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Machine learning pioneers, including the ‘Godfather of AI,’ are awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics

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Two scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.” John Hopfield, an emeritus professor of Princeton University, devised an associative memory that's able to store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data. Geoffrey Hinton, who has been dubbed the "Godfather of AI," pioneered a way to autonomously find properties in data, leading to the ability to identify certain elements in pictures.

"This year’s physics laureates’ breakthroughs stand on the foundations of physical science. They have showed a completely new way for us to use computers to aid and to guide us to tackle many of the challenges our society face," the committee wrote on X. "Thanks to their work humanity now has a new item in its toolbox, which we can choose to use for good purposes. Machine learning based on artificial neural networks is currently revolutionizing science, engineering and daily life."

However, Hinton has grown concerned about machine learning and its potential impact on society. He was part of Google's deep-learning artificial intelligence team (Google Brain, which merged with DeepMind last year) for many years before resigning in May 2023 so he could "freely speak out about the risks of AI." At the time, he expressed concern about generative AI spurring a tsunami of misinformation and having the potential to wipe out jobs, along with the possibility of fully autonomous weapons emerging.

Although Hinton acknowledged the likelihood that machine learning and AI will improve health care, "it’s going to exceed people in intellectual ability. We have no experience of what it’s like to have things smarter than us,” he told reporters, according to The New York Times. That said, Hinton, a Turing Award winner and professor of computer science at the University of Toronto, was “flabbergasted” to learn that he had become a Nobel Prize laureate.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/machine-learning-pioneers-including-the-godfather-of-ai-are-awarded-the-nobel-prize-in-physics-132124417.html?src=rss

Google Docs adds tabs to help you stay organized

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Google has released a new feature for Docs that will make it easier to break down — and, later, to find and access — information into separate sections. It's adding tabs to Docs, so that you can "build content in a way that makes it possible for you to find what you’re looking for quickly." Instead of creating multiple Doc files or merely using headings to organize information, you can write down whatever you want into distinct tabs, which will be much quicker to parse than a lengthy document. Tabs could also make collaborating with classmates or co-workers less chaotic. 

In its announcement, Google enumerated several examples of how tabs could help people. "A project manager," the company wrote, "can create a tab for budget, roles and responsibilities, goals, and key dates so that their working team can stay on track." In addition to Google's examples, we could also see the feature being useful to authors, who can use separate tabs for their outline, character profiles, plot plans, scenario details and other important notes. 

Document tabs will take up the left-hand section of the Google Docs interface. You can create several subtabs under each tab if you want to break down the information that's supposed to go into that section each further. If you edit a tab's name, you'll also be able to set an emoji to best represent what it's about, which will then replace the default article icon. The new feature has already started rolling out and will be making its way to all Google Workspace users, as well as everyone with personal Gmail accounts, over the next 15 days. 

tabs in Google Docs.
Google

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/google-docs-adds-tabs-to-help-you-stay-organized-130016429.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is $85 off for Prime Day

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The Kindle that lets you take handwritten notes is on sale for Amazon Prime Day. The 16GB model of the Kindle Scribe is currently $85 off and down to $255 instead of the usual $340. That's not an all-time low — the ereader hit $240 as recently as July's Prime Day — but this is the lowest price we've tracked since then. And, while there's likely a new Kindle or two on the horizon, nothing is confirmed just yet. 

The Kindle Scribe is our pick for the best E Ink tablet that's also an ereader. The latency is next to nothing when it comes to drawing and handwriting notes, and we like that the basic stylus is included in the price (instead of coming as a separate purchase like with some E Ink slabs). You also get a number of brush types to choose from, like fountain pen, marker and pencil, and it's easy to create and manage notebooks in which you can put those stroke styles to work. 

We gave the device a score of 85 in our full review of the Kindle Scribe, again praising the writing experience as well as the premium build and ample screen size. One caveat is the lack of support for writing in the margins on most Kindle ebooks. While there's a small library of titles that allow you to scribble directly on the page, they're mostly crosswords and planner titles. For most ebooks, you'll make notes in a pop-up window linked to the text. 

As an ereader, the Scribe has a few abilities other ereaders don't, such as letting you read two pages side-by-side when the screen is in landscape orientation. It also has a flush-front display and auto-adjusting warm front lights. We also like how easy it is to read borrowed library books on a Kindle. Plus a recent update enabled handwriting-to-text conversions that you can email to your contacts.  

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-kindle-scribe-is-85-off-for-prime-day-120059393.html?src=rss

Ooni pizza ovens are up to $280 off for Amazon Prime Day

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Amazon Prime Day deals are here, flooding the internet with all kinds of wild discounts. Even Ooni pizza ovens are available at remarkable prices. For instance, the Karu 16 is now $519, which is $281 off the usual price. That’s quite a sale. The Karu 16 is the company’s largest multi-fuel model, meaning you can choose between wood, charcoal and gas. There’s a hinged glass door for peeping in on your pies and a digital thermometer for zeroing in on the absolute correct temperature. To that end, the oven can reach a crust-charring 950F.

The “16” in the name refers to the size of the interior, which translates to larger pizza pies when compared to rival ovens. This also means that the oven can accommodate pans and large cast iron cookware, so it can whip up stuff other than pizza. However, pizza rules and other types of food drool.

The major downside here is regarding the price. The typical cost is $800, which is a massive splurge for a pizza oven. This sale alleviates much of that frustration. However, the Karu 16 requires a gas burner for that type of cook, and these burners are sold separately.

Today’s discounts aren't just for the Karu 16. The company’s Volt 12 electric pizza oven is also on sale for $720, which is a discount of $180. As the name suggests, this is an indoor appliance that runs on good ole electricity. It can actually reach a maximum temperature of 850 F, which is a fantastic metric for an indoor oven.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ooni-pizza-ovens-are-up-to-280-off-for-amazon-prime-day-114521277.html?src=rss

October Prime Day is over but these SSD deals are still available

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The latest Amazon Prime Day sale is over, but you can still get some decent savings on storage gear right now. If you’re looking to add more space to a camera, tablet or gaming console ahead of Black Friday, we’ve rounded up the best discounts we could find on internal and external SSDs, microSD cards, thumb drives and other storage equipment that you can still get post Amazon October Prime Day.

The Kingston XS1000 against a light blue background.
The Kingston XS1000 portable SSD.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • SK Hynix Platinum P41 (1TB) for $76 ($19 off MSRP): This matches the lowest price we’ve seen in a year for SK Hynix’s speedy PCIe 4.0 internal SSD. It’s a fine option for PCs or the PlayStation 5 — just note that it doesn’t come with a heatsink.

  • WD Black SN850X (2TB) for $143 ($47 off): If you want a similar performing drive but need more capacity, this deal should fit the bill. The SN850X is the top PCIe 4.0 pick in our guide to the best SSDs. This discount isn’t an all-time low, but it’s about $10 to $15 below the 2TB model’s usual going rate over the past several months. The 4TB model is about $45 off at $264 as well, though we've seen that one go for much less in the past.

  • Crucial P310 (2TB) for $177 ($88 off): The P310 is a small-size SSD for more compact devices like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally. It uses cheaper QLC memory, not the more performant TLC, but reviews suggest it'll still run well in something like the Deck. This is the lowest price we've seen for the 2TB variant. 

  • Crucial X9 Pro portable SSD (1TB) for $85 ($10 off): The X9 Pro is the top pick in our guide to the best portable SSDs, combining dependable performance with a rugged compact design. We've seen this 1TB model go for much less in previous sales, but it's sat in the $90 to $100 range for almost all of the past year. This discount marks the lowest price we've tracked since January.

  • Kingston XS1000 portable SSD (2TB) for $100 ($40 off): The diminutive Kingston XS1000 is the runner up pick in our guide, and this deal takes about $20 off the 2TB drive's average street price as of late.

  • Lexar SL500 portable SSD (1TB) for $85 ($45 off): This is another USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 model, so most people can safely skip it for a cheaper USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD or, if you need more performance, a faster USB4 drive. If the SL500 fits into your setup, though, this discount is about $5 to $10 less than the 1TB model’s usual street price.

A silver and black Lexar Professional 1066x microSD card and its black SD card adapter rest on top of a brown wooden shelf above a white window sill.
The Lexar Professional 1066x microSD card.
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

  • Samsung 990 Pro w/ heatsink (4TB) for $266 ($214 off): The Samsung 990 Pro is widely rated as one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives on the market. This variant comes with a heatsink, so it’s PS5-ready from the jump, though it’s probably overkill for more casual tasks, and it’s always possible to save cash by adding your own heatsink to a cheaper SSD. That said, if you don’t want to bother with that and you need a ton of space, this is an all-time low.

  • Crucial T705 (2TB) for $228 ($172 off): Most people don’t need to pay extra for an ultrafast PCIe 5.0 drive like the T705, but if you have heavy-duty performance needs and you own a compatible motherboard, this is about $45 off the 2TB model’s average going rate.

  • SK Hynix Beetle X31 portable SSD (1TB) for $65 ($70 off): The similarly pocketable Beetle X31 should do the job if you only need 1TB of space. This deal comes within a couple bucks of the lowest price we’ve seen and takes about $25 off the drive’s usual street price.

  • Crucial X10 Pro portable SSD (2TB) for $147 ($43 off): You need a device that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 to take full advantage of it, but the X10 Pro is essentially a faster version of the X9 Pro above. Again, this discount isn’t an all-time low, but the 2TB model has typically retailed around $190 in recent months.

  • SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch (128GB, 2-pack) for $28 ($12 off): SanDisk’s Switch-branded microSD card isn’t the fastest we’ve used, but it’s perfectly suitable for most use cases, and this is a solid value for a two-pack.

  • SanDisk Ultra microSD card (1.5TB) for $89 ($61 off): If you don’t care about performance so much and just want a big chunk of space for as little cash as possible, this deal should work. You’ll have to deal with slower transfer speeds, but the discount takes roughly $20 off this 1.5TB card’s typical going rate in recent months.

  • WD Black C50 Xbox Expansion Card (1TB) for $121 ($37 off): It’s a pain in the neck, but the only way to fully expand the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a proprietary expansion card such as the C50. This deal isn’t an all-time low, but it’s $10 to $20 cheaper than the typical street prices we’ve seen over the last several months.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/october-prime-day-is-over-but-these-ssd-deals-are-still-available-074908512.html?src=rss

The Morning After: The best deals we found on Amazon’s Prime Day 2024

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Didn’t we already have a Prime Day? Yes, but that was Amazon’s July Prime Day — this one is in October. While it typically doesn’t offer the same breadth of deals (or deep discounts) as the OG day, if you’ve been keeping your eye on a certain pair of AirPods, Kindle tablet or, randomly this year, a lot of Lego, then you might be in luck.

Some highlights include $154 off AirPods Max (both Lightning and the recent USB-C version), the recently launched Ring pan-and-tilt security camera for $50 and Anker’s travel-friendly MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station that can charge an Apple Watch, AirPods and smartphone all at once down to $88. Sony’s best headphones, another perennial Prime Day attendee, are on sale too: The WH-1000XM5 are on sale for $298, that’s $101 off.

If you’re shopping for a phone, though, no iPhones are discounted. Boo. However, the Pixel 8a is $100 cheaper ($399) and the OnePlus 12 is down to $650. We’ll be pulling the best deals into a single place, right here.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

TMA
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If you’re using Meta’s Threads, then you’ve probably encountered some engagement bait in your for you feed — if it’s not completely clogging it up. Now, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri says the company is “working to get it under control” after yet another spike in posts. Because the app defaults to the algorithmic for you feed, these engagement bait-style posts that attract a lot of replies often go viral on the app, even if it’s the type of content many don’t want to see. And are low quality. And dumb. And repetitive.

Addressing the issue could be tricky because engagement bait takes many forms. It could be rage-bait, AskReddit-style questions, Facebook copy-paste and more. Mosseri and Meta haven’t explained why it’s proved so easy to game Threads’ algorithm to go viral, either, but it seems the social network prioritizes replies.

Continue reading.

US District Judge James Donato issued a permanent injunction forcing Google to open its storefront to competitors for three years and make Android apps available in alternate stores. The ruling stems from Google’s four-year antitrust battle with Epic Games. Billing changes will also emerge from the injunction. Google can’t require developers to use its own billing system, nor can it stop devs from notifying users about less expensive payment options. Google said it will appeal the injunction.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111630224.html?src=rss

Save $100 on the Dyson Airwrap for October Prime Day

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Amazon has the Dyson Airwrap available for close to an all-time low. The Prime Day sale shaves $100 off the price of this innovative styling tool, which can reduce styling time and potentially boost your hair’s long-term health. Usually $600, Amazon’s Prime Day sale drops the tool’s price down to $500.

The secret sauce to the Dyson Airwrap is the Coanda effect, which describes airflow’s tendency to follow a curved surface’s path. In this case, the air jets follow the Airwrap’s barrel or brush attachment. This phenomenon helps avoid the extreme heat (which can cause long-term damage) many competing products use.

The Dyson Airwrap measures the airflow’s temperature over 40 times per second, ensuring it stays within a safe range for your hair. Dyson advertises that the device can simultaneously dry and straighten hair with up to 58 percent less frizz and fewer flyaways than the original model. (This sale is for the 2022 upgrade, which followed the 2018 original.)

The tool includes six attachments for different hair types, styles and lengths. It comes with two barrels (in 1.6-inch and 1.2-inch lengths), two smoothing brushes (soft and firm), a round volumizing brush and a Coanda smoothing dryer. A filter cleaning brush and storage case are also in the box.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/save-100-on-the-dyson-airwrap-for-october-prime-day-111540673.html?src=rss

Prime Day deals include this self-emptying Shark robot vacuum for a record-low price

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Amazon Prime Day is a peak time to make upgrades to home tech, with some steep discounts on gadgets that might feel like too much of a splurge at list price. If you've been considering letting a machine take over vacuuming responsibilities in your house, then the Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum is on sale for just $300.

That's the lowest price we've seen for this gadget; normally you need to shell out up to $420 to add it to your housework routine. The model on sale today is a version of the one we found to be a top all-around performer in our tests of robot vacuums.

The Shark AI Ultra model is a bag-free vacuum, which we appreciate since it removes the recurring cost of replacing bags every few months. It's also a self-emptying model and this version is the 60-day capacity, meaning you can go two months before you need to get involved in disposing of the accumulated dust and dirt. Shark says it gets 120 minutes of runtime.

If you want a more heavy-duty option, the Shark Detect Pro Robot Vacuum is also on sale this Prime Day for $400. This model has the same bagless and self-emptying features as the Ultra and a 30-day capacity. It also can lift itself to better navigate around obstacles while it runs, and it uses blasts of air to better clean up corners and edges that are typically difficult for a round vacuum to reach. The average battery life is a little shorter than the Ultra at 110 minutes, but still a solid amount of cleaning time. The Prime Day discount can save you $150 off the usual $550 price tag for the Detect Pro.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-deals-include-this-self-emptying-shark-robot-vacuum-for-a-record-low-price-110002458.html?src=rss

Our favorite pair of budget wireless earbuds from Anker are only $45 for October Prime Day

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Amazon Prime Day is back and it’s not pulling any punches. The well-regarded Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are on sale for $45, which is a massive discount of $35. This is a record low price for a pair of earbuds that we once called “outstanding for the money.”

As a matter of fact, this model topped our list of the best budget wireless earbuds, and with good reason. These earbuds are light and comfortable and offer high-end audio for the price. We were especially impressed by Space A40’s active noise cancellation (ANC). It just works, which is pretty rare for budget-friendly earbuds.

There’s an affiliated app for customizing the EQ and making other adjustments, though the default sound profile should be fine for most users. We found the app to be easy to use, as it saves any changes you make directly to the earbuds.

In addition to ANC, there’s a transparency mode. It’s fairly bare bones, though it works in a pinch. Don’t go in expecting something as good as what you’d find with the AirPods Pro or another high-end pair of earbuds. Battery life, however, is solid, lasting around eight hours per charge. These earbuds can also connect to two devices simultaneously, which is always nice.

On the downside, the microphone isn’t that great, so this isn’t the best set of earbuds for making phone calls. This is particularly true when trying to talk on the phone in a noisy area. Also, the IPX4 water resistance rating is just average, though the earbuds will still survive a light rain and everyday sweat.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/our-favorite-pair-of-budget-wireless-earbuds-from-anker-are-only-45-for-october-prime-day-104530126.html?src=rss

Prime Day TV deals include the Samsung Frame TV for a record-low price on Amazon

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The October Prime Day sale at Amazon kicked off with some excellent deals on TVs and there’s one in particular we wanted to call out on this final day of Prime Day: Samsung's Frame art TV. Prime Day deals have brought the TV down to a record low of $978 for the 55-inch model. If you’ve been thinking about a TV that looks more like art when you’re not watching — instead of a black mirror — this might be the time to dive in. Other sizes are on sale as well.

For the uninitiated, The Frame TV is one-part television and one-part artistic canvas. When it’s not being used to binge shows and movies, it can display art prints. This is the perfect box for those who want to watch TV once in a while but don’t want a giant contraption taking up the entire living room. Most visitors won’t even know it’s a TV unless it's pointed out.

We’ve long sung the praises of Samsung’s The Frame TV. It boasts picture-frame edges and an ultra-thin bezel, to help with the illusion. The TV also mounts flat against the wall, so it can be placed just about anywhere. There isn’t even a large and ornery power cable. The TV connects via a thin wire that leads to an external receiver/port hub, which in turn goes to the power outlet. This wire is small enough to easily hide behind a plant or something, but it can also be dropped behind drywall and popped back out somewhere else.

As for TV specs, this is a 4K QLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate in TV mode. This refresh rate drops to 60Hz when in canvas mode because, well, there’s not that much to refresh. The matte display also limits light reflection, enhancing screen visibility in both TV and canvas mode. There is a caveat here. This sale is only for the 55-inch model, so the larger TVs will still break the bank. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-day-tv-deals-include-the-samsung-frame-tv-for-a-record-low-price-on-amazon-103016838.html?src=rss