“Robots and AI models share one crucial characteristic,” writes the Washington Post. “Whether to move around, conduct conversations or solve problems, they function by constantly taking in and computing increasingly vast quantities of data. It’s a brute-force approach to automation. Processing all that data makes them such energy guzzlers that their planet-warming pollution could outweigh
Read MoreIt’s weighs less than 15 pounds. It’s 17 inches wide. And in June Elon Musk said it was “easily carried in a backpack. This product will change the world.” And now, CNET reports: Calling all digital nomads and van-lifers: SpaceX’s Starlink Mini is now available everywhere in the US. The small antenna costs $599 and
Read MorePolitico asked an “array of thinkers — futurists, scientists, foreign policy analysts and others — to lay out some of the possible ‘Black Swan’ events that could await us in the new year: What are the unpredictable, unlikely episodes that aren’t yet on the radar but would completely upend American life as we know it?”
Read MoreIf we dissolve acid-neutralizing rocks in the ocean, will it absorb more carbon dioxide? Climate ventures and philanthropic funders have been spending millions of dollars to find out, reports the Washington Post. “Researchers have been exploring this technology for the last five years, but over the last two months, at least a couple of start-ups
Read More“The Washington Post’s crossword puzzle was recently deemed too offensive for advertisers,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “So was an article about thunderstorms. And a ranking of boxed brownie mixes. “Marketers have long been wary about running ads in the news media, concerned that their brands will land next to pieces about terrorism or plane
Read MoreRemember that massive botnet run by Chinese government hackers? Flax Typhoon “compromised computer networks in North America, Europe, Africa, and across Asia, with a particular focus on Taiwan,” according to the U.S. Treasury Department. (The group’s botnet breaching this autumn affected “at least 260,000 internet-connected devices,” reports the Washington Post, “roughly half of which were
Read MoreImage: Samar Haddad for The Verge The year in tech kicks off with a jam-packed week of gadget news. Read the full story at The Verge.
Read MoreCredit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m not the biggest One UI connoisseur. I dabble with a spare Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra that my boss bought in the hopes I’d get familiar with Samsung, but try as I might, I still know way, way, way more about
Read MoreAs UK workers face a tougher-than-usual January return to offices, many large employers, including Amazon, BT, PwC, and Santander, are enforcing stricter in-person attendance mandates. The Guardian reports: As of 1 January, BT is requiring its 50,000 office-based employees across the UK and several other countries to attend three days a week in what it
Read MorePlus: The FBI discovers a historic trove of homemade explosives, new details emerge in China’s hack of the US Treasury Department, and more.
Read MoreIn 2024, Americans spent 23% less on streaming subscriptions compared to 2023, driven by rising costs, streaming fatigue, and increased password-sharing restrictions. The findings have been reported in Review’s annual State of Consumer Media Spending Report. TechSpot reports: Of those surveyed, 27.8 percent said they are experiencing streaming fatigue – or the feeling of being
Read MoreMacworld You might’ve thought your international flight would be your highest travel expense, but just wait until you see how much your phone carrier charges for international data plans. Instead of paying T-Mobile or Verizon a fortune, get aloSIM, a digital SIM card that offers affordable data packages. This lifetime eSIM is now $24.97 and comes
Read MoreMacworld You might’ve thought your international flight would be your highest travel expense, but just wait until you see how much your phone carrier charges for international data plans. Instead of paying T-Mobile or Verizon a fortune, get aloSIM, a digital SIM card that offers affordable data packages. This lifetime eSIM is now $24.97 and comes
Read MoreCornell Tech researchers have developed a portable device called SoilScanner that uses radio frequency signals and machine learning to detect lead contamination in soil. It offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods of testing that “generally involves either sending samples to a lab for analysis, which relies upon harsh chemicals and can be expensive, or
Read MoreCornell Tech researchers have developed a portable device called SoilScanner that uses radio frequency signals and machine learning to detect lead contamination in soil. It offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods of testing that “generally involves either sending samples to a lab for analysis, which relies upon harsh chemicals and can be expensive, or
Read MoreAn anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: China’s commerce ministry has proposed export restrictions on some technology used to make battery components and process critical minerals lithium and gallium, a document, opens new tab issued on Thursday showed. If implemented, they would be the latest in a series of export restrictions and bans targeting
Read MoreAn anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: China’s commerce ministry has proposed export restrictions on some technology used to make battery components and process critical minerals lithium and gallium, a document, opens new tab issued on Thursday showed. If implemented, they would be the latest in a series of export restrictions and bans targeting
Read MoreAn anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: China’s commerce ministry has proposed export restrictions on some technology used to make battery components and process critical minerals lithium and gallium, a document, opens new tab issued on Thursday showed. If implemented, they would be the latest in a series of export restrictions and bans targeting
Read MoreCredit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Are you looking to get a new laptop? While we’re an Android-focused publication, we can appreciate when Apple does good things. So much so that we’ve previously mentioned that Apple MacBook Air models are the best portable laptops for most people. Especially if you can get them at a
Read MoreCredit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Are you looking to get a new laptop? While we’re an Android-focused publication, we can appreciate when Apple does good things. So much so that we’ve previously mentioned that Apple MacBook Air models are the best portable laptops for most people. Especially if you can get them at a
Read MoreApple has officially announced its first fiscal quarter 2025 earnings call will be held on January 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Apple earnings call to be held on January 30 The biggest quarter of the year for Apple has historically been the holiday one as it combines the gift-giving season with the first full quarter
Read MoreCredit: Dyson Do you ever walk into your local tech store and see those fancy Dyson fans? They are so cool, but I always had a hard time justifying their unreasonably high prices, especially when you can get a perfectly working, not-so-cool-looking regular fan for about $50 bucks. Well, here’s a deal that is much
Read MoreBluetooth trackers come in all shapes and sizes. | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge For those of us who don’t ever seem to know where our keys, wallets, and remote controls have gone. Read the full story at The Verge.
Read MoreImage: Laura Normand / The Verge Apple CEO Tim Cook is the next tech exec to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration committee, according to Axios. Cook’s donation follows similar commitments from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos through Amazon, and Meta as Big Tech companies and executives work to curry
Read MoreImage: Samsung Samsung and Google are ready to push a new standard, Eclipsa Audio. This format will enable 3D audio experiences on certain YouTube videos later this year, with support available across Samsung’s 2025 lineup of TVs and soundbars. Over the years, Samsung notably hasn’t supported Dolby Vision HDR for dynamic HDR metadata, choosing instead
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