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Showing posts from August, 2021

Here’s why Apple is making an app just for classical music lovers

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Listening to classical music on streaming services can be a pain, to say the least. Sure, regular streaming services are fine if you only want the occasional hit of the Moonlight Sonata when you’re feeling emo, but most streaming services just aren’t built for the way classical enthusiasts regularly search for and listen to music. Apple wants to fix that. The company announced this week that it bought Primephonic, a streaming service that sought to address many of the common grievances classical music lovers have when they’re just trying to get down with some Mahler. Apple said it would start… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Apple from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3mTpKjE

What It'll Take to Get Power Back in New Orleans After Ida

It could take weeks to get the lights on in parts of Louisiana, but the playbook on how to do it is clear. from Security Latest https://ift.tt/3gOeC3V

Paradox announces first new expansion for Surviving Mars since 2019

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Paradox Interactive today announced Below and Beyond, an all-new expansion for Surviving Mars, marking the the title’s first major update since 2019. Hooray! Surviving Mars is an experience unlike any other. Equal parts survival game and city-builder (you get to build the beautiful Martian colony of your dreams but if you screw up everyone dies), the game tasks you with exploiting the red planet on behalf of your sponsors. The news: long-time Paradox Interactive fans already know the drill. A typical Paradox DLC expansion usually involves a plethora of updates including new mechanics and entirely new ways of playing the… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3DJCorE

Scientists claim humans could safely fly to Mars (if they’re back within four years)

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your online ticket now! The race to get humans to Mars is heating up. China recently joined the USA in targeting the 2030s for crewed missions to the planet, but both their plans face enormous hurdles. One of the main concerns is the threat posed by particle radiation from the sun, stars, and galaxies. These particles could increase the risk of cancer or cause acute radiation sickness during missions. New radiation modeling suggests… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3t4am4U

Why the Pentagon’s probably drooling over the upcoming Age of Empires 4 launch

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Microsoft, a company with numerous military contracts, has brazenly admitted it intends to train an artificial intelligence agent to become “unbeatable” by humans in war simulations. Feel free to run amok in a fugue state of panic at your own discretion, but I should point out it’s for a video game. Of course, that doesn’t really make it any less scary. Up front: an upcoming real-time strategy game titled Age of Empires 4 is set to release on Xbox Game Pass at the end of October. It’s being developed by Relic and published by Xbox Game Studios. Kotaku’s Alex Walker… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3t3InCL

Climate change is an infrastructure problem, just look at this EV charger map

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Most of America’s 107,000 gas stations can fill several cars every five or 10 minutes at multiple pumps. Not so for electric vehicle chargers – at least not yet. Today the U.S. has around 43,000 public EV charging stations, with about 106,000 outlets. Each outlet can charge only one vehicle at a time, and even fast-charging outlets take an hour to provide 180-240 miles’ worth of charge; most take much longer. The existing network is acceptable for many purposes. But chargers are very unevenly distributed; almost a third of all outlets are in California. This makes EVs problematic for long trips, like the 550 miles of… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3DrecKi

Bose’s QuietComfort 45 headphones cancel more noise and last longer

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Bose‘s QuietComfort 35 were some of the most popular headphones of the last few years due to their intense noise canceling, cozy design, and solid sound quality (don’t @ me audiophiles).  Today the company released an updated version of the classic, the fittingly-named QuietComfort 45. The headphones are priced at $329, which puts them a notch below the $380 Bose 700 that was the ostensible successor to the QuietComfort line (they’re also a little cheaper than the QC35 II, which cost $349 at launch). They offer a new noise cancellation system that is better at eliminating mid-range frequencies “typically found… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3t0NFid

GPT-3 mimics human love for ‘offensive’ Reddit comments, study finds

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your online ticket now! Chatbots are getting better at mimicking human speech — for better and for worse. A new study of Reddit conversations found chatbots replicate our fondness for toxic language. The analysis revealed that two prominent dialogue models are almost twice as likely to agree with “offensive” comments than with “safe” ones. Offensive contexts The researchers, from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Washington, explored contextually offensive language by… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Reddit from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3BxoDKJ

This Blade X 4K drone has a pair of HD cameras, motion gesture piloting — and it’s less than $90

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TLDR: With a pair of HD cameras and a vast array of flight features, the Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K Dual Camera Drone is a stellar aircraft, especially at a price under $100. From real estate pictures to adventuring to filmmaking, the capabilities of a drone in the minds of an inventive thinker are positively enormous. And now that crafts are standardizing and loading up with features so quickly, the sky is quickly becoming the limit for everything from business uses to flat out fun. The Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K Dual Camera Drone ($89, 55 percent off, from TNW… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3Ds1Phf

World’s first cobalt-free EV batteries finally launched — here’s why it matters

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Chinese EV battery manufacturer SVOLT has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first cobalt-free battery. At Chengdu Motor Show the company showcased its innovative battery pack inside an Ora Cherry Cat from Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors.  And that’s definitely good news. Credit: Ora The Ora Cherry Cat. Why we need cobalt alternatives As the world moves towards reducing carbon emissions, demand for electrified transport has been rising. Most of today’s electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries, which require cobalt during their production and operation. That’s because cobalt is crucial for boosting energy density and battery life, as it… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3zxGUH8

S-Korea’s new law forces Google and Apple to change in-app payments

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hatSouth Korea passed a landmark bill today that will force Apple and Google to open up their app stores to alternative payment methods. The country’s national assembly passed the bill after the special parliament committee voted in favor of it last week. The bill is an amendment to the country’s telecommunication act that will stop companies like Apple and Google from using their in-app purchase system in app stores exclusively. If any app store operator fails to comply they’ll have to pay 3% of their South Korean revenue. Both companies have faced scrutiny the world over related to the commission… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Apple from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3DwMUlU

Windows 11 officially releases on October 5, but you might not get it until 2022

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Windows 11 has a release date, and it’s a fair bit sooner than many of us anticipated. Microsoft today announced that its new OS would begin to roll out on October 5 — just a few weeks away. On that date, an update for the new OS will begin to roll out to users on fully compatible devices, but it’s also when the first new devices preloaded with Windows 11 will become available in stores. As with its larger Windows 10 updates, Microsoft is using a phased, very gradual update rollout, which means casual users may have to wait until… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Windows from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3sYeSSI

The secret bias hidden in mortgage-approval algorithms

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The new four-bedroom house in Charlotte, N.C., was Crystal Marie and Eskias McDaniels’s personal American dream, the reason they had moved to this Southern town from pricey Los Angeles a few years ago. A lush, long lawn, 2,700 square feet of living space, a neighborhood pool and playground for their son, Nazret. All for $375,000. Prequalifying for the mortgage was a breeze. They said they had saved much more than they would need for the down payment, had very good credit—scores of 805 and 725—and earned roughly six figures each, she in marketing at a utility company and Eskias representing… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3t0OqYA

How China is restricting kids’ online gaming to a mere 3 hours a week

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Welcome to another episode of China regulating technology, and today’s news is about gaming restrictions. In a set of new rules, the country has restricted children to only three hours of online gaming per week. If you think this means kids can play games for three hours any time of the week, you’re wrong. The administration has allowed online gaming from 8PM to 9PM on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. This feels like my parents setting dedicated time for TV around school exams. These rules build on restrictions issued in 2019, where children aged under 18 were allowed 90… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/38tvSH6

Here’s how you move customer experience to self-service

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Did you know Growth Quarters is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will share key insights into entrepreneurship during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your ticket now! It is in human nature to try automating repetitive tasks, look for tools that make them more productive, and optimize work to save time… but how? The sales systems my team created have to process hundreds of thousands of orders per month, and more than 99% of these orders are fully self-service, meaning that there has been absolutely no sales team touch before the order was placed… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Customer Experience from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3Bt5rO0

Instagram will demand your date of birth for safety — and ads, of course

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Instagram is making a new change to its policy, that will require users to submit their date of birth to the company. If you don’t share your birthday after repeated reminders, you won’t be able to use the service. The company said that this feature will help it improve user safety, and allow the platform to build out more features to that end. Over the past few months, Instagram has built a ton of tools related to teen safety. In March, it rolled out an AI-powered feature to prevent adults from messaging kids. Last month, it made all new accounts… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Instagram from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3BtSnIu

Google parodies Apple and Jony Ive in ridiculous Pixel 5a commercial

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The Pixel 5a is a really good phone. It also happens to have a headphone jack. Google really wants you to know this fact. I present to you the most passionate description of a 3.5mm orifice you’ll see today: And I love every second of it. Strong Apple vibes. Can we get this Jony Ive impersonator to do every Pixel ad? Thanks. That said, considering the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro probably won’t come with a headphone jack, this feels just a little ironic. But hey, marketing departments have gotta do their jobs. Did you know we have a newsletter… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Apple from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2V0SpI9

No, the iPhone 13 probably won’t support satellite connectivity

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A few days ago, the usually-accurate Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a research note asserting that the iPhone 13 would probably be able to make calls via satellite. This was a big deal for some users, as it meant you could theoretically make calls anywhere outdoors in the world. Unfortunately, evidence suggests Kuo may have gotten some of the details wrong this time. Kuo originally asserted that Apple is planning to use a customized Qualcomm X60 chip that would support the n53 band used by Globalstar, a satellite communications company. Seems pretty clear cut, right? As pointed out by several… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: iPhone from The Next Web https://ift.tt/38ocWJR

Nissan and Mitsubishi are making their own mini EV — for Japan only

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Minicars have been trending in Japan for a handful of reasons. They’re more affordable and they offer an efficient solution to the limited space of Japan’s urban areas and to the lack of public transport in rural provinces.  Now, Nissan has teamed up with Mitsubishi to launch in 2022 a mini EV, especially made for the Japanese auto market. What is a mini vehicle? The so-called “minivehicle” is under 3.4 meters long, 1.4 meters wide, and 1.6 meters high, meaning that it’s well- suited to Japan’s cramped urban traffic. It’s designed as a four-seater, but, based on its dimensions, we… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3BqbxyU

Excel autocorrect errors are plaguing gene research

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Auto-correction, or predictive text, is a common feature of many modern tech tools, from internet searches to messaging apps and word processors. Auto-correction can be a blessing, but when the algorithm makes mistakes it can change the message in dramatic and sometimes hilarious ways. Our research shows autocorrect errors, particularly in Excel spreadsheets, can also make a mess of gene names in genetic research. We surveyed more than 10,000 papers with Excel gene lists published between 2014 and 2020 and found more than 30% contained at least one gene name mangled by autocorrect. This research follows our 2016 study that… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2UZYYe3

The GoSun Chill Solar Cooler means no ice necessary. And with solar panels, it’s really a mobile fridge

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TLDR: With the GoSun Chill Solar Cooler, you can enjoy cool food and beverages anywhere, without the ice. And you can add on cool solar attachments to power the whole thing. Packing up a cooler for a day at the beach or a weekend in the woods always sounds like a great idea. Of course, that usually requires liberal chunks of ice to help make sure everything stays cools. Which cuts down on what you can actually pack while adding several extra pounds you have to lug around. And you better keep an eye on all that ice because once… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3gN8FUC

VDownloader can help easily grab any video you want off the web for nearly $100 off

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TLDR: VDownloader lets users download and convert web videos from any of 10,000 video sharing sites in premium quality. Let’s make this clear right off the top — we’re not going to ask you why you need to download videos off the web. Maybe it’s for a work project, maybe it’s to save something for posterity, maybe you just want to watch it back later when you aren’t connected to the web. We don’t ask. We don’t judge. However, there are many forces across the web who don’t turn the blind eye we do and actively don’t want you downloading… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3Bndhsy

Toyota’s e-Palette hits a blind Paralympian: is ‘semi-automation’ to blame?

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Need a way to turn people off autonomous vehicles (AVs)? That’s what happened with Toyota’s e-Pallette at the Tokyo Paralympics games this week. One of the company’s self-driving transportation collided with and injured a visually impaired pedestrian. The company suspended all self-driving e-Palette transportation pods at the Games village in response. What exactly happened? While Toyota claims the accident happened during manual control, the company has suspended the use of all e-Palette self-driving pods. In a YouTube video, Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda explained that the vehicle was under manual control at the time of the accident. The driver used the… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2Y4vTz7

Get a bigger exit: Build your executive team’s personal brand

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Did you know Growth Quarters is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will share key insights into entrepreneurship during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your ticket now! It’s pretty likely you’re able to pull up an anecdote about the life of a top entrepreneur without much effort. From Bill Gates’ divorce proceedings to Elon Musk’s opinion on crypto and Richard Branson’s love for kitesurfing, there’s no doubt that high-level executives are now expected to be public figures. More than ever, it’s people – not companies – moving the world of business forward. There is… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3ytkEN6

Tesla on Autopilot crashes into two parked cars… again…

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On Saturday morning, a 2019 Tesla Model 3, reportedly on Autopilot, crashed into two parked cars in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando division of Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) tweeted the following:  Happening now: Orange County. Trooper stopped to help a disabled motorist on I-4. When Tesla driving on “auto” mode struck the patrol car. Trooper was outside of car and extremely lucky to have not been struck. #moveover. WB lanes of I-4 remain block as scene is being cleared. pic.twitter.com/w9N7cE4bAR — FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) August 28, 2021 According to FHP’s report, at the time of the incident, a trooper had stopped… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Tesla from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3gKaD8n

Should doxing be illegal?

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In 2016, a “troll storm” hit Tanya Gersh, a Jewish wedding planner and real estate agent in Montana. The storm began when Andrew Anglin, the editor of the Neo-Nazi publication The Daily Stormer, published her photo, phone numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles, including one belonging to her young son. Her phone rang incessantly, and she received death threats at her work email along with hundreds of anti-Semitic messages, including a Photoshopped image of her family superimposed above a Nazi concentration camp. Gersh’s experience is emblematic of a type of harassment called doxing. Slang for doc-dropping, doxing is the… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3sXoCfW

Clubhouse’s spatial audio feature works as advertised — but who cares?

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Spatial audio is among the next big features coming from streaming content platforms. Apple Music released it earlier this year, and Netflix rolled it out this month. Now, real-time conversation platform Clubhouse has launched it on its app last night. The company said that the feature will make you feel like you’re physically in a room with people. You can hear the demo of how it works in the video clip below (try it with your headphones) Hear ye, hear ye 🔊 spAAaAaAatial audio on Clubhouse! It's like surround sound, but w/ your own headphones. A more vibrant, human experience!… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3kxLrDi

Windows 11 will run on old PCs after all, but only the hard way

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Windows 11‘s announcement was marred by its confusing upgrade policy. It would be a free upgrade from Windows 10, but not every PC would be able to run it. And we’re not just talking about crusty old beige PCs, but even some PC’s as recent as Microsoft’s own Surface Studio 2. Worse, Microsoft didn’t make it totally clear which PCs would be able to run the OS; age and specs alone didn’t seem to tell the full story. In short, it was a mess. Thankfully, Microsoft has provided some much-needed clarity and opened up (unofficial) compatibility to many more PCs.… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Windows from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3DsFLmz

Get an Amazon Echo Show 5 with Alexa for more than a third off

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TLDR: Bump up your home assistant game with video, courtesy of an Amazon Echo Show 5, now more than $40 off its regular price. It’s been a few years — and now, your Amazon Alexa is practically part of the family. You ask her to order stuff and play your music. She keeps you updated on news and the weather. And the kids are constantly asking Alexa probing questions about whether aliens exist or how old Alexa is or if she can rap. She can’t, by the way…but that’s not gonna stop ’em from asking. But of course, there are… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3kzFPs3

Play the guitar without having to carry an actual instrument with this PocketGuitar

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Want to play the guitar without actually having to play the guitar? That’s exactly what you can do with the PocketGuitar, a fascinating device that allows you to play by pushing cords on your smartphone. You’ll get the satisfying sounds and rhythms without actually lugging a full-sized guitar with you. The PocketGuitar allows you to learn the basics of rhythm, cord changes and different styles of strumming without actually using a guitar. All you need is a phone, Bluetooth and the PocketGuitar. Playing couldn’t be any easier. Simply use the associated app, connect it to Bluetooth and you’re good to… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3mEmAQN

New satellite tech could reveal the cause of the rare milky seas

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  “The whole appearance of the ocean was like a plain covered with snow. There was scarce a cloud in the heavens, yet the sky … appeared as black as if a storm was raging. The scene was one of awful grandeur, the sea having turned to phosphorus, and the heavens being hung in blackness, and the stars going out, seemed to indicate that all nature was preparing for that last grand conflagration which we are taught to believe is to annihilate this material world.” – Captain Kingman of the American clipper ship Shooting Star, offshore of Java, Indonesia, 1854… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2UXcPBP

6 Things You Need to Do to Prevent Getting Hacked

You are your own biggest weakness, but changing just a few of your behaviors can reduce the chances that your online accounts get breached. from Security Latest https://ift.tt/38rFfGY

What robot swarms can teach us about making collective decisions

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  Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your ticket now! You find a new restaurant with terrific food, but when you suggest meeting there in a group text to your friends, the choice to meet at the same old place carries the day. Next time, you should consider persuading your friends one by one, rather than reaching out to the group as a whole. Research conducted by my colleagues and me using swarms of robots suggests that… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3DnRB1r

California Man Stole 620,000 iCloud Photos in Search of Nudes

Plus: The T-Mobile hacker, another big bad Microsoft bug, and more of the week's top security news. from Security Latest https://ift.tt/3jpG3md

Keep your data safe and secure with this storage and VPN bundle at an enormous savings

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When it comes to your computer and all of the files you keep on it, security should be at the top of your list of priorities. That makes a safe internet connection in which to work and a secure place to store all of your files in case anything were to happen to your computer. That is exactly what you get with this lifetime backup and security subscription bundle. And there isn’t a better time to grab this deal thanks to both phenomenal sale prices and a summer special that gets you a $10 credit toward your next purchase. This… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3DpN2Ub

CuriosityStream satisfies your mind. KeepSolid VPN satisfies your need for security. Both are included here

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TLDR: The CuriosityStream and KeepSolid VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription Bundle offers mind-expanding entertainment and staunch online security, all for just $179. There are a few hallmarks that are often associated with smart people. First, they’re usually interested in the world around them and understanding smart things. They’re also fairly often pretty smart about protecting themselves when they go out to investigate that big expansive world.  The CuriosityStream and KeepSolid VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription Bundle ($179, 60 percent off, from TNW Deals) is a double-barreled blast of smartness, satisfying a need to understand life, the universe and everything while remaining fundamentally… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3yu9jwd

How AI can enhance our real and virtual lives

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your ticket now! Every new technology brings with it questions of ethics and unintended consequences. It’s right to ask these questions, but it’s also important to remember that humans are completely at the helm with how these technologies are implemented and when and where they are restrained. Humanity is deeply ingrained in their success and failure. Looking closely, we can see technologies reflect humanity’s imperfections back to us. But I contend… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3yAbMWl

‘Prebunking’ Health Misinformation Tropes Can Stop Their Spread

Preemptively familiarizing people with centuries-old anti-vaccine narratives may be more effective than retroactive fact-checking. from Ideas Latest https://ift.tt/2WxuSzg

‘OK Boomer:’ how a TikTok meme traces the rise of Gen Z political consciousness

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The phrase “OK Boomer” has become popular over the past two years as an all-purpose retort with which young people dismiss their elders for being “old-fashioned”. “OK Boomer” began as a meme in TikTok videos, but our research shows the catchphrase has become much more. The simple two-word phrase is used to express personal politics and at the same time consolidate an awareness of intergenerational politics, in which Gen Z are coming to see themselves as a cohort with shared interests. What does ‘OK Boomer’ mean? The viral growth of the “OK Boomer” meme on social media can be traced… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3kuDlLr

Explosion in Geofence Warrants Threatens Privacy Nationwide

New figures from Google show a tenfold increase in the requests from law enforcement, which target anyone who happened to be in a given location at a specified time. from Security Latest https://ift.tt/3jlHUZ5

WTF is Science Corp? Neuralink co-founder creates secretive brain-hacking company

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your online ticket now! It’s tough out there for a supervillain. All the best talent goes to Google and Amazon, Elon Musk‘s hogging the spotlight, and everyone’s focused on modern evil stuff like cryptocurrency and NFTs – nobody cares about the classics anymore. Well, Science Corp is here to change that with some good old-fashioned brain hacking. Probably. Maybe. Who knows? Honest question: WTF is Science Corp? Futurism’s Simon Spichak broke the news about… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3mFS1Ku

Kanye West chatbot gives update on DONDA release date

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Kanye West has many talents, but punctuality is not among them. He was late for registration; he was late for orchestration. He even wrote a song about his tardiness, the aptly titled “Late.” The most irritating instances of Ye’s procrastination are undoubtedly the delays to his album releases. Fans have become particularly infuriated by the endless postponements to the launch of his latest record, DONDA. I asked the man himself for an update — and got some concerning answers: #FreeKanye Before you get alarmed about Yeezus’ welfare, I should let you in on a shocking secret: I wasn’t talking to… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3zn5lqH

Improve your marketing content with AI-generated copy from Writesonic

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One of the best ways to grow your business is to have quality marketing materials crafted by a professional copywriter. But what if you could get the same results without having to hire a person to do the work? That’s exactly what you’ll get with the Writesonic Starter Plan. Writesonic uses AI to analyze your inputs and pattern matching to create landing pages, ads, product descriptions and more for your business. Writesonic is like having a copywriter on staff at a fraction of the cost and at much faster speeds. And with lifetime access, you’ll have Writesonic at your disposal… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3sZRvZ2

This foldable mini drone is a precision flyer with a 4K camera and host of smart features for under $50

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TLDR: Easy to control with a whole gaggle of flight options and a stellar 4K camera, this SG107 Smart Drone is a fabulous drone for first timers and experienced pilots alike. For those looking to get into drone flying, it’s tough to know where to start. You don’t want to overspend and buy an aircraft that’s too advanced for your developing skills. But you don’t want to cheap out and settle on one that’s not up to the basic tasks.  For both adults and kids, the SG107 Smart Drone from Genius Depot ($49.99, 37 percent off, from TNW Deals) is… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3krT0LK

NFTs aren’t just a fluke — they will change the way we experience and own digital media

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Just like DeFi’s money legos are about to revolutionize finance, media legos will deeply alter the social layers of the web. They will change how creators issue, distribute, and monetize their work while defining new rules for content exploration, collecting, and community building. This post dives into the paradigm shifts underpinning the internet renaissance and reveals opportunities for innovators. Source: https://async.art – layered artwork changing over time with 216 composable image combinations – coupled with a physical print. Digital ownership and originality NFTs are scarce, digital representations of a unique good or asset. BTC or ETH are also scarce but… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3gD5nTM

Virgin Hyperloop wants to get you excited about riding its ultra-fast pods — but there’s a long way to go

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Hyperloop is dubbed the first new mode of transport in over 100 years, and if all things go to plan, companies like Virgin Hyperloop will propel people through the air in pods moving through vacuum tubes. This week Virgin Hyperloop released a new explainer video on Twitter. While the company sounds excited to get you onboard its ultra-fast trains, you’re in for a long wait before you can strap in for your first ride. Here’s why. According to Virgin Hyperloop, it starts with a “near-vacuum environment inside a tube” that facilitates high speeds and low power consumption by reducing aerodynamic drag.… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2Y3BsxS

How ‘hearables’ could soon help us out at work and school while remaining virtually invisible

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Hearables are wireless smart micro-computers with artificial intelligence that incorporate both speakers and microphones. They fit in the ears and can connect to the internet and to other devices, and are designed to be worn daily. Some technology companies are now marketing these as “the future of hearing enhancement,” and focusing on their capacities to disrupt existing hearing aid markets. But hearables aren’t hearing aids, ear plugs, headphones or headsets, although they could acquire the benefits of these devices. This means that one could rely on hearables as a kind of always-worn personal assistant nested in the ear, whether used… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3kyFINz

How biometric data collection can put people in conflict areas at risk

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In 2007, the United States military began using a small, handheld device to collect and match the iris, fingerprint and facial scans of over 1.5 million Afghans against a database of biometric data. The device, known as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (HIIDE), was initially developed by the U.S. government as a means to locate insurgents and other wanted individuals. Over time, for the sake of efficiency, the system came to include the data of Afghans assisting the U.S. during the war. Today, HIIDE provides access to a database of biometric and biographic data, including of those who aided coalition… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3sPBR26

Apple’s App Store policy changes are hardly a win for iOS developers

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who release apps on the company’s app stores for Mac and iOS, Apple has agreed to let them communicate to customers about offers and alternative payment methods via email. The proposed settlement, which also promised a $100 million fund for small developers, is now in court for final approval. As a part of this, Apple announced some other steps such as agreeing to publish a transparency report for the App Store review process. The most noticeable change is letting developers inform their users that they can pay for digital goods or subscriptions through alternative methods — but only through email,… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Apple from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2XSBPuW

Panos Panay’s promotion is great news for Microsoft Surface fans

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Panos Panay is moving on up at Microsoft. The man most associated with the Surface device line was just promoted to executive vice president and added to the company’s senior leadership team, according to Bloomberg. The means he’ll be one of the primary advisers to CEO Satya Nadella. Panay, who has been with Microsoft since 2004, is generally seen as the ‘father’ of the Surface product family. His passionate product presentations have made him the most well-known of Microsoft employee besides Nadella and Xbox’s Phil Spencer. But until recently, he hasn’t held that much official influnce over the company as… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Microsoft from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3yrNkq4

Netflix begins its big gaming push with a small test in Poland

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Games in Netflix have been a long time coming, but after months of speculation, rumors, and an eventual confirmation, we’re seeing the first fruits of the company’s expansion. Specifically, the company is testing two games for members with Android devices in Poland: Stranger Things 1984 and Stranger Things 3 — so I hope you’re a fan of that series. Contrary to popular expectation, Netflix isn’t streaming the games live, a la xCloud. Instead, it’s simply functioning as a hub to let you download the games onto your own device, kind of like Steam on PC. Let’s talk Netflix and gaming.… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more coverage about: Netflix from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3gEkRXN

A Bad Solar Storm Could Cause an 'Internet Apocalypse'

The undersea cables that connect much of the world would be hit especially hard by a coronal mass ejection. from Security Latest https://ift.tt/38gNlSX

This brilliant new voting algorithm would have predicted Hillary’s loss

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your online ticket now! A 2002 National Geographic survey demonstrated that only about 17% of adults in the US could point to Afghanistan on a map. And this was less than a year removed from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, so you can be certain the Middle East was splayed across 24-hours news networks ad infinitum. You’d be forgiven, then, if you didn’t think highly of the so-called “wisdom of crowds.” But there’s a new… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/2WwH82M

AI tool predicts Arctic sea ice loss caused by climate change

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your online ticket now! Scientists have built an AI tool that forecasts Arctic sea ice conditions, which could help protect local wildlife and people from changes caused by global warming. The deep learning system, named IceNet, was developed by a research team led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and The Alan Turing Institute. The model was trained on climate simulations and observational data to forecast the next six months of sea ice concentration… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3sNDAF6

Oh great, now scientists are teaching AI how to evade pursuit

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A scientist from Peking University recently published a pre-print research paper detailing a video game-based system designed to teach AI agents to evade pursuit. The name of the game is StarCraft II, or rather, a mini-game designed in the SCII training environment. And the point is to flip a common paradigm on its head in order to discover new methods of training AI. Up front: Most research in the pursuit-evasion genre of AI and game theory involves teaching machines to explore spaces. Since most AI training involves a system that rewards the machine for accomplishing a goal, developers often use… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3kwHxKV

An end to constant cookie warnings? UK plans post-Brexit overhaul of data laws

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Did you know Neural is taking the stage this fall? Together with an amazing line-up of experts, we will explore the future of AI during TNW Conference 2021. Secure your online ticket now! Brexit may be causing food shortages, export pains, and economic damage, but the UK could reap one big benefit from leaving the EU: an end to constant cookie warnings. The country has unveiled plans to overhaul its privacy rules while maintaining an alignment with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden told The Telegraph that the changes would get rid of “endless” cookie pop-ups, which… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/3jgwxlo