arstechnica.com

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

The Delta IV Heavy, a rocket whose time has come and gone, will fly once more

27 March 2024 @ 11:15 pm

The final Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch Thursday, weather permitting.

Thousands of servers hacked in ongoing attack targeting Ray AI framework

27 March 2024 @ 10:40 pm

Researchers say it's the first known in-the-wild attack targeting AI workloads.

Quantum computing progress: Higher temps, better error correction

27 March 2024 @ 10:24 pm

Amazon, IBM, and traditional silicon makers all working toward error correction.

Oregon governor signs nation’s first right-to-repair bill that bans parts pairing

27 March 2024 @ 9:57 pm

Starting in 2025, devices can't block repair parts with software pairing checks.

Puerto Rico declares public health emergency as dengue cases rise

27 March 2024 @ 9:24 pm

Cases so far are up 140 percent compared to this point last year.

Starlink mobile plans hit snag as FCC dismisses SpaceX spectrum application

27 March 2024 @ 9:10 pm

SpaceX application tossed but firm will get another shot in spectrum rulemaking.

Event Horizon Telescope captures stunning new image of Milky Way’s black hole

27 March 2024 @ 8:55 pm

There are also hints of an elusive high-energy jet, similar to larger M87* black hole.

Facebook secretly spied on Snapchat usage to confuse advertisers, court docs say

27 March 2024 @ 8:25 pm

Zuckerberg told execs to “figure out” how to spy on encrypted Snapchat traffic.

Canva’s Affinity acquisition is a non-subscription-based weapon against Adobe

27 March 2024 @ 7:27 pm

But what will result from the companies' opposing views on generative AI?

Intel, Microsoft discuss plans to run Copilot locally on PCs instead of in the cloud

27 March 2024 @ 6:45 pm

Companies are trying to make the "AI PC" happen with new silicon and software.

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

Engadget

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Gadget news and reviews

Anti-trans hate is ‘widespread’ on Facebook, Instagram and Threads, report warns

27 March 2024 @ 9:55 pm

Meta is failing to enforce its own rules against anti-trans hate speech on its platform, a new report from GLAAD warns. The LGBTQ advocacy group found that “extreme anti-trans hate content remains widespread across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.” The report documents dozens of examples of hate speech from Meta’s apps, which GLAAD says were reported to the company between June 2023 and March 2024. But though the posts appeared to be clear violations of the company’s policies, “Meta either replied that posts were not violative or simply did not take action on them,” GLAAD says.

Israel’s military reportedly used Google Photos to identify civilians in Gaza

27 March 2024 @ 8:33 pm

The New York Times reports that Israel’s military intelligence has been using an experimental facial recognition program in Gaza that’s misidentified Palestinian civilians as having ties to Hamas. Google Photos allegedly plays a part in the chilling program’s implementation, although it appears not to be through any direct collaboration with the company. The surveillance program reportedly started as a way to search for Israeli hostages in Gaza. However, as often happens with new wartime technology, the initiative was quickly expanded t

Apple's M3 and M2 MacBook Airs have never been cheaper

27 March 2024 @ 7:51 pm

We consider Apple's newest MacBook Air to be the best laptop for most people, and it's now dropped to a new low of $999 at

Samsung Galaxy S24 phones are on sale for record-low prices at Amazon

27 March 2024 @ 7:00 pm

Samsung makes some of the best Android phones you can get right now and the latest models have dropped to all-time-low prices. If you've been waiting for a good deal on the high-end

Sega of America workers have ratified their union contract

27 March 2024 @ 6:59 pm

Workers at Sega of America, a division of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc., have officially ratified their union contract, as reported by Bloomberg. This makes it one of the first major North American video-game companies to take this step, which could bode well for future organized labor pushes in the industry. The contract was ratified after workers overwhelming

Immortals of Aveum headlines April’s PS Plus monthly games

27 March 2024 @ 6:39 pm

Sony unveiled April’s PlayStation Plus monthly games on Wednesday. The batch includes Immortals of Aveum, Minecraft Legends, Skul: The Hero Slayer and an Overwatch 2 skins-and-skips bundle. Subscribers on PS Plus’ Essential, Extra and Premium tiers can claim the titles starting Tuesday, April 2. Immortals of Aveum (PS5) showed promise, but its “first-person shooter with magic instead of guns” formula didn’t fare incredibly well commercially. The EA-published game was met with mixed reviews, and its release date — compet

Google's Circle to Search feature will soon handle language translation

27 March 2024 @ 5:48 pm

Google just announced that it’s expanding its recently-launched Circle to Search tool to include language translation, as part of an update to various core services. Circle to Search, as the name suggests, already lets some Android users research stuff by drawing a circle around an object. The forthcoming language translation component won’t even require a drawn circle. Google says people will just have to long press the home button or the navigation bar and look for the translate icon. It’ll do the rest. The company showed the tech quickly translating an entir

Hulu on Disney+ officially launches, bringing together Mickey Mouse and The Handmaid's Tale

27 March 2024 @ 3:21 pm

Disney didn't waste much absorbing Hulu into its multimedia maw. After taking full ownership of Hulu last November, the company started beta testing integration with Disney+ a month later. Today, Hulu on Disney+ is officially coming out of beta, making it easy for subscribers to access content for both services. Really, though, it's a way for Disney to push the value of its

Some of our favorite portable JBL Bluetooth speakers are up to 34 percent off

27 March 2024 @ 3:09 pm

Portable speakers can come in handy in all kinds of situations, from camping trips to simply keeping one with you as you move throughout your home (just don’t use one on public transit unless you like being hated with the fire of a thousand suns). JBL makes some of our top picks for portable Bluetooth speakers, and several models are currently on sale for up to 34 percent off. The

Marvel Rivals is a new Overwatch-like team shooter

27 March 2024 @ 3:00 pm

Marvel Games and NetEase just announced a new Overwatch-like team shooter called Marvel Rivals. As the name suggests, playable characters will be pulled from throughout the Marvel Multiverse, including members of the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men. Marvel Rivals is a third-person 6v6 team-based shooter. It’ll be free to play and it's set inside of a “continually evolving universe.” In other words, expect plenty of seasonal updates that introduce new heroes, villains, maps and challenges. As for those heroes and villains, the developers promise a “vast array” of characters to choose from, but that roster will be limited to about a dozen upon the alpha launch in May. Early testers will be able to play as Spider-Man, Black Panther, Magneto, Magik and eight or nine more unannounced characters. The developers did mention that Roc

gizmag.com

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odd look at news on the web

Emo senses your smile before it happens and responds in kind

28 March 2024 @ 8:21 am

Emo the robotic head can anticipate when a human is about to smileA robot called Emo that senses when a human is about to smile and simultaneously responds with one of its own could represent a big step towards developing robots with enhanced communication skills more conducive to building human trust, a new study suggests.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Robots,

Hair-loss treatment found in cinnamon

28 March 2024 @ 5:48 am

Cinnamic acid, a component of Chinese cinnamon, promoted hair growth in the labA component of the aromatic spice cinnamon caused hair follicles to sprout in the lab, with researchers now set on developing a novel treatment to reverse hair loss through the use of natural compounds.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Hair, Baldness,

Gravity curbside EV chargers zap 200 miles in under 15 minutes

28 March 2024 @ 4:21 am

Gravity's latest offering is a 200-kW curbside charger designed to bring fast-charging to city streetsGravity Technologies is working hard to make electric vehicle charging faster and more widely available, particularly in populous cities like its home base of New York. Just weeks removed from launching the fastest charging station in the United States, it's revealed new 200-kW curbside chargers designed to bring its world-beating fast-charging tech to the streets. The company says its latest hardware is the same size as a conventional Level 2 charger but 30 times faster – quick enough to give a substantial charge while parked for short bodega or deli stop.

Brain tumors 5x more likely when taking common contraceptives

28 March 2024 @ 4:18 am

Certain common contraceptives may increase the risk of meningioma, a benign brain tumorTaking certain common contraceptive hormones for a year or more is associated with an increased risk of developing a brain tumor that requires surgical removal, according to a new study. The findings highlight the need for women to review their contraceptive medications regularly.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags:

Stealthy Royal Navy ships will be hidden by stealthier decoy launchers

28 March 2024 @ 3:44 am

The Ancilia decoy launcherThe Royal Navy is banking a state-of-the-art launcher to protect its stealthy ships with even stealthier, hush-hush decoys. The £135 million (US$170 million) Ancilia Trainable Decoy Launcher project will counter the latest missile and drone threats.Continue ReadingCategory: Military, TechnologyTags: Royal Navy,

Hybrid underwater robot takes aim at scuba-diving tasks

27 March 2024 @ 9:53 pm

The uOne is intended to fill the gap between ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) and AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles)The uOne underwater robot may soon be taking on risky, labor-intensive tasks currently performed by human scuba divers. It boasts a unique combination of traits from two different types of undersea bots.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Autonomous,

900-lb teardrop trailer distills micro-camping down to its purest form

27 March 2024 @ 8:07 pm

The Daytripper should be better than most teardrops for sitting and enjoying scenic cup of coffee, complete with some shade overhead – the planned hitch table will make it even betterIn a world of seven-figure ultra-luxury RVs and monster truck motorhomes, vehicle camping has started to feel less like getting away from it all, more like bringing it all with you. Sometimes, you just want a simple shelter around your head while spending a night or two enjoying a reconnection with nature. And maybe shoehorning yourself into a Tesla or retreating to a lumpy, flappy ground tent isn't your speed. Enter the new Daytripper from Vistabule, an extra-tiny teardrop camper that's basically a tagalong bedroom, no

Personal 'invisibility shield' goes on sale, starting under $70

27 March 2024 @ 6:38 pm

The Invisibility Shield 2.0 is currently on KickstarterIf you've ever wished that you could turn invisible, here's your chance. A consumer "invisibility shield" has just hit Kickstarter, and it could be yours for as little as £54 (about US$68).Continue ReadingCategory: Good Thinking, LifestyleTags: Kickstarter, Invisibility,

Beyond plaques: New Alzheimer's treatment pathway discovered

27 March 2024 @ 3:46 pm

New pathways to combating and treating Alzheimer's disease are emerging as researchers look for mechanisms beyond brain plaquesResearchers have discovered that limiting a certain enzyme can have a dramatic impact in protecting against the effects of Alzheimer's disease. The finding could lead to a new class of drugs that fight the disease.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Alzheimer's Disease

Fuel-cell train travels more than 1,700 miles on one tank of hydrogen

27 March 2024 @ 1:59 pm

As testing in the US nears completion, Stadler's Flirt H2 passenger train has taken to the track to set a distance record of 2,803 km on a single tank of hydrogenA hydrogen fuel-cell passenger train developed by Swiss rail vehicle maker Stadler Rail has achieved a new Guinness World Record, traveling for almost two days around the clock for a distance of 1,741.7 miles.Continue ReadingCategory: TransportTags: Hydrogen-powered,

gizmodo.com

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Gadgets and hardware gossip mainly written by SJWs.

The huffingtonpost of tech.