Month: August 2020

Brain-Computer Interfaces: U.S. Military Applications and Implications, An Initial Assessment

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has invested in the development of technologies that allow the human brain to communicate directly with machines, including the development of implantable neural interfaces able to transfer data between the human brain and the digital world. This technology, known as brain-computer interface (BCI), may eventually be used to monitor Read more about Brain-Computer Interfaces: U.S. Military Applications and Implications, An Initial Assessment[…]

Cory Doctorow’s New Book Explains ‘How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Blogger/science fiction writer Cory Doctorow (also a former EFF staffer and activist) has just published How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism — a new book which he’s publishing free online. In a world swamped with misinformation and monopolies, Doctorow says he’s knows what’s missing from our proposed solutions: If we’re going to break Big Tech’s death Read more about Cory Doctorow’s New Book Explains ‘How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism’[…]

Cloudflare Blames CenturyLink for Sunday’s Internet Blackout – again

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Widespread internet outages knocked down Cloudflare, the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Amazon, Hulu, and a slew of other sites on Sunday morning, and it’s apparently all because of a single internet service provider: CenturyLink. Given that Cloudflare’s online security services are designed to keep websites up and running, when it went down, so did dozens Read more about Cloudflare Blames CenturyLink for Sunday’s Internet Blackout – again[…]

Xiaomi’s under display camera tech is coming to phones next year

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Under-display cameras do a neat trick, allowing manufacturers to build all-screen phones without complex pop-up selfie cameras. Now, Xiaomi has unveiled its third-generation of under-display cameras and promised that the technology will be coming to the mass market “next year.” Cameras that live under the screen present two problems: creating a dark “hole” on the Read more about Xiaomi’s under display camera tech is coming to phones next year[…]

Visa Unveils More Powerful AI Tool That Approves or Denies Card Transactions

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Visa Inc. said Wednesday it has developed a more advanced artificial intelligence system that can approve or decline credit and debit transactions on behalf of banks whose own networks are down. The decision to approve or deny a transaction typically is made by the bank. But bank networks can crash because of natural disasters, buggy Read more about Visa Unveils More Powerful AI Tool That Approves or Denies Card Transactions[…]

Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore: ‘We must take a stand’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Powell’s Books says it won’t sell on Amazon anymore, declaring that the online retail giant undermines communities by siphoning business from the real world and replacing it with internet commerce. “For too long, we have watched the detrimental impact of Amazon’s business on our communities and the independent bookselling world,” CEO Emily Powell wrote in Read more about Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore: ‘We must take a stand’[…]

Intel, HP, Tesla, etc protest to US monopoly watchdog: FTC vs Qualcomm case overturned to the surprise of all

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Intel, HP, Tesla and a host of other tech giants have written to America’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging it to appeal Qualcomm’s legal win against the watchdog in a row over patent fees. The FTC had successfully sued Qualcomm, arguing the corporation rode roughshod over antitrust laws, only for that victory to be overturned Read more about Intel, HP, Tesla, etc protest to US monopoly watchdog: FTC vs Qualcomm case overturned to the surprise of all[…]

This Guy is Suing the Patent Office for Deciding an AI Can’t Invent Things

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A computer scientist who created an artificial intelligence system capable of generating original inventions is suing the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) over its decision earlier this year to reject two patent applications which list the algorithmic system, known as DABUS, as the inventor. The lawsuit is the latest step in an effort by Read more about This Guy is Suing the Patent Office for Deciding an AI Can’t Invent Things[…]

Um, almost the entire Scots Wikipedia was written by someone with no idea of the language – 10,000s of articles

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In an extraordinary and somewhat devastating discovery, it turns out virtually the entire Scots version of Wikipedia, comprising more than 57,000 articles, was written, edited or overseen by a netizen who clearly had nae the slightest idea about the language. The user is not only a prolific contributor, they are an administrator of sco.wikipedia.org, having Read more about Um, almost the entire Scots Wikipedia was written by someone with no idea of the language – 10,000s of articles[…]

Apple Has Finally Gotten Too Big for Its Britches – and even Kinja group is pissed off now

Posted on by Robin Edgar

What started out as a battle between Apple and Epic over direct in-app purchases in Fortnite has evolved into an ill-advised, petty revenge scheme. On Sunday, Epic filed a new motion to bar Apple from revoking iOS and macOS support for its Unreal Engine while its other beef is ongoing. To back up a bit, Read more about Apple Has Finally Gotten Too Big for Its Britches – and even Kinja group is pissed off now[…]

Apple apologises to WordPress for forcing in-app purchases and U-turns

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple has clarified the situation with the WordPress iOS app, apologizing for the mistake of blocking developer updates to the app until they added in-app purchases, despite the app not including any functionality involving payments. On Friday, it was reported the lack of app updates for the WordPress app were due to it being “locked” Read more about Apple apologises to WordPress for forcing in-app purchases and U-turns[…]

Epic move: Judge says Apple can’t revoke Unreal Engine dev tools, asks ‘Where does the 30 per cent come from?’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A Federal US judge questioned why Apple takes a 30 per cent slice of developer revenues as she ruled that while Apple cannot cut off Epic’s access to iOS Unreal Engine development tools, she would not order the company to allow Fortnite to return to the App Store. In the eight-page order [PDF], Yvonne Gonzalez Read more about Epic move: Judge says Apple can’t revoke Unreal Engine dev tools, asks ‘Where does the 30 per cent come from?’[…]

US Border Patrol Says They Can Create Central Repository Of Traveler Emails, calendar, etc, Keep Them For 75 Years

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The U.S. government has taken the opportunity during the global pandemic, when people aren’t traveling out of the country much, to roll out a new platform for storing information they believe they are entitled to take from people crossing the border. A new filing reveals how the U.S. Border Patrol will store data from traveler Read more about US Border Patrol Says They Can Create Central Repository Of Traveler Emails, calendar, etc, Keep Them For 75 Years[…]

Microsoft sides with Epic over Apple developer ban, supports motion for temporary restraining order

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft’s Kevin Gammill, general manager of Gaming Developer Experiences, called Epic’s Unreal Engine “critical technology” in a filing at the weekend [PDF] in support of Epic’s motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent Apple from terminating its developer account. Referring to the statement, Xbox supremo Phil Spencer tweeted yesterday to say “ensuring that Epic Read more about Microsoft sides with Epic over Apple developer ban, supports motion for temporary restraining order[…]

Solar Panels Are Starting to Die, Leaving Behind Toxic Trash

Posted on by Robin Edgar

By 2050, the International Renewable Energy Agency projects that up to 78 million metric tons of solar panels will have reached the end of their life, and that the world will be generating about 6 million metric tons of new solar e-waste annually. While the latter number is a small fraction of the total e-waste Read more about Solar Panels Are Starting to Die, Leaving Behind Toxic Trash[…]

Epic Games start Free Fortnite cup time with awesome prizes incl a rotten apple skin

Posted on by Robin Edgar

As PC Gamer’s Fortnite guy, I’ve written many a guide to Epic’s various tournaments, cash cups, and special events, but few have ever been as weird as this one. On Thursday evening, Epic announced the #FreeFortnite Cup, a new tournament seemingly designed to continue Epic’s campaign against Apple and Google. Barring a legal miracle, it’s Read more about Epic Games start Free Fortnite cup time with awesome prizes incl a rotten apple skin[…]

Apple cut off updates to completely free WordPress app until it adds in app purchases because it wants 30 percent

Posted on by Robin Edgar

WordPress, the iOS app, lets you build and manage a website right from your iPhone or iPad, for free. Separately, WordPress.com also happens to sell domain names and fancier website packages. Now, WordPress founding developer Matt Mullenweg is accusing Apple of cutting off the ability to update that app — until or unless he adds Read more about Apple cut off updates to completely free WordPress app until it adds in app purchases because it wants 30 percent[…]

Ex-Uber chief security officer charged, accused of covering up theft of personal info from databases by hackers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Uber’s chief security officer, Joe Sullivan broke the law by hushing up the theft of millions of people’s details from the app maker’s databases by hackers, prosecutors say. Sullivan, 52, formerly of eBay, Facebook, and PayPal, was today charged with obstruction of justice and misprision – concealing knowledge of a crime from law enforcement – Read more about Ex-Uber chief security officer charged, accused of covering up theft of personal info from databases by hackers[…]

News outlets join Epic in challenging Apple’s app store terms

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Major news organizations are joining Epic Games in the push for Apple to rethink its app store terms following Fortnite’s high-profile ban this month. Digital Content Next, a trade organization representing the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and dozens of other media outlets and publishers (including yours truly, G/O Media), Read more about News outlets join Epic in challenging Apple’s app store terms[…]

Putting the d’oh! in Adobe: ‘Years of photos’ permanently wiped from iPhones, iPads by bad Lightroom app update

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Adobe is offering its condolences to customers after an update to its Lightroom photo manager permanently deleted troves of snaps on people’s iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. First reported by PetaPixel, the data annihilation was triggered after punters this week fetched version 5.4 of the iOS software. Netizens complained that, following the release and installation Read more about Putting the d’oh! in Adobe: ‘Years of photos’ permanently wiped from iPhones, iPads by bad Lightroom app update[…]

A Gmail and Google Drive outage is causing errors around the world – yay cloud!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Can’t send something on Gmail? If so then you’re in good company, ever since about midnight ET, people have been complaining about issues connecting to many of the G suite services, but especially Gmail. The Google apps status page just updated to confirm they’ve received reports of an issue with Gmail and Google Drive, while Read more about A Gmail and Google Drive outage is causing errors around the world – yay cloud![…]

235 Million Instagram, TikTok And YouTube User Profiles Exposed In Massive Data Leak

Posted on by Robin Edgar

it was such an unsecured database that the Comparitech researchers, led by Bob Diachenko, discovered on August 1, leaving the personal profile data of nearly 235 million Instagram, TikTok and YouTube users up for grabs. The data was spread across several datasets; the most significant being two coming in at just under 100 million each Read more about 235 Million Instagram, TikTok And YouTube User Profiles Exposed In Massive Data Leak[…]

Scientists slow and steer light with resonant nanoantennas

Posted on by Robin Edgar

in a paper published on Aug. 17, in Nature Nanotechnology, Stanford scientists demonstrate a new approach to slow light significantly, much like an echo chamber holds onto sound, and to direct it at will. Researchers in the lab of Jennifer Dionne, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford, structured ultrathin silicon chips into Read more about Scientists slow and steer light with resonant nanoantennas[…]

The Unforeseen Consequences of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Society: A Systematic Review of Regulatory Gaps Generated by AI in the U.S. | RAND

Posted on by Robin Edgar

AI’s growing catalog of applications and methods has the potential to profoundly affect public policy by generating instances where regulations are not adequate to confront the issues faced by society, also known as regulatory gaps. The objective of this dissertation is to improve our understanding of how AI influences U.S. public policy. It systematically explores, Read more about The Unforeseen Consequences of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Society: A Systematic Review of Regulatory Gaps Generated by AI in the U.S. | RAND[…]

A Facebook Account Will Be Mandatory for Oculus Devices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It’s official. Starting this October, a Facebook account will be mandatory for all future Oculus headsets. While there’ll be a grace period for anyone with a separate Oculus account, Facebook will end support for those on January 1, 2023. The decision was announced today on both Oculus’s Twitter and in a press release. The gist Read more about A Facebook Account Will Be Mandatory for Oculus Devices[…]