ICT news

• Microsoft's DirectStorage 1.1 Arrives To Boost PC Game Load Times With GPU Decompression

  09-11-2022 23:30 via games.slashdot.org
  Microsoft is releasing DirectStorage 1.1 this week, and the biggest new addition is GPU decompression for Windows PC games. The Verge reports: GPU decompression works by offloading the work needed to decompress assets in games to the graphics card instead of the CPU. Right now, game assets are typically compressed when they are packaged up for distribution and then decompressed once a game is played. The problem is most compression techniques are designed for CPUs, which aren't great for modern
  
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• IBM Unveils Its 433 Qubit Osprey Quantum Computer

  09-11-2022 22:50 via tech.slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: IBM wants to scale up its quantum computers to over 4,000 qubits by 2025 -- but we're not quite there yet. For now, we have to make do with significantly smaller systems and today, IBM announced the launch of its Osprey quantum processor, which features 433 qubits, up from the 127 qubits of its 2021 Eagle processor. And with that, the slow but steady march toward a quantum processor with real-world applications continues.IBM's quantum roadmap
  
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• Microsoft 'Irreparably Damaging' EU's Cloud Ecosystem, Industry Group Claims

  09-11-2022 22:10 via slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader shares an ArsTechnica report: This fall, Microsoft claimed to have addressed anticompetitive cloud infrastructure complaints from a few smaller cloud services providers in Europe. In a blog, the company announced it would be partnering with small to mid-sized cloud providers to give Microsoft customers more options for non-Microsoft cloud infrastructure. Notably, these Microsoft licensing changes excluded its biggest cloud competitors, Google and Amazon, from participating as
  
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• Antitrust Lawsuit Says Apple and Amazon Colluded To Raise iPhone, iPad Prices

  09-11-2022 21:30 via yro.slashdot.org
  A new antitrust class-action lawsuit accuses Apple and Amazon of colluding to raise the price of iPhones and iPads, according to Hagens Berman, the law firm representing consumers against two of the world's largest companies in today's filing. From a report: The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington accuses Apple and Amazon of seeking to eliminate third-party Apple resellers on Amazon Marketplace in a scheme to stifle competition, and maintain premium p
  
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• Sea Turtle Sanctuary Has Survived 40 Years. Climate Change May Kill It.

  09-11-2022 20:50 via news.slashdot.org
  Against long odds and initially strong opposition, a pristine marine preserve in the Philippines has thrived for decades under the care of local fishermen. Warming waters threaten the achievement. From a report: The large green sea turtles used to be terrified of humans, scuttling away as fast as they could. "When the turtles saw people, it was like they saw a ghost," said Mario Pascobello, a resident of Apo Island in the Philippines. "In the old days, they were being slaughtered here," he added
  
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• Google is Bringing Its VPN To Mac and Windows PCs

  09-11-2022 20:14 via yro.slashdot.org
  Google is bringing its VPN access to desktop today. Google One subscribers on Premium plans (2TB or higher) can now download VPN apps for Windows and macOS, allowing users in 22 countries to mask their IPs on desktop and reduce online trackers. From a report: While Google is expanding its VPN service, it still comes with the same restrictions as Android and iOS. You'll only be able to use the service in one of the supported countries, and you won't be able to use Google's VPN freely to avoid geo
  
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• IBM Held Talks With Biden Administration on Quantum Controls

  09-11-2022 19:30 via slashdot.org
  IBM has engaged in talks with the Biden administration on potential export controls for quantum computers as the company continues investing in the emerging technology. From a report: IBM recommended that any regulations, if developed, cover potentially problematic uses of quantum computing rather than limiting the technology based simply on processing power, said Dario Gil, head of IBM Research. Quantum technology will likely be subject to constraints like export controls, Gil said. "We will co
  
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• Gmail Will No Longer Allow Users To Revert Back To Its Old Design

  09-11-2022 18:50 via it.slashdot.org
  Google has announced that it's making the new Gmail interface the standard experience for users. From a report: The company first released the new interface earlier this year but allowed users to revert back to the original view. Starting this month, users will no longer have the option to go back to the old interface. "The integrated view with Gmail, Chat, Spaces, and Meet on the left side of the window will also become standard for users who have turned on Chat," the company said in a blog pos
  
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• In France, All Large Parking Lots Now Have To Be Covered By Solar Panels

  09-11-2022 18:10 via news.slashdot.org
  AmiMoJo writes: In France, solar just got a huge boost from new legislation approved through the Senate this week that requires all parking lots with spaces for at least 80 vehicles -- both existing and new -- be covered by solar panels. The new provisions are part of French president Emmanuel Macron's large-scale plan to heavily invest in renewables, which aims to multiply by 10 the amount of solar energy produced in the country, and to double the power from land-based wind farms. Starting July
  
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• Microsoft Releases November 2022 Security Updates

  09-11-2022 17:37 via us-cert.cisa.gov
  Original release date: November 9, 2022
  Microsoft has released updates to address multiple vulnerabilities in Microsoft software. An attacker can exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.CISA encourages users and administrators to review Microsoft’s November 2022 Security Update Guide and Deployment Information and apply the necessary updates. This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.
  
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• US Probes FTX Empire Over Handling of Client Funds and Lending

  09-11-2022 17:21 via news.slashdot.org
  US financial regulators are investigating whether beleaguered crypto-exchange FTX.com properly handled customer funds, as well as its relationship with other parts of Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. From the report: The investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission relate to the liquidity crisis at the trading platform that led to a planned buyout of its non-US op
  
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• Binance Is Strongly Leaning Toward Scrapping FTX Rescue Takeover [UPDATE]

  09-11-2022 16:37 via tech.slashdot.org
  Ian Allison, reporting for CoinDesk: Cryptocurrency exchange giant Binance is highly unlikely to go through with its proposed acquisition of struggling rival FTX after less than a day of reviewing the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. Binance's non-binding letter of intent for the takeover -- announced Tuesday as FTX's financial position appeared to be spiraling out of control -- hinged on Binance performing due diligence. Roughly half a day into that process of reviewing
  
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• Binance Is Strongly Leaning Toward Scrapping FTX Rescue Takeover

  09-11-2022 16:37 via tech.slashdot.org
  Ian Allison, reporting for CoinDesk: Cryptocurrency exchange giant Binance is highly unlikely to go through with its proposed acquisition of struggling rival FTX after less than a day of reviewing the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. Binance's non-binding letter of intent for the takeover -- announced Tuesday as FTX's financial position appeared to be spiraling out of control -- hinged on Binance performing due diligence. Roughly half a day into that process of reviewing
  
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• Google is Quietly Working on a Wearable Device for Preteens

  09-11-2022 16:11 via tech.slashdot.org
  Google is developing a wearable device for preteens under its Fitbit group as it attempts to capture a growing demographic of younger users who own wearable tech, Insider reported this week, citing three employees familiar with the project. From the report: Internally code-named "Project Eleven," the wearable is designed to help older kids form healthy relationships with their phones and social media, two of the employees said. One of them said the device could include safety features that would
  
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• FIFA Hopes World Cup Fans Want To Buy Metaverse Merch

  09-11-2022 15:30 via news.slashdot.org
  In the real world, the construction of the World Cup infrastructure in Qatar has been marred by extreme temperatures and migrant worker deaths. In the metaverse, however, a digital replica of Lusail Stadium in Doha has none of that baggage -- and the virtual property can be raffled off as a prize for a lucky soccer fan. From a report: FIFA's virtual universe is part of the soccer organization's penchant for embracing the latest tech buzzword. In 2010, some matches were broadcast in 3-D. In 2018,
  
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• Meta Cuts 11,000 Jobs

  09-11-2022 12:36 via tech.slashdot.org
  Mark Zuckerberg, in a blog post: Today I'm sharing some of the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history. I've decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13% and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go. We are also taking a number of additional steps to become a leaner and more efficient company by cutting discretionary spending and extending our hiring freeze through Q1. I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here. I know this is tough for
  
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• Mexico To Raise Climate Emissions Target For First Time Since 2016

  09-11-2022 11:00 via news.slashdot.org
  Mexico will raise its target to unconditionally cut greenhouse gas emissions to 30% below usual levels by 2030 at this year's COP27 U.N. climate summit, its environment ministry said in a statement Tuesday, lifting its previous target of 22%. Latin America's second-biggest greenhouse gas emitter will also raise its target for conditional emission cuts -- a goal dependent on external support -- to 40% from 36%. Reuters reports: Last year, Mexico pledged to expand its climate goals after research
  
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• NASA Will Leave Its $4.1 Billion Rocket Outside As Nicole Approaches Florida

  09-11-2022 08:00 via science.slashdot.org
  As subtropical storm Nicole moved across the Atlantic Ocean toward Florida on Monday afternoon, NASA confirmed that its Artemis I mission would remain at the launch pad along the state's east coast. Ars Technica reports: The risks to these large and costly vehicles are non-zero, however, and appear to be rising as Nicole starts to strengthen. The space agency's primary concern from tropical systems is winds. Much of the rocket's structure is pretty robust, such as its tank-like solid rocket boos
  
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• Psychedelic Drug Research Held Back By UK Rules and Attitudes, Say Scientists

  09-11-2022 04:30 via science.slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Guardian: Draconian licensing rules and a lack of public funding are holding back the emerging field of psychedelic medicine in the UK, leading scientists have warned after the release of groundbreaking results on the use of psilocybin to treat depression. The latest clinical trial found that a single dose of the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, combined with psychotherapy, helped alleviate depression in nearly a third of patients with severe dep
  
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• Sam Bankman-Fried's Net Worth Fell 93% In 1 Day, Loses Billionaire Status

  09-11-2022 03:02 via news.slashdot.org
  The Bloomberg Terminal has updated its estimate of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried's net worth on Nov. 8 to $991 million, down from $16 billion the day before. CryptoSlate reports: The reduced estimate that takes away SBF's billionaire status comes as the native token of the FTX exchange, FTT, fell over 83% to a low of just $2.67 from a daily high of $20.47. A large percentage of SBF's wealth is tied to his business activities with both FTX and Alameda Research, meaning a reduction in the price of FTT
  
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• Disney+ Reaches 164.2 Million Subscribers, Prepares For Ad-Supported Tier Launch

  09-11-2022 02:25 via news.slashdot.org
  Lauren Forristal writes via TechCrunch: Disney reported (PDF) results for the final quarter of its 2022 fiscal year today, revealing a total of 164.2 million Disney+ global subscribers, an increase of 12 million subs from 152.1 million in Q3. The flagship streaming service was only expected to gain 9.35 million subs. Across Disney's streaming services, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ had a combined total of 235.7 million subscribers, up from 221 million in the third quarter. The company beat expectation
  
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• Now Wordle Has An Editor In Charge of Picking the Next Answer

  09-11-2022 01:45 via games.slashdot.org
  Wordle will now have its own dedicated editor to help make the hit guessing game word puzzles, The New York Times announced on Monday. The Verge reports: Tracy Bennett will be the editor, and the game will have a word list curated by the NYT and "be programmed and tested" like its crosswords and the Spelling Bee game. The changes appear to mean that the NYT will be lining up some of its own solutions instead of relying on the long list of answers you could find if you knew where to look. However
  
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• America's Slow-Moving, Confused Crypto Regulation Is Driving Industry Out of US

  09-11-2022 01:02 via yro.slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader quotes an excerpt from an Ars Technica article: In the United States, the lack of regulatory clarity threatens to slow down not just mainstream adoption of new technologies but also innovation in digital payment options, potentially cutting off consumers and businesses nationwide from sought-after conveniences, simply because regulators can't keep up with how digital assets are being used today. "There has to be some clarity that comes out, some standards, some ideas of the d
  
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• The Linux Kernel Has Been Forcing Different Behavior For Processes Starting With 'X'

  09-11-2022 00:20 via linux.slashdot.org
  "An ugly hack within the Linux kernel that has been in mainline for over three years has been called out," writes Phoronix's Michael Larabel. "Due to a buggy X.Org Server / xf86-video-modesetting DDX, the Linux kernel has been imposing different behavior on whether a process starts with 'X' and in turn disable the atomic mode-setting support." Linux security researcher and WireGuard creator, Jason Donenfeld, discovered the 'ugly code' within the kernel and commented on it via the kernel mailing
  
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