Monthly Archives: October 2024

Google’s theft protection features have started showing up for some Android users

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Three new theft protection features that Google announced earlier this year have reportedly started rolling out on Android. The tools — Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock — are aimed at giving users a way to quickly lock down their devices if they’ve been swiped, so thieves can’t access any sensitive information. Android reporter Mishaal Rahman shared on social media that the first two tools had popped up on a Xiaomi 14T Pro, and said some Pixel users have started seeing Remote Lock.

Theft Detection Lock is triggered by the literal act of snatching. The company said in May that the feature “uses Google AI to sense if someone snatches your phone from your hand and tries to run, bike or drive away.” In such a scenario, it’ll lock the phone’s screen. 

Offline Device Lock, on the other hand, can automatically lock the screen after a thief has disconnected the phone from the internet. You can already remotely lock your phone with Google’s Find My Device, but the third feature, Remote Lock, lets you do so without having to scramble to figure out your Google account password. All you’d need for this is “your phone number and a quick security challenge using any device.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-theft-protection-features-have-started-showing-up-for-some-android-users-210634941.html?src=rss

Glue gun concept gives the crafting tool a modern and ergonomic makeover

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Anyone who has done any kind of craft would have at one point or another used a glue gun. This tool simply melts solid glue and dispenses it through a nozzle, and its design hasn’t changed one bit over the decades. It’s a very simple tool that’s shaped like a toy gun, and while it does get the job done, it is inefficient, uncomfortable, and even unsafe. Perhaps it’s because it has fallen out of use that the glue gun hasn’t seen any action in the design department, something that this concept design tries to make up for by taking inspiration from an iconic houseware brand commonly associated with kitchen tools.

Designer: Sahitya Kashyap

Kitchen tools like whisks and tongs are probably the last things you’d expect to be given the beauty treatment, but that’s exactly what Joseph Joseph brought to the kitchen countertop. The brand’s products are famed not just for their utility but also for their simple charm, turning their use from a chore to a joy. Given the expectations of a glue gun, this tool definitely deserves such a treatment as well, but one that also redefines the basic shape that is at the heart of the glue gun’s woes.

There’s really no reason why it needs to be shaped like a gun anymore, at least not one that faithfully sticks to that form. Any L-shaped form with a trigger mechanism can easily be considered a gun, and our brains will fill in the rest. This concept goes through various iterations to achieve that design, until one that is distinctive and more interactive makes it to the top. It comes in the form of a tube that has been flattened on its long sides and is actually made of two parts connected at an angle. Thanks to that cut, twisting one end creates that angle that associates the form with a gun.

The design also resolves the problem of precision with a significantly smaller and thinner rod-shaped nozzle. Unlike the conical nozzle of today’s glue guns, this allows the tip to get closer to narrow spaces without the hot metal touching the surface. The design also adds an LED light to signal when the gun is ready to use, a feature that 3D printing pens had for years now. And when you’re done, simply twisting the gun back to its original straight form is enough to turn it off, and you don’t have to worry about how to put the still-hot gun down.

More than just the form, the aesthetics of the glue gun also changes significantly. Gone is the plain, unattractive, and cheap plastic, replaced by a smooth and glossy finish befitting of a Joseph Joseph product. The design does still leave a few problems to be solved, like how the glue stick is supposed to bend as well, but it’s an interesting thought experiment for a product that has barely been given the long-overdue attention it deserves.

The post Glue gun concept gives the crafting tool a modern and ergonomic makeover first appeared on Yanko Design.

Roland’s V-Drums Quiet Design keeps minimal noise for people living with the drummer

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For parents, probably the last instrument that they would want their kids to take up are the drums since they know they’ll be in for months or even years of ear-splitting noise. But over the years and with the advent of electric drums, there have been quieter options for people who want to practice their craft and not disturb the people they live with.

Designer: Roland

The V-Drums Quiet Design from Roland claims it is “the lowest playing noise in the history of electronic drum kits.” Of course it is not completely silent but it is able to reduce the playing noise levels by 75% compared to their previous V-Drums. Users have the option to play the set with the existing TD-07 control module or to choose another V-Drums module. There are several features that makes this electronic drums kit less noisy.

For one, the system snare and tom pads have a honeycomb rubber insert that is noise-absorbing and on top of it, there is a mesh head and strategically placed vents under the playing surface. The rim of the snare is actually triggered independently from the head and has soft rubber so your rim shots are not jarring for the people around you or near you. The set also has three cymbal pads that have the same materials mentioned above, with the crash and ride ones having independent bow and edge triggering while the hi-hat has a foot pedal to give it ultra-quiet operation. The kick drum has a triple-later cushion with a double-ply mesh in a floating frame set so the vibration and noise transfer is less.

All the features basically confines the sound to the headphones that you’ll wear while playing. The entire kit even has a noise-dampening stand with isolating rubber feet which keeps the sound levels “similar to an average conversation”. This is a gift for both the drummer and the people living with them.

The post Roland’s V-Drums Quiet Design keeps minimal noise for people living with the drummer first appeared on Yanko Design.

What to read this weekend: Preventing an asteroid apocalypse, and Cult of the Lamb’s first arc wraps up

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New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-preventing-an-asteroid-apocalypse-cult-of-the-lamb-comic-louise-erdrich-mighty-red-190816097.html?src=rss

Luxury superyacht has an underwater observation lounge

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I’ve seen enough true crime shows and thriller mystery movies that are set in a cruise ship or a luxury yacht for me to have any dream of going aboard one. But when I look at the designs of luxury ships and imagine spending time there (without a killer on the loose), I can definitely understand the appeal. This new gigayacht from Dutch studio Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design has one particular feature that might make me reconsider about going on board given the chance.

Designer: Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design

Inspire is a massive 454-foot gigayacht with bold, architectural lines, a reverse bow and a lot of glass on board. This gives you the feeling of luxury, a lot of natural light, and a great view of the sea outside. The glue-green hue finish of the hull makes it seemingly part of the sky and the sea. The yacht has six decks and can accomodate 22 guests and 52 crew members, with the top deck alone spanning 3,000 square feet of living space.

All six decks are filled with different beautiful spaces. You have a primary suite, a glass-enclosed lounge with a winter garden, an outdoor terrace, eight guest cabins, two VIP suites with fold-out balconies, a circular restaurant, an exterior desk for alfresco dining, an indoor-outdoor lounge with a fireplace. At the lower levels you get a beach deck with a wellness center, a swim platform, and a blue-hole swimming pool with a glass bottom.

But one of the major attractions of this superyacht is the Nemo lounge which is around 16 feet below the water’s edge. You will be able to see all the surrounding wonders of marine life without having to actually dive below. As someone who doesn’t dive but wants to see all the fishes and corals, this is definitely something I’d want to try out given the chance.

The post Luxury superyacht has an underwater observation lounge first appeared on Yanko Design.

X reportedly paid its Brazil fines to the wrong bank, causing further delay in reinstatement case

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Despite the company’s recent decision to abide by the demands of the Brazilian Supreme Court, X still isn’t back online in Brazil — and according to Reuters, that’s at least in part because it paid its fines to the wrong bank. After weeks being banned in Brazil, X in late September named a legal representative for the country as ordered, and took down accounts the court accused of spreading misinformation and hate speech. Its final hurdle was to pay off the fines that it had racked up, reportedly amounting to roughly $5 million.

Citing Friday court filings, Reuters reports that X says it’s paid the fines and requested to have services restored. But, Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the funds went to the wrong bank, and the decision will have to wait until they’ve been transferred. X maintains that it paid its fines correctly, according to Reuters. X has been banned in Brazil since the end of August. While the company initially resisted the court’s orders, it recently changed its tune and said it was working with the Brazilian government to get the platform back online in the country.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-reportedly-paid-its-brazil-fines-to-the-wrong-bank-causing-further-delay-in-reinstatement-case-164959494.html?src=rss

Liquid LFM 40B: Redefining Transformer AI Architecture

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Liquid LFM Transformer AI Models

Liquid AI has unveiled its groundbreaking Liquid Foundation Models (LFMs), signaling a significant leap forward in AI architecture. These innovative models seamlessly integrate the strengths of Transformer and Mamba models, establishing a new standard for performance while minimizing memory usage and optimizing inference efficiency. LFMs are carefully crafted to cater to a wide array of […]

The post Liquid LFM 40B: Redefining Transformer AI Architecture appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Lego’s website was hacked to promote a crypto scam

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People who visited Lego's website on the evening of October 4 were welcomed by a banner with illustrated golden coins bearing the company's logo, claiming that the "Lego coin" is now officially out. It even promised "secret rewards" to those who'd buy some. But Lego wasn't truly launching an official cryptocurrency coin, and according to The Brick Fan, the button to buy led to an external cryptocurrency website selling "LEGO Tokens" with Ethereum. The website was, seemingly, hijacked by bad actors who switched its banner and used it for some sort of crypto scam. 

As users on the Lego subreddit have noted, the incident happened overnight for Lego's headquarters. The company responded relatively quickly, though, and removed the unauthorized banner and links. As of this writing, the Lego Fortnite collaboration banner is back up, and the "buy now" link leads to the collection. Lego told Engadget that no user accounts were compromised and that it has identified the cause of the issue. It also said that it was implementing measures to prevent anything similar from happening again in the future. However, the company has declined to share details about that "cause" or the measures it's implementing. 

Here's the company's official statement:

"On 5 October 2024 (October 4 evening in the US), an unauthorised banner briefly appeared on LEGO.com. It was quickly removed, and the issue has been resolved. No user accounts have been compromised, and customers can continue shopping as usual. The cause has been identified and we are implementing measures to prevent this from happening again."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/legos-website-was-hacked-to-promote-a-crypto-scam-140045757.html?src=rss

iPhone 16 vs. 16 Pro: Is the Pro Worth the Extra Cash?

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iPhone 16

When it comes to choosing between the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro, it’s all about finding the right balance between cost and features that suit your needs and preferences. The iPhone 16, with its competitive price of $799, offers an impressive array of capabilities, including a high-resolution 48MP camera, the intuitive Dynamic Island […]

The post iPhone 16 vs. 16 Pro: Is the Pro Worth the Extra Cash? appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Gmail’s Gemini-powered Q&A feature comes to iOS

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A few months ago, Google introduced a new way to search Gmail with the help of its Gemini AI. The feature, called Gmail Q&A, lets you find specific emails and information by asking the Gemini chatbot questions. You can ask things like "What time is our dinner reservation on Saturday?" to quickly find the information you need. It was only initially available on Android devices, but now Google has started rolling it out to iPhones. 

In addition to being able to ask questions, you can also use the feature to find unread emails from a specific sender simply by telling Gemini to "Find unread emails by [the person's name]." You can ask the chatbot to summarize a topic you know you can find in your inbox, such as work projects that you've been on for months consisting of multiple conversations across several threads. And you can even use Gemini in Gmail to do general search queries without having to leave your inbox. To access Gemini, simply tap on the star icon at the top right corner of your Gmail app. 

Google says the feature could take up to 15 days to reach your devices. Take note, however, that you do need to have access to Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium or Google One AI Premium to be able to use it. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gmails-gemini-powered-qa-feature-comes-to-ios-120015661.html?src=rss