Author Archives: Sarah Fielding

Bumble now lets you sort matches by interests

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Dating apps are a constant battle to find just one person that you might click with for more than a few meet ups. Unfortunately, so much of the experience focuses on physical appearance rather than learning much about the other person — a dynamic that is hard to overcome on an app. Bumble is making the latest attempt to do so by allowing users to search for matches based on their interests.

Users can access the new tool by clicking "narrow your search" and then "advanced filters." Then they can choose "filter by your interests." Each user can only include up to five interests on their profile, so there's a risk of someone not having picked a mutual interest even if they do like it — and Bumble just added over 30 new options. But, at the same time, people can't click all of them in hopes of connecting, rather than actually being interested in the same thing. Plus, there's an option to see other people if potential options run out.

In general, most topics are pretty light, like memes, tacos and traveling. There are some interests that shed a slightly deeper look on the other person, like mindfulness, slow living and therapy. Either way, they're not getting a full peak into the other person's soul, but at least it's more than just a pretty face?

Bumble is also expanding its Opening Moves feature, which launched in April of this year, and allows people to set a specific question every one of their matches can reply to, rather than thinking of a new first message each time. Now, people can add up to three Opening Moves for matches to respond to and they can be images with captions.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/bumble-now-lets-you-sort-matches-by-interests-120014909.html?src=rss

A fired Disney employee allegedly altered menus to change allergy markers

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As someone allergic to a big sect of food (hey gluten free eaters!), I know how important accurate allergy markers are on a menu. Yet, a new criminal complaint alleges that a former Disney World employee intentionally altered a menu's allergy information to state foods didn't contain peanuts that, in fact, did, 404 Media and Court Watch reported in collaboration. 

The complaint alleges that Michael Scheuer was fired by Disney and then used still viable passwords to access a third-party created proprietary menu creation and inventory system. Over the course of his misdoings, he allegedly changed the allergy information along with adding profanity, altering prices and changing the font to Wingdings. Those wingdings were what initially tipped off employees. All menus in the database were deemed unusable and the application went offline for one to two weeks to fix the issues.

Disney changed the passwords, but then Scheuer allegedly broke into multiple of the third-party company's FTPs, to change the allergy markers and altered QR codes from directing to a menu to a boycott Israel website. He also tried to break into Disney employees' accounts nearly 8,000 times. Disney claims that the altered menus were identified before being shipped out to restaurants. 

This case is unrelated to a doctor who died of an allergic reaction after eating at a Disney Springs restaurant last year. Notably, Disney tried to get a lawsuit filed by the doctor's husband thrown out in August, alleging that he had agreed to settle lawsuits out of court through arbitration. The reason? He had signed a terms of service for a one-month Disney+ trial in 2019 and again when making an account to buy park tickets. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-fired-disney-employee-allegedly-altered-menus-to-change-allergy-markers-161549481.html?src=rss

One of our favorite Ninja air fryers is nearly half off ahead of Black Friday

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While cooking things like chicken, potatoes or veggies, I am often simultaneously waxing poetic about the brief period in my life that I owned an air fryer. It just makes everything easier while still creating really good quality food. Now I'm tempted to get back on the air fryer train thanks to a big sale on Ninja's DZ550​ Air Fryer. The model is currently available in an early Black Friday deal for $130, down from $250 — a 48 percent discount. 

The DZ550 is a version of one of our top picks for air fryers — with the extra perk of including a thermometer. The thermometer should provide you with the exact level of cooked you're looking for across the two independent five-quart air fryer baskets — yes, you can cook two separate things simultaneously. You can also use two different options of the six cooking settings: air fryer, air broil, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat. 

The main issue with this air fryer is size. You do not want to get the Ninja DZ550​ Air Fryer if your counter and storage spaces are limited. It has a depth of 17.1 inches and a width of 13.9 inches so it's going to take up some real estate. But, hey, it's that size that lets you cook two things at once so only you can decide if the trade-off is worth it. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-ninja-air-fryers-is-nearly-half-off-ahead-of-black-friday-130146753.html?src=rss

Brazil sues Meta and TikTok for over $500 million for not protecting minors

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Meta and TikTok are once again in hot water for allegedly failing to protect minors or limit their use on the platforms. The Collective Defense Institute, a consumer rights group in Brazil, has issued two lawsuits against Meta, TikTok and Kwai, another short video platform from China, to the sound of three billion reais ($525.8 million), Reuters reports. 

The lawsuits pull from some of the (many) studies demonstrating the risk of social media use. It orders Meta and co. to clearly issue warnings about how platform addiction can negatively impact minors' mental health. It also calls for the companies to lay out detailed data protection mechanisms. 

"It is urgent that measures be adopted in order to change the way the algorithm works, the processing of data from users under 18, and the way in which teenagers aged 13 and over are supervised and their accounts created, in order to ensure a safer, healthier experience...as is already the case in developed countries," said Lillian Salgado, a lawyer and one of the plaintiffs.

This is far from the first lawsuit for Meta or TikTok regarding the safety of minors. In late 2023, New Mexico sued Meta for not protecting children in a claim that both Facebook and Instagram suggested sexual content to minors. One month later it was revealed that, in a 2021 internal memo, Meta had found over 100,000 child users faced daily harassment. Yet, Meta executives rejected recommended algorithm redesigns. Earlier this month, 14 attorneys general sued TikTok for "falsely claiming its platform is safe for young people." These are just two of the many suits filed against social media platforms for not protecting young users.

Meta recently created teen accounts on Instagram that are mandatory for all users under 16. They have stricter privacy settings and require parent approval for any changes. However, these accounts are not yet available in Brazil — though Meta claims they will be soon. 

A statement from Meta said it wants "young people to have safe and age-appropriate experiences on our apps, and we have been working on these issues for over a decade, developing more than 50 tools, resources, and features to support teens and their guardians." 

Notably, Brazil has recently squared off with Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) for refusing to block profiles that the government claimed promoted election misinformation. The company eventually paid a 28 million reais ($4.9 million fine).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/brazil-sues-meta-and-tiktok-for-over-500-million-for-not-protecting-minors-154518826.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Fire Max 11 tablet returns to a record-low price

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Getting a really great tablet for an affordable price is quite an achievement. That's why we're excited to see that Amazon's Fire Max 11 tablet is currently on sale for $140, down from $230 — a 39 percent discount. The deal brings this 64GB tablet back to its all-time low price, previously seen during October Prime Day. 

Amazon released the Fire Max 11 tablet in 2023 and we were immediately impressed with how much it offered for the price (especially now that it's discounted). It has slimmer bezels and a nice aluminum build, along with being just over a pound. Its 11-inch screen has a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution and is low blue light certified. Plus, it has a fingerprint sensor in the power button and supports Wi-Fi 6. 

It's worth noting that this model comes with lockscreen ads. If that's a deal breaker then check out the sale on the 64GB version that is ad-free. Right now, it's 36 percent off, dropping to $155, from $245. You can even upgrade to the 128GB model without lockscreen ads for just $5, with a 43 percent discount dropping its price to $160 from $280. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-fire-max-11-tablet-returns-to-a-record-low-price-131516001.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Fire Kids tablets are up to 54 percent off right now

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The holidays are fast approaching and if you want to get gifts for the children in your life early (a true feat), then Amazon has a sale for you. Right now, a few of Amazon's Fire Kids tablets are on sale, including our pick for best kids tablet: the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet. It's currently down to $110 from $190 — a 42 percent discount. 

The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is available in the colors Mint, Nebula and Happy Days. It has a 10.1-inch screen with 1080p full display and 13 hours of battery life. It's meant for kids aged six to 12 and comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which offers books, games, apps and more. 

The Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet has the same sale as its counterpart, dropping to $110 from $190. Then there's the Fire 7 Kids tablet, which is offering the best discounts at the moment. You can grab the 16GB model for half off — $55, down from $110 — or the 32GB model for 54 percent off — $60, down from $130. Unlike the other two, this one is geared towards children aged three to seven, but does offer many of the same features as its counterparts. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-fire-kids-tablets-are-up-to-54-percent-off-right-now-150046661.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Fire Kids tablets are up to 54 percent off right now

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The holidays are fast approaching and if you want to get gifts for the children in your life early (a true feat), then Amazon has a sale for you. Right now, a few of Amazon's Fire Kids tablets are on sale, including our pick for best kids tablet: the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet. It's currently down to $110 from $190 — a 42 percent discount. 

The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet is available in the colors Mint, Nebula and Happy Days. It has a 10.1-inch screen with 1080p full display and 13 hours of battery life. It's meant for kids aged six to 12 and comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which offers books, games, apps and more. 

The Amazon Fire 10 Kids tablet has the same sale as its counterpart, dropping to $110 from $190. Then there's the Fire 7 Kids tablet, which is offering the best discounts at the moment. You can grab the 16GB model for half off — $55, down from $110 — or the 32GB model for 54 percent off — $60, down from $130. Unlike the other two, this one is geared towards children aged three to seven, but does offer many of the same features as its counterparts. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-fire-kids-tablets-are-up-to-54-percent-off-right-now-150046661.html?src=rss

The Beats Studio Pro headphones are back on sale for 51 percent off

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I only hopped on the headphone trend earlier this year after being a forever earbud devotee, and they're truly life changing. They're so expensive, though, so a sale — especially a big one — can make all the difference. Right now, the Beats Studio Pro are just $169, down from $350 — a 51 percent discount. This all-time low price is available in Black, Sandstone, Deep Brown and Navy, though every other colorway but one is close at 46 percent off. 

We gave the Beats Studio Pro an 81 when they came out last year, thanks to improved sound quality and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. It offers "near-zero" distortion, even at the highest volumes, which provides it with an 80 percent improvement from the Studio 3. That heavy bass that Beats was once known for is long gone here, only appearing when a track actually calls for it. The headphones also have transparency mode and new USB-C EQ modes: Signature, Conversation and Entertainment. Plus, they have up to 40 hours of battery life. 

There are some drawbacks worth mentioning when discussing the Beats Studio Pro. They are not the most comfortable headphones on the market, so you might not want to wear them for extended periods of time. They also have no automatic pausing or multipoint connectivity for iOS. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-beats-studio-pro-headphones-are-back-on-sale-for-51-percent-off-131525350.html?src=rss

The Beats Studio Pro headphones are back on sale for 51 percent off

Posted on by

I only hopped on the headphone trend earlier this year after being a forever earbud devotee, and they're truly life changing. They're so expensive, though, so a sale — especially a big one — can make all the difference. Right now, the Beats Studio Pro are just $169, down from $350 — a 51 percent discount. This all-time low price is available in Black, Sandstone, Deep Brown and Navy, though every other colorway but one is close at 46 percent off. 

We gave the Beats Studio Pro an 81 when they came out last year, thanks to improved sound quality and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. It offers "near-zero" distortion, even at the highest volumes, which provides it with an 80 percent improvement from the Studio 3. That heavy bass that Beats was once known for is long gone here, only appearing when a track actually calls for it. The headphones also have transparency mode and new USB-C EQ modes: Signature, Conversation and Entertainment. Plus, they have up to 40 hours of battery life. 

There are some drawbacks worth mentioning when discussing the Beats Studio Pro. They are not the most comfortable headphones on the market, so you might not want to wear them for extended periods of time. They also have no automatic pausing or multipoint connectivity for iOS. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-beats-studio-pro-headphones-are-back-on-sale-for-51-percent-off-131525350.html?src=rss

OpenAI’s Whisper invents parts of transcriptions — a lot

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Imagine going to the doctor, telling them exactly how you're feeling and then a transcription later adds false information and alters your story. That could be the case in medical centers that use Whisper, OpenAI's transcription tool. Over a dozen developers, software engineers and academic researchers have found evidence that Whisper creates hallucinations — invented text — that includes made up medications, racial commentary and violent remarks, ABC News reports. Yet, in the last month, open-source AI platform HuggingFace saw 4.2 million downloads of Whisper's latest version. The tool is also built into Oracle and Microsoft's cloud computing platforms, along with some versions of ChatGPT.

The harmful evidence is quite extensive, with experts finding significant faults with Whisper across the board. Take a University of Michigan researcher who found invented text in eight out of ten audio transcriptions of public meetings. In another study, computer scientists found 187 hallucinations while analyzing over 13,000 audio recordings. The trend continues: A machine learning engineer found them in about half of 100 hours-plus worth of transcriptions, while a developer spotted hallucinations in almost all of the 26,000 transcriptions he had Whisper create.  

The potential danger becomes even clearer when looking at specific examples of these hallucinations. Two professors, Allison Koenecke and Mona Sloane of Cornell University and the University of Virginia, respectively, looked at clips from a research repository called TalkBank. The pair found that nearly 40 percent of the hallucinations had the potential to be misinterpreted or misrepresented. In one case, Whisper invented that three people discussed were Black. In another, Whisper changed "He, the boy, was going to, I’m not sure exactly, take the umbrella." to "He took a big piece of a cross, a teeny, small piece ... I’m sure he didn’t have a terror knife so he killed a number of people."

Whisper's hallucinations also have risky medical implications. A company called Nabla utilizes Whisper for its medical transcription tool, used by over 30,000 clinicians and 40 health systems — so far transcribing an estimated seven million visits. Though the company is aware of the issue and claims to be addressing it, there is currently no way to check the validity of the transcripts. The tool erases all audio for "data safety reasons," according to Nabla’s chief technology officer Martin Raison. The company also claims that providers must quickly edit and approve the transcriptions (with all the extra time doctors have?), but that this system may change. Meanwhile, no one else can confirm the transcriptions are accurate because of privacy laws. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-whisper-invents-parts-of-transcriptions--a-lot-120039028.html?src=rss