Apple has announced plans to adapt the classic educational game The Oregon Trail into a big-budget movie. According to reports, the film will be a comedy, not a serious historical drama, and will feature original musical numbers in the style of Barbie. EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will compose the music for the film, which is currently in early development with directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon at the helm. The Lucas brothers, known for their work on Judas and the Black Messiah, are set to write the screenplay.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/culture/2024/10/apple-is-turning-the-oregon-trail-into-a-movie/
A new Lenovo laptop, Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, has been tested and reviewed. The device features Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) chip, which provides fast, cool, and battery-efficient performance. The laptop includes unique features such as Smart Share, allowing users to transfer files between phone and laptop, and Shield Mode, which alerts the user if someone is looking at their screen over their shoulder.
The reviewer notes that the device has some drawbacks, including an overwhelming amount of ads and notifications, and the power button being located on the side of the device. Despite these issues, the laptop offers a solid 15-inch display, comfortable keyboard, and marathon battery life.
The US is finalizing rules to restrict investments in AI and other tech sectors in China. The new regulations, effective January 2, will ban investments that aid China's military, intelligence, or cybersecurity capabilities. The rules apply to certain AI systems, quantum information systems, and semiconductors/microelectronics. A carve-out allows US investment in publicly traded securities, but previous executive orders bar investing in designated Chinese companies.
Fantastical, a popular calendar app, has finally landed on Windows! This comes after 13 years of development on Apple platforms. The company behind Fantastical, Flexibits, has ensured that the Windows version is identical to its Mac and iOS counterparts, allowing seamless integration for users.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/29/popular-calendar-app-fantastical-lands-on-windows/
Crosscut Ventures, a $100 million fund, is shifting its focus towards climate, space, and frontier tech. The firm's new seed fund will invest in energy, power, space exploration, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, and security & defense. According to co-founder Brian Garrett, the fund aims to "follow the founders" who are tackling big problems like climate change.
The 2024 US presidential election is just around the corner, and The Verge has released a comprehensive guide to help readers navigate the key policy issues at stake. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to face off against former President Donald Trump, with technology playing a significant role in their campaigns. The guide highlights the importance of addressing collective action problems that affect various aspects of modern life, including AI, monopolies, and cryptocurrency. Additionally, the election will have far-reaching implications for climate change, electric vehicles, and government regulation.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/24279527/2024-presidential-election-guide-tech-policy
Cadillac is set to launch its first performance electric vehicle, the Lyriq-V. This new model will feature all-wheel drive and "instantaneous acceleration," according to General Motors. The Lyriq-V is expected to hit the market in 2026, with exact pricing and release dates yet to be announced. Cadillac's Lyriq SUV was its first all-electric vehicle, launched in 2022, and starts at $59,990.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/29/24282592/cadillac-lyriq-v-series-performance-2026
Are you considering upgrading to a new iPhone or extending the life of your current device? Apple has stopped including charging bricks in their boxes since the iPhone 12, so it's essential to have a reliable charger. The article highlights some top-rated USB-C cables and MagSafe portable batteries that can keep your devices charged. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of keeping your iPhone software up-to-date to ensure security and performance.
For those with aging iPhones, the article suggests considering a battery replacement or upgrading to a newer model. It also provides links to guides on fixing common issues and selling older phones.
Shopify, an e-commerce platform provider, is reportedly winning clients away from Salesforce, a customer relationship management (CRM) giant. According to Bloomberg, Shopify's focus on omnichannel commerce and ease of use has made it an attractive alternative for businesses seeking to streamline their online sales. As the competition between the two companies heats up, experts predict that smaller businesses will be the biggest beneficiaries.
Integuru, a recent launch from Y Combinator's W24 batch, is an AI agent that generates integration code by reverse-engineering internal APIs using large language models (LLMs). The tool allows users to analyze and reverse-engineer API requests for external platforms, enabling the automation of specific actions. Users provide a .har file containing browser network requests, cookies, and a prompt describing the desired action.
A recent article celebrates the work of Richard Scarry, a renowned author and illustrator, by highlighting his unique approach to storytelling. Unlike other writers who solely rely on words, Scarry believed that pictures are essential in bringing stories to life. He famously avoided granting driver's licenses to cows and chickens, raising questions about animal society, but never neglected to show the humor and charm of his characters.
Source: https://yalereview.org/article/chris-ware-richard-scarry
Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update, designed to fix bugs, creates new ones. The KB5044384 patch resolves some issues but introduces installation problems and a bug that prevents Task manager from accurately counting background processes.
Snowflake customers are reportedly experiencing early gains from using the company's Cortex product, which enables generative AI applications. According to Snowflake's head of AI, Baris Gultekin, the product is already producing cost savings. Chris Child, vice president of worldwide sales engineering for Snowflake, emphasizes the importance of forecasting costs and suggests trying out the technology to estimate needs at scale.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/snowflake-customers-eke-out-early-gains-from-gen-ai-applications/
The US presidential election is heating up, with candidates' positions on electric vehicles (EVs) drawing attention. Senator Kamala Harris has shifted her stance to the center, sparking debate over EVs in battleground states like Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, President Trump is using misinformation to attack Harris, claiming she wants to "end all gas cars." As the election approaches, it's clear that the winner will have a significant impact on the car-buying landscape.
The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a topic of ongoing debate. Two prominent AI CEOs, Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic, have shared their visions for the technology's potential impact. While some see AI as a tool to aid humans, others worry about its potential to destroy creativity or create autonomous robots. In reality, both perspectives may hold truth. As the industry continues to evolve, it's essential to consider the diverse possibilities and challenges that lie ahead.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/29/24282333/ai-vision-anthropic-openai-shakealert-vergecast
Google has launched a new Certified Refurbished Program, offering popular Pixel phone models at up to 40% discount. The program includes recommended picks like the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro, with devices selling for as low as $249. Refurbished units are thoroughly inspected and tested to ensure premium quality, come with a one-year warranty, and feature genuine Google parts.
Amazon has released its newest Kindle, a budget-friendly e-reader that offers improved features and a distraction-free reading experience. The base model Kindle retains the same display size and resolution as previous models but boasts faster page-turn rates and brighter front lights. Reviewers praise the device's portability, simplicity, and long battery life, making it an excellent choice for those looking to expand their literary horizons.
Infinite Machine, a New York-based startup, has secured $9 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz's American Dynamism team and other investors. The company is developing a futuristic electric scooter called P1, which will be available for purchase next year.
Brightwave's AI Agent Helps Asset Managers Find Signal, Raising $15M in Series A Funding
Tabnine, an AI code assistant company, has launched a new code review agent aimed at helping developers stick to their organization's best practices and standards. The agent can be trained by providing documentation or pointing it at "golden code repos." It passively reviews the code as the developer works in the IDE, flagging issues and offering fixes when possible.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/29/tabnine-launches-its-code-review-agent/