An iPhone to HDMI adapter was discovered that, when plugged in, runs a program prompting users to download an app. This EZ Cast app collects extensive personal data and sends it to China for ad targeting. It requires location access, photos, and installs tracking cookies. The adapter appears designed to mimic official Apple...
Sridhar Ramaswamy, former CEO of the privacy-focused search engine Neeva, believes the window for AI systems to truly disrupt Google’s dominance in consumer search is closing following Snowflake’s acquisition of Neeva. At Snowflake, Ramaswamy sees more potential in using AI for enterprise applications and knowledge...
For the first time, Apple discussed repairability during its iPhone launch event. An engineer mentioned the new iPhone 15 Pro models were designed with a structural frame that makes the back glass easier to replace. This comes after the iPhone 14 introduced a design that allows removal of the front or back. Repair advocates...
Also starting next spring, the Al Companion will give "real-time feedback’ on people’s presence in meetings plus coaching on their conversational and presentation skills.
[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]
Fwiw I’ve had small interactions with dessalines on issue reports and didn’t get great vibes and have stopped filing frontend issues. Nothing huge just didn’t get the sense I was welcome here.
Google and Nvidia are offering all Chromebook owners a free 3-month subscription to GeForce Now, Nvidia’s cloud gaming service, without needing a credit card. Those who bought a gaming Chromebook get the higher-tier Ultimate subscription allowing 1440p resolution and 120fps streaming. The free trial allows users to experience...
A lawsuit was filed against Reddit alleging that the company fired an employee with anxiety for taking medical leave. The employee, Jamie Lee, had worked at Reddit as an accountant for over 4 years with positive reviews. In July 2022, Lee requested 3 days off for her health but was denied. She was later placed on medical leave...
The organization that represents Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s works has petitioned the U.S. government to restrict the right to repair a religious artifact called an E-Meter. This device is core to Scientology practices but the group argues exemptions allowing device hacking should not apply to equipment restricted to...
Many mushroom identification and foraging books being sold on Amazon are likely generated by AI with no human authorship. These books could provide dangerous misinformation and potentially lead to deaths if people eat poisonous mushrooms based on the AI’s inaccurate descriptions. Two New York mushroom societies have warned...
Google has developed a tool called SynthID that can watermark AI-generated images in a way that is imperceptible to humans but detectable by AI. The watermark is embedded in pixel values without noticeably changing the image. SynthID is being launched for use with Google Cloud’s image generator to verify original photos. While...
Another new Meet feature lets Duet “attend” a meeting on your behalf. On a meeting invite, you can click an “attend for me” button, and Google can auto-generate some text about what you might want to discuss. Those notes will be viewable to attendees during the meeting so that they can discuss them.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told employees that those who do not want to return to the office at least three days a week should consider finding employment elsewhere. According to a recording obtained by Insider, Jassy stated “It’s past the time to disagree and commit,” adding that if employees cannot commit to the new...
The article discusses expectations for smart home announcements at the upcoming IFA tech show in Berlin. While companies may unveil new smart speakers, cameras and robot vacuums, the smart home remains fragmented as the Matter interoperability standard has yet to fully deliver on integrating devices. The author argues the...
Microsoft has integrated Microsoft Teams with the Xbox Game Bar, allowing users to stream their gameplay in real-time to friends over Teams video calls. Up to 20 people can join a call to watch and chat together while gaming. The viewer can see both the game and overlaid video of friends. However, streaming performance is...
The author was blocked from accessing a work website due to issues with Cloudflare’s browser integrity checks. Despite having credentials to prove his identity, an attempt to bypass the checks by disabling fingerprinting in Firefox resulted in Cloudflare blocking all access. He could still access the site on Chrome, showing...
YouTube is changing the homepage experience for users who have their watch history turned off. They will now see an almost blank homepage with just a search bar and buttons for Shorts, Subscriptions and Library. This is intended to make it clear that personalized recommendations rely on watch history data. The new design aims to...
LK-99 has been touted as a potential room-temperature superconductor that could revolutionize fields like energy and transportation. However, many experts are skeptical as the initial research papers have not been peer-reviewed and contain inconsistencies and imprecisions. Early attempts to replicate LK-99 have had mixed...
The city of Bountiful, Utah voted to build a $48 million fiber network to provide affordable gigabit broadband for its residents and businesses. Regional internet providers Comcast and CenturyLink opposed the plan and tried to force a public vote through a taxpayer group they fund. However, communities often build their own...
The proposed Digital Consumer Protection Commission Act by Senators Warren and Graham seeks to create a new federal commission to regulate large tech platforms. However, the bill contains many problematic provisions that threaten free speech and internet freedom. It would require platforms to reveal content moderation policies,...
Greg Rutkowski, a digital artist known for his surreal style, opposes AI art but his name and style have been frequently used by AI art generators without his consent. In response, Stable Diffusion removed his work from their dataset in version 2.0. However, the community has now created a tool to emulate Rutkowski’s style...
Re: Stolen. Not stolen comments Copyright law as interpreted judges is still being worked out on AI. Stay tuned if it’s defined as stolen or not. But even if the courts decide existing copyright law would define training on artists work as legitimate use. The law can change and it still could swing the way of the artist if congress got involved.
My personal opinion, which may not reflect what happens legally is I hope we all get more control over our data and how it’s used and sold. Wether that’s my personal data like my comments, location or my artistic data like my paintings. I think that would be a better world
“Is copyright infringement theft” is something that had been debated for as long as mp3s were a thing. This is an old argument with lots of material on both sides scattered across the web. I clearly fall on the side of copyright infringement is theft and theft is stealing.
😀 just want to note theres a call out to this debate in the Wikipedia page on copyright infringement. I promise I didn’t add that paragraph there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement
Meta conducted an experiment where thousands of users were shown chronological feeds on Facebook and Instagram for three months. Users of the chronological feeds engaged less with the platforms and were more likely to use competitors like YouTube and TikTok. This suggests that users prefer algorithmically ranked feeds that show...
Worldcoin’s plan to collect biometric data from poor people to bootstrap their system is unethical and raises serious privacy concerns. Their promises to protect users’ data are not enough to ensure privacy and security, and linking immutable biometric traits to financial identities could enable total identity lockout with...
Large language models like ChatGPT are reviving interest in chatbots and virtual assistants. However, chatbots have failed to gain traction in the past during the rise of both websites and apps. The key issue is that users prefer to interact with their personal virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, rather than individual...
KOSA is a bill that aims to protect children online but it would do so in harmful ways. First, it would pressure platforms to install content filters that would censor large amounts of content, including important suicide prevention and LGBTQ+ support resources. Content filters have a history of overblocking important...
another change to Twitter’s ad policy. Starting August 7th, advertisers that haven’t reached certain spending thresholds will lose their official brand account verification. According to emails obtained by the WSJ, brands need to have spent at least $1,000 on ads within the prior 30 days or $6,000 in the previous 180 days to...
Hey everyone, thank you for your patience, and thank you to everyone who engaged constructively. It is clear based on the feedback we’ve received that a bigger discussion needs to take place, and I’m not sure my personal repository is the best place to do that - we are looking for a better forum and will update when we have...
Threads, Instagram’s messaging app, has added a new Following feed that shows posts only from accounts that a user follows. This was a highly requested feature from users. To access the Following feed, users tap the home icon or Threads logo at the top of the app. However, when reopening the app, it reverts back to the default...
Apple has deployed a system called Private Access Tokens that allows web servers to verify if a device is legitimate before granting access. This works by having the browser request a signed token from Apple proving the device is approved. While this currently has limited impact due to Safari’s market share, there are concerns...
Arc, a Mac and iOS browser from The Browser Company, has officially launched after being in testing for over two years. The browser’s version number jumped to 1.0, meaning anyone can now download it from arc.net. Arc aims to be more than just a place to view webpages by offering tools for note taking, collaborative workspaces,...
another change to Twitter’s ad policy. Starting August 7th, advertisers that haven’t reached certain spending thresholds will lose their official brand account verification. According to emails obtained by the WSJ, brands need to have spent at least $1,000 on ads within the prior 30 days or $6,000 in the previous 180 days to retain the gold checkmark identifying that the account belongs to a verified brand.
Over the past one and a half years, Stack Overflow has lost around 50% of its traffic. This decline is similarly reflected in site usage, with approximately a 50% decrease in the number of questions and answers, as well as the number of votes these posts receive....
I Tested an HDMI Adapter That Demands Your Location, Browsing Data, Photos, and Spams You with Ads ( www.404media.co )
An iPhone to HDMI adapter was discovered that, when plugged in, runs a program prompting users to download an app. This EZ Cast app collects extensive personal data and sends it to China for ad targeting. It requires location access, photos, and installs tracking cookies. The adapter appears designed to mimic official Apple...
After Snowflake acquisition, former Neeva CEO says ‘window is shutting’ for AI search disruption ( venturebeat.com )
Sridhar Ramaswamy, former CEO of the privacy-focused search engine Neeva, believes the window for AI systems to truly disrupt Google’s dominance in consumer search is closing following Snowflake’s acquisition of Neeva. At Snowflake, Ramaswamy sees more potential in using AI for enterprise applications and knowledge...
Apple Discusses iPhone Repairability at Keynote for First Time in Its History ( www.404media.co )
For the first time, Apple discussed repairability during its iPhone launch event. An engineer mentioned the new iPhone 15 Pro models were designed with a structural frame that makes the back glass easier to replace. This comes after the iPhone 14 introduced a design that allows removal of the front or back. Repair advocates...
Zoom rebrands existing -- and intros new -- generative AI features ( techcrunch.com )
Also starting next spring, the Al Companion will give "real-time feedback’ on people’s presence in meetings plus coaching on their conversational and presentation skills.
[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]
Got a Chromebook? Here’s a free GeForce Now subscription [3 months] ( www.theverge.com )
Google and Nvidia are offering all Chromebook owners a free 3-month subscription to GeForce Now, Nvidia’s cloud gaming service, without needing a credit card. Those who bought a gaming Chromebook get the higher-tier Ultimate subscription allowing 1440p resolution and 120fps streaming. The free trial allows users to experience...
Lawsuit Alleges Reddit Fired Employee for Taking Medical Leave, ‘Toxic’ Culture ( www.404media.co )
A lawsuit was filed against Reddit alleging that the company fired an employee with anxiety for taking medical leave. The employee, Jamie Lee, had worked at Reddit as an accountant for over 4 years with positive reviews. In July 2022, Lee requested 3 days off for her health but was denied. She was later placed on medical leave...
Scientologists Ask Federal Government to Restrict Right to Repair ( www.404media.co )
The organization that represents Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s works has petitioned the U.S. government to restrict the right to repair a religious artifact called an E-Meter. This device is core to Scientology practices but the group argues exemptions allowing device hacking should not apply to equipment restricted to...
‘Life or Death:’ AI-Generated Mushroom Foraging Books Are All Over Amazon ( www.404media.co )
Many mushroom identification and foraging books being sold on Amazon are likely generated by AI with no human authorship. These books could provide dangerous misinformation and potentially lead to deaths if people eat poisonous mushrooms based on the AI’s inaccurate descriptions. Two New York mushroom societies have warned...
The SynthID watermark from Google DeepMind can detect AI-generated images - The Verge ( www.theverge.com )
Google has developed a tool called SynthID that can watermark AI-generated images in a way that is imperceptible to humans but detectable by AI. The watermark is embedded in pixel values without noticeably changing the image. SynthID is being launched for use with Google Cloud’s image generator to verify original photos. While...
Duet AI for Google Meet can take notes, summarize, and even attend meetings - The Verge ( www.theverge.com )
Another new Meet feature lets Duet “attend” a meeting on your behalf. On a meeting invite, you can click an “attend for me” button, and Google can auto-generate some text about what you might want to discuss. Those notes will be viewable to attendees during the meeting so that they can discuss them.
Amazon CEO reportedly told remote employees: ‘It’s probably not going to work out’ - The Verge ( www.theverge.com )
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told employees that those who do not want to return to the office at least three days a week should consider finding employment elsewhere. According to a recording obtained by Insider, Jassy stated “It’s past the time to disagree and commit,” adding that if employees cannot commit to the new...
What’s the Matter with the smart home? ( www.theverge.com )
The article discusses expectations for smart home announcements at the upcoming IFA tech show in Berlin. While companies may unveil new smart speakers, cameras and robot vacuums, the smart home remains fragmented as the Matter interoperability standard has yet to fully deliver on integrating devices. The author argues the...
Microsoft Teams is now part of the Xbox Game Bar so you can stream gameplay to friends - The Verge ( www.theverge.com )
Microsoft has integrated Microsoft Teams with the Xbox Game Bar, allowing users to stream their gameplay in real-time to friends over Teams video calls. Up to 20 people can join a call to watch and chat together while gaming. The viewer can see both the game and overlaid video of friends. However, streaming performance is...
Twitter's short link service, t.co, is adding a five-second delay to some domains. Like threads.net ( news.ycombinator.com )
29 Best Retro Handhelds Of 2023 [All Reviewed] ( retrododo.com )
Do you have one of these? Do you use it? I want one but I’m afraid it’s going to end up another plastic brick in a drawer.
Blocked by Cloudflare ( jrhawley.ca )
The author was blocked from accessing a work website due to issues with Cloudflare’s browser integrity checks. Despite having credentials to prove his identity, an attempt to bypass the checks by disabling fingerprinting in Firefox resulted in Cloudflare blocking all access. He could still access the site on Chrome, showing...
YouTube will now show a blank homepage if you don’t have watch history on ( www.theverge.com )
YouTube is changing the homepage experience for users who have their watch history turned off. They will now see an almost blank homepage with just a search bar and buttons for Shorts, Subscriptions and Library. This is intended to make it clear that personalized recommendations rely on watch history data. The new design aims to...
The LK-99 “superconductor” went viral — here’s what the experts think ( www.theverge.com )
LK-99 has been touted as a potential room-temperature superconductor that could revolutionize fields like energy and transportation. However, many experts are skeptical as the initial research papers have not been peer-reviewed and contain inconsistencies and imprecisions. Early attempts to replicate LK-99 have had mixed...
Comcast, Centurylink Fail To Derail Community-Owned Gigabit Fiber Network In Bountiful, Utah ( www.techdirt.com )
The city of Bountiful, Utah voted to build a $48 million fiber network to provide affordable gigabit broadband for its residents and businesses. Regional internet providers Comcast and CenturyLink opposed the plan and tried to force a public vote through a taxpayer group they fund. However, communities often build their own...
A list of recent hostile moves by #Google's #Chrome team (Jeff Fortin T. (@nekohayo@mastodon.social)) ( mastodon.social )
A list of recent hostile moves by #Google's #Chrome team;...
[It is LIVE!] Sync for Lemmy - Apps on Google Play ( play.google.com )
Senators Warren & Graham Want To Create New Online Speech Police Commission ( www.techdirt.com )
The proposed Digital Consumer Protection Commission Act by Senators Warren and Graham seeks to create a new federal commission to regulate large tech platforms. However, the bill contains many problematic provisions that threaten free speech and internet freedom. It would require platforms to reveal content moderation policies,...
How to Move from Mastodon to Firefish ( wedistribute.org )
Greg Rutkowski Was Removed From Stable Diffusion, But AI Artists Brought Him Back - Decrypt ( decrypt.co )
Greg Rutkowski, a digital artist known for his surreal style, opposes AI art but his name and style have been frequently used by AI art generators without his consent. In response, Stable Diffusion removed his work from their dataset in version 2.0. However, the community has now created a tool to emulate Rutkowski’s style...
Pet peeve, games that won't let you save
I wish all games would just let you save whenever you want to! Why is using checkpoints and auto saves so common?...
Meta Just Proved People Hate Chronological Feeds ( www.wired.com )
Meta conducted an experiment where thousands of users were shown chronological feeds on Facebook and Instagram for three months. Users of the chronological feeds engaged less with the platforms and were more likely to use competitors like YouTube and TikTok. This suggests that users prefer algorithmically ranked feeds that show...
Worldcoin isn’t as bad as it sounds: It’s worse ( blockworks.co )
Worldcoin’s plan to collect biometric data from poor people to bootstrap their system is unethical and raises serious privacy concerns. Their promises to protect users’ data are not enough to ensure privacy and security, and linking immutable biometric traits to financial identities could enable total identity lockout with...
mastodon.art defederating calckey firefish social. Cites behavior of lead project dev ( dotart.blog )
cross-posted from: beehaw.org/post/6853479...
Why Chatbots Fail to Replace Human Interaction ( lucas-mcgregor.medium.com )
Large language models like ChatGPT are reviving interest in chatbots and virtual assistants. However, chatbots have failed to gain traction in the past during the rise of both websites and apps. The key issue is that users prefer to interact with their personal virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, rather than individual...
Credential Manager beta: easy & secure authentication with passkeys on Android - Android Developers Blog ( android-developers.googleblog.com )
Stop KOSA. Why the KOSA Bill is Dangerous and Should be Rejected ( www.stopkosa.com )
KOSA is a bill that aims to protect children online but it would do so in harmful ways. First, it would pressure platforms to install content filters that would censor large amounts of content, including important suicide prevention and LGBTQ+ support resources. Content filters have a history of overblocking important...
Brands that don’t buy enough Twitter ads will lose verification ( www.theverge.com )
another change to Twitter’s ad policy. Starting August 7th, advertisers that haven’t reached certain spending thresholds will lose their official brand account verification. According to emails obtained by the WSJ, brands need to have spent at least $1,000 on ads within the prior 30 days or $6,000 in the previous 180 days to...
Google employee responds to all the negative feedback WEI, (google drm the web) ( github.com )
Hey everyone, thank you for your patience, and thank you to everyone who engaged constructively. It is clear based on the feedback we’ve received that a bigger discussion needs to take place, and I’m not sure my personal repository is the best place to do that - we are looking for a better forum and will update when we have...
Threads is rolling out its Following feed ( www.theverge.com )
Threads, Instagram’s messaging app, has added a new Following feed that shows posts only from accounts that a user follows. This was a highly requested feature from users. To access the Following feed, users tap the home icon or Threads logo at the top of the app. However, when reopening the app, it reverts back to the default...
Apple already shipped attestation on the web, and we barely noticed ( httptoolkit.com )
Apple has deployed a system called Private Access Tokens that allows web servers to verify if a device is legitimate before granting access. This works by having the browser request a signed token from Apple proving the device is approved. While this currently has limited impact due to Safari’s market share, there are concerns...
The excellent Arc browser is now available for anyone to download ( www.theverge.com )
Arc, a Mac and iOS browser from The Browser Company, has officially launched after being in testing for over two years. The browser’s version number jumped to 1.0, meaning anyone can now download it from arc.net. Arc aims to be more than just a place to view webpages by offering tools for note taking, collaborative workspaces,...
General Megathread for Elon Musk Nonsense and Twitter News
Hey folks -...
The Fall of Stack Overflow ( observablehq.com )
Over the past one and a half years, Stack Overflow has lost around 50% of its traffic. This decline is similarly reflected in site usage, with approximately a 50% decrease in the number of questions and answers, as well as the number of votes these posts receive....