NVIDIA is facing a lawsuit filed by French automotive company Valeo after a screensharing blunder by one of its employees. According to Valeo's complaint, Mohammad Moniruzzaman, an engineer for NVIDIA who used to work for its company, had mistakenly showed its source code files on his computer as he was sharing his screen during a meeting with both firms in 2022. Valeo's employees quickly recognized the code and took screenshots before Moniruzzaman was notified of his mistake.
To note, Valeo and NVIDIA are working together on an advanced parking and driving assistance technology offered by a manufacturer to its customers. Valeo used to be in charge of both software and hardware sides of the manufacturer's parking assistance tech. In 2021, however, the the bigger corporation won the contract to develop its parking assistance software. Valeo wrote in its lawsuit that its former employee, who helped it develop its parking and driving assistance systems, had realized that his exposure and access to its proprietary technologies would make him "exceedingly valuable" to NVIDIA.
Moniruzzaman allegedly gave his personal email unauthorized access to Valeo's systems to steal "tens of thousands of files" and 6GB of source code shortly after that development. He then left Valeo a few months later and took the stolen information with him when he was given a senior position at NVIDIA, the complaint reads. He also worked on the very same project he was involved in for Valeo, which is why he was present at that video conference.
Valeo said its former employee admitted to stealing its software and that German police found its documentation and hardware pinned on Moniruzzaman's walls when his home was raided. According to Bloomberg, he was already convicted of infringement of business secrets in a German court and was ordered to pay €14,400 ($15,750) in September.
In a letter dated June 2022, NVIDIA's lawyers told the plaintiff's counsel that the company "has no interest in Valeo's code or its alleged trade secrets and has taken prompt concrete steps to protect [its] client’s asserted rights." Valeo still sued the company earlier this month, however, and said that NVIDIA has "saved millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of dollars in development costs, and generated profits that it did not properly earn and to which it was not entitled" by stealing its trade secrets.
This is but another proof that competition continues to heat up in the autonomous driving market. Back in 2017, Waymo accused Uber of colluding with its former employee, Anthony Levandowski, to steal over 14,000 confidential and proprietary design files. Levandowski was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but he was pardoned six months later by then President Donald Trump.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nvidia-sued-for-stealing-trade-secrets-after-screensharing-blunder-showed-rival-companys-code-063009605.html?src=rss
OpenAI has been hit with another lawsuit, accusing it of using other people's intellectual property without permission to train its generative AI technology. Only this time, the lawsuit also names Microsoft as a defendant. The complaint was filed by Julian Sancton on behalf of a group of non-fiction authors who said they were not compensated for the use of their books and academic journals in training the company's large language model.
In their lawsuit, the authors state how they spend years "conceiving, researching, and writing their creations." They accuse OpenAI and Microsoft of refusing to pay authors while building a business "valued into the tens of billions of dollars by taking the combined works of humanity without permission." The companies pretend copyright laws do not exist, the complaint reads, and have "enjoyed enormous financial gain from their exploitation of copyrighted material."
Sancton is the author behind Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica’s Journey Into the Dark Antarctic, which tells the true survival story of an 1897 polar expedition that got stuck in the ocean in the middle of a sunless Antarctic winter. Sancton spent five years and tens of thousands of dollars to research and write the book. "Such an investment of time and money is feasible for Plaintiff Sancton and other writers because, in exchange for their creative efforts, the Copyright Act grants them 'a bundle of exclusive rights' in their works, including 'the rights to reproduce the copyrighted work[s],'" according to the lawsuit.
As Forbes notes, OpenAI previously said that content generated by ChatGPT doesn't constitute "derivative work" and, hence, doesn't infringe on any copyright. Sancton's lawsuit is merely the latest complaint against the company over its use of copyrighted work to train its technology. Earlier this year, screenwriter and author also Michael Chabon sued OpenAI for the same thing, as did George R.R. Martin, John Grisham and Jodi Picoult. Comedian Sarah Silverman filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Meta, as well. Sancton is now seeking damages and injunctive relief for all the proposed class action's defendants.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-and-microsoft-hit-with-copyright-lawsuit-from-non-fiction-authors-101505740.html?src=rss
Ubisoft is the latest company to join what seems to be a growing list of advertisers pulling their campaigns from Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter. The company has confirmed to PCGamer and Axios that it has paused advertising on the website, possibly making it the first video game publisher to do so. While Ubisoft didn't elaborate on its reasoning behind the decision, X's advertisers have been suspending their advertising activities on the social network after Musk supported an antisemitic tweet and Media Matters published a research showing brands' advertisements next to Nazi content.
IBM, Apple, Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros, Sony and Comcast have all paused their advertising on X. Lionsgate pulled its ads, as well, specifically citing Musk's tweet as the cause. Axios says Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Nexus VR ad campaign was still showing up for X users as recently as Monday morning, and it's unclear if it stopped advertising on the social network before or after Linda Yaccarino published a statement calling Media Matters' report "misleading and manipulated."
X's CEO issued a call for users and advertisers to "stand with X," claiming that "not a single authentic user on [the website] saw IBM's, Comcast's, or Oracle's ads next to the content in Media Matters’' article." Shortly after that, X officially filed a lawsuit against the media watchdog, accusing it of "knowingly and maliciously manufactur[ing] side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp.'s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white national fringe content."
In its complaint, X explained that Media Matters had to create the right conditions, which included following accounts that post fringe Neo-Nazi and white nationalist content, in order to see ads right next to antisemitic posts.
Media Matters called the lawsuit "frivolous" and an attempt to "bully X's critics into silence" in a statement sent to Engadget. The organization also told us that it "stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-has-suspended-advertising-on-elon-musks-x-074507139.html?src=rss
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao is set to plead guilty to federal money laundering charges and step down from his position at the company he founded. Zhao and the cryptocurrency exchange have reached a plea deal with the government, which conducted a multi-year investigation into the company, CNBC reports. As part of the settlement, Binance will forfeit $2.5 billion and pay a $1.8 billion fine. Zhao is slated to personally pay $50 million.
Zhao will be prohibited from having any involvement with Binance for three years. As part of the plea deal, Zhao will plead guilty later on Tuesday to violating and causing a financial institution to violate the Bank Secrecy Act, according to Reuters.
Binance, Zhao and others were accused of failing to institute an effective anti-money laundering program. According to the Justice Department, they willfully violated economic sanctions “in a deliberate and calculated effort to profit from the US market without implementing controls required by US law." Court documents state that the lack of anti-money laundering measures led to Binance facilitating almost $900 million in financial transactions in violation of sanctions against Iran between 2018 and 2022.
In a statement, Zhao confirmed he is stepping down as CEO, with the company's former global head of regional markets Richard Teng taking over the top job. "Today, I stepped down as CEO of Binance," Zhao wrote on X. "Admittedly, it was not easy to let go emotionally. But I know it is the right thing to do. I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility. This is best for our community, for Binance, and for myself."
Zhao now plans to take a break before perhaps getting more involved in investing. However, "I can’t see myself being a CEO driving a startup again. I am content being an one-shot (lucky) entrepreneur."
Today, I stepped down as CEO of Binance. Admittedly, it was not easy to let go emotionally. But I know it is the right thing to do. I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility. This is best for our community, for Binance, and for myself.
The settlement resolves criminal charges related to breaching sanctions regulations, conspiracy and conducting an unlicensed money transmitter business. Meanwhile, former compliance chief Samuel Lim will reportedly face charges as part of the deal.
This is a major settlement between the company and agencies such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Treasury Department. The CFTC charged Binance, Zhao and Lim with violating its rules, as well as the Commodity Exchange Act, earlier this year.
“Binance turned a blind eye to its legal obligations in the pursuit of profit. Its willful failures allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers through its platform,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. “Today’s historic penalties and monitorship to ensure compliance with US law and regulations mark a milestone for the virtual currency industry. Any institution, wherever located, that wants to reap the benefits of the US financial system must also play by the rules that keep us all safe from terrorists, foreign adversaries, and crime, or face the consequences.”
Binance will remain in operation, albeit under stricter rules. It will need to ensure it abides by anti-money laundering regulations by beefing up its compliance program. The company will also have to appoint an independent compliance monitor.
In June, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Binance and Zhao, alleging that they helped US traders bypass restrictions and violated securities laws by, among other things, mishandling funds. The SEC also claimed that (in similar allegations to those laid against rival exchange FTX) Binance commingled billions of dollars of customer money with the company's own funds. The SEC charges were not resolved in this settlement.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/binance-founder-changpeng-zhao-steps-down-as-ceo-will-plead-guilty-to-federal-charges-210627469.html?src=rss
X has filed a lawsuit against media watchdog group Media Matters over the latter's research that showed ads on the social network appearing next to antisemitic content. The company's owner, Elon Musk, promised to file a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against the organization late last week following an advertiser exodus. In its complaint, X said Media Matters "knowingly and maliciously manufactured side-by-side images depicting advertisers' posts on X Corp.'s social media platform beside Neo-Nazi and white national fringe content." It added that the group portrayed the "manufactured images" as if they represented the typical user's experience in the platform. "Media Matters designed both these images and the resulting media strategy to drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp," the company wrote.
As TechCrunch notes, though, Media Matters didn't exactly "manufacture" the images it used with its research. Based on X's own investigation as it detailed in its lawsuit, the organization used an account older than 30 days to bypass the website's ad filters to follow a set of users known to produce "extreme, fringe content" along with the biggest advertisers on the platform. The group then allegedly kept on scrolling and refreshing its feed to generate "between 13 to 15 times more advertisements per hour than viewed by the average X user." X said the watchdog didn't provide any context regarding the "forced, inauthentic nature" of the advertisements it saw."
In a response to Media Matters' research, X CEO Linda Yaccarino said "not a single authentic user on X saw IBM's, Comcast's, or Oracle's ads next to the content in Media Matters' article." She added that "only two users saw Apple's ad next to the content, at least one of which was Media Matters," confirming that the organization did see the advertisements, even if it had to create the right conditions for them. After Yaccarino released her statement, Media Matters head Angelo Carusone retweeted several posts from seemingly authentic users showing ads for searches and tags such as "killjews" and "HeilHitler." We reached out to the organization about the lawsuit, and a spokesperson told Engadget: "This is a frivolous lawsuit meant to bully X's critics into silence. Media Matters stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court."
Aside from X's lawsuit, Media Matters also has to grapple with an investigation by Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas. Paxton said his office is looking into Media Matters, which he called "a radical anti-free speech" organization, for potential fraudulent activity. He said he's investigating the watchdog to "ensure that the public has not been deceived by the schemes of radical left-wing organizations who would like nothing more than to limit freedom by reducing participation in the public square."
The media watchdog had published its findings after X owner Elon Musk responded to a tweet that said Jews pushed "hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them." Musk wrote: "You have said the actual truth." Several big-name advertisers had pulled their campaigns from the platform following the incidents, including IBM, Apple, Disney, Paramount and Comcast. Meanwhile, Lionsgate specifically cited Elon's tweet as the reason for pulling its ads.
According to Fortune, Yaccarino held an all-hands meeting after X filed the lawsuit to confirm to staff members that some customers' advertisements are still on pause. When asked about what the best outcome for the lawsuit would be, the CEO said a win would validate that X was right.
"They have a long history of being an activist organization, to force a narrative and not allow people of the world to make their own decisions," she reportedly responded. "I think one of the main goals that underscores the dedication to truth and fairness and that is that we allow people a global Town Square, to seek out their own information and make their own decisions. So exposing Media Matters to train people’s rights to make their own decisions will be a validation that X was right, and this was an inauthentic manipulation."
Update, November 21, 2023, 12:14AM ET: Added information from Fortune's report about X's all-hands meeting.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-lawsuit-accuses-media-matters-of-running-a-campaign-to-drive-advertisers-away-from-its-website-040022933.html?src=rss
It’s safe to say that the pandemic is now behind us and that all those dormant travel plans from 3 years ago are finally becoming much more easy to execute. The world has changed a lot in the last few years, however… technology has united us, blurring boundaries and allowing us to experience the world like never before. This collection of gadgets embodies technology’s ability to push your boundaries and help you be a global citizen. We’ve got some incredible translators from the award-winning folks at Timekettle, whether you’re a traveler, an expat, a student, or someone working at a multinational corporation. Alongside those, we’ve also got a handful of charging gadgets, productivity tools, classy watches, everything you need to be the ace traveler, worker, and communicator!
1. Timekettle M3 – 3-in-1 Translator Earbuds
These aren’t your average TWS Earbuds – they’re more akin to those fancy ear-worn translator gadgets you’ve seen in sci-fi action and spy movies. Pop the M3 in and it actively translates languages for you, making it perfect to discreetly understand foreign speech without the cumbersome practice of holding up a phone or translator device so someone can talk into it. The M3 sports a unique split-case design that opens into two halves with one earpiece each. This facilitates a kind of verbal ‘breaking of bread’, where you share one half of the M3 with someone who you can converse with, in what Timekettle calls Touch Mode. The Listen and Speaker modes rely on your smartphone too, enabling one-way or even two-way communication using your smartphone’s screen and microphone in tandem. The M3 actively translates 40 languages and 93 accents in real-time (with offline translation for 8 major languages). Given the wearable nature of the device, it also sports ANC, EQ tuning abilities, and still boasts 95% accuracy with a negligible 0.5-second delay that allows for smooth conversations. Given its portable nature and budget-friendly price, the M3 is perfect for the casual traveler or a foreign student on a budget. It pairs with Timekettle’s smartphone app, which is available on both Android and iOS.
Wear the earbuds and you can suddenly understand almost every language. As fairytale-like as that sounds, it’s pretty much the premise of the M3. The different Modes allow you to use the M3 in a variety of ways, making it perfect for work calls with overseas colleagues/clients/vendors, foreign travelers speaking to locals, listening to performances in foreign languages, attending lectures/classes, or even interacting with local authorities without a language barrier.
What we like
It looks like your average pair of TWS earbuds, but the M3 is a world-class in-ear translator that also happens to play music, answer calls, and listen to podcasts!
The split-case design turns the stereo earbuds into individual mono headsets
Perfect for travelers, students abroad, and people looking to learn/understand new languages
What we dislike
No option to tailor EQ for podcasts or music
2. Nothing-inspired Power Bank Concept
This concept for the London-based Carl Pei venture is an accessory anyone would love to have handy. The see-through aesthetics of this power bank adapted from the Nothing Phone (2) are well complemented by the diffused LED lighting on all sides to lend it a futuristic look. The speed of the hard disk is displayed on top adjacent to where you’ll find all the ports to connect your power-hungry gadgets. To keep up with the likes of Seagate, Western Digital, and SanDisk – the compact Nothing external HDD concept should be offered in a comparative capacity – starting from 2TB and going all the way up to 8TB.
Why is it noteworthy?
Gen-Z users will always choose an option that is aesthetically pleasing and cool to show off among peers. With the Nothing’s see-through power bank, there’s a huge potential audience base that can be lured to create the initial buzz.
What we like
A refreshing design that challenges the competition
Made out of lightweight and durable material
What we dislike
No lanyard tether for easy carrying
3. Timekettle Fluentalk T1 Mini – Travel Translator Device
This tiny handheld device is your passport to effortless communication across languages. Styled somewhat like a smartphone with its own touchscreen, camera, microphone, and speaker system, the T1 Mini unlocks the power of instant translation for audio, text, and images, eliminating the need to even take your phone and power the Google Translator app. It handles 36 languages and even works with 88 accents, offering offline translation for 13 popular languages. The standout feature is its 5MP camera that translates 39 languages from signs, menus, and more. For conversations, the T1 Mini works as a two-way translator, converting multiple languages into text and speech to facilitate an easy conversation. The lag is practically negligible with 95% accuracy, thanks to Fluentalk’s built-in translation engine.
Inferring from its name, the T1 ‘Mini’ is the size of a credit card, fitting in your pocket for instant access. It comes powered by a 1500mAh battery, it offers seven days of use on a full charge. Plus, you get one year of free global data, making it ideal for international adventures.
The Fluentalk T1 Mini eliminates the need to open your phone, fire the translator app, make sure you’re connected to the internet, or have the language pack downloaded. It offers one-button translation, simplifying the entire process down to a single click. The T1 Mini also comes with free global data and offline translation, eliminating the need to look for free WiFi while abroad. It’s compact, affordable, and could potentially be an absolute life-saver on your trips!
What we like
One-button translation & instant activation make it easy to use, regardless of age or experience
Compact credit card-sized design
Ability to understand even accents with 95% accuracy
What we dislike
The 2.8-inch screen might feel a little too small for some people
4. UFO Magsafe Charger Concept
There are the usual MagSafe chargers and then there is the UFO MagSafe Wireless Charger that is destined to turn eyeballs. If you want to have the same functionality that the third-party options by Belkin, Mophie, Anker, and Satechi offer but with that oomph factor, then look no further. The concept design has a cute little UFO riding on the back of your iPhone 15 and you would be tempted to turn down your phone every time it runs out of juice just to have a look at that cute little being on the back. So, In a way, it keeps you from instinctively checking the device for any new notifications.
Why is it noteworthy?
The aesthetic appeal of the MagSafe charger adds fun to your smartphone charging routines and we bet you won’t get bored of it.
What we like
The ambient light that surrounds the UFO every time you juice up your device
What we dislike
The UFO rounded shape does not give the best grip to hold onto while using your phone when charging
For more serious globetrotters, immigrants/expats, and international business travelers, the T1 is the Mini’s larger sibling, offering a sizeable 4-inch 1080p display that’s without compromise. It beefs up the hardware that the T1 Mini had with a quad-core chip that offers faster translation (0.2-second lag) with even better coverage, directly integrating into over 200 international networks. The T1 supports online audio translation for 40 languages and 93 accents, and an 8MP camera helps translate text in images across 36 different languages. A built-in multi-microphone array with ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) makes the T1 perfect for conversations with local residents and law enforcement, waiters and hotel staff, international colleagues, clients, and investors, or even teachers and students on foreign campuses. The T1 also ships with a free 2-year global data plan that covers all your needs.
The Fluentalk T1 eliminates the need to open your phone, fire the translator app, make sure you’re connected to the internet, or have the language pack downloaded. It’s compact, purpose-built, and does its job like an absolute beast. Whether you’re a traveler or an expat, the T1 is perfect to have on you in a foreign land. Buh bye, Duolingo and Google Translate
What we like
As intuitive to use as a smartphone, without the added apps, notifications, and distractions
2 years of free global data
What we dislike
No external audio input or microphone jack for direct voice translation without a device connection
Has a ‘Swear Filter’ that won’t translate curse words
6. Momentum Watch
Time is relative, that is what we have learned and the designers at All Design Lab have found a way to convert the changing nature of time into a physical gadget. Named Momentum, this watch is almost a kinetic sculpture that adjusts its intensity of spinning based on your emotional and productivity state. For example, the time movement is faster or slower depending on whether the watch senses positive or negative behavior, conveying to the user that their time is being seized or wasted so they can adjust their actions accordingly.
Why is it noteworthy?
Momentum takes away from traditional time-telling, to make the entire experience to be ‘in the moment’. The aim is to double down on the time you have rather than spend it chasing notifications throughout the day and wondering, at the end where the time went!
What we like
The kinetic sculpture creates a soothing movement that can be almost meditative and help the user calm down if they feel themselves getting agitated
Using beautifully neutral tones, this gadget is almost a fashion wearable that is sure to be a conversation starter
What we dislike
The watch offers no option to switch or showcase the actual time, making the users rely on secondary devices and hence breaking the impactful habit they are creating with Momentum
7. Timekettle WT2 Edge – The World’s First Simultaneous Translator Earbuds
The WT2 Edge is the upgraded version of Timekettle’s first-ever product, the WT2. It assumes the shape of your everyday TWS Earbuds, but instead of just playing music or letting you answer calls, the WT2 Edge serves as a bi-directional translator device that works in real time. Just have two people pop one earpiece on and the WT2 Edge begins working, every person in the conversation can speak and listen to translated speeches from counterparts at the same time, offering active translations with unnoticeable lag. Like the M3, the WT2 Edge also works with 40 languages and 93 accents, relying on Timekettle’s AI along with 6 different translation engines to give you 95% accurate translations in under half a second. The earbuds also pack directional voice recognition and ambient noise canceling, picking up your speech with crystal clarity and without any interfering noise. Multiple usage modes allow you to interact freely with people around the globe, but the folks at Timekettle believe the WT2 Edge’s true prowess lies in the conference room. Aside from working in a physical meeting setup with as many as 6 people in the same room, Timekettle’s Group Chat software supports connecting as many as 30 users together, translating both audio and text across multiple languages, making it just perfect for international video calls with clients, colleagues, and investors all across the globe. A single click lets you export your chats too, proving to be ideal for important meetings as well as college lectures.
The WT2 Edge builds on Timekettle’s original vision – to blur the boundaries between different people around the world looking to collaborate together. The device assumes the form of a pair of TWS earbuds, but rather serves as an active translator that helps colleagues, clients, investors, vendors, and other stakeholders in the business to communicate freely regardless of what language they speak. The WT2 Edge is perfect for companies with branches overseas, and on the off chance you find yourself traveling, it’s great for understanding foreign languages as a tourist too!
What we like
As the world’s first Simultaneous Translator Earbuds, Simul Mode enables you to have seamless, real-time conversations as if the two people are speaking the same language
Four different translation modes to cater to all translation needs and scenarios
The ability to pair up to 30 devices in the Group Chat app
What we dislike
Only built for translation, not music.
8. COMM Productivity Manager
If you ever wanted a gadget that could bring your productivity back on track when working from home, this would be it. The COMM smart screen concept removes all the unnecessary distractions that come in the line of communication and online work. For instance, receiving an important mail on your computer and then getting lost down the rabbit hole with distracting apps. The portable touchscreen display designed for work-from-home fanatics focuses on smooth information flow and idea sharing, thereby creating a virtual office environment optimized for productivity.
Why is it noteworthy?
You can connect via video conferencing or audio chat with co-workers and clients directly on the simple interface. Scheduling meetings and getting prompt notifications don’t hamper current workflow which is another plus.
What we like
Distraction-free WFH gadget that keeps productivity in check
Ability to video chat and set meeting schedules right from the screen
What we dislike
Limited functionality that’ll only appeal to a particular set of users
9. Saint Antoine USB Drive
The USB flash drive is one accessory that is an absolute necessity for any kind of user – after all, everything is going digital and data is mostly stored that way. But by today’s standard, the USB flash drives are bigger in size even though some brands shave off the external housing size as a trade-off for durability. However, the Saint Antoine USB takes a detour from the usual design, fitting in perfectly between the keys of your laptop when not in use. This explains the branch-like shape of the accessory. The advantage of this unique shape, well, you never lose the USB drive, as most people are guilty of doing.
Why is it noteworthy?
The compact, thin size challenges existing products on the market. Makes good use of existing space for easy storage that otherwise is not the case with USB drives that are vulnerable to getting lost.
What we like
Slim design that solves a purpose
You can carry your USB drive anywhere without the fear of losing
What we dislike
The one-size-fits-all design is impractical as different laptops have different-sized layouts
10. Sydra Clock
In this digitally dominated world, how many times have we missed out on an opportunity because we forgot or were late for an appointment? Productivity is the trending keyword for all of us and while we are chasing that aim of getting our work-life balance right, we are usually lagging behind and leaving ourselves with a general feeling of dissatisfaction. The Sydra (after the ancient world’s accurate timekeeping device – Clepsydra) aims to help you manage life better by logging all your activities with the time at which you aim to fulfill them. Imagine it hanging in your work setup, giving you a gentle nudge towards your next goal while keeping track of the time spent on the current one. Combining the analog clock with a digital calendar, the Sydra offers an improved hands-free experience that makes time management a more phone-free task.
Why is it noteworthy?
Sydra’s hour hand is a constant reminder of the passage of time as it sweeps across your 12-hour schedule for the day, making space for the next activity or leisure time planned by you. Inspired by the ancient world’s most accurate timekeeping device (the clepsydra), the Sydra brings a bit of that ancient history to your modern room with effortless elegance.
What we like
Sydra can sync multiple calendars (of your family or different work schedules) to create a cohesive tracking/time management device
It is a functional piece of decor, giving you the best of both worlds
What we dislike
With a 12-hour system, Sydra cannot show the next 12 hours while you are approaching the end of the current 12-hour shift, leaving a gap in your time management
Apple has joined Meta and TikTok owner ByteDance in contesting their platforms’ definitions as part of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The legislation allows regulators to designate dominant companies’ services or platforms as “gatekeepers,” or big and powerful enough to act as a bottleneck between businesses and customers, which it can then fine for prohibited behavior. It currently targets 22 gatekeeper services run by six Big Tech companies (Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet’s Google, Meta, Amazon and ByteDance’s TikTok). The law encourages consumer-friendly competition, preventing businesses from imposing unfair conditions on customers.
The EU Court of Justice (viaReuters) posted on X Friday about Apple’s formal objection, announcing that the iPhone maker had joined Meta and ByteDance in contesting its decisions. Although the complaint details aren’t public, Bloomberg Newsreported last week that Apple would challenge the gatekeeper designations of both the App Store and iMessage. The company said this week it would soon support RCS on iPhone, potentially removing one of the EU’s bones to pick with iMessage consumer lock-in.
Microsoft and Google have reportedly accepted their DMA designations, while Meta and ByteDance contested theirs. Meta specifically questioned Messenger and Marketplace’s gatekeeper labels, seeking to clarify why they were included. (Meta didn’t challenge Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp’s inclusion.) The company argued Marketplace is a consumer-to-consumer service and Messenger is a chat feature on Facebook, not an online intermediary.
Meanwhile, ByteDance argues that TikTok is a challenger in the social market rather than an established gatekeeper. It claimed designating its platform as such would only serve to protect more established companies.
Like the Digital Services Act (DSA), the DMA has significant teeth. Companies failing to comply can face fines of up to 10 percent of their global turnover, up to 20 percent for repeat offenders and periodic fines of up to five percent of their average daily turnover. Other penalties, including the divestiture of parts of a business, could also be included following market investigations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-joins-meta-and-bytedance-in-contesting-the-eus-gatekeeper-designation-165915809.html?src=rss
A hacking group deployed a surprising tactic after infiltrating a financial software company’s network. They reported the breach to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
DataBreaches.net initially reported on the incident, which was conducted by ALPHV / BlackCat, a group known for breaching entities as diverse as MGM Resorts and Reddit. The hackers reportedly infiltrated the servers of fintech company MeridianLink on November 7, stealing company data without encrypting it. However, when the business neglected to negotiate directly, the hackers increased the pressure by filing a report with the SEC.
They did so citing a new rule the SEC passed this summer, which requires companies falling victim to “material cybersecurity incidents” to report them to the agency within four business days.
However, the four-day requirement may not have taken effect yet. At least one official form claims the rule kicked in 90 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register (they appear to have been published on August 4, making that alleged effective date November 2) or December 18. But the Federal Register document says, “With respect to compliance with the incident disclosure requirements in Item 1.05 of Form 8–K and in Form 6–K [the part referring to the four-day requirement], all registrants other than smaller reporting companies must begin complying on December 18, 2023.” Adding to the confusion, Reutersreported in October that the rule takes effect on December 15.
Engadget reached out to the SEC to clarify whether the rule is active yet. We’ll update this article if we hear back.
MeridianLink toldBleepingComputer that it quickly worked to contain the threat. “Based on our investigation to date, we have identified no evidence of unauthorized access to our production platforms, and the incident has caused minimal business interruption,” the company wrote. The company says it’s still trying to determine if any consumer personal information was breached, promising to notify affected parties if it was.
Whether the SEC has any teeth (or desire) to do anything about MeridianLink’s failure to report the incident in four business days, the rule could, ironically, serve as a new tool for cyber attackers. Rather than contacting customers or making calls to tighten the grip and pressure companies to comply with their demands, perhaps they can now simply rat them out to Uncle Sam.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hackers-use-a-new-sec-rule-to-snitch-on-the-company-they-infiltrated-201242292.html?src=rss
Workers at Sega of America are accusing the video game company of "bad faith bargaining with workers" for its plan to lay off dozens of temporary workers. The publisher known for franchises that include Sonic the Hedgehog and Yakuza is now facing an unfair labor practice complaint filed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). In April, 200 people in various departments across the company overwhelmingly voted in favor of unionization and formed the Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega (AEGIS-CWA) under the CWA. Now, Sega allegedly intends to lay off 80 of those unionized workers.
In its complaint, the CWA explained that it's been in bargaining with Sega since September. On November 6, Sega apparently presented the organization with a proposal to phase out of all its temporary employees by taking their work offshore to the company's offices in Europe and Japan by February 2024. Those temporary employees make up 40 percent of the union's bargaining unit and mostly work in quality assurance and localization, which the group describes as "critical to Sega's success."
The afternoon after their meeting, the CWA said Sega presented its proposal to the affected employees through captive audience meetings. "We believe this is a clear case of bad faith bargaining," the CWA wrote in its complaint, since Sega dealt directly with the union members and "violated status quo" by telling them they're losing their jobs.
"Sega will not be allowed to get away with this unlawful behavior," Elise Willacker, Senior QA Tester Temp, said in a statement. "We call on the company to make all temporary employees permanent and return to the bargaining table in good faith. There is no other just alternative." As Kotaku notes, the organization's complaint is now in the hands of the National Labor Relations Board, but it may take a while to resolve and may not prevent the layoffs from taking place.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sega-faces-unfair-labor-practice-complaint-for-planned-mass-layoff-of-union-members-073046095.html?src=rss
The hype surrounding emerging technologies like generative AI creates a wild west, of sorts, for bad actors seeking to capitalize on consumer confusion. To that end, Google is suing some scammers who allegedly tricked people into downloading an “unpublished” version of its Bard AI software. Instead of a helpful chatbot, this Bard was reportedly stuffed with malware.
The lawsuit was filed today in California and it alleges that individuals based in Vietnam have been setting up social media pages and running ads encouraging users to download a version of Bard, but this version doesn’t deliver helpful answers on how to cook risotto or whatever. This Bard, once downloaded by some rube, worms its way into the system and steals passwords and social media credentials. The lawsuit notes that these scammers have specifically used Facebook as their preferred distribution method.
Google’s official blog post on the matter notes that it sent over 300 takedown requests before opting for the lawsuit. The suit doesn’t seek financial compensation, but rather an order to stop the alleged fraudsters from setting up similar domains, particularly with US-based domain registrars. The company says that this outcome will “serve as a deterrent and provide a clear mechanism for preventing similar scams in the future.”
The lawsuit goes on to highlight how emerging technologies are ripe for this kind of anti-consumer weaponization. In this case, the alleged scammers said that Bard is a paid service that required a download. In reality, it’s a free web service.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-sues-scammers-that-allegedly-released-a-malware-filled-bard-knockoff-162222150.html?src=rss
