ICT news

• Big Three Carriers Pay $10 Million To Settle Claims of False 'Unlimited' Advertising

  11-05-2024 03:25 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  Jon Brodkin reports via Ars Technica: T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T will pay a combined $10.2 million in a settlement with US states that alleged the carriers falsely advertised wireless plans as "unlimited" and phones as "free." The deal was announced yesterday by New York Attorney General Letitia James. "A multistate investigation found that the companies made false claims in advertisements in New York and across the nation, including misrepresentations about 'unlimited' data plans that were
  
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• Palmer Luckey Unveils ModRetro Chromatic Handheld Console

  04-06-2024 16:01 via games.slashdot.org
  
  Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR and Anduril, has launched the ModRetro Chromatic, a retro gaming handheld that plays original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. The device boasts a magnesium alloy case, sapphire crystal screen, and a pixel-perfect IPS display. It comes bundled with a licensed copy of Tetris and supports Link Cable multiplayer. Luckey suggested that the Chromatic is the most authentic way to play Game Boy games, with custom components designed to provide the ultimate gam
  
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• Qualcomm Spoofs 'I'm a Mac' Ads To Promote Windows On ARM PCs

  04-06-2024 15:00 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from PCMag: Justin Long, the actor known for playing the Mac guy in Apple's mid-2000s ad campaign is once again switching sides -- this time to promote new Windows laptops from Qualcomm. Long appeared in a video that Qualcomm showed during its Computex keynote. To introduce the segment, CEO Cristiano Amon said Qualcomm captured video of a "very special person" preordering a Windows Copilot+ laptop built with a Snapdragon X Elite chip.In the clip, we see Long t
  
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• Sony's PSVR 2 PC Adapter Launches In August

  04-06-2024 12:00 via games.slashdot.org
  
  The PlayStation VR2's PC adapter is arriving on August 7th, allowing PC support for the PS5-exclusive headset. It'll cost $59.99. The Verge reports: Sony says the device will support all Steam VR games, including big-name titles like Half-Life: Alyx. In addition to the new adapter, Sony says players will need a DisplayPort cable to work with Steam titles on PC. (As well as a Steam account, obviously.) You can check out the minimum system requirements right here.In a blog post, Sony explains that
  
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• Woman Who Received Pig Kidney Transplant Has It Removed

  04-06-2024 09:00 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Due to complications with a mechanical heart pump, surgeons in New York removed a pig kidney from Lisa Pisano less than two months after transplanting it. The genetically engineered pig kidney did not show signs of rejection but suffered from inadequate blood flow. Wired reports: Pisano was facing heart and kidney failure and required routine dialysis. She wasn't eligible to receive a traditional heart and kidney transplant from a human donor because of several chronic medical conditions that re
  
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• Crooks Threaten To Leak 3 Billion Personal Records 'Stolen From Background Firm'

  04-06-2024 05:30 via it.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Register: Billions of records detailing people's personal information may soon be dumped online after being allegedly obtained from a Florida firm that handles background checks and other requests for folks' private info. A criminal gang that goes by the handle USDoD put the database up for sale for $3.5 million on an underworld forum in April, and rather incredibly claimed the trove included 2.9 billion records on all US, Canadian, and British citize
  
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• AMD Blows Up Its Laptop CPU Numbering System

  04-06-2024 01:40 via hardware.slashdot.org
  
  AMD is reverting to a simpler, more traditional numbering scheme for its laptop processors, abandoning its recent complex "decoder ring" system. The new system for Ryzen AI laptop processors will use a three-digit model number to denote generation and SKU, aligning more closely with industry norms. Ars Technica reports: For its new Ryzen AI laptop processors, codenamed "Strix Point," AMD is still using the same broad Ryzen 3/5/7/9 number to communicate general performance level plus a one- or tw
  
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• New York Set to Restrict Social-Media Algorithms for Teens

  04-06-2024 01:00 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Lawmakers in New York have reached a tentative agreement to "prohibit social-media companies from using algorithms to steer content to children without parental consent (source paywalled; alternative source)," according to the Wall Street Journal. "The legislation is aimed at preventing social-media companies from serving automated feeds to minors. The bill, which is still being completed but expected to be voted on this week, also would prohibit platforms from sending minors notifications durin
  
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• Adobe Scolded For Selling 'Ansel Adams-Style' Images Generated By AI

  04-06-2024 00:20 via slashdot.org
  
  The Ansel Adams estate said it was "officially on our last nerve" after Adobe was caught selling AI-generated images imitating the late photographer's work. The Verge reports: While Adobe permits AI-generated images to be hosted and sold on its stock image platform, users are required to hold the appropriate rights or ownership over the content they upload. Adobe Stock's Contributor Terms specifically prohibits content "created using prompts containing other artist names, or created using prompt
  
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• Google Can Keep Your Phone If You Send It In For Repair With Non-OEM Parts

  03-06-2024 23:40 via mobile.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Android Authority: Like many other phone makers, Google has a self-repair program for servicing your damaged or malfunctioning Pixel device. As its support site explains, there are options to get repair tools, manuals, and certified parts so you can fix up your Pixel like new. Owners can also choose to simply send their device in to have it repaired professionally. As replacement parts can be expensive, some DIYers choose to use parts from third-party sup
  
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• Napster Sparked a File-Sharing Revolution 25 Years Ago

  03-06-2024 23:00 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  TorrentFreak's Ernesto Van der Sar recalls the rise and fall of Napster, the file-sharing empire that kickstarted a global piracy frenzy 25 years ago. Here's an excerpt from his report: At the end of the nineties, technology and the Internet were a playground for young engineers and 'hackers'. Some of them regularly gathered in the w00w00 IRC chatroom on the EFnet network. This tech-think-tank had many notable members, including WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and Shawn Fanning, who logged on with the
  
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• E-Trade Considers Kicking Meme-Stock Leader Keith Gill Off Platform

  03-06-2024 22:13 via news.slashdot.org
  
  After growing concerned about potential stock manipulation, E*Trade is "considering telling meme-stock leader Keith Gill he can no longer use its platform," reports the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Gill, known online as "Roaring Kitty," gained notoriety for his role in the 2020 meme stock frenzy, where he encouraged amateur investors to buy GameStop shares, significantly driving up the stock price and challenging hedge funds. Just hours ago, Roaring Kitty announce
  
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• Toyota Apologizes For Cheating On Vehicle Testing, Halts Production of 3 Models

  03-06-2024 21:40 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Associated Press: Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized Monday for massive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models as the automaker suspended production of three of them. The wide-ranging fraudulent testing at Japan's top automaker involved the use of inadequate or outdated data in collision tests, and incorrect testing of airbag inflation and rear-seat damage in crashes. Engine power tests were also found to have been falsified.Toyo
  
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• Samsung Sues Oura Preemptively To Block Smart Ring Patent Claims

  03-06-2024 20:10 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader shares a report: Samsung isn't waiting around for Oura to file any patent claims over its forthcoming smart ring. Instead, it's preemptively filed its own suit against Oura, seeking a "declaratory judgment" that states the Galaxy Ring doesn't infringe on five Oura patents. The suit alleges that Oura has a pattern of filing patent suits against competitors based on "features common to virtually all smart rings." In particular, the suit references sensors, electronics, batterie
  
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• Sony Pictures Will Use AI To Cut Film Costs, Says CEO Tony Vinciquerra

  03-06-2024 19:42 via slashdot.org
  
  The next "Spider-Verse" film may have a new animation style: AI. From a report: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) CEO Tony Vinciquerra does not mince words when it comes to AI. He likes the tech -- or at the very least, he likes the economics. "We are very focused on AI. The biggest problem with making films today is the expense," Vinciquerra said at Sony's Thursday (Friday in Japan) investor event. "We will be looking at ways to...produce both films for theaters and television in a more efficie
  
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• Google Leak Reveals Thousands of Privacy Incidents

  03-06-2024 18:55 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Google has accidentally collected childrens' voice data, leaked the trips and home addresses of car pool users, and made YouTube recommendations based on users' deleted watch history, among thousands of other employee-reported privacy incidents, according to a copy of an internal Google database which tracks six years worth of potential privacy and security issues obtained by 404 Media. From the report: Individually the incidents, most of which have not been previously publicly reported, may onl
  
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• Monthly Drop Hints That China's CO2 Emissions May Have Peaked in 2023

  03-06-2024 18:03 via news.slashdot.org
  
  CarbonBrief: China's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions fell by 3% in March 2024, ending a 14-month surge that began when the economy reopened after the nation's "zero-Covid" controls were lifted in December 2022. The new analysis for Carbon Brief, based on official figures and commercial data, reinforces the view that China's emissions could have peaked in 2023.
  The drivers of the CO2 drop in March 2024 were expanding solar and wind generation, which covered 90% of the growth in electricity demand,
  
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• NYSE Investigating 'Technical Issue' That Showed Berkshire Hathaway Share Price Dropping 99%

  03-06-2024 16:55 via it.slashdot.org
  
  The New York Stock Exchange said Monday it was investigating a "technical issue" that was leading to large fluctuations in the prices of certain stocks including Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. From a report: According to a notice posted on its website, the issue involved "limit up, limit down bands," which are designed to limit volatility. Some 50 stocks were affected, the website indicated, and trades in those companies was halted. NYSE trading data incorrectly showed so-called Class A sh
  
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• CEO of Zoom Wants AI Clones in Meetings

  03-06-2024 16:47 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Zoom's CEO Eric Yuan predicts that AI will significantly transform the workplace, potentially ushering in a four-day workweek, he told The Verge in an interview. Yuan said Zoom is transitioning from a videoconferencing platform to a comprehensive collaboration suite called Zoom Workplace. He believes AI will automate routine tasks such as attending meetings, reading emails, and making phone calls, enabling employees to dedicate time to more creative and meaningful work. The Verge adds: The Verge
  
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• Arm Targets 50% of Windows PC Market Share in Five Years, CEO Says

  03-06-2024 16:06 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  British chip designer Arm expects to capture more than half of the Windows PC market within the next five years, CEO Rene Haas said in an interview. The company's optimism comes as Microsoft and its hardware partners gear up to introduce a new generation of AI-powered PCs running on Arm-designed chips, potentially reshaping the Intel-dominated industry. Haas attributed Microsoft's commitment to supporting Arm's technology through enhanced developer tools as a key factor in the anticipated market
  
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• Snowflake Recommends Customers Take Steps to Prevent Unauthorized Access

  03-06-2024 14:00 via cisa.gov
  On June 2, Snowflake indicated a recent increase in cyber threat activity targeting customer accounts on its cloud data platform. Snowflake issued a recommendation for users to query for unusual activity and conduct further analysis to prevent unauthorized user access.
   
  Users and administrators are encouraged to hunt for any malicious activity, report positive findings to CISA, and review the following Snowflake notice for additional information:
  •    Detecting and Prev
  
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• AMD Unveils Ryzen AI and 9000 Series Processors, Plus Radeon PRO W7900 Dual Slot

  03-06-2024 13:34 via slashdot.org
  
  The highlight of AMD's presentation Sunday at Computex 2024 was "the introduction of AMD's Ryzen AI 300 Series processors for laptops and the Ryzen 9000 Series for desktops," writes Slashdot reader BrianFagioli (sharing his report at Beta News):
  AMD's Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, designed for next-generation AI laptops, come with AMD's latest XDNA 2 architecture. This includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that delivers 50 TOPS of AI processing power, significantly enhancing the AI capabilit
  
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• Cybercriminal Posed as 'Helpful' Stack Overflow User To Recommend Malware Hosted on PyPi

  03-06-2024 09:34 via it.slashdot.org
  
  An anonytmous reader shared a recent report from BleepingComputer:
  Cybercriminals are abusing Stack Overflow in an interesting approach to spreading malware — answering users' questions by promoting a malicious PyPi package that installs Windows information-stealing malware... "We further noticed that a StackOverflow account 'EstAYA G' [was] exploiting the platform's community members seeking debugging help [1, 2, 3] by directing them to install this malicious package as a 'solution' to th
  
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• Law Student Claims Unfair Discipline After He Reported a Data Breach

  03-06-2024 05:36 via it.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous Slashdot reader shared this report from Computer Weekly:A former student at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) says he was hauled over the coals by the college for having acted responsibly and "with integrity" in reporting a security blunder that left sensitive information about students exposed. Bartek Wytrzyszczewski faced misconduct proceedings after alerting the college to a data breach exposing sensitive information on hundreds of past and present ICCA students...
  The
  
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• AI Researchers Analyze Similarities of Scarlett Johanssson's Voice to OpenAI's 'Sky'

  03-06-2024 03:34 via slashdot.org
  
  AI models can evaluate how similar voices are to each other. So NPR asked forensic voice experts at Arizona State University to compare the voice and speech patterns of OpenAI's "Sky" to Scarlett Johansson's...
  The researchers measured Sky, based on audio from demos OpenAI delivered last week, against the voices of around 600 professional actresses. They found that Johansson's voice is more similar to Sky than 98% of the other actresses.
  Yet she wasn't always the top hit in the multiple AI model
  
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• Male Birth Control Gel Continues to Show Promise

  03-06-2024 01:38 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Gizmodo reports there's been progress on a male birth-control gel "being developed with the help of several organizations, including the U.S. government's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the larger NIH."It's now being tested in a larger-scale Phase IIB trial, which involves around 400 couples. [Five milliliters of gel — about a teaspon — is applied to each shoulder blade once a day, reports NBC News.] That trial is still ongoing, but researchers have
  
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• 8BitDo's Reimagining of IBM's Model-M Keyboard Draws Reactions Online

  03-06-2024 00:38 via hardware.slashdot.org
  
  "Few computer keyboards are as iconic, as influential, or as beige as the IBM Model-M," writes the blog OMG Ubuntu adding that it's "no surprise then that it's been given a modern reimagining by 8BitDo."Following on from their Nintendo NES and Famicom and Commodore 64 homages, 8BitDo has unveiled its latest retro-inspired mechanical keyboard. This one pays tribute to a true computing classic: the IBM Model-M keyboard.
  Lest anyone familiar with the real thing get too excited I'll mention up front
  
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• Amazon's Drones Gets Key Approval, Can Now Fly Farther to More Customers

  02-06-2024 23:10 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  The Associated Press reports that U.S. federal regulators "have given Amazon key permission that will allow it to expand its drone delivery program, the company announced Thursday."
  In a blog post published on its website, Seattle-based Amazon said that the Federal Aviation Administration has given its Prime Air delivery service the OK to operate drones "beyond visual line of sight," removing a barrier that has prevented its drones from traveling longer distances. With the approval, Amazon pilot
  
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• Ozempic-Like Drugs Could Lower Sales of Junk Food

  02-06-2024 22:10 via science.slashdot.org
  
  Will appetite-suppressing drugs hurt the sugar industry? Executives from Walmart warned that Ozempic and Zepbound "are impacting food sales," reports Bloomberg, "and multiple analyst surveys have showed that less-hungry customers are spending fewer dollars at grocery stores and restaurants."
  The drugs, which cut cravings, will result in a decline in calorie consumption in the US of 1.5% to 2.5% by 2035, with a drop of as much as 5% in the consumption of sweets such as baked goods, confectionery
  
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• Is the New 'Recall' Feature in Windows a Security and Privacy Nightmare?

  02-06-2024 21:03 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Slashdot reader storagedude shares a provocative post from the cybersecurity news blog of Cyble Inc. (a Ycombinator-backed company promising "AI-powered actionable threat intelligence").
  The post delves into concerns that the new "Recall" feature planned for Windows (on upcoming Copilot+ PCs) is "a security and privacy nightmare."Copilot Recall will be enabled by default and will capture frequent screenshots, or "snapshots," of a user's activity and store them in a local database tied to the use
  
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