Valkey as the popular, Linux Foundation backed fork of the Redis key-value database is out today with its big v9.0 release…
Monthly Archives: October 2025
“Butt breathing” might soon be a real medical treatment
Last year, a group of researchers won the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize in Physiology for discovering that many mammals are capable of breathing through their anus. But as with many Ig Nobel awards, there is a serious side to the seeming silliness. The same group has conducted a new study on the feasibility of adapting this method to treat people with blocked airways or clogged lungs, with promising results that bring rectal oxygen delivery one step closer to medical reality.
As previously reported, this is perhaps one of the more unusual research developments to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated shortages of ventilators and artificial lungs to assist patients’ breathing and prevent respiratory failure. The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center team took their inspiration from the humble loach, a freshwater bottom-dwelling fish found throughout Eurasia and northern Africa. The loach (along with sea cucumbers) employs intestinal breathing (i.e., through the anus) rather than gills to survive under hypoxic conditions, thanks to having lots of capillary vessels in its intestine. The technical term is enteral ventilation via anus (EVA).
Would such a novel breathing method work in mammals? The team thought it might be possible and undertook experiments with mice and micro-pigs to test that hypothesis. They drew upon earlier research by Leland Clark, also of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who invented a perfluorocarbon liquid called Oxycyte as a possible form of artificial blood. That vision never materialized, although it did provide a handy plot point for the 1989 film The Abyss, in which a rat is able to “breathe” in a similar liquid.
France and Spain Call on EU To Uphold 2035 Combustion Engine Ban
France and Spain are calling on the European Union to stick with plans to ban combustion engine cars in the bloc after 2035, at odds with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of a meeting of leaders in Brussels this week. From a report: The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, is currently reviewing rules designed to accelerate the automotive sector’s green transition. Merz has called on the bloc to give up its 2035 deadline to help Germany’s troubled car industry.
France and Spain “hope that the upcoming review will preserve the 2035 cap and the environmental ambition of the CO2 emissions trajectory that underpins it,” a paper presented to climate ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday, and seen by Bloomberg says. “This revision should in no way call into question the zero emissions exhaust target in 2035.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Cards Against Humanity lawsuit forced SpaceX to vacate land on US/Mexico border
A year after suing SpaceX for “invading” a plot of land on the US/Mexico border, Cards Against Humanity says it has obtained a settlement and will provide supporters with a new pack of cards about Elon Musk.
The party-game company bought the land in 2017 in an attempt to stymie President Trump’s wall-building project, but alleged that SpaceX illegally took over the land and filled it with construction equipment and materials. A September 2024 lawsuit filed against SpaceX in Cameron County District Court in Texas sought up to $15 million to cover the cost of restoring the property and other damages.
Cards Against Humanity, which bought the property with donations from supporters, told Ars today that “we’ve been in negotiations with SpaceX for much of the last year. We held out for the best settlement we could get—almost until the trial was supposed to start—and unfortunately part of that negotiation was that we’re not allowed to discuss specific settlement terms. They did admit to trespassing during the discovery phase, which was very validating.”
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Zwift Stories, First Races, and Zwift Setups
For some, Zwift is just a tool for training during the long winter months. But for others, it’s a lot more than that! Watch one rider share how Zwift has propelled his wellness and fitness journey.
We’re also featuring videos about first Zwift races, getting started on Zwift, setups of pro triathletes, and racing in Zwift Unlocked.
How Zwift Changed My Life: 236 to 180 lbs Transformation
My First Zwift Race Was Pure Pain
How to Prepare for Your First Zwift Ride!
Home Training Setup Tour – What It Takes to Train Like a Pro Triathlete
Fastest Pen in Zwift Unlocked – Can I Hang On? | Stage 2 | Electric Break (Makuri Islands)
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
YouTube is rolling out likeness detection tool to combat deepfakes
When AI tools first began proliferating around the web, worries about deepfakes quickly rose alongside them. And now that tech such as OpenAI’s recently released Sora 2 is getting more capable and more widely available (and being used exactly as irresponsibly as you might have guessed), both famous and ordinary people may want more control over protecting their likenesses. After teasing the feature last year, YouTube is starting to launch a likeness detection tool to combat unwanted deepfakes and have them removed from the video platform.
Likeness detection is currently being rolled out to members of the YouTube Partner Program. It’s also only able to cover instances where an individual’s face has been modified with AI; cases where a person’s voice has been changed by AI without their consent may not be caught by this feature. To participate, people will need to submit a government ID and a brief video selfie to YouTube to ensure they are who they say they are and give the feature source material to draw from in its review. From there, it works similarly to YouTube’s Content ID feature for finding copyrighted audio, scanning uploaded videos for possible matches that the person can then review and flag infringing videos for removal.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-is-rolling-out-likeness-detection-tool-to-combat-deepfakes-175917315.html?src=rss
Apple steps up its attacks on Europe’s DMA regulations
Apple’s war of words with Europe over its Digital Markets Act (DMA) is bleeding into the court system. Bloomberg reports that the company criticized the regulations at the General Court in Luxembourg. The European Commission is currently conducting its first formal review of the law. Apple lawyer Daniel Beard told the court reviewing the DMA that it “imposes hugely onerous and intrusive burdens.”
The language echoes Apple’s go-to framing of the regulations as an anti-consumer, anti-privacy hardship on the nearly $4 trillion company. “Over time, it’s become clear that the DMA isn’t helping markets,” the company wrote in a September blog post. “It’s making it harder to do business in Europe.” Apple even cited porn as one of the law’s alleged dangers. “For the first time, pornography apps are available on iPhone from other marketplaces — apps we’ve never allowed on the App Store because of the risks they create, especially for children.”
Apple also claimed the DMA caused it to delay several features. These include AirPods Live Translation, iPhone Mirroring in macOS, and the Visited Places and Preferred Routes features in Maps.
The iPhone maker asked the EC to repeal the law in September. In response, the commission essentially told the company to shove it. “Apple has simply contested every little bit of the DMA since its entry into application,” EU spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. He added that the EC had “absolutely no intention” of ditching the law.
Bloomberg reports that Apple is challenging the DMA on three fronts. First is its requirement that rival hardware (like earbuds and smartwatches) work with the iPhone, which Apple claims is a security risk. The company also objected to the App Store’s inclusion under the rules and a probe into whether iMessage should have been included.
In response, EC lawyer Paul-John Loewenthal highlighted Apple’s immense power in Europe. He said the company’s “absolute control” over the iPhone has led to “supernormal profits” in markets where competitors can’t possibly compete on equal footing.
“Only Apple has the keys to that walled garden,” Loewenthal told the court. “It decides who gets it and who can offer their products and services to iPhone users. And through such control, Apple has locked in more than a third of European smartphone users.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-steps-up-its-attacks-on-europes-dma-regulations-175332390.html?src=rss
Not Enough People Are Playing Xbox’s New Weird, Short, And Very Good Exclusive Game
Keeper is Double Fine’s first game since 2021 and its one of this year’s best and strangest
The post Not Enough People Are Playing Xbox’s New Weird, Short, And Very Good Exclusive Game appeared first on Kotaku.
M5 iPad Pro tested: Stop me if you’ve heard this one before
This year’s iPad Pro is what you might call a “chip refresh” or an “internal refresh.” These refreshes are what Apple generally does for its products for one or two or more years after making a larger external design change. Leaving the physical design alone preserves compatibility with the accessory ecosystem.
For the Mac, chip refreshes are still pretty exciting to me, because many people who use a Mac will, very occasionally, assign it some kind of task where they need it to work as hard and fast as it can, for an extended period of time. You could be a developer compiling a large and complex app, or you could be a podcaster or streamer editing or exporting an audio or video file, or maybe you’re just playing a game. The power and flexibility of the operating system, and first- and third-party apps made to take advantage of that power and flexibility, mean that “more speed” is still exciting, even if it takes a few years for that speed to add up to something users will consistently notice and appreciate.
And then there’s the iPad Pro. Especially since Apple shifted to using the same M-series chips that it uses in Macs, most iPad Pro reviews contain some version of “this is great hardware that is much faster than it needs to be for anything the iPad does.” To wit, our review of the M4 iPad Pro from May 2024:
Tracked: Shoot To Survive Targets November Launch On Quest 3 & 3S
Tracked: Shoot to Survive, a new single-player VR survival adventure, launches next month on Quest 3 and 3S.
Originally announced in August, Tracked: Shoot to Survive has been designed “exclusively for the Meta Quest platform.” Having crashed in the Canadian wilderness after smugglers shoot down your plane, you play as Alex Hart on a mission to rescue your kidnapped sister. Today’s announcement confirmed it’s releasing on November 13, which was accompanied by a new gameplay trailer.
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The game puts you into a harsh open-world environment as you scavenge a freezing forest for resources. To survive, Alex must hunt prey, cook meals, and craft weapons to fend off wild animals or other foes. Incuvo also highlights a realism focus with full-body interactions and gesture-based combat, supporting manual reloading and recoil in firearms.
It’s the latest VR game from Incuvo following last year’s Bulletstorm VR adaptation, and the studio’s continued releasing updates for 2022’s Green Hell VR as well. Last month’s ‘Animal Husbandry‘ update introduced a new system for domesticating animals and more sandbox maps, while the ‘Plant Cultivation‘ update before that added visual enhancements on Quest 3.
Tracked: Shoot to Survive launches on November 13 on Quest 3 and 3S. We’ll aim to bring you hands-on impressions closer to the time.
Report: Microsoft Jacks The Price Of Xbox Dev Kits To $2,000
Even dev kits are getting their prices jacked way up
The post Report: Microsoft Jacks The Price Of Xbox Dev Kits To $2,000 appeared first on Kotaku.
Garmin Forerunner 55 Now Cheaper Than a Regular Watch, Amazon Dumps Stock at Record Low
The Garmin Forerunner 55 delivers serious GPS running metrics and two-week battery life without overwhelming casual runners with complexity.
The post Garmin Forerunner 55 Now Cheaper Than a Regular Watch, Amazon Dumps Stock at Record Low appeared first on Kotaku.
My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: This 75-inch Toshiba C350 Smart TV
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It’s not very common to see a budget 75-inch Smart TV for $400, but that’s what Amazon is offering right now with the Toshiba C350 Smart TV for $399.99 (originally $729.99), the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. If you’re looking for a massive, affordable budget TV that won’t break the bank, this is your best bet right now.
The Toshiba C350 Smart TV won’t be winning any awards or be on the list for best TVs of 2025, but it serves a purpose for people who want size at an affordable price. This TV series has been around for many years, getting an update every couple of years. This is the 2025 version, which comes with some new features, like Apple AirPlay compatibility, so you can seamlessly cast your media from your iPhone.
This is a 4K LED TV with Fire TV as its OS, meaning you’ll be able to install Kodi to virtually stream anything you want for free. It has a 60 Hz refresh rate and 300 nits of brightness; neither is impressive, but it’s a budget TV after all. The viewing angle is 178 degrees, which is perfect for such a big TV, so a sports night with friends and family gathered around the TV should not be a problem. There is HDR10, so compatible streaming services should look good. The remote is an Alexa Voice Remote, making searches and navigation much easier. There are three HDMI ports as well, so you can have a different streaming stick, a soundbar, and a video game console installed all at once if you wish.
This is a good deal for anyone looking for a statement TV in a large living room for a budget price. Getting 75-inch TVs of any caliber usually costs much more than $400, so getting the Toshiba C350 Smart TV for $399.99 is a great deal.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now
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OpenAI Debuts AI-Powered Browser With Memory and Agent Features
OpenAI released ChatGPT Atlas on Tuesday, an AI-powered web browser that CEO Sam Altman described as “smooth” and “quick” during a livestream announcement. The browser is available globally on macOS while versions for Windows, iOS, and Android are expected soon. Atlas includes memory features that personalize the browsing experience and an agent mode that allows ChatGPT to perform tasks such as booking reservations and flights or editing documents.
Users can manage these stored memories through the browser’s settings and can open incognito windows. The browser displays a split-screen view by default when users click links from search results. The view shows both the webpage and the ChatGPT transcript simultaneously. Atlas also offers webpage summarization and a feature called “cursor chat” that allows users to select text and have ChatGPT revise it inline.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Warner Bros. Discovery raises HBO Max prices as it puts itself up for sale
HBO Max subscriptions are getting up to 10 percent more expensive, owner Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) revealed today.
HBO Max’s ad plan is going from $10 per month to $11/month. The ad-free plan is going from $17/month to $18.49/month. And the premium ad-free plan (which adds 4K support, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more content) is increasing from $21 to $23.
Meanwhile, prices for HBO Max’s annual plans are increasing from $100 to $110 with ads, $170 to $185 without ads, and $210 to $230 for the premium tier.
HP Owned HyperX Xbox Licensed Gaming Headset Is Being Cleared Out for Almost Free, Amazon’s Best-Seller Going Fast
These headphones make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.
The post HP Owned HyperX Xbox Licensed Gaming Headset Is Being Cleared Out for Almost Free, Amazon’s Best-Seller Going Fast appeared first on Kotaku.
Spatial Rifts Is A Colocated Apple Vision Pro FPS With PS VR2 Controller Support
Spatial Rifts is a mixed reality FPS for Apple Vision Pro with local multiplayer and PlayStation VR2 controller support.
Previously mentioned during Apple’s M5 Vision Pro reveal, Spatial Rifts is a new first-person shooter with solo and co-op gameplay, the latter supporting up to five players through SharePlay. Described as being built “from the ground up” for visionOS 26, you fend off waves of monsters as they emerge from portals through weapons or melee combat.
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This involves closing the titular rifts to seal off the threat, which is achieved by collecting puzzle pieces when dropped by enemies and putting those into the portal’s frame. Ammo and medkits appear during waves, you can set how many active portals there are, and leveling up unlocks bonus weapons as you progress.
If you choose to use PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, only one is needed per person, so you can split a pair with someone else if you have them handy. Developer Brian Corrieri states you can play via hand-tracking if you don’t own the controllers, but “we recommend using a controller for a better experience.”
Spatial Rifts launches this month for both Apple Vision Pro models on the App Store for $9.99.
OpenAI’s AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas, launches on macOS today
OpenAI’s long-rumored browser has a name, and you can try it out today — provided you’re an Apple user. ChatGPT Atlas is available to download on macOS, with the company promising to bring it to Windows, Android and iOS soon. Atlas integrates ChatGPT directly within the browser interface, allowing users to engage with the chatbot while they’re surfing the web — no need to jump between different tabs or copy and paste content.
When you select a text field, an icon will appear that allows you to prompt ChatGPT. OpenAI demoed this feature in Gmail where an employee asked the chatbot to polish an email he was writing to a colleague. Naturally, a prompt bar will also appear when you open a new tab, and you can open a sidebar where you can converse with ChatGPT at any time.
The more you use Atlas, the more ChatGPT will “remember” about your preferences. One of the benefits of this is that you’ll be able to more easily filter through your search history. For instance, you can write “re-open the shoes I looked at yesterday,” and ChatGPT will know the specific website you want to look at again. Browser memories are optional, and if you decide to enable the feature, you can manage them through the settings menu, and just like any other browser, you can delete your history or go surf the web using an incognito mode. OpenAI also says it won’t use the content users browse to train its future models.
Atlas also includes an agent mode where ChatGPT can surf the web for you and complete tasks. The feature builds on the Operator tech debuted at the start of the year, and is currently available as a preview within the browser that Plus, Pro and Business accounts can try out. “It can help you book reservations or flights or even just edit a document that you’re working on,” said Adam Fry, product lead for ChatGPT Search, during the livestream where OpenAI announced Atlas.
“Tabs are great but we haven’t seen a lot of browser innovation since then,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at the start of the livestream. “This is just a great browser all-around — it’s smooth, it’s quick, it’s really nice to use.”
Rumors that OpenAI was working on its own web browser first surfaced in July. With today’s announcement, the company joins an already competitive market. A number of companies, including Opera and Perplexity, released their own “agentic” browsers earlier this year. Of course, then there’s also Google, which plans to integrate its Gemini AI assistant more deeply into Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, over the coming months.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-chatgpt-browser-arrives-today-on-macos-170735087.html?src=rss
KDE Plasma 6.5 Desktop Environment Officially Released, This Is What’s New
The KDE Project released today KDE Plasma 6.5 as the latest stable version to this popular desktop environment for Linux-based operating system that brings new features, improvements, and bug fixes.
Decart XR Is An Intriguing But Primitive Attempt At Reskinning Your View Using AI
Decart XR, a free app you can sideload on your Quest 3, lets you reskin a 2D slice of your real-world view using generative AI.
The Decart XR client itself is open source, with the code publicly available on GitHub, or you can download the latest build precompiled from SideQuest.
It leverages the Horizon OS passthrough camera access capability, if you grant permission, sending frames from one of your headset’s forward-facing color cameras to Decart’s server-side AI style transfer models and superimposing the output in a rectangular segment of your view.
There are two available modes in the app: Warp the World and Swap Your Friend.
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Footage of Decart XR captured by UploadVR’s Don Hopper.
Warp the World is the main attraction here, leveraging Decart’s Mirage “world transformation model” to reskin the view in front of you to one of 61 premade prompts.
The Swap Your Friend mode, on the other hand, uses Decart’s Lucy model to reskin people you’re looking at, akin to some of the advanced filters you can find in apps like Snapchat, with 15 premade prompts.
You can also use your voice, via speech-to-text, to enter a custom prompt for either mode.
Trying out Decart XR on a Quest 3 in the UK, I found it to have extremely noticeable latency, with the view lagging behind my head movement by around a second, and poor image consistency, with pulsing and warping reminiscent of early AI video models.
The fact that Decart XR is 2D also means that it doesn’t really feel like it’s changing your real view – it’s more akin to someone holding up a giant tablet in front of you.
Still, Decart XR is a fascinating early look at the basic concept of AI reskinning your view. One day, when it can be done with much lower latency, wider field of view, and in 3D, I can see how it could be a key use case for XR headsets. Today, when getting work done in a headset or watching a movie, you choose between a VR environment or passthrough as your background. What if you had a third choice: your home reskinned to look like a scene straight out of your favorite movie, TV show, or game? We could be just a few years away from that being an option.