EA makes photosensitivity and speech recognition tech patents open-source, adding to a pile of accessibility patents already there

In 2021, EA made a pledge to let the wider game industry use its accessibility-related patents at no cost, and now the publisher has added 23 new patents to its lineup. As of today, third parties can freely use patented technology such as improved speech recognition, simplified speech tech in games, and the ability to Read more about EA makes photosensitivity and speech recognition tech patents open-source, adding to a pile of accessibility patents already there[…]

apple and google as monopoly characters holding big bags of cash in front of a store

EU to hit Apple with first ever fine in €500mn music streaming penalty

Brussels is to impose its first ever fine on tech giant Apple for allegedly breaking EU law over access to its music streaming services, according to five people with direct knowledge of the long-running investigation. The fine, which is in the region of €500mn and is expected to be announced early next month, is the Read more about EU to hit Apple with first ever fine in €500mn music streaming penalty[…]

yuzu nintendo switch emulator on android

Nintendo files lawsuit against creators of Yuzu emulator

[…] The 41-page lawsuit was filed against Tropic Haze, the company that makes Yuzu. (Nintendo also specifically references a person aliased as Bunnei, who leads development on Yuzu.) Yuzu is a free emulator that was released in 2018 months after the Nintendo Switch originally launched. The same folks who made Citra, a Nintendo 3DS emulator, Read more about Nintendo files lawsuit against creators of Yuzu emulator[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

I can have app store? Apple: yes but NO! Give €1,000,000 + lock in to Apple ecosystem. This is how to “comply” with EU anti competition law

Apple is keeping a firm grip on people with alternative marketplaces, fleecing them for money but also for other control. Here are some of the terms Apple requires you to conform to in order to start up your own app store (which they call alternative marketplace): If you’re interested in becoming a marketplace developer in Read more about I can have app store? Apple: yes but NO! Give €1,000,000 + lock in to Apple ecosystem. This is how to “comply” with EU anti competition law[…]

monitor at 22o tilt angle

Linux is the only OS to support diagonal PC monitor mode — dev champions the case for 22-degree-rotation computing

Here’s a fun tidbit — Linux is the only OS to support a diagonal monitor mode, which you can customize to any tilt of your liking. Latching onto this possibility, a Linux developer who grew dissatisfied with the extreme choices offered by the cultural norms of landscape or portrait monitor usage is championing diagonal mode Read more about Linux is the only OS to support diagonal PC monitor mode — dev champions the case for 22-degree-rotation computing[…]

Bad genes: 23andMe leak highlights a possible future of genetic discrimination

23andMe is a terrific concept. In essence, the company takes a sample of your DNA and tells you about your genetic makeup. For some of us, this is the only way to learn about our heritage. Spotty records, diaspora, mistaken family lore and slavery can make tracing one’s roots incredibly difficult by traditional methods. What Read more about Bad genes: 23andMe leak highlights a possible future of genetic discrimination[…]

Funky AI-generated spiraling medieval village captivates social media

[…]a Reddit user named “Ugleh” posted an AI-generated image of a spiral-shaped medieval village that rapidly gained attention on social media for its remarkable geometric qualities. Follow-up posts garnered even more praise, including a tweet with over 145,000 likes. Ugleh created the images using Stable Diffusion and a guidance technique called ControlNet. [….] In June, Read more about Funky AI-generated spiraling medieval village captivates social media[…]

Logitech partners with iFixit for self-repairs

Hanging on to your favorite wireless mouse just got a little easier thanks to a new partnership between Logitech and DIY repair specialists iFixit. The two companies are working together to reduce unnecessary e-waste and help customers repair their own out-of-warranty Logitech hardware by supplying spare parts, batteries, and repair guides for “select products.” Everything Read more about Logitech partners with iFixit for self-repairs[…]

A Drug Company Made $114 Billion Gaming America’s Patent System by adding tiny bits to the original patent

The New York Times looks at the AbbVie’s anti-inflammatory drug Humira and their “savvy but legal exploitation of the U.S. patent system.” Though AbbVie’s patent was supposed to expire in 2016, since then it’s maintained a monopoly that generated $114 billion in revenue by using “a formidable wall of intellectual property protection and suing would-be Read more about A Drug Company Made $114 Billion Gaming America’s Patent System by adding tiny bits to the original patent[…]

BMW Further Embraces Making Basic Features A Costly Subscription Service – now it’s remote starting

Last year BMW took ample heat for its plans to turn heated seats into a costly $18 per month subscription in numerous countries. As we noted at the time, BMW is already including the hardware in new cars and adjusting the sale price accordingly. So it’s effectively charging users a new, recurring fee to enable Read more about BMW Further Embraces Making Basic Features A Costly Subscription Service – now it’s remote starting[…]

Microsoft’s new AI can simulate anyone’s voice with 3 seconds of audi

On Thursday, Microsoft researchers announced a new text-to-speech AI model called VALL-E that can closely simulate a person’s voice when given a three-second audio sample. Once it learns a specific voice, VALL-E can synthesize audio of that person saying anything—and do it in a way that attempts to preserve the speaker’s emotional tone. Further Reading Read more about Microsoft’s new AI can simulate anyone’s voice with 3 seconds of audi[…]

Regulators find Europe’s ad-tech industry acted unlawfully, violates GDPR

After a years-long process, data protection officials across the European Union have ruled that Europe’s ad tech industry has been operating unlawfully. The decision, handed down by Belgium’s APD (.PDF) and agreed by regulators across the EU, found that the system underpinning the industry violated a number of principles of the General Data Protection Regulations Read more about Regulators find Europe’s ad-tech industry acted unlawfully, violates GDPR[…]

Google Drive flags single-digit files over copyright

A funny thing happened on Google Drive overnight. Seemingly innocuous files started being flagged as violating the search behemoth’s terms of service over copyright infringement. Dr Emily Dolson, assistant professor at Michigan State University, was one of those affected after she attempted to upload a file containing a single digit, “1”. Uh, @googledrive, are you Read more about Google Drive flags single-digit files over copyright[…]

French government to speed up deployment of open source – EURACTIV.com

The French government’s roadmap for developing open source to make it a vector of digital sovereignty and a guarantee of “democratic confidence” was presented by Public Transformation and Civil Service Minister Amélie de Montchalin on Wednesday (10 November). EURACTIV France reports. Montchalin spoke at the closing of the first edition of the “Open Source Experience”, Read more about French government to speed up deployment of open source – EURACTIV.com[…]

China releases video and audio footage from its Mars rover

China’s National Space Administration has released footage recorded by the country’s Mars probe. The videos and photos taken by the camera installed on the Zhurong rover of the Tianwen-1 spacecraft show the lander deploying a parachute before touching down on the surface of Mars and the rover driving away from its landing platform. State broadcaster Read more about China releases video and audio footage from its Mars rover[…]

One of America’s $135.8 Million Fighter F-35 Jets Shot Itself

An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter shot itself in the skies above Arizona earlier this month, doing at least $2.5 million in damage. The pilot was unharmed and successfully landed the jet. The Pentagon isn’t quite sure how or why the jet shot itself and the incident is still under investigation. As first reported by Military.com, Read more about One of America’s $135.8 Million Fighter F-35 Jets Shot Itself[…]

Rocket Lab Unveils Plans for New 8-Ton Class Reusable Rocket for Mega-Constellation Deployment. Probably won’t explode as much as SpaceX. Also to become publically traded.

Rocket Lab today unveiled plans for its Neutron rocket, an advanced 8-ton payload class launch vehicle tailored for mega-constellation deployment, interplanetary missions and human spaceflight. Neutron will build on Rocket Lab’s proven experience developing the reliable workhorse Electron launch vehicle, the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually since 2019. Where Electron provides dedicated access Read more about Rocket Lab Unveils Plans for New 8-Ton Class Reusable Rocket for Mega-Constellation Deployment. Probably won’t explode as much as SpaceX. Also to become publically traded.[…]

‘Spy pixels in emails have become endemic’

The use of “invisible” tracking tech in emails is now “endemic”, according to a messaging service that analysed its traffic at the BBC’s request.Hey’s review indicated that two-thirds of emails sent to its users’ personal accounts contained a “spy pixel”, even after excluding for spam.Its makers said that many of the largest brands used email Read more about ‘Spy pixels in emails have become endemic’[…]

Space Launch Market for Heavy Lift Vehicles: Charts and Data Set of Addressable Launches 2007–2018

In 2019, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) asked the RAND Corporation to independently analyze the heavy lift space launch market to assess how potential USAF decisions in the near term could affect domestic launch providers and the market in general. RAND’s analysis was published as Assessing the Impact of U.S. Air Force National Security Space Read more about Space Launch Market for Heavy Lift Vehicles: Charts and Data Set of Addressable Launches 2007–2018[…]

The 773 Million Record “Collection #1” Data Breach

Collection #1 is a set of email addresses and passwords totalling 2,692,818,238 rows. It’s made up of many different individual data breaches from literally thousands of different sources. (And yes, fellow techies, that’s a sizeable amount more than a 32-bit integer can hold.) In total, there are 1,160,253,228 unique combinations of email addresses and passwords. Read more about The 773 Million Record “Collection #1” Data Breach[…]

Modlishka allows for very easy fishing / MITM

You basically just put it on a local domain, point people there and it forwards the traffic up and down to the target website – so no templates, no warnings. It will also push through two factor authentication requests and answers. Modlishka is a flexible and powerful reverse proxy, that will take your phishing campaigns Read more about Modlishka allows for very easy fishing / MITM[…]

Pornhub 2018 in review

Follow along to see the most interesting data points amassed by our team of statisticians, all presented with colorful charts and insightful commentary. Enjoy! The Year in Numbers Top Searches & Pornstars Traffic & Time on Site Gender Demographics Age Demographics Devices & Technology Celebrity Searches Movie & Game Searches Events, Holidays & Sports Top Read more about Pornhub 2018 in review[…]