This guide is designed to show you show you how to use Google Bard to help plan your Holiday Travel. The holiday season is a time for celebration, family gatherings, and creating lasting memories. However, planning a holiday trip can be a daunting task, especially amidst the hustle and bustle of the festive period. Google […]
The post Navigating the Holiday Travel Maze: Google Bard’s Travel Planner as Your Digital Companion appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
It might be ending 2023 with a new name, but X (formerly Twitter) is also capping off a year of criticism and legal action with even more condemnation. The European Commission has announced it's opening formal infringement proceedings into X's operation and potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for internal market ironically shared the news on X, detailing the platform's suspected breach of obligations to be transparent and to counter illegal content. X's potentially "deceptive design" is also being investigated.
In its press release, the European Commission states that it will look to X's Community Notes feature to determine whether it's effective enough in "mitigating risks" to "civic discourse and electoral processes." It'll also address "suspected shortcomings" in X's decision to limit access to its data firehose, which could negatively affect researchers and other public bodies. The company's advertising platform is in the Commission's crosshairs, too, as is the "suspected deceptive design" of features like paid checkmarks.
In February 2023, all online services operating in the EU had to declare their size to determine if they were a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP). A VLOP is any platform with over 45 million users across the EU. Any company designated as a VLOP had four months to comply with the DSA. These measures include establishing a specific point of contact, transparency in advertising and content moderation and clear, user-friendly terms and conditions. It also requires identifying and mitigating risks such as illegal content, gender-based violence and protecting minors. Other logistical stipulations include permitting vetted researchers to access data that informs about systemic risks in the EU, sharing data with the Commission and having an independent audit annually.
The Commission's actions follow a risk assessment report X submitted in September, a transparency report the platform published in November and ongoing concerns about how X is handling — or mishandling, for that matter — content about the Israel-Hamas War. Breton sent a letter to Elon Musk about the platform's responsibility to moderate posts in line with the DSA. The European Union opened an investigation into X's handling shortly after.
Today we open formal infringement proceedings against @X :
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) December 18, 2023
⚠️ Suspected breach of obligations to counter #IllegalContent and #Disinformation
⚠️ Suspected breach of #Transparency obligations
⚠️ Suspected #DeceptiveDesign of user interface#DSA pic.twitter.com/NxKIif603k
In a statement, Breton explained that the newly announced proceedings show "the time of big online platforms behaving like they are 'too big to care' has come to an end." He continued: "We now have clear rules, ex ante obligations, strong oversight, speedy enforcement, and deterrent sanctions and we will make full use of our toolbox to protect our citizens and democracies." This instance marks the first time the Commission has opened formal proceedings to enforce these EU regulations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/eu-opens-an-official-probe-into-x-over-illegal-content-and-disinformation-124139507.html?src=rss
Dubbed the Orca Edition Park Model, this tiny house feels anything but tiny. Designed by Mint Tiny Homes, who have some experience in designing spacious tiny homes, Orca aspires to feel like an apartment on wheels! It measures 528 square meters and features a spacious and roomy interior within a single floor. The Orca Edition Park Model measures 44 feet in length and 12 feet in width, making it a pretty expansive model that is ideal for being located on one site, rather than being towed and moved away regularly.
Designer: Mint Tiny Homes
The Orca is founded on a quadruple-axle trailer and features a finishing of board and batten engineered wood siding topped with a sloping metal roof. As you enter the home, you are welcomed by double glass doors that lead to a spacious and well-designed kitchen space. The kitchen includes an oven, a full-size fridge/freezer, a sink, a full-size dishwasher, a four-burner propane-powered stove, and a microwave. The kitchen’s cabinetry features a floor-to-ceiling pantry, amped with adjustable shelving. A central dining table is also located in the space.
Adjacent to the kitchen is the living, which is equipped with a full-size sofa, fireplace, coffee table, and space for a wall-mounted TV. You can enter the secondary bedroom of the tiny room via a sliding door. There are no lofts in this home as it follows Canadian planning laws for a home of this size. The bedroom is equipped with a generous amount of glazing, as well as ample headroom to stand straight without bumping your head onto the ceiling. It also features a double bed and some storage space.
The other end of the kitchen is flanked by a small hallway equipped with a laundry area with a washer/dryer as well as storage space. There is a bathroom located close by, and it is outfitted with a vanity sink, bathtub with shower, and a composting or flushing toilet. This small hallway then naturally connects to the main bedroom, which holds a double bed and wardrobe space. The master bedroom also features a door that leads to the outside, so you have separate access to it.
The post The Orca Tiny Home With Its Spacious & Roomy Interior Feels Anything But Tiny first appeared on Yanko Design.
The MagDisk MagSafe power bank, SSD storage, and USB-C hub is a versatile device compatible with a variety of platforms, including iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Camera, and iPad, and brings a host of innovative features that enhance the user experience. One of the standout features of the MagDisk is its compatibility with the iPhone 15 […]
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A bipartisan group of US senators and representatives have urged the Department of Justice to investigate whether Apple violated antitrust laws by attempting to block Beeper Mini's access to iMessage. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Lee (R-UT), along with Representatives Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Ken Buck (R-CO), have asked an assistant attorney general to look into “potentially anticompetitive conduct” by Apple.
There have been a number of efforts in recent months to provide Android users with access to iMessage via workarounds. Earlier this month, Beeper said it was able to reverse engineer the iMessage protocol and support it on Android devices. Within a couple of days, Beeper Mini's iMessage integration was acting up and Apple (without elaborating too much) soon confirmed it had blocked an iMessage exploit.
It didn't take long for Beeper to find yet another way to get iMessage working on Android, though this time it required an Apple ID. Last week, the company said it suspected Apple was "deliberately blocking iMessages from being delivered" to around five percent of Beeper Mini users and that it was working on a solution.
The back and forth between Beeper and Apple caught the attention of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). "Green bubble texts are less secure. So why would Apple block a new app allowing Android users to chat with iPhone users on iMessage? Big Tech executives are protecting profits by squashing competitors," Warren wrote on X. "Chatting between different platforms should be easy and secure."
Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to a question about improving iOS-Android communication compatibility by telling a journalist to "buy your mom an iPhone."
Senator @amyklobuchar + @SenMikeLee + @RepJerryNadler @RepKenBuck sent this to DOJ regarding ongoing fight betwn Beeper Mini vs Apple “to investigate whether this potentially anticompetitive conduct by Apple violated antitrust laws.” I’ll have the full story on @CBSMornings tmrw pic.twitter.com/pj6ef432TK
— Jo Ling Kent (@jolingkent) December 18, 2023
"Interoperability and interconnection have long been key drivers of competition and consumer choice in communications services," lawmakers noted in their letter to the DOJ. "But consumers will never benefit from competition if dominant firms are allowed to snuff out that competition at its incipiency."
As such, the officials are "concerned that Apple's recent actions to disable Beeper Mini harm competition, eliminate choices for consumers and will discourage future innovation and investment in interoperable messaging services. We also fear these types of tactics may more broadly chill future investment and innovation from those that seek to compete with existing digital gatekeepers. Thus, we refer this matter to the Antitrust Division to investigate whether this potentially anticompetitive conduct by Apple violated the antitrust laws."
Apple has made at least one commitment to improving messaging interoperability. The company has pledged to support the RCS protocol starting in 2024, after years of Google openly pressuring Apple to do so. Adopting RCS will mean that messaging between iPhone and Android will be more secure than SMS and allow for higher-quality media sharing.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/us-lawmakers-call-for-doj-probe-into-apples-blocking-of-beepers-imessage-app-122554473.html?src=rssApple says it’s testing a new App Store feature called contingent pricing to lure customers into cheaper subscriptions based on their other purchases. This contingent pricing model will let developers offer discounts to customers who already have subscriptions to other services, be it those developers’ own apps or connected partner apps.
According to 9to5Mac, Apple says these bundled discounts will be highly visible to customers both on the App Store and “in off-platform marketing channels” — so elsewhere too. It’s starting with a select group of participants before rolling out to more developers “in the coming months.”
It’s been a year of increased scrutiny into Apple’s App Store and how it handles in-app purchases. Just this fall, Apple asked the Supreme Court to reverse the previous ruling that required it to allow developers to use outside payment systems, circumventing Apple’s 30 percent transaction fee. This is a way, of sorts, to get back in developers’ good graces.
— Mat Smith
These tomatoes were lost on the International Space Station for almost a year
Activision Blizzard will pay $54 million to settle California’s gender discrimination lawsuit
Amazon boosts its satellite internet network with the help of space lasers
A One Piece anime remake is in the works from Netflix
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According to Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke in an interview with IGN, Game of the Year, Baldur’s Gate 3, won’t come to Microsoft’s Game Pass. Vincke also noted this was always the plan, and the title had never been considered for Microsoft’s subscription gaming platform. Vincke says Baldur’s Gate 3 is a “big game” available for a “fair price.” He also touted the title’s lack of microtransactions and its complete story, saying “you get what you pay for.”
Meta Quest users can now write reports, edit spreadsheets and create presentations — if they even want to do any of those tasks on a VR headset. Support for the basic Microsoft Office suite has arrived on the original Oculus Quest, the Meta Quest 2, the Quest Pro and the Quest 3. Users can now download Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint from the Meta Quest store for free. That said, typing on the Quest’s onscreen keyboard is not particularly easy, so you might want to bring your Bluetooth keyboard along for virtual office hours.
This week, Engadget Senior Editor Jessica Conditt joins Cherlynn and Devindra to talk about the death of E3 and what it means for the gaming industry. They also explore some of the highlights (and low points) of last week’s Game Awards, which couldn’t quite balance celebrating video games and functioning as a marketing tool. We’re particularly excited for Light No Fire, the next ambitious game from the folks behind No Man’s Sky. (Oh, you should check out Jessica’s video on the subject.)
Chinese manufacturer Nio is about to start selling an EV with a “semi-solid state” 150kWh battery (140kWh usable). That’s the biggest battery of any passenger EV so far. Nio CEO William Li drove a prototype version of the ET7 1,044km (650 miles) in 14 hours, a distance surpassing many gas-powered vehicles. The ET7’s 150kWh battery will only be available on a lease separate from the car, much as we’ve seen with some cars sold in Europe. We’re unlikely to see this specific battery pack in the US, however. With the Biden administration’s latest rules, some US cars, like Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range, that use specific Chinese battery components will no longer receive the full $7,500 tax credit.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-tests-app-store-discounts-121517653.html?src=rss
Peugeot has announced that their Peugeot Panoramic i-Cockpit has won the Connected Car Award 2023 for its use of the latest technology in the entertainment category, this new i-Cockpit is available in the Peugeot E-3008 electric vehicle. The new Panoramic i-Cockpit® on the new E-3008 ensures instinctive, safe and comfortable driving. It features a 21-inch […]
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Have you ever dreamt of having a unique digital space that truly represents your creative spirit? A platform that not only showcases your work but also connects you with a vibrant community of like-minded individuals? Well, your dream is about to come true with the .ART domain. This is not just a domain; it’s a […]
The post Deals: unleash your creativity with the .ART domain: a digital canvas for your masterpiece appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
This guide is designed to show you how you can use Google Bard and other AI tools to help with your Holiday Playlist. The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and music. With a plethora of festive tunes to choose from, compiling the perfect holiday playlist can be a daunting task. However, fear not! […]
The post How to Get Google Bard to Help With Your Holiday Playlist appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
The winter months are ripe with long journeys — whether through a road trip to a relative's house or a flight somewhere warm — and require good quality music to get through them. Achieving this is quite a bit cheaper right now, with the Beats Studio Buds dropping to an all-time low of $80 from $150. The 47 percent discount is available on every color, from Black to Sunset Pink.
Beats Studio Buds are a solid option for noise-canceling earbuds and — even more so now — are much more affordable than competitors like AirPods. They have IPX4 sweat and water resistance, three soft ear tip sizes and eight hours of battery life or 24 hours with the charging case. Android users can download the Beats app to see stats and updates, while this technology is built in for iOS users.
The Studio Buds aren't Beats' only good deal to check out right now. The Beats Fit Pro is 20 percent off, dropping to $160 from $200 in every color except Moon. The secure wing-tipped earbuds can last six hours on a single charge or 24 hours with the case and add adaptive EQ to the list of listening modes. Plus, they're also IPX4 sweat and water-resistant.
Then there's the Beats Studio Pro headphones, available for $180, down from $350 — a 49 percent discount. The sale price increases to $205 when adding in two years of AppleCare+. The Studio Pro headphones have 40 hours of battery life and can get another four hours with just a 10-minute charge. The on-ear buttons can activate Siri, accept calls or control the music. The Beats Fit Pro and Studio Pro are both only $10 off their all-time low prices.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beats-headphones-and-earbuds-are-up-to-49-percent-off-right-now-112029335.html?src=rss