Remember in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when live audio was suddenly everywhere? The trend was made popular by the briefly viral phenomenon Clubhouse before seemingly every other online platform copied the feature for themselves.
Since then, live audio has become mostly a footnote to a weird time when we were all stuck at home at the same time with nothing to do and listening to hours-long streams of strangers talking to each other passed as entertainment. Now LinkedIn, which was somewhat late to the live audio party in 2022, has opted to get rid of its standalone live audio events.
In an update, the company says it will no longer support native audio events beginning next month. Users will stop being able to create new events as of December 2, and previously scheduled events will no longer work after December 31. Instead, the company is bringing together audio events with its live-streaming feature, LinkedIn Live. LinkedIn Live, however, requires creators to use third-party tools to set up streams. So while audio-only streams will still be able to exist on LinkedIn, they will take a few extra steps.
LinkedIn isnt the only company to change course on live audio. Reddit, Facebook, Spotify and Amazon have all shuttered their pandemic-era live audio products.Even Clubhouse (which, yes, still exists) pivoted away from the format last year. The feature is, however going strong on X despite a few high-profile technical issues.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/linkedin-is-killing-the-standalone-live-audio-feature-you-probably-forgot-about-232705727.html?src=rss
Amazon is doubling its investment in Anthropic. The e-commerce giant will provide Anthropic with an additional $4 billion in funding on top of the $4 billion it committed last year. Although Amazon remains a minority investor, Anthropic has agreed to make Amazon Web Services (AWS) its primary cloud and training partner.
Before todays announcement, The Information had reported that Amazon wanted to make any additional funding contingent on a commitment from Anthropic to use the companys in-house AI chips instead of silicon from NVIDIA. It appears Amazon got its way, with both companies noting in separate press releases that Anthropic will use AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips to train future foundation models.
Additionally, Anthropic says it will collaborate with Amazons Annapurna Labs to develop future Trainium accelerators. Through deep technical collaboration, were writing low-level kernels that allow us to directly interface with the Trainium silicon, and contributing to the AWS Neuron software stack to strengthen Trainium, the company said. Our engineers work closely with Annapurnas chip design team to extract maximum computational efficiency from the hardware, which we plan to leverage to train our most advanced foundation models.
According to another recent report, Anthropic expects to burn through more than $2.7 billion before the end. Before today, the company had raised $9.7 billion. Either way, its bought itself some much-needed runway as it looks to compete against OpenAI and other companies in the AI space.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-will-use-aws-ai-chips-after-4-billion-amazon-investment-222053145.html?src=rss
The UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally concluded that Apples restrictive mobile browser policies limit innovation. After an independent inquiry group shared its findings on browser competition on iOS and Android, the governing bodys board plans to conduct an in-depth assessment of how Apple and Google constrict third-party browsers on their platforms. However, Apple with its more closed ecosystem appears to have borne the brunt of the CMAs concern.
The CMAs investigation is based on the premise that Apple and Google have an effective duopoly on mobile platforms, allowing them to set the rules of how mobile browsers work. The board says third-party browser developers have complained that theyre constricted by rules like Apples requirement to use the companys WebKit browser engine.
The group has provisionally found that Apples rules restrict other competitors from being able to deliver new, innovative features that could benefit consumers, the CMA wrote. Other browser providers have highlighted concerns that they have been unable to offer a full range of browser features, such as faster webpage loading on iPhone.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC), which passed earlier this year, will give the UK body extra ammunition to carry out its next steps. The UKs equivalent of the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA) can designate big tech companies as having Strategic Market Status with substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance.
Much like the EUs version, the law gives the UK some teeth to negotiate and force concessions from Big Tech behemoths that, at least in the US, often seem untouchable: The DMCC will empower the UK board to fine infringing companies up to 10 percent of their global revenue.
The CMAs summary of Apples hearing reveals the iPhone maker argued that it restricts browser engines to ensure users get the best security, privacy, and performance on iOS devices a familiar argument to those whove followed Apples previous competition trials. Apple claimed healthy competition exists, due to the presence of third-party browsers with features like ad-blocking, VPNs and AI. The company also said it routinely considers developer feedback and hadnt heard any fuss over its current browser rules.
Contradicting that, the CMA said other browser providers have highlighted features they cant implement on iOS, like faster webpage loading. Many smaller UK app developers also told us that they would like to use progressive web apps an alternative way for businesses to provide apps to mobile users without downloading apps through an app store but this technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices, the board wrote.
The CMA also said that how browser choices are presented to users lets Apple and Google manipulate these choices to make their own browsers the clearest or easiest option. In addition, it pointed out a revenue-sharing agreement between the two companies that significantly reduces their financial incentives to compete in mobile browsers on iOS.
The boards next step is a period of open comments on its findings, which will end on December 13. After its investigation, the CMA expects to make its final ruling in March 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-watchdog-says-apples-rules-restrict-ios-browser-competition-201106359.html?src=rss
Two Grand Theft Auto titles that helped Netflix's games division pick up steam are leaving the service next month. Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City won't be available through Netflix's library of mobile games after December 13.
The Netflix app lists that as the "last day to play" both games. There's no such deadline on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas listing, indicating that subscribers can still enjoy CJ's story at no extra cost.
"Just like with series and film, games will be removed from Netflix as licenses expire," a Netflix spokesperson said, according to GameSpot. "Players will notice a 'Leaving Soon' badge and be notified by the app itself well in advance of removal." Netflix is removing those two games exactly a year after adding them and San Andreas to its library, indicating that it had an initial 12-month agreement with publisher Rockstar.
Earlier this year, Netflix said that the GTA trio had boosted game engagement at the end of 2023. Some people even signed up just to play them, the company claimed. However, Netflix recently scaled back its gaming ambitions to a degree by closing a studio that had some notable developers who were working on a AAA title.
You can still play the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy The Definitive Edition (what a mouthful!) versions of GTA III and Vice City on iOS and Android after December 13, but you'll need to buy them from the respective app stores. If you're looking for other games to play with your Netflix subscription, don't worry, we've got you covered with our picks. Or just Poinpy and thank me later.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/gta-iii-and-vice-city-are-leaving-netflixs-mobile-games-catalog-next-month-193106378.html?src=rss
Hackers breached an online course founded by far-right influencer, and accused human trafficker, Andrew Tate, according to reporting by Daily Dot. The hackers captured data on more than 800,000 users and revealed the email addresses of around 325,000 of them.
Tates self-proclaimed online university hosts courses on fitness, finance and content creation, all for the low price of $50 per month. The site currently claims it has over 113,000 active users, which translates to an estimated $5 million per month injected into Tates bank account. A source familiar with the breach told Daily Dot that Tates website is hilariously insecure, so the hack wasnt difficult.
The unnamed hackers cite hacktivism as their motive, suggesting an issue with Tates particular brand of toxic discourse and his alleged propensity toward sex trafficking underage girls. To that end, they broke into the website in the middle of a livestream led by Tate, accessing the primary chatroom.
The hackers, who asked to remain anonymous, are currently flooding an internal chatroom for Tate's followers with emojis.Emojis include a trans flag, a feminist fist, & an AI-generated image of Tate draped in a rainbow flag. https://t.co/NkfT78qsWH pic.twitter.com/jbfqjEFEWb Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) November 21, 2024
The hackers punctured the safe space of Tate's chatroom and uploaded emojis sure to upset the hyper-masculine influencer and his fans, like a transgender flag and a feminist fist. They also posted an AI-generated image of Tate draped in a rainbow flag. They even got a hold of admin controls and temporarily banned some users. The hackers also downloaded public and private chats made on the platform.
Daily Dot took a look at some of the acquired chat logs. They were filled with conversations about the LGBTQ agenda and, of course, the matrix. The publication shared the leaked email addresses with HaveIBeenPwned, a site that alerts users when they have been, well, pwned. Incidentally, this isnt the first time Tates site was hacked this year. Back in July, over a million users and 22 million messages were exposed.
Tate is currently facing five legal investigations in Romania and the UK. He is alleged to have sex trafficked and raped minors, as well as forming an organized crime group with the intent of sexually exploiting women. He denies all of the charges.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/hackers-breach-andrew-tates-online-university-capturing-data-on-800000-users-184800703.html?src=rss
Threads is making more changes to address long-running complaints from users. This time, the company is testing out improvements to its search and trending topics feature in updates that Adam Mosseri described as long-overdue improvements.
On search, Threads is testing the ability to search for posts within specific date ranges and account-specific searches. The changes are similar to some of Xs advanced search capabilities and could make it easier for users to look for a specific post they want to revisit. The lack of advanced search on Threads has long been frustrating and up to now, the most reliable way to search for a specific Threads post was to use Google.
Threads is also experimenting with AI-powered summaries for its trending now topics, which shows US users a handful of popular topics on the platform. The app will also show an expanded set of up to 15 trends (currently, Threads only displays five trends at a time). The changes sound a little more like how X handles trends, which are sometimes summarized by its Grok AI feature. (Grok has somewhat of a mixed track record when it comes to accuracy, however.) Its unclear how Meta plans to handle these summaries, though the company already uses Meta AI to summarize Facebook comments and discussions in groups.
The new tests are the latest in a flurry of updates from Threads. In the last week, Meta has also announced a test of custom feeds, which it made official just five days later, and improvements to users algorithmic feeds. Those changes also just happen to coincide with a huge surge in growth for Threads competitor Bluesky. The decentralized service has grown to more than 20 million users and has had several days where its growth has rivaled Threads daily sign-up numbers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/threads-is-testing-out-advanced-search-features-and-ai-summaries-for-trending-topics-182250201.html?src=rss
Microsoft is opening up access to its controversial Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs starting today. Those who have an eligible system and are enrolled in the Windows Insider program can now check out a preview of the feature, which is designed as a "photographic memory" for practically anything you ever do on your PC. It works by storing snapshots of your activity.
The main idea behind Recall is to improve search on your system. Microsoft says that you should be able to find an app, website, image or document by describing its content (the tool leverages AI, of course). Once you're all set up, you can access Recall from the All apps list on the Start menu. You'll need to enable Windows Hello, Bitlocker and Secure Boot for security purposes and to opt into saving snapshots.
After that, it's a case of using your PC as normal until you need or want to search for something you did in the past. Every time you open Recall, you'll need to authenticate yourself with a fingerprint, facial recognition or PIN. The feature is completely opt-in too a change Microsoft made after critics raised well-founded privacy concerns.
Microsoft notes that you have control over the snapshots and you can pause them at any time. Snapshots can be deleted and you can tell Recall not to take any of a certain website or app. The company adds that it won't access your snapshots, share them with third parties or use them for training purposes.
Microsoft
Moreover, Recall is now said to detect sensitive information such as PINs, credit card numbers and passwords. It won't take or store snapshots of anything containing detected sensitive info.
As part of this Insider preview, you'll be able to try out a Recall-powered feature called Click To Do. This will let you carry out actions on text and images in snapshots by holding down the Windows key and clicking on something.
It includes options you'd normally find in the right-click menu, such as copying text, saving and sharing images, searching for text on the web and opening identified URLs (bear in mind that AI is being used to detect text and images here). There are some other AI-powered functions for images, including background blurring and removal, Bing visual search and erasing objects.
For now, the Recall preview is only available for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft says it will expand the offer to Intel- and AMD-powered systems soon.
If you're interested in checking out Recall now (and don't mind running the risk of encountering bugs on an in-development Windows build), you'll first need to register for the Windows Insider program. After that, you'll need to go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and select "Get Started."
Pick the account you used to join the Insider Program, select the Dev Channel and reboot your system. After your Copilot+ PC is back up and running, go to Settings > Windows Update, check for updates and install Build 26120.2415.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/heres-your-first-chance-to-try-microsofts-recall-feature-on-copilot-pcs-180536504.html?src=rss
Overwatch 2s newest hero is a tank with surprising mobility and brutal diving and brawling tactics. Hazard has a punk-rock aesthetic, Scottish brogue and a shotgun that can blast your vulnerable backline heroes to smithereens. But dont be put off by his tough exterior: This anti-establishment rapscallion has a steadfast belief in bodily autonomy and a love of cute puppies.
Playable during a limited-time trial, Hazard was initially conceived as a daunting cyberpunk villain called Spiker. But after Blizzards designers showcased their hulking scoundrel to the development team, it became clear he was destined to evolve into a charming rebel with a protector instinct.
Blizzard describes Hazards gameplay as a momentum-based blend between dive and brawl playstyles that will leave opponents running for cover. His two standout abilities are Jagged Wall (a spiky wall of Vanadium that will stick to any surface) and Violent Leap (a medium ranged, two-stage mobility option that also packs a punch). He can use his Vault passive ability to scale his spike wall, giving the burly bruiser surprising agility.
Blizzard
His primary fire ability is Bonespur, a close-to-midrange shotgun that fires a round of poky spikes. Meanwhile, Spike Guard lets him block incoming damage head-on while sending a volley of spikes back to any chumps unlucky enough to be in the path of this Scottish Sid Vicious on HGH.
In the wise words of Hazard, The best defense? Stabbing.
You can take Hazard for a spin during the trial, which runs Friday through November 25. Hell become a permanent cast member when Overwatch 2 Season 14 arrives on December 10.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/overwatchs-new-hero-is-hazard-the-spiky-scotsman-youve-been-waiting-for-175204343.html?src=rss
Heres some good news for those who havent pulled the trigger on Sonys latest VR headset. The PlayStation VR2 is on sale for $350 as part of a Black Friday deal, and its a bundle that includes the critically-acclaimed spin-off Horizon Call of the Mountain. This is a record low price for the headset, and thats without a game that normally costs $60. In other words, this is one heck of a great deal.
We enjoyed this headset and gave it high marks in our official review. The OLED displays are excellent, so the graphics are on point. The headsets fit is comfortable and it includes built-in haptics for increased immersion. Haptics for your head? Thats a pretty novel concept.
The headset also includes eye tracking technology and ships with two dedicated controllers, one for each hand. The companys Sense controllers are eerily similar to Meta Quest controllers, with a large tracking ring, analog sticks, face buttons, triggers and grip buttons.
As for Horizon Call of the Mountain, its a new entry in the beloved Horizon franchise, only in VR. Theres a whole lot of climbing, as indicated by the title, but also a refined bow and arrow mechanic that feels just right in virtual space.
We hesitated to recommend this headset to everyone at its original price of $550, but its a no-brainer at $350. This deal is also available through Sony, if Amazon isnt your bag. So whats the catch? Theres only one. This isnt a standalone headset. It requires a PS5 to work, though Sony did recently release an adapter that lets it connect to a PC.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-playstation-vr2-horizon-call-of-the-mountain-bundle-is-on-sale-for-350-174513003.html?src=rss
While Black Friday itself may be a week away, many retailers have already kicked off their official holiday sales. That means its a better time than usual to be in the market for new storage gear. If you have a PC, tablet, gaming handheld or any other device in need of a boost, weve rounded up the best Black Friday SSD and storage deals we could find below.
Before you dive in, keep in mind that storage prices have generally trended upwards in the past year, so many of the discounts below arent quite all-time lows. Still, some are, and each is at least the best price weve seen in several months. Well update this post as prices change and more discounts pop up over the next week.
WD Black SN850X (2TB) PCIe 4.0 SSD for $125 at Amazon ($65 off): The speedy WD Black SN850X is the top PCIe 4.0 drive in our guide to the best SSDs, so its a fine default choice for gaming or general use. This is far from the 2TB models best-ever price, but its the largest discount weve seen in 2024. Also at Newegg. If youre buying for a PS5, a version with a heatsink is on sale for $9 more. And if you need (tons) more space, the 8TB variant is down to a new low of $550.
Crucial T705 (1TB) PCIe 5.0 SSD with heatsink for $130 at Amazon ($136 off): Most people dont need to pay extra for a superfast PCIe 5.0 drive like the T705, but if you want the absolute best and you have a compatible motherboard its raw performance is almost unmatched. This is the lowest price weve tracked for the 1TB model with a heatsink. Also at B&H. If you already have a compatible heatsink, the standard version is available for $10 less, which is another all-time low.
Crucial P3 (2TB) PCIe 3.0 SSD for $105 at Amazon ($50 off): If youre looking to upgrade an older system, the Crucial P3 is the PCIe 3.0 pick in our SSD buying guide. This deal is well off the 2TB versions all-time low it sat in the $75 range this time last year but its the best price we could find since February. Also at B&H, Best Buy and others.
The Crucial X9 Pro.Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Crucial X9 Pro (1TB) portable SSD for $80 at Amazon ($21 off): The Crucial X9 Pro is our pick for the best portable SSD, offering dependable performance for most everyday tasks in a rugged and compact design. The 1TB version fell as low as $60 last year, but this is the largest discount weve seen in 2024. Its a similar situation for the 2TB model, which is down to $120. Also at Crucial, B&H and Best Buy.
Kingston XS1000 (1TB) portable SSD for $64 at Amazon ($21 off): The Kingston XS1000 is the runner up in our portable SSD guide. It performs similarly to the X9 Pro across the board, but its not water-resistant, it doesnt come with a USB-C to USB-C cable and it gets a little toastier with extended use. Still, its a great value. This deal comes within a dollar of the 1TB models all-time low. Also at Kingston. If you need something roomier, the 2TB version is about $18 off its usual street price at $102.
Crucial X10 Pro (1TB) portable SSD for $91 at Amazon ($59 off): The X10 Pro is essentially a faster version of our favorite portable SSD, though youll only see the difference if you have a device that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 speeds. This deal beats the 1TB drives previous low by a buck. Also at Crucial, B&H and Best Buy.
Samsung Fit Plus (256GB) USB flash drive for $19 at Amazon ($6 off): The ultracompact Fit Plus is the thumb drive we recommend in our SSD buying guide. Its not crazy fast, but itll do the job for the basics, and its small enough to fit on a keychain. While not an all-time low, this modest discount brings the 256GB variant down to its lowest price since January. Also at B&H.
The Kingston Canvas Go Plus.Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Kingston Canvas Go Plus (128GB) microSD card for $11 at B&H ($6 off): We call the Canvas Go Plus a strong choice in our guide to the best microSD cards. Its sequential write speeds aren't the best, so its not great for recording video or downloading lots of media, but its close enough to our top pick otherwise. This is the lowest price weve seen for the 128GB version.
Samsung Evo Select (2024) (256GB) microSD card for $18 at Amazon ($4 off): The Evo Select is our favorite microSD card in the budget bracket. Its mediocre write speeds make it less-than-ideal in a camera, but it should yield few complaints for most people just looking to add space to a Nintendo Switch or Fire tablet on the cheap. Weve seen the last-gen version of the card sell for less, but this is a new low for the new generation 256GB model, which brings the sequential reads more in line with the higher-tier Samsung Pro Plus. Also at B&H and Samsung.
Lexar Professional 1066x (1TB) microSD card for $70 at Amazon ($19 off): Its not a formal pick in our guide, but the Lexar Professional 1066x is a perfectly serviceable card for most storage needs thats worth considering when its on sale. This is a new low for the 1TB variant.
SanDisk Ultra (1.5TB) microSD card for $89 at Amazon ($21 off): The Ultra is slower than the cards we recommend in our buying guide, particularly when it comes to write speeds, so you wont want to stress it too hard with large file transfers. But if you dont really care about raw performance and want a huge chunk of space for as little cash as possible, it should be fine enough. This deal comes within a couple bucks of the 1.5TB models lowest-ever price. Also at SanDisk and B&H.
The WD Black C50.WD
Crucial P310 (1TB) M.2 2230 SSD for $70 at Amazon ($102 off): The P310 is a small-size SSD you can slot into compact devices like the Steam Deck or Microsofts Surface notebooks. It uses cheaper QLC memory, not the faster and more durable TLC, but other reviews suggest that it still performs well for what it is. This is a new low for the 1TB model. The 2TB version is down to its best price yet at $140 as well. Also at Crucial and B&H.
WD Black C50 Expansion Card for Xbox (1TB) for $99 at Amazon ($59 off): Its aggravating, but the only way to fully increase the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a proprietary expansion card. Only two of those currently exist, but the C50 is one, and this discount drops the 1TB model to a new low. Its normally sold for roughly $40 more in recent months. Is this still expensive compared to many SSDs with the same capacity? Sure. But any extra savings should be welcome. Also at Best Buy. A 512GB model is a couple bucks above its all-time low at $68 as well.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S (2TB) for $200 at Amazon ($160 off): Seagate makes the other official storage expansion card for the Xbox Series X/S. This discount isnt the best weve ever seen, and its been live for most of the month, but its still about $30 to $50 below the 2TB models typical street price. Theres little performance difference between this and the C50, so which is best merely comes down to how much space you need and whatever one costs less.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-black-friday-ssd-deals-from-samsung-wd-crucial-and-others-173947658.html?src=rss
