Tech
Meta wants Threads to be the “de facto platform” for online public conversations
/ It’s a big goal, but things have been going well for Threads lately. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Illustration: The Verge Instagram boss Adam Mosseri has high ambitions for Threads: he wants it to become the “de facto platform for public conversations online,” he said on Friday. Big statement to make on the one-year anniversary of Elon Musk taking over Twitter! Meta’s aspirations came up as part of a question Mosseri answered in an AMA: “What do you think ‘success’ looks like for Threads in one year?” “We’re actually debating this right now internally,” Mosseri said. “I do th...
X Lost Users & Ad Revenue A Year After Elon Musk Bought It
This news should surprise NO ONE. X (formerly known as Twitter) is a hot a** mess; users have bounced, and it is not bringing in any ad revenue.
Sarah Bond Promoted To President of Xbox, Gamers Salute Her
We are quickly seeing the aftereffects of Xbox’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. Xbox is reorganizing its leadership structure, and Sara Bond is rising in the ranks. Following the $69 billion acquisition was FINALLY approved, Microsoft and Xbox have begun moving with way more confidence after walking on eggshells, hoping regulatory agencies would give them […]
Apple Is Reportedly Revamping Its Entire AirPods Line
One of the main pulls of Apple’s new-gen AirPods is the model’s active noise-cancellation capabilities. Nowadays seems that ANC is not merely in demand but expected to be included in most headphones.Apple planning to revamp its entire line of AirPods, new and old, with ANC, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, citing those with knowledge of the matter.Right now, Apple just offers a second-generation model and a third-gen edition, which launched in 2019 and 2021 respectively.In addition to bringing ANC to both of those models, Gurman reports that Apple is also gearing up to update the design of the buds, their cases and their overall audio quality. The revamped buds are expected to replace the previous versions in 2024 ahead of a fourth-gen.The following year, Apple will also debut a new m...
Leica’s New M11-P Camera Features Built-In Content Authentication
Leica’s latest camera seeks to address a complex issue in artistic content creation today: having to prove ownership of one’s work. The M11-P is billed as the “world’s first” camera to “attach content credentials to images at the point of capture,” making it easier to prove authenticity later on.In the age of AI, proving the rightful ownership of content has become a hot topic among artists and lawmakers alike. With the M11-P, the metadata for each image corresponds with the credential standards set forth by the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI).“Each image captured on the Leica M11-P receives a digital signature backed by a CAI-compliant certificate, the authenticity of which can be easily verified at any time using a freely available, open-source CAI tool,” Leica says.As for the came...
Hertz is scaling back its EV ambitions because its Teslas keep getting damaged
/ Also, Uber drivers, who are using about half of Hertz’s Teslas, are damaging their cars more than Hertz expected. a:hover]:text-gray-63 [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63 dark:[&>a]:text-gray-bd dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray”>Photo by Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images for Hertz Rental car company Hertz once envisioned itself as the ultimate EV broker, doling out battery-powered vehicles to business travelers, ridehail drivers, and tech newbies in an ambitious plan to grease the wheels for the EV revolution. The company inked agreements with Tesla and Polestar to buy nearly 200,000 EVs. Tesla’s valuation topped $1 trillion on the news. But like many other aspec...
Elon Musk’s Twitter, one year later
Twitter – X It’s been a year of personal grudges, harebrained rebrands, and jolting policy shifts. And those aren’t even the worst parts. By Jay Peters, a news editor who writes about technology, video games, and virtual worlds. He’s submitted several accepted emoji proposals to the Unicode Consortium. Share this story
Disney’s Loki Called Out Over Alleged Use of AI in Poster Design
One of Disney's Loki Season 2 posters has caused quite a stir amongst fans, as they've alleged that generative AI was used in its design process.Despite the latest season being reported to have cost $141.3 Million USD to produce, one fan shared "Disney too cheap to pay an artist to do their Loki promotional art, so we get this ugly AI shit again." The fan pointed out how the figures on the incline looked unnatural and that the AI seemed to apparently not know the Roman numeral four, which was one of the primary hints that AI was used.With nearly five months of Hollywood writers' strikes coming to a close, largely centered around the impact of AI on the profession, it is clear that entertainment professionals are concerned over the negative impact the technology might have and the security ...
NANUK’s New Softpack Is Built To Protect Your Gear From the Elements
NANUK has rolled out its first-ever softpacks, beginning with the N-PVD 30L backpack. Building on the Canadian brand’s legacy of highly protective cases and bags, the sleek new backpack maintains that ethos without compromising aesthetics or comfort.From the outside, the N-PVD simply appears as a shiny softpack that spans the length of most wearer’s full back. The exterior lining is made of recycled polyester and then coated with a special finish. Free from both PFOA and PFCs, the coating is environmentally friendly and ensures that the gear stays completely dry, even in a downpour. 9 aluminum hooks are located throughout the pack to allow for oversized attachments, such as a tripod, and to prevent its contents from being jostled around.Opening up the pack, it’s almost surprising just how ...
Elon Musk gives X employees one year to replace your bank
/ “You won’t need a bank account… it would blow my mind if we don’t have that rolled out by the end of next year.”
Bowers & Wilkins Collaborates With McLaren Automotive for New Zeppelin Wireless Speaker
Following the success of the Px* McLaren Edition headphones, Bowers & Wilkins has created a specially designed version of its Zeppelin wireless speaker, featuring a refined "Galvanic Grey" finish and subtle "Papaya Orange" highlights inspired by McLaren Automotive’s design approach.The design reflects McLaren's technical and performance-led aesthetic, with the Zeppelin McLaren Edition offering the high-performance sound quality synonymous with Bowers & Wilkins, coupled with a design that connects fans of McLaren cars to the visual identity of the McLaren brand.Designed as a complete stereo system in one component and a wireless smart speaker reimagined for the streaming age, it features reference-quality drive unit technologies arranged in dedicated left and right speaker assemblie...
SpaceX’s Starlink To Launch Satellite-Based SMS Services in 2024
SpaceX's Starlink has revealed plans to launch a satellite-based SMS service, Direct-to-Cell, in 2024, as shown via its recent promotional website.Testing for the services, in partnership with T-Mobile, was first revealed earlier this year and while its 2024 launch is highly anticipated, it will be limited to SMS service, with voice, data and IoT features not expected to be added until 2025.Once it reaches its final form, Direct-to-Cell aims to offer an all-encompassing connectivity solution for texting, calling, and internet browsing across diverse terrains -- enabling "ubiquitous access to texting, calling and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters," according to the site.As part of the partnership with T-Mobile, the cell provider is dedicating a portion of its 5G...
