Tech
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to PS4 and Xbox One
/ The game launched first on Sony and Microsoft’s newer consoles, but now it’s on the way for older hardware.
Facebook and Instagram start blocking news in Canada
/ Meta is protesting a Canadian law obliging it to negotiate with and pay news publishers for their content by blocking news links shared on its platforms. 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: Nick Barclay / The Verge Meta has begun blocking all news content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada, a change it expects all users in the country to see within “the next few weeks.” That’s in response to the country’s Online News Act, which would require tech companies like Meta and Google to negotiate with and pay publishers for their news content. The blocks don’t just apply to news pu...
Lotus Cars Partners with KEF for Limited Edition LS60 Speaker Set
Renowned British car maker Lotus Cars has teamed up with British audio solutions company KEF to produce a limited edition run of Lotus-branded LS60 Wireless speakers -- one of the brand's most powerful home audio offerings.Founded in Maidstone, Kent in 1961, KEF has continued its aim of producing high-end audio products that look as good as they sound. Some of its most popular offerings include HiFi speakers, subwoofers, architecture speakers, wireless speakers and headphones.As for the KEF LS60 Wireless Lotus Edition, the brand has opted for a very scaled-back approach and subtle branding elements. Details include a finish in an iconic British racing green, often found on Lotus vehicles, as well as subtle lettering in gold at the front reading "Lotus NYO" and "Lotus Edition" in green at t...
Uber Reports Operating Profit for First Time in Company History
Uber has shared its second-quarter earnings for 2023, including, for the first time ever, its quarterly operating profit. The company published the earnings on Tuesday morning, clocking a net income of $394 million USD.From the same time last year, Uber brought in an additional $1 billion USD. This number was up $588 million USD from its first quarter of 2023.The company's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that “cost discipline” helped to drive the increase in net income, reporting that there was a 22% increase in trips taken, equating to about 25 million per day for the quarter.Uber also pointed to new business initiatives, such as the growth of its Uber One subscription plan in new regions. For $9.99 USD a month, offers discounted rides, priority service and no delivery fee on food via Uber Eat...
Apple has joined Pixar’s push to standardize 3D content creation
/ Apple’s participation in the Alliance for OpenUSD alongside Nvidia, Adobe, and Autodesk should provide visionOS developers with a more robust set of 3D tools. 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: JigSpace Apple, Adobe, Pixar, Nvidia, and Autodesk are teaming up to promote open standards for the creation of 3D content. In a press release, the companies announced the formation of the Alliance for OpenUSD, which will drive the “standardization, development, evolution, and growth” of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description (USD) technology. Pixar describes USD as the “first open-sourc...
Facebook moderation is lacking for gender-based violence
/ A loophole within Meta’s bullying and harassment policy enabled a Facebook post depicting a victim of domestic violence to remain on the platform for almost two years. 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″>The board wants Meta to patch up the policy loopholes that allowed content promoting gender-based violence to slip through moderation.
Chevy’s Blazer EV starts shipping, and the electric SUV will cost buyers a little extra
/ Chevrolet’s all-electric Blazer SUV could cost $10,000 more than previously announced, depending on which version you’re waiting for. 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 Andrew Hawkins / The Verge Chevy’s Blazer EV is now going to cost interested buyers quite a bit more. Customers who have ordered the all-wheel-drive RS trim of the electric SUV will see their prices jump to $60,215, up from its original announcement of $51,995. After destination fees, customers can expect to pay about $10,000 more for the 2024 Blazer EV RS AWD, which dealers will start to receive in August....
Google will “supercharge” Assistant with AI that’s more like ChatGPT and Bard
/ Google laid off parts of the team that works on Assistant as it focuses on using generative AI. 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 Google is planning to update Assistant with features powered by generative AI, according to a report from Axios. In an email obtained by the outlet, Google tells staff members that it has already started exploring a “supercharged” Assistant powered by the newest large language models (LLM), similar to the technology behind ChatGPT and Google’s own Bard chatbot. According to the email, “A portion of the team has already started wo...
Elon Musk’s extravagant “X” sign atop the former Twitter HQ has been dismantled
/ Neighbors immediately started complaining about a flashing and strobing X sign constructed on top of the downtown San Francisco office building. 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″>Workers prepare to dismantle a large X logo on the roof of X headquarters on July 31st, 2023, in San Francisco, California.
Microsoft’s repairability push now extends to Xbox controllers, too
/ The Xbox team has first-party repair kits, instructions, and videos to fix standard and Elite Series 2 Xbox gamepads. 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″>DualSense Edge stick replacement diagram.
Meta Threads Updated With ‘Following’ and ‘Translations’ Features
Meta’s Threads is being updated with a few new features widely requested by users. A few weeks after its launch, the Twitter competitor has been listening to its newfound user base to gauge what they want from the text-based app.Among the most requested features is a “Following” feed that will display content exclusively from those a user follows. The new feed is similar to the same format it takes on Instagram. Previously, Threads only had a “For You page, showing recommended content.The “Following” page will display posts in chronological order, an organization that many users on Instagram prefer.“Ask and you shall receive,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in response to a user’s request for the “Following” tab.The Threads update will also encompass “Translations,” which takes text posts and a...
Marshall Unveils Revitalized Versions of Its Classic Studio JTM Amplifier
In celebration of what would have been Jim Marshall's 100th birthday and to also pay homage to its first-ever amplifier, British amp manufacturer, Marshall has presented the latest addition to its Studio series -- and it's a revitalized version of the brand's JTM amp, which was first produced in 1962.The new Studio JTM range -- which has been handmade in Marshall's UK-based factory in Milton Keynes -- welcomes four unique products in the form of a 20W head, 20W combination amp, 1 x 12” and 2 x 12", with each creation complemented with period-correct aesthetics, such as Marshall's classic red "Coffin" logo and the iconic fawn fret.Additionally, the original JTM45 received stellar co-signs from the likes of rock music legends, Gary Moore, Richie Blackmore, and Angus Young. The trio praised t...
