Author: AI Writer

Source: UK bill could protect consumers from ‘subscription traps’ and fake reviews

Summary
UK’s Competition and Markets Authority introduced a new bill aimed at giving them the power to fine tech giants billions if they don’t comply with its rules. The bill will solve issues from fake reviews to subscription traps while promoting competition and protecting consumers.

Fact

💰 Companies that don’t abide by new rules set by the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) could be fined up to 10% of their global turnover, which for Apple could lead to a fine of $28.3 billion.

👥 UK consumers have spent £1.6 billion a year due to “subscription traps.” New rules set by the bill will demand businesses to provide clear information and notifications ahead of a subscription starting and renewing.

❌ The new rules will prohibit companies from commissioning fake reviews, posting reviews without ensuring genuineness, and from offering or advertising the creation of fake reviews.

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Source: Opera One is a browser designed for generative AI features

Summary
Opera One is an early access browser that is redesigned to allow for generative AI features. The browser has a cleaner look with open space for extensions, including AI chatbots that can be launched in a side window. Opera One also includes Tab Islands, where websites are automatically grouped by their content, reducing confusion for users.

Fact

🌐 Opera One is an early access browser for all platforms, completely redesigned with generative AI in mind and a cleaner look.

🔗 The browser has an open space for extensions and has implemented a multithreaded compositor and new modular design principles to enable features such as “tab islands.”

🗂️ Tab islands automatically group websites based on their content to make it easier for users to jump between tasks and reduce confusion.

👥 Users can manually group pages together, as well, and expect more similarly designed features in the future.

🤖 Opera One comes with AI chatbots (ChatGPT and ChatSonic) and AI Prompts enabled by default, enabling users to transform text on a page and creating quiz questions from it.

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Source: ‘Magic: The Gathering’ publisher Wizards of the Coast sent the Pinkertons after a leaker

Summary
Wizards of the Coast sent the Pinkerton security firm to recover an unreleased set of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ cards that were mistakenly sent to a YouTuber. The Youtuber had bought boxes of the old collection but received the unreleased one instead.

Fact

🃏 Wizards of the Coast released a 50-card ‘Magic: The Gathering’ supplement, ‘March of the Machine: The Aftermath’, on April 21st.

🕵️‍♂️ Private firm Pinkerton, infamous for their anti-union stance, was sent to a YouTuber’s home to recover the previously stolen drops.

🤔 The YouTuber had purchased boxes of a collector’s set of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ but had received the unreleased cards by mistake.

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Source: Critter & Guitari’s 5 Moons is a wonderfully wooden multitrack recorder

Summary
Critter & Guitari has released a multitrack recorder called 5 Moons, featuring an 8GB microSD card which can store up to 20 hours of samples, and a powerful 48KHz 16-bit sampler. The device has a distinctive visually appealing wooden enclosure and allows the user to send projects to a DAW via USB-C connection; it can handle external instruments and has an input and output audio jack.

Facts

🎛️ The 5 Moons is a powerful five-track device with the option to loop, peruse sounds, and bounce audio easily.

🎚️ The multitrack recorder has an 8GB microSD card that allows users to store up to 20 hours of samples and compositions at 48KHz-16 bit.

🔴 The device has an attractive wooden enclosure made entirely out of pine and weighs only five ounces, with a ⅛ inch monophonic input for external instruments and a ⅛ inch monophonic output for external processing or live playing.

🎧 5 Moons does not have a screen, but it has a user-friendly interface with dedicated buttons for tasks like bouncing, looping and perusing sounds.

💻 Users can send projects to a DAW via USB-C connection and easily send completed tracks back to the device for additional processing, looping and creative remixing.

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Source: Google Authenticator finally syncs one-time codes in the cloud

Summary
Google Authenticator’s latest update now automatically stores backups of one-time codes in your Google account, which eliminates the issue of losing codes if the device is lost or broken.

Fact

📱🔒 Backups of codes stored in Google account

🔑🚪 One-time codes for password-free logins

🌥️🔄 Cloud syncing across devices

💻🔐 Authenticator as an alternative to passwords

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Source: Sega of America workers are forming a union

Summary
Workers at Sega of America have formed a union called AEGIS-CWA. They hope to push for higher base pay, improved benefits, and better staffing to prevent overwork.

Fact

👥 AEGIS-CWA covers 144 workers across multiple teams at Sega of America

🎮 Multiple game worker unions have formed recently, including at Activision Blizzard and Microsoft’s ZeniMax division

📈 The union hopes to improve working conditions, job security, and pay at Sega of America

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Source: Microsoft will reportedly unbundle Teams from Office

Summary
Microsoft has agreed to unbundle Teams from Office in an attempt to avoid an EU antitrust investigation. Customers will eventually be able to buy Office with or without Teams installed, but a deal is not certain.

Fact

👀 Microsoft hopes to avoid an EU antitrust investigation by unbundling Teams from Office.

💼 Customers will have the option to buy Office with or without Teams installed.

🤝 Talks with EU regulators are ongoing, and a deal is not certain.

💬 Competitor Slack has previously complained to EU regulators about Microsoft bundling Teams with its Office suite.

💸 Microsoft is also seeking regulatory approval for its planned $69 billion purchase of game publisher Activision Blizzard.

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Source: BeReal says it has more than 20 million daily active users

Summary
BeReal, Apple’s app of the year, has launched a new feature, Bonus BeReal, which allows users to post two extra photos per day of their choice. The feature is being tested in the UK and will be available globally soon.

Fact

💻 The app sends users a notification at different times of each day.

📉 The app’s user numbers have nosedived by around 61% in recent months to under six million as the novelty factor waned and bigger rivals started to copy BeReal.

📸 Bonus BeReal allows users to post two extra snapshots per day, giving them a chance to pose for and edit their posts.

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Source: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 is cheaper than ever at Amazon

Summary
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 is now available on Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung, priced at $219 for the 40mm size, matching the all-time low earlier this year, and $249 for the 44mm size. The wearable offers ample health tracking features despite its minimalist and elegant design, and works well as a companion for Android phones.

Facts

⌚ Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is available on Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung for $219 (40mm) and $249 (44mm), a $60 discount.

📈 The Galaxy Watch 5 offers solid build, ample health tracking capabilities, and a clean design, according to Engadget review.

💤 The watch beats out Apple Watch in tracking sleep and WearOS-based devices in tracking activity.

💪🏼 The curved sensors of Watch 5 get closer to your skin, offering better body composition readings and taking EKG for better health tracking.

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Source: Kindle Scribe update lets you send documents directly from Microsoft Word

Summary
The Amazon Kindle Scribe received a software update that allows users to send documents directly from Microsoft Word to the e-reader and annotate them using its touchscreen and Scribe pen. The update also features a new contrast slider for better readability of PDFs and a multi-column layout for reading two pages at once. The bird’s eye view tool enables users to manage pages in their notebooks by viewing nine notebook pages at once.

Fact
💻 Users can now send documents from Microsoft Word to the Kindle Scribe and annotate them using the stylus
📄 The new contrast slider is designed to increase the readability of documents or physical notes added to documents via the stylus
📖 A new multi-column layout option available in landscape orientation allows users to read two pages at once
✏️ The bird’s eye view tool lets users view nine notebook pages at once to make appropriate changes to single items or entire batches.

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Source: Supreme Court will decide if government officials can block social media critics

Summary
The US Supreme Court will hear two cases regarding whether government officials violate the First Amendment free speech rights by blocking people on social media platforms. The decisions may force officials to permit critics on their social media accounts, with the caveat that harassing or threatening posts would not be allowed.

Fact

👥 Government officials may have to allow critics on their social media accounts following appeals by Christopher and Kimberly Garnier of California and Kevin Lindke of Michigan, who claimed officials violated their First Amendment free speech rights by blocking them.

🗣️ Even a personal social media account used for official activity amounts to a public space where criticism must be allowed, according to a federal appeals court, meaning officials may have to permit critical comments if the Supreme Court upholds the decision.

🏢 The federal judge sided with the Garniers, while another federal judge ruled in favor of City Manager James Freed in the case of Kevin Lindke, whose Facebook access Freed had blocked over criticism regarding the pandemic.

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Source: The best smart speakers for 2023

Summary
Smart speakers are no longer limited to just Amazon Echo and Google Home devices. With various voice assistants, including Sonos Voice Control and Apple’s Siri, improved sound quality, and multiple options at different price points, it has never been a better time to get a smart speaker.

Fact

🔊 The original Amazon Echo and Google Home devices did not sound good, but recent speakers from both companies have made massive improvements in sound quality.

🤖 Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are both well-supported options, with new features continually being added. Alexa syncs well with Google accounts, while Google Assistant offers a more seamless experience for Android users.

🎤 Sonos released its own voice assistant in 2022, voiced by Giancarlo Esposito, focused purely on music control.

🍎 Siri and Apple’s HomeKit technology doesn’t work with as many smart home devices as Google Assistant or Alexa, but Siri is capable of handling common voice queries.

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Source: The UK will spend £100 million to develop its own ‘sovereign’ AI

Summary
The UK government is investing £100 million ($124.5 million) to establish a Foundation Model Taskforce, to develop its own AI technology and make the country “globally competitive.”

Facts

💰 The UK government is investing £100 million ($124.5 million) to establish a Foundation Model Taskforce to rival AI models like ChatGPT.

👩‍💻 The AI taskforce will ideally make the country “globally competitive” and work with the industry to create safe and reliable AI systems.

🚀 The UK plans on having “sovereign” AI technology to boost the economy and create medical treatments, aid public services, and fight climate change.

🌍 This investment comes alongside roughly £900 million ($1.1 billion) in the UK budget dedicated to an exascale supercomputer and dedicated AI research resources.

💻 The UK already has a major presence in AI with Google’s DeepMind; however, the hottest systems, like ChatGPT, have been developed elsewhere.

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Source: Like it or not, a Call of Duty board game is coming in 2024

Summary
Pre-orders for Call of Duty: The Board Game will open on Kickstarter this fall. The game, a collaboration between Activision, Arcane Wonders, Genuine Entertainment, and Evolution, promises to be a fast-paced blend of combat, strategy, and tactical planning set across several maps from the Call of Duty video games.

Facts

🎲 The board game is a collaboration between Activision, Arcane Wonders, Genuine Entertainment, and Evolution.

💂‍♂️ Players will take on the guise of soldiers and battle opponents with a variety of weapons and combat skills.

🌎 The game action will occur across several maps from the Call of Duty games.

🕹️ The game will offer a number of scenarios and gameplay modes to select from.

❓More specifics about Call of Duty: The Board Game will be released in the coming months.

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Source: Gadgets that make great Mother’s Day gifts

Summary
Looking for a gadget for Mother’s Day? Ember Mug 2 will keep mom’s drink at the perfect temperature while the Apple Watch Series 8 will deliver all her texts right to her wrist. If she loves to cook, consider the Breville Control Grip immersion blender.

Fact

🍵 The Ember Mug 2 self-heating smart mug keeps beverages at the perfect temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day

⌚ The Apple Watch Series 8 helps mom stay connected while tracking her activity and offering fall and crash detection

🥄 The Breville Control Grip immersion blender comes with various attachments and 15 speed settings to help mom whip up all kinds of dishes in the kitchen

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Source: Anker Soundcore noise-canceling headphones are up to 36 percent off right now

Summary
Anker’s wireless noise-canceling headphones from its Soundcore brand are on sale with discounts up to 36 percent off regular prices, including the Soundcore Life Q30 model for just $56, Soundcore Space Q45 at $100 and the Space A40 wireless noise-canceling earphones down to $64.

Facts

🎧 Soundcore Life Q30 and Soundcore Space Q45 offer a comfortable fit with ample padding, delivering superb battery life of up to 40-50 hours and can connect two devices at once and come with a 3.5mm cable for wired listening.

🔊 Soundcore Space Q45 has an adaptive ANC mode that adjusts the ANC strength based on surroundings and supports the higher-quality LDAC audio codec and for Android users.

👂 Soundcore Space A40 earbuds can reduce noise by up to 98 percent, with up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge, along with wireless high-res audio and a feature called Hear ID Sound.

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Source: Chromebooks’ short lifespans are creating ‘piles of electronic waste’

Summary
Chromebooks purchased just three years ago are already breaking, generating electronic waste, and costing taxpayers money. Repairability due to lack of parts and high costs may make schools reconsider Chromebooks as a cost-saving strategy. Built-in software expiration dates are also a challenge for schools to resell their devices. The US Public Interest Research Group recommends Google to eliminate update expiration, production of 10% overstock replacement parts, consumers allowing alternative operating systems like Linux.

Fact

💻 Chromebooks have built-in software expiration dates, after which they no longer receive updates and can’t access secure websites.

🏫 Chromebooks may not be a cost-saving strategy for schools, as repairability is a key issue due to the lack of availability of parts and high repair costs.

🗑️ Chromebooks are generating electronic waste as their short lifespan means they have to be replaced more frequently, costing taxpayers money.

🌍 Doubling the lifespan of Chromebooks sold in 2020 could cut emissions by 4.6 million tons of CO2e, equivalent to taking 900,000 cars off the road for a year.

🤝 The US Public Interest Research Group recommends Google eliminate update expiration, increase production of standardised, overstocked parts and allow consumers to install alternative operating systems like Linux.

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Source: Twitter adds blue checks to accounts of dead celebrities

Summary
Twitter has begun verifying the accounts of users with more than one million followers and celebrity users such as Neil Gaiman, Ron Perlman, and MIT, just days after winding down their old verification system. It appears that Twitter has re-verified a number of accounts, including those of deceased celebrities, due to subscription to Twitter Blue.

Fact

🔵 Twitter is once again verifying users, and some have received verification without paying for Twitter Blue.

🔵 Among the re-verified accounts are Neil Gaiman, Ron Perlman, MIT, and Twitter comic dril.

🔵 Accounts belonging to deceased celebrities, such as Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, and Anthony Bourdain, were also reverified over the weekend.

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Source: NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is leaving Comcast over ‘inappropriate conduct’

Summary
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell resigns from Comcast company following a complaint of inappropriate behavior with a colleague. Shell apologizes to his colleagues after making regretful decisions.

Fact

💼 Jeff Shell is leaving Comcast after allegations of inappropriate behavior.

💔 Shell had a relationship with someone within the company.

💻 During his tenure, Shell launched Peacock, but couldn’t make it profitable.

💰 In Q4 of 2022, Comcast lost nearly $1 billion operating Peacock amid adding five million paying subscribers.

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Source: Yelp’s latest update includes AI suggestions, new review options and more

Summary
Yelp has introduced a variety of updates including AI and natural language models to enhance its search options. It has also added a “Surprise Me” button for people unsure of what they want to eat which suggests well-rated restaurants in their area, and enabled its Connect marketing programme to include videos. Yelp has also refreshed homepage and navigation pages to make them more user friendly, and provided a password-free login option.

Fact

👩‍💻 Yelp is using AI and natural language models to better its search features and provide helpful reviews with extra information.

🍽️ The site’s new “Surprise Me” feature recommends popular restaurants in a user’s area if they are undecided on what to eat.

💰 Customers who use Yelp’s new Request A Quote service can find businesses backed by the Yelp Guaranteed protection, which will reimburse clients up to $2,500 for issues faced with a hired service.

📝 Yelp is emphasising to users the importance of covering food, service and atmosphere in any review they post on the site.

👀 Fresh looks include easier access to menus and ratings via Yelp’s homepage and navigation pages, and automatic secure logins.

  

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