Month: August 2024
OpenAI and Anthropic agree to share their models with the US AI Safety Institute
OpenAI and Anthropic have agreed to share AI models — before and after release — with the US AI Safety Institute. The agency, established through an executive order by President Biden in 2023, will offer safety feedback to the companies to improve their models. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted at the agreement earlier this month.
“Safety is essential to fueling breakthrough technological innovation. With these agreements in place, we look forward to beginning our technical collaborations with Anthropic and OpenAI to advance the science of AI safety,” Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US AI Safety Institute, wrote in a statement. “These agreements are just the start, but they are an important milestone as we work to help responsibly steward the future of AI.”
The US AI Safety Institute is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It creates and publishes guidelines, benchmark tests and best practices for testing and evaluating potentially dangerous AI systems. “Just as AI has the potential to do profound good, it also has the potential to cause profound harm, from AI-enabled cyber-attacks at a scale beyond anything we have seen before to AI-formulated bioweapons that could endanger the lives of millions,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in late 2023 after the agency was established.
The first-of-its-kind agreement is through a (formal but non-binding) Memorandum of Understanding. The agency will receive access to each company’s “major new models” ahead of and following their public release. The agency describes the agreements as collaborative, risk-mitigating research that will evaluate capabilities and safety. The US AI Safety Institute will also collaborate with the UK AI Safety Institute.
The US AI Safety Institute didn’t mention other companies tackling AI. Engadget emailed Google, which began rolling out updated chatbot and image generator models this week, for a comment on its omission. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
It comes as federal and state regulators try to establish AI guardrails while the rapidly advancing technology is still nascent. On Wednesday, the California state assembly approved an AI safety bill (SB 10147) that mandates safety testing for AI models that cost more than $100 million to develop or require a set amount of computing power. The bill requires AI companies to have kill switches that can shut down the models if they become “unwieldy or uncontrollable.”
Unlike the non-binding agreement with the federal government, the California bill would have some teeth for enforcement. It gives the state’s attorney general license to sue if AI developers don’t comply, especially during threat-level events. However, it still requires one more process vote — and the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom, who will have until September 30 to decide whether to give it the green light.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-and-anthropic-agree-to-share-their-models-with-the-us-ai-safety-institute-191440093.html?src=rss
OpenAI and Anthropic have agreed to share AI models — before and after release — with the US AI Safety Institute. The agency, established through an executive order by President Biden in 2023, will offer safety feedback to the companies to improve their models. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted at the agreement earlier this month.
“Safety is essential to fueling breakthrough technological innovation. With these agreements in place, we look forward to beginning our technical collaborations with Anthropic and OpenAI to advance the science of AI safety,” Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US AI Safety Institute, wrote in a statement. “These agreements are just the start, but they are an important milestone as we work to help responsibly steward the future of AI.”
The US AI Safety Institute is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It creates and publishes guidelines, benchmark tests and best practices for testing and evaluating potentially dangerous AI systems. “Just as AI has the potential to do profound good, it also has the potential to cause profound harm, from AI-enabled cyber-attacks at a scale beyond anything we have seen before to AI-formulated bioweapons that could endanger the lives of millions,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in late 2023 after the agency was established.
The first-of-its-kind agreement is through a (formal but non-binding) Memorandum of Understanding. The agency will receive access to each company’s “major new models” ahead of and following their public release. The agency describes the agreements as collaborative, risk-mitigating research that will evaluate capabilities and safety. The US AI Safety Institute will also collaborate with the UK AI Safety Institute.
The US AI Safety Institute didn’t mention other companies tackling AI. Engadget emailed Google, which began rolling out updated chatbot and image generator models this week, for a comment on its omission. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
It comes as federal and state regulators try to establish AI guardrails while the rapidly advancing technology is still nascent. On Wednesday, the California state assembly approved an AI safety bill (SB 10147) that mandates safety testing for AI models that cost more than $100 million to develop or require a set amount of computing power. The bill requires AI companies to have kill switches that can shut down the models if they become “unwieldy or uncontrollable.”
Unlike the non-binding agreement with the federal government, the California bill would have some teeth for enforcement. It gives the state’s attorney general license to sue if AI developers don’t comply, especially during threat-level events. However, it still requires one more process vote — and the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom, who will have until September 30 to decide whether to give it the green light.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-and-anthropic-agree-to-share-their-models-with-the-us-ai-safety-institute-191440093.html?src=rss
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The best Playdate games for 2024
Owning a Playdate comes with the perk of already having access to 24 games at no additional cost from the bundled-in Season One — and some pretty good ones to boot. But there are a ton of great games outside the Season One offerings too, for when you’ve finished the whole batch or, for newer players, while you’re waiting for new games between the weekly drops. Here, I’ll highlight some of the best games I’ve played so far from the Playdate Catalog. It’ll mainly be split two ways: games that use the crank and games that don’t. There are also a couple of titles that aren’t quite games, but are worth checking out all the same.
Games that use the crank
Games that don’t use the crank
Comics, visual novels and more
Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.html?src=rss
Owning a Playdate comes with the perk of already having access to 24 games at no additional cost from the bundled-in Season One — and some pretty good ones to boot. But there are a ton of great games outside the Season One offerings too, for when you’ve finished the whole batch or, for newer players, while you’re waiting for new games between the weekly drops. Here, I’ll highlight some of the best games I’ve played so far from the Playdate Catalog. It’ll mainly be split two ways: games that use the crank and games that don’t. There are also a couple of titles that aren’t quite games, but are worth checking out all the same.
Games that use the crank
Games that don’t use the crank
Comics, visual novels and more
Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.html?src=rss
Apple has a smart new idea for iPhone cases – built-in capacitive buttons and Touch ID
A new Apple patent suggests the company is working on an iPhone case with capacitive buttons.
For many iPhone users (myself included), a protective case is an absolute necessity. We’re just too clumsy to subject our phones to the whims of nature, and without a case our devices would be smashed up and wrecked long ago. Yet having a case enveloping your iPhone can at times be a hassle, with ill-fitting button cutouts and limited features compared to a ‘naked’ phone.
Well, it looks like Apple is working on fixing that problem, at least if a new patent application is to be believed. The freshly-published patent describes a special iPhone case that could allow for a range of extra features, such as Touch ID and a sliding gesture with a mysterious, as-yet-unknown use.
Right now, iPhone cases are mostly pretty simple, but Apple says they can have their own problems. If a case doesn’t fit too well, for example, you might get a small air gap between the case’s side buttons and the corresponding buttons on your phone, which reduces the tactility you get when pressing those buttons.
Apple’s patent suggests that a phone or a case could take measures to reduce the air gap, but that brings up its own issues: particularly sensitive buttons might get accidentally triggered if there is no space between the case and the phone, which could have all sorts of annoying consequences.
The patent (above) suggests capacitive buttons could be built into the iPhone case itself, alongside support for features like Touch ID (Image credit: USPTO / Apple)
So how do you fix this problem? Well, the patent contains some interesting nuggets on this subject. One possible solution is to build capacitive buttons into the case itself. This would allow for some new interactions – for instance, a smooth capacitive panel would let you slide your finger up and down on it, potentially using it to adjust your phone’s volume or screen brightness.
Preparing for the iPhone 16?
(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
This could also have a bearing on the iPhone 16, which is set to launch at Apple’s September 9 iPhone event. The iPhone 16 range is rumored to launch with capacitive buttons that don’t actually move when you press them.
They essentially work by detecting the presence of your finger, then tapping it lightly using a haptic engine. The problem? The iPhone might not be able to detect your finger if the device is obscured by a case. Yet if Apple can build a case with built-in capacitive sensors, you wouldn’t have to sacrifice protection in order to simply use your iPhone’s buttons.
Elsewhere, the patent suggests that capacitive case buttons could contain fingerprint readers, thus making them compatible with Apple’s Touch ID tech for logging in and verifying purchases. While Apple is phasing out Touch ID in favor of Face ID on its phones, some iPads still use Touch ID, which is where this case tech might end up being deployed.
That said, we don’t know if these ideas will ever come to fruition. They’re just patents, after all, and Apple often explores ideas that never actually go anywhere. Still, the patent shows that Apple is at least considering this concept, so keep your eyes peeled to see if it becomes a reality any time soon.
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These Are Apple’s Oldest Products Still Sold Today
For over two decades, the MacRumors Buyer’s Guide has served as a valuable resource for keeping track of when Apple products were last updated.
Below, we have highlighted five current-generation Apple products that have not received hardware upgrades in several years. We also provide some purchasing recommendations based on both rumors and our own opinions.
This list excludes previous-generation Apple products still sold, such as the iPhone 13, along with various accessories and cables.
Pro Display XDR
Apple released the Pro Display XDR in December 2019, so it will be five years old later this year. The high-end monitor starts at $4,999 and features a 32-inch screen size with 6K resolution, but it lacks a built-in camera and speakers.
In December 2022, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors, including an updated version of the Pro Display XDR that will be equipped with an Apple silicon chip, just like the Studio Display with the A13 chip. However, it’s unclear when the new Pro Display XDR will be released or what other new features it will have.
Age: 4 years and 8 months
Recommendation: Given how expensive the Pro Display XDR is, it is worth waiting for the next model at this point. Also consider the Studio Display, which is over two years newer, more affordable, and has a built-in camera and speakers.
HomePod mini
Released in November 2020, the HomePod mini is also nearly four years old. The smaller Siri-enabled smart speaker has not received any hardware updates since launching, although it did get Blue, Orange, and Yellow color options in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish a few months ago.
In February 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass shipments of a second-generation HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024, but it is unclear if that info is still accurate, as there have not been any recent HomePod mini rumors.
Age: 3 years and 9 months
Recommendation: Given there was a rumor that a new HomePod mini might be released later this year, it might be best to hold off for three to four more months to see if that happens. However, given the HomePod mini is a modest $99, there is not too much harm in purchasing one now if you don’t want to wait.
AirPods Max
Released in December 2020, the AirPods Max will turn four years old later this year. Apple’s over-ear headphones have not received any hardware updates since, and remain priced at $549 on Apple’s online store, with five color options available.
Age: 3 years and 8 months
Recommendation: We recommend waiting for the AirPods Max with a USB-C port to launch later this year, but the headphones will still more or less be four years old beyond that change, so you may wish to consider newer competing options, such as the Sony XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Sonos Ace. Amazon does have the AirPods Max on sale for $399 if you are interested in purchasing them now at a discount.
iPad mini
Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.
In November 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the next iPad mini would begin in the second half of 2024. More recently, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said inventory of the current iPad mini was starting to dwindle at Apple Stores, which could be a sign that the device will be updated in the near future.
Rumored features for the next iPad mini include a newer chip, upgraded cameras, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, new color options, and a fix for the so-called “jelly scrolling” effect on the current model’s display.
Age: 2 years and 11 months
Recommendation: At this point, we suggest waiting for the new iPad mini that is rumored to launch later this year.
AirPods 3
Released in October 2021, the third-generation AirPods are nearly three years old.
Two new fourth-generation AirPods models are expected to be unveiled at Apple’s special event on September 9, with both options rumored to feature a tweaked design with better fit in the ear, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. The higher-end AirPods 4 are also said to feature active noise cancellation, and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking.
Age: 2 years and 10 months
Recommendation: Do not buy! Apple is expected to announce the fourth-generation AirPods in less than two weeks.This article, “These Are Apple’s Oldest Products Still Sold Today” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
For over two decades, the MacRumors Buyer’s Guide has served as a valuable resource for keeping track of when Apple products were last updated.
Below, we have highlighted five current-generation Apple products that have not received hardware upgrades in several years. We also provide some purchasing recommendations based on both rumors and our own opinions.
This list excludes previous-generation Apple products still sold, such as the iPhone 13, along with various accessories and cables.
Pro Display XDR
Apple released the Pro Display XDR in December 2019, so it will be five years old later this year. The high-end monitor starts at $4,999 and features a 32-inch screen size with 6K resolution, but it lacks a built-in camera and speakers.
In December 2022, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors, including an updated version of the Pro Display XDR that will be equipped with an Apple silicon chip, just like the Studio Display with the A13 chip. However, it’s unclear when the new Pro Display XDR will be released or what other new features it will have.
Age: 4 years and 8 months
Recommendation: Given how expensive the Pro Display XDR is, it is worth waiting for the next model at this point. Also consider the Studio Display, which is over two years newer, more affordable, and has a built-in camera and speakers.
HomePod mini
Released in November 2020, the HomePod mini is also nearly four years old. The smaller Siri-enabled smart speaker has not received any hardware updates since launching, although it did get Blue, Orange, and Yellow color options in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish a few months ago.
In February 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass shipments of a second-generation HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024, but it is unclear if that info is still accurate, as there have not been any recent HomePod mini rumors.
Age: 3 years and 9 months
Recommendation: Given there was a rumor that a new HomePod mini might be released later this year, it might be best to hold off for three to four more months to see if that happens. However, given the HomePod mini is a modest $99, there is not too much harm in purchasing one now if you don’t want to wait.
AirPods Max
Released in December 2020, the AirPods Max will turn four years old later this year. Apple’s over-ear headphones have not received any hardware updates since, and remain priced at $549 on Apple’s online store, with five color options available.
Age: 3 years and 8 months
Recommendation: We recommend waiting for the AirPods Max with a USB-C port to launch later this year, but the headphones will still more or less be four years old beyond that change, so you may wish to consider newer competing options, such as the Sony XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Sonos Ace. Amazon does have the AirPods Max on sale for $399 if you are interested in purchasing them now at a discount.
iPad mini
Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.
In November 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the next iPad mini would begin in the second half of 2024. More recently, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said inventory of the current iPad mini was starting to dwindle at Apple Stores, which could be a sign that the device will be updated in the near future.
Rumored features for the next iPad mini include a newer chip, upgraded cameras, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, new color options, and a fix for the so-called “jelly scrolling” effect on the current model’s display.
Age: 2 years and 11 months
Recommendation: At this point, we suggest waiting for the new iPad mini that is rumored to launch later this year.
AirPods 3
Released in October 2021, the third-generation AirPods are nearly three years old.
Two new fourth-generation AirPods models are expected to be unveiled at Apple’s special event on September 9, with both options rumored to feature a tweaked design with better fit in the ear, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. The higher-end AirPods 4 are also said to feature active noise cancellation, and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking.
Age: 2 years and 10 months
Recommendation: Do not buy! Apple is expected to announce the fourth-generation AirPods in less than two weeks.
This article, “These Are Apple’s Oldest Products Still Sold Today” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Update Windows now, there are some worrying security hacks on the way
Researchers uncover PoC for a critical severity Windows OS flaw impacting Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.
If you haven’t installed the security patches for Windows in the latest Patch Tuesday cumulative update, you should probably hurry, as experts have released a proof-of-concept (PoC) for a critical severity flaw allowing crooks to mount remote code execution (RCE) attacks.
The vulnerability in question, which was addressed in the latest update, released on August 13, is tracked as CVE-2024-38063, and has a severity score of 9.8 (critical).
It is described as a Windows TCP/IP RCE flaw, in which an unauthenticated user could spam specially crafted IPv6 packets until they discover a vulnerable endpoint.
Patching the flaw
The only workaround is to disable IPv6 and just use IPv4 which, as you might imagine, isn’t ideal for many users. At the time the bug was discovered, Microsoft said that Windows 10, 11, and Server versions were vulnerable, but that no one abused it yet. Still, given the severity of the flaw and the ease at which it might be exploited, Microsoft said it was “more likely” that it would start happening sooner or later. Now we know it was sooner, rather than later.
A white-hat hacker alias Ynwarcs released a PoC, saying “the easiest way to reproduce the vuln is by using bcdedit /set debug on on the target system and restarting the machine/VM”.
“This makes the default network adapter driver kdnic.sys, which is very happy to coalesce packets. If you’re trying to reproduce the vuln on a different setup, you’ll need to get the system in a position where it will coalesce the packets you sent.”
Stalling with patches (or outright ignoring them) is one of the bigger causes of many cyberattacks and data breaches. Sometimes it’s justified, as patches were known to break entire systems and cause havoc (just remember the snafu from the faulty CrowdStrike update recently). In this case, since the patch was not reported to be causing any major issues, installing it is very much advised.
Via The Register
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This TikTok lawsuit could change the face of social media forever and it’s about time
TikTok faces a watershed lawsuit that could define the future of Section 230 and of all other social media platforms.
Social Media and its Section 230 protection may have met its Waterloo. For most of the two-plus decades we’ve been using social media like X (nee Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others, they’ve operated under protections designed 25 years ago primarily to shield platforms like Compuserve and AOL.
Those protections, which are part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, said that online computer services couldn’t be held liable for content posted on their platforms by third parties. These services were like dumb, vast warehouses with shelves of information placed there by others. A warehouse doesn’t create what’s inside, it just accepts the content and gives consumers access.
This was back in the days of AOL, which controlled the pages you saw using keywords, a rough organizing principle for such a vast amount of information. In some ways, early platforms like Prodigy, CompuServe, and AOL were just one pretty interface removed from the Bulletin Board Systems that preceded them.
Modern digital services, mainly social media, have one major difference: they no longer passively wait for you to discover content and make connections on your own. Everything is tailored based on custom algorithms. TikTok’s vaunted For Your Page, X’s For You page, Threads’ For You Feed, Facebook’s feed, Instagram’s recommendations – all of them are driven by algorithms that learn your habits and then deliver other people’s content based on those assumed interests.
AOL wanted people to sign up and stay on, but it mostly kept its numbers up by managing churn. Almost as many people stopped paying for and using the service as signed up each month. That’s why we all got so many disks and CDs in the mail, begging us to join.
Algorithms in control
These days, the platforms are mostly free. Ads and partner deals pay the bills, so it’s crucial that eyeballs remain glued to each service. Hence, the algorithms that do the dirty work of keeping us all engaged.
While AOL, CompuServe, and even ISPs could fairly claim that they had no control over the content we saw online, and that the responsibility still fell on the shoulders of the content originators, the algorithms make the picture far murkier for modern social media, and perhaps even search engines like Google.
Section 230 has been under attack for years. I used to believe that it fairly protected all online services. When you look for someone to blame for seeing unwanted violent, hateful, perverse, or even pornographic content in your feed, the ultimate responsibility lies with the creator of that content and not the host.
I don’t believe that anymore and, as far as I can tell, it looks like US courts could soon make a precedent on this point in a closely watched case.
Precedent could be set
In 2021, a 10-year-old girl, Nylah Andreson, found a viral meme in her TikTok feed. The video promoted something called “The Blackout Challenge.” Social media is full of these viral challenges and the vast majority of them are harmless.
This one was not. It promoted choking yourself until you black out.
Tragically, Nylah, according to the filing, died while attempting the challenge and her family has been suing TikTok ever since. While the lower courts dismissed the case, a US Court of Appeals ruled that Nylah’s family could sue TikTok and specifically pointed to the TikTok algorithm as not being protected by the Federal-level Section 230.
From the ruling:
“TikTok makes choices about the content recommended and promoted to specific users, and by doing so, is engaged in its own first-party speech.”
While no one person at TikTok curates content for anyone’s feed, it is fair to call the algorithm the arbiter, and the algorithm is programmed by TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance (the company is currently being told to sell itself to US entities or face a ban in the States).
The Andreson case will continue and if Nylah’s family wins its suit against TikTok, it could mean a rapid end of protections for all social media currently using algorithms to shape our feeds. If TikTok loses, the social media companies could be held liable the next time you see hate speech, violent imagery, pornography, or suggestions of dangerous actions.
In a separate interview, Nylah’s family said they wanted these Big Tech firms to be held accountable for the algorithms and to do more to protect their users.
The winds of change
Whatever the final result, any platform that programs an algorithm to analyze your interests, then caters content based on that analysis, has a responsibility to ensure that its algorithm can’t deliver dangerous content.
In my own social media use, especially on TikTok, I’ve marveled at the algorithm’s power and flexibility. It will endlessly fill my For Your Page, keeping me hooked for hours at a time. It does allow for personal curation, which mostly happens by searching for things of interest.
When I stumble on something I like, I pay extra attention to it. I watch it more than once, pause the video, like it, share it, and then watch a few more videos in the same vein. If I do this a few times, I can shape my FYP feed so that I see more videos about people refurbishing old gadgets or making pasta.
However, these feeds have a needy side. They always throw in a “you might also like” topic that’s been popular with others. They’re trying to prevent you from losing interest in your feed and the platform.
That’s how, I believe, most people end up seeing things like violence and dangerous memes. You need to show the feed how much you dislike that content, then you can weed it out – assuming the algorithm allows it.
TikTok will fight this case, as other social media platforms have, but I think the tide has turned and a loss is possible. If that happens, TikTok, X, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms may be forced to trash and recast all of their algorithms to ensure they don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Otherwise they could end up buried under costly lawsuits – which they might lose again – until the platforms succumb and disappear forever.
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The Nintendo Switch is receiving a rare $30 discount
The Nintendo Switch is still a good handheld, even if the Steam Deck and more powerful options exist. | Photo by James Bareham / The Verge
Nintendo recently confirmed it’ll announce a next-gen Nintendo Switch next year, but beyond that, the company hasn’t revealed much about the forthcoming console (including how much it will go for). If you’d rather not wait and see, the standard Nintendo Switch is currently receiving a rare discount at Amazon, where you can buy it with blue and red Joy-Con controllers for $267 ($33 off).
If you like to game on the go, the base Switch remains an excellent handheld, one that can last up to six hours on a single charge. It’s still limited to 32GB of built-in storage — unlike the larger, seven-inch Switch OLED — but its built-in microSD card slot means you can always invest in more external storage. That’ll come in handy because the Nintendo eShop is home to a vast library of both first- and third-party titles, particularly in its swan-song era, with many exciting games in the pipeline. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership are both launching in the fall, for example, along with Super Mario Party Jamboree, a remastered MySims, and much more.
Granted, the Switch 2 is rumored to feature an eight-inch screen, but the standard model’s 6.2-inch display is still spacious enough in most instances. Besides, if you crave more screen real estate, you can always play it on your TV while in docked mode, unlike the Switch Lite.
Read our original Nintendo Switch review.
If you’re looking for a piece of home decor to spruce up your home or office, few gadgets are as unique as Samsung’s new Music Frame. And right now, the capable speaker is down to a new low of around $297.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy.
Samsung’s unique gadget looks like a traditional 12.9 x 12.9-inch picture frame — it even offers room in the front so you can add a physical photograph or art print (though you’ll only be able to use an 8 x 8-inch picture if you use the provided matte). You can hang the speaker on your wall or rest it on the included stand and even customize it with an optional white bezel ($59.99).
But what’s really neat is that the Music Frame also functions as a wired Bluetooth / Wi-Fi speaker, which is one of the reasons the gadget was one of our favorite audio products from CES 2024. It’s not going to sound as immersive as a high-end soundbar or a speaker with up-firing drivers like the Sonos Era 300, but it supports Dolby Atmos and can pair with select Samsung TVs or soundbars for surround sound. The art-inspired speaker is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby, allowing you to control it with just your voice.
A few more deals and discounts
You can currently pick up the wired Keychron C3 Pro at Amazon with either linear red or tactile brown switches for $24.99 ($25 off), which is a new low. The sturdy, tenkeyless mechanical keyboard features a basic design (sorry, not hot-swappable switches), but it does offer a few impressive features for the price, including red backlighting and the ability to toggle between Windows and macOS. Plus, you can also easily remap the keys using the ultra-sleek VIA app, thanks to the keyboard’s support for QMK firmware.
Solo Stove is discounting various fire pits as a part of its Labor Day sale through September 3rd. Right now, for instance, you can buy the Ranger Essential Bundle 2.0 for $254.99 ($70 off) when you apply promo code LABORDAY at checkout, which is one of the better prices we’ve seen. The smokeless, 15-inch fire pit comes with a handful of useful accessories, too, including a removable ashtray and a stand to protect the surface it’s sitting on. Solo Stove is also throwing in a carrying case, making it even more portable.
Star Wars Outlaws launches tomorrow, August 30th, but Best Buy is still offering a $10 gift card when you preorder the PS5 / Xbox game for $69.99 ahead of launch. Amazon and GameStop, meanwhile, are throwing in free in-game cosmetics with each preorder, which are typically reserved for the Ultimate Edition. My colleague Andrew Webster called the game an “incredible Star Wars simulator” in his review. It doesn’t offer the most innovative gameplay, but it’s an enjoyable title with impressive visuals and storylines that make you feel like you’re in a Star Wars movie.
The Nintendo Switch is still a good handheld, even if the Steam Deck and more powerful options exist. | Photo by James Bareham / The Verge
Nintendo recently confirmed it’ll announce a next-gen Nintendo Switch next year, but beyond that, the company hasn’t revealed much about the forthcoming console (including how much it will go for). If you’d rather not wait and see, the standard Nintendo Switch is currently receiving a rare discount at Amazon, where you can buy it with blue and red Joy-Con controllers for $267 ($33 off).
If you like to game on the go, the base Switch remains an excellent handheld, one that can last up to six hours on a single charge. It’s still limited to 32GB of built-in storage — unlike the larger, seven-inch Switch OLED — but its built-in microSD card slot means you can always invest in more external storage. That’ll come in handy because the Nintendo eShop is home to a vast library of both first- and third-party titles, particularly in its swan-song era, with many exciting games in the pipeline. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership are both launching in the fall, for example, along with Super Mario Party Jamboree, a remastered MySims, and much more.
Granted, the Switch 2 is rumored to feature an eight-inch screen, but the standard model’s 6.2-inch display is still spacious enough in most instances. Besides, if you crave more screen real estate, you can always play it on your TV while in docked mode, unlike the Switch Lite.
Read our original Nintendo Switch review.
If you’re looking for a piece of home decor to spruce up your home or office, few gadgets are as unique as Samsung’s new Music Frame. And right now, the capable speaker is down to a new low of around $297.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy.
Samsung’s unique gadget looks like a traditional 12.9 x 12.9-inch picture frame — it even offers room in the front so you can add a physical photograph or art print (though you’ll only be able to use an 8 x 8-inch picture if you use the provided matte). You can hang the speaker on your wall or rest it on the included stand and even customize it with an optional white bezel ($59.99).
But what’s really neat is that the Music Frame also functions as a wired Bluetooth / Wi-Fi speaker, which is one of the reasons the gadget was one of our favorite audio products from CES 2024. It’s not going to sound as immersive as a high-end soundbar or a speaker with up-firing drivers like the Sonos Era 300, but it supports Dolby Atmos and can pair with select Samsung TVs or soundbars for surround sound. The art-inspired speaker is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby, allowing you to control it with just your voice.
A few more deals and discounts
You can currently pick up the wired Keychron C3 Pro at Amazon with either linear red or tactile brown switches for $24.99 ($25 off), which is a new low. The sturdy, tenkeyless mechanical keyboard features a basic design (sorry, not hot-swappable switches), but it does offer a few impressive features for the price, including red backlighting and the ability to toggle between Windows and macOS. Plus, you can also easily remap the keys using the ultra-sleek VIA app, thanks to the keyboard’s support for QMK firmware.
Solo Stove is discounting various fire pits as a part of its Labor Day sale through September 3rd. Right now, for instance, you can buy the Ranger Essential Bundle 2.0 for $254.99 ($70 off) when you apply promo code LABORDAY at checkout, which is one of the better prices we’ve seen. The smokeless, 15-inch fire pit comes with a handful of useful accessories, too, including a removable ashtray and a stand to protect the surface it’s sitting on. Solo Stove is also throwing in a carrying case, making it even more portable.
Star Wars Outlaws launches tomorrow, August 30th, but Best Buy is still offering a $10 gift card when you preorder the PS5 / Xbox game for $69.99 ahead of launch. Amazon and GameStop, meanwhile, are throwing in free in-game cosmetics with each preorder, which are typically reserved for the Ultimate Edition. My colleague Andrew Webster called the game an “incredible Star Wars simulator” in his review. It doesn’t offer the most innovative gameplay, but it’s an enjoyable title with impressive visuals and storylines that make you feel like you’re in a Star Wars movie.
Apple Is in Talks To Invest in OpenAI, WSJ Says
Apple is in talks to invest in OpenAI, a move that would cement ties to a partner integral to its efforts to gain ground in the artificial-intelligence race. WSJ: The investment would be part of a new OpenAI fundraising round that would value the ChatGPT maker above $100 billion, people familiar with the situation said. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that venture-capital firm Thrive Capital is leading the round, which will total several billion dollars, and Apple rival Microsoft is also expected to participate.
It couldn’t be learned how much Apple or Microsoft will invest into OpenAI this round. To date, Microsoft has been the primary strategic investor into OpenAI. It owns a 49% share of the AI startup’s profits after investing $13 billion since 2019. Apple in June announced OpenAI as the first official partner for Apple Intelligence, its system for infusing AI features throughout its operating system. The new AI will feature an improved Siri voice assistant, text proofreading and creating custom emojis.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Apple is in talks to invest in OpenAI, a move that would cement ties to a partner integral to its efforts to gain ground in the artificial-intelligence race. WSJ: The investment would be part of a new OpenAI fundraising round that would value the ChatGPT maker above $100 billion, people familiar with the situation said. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that venture-capital firm Thrive Capital is leading the round, which will total several billion dollars, and Apple rival Microsoft is also expected to participate.
It couldn’t be learned how much Apple or Microsoft will invest into OpenAI this round. To date, Microsoft has been the primary strategic investor into OpenAI. It owns a 49% share of the AI startup’s profits after investing $13 billion since 2019. Apple in June announced OpenAI as the first official partner for Apple Intelligence, its system for infusing AI features throughout its operating system. The new AI will feature an improved Siri voice assistant, text proofreading and creating custom emojis.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.