Tag Archives: region|US

Amazon takes a new brick-and-mortar approach with a stake in Neiman Marcus

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Amazon changed the face of retail over the last 20 years but has failed miserably to make inroads in the luxury goods market. Now, it's trying something new. The online retailer has purchased a small stake in retailer Neiman Marcus and will reportedly provide data and logistics to Neiman and its new owner, Saks Fifth Avenue.

Yesterday, Saks Fifth Avenue and parent HBC announced the $2.65 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus (which also owns Bergdorf Goodman), putting the largest US luxury retailers under the same roof, The Wall Street Journal reported. Amazon is a minority investor in the deal, which is still subject to regulatory approval.

"How do you future-proof a brand like Saks or Neimans or Bergdorf? You do that through technology," Saks CEO Marc Metrick told Bloomberg. To that end, Amazon will gather high-quality customer data, analyze it to offer more personalized options and improve logistics. 

Amazon has attempted to access the luxury retail market over the years, but the major brands want nothing to do with it. "We believe the business of Amazon does not fit with LVMH, full stop, and it does not fit with our brands," LVMH said back in 2016. The only place that LVMC (which owns Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givency and other labels) does business is in its own retail stores, at retailers like Neiman Marcus or on its own website.

In Europe, luxury brands won the right to block third-party sales of products online if they felt it damaged their image. In addition, the EU ruled in 2010 that brands with less than a 30 percent market share could prevent online retailers from selling their wares.

Amazon has tried to break into bricks-and-motor retail with varying degrees of success. Its ownership of Whole Foods is one positive example, but its cashierless Go stores have largely failed to take off.

With the acquisition of Neiman Marcus by Saks' parent HBC, Amazon is getting involved in an organization expected to do a combined $10 billion worth of annual sales. There's no word on the size of Amazon's investment, but it seems a relatively safe bet compared to the more radical brick-and-mortar experiments it's tried in the past.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-takes-a-new-brick-and-mortar-approach-with-a-stake-in-neiman-marcus-133019628.html?src=rss

YouTube film essay pioneers ‘Every Frame a Painting’ are back

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Between 2014 and 2016, a YouTube channel called Every Frame a Painting posted 28 video essays critiquing movies and dissecting different aspects of filmmaking before it went silent. Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou, the people behind the channel, talked about how Robin Williams was a master at blocking and using movement to portray his characters, as well as how Steven Spielberg does one long takes all the time that tend to go unnoticed by the public, among many other topics. Now, the duo is back, promising another series of video essays followed by the debut of a short film at Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20.

Ramos and Zhou wrote and directed their upcoming film called The Second starring Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Ethan Hwan. They didn't share a lot of details about the movie, but the film festival's website says it's about "an alternate version of today’s world where dueling is still acceptable" in which Philip "must perform the role of 'Second' on the day of his only son's duel."

Every Frame a Painting has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and was one of the creators that helped legitimize video essays on the website. Ramos and Zhou also created the Netflix series Voir, produced by David Fincher, which featured video essays about film, as well. Seeing as they promised new posts on YouTube before their film premieres, we'll likely see them upload a fresh batch of videos in the coming days.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-film-essay-pioneers-every-frame-a-painting-is-back-130014490.html?src=rss

YouTube film essay pioneers ‘Every Frame a Painting’ are back

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Between 2014 and 2016, a YouTube channel called Every Frame a Painting posted 28 video essays critiquing movies and dissecting different aspects of filmmaking before it went silent. Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou, the people behind the channel, talked about how Robin Williams was a master at blocking and using movement to portray his characters, as well as how Steven Spielberg does one long takes all the time that tend to go unnoticed by the public, among many other topics. Now, the duo is back, promising another series of video essays followed by the debut of a short film at Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20.

Ramos and Zhou wrote and directed their upcoming film called The Second starring Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Ethan Hwan. They didn't share a lot of details about the movie, but the film festival's website says it's about "an alternate version of today’s world where dueling is still acceptable" in which Philip "must perform the role of 'Second' on the day of his only son's duel."

Every Frame a Painting has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and was one of the creators that helped legitimize video essays on the website. Ramos and Zhou also created the Netflix series Voir, produced by David Fincher, which featured video essays about film, as well. Seeing as they promised new posts on YouTube before their film premieres, we'll likely see them upload a fresh batch of videos in the coming days.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-film-essay-pioneers-every-frame-a-painting-is-back-130014490.html?src=rss

Nike is killing the app for its futuristic Adapt BB sneakers

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Nike is discontinuing its self-lacing Adapt BB sneakers and providing a case in point of what can happen to tech that relies on apps. First announced in 2019, the sneakers used a Back to the Future II style power-lacing system called FitAdapt that was adjustable either manually or with an app. Now, the company will no longer make new Adapt shoes and is retiring the Nike Adapt App, it announced in a help document spotted by The Verge. 

"After five years, we’re retiring the Adapt App and removing it from the Apple and Android app stores, globally, on August 6, 2024," the page states. "Don’t worry, your Adapt shoes will continue to work without the app. See below for more information about the retirement of the Adapt App."

A FAQ goes on to state that the Adapt app "should continue to function" follow its removal, if you already have it installed. You won't be able to move it to a new device, though, and future iOS updates may limit or end functionality. 

Nike goes on to state that if the app is removed, the shoes will retain the last light color selected. Features still available without it include power on, check battery status, adjust your fit, save your fit, unlace shoes and power off. 

Perhaps the biggest loss with the end of Adapt is in accessibility, as the shoes were marketed in part as a way to make shoe tying easier for people with limited mobility. It also shows the danger of tying functionality of physical technology to custom apps — once the app loses support, the product gets a lot worse and there's not much you can do about it. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nike-is-killing-the-app-for-its-futuristic-adapt-bb-sneakers-120039424.html?src=rss

Nike is killing the app for its futuristic Adapt BB sneakers

Posted on by

Nike is discontinuing its self-lacing Adapt BB sneakers and providing a case in point of what can happen to tech that relies on apps. First announced in 2019, the sneakers used a Back to the Future II style power-lacing system called FitAdapt that was adjustable either manually or with an app. Now, the company will no longer make new Adapt shoes and is retiring the Nike Adapt App, it announced in a help document spotted by The Verge. 

"After five years, we’re retiring the Adapt App and removing it from the Apple and Android app stores, globally, on August 6, 2024," the page states. "Don’t worry, your Adapt shoes will continue to work without the app. See below for more information about the retirement of the Adapt App."

A FAQ goes on to state that the Adapt app "should continue to function" follow its removal, if you already have it installed. You won't be able to move it to a new device, though, and future iOS updates may limit or end functionality. 

Nike goes on to state that if the app is removed, the shoes will retain the last light color selected. Features still available without it include power on, check battery status, adjust your fit, save your fit, unlace shoes and power off. 

Perhaps the biggest loss with the end of Adapt is in accessibility, as the shoes were marketed in part as a way to make shoe tying easier for people with limited mobility. It also shows the danger of tying functionality of physical technology to custom apps — once the app loses support, the product gets a lot worse and there's not much you can do about it. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nike-is-killing-the-app-for-its-futuristic-adapt-bb-sneakers-120039424.html?src=rss

The Morning After: OpenAI’s week of security issues

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, July 4th was a quiet day for news, but we’ve still got editorials on e-ink writing, the most-delayed video game ever and more bad news from the makers of ChatGPT. 

Earlier this week, engineer and Swift developer Pedro José Pereira Vieito dug into OpenAI's Mac ChatGPT app and found that it was storing user conversations locally in plain text, rather than encrypting them. Because that app is only available from OpenAI's website, and since it's not available on the App Store, it doesn't have to follow Apple's sandboxing requirements. OpenAI released an update that added encryption to locally stored chats.

Then, more bad news stemmed from issues in 2023. Last spring, a hacker obtained information about OpenAI after illicitly accessing the company's internal messaging systems. The New York Times reported that OpenAI technical program manager Leopold Aschenbrenner raised security concerns, arguing that the hack implied internal vulnerabilities.

Aschenbrenner now says he was fired for disclosing information about OpenAI and for surfacing security concerns. A representative from OpenAI told The Times that “while we share his commitment to building safe A.G.I., we disagree with many of the claims he has since made about our work” and added that his exit was not the result of whistleblowing.

It adds to an increasingly messy impression of how the company’s oversight and practices can be behind those closed corporate doors.

– Mat Smith

Finding the joy in writing again with the Supernote Nomad

FTC warns some PC manufacturers that they're violating right to repair rules

The most-delayed video game in history is finally available… on the Game Boy Advance

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) ban on noncompete agreements was supposed to take effect on September 4, but a Texan court has postponed its implementation. "Noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said when the rule was announced. So, surprise, a lot of companies are unhappy with the agency's rule. Dallas tax services firm Ryan LLC sued the FTC hours after its announcement. But the Chamber of Commerce’s chief counsel Daryl Joseffer called the ban an attempt by the government to micromanage business decision.

Continue reading.

TMA
Engadget

Picking a portable Bluetooth speaker can be tough. With so many options, finding the right mix of sound quality, durability, and portability is key. We tested dozens of speakers to help you choose, focusing on versatile portable speakers, not smart speakers. We've identified top performers for different needs, whether you want strong bass, long battery life, or a tough build.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-openais-week-of-security-issues-111545506.html?src=rss

The Morning After: OpenAI’s week of security issues

Posted on by

Perhaps unsurprisingly, July 4th was a quiet day for news, but we’ve still got editorials on e-ink writing, the most-delayed video game ever and more bad news from the makers of ChatGPT. 

Earlier this week, engineer and Swift developer Pedro José Pereira Vieito dug into OpenAI's Mac ChatGPT app and found that it was storing user conversations locally in plain text, rather than encrypting them. Because that app is only available from OpenAI's website, and since it's not available on the App Store, it doesn't have to follow Apple's sandboxing requirements. OpenAI released an update that added encryption to locally stored chats.

Then, more bad news stemmed from issues in 2023. Last spring, a hacker obtained information about OpenAI after illicitly accessing the company's internal messaging systems. The New York Times reported that OpenAI technical program manager Leopold Aschenbrenner raised security concerns, arguing that the hack implied internal vulnerabilities.

Aschenbrenner now says he was fired for disclosing information about OpenAI and for surfacing security concerns. A representative from OpenAI told The Times that “while we share his commitment to building safe A.G.I., we disagree with many of the claims he has since made about our work” and added that his exit was not the result of whistleblowing.

It adds to an increasingly messy impression of how the company’s oversight and practices can be behind those closed corporate doors.

– Mat Smith

Finding the joy in writing again with the Supernote Nomad

FTC warns some PC manufacturers that they're violating right to repair rules

The most-delayed video game in history is finally available… on the Game Boy Advance

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) ban on noncompete agreements was supposed to take effect on September 4, but a Texan court has postponed its implementation. "Noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said when the rule was announced. So, surprise, a lot of companies are unhappy with the agency's rule. Dallas tax services firm Ryan LLC sued the FTC hours after its announcement. But the Chamber of Commerce’s chief counsel Daryl Joseffer called the ban an attempt by the government to micromanage business decision.

Continue reading.

TMA
Engadget

Picking a portable Bluetooth speaker can be tough. With so many options, finding the right mix of sound quality, durability, and portability is key. We tested dozens of speakers to help you choose, focusing on versatile portable speakers, not smart speakers. We've identified top performers for different needs, whether you want strong bass, long battery life, or a tough build.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-openais-week-of-security-issues-111545506.html?src=rss

OpenAI hit by two big security issues this week

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OpenAI seems to make headlines every day and this time it's for a double dose of security concerns. The first issue centers on the Mac app for ChatGPT, while the second hints at broader concerns about how the company is handling its cybersecurity.

Earlier this week, engineer and Swift developer Pedro José Pereira Vieito dug into the Mac ChatGPT app and found that it was storing user conversations locally in plain text rather than encrypting them. The app is only available from OpenAI's website, and since it's not available on the App Store, it doesn't have to follow Apple's sandboxing requirements. Vieito's work was then covered by The Verge, and after the exploit attracted attention, OpenAI released an update that added encryption to locally stored chats.

For the non-developers out there, sandboxing is a security practice that keeps potential vulnerabilities and failures from spreading from one application to others on a machine. And for non-security experts, storing local files in plain text means potentially sensitive data can be easily viewed by other apps or malware.

The second issue occurred in 2023 with consequences that have had a ripple effect continuing today. Last spring, a hacker was able to obtain information about OpenAI after illicitly accessing the company's internal messaging systems. The New York Times reported that OpenAI technical program manager Leopold Aschenbrenner raised security concerns with the company's board of directors, arguing that the hack implied internal vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries could take advantage of.

Aschenbrenner now says he was fired for disclosing information about OpenAI and for surfacing concerns about the company’s security. A representative from OpenAI told The Times that “while we share his commitment to building safe A.G.I., we disagree with many of the claims he has since made about our work” and added that his exit was not the result of whistleblowing.

App vulnerabilities are something that every tech company has experienced. Breaches by hackers are also depressingly common, as are contentious relationships between whistleblowers and their former employers. However, between how broadly ChatGPT has been adopted into major players' services and how chaotic the company's oversight, practices and public reputation have been, these recent issues are beginning to paint a more worrying picture about whether OpenAI can manage its data.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-hit-by-two-big-security-issues-this-week-214316082.html?src=rss

OpenAI hit by two big security issues this week

Posted on by

OpenAI seems to make headlines every day and this time it's for a double dose of security concerns. The first issue centers on the Mac app for ChatGPT, while the second hints at broader concerns about how the company is handling its cybersecurity.

Earlier this week, engineer and Swift developer Pedro José Pereira Vieito dug into the Mac ChatGPT app and found that it was storing user conversations locally in plain text rather than encrypting them. The app is only available from OpenAI's website, and since it's not available on the App Store, it doesn't have to follow Apple's sandboxing requirements. Vieito's work was then covered by The Verge, and after the exploit attracted attention, OpenAI released an update that added encryption to locally stored chats.

For the non-developers out there, sandboxing is a security practice that keeps potential vulnerabilities and failures from spreading from one application to others on a machine. And for non-security experts, storing local files in plain text means potentially sensitive data can be easily viewed by other apps or malware.

The second issue occurred in 2023 with consequences that have had a ripple effect continuing today. Last spring, a hacker was able to obtain information about OpenAI after illicitly accessing the company's internal messaging systems. The New York Times reported that OpenAI technical program manager Leopold Aschenbrenner raised security concerns with the company's board of directors, arguing that the hack implied internal vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries could take advantage of.

Aschenbrenner now says he was fired for disclosing information about OpenAI and for surfacing concerns about the company’s security. A representative from OpenAI told The Times that “while we share his commitment to building safe A.G.I., we disagree with many of the claims he has since made about our work” and added that his exit was not the result of whistleblowing.

App vulnerabilities are something that every tech company has experienced. Breaches by hackers are also depressingly common, as are contentious relationships between whistleblowers and their former employers. However, between how broadly ChatGPT has been adopted into major players' services and how chaotic the company's oversight, practices and public reputation have been, these recent issues are beginning to paint a more worrying picture about whether OpenAI can manage its data.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-hit-by-two-big-security-issues-this-week-214316082.html?src=rss

Possibly the most-delayed video game in history is finally available on the Game Boy Advance

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Making a video game on any platform takes hard work, and even if a game is finished it’s still not immune to delays (see: Duke Nukem Forever, L.A. Noire and Diablo III.) A group of Italian programmers had to wait 22 years to finally see the release of their fantasy hack ‘n slasher Kien for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) — a console whose last units went into production in 2009. It's likely the most-delayed game in history, according to a feature in The Guardian.

Kien first started its long development in 2002. A small group of Italian programmers formed AgeOfGames, the first company in the country to start production on a GBA title. Two years later, they had a finished product, but the game never saw store shelves because its publisher deemed it too much of a financial risk to release.

In the interim, AgeOfGames switched to making educational games to stay in business,and the life cycle of the GBA came and went. Then the retro gaming boom gave the Italian studio an opportunity: a new publisher that specializes in classic console games, incube8 Games, took interest. Now Kien is available in cartridge form, and playable on original hardware.

Retro gaming in general is big business these days and more accessible than ever. There are all kinds of new consoles designed to play hundreds of thousands of different titles from yesteryear. The iPhone finally began allowing apps that emulate all sorts of classic consoles in its online stores earlier this year. There’s even been a renaissance of new games using old fashioned graphics. You’re never far away from the games and experiences that defined your childhood.

Kien is available to purchase from incube8's website for the (only slightly shocking) price of $60.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/possibly-the-most-delayed-video-game-in-history-is-finally-available-on-the-game-boy-advance-205150837.html?src=rss