Once trying to find the best reading light that gave plenty of illumination and allows you to turn the pages with ease, would have been a difficult job. However since the launch of the Bowio reading light or other reading lights look inferior. Now the development team that brought the original has launched a second-generation […]
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Google has ended its agreement with real estate developer Landlease for its San Francisco Bay Project, effectively scrapping its plans to build a campus with thousands of homes for employees and locals. The company announced the project in 2019, promising the "development of at least 15,000 new homes at all income levels" on at least $750 million worth of land it owns. Around 4,000 of those homes were supposed to be affordable housing, which would've been a welcome presence in the region with one of the highest costs of living in the country.
The San Francisco Bay Project is a collective name for Google's planned developments in San Jose (Downtown West), Sunnyvale (Moffett Park) and Mountain View (Middlefield Park and North Bayshore). San Jose, in particular, approved the massive project in 2021, and it would've seen the construction of 4,000 homes, office space for approximately 20,000 employees, 300 hotel rooms and 10 parks. As part of the deal, Google had agreed to set aside $200 million in funding for displaced local businesses and job readiness programs.
Earlier this year, however, Google put the Downtown West facility construction on hold after demolition had already started to make way for construction that was scheduled to begin in 2026. The company told Engadget at the time that it was still figuring out "how to best move forward" with the San Jose campus in a way that would cater to its "future needs." Workplaces have changed tremendously over the past few years, after all, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic — Google, for instance, adopted a hybrid work schedule that allowed employees to work from home for a couple of days a week. Earlier this year, Google parent Alphabet also laid off 12,000 workers after going on a hiring spree during a period of growth.
In Lendlease's announcement (PDF), it said that the companies have decided to end their agreement after Google did a comprehensive review of its real estate investments. They've apparently determined that the "existing agreements are no longer mutually beneficial given current market conditions. Based on what a company spokesperson told CNBC, though, Google hasn't entirely killed its housing projects. "As we've shared before, we've been optimizing our real estate investments in the Bay Area, and part of that work is looking at a variety of options to move our development projects forward and deliver on our housing commitment," Alexa Arena, a senior director of development at Google, told the news organization. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also told CNBC that this development "doesn't change Google's commitment to San Jose or their timeline" and that it gives the company more flexibility to choose the "best possible developers" for the project.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-plan-to-build-15000-homes-for-the-san-francisco-bay-project-fizzles-out-113526409.html?src=rssThe Beatles have released another song, the first since 1995. “Now and Then” is being advertised as the final Beatles track, given that two of the members have passed and the other two are well over 80 years old. But then again, millionaires do love money.
The song grew from a John Lennon demo track dating back to the 1970s and a 1995 guitar track from George Harrison. The surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, then finished the tune using machine learning technology. The song was meant to come out back in 1995, along with “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” two other tracks culled from old Lennon demos. However, the technology just wasn’t there to pull the vocals without degrading audio quality.
With the same software director Peter Jackson used for the Get Back documentary for Apple, the team split Lennon’s vocal from the piano without any audio bleed, allowing the remaining Beatles to turn it into a fleshed-out ballad. The guitar solo is in the Harrison style, but it’s not actually played by him — he does play some of the rhythm guitar in the background.
— Mat Smith
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Not another one! At least this streaming service is free. NASA has announced a new streaming service called NASA+, which will hit most major platforms next week. It’ll be completely free, with no subscription needed, and you won’t be forced to sit through ads, either. There aren’t too many details out just yet about the content, but NASA says its family-friendly programming “embeds you into our missions” with live coverage and original video series.
HTC is sending its Vive VR headsets to the International Space Station, apparently to give lonely astronauts something to do. The HTC Vive Focus 3 headsets will be part of an ongoing effort to improve the mental health of astronauts during long assignments on the station. The headsets are optimized to stabilize alignment and reduce the chances of motion sickness — which is a bigger problem when it happens in space.
Netflix is celebrating one year of its ad-supported plan by giving users on that tier every fourth episode of a consecutive binge ad-free. That’s certainly not a bad way to entice you into staying on, especially if it’s, ugh, Ozark. (Don’t ‘at’ me.) Netflix is also rolling out downloads on its ad-supported tier, claiming to be the first streamer to make the option available for users who have ads included. Netflix’s ad-supported plan is by far the cheapest after the streamer cut its Basic tier in mid-2023. It’s $6.99 monthly, while the Standard plan is now $15.49.
It sounds like an action movie, but it’s not. It’s just legal action. Scarlett Johansson’s lawyers have approached an AI app developer for using her likeness in an ad without permission.
An ad spotted on X promoted an AI image editor called Lisa AI used an AI-generated version of Johansson’s voice and image, alongside actual footage of the actor in a Black Widow behind-the-scenes clip. Multiple Lisa AI apps remain on the App Store and Google Play, but the ad no longer appears on X. Yet, when Johansson gets to play a robot voice, that’s OK? Yes. Of course it is.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-the-final-beatles-song-was-made-with-a-little-help-from-ai-111541406.html?src=rssAmazon bundle deals are a relatively common occurrence, but the latest one is a pairing we'd never expect: Ahead of Black Friday, Prime Members can get the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Blink Video Doorbell as a pair for $65. The Blink Video Doorbell is $60 on its own, so for another five bucks, you're getting the Fire TV Stick 4K Max — not a bad deal. The 4K Max is having its own sale right now, with a 25 percent discount bringing its price to $45 from $60. So, even if you factor in the sale, you're saving $40 overall, a nice steal.
While the only two things these items might seem to have in common is Amazon's ownership, if we think really hard, we can connect them. Well, not having to get up to check who's at the door while using your streaming device is good for starters. No, even better, you can activate Alexa on the Fire TV Stick to engage in two-way audio through the doorbell.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports Dolby Atmos audio, Wi-Fi 6E and HDR10+. Meanwhile, the Blink Video Doorbell shows a 1080p HD picture during the day, uses infrared night video and can be wired or wireless, up to you. All-in-all, they're both solid options to add to your home.
If you're just in the market for a new monitoring system, check out the massive sales across Blink's smart home doorbells and cameras lineup. The Blink Mini three-pack is currently 60 percent off, dropping to $40 from $100, while the new fourth-generation Blink Outdoor has four cameras available for 50 percent off, dropping to $180 from $360. Going back to the theme of bundles, you can pick up the whole Blink Home Bundle for 52 percent off, getting a Video DoorBell system, a fourth-gen Outdoor camera and a Mini for $102, down from $215.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-bundling-a-fire-tv-4k-max-and-blink-video-doorbell-for-65-in-early-black-friday-deal-105046984.html?src=rss
If you would like to build your very own robot dog companion complete with moving limbs, sensors and more. You might be interested in the CM4 XGO Robot Dog Kit V2 for Raspberry Pi is a noteworthy addition to the market. This robotic dog companion kit offers an engaging and educational experience for tech enthusiasts, […]
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In a thrilling new collab, luxury meets athleticism; The result? A mesmerizing, limited edition football boot that transcends the ordinary in a flashing harmony of Bugatti and adidas.
Meet the adidas X Crazyfast Bugatti: Crafted as an ode to speed and precision, this remarkable cleat is a fusion of adidas’ X Crazyfast laced boot and the vivid heritage of early Bugatti Grand Prix cars. But these boots aren’t just about pace; they encapsulate the ethos of “Form Follows Performance,” mirroring the very design philosophy that underpins the creation of Bugatti’s hypersports cars.
Limited to merely 99 pairs, each X Crazyfast exudes opulence with bespoke Bugatti design elements, making them an emblem of exclusivity. Notably, on the sides are mantras that capture the core values of both companies: adidas‘ “Impossible is Nothing” and Bugatti’s “Create the Incomparable,” symbolizing its relentless pursuit of pushing the limits in sports and automotive engineering.
The infusion of carbon fiber in the boot’s construction makes it lightweight and sturdy. The choice of material plays along with Bugatti’s use of material in exclusive engineering. But the soul of these football boots lies in adidas’ revolutionary Speedframe sole plate, technology that ensures both feather-like weight and formidable strength, enabling lightning-fast acceleration, from where the name is drafted.
The Aeropacity Speedskin, a single-layer breathable mono mesh not only helps with swiftness but also provides stability. It is designed in Bugatti’s iconic hue; the recognizable Bugatti Blue, which aligns it with the brand’s aesthetic. Add to this the boot’s Aerocage lining for support and stability, and these shoes wear snugly akin to the high-performance standards upheld by Bugatti, and requisite of the high-delivery performer on the pitch.
Much like the hyper sports cars, these boots are destined to become cherished collectibles. To add to their exclusivity, the X Crazyfast will be shipped in a unique box designed from carbon fiber, and sold through a very distinctive approach. The 99 pairs will be auctioned via the adidas Collect Web 3 platform from the 8 through 11 of November.
The post Bugatti x adidas X Crazyfast is the sweetest blue football boot for those who appreciate speed and precision first appeared on Yanko Design.
The health of freshwater ecosystems is of paramount importance in maintaining the balance of our environment. However, their preservation is threatened by the release of biodegradable waste from plant and animal sources. Despite the gravity of this issue, the current methods for assessing water quality are often impractical due to their complexity and high costs. […]
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MTI have created a new titanium everyday carry (EDC) multitool in the form of the KeySnap. Designed to provide a reliable tool for everyday use and outdoor activities, combining practicality, durability, and in minimalistic design appeal in a rugged carabiner keychain style design. The KeySnap’s quick hanging and release mechanisms are among its most distinctive […]
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In just a bit over a month, legacy HBO Max subscribers paying for ad-free streaming will be losing a couple of perks they're enjoying. One of those is 4K streaming. According to The Verge, the streaming service has started sending affected subscribers an email, notifying them that they won’t be able to stream in 4K anymore after December 5th. Warner Bros. Discovery promised existing subscribers when it rebranded the service into "Max" back in May they they would still have access to their plan's features over the next six months. After that period ends, their only option to retain 4K streaming is to let go of their $16-a-month subscription plan to switch to Max’s Ultimate Ad-Free tier that costs $20 a month.
The service introduced the tier when Max launched, promising users access to 1,000 4K movies and TV show episodes, some of which support Dolby Atmos and Vision. Subscribers who choose to keep their legacy plan will have to make do with Full HD resolution. In addition, legacy subscribers will no longer be able to stream on three devices at once, because Max will only allow them access to two concurrent streams. Both changes bring the legacy $16 subscription in line with the new Max Ad Free tier, which costs the same amount.
An Ultimate Ad Free subscription allows subscribers to stream on up to four devices at once, aside from giving them access to 4K content. It costs quite a bit more than the regular ad-free subscription, but those who want higher-quality streaming and can afford to plunk down $200 in one go will be seeing their yearly expenses for Max go up by just a few cents per month. Max also has a $10-a-month ad-supported tier for those who don’t mind their viewing experience interrupted by commercials.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/legacy-hbo-max-ad-free-subscribers-will-lose-access-to-4k-streams-soon-092315829.html?src=rss
With artificial intelligence (AI) exploding into our lives this year more than ever before you might be interested to know a little more about the technologies that have been used to create many of the AI tools and services that are currently being developed and released in early development. The world of AI is a […]
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