Still on the hunt, the FBI shares new details about pipe bombs placed ahead of Jan. 6
Officials are still trying to identify the person who placed bombs outside of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee offices in 2021. Now they have fresh details.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Dear Lazyweb, What do you think?
Is eight (8) hours long enough a period of inactivity for the session to expire, thereby forcing a user to log in again the next time they want a story?
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
metin@graphics.social ("Metin Seven 🎨") wrote:
My 2019 Xmas / New Year's greeting card. ⛄
#NewYear #HappyNewYear #cartoon #design #CharacterDesign #artwork #sculpture #3DModeling #illustration #illustrator #digital #DigitalArt #style #art #arts #arte #artist #artists #GraphicDesign #3D #blender #Blender3D #B3D #CreativeToots #FediArt #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon
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The oldest living Olympic medal winner, Ágnes Keleti, has died at age 103
Keleti, who was also a Holocaust survivor, was hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia on Dec. 25. She died Thursday morning in Budapest, the Hungarian state news agency reported.
Not sure what you're getting? Someone made a video review of the toy, so you can see it in action. You can also browse the #Plushtodon hashtag to see the elephants on their adventures.
The best Nintendo Switch controllers to buy right now
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
From the unbeatable Switch Pro and comfy Joy-Con alternatives to a dongle that lets you use your Xbox or PlayStation controllers with your Switch, these are the best Switch controllers you can get.
Only about half of #Mastodon stuffed toys are still in stock in the US. Help us pay our bills *and* get a friend-shaped travel and business companion! #Plushtodon
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The best noise-canceling headphones to buy right now
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
Get some peace and quiet with any of our top picks for noise-canceling headphones. Sony’s still the best overall, but there are reasons to go elsewhere, too.
Samsung’s smart fridges will use AI to suggest groceries to buy on Instacart
Samsung’s screen and camera-enabled smart fridges can now add items you're running low on to your Instacart cart. | Image: Samsung
Samsung’s smart fridges will soon be able to identify when you’re running low on something and add items to your Instacart app so you can order what you need from the grocery delivery service right from your fridge.
Today, Samsung announced a multiyear partnership with Instacart that will let you shop for groceries from the screen on your Samsung Bespoke fridge — the 32-inch one or the one with the new 9-inch screen the company is debuting at CES this month.
According to the press release, the tech uses Samsung Vision AI food recognition technology to identify what you have in your fridge and determine what you’re running low on. Then, using Instacart’s product matching API, it suggests items from the service you might need and lets you order them from the fridge.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25814330/IMG_0445.jpeg)
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
A new camera above the door in Samsung’s smart fridges uses on-board AI to identify up to 37 food items as you put them in or take them out of the fridge.
The service uses “AI Vision Inside” on Samsung’s fridges, which leverages a camera above the fridge door to see when you put items into your fridge as well as when you take them out. It also has cameras inside to keep an eye on what you have in there, although it can’t see items in the refrigerator door bins or freezer.
Samsung says the locally-based AI can recognize “up to” 37 food items including fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also manually input details of other items to your food list on the Samsung Food app on the fridge or on your phone.
While you can currently use Samsung Food to create a shopping list you can send to Instacart, this new feature should make that experience simpler and more automated. It should also automatically update your food list when you purchase items from the shopping list. And, when you make a recipe you've saved to the Samsung Food app, it can automatically remove items you’ve used from the food list and add then to the shopping list, working hand-in-hand with the AI-powered cameras to keep your fridge stocked.
However, how well this will all actually work in practice remains to be seen.
Funnily enough, the Instacart app used to be on Samsung’s smart fridges; although it wasn’t integrated with the device’s cameras in this way, it was just a standalone app. It also mysteriously vanished earlier this year, along with a number of other apps — at least from my 2019 model.
Samsung says the Instacart integration will come later this year via a firmware update to models with the AI Vision Inside, which arrived last year.
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
ieure@retro.social ("egregious philbin") wrote:
What I'm listening to today: "Why Don't You Think About Me - Instant Funk."
I've always liked funk, but only recently started exploring what's out there. For such an influential genre, it's surprisingly obscure -- there's minimal information about lots of bands, and tons of amazing music is hard to find.
So, this is a pretty deep cut, and I have no idea why, because it's incredible. A blend of funk, disco, and early rap, it manages to walk the line between musical excellence and unabashed party music. Sounds great even on trash speakers, but if you don some half-decent headphones and give it a proper listen, there's *so much* going on. Just really terrific stuff.
Meta appoints new Trump-friendly policy chief
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Images
Meta is shaking up its policy team ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, with global policy head Nick Clegg stepping down after seven years at the company. He’ll be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican and Meta’s current vice president of policy.
In a post on Facebook, Clegg says it’s the “right time” for him to leave Meta, adding that he’ll spend the next few months “handing over the reins” to Kaplan. “Joel is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time — ideally placed to shape the company’s strategy as societal and political expectations around technology continue to evolve,” Clegg says.
Kaplan served as the White House deputy chief of staff during George W. Bush’s administration and joined Meta in 2011. He drew some controversy in 2018 when he supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during a Senate hearing about sexual assault allegations, which reportedly angered some employees. Kaplan also recently joined Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance at the New York Stock Exchange.
Despite butting heads with Trump in the past, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has attempted to flatter the President-elect in recent months, with M...
The best deals on MacBooks right now
You can save as much as $200 on an M3 MacBook Air right now. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air to make room for the latest models, but some retailers are still selling the last-gen laptop starting at $649 — a far cry from the $2,499 starting price of the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. Purchasing a new MacBook can certainly be a pricey endeavor, but thankfully, finding a deal on more recent models is actually not that difficult. Apple has recently shaken up the starting RAM for several models, creating more options than ever before and resulting in steeper discounts on older models.
Although Macs may not experience perpetual discounts, it’s not uncommon to see various models discounted by as much as $400. Alternatively, purchasing refurbished options directly from Apple is another way to save money without waiting for the changing deal winds to blow your way. It’s also the only option to find certain SKUs of older models as Apple continues to move forward on newer releases. Apple’s refurbished store provides a one-year warranty on all products and generally offers discounts of up to 15 to 20 percent off the price of a new unit.
But if you want to buy new and you’re looking to save whatever you can, here are the best MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini deals available.
The best MacBook Air deals
M1 MacBook Air
TheM1 MacBook Air was considered Apple’s entry-level laptop before the M3 model’s arrival prompted Apple to stop selling it directly in its online and brick-and-mortar stores. But while the redesigned M2 version of the MacBook Air (which has been with us for a while as well) seems poised to take over as the top value choice, the 2020 version with an M1 processor and fanless design remains available at some retailers as a solid budget option. It’s best suited for typical productivity work, with a comfortable keyboard, an excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. For many people, the M1 Air still ticks the right boxes when it comes to performance and price, even if it’s long enough in the tooth to have been fully dethroned in our guide to the best laptops.
The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s becoming harder to find in new condition, but Walmart has committed to keeping it around for the foreseeable future and is currently discounting it to $649 ($350 off) — a special sale price that’s hung around since the retailer ran its counter-Prime Day promotions in July. The M1 Air may be a few years old now, but it’s still hard to beat in terms of value, especially when it comes to everyday performance and battery life.
M2 MacBook Air
The M2 MacBook Air is a super slim, lightweight laptop with a 1080p webcam and a handy magnetic charger that frees up one of its two USB-C ports. Although its M2 processor didn’t kick-start a revolution like the M1 generation, it’s a great performer for any user, including more demanding creatives.
It does have some slight downsides, though, including slower storage in the base 256GB configuration and a notch cutout in its otherwise excellent screen. But even so, Apple hasn’t offered a more travel-friendly laptop since the days of the polarizing 12-inch MacBook, and this prior-gen model was once good enough to top our list of the best laptops.
The M2-powered MacBook Air 13 from 2022 seems to be on its way out, with availability for the 15-inch version waning. However, you can get the 13-inch M2 model with 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an eight-core GPU at Amazon and Best Buy for $799 ($200 off). You can also get the same model at Amazon with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD starting at $949 ($250 off); however, that’s a significant premium for a configuration that offers less RAM than the base model.
It’s a bit harder to find discounts on the 15-inch MacBook Air M2. You can still find its base configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD at retailers like Best Buy for $1,299 — the MSRP — but you’d be better off going with an M3 model that’s on sale.
M3 MacBook Air
The M1 Air and its wedge had to perish for the M3 MacBook Air to exist. Apple’s updated entry-level laptops arrived in both 13- and 15-inch variants simultaneously this time, bringing with them slightly faster performance and a slate of minor upgrades. Apple added Wi-Fi 6E, for one, along with an additional Thunderbolt port that allows you to use two external displays when the lid is closed. They also continue to offer 18 hours of battery life and a MagSafe charging port, though the M3 Air starts at a slightly higher price than its predecessor at $1,099. That said, Apple recently discontinued the M3 MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM and now considers the 16GB / 256GB model as the starting configuration.
Right now, the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy in its new entry-level configuration with an 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $899 ($200 off), which is only $56 more than the lowest price to date. You can also find a $200 discount on the 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD model with a 10-core GPU, which drops it to $1,099 at Amazon and B&H Photo, which is $50 more than its all-time low.
As for the 15-inch MacBook Air M3, you can currently grab it with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage starting at $1,099 ($200 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. You can also get it in the 16GB / 512GB configuration at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $1,299 ($200 off).
The best MacBook Pro deals
During its “Scary Fast” event in 2023, Apple announced new MacBook Pros that use M3 processors — including a new 14-inch model that replaced the 13-inch M2 model. Apple followed the M3 models up with M4-based machines in October, and we’re already starting to see the discounts on them. That being said, the last-gen M3 models are often the better bargain, as they’re still relatively easy to find and receive steeper discounts.
M3 and M3 Pro MacBook Pro
The entry point into the MacBook Pro world is a MagSafe-equipped MacBook Pro that uses the existing 14-inch design and slightly pares it down. The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro has the same 3024 x 1964 resolution display and 120Hz refresh rate as its pricier siblings, and in addition to a MagSafe charging port, it has an SD card slot and HDMI port. However, it starts with just 8GB of RAM and lacks the third USB-C / Thunderbolt port found on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models (as well as Thunderbolt 4 speeds).
The M3 MacBook Pro may be a bit of an odd middle child in some ways, but it’s still a very good laptop — especially if you can find a deal that puts more price distance between the M3 model and the M3 Pro version. Availability for the base model with 8GB and 512GB of storage seems to be waning as Apple standardizes 16GB of RAM across its lineup, though, thankfully, you can still find various configurations on sale, including one with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage at B&H Photo for $1,299 ($500 off), which is an all-time low. If you value storage more than RAM, the 8GB / 1TB model is going for $1,399 ($200 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Best Buy is also selling the step-up configuration with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for $1,499 ($200 off).
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros of late 2023 are another round of spec-bump models, much like their previous 2022 incarnations. Now starting with the M3 Pro chip (or the speedier M3 Max) and 18GB of base RAM instead of 16GB, the new models remain targeted at creatives doing content work like video editing, photo processing, and other graphical work. Like their predecessors and the M1 Pro generation before that, they offer MagSafe charging, three USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI-out, and a full-size SD card slot, with prices starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch and $2,499 for the 16-inch. You can, of course, spec them up the wazoo if you’re willing to pay more, as exhibited by the review unit Apple sent us of the 16-inch model, which cost an eye-watering $7,199.
But rest assured, versions that actual humans buy now receive regular discounts. For instance, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro (11-core CPU / 14-core GPU), 18GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is going for $1,599 ($400 off) at B&H Photo. It was $500 off not long ago, however, making the current discount good but not that good. The step-up model with 18GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, meanwhile, is down to $2,099 ($200 off) at Best Buy.
As for the base 16-inch Pro — which comes with an M3 Pro chip, 18GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD — it’s on sale starting at $2,199 ($200 off) at Best Buy, which is $200 more than the lowest price to date.
M4 and M4 Pro MacBook Pro
Apple released the M4-series MacBook Pro on November 8th. Notably, the base 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro is the first to launch with 16GB of RAM — double the previous generation’s starting memory — and 512GB of storage for the same $1,599 starting price as the last-gen model. It also picks up a third Thunderbolt 4 port, which is positioned on the right side and supports dual external monitors while the lid is opened. Also new this year is an upgraded 12-megapixel webcam that supports Center Stage and a new Desk View feature, plus the option to add a nano-texture display for an extra $150. It’s also available in space black.
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips also received additional RAM, bringing them up to 24GB. They start with 512GB of storage, too, and retail for $1,999 and $2,499, respectively. While the total port selection hasn’t changed compared to their respective M3 Pro and M3 Max counterparts, you’ll get faster Thunderbolt 5 ports on these more substantial models. That’s in addition to the SD slot, dedicated full-sized HDMI port, and 3.5mm jack. They also have the upgraded 12-megapixel Center Stage webcam with Desk View and the optional nano-texture display option.
Deals for the M4 MacBook Pro have already started to roll in. Right now, for example, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is down to $1,459 ($140 off) at Amazon, which is $61 more than the all-time low. Meanwhile, the 24GB / 512GB variant with an M4 Pro chip (12-core CPU / 16-core GPU) is down to $1,819 ($180 off) in select colors at Amazon, which is $120 more than the record low.
The base 16-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale with an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $2,249 ($250 off) B&H Photo, which is $50 more than the lowest price to date.
The best Mac Mini deals
There’s a new Mac Mini in town, as M4-based models arrived earlier this year. Apple increased the starting RAM from 8GB to 16GB, as it did with the 2024 MacBook Pro and 2024 iMac. That makes Apple’s newest desktop an excellent value, even if you factor in the more aggressive discounts we’ve recently seen on the M2 Mac Mini.
M2 and M2 Pro Mac Mini
The 2023 Mac Mini comes in a base configuration with Apple’s M2 processor or a more powerful configuration with the M2 Pro, both of which have proven to be some of Apple’s most value-packed computers to date. The M4 version is poised to take that crown, but the M2 Mac Mini is still kicking around and starts with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $599, while the M2 Pro model features a superior processor, gigabit ethernet, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,299.
The latter model also features an expanded port selection, from two USB-C ports to four. It’s almost like getting an M2 Pro-powered MacBook Pro 14 but in desktop form. However, keep in mind that buying any Mac Mini means you have to provide your own mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Right now, the base model with an M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD is on sale for $499 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.
M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini
Deals on the last-gen Mac Mini are still available, sure, but we’re also starting to see discounts on the newest models. The M4 Mac Mini starts with an M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $599. That’s an incredible value for a tiny desktop computer that can rival the Mac Studio and Mac Pro when it comes to certain tasks, including light gaming, 4K video editing, and 3D modeling. Vertically, the M4 Mac Mini is a fair bit thicker than the M2 model at 2 inches tall, yet it measures a mere 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep.
In addition to the odd decision to place the power button on its underside, Apple moved the 3.5mm headphone jack and two of its five USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports to the front. The rear features an additional three thunderbolt ports, HDMI-out, and a gigabit ethernet port. You can also get the Mac Mini with an M4 Pro chipset starting at $1,399, which comes with faster Thunderbolt 5 storage and the option to upgrade to 10-gigabit ethernet for another $100.
Right now, you can get the base Mac Mini at Amazon with an M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $579.99 (about $19 off). You can step up to the version with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $743 ($56 off) at Amazon, which remains its second-best price to date. The M4 Pro model is also a bit cheaper at Amazon, where you can pick it up for $1,369.99 (about $29 off).
Reblogged by isagalaev ("Ivan Sagalaev :flag_wbw:"):
cheetah_spottycat@toot.cat wrote:
I agree 100%.
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- "joeyridersvoid" wrote: This sounds like a shitpost but people should be allowed to be horny. As in, sexuality is just part of life for most people and there’s no reason for consensual sexual behavior to be punished. A celebrity getting “caught™ at a sex club shouldn’t be a scandal. No one should be fired for having a fetlife profile outside of work. Nudes getting leaked shouldn’t be career-ending. Denying and hiding (consensual) sexual interests doesn’t make anyone more professional, it just makes everyone more repressed. And sterilizing ourselves to be better work drones isn’t productive, it’s just creepy. I’d rather my surgeon get absolutely railed on camera and come to work in a good mood, frankly. (remote)
Net neutrality eviscerated by appeals court ruling
Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo from Getty Images
Federal net neutrality rules, which briefly came back from the dead under the Biden administration, have been struck down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The three-judge panel ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not have the authority to impose net neutrality rules on internet service providers (ISPs). The FCC sought to reclassify ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act in order to impose policies meant to prevent them from discriminating against different internet traffic, like by slowing speeds or blocking content.
But the judges disagreed with the agency’s interpretation of how ISPs could be classified and were emboldened by the recent downfall of Chevron deference, a legal doctrine that instructed courts to defer to regulatory agencies in many cases. After the Supreme Court did away with that principle in 2024, courts became more free to favor their own interpretations over the judgment of expert agencies. Net neutrality was immediately seen as a prime target to be struck down without Chevron. While the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld previous iterations of net neutrality, the Sixth Circuit judges note that it relied on Chevron to do so. “Unlike past challenges that the D.C. Circuit considered under Chevron, we no longer afford deference to the FCC’s reading of the statute,” they write.
“We acknowledge that the workings of the Internet are complicated and dynamic, and that the FCC has significant expertise in overseeing ‘this technical and complex area,’” the ruling says, citing an earlier decision. After the fall of Chevron, it continues, “that ‘capability,’ if you will, cannot be used to overwrite the plain meaning of the statute.”
This left the judges free to wax philosophical about phrases like “offering of a capability” and “information services,” finely parsing the distinction between those and more heavily regulated telecommunications services. “The existence of a fact or a thought in one’s mind is not ‘information’ like 0s and 1s used by computers,” one part of the ruling reads. It asserts that “speaking reduces a thought to sound, and writing reduces a thought to text ... during a phone call, one creates audio information by speaking, which the telephone service transmits to an interlocutor, who responds in turn,” but “crucially, the telephone service merely transmits that which a speaker creates; it does not access information.”
Net neutrality was already in danger, even before this rulingcame out — in a suit filed against the FCC by broadband industry associations. The appeals court had already blocked the net neutrality rules from taking effect. During oral arguments in October, the three Republican-appointed judges prodded attorneys about the correct interpretation of the Communications Act and about deference to agency expertise. With President-elect Donald Trump — under whom net neutrality was previously repealed — due to take office in mere weeks, this could be the last we hear about the attempt to reclassify broadband providers as common carriers for a while.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel called on lawmakers to take up the mantle of creating rules to safeguard the open internet. “Consumers across the country have told us again and again that they want an internet that is fast, open, and fair,” she says in a statement. “With this decision it is clear that Congress now needs to heed their call, take up the charge for net neutrality, and put open internet principles in federal law.”
Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr, Trump’s pick to lead the agency once he assumes office, issued a lengthy statement calling the ruling “a good win for the country.” He calls net neutrality rules an attempt by the Biden administration to “expand the government’s control over every feature of the Internet ecosystem” and says the push for the rules was a waste of time. While he’s pleased with the ruling, he adds, “The work to unwind the Biden Administration’s regulatory overreach will continue.”
Former FCC Chair Ajit Pai, who led the movement to repeal the rule during the first Trump administration, took a victory lap on X. “For a decade, I’ve argued that so-called ‘net neutrality’ regulations are unlawful (not to mention pointless),” he wrote. “Today, the Sixth Circuit held exactly that.”
I've finally gotten around to trying to scan the barcodes on all of my books. I'm using Library Thing, even though it is trying really hard to be some kind of Clown-based gamified "goodreads" fucktangle when all I want is a local catalog.
Anyway, what's the deal with every paperback from the 90s having a barcode on the back that's useless? Most of the time there's a second barcode inside the cover with the actual ISBN. What brain-genius thought this was a good idea?
https://jwz.org/b/ykfg
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jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Note to Self Yet Again: wash your damned hands reeeeeeely thoroughly after slicing & deseeding hot peppers, you friggin' moron 🥵
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
"Let’s write to our leaders, our voices must soar,
For freedom online is worth fighting for.
With courage and hope, we can light up the way,
To defend our fair internet, come what may!"And so they all dreamed, beneath twinkling stars,
A seamless connection, where no one felt bars.
With net neutrality, the web would be bright,
A place for all voices, of every delight.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
"It's not just for us—but for all who connect,
From artists to learners, what do we protect?
Our world is a rainbow, each color a dream,
With net neutrality, we all stay a team."So the creatures all gathered, their hearts filled with might,
They chose to be heard, to stand and unite.
From the tallest of trees to the rivers so deep,
They vowed to spread kindness, their promises to keep.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
The turtle then chimed in, moving quite slow,
"But what of big companies? Will they steal the show?
What happens to voices that people all share?
Without a safe platform, will they disappear?"Bright lights in the distance, they spotted a glare,
It was the wise owl, shining wisdom everywhere.
"Imagine a world where money makes best,
If you haven’t got cash, you'd be left in the rest."
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
The rabbit piped up, with ears standing tall,
"What if my videos just can't be seen at all?
If a website's slow, can't load at a speed,
That means I might miss sharing all that I need!"The wise owl agreed, as he ruffled his feathers,
"A web that’s fair means connecting by measures.
But without rules to guide, like a map for us all,
The weak and the small may just tumble and fall."
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
In a world where screens light up the night,
There lived a wise owl, who saw a great fright.
"It's not just for games or funny cat memes,
Our internet's important, or so it seems!"He spoke to the creatures, in the tree and the glade,
"We must stand together, it's time to not fade.
For if net neutrality takes a step back,
What happens to freedom? That's what we must track!"
Reblogged by isagalaev ("Ivan Sagalaev :flag_wbw:"):
artemis@dice.camp ("Artemis") wrote:
You know what? I'm not fucking okay with teaching children that their bodies are taboo and that they shouldn't have any knowledge about or understanding of them.
Attachments:
- Vagina Museum @vagina_museum@masto.ai us: come and visit a small independent quirky museum in london bluesky moderation team: no that's porn Jan 02, 2025, 05:48 Web [screenshot of Bluesky post:] Start planning your visit. And then plan another... www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/visit The website preview has been hidden instead of saying "Adult Content" with the option to "Show" "Labeled by Bluesky Moderation Service." (remote)
![Vagina Museum @vagina_museum@masto.ai us: come and visit a small independent quirky museum in london bluesky moderation team: no that's porn Jan 02, 2025, 05:48 Web [screenshot of Bluesky post:] Start planning your visit. And then plan another... www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/visit The website preview has been hidden instead of saying "Adult Content" with the option to "Show" "Labeled by Bluesky Moderation Service."](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/113/760/199/936/797/488/original/d74e45b5405fed1a.png){kind=link}
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
this is an absolutely terrible ruling for consumers, and a blow against the free flow of ideas and against normal operations of "the marketplace". this is an example of why courts *should* defer to agency experts, and should remind us that civil servants make better long-term-thinking decisions & generally produce better recommendations than politicos.
Tom Holland Already Knows Exactly When He'll Retire From Acting
You may have not noticed it, but Tom Holland wasn’t on your movie screen in 2024, and that could become an extended reality in the not-too-distant future. In his recent Men’s Health cover story, the 28-year-old actor revealed his plans for life after acting, including what life change has to happen for him to walk…
Ukrainian soldiers and shopkeepers hold on as Russia's siege of Pokrovsk tightens
Ukrainian forces are fighting to hold on to the key city of Pokrovsk, in one of the fiercest battles in eastern Ukraine, but commanders admit the Russians have more troops and firepower.
The US government announced a ‘historic’ nuclear energy deal
Two cooling towers being rehabilitated for nuclear power generation under Microsoft at Crane Clean Energy Center, previously known as Three Mile Island, stand tall over the residential and farm lands to the east across the Susquehanna River, on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, in Middletown, Pennsylvania. | Photos by Wesley Lapointe for The Washington Post via Getty Images
The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages government buildings, just announced a major nuclear energy contract. The announcement comes on the heels of several big tech companies making a flurry of nuclear energy deals last year.
The 10-year, $840 million contract is for 10 million megawatt-hours of electricity, which the GSA says is the equivalent of what’s needed for more than 1 million homes annually. The agency awarded the contract to Constellation, which operates the nation’s largest nuclear fleet, and recently announced an agreement with Microsoft to restart a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island. Nuclear energy makes up a significant portion of the GSA deal, about 4 million megawatt-hours, according to Constellation spokesperson Paul Adams**.**
Silicon Valley is increasingly turning to nuclear energy to satiate rising electricity demand from AI data centers. The federal government is the nation’s single largest energy consumer, making this contract a big boon to the nuclear industry.
“This agreement is another powerful example of how things have changed.”
“Frustratingly ... nuclear energy was excluded from many corporate and government sustainable energy procurements. Not anymore. This agreement is another powerful example of how things have changed,” Joe Dominguez, Constellation president and CEO, said in a press release. “The United States government joins Microsoft and other entities to support continued investment in reliable nuclear energy that will allow Constellation to relicense and extend the lives of these critical assets.”
Constellation says it generates 10 percent of the nation’s carbon pollution-free energy. A majority of its output is nuclear energy, but it also produces hydro, wind, and solar power. It also generates electricity from gas-fired power plants, although the company has set a goal of reaching 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040 compared to close to 90 percent today.
Constellation and the GSA declined to answer questions about how much of the electricity included in the contract will come from each source aside from nuclear power plants**.** Altogether, it’s the biggest energy procurement contract the GSA has signed in its history.
“This historic procurement locks in a cost-competitive, reliable supply of nuclear energy,” GSA administrator Robin Carnahan said in a press release. “We’re demonstrating how the federal government can join major corporate clean energy buyers in spurring new nuclear energy capacity and ensuring a reliable, affordable supply of clean energy for everyone.”
The contract will allow Constellation to extend licenses for existing nuclear power plants as well as “invest in new equipment and technology” that should result in 135 megawatts of additional capacity. The GSA agreed to purchase 2.4 million megawatt-hours of electricity from that added capacity over 10 years. Outside of GSA buildings, the deal also extends to 13 other agencies, including the departments of Veterans Affairs and Transportation as well as the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the National Park Service, the Social Security Administration, and the US Mint.
The GSA is framing the contract as a way to lock in more affordable prices as data centers drive up electricity demand and increase competition for limited clean energy sources:
In the face of uncertainty over future electricity prices and increasing electricity demand from data centers and AI facilities, for instance, this contract provides federal agencies with budgetary stability and protections from future price increases by keeping their electricity costs fixed for 10 years, while also continuing to bolster the domestic nuclear industry.
Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft have all inked splashy nuclear energy deals over the past year. In September of last year, Microsoft and Constellation announced a plan to restart a shuttered reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, the site of the worst nuclear energy accident in US history.
The Biden administration has also made nuclear energy a key part of its plan to transition the US away from fossil fuels to energy sources that don’t cause climate change. Last October, the Department of Energy announced a $1.52 billion loan to help restart a retired nuclear generating station in Covert Township, Michigan. And while President-elect Donald Trump plans to undo progress made toward clean energy, the Trump campaign agenda included efforts to “support nuclear energy production.”
Free COD: Black Ops 6 Crossover With Squid Game Locks Best Rewards Behind A Paywall
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is getting a Squid Game event this weekend following the hit Netflix show’s recent return with season two. Unlike previous events, however, this one will lock some of its best rewards behind a paid event pass. Think of it as a battle pass within a battle pass, on top of an already $70 game.…
Microsoft has a new ergonomic keyboard, but it’s expensive and made by Incase
Image: Incase
Incase, the brand that took over Microsoft’s accessories line, has revealed a compact ergonomic keyboard designed by the company. With a price of $119.99, the wireless keyboard features a split, contoured design, a cushioned palm rest, and a dedicated Copilot button.
The keyboard also comes with “ultra-responsive” scissor keys with 1.3mm travel, meaning you won’t have to press down very far when typing. You can connect up to three devices to the keyboard via Bluetooth, and it’s powered by two AAA batteries that Incase says will last up to 36 months.
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Image: Incase
After Microsoft discontinued its non-Surface line of mice, keyboards, and other PC accessories in 2023, Incase partnered with the tech giant to bring back its designs while using the same components and supply chain as Microsoft.
Though this Incase ergonomic keyboard is nearly as expensive as the $129.99 Logitech Ergo K860, it’s still much cheaper than higher-end ergonomic options, like the Nuio Flow and ZSA Voyager, both of which cost $365.
Incase says it will release the keyboard in “early 2025.” The company has several other Microsoft-designed accessories planned as well, but it currently only has two mice and a Bluetooth keyboard available for purchase on its website.
FBI now says the suspect in the deadly New Orleans truck attack acted alone
Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the driver of the pickup truck who plowed into a crowd in New Orleans on New Year's Day, killing at least 14 people, acted alone, the FBI said Thursday.
Apple will pay $95 million to people who were spied on by Siri
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Apple has agreed to a $95 million settlement with users whose conversations were inadvertently captured by its Siri voice assistant and potentially overheard by human employees. The proposed settlement, reported by Bloomberg, could pay many US-based Apple product owners up to $20 per device for up to five Siri-enabled devices. It still requires approval by a judge.
If approved, the settlement would apply to a subset of US-based people who owned or bought a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV between September 17th, 2014 and December 31st, 2024. A user would also need to meet one other major criteria: they must swear under oath that they accidentally activated Siri during a conversation intended to be confidential or private. Individual payouts will depend on how many people claim the money, so if you apply, you could end up receiving less than the $20 maximum cap.
The initial class action suit against Apple followed a 2019 report by The Guardian, which alleged Apple third-party contractors “regularly hear confidential medical information, drug deals, and recordings of couples having sex” while working on Siri quality control. While Siri is supposed to be triggered by a deliberate wake word, a whistleblower said that accidental triggers were common, claiming something as simple as the sound of a zipper could wake Siri up. Apple told The Guardian that only a small portion of Siri recordings were passed to contractors, and it later offered a formal apology and said it would no longer retain audio recordings.
The plaintiffs in the Apple lawsuit — one of whom was a minor — claimed their iPhones had recorded them on multiple occasions using Siri, sometimes after they hadn’t uttered a wake word.
Apple wasn’t the only company accused of letting people hear confidential recordings. Google and Amazon also use contractors that listen in on recorded conversations, including accidentally captured ones, and there’s a similar suit against Google pending.
Windows 11’s dynamic wallpapers revealed by former Microsoft designer
Image: Sergey Kisselev (Behance)
Microsoft has been working on dynamic animated wallpapers for Windows 11 for a few years, and now a former designer has revealed exactly what they look like. Sergey Kisselev, a former motion designer and 3D artist at Microsoft, has detailed his work on the dynamic animations for Windows 11 that were originally supposed to ship in 2023 but have likely been canceled now.
Kisselev worked on Windows design elements and Microsoft’s Fluent design system for more than eight years before departing to Amazon in 2022. In his post on Behance, Kisselev describes the dynamic wallpapers as “part of the Windows Creative Direction Team’s efforts to celebrate a new centered signature composition for Windows 11, highlighting its centered Start Menu and taskbar.” The dynamic wallpapers were part of an effort that was “explored for Microsoft’s low-cost devices, primarily targeting educational users,” according to Kisselev.
Windows Central reports that these dynamic wallpapers were originally supposed to ship as part of the 23H2 update for Windows 11, but that never happened. Windows watcher Albacore says the dynamic wallpapers feature has been scrapped, and that unfinished parts of it shipped in both Windows 11 version 22H2 and 23H2, but were removed in the latest 24H2 update.
These dynamic wallpapers look very similar to what Microsoft does with its Xbox dashboard, and the only way to currently get animated wallpapers in Windows is to install a third-party app like Wallpaper Engine. It’s surprising to see Microsoft do all of this design work and then never ship these dynamic wallpapers.
Apple’s AirTags add new child safety battery warnings
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Apple has added warning labels to AirTags and their boxes to comply with a law requiring the labels on products with button cell or coin batteries that could be ingested by children, according to a US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) press release.
AirTags imported to the US after March 19th, 2024, which was when the law, known as “Reese’s Law,” went into effect, did not “have the required on-product and on-box warnings concerning the severe risk of injury from battery ingestion if these small batteries are not kept out of reach of children,” the CPSC says.
Now, the AirTag battery compartment has a “warning symbol,” and Apple has updated AirTags boxes to “include required warning statements and symbols,” per the CPSC. In the Find My app, Apple has also updated the instructions you see when you’re prompted to change an AirTag battery so that they include “a warning about the hazards of button and coin cell batteries.”
Apple launched AirTags in 2021 and is rumored to launch a new version this year.
Report: Apple Has Halted Production Of Its Colossally Expensive Vision Pro VR
Apple has certainly carved itself a market for selling extremely well-made products at ludicrously high prices. Given an audience willing to fork out eye-watering amounts for its laptops and phones, it’s perhaps not surprising that the company assumed it could do the same in the cursed world of VR with the $3,500…
Army IDs man killed in Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump's Las Vegas hotel
Authorities identified the man killed in the Tesla Cybertruck explosion Wednesday as Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger. He entered the Army in 2012 and was a U.S. Army Special Operations Soldier.
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
Logging into this website just so I can boost a Cat and Girl comic. I sure know how to social media.
Google Tries To Ban Game That Inspired Balatro Over Nonexistent Gambling Gameplay
Before Balatrothere was Luck Be a Landlord, a roguelike deckbuilder about manipulating a slot machine to try to pay rent amid an ever spiraling out of control cost-of-living crisis. Despite the gambling aesthetic, there’s no part of the game that actually includes gambling with money, real or virtual. But that hasn’t…
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
catandgirl@socel.net ("Cat and Girl") wrote:
Without their natural Bar habitat, the geniuses scatter in the surrounding forests
Attachments:
- Cat: So much of my time is WASTED in mundane tasks and errands / Cat: So I invented buying everything online and having it delivered to my home! And paying people to do my grocery shopping! And my laundry - and drive me around - and I don't have to talk to anyone! / Girl: The incidental labors of everyday life hold us together Cat: So much of my time is WASTED by other people! / Cat: So I invented social media - where I could broadcast to an audience - instead of engaging with people individually - and now I don't have to talk to anyone! / Girl: Our incidental encounters make us a society Cat: I don't have to leave home to watch a movie - I don't have to leave home to get takeout - I don't have to choose what music to listen to - I just say, "Siri! Play music" / Cat: I've eliminated the friction Girl: The friction is the meaning Cat: I got rid of the inefficiencies Girl: The inefficiency is HUMANITY / Cat: and now I can turn my FULL ATTENTION to my GREATEST WORK / Cat: a computer that will talk to me. Phone: FEED ME SEYMOUR (remote)
bcantrill ("Bryan Cantrill") wrote:
Happy New Year! Join @ahl and me next week as we engage in our annual tradition of 1-, 3-, and 6-year tech predictions -- and revisit our predictions from past years. (Especially our 3-year predictions from 2022!) Join us, Monday, 5p Pacific:
https://discord.gg/QrcKGTTPrF?event=1324197967397126175
Our predictions from 2024: https://oxide-and-friends.transistor.fm/episodes/predictions-2024
Our predictions from 2023: https://oxide-and-friends.transistor.fm/episodes/predictions-2023
Our predictions from 2022: https://oxide-and-friends.transistor.fm/episodes/predictions-2022-2022-01-03
Monster of 2024: Self-Checkout Machines Taking Over Grocery Stores
The staff of Mother Jones is, once again, rounding up the heroes and monsters of the past year. Importantly, this is a completely non-exhaustive and subjective list, giving our reporters a chance to write about something that brought joy or discontent. Enjoy. Congratulations on your part-time job! Please report to the nearest grocery store, scan your weekly essentials, […]
Monster of 2024: Self-Checkout Machines Taking Over Grocery Stores
The staff of Mother Jones is, once again, rounding up the heroes and monsters of the past year. Importantly, this is a completely non-exhaustive and subjective list, giving our reporters a chance to write about something that brought joy or discontent. Enjoy. Congratulations on your part-time job! Please report to the nearest grocery store, scan your weekly essentials, […]
One Of Sonic 3’s Biggest Game References Is Hidden In Plain Sight (And Fans Are Split On It)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is heavily based on the events of the 2001 Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure 2. The live-action movie doesn’t recreate the platformer’s story beat for beat, but it introduces Sonic’s revenge-driven rival Shadow, explores villain Doctor Robotnik’s family, and the moon gets blown up at one point, too.…
Microsoft’s mini AI PCs are on the way
Asus’ upcoming mini PC has a Copilot button. | Image: Asus
Ever since Microsoft first introduced its Arm-based Copilot Plus laptops in June, I’ve been wondering when we might see Copilot Plus features appear on desktop PCs. Six months on, it’s clear we’re about to see mini PCs that deliver the AI performance required for features like Recall, Click To Do, and AI-powered image generation and editing in Windows 11. These mini PCs might even help Microsoft compete with Apple’s latest Mac Mini.
Asus became the first PC manufacturer to announce a mini PC that’s Copilot Plus capable in September. It then revealed the full specs of its upcoming NUC 14 Pro AI last month, ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that kicks off next week. Asus’ mini PC even has a Copilot button on the front and is almost identical to the size of Apple’s latest Mac Mini.
The timing of Asus’ spec drop came on the same day that Taiwanese company Geekom revealed three new mini PCs that it will showcase at CES. Geekom is releasing a mini PC with AMD’s Strix Point CPUs inside and one with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor, meaning both will be Copilot Plus compatible. The third model is powered by Intel’s unannounced Arrow Lake-H laptop processors, which are...
An 'Arctic outbreak' will send a chill through much of the U.S. Here's how to prepare
Blasts of Arctic air are poised to bring below-average temperatures to much of the central and eastern U.S. throughout the first half of January. Here's what to expect and how to prepare.
Amazon’s Echo Show 5 and Show 8 are up to 50 percent off right now
The Echo Show 8 can be a smart home controller by day and a digital clock and photo frame by night. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
If you have a New Year’s resolution to enhance your smart home, buying a smart display isn’t a bad way to kick things off. The Echo Show 5 is one of the most cost-effective ways to add a visual interface to control your devices, especially since it’s receiving a 50 percent discount that brings it down to $44.99 ($45 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That’s only $5 more than its all-time low. You can also get the larger Echo Show 8 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $84.99 ($65 off), which is also $5 more than its lowest price to date.
The Show 5 makes for a meaningful upgrade if you already own a dedicated Echo speaker. Although it only has a 5.5-inch screen, the Alexa-enabled smart display can still function as your primary smart home hub. You can use it to monitor and manage smart home devices, play and control music, make video calls with its 2-megapixel camera (with integrated privacy shutter), and even stream shows and movies. The small size makes it ideal as a bedside alarm clock or smart photo frame if you later upgrade to a bigger device.
Speaking of which, the Show 8 is what you want if you plan to make the display the centerpiece of your smart home. Not only does the bigger screen allow you to use up to four widgets concurrently, but it also supports Matter and Thread, and doubles as a Zigbee hub. These widely standardized protocols allow compatible smart home devices to work well with the smart display as if they were natively built to do so. Plus, the Show 8 has a more powerful speaker with a satisfying sound for impromptu jam sessions.
Read our Amazon Echo Show 8 review.
A few more deals to start the new year
- You don’t need the holidays to justify a decorative lighting up. You can create fun scenes all year round with Govee’s LED Strip Light M1 Matter, which is on sale at Amazon in either a 6.56-foot strand for $35.99 ($24 off) or a 16.4-foot strand for $59.99 ($40 off), both with an on-page coupon. You can splice multiple of the smaller strips up to 16.4 feet, but the bigger strip offers greater versatility as you can cut it in segments of 6.56 feet or connect two for up to 32.8 feet of lighting. Once set up using your smart home platform of choice (Alexa, Google Home, etc.), you can create custom scenes and colors with 17 different effects, including one that responds to music playback.
- Today only, you can get Hoto’s 35-in-1 Rotary Tool Kit for $46.99 ($53 off) at Best Buy. It has a wide variety of attachments for carving, polishing, sanding, grinding, etching, and more. The small stature makes it suitable for small-scale building projects or creating and refining custom products and gifts. It can get up to 25,000 RPM across five selectable speeds, and there’s a handy LED ring embedded in the head of the tool to help with visibility. Battery life lasts up to 50 minutes before it needs to be dropped on the included charging base.
- Anker’s three-port 735 Charger (Nano II 65W) is available for its all-time low of $29.99 ($26 off) at Amazon and Anker (with promo code WS7DV21DBLJG). The two 65W USB-C Power Delivery ports on the travel-friendly charger can supply power for smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other devices at speeds that won’t make you rage. It has a third USB-A port for gadgets that still use the older connector, too, though it maxes out at just 22.5W.
Samsung’s cheap Galaxy Fit 3 fitness tracker is coming to the US
Image: Samsung
Samsung is bringing the Galaxy Fit 3 to the US. The budget-friendly fitness tracker will cost $59.99 when it launches on January 9th, 2025.
Samsung first released the Galaxy Fit 3 in several countries outside the US last February. The device comes equipped with a 1.6-inch display surrounded by an aluminum body and lasts up to 13 days on a single charge.
The Galaxy Fit 3 has some of the same fitness-tracking features as the pricier Galaxy Watch 7, including the ability to monitor your sleep patterns, detect snoring, check blood oxygen levels, and measure your heart rate. It can also track over 100 types of workouts, with a case coming in gray, silver, or pink gold.
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Image: Samsung
The Galaxy A16 5G has a 6.7-inch OLED display with an up to 90Hz refresh rate.
Alongside the Galaxy Fit 3, Samsung is releasing the more affordable Galaxy A16 5G phone in the US on January 9th for $199.99. The device comes with a 6.7-inch FHD Plus OLED display with an up to 90Hz refresh rate. It also has an Exynos 1330 processor with a 50MP main camera sensor, 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The Galaxy A16 5G is available in gray, silver, and pink gold colors.
Helldivers 2 Dev Says 'Make Good Games,' Not 'Contemporary Political Statements'
Helldivers 2 was one of the biggest surprise success stories of last year, selling over 10 million copies and becoming a cultural phenomenon. The alien shooter’s creative director kicked off 2025 by asking fans about their hopes and dreams for Arrowhead Game Studios’ future projects, culminating in a brief exchange…
Matter speakers could stream music and tell you when the wash is done
Dutch startup Legato is leading an effort to bring support for streaming speakers to Matter. | Image: Legato
An effort to add Wi-Fi-powered speakers to the smart home standard is being led by a former Sonos executive looking to disrupt the smart speaker market.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
If the reports of the Las Vegas Cybertruck driver are accurate, that makes a second sizable violent act by someone with a military background.
Maybe we should figure out all of the ways we’re failing veterans and actually try to fix the problem?
The Wonderful Wicked Movie Had Some Of Its Best Scenes Deleted
Wicked, the magical movie musical phenomenon that has been taking the internet by storm for the past two months, is finally available on digital platforms. So now you can try to belt Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” battle cry from the comfort of your own home. The digital version of the movie includes some special…
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
55.5M debug build
15.5M release build
okay...
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Today in History: Isaac Asimov born in Petrovichi, Russian SFSR, 1920
Telegram adds third-party verification to combat scams
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Telegram is trying to crack down on scams with a new feature that lets official third-party services assign verification icons to users and chats, the messaging service announced on Wednesday.
This is separate from the verification process Telegram has for public figures and organizations. Instead of displaying a blue checkmark, accounts and chats verified by third-party services will have a unique icon appear to the left of their name. If you click on the profile of a third-party verified chat or account, you can see which service verified it and why.
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GIF: Telegram
The profile of a verified account or chat might say something like, “Verified by the Learning Standards Authority for quality language education.”
Telegram says only services with an official bot verified by Telegram can apply to become a third-party verifier, helping to “prevent scams and reduce misinformation.” X has a similar feature that lets verified organizations assign affiliation badges to related accounts.
The update comes just months after French authorities arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov over claims he enabled illegal activity on the platform. Since then, Telegram has updated its privacy policy, disabled “misused” features, and changed its tone surrounding moderation. Durov said Telegram reached profitability last year, with total revenue surpassing $1 billion.
Along with this update, Telegram is also rolling out new search filters that should make it easier to find certain chats, the ability to scan QR codes using Telegram’s in-app camera on iOS and Android, as well as a way to turn digital gifts into NFTs.
Nintendo Patent Details AI-Upscaling Tech Ahead Of Switch 2 Reveal
It’s finally 2025 and Switch 2 speculation is hitting a new fever pitch. A new patent published this week shows how Nintendo could use AI-upscaling to make new games look better without taking up tons of space, while alleged leaks of a motherboard have fans debating just how powerful the new hardware might be.
2025 Is The Year We're Finally Getting An Unofficial (And Stunning) Remake Of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
In a gaming world where cease-and-desists are the most typical response to fan-made remakes or tribute games, it’s incredibly refreshing that Bethesda tolerates such projects. Following 2024's free player-made Unity remake of Daggerfall, 2025 looks set to finally see the release of the long-developed total conversion…
Tesla’s sales fell year-over-year for the first time
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Tesla’s production and delivery numbers for 2024 are out, and the numbers are pretty sobering.
The premiere EV company in the US produced 1.77 million cars this year, a drop of about 4 percent compared to the previous year, and delivered 1.79 million vehicles this year, or about 1 percent less than 2023. Tesla also deployed 31.4 GWh in energy storage.
That said, the company said it had a “record” fourth quarter for deliveries, with 495,570 vehicles making their way to customers. Tesla also said it deployed 11 GWh of energy storage products, which it also said was a record. And it produced 459,445 vehicles, most of which were Model 3s and Ys.
Q4 2024
Production: 459,445
Deliveries: 495,570
Energy storage deployments: 11 GWhA record for both deliveries & deployments
–
Full year 2024
Production: 1,773,443
Deliveries: 1,789,226
Energy storage deployments: 31.4 GWh— Tesla (@Tesla) January 2, 2025
But the late year rally wasn’t enough to bring the company’s full-year numbers in line with 2023. And indeed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had warned at the beginning of the year that increased competition and reduced demand for the company’s aging lineup of vehicles was going to be an overall drag on its performance in 2024. Not even the relative popularity of the Cybertruck, which began deliveries late last year, was enough to lift Tesla’s fortunes for the year.
And despite setting records for deliveries and energy deployment for Q4, the company still came in below Wall Street’s expectations of 504,800 vehicles delivered, according to Wedbush’s Dan Ives. Tesla’s stock price was down about 5 percent on the gloomy news.
It’s unclear how Tesla will navigate the new environment after Donald Trump resumes the presidency. Much has been said about Musk and Trump’s burgeoning alliance, but the incoming president is likely to eliminate a lot of the incentives that helped make Tesla vehicles more affordable to consumers, including a $7,500 tax credit on new EVs.
Musk has said that a more affordable Tesla is on deck for 2025, and a fully autonomous Cybercab for 2026 — though both projects face a lot of hurdles. And of course, China looms over everything, as the country’s surging domestic EV production continues to put pressure on US manufacturers who do business there. China is Tesla’s largest and most important market, and the company is continuing to lose market share to BYD and other major players.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
the fog just does not want to lift today… I am not too sure how much I will accomplish
Attachments:
January's Free PS Plus Games Include One Of 2024's Biggest Flops
PlayStation Plus’ free games for January includes Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League a year after the live service shooter’s critically-panned launch. It joins the paid monthly subscription service just in time for players to experience the final season and access the long-requested offline mode.
Black Myth: Wukong Devs Say Xbox Series S Is The Cause Of Release Woes
Available on PC and PlayStation 5 for the last four-and-a-half months, 2024's smash hit Black Myth: Wukong is still conspicuously absent on Microsoft’s consoles. Exactly why has been a matter of some controversy, with the Xbox makers previously suggesting it’s nothing to do with its tech. However, now Game Science CEO…
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
https://alecmuffett.com/article/110731
like banning any other form of communications, this censorship attempt goes against the core values upon which our nation was founded.
when Government tries to control what and how People are allowed to communicate, that is an attempt at establishing dictatorship & thought control. this is wrong, period.
Attachments:
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
“So, in response, many NSA employees were like, ‘No, fuck off, I’ll play Pokémon Go all over base'” | …and yet Australia expects to successfully ban teenagers from social media?
This glorious quote is in the attached; if the NSA cannot enforce fearmongering-based operational security discipline over actual employees, what hope do Governments have of coercing (rather than educating) teenagers?
U.S. Intelligence Feared Pokémon Go Was a Chinese Plot
https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/11/29/pokemongo-cia-nsa-intelligence-spying/
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
ARCticConference ("ARCtic Conference") wrote:
💥 Workshop announcement: Scale Your Swift App Development 💻
In this workshop @pedro and @marekfort will help you to discover how to overcome common challenges in Swift app development with Tuist. You’ll learn to build modular projects using Tuist's Swift DSL and leverage features like binary caching, selective testing, and previews.
By the end, you'll gain practical strategies to scale development efficiently, creating a productive environment for building great apps faster.
Attachments:
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Endless links unfold,
Curiosity takes flight,
Lost in a bright maze.[ h/t https://arghstudios.com:50433 ]
Attachments:
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Nonya_Bidniss@infosec.exchange ("Nonya Bidniss :CIAverified:") wrote:
Canadian teen who became critically ill with #HPAI #H5N1 first sought medical treatment on Nov. 4. After intensive care with multiple anitvirals, intubation, and ECMO, it was Dec 18 by the time she could come off supplemental oxygen.
Meanwhile, H5N1 continues to spread worldwide in wild birds and into poultry and has resulted in significant mortality of mammalian wildlife, and a variant that seems milder in exposed humans has adapted to dairy cows. No government on Earth is prepared for what happens if the highly virulent strain of H5N1 adapts to transmission in humans. Unless it loses virulence, IMO it will be our modern version *not* of the 1918 flu, but rather of the Black Plague. https://globalnews.ca/news/10938653/b-c-teen-avian-flu-patient-recovers-oxygen/
Biden to honor Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award
The pair led the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 , 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Details on the deadly attack in New Orleans. And, Amazon workers return to the office
The attack in New Orleans left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured. Here's what we know so far about the driver who plowed through the crowd. And, Amazon workers return to the office.
Samsung bets big on OLED and gaming with its 2025 monitor lineup
Image: Samsung
Just a few days after LG announced its CES 2025 lineup of monitors, Samsung is doing the same. The company just introduced several new models, and perhaps the most impressive among them is the Odyssey OLED G81SF. It’s a 27-inch 4K monitor with a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, 0.03ms response time, a glare-free display, and rear-core lighting with 52 color options. Samsung is also including a number of burn-in protection measures to ensure that the Odyssey G81SF’s screen looks pristine for years to come. The G8 is likely to be using the latest and greatest OLED panel from Samsung Display.
Next up is the Odyssey OLED G60SF — also a 27-inch OLED monitor — with a QHD resolution and an impressive 500Hz refresh rate that Samsung says effectively “eliminates lag and motion blur for ultra-smooth gameplay during critical moments.”
In 2025, Samsung is also finally shipping the Odyssey 3D monitor it first teased at least year’s CES. It lets you experience 3D visuals without any special glasses by using a lenticular lens on the front panel. “Eye tracking monitors the movement of both eyes using a built-in stereo camera, while view mapping continuously adjusts the image to enhance depth perception,” Samsung said in its press release. The Odyssey 3D only comes in a 27-inch 4K size; the larger 37-inch display mentioned last year has apparently been scrapped. The company says it offers “a rapid 1ms gray-to-gray response time, and a 165Hz refresh rate.”
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Image: Samsung
Samsung’s Smart Monitor series is making the switch to OLED.
That does it for the gaming-focused monitors, but Samsung is also announcing two others that are more focused on everyday productivity. The SmartMonitor series is finally going OLED with the new Smart Monitor M9. And this year, Samsung is throwing in a ton of AI capabilities including AI Picture Optimizer. Like on its TVs, this feature “analyzes input signals to determine the type of content being viewed — such as gaming, video, or productivity applications — and automatically adjust the display settings for the best visual experience.” This also works for gaming and can detect the genre of what you’re playing.
AI Upscaling Pro can make lower-res content look crisper at the M9’s 4K resolution, and the monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz. That’s a significant upgrade from the M8, which topped out at 60Hz. Samsung says moving to OLED also allows for a new “ultra-slim” design for the Smart Monitor M9 that should take up considerably less desk space.
The last monitor being announced (at least for today) is the only non-OLED model of the bunch. The new 37-inch ViewFinity S8 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, a built-in KVM switch, 90W USB-C passthrough charging, and covers 99 percent of the sRGB color gamut. Peak brightness for this 4K display tops out at 350 nits, which should be perfectly suitable for anything you’ll be doing at a desk.
Pricing and release dates are still to come, but The Verge will be in Las Vegas for CES 2025 in a matter of days. So you won’t have to wait much longer for some first-hand impressions of Samsung’s new monitors.
Asus, Samsung, and MSI announce world’s first 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz monitors
MSI’s new 27-inch 4K OLED monitor. | Image: MSI
27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz monitors seem to be like buses: you wait ages for one and then three turn up at once. Asus, Samsung, and MSI are all announcing the industry’s next-generation QD-OLED gaming monitors that offer the benefits of 4K OLED 240Hz panels at the smaller 27-inch size instead of 32 inches.
All three appear to be using the same fourth generation QD-OLED panel from Samsung Display, which Asus says offers “a longer lifespan over previous-gen OLEDs.” Both the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED (who names these things?) include DisplayPort 2.1a (UHBR20), which offers 80Gbps of bandwidth to support 4K at 240Hz without the need for Display Stream Compression (DSC). Samsung’s press release about its Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) doesn’t mention DisplayPort 2.1a compatibility, but it’s reasonable to assume it’s part of the spec list.
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Image: Asus
Asus’ latest OLED monitor has a 26.5-inch viewable display.
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Image: Samsung
Samsung’s Odyssey G8 now comes in a 27-inch OLED 4K 240Hz variant.
MSI and Asus’ models both support DisplayHDR True Black 400, and Asus also supports Dolby Vision HDR. Both MSI and Asus are offering a three-year warranty that includes burn-in protection, but Samsung hasn’t confirmed its warranty situation for its latest G8 model. Samsung also hasn’t fully detailed the specs of its latest G8 OLED model, but it’s reasonable to assume it will support DisplayHDR True Black 400 at the minimum.
Interestingly, Asus’ model only has a 26.5-inch viewable display, but both MSI and Samsung are marketing their monitors as 27-inch ones. With all three offering the 0.03ms response times of OLED, 240Hz refresh rates, and above 160PPI, the choice will really come down to design, features, and pricing. Unfortunately, Samsung, Asus, and MSI haven’t announced release dates or pricing yet.
Dress codes for high-end restaurants may not be as strict as you think they are
Many restaurants -- even the high-end ones -- are ditching dress codes for diners.
Reblogged by slightlyoff@toot.cafe ("Alex Russell"):
stefan@front-end.social ("Stefan Judis") wrote:
If you want to add some new years celebration to your sites, `` received some nice improvements over the holidays thanks to the power of open source contributions! 💯
https://www.stefanjudis.com/blog/a-web-component-to-make-your-text-sparkle/
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slightlyoff@toot.cafe ("Alex Russell") wrote:
This is a banger:
Eugenics Isn’t Dead—It’s Thriving in Tech
Elon Musk’s calls for a so-called “efficient” US government—including wanting to end the already endangered right to work from home, a disability accommodation for many—are less surprising when you view him as a techno-eugenicist. The eugenicists of the early 20th century used medical violence like forced hysterectomies in a pseudoscientific campaign to prevent “inferior” immigrants […]
Eugenics Isn’t Dead—It’s Thriving in Tech
Elon Musk’s calls for a so-called “efficient” US government—including wanting to end the already endangered right to work from home, a disability accommodation for many—are less surprising when you view him as a techno-eugenicist. The eugenicists of the early 20th century used medical violence like forced hysterectomies in a pseudoscientific campaign to prevent “inferior” immigrants […]
Trump Won’t Confront the Climate Crisis. He’ll Feast Off It.
With the election of Donald Trump, we’re in for a climate catastrophe. We know because we’re in that crisis now, already. We just don’t talk about it all that much, mostly because we don’t like to admit what it means. Many of us recognize on some level that we’ve moved into a world of superstorms […]
The Dartmouth men's basketball team ends its attempt to unionize
NPR's Leila Fadel asks the president of the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union about why the team is dropping an effort to unionize.
DNA reveals secrets of Australia's elusive marsupial mole
Researchers have probed the genetics of one of Australia's most elusory animals, the marsupial mole.
In the Country with the World's Worst Displacement Crisis: Sudan (Encore)
Fighting between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group have displaced some 12 million people in one of Africa's biggest countries. In a story we first brought you in October, our correspondent travels to Sudan and gives us a glimpse of the devastation the war has caused.
An armed man kills at least 10 people in a shooting rampage in Montenegro
At least 10 people, including two children, were killed and four others were seriously wounded Wednesday in a shooting rampage that followed a bar brawl in a western Montenegrin city, officials said.
TIL that “biphasic #sleep” was the norm pre-industrial-revo, and may even be an primatic evo-biological adaptation.ppl woke up for “the watch” and did misc. things before a 2nd sleep.
Depriving ppl of artificial light re-induced this way of sleeping.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep
Power is restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after a major blackout
Lights returned to households as well as to Puerto Rico's hospitals, water plants and sewage facilities after the massive outage that exposed the persistent electricity problems plaguing the island.
troublewithwords@wandering.shop ("Steven Hoefer") wrote:
Standard Ebooks dropped a bunch of beautifully formatted books newly in the public domain today.
Dashiell Hammett’s “Red Harvest” and “The Dain Curse” defined hard-boiled detectives. But also Agatha Christie, Sinclair Lewis, John Steinbeck, Mahatma Gandhi…
(Standard Ebooks is Project Gutenberg with editing and typesetting. They also have an RSS feed for new releases!)
Dear Lazyweb, Is there any benefit or drawback -- disk space, performance or otherwise -- to having a single 200 GB .pack file (with a .keep file) versus having 200 1GB .pack files?
https://jwz.org/b/ykfc
Hey, I'm on the tee vee!
I'm really curious about how this prop came about, in the mediocre 2019 Jean Reno movie Cold Blood Legacy where Ukraine stands in for the ass-end of British Columbia. Do I get an IMDB credit for this? In case you were wondering, that is not my phone number.
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Here's what we know so far about the deadly attack in New Orleans
In the early hours of New Year's Day, a truck rammed into crowds on the French Quarter's heavily foot-trafficked street. Police are looking into whether the suspect had ties to any terror groups.
Reblogged by isagalaev ("Ivan Sagalaev :flag_wbw:"):
nina_kali_nina@tech.lgbt ("Nina Kalinina") wrote:
I have spent a week writing a massive article about Windows 2. It has sexy screenshots and is full of incredible trivia. Why not spend the New Year's Eve reading it? ;)
Reblogged by bcantrill ("Bryan Cantrill"):
The Oxide and Friends 2024 retrospective is here! @bcantrill and I look back on a year of the podcast and pick our favorite episode s, moments, and—at length—images!
esm@wetdry.world ("Essem :skeeter:") wrote:
it's a new year so you know what that means
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Nickiquote@mstdn.social wrote:
Congratulations to Elon Musk for making cars so bad that no-one can tell if a carbomb has just happened or if the car just did that.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
palin ("No Gods , no Masters! RESIST") wrote:
And nothing will be done because they have destroyed our Democracy and rule of law.
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Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
w7voa@journa.host ("Steve Herman") wrote:
Death toll in the New Orleans truck attack rises to 15, according to the local coroner.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
https://flipboard.com/@cnn/cnn-underscored-p9j2sjatz/-/a-YUbTdsJkS5Cgy4wG0VyaZw%3Aa%3A132361178-%2F0
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Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
tompearce49@mastodon.scot ("Tom the ailurophile") wrote:
As visual metaphors go, 2025 is turning out to be on something of a roll already...
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- In front of the main doors of a large building (above which in large letters is the name "Trump") a Tesla Cybertruck is in flames. The scene appears to be deserted, and the truck is strongly illuminated from the right hand side of the picture. There is a great deal of water on the ground as though there has been an attempt to extinguish the flames. (remote)
Comrade Workwear's "Most Wanted CEO" playing cards about to become extremely popular after deplatforming: Comrade Workwear has launched a card game in which "each card shines a spotlight on a different titan of greed, complete with a QR code linking to...
https://jwz.org/b/ykfY
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jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
"Trump suggested the suspect was an immigrant, but officials later said he was born in the U.S."
I do *so* wish that fat old man would shut his pie-hole for once
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
seachanger@alaskan.social ("wet forest moon folklorist") wrote:
the appletv show Sunny gets ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. kinda perfectly imperfect, a lampoon of itself, the best in retrofuture aesthetics from set dec to credits, silly enough to watch lightly, thoughtful enough to feel worthwhile. plus rashida jones
unfortunately now that the show has shown me the existence of Sweet Potato Truck as a career, i can't unsee it
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
shandyist@c18.masto.host ("Marta Kvande") wrote:
Now that I've switched to a better home, let me reintroduce myself. I'm an English professor in TX, studying #EighteenthCentury #BritishLiterature, and I'm especially interested in #HistoryOfTheNovel and #BookHistory #HistoryOfTheBook. Also dipping a toe into #DigitalHumanities. Hello world 😉
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
neurovagrant@masto.deoan.org ("Ian Campbell") wrote:
"After the cursing comes laughter, so that the soul is saved from the dead."
Carl Jung
Red Book