Never give up, never surrender
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Monthly Archives: November 2025
Marble Turns An Image Into A WebXR Volumetric Scene In Minutes
Marble, an AI model from World Labs, can turn a single image into a volumetric scene that you can view in WebXR in a matter of minutes.
World Labs was founded by Fei-Fei Li, one of the pioneers of modern AI, best known for creating the ImageNet dataset that helped enable the rapid advancement of computer vision of the past 15 years.
As with almost all of the remarkable advancements in 3D reconstruction over the past few years, Marble generates Gaussian splats, fitting thousands of semitransparent colored blobs (Gaussians) in 3D space, so that arbitrary viewpoints can be rendered realistically in real-time. And both its variety of supported input types and the speed of its output are, to date, unprecedented.
While other splat generation systems like Meta’s Horizon Hyperscape and Varjo Teleport require hundreds of input frames and hours of processing, in its simplest mode Marble can generate splats from a single input image or text prompt in a matter of minutes.
For more advanced outputs, if you pay for the $20/month subscription Marble can take multiple images as input, or a short video, or even a 3D structure, using a tool World Labs calls Chisel.
Chisel lets you lay out a scene with crude 3D shapes, as you would in a game editor, and then use a text prompt to turn it into a detailed volumetric scene.
With the subscription, Marble outputs support interactive editing, expanding, and the ability to combine multiple worlds together. And you can export as a high-quality traditional 3D mesh, though this takes multiple hours of conversion time.
Because of the unique capability set of Marble, World Labs describes it as a “first-in-class generative multimodal world model”.
On the Marble web app you can generate your own scenes for free, and view the output in VR via WebXR using the web browser of your headset.
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Testing Marble with a single image of the Steam Dev Days 2014 VR room.
Trying out Marble on Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, by turning a single image of the Steam Dev Days 2014 VR room into a volumetric scene, I found the quality to be noticeably inferior to Meta’s Hyperscape worlds and Varjo Teleport, more akin to Niantic Scaniverse. While the details directly brought in from your input image are relatively detailed, the further away you move from this, the more of the typical Gaussian splat visual artifacts you’ll see.
And of course, the elephant in the room here is that details beyond the image frame are hallucinated, so will be very different from what was actually there behind the camera, unless you provide multiple input images.
Still, all this aside, the ability to generate volumetric scenes in minutes from a single image or sentence is remarkable, and that you can then edit them with a combination of an editor UI and natural language even more so.
Further, the ability to then export these scenes as traditional 3D worlds, with geometric steerability via Chisel, seems like it could have huge potential for VR developers to build environments for their interactive apps and games.
You can try out Marble at marble.worldlabs.ai. Note that if you don’t pay, any scenes you create will be publicly listed. You’ll need the $20/month subscription to create a private scene, alongside unlocking the advanced creation, editing, and export features.
NATO Taps Google For Air-Gapped Sovereign Cloud
NATO has hired Google to provide “air-gapped” sovereign cloud services and AI in “completely disconnected, highly secure environments.” From a report: The Chocolate Factory will support the military alliance’s Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC) in a move designed to improve its digital infrastructure and strengthen its data governance. NATO was formed in 1949 after Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States signed the North Atlantic Treaty. Since then, 20 more European countries have joined, most recently Finland and Sweden. US President Donald Trump has criticized fellow members’ financial contribution to the alliance and at times cast doubt over how likely the US is to defend its NATO allies.
In an announcement this week, Google Cloud said the “significant, multimillion-dollar contract” with the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) would offer highly secure, sovereign cloud capabilities. The agreement promises NATO “uncompromised data residency and operational controls, providing the highest degree of security and autonomy, regardless of scale or complexity,” the statement said.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Apple Goes Margin-Blind With the M5 iPad Pro as Black Friday Brings an Unprecedented Drop for Its Newly Released Tablet
The 13-inch version of Apple’s newest flagship tablet has all the power you need and then some, and it’s $100 off for the first time ever.
The post Apple Goes Margin-Blind With the M5 iPad Pro as Black Friday Brings an Unprecedented Drop for Its Newly Released Tablet appeared first on Kotaku.
Battlefield 6 Players, Please Capture Control Points
If you play Conquest in EA’s new FPS, I have one request: Please help us win
The post <i>Battlefield 6</i> Players, Please Capture Control Points appeared first on Kotaku.
You Can Get This Nespresso Coffeemaker on Sale for Just $75 for Black Friday
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
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Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
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Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
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Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ offers café-style coffee without leaving your kitchen or putting on pants, and it’s currently on sale for $74.99 on StackSocial. It’s small enough to fit on even the most crowded countertops (about the size of a toaster), but still delivers that signature Vertuo crema with the push of a button. It’s a refurbished model with a Grade A rating, meaning the machine comes in a near-mint condition with only minimal wear, and could be a solid pick for anyone who wants fast, customizable coffee without splurging on a brand-new machine.
The coffeemaker heats up in just 30 seconds, so you can go from half-asleep to sipping something warm without much of a wait. Brewing is handled with a single button, and the Vertuo barcode system automatically adjusts for cup size and strength. Whether you’re after a 1.35-ounce espresso or a 12-ounce coffee, it reads the pod and takes care of the rest. There’s also a Coffee Creations Mode that activates with a quick double-tap, brewing a more concentrated shot that holds up better over ice, which is useful if you’re into iced coffee or milk drinks. It even has Bluetooth and wifi support, which won’t affect your coffee’s flavor but does help with maintenance alerts through the app, especially if you’re the type to ignore descaling until it’s too late.
That said, the Pop+ only works with Vertuo capsules, and none come in the box, so your first cup requires a separate purchase. These capsules also cost more than Nespresso’s Original line, though you get over 40 blends and seasonal editions to choose from. The machine also shuts off after two minutes to save energy, which is efficient but can feel a bit annoying if you step away between brews. Still, it’s a compact, dependable, and easy-to-use coffeemaker, and the refurb rating removes most of the usual uncertainty that comes with secondhand appliances. If you want quick, varied cup sizes with little cleanup and don’t mind sticking to the Vertuo capsule system, this deal makes the Pop+ an easy machine to consider.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
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$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
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$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
Gobik’s new –8º-rated winter jacket is for riders who say no to the smart trainer
Gobik has released the Superarmour, a thermal jacket designed to take on the coldest days.
The cycling jacket is claimed to keep you warm on rides where temperatures go as low as -8º, with an operating window that sees a maximum of 7º.
That’s a pretty narrow operating window, and it is clearly a specialist option, but it could be a good option for those who’d rather brave black ice than suffer an hour on an indoor trainer.
Its construction combines the eVent DVstorm membrane with Polartec Alpha thermal insulation. Together, Gobik claims these offer exceptional performance in cold and wet conditions.
All this protection doesn’t come cheap, however, with the jacket priced at €395.
Cold killing insulation
The jacket’s eVent DVstorm membrane and fully taped seams offer a claimed waterproof rating of 10,000mm. To avoid overheating, the jacket also has a breathability rating of 20.000 g/m2/24h – you shouldn’t boil in the bag should the weather brighten up.
On the inside of the jacket, Gobik has used Polartec’s Alpha insulation to keep things toasty and breathable.
The material features an open-fibre construction that enables airflow under the shell, which should keep things from getting clammy.
In line with the premium construction materials, Gobik has used YKK’s Vision AquaGuard for the zipper.
This should stop any water from penetrating through the zip, as well as fending off cold winds.
There is also a magnetic storm flap at the collar, preventing any irritation from the zipper.
At the back, there are two large zippered openings integrated for easy access to the interior pockets, even with gloves.
Inside, there are two mesh pockets to keep items safe from the elements.
Priced at €395, it’s definitely at the premium end of the market, though inline with other specialist options from similar brands.
New Raspberry Pi OS Release Adds Support for Setting HiDPI Scaling, Updates Labwc
After releasing the major Raspberry Pi Image 2.0 update of their OS flashing utility, the Raspberry Pi project also released today a new version of their Debian-based Raspberry Pi OS distribution for Raspberry Pi SBCs with HiDPI improvements and other changes.
Pocket Casts rolls out playlists, so users can sequence episodes of their favorite shows
There are millions upon millions of podcast episodes out there and it can be tough to figure out what to listen to and when. The popular podcast service Pocket Casts is rolling out a playlists feature to help users make sense of it all.
This is being advertised as a “new way for listeners to organize, sequence and customize episodes across all their favorite shows.” The idea of a playlist isn’t new by any stretch, but it’s not typically an option on podcast apps. As a matter of fact, Pocket Casts says this was one of its most-requested features.
The platform says this tool is great for “building a morning news lineup, curating interviews to study a topic or creating a queue for a long flight.” There’s a manual option but also an automatic Smart Playlists feature that gathers episodes together based on pre-determined rules.
Pocket Casts
For instance, episodes can be collected and sorted by release date, duration and other factors. This replaces the pre-existing filters tool. I can absolutely see this being useful on a road trip when you don’t really wanna fiddle with a phone and would rather just let the podcast episodes flow into one another to create a Conan O’Brien-induced driving zen state.
The playlists tool is available right now. This is just the latest move by Pocket Casts. The service recently added a free tier for accessing its web player and desktop app. We love it when things get cheaper, don’t we folks?
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/pocket-casts-rolls-out-playlists-so-users-can-sequence-episodes-of-their-favorite-shows-170046666.html?src=rss
Former GTA Boss Isn’t Buying All Of The AI Hype
GTAV and RDR2’s writer notes that AI isn’t capable of genuine creative work
The post Former <i>GTA</i> Boss Isn’t Buying All Of The AI Hype appeared first on Kotaku.
Walmart Black Friday deals include the AirPods Pro 2 for their lowest price yet
Apple updated its flagship earbuds this year with the new AirPods Pro 3, but the AirPods Pro 2 were our top picks for the best wireless earbuds for Apple users for many years before that. They’re a bit hard to find at this point, but Walmart Black Friday deals have come for them (in addition to a bunch of other Apple products). Walmart has the AirPods Pro 2 for $139, which is the lowest price we’ve ever seen them and more than $100 off their standard $249 price tag. During Black Friday last year, they dropped to around $155.
At this price, the AirPods Pro 2 are a good option for anyone who wants most of the conveniences and features of the Pro 3s without spending nearly $100 more. They have excellent active noise cancellation and great sound quality, and thanks to a firmware update, they do support Apple’s new Live Translation feature. Using the buds in tandem with the Translate app on iPhones running iOS 26 or later, you can translate foreign languages in conversation in real time, hearing other languages being spoken to you in your preferred language.
Sound quality remains great on the Pro 2 and battery life hits at around six hours of use on a single charge with ANC enabled. The wireless charging case that comes with the Pro 2 actually offers more total hours of listening time than the Pro 3 — 30 hours in total, in comparison to the Pro 3’s 24 hours. You also get most of Apple’s health tracking capabilities along with all the conveniences of the H2 chipset, which includes quick pairing and switching, plus hands-free Siri. What you won’t get here is built-in heart rate tracking and improved sound quality and ANC, all of which are stand-out features of the new Pro 3.
In addition to the AirPods Pro 2, other AirPods are on sale for Black Friday. AirPods 4, both with and without ANC, are down to record-low or near-record low prices. Plus, the new AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for their best price since their launch in September. We’ll update this post as more Walmart Black Friday tech deals come in.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/walmart-black-friday-deals-include-the-airpods-pro-2-for-their-lowest-price-yet-170032969.html?src=rss
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked Review: A Natural Crossover
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a mostly natural crossover and a fitting evolution for the VR tabletop RPG. Read on for our full review.
Resolution Games created something special with the original Demeo, offering a compelling social VR experience with the turn-based dungeon crawler. Though it gradually evolved through post-launch updates, the initial release was rather bare and it’s a testament to the concept’s replayability that I’d keep coming back for more. Four years later, Demeo x D&D takes its potential even further.
Demeo x D&D delivers that same moreish strategy with a more refined package, boasting two sizable campaigns that took my party roughly six hours each to beat. There’s considerably more here than what the original Demeo offered at launch, so you’ll be busy for a fair while. Using Wizards of the Coast’s famous Forgotten Realms setting across Neverwinter and Icewind Dale is an undeniably great fit.
For the unfamiliar, Demeo emulates the tabletop experience by giving you figurines for each character that you can physically move across tile-based maps; hand-tracking controls remain supported on Quest, though controllers offer better precision. Co-location is also pleasingly available on Meta’s headset too, letting your whole party sit around the same digital board together.
This time, Resolution’s swapped the basement setting for a more modern second-floor room. You’ve got that same freedom to change your board positioning with minimal fuss, while artwork for the first game’s campaigns gives your background environment some nostalgic decoration. Getting up close with each map shows crisp visuals on Quest 3, bringing the digital tabletop fantasy to life well.
Like before, movement and skills work well with this turn-based strategy card battler. You have two action points per turn and some ability cards, like healing potions and poison antidotes, can be freely used if you’ve got points left, since turns automatically end when you run out. Movement, attacks, and more powerful abilities require one point, forcing you to consider each move carefully. Watching your carefully planned strategies pay off feels quite rewarding, though you still need to roll the dice to land a hit. Crits and fails haven’t gone anywhere.
Six character classes are currently available with unique moves, offering familiar choices between a fighter, paladin, sorcerer, rogue, ranger, and bard. It’s well balanced, as each class comes with its own strengths and drawbacks; setting off fireballs as the sorcerer never gets old with crowd control, nor does the paladin smiting his foes into oblivion in delightfully over-the-top fashion.
They could benefit from a greater range of voice lines, though; there are only so many times a bard can use the same vicious mockery insults before they get stale, even with decent voice acting. I’d like to see some wider options for character creation, too. Much of the joy in D&D comes from creating your own heroes, but right now, you’re stuck with limited cosmetic adjustments using the existing base character for each class.
Comfort
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked uses a third-person, tabletop perspective, making this a comfortable game to play for newcomers or anyone susceptible to motion sickness. As such, many common comfort options aren’t here because they aren’t necessary.
Moving across the board is done by hitting one of your controller’s triggers and pulling yourself to a location, while rotating the board requires doing this with both hands. Hand tracking support is available exclusively on Quest, though I found controllers to be more precise throughout. Steam and PS5 also have optional flatscreen modes.
Out of the few options here, a vignette can be activated while moving. Quest also supports mixed reality, letting you play off a digital board while viewing your real-world surroundings.
Battles remain challenging, though usually not overwhelmingly so like it could sometimes feel before. Enemies don’t spawn nearly as often in Demeo x D&D. You often need to find the way out or defeat the boss, collecting gold to buy new cards along the way from the local bazaar or after individual stages in longer dungeons. My co-op partner and our two hirelings – we each controlled one of these extra characters – only really struggled as we reached the first campaign’s end.
It’s worth clearing out all the enemies and clearing side quests, as you’ll gradually earn more XP that unlocks new abilities, and you pick one of three options from three separate categories each time. That’s based on your chosen class and primary/secondary abilities you hold proficiency in, such as strength or constitution. This delivers useful upgrades like extra hit points, less damage from specific attacks, healing if you kill enemies, and more.
You can also reuse previous characters too, giving some nice continuity for these otherwise standalone campaigns. What’s slightly annoying is that hirelings don’t level up with you, which leaves you disadvantaged in a campaign’s later stages if you’re playing solo or without a full team of four. This leaves some of your party stuck at level one and that gradually feels more unbalanced as you progress, so I’d love to see Resolution address this in a future update. Days after launch, I’m also encountering connection issues that keep interrupting games even after the hotfix. Infrequent enough that it’s not a major issue, though no less annoying when it does happen. At least you can jump back into a session easily enough.
This is roughly the extent of D&D’s gameplay influence here, since ability checks are mostly limited to one-off actions that only have a marginal impact. Battles often limit this to avoiding obstacles or traps, while outside of combat throws in a few choices with NPCs – usually with side quests – on how best to deal with enemies. You can’t choose a specific character to handle checks either, meaning you’re stuck using the party leader or whoever activated an event. Perfectly fine with traps but for story situations, continuously failing rolls can get frustrating when another party member is proficient with the required checks.
How Does It Compare On Steam & PS VR2?
For the majority of this review, my co-op partners hosted a game in flatscreen mode on Steam while I joined via Quest 3 natively. However, I’ve dived in a couple of times on both PS VR2 and SteamVR as well, connecting to the latter with my Quest 3.
Minus the Quest-specific features (mixed reality, hand tracking, and co-location support), I can’t really say I’ve noticed much difference when playing across PS VR2 and Steam beyond a perceived resolution increase. Everything works well and for PC VR, I encountered no issues with either Virtual Desktop or Steam Link via Quest 3.
For reference, my desktop uses an Intel i9 16-Core Processor i9-12900 (Up to 5.1GHz), 32GB RAM – Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz, and a 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super. You can find the minimum and recommended specs on the Steam page to learn more.
Battlemarked largely sticks to the original Demeo’s established mechanics with the appropriate Dungeons & Dragons set dressing, which feels fitting enough and evolves upon the original game well. But it’s these moments where I believe Resolution could take slightly better advantage of what such a crossover can provide.
I’m not expecting Baldur’s Gate 3 levels of branching narrative, but Dungeons & Dragons is all about theater of the mind. A good DM won’t just let anything fly; an even better one will give you choices while subtly guiding you on a certain path. Choosing a DM-less system is understandable given the base game it’s working from, though I’d love to see more meaningful story choices beyond some side quests. What’s here is a deliberately simplified take on Wizards of the Coast’s tabletop hit, though I’m still having a great time with friends.
Demeo x D&D is a great way to introduce newcomers to the Forgotten Realms that’s highly enjoyable for more veteran players of both. Returning to these iconic locations in a new way continues to intrigue me, scratching an itch I’ve had since leaving my regular Dungeons & Dragons campaign two years ago. Progress saves as you advance, and reaching each chapter’s end ultimately feels worth it for that sense of accomplishment.
I can only hope it’ll be a similar story when Resolution Games begins releasing additional campaigns via future DLC. Given the lengthier nature of Embers of Chaos and Crown of Frost, I’m hopeful for what comes next. As an added touch, unlocking lengthier missions as one-shot dungeons upon completing them is a welcome touch for those of us after something a little more brief.
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked – Final Verdict
Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a fitting evolution that’s both newcomer-friendly and expands upon the original Demeo well. This crossover packs more expansive campaigns, better difficulty balancing with enemy spawns, lovely visuals, and a greater story focus that better complements these gameplay systems.
I do wish this offered a little more gameplay freedom to better fit D&D. Further narrative freedom would leave your decisions feeling more impactful, leveling up hirelings would help solo players, and I’d love a more expansive custom character creator. Still, Demeo x D&D gets a strong recommendation from me and if you enjoyed Resolution’s older hit, you’ll feel right at home here.
UploadVR uses a 5-Star rating system for our game reviews – you can read a breakdown of each star rating in our review guidelines.
Google Says It Isn’t Using Your Emails to Train Its AI
Last week, tech headlines were abuzz with a concerning claim: According to some on social media platforms, and even some news outlets, Google had secretly opted Gmail users into sharing their emails with Gemini. The goal? To train Google’s AI. While this controversy set off quite a lot of noise, it appears much of the conversation kicked off with this inflammatory post on X, complete with select words in all caps:
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
According to the poster, the only remedy for the situation is to disable a setting you’ve probably never heard of: “smart features.” The claims suggest “smart features” was switched on in two locations on your account: One that controls Gmail, Chat, and Meet, and another that enables it in the larger Google Workspace suite—assuming you have a Workspace account. The “smoking gun” is a small part of Google’s privacy policy which says that the company does not use your Workspace data to train its AI models, without permission. Taken at face value, the assertion is that Google opted you into these settings, thus taking your “permission” to start using your data for this AI training.
As of this morning, the post has nearly 150,000 likes on X, but the claims spread far and wide across the internet. Even Malwarebytes ran a story explaining the situation, and urging users to disable these settings to keep their messages out of Google’s AI training. As it turns out, however, Google doesn’t actually appear to be doing this.
What are “smart features?”
I reached out to Google on Friday to see if the company had any comment concerning these claims. In response, I received the following from a Google spokesperson:
“These reports are misleading—we have not changed anyone’s settings, Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years, and we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model. Lastly, we are always transparent and clear if we make changes to our terms of service and policies.”
Indeed, “smart features” has existed for years. In fact, Lifehacker first covered the setting back in 2020, nearly three years before Google first launched Bard (now Gemini). To the claimants’ credit, smart features does use your data to improve Google features, but not to train AI models en masse. Instead, smart features uses your data to customize your specific Google experience. In Gmail, that might mean learning how you write, to generate more relevant smart replies; in Search, that might mean suggesting keywords based on previous searches; in Maps, that might mean showing restaurant reservations; in Wallet, that might mean recommending tickets for shows based on your interests. Smart features also powers core Google features, like spam filters and categorization.
That’s not to say that you should necessarily be down for smart features: If you personally don’t care for Google collecting your data to customize your personal experience, you can absolutely turn these features off. But it’s important to understand what you’re choosing to turn on or off: Just because someone claims that these features are doing something doesn’t make it true. Turn off smart features if you want, but just know that it has no impact on how Google handles your private messages, or how it trains its AI models for everyone. Plus, it may impact how apps like Gmail function: You may not be able to sort your emails into categories, or stop certain spam from getting into your inbox.
How to disable “smart features”
If you do want to turn off smart features, it’s easy to do. You’ll find the settings in the Gmail web app: Click the settings gear, then choose “See all settings.” Here, scroll down, and disable the toggle next to “Smart features.” You’ll need to agree to “Turn off and reload” Gmail in order to see the changes take effect.
If you have a Workspace account, you have another settings page to manage. Click “Manage Workspace smart features settings,” then disable the toggles next to “Smart features in Google Workspace” and “Smart features in other Google products.” Finally, choose “Save.”
Just remember: These settings control a number of smart features across your Google products. As such, you might notice certain features missing going forward. To revert your changes, return to these settings pages at any time and flip the toggles back on.
Google isn’t in the clear
The dust has settled since controversy’s peak last week. Malwarebytes issued a correct to its original article, sharing the same spokesperson statement I received. The site says that Google’s vague rewrite of the smart features setting contributed to this confusion, but that it does appear the setting doesn’t scrape users’ private messages to train Gemini.
However, that’s not to say Google is entirely in the clear here. While this specific claim might not be true, a lawsuit claims the company improperly gave Gemini private user data from Gmail, Chat, and Meet without the permission of those users. Google as a whole doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to respecting users’ privacy too, so it’s not surprising that these claims took off the way they did.
Malwarebytes also makes the point that while Google says these settings are all opt-in, many users don’t actually remember opting in themselves, further fueling confusion around smart features. To be candid, I definitely don’t remember enabling smart features on either my personal or work Gmail accounts, though it’s entirely possible I did. All I know is these settings are on now, and while I’m considering disabling them, I also don’t know if I’d be willing to get rid of all smart features.
Meta Faces Scrutiny As Senators Link Facebook & Instagram To Billions In Scam Ad Revenue
Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal, two U.S. senators, have asked the FTC and SEC to probe Meta over an estimated $16 billion in scam ad revenue in 2024. A letter from the two to the agencies stated, “The FTC and SEC should immediately open investigations and, if the reporting is accurate, pursue vigorous enforcement action where appropriate,”
Roborock Decided Money Doesn’t Matter, Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum Drops 50% Off With 10,000Pa Suction
For anyone tired of manually vacuuming.
The post Roborock Decided Money Doesn’t Matter, Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum Drops 50% Off With 10,000Pa Suction appeared first on Kotaku.
The Most Underrated Tomb Raider Game Came Out 25 Years Ago Today
Tomb Raider: Chronicles was the unfair recipient of a unwarranted backlash
The post The Most Underrated <i>Tomb Raider</i> Game Came Out 25 Years Ago Today appeared first on Kotaku.
Just Dance 2026 Edition Already Goes for Peanuts, Almost-Free Nintendo Switch Game Thanks to Amazon’s Black Friday Deal
Show ’em who has got the best moves.
The post Just Dance 2026 Edition Already Goes for Peanuts, Almost-Free Nintendo Switch Game Thanks to Amazon’s Black Friday Deal appeared first on Kotaku.
The Slow Transformation of Notepad Into Something Else Entirely Continues
Microsoft is rolling out yet another update to Notepad for Windows 11 Insiders that adds table support and faster AI-generated responses, continuing a transformation of the once-minimal text editor that has drawn sustained criticism from users who preferred its original simplicity. The update, version 11.2510.6.0, lets users insert tables via a formatting toolbar or Markdown syntax and enables streaming responses for the app’s Write, Rewrite, and Summarize AI features.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Amazon Practically Giving Smart Plug Away, 50% Off Makes It Cheaper Than Regular Plugs
No hub needed, compact design, and Alexa integration ready.
The post Amazon Practically Giving Smart Plug Away, 50% Off Makes It Cheaper Than Regular Plugs appeared first on Kotaku.
Black Friday streaming deals include one year of HBO Max for $36
HBO Max has launched its latest offer, giving new subscribers one year of streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. It’s a rare opportunity to explore HBO Max’s mix of originals, Warner Bros. films and live sports while paying less than usual. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
HBO Max has one of the best libraries of content in the streaming market, combining HBO’s acclaimed originals with Warner Bros. theatrical releases, Discovery content and live sports. The service now runs across three main plans. The Basic With Ads plan, the one included in this deal, allows streaming on two devices in full HD and costs $11 a month at full price. The Standard plan adds offline downloads, more live sports coverage and better device flexibility for $18.49 per month. The Premium plan increases quality to 4K with Dolby Atmos sound (where available), four simultaneous streams and up to 100 downloadable titles for $23 monthly.
While the feature differences matter, the real appeal of HBO Max is its library. Subscribers get access to the full catalog of HBO originals, including House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, The Last of Us and Euphoria, alongside recent Warner Bros. theatrical hits like Dune: Part Two and Barbie. The addition of Discovery content brings in reality favorites such as Fixer Upper: The Hotel and 90 Day Fiancé, while sports coverage through TNT and TBS channels includes NHL, NASCAR, college football and more.
It’s worth noting that live sports are still limited to certain tiers and regions and 4K availability varies by title. But compared with other premium services that have recently raised prices or limited simultaneous streams, HBO Max’s current setup offers strong flexibility across its plans.
If you’re considering which streaming platform gives the best range of new shows, live events and cinema releases, our guide to the best streaming services compares HBO Max with other major options. For now, this one-year subscription offer provides a straightforward way to explore HBO’s latest hits and a wide catalog of content at a lower upfront cost.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-streaming-deals-include-one-year-of-hbo-max-for-36-163017424.html?src=rss