fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:
Inside the Booming ‘AI Pimping’ Industry:
"Elaina St James, an adult content creator who promotes her work on Instagram, said she and other adult content creators are now directly competing with these AI rip-off accounts, many of which use photographs and videos stolen from adult content creators and Instagram models." https://www.404media.co/inside-the-booming-ai-pimping-industry-3/
Is Trump pick Pete Hegseth ready to run Defense? A former defense secretary weighs in
Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says "a lack of any government experience is an issue" when leading the largest institution in the world.
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
Winter in Minnesota means we should welcome all the little creatures who would die in the cold to join us in our houses.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/11/20/its-snowing-2/
Attachments:
Reblogged by jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein"):
SmudgeTheInsultCat@mas.to ("Smudge The Insult Cat 🐀") wrote:
Attachments:
FromSoftware parent company confirms Sony’s acquisition interest
Elden Ring. | Image: FromSoftware
Reports that Sony was in talks to acquire Kadokawa, the Japanese media conglomerate that owns Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, have been confirmed. Kadokawa has released a short statement acknowledging Sony’s intention but stating that no decision had been made.
Read the full letter below:
There are some articles on the acquisition of Kadokawa Corporation (hereinafter “the Company”) by Sony Group Inc. However, this information is not announced by the Company. The Company has received an initial letter of intent to acquire the Company’s shares, but no decision has been made at this time. If there are any facts that should be announced in the future, we will make an announcement in a timely and appropriate manner.
In addition to owning a...
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Today in History: Joe Walsh born in Cleveland Ohio, 1947
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Today in History: Duane Allman born in Nashville Tennessee, 1946
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
Today in History: Nuremberg Trials against 24 Nazi war criminals begin, 1945
NFL, celebrity boxing, and hot dogs: Netflix’s push into live TV
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024
Netflix is following up the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight with NFL games and WWE’s Monday Night Raw.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a glorious and beautiful pain in the ass
Image: GSC Game World
GSC Game World’s long-awaited survival epic delivers the ultimate stalker fantasy — if you can look beyond the plethora of glitches.
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
jasongorman@mastodon.cloud ("Jason Gorman") wrote:
A short play about "user metrics"
____________________________Bill, walking into Dog & Duck: "Where's John?"
"He drinks at O'Malley's now."
[Bill goes to O'Malley's]
Jane, walking into Dog & Duck: "Where's Bill and John?"
"They're at O'Malley's."
[Jane goes to O'Malleys]
O'Malley's: "I think they come here for our superior wine selection"
It's a virus you may not have heard of. Here's why scientists are worried about it
Case counts for Oropouche virus are still low but rising dramatically. What's going on? And then there's a study that raises the possibility that insect bites aren't the only way the virus can spread.
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
Am I allowed a feeling of doom and death now? I think we're all screwed.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/11/20/i-may-have-to-put-my-retirement-plans-on-hold/
Attachments:
nadim@infosec.exchange ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
You'd think that Signal paying million-dollar salaries on non-profit foundation money would mean that they'd be able to improve the state of Signal Desktop's security; but they can't even close PRs addressing things like battery drain on Android devices: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/pull/13337
Comcast is spinning off its cable TV business
Photo by Jeff Fusco/Getty Images for Comcast
Comcast is splitting from its NBCUniversal television arm as the market of cable TV customers shrinks in the age of cord-cutting and TikTok.
The US media giant announced plans on Wednesday to spin off the bulk of its cable network channels — including CNBC, MSNBC, Universal Kids, USA Network, E!, Oxygen, Golf Channel, and Syfy — into a separate company. Comcast will retain its reality TV darling Bravo and the Peacock streaming service within its NBC TV business.
The new, currently untitled venture (dubbed “SpinCo” as a placeholder) will be led by NBCUniversal chairman Mark Lazarus, with NBCUniversal’s CFO Anand Kini serving as both its financial and operating head. Non-cable services including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, and...
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 wasn’t prepared for takeoff
Reviews for the game on Steam are currently labeled as “Overwhelmingly Negative.” | Image: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 was released on PC and Xbox yesterday but early players have struggled to load or even finish installing the game. Users have reported a range of issues — including post-installation loads stalling before completion, long login queues, and the game itself crashing — with the $70 flying sim currently tagged as “Overwhelmingly Negative” in customer reviews on Steam.
Some players are seeing their downloads freeze at 97 percent, while others were stuck on a login queue page at launch for several hours that says “too many users are trying to connect at the same time.” Microsoft advised players to check the Xbox Support Status page for updates, which doesn’t list any ongoing issues with the game at the time of...
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
So many drawings of Ixodes scapularis…
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/11/20/excellent-images-of-a-few-things/
Attachments:
Google workers to DOJ: we need protections to make your breakup effective
Illustration: The Verge
Google employees met with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division last month to share workers’ perspectives ahead of the government’s expected proposal to break up the company. Their message? That as the DOJ attempts to end Google’s search monopoly, any effective remedy must make sure workers are protected and empowered to speak out.
Three members of the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) met virtually with staff from the DOJ Antitrust Division on October 23rd, workers who attended the meeting told The Verge exclusively. During the hour-long conversation, the Google employees urged the government to consider how any remedies imposed by the court could impact workers and to make sure workers are protected and aware of their rights to share...
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE review: a bogus bargain
As an entry-level device, the FE doesn’t quite nail the right mix of price, features, and hardware.
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
sorry, I should not laugh at the poor little rich child. I am A Bad Person.
Attachments:
Trump picks lead for Education Department. And, tips to bridge political divides
What we know about Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education. And, science-backed tips to bridge political divides.
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
preinheimer@phpc.social ("Paul Reinheimer") wrote:
The more I learn about cryptography, the more I think Alice and Bob should probably just talk in person.
Google Meet’s automatic framing is now available to everyone
Illustration: The Verge
Google Meet is making it easier for everyone to position themselves in video calls without having to move the camera or mess around with the webcam’s frame adjustment settings. The automatic framing feature that was launched for Google Workspace accounts in 2022 is now rolling out for all Google Meet users, centering users in the middle of the screen to correct weird camera angles.
The toggle is enabled by default, but can be switched off by clicking the three-dot menu before you join a call, selecting “Apply visual effects,” and clicking “Appearance.” It’s similar to Apple’s Center Stage feature, but Google’s version doesn’t track users as they move to keep them in frame — which can help reduce distractions in meetings.
G...
The North Carolina GOP Snuck an Outrageous Antidemocratic Power Grab Into a Hurricane Relief Bill
On Tuesday, exactly two weeks after the November 5 election, the Republican-controlled legislature in North Carolina reconvened in Raleigh, ostensibly to pass disaster relief for areas affected by Hurricane Helene. But, with no public notice, they snuck provisions into the bill stripping power from the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general and dramatically changing […]
“Devastating”—US Backpedals on Global Pact to Limit Plastic Production
This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. The Biden administration has backtracked from supporting a cap on plastic production as part of the United Nations’ global plastics treaty. According to representatives from five environmental organizations, White House staffers told representatives of advocacy groups in a closed-door meeting last week […]
The Media and Trump: Not Resistance, But Not Acceptance
The below article first appeared in David Corn’s newsletter, Our Land. The newsletter comes out twice a week (most of the time) and provides behind-the-scenes stories and articles about politics, media, and culture. Subscribing costs just $5 a month—but you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. Shortly after Donald Trump narrowly beat Kamala Harris, Politico, the all-politics-all-the-time news outlet, invited […]
Drugmakers and pharmacists battle over who gets to make obesity drugs
The pharmaceutical companies behind Ozempic, Wegovy and other weight-loss meds push to prevent compounding pharmacies from making cheaper copies. They argue they can keep up with demand on their own.
UberXXL will let you catch an even bigger ride to the airport
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Uber has launched a new airport-only fare option in its ride-sharing app called UberXXL. It surpasses UberXL’s single X by guaranteeing rides with trunk space that can handle large families with lots of big bags — no more sitting at the curb trying to figure out what to do next.
Screenshot: Uber
The new option is available today at more than 60 airports worldwide, with more coming down the road. In terms of pricing, UberXXL will sit somewhere between UberXL and Uber Black, the company says. XXL also adds a stopgap before Uber Shuttle, the charter-style option it launched in New York last month that lets you book up to five seats for a trip to the airport with discounted rates and protection against surge pricing.
T...
Have a politically divided family? These tips help you talk across the dinner table
A 2022 survey found growing numbers of Republicans and Democrats think the other side is immoral and dishonest. Psychology and neuroscience research offers tools to help bridge that divide.
U.S. Embassy in Kyiv shuts down due to Russian air attack threat
Russia promised a response to President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine strike targets on Russian soil with U.S.-made missiles.
The FDA says it found bacteria and a 'mold-like' substance at a Tom's of Maine plant
The agency is requiring Tom's to submit several documents, including assessments and remediation plans for its operations, contamination hazards, testing methods and more.
He's been nominated 32 times for CMA Musician of the Year -- but never won
Steel pedal guitarist Paul Franklin set a CMA record as a 32-time nominee for Musician of the Year. Will this year be different?
Oarfish keep washing ashore in California. Folklore suggests that could be a bad omen
A deep sea oarfish washed up in Southern California. Japanese folklore suggests seeing the rare fish is a bad omen, some accounts say.
SS United States, record-setting ocean liner, makes its final voyage
The SS United States, a record-breaking 1950s ocean liner, may soon sail from Philadelphia to the Gulf. NPR explored this ship, a relic of the grand liners that once connected North America with Europe.
'Rust' premieres three years after a fatal on-set shooting
Three years ago, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a gun held by Alec Baldwin went off on set. Her husband settled a wrongful death suit to become a producer of the film, which premieres in Poland on Wednesday.
nadim@infosec.exchange ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
Incredibly proud of the cryptography auditing work we did at @cure53 and Symbolic Software in 2024 and really hoping some of the reports get published early next year!
The most exciting year so far; it's really unfortunate that only the boring audits generally get published.
A surge in mass attacks has killed dozens in China in recent months
Dozens of people have been killed in China in the past three months in a series of mass attacks. The latest on Tuesday saw primary school students injured by a car as they arrived for classes.
Residents in Haiti's capital stand with police in a battle to repel gang attack
Residents have been angered by the latest gang attacks. Violence forced Haiti's main airport to shut down last week after the country swore in a new prime minister.
nadim@infosec.exchange ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
ML-KEM’s reliance on a hefty secure hash function (SHA-3) is a real bummer. I wonder why this couldn’t be avoided/why a primitive without such a dependency wasn’t chosen.
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
edithfrost@ravenation.club ("Edith Frost") wrote:
I’m still asleep & no glasses on but yeah! New album!!!! New video too! https://edithfrost.bandcamp.com/album/in-space
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
edithfrost@ravenation.club ("Edith Frost") wrote:
I like to spell it pitchf’k, no reason, it’s just funnier. https://pitchfork.com/news/edith-frost-returns-with-first-album-in-20-years-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/
Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department
McMahon is a professional wrestling business magnate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team. She has limited experience working with K-12 public schools.
Strava closes the gates to sharing fitness data with other apps
Image: Strava
Strava recently informed its users and partners that new terms for its API restrict the data that third-party apps can show, refrain from replicating Strava’s look, and place a ban on using data “for any model training related to artificial intelligence, machine learning or similar applications.”
The policy is effective as of November 11th, even though Strava’s own post about the change is dated November 15th.
Effective November 11, the updated API agreement introduces three key changes that provide Strava users with greater control, security, and a consistent experience:
Stronger Privacy Standards: Third-party apps may now only display a user’s Strava activity data to that specific user. Users will continue to have access to their...
Niantic is building a ‘geospatial’ AI model based on Pokémon Go player data
Photo by Sam Byford / The Verge
Niantic has announced that it’s building a new “Large Geospatial Model” (LGM) that combines millions of scans taken from the smartphones of players of Pokémon Go and other Niantic products. This AI model could allow computers and robots to understand and interact with the world in new ways, the company said in a blog post spotted by Garbage Day.
The LGM’s “spatial intelligence” is built on the neural networks developed as part of Niantic’s Visual Positioning System. The blog post explains that “Over the past five years, Niantic has focused on building our Visual Positioning System (VPS), which uses a single image from a phone to determine its position and orientation using a 3D map built from people scanning interesting locations in our...
The fight for Alex Jones' Infowars company heats up as Jones sues to hold on
The Onion thought it had the last laugh when it was named the winning bidder after last week's bankruptcy auction. Now, Jones says that bid was "fake dollars" and wants a judge to disqualify it
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
It occurs to me that institutions that are incapable of learning from experience are also incapable of heeding warnings from their employees. 🤔
jimbob@aus.social ("Bela Lugosi's Dad") wrote:
Exciting news of a victory from the front line
Attachments:
inthehands@hachyderm.io ("Paul Cantrell") wrote:
The actual outcome of this election with •the whole US population• as the denominator:
22% voted for Harris
23% voted for Trump
<1% voted for other
26% eligible but did not vote*
28% not eligible to vote* (whether by choice or by voter suppression)
Numbers might shift a tiny bit as last votes are counted, but this is close to the final tally.
Just sit with that for one quality minute. Think about what stories people are telling about this election. Then think about what stories are true.
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻"):
blogdiva ("your auntifa liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦") wrote:
PUERTO RICO IS A NATION
our culture and history are far older than the United States. we aren't culturally American, we have American citizenship.y'all didn't give a shit when Obama slammed a literal financial dictatorship on the island made up of Wall Street ghouls in suits.
you didn't give a shit when Clinton paid to close up all USA factories en La Isla to move them to China.
but now y'all want us to be a state to be the janitors & cleaning ladies of your fascist mess?
FUCK YOU.
Reblogged by fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻"):
thenexusofprivacy@infosec.exchange ("The Nexus of Privacy") wrote:
A poll: how do you feel about the general idea of starter packs (or some equivalent) on fedi? (1/7)
Bluesky's "starter packs" make it easy to follow a bunch of accounts all at once. Anybody can create one or more starter packs, and they're used for a lot of different things; the Blacksky starter pack, for example, is great for newcomers from Black Twitter, and @newsmast'sFediSky starter pack is helpful for finding folks you might know from the fedivere.
But Bluesky's implementation has some major problems: people can be added to starter packs without their consent, aren't even notified when it happens, and it's not obvious how to opt out. And any mechanism like this potentially creates "rich get richer" dyanamics and risks magnifying existing biases -- guys tend to mostly add guys to starter packs, white people tend to mostly add white people to starter packs, etc. Still, despite the problems, they're very helpful for onboarding.
I've had discussions with multiple people working on ideas for fediverse starter packs or the equivalents, and similar questions keep cropping up. So I figured I'd do a series of polls to get feedback on what people think.
To start with, the basic question, how do you feel about the general idea of starter packs (or some equivalent) on fedi?
the Mastodon iOS app cuts off long text in the polls, so I'm including it here as well
- No, Bad idea for fedi, don't do it
- Maybe, depending on how it's implemented
- Yes, this is important functionality - get something out now, we can fix it later!
- Not sure
This website unearths YouTube’s lost and forgotten iPhone clips
People loved uploading videos from their iPhone Camera Roll directly to YouTube. | Image: The Verge
The “IMG_0001” website features a frame with an old TV static effect and a floating retro Panasonic remote that you can click to start watching random YouTube videos from over a decade ago that were recorded and uploaded from devices such as 2010’s iPhone 4.
Riley Walz, a tech worker who helped stage a fake steakhouse restaurant in Manhattan last year, built the site. He credits this blog by Ben Wallace for the idea and says the iPhone is the reason the project is possible.
As described on the site, there was a novel (at the time) “Send to YouTube” feature on iPhones between 2009 and 2012 that let you upload recordings directly from your iPhone for anyone to see — which often aren’t accompanied by any text descriptions.
i found...
PS Portal's New Update Could Be A Game Changer For Sony's Handheld
The latest update for Sony’s surprisingly good PlayStation Portal adds the feature that people have been wanting since even before the handheld gaming device launched last year. Starting today, PS Plus subscribers can now stream some PS5 games via the cloud on their PS Portal without a console.
Minecraft Movie Director Reacts To Backlash Over Weird First Trailer
The first Minecraft Movie trailer was a mess. It felt tonally off, the humor didn’t quite land, and the live-action aesthetic was disorienting. Stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa seemed like they were acting in different galaxies. Kids will probably still love the finished thing anyway, but swarms of online commenters…
Sony’s new PlayStation Portal update lets you stream PS5 games from the cloud
Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Sony is bringing a big new feature to the PlayStation Portal: cloud streaming. When it first launched, the device was only able to stream games from your PS5 over Wi-Fi. But as part of a new system update that’s rolling out starting later today, you’ll be able to stream select PS5 games from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog to your PlayStation Portal.
Sony is launching the feature in beta, and you’ll need to be a PlayStation Plus Premium subscriber to take advantage of it. Sony says that to stream at 720p, you’ll need a minimum 7 Mbps connection, while 1080p quality will require a minimum 13 Mbps connection.
Image: Sony
Portal Cloud Streaming Beta
Some PlayStation Plus features won’t be available to start with...
Alexa may get smarter with more APIs rather than more AI
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Following ongoing reports that Amazon’s generative AI makeover of Alexa is not going well, it appears Amazon may take a more practical approach to making its smart assistant more useful. According to Business Insider, Amazon is partnering with several companies to make Alexa better at doing things you might want a digital assistant to do: including calling an Uber, tackling Ticketmaster for events, booking dinner through OpenTable, and handling GrubHub and Instacart for your food delivery.
Now, if this sounds familiar, it's because the likes of Uber, OpenTable, GrubHub and others already had Alexa Skills, but apparently, this is something different. These companies are reportedly being recruited to be part of the new Alexa, which Amazon...
Trump picks Dr. Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid
In announcing his pick, Trump said Oz will work closely with RFK, Jr. "to take on the illness industrial complex." Oz, a celebrity physician, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2022.
Traffic on Bluesky, an X competitor, is up 500% since the election. How will they handle the surge?
Unlike other social media sites, Bluesky allows users to create their own algorithm. The site does not have ads, nor harvest data for artificial intelligence training. But it is still very small, and it does not make money.
Denzel Washington Will Be Making Equalizer Movies In His 70s
Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they’re bald, gun-toting, and entering their 70s. That surely will be the case for Denzel Washington when we see him in two more upcoming Equalizer films which, he revealed to Esquire, he plans on doing before it’s all said and done.
New Minecraft Movie Trailer Includes Redstone, Ender Pearls, And OG Music
In September, we got our first good look at the upcoming live-action Minecraft movie. And it looked weird. Now, we have a new trailer for the film and while it still looks odd, at least it’s jam-packed with stuff from the original Minecraft game, including scary nighttime enemies, Redstone contraptions, wolf taming,…
Toothless Looks Fantastic In Trailer For Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon That Shouldn't Exist
How To Train Your Dragon may only be 14 years old, but that doesn’t make it immune from Hollywood’s current obsession with live-action remakes. The adorable DreamWorks fantasy adventure about Vikings and Pokémon-style pet dragons is being re-shot with actual humans this time around. Based on the first trailer, at…
Microsoft is the mystery AI company licensing HarperCollins books, says Bloomberg
Illustration: The Verge
Just one day after 404 Media revealed that HarperCollins struck a three-year AI training deal with an unnamed company, Bloomberg now says Microsoft will use the publisher’s content to train a not-yet-announced AI model.
HarperCollins said in a statement to 404 Media that its deal will include “select nonfiction backlist titles” and that authors will have to opt into the training program.
One author, Daniel Kibblesmith, posted screenshots a few days ago showing that he was offered $2,500 per book for a three-year AI licensing contract. Asked what would be an offer he’d consider taking, Kibblesmith said in a post on Tuesday, “I’d probably do it for a billion dollars. I’d do it for an amount of money that wouldn’t require me to work...
Is Israel Using New, Deadly Military Technology in Gaza?
NPR has been collecting eyewitness accounts from Gaza that indicate Israel is using a new type of drone. One that has a gun attached that can shoot people remotely. We hear how Israel is using it in Gaza and what this technology could mean for the future of warfare.
Fortnite's Ice Spice NPC Wouldn't Stop Tossing Ice Grenades So Epic Had To Take Them Away
Last week, famous rapper Ice Spice was added to Fortnite as part of the free-to-play shooter’s ongoing Chapter 2 Remix mini-season. If you hired her, she could help out during matches by throwing ice grenades at enemies, but she would often spam them, annoying and hindering even the players she was supposed to be…
Jack Black yearns for the mines in new Minecraft movie trailer
Image: Warner Bros.
A Minecraft Movie has a new trailer giving us a taste at the kind of story moviegoers can expect. The trailer predominately features Jack Black as Steve, the silent protagonist players embody in Minecraft. In the trailer, Black’s Steve is way more chatty, giving us his backstory as a child who quite literally yearns for the mines. As an adult, Steve finds a special blue cube that transports him to the Minecraft world where, “anything you can imagine is possible.”
It should come as no surprise that the movie, like The Super Mario Bros. Movie before it, is an isekai. A group of unsuspecting folks including Danielle Brooks, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen are magically transported to the world to find a blocky paradise...
Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
djsundog@toot-lab.reclaim.technology ("DJ Sundog - from the toot-lab") wrote:
my favorite Polish bass player by a long shot, Kinga Głyk
A GOP lawmaker introduces a Capitol bathroom rule before her trans colleague arrives
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace says the resolution aims to protect women's rights. Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first out trans person elected to Congress, has slammed it as a distraction.
Netflix says the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight was ‘the most-streamed sporting event ever’
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024
Despite widespread issues with video quality and buffering, Netflix’s live-streamed Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match brought in an average of 108 million viewers, based on TVision data in the US and first-party data in global markets. With 65 million concurrent streams, Netflix says the fight was the “most-streamed global sporting event ever.”
Of those simultaneous streams, 38 million were from households in the US, and the TVision data says it accounted for 56 percent of TV viewing between midnight and 1AM that day.
Meanwhile, the match between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano broke the record for the “most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history,” with 47 million average viewers nationwide, according to Netflix....
The best smartwatches for Android
Photo illustration by William Joel / The Verge
Wear OS is much better than it used to be, so there’s never been a better time to consider a smartwatch.
Trump picks Wall Street investor Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary
President-elect Trump picked Lutnick, the CEO of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, to be his next Commerce Secretary.
Yellowjackets Season 3 Finally Has A Release Date And Teaser Trailer
It’s been almost 18 months since we were last tossed back and forth between the dual timelines of twisted survivalist teenagers and their equally disturbed adult counterparts in Showtime’s Yellowjackets. Now, we only have to wait a few more months before diving back into teen cannibalism and grown-up traumas, as it…
Aqara’s new DIY-ready smart water shutoff works in more smart homes with Matter
Image: Aqara
Aqara’s Smart Valve Controller T1 is now available, bringing an interoperable Matter-compatible valve controller option to the smart home for the first time. The $69.99 T1 connects to your water shutoff valve so you can operate it remotely or shut it off automatically when a leak is detected.
The Aqara hub lets this T1 integrate with any of the major smart home platforms, unlike some pricier options from companies like Moen, Kohler, and Belkin. Right now, only Samsung and Home Assistant support smart valve controllers like this, but that will change as others expand their Matter device support.
The T1 attaches to the lever or butterfly handle of most household valves. Aqara says it’s “DIY-friendly as it requires no major modifications...
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
On the whole, my experience was positive, but I'm not going to assume that's generally the case.
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
In my youth, I apparently fell into the newspaper delivery exception without realizing it. I wasn't even paid a wage. I was assigned a route, and the policies were set by the newspaper. It felt like I worked for them, but I essentially bought the paper and was paid on whatever profit remained (some people were nice enough to give tips, especially around the holidays). It took me a while (callow youth that I was) to fully understand the situation.
cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:
I just learned about the subminimum wages that can be paid to people depending on their age.
No matter where you look in the federal code, there always seems to be a yikes lurking. And of course, the state by state efforts to weaken youth labor laws.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Is A Gorgeous Remake That Stays Stubbornly Faithful To An RPG Classic
I was worried that Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake might feel like an uninspired and overpriced cash-in on 1990s RPG nostalgia. Instead, it’s the latest in a string of excellent Square Enix tributes to past classics. Like 2022's Tactics Ogre: Reborn and 2023's Star Ocean: The Second Story R, it strikes a great balance…
What To Look For In A New Gaming TV This Black Friday
Buying a new television can be a stressful and confusing process these days as there are more options than ever. So let me help you with your upcoming TV purchase by giving you some tips on what to look for in a TV, what’s important, and a recommendation or two if you really don’t want to shop around.
Android 16 is now available for early testers
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Google has given us a glimpse at what’s coming in the next major version of Android. The first preview release for Android 16 is available for developers starting today, which expands the photo library and medical data-sharing capabilities in apps. A change moving Android’s release timeline forward was announced last month, which could help third-party Android phones released in 2025 avoid waiting months to receive the latest major updates.
Android Developer head Matthew McCullough says, “This is the start of Android having more frequent API releases as part of our effort to drive faster innovation in apps and devices.”
The preview available today allows developers to embed Android’s photo picker — the menu that lets users select...
nadim@infosec.exchange ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
iOS 18.1.1 and macOS 15.1.1, released today, fix actively exploited vulnerabilities in JavaScriptCore and WebKit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121752
nadim@infosec.exchange ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:
Attachments:
Manhattan prosecutors ask for additional pause in Trump hush-money criminal case
Manhattan prosecutors are asking for a further pause in the criminal trial against President-elect Donald Trump in order to give both sides time to weigh the unprecedented nature of the situation.
A 'bomb cyclone' is expected to hit Pacific Northwest. Here is what you should know
A "bomb cyclone" is forecast to bring heavy snow, high winds and life-threatening flooding to the Pacific Northwest in the next few days.
Nancy Mace Is Already Harassing Her New Coworker With Transphobia
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has proven time and time again that she will do nearly anything to make headlines. But on Monday, she reached a new low, introducing a resolution seeking to bar transgender members and employees in the House of Representatives from using the bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity in the Capitol […]
Reblogged by slightlyoff@toot.cafe ("Alex Russell"):
joelanman@hachyderm.io ("Joe Lanman") wrote:
"Some of Thames Water’s essential systems are still run on forms of Lotus Notes software from the late 1980s and early 1990s that can no longer be updated"
Leak: Valve is making a Steam Controller 2 and a ‘Roy’ for its Deckard
The original Steam Controller, and a prototype that preceded it. | Image: Sean Hollister / The Verge
Two years ago, Valve told The Verge it wanted a successor to its cult classic Steam Controller, whose incredibly customizable buttons and touchpads paved the way for the Steam Deck handheld PC. Now, Valve watcher Brad Lynch claims a Steam Controller 2 — codename “Ibex” — is actually getting made.
His sources tell him the Steam Controller 2 is currently being tooled for mass production, and it’s apparently not the only new Valve gamepad on the way!
Codename for Steam Controller 2 is “Ibex”
Separate product from Deckard’s “Roy” controller(s)
Both are being tooled for a mass production goal in their factories right now. That’s why I know they’re in later stages of productization
— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) November 19, 2024
Remember t...
Here's Your First Look At Overwatch 2's New Tank Hero, Hazard (And You Can Play Him Soon)
The impending arrival of Overwatch 2’s next tank hero has been teased through graffiti in the game’s Oasis map since the beginning of its ongoing 13th season. Now, we finally have our first look at Hazard, the 42nd hero in the shooter’s roster, and he’ll be playable briefly this weekend for those looking to test him…
Google Gemini can remember things now
Illustration: The Verge
Google Gemini can now “remember” certain things about you, such as your interests and personal preferences. The change is rolling out to subscribers with access to Gemini Advanced, and it will allow the AI chatbot to tailor its responses based on your needs, according to Gemini’s most recent release notes.
As noted by Google, you can share your interests, as well as details about your work, hobbies, or aspirations, while chatting with Gemini. You can also enter relevant details about yourself within the bot’s “Saved Info” page, such as telling it to only suggest vegetarian recipes, or that you work as an accountant.
Rolling out starting today, you can ask Gemini Advanced to remember your interests and preferences for more helpful,...
Reblogged by slightlyoff@toot.cafe ("Alex Russell"):
guaca@toot.cafe ("Estela Franco ⚡️") wrote:
I recently started @scottjehl’s Web Components course and wow! I was already familiar with Web Components, but it took me a while to just understand the basics. However, Scott explains it in a way that is simple, clear, and effective. Can't wait to keep learning from him!
Minecraft to follow live-action movie with theme parks
Minecraft could soon be coming to a theme park near you. UK theme park company Merlin Entertainments has announced the completion of a $110 million deal with developer Mojang to open Minecraft-themed attractions in the US and the UK. The attractions are planned to open in 2026 and 2027 and will either be new additions to existing parks or a wholly new experience. The game seems well-suited for the theme park treatment with in-game activities like mine cart rides, fighting creepers, taking trips to the The Nether, and more.
Minecraft joins a number of video game franchises and companies making the jump into theme parks and other forms of entertainment. Nintendo opened its theme park Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan in 2021....
If Elon Musk Really Wants to Cut Government Waste, He Can Start Here
This story was originally published on Judd Legum’s Substack, Popular Information, to which you can subscribe here. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to head the Department of Government Efficiency. Despite the name, it is not a government department. In fact, it is not part of the government at all. It is […]
jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:
“A lot of people in the center and on the left have for a long time sort of bemoaned Fox, but they haven’t done anything about it,”
the answer to FoxNews is not LeftieFoxNews, & the answer to misinformation and disinformation is not more information.
Here Are The Most Popular Pokémon In Scarlet And Violet
Everyone’s got a favorite Pokémon. There are over 1000 of the little (and big) guys, so asking someone which one they like the best means you can get some pretty wide-ranging answers. But which are the most popular in each game? You could argue that the competitive meta might decide, but Pokémon games sell millions of…
collinsworth@hachyderm.io ("Josh Collinsworth") wrote:
We should pronounce VS Code as "Versus Code" because let's be honest, that's the job.
Bose acquires premium audio brand McIntosh
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
Bose has acquired the high-end audio brand McIntosh — a move that Bose says will “significantly” expand its product lineup. The acquisition, which also includes McIntosh subsidiary Sonus faber, also “opens new opportunities in the automotive sector,” as both companies plan to work together to expand their in-car audio offerings:
By leveraging Bose’s 40-plus years of experience in automotive audio, and McIntosh Group’s legacy of performance and design, the brands will work together to expand their research and continue to engineer authentic in-car experiences that redefine automotive sound.
McIntosh has already designed a sound system for some Jeep models, but Bose’s audio setups are found within a wider range of cars from automakers like...
Netflix has a perfectly timed Razzlekhan doc coming out in December
Image: Netflix
Netflix is releasing a documentary next month about Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan called Biggest Heist Ever — and the company’s timing couldn’t be better, as Lichtenstein and Morgan, a married couple, were both recently sentenced to prison for laundering stolen Bitcoin that would now be worth more than $11 billion.
Based on a trailer for the documentary, Biggest Heist Ever seems like it could be fascinating and wildly entertaining. “These were some of the more unique people we encountered,” says one person featured in the trailer. “They were the first aspiring rappers that I arrested, that’s for sure.” (That last quote is in reference to Morgan’s rap career under her Razzlekhan persona. The songs are bad.)
L...
Try Out Some New Pokémon TCG Pocket Strategies With Rental Decks
Building up a strong deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket can take some time. Even if you have your eye set on creating something to crush players online, you’re still reliant on pulling the right cards. If you need help grinding out rewards against the CPU or just want some experience trying different things, Rental Decks…
Jaguar is now JaGUar
British automaker Jaguar is changing its branding for “a new era” as it prepares to fulfill its plan to go all-electric for its lineup, with the first new model slated to launch in 2026. The automaker has revealed a new logo that changes the font, spaces out the letters, and uses lowercase letters on everything except for the G and U.
“This is a reimagining that recaptures the essence of Jaguar, returning it to the values that once made it so loved, but making it relevant for a contemporary audience,” writes Jaguar Land Rover’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern. While at a press event, McGovern told journalists his team had “not been sniffing the white stuff — this is real,” according to Car Dealer Magazine.
Jaguar is taking the...
Google is further cracking down on sites publishing ‘parasite SEO’ content
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
Google is tightening its rules against “parasite SEO” content, or articles and pages that often have little to do with the site’s focus but that exploit the website’s Google ranking.
An example of parasite SEO content is a news blog that publishes online shopping coupon codes in a hidden part of its website or an educational site publishing unrelated affiliate marketing content. In March, Google announced it would crack down on this kind of “site reputation abuse,” and now it’s making it clear that it doesn’t matter if the publisher created the content themselves or outsourced it — it’s a search policy violation regardless.
“Since launching the policy, we’ve reviewed situations where there might be varying degrees of first-party...
pzmyers@octodon.social ("pzmyers 🦑") wrote:
Men! You too can be objectified and simplified! We are apparently mustaches wearing ties.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/11/19/reminder-for-all-us-guys/
Attachments:
Brazil leads new international effort against climate lies
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Image
Brazil and the United Nations launched a new international effort to combat disinformation on climate change. They announced the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change during the G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It’s a collaboration between governments and international organizations to boost research on misinformation swirling online and around the globe that they fear could slow action on climate change. There isn’t much information available yet, but they say they’ll fund nonprofit efforts to counter that spread of lies.
“Countries cannot tackle this problem individually,” President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in a press release.
“Countries cannot tackle this problem...