5 Awesome Apple TV Features in tvOS 18

tvOS 18

tvOS 18 introduces a range of exciting features designed to elevate your Apple TV experience to new heights. From interactive actor information and dynamic subtitles to improved audio settings and personalized screensavers, these enhancements aim to make your viewing experience more engaging, user-friendly, and tailored to your preferences. The video below from Stephen Robles gives […]

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How to write Excel formulas using the Advanced Formula Environment (AFE)

How to write Excel formulas with Advanced Formula Environment

Excel’s formula bar has limitations that make writing, debugging, and managing complex formulas challenging. A new tool, the Advanced Formula Environment (AFE), developed by Microsoft for Excel 2019 and later, addresses these issues by providing enhanced features for formula management. Key Takeaways The Microsoft Excel Advanced Formula Environment (AFE) is a tool designed to enhance […]

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More Apple CarPlay Features Added in iOS 18 Beta 3

Apple CarPlay

The latest iOS 18 Beta 3 update introduces a range of enhancements and new features to Apple CarPlay, focusing on improving the user experience and overall functionality. These updates encompass various aspects of CarPlay, including the app selector, Siri interactions, connectivity, accessibility, and more. Let’s dive into the key changes that iOS 18 Beta 3 brings […]

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iPadOS 18 Beta 3: Whats New

iPadOS 18 Beta 3

Apple has released iPadOS 18 Beta 3, bringing a range of updates and improvements to the iPad operating system. This latest iteration focuses on bug fixes and minor feature enhancements, making it a more substantial update compared to Beta 2. The video below gives us more details on the latest beta. Let’s dive into the […]

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6 Amazing Android Apps You Need to Try

Android apps

In the ever-evolving world of mobile technology, Android users are constantly seeking new ways to optimize their smartphone experience. With countless apps available on the Google Play Store, it can be challenging to find the ones that truly stand out. The video below from Mr Android FHD shows us six innovative Android applications that offer […]

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Even More iOS 18 Beta 3 Features Revealed

iOS 18 beta 3

Yesterday Apple released iOS 18 beta 3, bringing a wealth of exciting features and improvements to the table. This update, weighing in at approximately 1.2 GB with the build number 22A5307F, offers a range of changes that span from the home screen to app icons, screenshot functionality, and beyond. While the public beta is expected […]

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US officials announce the takedown of an AI-powered Russian bot farm

US officials and their allies have identified and taken down an artificial intelligence-powered Russian bot farm comprised of almost 1,000 accounts, which spread disinformation and pro-Russian sentiments on X. The Justice Department has revealed the the scheme that was made possible by software was created by a digital media department within RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet. Its development was apparently led by RT's deputy editor-in-chief back in 2022 and was approved and funded by an officer at Russia's Federal Security Service, the main successor of the KGB. 

In a cybersecurity advisory issued by the FBI, intelligence officers from the Netherlands and cybersecurity authorities from Canada, they specifically mentioned a tool called "Meliorator," which can create "authentic appearing social media personas en masse," generate text messages as well as images and mirror disinformation from other bot personas. Authorities have seized two domains that the operation used to create email addresses that were necessary to sign up for accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, which served as home to the bots. 

The Justice Department, however, is still in the midst of finding all 968 accounts used by the Russian actors to disseminate false information. X has shared information with authorities on all the identified accounts so far and has already suspended them. As The Washington Post has noted, the bots slipped through X's safeguards, because they can copy-paste OTPs from their email accounts to log in. The operations' use of US-based domain names violates the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Justice Department said. Meanwhile, paying for them violates federal money laundering laws in the US.

A lot of profiles created by the tool impersonated Americans by using American-sounding names and setting their locations on X to various places in the US. The examples presented by the Justice Department used headshots against gray backgrounds as their profile photos, which are a pretty good indicator that they were created using AI. One account with the name Ricardo Abbott, which claimed to be from Minneapolis, posted a video of Russian president Vladimir Putin justifying Russia's actions in Ukraine. Another account with the name Sue Williamson posted a video of Putin saying that the war in Ukraine isn't about territorial conflict and is a matter of "principles on which the New World Order will be based.” These posts were then liked and reposted by other bots in the network. 

It's worth noting that while this particular bot farm was confined to X, the people behind it had plans to expand to other platforms, based on the authorities' analysis of the Meliorator software. Foreign actors that spread political disinformation have been using social media to disseminate false news for years. But now they've added AI to their arsenal. Back in May, OpenAI reported that it dismantled five covert influence operations originating from Russia, China, Israel and Iran that were using its models to influence political outcomes.

"Russia intended to use this bot farm to disseminate AI-generated foreign disinformation, scaling their work with the assistance of AI to undermine our partners in Ukraine and influence geopolitical narratives favorable to the Russian government," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. "The FBI is committed to working with our partners and deploying joint, sequenced operations to strategically disrupt our most dangerous adversaries and their use of cutting-edge technology for nefarious purposes."

As for RT, the media organization told Bloomberg: "Farming is a beloved pastime for millions of Russians." 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/us-officials-announce-the-takedown-of-an-ai-powered-russian-bot-farm-054034912.html?src=rss

Ultra-sleek Waterdrop X16 RO Purifier brings mineral-rich water with a single touch

I don’t know about you but I’ve never seen a water filtration system that looks elegant enough to integrate into your house or kitchen’s decor. They’re almost always made of plastic, with a design that can only be described as ‘worthy of being hidden’. That’s why most kitchens come with under-sink compartments for hiding these purification systems, so all you get is clean water through the tap without that hyper-industrial aesthetic of the purifier ruining your kitchen’s design. That’s something the folks at Waterdrop Filter wanted to change – among other things. The first time you lay your eyes on the Waterdrop Filter X series – X16, chances are you won’t even think it’s a purification system – with the sleek aesthetic of probably a high-end PC, the X16 is a state-of-the-art tankless RO water purifier that couples with a touch-sensitive faucet that truly uplifts your kitchen. Place the X16 in a hidden compartment or have it sitting on your countertop, it delivers RO-purified water at a speed of 1600 gallons per day. The water goes through a meticulous 11-stage filtration system, coming out as pristine and tasty as you’d expect from a device that looks this cutting-edge.

Designer: Waterdrop Filter

Click Here to Buy Now: $1199.40 $1999 ($799.60 off, use coupon code “YDreader” to get an additional 5% discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Unlike conventional dispensers that rely on pre-filled tanks, the Waterdrop Filter X series – X16 operates on a tankless design. This means it generates purified water on demand, eliminating the need to wait for a bulky dispenser to slowly trickle out water. This helps give it that sleek design that sets it apart from other bulkier purifiers that store up to 10 or 20 liters of water at a time in advance. Water gets purified on demand, and the instant you touch the faucet, water flows at a maximum rate of 1600 gallons per day (that’s fast enough to fill a glass in a mere 2 seconds, or a kettle in 10 seconds). The flow speed can be adjusted too, but the idea of never having to wait with a carafe or jug while it slowly fills up is quite the boon.

Enjoy refreshing mineral water at home

However, water speed isn’t what defines the X16 – it’s the fact that the water goes through a meticulous 11-stage filtration process across 3 different filter modules. This multi-stage approach tackles a wide range of contaminants that may be lurking in your tap water. The heart of the system lies in the 18-layer RO membrane filter. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a technology that forces tap water through a semi-permeable membrane, effectively filtering out a wide range of impurities, including Chlorine, Lead, Fluoride, Heavy Metals like arsenic, mercury, and chromium-6, and finally Microscopic Contaminants like bacteria, cysts, etc. RO filtration is considered to be arguably the highest standard in home-based water filtration – but it does have a caveat – for every liter of water filtered, the tankless RO system also ejects contaminated water out of its system, leading to wastage. The X16 tackles that with a 3:1 fresh-to-waste water ratio – which means for every 3 liters of fresh purified water, there’s just 1 liter of impure water that’s disposed at the end of the day – a metric much better than some purifiers that waste up to 50% of water in their purification process.

While the multi-stage filtration process removes a wide range of contaminants, the X16 takes an extra step to ensure water safety. The system also integrates a UV sterilizer that eliminates bacteria and viruses in the dispensed water, providing an extra layer of peace of mind. This is especially beneficial for those with compromised immune systems or concerns about microbial contamination in their water supply. While the filtration happens behind the scenes, what you really end up interfacing with is the X16’s tap – a smart, touch-sensitive faucet that comes with its own color-coded display to let you know that your water is pure and contaminant-free. An intuitive dial on the faucet lets you select the desired water volume, from 1 to 64 ounces, with automatic shutoff once the chosen amount is dispensed. Need to stop dispensing early? Pushing the dial again stops the water flow – it’s so easy even a kid could do it.

A simple glance at the faucet’s display also lets you know the status of each of the three filters – blue indicates a healthy filter life, yellow signifies a filter nearing replacement, and red signals an urgent need for a filter change. This intuitive system ensures optimal performance and prevents potential water quality issues by reminding you to replace filters before they become ineffective.

The result is a design and tech overhaul of how drinking water is filtered and dispensed in your kitchen. Instead of purifiers that you want to hide away, and faucets that can often look archaic, the X16 puts a minimal-futuristic spin on the category, with a sleek-looking purifier that’s worthy of being on your countertop, but if space is a constraint, fits perfectly well in your undersink, occupying a minimal footprint. The faucet echoes the same intuitive, sleek, cutting-edge approach that’s seen in the tankless purifier too. It’s simple and easy to use, giving you fresh water that’s enriched in minerals and has a pH level of 7.5± so you actually enjoy the taste of water too.

Bringing an Apple or Tesla-kind of innovation and disruption to the water dispensing space comes with a price, though. The Waterdrop Filter X series – X16 starts at $1999 for the entire kit (purifier + smart faucet), but you can grab a 35% discount on Prime Day and an additional 5% off using the code YDreader during checkout!

Click Here to Buy Now: $1199.40 $1999 ($799.60 off, use coupon code “YDreader” to get an additional 5% discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Ultra-sleek Waterdrop X16 RO Purifier brings mineral-rich water with a single touch first appeared on Yanko Design.

Insta360’s Flow Pro smartphone gimbal uses Apple’s DockKit to track you

Insta360 has launched the Flow Pro smartphone gimbal with a feature we've never seen on any rival product: Apple DockKit support. That allows it to track you around automatically while you present, perform or do other activities, much like DJI's popular Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal. 

DockKit support effectively gives you a robotic cameraman. Just set the Flow Pro up on its built-in tripod that extends from the handle and pair it with your iPhone. Then, attach your iPhone to the gimbal using the magnetic phone clamp or MagSafe-compatible magnetic phone mount and you're ready to shoot.

From there, it'll use your iPhone's front or rear camera and the native camera app to track and focus on your or your subject. That gives you the freedom to move around, knowing it'll keep you in frame and in focus. It also works with over 200 third-party iOS apps including FaceTime, Zoom and TikTok.

Insta360's Flow Pro smartphone gimbal uses Apple's DockKit to track you
Insta360

The only other DockKit product we've seen to date is Belkin's Stand Pro iPhone dock, but that has no gimbal functionality. The Flow Pro, however, is a more powerful version of Insta360's original Flow gimbal (and is cheaper than Belkin's product to boot). To that end, it offers three-axis mechanical shake reduction that's far superior to your phone's electronic stabilization. 

It also comes with the company's AI-powered subject tracking with features like tracking recovery (re-acquiring a subject after losing it), person re-identification and slo-mo tracking. Insta360 also introduced Deep track 3.0 that adds 360-degree infinite pan tracking, meaning it can rotate 360 degrees horizontally while tracking subjects. It also supports animal tracking (dogs, cats and horses) and adds an LED tracking ring so you can see if it's following your subject at a quick glance.

Insta360's Flow Pro smartphone gimbal uses Apple's DockKit to track you
Insta360

Flow Pro also offers a selfie stick that extends to 215mm (8.5 inches), a built-in cold shoe to add a mic or other accessories and a 2,900mAh power bank to charge your iPhone. Other features include "one-step rapid deploy" to unfold the gimbal in one motion, 10-hour battery life, a SmartWheel for quick access to shooting controls, and four gimbal modes (auto, follow, pan follow and FPV).

The Insta360 is now available in the US and worldwide for $149 at select retailers. It includes a magnetic phone clamp, charge cable, grip cover and protective pouch, with other accessories like a spotlight, magnetic phone mount and decorative inserts sold separately.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/insta360s-flow-pro-smartphone-gimbal-uses-apples-dockkit-to-track-you-010029542.html?src=rss