I’ve been wearing transition eyeglasses for several years now. It’s become handy as I don’t need to bring sunglasses or have graded ones made to replace my eyeglasses when the sun is too high. However there are also some inconveniences to it as it sometimes takes long for it to turn back to “light” once I get out of the sun. I sometimes wish there was a way to control how much light gets in or out.
Designer: Lombell
Lombell has created sunglasses that utilize what photographers have been using for some time now: neutral density (ND) filters. Professional cameras are able to adjust the opacity of their lenses through these filters. So why not apply this technology to sunglasses? The titanium-frame sunglasses use ND filters to increase or decrease the amount of light that can pass through your eyewear, giving you more control over it.
The ND filter that they used has 9-stop variables and lets users adjust accordingly through the graded markings on the lens, making your sunglasses darker or brighter. It is also able to block more than 99% of UVA and UVB light no matter what level you’ve put the filters on. If you’re also like me that always need prescription lenses, you can replace the back piece of glass with one.
The ND filter sunglasses can also be a fashion statement as you exude a retro feel with them, especially for those who actually don’t know what camera filters are. It can actually even be cool when you’re adjusting the filter, like you’re a robot or android. And it’s also pretty cheap at just $89.99 for the regular lenses or $99.99 for prescription lenses.
Meta is making progress in its fight against pig butchering scams. In an update, the company said it has taken down more than 2 million accounts associated with such scams this year and that its effort to work with other companies to take down fraudsters has had some success.
Described by Meta as “one of the most egregious and sophisticated” online scams, pig butchering is an increasingly common ruse in which scammers trick victims, who they often find on social media and dating apps, into making crypto investments and other financial schemes before disappearing with their funds. One study, published earlier this year and reported byBloomberg, found that these scams “have likely stolen more than $75 billion from victims around the world” since 2020.
Meta says it’s been tracking the criminal networks behind these scams for the last two years as these groups have increasingly grown their geographic footprint. “This year alone, we’ve taken down over two million accounts associated with scam centers in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines,” the company said in a blog post. “We also continue to update behavioral and technical signals associated with these hubs to help us scale automated detection and block malicious infrastructure and recidivist attempts.”
Earlier this year, Meta joined Match Group, Coinbase and others in forming a coalition to jointly fight financial scams. In its latest update, Meta notes that it has also worked with other firms exploited by scammers. It says that OpenAI recently tipped off the social media company to “a newly stood up scam compound in Cambodia” after the AI company caught the would-be scammers attempting to translate scam content.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-says-its-taken-down-2-million-accounts-linked-to-pig-butchering-scams-180036668.html?src=rss
Australia’s majority party has introduced a bill in Parliament that would ban children under 16 from social media. The legislation, which would put the onus on social platforms rather than children or parents, could fine infringing companies up to AUD$49.5 million ($32.2 million).
The Labor Party’s bill would apply to (among others) Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and X. It would require platforms to cordon off and destroy any underage user data collected. However, the legislation would include exceptions for health and education services, like Headspace, Google Classroom and YouTube.
“For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful. Almost two-thirds of 14- to 17-year-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm, as well as violent material,” Australia Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told Parliament on Thursday. “A quarter have been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits.”
Reutersnotes that the law would be one of the most aggressive globally in tackling the problems related to children’s social media use. It wouldn’t include exemptions for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. Essentially, social platforms would have to police their platforms to ensure no child under 16 can use their services.
The bill is supported by the majority (center-left) Labor Party and opposition (right) Liberal Party. “This is a landmark reform,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “We know some kids will find workarounds, but we’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act.”
The (left) Australian Greens have criticized the legislation, saying it ignores expert evidence in “ramming” the law through Parliament without proper scrutiny. “The recent Parliamentary Inquiry into Social Media heard time and time again that an age-ban will not make social media safer for anyone,” Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said in a statement. “[The bill] is complicated to implement and will have unintended consequences for young people.”
Last year, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy sounded the alarm about the risks of underage social media use. “Children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety,” the 2023 advisory from the Surgeon General’s office read.
The US requires tech companies to seek parental consent to access the data of children under 13, but it doesn’t have any age restrictions. Reuters notes that France enacted a social media ban for children under 15 last year, but it allows children to still access the services with parental consent.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/australia-introduces-a-bill-that-would-ban-children-under-16-from-social-media-174547712.html?src=rss
The Spotify audiobook experience has been lacking when compared to rivals like Audible, but it looks like that’s beginning to change. The streaming platform just announced a bevy of updates for audiobook listeners and some are downright useful.
Perhaps the biggest one for me is the addition of a sleep timer. Audiobooks are great for lulling people to sleep, but it sucks when you sleep through a hundred pages and can’t remember where you left off. The built-in sleep timer lets users set how long the content will play. This sleep timer already exists for podcasts and music.
Spotify users can also now make audiobook-specific playlists, helping people keep track of what they want to read or, uh, listen to. The platform says this tool will “help you keep your library organized” and that playlists will “be a place for you to aggregate the audiobooks on your reading list.” In addition to traditional playlists, the streamer will publish curated playlists from the audiobook editorial team.
There are new Countdown Pages, which are splash pages for forthcoming audiobooks. These let people save a book prior to the release date, making it easy to find once it actually comes out. Spotify says this feature can be used by authors, publishers, and narrators” to “help promote their upcoming titles ahead of launch.”
Spotify
Speaking of promotions, Spotify’s new Author Pages display biographical information on specific writers and will allow perusal of their entire catalogs. This is in a pilot program for now, with only a “select number of authors” having access to the tool. There’s also a new video player specifically for audiobooks, that lets "select authors and publishers submit a short video about a specific title.” The platform likens this to a book’s jacket, offering a “taste of an audiobook before pressing play.”
Finally, some audiobooks are getting a follow-along feature. This is described as an “immersive visual experience” akin to a music video that displays illustrations, photos and graphics as the audiobook is being read. Look for this in the “extras” section of eligible audiobooks.
Last year, Spotify began offering 15 hours of audiobook listening to Premium subscribers. There’s also a subscription specifically for audiobooks that costs $10 per month that provides 15 hours of listening. The Premium subscription, however, costs $12 per month and adds ad-free music to the mix. It’s good to know that humanity’s collective musical output is worth $2 per month.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/spotify-drops-a-bunch-of-new-tools-for-audiobooks-including-a-sleep-timer-173327861.html?src=rss
WhatsApp added voice message transcripts on Thursday. Handy for when you’re in a loud environment (or if you prefer reading over listening), they’ll be rendered on-device, so they’ll remain encrypted and private.
To set them up, head to Settings > Chats > Voice message transcripts and toggle the feature on. There, you can also pick your preferred language. Once set up, you can transcribe a message by long-pressing on it and tapping “transcribe.”
The feature will roll out globally over the coming weeks, so you may not see it right away. WhatsApp says message transcripts are launching in only “a few select languages,” but the company plans to add more in the coming months.
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has apparently earmarked this week for new messaging features. On Wednesday, Messenger added the ability to leave audio or video messages if a call goes unanswered. Also new in Messenger are AI video call backgrounds, HD video calling, background noise suppression and voice isolation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/whatsapp-adds-voice-message-transcripts-170148660.html?src=rss
When the Rabbit R1 arrived earlier this year, it was an unfinished product. Engadget’s own Devindra Hardawar called it “a toy that fails at almost everything.” Most of the features Rabbit promised, including its signature “large action model” (LAM), were either missing at launch or didn’t work as promised. Now, after more 20 software updates since the spring, Rabbit is releasing its most substantial update yet. Starting today, every R1 user now has beta access to teach mode, a feature that allows you to train Rabbit’s AI model to automate tasks for you on any website you can visit from your computer.
Rabbit CEO and founder Jesse Lyu gave me a demo of teach mode ahead of today’s announcement. The tool is accessible through the company’s Rabbithole hub, and features a relatively simple interface for programming automations. Once logged into your Rabbit account, you navigate to a website and input your credentials if they’re required to access the service you want to teach the R1 to use for you. Lyu was quick to note Rabbit won’t store any username and password you input; instead, the company saves the cookie from your teach mode session for the R1 to use later. In June, Rabbit had to move quickly to patch a security issue that could have led to a serious data breach.
Once you’ve named your automation and written a description for it, all you need to do is carry out the task you want to automate as you usually would. Rabbit’s software will translate each click and interaction into instructions the R1 can later carry out on its own. When Lyu demoed teach mode for me, he taught his R1 to tweet for him.
Once the software has had a chance to analyze a lesson, you can replay the automation before trying it out on your R1 to ensure it works properly. While it’s technically true you don’t need any coding knowledge to use teach mode, approaching it from a programming perspective is likely to produce better results. That’s because you can annotate the steps the software records you doing when showing it an automation. It’s also useful from a troubleshooting perspective, as you can see from the video embedded above.
After you’ve tested your automation, it’s just a matter of asking your R1 to complete a query using teach mode. The resulting process isn’t exactly the polished experience I imagine most people have come to expect from their mobile devices. The R1 announces each step of a task, and it can take a few moments for the device to work its way through a query. According to Rabbit, part of that is by design. Early testers found it helpful for the R1 to state its progress.
I’ll be honest, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that some of the R1 automations Lyu showed me, while creative, don’t offer a more efficient way to do certain tasks than the apps people are already familiar with, a point he conceded when I said as much during our call.
“There are a lot of tasks that are not a single destination,” Lyu said. To that point, where he believes teach mode will be transformational is in interactions involving multiple platforms. Lyu gave an example of an R1 user who taught his device to order groceries. With some work, that person could use the R1’s camera to take photos of the shopping lists his wife produced, which the device would then use to order the family’s weekly groceries from their preferred stores.
Another area where the R1 could provide a better experience than a dedicated app is in situations where there are competing standards, like the situation that exists with smart home automation currently. Say you’re trying to get some HomeKit and Google Home devices to work together. You won’t need to wait for the Matter Alliance to sort things out. With teach mode, the R1 will navigate that mess for you.
“You need to think about velocity,” Lyu tells me before laying out Rabbit’s end game with teach mode. For now, R1 users can freely add community lessons they find on Rabbithole to their devices. Lyu envisions a future where users will be able to sell their automations, with Rabbit taking a cut. Moreover, while teach mode is currently limited to navigating websites, Lyu suggests it will eventually learn to use more complex apps like Excel. At that point, Lyu contends Rabbit will be in a position to deliver an artificial general intelligence, one that will understand every piece of software ever made for humans.
Of course, questions remain. One major one is whether people will pay for community lessons if they could just as easily replicate an automation on their own. Here, Rabbit expects things to play out like they’ve done on existing app stores, with most people choosing to download apps they like instead of making their own. “For the future agent store, we anticipate a similar situation where any user could teach their own lesson if they want to, but most people will probably find lessons or agents created by other users that meet their needs very well,” the company told me in an email.
I also asked Rabbit if the company is preparing for the possibility that some platforms might block people from using teach mode to automate tasks on their R1. In the company’s view, bot detection systems like CAPTCHA will need to evolve to differentiate between “good agents” like those created by Rabbit users and malicious bots.
“When a user uses LAM to perform tasks on third-party platforms, they are logging into their own accounts with their own credentials, and paying those companies directly for those subscriptions or services,” the company added. “We are just providing a new platform for those transactions to happen, similar to you can play music on your phone and on your laptop... We do not see a conflict of interests here.”
I’m not so sure if things will play out as smoothly as Rabbit hopes, but what is clear is that the company is closer to the future Lyu promised at the start of the year — even if that future still feels years away and may be decided by another company. For now, Rabbit hopes R1 users embrace teach mode enthusiastically, as that will allow the software to improve more quickly.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/teach-mode-rabbits-tool-for-automating-r1-tasks-is-now-available-to-all-users-170036677.html?src=rss
It’s no secret that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to pick up Apple devices. You’ll rarely find direct discounts at Apple, but other retailers tend to have good sales this time of year on things like iPads, MacBooks and AirPods. Case in point: the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $160 right now, which is a record low. The recently updated AirPods 4 are also on sale, starting at $119.
While we periodically see AirPods dip in price throughout the year, the best time to buy is during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday time period. However, that also means they can be some of the first tech items to sell out, so if you’ve had your eye on a new pair or want to gift one this holiday season, we recommend buying them now.
AirPods Pro 2 are the best wireless earbuds that Apple makes with excellent sound quality and ANC, plus good battery life. They have all of the conveniences you’d expect from a pair of Apple earbuds, like quick paring and switching between Apple devices and hands-free Siri. And with a recent software update, the AirPods Pro 2 can double as hearing aids for those who take Apple’s hearing test and the results show mild to moderate hearing loss.
Whereas the AirPods Pro 2 have looked and felt mostly the same since their initial launch, the AirPods 4 received a big overhaul this year. They now come in ANC and non-ANC styles, and they have a slightly revised open-wear design. The H2 chipset inside gives them the same Apple conveniences as the AirPods Pro 2, but note that neither model supports MagSafe charging via wireless chargers. But these buds have improved sound quality and a better fit than the AirPods that came before them, and they’re noticeably more affordable than the Pro 2.
If you prefer over-ear headphones, your only option in the Apple ecosystem (aside from Beats) is the AirPods Max. You can grab them for $400 right now. We always recommend waiting for a sale to buy these cans since they start off much more expensive than all of our other top picks for the best wireless headphones. They also sport the H2 chipset inside, plus good sound quality and ANC, reliable touch controls and a solid battery life.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-apple-deals-include-the-airpods-pro-2-for-a-record-low-of-160-165732874.html?src=rss
Earlier this month, Apple offered the country $10 million to reverse the ban. This latest proposal is worth ten times that, so the company certainly sees Indonesia as an important market. After all, the country is home to 280 million potential smartphone customers. The Ministry of Industry of Indonesia is scheduled to review Apple's proposal this week.
This all started because Apple missed a local investment threshold by around $15 million. Indonesia mandates that certain devices sold in the country must have at least 40 percent “domestic content.” This percentage can be met by using domestically-sourced materials, building manufacturing plants or by employing local workers.
Apple previously invested around $94 million in the country through a variety of means, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the ban. The sale stoppage also applies to other recently-released Apple products, like the Apple Watch Series 10. The ban doesn’t impact older Apple devices, which are still available for purchase throughout the country.
Apple has opened up several developer academies throughout the country, but an actual manufacturing plant would be a major boon for Indonesia. Both Samsung and Xiaomi have already set up factories in the nation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-pledges-100-million-indonesia-investment-to-lift-iphone-16-ban-162217627.html?src=rss
In the whirlwind of our busy lives, the right pair of shoes can be the difference between a smooth stride and a stumbling day. Originally crafted for foot protection, shoes have evolved into powerful style statements that speak volumes about our personality and fashion sense. As the saying goes, “You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes.” I adore a pair of sturdy yet stylish sneakers that seamlessly carry me through the day, sparing me from shoe bites and effortlessly complementing my outfits.
However, I know that everyone has their unique footwear preferences and expectations. Recognizing this, designers are pushing the boundaries of creativity, crafting shoes that are not only innovative and unique but also ergonomically designed to meet the high demands of modern wearers.
1. UNOS
Designed by Sz, UNOS is an innovative and revolutionary sneaker design that solves the issue of children constantly outgrowing their shoes, at least for a while longer than you would have to usually throw out the old shoes and buy new ones. The unique shoes expand by half a size for kids, and a full size for adults, and it doesn’t seem to be amped with any complex contraption.
The shoe seems to have a cracked or split sole, which is the secret behind its USP. When you turn the shoe over, you will find a patented Z-shaped running across the sole, which lets the shoe stretch a little more than its original size. It is also a great solution for people whose feet are slightly different sizes, so they don’t need to buy two pairs of the same shoe. It is an affordable and economical solution, ensuring it is the only shoe you need!
2. Batmobile Crocs
Step into the world of Gotham with these truly iconic Batmobile Crocs! Inspired by the sleek, crime-fighting vehicle from the 1989 Batman movie starring Michael Keaton, these Crocs are a brilliant fusion of nostalgia and creativity. Every detail has been meticulously crafted to capture the essence of the legendary Batmobile, from the hood graphic emblazoned on the front to the aerodynamic fins adorning the ankle.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there—these Crocs are decked out with all the bells and whistles. Imagine headlights and taillights illuminating your path, a jet engine intake at the front for that extra dash of flair, and an afterburner at the back to leave an impression
3. The Cloudboom Strike LS
Called the Cloudboom Strike LS – this is the first shoe to showcase On’s revolutionary ‘LightSpray’ technology. The method uses a robotic arm to spray a single length of thermoplastic filament onto a mold, building a seamless, smooth, and one-piece upper. The process is extremely efficient and is completed within three minutes, eliminating traditional manufacturing techniques like weaving, sewing, and gluing.
The shoe is light and eco-friendly, showcasing a 75% reduction in Co2 emissions as compared to On’s other models. The shoe is described as “lighter than humanly possible”, and the upper weighs only 30 grams. It is a feather-light component, and it is bonded to a midsole using On’s signature hyperfoam and a carbon Speedboard.
4. Heinekicks
Heineken collaborated with the celebrity sneaker design Dominic Cambrione of “The Shoe Surgeon” to design the cool Heinekicks. The unique sneakers were unveiled with the Heineken Silver – a smooth and easy-to-drink beer that has been created and brewed for the young generation of drinkers.
The limited edition sneakers are filled with beer, or more specifically the soles have been infused with the new Heineken Silver! Heineken’s iconic red, green, and silver colors were retained in the shoes. “Partnering with Heineken for their new beer was a fun challenge. We both share a passion for innovation and pushing boundaries and created a design to reflect that,” said The Shoe Surgeon. “The shoe not only embodies the energy of Heineken Silver but carries it. I can’t say I’ve ever designed a sneaker that contains actual beer before.’’
5. Synthiesis
Designer Jessica Thies created a pair of conceptual shoes designed to help reduce the shoe industry’s impact on the environment. Called Synthiesis, the shoes are based on Thies’ research into engineered living materials, and it is an element of her thesis at Parsons School of Design. The shoe is experimental, and printed using ink that contains living algae, which can easily absorb carbon dioxide from the surroundings.
The shoe is built from hemp fabric, and printed using bio-based ink included with algae. Microalgae cells are added in the printing ink to make the shoe an “active object” that can act and function like a living organism. It features a unique construction that allows the shoe to absorb CO2 from the environment, allowing it to self-clean.
6. Boktober Collection
Universal Monsters has truly inspired pop culture quite a bit, especially with iconic characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and more. These characters live on with us even outside the cinematic universe. Reebok has created a footwear collection themed after some of the iconic characters including the Bride of Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, and more.
It was a dip into the Halloween spirit and is a collaborative effort between Reebok and the Universal Monsters. The collection is called the “Boktober”, and it is a tribute to the iconic monsters, to revive nostalgia with a hint of spookiness. The silhouettes are uniquely-themed, and they will be loved by fans of all age groups and ethnicities.
7. Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro Sneakers
Nike has decided to honor Kobe Bryant’s legacy with a series of sneaker releases to celebrate his love, achievements, and special bond with his daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. Nike is releasing two new sneaker collections that will be appreciated by fans and sneaker enthusiasts. Nike will release the all-white Nike Kobe 9 Elite Protro sneakers, which will carry on the popular “Halo” theme introduced in 2023.
It will be available in its original high-top build, as well as the Kobe 9 Elite Low variation. The Kobe 9 Elite Protro “Halo” will feature nearly all-white uppers with black carbon fiber shanks at the midsole, offering a pretty interesting contrast. The sneakers will use full Flyknight uppers as well.
8. Nike’s Gyakusou Zoom Fly SP
Nike’s Gyakusou Zoom Fly SP are super shoes that are distinct from traditional running shoes. Ultra-light materials, responsive cushioning, and a carbon fiber plate are embedded in the midsole, creating a spring-like effect, which helps the runner propel forward with less energy spent per stride. The shoe features a translucent upper which offers a unique look and reduces weight.
The upper is pretty lightweight and breathable and offers a snug fit without the bulk and heaviness of traditional materials. It includes reflective elements that improve visibility during low-light runs, thereby adding practicality to the design. They maintain an excellent bounce which is needed for long-distance running.
9. Wednesday Stomp Clogs
The Wednesday Stomp Clogs perfectly combine gothic style and comfort to create a cool pair of crocks. They are inspired by Tim Burton’s hit Netflix series Wednesday, and they are designed by Crocs. They are limited-edition, creepy, and yet chic. They will deliver a fresh and innovative look for fans of the show.
The Crocs are equipped with a glossy black upper and a white color detail. They are inspired by Wednesday’s schoolgirl outfit. They are a cool pick for casual outings, or Halloween next year! They are designed to help you stomp through your day with confidence – whether on the street or in the graveyard.
10. Next-Gen Moc & Mule
The Hydro Moc & Mule are great shoes if you like hiking and doing other outdoor stuff, and their Next Gen variants are design-led and truly quite sturdy. The shoes feature an EVA foam cage that can resist water, keeping your feet safe and protected. The design is quite futuristic and puts a lot of focus on aesthetics and quality protection.
The Hydro Next Gen Moc 1TRL is equipped with max cushion FloatMax midsoles and an improved heel shape. You can wear them hands-free, while the EVA foam upper offers a lightweight and flexible fit. The BLOOM performance foam is made from algae biomass, and it converts green water into clean water.
Caring for yourself can be as simple as sitting down to do a breathing exercise or curling up under a weighted blanket. Or it can be getting a massage, going for a workout or dressing up for a fancy dinner. There are plenty of things you could get for someone that not only shows how much you care about them, but also remind them that it’s worthwhile to take time for themselves. And while there’s nothing wrong with an aromatherapy candle, it’s more fun to go beyond the obvious choices and look at what tech products could help your loved ones feel their best. Our picks include things like styling gadgets and grooming devices, but also less techy options like a hair turban and face masks.
It’s worth calling out that these beauty tech and personal care suggestions are highly personal, so it’s important that you take time to learn about your giftee’s preferences. What type of hair do they have? What are their skincare concerns? What aches and pains have they been feeling lately? Getting just a few more details from them can better inform your holiday shopping and improve your relationships, too.
