France’s data privacy watchdog organization, the CNIL, has fined a logistics subsidiary of Amazon €32 million, or $35 million in US dollars, over the company’s use of an “overly intrusive” employee surveillance system. The CNIL says that the system employed by Amazon France Logistique “measured work interruptions with such accuracy, potentially requiring employees to justify every break or interruption.”
Of course, this system was forced on the company’s warehouse workers, as they seem to always get the short end of the Amazon stick. The CNIL says the surveillance software tracked the inactivity of employees via a mandatory barcode scanner that’s used to process orders. The system tracks idle time as interruptions in barcode scans, calling out employees for periods of downtime as low as one minute. The French organization ruled that the accuracy of this system was illegal, using Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as a legal basis for the ruling.
To that end, this isn’t being classified as a labor case, but rather a data processing case regarding excessive monitoring. “As implemented, the processing is considered to be excessively intrusive,” the CNIL wrote, noting that Amazon uses this data to assess employee performance on a weekly basis. The organization also noted that Amazon held onto this data for all employees and temporary workers.
Amazon responded with a lengthy statement on the matter, writing “we strongly disagree with the CNIL’s conclusions, which are factually incorrect, and we might appeal the decision.” Amazon went on to say that it's not the only company in the logistics industry that uses a connected warehouse system of this sort, going on to tout the system for balancing the “workload between teams so that we can keep processing orders in a safe and efficient manner.” It did say it would extend the threshold limit of its system, potentially giving employees a longer window before alerts start coming in.
Amazon did say it’s mulling an appeal, so we’ll keep an eye on this story as it develops. Over on the other side of the pond, the company has found itself practically living in hot water. Amazon was found to be responsible for more than half of warehouse worker injuries in 2022 and has been accused of unfair labor practices on several occasions. As a matter of fact, the company’s logistics division churns through employees at such a high rate that it ends up costing Amazon $8 billion each year. Maybe it needs a corporate monitoring system of some kind.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/france-fines-amazon-35-million-over-intrusive-employee-surveillance-161302822.html?src=rss
It's been a while since Samsung last upgraded its high-end internal SSDs, and those looking for more performance and power efficiency from their system storage may be interested in the new model. The 990 Evo looks to be a true successor to the Samsung 970 Evo Plus, which is our top recommendation for a Gen3 NVMe SSD.
Samsung says that the 990 Evo is compatible with PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 interfaces to make sure it works in a wide array of systems. It's said to deliver performance improvements of up to 43 percent over the 970 Evo plus with read speeds of up to 5,000MB/s and write speeds up to 4,200 MB/s.
It's worth noting that the read speeds still fall somewhat short of Sony's recommendation of 5,500MB/s for any SSD used to expand a PlayStation 5's storage. That said, I use a 980 series SSD (with a maximum read speed of 3,500MB/s) in my PS5 and haven't encountered any lag while running games from it.
The 990 Evo is said to offer power efficiency improvements of up to 70 percent over the 970 Evo Plus. That could help extend the battery life of laptops that use the SSD. Additionally, Samsung says the drive has a heat spreader label, which is said to effectively regulate its thermal condition and allow it to run at consistently high performance without risking the SSD's integrity.
There's one other useful feature that comes in the form of support for Microsoft Modern Standby. This allows for "instant on/off function with uninterrupted internet connectivity and seamless notification reception, even in low-power states," according to Samsung.
The 990 Evo starts at $125 for 1TB of storage. For a version with double the capacity, that will run you $210. The SSD comes with a five-year limited warranty.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-says-its-new-990-evo-ssd-delivers-improved-performance-and-efficiency-160032381.html?src=rss
Meta'sOversight Board has raised concerns over automated moderation while overturning a decision by the company to leave a Holocaust denial post on Instagram. Holocaust denial is deemed hate speech under Meta's policies. The post in question depicted Squidward from SpongeBob Squarepants and purported to include true facts about the Holocaust. However, the claims "were either blatantly untrue or misrepresented historical facts," the Oversight Board said.
Users reported the post six times after it first appeared in September 2020, but in four instances Meta's systems either determined that the content didn't violate the rules or they automatically closed the case. In early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Meta started automatically closing content reviews to lessen the workload for human reviewers and free up bandwidth for manual review of high-risk reports. All the same, two of the Squidward post reports were also deemed non-violating by human reviewers.
Last May, one user lodged an appeal against Meta's decision to leave the offending content on Instagram. But this appeal was again closed automatically by Meta due to its COVID-19 automation policies, according to the Oversight Board. The user then appealed to the board, which took up the case.
The board conducted an assessment of Holocaust denial content across Meta's platforms and it found that the Squidward meme was used to spread various types of antisemitic narratives. It notes that some users attempt to evade detection and continue to spread Holocaust denial content by using alternate spellings of words (such as replacing letters with symbols) and using cartoons and memes.
The Oversight Board said it's concerned that Meta continued to employ its COVID-19 automation policies as of last May, "long after circumstances reasonably justified them." It also cited unease over "the effectiveness and accuracy of Meta’s moderation systems in removing Holocaust denial content from its platforms." It notes that human reviewers can't granularly label offending content as "Holocaust denial" (such posts are filtered into a "hate speech" bucket). The board also wants to know more about the company's ability to "prioritize accurate enforcement of hate speech at a granular policy level" as it leans more heavily on AI for content moderation.
The board recommended that Meta "take technical steps" to make sure it systematically and sufficiently measures how accurate it is in enforcing Holocaust denial content. That includes gathering more granular information. The board also asked Meta to confirm publicly whether it has ceased all COVID-19 automation policies it established during the onset of the pandemic.
When asked for comment, Meta directed Engadget to its formal response to the board's decision on its transparency site. The company agrees that it left the offending post on Instagram in error and, at the time the board took up the case, Meta said it had removed the content. Following the board's case decision, Meta says it will "initiate a review of identical content with parallel context. If we determine that we have the technical and operational capacity to take action on that content as well, we will do so promptly." It plans to review the board's other recommendations and issue an update later.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/metas-oversight-board-raises-concerns-over-automated-moderation-of-hate-speech-154359848.html?src=rss
Artificial intelligence seems to be on the brink of another significant transformation nearly every week at the moment, and this week is no exception. As developers, businesses and researchers dive deeper into the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4, we’re beginning to see a shift in how these systems tackle complex problems. The […]
Apple's Mac mini M2 is still the most affordable route into macOS, and a new deal has brought the 512GB version of the device down to its lowest price to date. Amazon currently has the compact desktop on sale for $676 when you clip a $53.01 on-page coupon, which beats the mini's previous low by a couple bucks and comes in roughly $25 below its usual street price over the last few months. Apple itself normally sells this configuration, which also includes 8GB of RAM, for $799. If you want to save more cash and only need the bare minimum of storage, the 256GB model is also on sale for $500 with an $80 on-page coupon. That's $20 more than the config's all-time low and a price we've seen fairly often in recent months, but it's $100 less than buying from Apple directly.
We gave the Mac mini a score of 86 when it arrived just over a year ago, though that review applied to the version with Apple's beefier M2 Pro chip. This model with the base M2 chip won't be as capable for video editing or working in 3D, but its design is just as compact, and it'll be plenty fast for web browsing, lighter work and other, more casual needs. You'll just have to be certain that that's all you need, as there's no easy way to upgrade the internal components after purchase. (If you want to do more than basic day-to-day tasks, configs with 16GB of RAM start at $799.) In terms of connectivity, this variant includes two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a gigabit Ethernet jack, an HDMI port (with 4K 60Hz output) and a headphone jack, though none of those are front-facing. As with any Mac mini, you'll need to bring your own monitor, keyboard and mouse.
The elephants in the room are Apple's new M3 chips, which the company released late last year with refreshed iMacs and MacBook Pros. Reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has suggested that Apple could release new M3 devices around March; it's unclear if an M3 Mac mini will be a part of that, but there seems to be a decent chance of an upgrade coming at some point in 2024. Nevertheless, if you want a Mac desktop right away and only need enough performance for the essentials, this is a good price.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-mac-mini-m2-with-512gb-of-storage-falls-to-a-new-low-of-676-153133454.html?src=rss
The new Porsche Taycan is currently being endurance tested by Porsche, the car is launching this spring and Porsche has been testing their latest EV in all environments. Porsche has revealed that the sports sedan, Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo models have now completed 3.6 million kilometres of testing. You can find out more information […]
Mark your calendars for an electrifying experience in the realm of microcontrollers and electronics! From March 21-23, 2024, the Arduino community is set to celebrate its 11th annual Arduino Days, a gathering that promises to be a hub of innovation and learning. This event is poised to showcase the latest advancements and educational resources in […]
Apple’s latest update, iOS 17.3, has arrived, infusing iPhones and iPads with a fresh wave of features and improvements. If you’re an Apple enthusiast, you’ll be pleased to know that this update is more than just a routine tweak; it’s a substantial uplift in both aesthetics and security. Here’s a video guide from iDeviceHelp on […]
If you’re a PC hardware geek who’s been dreaming of a laptop that you can upgrade far beyond the life cycle of a typical machine, Framework's modular notebooks must seem like a miracle. The American company has a straightforward pitch: What if your laptop could be nearly as customizable as a desktop, with the ability to swap components out for repairs and upgrades? What if we could put an end to disposable hardware? We were intrigued by Framework's original 13-inch notebook and its Chromebook variant, despite some rough edges and a basic design. Now, with the Framework Laptop 16, the company is targeting the most demanding and (arguably) hardest group of PC users to please: Gamers.
Framework has already proved it can build compelling modular laptops, but can the Laptop 16 cram in powerful graphics, a fast display and other components to keep up with the likes of Alienware, Razer and ASUS? Sort of, it turns out — and there are plenty of other tradeoffs for living the modular laptop dream. Hardware quirks abound, battery life is mediocre and it still looks like a totally generic machine. But how many other notebooks could let you completely upgrade your CPU or GPU in a few years? Who else offers a customizable keyboard setup? In those respects, the Framework 16 stands alone.
You'll also have to pay dearly for its unique features. The Framework Laptop 16 starts at $1,399 for its DIY Edition, which includes a Ryzen 7 7840HS chip, but RAM, storage and an OS will cost extra. (You could also bring your own hardware, if you happen to have all those components lying around). The pre-built "Performance" model goes for $1,699 with the same Ryzen chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and Windows 11 Home. The highest-end "Overkill" edition starts at $2,099 with a Ryzen 9 7940HS, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Oh, and if you want the dedicated Radeon RX 7700S GPU, that's an additional $400 for every model.
I just wanted you to have those numbers in mind as we dive into what the Laptop 16 gets right, because for true PC tinkerers, those high prices could be worth it. The device's singular personality was clear the instant I opened it: I saw a machine with a fairly typical display, the usual wrist rest area with a touchpad, and a big gaping hole where the keyboard was supposed to be. I've come across hundreds (probably thousands) of laptops in my time, this was one of the rare times where I felt genuinely surprised. Underneath the metal Mid Plate where the keyboard was supposed to be, I could see the internals of the Framework 16 peeking through, just tempting me to get my hands dirty (and my knuckles inevitably scraped up).
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
After opening the two side locks on the wrist rest, I slid the two side spacers off. Then, ever so carefully, I pulled back on the touchpad to detach it from the case. That's when I learned that I didn't have to be too gentle with the Laptop 16. All of the components are built for removal. With the lower panels gone, I had full access to the metal barrier protecting the rest of the machine’s internals.
At that point, I realized it paid to read Framework's online documentation, as things quickly got more complicated. It stated that I needed to remove the cable with the number one next to it, and then unscrew 16 screws spread through the Mid Plate. Thankfully, the screws are held in place, so I didn’t have to worry about losing them as I would during a desktop build.
Then, I was treated to a wondrous sight: A laptop with a completely open mainboard, featuring components I could easily reach without much effort. There's a large battery at the bottom, a wireless networking card at the top left, SSD slots in the middle and two RAM slots off to the side. QR codes are nestled alongside the parts, which direct you to online help documentation. The last time I saw so many easily reachable components was on the failed Alienware Area 51M, another dreamy modular laptop, but that was quietly killed after a few years. (Dell was sued by Area 51M customers who felt misled about its upgradability, though that ultimately didn't amount to much.)
And yes, I know other large gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 16 also let you easily access their RAM and SSDs. But those machines don't have the modular ambitions of the Framework Laptop 16. I could see the Ryzen 7840HS module within reach, and also easily swap out my review unit's Radeon RX 7700S graphics. That GPU, by the way, is completely optional. You can order the Laptop 16 with a slimmer expansion bay instead, which helps to cool the Ryzen chip's Radeon 780M graphics. Or you could have both modules and swap them out as needed. Simply having the option to do so is revolutionary.
The Radeon 7700S GPU is contained within a module that sticks out from the rear of the Laptop 16. A more powerful video card could potentially stick out further, while a more efficient one could end up being smaller. The key is that the choice could be entirely yours (I'm hedging a bit here, because Framework and AMD still haven't committed to the availability of future GPU upgrades). The GPU module also makes a big difference when it comes to weight: The Laptop 16 clocks in at 5.3 pounds with the graphics card attached, whereas it’s just 4.6 pounds with the standard expansion bay.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Looking at the Framework Laptop 16 splayed out on my workbench, all I could see was possibility. The possibility of doubling my RAM in a couple of years to run local AI models, upgrading the CPU for a major power upgrade, and replacing the battery on my own after far too many charge cycles. Framework is selling a dream of hope. I had my doubts when the company launched, especially after seeing how badly Dell botched the Area 51M. (Fun fact: Frank Azor, the Alienware co-founder who spearheaded that machine's launch, is now AMD's chief gaming architect. He left Dell before the company failed to live up to its upgradability promises.)
But now that Framework has several products under its belt, and it's managed to deliver a truly replaceable mobile GPU where others have failed, I find myself rooting for this little hardware company that's daring to do something different. (Okay, sure, it also raised $27 million in VC funding, but hardware is a difficult and expensive thing to get right!)
Even if you're not eager to get new components in a few years, the Framework Laptop 16's modularity also allows you to easily customize it for your needs. As I reassembled the machine, a process that took around three minutes, I wanted to make my setup look different from a typical laptop. So I slapped the RGB keyboard module on the left side of the Mid Plate (it landed with a genuinely satisfying magnetic thunk) and aligned the trackpad right below it. To the right of the keyboard, I installed a customizable button module (you can also order a standard Numpad, if you'd like), and metal spacers on the right of the trackpad.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
With the top of the machine configured, I also had to figure out which ports I wanted to equip along the sides of the Laptop 16. Framework handles that process brilliantly: The computer has three expansion bays along each side, all of which lead to USB-C connections at the end. The expansion cards are just USB-C dongles connecting to your typical ports, including USB Type A ($9), Type C ($9), a headphone jack ($19) and HDMI ($19). Our review unit came with a handful of cards, so I slapped on two USB-C ports on the left (which also handle charging), USB A on both sides, as well as HDMI and 3.5mm on the right (because the legend will never die).
If I was configuring my own machine, I'd also opt for Ethernet ($39) and MicroSD ($19). The cards sit flush with the Laptop 16 once they're installed, and are very secure once you enable the locks on the bottom of the case. They're so easy to swap out, I wouldn't be surprised if Framework owners end up switching between them on the fly. You can never have too many ports, after all.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
While I appreciated the simple customizability of the ports, charging was a bit annoying. Framework's documentation points out that only certain expansion slots can be used for USB-C charging. There's also a USB-C port on the back of the GPU module, which I was disappointed to learn couldn't actually charge the Laptop 16. The company told me that USB-C port is only meant for accessories and additional displays. Still, it would have been nice to have rear charging support just to hide the cable from view.
Once I had everything locked into place, this ugly duckling of a laptop started to look like a gaming swan. The RGB keyboard jolted to life when I hit power. I had no idea what I was going to do with the programmable keyboard, but I could see it potentially being useful while podcasting (and certainly if I was a game streamer). But I also realized that nothing is permanent about the Laptop 16.
I learned quickly that I wasn't a fan of typing for too long on a left-aligned keyboard, so I yanked everything out and center-aligned the keyboard and trackpad instead. Instead of blank metal spacers around the keyboard, I installed some customizable LED modules, which basically exist to look pretty. That took me just two minutes. The keyboard, by the way, is wonderful to type on, with 1.5mm of key travel and a soft landing that easily dampens my heavy typing. The trackpad is also smooth to the touch and has a responsive click. It's so great that I have to wonder how some Windows laptops still ship with frustrating touchpads — I'm looking at you, ZenBook 14 OLED.
There's so much to love about the Framework Laptop 16, I was genuinely bummed to discover that it was a fairly mediocre gaming machine, at least for its high price. Across multiple games and benchmarks, it fell in line with laptops sporting NVIDIA's RTX 4060 GPU, a card typically found in systems starting around $1,000 (and sometimes less). Framework isn't completely out of line, though, Razer still sells the Blade 16 for $2,500 (down from $2,699). Remember, you're paying for the magic of customizability, not just raw performance.
Our review unit included the Radeon GPU module, the Ryzen 7 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which would all cost at least $2,144 to configure. (That doesn't include the cost of expansion cards or additional input modules.) For that amount of money, I really would have liked to see more than 61fps on average while playing Halo Infinite in 1440p with Ultra graphics settings. In Cyberpunk, I hit 53fps on average with maxed out graphics and mid-range ray tracing settings. Both games fared better in 1080p — 85fps in Halo and 76fps in Cyberpunk with the same settings — but still, those are numbers I'd typically only put up with in a budget gaming laptop.
As for benchmarks, the Framework Laptop 16 scored 200 points less than the Razer Blade 18 with an RTX 4060 in 3DMark's TimeSpy Extreme. And as usual, the AMD GPU still lagged behind in the Port Royal ray tracing demo. Still, the Laptop 16 held up decently in the broader PCMark 10 benchmark, which tests productivity apps and not just gaming. The Framework machine hit a score of 8,129, putting it alongside some of the fastest machines we saw last year (it even beat out the Blade 18, which was running a beefy Intel i9-13950HX CPU).
While I would have liked to see higher numbers across the board, the Framework Laptop 16's 16-inch screen was at least a joy to behold throughout my testing. It's an LED panel running at 2,560 by 1,600 pixels with a 165Hz refresh rate, a respectable 500 nits of brightness and 100-percent DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. The display made the neon-soaked world of Cyberpunk pop more than usual, though it certainly didn't have the extra brightness of MiniLED screens or the eye-searing contrast of OLED panels. At the risk of repeating myself, the beauty of this screen is that you can yank it off the laptop in a few minutes and replace it if your kid damages it, or if Framework releases new modules. (Again, big if there.)
The Framework's left speaker.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Personally, I’d also eagerly swap out the Laptop 16’s 3-watt speakers the instant Framework offers upgrades. They’re serviceable, but given what Apple and Dell offer these days, they feel almost insulting. Music sounds far too tinny, and they can barely even convey the faux drama of a typical movie trailer. I’m sure most people would use headphones while gaming, but if you’re the sort of person who relies on your laptop speakers for music, I beg you to consider other options.
I’d also recommend some sort of noise blocking solution that can overpower the Laptop 16’s fans. While I was gaming and benchmarking the system, I could swear it was about to lift off like my DJI drone. The fans are louder than any gaming laptop I’ve encountered over the past few years, but at least they did their job. CPU temps stayed around 80 degrees Celsius under load, while the GPU typically stayed under 70C.
Since it’s a huge gaming laptop, I didn’t expect much battery life from the Framework Laptop 16, and I was right: It lasted for four hours and five minutes in the PCMark 10 “Modern Office” battery benchmark. I saw similar results while writing this review, and as you’d expect, it lasted around two hours playing a demanding game like Halo Infinite.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Much like the original Framework notebook, the Laptop 16 is meant for a niche group of PC users, those who prioritize customizability and upgradability at all costs. If you’re a gamer trying to get the most frames for your dollar, this isn’t really the machine for you (consider these budget gaming PCs, or wait to see how we feel about the Zephyrus G14 in our review). But if you want a notebook that could last you for the next decade, and don’t mind so-so gaming performance, the Laptop 16 could be the notebook of your dreams.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/framework-laptop-16-review-modular-wonder-mediocre-gaming-laptop-150026910.html?src=rss
OnePlus has announced pricing and availability for its flagship OnePlus 12 and budget-oriented OnePlus 12R smartphones, along with the OnePlus Buds 3. The OnePlus 12 will go on sale February 6 starting at $799 for the 256GB version, with the 512GB model priced at $899. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 12R is priced at $599 and the OnePlus Buds 3 will cost $99. Both of the latter models go on sale a week later, February 13.
OnePlus
Both phones have already launched in China, but as a reminder, the OnePlus 12 is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 12GB of RAM (expandable to 24GB) and storage up to 1TB. It boasts a 50-megapixel main camera (using Sony's big LYT-808 1/1.4-inch sensor) and a 64-megapixel periscopic telephoto lens. It also offers a 6.82-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, up to 100W wired fast charging (50W wireless) and comes in glossy white, matte black or green.
The OnePlus 12R, meanwhile, steps down to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, with 8GB of RAM (upgradeable to 16GB) and 256GB of storage. It offers what the company calls the "world's-first" LTPO 4.0 screen with an intelligent dynamic refresh rate system that switches between 1Hz and 120Hz refresh rates for improved performance and battery life. It offers a 50-megapixel main camera and 5,500mAh battery (the largest ever installed in a OnePlus phone apparently), along with the same 100W/50W wired/wireless charging as the flagship.
Mat Smith for Engadget
Finally, the OnePlus Buds 3 give you AI-based noise cancellation (up to 49dB maximum), along with an ultra-wide 15Hz to 40Khz frequency response. They offer 10 hours of non-stop playback or 44 hours via the charging case. With the LHDC 5.0 Bluetooth codec, they're certified by the Japan Audio Society as Hi-Res Audio wireless devices. That all needs to be put to a test, but they're certainly a good deal at $99.
OnePlus is promising that you'll "experience the future of smooth" with the new products — meaning, we'd imagine, that the user experience is rapid and fluid with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The OnePlus 12 also appears to have the company's best camera yet, with Hasselblad tricks and 4K Dolby Vision video. We'll have a look at it soon and let you know if it lives up to those promises.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/oneplus-12-will-cost-799-when-it-launches-on-february-6-150024792.html?src=rss
