits

Posted on by

Read 22 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – Quantum computer performs error-resistant operations with logical qubits

Avoid These Four Common Mistakes When Driving on Black Ice

Posted on by

Whether this will be your first winter living somewhere cold or you’ve been driving in the snow since you were a teenager, black ice can sneak up on you. Unlike snow and regular ice—which is visible when it’s covering the road—black ice is thin, transparent, and typically hard to see from any kind of distance. It’s also especially slippery, and therefore dangerous.

For these reasons, a driver might only realize that they’ve hit a patch of black ice after they start losing control of their vehicle. But, knowing what to do—or in this case, what not to do—next can help you navigate it safely. To help us get ready for winter, Lifehacker spoke with Lucas Waldenback, a driver education expert and the co-founder of Zutobi, an online driver’s ed platform. Below, he breaks down three of the most common mistakes people make while driving on black ice, and what we should do instead.

Mistakes to avoid when driving on black ice

Always take black ice—and weather reports that predict the possibility of it forming on roads—seriously, says Waldenback, who also advises “be[ing] ready to adjust your plans if necessary.” Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. So, if you end up coming across a patch of black ice, do your best to avoid making these mistakes:

1. Hitting the brakes

When you realize that you’ve come across a patch of black ice, your first instinct may be to hit the brakes, but according to Waldenback, that’s a bad idea. “It can make your wheels lock up,” he tells Lifehacker. “When the wheels lock, your tires can’t grip the road, and your vehicle starts sliding on the ice.” Once you lose control of your car, it’s tough to steer or get back on track. “Instead, take your foot off the gas and gently steer [in the direction] you want to go, without sudden moves,” he says. “Smooth, gradual actions are vital to regaining control.”

2. Accelerating

Accelerating on black ice is dangerous because the lack of traction can cause your wheels to spin in place. “When your tires spin on ice, it worsens things and can lead to a skid or loss of control,” Waldenback explains. “So, let off the gas to let your vehicle slow down until you regain traction. If needed, use the brakes very gently, but be cautious.”

3. Tailgating

This should really go without saying—because tailgating is never safe—but don’t do it on black ice. “Stay [a] safe [distance] from the vehicle ahead [of you] to avoid rear-end collisions if the [other car] lose[s] control,” Waldenback says.

4. Panicking

Losing control of your car is unnerving, but Waldenback says that panicking is a mistake , as it might cause you to overreact in the moment. “Jerking the steering wheel suddenly can worsen the skid, or make you overcorrect—which is hard to recover from” he notes. “Instead, stay calm, lift off the gas, and steer gently in the direction you want to go. Keep your eyes on your desired path.”

Tips for driving on black ice

Along with avoiding the mistakes above, here’s how Waldenback recommends staying safe when driving on black ice:

  • Be prepared for winter weather: Be sure to have the right tires, maintain your vehicle, and carry emergency supplies in case you get stuck.

  • Slow down and keep your distance: Leaving more space between cars gives you more time to react, and avoid accidents on icy roads.

  • Give yourself extra time: Your commute and other car journeys will likely take longer than usual in winter weather, so plan ahead. This will “reduce the urge to rush and make snap decisions on the road,” he explains.

The bottom line: Exercise caution on car trips in winter weather, even if you’re a seasoned winter driver. “Respect black ice,” Waldenback says. “Understand it’s a severe and hidden danger, so adjust your driving accordingly.”



Source: LifeHacker – Avoid These Four Common Mistakes When Driving on Black Ice

Meta’s new AI image generator was trained on 1.1 billion Instagram and Facebook photos

Posted on by
Three images generated by

Enlarge / Three images generated by “Imagine with Meta AI” using the Emu AI model. (credit: Meta | Benj Edwards)

On Wednesday, Meta released a free standalone AI image generator website, “Imagine with Meta AI,” based on its Emu image synthesis model. Meta used 1.1 billion publicly visible Facebook and Instagram images to train the AI model, which can render a novel image from a written prompt. Previously, Meta’s version of this technology—using the same data—was only available in messaging and social networking apps such as Instagram.

If you’re on Facebook or Instagram, it’s quite possible a picture of you (or that you took) helped train Emu. In a way, the old saying, “If you’re not paying for it, you are the product” has taken on a whole new meaning. Although, as of 2016, Instagram users uploaded over 95 million photos a day, so the dataset Meta used to train its AI model was a small subset of its overall photo library.

Since Meta says it only uses publicly available photos for training, setting your photos private on Instagram or Facebook should prevent their inclusion in the company’s future AI model training (unless it changes that policy, of course).

Read 11 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – Meta’s new AI image generator was trained on 1.1 billion Instagram and Facebook photos

GameStop Has a Great Deal on Gaming Consoles Right Now

Posted on by

With so many retailers to choose from, it can be hard to know if you’re getting the best deal possible on a video game console—especially if you just want to give a nice gift and don’t know much about video games. If you’ve been on the hunt for a console, whether for yourself or someone else, this might be the time to strike, because GameStop’s newest promotion is pretty dang good.

At GameStop, you’ll save $25 when you buy more than $250 online or in-store and pick up your items in person. All you have to do is select “Pick up today & save $25 on your order” before you click the “proceed to checkout” button. This current promotion means that if you don’t mind going to the store physically, you’ll be getting the best prices currently available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, or the latest Xbox.

The best Nintendo Switch deals right now

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the higher-end model with a nicer OLED screen, which great for players on the go, but there’s difference once you hook it up to the TV. The latest bundle is the Nintendo Switch OLED Model Bundle: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which comes with the game and three months of the Nintendo online membership for $349.99. But you can get it for $324.99 if you choose to pick it up in person. This is the best deal you will find from any reliable retailer right now, and it’s cheaper than the deal that was available on Black Friday.

If you’re looking for the regular Nintendo Switch, you can get the Nintendo Switch Console – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle for $274.99 by picking it up yourself. This bundle costs the same as the console by itself, so you might as well get it with Mario Kart 8. It’s also the best price available and cheaper than it was on Black Friday.

The best PlayStation 5 deals right now

If you’re shopping for a PlayStation 5, you have the option of getting the original console with no bundle for $424.99 (if you pick it up in person) or the newer slim model with the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III bundle for $474.99 (with the $25 discount). If you can afford it, the bundle is a much better value than the regular console with no game, and who doesn’t like Call of Duty?. These are the best deals available for either option, and the bundle is cheaper than their Black Friday deal.

The best Xbox console deals right now

There’s two Xbox models to choose from: the all-digital (that means no slot for discs), slimmer and cheaper Series S; and the more powerful, more expensive Series X. GameStop has the best deal right now for the Series S for $274.99 after the $25 discount. If you want the Series X without a bundle, the best deal is actually from Amazon for $429. If you’re looking for a bundle deal, your best bet is the Series X Console – Diablo IV Bundle for $474.99. This is the best current deal for that bundle, though it was slightly cheaper on Black Friday at $449.



Source: LifeHacker – GameStop Has a Great Deal on Gaming Consoles Right Now

23andMe changes arbitration terms after hack impacting millions

Posted on by
23andMe changes arbitration terms after hack impacting millions

Enlarge (credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg)

Shortly after 23andMe confirmed that hackers stole ancestry data of 6.9 million users, 23andMe has updated its terms of service, seemingly cutting off a path previously granted to users seeking public accountability when resolving disputes.

According to a post on Hacker News, the “23andMe Team” notified users in an email that “important updates were made to the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration section” of 23andMe’s terms of service on November 30. This was done, 23andMe told users, “to include procedures that will encourage a prompt resolution of any disputes and to streamline arbitration proceedings where multiple similar claims are filed.”

In the email, 23andMe told users that they had 30 days to notify the ancestry site that they disagree with the new terms. Otherwise, 23andMe users “will be deemed to have agreed to the new terms.” The process for opting out is detailed in the site’s ToS, instructing users to send written notice of their decision to opt out in an email to arbitrationoptout@23andme.com.

Read 10 remaining paragraphs | Comments



Source: Ars Technica – 23andMe changes arbitration terms after hack impacting millions