Tech
Hypebeast Africa x Samsung Culture Scouts: “A Night in the Life”
Having captured their “Home Away From Home” last month, the Hypebeast Africa Culture Scouts now return to showcase the most vibrant nightlife spots in their hometowns.With all content shot using the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the scouts channel a different area of South Africa’s vast creative landscape. From restaurants to cultural experiences, they each deliver a unique take on this brief. One thing that is a key constant, however, is the shared sentiment that Thursdays are the new Fridays for South Africa’s creative community. “The first Thursday of the month always brings new energy to the art scene and sees a bunch of events happening in every corner,” photographer Teboho Hlatshwayo explains.Explore which places the Hypebeast Africa Culture Scouts visited to meet this brief and what...
Amazon to Give Alexa Generative AI Capabilities
Amazon has unveiled a significant update to its iconic voice assistant, Alexa -- specifically the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.The heart of this transformation is a custom-built Large Language Model (LLM) that has been fine-tuned for voice interactions. This model will not only provide swift access to real-time information and control home devices seamlessly but is also designed to provide an elevated entertainment experience for users.One of the standout features of this Alexa upgrade is its advanced conversational capability. By cleverly integrating input from Echo's various sensors, including voice and camera, Alexa can now better comprehend non-verbal cues, ensuring responses are timely, relevant, and concise. Additionally, this adaptation allows ...
Spotify’s “Jam” Lets You Pass The Aux … Without Even Having To Get Up
If Spotify's "daylist" is your new best friend, Spotify's "Jam" is your friend group's new mediator, saving you the heated arguments and animated disputes that may come with curating a playlist that properly combines everyone in your friend group's distinct tastes. Spotify's newest feature, aptly named Jam, offers up a shared aux. Building on the platform's already existing personalization and collaboration features, Jam gives listeners a seamless, personalized, real-time listening experience that they can share with up to 31 other people.With Jam, users can engage in shared listening sessions with up to 32 total Spotify users. Here's how: one Premium Spotify user has to start the jam by clicking the “Start a Jam” button. The user can then invite other Spotify users – via link, QR code or ...
Jony Ive is reportedly developing an AI gadget with OpenAI’s Sam Altman
/ The two are reportedly discussing what the ‘new hardware for the AI age could look like.’ Altman recently worked with Ive protégé Thomas Meyerhoffer to develop the Orb retina scanner. a:hover]:text-black [&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-black dark:[&>a:hover]:text-gray-e9 dark:[&>a:hover]:shadow-underline-gray-63 [&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-13 dark:[&>a]:shadow-underline-gray-63″>Altman recently called on former Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoffer — a Jony Ive hire — to create the retina-scanning Orb (pictured) for Altman’s Worldcoin crypto project.
London’s Creatives Go Behind the Lens at Polaroid’s Hypebeast Flea Photography Studio
Last weekend, London welcomed the first-ever Hypebeast Flea – a shopping event hosting the city’s most exciting businesses in fashion, lifestyle and beyond. Within the action, Polaroid was invited to curate its own space which introduced guests to its latest line-up of products as well as a competition and hands-on instant photography experience. The brand’s stall was constructed around a curved backdrop featuring a professional studio lighting set-up on the inside and photo exhibition along with a line-up of products decorating the outer. The assortment of brightly-colored attractions came together to showcase the possibilities of modern-day Polaroid, highlighting how its renowned instant functions have now been developed for shooting in any scenario.Though its collection of cameras, spea...
Spotify and OpenAI To Replicate Podcasters’ Voices and Translate Them To Other Languages
Spotify and OpenAI are joining forces to turn podcasts into different languages.According to reports, the cornerstone of the feature will be OpenAI's voice tool Whisper, which can transcribe English speech and translate other languages to English. Spotify's elevated version, however, will be able to replicate the voice/s of the podcast's host/s and translate the episode into a completely different language. "By matching the creator’s own voice, Voice Translation gives listeners around the world the power to discover and be inspired by new podcasters in a more authentic way than ever before,” Ziad Sultan, Spotify’s vice president of personalization, said in a statement.As of writing, the tool can translate English episodes into Spanish, although Spotify plans to expand the feature for Frenc...
The new WGA contract will change how Hollywood works
/ Historic raises and guarantees on AI use will have major ramifications in Hollywood, but the new transparency in streaming data means Netflix and Disney Plus will have to change how they work.
The Writers Guild of America’s strike is over
/ A new deal goes through 2026, with new regulations on the use of AI tools on movies and TV shows, plus promises of streaming data transparency and viewer-based bonuses. 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 Mario Tama / Getty Images After a nearly five-month-long strike, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is telling its members to lower their picket signs. In a post, the WGA said its Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board, and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the three-year agreement reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. They will end...
Eufy’s new X8 Pro robot vacuum can detangle hair automatically
/ The new Eufy Clean X8 Pro robot vacuum has an auto-reverse roller brush that uses a comb to detangle hair, then automatically empties it (and the dirt) into its dock. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. 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”>Image: Eufy Anker’s Eufy division has a new robot vacuum cleaner with more powerful suction than its other offerings, and which can automatically detangle hair and pet fur from its bottom roller brush. The new $649.99 Eufy Clean X8 Pro vacuum is available to purch...
CMF by Nothing Launches Its First Three Products in New Tech Portfolio
London-based tech company Nothing has launched its brand-new CMF umbrella and it's presented its first portfolio of three new products: Buds Pro, Watch Pro, and Power 65W GaN.Each fresh introduction by CMF by Nothing has been engineered to deliver timeless and functional design, archived through a careful selection of colors, materials, and finishes to capitalize on Nothing's core functionalities of offering great value to its users.The new collection starts with the CMF Buds Pro, which has been crafted with noise cancellation and a depth of up to 45 dB by capturing an extensive frequency range of sounds up to 5000 Hz. This wide frequency range eliminates a broader spectrum of background noises and in turn, creates a more immersive audio experience in busy and loud environments.Additionall...
EU Declares X Has Highest Rate of Disinformation Among Social Media Apps
The EU is urging Elon Musk to address rampant disinformation on X, formerly known as Twitter. The European Commission, an executive body of the EU, conducted a six-month study on the circulation of fake news across social media platforms.Chief among them was X, which was reported to have the highest rate of disinformation. Researchers considered discoverability, a term referring to the ratio of disinformation shown among “sensitive content.” They also took note of account engagement and the overall number of users on a platform.When it comes to disinformation, “Twitter has the highest discoverability,” the report read.X notably decided to leave the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation back in May. Since then, the app has rolled out its own user-run fact-checking system called Community ...
Logitech now sells a $299 folding chair
/ Logitech G’s new Playseat Challenge X is a racing sim cockpit that folds away when you’re not using it. a]:text-gray-13″>If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. 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”>Image: Logitech Logitech’s gaming division, Logitech G, has teamed up with gaming chair company Playseat to make a fancy foldable racing sim cockpit chair that can be stowed in your closet when not in use. At $299, this budget option to get your race on at home is still pretty steep, but it’s cheaper than the companies’ last ...
