Author Archives: Sarah Fielding

Lionsgate signs a deal with the devil (an AI startup)

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Remember when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA went on strike for months, in great part to get protections against AI? Well, while they did get some stipulations in there, it's not stopping AI from coming to Hollywood anyways. Lionsgate, the studio behind the John Wick and Hunger Games franchises, has struck a deal with AI startup Runway, the Wall Street Journal first reported and Runway confirmed in a press release. The arrangement will allow Runway access to Lionsgate's content library in exchange for a fresh, custom AI model that the studio can use in production and editing.

The deal is similar to recent (and equally icky feeling) ones with publishing houses such as TIME and Dotdash Meredith, but it is the first of its kind for the film and TV industry. Vice chairman of Lionsgate Studio, Michael Burns, said that in recent months, he feared falling behind competitors without a step like this. "Runway is a visionary, best-in-class partner who will help us utilize AI to develop cutting edge, capital efficient content creation opportunities," Burns stated. He then claimed, "Several of our filmmakers are already excited about its potential applications to their pre-production and post-production process."

There's also the small matter that he expects the company will save "millions and millions of dollars" through this agreement. Whether that money will come out of creatives' paychecks is something we can only speculate about now, but it wouldn't be surprising.

As for Lionsgate's new bedfellow, like many AI companies, Runway has faced accusations of pilfering content to train its system. A former employee came forward in July with alleged internal spreadsheets demonstrating that Runway used YouTube videos from the likes of Disney, Netflix and popular media outlets to train its Gen-3 model. A group of artists are also suing Runway and other players like Stability AI for copyright infringement, reports Artnet. The plaintiffs garnered a win in August, with California District Judge William Orrick finding they had reasonably argued these companies had violated the artists' rights.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/lionsgate-signs-a-deal-with-the-devil-an-ai-startup-151046341.html?src=rss

Apple’s M3 iMac is down to a record-low price ahead of October Prime Day

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While I'm a MacBook gal myself, the appeal of investing in an iMac has crossed my mind now and again — all that display space is just so enticing. One of the major reasons I've resisted is the price of getting a new iMac, but a record-low price is giving me a change of heart. Right now, the 2023 iMac with M3 chip is down to $1,100 from $1,300 thanks to a 12 percent discount and a $49 coupon. This model offers an 8-core CPU and 256GB of storage but no AppleCare+. 

In our review, we gave the newest iMac an 86, thanks mostly to the M3 chip. In our tests, the iMac never slowed down or struggled with browsing, photo editing, or games. Overall, it gave us all the quality and speed we could need for day-to-day use. Plus, it's great to have 24GB of RAM versus the M1's 16GB. The display is also top-notch, and the device is super lightweight, at under 10 pounds and less than 11.5mm in thickness. 

At the same time, the 2023 iMac isn't a big upgrade from its predecessor. As we said then, "If you've seen a 24-inch iMac before, you've seen this one." It doesn't have a larger option or vertical screen adjustment. Plus, that 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM still make this feel overpriced, even with the markdown. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m3-imac-is-down-to-a-record-low-price-ahead-of-october-prime-day-132441743.html?src=rss

Meta could face massive EU fines over Marketplace competition

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Meta is once again at risk of getting fined heavily by the European Commission. The bloc's regulatory arm is preparing its findings that Meta linked its Marketplace service to Facebook to undermine competitors, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the case.

If found guilty, Meta could be on the hook for 10 percent of its global annual revenue — a number that reached almost $135 billion last year. However, the fine could be much smaller, and Meta will almost certainly appeal it.

The Commission launched its initial probe in 2019, announcing its preliminary findings three years later that "Meta ties its dominant social network Facebook to its online classified ad services called Facebook Marketplace," Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president in charge of competition policy, stated at the time. "Furthermore, we are concerned that Meta imposed unfair trading conditions, allowing it to use of data on competing online classified ad services. If confirmed, Meta's practices would be illegal under our competition rules." Meta faces other investigations from the Commission into its election policies, addiction and safety concerns for minors and its consent or pay model.

The news comes at a transitionary time for the European Commission, with President Ursula von der Leyen announcing her new team just yesterday. The shakeup for her second term will see Margrethe Vestager, head of competition for the last decade, replaced by Teresa Ribera. Reports that Vestiger would be stepping down this year first surfaced in August.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-could-face-massive-eu-fines-over-marketplace-competition-113033743.html?src=rss

Meta and Ray Ban’s owner extend smart glasses partnership

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Meta and Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica have extended their partnership into the next decade. The duo have collaborated since 2019, producing two generations of Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The agreement between Meta and EssilorLuxottica should bring more "multi-generational smart eyewear products." 

The first iteration launched in late 2021, right before Meta became Facebook, and was known as Ray-Ban Stories. We weren't totally sold on them, though there were some good points. The $300 sunglasses looked like a slightly bulkier Ray-Ban with, thankfully, no Facebook logo on them and offered decent audio quality through their tiny speakers at mid-range volume. The camera was so-so and worked better in brighter light. But privacy is really where we had an issue with data sharing and audio transcriptions on by default. 

We were more into the 2023 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, giving them an 85 in our review. The new model's perks include slimmer frames, hands-free photo messaging and Instagram livestreaming abilities (with an improved 12MP ultra-wide camera). It also offers better mics and sound quality — including at higher volumes. Plus, the charging case looks just like a classic Ray-Ban pouch. 

The smart glasses originally came with an AI assistant, but Meta has since introduced Multimodal AI. The toolset allows the assistant to see and comprehend the world in real-time, processing photos, videos, text, and audio. You can ask it to identify things you're looking at, such as a dog's breed, the name and information for landmarks, and a road sign in a different language. Plus, there are new frame designs to choose from, starting at $300.  

Notably, in July, reports from the media and EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri indicated Meta might take a five percent stake in the company. Whether that will happen is still up in the air, with no mention of a purchase in the extended partnership release.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-and-ray-bans-owner-extend-smart-glasses-partnership-140052046.html?src=rss

8BitDo’s Ultimate C controller is cheaper than it was on Prime Day at only $15

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Update, September 17, 9:35AM ET: This deal has ended on the green model but is still available on lilac purple. Furthermore, additional early October Prime Day deals are now available alongside the official announcement of Amazon's autumn sale event.  

The temperature will soon be dropping and that means we have more excuses to stay inside and dig into the games we love. If you're a computer gamer looking to upgrade your setup in anticipation, then now might just be the time to do it. Currently, 8Bitdo's Ultimate C Wired Controller is available for $15, down from $20 — a 25 percent discount. The sale brings this controller to a new all-time low price, a dollar less than it was on Prime Day.

You can get the marked-down 8Bitdo Ultimate C Wired Controller in Lilac Purple (Field Green, pictured, has since returned to full price). The controller is compatible with Steam Deck, Windows and Android, though the rumble vibrations only work on Windows. It also has a plug-and-play for a PC with a USB cord attached. 

If you can't be bothered with a wired controller, check out 8Bitdo's Ultimate C Wireless model. Right now, it's full price at $30 but has dropped to $25 in the past. It runs up to 25 hours on a charge and connects to your device through a 2.4GHz USB dongle. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/8bitdos-ultimate-c-controller-is-cheaper-than-it-was-on-prime-day-at-only-15-135145286.html?src=rss

Shogun and The Bear win big for Disney at the Emmys

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The second Emmys of 2024 have come and gone, with streamers once again winning big for some of our favorite television shows. Disney had a fantastic night, winning 60 awards across all its platforms, including Hulu and Disney+. Hulu's limited series Shogun led it to victory with 18 wins — 14 at the Creative Arts Emmys and four on Sunday. 

Shogun, based on a book of the same name, is a fictional retelling of 17th-century feudal Japan. The show took home the awards for best lead actor and lead actress in a drama series, with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai becoming the first Japanese recipients in their respective categories. It also won for outstanding drama series, directing and period costumes, among other accolades.

The Bear also did its share, taking home 11 awards, including Jeremy Allen White's win for outstanding lead actor. Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas won for supporting actor and actress in a comedy series, respectively. The Max show Hacks beat out The Bear for outstanding comedy series and lead actress. The Bear already won Disney 10 Emmys earlier this year (four coming from the Creative Arts Emmys) as the 75th Emmys were postponed to January 2024 from September 2023 due to last year's WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

Disney's competitor HBO's Max received 14 wins, while Netflix received 24 and Apple TV+ got 10 — the excellent Slow Horses scored an Emmy for outstanding writing for a drama series. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/shogun-and-the-bear-win-big-for-disney-at-the-emmys-123049460.html?src=rss

Flappy Bird’s creator wants you to know he’s got nothing to do with the new version

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A decade ago, Flappy Bird became a sensation among smartphone users, with many of us spending far too long getting the little yellow guy to climb higher and higher along pipes. But, it didn't last long, with it soon pulled from app stores. Here at Engadget, we were excited by the news last week that Flappy Bird is coming back to our devices in 2025. However, there's one person who isn't psyched: Flappy Bird's creator, Dong Nguyen. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm he isn't involved in or profiting off the new version. "No, I have no related with their game. I did not sell anything. I also don't support crypto," he stated.

The team behind the new Flappy Bird iteration has been open about being a "new team of passionate fans." Nguyen's trademark was reportedly considered abandoned, and Gametech Holdings LLC picked it up for free. The new team then got the rights to Flappy Bird from Gametech.

It's unlikely Nguyen would have ever revived the game on his own. He released the original game in May 2013 and made about $50,000 a day from advertising when it blew up the following January. However, he took the game down only a month later, stating, "I cannot take this anymore." In an interview with Forbes then, Nguyen explained, "Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed. But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem. To solve that problem, it's best to take down Flappy Bird. It's gone forever."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/flappy-birds-creator-wants-you-to-know-hes-got-nothing-to-do-with-the-new-version-121532179.html?src=rss

Chrome’s latest safety update will be more proactive about protecting you

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Chrome is getting a series of safety updates that could improve your security while browsing online. In a release, Google announced the new features, which include protecting against abusive notifications, limiting site permissions and reviewing extensions.   

Safety Check, Chrome's security monitor, will now run continuously in the background to more readily take protective steps. The tool will let you know what steps it's taking, which should include removing permissions from sites you no longer visit and ones Google Safe Browsing believes are deceiving you into giving permission. It will also flag any alerts it deems you might not want and notify you of issues that require attention, like security issues. Plus, Safety Check on your desktop should alert you to any Chrome extensions that might pose a risk. 

Google is also reducing the number of permissions that last for sites on Chrome for desktops or Android devices. The new feature will allow you to approve mic or camera access for one time only instead of always for the site. Instead, they will have to request your permission again on the next use. Plus, Google is also expanding the ability to unsubscribe from a site on Chrome with one button beyond Pixel devices to more Android ones.   

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chromes-latest-safety-update-will-be-more-proactive-about-protecting-you-160046221.html?src=rss

These Anker earbuds we love are cheaper than they were during Prime Day

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Are you looking for a pair of earbuds that will let you enjoy music on your commute without costing so much you have to cut out your daily iced coffee? Well, Anker's Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds are 40 percent off right now, dropping to $48, down from $80. This deal brings the earbuds to a record-low price — by $1, but, hey, we'll take it. 

We named Anker's Soundcore Space A40 as our choice for best budget wireless earbuds in 2024 for quite a few reasons. For starters, the earbuds offer the quality and features — including active noise cancellation — that you typically need to spend way more money to get. They offer wireless charging, an IPX4 water-resistance rating and the ability to connect to two devices at once. The battery lasts about 10 hours on its own and 50 hours with the case. You can also get about four hours of juice after just ten minutes of charge. 

The sound quality isn't going to be the same level as what you'd get from Bose or Sony, with a slight dulling of finer details. However, the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds do offer custom EQ tools through the Soundcore app, so you can tweak it a bit. Overall, between offering ANC and pretty good comfort, these earbuds are a steal at this price. 

October Prime Day 2024 is around the corner, serving as Amazon’s (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. If you’re eager to snag some early holiday deals for those on your list (or yourself), here’s what we know so far about the next Prime Day shopping event.

When is October Prime Day 2024?

Amazon has not announced the dates of fall Prime Day 2024 yet, but we do know it will be returning sometime in October.

What is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day is an extension of the regular Prime Day sale held annually in July. It features exclusive deals on Amazon for Prime members, although not quite on as big of a scale as the main summer Prime Day.

How long is October Prime Day?

In years past, October Prime Day has been two days long, just like Prime Day in July.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/these-anker-earbuds-we-love-are-cheaper-than-they-were-during-prime-day-135034318.html?src=rss

Meta and the Mental Health Coalition launch a data-sharing program to reduce violating suicidal content

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September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a time to recognize the people impacted by suicide and suicidal thoughts, as well as the importance of working together to raise awareness and take preventive steps. A new collaboration aims to fulfill the latter, with Meta teaming up with the Mental Health Coalition to create Thrive, a signal-sharing program. Thrive should allow participating companies to send signals about content focused on self-harm or suicide to each other, thus locating and investigating the same or similar posts more easily. Snap and TikTok join Meta as founding members.

Thrive will initially work through companies providing hashes (codes corresponding to the violating content). Each one will only provide information about the image or video and shouldn't include specific information about users or the account. Meta says it will prioritize content that is graphic or depicting or promoting viral challenges around suicide or self-harm.  

Meta announced the news in a statement and shared it's providing Thrive's technical infrastructure. The company, which has been far from a shining example in preventing harm on its site, also acknowledged the need for cross-platform collaboration. "Unfortunately this content isn't limited to any one platform — especially when it comes to viral challenges — and it's imperative that the technology industry works together to help prevent it from spreading," said Antigone Davis, vice president of Global Safety at Meta. 

Thrive's director, Dr. Dan Reidenberg, will oversee the program, stating, "The integration of signal sharing, coupled with cross-industry collaboration and moderated by an independent and neutral intermediary, represents a major breakthrough in industry collaboration and public protection on the global, public health crisis of suicide and ultimately save lives."

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 or you can simply dial 988. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), or 85258 (UK). Wikipedia maintains a list of crisis lines for people outside of those countries.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-and-the-mental-health-coalition-launch-a-data-sharing-program-to-reduce-violating-suicidal-content-124446825.html?src=rss