Tag Archives: author_name|Lawrence Bonk

An AI-generated ad left thousands of Dubliners waiting for a Halloween parade that never came

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Thousands of people took to the streets in Dublin to attend a Halloween parade that never came, according to reporting by The Independent. Why did they do such a thing? It was all due to an AI-generated ad that promoted the fake event.

The My Spirit Halloween website advertised the completely fabricated Macnas Halloween Parade, which was supposed to take place from 7PM to 9PM on the streets of Dublin. News of the parade quickly spread online, and it even received a news ranking on Google.

So, yeah, thousands of people put on their Halloween costumes and stood on the street for a couple of hours, waiting for an event that would never happen. They even left room in the street for the parade to pass by. That’s thoughtful, but also a bit sad.

The situation forced Ireland’s police force to put out a message to urge would-be parade-goers to “disperse safely.” A spokesperson for the organization said that “contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin city center this evening or tonight.”

Local city councilor Janice Boylan expressed disappointment over the whole situation.“Everyone is trying to have a fun and safe Halloween. Having a parade to go to sounded really good,” she said. “I know an awful lot of people turned up. It’s a terrible pity.”

The My Spirit Halloween listing has been taken down, but there remains the question as to why it turned up in the first place. It’s worth noting that this is a different entity from the popular seasonal retailer Spirit Halloween.

The My Spirit Halloween website looks to come from Pakistan and posts all kinds of AI-generated content like the ad that caused all of this trouble, according to Yahoo News. This particular post happened to get picked up by TikTok and Google, causing the rapid dissemination of the, literal, fake news.

It’s pretty wild, right? An AI-generated post likely created in Pakistan caused thousands of actual people to take to the streets halfway across the globe. What is that curse again? Oh yeah. “May you live in interesting times.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-ai-generated-ad-left-thousands-of-dubliners-waiting-for-a-halloween-parade-that-never-came-162550781.html?src=rss

An AI-generated ad left thousands of Dubliners waiting for a Halloween parade that never came

Posted on by

Thousands of people took to the streets in Dublin to attend a Halloween parade that never came, according to reporting by The Independent. Why did they do such a thing? It was all due to an AI-generated ad that promoted the fake event.

The My Spirit Halloween website advertised the completely fabricated Macnas Halloween Parade, which was supposed to take place from 7PM to 9PM on the streets of Dublin. News of the parade quickly spread online, and it even received a news ranking on Google.

So, yeah, thousands of people put on their Halloween costumes and stood on the street for a couple of hours, waiting for an event that would never happen. They even left room in the street for the parade to pass by. That’s thoughtful, but also a bit sad.

The situation forced Ireland’s police force to put out a message to urge would-be parade-goers to “disperse safely.” A spokesperson for the organization said that “contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin city center this evening or tonight.”

Local city councilor Janice Boylan expressed disappointment over the whole situation.“Everyone is trying to have a fun and safe Halloween. Having a parade to go to sounded really good,” she said. “I know an awful lot of people turned up. It’s a terrible pity.”

The My Spirit Halloween listing has been taken down, but there remains the question as to why it turned up in the first place. It’s worth noting that this is a different entity from the popular seasonal retailer Spirit Halloween.

The My Spirit Halloween website looks to come from Pakistan and posts all kinds of AI-generated content like the ad that caused all of this trouble, according to Yahoo News. This particular post happened to get picked up by TikTok and Google, causing the rapid dissemination of the, literal, fake news.

It’s pretty wild, right? An AI-generated post likely created in Pakistan caused thousands of actual people to take to the streets halfway across the globe. What is that curse again? Oh yeah. “May you live in interesting times.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-ai-generated-ad-left-thousands-of-dubliners-waiting-for-a-halloween-parade-that-never-came-162550781.html?src=rss

The new Star Wars: Skeleton Crew trailer is heavy on Spielberg vibes

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There’s a new Star Wars show coming out in just over a month. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premieres on December 3 with two episodes on Disney+. The streamer just released a brand-new trailer to prove it.

For the uninitiated, this is a live action show set during the same time period as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, or around ten years after the events of Return of the Jedi. We don’t know too much about the plot, other than it involves some suburban kids finding a spaceship and going on an adventure.

If that reminds you of some classic flicks from the 1980s, you aren’t alone. The whole thing seems to be an homage to Steven Spielberg, Amblin and the vast array of kid-friendly adventures from that decade. People have been calling it “Goonies in space,” but a more modern reference would be “Stranger Things in space.”

The trailer also showcases one of the things I’m personally most interested in with this show. Some of it is set in settled planets, likely core worlds such as Coruscant. There are suburban neighborhoods and schools. There are people going to work. We haven’t gotten many looks as to how regular people live in a galaxy far, far away. That’s my jam, right there.

The showrunners here are Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, who made the recent Spider-Man movies for the MCU. The cast is primarily composed of unknown kids, including an elephant alien who may or may not be related to Mos Espa band leader Max Rebo. However, Jude Law is in it. He’s likely playing a Jedi, though there could be a twist there.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-new-star-wars-skeleton-crew-trailer-is-heavy-on-spielberg-vibes-151150849.html?src=rss

The new Star Wars: Skeleton Crew trailer is heavy on Spielberg vibes

Posted on by

There’s a new Star Wars show coming out in just over a month. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew premieres on December 3 with two episodes on Disney+. The streamer just released a brand-new trailer to prove it.

For the uninitiated, this is a live action show set during the same time period as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, or around ten years after the events of Return of the Jedi. We don’t know too much about the plot, other than it involves some suburban kids finding a spaceship and going on an adventure.

If that reminds you of some classic flicks from the 1980s, you aren’t alone. The whole thing seems to be an homage to Steven Spielberg, Amblin and the vast array of kid-friendly adventures from that decade. People have been calling it “Goonies in space,” but a more modern reference would be “Stranger Things in space.”

The trailer also showcases one of the things I’m personally most interested in with this show. Some of it is set in settled planets, likely core worlds such as Coruscant. There are suburban neighborhoods and schools. There are people going to work. We haven’t gotten many looks as to how regular people live in a galaxy far, far away. That’s my jam, right there.

The showrunners here are Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, who made the recent Spider-Man movies for the MCU. The cast is primarily composed of unknown kids, including an elephant alien who may or may not be related to Mos Espa band leader Max Rebo. However, Jude Law is in it. He’s likely playing a Jedi, though there could be a twist there.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-new-star-wars-skeleton-crew-trailer-is-heavy-on-spielberg-vibes-151150849.html?src=rss

Apex Legends is no longer available for the Steam Deck

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Valve’s Steam Deck has proven to be an enormous success, but the custom Linux-based OS has always been a thorn in the side of certain developers. Some have alleged that it gives nefarious players easier ways to cheat, which is why popular battle royale games like Valorant, PUBG and Fortnite aren’t available for the console. We can add Apex Legends to that pile, as EA just announced its withdrawing both Steam Deck and Linux support.

“In our efforts to combat cheating in Apex, we’ve identified Linux OS as being a path for a variety of impactful exploits and cheats. As a result, we’ve decided to block Linux OS access to the game,” the company wrote in a blog post. “We believe the decision will meaningfully reduce instances of cheating in our game.”

Apex Legends does have access to Epic Games’ Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) software, which has been compatible with Linux for years. This must have not been a good enough safeguard against cheating. It didn’t allow Fortnite onto the Steam Deck, after all, and that game’s actually made by Epic. To that end, devs on Steam will now have to disclose kernel mode anti-cheat software. 

It remains to be seen if Linux is simply harder to develop anti-cheating measures for or if doing so is just an added expense at a time when game developers have been tightening their purse strings. Phillip Koskinas, director of anti-cheat on Valorant, indicated to The Verge that bad actors could “make a Linux distribution that’s purpose-built for cheating and we’d be smoked.”

It’s not all bad news for Apex Legends fans who prefer to play on a portable console. It’ll run on the Steam Deck, so long as you install Windows. Valve hasn’t released its own dual-boot installer, so you’ll have to rely on fairly complicated third-party solutions to get the job done.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/apex-legends-is-no-longer-available-for-the-steam-deck-184431149.html?src=rss

WhatsApp custom lists are here to help you keep track of convos

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WhatsApp just announced a custom lists feature to help users keep track of the neverending glut of conversations. This is basically a refined version of the chat filters feature that was released earlier this year.

The appropriately-named Lists tool allows people to filter chats via a myriad of custom categories. Users can create lists for family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors or just about anyone else. The platform says that these tools “help you focus on the conversations that are most important, when you need them.”

Just like the Favorites feature, users can add both group chats and one-on-one chats to any list. Look for the “+” icon in the filter bar at the top of the Chats tab to get started. WhatsApp is introducing this update today, but it’s a tiered rollout so it could take a few weeks to reach everyone.

This is just the latest update for the world’s favorite chat app. The platform announced that users can now add contacts from any device, and not just the primary smartphone affiliated with the account. WhatsApp recently hit 100 million users in the US, though that figure pales to the two billion users across the globe.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-custom-lists-are-here-to-help-you-keep-track-of-convos-173525237.html?src=rss

WhatsApp custom lists are here to help you keep track of convos

Posted on by

WhatsApp just announced a custom lists feature to help users keep track of the neverending glut of conversations. This is basically a refined version of the chat filters feature that was released earlier this year.

The appropriately-named Lists tool allows people to filter chats via a myriad of custom categories. Users can create lists for family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors or just about anyone else. The platform says that these tools “help you focus on the conversations that are most important, when you need them.”

Just like the Favorites feature, users can add both group chats and one-on-one chats to any list. Look for the “+” icon in the filter bar at the top of the Chats tab to get started. WhatsApp is introducing this update today, but it’s a tiered rollout so it could take a few weeks to reach everyone.

This is just the latest update for the world’s favorite chat app. The platform announced that users can now add contacts from any device, and not just the primary smartphone affiliated with the account. WhatsApp recently hit 100 million users in the US, though that figure pales to the two billion users across the globe.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-custom-lists-are-here-to-help-you-keep-track-of-convos-173525237.html?src=rss

PlayStation 5 faceplates aren’t compatible with the PS5 Pro

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Here’s a spot of bad news for those looking to upgrade to the forthcoming PS5 Pro. The console isn’t compatible with pre-existing PlayStation 5 faceplates, as reported by IGN and confirmed by Sony.

This is not entirely unexpected, given that the PS5 Pro is slightly thinner when compared to the original PS5. A Reddit user named Zrorro tried out some Cobalt blue plates on the PS5 Pro and concluded that the top plates don’t match because “while they're physically the same size, the teeth that connect to the system are [in] slightly different places. So you can't connect the top part.”

Sony confirmed the story, telling IGN that "PS5 console covers are not compatible with PS5 Pro." However, it’s not all bad news. The company is currently working on faceplates specifically for the expensive new console. It’s also highly likely that third-party accessory makers will come to the rescue sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, you’ll just have to make do with a plain-looking PS5 Pro. The console costs $700, so you probably won’t even have the money for any accessories immediately after making that purchase. The PS5 Pro will be available on November 7.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-5-faceplates-arent-compatible-with-the-ps5-pro-163046554.html?src=rss

PlayStation 5 faceplates aren’t compatible with the PS5 Pro

Posted on by

Here’s a spot of bad news for those looking to upgrade to the forthcoming PS5 Pro. The console isn’t compatible with pre-existing PlayStation 5 faceplates, as reported by IGN and confirmed by Sony.

This is not entirely unexpected, given that the PS5 Pro is slightly thinner when compared to the original PS5. A Reddit user named Zrorro tried out some Cobalt blue plates on the PS5 Pro and concluded that the top plates don’t match because “while they're physically the same size, the teeth that connect to the system are [in] slightly different places. So you can't connect the top part.”

Sony confirmed the story, telling IGN that "PS5 console covers are not compatible with PS5 Pro." However, it’s not all bad news. The company is currently working on faceplates specifically for the expensive new console. It’s also highly likely that third-party accessory makers will come to the rescue sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, you’ll just have to make do with a plain-looking PS5 Pro. The console costs $700, so you probably won’t even have the money for any accessories immediately after making that purchase. The PS5 Pro will be available on November 7.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/playstation-5-faceplates-arent-compatible-with-the-ps5-pro-163046554.html?src=rss

Microsoft offers Windows 10 users a year of security updates for $30

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Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025, which is less than a year from now. This means that the operating system won’t be getting anymore crucial security updates past that date. However, Microsoft just announced an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for regular users that will let people purchase a one-year extension for $30.

ESU programs have long been in place for commercial entities, but this is the first one intended for personal use. For $30, Windows 10 diehards will get a full year of security updates, bug fixes and technical support. Enrollment doesn’t start until next year, as we get closer to that end of support date.

It’s worth noting that this is only a one-year option. Commercial ESU users can purchase up to three years of support, which brings them all the way to 2028. However, commercial licenses are more expensive and double in price every year until 2028. Personal users just get the year, but that $30 price is right.

Microsoft isn’t entirely heartless. Windows 10 will continue to receive security intelligence updates for Defender Antivirus until “at least” October 2028. More than anything, though, the company wants people to give up on the relatively antiquated Windows 10 and move onto Windows 11.

“With the Windows 10 End of Support moment, now is the time to move to Windows 11 with confidence. We understand change is never easy, but we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. Thank you for your passion and loyalty for Windows,” the company wrote in a blog post.

Once upon a time, Microsoft called Windows 10 the "last version of Windows." Things didn't exactly work out that way. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/microsoft-offers-windows-10-users-a-year-of-security-updates-for-30-160036244.html?src=rss