GOP stop-gap bill fails, bringing potential shutdown closer. And, NPR's guide to dance
Congress has until midnight tonight to avoid a government shutdown after House Republicans were unable to pass a stop-gap funding bill yesterday. And, tips to improve your dance moves.
Starbucks workers say they will begin a strike in 3 cities on Friday
Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United said in February they had come to common ground in moving forward for the rest of the year. But the union says Starbucks has not kept its end of the commitment.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
Michael Jackson is so unhelpful in Smooth Criminal like yeah, I’ll be fine could you maybe call an ambulance I’m losing a lot of blood. https://youtu.be/h_D3VFfhvs4?si=J2CejNgflnkXiIpb
History has never ended, but are we at a crossroads again?
Oxford professor Ben Ansell says we are witnessing a battle between nationalism and liberalism that will write our own time indelibly into the history books of tomorrow.
Ban Exotic Animal Skins on the Runway? “Ridiculous!” Say Conservation Experts.
This story was originally published by Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Conservation experts have criticized a decision by London fashion week to ban exotic animal skins from its 2025 shows as “ridiculous,” warning that it is ill-informed and could harm the protection of many snakes, crocodiles, and reptile species. Last month, the British Fashion Council’s […]
America’s Health Insurance Crisis in Six Charts
Earlier this month, the Commonwealth Fund published the results of its biannual survey on the state of health insurance coverage in the United States. Good timing, given the recent uproar over the business conglomerates that dominate the sector and seem to be more concerned with maximizing investment returns than ensuring the health and wellbeing of […]
Holiday Shopping Is Incredibly Wasteful. Here’s How to Make It Greener.
This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. As the holidays quickly approach, the last-minute scramble to get presents for everyone on your list can be a bit of a guessing game. Will your mom like the blue or green mug? Does your brother wear a large […]
Big Lots says it is having going-out-of-business sales as it seeks a new buyer
The national discount retailer says that a previously announced deal to sell itself to a private-equity group fell through.
Saturday is the winter solstice. Make the most of the shortest day of the year
Saturday marks the shortest day of the year and the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. NPR has compiled plenty of expert tips for celebrating the solstice and weathering winter.
'Bill of the Month': The series that dissects and slashes medical bills
Since 2018, readers and listeners sent KFF Health News-NPR's "Bill of the Month" thousands of questionable bills. Our crowdsourced investigation paved the way for landmark legislation and highlighted cost-saving strategies for all patients
Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots
An NPR investigation found Louisiana health officials told staff to stop promoting vaccines for COVID, flu and mpox, holding flu shot events or otherwise encouraging the public to get those vaccines.
Climate-warming gas leaks must be fixed by utilities in a new proposed rule
Natural gas utilities likely will face stricter federal regulations for their climate-warming methane emissions. Among the biggest sources of leaks is the meter outside a gas customer's home.
Trump is all about tariffs as he leads a party that used to be all about free trade
Once upon a time, Republicans spoke of free trade in glowing terms. With his constant threats of tariffs and a history of implementing them, President-elect Donald Trump has flipped that on its head.
Trump's reelection victory pushes some LGTBQ Minneapolis residents to safety training
For some marginalized communities the second Trump term is fraught with fears over personal safety. In Minneapolis, one organization is helping with de-escalation services and gun training.
Big Health Care is ending a terrible year. Is anyone happy with this business?
Patients are protesting, bipartisan lawmakers are threatening regulation – and investors are selling their shares.
NPR's most-read stories of 2024 include a scam-fighter and zombie second mortgages
How can you outsmart scammers? What would you do if your friend was attacked by a wild cougar? NPR readers wanted to know the answers to those questions and more in 2024.
computer@facts.computer ("Computer Facts") wrote:
🔫 🚗 get in loser we're queering the lambda calculus
medieval_illuminations ("Medieval Illumination") wrote:
Ass trumpet. Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum historiale, France 1297. Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 131, fol. 202r.
#medieval #MedievalArt
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jef ("Jef Poskanzer :batman:") wrote:
Law schools would have more success teaching the Rule Against Perpetuities if they just screened "Body Heat" and then had Kathleen Turner discuss the legal issues.
Snow, ice and strong winds make for dangerous conditions in upper Midwest
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for large areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, where some interstates were snow-covered and treacherous.
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻"):
downey@floss.social ("Michael Downey 🚩") wrote:
@fromjason Ted's stuff is great. Don't miss this great conversation with him, Englebart, and @hrheingold
Reblogged by andreu@andreubotella.com ("Andreu Botella :verified_enby:"):
igalia@floss.social ("Igalia") wrote:
We’re proud to share news of a big step toward the re-greening of our home city, A Coruña, and our part in making it happen. https://www.igalia.com/2024/12/20/Creating-an-Urban-Forest.html
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
Is Matt Mullenweg the Mad King of WordPress?:
"Standing in a bathroom at Automattic’s San Francisco offices, Matt Mullenweg is talking to me about toilet paper."
Just an incredible way to start an article. I lol’d. https://www.inc.com/dfreedman/matt-mullenweg-wordpress-wp-engine/90994969
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻"):
tootbrute@fedi.arkadi.one wrote:
@fromjason agree. the other techno grifts didn't bother me too much.
crypto - pyramid scheme that kills the environment...ok shitty but doesn't affect me
NFTs - just stupidbut AI could fuck up our whole web and stored knowledge.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
When AI summaries replace hyperlinks, thought itself is flattened | Aeon Essays:
"We are at a moment in the history of the web in which the link itself – the countless connections made by website creators, the endless tapestry of ideas woven together throughout the web – is a in danger of going extinct."
Long but fantastic read so far (half way through). Will have more to say about it later. https://aeon.co/essays/when-ai-summaries-replace-hyperlinks-thought-itself-is-flattened
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Bluesky now has a mentions tab in your notifications area
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
Bluesky now has a specific tab for mentions in your notifications as part of the app’s just-released 1.96 update. With the mentions tab, it’s much easier to see your replies or conversations you’ve been tagged in on the platform.
Speaking of replies, update 1.96 lets you easily access settings that let you control how replies on posts appear to you. Replies can be linear, meaning they show up one post after another, or threaded, which means they will appear in indented threads (kind of like how they appear on Reddit). You can also sort replies by newest, oldest, most-liked, “hot,” and “random” (which Bluesky also calls “Poster’s Roulette”).
App Version 1.96 is rolling out now (1/6) In this release: a notifications Mentions tab, reserving your default username when you verify your account with a domain, and other improvements!
If you choose to set a custom domain as your username, with 1.96, Bluesky will also reserve your old .bsky.social name so that it can’t be picked up by someone else. I wish this feature had been available when I set my custom domain — when I did that, I made an alt account that’s parked on my old .bsky.social name so that it doesn’t get taken.
Bluesky saw a surge of new users in November, and although growth has slowed as of late, the platform surpassed 25 million total users last week. The company plans to launch a subscription service early next year and, at some point, its own payment platform.
And the platform has some big competition from Meta’s Threads, which seems to be doing everything it can to remind people that it can ship lots of features and that it’s much larger than Bluesky.
California man allegedly messaged Madison school shooter about plans ahead of attack
New information has emerged in the investigation into a school shooting at a small Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, though authorities are still searching for a motive.
Why Is Congress Leaving Abused Women and Children in The Lurch?
Something is missing from the new Trump-backed year-end spending bill that Congress has to pass by midnight on Friday to prevent a government shutdown: Support for critical services for abused women and children. As I have reported for Mother Jones, there is a funding crisis facing the Crime Victims Fund, a pot of federal money […]
Google Street View helped police solve a man’s disappearance
The Verge
A Google Street View image played in role in solving a missing person investigation in Spain, according to reports from the BBC and The New York Times. The image, which can still be seen on Street View, shows what appears to be a person loading a large object into the trunk of a car, as Gizmodo points out. Another image showed someone “transporting a large white bundle in a wheelbarrow,” the BBC reports.
Part of the human remains of the missing person have been found buried in a cemetery in a town in the province of Soria and advanced technical means had to be used to locate them.
One of the clues that investigators had to solve the crime, although it was not decisive, was some images that they detected during the investigations in a location search application.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25798081/google_maps_suspect.png)
Screenshot: Google
This is the Google Street View image allegedly linked to the crime.
Though the press release doesn’t explicitly name the location application it used, a spokesperson for the Spanish National Police confirmed to The New York Times that it was Google Maps while also saying, “The image was not the key to solving the case.”
Authorities were investigating the case of a 33-year-old man who disappeared last year while visiting a partner in Tajueco, Soria, according to the Spanish outlet El País. Police arrested a woman and her ex-partner in connection with the crime in November.
Google Maps has been credited with helping investigators in the past, with Italian authorities using Street View to trace the location of a mafia fugitive in 2022.
Examining The Biden Administration's International Legacy
The outgoing U.S. national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, has been a top advisor and envoy to President Biden on issues of foreign policy. He talks to NPR about his view of recent events in the Middle East, the U.S. relationship with China and the future of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Here are the best iPad deals right now
Apple’s newest iPad Pro, which features an M4 chip, is on sale starting at $899 right now. | Image: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, many great iPad deals are attainable outside those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but there’s often something to be saved, particularly on the more affordable iPads. The most recent iPad Pro and iPad Air are also starting to see substantial price reductions, and you can even save a bit on Apple’s new iPad Mini.
It’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, from the cheapo ninth-gen iPad of 2021 to the latest models equipped with Apple’s powerful M2 and M4 chips.
The best iPad (2021) deals
Announced alongside the iPhone 13 way back in 2021, the ninth-gen iPad is Apple’s aging entry-level tablet, one that’s still great at carrying out everyday tasks despite having been discontinued. The ninth-gen model originally started at $329 with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage, which arguably makes the newer 10th-gen model the better deal if you don’t need a home button or a headphone jack, as it now starts at $349 and is often on sale for even less.
The last-gen iPad has been receiving a steep discount for quite a while, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find in most configurations. That being said, Amazon and Walmart are selling the 64GB base model with Wi-Fi for $249 ($80 off), which is about $50 shy of its all-time low. As for the step-up 256GB variant, Amazon is selling it in silver for $449 ($30 off), which is $100 more than the lowest price to date.
A last-gen model is still worth considering
The last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a smart connector for connecting a smart keyboard.
The best iPad (2022) deals
Although the newer 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022, it’s still an excellent tablet — one we consider to be the best value for most people (once Apple dropped its price). The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack.
In the past, you could often buy Apple’s latest entry-level iPad for $349 ($100 off its initial launch price) — which is now the MSRP. Right now, however, the base model with 64GB of storage is on sale at Amazon in select colors for an all-time low of $249.99 ($100 off) when you clip the on-page coupon. You can also find it at Best Buy and Walmart for $279 ($70 off), which is about $30 more than its lowest price to date. Amazon, Best Buy, and Target are also selling the 256GB model with Wi-Fi starting at $429 ($70 off), which is about $20 more than its best price to date.
The best iPad Mini (2024) deals
The new seventh-gen iPad Mini is similar to the outgoing model but comes with faster Wi-Fi and USB-C speeds, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and a newer A17 Pro processor with 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence. Otherwise, it boasts nearly identical specs and features as the last-gen model, meaning it has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, a USB-C port, and options for 5G. It may not be worth upgrading if you already own a sixth-gen Mini, but newcomers to the category should appreciate the upgrades.
The 2024 iPad Mini starts at $499 with 128GB of storage, which was the price for the previous generation’s 64GB model. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $599, and the cellular models start at $649. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want an Apple tablet in the smallest possible form factor, this is where the action is.
Right now, you can get the 128GB base configuration with Wi-Fi at Amazon for $479 ($20 off), which is $30 more than its lowest price to date. You can also get the Wi-Fi model with 256GB of storage at Amazon and B&H Photo for $569 ($30 off), its second-best price to date, though Amazon currently does not provide a shipping estimate for the tablet.
The best iPad Air (2024) deals
Apple just recently launched the 2024 iPad Air, which features several small upgrades. The newer model doesn’t feature any groundbreaking changes compared to the 2022 release, but notably, there is now a 13-inch configuration in addition to a base 11-inch model. Apple also added Wi-Fi 6E radios and upgraded the chipset to M2, which enables the hover feature when using Apple’s latest styluses. You can use the newer iPad Air with the Apple Pencil Pro and both previous-gen Magic Keyboards, too. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the comparable 13-inch model starts at $799.
Deals for the 2024 iPad Air started to appear before the latest model even hit store shelves. Right now, you can pick up the 11-inch base model with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi at Best Buy and Target starting at $499 ($100 off), which is its best price to date. The 13-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage, meanwhile, is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy and Target for an all-time low of $699 ($100 off).
The best iPad Pro (2024) deals
Compared to the latest iPad Air, the 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade. The 11- and 13-inch models start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they are the first Apple devices to feature the company’s latest M4 chip, which brings moderate performance gains and dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The new Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros yet, which is true for both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge, which prevent you from looking as though you’re staring off into space on a video call.
As for deals, the 11-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi / 256GB of storage is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $899 (about $100 off), which is only $2 more than the lowest price to date. The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $1,099 ($200 off), which is an all-time low price.
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻"):
cam@hachyderm.io ("Camilo") wrote:
would be hard to stage a better album cover tbh
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fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
All this political theater is making Luigi Mangione look cool as hell, I fear. (The optics aren’t doing anything to help the idea that we have an overly militarized police problem either.)
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Dune: Prophecy Renewed For Second Season Of Bene Gesserit Mayhem
In a surprise to absolutely no one who has been immersed in the child-burning, eugenics-pushing, mind-bending chaos of Dune: Prophecy, we’re returning to this universe from 10,000 years before Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies. HBO announced today that the prequel series will be renewed for a second season after the…
MrBeast And Amazon Prime's Beast Games Feels Flat And Unimportant
After nine months of hype, controversy, and hyped controversy, MrBeast and Amazon’s Beast Games has begun, the first two episodes of ten added to Amazon Prime today. The reportedly $100 million deal to secure the world’s most popular YouTuber has resulted in a game show that combines Squid Game with, er, Squid Game:…
How Netanyahu survived another tumultuous year
At the start of this year Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was facing a crisis. Just a few months before, Hamas had breached Israel's border with Gaza, killing some 1200 people in Israel on October 7th.As the year ends, Netanyahu is spending some of it in a courtroom to fight corruption charges that have dogged him since 2019. The Israeli Prime Minister has called the charges absurd.You might think that would be detrimental to his political career, but instead Netanyahu looks stronger than he has since the war began. This — despite that trial, an international arrest warrant and a grinding war.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Trump's promise to end CBP One app worries migrants waiting in Mexico
Incoming president Donald Trump has vowed to end the CBP One app, which people outside the U.S. use to book appointments to petition for asylum.
dnalounge@sfba.social ("DNA Lounge") wrote:
♬️ NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: MOVIE SING-ALONG + DANCE PARTY at DNA Lounge tonight: Thu Dec 19, 7:30pm!
https://www.dnalounge.com/calendar/2024/12-19.html
#dnalounge #nightmarebeforechristmas #cyberdelia #alternative #gothic #industrial #indie #sanfrancisco
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charliejane@wandering.shop ("Yoko's Asterisk 🏳️⚧") wrote:
Don't forget: it's almost time to stop writing 2024 on forms and instead drawing a picture of a skull with blood pouring from its eye sockets
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Deglassco ("D. Elisabeth Glassco") wrote:
Said Woodson of Jones:
“He never had much to say except in the case of matters of importance on which he could speak intelligently. He was a well educated man,
but he could neither read nor write. He learned through others who had had opportunities for intellectual development.“Image: Black coal miners working for the Lorain Coal & Dock Co. in Lorado, West Virginia, in 1918. Source: Library of Congress
5/7
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Mangione faces federal murder and stalking charges over UnitedHealthcare CEO killing
A new federal charging document reveals that the suspect in CEO Brian Thompson's shooting death was found in possession of a notebook containing hostile writings about the health insurance industry.
How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer
Australia's top online internet regulator explains how the nation plans to roll out the world's first social media ban for kids under 16.
The best phone to buy right now
The best screens for screen time. | Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
The bad news: flagship phones cost a small fortune these days. The good news: we can help you pick the right one and get the most for your money.
Dune: Prophecy is getting a second season on HBO
Image: HBO
The first season of Dune: Prophecy is about to wrap up — but there’s more on the way. Ahead of the finale on December 22nd, HBO has confirmed than the prequel series has been renewed for a second season.
The show premiered in November, and takes place 10,000 years before the events of the Dune movies from Denis Villeneuve. It stars Emily Watson and Olivia Williams as two Harkonnen sisters who form the galaxy-defining sect known as the Bene Gesserit.
“If you just know the Harkonnens from the movies, they’re these monstrous villains who are very clearly the bad guys,” showrunner Alison Schapker told The Verge about the series. “But that’s not where they started off, and this kind of story gave us a chance to complicate that understanding and dig into what made them that way.”
There’s no word on when to expect season 2, but it’s also not the only Dune project on the way: Dune 3 is in the works, as is a survival game set on Arrakkis.
Steam's Big Xmas Sale Is Live And Here Are The Best Deals
The Steam Winter Sale is now live, bringing with it some big deals on new and old games including Animal Well, Call of Duty, Star Wars Outlaws, Dead Space, Mass Effect, and many, many more.
Google Keep’s joining the ranks of system apps considered essential
Illustration: The Verge
Google Keep is being upgraded to a system app on Android 16 devices, joining the ranks of other Android apps that provide essential services like calling and messaging, reports Android Police.
Google’s free note-taking app appears as a system app on the latest Android 16 beta, Android 16 Developer Preview 2. Anyone upgrading to this OS version will no longer be able to uninstall the app unless they have root access. However, anyone still using Android 15 or older can easily uninstall it via normal means, as Google Keep is not a system app on those versions.
The news comes as a surprise. Google integrated Keep with its Tasks feature in April, but otherwise Google mostly has ignored its note-taking app over the years. Yet all of a sudden, it’s apparently considered a core feature vital to Android’s operating system like Google’s Phone, Contacts, and Google Play Store apps.
Google has yet to explain the change, but this suggests the company could be planning on upgrading Google Keep with more powerful features so it’ll play a more central role in Android 16. It’s possible Google could be planning on integrating it with other core Android features, for example.
Home Assistant’s new voice assistant answers to ‘Hey Jarvis’
The Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition is the first hardware from the open-source smart home platform that’s designed for voice control. | Image: Nabu Casa
There’s a new voice assistant in town, and this one can work locally in your home without phoning home to its corporate overloads. This week, the popular hobbyist smart home platform Home Assistant officially launched its first voice assistant hardware — Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition.
Built for the open-source smart home platform, Voice PE costs $59 and brings a locally controlled, privacy-focused voice assistant to Home Assistant in a plug-and-play package. Once connected to Home Assistant, you can use voice to control any connected device, with commands such as “Turn on the living room lights,” “Lock all the doors,” “Create a timer for 5 minutes,” and many more.
While Home Assistant users have been able to control their smart homes with voice using either Home Assistant’s Assist on less capable third-party hardware or through the cloud by connecting to third-party services like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, this is the first dedicated Home Assistant voice hardware product.
Voice PE is the culmination of Home Assistant’s Year of the Voice, an effort from Nabu Casa, the organization behind Home Assistant, to let users control their homes locally, privately, and in their own language. It currently supports over 50 languages, compared to eight for Alexa and 20 for Google Assistant.
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Image: Nabu Casa
The Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition.
The Voice PE is a small white box, about the size of your palm, with dual microphones and an audio processor. An internal speaker lets you hear the assistant, but you can also connect a speaker to it via a 3.5 mm headphone jack for better-quality media playback.
Out of the box, you can talk to Assist with the wake words “Okay Nabu,” “Hey Jarvis,” or “Hey Mycroft.”
A colored LED ring on top of the Voice PE indicates when the assistant is listening. It surrounds a rotary dial and a physical button, which is used for setup and to talk to the voice assistant without using the wake word. The button can also be customized to do whatever you want (because this is Home Assistant). A physical mute switch is on the side, and the device is powered by USB-C (charger and cable not included). There’s also a Grove port where you can add sensors and other accessories.
Speaking of wake words, out of the box, you can talk to Assist with the wake words “Okay Nabu,” “Hey Jarvis,” or “Hey Mycroft.” If you want to get fancy, you can program a custom wake word.
The assistant can run locally in your home without an internet connection on Home Assistant hardware (such as the Home Assistant Green hub), or it can use the Home Assistant cloud. According to Nabu Casa, the latter is faster and supports more languages. The company says your data is not stored on the cloud nor used for training.
For those who don’t like the idea of always-listening microphones in their home from companies such as Amazon and Google, but who still want the convenience of controlling their home with their voice, the potential here is huge. But it may be a while until Voice PE is ready to replace your Echo or Nest smart speaker.
The Verge’s Callie Wright, a Home Assistant superuser, has been testing the Voice PE for a few weeks. While they are impressed with its capabilities (although it had some trouble understanding them when there was background noise), they aren’t quite ready to kick Alexa to the curb. “I think Amazon’s Alexa is still worth the privacy tradeoffs for me just because there are key things for me that Voice PE can’t pull off,” they say. “But the progress Home Assistant has made in its Year of the Voice has been incredible, and I’m more hopeful than ever that that future is coming.”
While the intention is to surpass “Big Tech voice assistants,” Paulus Schoutsen, founder of Home Assistant, recognizes it’s not there yet. Hence, Voice is launching as a Preview Edition. “For some, the current capabilities of our voice assistant will be all they need, especially those who just want to set timers, manage their shopping list, and control their most used devices,” says Schoutsen. “For others, we understand they want to ask their voice assistant to make whale sounds or to tell them how tall Taylor Swift is — our voice assistant doesn’t do those things… yet.”
In the meantime, if you want more features, Voice PE can connect to supported AI models, such as ChatGPT or Gemini, to fully replace Assist or use it as a fallback for commands it doesn’t understand. But for many smart home users, there will be plenty of value in a simple, inexpensive device that lets you turn your lights on and off, start a timer, and execute other useful commands with your voice without relying on an internet connection.
Federal regulators prohibit drone flights in dozens of locations across New Jersey
The Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily barring drone flights over critical infrastructure at 22 locations in New Jersey amid mounting concerns about a flurry of reported drone sightings.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
[From the drafts] Starved for hope, a trolling Harris feeds us
Here’s an incomplete draft of mine from September 11th. During the months leading up to the election, I was very nervous. I wrote a lot. For whatever reason, I published none of it, effectively keeping myself a political diary of unfished thoughts. After revisiting some of my mini-political essays, I may publish them here on my micro. If for nothing else, to connect ... https://micro.fromjason.xyz/2024/12/19/from-the-drafts.html
Who can say it's healthy? The FDA has a new definition for food labels
At a time when more than half the American diet comes from processed, packaged foods, the FDA has new rules aimed at helping people make healthier choices in the grocery store.
The popular 'hospital-at-home' effort is at stake in the federal budget battle
Started during the pandemic, hundreds of hospitals in 39 states deliver acute inpatient care in people's homes. The popular program had a five-year extension in a stopgap budget agreement that is now in doubt.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)— […] “In recent days, I’ve heard troubling reports of ABC News employees recklessly dabbling in news,” Bob Iger told the gathering at ABC’s Manhattan headquarters. “This ends now.”
Declaring ABC News “a news-free zone,” he said, “If you find yourself tempted to do news, I want you to ask yourself: is it worth risking your career?”
Iger’s anti-news policy, however, drew a harsh rebuke from Fox News Channel, who claimed that ABC was infringing on its brand.
Thousands of Amazon delivery drivers at seven hubs are on strike
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
Thousands of delivery drivers who work for Amazon third-party contractors are now on strike, The New York Times reports. The workers are striking after “Amazon’s repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain with the thousands of Amazon workers who organized with the Teamsters,” according to a Teamsters press release.
Workers are picketing at Amazon warehouses from Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, Southern California, and Skokie, Ill., with other Amazon Teamsters “prepared to join them,” the Teamsters say. “Teamsters local unions are also putting up primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide.”
The National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Amazon earlier this year, saying that Amazon and one of its third-party contractors are joint employers of delivery drivers and that it has “a legal duty to recognize and bargain with the Teamsters Union,” per another Teamsters press release.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel shared the following statement with New York City’s WPIX and with The Verge:
For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers’. They don’t, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative. The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union.
Amazon employees who have organized with the Teamsters voted last week to authorize a strike.
Update, December 19th : Added that Amazon sent us a statement.
Stranger Things' Final Season Has Finished Filming
After beginning production nearly a full year ago back in early January, our final trip to Hawkins, Indiana is finally almost ready to begin. According to reports, filming on the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has concluded, just in time for us to kick off another year of speculation as we agonize about…
How to reshare Threads posts without quote posting
Image: The Verge
In what seems to be a battle between Threads and Bluesky for the hearts and minds of ex-Twitterers, Threads has been adding some interesting new features. The latest is the ability to share photos and videos without including the original post — in other words, without quote posting. (There’s a similar feature in X for videos.)
There has been some initial pushback on it. A photographer on Threads complained that “there will be a small watermark-like credit on the photo, but there won’t be a link back to your account.”
Curious, I tried out the new feature, went to see if there was indeed no link back to the original post, and followed bryanhansel’s instructions for turning it off. Here’s what happened, and how you can use and adjust Threads’ new feature. (All of these instructions have been followed using the mobile app.)
To share images alone
- Long-press on the image you want to share. A menu will pop up at the bottom of the screen.
- To share just the image, tap on Use media.
- The image will appear as a new thread, with space above it to add your own comment. Select Post when you’re ready.
The new post will indeed have the image with only your comment and without the previous...
Five Fingers Crush The Land from NPR's Throughline
As NPR correspondent Emily Feng reported in our three-part series "The Black Gate," hundreds of thousands of Uyghur people have been detained in China. They've been subjected to torture, forced labor, religious restrictions, and even forced sterilization. In this episode from 2021, our colleagues at the history podcast Throughline explore who the Uyghur people are, their land, their customs, their music and how they've become such a target in China today. To listen to this series sponsor-free and support NPR, sign up for Embedded+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
5 Marvel Rivals Characters That Will Remind You Of Your Overwatch Main
Marvel Rivals is the newest hero shooter on the block, following closely in Overwatch’s footsteps. It takes inspiration from Blizzard’s game in plenty of ways, from general game modes to its style of monetization. Another way it takes inspiration is in its characters.
Google reveals AI ‘reasoning’ model that ‘explicitly shows its thoughts’
Illustration: The Verge
Google has introduced a new AI “reasoning” model capable of answering complex questions while also providing a rundown of its “thoughts,” as reported earlier by TechCrunch. The model, called Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, is still experimental and will likely compete with OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model.
In a post on X, Google DeepMind chief scientist Jeff Dean says the model is “trained to use thoughts to strengthen its reasoning,” and also benefits from the speed that comes along with the faster Gemini Flash 2.0 model. The demo shared by Dean shows how Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking goes about answering a physics problem by “thinking” through a series of steps before offering a solution.
Want to see Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking in action? Check out this demo where the model solves a physics problem and explains its reasoning. pic.twitter.com/Nl0hYj7ZFS
— Jeff Dean (@JeffDean) December 19, 2024
This isn’t necessarily “reasoning” in the way humans perform it, but it means the machine breaks down instructions into smaller tasks that can produce stronger outcomes.
Another example, posted by Google product lead Logan Kilpatrick, shows the model reasoning its way through a problem that involves both visual and textual elements. “This is just the first step in our reasoning journey,” Kilpatrick says. You can try out Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking on Google’s AI Studio.
There have been quite a few notable updates in the AI space as of late, with Google revealing its upgraded Gemini 2.0 model earlier this month as part of the company’s push into “agentic” AI. Meanwhile, OpenAI made the full version of its o1 reasoning model available to ChatGPT subscribers.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
The new Superman trailer shows Krypto in the movie!
James Gunn is my favorite thing about superhero movies. He’s not afraid of the weird and cheesy parts of sci-fi lore. I would love, love if Gunn rebooted Hitchhicker’s Guide to The Galaxy, and embraced the kitschiness of the 1980’s BBC series.
Anyway, the shots look gorgeous. I’m hopeful. https://youtu.be/uhUht6vAsMY?si=TyVRvGZeljt0aQF-
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Marvel Rivals Doesn’t Explain What 'Season Bonus' Is, So We Looked Into It For You
Fans of the hero shooter genre are sure to notice some familiar ideas in Marvel Rivals, whether it’s the game modes or certain character abilities. That said, the new superhero title does attempt to spice things up with fun concepts like destructible environments and Team-Up abilities. One of the more unique original…
Sonic 4 Already In Development And Is Set To Arrive In 2027
A new report claims that Paramount has greenlit a sequel to the still-not-released Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is already in development and the plan is for it to hit theaters in 2027.
MissingThePt ("Missing The Point") wrote:
Breaking: Elon Musk promises Donald Trump “an important role” in the upcoming presidential administration, with “specific areas of responsibility to be worked out.”
More Switch 2 'Leaks' All Point To The Same Thing: A Bigger, More Powerful Version Of The Console Everyone Already Loves
Alleged Switch 2 leaks have only intensified as Nintendo stays silent heading into 2025. We’ve had rumors about the timing of the reveal and elaborate mockups of what the console purportedly looks like floating around online, plus endless images of accessory manufacturers claiming to have cases, screen protectors, and…
NFL Team Owner Reportedly Used Madden To Make Decisions
A new report claims that Woody Johnson, who owns the NFL team the New York Jets, has used EA’s popular Madden video game series to help him make decisions involving real players. It’s even reported that a trade deal was killed due to stats found in the game.
8BitDo’s new mini Xbox controller fits gamers with smaller hands
8BitDo’s new Mini Wired Xbox controller is smaller and lighter than its Ultimate C gamepad. | Image: 8BitDo
8BitDo has announced an alternate version of its Ultimate C wired Xbox controller that’s 20 percent smaller and 10 percent lighter while still featuring full-sized triggers, joysticks, and buttons.
Although the new 8BitDo Ultimate Mini is designed for kids and teens, it will also appeal to any gamer with smaller hands who struggles with the size and weight of standard controllers. At 189.6 grams it’s lighter than the 287-gram Xbox Series S and X controllers (including batteries) and weighs less than half of “The Duke,” the 550-gram wired controllers the original Xbox shipped with. It’s available now in the US through Amazon for $34.99, as well as 8BitDo’s online store.
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Image: 8BitDo
The joysticks and buttons on the Ultimate Mini are all closer to each other, but the same size as on a standard Xbox controller.
The Ultimate Mini features the same layout as larger Xbox controllers but with action buttons, the directional pad, and its drift-resistant magnetic Hall effect joysticks all positioned closer together. There are also Hall effect triggers on the back, along with a pair of slightly smaller shoulder buttons.
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Image: 8BitDo
A ring of LEDs surrounding each joystick offers different interactive lighting modes.
It comes with a white, pink, or green translucent shell, which makes a ring of LEDs surrounding each joystick glow more prominently. Called the Fire Ring, there are different lighting modes that react to various button presses with flashes, cycle through different colors, or follow the direction each joystick is being pushed.
The 8BitDo Ultimate Mini is compatible with the Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and PCs running Windows 10 or 11. There’s no wireless connectivity which helps keep the controller lightweight without batteries inside. But parents with kids who are prone to rage-quitting games and throwing their controllers may want to think twice about a gamepad that’s physically tethered to a console with no breakaway connector.
Sonic 4 is speeding into theaters in 2027
Image: Paramount
Variety is reporting that Paramount Pictures is planning to extend the Sonic The Hedgehog trilogy by yet another movie. Sonic The Hedgehog 4 has been greenlit with a target release window of spring 2027.
The news comes mere hours before Sonic The Hedgehog 3 releases in theaters on Friday December 19th. The movie once again stars Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey and Idris Elba as his friends Tails and Knuckles, with Jim Carey returning as their nemesis Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Sonic 3 will also feature the arrival of Keanu Reeves playing Sonic’s on-again off-again enemy-turned-friend Shadow The Hedgehog.
With Sonic 3 anticipating tidy profits as North America prepares for the Christmas / New Year’s moviegoing season, developing a fourth movie makes sense. There are several rogue characters from the Sonic universe aiming for their silver screen debut. (See what I did there?) Neither Variety nor Paramount Pictures have confirmed any plot details or who might get their Sonic movie debut. We’ll probably get a hint though, in the post-credits for Sonic 3.
DA Fani Willis Disqualified From Georgia Trump Prosecution
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been disqualified from the Georgia case against Donald Trump. The ruling, issued Thursday morning by a panel of the state’s appellate court, deals what could be a fatal blow to the one remaining bid to hold the incoming president criminally liable for trying to steal the 2020 election. […]
Valve will be Lenovo’s ‘special guest’ at just-announced gaming handheld event
Image: Evan Blass (X)
“The future of gaming handhelds is coming to CES ‘25 and you have a front row seat!” the email in my inbox exclaims.
Let me translate: it looks like Lenovo just tacitly confirmed it will announce its first SteamOS handheld in Las Vegas on or before January 7th, 2025. We’re expecting it to be the Steam button equipped Legion Go S that leaker Evan Blass revealed last week.
Why do I say that? The January 7th event, titled “Lenovo Legion x AMD: The Future of Gaming Handhelds,” will feature a special guest: Valve SteamOS and Steam Deck co-designer Pierre-Loup Griffais. Lenovo and AMD are calling him Valve’s “Chief Design Architect” for purposes of this event.
(Most Valve employees are simply considered designers internally, since they fluidly switch between teams and tasks; I believe Griffais once told me he prefers the same, but it’s true he’s also been one of the few public faces of SteamOS and the Steam Deck. It’s a fascinating company.)
Griffais won’t be the only intriguing choice of panelist on stage: Jason Ronald, Microsoft VP of Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem will also be in attendance. He's now being introduced as Microsoft’s “VP of Next Generation."
We exclusively shared with you last week that Lenovo will revamp its larger, seemingly Windows-based Legion Go with detachable controllers, too. And we’re also expecting Lenovo to hedge its bets with a Windows version of the smaller Legion Go S based on those same leaks. It's a reasonable bet some, if not all of these devices will come with AMD’s yet-to-be-detailed Z2 Extreme chips.
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Image via Evan Blass
A leaked image of Lenovo’s bigger Legion Go, now with seemingly more ergonomic grips and possibly an OLED panel.
Here’s the full description of the event:
Join us for a cocktail reception hosted by Lenovo Legion and AMD gaming leaders, with special guests Valve and other gaming industry giants. We’ll be sharing our thoughts on what lies ahead in the gaming handheld space and showcasing our latest Lenovo Legion Go innovations advanced by AMD. Come to hear how Lenovo Legion and AMD Ryzen are making gaming more immersive for all and stay to experience the future of handheld gaming firsthand!
We’re not currently expecting Microsoft to surprise with an Xbox handheld at the event, as gaming boss Phil Spencer has suggested that might be a few years away. But it’s possible that Microsoft and Lenovo will try to suggest that all handhelds are Xbox handhelds, like Microsoft does in its new “This is an Xbox” marketing campaign:
I’ll be attending, and I’ll let you know!
The best laptops you can buy
Illustration by William Joel / The Verge
The best laptops for you, from ultraportables to gaming machines, MacBooks to Chromebooks.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
Helping my mom clear her storage and I notice she has 4GB worth of NOTES? As non-technical as she is, she immediately said “yeah that make sense I love that app,” lmao. Parents.
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A Little-Known Law to Fight Disabled Poverty Just Turned 10
On December 19, 2014, then-President Barack Obama signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act into law, establishing tax-exempt savings accounts of up to $100,000 for qualified disability expenses—including education, housing, transportation, health, and basic living expenses—for people whose disabilities began before age 26, without counting against the $2,000 Social Security Insurance asset limit. In […]
Xbox Elite Series 2 controller drops to record low $124
You can get the full Elite Series 2 experience for a price that’s only $15 more than the Core package. | Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
With the holiday season in full effect, you can expect a fresh stream of Christmas noobs entering your multiplayer lobbies. If you’re on an Xbox or PC and looking to keep the pressure on during ruthless initiation rites, the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Gaming Controller can help maximize your effectiveness. It’s usually a pricey spend at $179.99, but you can get the full kit with its extra back buttons, analog stick toppers, D-pads, and wireless charging dock for just $124 ($56 off) at Amazon and Walmart right now, which is a new record low price.
For comparison’s sake, the Elite Series 2 Core includes none of those extras, save for the tool that lets you adjust the analog stick’s tension. The Core is appropriately cheaper as a result and starts around $94.99 ($45 off) at Best Buy, Target, and Amazon right now. While you can buy the components separately for $59.99, the two combined turn out to be more expensive than buying the full Elite Series 2 package. That said, it’s a viable way to get the full experience with the Core’s exclusive red, blue, and white color options.
The Elite Series 2 — usable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows — offers the most customizability of any first-party pro-style controller and is still one of the most configurable options from any brand. In addition to hot-swappable D-pads and four removable back buttons, you can swap the analog stick tops and adjust their tension. The triggers support three different stop levels. You’ll also get extensive software-based button remapping through Xbox and Windows, but you can’t make changes on the controller itself. And the controller doesn’t use removable batteries like the official standard controllers, meaning you can’t swap in a fresh set if their capacity shrinks over time. But Microsoft says it’ll last up to 40 hours before you need to recharge, and you have convenient charging options between its USB-C cable and the included dock.
Read our Xbox Elite Series 2 review.
A few more deals
- If the price of the Xbox Elite Series 2 is more than you want to pay for a fresh gamepad, the standard Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller is also on sale at Best Buy and Target in white for $34.99 ($25 off), which is an all-time low price. It has no customization options outside of the remappable buttons that you can set up in Xbox and Windows, but it still offers Microsoft’s beloved ergonomics and the advantage of user-replaceable batteries — whether you go for a pair of AAs or an endless sea of rechargeable options.
- If you’re partial to Roku’s incredibly easy user experience, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K can be a nice alternative to the Apple TV 4K or the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — and the $29.99 sale price ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target is a good value. Compared to the older Streaming Stick Plus, the 4K model offers a bit more speed for zipping around apps and now supports Dolby Vision to go along with HDR10 Plus. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6 or Dolby Atmos like the pricier Roku Ultra, but it still supports basic surround sound codecs. It also comes with a great voice remote that has a headphone jack and shortcuts to popular streaming apps. Read our review.
- Astro Bot for PlayStation 5 recently won game of the year at The Video Game Awards, so we understand any sudden thirst you may have to play it. Thankfully, the physical copy is still discounted to its record low of $49.97 (about $10 off) at Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop right now. We thought the platforming puzzle game had system-selling, game-of-the-year-worthy appeal well before the votes were tallied. That’s because of its charming new mascot and supporting cast, imaginative gameplay and aesthetic, and an increasingly rare and intangible sense of magic and joy that got so many of us hooked on gaming in the hobby’s earliest years. Read our review.
The best budget robot vacuums
Illustration: The Verge
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a robot clean your floors. Here’s our pick of the most cost-effective bots you can buy right now.
The FAA is banning drones in parts of NJ after thousands of mystery sightings
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
The Federal Aviation Administration banned drones from flying over “critical New Jersey infrastructure” in the wake of thousands of drone sightings for which there seem to be very few satisfying answers. The ban will last until January 17th and will block unauthorized drone activity in 22 areas due to “special security reasons,” according to ABC7NY.
Under the FAA’s temporary flight restriction, drones can’t operate within one nautical mile, from the ground up to an altitude of 400 feet, in the affected airspace. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on the FAA’s website says the government “may use deadly force” against unmanned aircraft in restricted areas if it “poses an imminent security threat,” while the pilot may be “intercepted, detained and interviewed” by law enforcement.
During a background call last week, an FAA official said the agency issued its first temporary flight restrictions over Morris County, New Jersey, and the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster in late November. This latest ban covers a much wider swath of the state, including major hubs like Jersey City, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Harrison, and Camden.
For weeks, millions of people in the New York City metro area have traded concerns and conspiracy theories about the mysterious drones zipping through the skies. Despite sightings popping up even outside of New Jersey, government officials have little information to share on the situation.
A joint statement from the FAA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense maintains that the drones don’t appear to “present a national security or public safety risk,” while attributing some sightings to “lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.”
Still, lawmakers are pushing for answers — and possibly even legislation that will make it easier to track and monitor drone activity.
Vampire Survivors Is Free For One Day Only
Two years after it came out, people are still obsessed with Vampire Survivors, the arcade battler roguelike which, despite its name, does not actually feature any bloodsuckers. Anyone who hasn’t already picked up the hit PC game can now nab it for free, though, thanks to the Epic Games Store’s 2024 holiday giveaway.
Leak: This is Lenovo’s rollable display laptop
Image: Evan Blass
Lenovo showed off a laptop concept with a rollable display last year, and in 2025, it might release one that you can actually buy. Leaker Evan Blass just shared images of what he says is a sixth-generation Lenovo ThinkBook Plus, and based on two of the images, it has a display that extends upward to reveal more display underneath.
It seems pretty similar to the concept from 2023, which also extended upward to show more screen. In these images from Blass, Lenovo is showing how the extended screen can be used for multitasking, such as by watching a YouTube video in the lower half of the screen or having a document on hand under a PowerPoint presentation.
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Image: Evan Blass
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Image: Evan Blass
Blass’ leak doesn’t include any specs, so we don’t yet know many important details about this rumored laptop. But if it’s real, and it does debut at CES, it could be one of the most interesting products at the show.
Here’s a video of the 2023 concept:
We’re fairly confident Blass knows what he’s talking about when he says it’ll debut at CES in January; not only does Blass have a very long track record of accurate leaks, he tends to leak products shortly before they’re announced, and appears to have a bead on Lenovo in particular right now.
Last week, we exclusively shared Blass’s images of a new revamped Lenovo Legion Go handheld, as well as a Lenovo Legion Go S that might wind up being the company’s first SteamOS handheld.
Like Old Times: Trump Sends Congress Scrambling To Avoid A Shutdown
President-elect Donald Trump and his newest top-lieutenant, Elon Musk, have sent Washington scrambling to avoid a government shutdown, even before Trump takes office.
Helldivers 2 Giving Away Second Killzone Set For Free After Fan Backlash Over $20 Prices
Yesterday, Helldivers 2 officially revealed its first crossover skins collaboration: Killzone 2. But players immediately balked at the $20 price tag, and now the sci-fi shooter’s developers are trying to put down the fan rebellion with a holiday freebie.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) review: an AMD upgrade
The AMD Strix Point CPU in the Zephyrus G16 gives this gaming laptop a battery life boost over the Intel version. Unfortunately, the price is also boosted.
Waymo still doing better than humans at preventing injuries and property damage
Photo by Jason Henry / AFP via Getty Images
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles cause less property damage and fewer bodily injuries when they crash than human-driven vehicles, according to a study that relies on an analysis of insurance data.
The study is the product of the collaboration between Waymo and insurer Swiss Re, which analyzed liability claims related to collisions from 25.3 million fully autonomous miles driven by Waymo in four cities: Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. They then compared those miles to human driver baselines, which are based on Swiss Re’s data from over 500,000 claims and over 200 billion miles traveled.
25.3 million fully autonomous miles
They found that the performance of Waymo’s vehicles was safer than that of humans, with an 88 percent reduction in property damage claims and a 92 percent reduction in bodily injury claims. Across 25.3 million miles, Waymo was involved in nine property damage claims and two bodily injury claims. The average human driving a similar distance would be expected to have 78 property damage and 26 bodily injury claims, the company says.
Waymo’s vehicles also performed better when compared to new vehicles equipped with all the latest safety tech, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind spot detection. When compared to this group, Waymo’s autonomous driving system showed an 86 percent reduction in property damage claims and a 90 percent reduction in bodily injury claims.
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The last time Waymo did a comparison with Swiss Re’s liability data, it only had 3.8 million fully autonomous miles in California and Arizona. Now, it has a much bigger dataset, with 25.3 million miles. The company recently announced that it had driven 4 million miles in 2024 alone.
Waymo says it has submitted its latest comparisons with Swiss Re’s insurance data to a scientific journal for publication.
The data is important because there is still a fierce debate about the safety of driverless cars. Companies like Waymo and others say driverless cars are necessary as an antidote to the crisis of traffic fatalities, of which there are around 40,000 a year in the US. They point out that driverless cars never get drunk, tired, or distracted and are able to avoid the human errors that so often lead to crashes and deaths.
But there is a lack of certainty around the safety of driverless vehicles, mainly because there are far fewer AVs on the road than human-driven vehicles and, thus, less data from which to draw conclusions. Humans drive close to 100 million miles between fatal crashes, so we’re likely to need hundreds of millions of miles from autonomous vehicles before we can start to make more meaningful comparisons about safety.
Many urbanists and safety advocates say the real solution is actually fewer cars altogether as well as communities that are designed to support more car-free transportation, like bikes, public transportation, and walking.
Waymo is part of a rapidly dwindling number of companies that’s convinced that autonomous vehicles will play a key role in reducing crashes and improving safety. And it’s one of the few willing to publicize its own collisions in order to make that case.
Georgia appeals court blocks Fulton DA Willis from election interference case
Fulton County DA Fani Willis and her office can't continue prosecuting the Georgia election interference case involving Donald Trump — the last remaining criminal charges against the president-elect.
Georgia appeals court blocks Fulton DA Willis from election interference case
Fulton County DA Fani Willis and her office can't continue prosecuting the Georgia election interference case involving Donald Trump — the last remaining criminal charges against the president-elect.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
see also the essays in “Flame Wars: The Discourse of Cyberculture”
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Bibliothecaris@social.edu.nl ("UniversityofGroningenLibrary") wrote:
Early academic works on the #internet, such as those by @hrheingold or Castells, merged visions of digital transformation w/ critical perspectives, influencing both its technological development & conceptual understanding.
🔦December's #OpenAccess article in the spotlight examines these texts: how did their themes and discourses influence #InternetStudies and popular imaginaries of digital technology?
📣 Read our interview with @NathalieFridz
Attachments:
- Image of December's article in the spotlight is titled 'Revolutionary discourses from the past: a digital hermeneutical analysis of widely read academic publications on the social impact and significance of the internet', written by Nathalie Fridzema, Susan Aasman, Tom Slootweg and Rik Smit (remote)
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
samlitzinger@journa.host ("Sam Litzinger") wrote:
Appeals court removes prosecutor Fani Willis from Georgia election case against Trump and others
Instagram teases AI editing tools that will completely reimagine your videos
The puppet influencers are coming...in 2025. | Image: The Verge / Adam Mosseri
Instagram is planning to introduce a generative AI editing feature next year that will allow users to “change nearly any aspect of your videos.” The tech is powered by Meta’s Movie Gen AI model according to a teaser posted by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and aims to provide creators with more tools to help transform their content and bring their ideas to life without extensive video editing or manipulation skills.
Mosseri says the feature can make adjustments using a “simple text prompt.” The announcement video includes previews of early research AI models that change Mosseri’s outfit, background environments, and even his overall appearance — in one scene transforming him into a felt puppet. Other changes are more subtle, such as adding new objects to the existing background or a gold chain around Mosseri’s neck without altering the rest of his clothing.
It’s an impressive preview. The inserted backgrounds and clothing don’t distort unnaturally when Mosseri rapidly moves his arms or face, but the snippets we get to see are barely a second long. The early previews of OpenAI’s Sora video model also looked extremely polished, however, and the results we’ve seen since it became available to the public haven’t lived up to those expectations. We won’t know how good Instagram’s AI video tools truly are by comparison until they launch.
Meta unveiled its Movie Gen AI video generator in October, which promises to “preserve human identity and motion” in the videos it creates or edits. The announcement was made months after similar models from competitors like OpenAI’s Sora and Adobe’s Firefly Video model, the latter of which is already powering beta text-to-video editing tools inside Premiere Pro. Meta hasn’t announced when Movie Gen will be available but Instagram is the first platform that the company has confirmed will utilize the text-to-video model.
Mariah Carey Is Currently Trapped Inside A Giant Block Of Ice (In Fortnite)
If you updated Fortnite yesterday, you will likely have noticed that the island is now half-covered in snow, furious gingerbread men are scattered about, and there’s an enormous monolith of ice sticking out of a hillside. Leakers are claiming that [checks reality] Mariah Carey is going to emerge from within?
How to screen calls on an Android phone
Image: The Verge
I’m guessing I’m not alone in getting more scam and spam calls than ever before. As a result, Google and the other Android phone makers have gradually added a range of built-in features to detect and deal with unwanted callers. These include having suspicious numbers flagged before you answer, being able to block nuisance callers, and even getting AI to answer incoming calls for you. Putting these protections in place should go a long way toward dealing with unwanted calls.
As usual on Android, different models offer different features. The guide below was written using a Google Pixel phone with Android 15 and a Samsung Galaxy phone with One UI 6.1. Other Android-based phones may differ slightly, but you should find a similar set of tools available.
Spotting scam calls in advance
Using a Pixel or other Android phone
When a call comes in that isn’t from a number in your contacts, the Google Phone app preinstalled on Pixel phones can send it to Google for checking. (If you’re not on a Pixel phone, you can still install the app on other Android phones.) Google says it “gathers various signals about the call” during the check — which I presume means cross-referencing it against a...
HIV is spiking in new hot spots. Here's what's being done to control it
As the new cases and related deaths fall in sub-Saharan Africa, the virus is rearing its head elsewhere. What's the cause? And the solution?
Samsung Galaxy Ring could soon come in larger sizes
Two new sizes of the Samsung Galaxy Ring could accommodate more users. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge
Samsung might be introducing two larger size options for its Galaxy Ring wearable as early as January, according to leaker Max Jambor and new details spotted by 91mobiles in a Galaxy Ring manual. The Galaxy Ring is currently available in sizes five to 13, while the new options will expand that to 14 and 15, helping it to better compete with the Oura Ring which is already available in sizes four to 15.
An image of a Samsung user guide shared by 91mobiles lists nine model numbers of the Galaxy Ring — SM-Q500 to SM-Q509 — corresponding to the size options already available, plus two new additional model numbers, SM-Q514 and SM-Q515. The user guide doesn’t have any additional details about the new models, but they correspond to model numbers listed on certifications for the Galaxy Ring from a Norwegian organization (NEMKO) that does safety testing and inspections for electronic devices.
New sizes will finally be available in January!
Size 14 (SM-Q514): 3.2g, 23 mm inner diameter
Size 15 (SM-Q515): 3.2g, 23,8 mm inner diameter https://t.co/GSyK3iFLaL— Max Jambor (@MaxJmb) December 13, 2024
Over the past few months, Max Jambor has revealed additional details about the new Galaxy Ring size options on X. They’re expected to be available starting sometime in January 2025 and size 14 will have a 23-millimeter inner diameter while size 15 will expand that to 23.8 millimeters, with both options weighing 3.2 grams. The current size options weigh between 2.3 and 3.0 grams.
Unlike smartwatches, you need to purchase a smart ring that’s appropriately sized for your finger for both comfort and to ensure it works effectively. That’s why companies like Oura and Samsung offer sizing kits you order ahead of time so you can test various samples to determine your size. With these two new size options, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring will be available to more users. And although the company says its wearable follows standard US ring sizing, we’ve found that “smart rings and regular rings absolutely do not wear the same,” according to The Verge’s Victoria Song, and highly recommend always going the sizing kit route.
8 great Apple Arcade games for your iPhone or iPad
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
There weren’t many exclusives this year, but Apple’s subscription service still had some notable new releases.
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
There is no good Christmas carol…
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/12/19/there-is-no-carol-that-wont-wear-out-its-welcome/
Sony now owns a much bigger piece of FromSoftware’s parent company
Image: FromSoftware
Sony has announced that it has increased its holdings in Japanese media giant and FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa Corporation. Sony acquired the shares for 50 billion yen or roughly $300 million, bringing its total ownership to 10 percent and making it the Kadokawa’s largest shareholder.
The news comes after earlier rumors that Sony was considering acquiring the company outright. Kadokawa confirmed that Sony had expressed interest in acquiring shares, but that, at the time, no decision had been made. An acquisition would have brought Kadokawa’s considerable holdings in Japanese movie, television, publishing, and video game production — which includes the Elden Ring developer and Danganronpa studio Spike Chunsoft — under Sony’s control.
Getting its hands on more IP seems to be the name of Sony’s game with this announcement. According to the press release, Sony and Kadokawa will, “discuss specific initiatives for collaboration” regarding adaptation, development, and production of Kadokawa IP. Or to put it more simply, there’s now a not-small chance that an Elden Ring live-action movie might be on the way.
The New Superman Movie Trailer Is Here And It's A Whole Lot
Our first extended look at what DC studios boss James Gunn has been cooking for the next Superman movie is finally here, and it doesn’t disappoint. The first trailer gives us a glimpse of all of the comic book character’s staples—the Kent farm, the Daily Planet, and Lois Lane—as well as elements that haven’t had the…
The delusion of Amazon Haul
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Browsing Amazon Haul, the online shopping giant’s new $20-and-under bargain bin section, I immediately recognize not just a product, but a specific image. The photo is on a listing for “Timeless Black Dress for Both Casual and Formal Gatherings,” and it is stolen.
The image actually belongs to a New York-based independent brand called Mirror Palais, which sold the “Daisy Dress” for $545 a few years ago. Elevated by social media algorithms and its celebrity fans, Mirror Palais’ images have traveled from the brand’s website, to tweets, to Pinterest mood boards, and finally, to the discount section of the world’s largest online retailer, where it is — obviously — not for sale. On Amazon, it’s listed for $7.49. When I add it to my cart, I realize it’s even cheaper: inexplicably and improbably, it is an additional 65 percent off.
This one image of a black mini dress does not just appear on random listings on Amazon Haul — you can find it on Walmart and AliExpress as well as smaller sites with names like Mermaid Way and VMzona — all selling dupes (short for duplicates) of the original Mirror Palais dress. I even find a separate listing on Amazon, in the typically but not unbelievably...
Spice Up Your Pokémon TCG Pocket Collection With Cards in Different Languages
Pokémon TCG Pocket launched with a good amount of cards to collect, but it can become a drag once you start seeing the same cards pop up again and again. Whether you’re aiming to get the super rare Charizard with full gold background art or just the best Genetic Apex cards for your decks, the luster is lost when you…
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
How low can Fox News go? I dread the depths of stupidity we're going to plumb in the next few years.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/12/19/insufferably-credulous-journalists/
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Microsoft is testing live translation on Intel and AMD Copilot Plus PCs
Image: Microsoft
Microsoft is previewing live translation on Intel and AMD-based Copilot Plus PCs. The feature is rolling out now to Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel, allowing users to translate audio from over 44 languages into English subtitles.
Live translation, which initially launched on Qualcomm-powered Copilot Plus PCs, works with any audio played through a Copilot Plus PC, whether it’s coming from a YouTube video, a live video conference, or a recording. If the audio is in a supported language, Windows 11 will display real-time captions in English. The feature can currently translate from Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and more.
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Image: Microsoft
Microsoft has been gradually bringing more AI features to Intel and AMD-powered Copilot Plus PCs. Earlier this month, Microsoft began testing Recall, which takes snapshots of your activity on a Copilot Plus PC and lets you call up specific memories, on devices with Intel and AMD chips.
Microsoft is also rolling out an update to live translation on Qualcomm-equipped Copilot Plus PCs, as Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel can now translate select languages to Simplified Chinese.