A long-time Intel user switched from Intel to AMD, citing concerns over power and reliability. The author, a System76 customer, experienced issues with their Intel-based machine, including overheating and kernel panics. They chose an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU-powered machine and reported improved performance, reduced heat, and no issues with kernel panics.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-switched-from-intel-to-amd-heres-why-im-never-going-back/
Robinhood, a popular trading app, has announced that it will allow users to bet on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. The company is calling this new feature "event contracts" and claims that it democratizes access to events as they unfold. Users can purchase these contracts, which are essentially derivatives, to predict the winner of the election.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/28/24281883/robinhood-presidential-betting
Apple has announced that its Intelligence features will be available on EU iPhones and iPads starting in April. The new AI-powered tools include writing assistants, a redesigned Siri with improved language understanding, and ChatGPT integration. EU users can get a taste of these features early by using the initial batch on their Macs, which are now available with macOS Sequoia 15.1.
Apple Intelligence will also launch in localized English for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in December, likely with iOS 18.2. This update will bring even more features to users.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/28/24281947/apple-intelligence-eu-iphones-april
Former Disney star Bridgit Mendler has taken a new path in her career, co-founding Northwood Space to address the need for scalable connectivity and resilience in space. The startup aims to mass-produce ground stations, which are critical communication points for satellites, allowing satellite operators to run their businesses more efficiently. Mendler believes that investing in ground infrastructure is key to accelerating mass adoption of satellite technology.
The Flutter community has recently announced that they are forking the popular development framework, Flock. This new fork aims to add important bug fixes and popular community features that may not be implemented by the original Flutter team. By controlling merge decisions, Flock will gain more flexibility in deciding what changes to incorporate. The move is intended to give the community greater control over the development process and reduce reliance on the Flutter team's availability.
The first step for Flock is to mirror the existing Flutter framework, including its master, beta, and stable branches, as well as release tags. This will ensure that users can continue to build apps without interruption.
Flock also requires the recruitment of dozens of reviewers who will enforce a similar quality bar to Flutter's. These reviewers will not only check for code quality but also provide guidance and direction to contributors, ensuring that PRs are complete and meet high standards.
Source: https://flutterfoundation.dev/blog/posts/we-are-forking-flutter-this-is-why/
Apple's latest iOS update, iOS 18, has been met with mixed reactions. The new Photos app features a "simplified" layout with collections like Recent Days and Trips, but users are finding it unnecessarily complicated. The previous tab design is replaced by themes, making it harder to find specific photos. Additionally, videos no longer open in full screen by default, requiring an extra tap. Apple's intention may be to offer a more personalized experience, but many users miss the camera roll section and intuitive navigation.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/my-biggest-regret-after-updating-my-iphone-to-ios-18-and-im-not-alone/
Kremlin-backed hackers have launched a new operation targeting Ukrainian military recruits with Windows and Android malware. The "Civil Defense" campaign spreads information-stealing malware through Telegram posts, claiming to provide free software for finding recruiters' locations. Google researchers track the group as UNC5812, which also engages in influence activities to undermine Ukraine's recruitment efforts.
Concerns have been raised about OpenAI's Whisper tool, a popular AI transcription service used by hospitals and medical institutions. An investigation found that the tool may create fabricated text in medical transcripts, which could lead to inaccurate patient records and compromised care. Despite warnings against using Whisper for high-risk domains, over 30,000 medical workers are currently using the tool.
Unification in Computer Science: A Complex Topic Explained
Researchers have been exploring the concept of unification in computer science, a technique used to match variables with specific values. The process involves combining existential and universal quantifiers to produce universally quantified answers. This method is particularly useful for theorem proving and artificial intelligence applications.
A prominent WordPress contributor, Chris Wiegman, has announced his departure from the platform after 14 years of involvement. In a blog post, Wiegman expressed frustration with the community's dishonesty and abuse towards contributors who advocate for important issues like privacy, accessibility, and governance. He cites Matt Mullenweg's actions as the final straw, leading him to archive his remaining WordPress projects and step back from contributing to meetups and events.
Level Zero Health is working on a potentially life-changing device for hormone health. The startup, founded by Ula Rustamova and Irene Jia, aims to create a continuous hormone monitoring medical device that could revolutionize the way we manage hormonal imbalances.
Solideon, a Bay Area-based startup, aims to revolutionize rocket manufacturing by utilizing 3D printing technology. Founded by Oluseun Taiwo, the company has raised $6.5 million in funding and is focused on decentralizing the production process through deployable microfactories that can print and assemble large aerospace structures. This innovation could have significant implications for industries reliant on global supply chains, such as space travel.
Walmart is offering a half-off deal on its Walmart+ membership program, allowing customers to sign up for an annual subscription at $49 instead of the usual $98. This exclusive offer grants access to early Black Friday deals and other perks, including free delivery, free shipping, and savings at fuel stations. The promotion is available until December 2nd.
The Walmart+ membership typically costs $12.95/month or $98/year, but this discounted rate breaks down to about $4.08/month for the year. The membership also includes additional benefits like video streaming with Paramount+, auto care services, and early access to exclusive savings.
"TechCrunch explores how AI and XR (Extended Reality) technologies are revolutionizing devices. Qualcomm's SVP & GM, Ziad Asghar, discusses the transformative potential of on-device AI and XR in a panel session at Disrupt Builders Stage 2024. The integration of smartphones, smartwatches, AR glasses, and PCs is expected to elevate daily digital interactions through seamless connectivity and smart technology integration."
Source: https://techcrunch.com/video/how-ai-and-xr-will-revolutionize-all-of-your-devices/
ForestGuard, a Turkey-based startup, is developing an innovative system called the "Internet of Trees" or "WoodWideWeb" to detect wildfires earlier. The company uses sensors attached to tree trunks that read air resistance values in milliseconds and generate a "fingerprint" of what's happening in the air. If emergency conditions are detected, the sensor sends data to EchoStar satellites for alerting authorities. ForestGuard is currently monitoring over 2 million square meters of forest in Turkey and has expanded its services to detect industrial fires.
Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport recently turned down a $23 billion offer from Google, citing the company's potential for further growth. In an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt, Rappaport explained that he believes cloud security is the future and Wiz can reach $100 billion in value. He emphasized the importance of execution and making the right decisions to achieve this goal.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/wiz-ceo-explains-why-he-turned-down-a-23-billion-deal/
SpiralWave's innovative plasma towers transform CO2 into liquid fuel, offering a promising solution for climate change. The company's technology uses microwaves to break down CO2 and H2O molecules, producing methanol as a byproduct. This process can be scaled up to remove significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere or industrial flue gas.
Nintendo is launching a paid version of its popular mobile game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete. The new app will be available on December 3 and will cost $10. In addition to the core gameplay mechanics, the new app will include several new features, such as the ability to walk around the island with your favorite villager and "Camper Cards" that can be customized and traded with friends via QR codes. The app will also feature a new mountain location, Whistle Pass, where players can gather and gift items to each other.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/28/nintendo-to-launch-10-animal-crossing-mobile-game-on-december-3/
Microsoft has accused Google of launching "shadow campaigns" to undermine its cloud business, including a new lobbying organization in Europe. Microsoft alleges that Google is behind the group, which will target European regulators and policymakers with misinformation about Microsoft's cloud services. This move comes after Google filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in September, accusing the company of unfair licensing contracts for its Azure cloud services.
Scout Motors, a Volkswagen-backed electric vehicle brand, has announced plans to sell its vehicles directly to consumers, bypassing traditional dealerships. This move is seen as a challenge to the century-old dealership model, which has been criticized for being opaque and frustrating for customers. Scout's digital platform aims to provide a seamless buying experience, allowing customers to purchase accessories, schedule service appointments, and receive information on over-the-air updates.
Scout's CEO, Scott Keogh, emphasized that the company is committed to transparency and customer trust, stating that they want to be "old-school" in their approach. The brand plans to open 25 brick-and-mortar locations across the US within the next five years, where customers can test-drive and purchase Scout vehicles.
However, dealerships have already threatened legal action against Scout Motors, citing concerns about lost revenue and market disruption. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has announced that it will challenge Scout's direct-to-consumer sales model in courts and state legislatures.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/28/24281884/scout-ev-dealer-sale-direct-to-sales-lawsuit