Facebook and Instagram are currently experiencing significant issues as of Tuesday afternoon in the UK, with users unable to log in and feeds not updating. The problem was first noticed around 3:30pm GMT.
Interestingly, Google also faced login problems at the same time, indicating a potential common cause for the outage affecting these two major tech companies that manage their own infrastructure.
Meta’s status page highlighted various disruptions, including a major issue with groups’ admin center and Facebook Login, a service that enables users to sign in to third-party platforms using their Facebook credentials, causing outages on other websites.
By 4pm GMT, Meta updated its status page to show an “unknown” status for most services except the Messenger API for Instagram, while services like WhatsApp and Facebook Ads Transparency page were still operational. However, the meta status page itself stopped working at 4:15 p.m.
In a tweet, Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the ongoing issues and stated that they were working to resolve them.
Google’s ad status page confirmed an outage in its Ad Manager at 3:30pm GMT and mentioned investigating other reported issues. However, Google’s consumer services like search and YouTube were largely unaffected, although login problems did impact some corporate clients, such as the Guardian newspaper.
Systemic internet issues appear to be the underlying cause, with users of various platforms like X and Microsoft’s Teams also facing sporadic difficulties.
This outage is the first major Facebook outage of 2021, attributed to a configuration error in the BGP protocol, which inadvertently removed its address from the internet communication system between servers. Despite a swift discovery, it took several hours to implement and rectify the fix, compounded by the lack of remote access for engineers to resolve the issue.
MExperts say powerful viral clickbait has taken over Facebook and Instagram in Canada after Meta removed news from the platforms nine months ago. Now Australia could face a similar scenario online, with the company preparing to battle the Australian government over payments to news organizations.
Last week, Meta announced it would no longer make payments to Australian news publishers, prompting the Australian government to consider using its legislative powers to force the platform to negotiate payments with news publishers. Ta.
The controversy could prevent Australian news organizations from posting links to their content on Facebook or Instagram, as Meta did for six days in 2021, and as Canada has done since mid-last year. The possibility is increasing.
Experts say Canada’s ban has done little damage to the social media giants, but it has hurt the news organizations Canada most wanted to support.
In June 2023, the Canadian federal government introduced Bill C-18, which aims to increase revenue for Canadian journalism publishers by requiring Meta and Google’s parent company Alphabet to compensate publishers for hosting and linking content. (Online News Act) was passed.
Both tech companies initially balked at the prospect, but Alphabet ultimately agreed to a deal with the government in November. Under the terms of the deal, Google’s parent company will contribute C$73.6 million (A$83 million) annually to be distributed to Canadian news publishers. Experts said the deal was in part because C-18 targeted link sharing and indexing, key aspects of Alphabet’s business model.
But Mehta is resisting the law’s restrictions, arguing it is “fundamentally flawed”. In response, it blocked all news sharing on its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. Prior to the ban, Meta also announced it was ending its partnership with the Canadian Press, which had funded 30 reporting fellowships for young journalists starting in 2020.
The ban took effect in August amid the worst wildfire season in the country’s history, but lawmakers feared it would prevent Canadians from accessing the latest news in their communities and prevent evacuations. . The broadcaster denounced the move as “anti-competitive behavior” and said it violated regulations. federal law.
Mehta said in a statement at the time: “The Online News Act is based on the false premise that Meta is unfairly profiting from the news content shared on our platforms, when the opposite is true. We voluntarily share content on Facebook and Instagram to help grow our audience and generate revenue.”
Non-news content created by viral content makers is filling the space left by news articles.
“Real Facebook without news has turned out to be more harmful than I expected,” said Jean Hughes-Roy, a journalism professor at the University of Quebec.
2022, Roy conducted a simulation He said he conducted a study on what users would see on Facebook if news was banned, but the reality of the ban was worse than the simulation predicted.
“Viral content creators take news content, make it more sensational by adding misleading information or false details, and publish it on their Facebook pages or Instagram accounts. Such content is blocked by Meta. No, but the actual news will be blocked.”
However, the move doesn’t seem to have affected how Canadians use Facebook.
The number of daily active users on Facebook and the amount of time spent on the social network have changed little since the news block began, according to figures from two digital analytics firms shared with Reuters.
Part of Meta’s argument against compensating Canadian journalistic outlets was that links to news articles accounted for less than 3% of Facebook feeds in the country. This was also the argument made regarding Australia’s decision.
Chris Waddell, of Carleton University’s School of Journalism, said Meta is increasingly wary of its position in the news industry.
“I don’t think we’ve lost any advertisers,” he says. “I don’t know if their decisions really made a difference.” [to the company].
“Meta would do that.”I like to get a break from news from other places. It’s hard to imagine that the company really wants to get dragged into the controversy surrounding the impending US election, with AI-generated fake information being posted on Facebook. It’s a real minefield for them. If they’re right, they only make 3% to 4% of their revenue from news, so I can understand why they would bail out of it. ”
News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson told reporters on Monday that Meta’s 3% claim was “obviously a fabrication and an absurd number.”
“So how much discussion is there about the news? If there is a core news, then the latest factual information on Facebook is 100% news. And these are the things Facebook focuses on. We should also focus on our responsibilities to all Australians.”
Most large publications are finding new ways to redirect users to their sites. But Facebook’s refusal to allow links to be shared on its platform has a huge impact on small publishers.
Eden Fineday, publisher of Indige News, an Indigenous-led online journalism outlet, said traffic on the site has fallen by 43% since the ban.
“Facebook is a very indigenous platform,” Fineday told the Toronto Star. “This is a place where a lot of Indigenous communities connect with each other. So it hurts us. Indigenous people are the least considered demographic, especially by corporate America. They’re not just forgotten, they’re also more vulnerable to these changes. It’s sad that companies don’t consider who is being harmed.”
Twenty independent media outlets, including the New Brunswick Media Cooperative, have banded together to try to make up for the loss of traffic. not equipped. The purpose is both to strengthen bargaining positions and to share news more effectively with readers.
Waddell said smaller publishers must do the most to win back readers in order to survive.
“Ironically, those that have been most affected are small start-up publications and publications that have been around for some time that have used Facebook as a promotional tool to reach a wider audience.” he said.
Roy said he is concerned about what the disappearance of news from Meta’s platform would mean for Canadian democracy.
“The latest Reuters Journalism Institute Digital News Report found that 45 per cent of Canadians cite social media as a source of news, and the same percentage is true in Australia. “I’m worried” news doesn’t exist anymore. ”
IAlthough it’s far from his best album, or even the best album of the 1990s, Hours… is David Bowie’s most important album of the decade. However, it wasn’t the music’s fault, but the way it was released. The first album by an artist on the Major His label appeared as a download before it was physically released.
Rolling Stone, writing about the album in August 1999 ahead of its September release, called The Hours a “cyber coup.” This is a continuation of Bowie’s enthusiasm for releasing music online, which began with his 1996 single ‘Telling Lies’. He was also very active. He embraced webcasting and in 1998 he founded his own internet service provider with BowieNet. “I couldn’t be happier with the opportunity to bring the music industry closer to making digital downloads the norm rather than the exception,” he says. How did Bowie explain the release of “Hours…” at the time? “We all know that broadband opportunities are still not available to the overwhelming majority of people, so we hope that the success of this experiment will be measured in hundreds of downloads, not thousands. But just as color television broadcasts and film content on home videotape were necessary first steps to expand the industry’s consumer use, I believe this small step will help my own and others’ We hope this will lead to a huge leap forward for people and ultimately give consumers more choice and easier choice, allowing them to access the music they enjoy.”
The strangeness of cyberspace… David Bowie’s artwork for The Hours…
In early 1998, Virgin Records/EMI made Massive Attack’s Mezzanine available for streaming in its entirety online, with track-by-track previews available over several weeks, in conjunction with its physical release. At the time, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) warned against this, suggesting that streaming experiments could increase the likelihood of albums being pirated and burned onto CDs by tech-savvy individuals. This did not stop other major labels and their label acts from experimenting from time to time. Def Leppard and Red Hot Chili Peppers made their latest albums, Euphoria and Californication, respectively, available for streaming in full on June 4, 1999, four days before the records hit stores. Bob Merlis of the Chili Peppers’ label, Warner Bros., said, “Getting airplay is getting airplay. You just have to define the atmosphere.” “Since I can’t download it, I thought this was a good idea.”
But Bowie’s album release was designed to be a huge step forward. In 1999 he Interview by Jeremy Paxman He appeared on BBC Newsnight to talk about his career, art and what gives him the most energy – the internet. This 16-minute interview is still published on the BBC website, especially since Bowie’s death in January 2016, as evidence of his remarkable foresight regarding the impact of the internet on art, politics and society. Shared frequently. “I don’t think we’ve even seen the tip of the iceberg,” he told the weary and cynical Paxman. “I think the possibilities that the Internet brings to society are unimaginable, for better or worse. I think we are actually on the cusp of something both exhilarating and frightening.” Paxman says in his own words. suggested that it was just a “tool” that inspired Bowie to take action. “No, it’s not,” he said. “No, it’s an extraterrestrial!”
London-based tech company Nothing’s latest Android is aiming to disrupt the budget phone market with something more intriguing.
Priced at £319 (€329/AU$529), the Phone 2a by Nothing seeks to capture the cool design and appeal of its high-end models and deliver it in a more affordable and fresh package, complementing the £579 Phone 2.
This new model continues Nothing’s distinctive semi-transparent design, featuring a large, sleek OLED screen on the front and a translucent back that showcases unique design elements, including Nothing’s signature “glyph” LEDs.
Three LED strips on the back light up in complex patterns to match tones, alerts, or timers and charging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
While the Phone 2a opts for a plastic construction over the metal and glass of the Phone 2, the LEDs are now positioned only at the top of the phone around the central camera module. Despite this, it can display intricate patterns for ringtones and notifications, as well as other entertaining features like volume levels, charging percentage, timer, and music visualizer.
Although the phone feels smooth and well-crafted, the plastic back tends to attract dust easily and is prone to scratches.
specification
screen: 6.7 inch 120Hz FHD+ OLED (394ppi)
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro
Ram: 8GB or 12GB
storage: 128 or 256GB
operating system: None OS 2.5 (Android 14)
camera: 50MP main and ultrawide, 32MP selfie
Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, GNSS
water resistance: IP54 (splash proof)
size: 162×76.3×8.9mm
weight: 190g
Mid-range power and long battery life
Phone 2a charges to 80% in 39 minutes and fully charges in just under an hour using a 45W power adapter (sold separately). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chip, the Nothing Phone 2a delivers impressive performance for its price. The software runs smoothly and swiftly, with apps loading quickly and games running well. While it may not match the high-end phones in performance and tends to get warm during gaming, it handles most tasks competently.
The Nothing Phone 2a also boasts a solid battery life, lasting 52 hours of general use or two days between charges, including several hours of 5G usage per day. However, gaming drains the battery faster compared to its high-end counterparts, consuming about 18% per hour of gameplay.
sustainability
The ribbon and pattern visible through the plastic back adds a bit of interest along with the LEDs. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Nothing guarantees that the battery will retain at least 90% of its original capacity for a minimum of 1,000 full charge cycles. The Phone 2a is typically repairable in the UK, with screen replacements costing £70, batteries costing £36, and additional costs for labor and shipping totaling around £35.
Constructed from recycled aluminum, copper, plastic, steel, tin, and other materials, which constitute 20% of the phone’s weight, the Phone 2a generates 52kg CO2 equivalent in carbon dioxide emissions. The company also publishes a sustainability report and offers a trade-in system.
Elon Musk is currently facing a $128 million lawsuit from four former Twitter executives for allegedly not paying them severance packages after acquiring the social network. The lawsuit, filed in California on Monday, follows a previous legal complaint from rank-and-file employees seeking $500 million in unpaid severance pay.
According to the complaint, “Mr. Musk decided not to provide severance packages to the plaintiffs, so he terminated them without valid cause, invented a false cause, and enlisted employees from various companies to support his decision.”
The four individuals in the lawsuit are former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, former CFO Ned Segal, former general counsel Sean Ejit, and former CLO Vijaya Segal, as well as Mr. Gadde. Following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, he conducted a mass layoff, claiming at the time that these executives were terminated for cause and therefore not entitled to severance pay.
The lawsuit states, “The ’cause’ was not ‘a business decision approved by the board of directors that Mr. Musk disagrees with.’ In the termination letter, he accused each plaintiff of ‘gross negligence’ and ‘willful misconduct’ without providing any evidence to support this allegation.” Neither Mr. Musk nor Mr. No has commented publicly on the matter, and Alex Spiro, a lawyer who often represents Mr. Musk, has not responded to requests for comment.
This lawsuit is one of several linked to Musk’s involuntary takeover of Twitter and subsequent operation of the platform, now named X. Furthermore, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint earlier this year, alleging that Musk’s SpaceX unlawfully terminated eight employees after they criticized his leadership.
After assuming control of the company, Musk disclosed that he laid off approximately 80% of Twitter’s staff during an interview with the BBC last year. Since Musk’s acquisition, the platform has encountered numerous challenges, including a decrease in advertising revenue and a rise in hate speech as content moderation efforts were scaled back. Although Musk initially attempted to withdraw from the deal, Twitter sued to enforce its completion.
Musk attributed the decline in ad revenue to anti-hate watchdog groups that released a report detailing racist and extremist content on the platform. He is currently engaged in ongoing legal battles against two of these organizations, Media Matters and the Center for Countering Digital Hate. A California judge is expected to make a decision this week on whether to dismiss the lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
○One of the most harmful myths about digital technology is that it is somehow weightless or immaterial. Remember the early talk about “paperless” offices and “frictionless” transactions? And of course, our personal electronic devices Several Electricity is insignificant compared to a washing machine or dishwasher.
But even if you believe this comforting story, you might not survive when you come across Kate Crawford’s seminal book. Atlas of AI or impressive Structure of an AI system A graphic she created with Vladan Joler. And it definitely won’t survive a visit to the data center. One giant metal shed houses tens or even hundreds of thousands of servers, consuming large amounts of electricity and requiring large amounts of water for cooling systems.
There are currently between 9,000 and 11,000 such data centers around the world. Many of them are old-style server farms with thousands or millions of cheap PCs that store all the data our smartphone-driven world generates, including photos, documents, videos, and recordings. It’s starting to look a little outdated. In such casual abundance.
what i was reading
shabby philanthropist Read Deborah Doan’s book sharp review for alliance Tim Schwab’s critical book magazine, bill gates problem.
final write Veteran commentator Jeff Jarvis think about giving up “About old journalism and its legacy industry,” in a BuzzMachine blog post.
slim picking In his blog No Mercy/No Malice, Scott Galloway suggests that AI and weight loss drugs have a lot in common.
I
Influencers like Andrew Tate have become synonymous with “toxic masculinity,” using a combination of motivational scoldings, fast cars, and demonstrations of sexual prowess to appeal to large audiences of young men and boys. It’s attracting.
But what about the other side of the coin? Are people creating content with healthier messages for the same audience? Or maybe men and boys simply don’t want to hear it? Or?
Jago Sherman, head of strategy at Goat Agency, an influencer subsidiary of marketing giant WPP, says: -Love, self-expression, fighting knife crime, education, but they don’t always make the headlines.
“People like Andrew Tate are using social media to make far-reaching and far-reaching unsubstantiated claims, as if they are providing a ‘quick-fix’ answer to a very complex problem. The problem, of course, is that these statements are most often not true, or are opinions disguised as facts.
In a social environment where creators compete for attention, this ‘shock factor’ content that can be consumed and understood very quickly can sometimes perform better than longer, thought-provoking, neutral content.
Against this backdrop, Labor last week announced plans to promote a more positive vision of masculinity. According to the proposal, schools would develop leaders from their own students who would help counter the misogynistic vision promoted by Tate and others, as well as be more critical of what they see on screen. Students will be supported to explain their analysis skills in class.
Andrew Tate has been described as appearing to provide “off-the-cuff answers to very complex problems”. Photo: Robert Ghement/EPA
Some men who give a more positive vision of masculinity have already broken out and become famous in their own right. Fitness influencers like Joe Wicks, whose career began with his Instagram posts as The Body Coach, may not attract teenage boys with their lewd content. Simple advice delivered in a friendly, almost relentlessly cheerful manner can still garner millions of followers.
Perhaps the biggest symbol of this more assertive approach to masculinity is the philanthropic work of Russ Cook, known to many as Instagram’s biggest geek. If all goes to plan, he will complete his year-long attempt to cross the continent from tip to toe, ending in April. Mr. Cook raised around £200,000. running charity and sand blast and amassed nearly 1 million followers across his various social platforms, conclusively proving the appropriateness of his username in the process.
But there’s an asymmetry in some of the debate around toxic influencers, said Saul Parker, founder of. good side, we work with charities and brands to help them achieve their positive goals. While young women are encouraged to seek out positive role models for their own benefit, young men are often encouraged to seek out positive role models in order to treat women better. It risks ignoring the harm that harmful influencers can cause to boys and young people themselves, and undermines efforts to encourage them to find better people to learn from.
“There’s a generation of men who have been born into very difficult conversations about patriarchy and its impact on women’s lives,” Parker says. “As a result, they’re in a place where they feel like they’re third-class citizens. And accepting that young men are having a bit of a hard time and needing help is difficult, especially on the left. It’s very difficult.”
Because focusing on misogyny rather than the broader message of traditional masculine norms in which the “manosphere” thrives risks overshadowing a second generation of post-Tate pernicious influences, this is important. Through repetition, the boys learn that repeating the casual misogyny of someone like Tate in public is bad, and when asked, they say they don’t like the way he talks about women, but say, “Other things.” often insist that you just listen to him.
“David Goggins is the kind of guy we’re facing right now,” Parker said. “He’s a former Navy SEAL, he’s a huge influence on every social platform, but he and all his… The content is about ‘self-discipline’ and ‘self-motivation.’ He tells me things like ‘wake up in the morning,’ ‘go to the gym,’ ‘take a cold shower,’ and ‘be a man,’ but he never talks about women or sex.”
“Taking women out of the equation doesn’t make it any less of a problem. He just doesn’t have anything nasty to say, so it’s hard to find sharp points.”
In other words, attracting boys to a more positive vision of masculinity does not happen by default. But neither should lose hope. There is nothing inherent in childhood experiences that only stick with toxic messages, and with a little work, better role models can develop.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman for prioritizing profit over humanity’s interests, contrary to its core mission.
As the wealthiest individual globally and a founding director of the AI company behind ChatGPT, Musk alleges that Altman violated OpenAI’s founding covenant by striking an investment deal with Microsoft.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, accuses OpenAI of prioritizing profit over human well-being by shifting its focus to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for commercial gain rather than humanitarian purposes.
Musk claims that OpenAI has essentially become a subsidiary of Microsoft, the world’s largest tech company, under new leadership, diverting from its original principles outlined in the founding agreement.
The lawsuit raises concerns about AGI posing a significant threat to humanity, particularly if it falls into profit-driven companies’ hands, like Google.
Originally founded to be a nonprofit, open-source organization working for the greater good, OpenAI’s alleged transition to a profit-centric entity under Microsoft’s influence has prompted Musk to take legal action.
The lawsuit contends that the development of OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, shrouded in secrecy, deviates from their initial mission and breaches contractual obligations.
Musk, who played a significant role in establishing OpenAI but exited in 2018, claims that the company’s recent actions concerning AGI technology are in direct conflict with its intended purpose.
The lawsuit aims to compel OpenAI to adhere to its original mission of developing AGI for humanity’s benefit, not for personal gain or for tech giants like Microsoft.
The deal between OpenAI and Microsoft is now facing scrutiny from competition authorities in various regions, including the US, EU, and UK.
Cat Janis, the singer who gained fame on TikTok for dedicating her final song to her son, has passed away from cancer, as announced by her family on Wednesday.
Her family announced The news was shared on her Instagram account: “This morning, from her childhood home, surrounded by her loving family, Katherine peacefully entered the light and love of her Heavenly Creator.
“We are forever grateful for the outpouring of love that Duchess Kate and our family have received over the past few months. Kat has seen her music go places she never expected. I am resting with the peace of mind that I will continue to provide for my son through music. None of this would have been possible without your support.”
Janice had sarcoma cancer, a rare type that affects bones and soft tissues. She passed away at the age of 31.
Janice documented her cancer journey on TikTok, revealing that she discovered a lump on her neck in November 2021, which later turned out to be cancer. Despite announcing she was cancer-free in July 2022, it returned in her lungs, leading her to hospice care last month.
Proceeds from Janice’s viral song were dedicated to her son after she learned about her impending death.
Her song “Dance You Outta My Head,” released on January 19th and dedicated to her youth, topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart and made it into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. The song garnered over 12 million streams worldwide on Spotify.
“I transferred all the rights to my songs to my son so that I could leave him something. I don’t have much,” the singer wrote in a video Posted on TikTok on January 15th, urging fans to save this song for the future.
In her final TikTok video, Janice expressed her strength and mentioned feeling trapped due to her health, looking forward to dancing with God in heaven.
NSO Group, a maker of advanced cyberweapons, has been instructed by a US court to provide WhatsApp with the code for its Pegasus and other spyware products as part of an ongoing legal battle.
The ruling, issued by Judge Phyllis Hamilton, deals a significant blow to WhatsApp, owned by Mehta, who has been in a legal dispute with NSO since 2019 over allegations that the Israeli company’s spyware targeted 1,400 WhatsApp users over a two-year period, marking a major legal victory that lasted weeks.
NSO’s Pegasus code and other surveillance product codes sold by the company are considered highly classified national secrets. NSO is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which must authorize all sales of licenses to foreign governments.
Despite NSO’s request to be exempt from the case’s discovery obligations due to US and Israeli restrictions, Judge Hamilton sided with WhatsApp. She ordered NSO to produce the spyware code and provide information on relevant spyware features used during a specified period.
However, on another issue, Hamilton ruled in favor of NSO, exempting the company from disclosing client names or server architecture details at this time.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp celebrated the court’s decision, stating that it marks a significant step in protecting users from illegal attacks by spyware companies. NSO declined to comment, and the legal battle continues.
NSO’s Pegasus software, once deployed against a target, grants unauthorized access to calls, emails, photos, location, and encrypted messages on mobile phones. The Biden administration blacklisted NSO in 2021, citing actions contrary to US foreign policy and national security interests.
NSO sells spyware to governments worldwide, claiming that the deploying agency is responsible for its use. Investigations have revealed countries like Poland, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, India, Hungary, and the UAE using NSO technology against dissidents, journalists, activists, and civil society members.
NSO argues that Pegasus aids law enforcement and intelligence agencies in combating crime, protecting national security, and apprehending terrorists, child abusers, and violent criminals.
Concerned about the proliferation and misuse of products like Pegasus, the Biden administration announced a new policy imposing global visa restrictions on individuals involved in exploiting commercial spyware, extending to EU member states and Israel.
IIt’s a strange feeling to have childhood memories constantly shot out of a game cartridge the size of a matchbox. That’s certainly been my experience with C64 Collection 3, the latest in a series of vintage game compilations put together by Blaze Entertainment for their Evercade retro console. Each of these little carts contains a dozen or so classic titles from various arcade manufacturers and home computers, all emulated to a fairly high standard. This is a must-see for me and probably many other C64 veterans as well. There are several reasons for this.
For one, it includes Paradroid, which I think is one of the best home computer games ever made. This is Hewson’s top-down, multi-directional sci-fi blaster with beautiful style and terrifying difficulty, one of the earliest examples of the now ubiquitous hacking mini-games.
Playing in 2024, nearly 40 years after its original release, I’m amazed at how well the game has held up in terms of visuals and gameplay when viewed on my LED TV via an Evercade VS console. It looks vivid. Exploring this game’s vast spaceship again on a big TV in your living room, rather than just a dodgy PC emulator, was a far more emotional experience than you’d expect from a very old game about shooting robots.
There are also two more true classics here. The cave exploration puzzle game Boulder Dash and the multiplayer sports sim Summer Games II. Like Paradroid, these hold up well to 21st-century scrutiny, but the latter is nothing like the visual delight I remember from my school days. It’s nice to be able to go to the pause menu and change the aspect ratio or add the traditional CRT effect scanlines. And, I won’t lie, the built-in save feature is nice too.
Elsewhere, the selection of compilations is a bit more vague, but that’s a nice thing about Evercade’s compilations. Even fans like me can find something new to discover. There are a lot of titles by Hewson (one of the great British developers of the time) that I’ve never played before. Among them is Netherworld, another multi-directional scrolling game. Golden Ax style side-scroller Deliverance: Stormlord II. And Cybernoid II combines Contra and R-Type with a great SID chip soundtrack.
But the most unexpected treat is still the inclusion of Epyx’s breakdancing. It’s a street dance game (a forerunner of the rhythm-action genre) in which you have to imitate the movements of computer-controlled performers. It’s very kitschy and totally awful, but I remember buying it because I was into hip-hop. I played it a lot while repeatedly renting Breakdance: The Movie from my local video haven. It was so strange to encounter it again so many years later.
C64 Collection 3 is a strange, endearing, and scattered compilation that not only fills in the gaps left by its two predecessors but also mines strange nostalgic seams. Even if you never owned a computer in the ’80s, these games are worth checking out as museum exhibits. These games show how much the original home computer contributed to arcade culture but also how far it was moving away in the mid-1980s. Based on these prototypes, we are experimenting with new ideas. Yes, you can find most of these games online for free if you know how to download and use emulators and find ROMs. But I like the ease and convenience of the Evercade. I appreciate the save feature, and I love that the game looks fine even on my stupid TV. These games hold special memories for me and probably many others as well. If I’m going to go back anyway, I want to do it in style.
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is facing a 2.1 billion euros ($2.3 billion) lawsuit from 32 media groups, such as Axel Springer and Schibsted. The media groups are alleging losses due to Google’s practices in digital advertising.
The lawsuit comes as antitrust regulators are tightening the grip on Google’s advertising practices. It was initiated by publishers from various European countries like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and more, accusing Google of creating a less competitive market due to its illegal conduct.
The media companies’ lawyers, Geradin Partners and Steck, stated that the losses incurred by the publishers could have been avoided if Google hadn’t abused its dominant position. This could have led to higher advertising revenues for the media companies and lower fees for ad tech services, ultimately benefiting Europe’s media landscape.
The lawsuit is supported by previous actions taken against Google, such as the French competition authority’s fine in 2021 and the European Commission’s complaint last year. Analysts predict that Google may need to adjust its practices and pricing due to increased regulatory scrutiny.
A spokesperson for Google dismissed the lawsuit as “speculative and opportunistic,” emphasizing the company’s collaboration with European publishers to enhance their advertising tools.
Despite Google’s disagreements with antitrust violations, publishers worldwide have expressed concerns about Big Tech’s dominance in advertising and the subsequent decline in their revenue share. Google remains the leading digital advertising platform globally.
The group of media companies chose to file the lawsuit in Dutch courts, citing the country’s reputation for handling antitrust claims effectively in Europe. Companies like Krone, DPG Media, TV2 Danmark A/S, and others are part of the collective seeking legal action against Google.
Lawsuits have been brought against OpenAI and Microsoft by news publishers, alleging that their generative artificial intelligence products violate copyright laws by illegally using journalists’ copyrighted works. The Intercept, Raw Story, and Alternet filed suit in federal court in Manhattan, seeking compensation for the infringement.
Media outlets claim that OpenAI and Microsoft plagiarized copyrighted articles to develop ChatGPT, a prominent generative AI tool. They argue that ChatGPT ignores copyright, lacks proper attribution, and fails to alert users when using journalists’ copyrighted work to generate responses.
Raw Story and AlterNet CEO John Byrne stated, “Raw Story believes that news organizations must challenge OpenAI for breaking copyright laws and profiting from journalists’ hard work.” They emphasized the importance of diverse news outlets and the negative impact of unchecked violations on the industry.
The Intercept’s lawsuit names OpenAI and Microsoft as defendants, while the joint lawsuit by Raw Story and AlterNet focuses solely on OpenAI. The complaints are similar, with all three media outlets represented by the law firm Loevy & Loevy.
Byrne clarified that the lawsuits from Raw Story and AlterNet do not involve Microsoft directly but stem from a partnership with MSN. Both OpenAI and Microsoft have yet to comment on the allegations.
The lawsuits accuse the defendants of using copyrighted material to train ChatGPT without proper attribution, violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The legal action is part of a series of lawsuits against OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement.
Concerns in the media industry about generative AI competing with traditional publishers have led to a wave of legal battles. The fear is that AI-generated content will erode advertising revenue and undermine the quality of online news.
While some news organizations have sued OpenAI, others like Axel Springer have opted to collaborate by providing access to copyrighted material in exchange for financial rewards. The lawsuits seek damages and profits, with the New York Times lawsuit aiming for significant monetary compensation.
A former director of Blockchain Global, an Australian cryptocurrency company that went bankrupt and owed creditors $58 million, has been banned from leaving the country.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission secured an interim travel ban in the Federal Court on February 20, claiming director Liang “Alan” Guo was a flight risk.
Mr. Guo, a Chinese national, was ordered to hand over his passport to the court.
The hearing was held in Guo’s absence, so he did not have an opportunity to respond immediately to the verdict.
Mr Guo, along with fellow directors Sam Lee and Ryan Hsu, were referred to ASIC by the liquidator for alleged breaches of company law. ASIC is investigating the allegations.
Mr Lee and Mr Xu were also involved in a cryptocurrency investment scheme known as HyperVerse, which was the subject of a Guardian Australia investigation and which defrauded investors around the world of US$1.89 billion. It is said that Guo is not believed to be involved in the HyperVerse project.
Mr Lee, who currently lives in Dubai, is facing charges in the US for his involvement in the Hyperverse scheme, which the US Securities and Exchange Commission has described as a “pyramid scheme and pyramid scheme”. He has not responded to the charges.
In a Federal Court judgment released on Wednesday, Mr Justice Button said the charges against Mr Guo were “very serious” and agreed to ban him from leaving Australia until August 20.
These included allegations of transferring investor funds for personal gain.
“ASIC also revealed that while Mr. Guo was a director, he transferred $2.6 million from the bank account where investor funds were held, with some of the money being applied to his personal mortgage account and personal bank account. “It was also pointed out,” the judgment said.
“ASIC also revealed that Mr. Guo held 23.11 Bitcoins, said to be worth approximately $1.8 million, owned by Blockchain Global and transferred them to a virtual currency wallet controlled by Mr. Guo on December 8, 2019. He also mentioned that he had done so.”
ASIC said Mr Guo was “the only person left in Australia closely involved in Blockchain Global’s operations” given that Blockchain Global’s other directors left Australia shortly after the bankruptcy. He claimed that there was.
“ASIC anticipates that the interviews and interrogations of Mr. Guo will be critical to the progress of the investigation, and as a result, we anticipate that brief evidence may be forwarded to the Director of Federal Public Prosecutions.'' the judgment stated.
According to the ruling, ASIC expects it will take 12 months to investigate and submit a summary of the evidence to the DPP.
Among his reasons, Mr Button commented on apparent delays in the investigation into ASIC, which was launched on January 16 following Guardian Australia’s investigation into HyperVerse.
“It is not clear why an investigation was initiated when Blockchain Global failed. Nevertheless, the investigation, although in its early stages, is progressing steadily.”
ASIC said in a statement that it applied for the travel restriction order “out of concern that Mr. Guo may leave the country while the investigation continues.”
“As the hearing took place in Mr. Guo’s absence, Mr. Guo has not yet had the opportunity to respond to ASIC’s application or the basis on which ASIC asserts that the order is necessary.”
Mr Guo has so far not responded to Guardian Australia’s questions about the allegations against him in the liquidator’s report submitted to ASIC.
That’s the joke Hanna Einbinder’s Gen Z character Ava plays to her baby boomer employer Deborah Vance in the first season of the HBO show Hux. “I had horrible nightmares about getting voicemails,” she says. Ha – Gen Z hates voicemail. Baby boomers can’t understand jokes without a punch line. “What?” Jean Smart’s Vance screeches. Ha, everyone gets fed up with it, and each generation refuses to give an inch to the other.
Sorry to mix up Gen X, but in the context of this particular Flashpoint, we need to talk about voice memos. (Or audio message, or voice text. Not to be confused with voice-to-text conversion, which is something else entirely. Okay, Grandma?)
For me, it started a few years ago when a friend left me a voice memo because she was driving and couldn’t respond to a text in the traditional way. This was a hassle, but it was done with safety in mind, so it wasn’t a problem. Over time, the goalposts shifted. Voice messages are now appearing in other contexts as well, often starting with a half-apology, “I can’t type,” or a coy plea for understanding because someone has their hands full. The pretext was efficiency, allowing the sender to communicate while walking down the street or unloading a stack of dishwashers, and if the tone was self-conscious, it was because of my generation. This is because voice memos are not native and could not be safely predicted. How the message medium is delivered.
Anyway, that was the beginning. Since then, of course, people have been seduced by the prospect of a bottomless bucket into which to throw their meager ideas and have quickly lost their minds. (I just looked it up and it turns out that when it comes to voice memos, the only limit is the amount of internal storage on your iPhone. And your imagination!)
I remember the moment several years ago when the first communication that followed what would become the standard voice memo protocol took place. The friend I hung up with left me 3 consecutive messages, each lasting over 3 minutes, and sent me more messages. Lost in her thoughts, she hung up and left another message, which she deleted, before launching into a three-minute finale. Then I stared at my phone in horror. This wasn’t a message; it was an audience for a one-woman show, a podcast I didn’t subscribe to. Sure, she was my friend, but this wasn’t even a friendship. This was a hostage-taking.
Given the similarities, it’s still strange that voice messages are embraced in places where voicemail has been phased out. Voice Memos’ interface and access points are more appealing than voicemail because they are embedded within the flow of an existing text conversation. And perhaps voice memos benefit from being a channel associated only with friendship. The bank won’t leave me a voice WhatsApp. And as far as I know, there’s no spam or robo voice memos either. And as, recent polls In the United States, more than 60% of Americans say they have sent a voice message, and the majority of users are under 30 years old. The number is huge. In 2022, WhatsApp will be approx. 7 billion voice messages Sent on the app daily.
It’s hard not to see all of this as a small expression of rising levels of narcissism in general. Aside from the completely uninvited invasion of time, the solipsism of one-sided conversations, and the fact that you have to wait for minutes at a time to get to the point of your message, the main problems with voice memos are quite large. The gap between the message sender’s idea of how interesting the message is and the reality of the person experiencing the 90-second set. Your whimsical flights are not as fancy or whimsical as you think. Also, other people don’t need to know your raw reactions to what’s happening in the city while you’re talking.
Anyway, this was all just my opinion, last week a dear friend left me three voice memos in a row and I decided to retaliate with one of my own late in the game. I’m not an early adopter. I’ve never left a voice memo before, and my first note was something like, “Is this on?”
Ha! I thought. How fascinating this looks! And then I left. my god. Have you ever done one of these? I started on point, but something in my kitchen caught my eye and I did it for 15 seconds. I got sidetracked by thoughts about mutual friends. Then my kids came in the door and started yelling at me about something – oh she’s going to love this I thought! That’s practically the audio truth! I ended with a joke. What a wonderful gift for the recipient! What a moment for me. What a performance!
WWho is behind the most notorious ‘deepfake’ apps on the internet? The Guardian’s new podcast series ‘Black Box’ has been trying to answer that question for months now, as we explore a hall of mirrors. It was like wandering.
The app, ClothOff, has hundreds of thousands of followers and has already been used to generate dozens of images of underage girls in at least two cases. The photos have traumatized the girls, outraged their parents and left police at a loss as to how to stop it.
Producers Josh Kelly, Alex Atack and I followed Cross-Off’s footsteps to a nondescript, seemingly vacant address in central London. We’ve encountered fake businesses, distorted voices, and fake employee photos.
This was a frightening insight into the future we’re all heading into in our careers. In the age of artificial intelligence, is everything you see and hear on your screen real?
The search for ClothOff is just one story to tell about the times we live in. We’re in the first few years of AI infiltrating our lives, but it’s not yet deep enough that we can’t remember what life used to be.
We wanted to take a snapshot of this moment in time to explore the impact AI is already having on the world and look for clues about what’s to come. We met the scientists who pioneered AI software until they dramatically turned against it last year. We’ve heard stories of people reminiscing about their first dates with their boyfriends (smartphone chatbots), and stories of heartbreaks when the same lover turned cold due to system girlfriend updates. Ta.
We’ve been hearing about the prospect of AI systems that can detect cancer years before doctors and machines could offer desperate people what no one else has: humanity.
Everywhere we go, we encounter an even bigger mystery: people using AI. What has fascinated us again and again is the way in which we are already reshaping what it means to be human in a series about artificial intelligence that is not just about technology, but actually about us.
michael safi Presenters, today’s highlights
This week’s picks
Ash Sarkar, one of the hosts of If I Speak. Photo: Antonio Olmos/Observer
Hear Me Out Wide range of weekly episodes available Get to know some of the dramatic talents of multiple stars in this chatty theater podcast from actor Lucy Eaton. They each choose their favorite speech and act it out in a private chat, giving it a Desert Island Disc feel for the stage. In the first episode of the new series, hear Mark Gatiss perform Hamlet’s “Longing” and “Rage” “Speech the Speech” soliloquy from Jack Thorne’s Motives and Clues. Alexi Duggins
dead river Wide range of weekly episodes available This alarming story focuses on one of the most devastating environmental catastrophes in history: the 2015 Mariana Dam disaster in Brazil. The disaster led to the largest class action lawsuit in British history involving 700,000 claimants. It’s an emotional and worrying listen, packed with music that tugs at your heartstrings as you hear locals talk about their fears that the dam is sick. advertisement
The Blame of Fame: Milli Vanilli Wide range of weekly episodes available You may already know the story of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvern, but Insecure’s Amanda Seales brings you the inside story in this fun podcast. When German producer Frank Farian asks the tight-trousered pop duo to make a deal with the devil, they are exposed as impostors, leading to exploitation and tragedy. Hannah Verdier
Time Capsule: Silver Chain Wide range of weekly episodes available The 1970s swing scene is the stuff of myth and legend, so when Paul Ditty heard that the secret club Silver Chain had kept a stash of newsletters in a safe deposit box, he couldn’t resist investigating. His brilliant unraveling of the mysterious Minnesota club begins with a simple question. How did they find the time to swap partners? HV
if i speak Wide range of weekly episodes available Novara Media journalists Ash Sarkar (above) and Moya Lothian-McLean have questions on their minds, including “Can I really be friends with my boss?” and “Are dating apps dead?” By grappling with questions, he swaps politics with personal (of sorts) issues. “Should I give my mom some money?” As Sarkar says, this is “the place where we can reveal our most free and nosy selves without judgment.” Holly Richardson
There’s a podcast for that
Comedian Paul Sinha hosts new podcast Pub Quiz. Photo: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
this week, robin winter choose the best five Comedy podcasts that actually teach you somethingfrom comedy quizzes with Chase star Paul Sinha to investigating urban legends in black culture.
Do Go On It’s surprising how little-known this Australian podcast is despite its longevity. Hosted by incredibly likeable Melbourne comedians Matt Stewart, Jess Perkins and Dave Warneke, each week one of them chooses a topic to report on. Recent episodes include History of Monopoly, Pirate Queen of Ireland, Eurovision, and more. Unlike many other long-running podcasts (Do Go On is entering its ninth year), the inside jokes are easy to follow and there’s a genuine, contagious enthusiasm from the trio.Rare podcasts that will make you laugh out loud and Full of fascinating stories.
Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz The Chase’s Paul Sinha is also a popular touring comedian and combines these pursuits in this clever BBC Radio 4 podcast. If you can imagine him doing his set of tight 20-minute stand-up encyclopedias, you’ll be able to get pretty close to this vibrant show. In series two, Sinha takes his trivia skills to different parts of the country, testing Ipswich residents on their most famous politicians and Manchester’s tallest buildings. However, there is not much time to think, so the listener needs to respond quickly.
mom taught me Comedians Langston Carman and David Goboly explore black conspiracy theories, superstitions, urban legends, and, in their words, “the old lady’s story that your uncle told you about who wore jeans to the beach.” Dive deep into the world of “public pool. They often have hilarious guests to discuss reader suggestions. After almost 300 episodes, there’s no sign of running out of material.
big flop With only a handful of episodes to date, The Big Flop explores everything from the laughably bad movie Cats to the banned Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink invented by a bunch of frazzled boys. It’s a show that focuses on events that didn’t go well. Hosted by actor, singer, and TikTok star Misha Brown, it was produced by pod giant Wonderly. Two weekly guests (mostly American stand-ups and performers) bring freshness to each episode, and thanks to an experienced behind-the-scenes team, it’s well-researched and well-produced.
That’s not true fish If you love comedy podcasts, you’ll be spoiled for choice with No Such Thing As a Fish, created by the writers of the long-running BBC quiz show QI. The authors started the podcast in 2014 after discovering interesting facts that weren’t aired during their research. Now his 500-episode podcast is the granddaddy of the genre, unapologetically nerdy but beautifully accessible even for non-Oxbridge fans. Winner of many well-deserved awards and published as a book, No Such Thing As a Fish is a must-listen for anyone looking for quirky facts to share at the pub table.
Why not try it…
In an 8-part series show on the streetcelebrities are taken out of the studio and presenter and veteran podcaster Alex Lugui takes the driver’s seat as they embark on a personal road trip through the places that shaped them.
just jack and will is the ultimate Will & Grace rewatch podcast with Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack.
Who is a good person? So who is the bad guy? alphabet boys Revealing secret investigations by the FBI, DEA, ATF, and other three-letter agencies in the United States.
The CEO of Google expressed concern over some responses from the company’s Gemini artificial intelligence model, calling them “unlikely” and pointing out issues such as depicting German World War II soldiers as people of color. He described this bias as “totally unacceptable.”
In a memo to employees, Sundar Pichai acknowledged that images and text generated by modern AI tools were causing discomfort.
Social media users highlighted instances where Gemini image generators depicted historical figures of different ethnicities and genders, including the Pope, the Founding Fathers, and Vikings. Google suspended Gemini’s ability to create people images in response.
One example involved Gemini’s chatbot responding to a question about negative social impacts, leading to a discussion about Elon Musk and Hitler. Pichai addressed this issue, calling the responses upsetting and indicative of bigotry.
Viking AI image Photo: Google Gemini
Pichai stated that Google’s teams were working to improve these issues and have already made significant progress. AI systems often generate biased responses due to training data issues, reflecting larger societal problems.
Gemini’s competitors are also working on addressing bias in AI models. New versions of AI generators like Dall-E prioritize diverse representation and aim to mitigate technical issues.
Google is committed to making structural changes and enhancing product guidelines to address biases. Pichai emphasized the importance of providing accurate and unbiased information to users.
Elon Musk criticized Google’s AI programs, pointing out the bias in generated images. Technology commentator Ben Thompson called for a shift in decision-making at Google to prioritize good product development.
The emergence of generative AI platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT presents a competitive landscape in AI development. Google’s Gemini AI chatbot, formerly known as Bard, offers paid subscriptions for enhanced AI capabilities.
Google DeepMind continues to innovate in AI, with breakthroughs like the AlphaFold program for predicting protein structures. The CEO of DeepMind acknowledged the need to improve diversity in AI-generated images.
I
Last week, we discussed the long-standing rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation, and how Microsoft’s strategy of releasing games on all platforms, including rival consoles, could signal the end of gaming as we know it. I touched on the potential beginning of this shift. Now, recent news has emerged: Sony is laying off 900 employees across its global studios. Why would a company behind the highly successful PlayStation 5, which outperformed its competitors 3 to 1, take such drastic measures? The end of the console wars may be inevitable, rather than a choice. The landscape of the gaming industry has drastically changed from how it operated in the past.
The announcement of PlayStation’s decision to lay off 8% of its workforce came in a company-wide email from outgoing CEO Jim Ryan less than a week ago. Celebrations at London’s studio were overshadowed by the departure of many employees. Studios like Firesprite are being closed permanently, with other UK branches facing functional reductions. Major studios like Guerrilla Games, Naughty Dog, and Insomniac have also been affected. US-based Sony employees are awaiting further details on how they will be impacted. The email concluded with an ironic appeal for kindness amongst employees.
PlayStation Studios Head Hermen Hulst provided context for this decision in a blog post, citing the evolving landscape of the industry as a driving force behind the layoffs. The demand for high-quality, socially connected gaming experiences necessitates a reevaluation of operational strategies. While growth is essential, it must be purposeful. Some projects have been deemed unfeasible to pursue given the current industry climate.
Analysis points to widespread overinvestment during the 2020-2021 boom, fueled by pandemic-induced demand and surplus capital. The subsequent decline in investment left many studios vulnerable. Despite the profitability of the industry, anticipated layoffs and cost-cutting measures across various gaming sectors are expected in the upcoming years. The closure of Danish studio Die Gute Fabrik serves as a recent example of this trend.
The inability of even industry leaders like Sony to sustain large-scale game development poses significant concerns. Escalating production costs and a focus on continual revenue streams through “live service” games have heightened anxieties about job security within the industry. The success of individual titles like Marvel Spider-Man 2 and PlayStation 5 console sales have not shielded developers from workforce reductions. The sustainability of the console business remains a pressing issue.
The trend towards blockbuster titles with escalating budgets reflects a stark departure from the medium-sized game landscape of the past. Studios once relied on major releases to support smaller projects, fostering a diverse gaming ecosystem. However, the modern industry climate demands unparalleled success, leaving little room for niche or medium-sized games to thrive.
Die Gute Fabrik, the indie studio behind Saltsea Chronicles, has halted production.
Photo: Di Gute Fabric
I
The song is only 17 seconds long and sounds like 80’s Genesis playing at the bottom of a pool. But this bouncy but sonically degraded snippet of pop has become one of the internet’s biggest and most enduring musical mysteries.
This clip was uploaded in 2021 by a person named Carl92 who wanted to see if anyone could identify it. “I don’t remember its origins,” he wrote on his site called WatZatSong, adding, “I found it among a bunch of very old files on a DVD backup… it feels kind of nostalgic.” But even after this 17-second sample of his was posted on his Reddit, a powerful pop culture spirit is rarely lost, not a single person was able to identify the song or the artist.
This quest captured people’s imaginations. Last June it was my own subreddit – Named after the song’s unofficial title “Everyone Knows That (Ulterior Motives)”, or EKT, and currently has approximately 27,000 members. And recently, TikTok has become popular, with predictable results. Users flooded me with unhelpful comments like “Have you tried Shazaming?” which is like telling someone who lost their keys to check their pockets.
Bass, a music journalist from the Netherlands, is one of the subreddit’s moderators. He attributes the explosion in this exploration to a cultural shift. “We live in an age where knowledge is freely available and music can be consumed with few restrictions,” he says. “Music that was lost in the pre-internet era can be very interesting to young people because it’s something very foreign to them and they can’t easily look up songs.”
20 year old content creator with fame kylie bogley is one such convert. “We’re in the prime of a lost medium that will be viewed with great fondness in the future, and I’m grateful to be a part of it,” she says.
She is EKT. “Lost Wave” This movement collects dusty and forgotten songs, perhaps recorded from the radio or buried in folders of old MP3s, and attempts to give them names and artists. “There is another unconfirmed song and it is called “The most mysterious song on the internet‘ The mystery has remained unsolved for nearly 20 years. But I think EKT has outgrown its popularity,” says Bogley. “I don’t think it’s possible that we can’t find an artist.”
One obstacle is that the sound quality is so poor that no one can fully agree with the lyrics. There is even some doubt as to whether the singer is male or female. However, internet sleuths have identified the drum machine and synthesizer used for this song, most likely a LinnDrum and a Yamaha DX7. This narrows down the release date to his 1983 years and beyond. They also analyzed the background frequencies and figured out the format of the DVD. Apparently Carl92 was playing. Beyond that, forensic analysis was unable to locate it.
Dozens of similar-sounding artists (Roxette, Savage Garden, the one who sang the theme song for the Pokémon TV series) have all been asked if it’s their song, but no luck was. Unsurprisingly, misinformation also spread. Bass recalled a Redditor he claimed to have heard at a McDonald’s in Poland. “This person fabricated an email from a company to trick the search community into believing we were trying to find a song,” he says. “I think that’s the point of creativity.”
This song may have been an unreleased demo or an advertising jingle. Bass’ theory is that the piece was created in the United States for a movie or advertisement and “ended up on his VHS tape.” Someone had been recording audio in his room with his VHS tape playing in the background, backed up the file to his DVD, and forgot about it. ” Some think it may have come from Japan. Searchers are now trying to contact an unknown singer named White Mike Johnny Grove, who has a “strikingly similar voice,” Bogley said. Please pay attention to this column.
As for Carl 92, he disappeared, probably out of fear that online detectives would search him for clues. Some say he must have staged the whole thing, but maybe it’s some of the music he generated using his AI? If so, he could have directed tens of thousands of people. You’ve succeeded in destroying it. However, there is no evidence that he was not real. The despondent tone of his near-final message, which came just a few months after he posted EKT, certainly rings true. “It’s a dead end,” he wrote. “I just lost interest in that song.” But the rest of the world is just getting started.
SSix months ago, my son Zach started playing a video game that I knew little about, and as a games journalist, it was a little disconcerting. Warframe is an online science fiction shooter game created by Canadian-based developer Digital Extremes and first released in 2013. Although it’s hardly talked about outside of its fanbase, it has 75 million registered users and is consistently one of his biggest titles on Steam.
Set in a far-future solar system infested with hostile alien forces, players join the side of the Tenno, an ancient warlike race whose primary weapons are barely sentient cybernetic fighters (the warframes of the title). Zack spends hours each day flying between planets, completing missions and exploring while battling enemies such as the brutal clone army known as the Grineer and the giant, disease-ridden Infested. This sounds similar to Destiny, The Division, Final Fantasy XIV Online, and a dozen other so-called live service games that run indefinitely online, with new tasks, locations, and items added all the time. However, Warframe attracted his son’s attention. He has one important reason for that. It’s a very friendly and welcoming community.
Zach is on the autism spectrum and is now 18 years old, but he still finds it difficult to socialize in the real world. He’s loved games like Minecraft and his Fortnite for years, but as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten into darker, more mature stories and worlds. When I saw that he stumbled upon this epic gothic space opera, I was concerned that it would lead him to join gaming’s less bland communities: edgelords, griefers, and Call of Duty fans. I was worried that I would be in contact with aspiring professional gamers who could turn a shooting game like this into a game. A difficult place for vulnerable people.
More friendly shooting…Warframe. Photo: Digital Extremes
But in Warframe, the experience was different. The other players were immediately friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. What helped Zack from the beginning was the game’s well-maintained and very lively on-screen chat window. This allows players to ask questions and share tips and experiences without speaking. This is a huge advantage for neurodivergent players. In-game chat is not uncommon in live service games, but this place is mostly fine with proper moderation. Other players will do their best to help Zack, helping him find rare resources such as argon crystals, and escorting him to planets they have not yet unlocked. They also gave him weapons and items. He joined the Clan a few weeks ago and has made new friends throughout the US and Europe and hangs out together regularly.
According to Digital Extremes, they realized very early in development that building and maintaining a welcoming community was essential. “The community department was one of his first departments on the team,” says his creative director Rebecca Ford. She nods in recognition when I tell her how much people have helped my son. “[The in-game chat] is a place where you can say, “I have no idea what I’m doing” or “Does anyone have any advice for this build?” Warframe is a complex, cooperative, hard science fiction world. For us, that channel was essential.”
Rebecca Ford, Creative Director at Digital Extremes. Photo: Digital Extremes
Apple has decided to cancel its plans to develop electric cars, as reported by multiple outlets. The project, known as Project Titan, was a secret endeavor that has utilized significant resources over the past decade. During an internal team meeting on Tuesday, company executives unexpectedly announced layoffs and mentioned that many employees would be reassigned to work on generative artificial intelligence, according to reports.
Apple had invested billions of dollars in developing an electric semi-autonomous car under Project Titan, and the decision to scrap the program represents a significant shift from its previous strategy.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook had hinted at the company’s car plans in an interview, but did not fully commit to delivering the product as anticipated.
Although Apple never officially confirmed plans for a car, the project sparked speculation in the auto and tech industries. The company even hired executives from major car manufacturers like Lamborghini and Tesla, and acquired a self-driving car startup called Drive.ai in 2019.
Apple did not provide any official statement regarding the termination of the program, leaving many employees who had worked on the project surprised and potentially facing job cuts.
The company’s electric vehicle plans have undergone several changes since their initiation in 2014, facing numerous setbacks in attempts to bring the product to market.
In response to Apple’s decision, Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted a salute and cigarette emoji.
Apple is now focusing more on generative AI projects, reallocating researchers and engineers from the automotive field to special projects within the company.
During a quarterly financial results announcement, Cook hinted at Apple’s increased emphasis on artificial intelligence and the introduction of generative AI capabilities for consumers by the year’s end.
Framework is back with the new, bigger and more powerful Laptop 16, its most ambitious device yet. Highly modular and upgradable 16-inch machine that lets you change layout and power in minutes. It’s completely different from anything else on the market.
Packed with hot-swappable components, the laptop can be customized in countless ways, transforming it from a fast and quiet workhorse by day to an LED-studded gaming PC by night.
Priced from £1,399 (€1,579/$1,399/AU$2,319), this 16-inch machine improves on the ideas that made its smaller sibling, the Laptop 13, a huge hit. In fact, everything inside your laptop can be disassembled and replaced with varying degrees of ease.
Expansion cards simply click into slots on the side of your laptop to instantly add USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DP, Ethernet, microSD slots, expandable storage, or a headphone jack. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Featuring the same great port expansion system as its sibling, simply snap in place up to six small cards to use any combination of ports, card readers, or expandable storage on the side of the machine. Most cards cost less than £20, so they’re cheap enough to slide in and out as needed and keep a collection of cards for different tasks.
Additionally, the keyboard, numeric keypad, trackpad, LED module and spacers are easily attached in place by magnets on the top deck. Without tools, you can position your trackpad or keyboard to the left, right, or center, add another number pad or macropad on each side, or move your keyboard to another position, even when your laptop is running. Completely swap languages and layouts in seconds.
Diving inside, you can remove components of the framework such as memory, storage, and wireless cards with a single screwdriver. Unlike many other laptops, where parts are soldered in place, you can expand the storage and RAM yourself, and even upgrade bits.
Simply plug the AMD Radeon RX 7700S graphics card module into the back of your machine to instantly add power to your laptop. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
However, the framework’s biggest feature is the large expansion module that sticks out behind the screen. More powerful upgrades are available, including modules that include the AMD Radeon RX 7700S discrete graphics card.
The members of the WhatsApp group ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’ advocate for banning under-14s from owning smartphones and preventing under-16s from accessing social media to protect them from the dangers of the internet. However, believing this is the solution is unrealistic. Announcement (“Crazy: Thousands of UK parents join in quest for smartphone-free childhood”, February 17).
It is a parent’s responsibility to provide a safe environment for their children and teach them how to safely navigate the internet. Just like roads can be dangerous but we don’t ban cars, teaching children internet safety is crucial. Building open and honest relationships and setting boundaries at home will help young people understand internet dangers better than blanket bans. Making social media “adults only” may backfire and make it more tempting for children. They may also be less likely to seek help if they encounter inappropriate content. stuart harrington Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
As seen in cases like Brianna Gee’s, giving children smartphones can have negative consequences. However, we should consider the benefits and drawbacks of smartphone access. I personally benefitted from having a smartphone in school for various tasks like using apps for transportation, news, and communication. While parental controls and monitoring are essential, smartphones have many positive uses. It is important to adapt to the changing online threats and promote more parental supervision. oscar acton Merton, County Durham
The U.S. government has halted an investigation into a cryptocurrency mining operation over its rising energy use following a lawsuit from an industry accused by environmental groups of fueling the climate crisis.
A federal judge in Texas granted an interim order blocking new requirements to verify cryptocurrency miners’ energy use, stating that the industry would suffer “irreparable harm” if forced to comply.
The U.S. Department of Energy launched an “emergency” initiative last month to examine the energy usage of mining operations, which use computational power to mine currencies like Bitcoin.
The growth of cryptocurrencies and mining activities has led to a surge in electricity usage, with data centers popping up and even reviving coal-fired power plants for mining operations.
The federal government requires more information on big miners’ electricity use, as mining facilities provided a significant portion of total U.S. electricity demand last year. Globally, cryptocurrency mining is responsible for a notable portion of energy consumption.
Campaigners warn that the increased electricity consumption from cryptocurrency mining exacerbates the climate crisis, with mining operations releasing significant amounts of carbon dioxide each year.
Cryptocurrency mining is straining power grids, with instances of Bitcoin companies receiving energy credits to reduce power usage during peak demand periods.
The industry has managed to avoid an investigation it deems burdensome, citing political motives from the government. The debate continues on the regulation of cryptocurrency mining in the U.S.
The Blockchain Council of Texas and other groups argue that the government’s actions are aimed at limiting or eliminating Bitcoin mining in the U.S., causing concerns for the industry and its employees.
EEveryone wants to be like Apple. The world’s largest publicly traded company, with a flagship product that prints money, a cultural footprint that has reached world-historical significance, and the Ford of the 21st century.
At a surface level, it’s clear which companies get hammered in this comparison. If you send out a well-crafted, smartly designed home appliance in a nice box, someone somewhere will compare you to the Cupertino giant.
Digging a little deeper allows for more meaningful comparisons. Apple isn’t just defined by its style, it’s also defined by its focus. A small number of computers, phones, and tablets in a small number of configurations account for most of the revenue.
That focus has allowed the company to develop a reputation for quality. Of course, it also contributed to its formidable media strategy, making every product launch an industry event in a way that few have been able to imitate before. This is what I was thinking nearly a decade ago when I referred to gaming giant Blizzard, creator of World of Warcraft and Diablo, as “his Apple of gaming.” (Now owned by Microsoft and plagued by allegations of misconduct, Blizzard’s star has since fallen.)
But there’s something else that makes Apple what it is today, and it’s difficult for startups to imitate. The Apple they see is just the latest evolution of a company that was an industry giant before the latest generation of founders were born. The Apple II, Mac, and iMac all shaped computing for 25 years before the iPod turned Apple into a consumer electronics company. And the iPod gave Apple another decade of growth and sophistication, until the iPhone came along and created the behemoth it is today.
A California bakery alleges that Tesla did not pay for a hefty order, amounting to thousands of dollars. The billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly assured to rectify the situation, resulting in the bakery confirming that the outstanding claims have been settled.
The owner of Giving Pies, a black-owned bakery in San Jose, California, revealed that Tesla ignored an order for 4,000 mini pies just five days ago. Voahunzi Lacetarinella made this known on his Instagram account.
Racetarinella, in an email to the Guardian, acknowledged that Tesla has now settled the missing $2,000 payment. This development came after Musk responded to the story on X (formerly Twitter) and assured, “Things will go well with the bakery.”
The bakery received a last-minute order of 2,000 pies from Tesla on Valentine’s Day, which was later doubled to 4,000 pies. However, Tesla canceled the order without making the payment, as reported by KTVU.
Racetarinella shared on Instagram that she turned down other Black History Month catering requests to fulfill the expanded order, but the bakery was left uncompensated for their efforts.
She criticized Tesla’s corporate culture for prioritizing convenience over accountability and disregarding the livelihoods of small business owners like herself. Racetarinella emphasized the challenges faced by small businesses when dealing with large corporations.
Following media coverage of the incident, Giving Pies garnered widespread support, leading to a surge of customers at the store. Racetarinella expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response and reflected on her entrepreneurial journey in a post on Instagram.
Racetarinella concluded on a positive note, underscoring her determination as a Black female entrepreneur to overcome setbacks and continue serving her community with integrity and pride.
I
I’m the type of person who wants to cry when the rules of a board game are explained to me, so I generally don’t like card games. In real life poker, you get bored after a few rounds, go all-in, and crash spectacularly, but something can happen. However, real-life poker is not a varsity game. Balatro may be the best card game you’ve ever come across. Especially this morning I left the steam deck at home. It’s to avoid sitting at your desk and playing Ballatro instead of doing other not-so-fun things you should be doing at work, like staring regretfully at your constantly overflowing email inbox. I think it will be one of the breakout games of this year. Join us and you’ll be hooked too.
Here’s how to play: You are dealt a regular hand of 9 cards, from which you play your best 4- or 5-card poker hand (flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, etc.). Then, a satisfying “Ding!” sound determines the hand’s score and moves on to the next score. The only person you play is yourself. Once you reach your point goal (perhaps a few hundred points to begin with), you advance to the next round.
In between games, you’ll find mystical features such as holographic, steel, and gold versions of cards that give multipliers or extra chips, planet cards that increase points to increase the value of certain hands, and tarot cards that transform cards. You can add things to your deck. A bunch of interesting ways and strange jokers that can completely change your strategy. It’s poker, but a little trippy.and you Assumption Bending the rules.
This madness is ideally what your deck will look like in a few rounds. Photo: LocalThunk/Playstack
By the fourth or fifth series of the game, hearts gained additional multipliers, playing face cards earned double points, and planets gave modest pairs huge multipliers. You’ll end up with a deck of quirky lucky cards. You can rely on it to help you reach your point goals. You are abandoning the ace in hopes of drawing his three diamonds for a special steal that will add valuable points to your score. Every three rounds, a boss appears that makes horrible modifications to your play, such as limiting your cards to his five, drawing cards face down, or randomly disabling entire suits. You have to adapt round by round, hope your luck holds out and keep things in your favor.
Apparently, he can beat Balatolo by completing an eight-round match. I googled this question and came across a thread on the Steam forums where someone was brazenly claiming to have won 2 rounds and was still winning 80% of the time. I hate this person.
It went to the final stage twice and was successfully bottled. Once, I forgot that I hadn’t actually leveled up my hand and went for a rare straight-to-his flush, but I ended up getting fewer points than I could have with a few pairs. Several times I’ve grossly miscalculated my hand and discarded a card in hopes of drawing a replacement card that was mathematically very unlikely to appear. One time, I encountered a boss right before the final stretch. Only allow one type of hand to be played.
Watch your hands…Balatoro. Photo: LocalThunk/Playstack
Baratolo may feel terribly cursed when something like this happens, but the thing is, this isn’t entirely a game of chance. Although you have to have good luck from the cards and the belief that a decent joker will appear in the shop between rounds, do Decide where to spend your money on new cards, which hands to go for, and which risk opportunities to take. So, like all good roguelikes, each failure resets your progress so you can feel like you’ll be fully successful next time.
And then 2 hours disappear. I find the slightly mesmerizing chillwave music and pixel psychedelic illustrations, the naughty Joker card illustrations and retro TV scanlines disturbingly calming. If Baratolo was trying to extort money from you, that would be pure evil. But the good news is that once you’ve paid £12.79, all your gambling is done virtually and all you’re spending is your time.
I imagine that perhaps after I achieve that elusive victory, the spell will finally be broken. In the meantime, now life is baratolo and baratolo is life. I’m dreaming with clubs and spades.
The LockBit ransomware gang is re-emerging, following a recent international crackdown that severely disrupted its operations.
Based in Russia, the group has created new dark web sites to showcase a few alleged victims and release stolen data. The gang is now under investigation by the National Crime Agency in Britain, as well as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. This comes after a joint operation led by Europol to target the group last week.
In a statement issued in English and Russian, LockBitSupp, the group’s administrator, claimed that law enforcement agencies hacked their previous dark web site by exploiting vulnerabilities in PHP, a commonly used programming language for websites. They assured that other servers with backup blogs not using PHP would continue leaking data from targeted companies.
The statement also mentioned personal negligence and irresponsibility, along with expressing support for Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election. The group even offered a job to the individual who hacked their main site. Law enforcement confirmed that LockBitSupp does not reside in the U.S. and is cooperating with authorities.
Despite the disruption, the NCA stated that LockBit remains compromised, but they are vigilant as the group may attempt to reorganize. Additionally, the U.S. has indicted two Russians for deploying LockBit ransomware globally. Ukrainian police also arrested suspects related to attacks carried out using LockBit’s malicious software.
The renewed Rockbit website has issued threats against U.S. government sites and listed more alleged hacking victims. Security experts indicate that the group is attempting to resume operations but will face challenges due to the damage caused by international law enforcement actions.
LockBit operates on a ransomware-as-a-service model, leasing software to criminal organizations in exchange for a cut of the ransom payments. Despite the setback, the group needs to rebuild its reputation within the criminal community to attract affiliates following the recent law enforcement activities.
Ransomware attacks involve hackers infiltrating a target’s system, disabling it with malware, and encrypting files for ransom. Recent trends include extracting sensitive data like personal and customer information and demanding payment in cryptocurrency, mainly Bitcoin, to decrypt files or delete stolen data copies. Last year saw a record $1.1 billion paid in ransomware payments.
TOxygen smog has been a part of big city life since the Industrial Revolution. Harmful particles can be like pea soup, so thick that they are difficult to see and breathe. But in many cities around the rich world, that dirty oil was banished as car engines became cleaner and factories moved. (Poor cities are still not so lucky.)
Some people believe that the transition to electric vehicles could reverse some of that progress. That means heavier cars and particles created by friction can sacrifice clean air on the altar of zero carbon emissions.
In our EV myth-busting series, the Guardian has examined claims about electric vehicles (EVs), examining issues ranging from carbon emissions and battery fires to the idea of overtaking them with hydrogen. In the latest installment of the series, do electric cars have an air pollution problem?
Claim
Electric cars eliminate engine pollution, but brakes and tires still rely on friction to function. This friction can cause substances to break down and eventually be released into the environment. Some argue that the transition to EVs could increase overall air pollution because they tend to be heavier and have more wear and tear.
In 2022, then British Environment Minister George Eustace said: Said Congress of “skepticism” about improving air quality. “Some say the fact that these vehicles are heavier means they may be less profitable than some are expecting, just from road wear and tear, but it's a bit unclear at this point. ” he said.
The Daily Mail reported that tire pollution is the “dirty secret of electric cars”, while the Sun reported that “super-heavy electric cars actually cause more pollution than petrol or diesel motors” EV drivers are being warned about how to
science
EVs do not directly burn fossil fuels and produce no emissions when produced using only zero-carbon electricity. This means that not only carbon dioxide, but also carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, a mixture of carbon, metals and unburned hydrocarbons are not emitted in urban areas. (Fossil fuel power plants still have problems charging electric cars, but they tend…thors difficult, and there have been relatively few comparative studies to date. This means there is still uncertainty as to whether the extra weight of EV batteries will lead to worse particulate pollution.
The shift to SUVs makes vehicles increasingly taller, wider and heavier, worsening carbon emissions. Photo: Mike Kemp/Photography/Getty Images
German tire maker Continental said vehicle and tire design is more important than driving style or road curves in determining wear (a point echoed by Malden). A Continental spokesperson said: “In principle, electric cars do not generate more particulate matter than comparable internal combustion…ase by a slight decrease in total PM emissions from road traffic in the future.” The study found that heavier electric vehicles experience slightly more road and tire wear than larger electric vehicles. 10pm Particles and smaller objects PM2.5. However, when engine pollution was added, gasoline and diesel cars did slightly worse.
This year, artificial intelligence-generated robocalls targeted New Hampshire voters during the January primary, posing as President Joe Biden and instructing them to stay home. This incident might be the initial attempt to interfere with a US election. The “deepfake” call was linked to two of his companies in Texas: Life His Corporation and Apple His Telecom.
The impact of deepfake calls on voter turnout remains uncertain, but according to Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen, a group advocating for government oversight, the potential consequences are significant. Regulating the use of AI in politics is crucial.
Events mirroring what might occur in the US are unfolding around the globe. In Slovakia, fabricated audio recordings may have influenced an election, serving as a troubling prelude to potential US election interference in 2024, as reported by CNN. AI developments in Indonesia and India have also raised concerns. Without robust regulations, the US is ill-prepared for the evolving landscape of AI technology and its implications for elections.
Despite efforts to address AI misuse in political campaigns, US regulations are struggling to keep pace with AI advancements. The House of Representatives recently formed a task force to explore regulatory options, but partisan gridlock and regulatory delays cast uncertainty on the efficacy of measures that will be in place for this year’s election.
Without safeguards, the influence of AI on elections hinges on voters’ ability to discern real from fabricated content. AI-powered disinformation campaigns can sow confusion and undermine electoral integrity, posing a threat to democracy.
Manipulating audio content with AI raises concerns due to its potential to mislead with minimal detection capabilities, unlike deepfake videos. AI-generated voices can mimic those known to the recipient, fostering a false sense of familiarity and trust, which may have significant implications.
The Home Secretary expressed concerns about criminals and “malicious actors” using AI-generated “deepfakes” to disrupt the general election.
James Cleverley, in anticipation of a meeting with social media leaders, highlighted the potential threats posed by rapid technological advancements to elections globally.
He cited examples of individuals working on behalf of countries like Russia and Iran creating numerous deepfakes (realistic fabricated images and videos) to influence democratic processes, including in the UK.
He emphasized the escalating use of deepfakes and AI-generated content to deceive and bewilder, stating that “the era of deepfakes has already begun.”
Concerned about the impact on democracy, he stressed the importance of implementing regulations, transparency, and user safeguards in the digital landscape.
The Home Secretary plans to propose collaborative efforts with tech giants like Google, Meta, Apple, and YouTube to safeguard democracy.
An estimated 2 billion people will participate in national elections worldwide in 2024, including in the UK, US, India, and other countries.
Incidents of deepfake audio imitations of politicians like Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan, as well as misleading videos like the fake BBC News report on Rishi Sunak, have raised concerns.
In response, major tech companies have agreed to adopt precautions to prevent the misuse of AI tools for electoral interference.
Executives from various tech firms gathered at a conference to establish a framework for addressing deceptive AI-generated deepfakes that impact voters. Elon Musk’s Company X is among the signatories.
Mr. Clegg, Meta’s global president, emphasized the need for collective action to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies like deepfakes.
The US special envoy addressing the issue announced the formation of a global coalition of democracies to defend against disinformation campaigns by foreign governments.
James Rubin, special envoy for combating non-state propaganda and disinformation at the US Department of State’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), mentioned that the coalition aims to establish a clear understanding of information operations and the rights of other governments. He also highlighted the importance of reaching a consensus on defining common opinion even in moments of disagreement.
The US, UK, and Canada have already signed a formal framework agreement, and there are expectations of more countries joining the coalition. The GEC primarily focuses on countering disinformation campaigns by foreign powers and has been working towards developing a global strategy while uncovering covert disinformation operations, like Russia’s activities in Africa discrediting US health services.
A framework signed between the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada aims to counter foreign manipulation of states by addressing disinformation as a national security threat, requiring a coordinated response from governments and civil society. This emphasizes the need for a collective approach to enhance resilience and response to foreign intelligence threats through information sharing and collaborative data analysis tools.
James Rubin, a seasoned US government official and journalist, serving as a special envoy, acknowledged the complexity of the issue of disinformation and its intellectual challenges. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between hostile opinion and disinformation to determine the appropriate government interventions.
James Rubin wants to promote more fact-based information. Photo: Tayfun Salcı/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock
He emphasized the need for fact-based information promotion while also finding ways to label information operations originating from foreign governments like China and Russia. He stressed the importance of identifying the sources of covert disinformation without censoring thoughts or opinions.
This challenging issue raises questions about the dynamics between the government and social media companies, particularly in countries like the United States with constitutional guarantees of free speech. In contrast, the European Union has taken more interventionist measures with laws regulating digital services and social media content.
Rubin underscored that it is essential to expose foreign disinformation operations without dictating social media companies’ behavior. He advocated for the enforcement of terms of service by these platforms in combatting disinformation efforts.
Addressing the asymmetry in information space access, Rubin highlighted the challenges posed by closed-off information environments of countries like Russia and China.
DDo spam emails actually work? We're not talking about suspicious phishing emails, we're talking about annoying ads and sales pitches. Perhaps the answer is yes, otherwise spammers wouldn't care, but I find it hard to believe. Ali Farhan, Manchester
Please send new questions to nq@theguardian.com .
Reader replies
wait a minute. I'm going to email 300 million people and ask them. el comentario
It's more effective than doing nothing. This is the secret behind all marketing. one, another name
There are many different types of spam. More targeted types (e.g., an email from a company you've previously shopped with telling you they have a sale) can tell people what they might be interested in and potentially lead to a sale. That's why it works so well. Anything that's completely fake or untargeted won't be very effective.
But the reason companies use this kind of email is because it's so cheap. Send thousands of emails for just a few pounds. It only takes a few people to respond to make it worthwhile. For many of them, if 1 out of 1,000 people who receive an email buys something, they can make a profit from it. Meanwhile, everyone's inboxes suffer. Snowy John
I work in sales and send out so-called spam emails. (This is in the business-to-business sales space.) There's a trick behind this. I don't reach out unless I have a reason and think there's something I can do to help. This is done by looking at the role the company is in, the types of technology, and evaluating its growth. Emails are personalized. Mixed in with my phone calls, I also embed videos of me reviewing websites in my emails.
It definitely works. Will everyone react? Absolutely not. Some people show interest, but it takes time to strike up a conversation. But that's part of sending an email. To get people in and out. If you choose not to contact us anymore, please do not contact us again. Konobu 2020
I really don't understand people who don't care about spam or sell things on the street. I ignore everyone and look it up myself if I need to buy something. I may be missing out on countless deals, but I'll take a chance. Babylonian SheDevil03
My inbox is mostly unusable due to emails from companies I love and have previously purchased from. I receive at least two emails a month from companies that sell belts. How many quality belts can I buy? I might buy another one in five years, but I won't buy it from that annoying spammer. mega road
Last week's N&Q was about beans, this week it's about Spam. Will it be mushrooms next Sunday? Fried onion rings? Please wait and see… eddie miscellaneous post
I especially despise people who have an “unsubscribe” button that doesn't actually work. They immediately rank at the top of my banned list. Oz Josh
Avoiding spam is a great way to waste time. bricklayer options
A significant data breach from a Chinese cybersecurity company has offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Beijing-linked hackers.
Analysts suggest that the breach contains valuable information about the day-to-day operations of China’s hacking program, which the FBI claims is the largest globally. I-Soon has not yet verified the authenticity of the leak and has not responded to requests for comment. As of Friday, the leaked data has been taken down from GitHub, where it was originally posted.
From staff complaints about salaries and office rumors to claims of infiltrating foreign governments, here are some key insights gathered from the leak.
Who was targeted in the hack?
Icesun employees were actively seeking high-profile targets on a daily basis.
The leak exposed that government entities in neighboring countries of China, such as Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Vietnam, had their websites and email servers breached. The targets ranged from British government departments to Thai ministries. I-Soon staff also claimed to have gained access to communication service providers in various countries. They specifically mentioned targeting the Indian government, viewed as Beijing’s geopolitical rival, and accessing educational institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, they acknowledged difficulty in accessing data seized from government agencies in Myanmar and South Korea.
Additional targets included domestic entities from Xinjiang to Tibet, covering topics from illegal activities to gambling establishments.
Who were the clients of Yi Seung?
Based on the leaks, most of Icesun’s customers were local police departments and state security agencies responsible for safeguarding the Communist Party against perceived threats to its authority. The company offered assistance in securing devices and communications with many contracts listed as non-confidential.
There were indications of official corruption, with discussions of kickbacks in sales to law enforcement agencies. Complaints about business challenges in regions like Xinjiang were also highlighted.
The leak mentioned the company’s focus on creating Trojans, compiling personal information databases, and developing technology for various hacking purposes.
Who are the hackers?
The leak sheds light on the daily operations at mid-sized Chinese cybersecurity firms, revealing internal issues like office politics, technical shortcomings, low pay, and customer retention challenges.
Employee conversations included complaints about management decisions, such as extravagant purchases and salary disputes.
The leak illustrates a less flattering side of the operations at these companies, showcasing a mix of competence and ethical concerns.
The automobile industry disregarded warnings from over a decade ago about the risks of keyless technology in modern vehicles leading to a rise in vehicle thefts, as revealed by an investigation in the automotive sector. The observer can disclose.
Legal and computer experts had cautioned that keyless entry and vehicle software were vulnerable to being “hacked” due to inadequate security measures.
Findings indicated that car owners could potentially face theft without any evidence of forced entry in the future.
The surge in vehicle crimes through keyless entry has resulted in record hikes in car insurance costs, with some drivers now confronted with premiums exceeding £2,000 annually. Car thefts in England and Wales reached a decade-high in the year leading up to March 2023.
Observers discovered the following:
Devices camouflaged as gaming consoles, referred to as ’emulators’, are utilized by thieves to mimic electronic keys and steal vehicles within 20 seconds. This is applicable to Hyundai and Kia models.
The ‘smart’ devices are available for purchase online for up to £5,000, allowing criminals to breach a vehicle’s computer system and program a new key.
Police in various regions report a high rate of keyless car thefts and are resolving some cases within 24 hours, even with CCTV footage available.
Nick Freeman, an attorney specializing in the automotive industry, remarked: “The automotive sector was neglectful as they were forewarned about this new technology emerging. It’s a dire situation where individuals are compelled to pay exorbitant insurance premiums.
In November, Jaguar Land Rover announced a £10m investment to enhance the security of high-target car models manufactured between 2018 and 2022. The observer Investigations highlighted similar security vulnerabilities in other vehicles, prompting Hyundai to acknowledge this weekend that criminals had “utilized a device to unlawfully disable smart key lock systems” to access their vehicles. They affirmed the immediate implementation of preventive measures.
A report from 2011 by researchers at the University of California and the University of Washington indicated the potential for attacks on the software in contemporary cars, potentially allowing breaching the car’s telematics system to unlock doors and start the engine without authorization.
An article published in the April 2012 Computer Law and Security Review by specialist barrister Stephen Mason highlighted the vulnerability of keyless systems, warning that vehicles could be stolen without any forced entry unless security enhancements were introduced.
Mr. Mason expressed, “There was a sense of complacency and lack of concern in the automotive sector that hesitated to invest in proper security. We now have state-of-the-art cars with advanced technology, yet owners rely on traditional steering locks for theft protection.”
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) refutes claims of security lapses in the industry, suggesting it is engaged in an ongoing battle with criminals. SMMT CEO Mike Hawes stated: “Automakers continuously introduce new technology to outsmart criminals. This investment has significantly reduced vehicle theft over the past three decades.
“Manufacturers are continually strengthening their security systems, but technology alone cannot prevent all thefts, which is why our industry collaborates closely with law enforcement, insurers, and other security stakeholders.”
The Home Office reports an overall reduction in vehicle crime, including thefts from vehicles. A spokesperson emphasized the importance of law enforcement in addressing motor vehicle crime and commended their commitment to pursuing thorough investigations.
“We have made significant strides in combating vehicle crime, which has decreased by 39% since 2010. New regulations in the Criminal Justice Bill will outlaw electronic devices used in vehicle theft.”
I I eagerly anticipate chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen shared by a bio-based startup in San Francisco. Despite being diagnosed with pre-diabetes a few years back, I typically steer clear of sweets. However, I have a secret weapon – Monchi Monchi, a unique plant fiber-based drink mix designed to expand in the stomach like a sponge, soaking up sugar from food and preventing premature absorption.
The concept behind this product is that it can trap a significant amount of sugar, with laboratory tests showing it can absorb 6 grams of sugar per 1 gram of the mix. Various types of sugar like sucrose, glucose, fructose, and some simple starches can be sequestered. With each sachet containing just over 4 grams, the goal is to counteract the sugar in snacks and provide the gut with fiber replenishment. “How can you enjoy food without compromising your health? I believe we’ve found a solution,” shared Paolo Costa, the company’s co-founder and CEO, as he demonstrated mixing the powder with water and consuming it.
Welcome to the emerging technology of carbohydrate removal, which focuses on neutralizing carbohydrates post-consumption rather than pre-consumption. Despite the rising rates of diabetes and obesity, sugar substitutes, the main method for reducing sugar intake, fall short. They can alter the taste and texture of foods and raise safety concerns. Additionally, they do not stimulate the brain’s reward centers like sugar does. Sugar removal technology offers the enticing prospect of enjoying sugar in a healthier, guilt-free manner. John Topinka, the research and strategy director at Kraft Heinz, believes the entire food industry could benefit from such technology.
Launched in 2019, BioLumen introduced Monch Monch to the U.S. market as a supplement in November. Each granule, a unique microsponge, is composed of plant cellulose (insoluble fibers) infused with the company’s specialized hydrogel (soluble fibers) designed to soak up sugar. Priced at $150 (approximately £120) per month for two bags daily, the product is not widely available yet. However, BioLumen’s vision is to offer it as an ingredient for food manufacturers to incorporate into their products. Having already received “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) designation in the US, the company is actively working on lowering costs.
The chief medical officer and co-founders of BioLumen include Robert Lustig, a Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, known for raising awareness about the health risks of excessive sugar consumption. While presenting unpublished data from a small human trial showing reduced blood sugar spikes and insulin response with the product, Lustig emphasized the need for a larger, longer-term study to confirm the findings. Further tests, including stool studies, are necessary to determine the exact amount of excreted sugar and its overall efficacy in countering sugar intake.
a Sugar sponges are not the only solution being explored. Some are pursuing a different path by converting sugar into fiber in the intestines. This feat surpasses the digestive enzymes’ capabilities but can be achieved by integrating specific enzymes into foods in carefully measured quantities.
Researchers at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Bioinspired Engineering, in collaboration with Kraft Heinz, developed a method utilizing naturally occurring plant enzymes to convert sugars into fiber and encasing them in an edible coating.
The coating, made of fibers, keeps the enzymes dormant in the food while on shelves. In less acidic conditions in the intestines, the coating expands to release the enzymes that break down sugars into simpler components like glucose and fructose. Fructose is converted into soluble fiber, beneficial to the gut microbiome, producing inulin.
Most of the glucose, however, is still absorbed by the body. By encapsulating enzymes that convert glucose into fiber, the coating could potentially offer further benefits. Wyss plans to license this technology to a start-up for further testing and regulatory approval, with anticipated commercialization among US manufacturers in 2026.
Joining Wyss in the enzyme pathway is a British start-up, Zaya, formerly known as Inulox. Their product, Convero, is an enhanced version of a natural inulosucrase enzyme distinct from Wyss’s. Zya’s research shows that this substance, produced using genome-edited microorganisms, efficiently converts sugar into fiber in the intestines.
Through simulated gut models, Zya found that around 30% of carbohydrates are converted to fiber, primarily targeting fructose for conversion into inulin. This proposed change holds promise for humanity, potentially enabling impactful claims in the food industry. Initial pig studies on the natural enzyme showed no harm to the animals, with further studies planned for the enhanced version and human trials.
Requiring minimal amounts for efficacy, both Wyss’s and Zya’s enzymes are easily integrated into existing foods without significant modifications. While there may be an additional cost premium, it is deemed manageable. Zya aims to secure US regulatory approval as a food ingredient by 2026, with plans to expand into Europe and the UK.
Emphasizing functional claims over health claims, Zya focuses on the sugar-to-fiber conversion aspect. By making sugar more digestible, the company envisions a shift towards a more beneficial sugar consumption approach. “Enjoy sugar responsibly with improved digestion,” states Josh Sauer, CEO of Zya.
While these innovative techniques hold promise in mitigating sugar impact on the body, further research is necessary, notes Graham McGregor, charity chairman and professor at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London. Careful evaluation of clinical trials and safety considerations is crucial before widespread adoption of such products.
Despite the potential benefits, Professor Tim Spector, from King’s College London and co-founder of personal nutrition company Zoe, raises concerns about these products encouraging unhealthy food choices. Stressing the importance of whole foods and reducing ultra-processed products, Spector suggests focusing on a balanced diet. The technology offers tools to manage sugar intake but does not address other harmful food components, urging a holistic dietary approach.
While the future of sugar reduction technologies is promising, Lustig highlights the ongoing challenge of giving up sugar entirely. “We need all the tools we can get,” he concludes.
Mary Buckingham shares, “There’s a long-standing pioneer tradition, tracing back to the early days of settling the American West, where people freely shared bread starter with those who asked.”
Things were going smoothly until the arrival of TikTok.
Mr. Buckingham, a retired meteorologist from Greeley, Colorado, along with a small group of bread enthusiasts, have been sending out sourdough starter samples to individuals who send stamped envelopes for baking their own bread. As a demonstration of that generous tradition, we are offering you free shipping.
But this isn’t just any ordinary starter. The natural yeast and bacteria cultures in this mixture have been carefully nurtured and kept alive since 1847 when a pioneer family travelled from Missouri to Oregon in a covered wagon and settled there. The tradition has been handed down through generations.
For years, the 1847 Oregon Trail Sourdough Starter was known only to a select few.until Viral TikTok videos changed everything after an article posted last month.
Mary Buckingham currently records one of the many letters she receives at her Greeley, Colorado home. Photo: Andy Cross/Media News Group/Denver Post/Getty Images/DP
“It’s absolutely crazy,” Buckingham remarked. While they used to receive 30 to 60 requests per week for samples, this year they have already received 7,000. They are struggling to keep up. I enlisted my sister’s help for this task, but it’s just the two of us handling it.
She used to dedicate two to three hours a week to respond to requests, but no more. “I’m now spending all day, every day, every weekend, eight to 10 hours a day,” she said. “It’s really overwhelming. I haven’t taken a day off since this began.”
Sourdough, a naturally fermented mix of flour and water, has been used for centuries to make leavened bread before commercial yeast was introduced. While highly valued by many bread makers, careful upkeep is required to sustain the culture, which can potentially live indefinitely.
The origin of the 1847 starter can be traced back to Carl Griffith. Born in 1919, an Oregon attorney and U.S. Air Force veteran from World War II, he had been baking bread from the same sourdough batch since he was 10 years old. He later documentedthat his family inherited it from his great-grandfather’s family, Dr. John Savage, who settled in the western part of the state in 1847.
“We’re unsure where or when it originally originated from in the wild, as commercial bread starters weren’t available back then, but we’ve encountered many wild yeasts since then. Personally, I love it,” he noted.
Griffith gladly shared dried samples of his dough with anyone who asked, connecting with an online community of sourdough enthusiasts in the early days of the internet. When he passed away in 2000, his widow and the others decided to continue the tradition.
Mary Buckingham collects the most recent batch of letters at the Greeley post office. Photo: Andy Cross/Media News Group/Denver Post/Getty Images/DP
Although most members never met Griffith, they referred to themselves as “Carl’s Friends.”
“It was a good start, and the founders thought, ‘It’d be a shame to let this disappear.’ So, we established a small society,” Buckingham explained.
While she typically handles request sorting, another member in WA nurtures and dries the starter. Given the number of people who forget to include stamps, it’s more work than expected. With the surge in demand, “It has to diminish quickly,” meaning she’ll also jump in.
After expanding enough to cover eight Swiss rolls cans thinly, “the dough is tacky and stretchy, making it hard to fit into the cans,” then left in a warm and dry area. After two to four days, the mix is blended, tested, portioned into small bags, and packed into the incoming envelopes by the thousands.
“A robust, enduring, palatable, consistent starter is highly prized and always has been,” shared Mr. Buckingham, a bread baker since the 1960s when his mother showed him at age 11. Carl’s starter is “a solid, robust starter” that ferments beautifully without yeast.
Has it genuinely lived for 177 years? While it’s impossible to confirm, Buckingham remarks, “That’s how bread was made in the old days.”
Why does she continue despite the time commitment? “I think it’s a kind of passion. It’s heartening to see so many young people taking an interest in it. I hope they carry it forward.”
Sourdough is “like a little pet that you have to feed and keep alive. And if you don’t, it will perish. After a while, you might feel, ‘Oh, that’s too much work. It’s easier to buy bread locally.'”
I
In the demanding technical field of semiconductor manufacturing, hardcover book-sized processors stand out. Nvidia’s H-100. On Friday, the Santa Clara, Calif., company was valued at more than $2 trillion. The next step will likely be a chip named after U.S. Navy Rear Adm. “Amazing Grace” Hopper, who was instrumental in designing and implementing the programming language.
Nvidia supplies about 80% of the global market for chips used in AI applications. The company’s H-100 chips (the “H is for hopper”) are now so valuable that they have to be transported in armored vehicles, and demand is so great that some customers have to wait 6 months to receive it.
Hopper’s importance to Nvidia, and to AI computing more generally, was reinforced last summer when Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Fan announced the next generation accelerated computing and generation AI chip, the GH200 Grace Hopper. It was emphasized when they named it a Super Chip.
Admiral Grace Hopper in 1985. Photo: Associated Press
Hopper was born in New York City in 1906, graduated from Vassar College in 1928 with degrees in mathematics and physics, and joined the Navy after the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
According to a biography from Yale University, Initially rejected by the Navy because of her age and small stature, she was commissioned and assigned to Harvard University’s Ship Bureau Computation Project, where she worked on the Mark I, America’s first electromechanical computer, calculating the rocket’s trajectory and reaction force, aircraft gun range table, and minesweeper calibration.
After the war, Hopper joined the Eckhart-Mauchly Computer Corporation (later Sperry Rand), where she pioneered the idea of automatic programming. In 1952, she developed the first compiler, a program that translated written instructions into computer code.
“What I was looking for when I started learning English [programming] was to bring in another whole group who could easily use computers. I kept asking for a more user-friendly language. Most of what we have learned from academics and computer science people has never been adapted to humans,” Hopper explained in a 1980 interview.
Hopper retired as a rear admiral at age 79, making her the oldest active duty officer in the U.S. military. The year before her death in 1992, she was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President George H.W. Bush. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, in 2016.
In a 1983 interview on “60 Minutes”, Hopper was asked if the computer revolution was over. Hopper replied: “No, we’re just getting started. I got a Model T.”
Ben Newman, also known as Spudman, now spends more time taking selfies than selling jacket potatoes from his van in the heart of Tamworth.
His shop has become a TikTok sensation, attracting visitors from around the globe to sample his signature dishes – jacket potatoes topped with butter, cheese, and beans. However, Newman is bewildered by the sudden popularity.
He joins the ranks of other businesses like Binley Mega Chippy, Get Baked, and Wakey Wines that have gone viral on social media, drawing throngs of customers for various reasons, sometimes without rhyme or reason.
Despite the frenzy, Newman remains humble, recognizing that his success could happen anywhere. He serves a steady stream of customers lining up at his van for spuds, maintaining a focus on both excellent customer service and quality products.
Ben Newman’s business has flourished, necessitating the hiring of additional staff since October. Photo: Fabio de Paola/The Guardian
Newman’s social media presence, showcased through daily TikTok videos and live streams from his van, has garnered over 44 million likes. He started using the platform to attract customers post-COVID-19, but the real breakthrough came last October, requiring him to expand his team to meet the demand.
To leverage this newfound fame, Newman is partnering with singer Tom Walker for a promotional event featuring over 2,000 jacket potatoes, possibly held in the town square.
Similarly to Binley Mega Chippy, Spudman has become a TikTok sensation, drawing curious visitors from far and wide.
Apple is hitting back at Spotify over an ongoing competition case filed in the EU, which could lead to significant fines if Apple is found guilty.
The federation has completed its investigation into allegations of anti-competitive behavior by Apple regarding the App Store rules for the music streaming service and is expected to levy a fine of €500m (£425m). Apple accused Spotify of seeking access to its tools without paying for them.
Spotify, based in Stockholm, lodged a complaint with the EU in 2019, alleging that the App Store rules restrict choice and competition by imposing a 30% fee on purchases, including music streaming subscriptions. Spotify argued that this fee gives Apple an unfair advantage over its own competing Apple Music streaming service.
Apple responded by stating that Spotify does not offer subscriptions through the App Store, hence does not pay any fees to Apple in the EU.
The European Commission, after a lengthy investigation, found no evidence of consumer harm or anti-competitive behavior by Apple in this market. Apple criticized EU regulators for the prolonged investigation.
Spotify, with over 50% market share in Europe, has access to various advertising channels outside of the App Store to inform users how to subscribe, including email marketing and social media.
Apple also stated that the investigation may further solidify Spotify’s dominant position in the market, rather than fostering competition.
When Spotify filed its complaint in 2019, founder Daniel Ek accused Apple of implementing rules in the App Store that suppress innovation and limit choices.
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