thenextweb.com

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Geeky international news on technology, business and culture.

This little carbon-sucking machine could crack DAC’s big energy problem

18 March 2024 @ 2:33 pm

Direct air capture (DAC) features prominently in the climate plans of many world governments, and has drawn billions of dollars in private investment. And yet, as the costs of the technology remain prohibitively high, some doubt whether we can depend on it at all.  Mission Zero Technologies, a startup based out of the UK, believes we can — but by doing things a little differently. It has developed a modular, carbon-sucking machine that it says is cheaper and more efficient than the contraptions currently under development. The device pulls in air from the atmosphere and passes it over a water-based…

Riddled with debt, Sweden’s Embracer sells Star Wars game maker for $500M

15 March 2024 @ 2:38 pm

Swedish gaming company Embracer Group has sold a big chunk of one of its biggest subsidiaries, US-headquartered Saber Interactive, in a deal totalling $500mn.  The buyer is Beacon Interactive, a holding company recently formed by none other than Saber’s own co-founder Matthew Karch. In a letter shared with Bloomberg, Karch said he was buying back the rights to his company and many of its studios because “they represent the best of what Saber is and can be.”  Saber Interactive is currently overseeing the development of 38 games, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, and Jurassic Park:…

ASML backs €110M Dutch deeptech fund for quantum, semiconductors

15 March 2024 @ 2:06 pm

The pride and joy of the Dutch tech ecosystem, ASML, has featured heavily in the news this past couple of weeks, after news broke the government was scrambling to keep the company in the country. However, ASML’s plans to potentially relocate due to difficulty securing talent and infrastructure bottlenecks does not mean it is not still actively supporting the Dutch tech ecosystem. The company has just contributed an undisclosed amount to Eindhoven-based DeepTechXL’s €110mn fund. The VC is  looking to invest in deeptech startups in the fields of quantum technologies, photonics, semiconductors, and other complex mechanical engineering. “DeepTechXL is much…

UK fusion startup trials plasma-stabilising laser for ‘holy grail’ of energy

15 March 2024 @ 11:27 am

British startup Tokamak Energy is testing a new type of laser that it says is “crucial” to stabilising fusion reactions — the same atom-fusing process that powers the Sun and promises to deliver virtually limitless, clean energy.   The Oxford-based company is building ST40, a donut-shaped machine that in 2022 became the first privately-owned fusion reactor to reach 100 million °C — six times as hot as the core of our closest star. This is generally regarded as the temperature threshold whereby fusion reactions can become self-sustaining.  During fusion, atoms merge together. This produces huge amounts of power in the form…

French MoD taps 5 startups to develop fault-tolerant quantum computer

14 March 2024 @ 4:35 pm

Quantum computers have an almost mythical status among data scientists and researchers. The dream of emerging out of the NISQ (noisy intermediate-scale quantum) era into a world of fault-tolerant qubits generating unbreakable encryption or solving climate change keeps many startups going despite difficult investment propositions with longer return horizons. But quantum technologies don’t only inspire wonder and excitement — they are also a growing geopolitical concern. More and more countries are setting up ambitious quantum strategies, and the US has placed export controls on equipment that supports quantum technology development to China. As part of its €1bn National Strategy for…

‘French scar’ leaves another mark on TikTok’s painful week

14 March 2024 @ 3:50 pm

TikTok’s rough week in the west went from bad to worse today when Italian authorities slapped the app with a €10mn fine over a viral challenge called the “French scar.” The game invites users to pinch their cheeks until they leave a lasting bruise. It became particularly popular in Italy, which prompted scrutiny from the country’s competition regulator. Following a probe, investigators concluded that TikTok had failed to protect users from “the potentially dangerous” content. The watchdog warned that the French scar threatened the “psycho-physical safety” of users — particularly minors and vulnerable people. “Moreover, this content is systematically re-proposed…

Dutch startup TheyDo bags $34M to solve ‘biggest business problem of the century’

14 March 2024 @ 12:59 pm

Dutch startup TheyDo has raised $34mn to solve “the biggest business problem” of the century:  scaling customer journeys. Founded in 2019, the company produces a live platform that provides actionable insights about customers. Enterprises can use the tools at every step of the journey, from discovery to purchase to after-sales. Current clients include Fortune 500 members Ford, Johnson & Johnson, and Home Depot. The software’s USP is a holistic approach that breaks down data siloes and integrates every step of the customer experience. As TheyDo puts it: “Moving from management by dashboard to management by journeys.”  The startup’s CEO, Jochem van…

Princess Kate photo scandal triggers calls for watermarking untouched images

14 March 2024 @ 9:25 am

A distinctly British scandal caused by sloppy photo editing has sparked calls for watermarking untouched images. The pleas come after a picture of Princess Kate intensified wild rumours about her whereabouts. Kate’s representatives issued the image this week to subdue gossip about her recent absence from the public eye. Newspapers and websites promptly plastered the snapshot across their pages. But the photo only heightened the speculation. Online sleuths soon spotted clear signs of manipulation. One of Kate’s hands, they noticed, was peculiarly blurred. Her daughter’s jumper was missing a portion of the cuff. Her son’s fingers had an unnatural position. News…

UK looks to nature to train AI at 0.1% of the cost

13 March 2024 @ 4:08 pm

Computing power to develop artificial intelligence does not come cheap. While you can build a simple AI chatbot for next to nothing, training a fine-tuned model on large data sets can cost millions of dollars. In order to lower the costs associated with training AI the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency, or ARIA, has launched a programme called Scaling Compute. The initiative is committing £42mn to find new, more economic alternatives to the energy-intensive hardware currently utilised to support the explosion in demand for compute driven by the arrival of generative AI. And it is encouraging funding applicants to…

EU finally adopts AI Act, marking a ‘new era’ for artificial intelligence

13 March 2024 @ 1:13 pm

The EU has officially adopted the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) overwhelmingly endorsed the regulation on Wednesday. The law passed with 523 votes in favour, 46 against, and 49 abstentions. “Europe is NOW a global standard-setter in AI,” Thierry Breton, the bloc’s commissioner for the internal market, wrote on X. Breton’s claim was echoed across the tech world — although not always with praise. Supporters praised the act’s attempt to reduce AI risks, but critics warn that the rules will inhibit innovation. Still, both sides expect the legislation to…

arstechnica.com

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Serving the Technologist for more than a decade. IT news, reviews, and analysis.

Chrysotile asbestos finally banned in the US after decades of EPA efforts

18 March 2024 @ 10:34 pm

But, companies will have up to 12 years to phase out chrysotile asbestos.

Steam Families opens up game libraries for sharing, with a few caveats

18 March 2024 @ 10:10 pm

It's a more simple and somewhat more liberal version of "Family Sharing."

Playtron’s wildly ambitious gaming OS aims to unite stores, lure “core casuals”

18 March 2024 @ 8:36 pm

Headed by former Cyanogen CEO, it's a Linux OS that might not be fully open.

Google’s phone app no longer searches Google Maps

18 March 2024 @ 8:13 pm

Google's search-infused phone app was touted as a major feature a few years ago.

USB hubs, printers, Java, and more seemingly broken by macOS 14.4 update

18 March 2024 @ 8:06 pm

Issues seem to be related to security fixes made in Apple's latest OS.

Apple may hire Google to power new iPhone AI features using Gemini—report

18 March 2024 @ 7:56 pm

With Apple's own AI tech lagging behind, the firm looks for a fallback solution.

Fujitsu says it found malware on its corporate network, warns of possible data breach

18 March 2024 @ 7:44 pm

Company apologizes for the presence of malware on company computers.

Report: Sony stops producing PSVR2 amid “surplus” of unsold units

18 March 2024 @ 7:37 pm

Pricy tethered headset falters after the modest success of original PSVR.

Dell tells remote workers that they won’t be eligible for promotion

18 March 2024 @ 7:07 pm

Report highlights big turnaround from Dell's previous pro-WFH stance.

Tesla settles with Black worker after $3.2 million verdict in racism lawsuit

18 March 2024 @ 6:30 pm

Tesla and Owen Diaz both appealed $3.2 million verdict before deciding to settle.

gizmag.com

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odd look at news on the web

"Flying milk can" drones to start drop-delivering food in Sweden

18 March 2024 @ 8:06 pm

The Aerit Nimbi drone – which can deliver much more than just milk – along with one of its winch-lowered cartonsPeople living in part of Sweden will soon be receiving food deliveries by aerial drone. The service, which utilizes multicopters that look rather like old-timey milk transportation cans, may subsequently be introduced throughout the country and beyond.Continue ReadingCategory: Drones, TechnologyTags:

World's most portable bicycle rack takes five bikes at a time

18 March 2024 @ 5:24 pm

AHHA's Toaster bike rack is priced at US$399The Toaster is claimed to be the world's most portable bike rack and from the looks of things, that may very well be the case. It folds flat when not in use, and can accommodate up to five bikes of almost any wheel size.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: Bike Racks,

Crazy dual-drivetrain fatbike gains rear air spring for smoother riding

18 March 2024 @ 5:10 pm

Back in 2022, Canadian bike maker Biktrix launched a powerful hardtail off-road ebike that featured two drivetrains – pedal power to the right and high-power motor to the left. Now the Juggernaut XD has gone full squish for 2024.Continue ReadingCategory: Bicycles, TransportTags: ebikes, Pedal-assisted,

Plastic fantastic: Indian home integrates over 6,000 discarded toys

18 March 2024 @ 2:51 pm

Toy Storey's exterior incorporates around 6,200 discarded plastic toysIndia's Toy Storey, by Wallmakers, showcases an unorthodox approach to recycling, with the residence incorporating approximately 6,200 unwanted toys into its exterior. It also has an attractive overall form that maximizes ventilation and shade to provide a comfortable interior temperature.Continue ReadingCategory: Architecture, LifestyleTags:

Jobs and Musk smash auction records ... and the auction isn't finished yet

18 March 2024 @ 12:49 pm

As we publish this article, these two cards from technology entrepreneurs Steve Jobs and Elon Musk are now the two most expensive business cards that have ever been sold - and the auction doesn't finish until 21 March 2024 at 6 p.m. ET with extended bidding likely.The booming alternative assets market space added yet another heavyweight genre this week as the world record for a business card was smashed twice today by both Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, and the auction still has four days to run.Continue ReadingCategory: Collectibles,

Mercedes puts Apollo humanoid to work on the production line

18 March 2024 @ 12:41 pm

Humanoid robots are entering the workforce. Following in the footsteps of Figure 01 at BMW and Digit in Amazon's R&D facility, Apptronik's Apollo bot is helping skilled human workers build cars for Mercedes-Benz.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Humanoid, Apptronik,

Autonomous vortex-surfing cargo gliders promise 65% cheaper air freight

18 March 2024 @ 8:23 am

Aerolane's prototype cargo gliders both still have engines and propellers installed at this point, but have a custom autopilot system designed to surf the lead plane's wake vortex for maximum efficiencyA West Texas company says it's found a remarkably simple way to slash air cargo costs as much as 65% – by having planes tow autonomous, cargo-carrying gliders behind them, big enough to double, or potentially triple their payload capacity.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, Transport

Genetic variants link meat consumption to increased bowel cancer risk

18 March 2024 @ 8:15 am

Genetic variants have been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer in people who eat a lot of red and processed meatAware of the link between eating red and processed meat and the incidence of colorectal cancer but not the biological basis for it, researchers have now identified two genetic markers that may explain it. Understanding the disease process and the genes underlying it can help develop better prevention strategies.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbeing,

Hold on: World's fastest AI chip will massively accelerate AI progress

18 March 2024 @ 6:15 am

The Wafer Scale Engine (WSE-3) is the world's fastest AI chipWhether you see AI as an incredible tool with massive benefits or a societal ill that only benefits massive tools, a powerful new chip can train them faster than ever. Cerebras Systems has unveiled the world’s fastest AI chip – the Wafer Scale Engine 3 (WSE-3), which powers the Cerebras CS-3 AI supercomputer with a peak performance of 125 petaFLOPS. And it’s scalable to an insane degree.Continue ReadingCategory: Computers,

World's largest aircraft delivers colossal cargo to makeshift airstrips

18 March 2024 @ 5:39 am

The Radia Windrunner offers a cargo volume seven times larger than the mighty AntonovThe 108-m (356-ft) long Radia Windrunner is designed to transport cargo too big for the road, to short, semi-prepared airstrips on rough terrain. It would dwarf the majestic 84-m (275-ft) long Antonov An-225 Mriya, which is sadly no longer with us.Continue ReadingCategory: Aircraft, TransportTags: World's

superuser.com

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Super User is a Q&A site for computer enthusiasts that’s free. Free to ask questions, free to answer questions, free to read, free to index

Check string from cell for match with any string from range, return corresponding value from different range

18 March 2024 @ 11:52 pm

Cell A1 contains a long text string. Cells B1:B6 contain various shorter text strings. Cells C1:C6 contain values. I want to search the string in cell A1 for partial matches in any of the strings from range B1:B6, and for all such partial matches, return the corresponding value from range C1:C6. =FILTER(C1:C6,ISNUMBER(SEARCH(A1,B1:B6))) returns the appropriate value(s) when one or more strings in range B1:B6 matches the string in cell A1 exactly, but returns no value in the case of a partial match. =FILTER(C1:C6,ISNUMBER(SEARCH(A1,"*"&B1:B6&"*"))) yields the same result. Any tips on where to go from here would be appreciated.

Why can't `scp` be found even though it is installed?

18 March 2024 @ 9:42 pm

I ran the command below. $ scp -i <key> -P <port> <user>@<host>:<path> . bash: scp: command not found So I checked $ which scp /usr/bin/scp Then I tried /usr/bin/scp -i <key> -P <port> <user>@<host>:<path> . bash: scp: command not found I tried $ scp usage: scp [-346ABCOpqRrsTv] [-c cipher] [-D sftp_server_path] [-F ssh_config] [-i identity_file] [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option] [-P port] [-S program] source ... target $ /usr/bin/scp usage: scp [-346ABCOpqRrsTv] [-c cipher] [-D sftp_server_path] [-F ssh_config] [-i identity_file] [-J destination] [-l limit] [-o ssh_option] [-P port] [-S program] source ... target So as far as I can tell, the program is installed on the $PATH running I al

How to start an Android app in a resizable window with the freeform intent flag? [closed]

18 March 2024 @ 9:01 pm

I want to know how to start any app (and Discreet Launcher, an Android home screen launcher, to view my favourites) in a resizable window (freeform activity). I have MacroDroid, thinking of using an activity manager (shell command) intent to do it in that automation app, when I do a device action for the automation macro. I am asking this on the Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange, can only post every 40 minutes.

Windows 11 turns screen off instead of going into hibernate

18 March 2024 @ 8:06 pm

Problem description I've just freshly built a new PC and installed a fresh Windows 11. However I've the problem that when I want it to go into hibernate, it instead keeps everything on (fans, pump, rgb on keyboard, speaker, mouse, mainboard), except for the screen, which will go into power saving mode. When I move the mouse, or press a button on the keyboard, it will instantly greet me with the lock screen. I tried everything I could come up with and find on the internet. However I'm unable to find the reason why it is not working. Any help is greatly appreciated! What the reports show This is from the event log from the Kernel-Power source: An attempt was made by a process in user mode to change the system state by calling the SetSuspendState or SetSystemPowerState API. The system session has changed from 0 to 1. Cause: ScreenOffGracePeriod BootId: 13 The system session has changed from 1 to 2. Cause: S

Best way to define a 2D lookup in excel using lambdas?

18 March 2024 @ 7:11 pm

I'm surprised that Excel still doesn't have a simple function 2D_LOOKUP(array, row, col). For instance, I have a complicated excel sheet I'm managing and I frequently want to pull the value for a given parameter on a given date. As a specific example, I want to turn: Date1 Date2 Date3 Date4 Row1 A B C D Row2 E F G H Row3 I J K L And call 2D_LOOKUP(Array, Row2, Date2) and get back F. However, thanks to lambda I can now define such a function. There are various ways to do it - using XLOOKUP, using INDEX and MATCH, using VLOOKUP etc.

How to use excel lambdas and/or array formulas to generate the cross-product of two arrays?

18 March 2024 @ 7:00 pm

As a late entrant to using lambdas with excel, I"m extremely excited to see how they can simplify my company's sheets. One area we would love to see simplified: we have a list of values that look like: Sites Values Site1 Value1 Site2 Value2 Site3 Value3 Site4 Site5 I would love to have some excel code that, regardless of how many sites and values there are, would be able to generate a cross-product table, eg. Site Value Site 1 Value 1 Site 1 Value 2 Site 1 Value 3 Site 1

What does the wakeup tab actually do on Powertop in Linux?

18 March 2024 @ 4:44 pm

What does the wakeup tab actually do on Powertop in Linux? I tried experimenting a bit with alternating the states, between enabled and disabled, and couldn't figure it out. enter image description here

How to list and disable all uneeded devices on a linux laptop? [closed]

18 March 2024 @ 4:29 pm

I'm on a quest to decrease my laptop's power consumption So here's what I do to reduce power consumption. Can be an useful guide for a while, if someone finds this. Questions at the end. a) decrease cpu frequency: install and run auto-cpufreq as a service b) check the list of all loaded services and stop unnecessary ones: sudo systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running c) sets all tunable options to their GOOD setting: sudo powertop --auto-tune (this can be annoying as it will suspend some devices until woken up. like for example a mouse will become laggy. individual options can be reverted) d) basic stuff: decrease brightness and frequency of screen or keyboard. disable and dont use audio, bluetooth or anything unnecessary. actually disable anything you can in the motherboard firmware. this can be something silly like a COM serial p

May the youyeetooX1 bios, support any M.2 to SATA3.0 conversion card?

18 March 2024 @ 3:49 pm

Using a M.2 to SATA3.0 conversion card (JMB585 or ASM1166 based) would allow to build a NAS from a youyeetoo X1 motherboard. Did any one manage to do that and would you know if it might be possible, possibly by setting bios options ? For now a SATA drive simply plugged with such a card seems not recognised at startup by the bios of the youyeetoo X1.

WiFi Adapter Not Found - Acer Laptop Ubuntu 22.04

17 March 2024 @ 11:24 pm

I have an Aspire 3690-3970 laptop and I’m trying to get internet access. I’m getting the following msg: WiFi Adapter Not Found - Acer Laptop Ubuntu 22.04. How do I enable or get a Wifi Adapter for my laptop? 05:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4311 802.11b/g WLAN (rev 01) 06:01.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02) System information: Device Name candice-Aspire-3690 Memory 2.0 GiB Processor Intel® Celeron(R) M CPU 520 @ 1.60GHz Graphics Intel® 945GM Disk Capacity 80.0 GB OS Name Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS OS Type 64-bit GNOME Version 42.5 Windowing System Wayland

codinghorror.com

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Programming and human factors

I Fight For The Users

30 November 2023 @ 8:11 pm

If you haven't been able to keep up with my blistering pace of one blog post per year, I don't blame you. There's a lot going on right now. It's a busy time. But let's pause and take a moment

The 2030 Self-Driving Car Bet

4 March 2022 @ 6:53 pm

It's my honor to announce that John Carmack and I have initiated a friendly bet of $10,000* to the 501(c)(3) charity of the winner’s choice:By January 1st, 2030, completely autonomous self-driving cars meeting SAE J3016 level 5 will be commercially available for

Updating The Single Most Influential Book of the BASIC Era

31 December 2021 @ 11:49 pm

In a way, these two books are responsible for my entire professional career.With early computers, you didn't boot up to a fancy schmancy desktop, or a screen full of apps you could easily poke and prod with your finger. No, those computers booted up to the command

Building a PC, Part IX: Downsizing

19 April 2020 @ 11:56 pm

Hard to believe that I've had the same PC case since 2011, and my last serious upgrade was in 2015. I guess that's yet another sign that the PC is over, because PC upgrades have gotten really boring. It took 5 years for me to muster

The Rise of the Electric Scooter

12 September 2019 @ 7:24 am

In an electric car, the (enormous) battery is a major part of the price. If electric car prices are decreasing, battery costs must be decreasing, because it's not like the cost of fabricating rubber, aluminum, glass, and steel into car shapes can decline that much, right? ev-battery-costs On an

Electric Geek Transportation Systems

20 August 2019 @ 11:35 am

I've never thought of myself as a "car person". The last new car I bought (and in fact, now that I think about it, the first new car I ever bought) was the quirky 1998 Ford Contour SVT. Since then we bought a VW station wagon

An Exercise Program for the Fat Web

30 May 2019 @ 11:04 am

When I wrote about App-pocalypse Now in 2014, I implied the future still belonged to the web. And it does. But it's also true that the web has changed a lot in the last 10 years, much less the last 20 or 30. fat city Websites have gotten a lot

The Cloud Is Just Someone Else's Computer

17 February 2019 @ 2:15 am

When we started Discourse in 2013, our server requirements were high: 1GB RAM modern, fast dual core CPU speedy solid state drive with 20+ GB I'm not talking about a cheapo shared cpanel server, either, I mean a dedicated virtual private server with those specifications. We were OK

What does Stack Overflow want to be when it grows up?

22 October 2018 @ 10:52 am

I sometimes get asked by regular people in the actual real world what it is that I do for a living, and here's my 15 second answer: We built a sort of Wikipedia website for computer programmers to post questions and answers. It's called Stack Overflow

There is no longer any such thing as Computer Security

21 September 2018 @ 9:50 am

Remember "cybersecurity"? its-cybersecurity-yay Mysterious hooded computer guys doing mysterious hooded computer guy .. things! Who knows what kind of naughty digital mischief they might be up to? Unfortunately, we now live in a world where this kind of digital mischief is literally rewriting the world's history. For proof

gizmodo.com

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Gadgets and hardware gossip mainly written by SJWs.

The huffingtonpost of tech.