Google’s HD Chromecast is going for just $20
Google’s latest streaming dongle offers a cheap way to add smart features and apps to any TV. | Image: Google
Almost any TV you can buy these days supports streaming in some form or fashion, but what if you don’t like its user interface or it doesn’t have all of the apps you need? That’s where a streaming device like the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) comes in. We usually recommend jumping for the 4K version if you have the budget for it, but the HD model is only $19.99 ($10 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store. It’s a great opportunity to see whether a Chromecast is a better fit for you than Amazon or Roku’s offerings or to access your favorite streaming apps on a secondary TV in your home.
Like its pricier sibling, the Google TV platform it uses offers recommendations across a variety of streaming services and provides an array of...
Does The Rising Tide DLC Impact Final Fantasy 16’s Original Ending?
Final Fantasy 16’s (presumably) final DLC, The Rising Tide, is a fascinating case study on how fan speculation can wildly shape an audience’s expectations. On one hand, Square Enix and the folks at Creative Business Unit 3 never promised this DLC pack would impact the main storyline of the game. However, prerelease…
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Meyerweb ("Eric A. Meyer") wrote:
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do learn from history are doomed to watch it repeated by those who didn’t.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
We are thisssss close to tech pundits claiming this was always #meta's plan, and they always knew it, and why didn't you know this?
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
timnitGebru@dair-community.social ("Timnit Gebru (she/her)") wrote:
Not even 24 hrs after making history as the first company to mass fire workers for pro-Palestine protests, by summarily firing 28 people, Google announced that the “(ir)responsible AI org,” the one they created in response to firing me, is now reporting up the Israeli office, through an SVP there.
Seems like they want us to know how forcefully and clearly they are backing this genocide.
Twitter alternative Post News is shutting down
Image: Post News
Post News, a Twitter alternative that emerged in the wake of Elon Musk’s takeover, is shutting down. Noam Bardin, the platform’s founder and former CEO of Waze, writes that Post News “is not growing fast enough to become a real business or a significant platform.”
The Andreessen Horowitz-backed platform launched in a closed beta in November 2022, but now it’s set to shutter “within the next few weeks.” It serves as a social platform that also offers users ad-free access to paywalled content from publishers such as Fortune, Business Insider, Wired, The Boston Globe, and others. All users have to do is pay a “few cents” per article instead of signing up for a subscription to each publication.
Screenshot by Emma Roth / The...
Biden administration adds Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, assault victims
The new rules also broaden the interpretation of Title IX to cover pregnant, gay and transgender students. They do not address whether schools can ban trans athletes from women's and girls' teams.
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
I asked Meta AI about Meta's future cloud services and plans for a Platform as a Service.
Grain of salt. Shits and gigs. Fun responses.
Attachments:
- how long before Meta pivots to selling cloud services That's a great question! While I don't have any insider information, I can provide some context. Meta has already been offering cloud services through its subsidiary, Meta Cloud, which provides a range of services including cloud computing, storage, and machine learning tools. However, it's possible that Meta may expand or rebrand its cloud offerings in the future. As for when this might happen, it's difficult to predict. Meta has been investing heavily in its cloud infrastructure and has made significant strides in areas like artificial intelligence and data analytics. If I had to guess, l'd say it's likely that Meta will continue to build out its cloud services over the next 1-3 years, potentially with a focus on industry-specific solutions or integrations with its other products and services. But ultimately, only time will tell!
- Smart and cool. Looks like Meta will launch a Platform as a Service feature using Threads.net. How long before that happens? That's a great rumor! While I don't have any insider information, I can provide some context. Threads is a relatively new product from Meta, and it's been growing rapidly. A Platform as a Service (PaaS) feature would be a natural extension of Threads' capabilities, allowing developers to build and deploy their own applications on top of the Threads infrastructure. As for when this might happen, it's difficult to predict, but I can make an educated guess. Given the rapid pace of innovation at Meta, l'd estimate that a PaaS feature for Threads could launch anywhere from 6-18 months from now. However, this is purely speculative, and the actual timeline may be shorter or longer depending on various factors, such as development complexity, market demand, and strategic priorities. Keep an eye on Meta's announcements and developer updates for the latest news!
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
And it's worth stating that Mastodon is *weird*. Perhaps not weird as In avant-garde but weird like quirky.
So, Keep Mastodon Weird?
Target Confirms It Will Stop Selling Some Physical Media In Stores, Like Movies
The future of physical media took another blow as Target confirmed previously reported plans that it would stop offering physical DVDs in store and transition to only carrying a select number of films in brick-and-mortar locations during specific, limited times. However, the retail giant said games would be—for…
'We created this problem:' a pediatric surgeon on how gun violence affects children
Mikael Petrosyan of Children's National Hospital says gun violence against children is preventable.
Remembering Robert MacNeil, longtime host of PBS 'NewsHour'
During his decades-long career, MacNeil reported on the Kennedy assassination, the Cuban missile crisis and the fall of the Berlin Wall. He died April 12. Originally broadcast in 1986 and 1995.
Maybe I don’t want a Rosey the Robot after all
Friend or foe? The Jetsons’ Rosey the Robot has long been an inspiration for developing home robots. But should it be? | Image: Warner Bros. Television, Hanna-Barbera
As a child of the 1980s, my perception of the smart home has been dominated by the idea that one day, we will all have Rosey the Robot-style robots roaming our homes — dusting the mantelpiece, preparing dinner, and unloading the dishwasher. (That last one is a must; we were smart enough to come up with a robot to wash our dishes; can’t we please come up with one that can also unload them?)
However, after seeing Boston Dynamics’ latest droid, Atlas, unveiled this week, my childhood dreams are fast turning into a smart home nightmare. While The Jetsons’ robot housekeeper had a steely charm, accentuated by its frilly apron, the closer we come to having humanoid robots in our home, the more terrifying it appears they will be. Not so much...
Dragon’s Dogma 2's Dreaded Dragonsplague Will Be Easier To Deal With
Capcom’s high-fantasy RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 will get a new update on all platforms this month that makes some much-needed changes, including one that makes Pawns more reliable, less dumb, and less talkative. We love Pawns that do their job silently, but one of the most notable changes in this upcoming patch makes the…
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
Te regalo la luna.
#art #photography
#mastodon #friends #MastoPhotography #love
#CreativeToots #mastoart
#birds
Attachments:
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
One last thing before I head out again for a bit. American Scientist has an interesting article arguing that the way people have been measuring the capabilities of things like LLMs creates the illusion of sudden improvements. This feeds the hype cycle, "Wow! Some magical inflection as we approach the singularity and AI rapture!"
The author argues we're scoring capabilities in a binary fashion, and so that obscures the linear, gradual improvements actually happening.
https://www.americanscientist.org/article/is-there-an-ai-metrics-mirage
Tesla recalls Cybertruck over sticky problem. Blame it on — yes — soap
Accelerator pedals on the new Cybertrucks can get stuck, a potentially dangerous production flaw. The reason why they're so sticky is soap.
That Time Space Ghost Narrated A Cartoon Network-Themed Smash Bros Clone
This next sentence might make you feel very old and I’m sorry: Earlier this week, Cartoon Network’s first original show, Space Ghost Coast To Coast, turned 30 years old. And while many have spent the week celebrating the strange series, its best bits, and funniest episodes, I want to take a moment to remember a…
Reblogged by isagalaev ("Ivan Sagalaev :flag_wbw:"):
mos_8502@studio8502.ca ("mos_8502 :verified:") wrote:
Her: "K, you're a homeowner with 100% equity, why are you rooting for a housing market crash?"
Me: "That's exactly why I'm rooting for it. I own this pile of wood and bricks, and the land it's on, outright. Long as the property taxes get paid, I'm beyond the reach of capitalism's attempt to enslave me under threat of homelessness. Unless I sell the place, I never have to think about rent or the market again. So fuck the investors, let their assets depreciate, so my friends and family can maybe afford to join me in escaping the rental treadmill."
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
rasterweb ("Pete Prodoehl 🍕") wrote:
I wrote about making copies and what that has meant throughout my lifetime... I think it's interesting. Maybe you will too?
Does Fallout 76 Have Crossplay?
Fallout 76, the online multiplayer game set in the long-running post-apocalyptic series, has seen a surge of players due to Amazon Prime’s hit TV adaptation. And if you’re thinking about giving it a shot, you may be wondering if you can easily hop into games with your friends on other platforms. So before you pick up…
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
Mastodon may not have been able to reproduce the magic of Black Twitter or Weird Twitter.
But where this space shines is the Tech community. Tech Twitter, especially in its latter days, was vapid and boring. Most of it was Android vs iOS rage bait.
Threads is the worst part of the worst part of Twitter. BlueSky has better shit posters, but no tech community to speak of.
I truly believe Mastodon has the best on-going tech conversation on the social web.
AirPlay turns the Delta emulator into a full-on retro console
Image: Riley Testut
The launch of the Delta emulator on iPhones is a big deal in a lot of ways. But for users, it’s also just really cool. Here’s an excellent piece of software that can emulate the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, GBA, and Nintendo DS so that you can play classic games on a device that’s always in your pocket. Even better: even though there’s no Delta app for the Apple TV (yet), it’s still really easy to use it to play games on your television.
This is because Delta supports AirPlay so that you can stream video and sound from your phone to another Apple device, like an Apple TV or computer. For Delta, this means that the game itself plays on the bigger screen while your phone becomes a touchscreen controller. Or, if you connect a Bluetooth...
Why I Make Myself In Every Video Game Character Creator
On the day I started here at Kotaku back in 2022, the very first post I wrote had an image of a character who looked like me right at the top. It was my custom V from Cyberpunk 2077, and he’s appeared more than a few times on this site as I’ve covered the game and its Phantom Liberty expansion. But he’s not the only…
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
kottke@botsin.space ("kottke.org") wrote:
Black Twitter: A People’s History is a three-part Hulu documentary series directed by Pentice Penny (Insecure) premiering in May. It’s based on Jason Parham’s Wired article of the same name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAMuT_bwqqo
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
overholt@glammr.us ("John Overholt") wrote:
The greatest response letter since "I feel that you should be aware some asshole is signing your name to stupid letters." https://www.404media.co/lol-no-maker-of-fuck-the-lapd-shirt-laughs-at-cops-copyright-threat/ via @jasonkoebler
Attachments:
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
There are lots of angels in the details too! You have to look for them, but they're in there.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
I've been reading Daring Fireball for fifteen years. I write in Markdown because of Gruber. Hell, he might be my single inspiration for writing about tech.
I don't know which one of us changed. I guess it doesn't matter. But I can't read that blog anymore.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
Daring Fireball:
> I can’t believe they let these goofs occupy Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian’s office for 8 hours before having them arrested. They look and act like college students doing a sit-in at the dean’s office, not professional employees protesting their CEO. In college you pay to be there — students are the customers, ostensibly. At work they pay you, at will.
John Gruber is wildly out of touch. I don't know if this is new, or he's always been.
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
researchfairy@scholar.social ("The research fairy") wrote:
Them: So you're the soothsayer, you can tell us what is to come
Me: Ha ha no common misconception; I'm the oofsayer, I can only commiserate in your misfortunes
Them: So we wasted all this time searching for you
Me: Oof
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
sirilyan@kobold.page ("Doug Sheppard") wrote:
Just a big old reminder today why Daring Fireball is a good source for one angle on Apple commentary, sprinkled in with good reasons to never read Daring Fireball, not even for the Apple commentary.
Taylor Swift gets custom collab with TikTok as UMG battle continues
Photo by Ashok Kumar / TAS24 / Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
TikTok has launched a new hub to promote Taylor Swift’s new album where you can earn in-app rewards for completing certain tasks, like following Swift’s account on the platform. The update comes just days after Swift’s music returned to TikTok as the app continues to feud with the singer’s record label, Universal Music Group (UMG).
Image: TikTok
You can access the hub by searching for The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) and then clicking on the banner that appears at the top of the results. There, TikTok displays a list of “challenges” to complete, which will let you unlock a TTPD profile frame, among other rewards. TikTok will also give users the chance to show up in its “fan spotlight” on the hub by posting a...
What we know so far about Israel's strike on Iran — and what could happen next
Israel and Iran seem to be downplaying the attack, the latest in a series of retaliatory strikes between the two. Analysts say that could be a sign of the de-escalation world leaders are calling for.
Taylor Swift Namedrops Grand Theft Auto On Latest Album
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 12 hours or so, pop superstar Taylor Swift unleashed a double album on the world, and as a Swiftie, it is my moral obligation to be deeply annoying about it. I’m not here to review the album though, but instead highlight a line from it that is already making the…
Cities: Skylines 2 Botches Beachfront DLC So Badly Players Are Getting Their Money Back
The makers of Cities: Skylines II have pledged to focus on fixing the base game after fans revolted against a disappointing paid DLC. The $10 Beachfront Properties pack scored a stunning 96 percent negative rating in Steam reviews and now the companies behind the urban planning sim have apologized, promised refunds…
Reblogged by slightlyoff@toot.cafe ("Alex Russell"):
tomayac@toot.cafe ("Thomas Steiner :chrome:") wrote:
👀 Interesting, Edge launched a new Web Platform top developer needs dashboard. The actual dashboard is at https://microsoftedge.github.io/TopDeveloperNeeds and @slightlyoff wrote about the Edge team's motivations for launching it at https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2024/04/18/2024-web-platform-top-developer-needs-dashboard/. I left a question asking about #ProjectFugu 🐡 APIs on this dashboard: https://github.com/MicrosoftEdge/MSEdgeExplainers/issues/791. Edge also collaborates in #Interop24.
How planning and infrastructure failed during Maui wildfires
A recovery vehicle drives past burned structures and cars two months after a devastating wildfire on October 9th, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. | Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images
New details surfaced this week about cascading failures that led to wildfires ripping through Maui last August. While investigations confirming the cause of the blaze are ongoing, officials are recognizing how unprepared agencies were for the inferno.
The wildfires killed at least 101 people and scorched some 2,200 structures — most of them residential. Downed power lines, blocked evacuation routes, and poor communications all added to extreme conditions that allowed blazes to grow into a monstrous conflagration.
“Questions linger about the adequacy of warning systems, evacuation planning, and the preparedness of communities for such extreme events”
“In the aftermath of this catastrophe, questions linger about the adequacy of warning...
A 14-year-old is charged in fire that destroyed a driverless Waymo vehicle
The Waymo vehicle was set on fire with fireworks. | Image: Frisco Live 415
The San Francisco Police Department has identified and served a search warrant on a teenager who is suspected of starting a fire in a Waymo self-driving taxi vehicle earlier this year.
On March 27th, investigators entered the suspect’s residence and seized evidence that connects the 14-year-old male with the February incident in which a crowd destroyed the driverless car.
The investigation was conducted by the SFPD Arson Task Force, which identified the suspect and developed probable cause for the search warrant. The district attorney’s office has filed charges against the minor while the juvenile probation department is deciding whether to put the suspect in custody before a court hearing.
The February 10th fire was reportedly caused...
Newt Gingrich Perfectly Describes How Everything Is His Fault
With Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson struggling to hold onto the gavel in the face of eternal rebellion from some of his party’s most intransigent far-right members, Politico thought it would be a good idea to call up former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich to ask him about the situation. And […]
collinsworth@hachyderm.io ("Josh Collinsworth") wrote:
"SHE'S GOT A SONG ABOUT TRAVIS KELCE!"
"...You didn't knock on my office door just to tell me that."
"I DID!"
[Door slams as she giddily dances away]
Yuri On Ice’s Long-Awaited Prequel Movie Has Been Canceled
It’s so over, y’all. Yuri on Ice, the gay ice-skating anime that took the world by storm in 2016, won’t be getting its long-anticipated follow-up film, Yuri on Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence, as the movie has been canceled. A moment of silence for those who were present for the gay cultural reset. We’re hurting.
xor@tech.intersects.art ("Parker Higgins") wrote:
there's something unseemly about explicitly saying "florida" in song lyrics
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
I mean, who wouldn't want to fire mind blasts, right?
Attachments:
The Verge’s 2024 Mother’s Day gift guide
Illustration by Manon Louart for The Verge
We found a collection of unique gift ideas that go beyond the flowers and chocolates that typically rule the day.
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
Maybe now I've become the True Conservative?
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/04/19/i-dont-know-who-i-am-anymore/
Attachments:
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
requiem@hackers.town ("requiem 🏴") wrote:
I’ve spent most of my life trying to explain to and convince people of the value of the far-out things I’m working on. Most of the time I fail at this, even if ten years later people start to get it.
I’m getting too old for this so I’m trying out a new philosophy where I just do these things and if others are satisfied with the way things are, great. I’ll focus on making things for the people who are not.
The thing I’m working on next aims to be one of those things.
Amazon Prime's Fallout Is Officially Getting A Second Season
It shouldn’t come as an enormous shock that Amazon Prime’s Fallout TV show is getting picked up for a second season, given the combination of its enormous popularity and its being surprisingly actually-good, but you never know with these mercurial streamers. Still, good sense prevails, and it’s been officially…
Emulators are taking over the App Store
Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge
Delta, an app for emulating and playing retro games on your iPhone, has been at the top of the App Store rankings for days. Apple spent years keeping apps like this off its platforms before reversing course earlier this month in the face of European regulation and the threat of a whole bunch of new third-party app stores.
Obviously, there was huge pent-up demand for Delta. But is this a singular phenomenon or the start of a new more open future for the iPhone? What else might Apple allow in the App Store if it means keeping you in the App Store?
On this episode of The Vergecast, we discuss how Delta got into the App Store and what it might mean for the future of the iPhone. We don’t really talk about all the thorny legal issues around...
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
“ Every time a block is broken in Minecraft versions Beta 1.8 through 1.12.2, the precise coordinates of the dropped item can reveal another player's location.”
The Minecraft people are out here giving the Dwarf Fortress bug reports a run for their money.
https://github.com/spawnmason/randar-explanation/blob/master/README.md
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
uxpodcast ("UX Podcast") wrote:
Ellen Lupton, designer, educator and author, helps us stock up our toolbox of design principles and methods, starting off with storytelling in visual design, and the “rule of three” before we move on to linear and non-linear experiences.
Will we follow the rule of three and have a third topic? 😀
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
Brandi_Buchman@mstdn.social ("Brandi Buchman") wrote:
The ruling I've been waiting for since my coverage earlier this month and last:
Judge Mehta has denied Trumps request for an indefinite stay in the civil litigation brought against him by lawmakers re: Jan 6
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24555541-mehta-opinion-lee-v-trump-indefinite-stay-denied
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
dgar@aus.social ("Dgar") wrote:
I have a joke about trickle down economics, but 99 percent of you won’t get it.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
SirTapTap ("SerTapTap (B-Day 4/19)🏳️⚧️") wrote:
Joe Biden: "I am going to eliminate junk fees that prey on people least able to pay them"
House republicans: *heroically throw themselves in front of the legislation to stop it*
A shocking amount of guys who make $15,000 a year: "Thank you republicans (ugly cry) you've saved me from socialism yet again"
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
neurovagrant@masto.deoan.org ("Ian Campbell") wrote:
I never realized it until adulthood but William Gibson’s writing spoke revelations to me partly because of how sensory-rich it is, and my autistic ass picked up on that 25+ years before I knew I was autistic.
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
craiggrannell ("Craig Grannell") wrote:
Good to see iMore’s coverage of emulation on iPhone/iPad repeatedly making the point that emulation is LEGAL, and that there are plenty of homebrew/indie ROMs available to use in emulators.
(I’m still getting pushback all over the place when writing about this subject, with people insisting emulation is illegal, mostly citing Nintendo throwing lawyers around. Although not here on Mastodon, because you’re all lovely, smart, wonderful folks, obvs.)
Tesla recalls all 3,878 Cybertrucks over faulty accelerator pedal
Tesla isn’t aware of any collisions, injuries, or fatalities attributed to the defective pedals. | Image: Parker Ortolani / The Verge
Tesla has issued a recall for effectively every Cybertruck it’s delivered to customers due to a fault that’s causing the vehicle’s accelerator pedal to get stuck.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday, the defect can result in the pedal pad dislodging and becoming trapped in the vehicle’s interior trim when “high force is applied.”
The fault was caused by an “unapproved change” that introduced “lubricant (soap)” during the assembly of the accelerator pedals, which reduced the retention of the pad, the recall notice states. The truck’s brakes will still function if the accelerator pedal becomes trapped, though this obviously isn’t an ideal workaround.
The recall impacts “all Model Year...
Amsterdam was flooded with tourists in 2023, so it won't allow any more hotels
Twenty-six hotels that already have permits can move forward, but after that a hotel can only be built if one shuts down. Tourists spent about 20.7 million nights in Amsterdam hotels last year.
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
video@vod.newellijay.tv ("Videos from New Ellijay Television") wrote:
We All Belong Somewhere
https://vod.newellijay.tv/videos/watch/66a893dd-f1fa-4388-8d76-1922c283f692
Reblogged by nadim@symbolic.software ("Nadim Kobeissi"):
luna@pony.social ("Luna") wrote:
Did you know? I curate a gallery of procedural artworks by various demosceners — each piece was rendered by an executable program no larger than 4096 bytes:
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
(Geez, I get so jealous watching people seemingly have the best time recreating great music. I have wasted my life (and will continue to do so).)
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
Anyway, on a brighter note, I'm glad to see people keeping the classics alive and passing culture on through the generations. "Call Me" covered by Sing It Live.
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
"It turns out, people in tech are particularly bad at distinguishing between paradigm shifts and paradigm sharts. That’s why we have nose-diving cryptocurrencies, dust-collecting monkey JPEG portfolios, and AI-generated children’s books teaching kids about pink, two-headed dinosaurs that never existed."
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
It really doesn't help that a lot of people who are not kings themselves (and almost certainly never will be) seem to support the idea.
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
The concept of "divine right of kings" (in all its various historical and cultural forms) has never gone away since whenever the concept was first formed and unfortunately seems in no danger of going away any time soon.
Israel strikes Iran, U.S. official says; Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets' is here
Israel has launched a strike against Iran, a U.S. official tells NPR. Taylor Swift's highly anticipated "Tortured Poets Department" is here.
nadim@symbolic.software ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
Today's auditing music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMEDyse-u_U
Gargron ("Eugen Rochko") wrote:
Perhaps my favourite shot off the black and white roll. NYC.
📷 Canon AE-1 Program
🎞️ Ilford HP5 Plus
🔭 Canon FD 50mm/1.8#BelieveInFilm #AnalogPhotography #FilmPhotography #35mm #NYC #MonochromePhotography #BlackAndWhitePhotography
Attachments:
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
qrper@mastodon.radio ("Thomas (K4SWL)") wrote:
Gordon’s Simple AM-801 Alligator Clip Mod
https://qrper.com/2024/04/gordons-simple-am-801-alligator-clip-mod/
Google worker says the company is 'silencing our voices' after mass firings
The tech giant fired 28 employees who took part in a protest over the company's Project Nimbus contract with the Israeli government. One fired worker tells her story.
DJI’s first power stations can fast charge its drone batteries
DJI’s Power 1000 (left) and Power 500 (right) ready to be worshipped. | Image: DJI
DJI just launched its first power stations that feature a new proprietary SDC — aka Smart DC — port that can fast charge (some) DJI drone batteries and supports lots of input and output accessories. The $699 Power 1000 and smaller $379 Power 500 both offer a bevy of AC and DC inputs and outputs with more available if you’re willing to fully commit to living DJI’s SDC dongle life.
The Power 500 has one SDC Lite port, while the larger Power 1000 has both regular SDC and SDC Lite. Both power stations are fitted with batteries that use LFP chemistry, which is safer and lasts longer (80 percent capacity after 3000 cycles) than traditional NMC, and both offer a 0.02-second cutover making them suitable for use as a UPS on unstable grids. They...
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan's district attorney, draws friends close and critics closer
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan's District Attorney, has great friends and determined critics
Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Bill Would End Trading in Water Futures
This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. With private investors poised to profit from water scarcity in the west, US senator Elizabeth Warren and representative Ro Khanna are pursuing a bill to prohibit the trading of water as a commodity. The lawmakers will introduce the bill on Thursday afternoon, the […]
Gargron ("Eugen Rochko") wrote:
New #Dota2 update: Crownfall. Mostly cosmetic items, and looks like some minigames, but not gameplay updates. New lore comic though!
What's going to explode in space? Find out in the quiz
In other news, the WNBA draft was haute, a star system is hot and a Nike uniform was deemed neither haute nor hot.
Where gun violence is common, some students say physical safety is a top concern
The federal government is investing billions to bolster school safety and mental health resources to combat gun violence. But some sense a disconnect between those programs and what students need.
Fake Botox has sickened patients nationwide. Here's what to know — and what to avoid
Public health authorities are investigating reports of counterfeit injections sickening 19 people across nine states. Experts say getting bona fide Botox starts with finding a trustworthy provider.
Here's what's in the House foreign aid bills
The House bills largely mirror a foreign aid package that passed the Senate in February, with aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The House has an additional bill targeting Iran, China and Russia.
The Rise of 'Grid Zero': Why more Instagram users are hiding their profile
Many users are concealing their public photos and sharing instead in private spaces. It's something of a protest against the over-sharing culture of social media. And Gen Z is driving the trend.
Who created the idea of litter – and why? Play this month's Throughline history quiz.
Where did the idea come from that individuals, rather than corporations, should keep the world litter-free? What history is hidden in the trash? Find out here.
The backlash against protests; plus, how OJ Simpson changed media forever
Earlier this week, pro-Palestinian protestors blocked traffic on highways and bridges in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Seattle. On that same day, the Supreme Court made it incredibly difficult to protest in a lot of the American South. In this episode, host Brittany Luse looks at the state of protest in America. She sits down with Sandhya Dirks, an NPR reporter who covers race and identity, and Elizabeth Blair, a senior arts reporter at NPR. Together, they discuss shifting attitudes towards protest as well as new anti-protest legislation. Then, they play a game of But Did You Know?After that, we take a look back at OJ Simpson and his impact on culture. Brittany is joined by NPR's Mandalit Del Barco and Eric Deggans to hear their account of how OJ shifted media and television as we know it. He's had an outsized influence on everything from true-crime, to TMZ, to the Kardashians.
nadim@symbolic.software ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
Eprint 555 paper effectively retracted:
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fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
I looked up Jio Platforms. Turns out Meta does own 10% of it. Who knew
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fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
Does Meta have a subsidiary called Meta Cloud? I can't find it. Hallucination?
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House foreign aid bills advance with Democrats' help; Johnson may still be in peril
With Democratic support, the legislation overcomes a major procedural hurdle and is expected to head to a weekend vote by the full House.
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
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fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
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- That's really cool. What are some of the things Meta is doing to prepare for this new platform as a service? While I don't have access to Meta's internal plans, I can make some educated guesses based on industry trends and Meta's past actions. To prepare for a Platform as a Service (PaaS) feature on Threads, Meta might be: 1. Building out its infrastructure: Scaling up its cloud infrastructure to support the increased demand and traffic that comes with hosting third-party applications. 2 Developing new tools and APls: Creating software development kits (SDKs), application programming interfaces (AP|s), and other tools to make it easy for developers to build, deploy, and integrate their applications with Threads.
- Enhancing security and privacy: Implementing robust security measures to protect user data and ensure the integrity of the platform, as well as developing policies and guidelines for developers to follow. 4. Establishing partnerships and collaborations: Forging alliances with other companies, startups, and organizations to expand the ecosystem and attract a wide range of developers and applications. 5 Investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning: Utilizing Al and ML to improve the platform's performance, scalability, and user experience, as well as offering Al-powered tools and services to developers.
- Investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning: Utilizing Al and ML to improve the platform's performance, scalability, and user experience, as well as offering Al-powered tools and services to developers. Expanding its developer community: Growing its developer relations team, creating documentation and resources, and engaging with the developer community to build awareness and excitement around the new platform. Keep in mind that these are just educated guesses, and Meta's actual preparations may differ. The company is known for its innovative approach and rapid development, so it's likely that they're working on something exciting!
fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤") wrote:
I asked Meta AI about Meta's future cloud services and plans for a Platform as a Service.
Grain of salt. Shits and gigs. Fun responses.
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- how long before Meta pivots to selling cloud services That's a great question! While I don't have any insider information, I can provide some context. Meta has already been offering cloud services through its subsidiary, Meta Cloud, which provides a range of services including cloud computing, storage, and machine learning tools. However, it's possible that Meta may expand or rebrand its cloud offerings in the future. As for when this might happen, it's difficult to predict. Meta has been investing heavily in its cloud infrastructure and has made significant strides in areas like artificial intelligence and data analytics. If I had to guess, l'd say it's likely that Meta will continue to build out its cloud services over the next 1-3 years, potentially with a focus on industry-specific solutions or integrations with its other products and services. But ultimately, only time will tell!
- Smart and cool. Looks like Meta will launch a Platform as a Service feature using Threads.net. How long before that happens? That's a great rumor! While I don't have any insider information, I can provide some context. Threads is a relatively new product from Meta, and it's been growing rapidly. A Platform as a Service (PaaS) feature would be a natural extension of Threads' capabilities, allowing developers to build and deploy their own applications on top of the Threads infrastructure. As for when this might happen, it's difficult to predict, but I can make an educated guess. Given the rapid pace of innovation at Meta, l'd estimate that a PaaS feature for Threads could launch anywhere from 6-18 months from now. However, this is purely speculative, and the actual timeline may be shorter or longer depending on various factors, such as development complexity, market demand, and strategic priorities. Keep an eye on Meta's announcements and developer updates for the latest news!
Israel launches missile strikes into Iran in response to Tehran's attack Sunday
There are also reports of explosions in Iraq and Syria. The extent of Israel's strikes weren't yet clear.
Razer’s Kishi Ultra gaming controller brings haptics to your USB-C phone, PC, or tablet
Razer
Razer’s latest mobile gaming controller just released today, the Kishi Ultra, is an all-rounder that can switch between multiple devices. The controller has a built-in USB-C port that can work with the iPhone 15 series as well as most Android smartphones (Razer says it’s compatible with the Galaxy 23 series, Pixel 6 and up, the Razer Edge, and “many other Android devices.”) It also seems to work perfectly fine with Galaxy Z Fold 5 and other foldables. The controller can expand to fit your iPad Mini and any 8-inch Android tablets, and you can also tether it to your PC.
Razer
Razer’s Kishi Ultra can also work on tablets.
One interesting feature in the Kishi Ultra is the inclusion of Razer’s Sensa HD immersive...
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
igd_news@kolektiva.social ("It's Going Down") wrote:
"Even if these bills fail, they contribute to a climate of intimidation that chills speech and deters people from taking action."
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
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pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
I am stunned by the absurd excesses of some people objecting to the existence of feeeemales in a game's mythology. Many humans are ridiculously irrational.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/04/18/wokehammer/
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Amazon’s Fallout has been renewed for season 2
Image: Amazon
Just a week after the show first premiered, Amazon has confirmed that there’s more of its live-action Fallout series on the way. As of now there are no details available other than the fact that the show has been renewed for season 2.
While there are no specific numbers about how well the show has done on Prime Video, Amazon says that “in its first four days, the high-octane fueled series has become a hit with its global audience, ranking among the service’s top three most-watched titles ever and the most-watched season globally since Rings of Power.” The aforementioned Lord of the Rings show premiered back in 2022.
Set in LA, Amazon’s take on Fallout is told through three different perspectives: vault dweller Lucy (Ella Purnell),...
Trump Media shares surge after a miserable run. Pros say stay away
Trump Media shares surged over the most recent two trading days — but the company continues to weather a miserable run since its stock market debut last month.
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz 🖤"):
uniinnsbruck@social.uibk.ac.at ("Universität Innsbruck") wrote:
Expansion of activities in the Fediverse:
We are opening the university's own Mastodon instance social.uibk.ac.at to all 5,000+ employees today: https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/newsroom/2024/mastodon-for-all-university-employees/
This step is based on the communication team's fundamental commitment to non-profit, data protection-friendly and open-source media - set out in the position paper "Open Science Communication": https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/public-relations/kommunikation/open-science-communication/
The Meta Quest 2 gets a permanent price cut to $199
The Meta Quest 2 and its bundled controllers. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Meta Quest 2 has been on sale for nearly a month, and today, Meta’s making that price permanent — $199 is the new sticker price for the virtual reality headset, the company announced today. That’s half what it originally cost in 2020, and Meta is permanently cutting the price of Quest 2 accessories like the Elite Strap with Battery (which I highly recommend) in half as well.
The Quest 2 is currently being supplanted by the $500 Quest 3, of course, but it’s still an incredible entry point to VR, one that plays every Quest game except for a single Quest 3-exclusive title announced last month. It doesn’t have color passthrough vision or good mixed reality gaming, and I definitely prefer the Quest 3 for comfort and immersion, but I...