ICT news

• Target of European Space Debris Removal Mission Is Itself Hit by Space Debris

  22-08-2023 23:20 via science.slashdot.org
  
  A piece of space debris being monitored by the European Space Agency as part of a mission to remove trash from space was hit by another piece of debris, splintering the object into more pieces. From a report: ESA confirmed Tuesday that the US's 18th Space Defense Squadron, which tracks objects in orbit, spotted a number of new pieces in the vicinity of a payload adapter named VESPA that the agency had planned to pluck from space. The most likely cause of those new fragments is "the hypervelocity
  
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• Wastewater From Ruined Fukushima Nuclear Plant To Be Released From Thursday, Japan Says

  22-08-2023 22:40 via slashdot.org
  
  Japan is to begin releasing wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant from Thursday, in defiance of opposition from fishing communities, China and some scientists. From a report: The prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said on Tuesday he had asked the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), "to swiftly prepare for the water discharge" in accordance with plans approved by nuclear regulators, adding that the release would begin on Thursday, "weather and ocean conditions
  
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• Scientists Want To Fix Tooth Decay With Stem Cells

  22-08-2023 22:00 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Once tooth decay has set in, all a dentist can do is fill the gap with an artificial plug -- a filling. But in a paper published in Cell, Hannele Ruohola-Baker, a stem-cell biologist at the University of Washington, and her colleagues offer a possible alternative. Economist: Stem cells are those that have the capacity to turn themselves into any other type of cell in the body. It may soon be possible, the researchers argue, to use those protean cells to regrow a tooth's enamel naturally. The fir
  
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• VMware, Nvidia Target Businesses That Want Their Own AI

  22-08-2023 21:23 via slashdot.org
  
  VMware on Tuesday said it has developed a new set of software tools in partnership with Nvidia aimed at businesses which want to develop generative artificial intelligence in their own data centers rather than the cloud. From a report: VMware, which is close to being acquired by chip firm Broadcom in a $69 billion deal, makes software that corporations use to run their privately owned data centers. For more than two decades, VMware's tools have been used by businesses to divvy up the computing p
  
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• Amazon Launches a Fire TV Channels App With 400+ Free Ad-Supported TV Channels

  22-08-2023 20:41 via entertainment.slashdot.org
  
  Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Channels app, giving Fire TV customers access to over 400 free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels, including ABC News, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, MLB, Martha Stewart and more. From a report: Alongside the app launch, the company also announced new content providers, such as Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, GameSpot, Looper and Funny or Die, among others. Amazon will continue adding more FAST channels over time, the company wrote in the press
  
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• America's Farmers Are Bogged Down by Data

  22-08-2023 20:00 via news.slashdot.org
  
  A decade after data analytics promised to revolutionize agriculture, most farmers still aren't using data tools or specialized software, and of those who do, many are swamped in a deluge of data. From a report: In 2013, seed and pesticide giant Monsanto acquired agriculture-data firm Climate Corporation for $1 billion, helping spur the industry's mania for data-driven farming. The hope was that by outfitting farmers with software and tools capable of ingesting and analyzing troves of data on thi
  
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• ICANN Warns UN May Sideline Tech Community From Future Internet Governance

  22-08-2023 19:20 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  The United Nations' proposed Global Digital Compact will exclude technical experts as a distinct voice in internet governance, ignoring their enormous contributions to growing and sustaining the internet, according to ICANN and two of the world's regional internet registries. From a report: The Global Digital Compact is an effort to "outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all." The UN hopes the compact will address issues such as digital inclusion, internet fra
  
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• Microsoft To Sell Off Activision Cloud Gaming Rights To Ubisoft in Bid for UK Approval

  22-08-2023 18:40 via slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft is restructuring its proposed Activision Blizzard deal to transfer cloud gaming rights for current and new Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft. From a report: The transfer of rights is designed to appease regulators in the UK that are concerned about the impact Microsoft's proposed $68.7 billion deal will have on cloud gaming competition. The restructured deal has triggered a new regulatory investigation in the UK that could last until October 18th. "To address the concerns about the
  
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• Google Executive Turnover and Role Changes Come as the Company Searches for New Identity

  22-08-2023 18:05 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Key members of Google's old guard have been shifting roles or leaving the company as it searches for its new identity. From a report: The changes encompass high-profile executives such as finance chief Ruth Porat, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki and employee No. 8, Urs Holzle, among others. Some say they have left their roles for a new challenge and others have left to seek opportunities in artificial intelligence. In February, Wojcicki -- one of the most prominent women in Silicon Valley -- announce
  
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• CEOs Extol Benefits of AI on Earnings Calls But Not in Official Filings

  22-08-2023 17:20 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  S&P 500 groups from a burrito maker to a cruise-ship operator tout promise of emerging technology. From a report: The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has sparked excitement in industries from fast food to theme parks, with executives rushing to show how they will be among beneficiaries of the new technology. Analysis of their regulatory filings, however, suggests much of the talk is only talk. Almost 40 per cent of companies in the blue-chip S&P 500 index have mentioned AI or relat
  
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• Microsoft Announces Python In Excel

  22-08-2023 16:40 via developers.slashdot.org
  
  theodp writes: On Tuesday, Microsoft announced the Public Preview of Python in Excel, which "runs securely on the Microsoft Cloud". From the Home Office in Redmond: "Python is one of the most popular programming languages today, loved by businesses and students alike and Excel is an essential tool to organize, manipulate and analyze all kinds of data. But, until now, there hasn't been an easy way to make those two worlds work together. Today, we are excited to introduce the Public Preview of Pyt
  
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• IBM To Sell Weather Business

  22-08-2023 16:00 via slashdot.org
  
  IBM will sell its weather business to Francisco Partners, which will operate it as a standalone company. From a report: IBM's consumer-facing weather services such as Weather.com and business-oriented offerings will be acquired by the technology-focused private equity firm for an undisclosed sum, it said in a joint statement with Francisco on Tuesday. IBM will retain its sustainability software suite. "Through increased investment and resources from Francisco Partners, The Weather Company will l
  
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• Microsoft Kills Kinect Again

  22-08-2023 12:00 via slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft is discontinuing the Kinect, again. The Verge explains: The company officially stopped manufacturing the depth camera and microphone in 2017 and brought it back in a new form in 2019 as the Azure Kinect Developer Kit. Now, Microsoft is ending production of that, too, but it has partnered with some outside companies to provide options available for people who need similar types of devices.If you want to get one of the remaining Azure Kinect Developer Kits, they'll be available to buy th
  
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• SpaceX's Bandwagon Program Is a Big Deal

  22-08-2023 09:00 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Under a new initiative, named Bandwagon, SpaceX is expanding its rideshare program to cater to the demand for launches to mid-inclination orbits. TechCrunch reports: Orbital inclination refers to what part of the Earth is visible to a satellite as it rotates around the planet. A satellite in an equatorial orbit is at 0 degrees inclination; a satellite in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is slightly higher than 90 degrees; and a mid-inclination orbit is around 45 degrees. Currently, SpaceX offers ri
  
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• Political Polarization Toned Down Through Anonymous Online Chats

  22-08-2023 05:30 via politics.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Political polarization in the US has become a major issue, as Republicans and Democrats increasingly inhabit separate realities on topics as diverse as election results and infectious diseases. [...] Now, a team of researchers has tested whether social media can potentially help the situation by getting people with opposite political leanings talking to each other about controversial topics. While this significantly reduced polarization, it
  
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• Social Media Algorithms Warp How People Learn From Each Other, Research Shows

  22-08-2023 04:02 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  William Brady writes via The Conversation: People are increasingly interacting with others in social media environments where algorithms control the flow of social information they see. Algorithms determine in part which messages, which people and which ideas social media users see. On social media platforms, algorithms are mainly designed to amplify information that sustains engagement, meaning they keep people clicking on content and coming back to the platforms. I'm a social psychologist, and
  
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• Google Chrome To Warn When Installed Extensions Are Malware

  22-08-2023 03:25 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Google is testing a new feature in the Chrome browser that will warn users when an installed extension has been removed from the Chrome Web Store, usually indicative of it being malware. BleepingComputer reports: An unending supply of unwanted browser extensions is published on the Chrome Web Store and promoted through popup and redirect ads. These extensions are made by scam companies and threat actors who use them to inject advertisements, track your search history, redirect you to affiliate p
  
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• Arm Files For IPO On Nasdaq

  22-08-2023 02:45 via slashdot.org
  
  SoftBank's Arm has filed for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker symbol "ARM." The filing comes five months after the U.K.-based chipmaker announced it had filed confidential, preliminary IPO paperwork with U.S. regulators. TechCrunch reports: The outfit didn't provide a projected share price in its F-1 paperwork, but SoftBank recently bought the 24.99% stake in Arm that it didn't own outright from its Vision Fund unit, reportedly at a valuation of more than $64 billion. That's twice the $32 billi
  
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• After Three Decades, Charles Martinet Is 'Stepping Back' From Voicing Mario

  22-08-2023 02:02 via games.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from GameSpot: For decades, Charles Martinet voiced the iconic video game character Mario in Nintendo's popular series, but those days are now over. Nintendo has announced that Martinet, who rose to a new level of fame with 1996's Super Mario 64, is transitioning into the role of "Mario Ambassador." The company also confirmed with GameSpot that Martinet will not voice the character in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wonder. In its initial statement, Nintendo sa
  
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• Latest Android Runtime (ART) Update Led To Apps Starting 30% Faster

  22-08-2023 01:20 via slashdot.org
  
  The latest update to the Android Runtime (ART) -- the "engine behind the Android operating system (OS)" -- has resulted in app startup time "improvements of up to 30% on some devices," says Google. 9to5Google reports: Behind the scenes, "ART is the same for all devices" and: "The ART APEX module is a complex piece of software with an order of magnitude more APIs than any other APEX module. It also backs a quarter of the developer APIs available in the Android SDK. In addition, ART has a compiler
  
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• AI-Generated Art Cannot Receive Copyrights, US Court Says

  22-08-2023 00:40 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  A U.S. court in Washington, D.C. today has ruled that artwork created by artificial intelligence without any human input cannot be copyrighted under U.S. law. Reuters reports: Only works with human authors can receive copyrights, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said on Friday, affirming the Copyright Office's rejection of an application filed by computer scientist Stephen Thaler on behalf of his DABUS system. The Friday decision follows losses for Thaler on bids for U.S. patents covering invent
  
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• Roblox Facilitates 'Illegal Gambling' For Minors, According To New Lawsuit

  22-08-2023 00:00 via news.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A new proposed class-action lawsuit (as noticed by Bloomberg Law) accuses user-generated "metaverse" company Roblox of profiting from and helping to power third-party websites that use the platform's Robux currency for unregulated gambling activities. In doing so, the lawsuit says Roblox is effectively "work[ing] with and facilitat[ing] the Gambling Website Defendants... to offer illegal gambling opportunities to minor users." The three gamb
  
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