Month: August 2024
Federal judge in Texas strikes down FTC’s ban on noncompete agreements
Judge: FTC Act doesn’t give substantive rulemaking authority to FTC.
Enlarge / Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan arrives to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee at the Rayburn House Office Building on May 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. (credit: Getty Images | Kevin Dietsch )
A federal judge in Texas yesterday blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to ban noncompete agreements that make it difficult for workers to change jobs or start new businesses. Judge Ada Brown in the Northern District of Texas granted a motion for summary judgment that was requested by a tax services firm and business groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce.
“The Court sets aside the Non-Compete Rule. Consequently, the Rule shall not be enforced or otherwise take effect on its effective date of September 4, 2024 or thereafter,” the ruling said.
The judge wrote in a previous ruling that the FTC lacks authority to issue a rule banning noncompete agreements and granted a preliminary injunction. But that previous ruling only postponed the effective date of the rule as it applied to the plaintiffs, whereas yesterday’s order blocks the FTC rule entirely.
Microsoft, Byowave, and 8BitDo team up to create new ‘Designed for Xbox’ accessibility controllers
Xbox has announced a range of new accessibility controllers at Gamescom 2024.
Microsoft has announced a new range of ‘Designed for Xbox’ accessibility controllers at Gamescom 2024. One has been created in-house, while others come from manufacturers Byowave and 8BitDo.
First up is the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. Launching in ‘early 2025’ and being sold exclusively through the Microsoft Store for $29.99 (around £24.99), this will be an entry-level wired joystick “designed to meet the needs of players with limited mobility as a companion for the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox controllers, including the Xbox Wireless Controller or Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2,” according to a Microsoft press release.
Next up is Byowave’s ‘Designed for Xbox’ Proteus Controller. Available to buy now from Byowave’s website, this is a highly modular controller that allows players to snap together individual, sphere-like pieces to tailor a gaming experience to their needs and preferences. Some examples include stacked vertically to resemble a flight stick or as a 2×2 layout with sticks and modules facing outwards. At $299 (around £229) it certainly doesn’t come cheap, though.
Lastly is 8BitDo’s contribution: the 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller for Xbox. 8BitDo regularly features in our guides to the best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers, and it’s no surprise here that the brand’s new accessibility pad has low-resistance face buttons, Hall effect thumbsticks, and a symmetrical layout for greater ease of use. It’s also compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and is purchasable now for $59.99 from 8BitDo’s website.
Microsoft is also expanding its Xbox Design Lab service with 3D printable files for adaptive thumbsticks toppers. Microsoft is providing this service at no extra cost, and six thumbstick designs are available to suit a variety of playstyles and preferences.
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Pre-orders are live for the new Xbox Series X and S consoles – including that gorgeous Galaxy Black 2TB machine
The new Xbox Series X and S console variants are available to pre-order today, August 21, 2024.
Xbox has announced that pre-orders of the new variants of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles – the ones revealed earlier this at the Xbox Summer Showcase 2024 – are going live today (August 21, 2024).
And yes, that includes the best of the bunch: the beautiful new Galaxy Black Special Edition 2TB Xbox Series X.
These new consoles go some way to fill out Xbox’s hardware lineup this generation, offering more ways to jump into Team Green’s ecosystem with a console that’ll best fit your needs.
In brief, the main advancements and differences with these variants are boosts to storage on the Series S and Galaxy Black Series X models, and the offer of an all-digital, disc-less experience on the powerful Series X (in white for the first time).
You can see the key details below and the best places to place your pre-order for each, and we’ll add more links and details when listings appear.
New Xbox Series X and S console pre-orders
Xbox Series X – 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition: $599.99 at Best Buy
We think this is a banger of a console edition and really shines in the new sparkly colorway and design. It’s more expensive than the 1TB console, but it also has that larger SSD and a limited edition aesthetic. This also comes with a glorious matching controller that has a Velocity Green back case.
Price check: $599.99 – Microsoft Store
UK price: £549.99 – Microsoft StoreView Deal
Xbox Series S – 1TB Robot White: $349.99 at Best Buy
Previously limited to a black colorway only, the 1TB variant of the Series S is one of our favorite current-gen models (especially when it’s on sale) as it offers incredible value for money for those looking for an Xbox Game Pass machine.
UK price: £299.99 – Microsoft StoreView Deal
Xbox Series X 1TB All Digital Robot White: $449.99 at Best Buy
If you’ve wanted the most performant console in terms of sheer power, or always wanted Xbox’s full-fat machine, but also prefer digital gaming then this is the solution! Xbox now offers a fully digital Series X which contains all the same hardware as a disc-drive-based predecessor.
UK price: £429.99 – Microsoft StoreView Deal
(Image credit: Microsoft/Xbox)
If you’ve been waiting for a new, different edition of the Xbox Series X console that’s a bit special, or something that has a larger SSD for more games, then now is a great time to pre-order and jump in.
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Tallinn startup bags €2.3M to turn CO2 into ‘critical’ graphite for EV batteries
Up Catalyst has closed a €2.36mn seed extension round to accelerate the development of an industrial pilot reactor that turns CO2 emissions into carbon materials. According to the Tallinn-based startup, the reactor will be able to produce 100 tonnes of CO2 per year. These can deliver 27 tonnes of advanced carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphite — a key component of EV batteries. The company’s technology isolates CO2 from flue gasses from heavy industry emitters. It then uses a process called molten salt electrolysis to turn it into green carbon. “We’re essentially electro-transforming carbon dioxide gasses into carbon…This story continues at The Next Web
Up Catalyst has closed a €2.36mn seed extension round to accelerate the development of an industrial pilot reactor that turns CO2 emissions into carbon materials. According to the Tallinn-based startup, the reactor will be able to produce 100 tonnes of CO2 per year. These can deliver 27 tonnes of advanced carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphite — a key component of EV batteries. The company’s technology isolates CO2 from flue gasses from heavy industry emitters. It then uses a process called molten salt electrolysis to turn it into green carbon. “We’re essentially electro-transforming carbon dioxide gasses into carbon…
This story continues at The Next Web
US Feds Are Tapping a Half-Billion Encrypted Messaging Goldmine
An anonymous reader shares a report: U.S. agencies are increasingly accessing parts of a half-billion encrypted chat message haul that has rocked the global organized crime underground, using the chats as part of multiple drug trafficking prosecutions, according to a 404 Media review of U.S. court records. In particular, U.S. authorities are using the chat messages to prosecute alleged maritime drug smugglers who traffic cocaine using speedboats and commercial ships.
The court records show the continued fallout of the massive hack of encrypted phone company Sky in 2021, in which European agencies obtained the intelligence goldmine of messages despite Sky being advertised as end-to-end encrypted. European authorities have used those messages as the basis for many prosecutions and drug seizures across the continent. Now, it’s clear that the blast radius extends to the United States.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
An anonymous reader shares a report: U.S. agencies are increasingly accessing parts of a half-billion encrypted chat message haul that has rocked the global organized crime underground, using the chats as part of multiple drug trafficking prosecutions, according to a 404 Media review of U.S. court records. In particular, U.S. authorities are using the chat messages to prosecute alleged maritime drug smugglers who traffic cocaine using speedboats and commercial ships.
The court records show the continued fallout of the massive hack of encrypted phone company Sky in 2021, in which European agencies obtained the intelligence goldmine of messages despite Sky being advertised as end-to-end encrypted. European authorities have used those messages as the basis for many prosecutions and drug seizures across the continent. Now, it’s clear that the blast radius extends to the United States.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Amazon’s New Accessory Sale Includes Deals on AirTag, Eufy SmartTrack, and Jackery Power Stations
Today we’re tracking a big collection of discounts on Bluetooth trackers and portable power stations, including Apple’s own AirTag, Anker’s more affordable brand of Eufy SmartTrack accessories, and power stations from Jackery. All of these deals can be found on Amazon.
AirTag
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Starting with the AirTag, you can get the 1 Pack for $24.99 and the 4 Pack of trackers for $79.99 on Amazon, down from $99.00. These are both solid second-best prices on the AirTag.
$4 OFFAirTag 1 Pack for $24.99
$19 OFFAirTag 4 Pack for $79.99Eufy
Anyone who needs a Bluetooth tracker but wants to save a bit of money should look at Anker’s Eufy brand of trackers, which are on sale on Amazon right now and compatible with Find My on Apple devices. These start at just $15.99 for one tracker and raise to $48.99 for a 4 Pack.
$4 OFFSmartTrack Link 1 Pack for $15.99
$6 OFFSmartTrack Link 2 Pack for $29.88
$21 OFFSmartTrack Link 4 Pack for $48.99 (Prime members only)
If you want a tracker that you can fit in a wallet, Eufy’s SmartTrack Card is a great solution at $19.99, down from $29.99. Most of Eufy’s trackers can be delivered between August 22 and August 27, and none of these deals require a coupon code in order to see the final sale prices.
$10 OFFSmartTrack Card for $19.99Jackery
Finally, Jackery has a large collection of discounts on its best portable power stations on Amazon this week, starting at $199.99 for the Explorer 100 Plus Power Station, down from $229.00. Most of these deals require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final deal price at checkout.
Explorer 100 Plus Power Station with Solar Panel – $199.99 with on-page coupon, down from $229.00
Solar Generator 240 with Mini Solar Panel – $269.00 with on-page coupon, down from $349.00
Explorer 1000 Power Station (version 2) – $629.00 with on-page coupon, down from $799.00
Explorer 2000 Pro Power Station – $1,499.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00
Explorer 3000 Pro Power Station – $2,499.00, down from $2,799.00 Keep up with all of this week’s best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, “Amazon’s New Accessory Sale Includes Deals on AirTag, Eufy SmartTrack, and Jackery Power Stations” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Today we’re tracking a big collection of discounts on Bluetooth trackers and portable power stations, including Apple’s own AirTag, Anker’s more affordable brand of Eufy SmartTrack accessories, and power stations from Jackery. All of these deals can be found on Amazon.
AirTag
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Starting with the AirTag, you can get the 1 Pack for $24.99 and the 4 Pack of trackers for $79.99 on Amazon, down from $99.00. These are both solid second-best prices on the AirTag.
Eufy
Anyone who needs a Bluetooth tracker but wants to save a bit of money should look at Anker’s Eufy brand of trackers, which are on sale on Amazon right now and compatible with Find My on Apple devices. These start at just $15.99 for one tracker and raise to $48.99 for a 4 Pack.
If you want a tracker that you can fit in a wallet, Eufy’s SmartTrack Card is a great solution at $19.99, down from $29.99. Most of Eufy’s trackers can be delivered between August 22 and August 27, and none of these deals require a coupon code in order to see the final sale prices.
Jackery
Finally, Jackery has a large collection of discounts on its best portable power stations on Amazon this week, starting at $199.99 for the Explorer 100 Plus Power Station, down from $229.00. Most of these deals require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final deal price at checkout.
Explorer 100 Plus Power Station with Solar Panel – $199.99 with on-page coupon, down from $229.00
Solar Generator 240 with Mini Solar Panel – $269.00 with on-page coupon, down from $349.00
Explorer 1000 Power Station (version 2) – $629.00 with on-page coupon, down from $799.00
Explorer 2000 Pro Power Station – $1,499.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00
Explorer 3000 Pro Power Station – $2,499.00, down from $2,799.00 Keep up with all of this week’s best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
This article, “Amazon’s New Accessory Sale Includes Deals on AirTag, Eufy SmartTrack, and Jackery Power Stations” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums