ICT news

• Logitech Mulls Subscription Model for 'Forever' Mouse

  30-07-2024 21:20 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Logitech, the Swiss-American computer peripherals manufacturer, is considering the development of a long-lasting mouse that could potentially serve customers "forever," according to CEO Hanneke Faber. In a recent interview, Faber revealed that the company's innovation center has presented her with a prototype of such a device. The concept mouse, described as slightly heavier than standard models, would rely on software updates and services to maintain its functionality over time. Faber likened i
  
  Read more

• A CNN Producer Explores the 'Magic AI' Workout Mirror

  22-03-2026 17:34 via slashdot.org
  CNN looks at "the Magic AI fitness mirror," a new product "watching you, and giving you feedback automatically," while sometimes playing footage of a recorded personal trainer.
  Long-time Slashdot reader destinyland describes CNN's video report:CNN says the device "tracks form, counts reps, and corrects technique in real-time — and it doesn't go easy on you." (Although the company's CEO/cofounder, Varun Bhanot, says "we're not trying to completely replace personal trainers. What we are prov
  
  Read more

• Google Search Is Now Sometimes Using AI To Replace Headlines

  22-03-2026 16:34 via tech.slashdot.org
  "Google is beginning to replace news headlines in its search results with ones that are AI-generated," reports the Verge:
  After doing something similar in its Google Discover news feed, it's starting to mess with headlines in the traditional "10 blue links," too. We've found multiple examples where Google replaced headlines we wrote with ones we did not, sometimes changing their meaning in the process. For example, Google reduced our headline "I used the 'cheat on everything' AI tool and it didn
  
  Read more

• Amazon Plans to Test Four-Legged Robots on Wheels for Deliveries

  22-03-2026 15:34 via hardware.slashdot.org
  CNBC reports:
  Amazon has acquired Rivr, a Swiss robotics company developing machines for "doorstep delivery," the company confirmed Thursday... It announced the deal in a notice sent to third-party delivery contractors... "We believe this technology, when working alongside your [delivery associates], has the potential to further improve safety outcomes and the overall customer experience, particularly in the last steps of the delivery process...." In its notice to delivery service partner owners
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• US Cable TV Industry Faces 'Dramatic Collapse' as Local Operators Shut Down - or Become ISPs

  22-03-2026 12:34 via entertainment.slashdot.org
  America's cable TV industry "is undergoing its most dramatic collapse in history," reports Cord Cutters News, "with operators large and small waving the white flag on traditional TV service and pointing their customers toward streaming platforms instead." Just in 2025 Comcast lost 1.25 million pay-TV subscribers (ending the year with just 11.3 million), while Charter Spectrum also lost hundreds of thousands of customers each quarter.But "for smaller regional operators, who lack the scale and div
  
  Read more

• Meteor Rumbles Over Houston, as Six-Pound Fragment Crashes Into a Texas Home

  22-03-2026 08:34 via science.slashdot.org
  "It is the talk of the town today — the loud boom, the flash of light in the sky experienced by a lot of folks across the Houston area this afternoon," says a local Texas newscaster. "And then there was this — a home in northwest Harris county hit by something that crashed through their roof."
  Travelling at very high speed, the six-pound meteorite crashed through their roof and through their attic, crashing again through the ceiling oF the floor below. It then bounced off the floor,
  
  Read more

• Tesla's Upcoming Electric Big Rig Is Already a Hit with Truckers

  22-03-2026 05:34 via tech.slashdot.org
  "After nearly a decade of delays and industry skepticism, Tesla's electric big rig is finally rolling out of Nevada's Gigafactory for mass production starting summer 2026," writes Gadget Review. And some truckers who tested the vehicles already love them (as reported by the Wall Street Journal):Dakota Shearer and Angel Rodriguez, among other pilot drivers, rave about the centered cab that eliminates blind spots during tight maneuvers. The automatic transmission means no more wrestling with 13-ge
  
  Read more

• Trivy Supply Chain Attack Spreads, Triggers Self-Spreading CanisterWorm Across 47 npm Packages

  22-03-2026 01:42 via it.slashdot.org
  "We have removed all malicious artifacts from the affected registries and channels," Trivy maintainer Itay Shakury posted today, noting that all the latest Trivy releases "now point to a safe version." But "On March 19, we observed that a threat actor used a compromised credential..."
  And today The Hacker News reported the same attackers are now "suspected to be conducting follow-on attacks that have led to the compromise of a large number of npm packages..." (The attackers apparently leveraged
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• EFF Tells Publishers: Blocking the Internet Archive Won't Stop AI, But It Will Erase The Historical Record

  21-03-2026 23:38 via yro.slashdot.org
  "Imagine a newspaper publisher announcing it will no longer allow libraries to keep copies of its paper," writes EFF senior policy analyst Joe Mullin.
  "That's effectively what's begun happening online in the last few months."The Internet Archive — the world's largest digital library — has preserved newspapers since it went online in the mid-1990s... But in recent months The New York Times began blocking the Archive from crawling its website, using technical measures that go beyond th
  
  Read more

• Millions Face Mobile Internet Outages in Moscow. 'Digital Crackdown' Feared

  21-03-2026 22:38 via yro.slashdot.org
  13 million people live in Moscow, reports CNN.But since early March the city "has experienced internet and mobile service outages on a level previously unseen." (Though Wi-Fi access to the internet is still available...) Russian social media "is flooded with jokes and memes about sending letters by carrier pigeons or using smartphones as ping-pong paddles..."[Moscow residents] complain they cannot navigate around the center or use their favorite mobile apps. The interruptions appear to have had
  
  Read more

• Juicier Steaks Soon? The UK Approves Testing of Gene-Edited Cow Feed

  21-03-2026 21:38 via science.slashdot.org
  "Juicier steaks could soon be served up after barley was given the go-ahead to become Britain's first gene-edited crop," reports the Telegraph:
  In an effort to fatten up cows and get them to market faster, scientists have altered the DNA of Golden Promise barley to increase its fat content... [Regulators have approved the feeding of that barley to cows for further studies.] [T]he small increase reduces the time it takes for farmers to raise animals for slaughter and increases the amount of milk
  
  Read more

• Can Private Space Companies Replace the ISS Before 2030?

  21-03-2026 20:34 via science.slashdot.org
  China's orbital outpost Tiangong was completed in 2022 and is hosting up to three astronauts at a time, reports CNN.
  But meanwhile U.S. lawmakers are now signaling there's not time to develop and launch a replacement for the International Space Station — considered the signal most expensive object ever built — before its deorbiting in 2030. A recent Senate bill calls for the U.S. to continue funding it as late as 2032, but that bill still awaits approval from the U.S. Senate and the
  
  Read more

• Intel, NVIDIA, AMD GPU Drivers Finally Play Nice With ReactOS

  21-03-2026 19:34 via tech.slashdot.org
  ReactOS aims to be compatible with programs and drivers developed for Windows Server 2003 and later versions of Microsoft Windows.And Slashdot reader jeditobe reports that the project has now "announced significant progress in achieving compatibility with proprietary graphics drivers."
  ReactOS now supports roughly 90% of GPU drivers for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, thanks to a series of fixes and the implementation of the KMDF (Kernel-Mode Driver Framework) and WDDM (Windows Display Drive
  
  Read more

• 50% of Consumers Prefer Brands That Avoid GenAI Content

  21-03-2026 18:34 via slashdot.org
  Slashdot reader BrianFagioli writes: According to the research firm Gartner, 50% of U.S. consumers say they would prefer to do business with brands that avoid using GenAI in consumer facing content such as advertising and promotional messaging.The survey of 1,539 Americans, conducted in October 2025, also found growing skepticism about the reliability of online information, with 61% saying they frequently question whether information they use for everyday decisions is trustworthy... Gartner foun
  
  Read more

• Firefox Announces Built-In VPN and Other New Features - and Introduces Its New Mascot

  21-03-2026 17:34 via news.slashdot.org
  A free built-in VPN is coming to Firefox on Tuesday, Mozilla announced this week:
  Free VPNs can sometimes mean sketchy arrangements that end up compromising your privacy, but ours is built from our data principles and commitment to be the world's most trusted browser. It routes your browser traffic through a proxy to hide your IP address and location while you browse, giving you stronger privacy and protection online with no extra downloads. Users will have 50 gigabytes of data monthly in the U.
  
  Read more

• SystemD Adds Optional 'birthDate' Field for Age Verification to JSON User Records

  21-03-2026 16:34 via linux.slashdot.org
  "The systemd project merged a pull request adding a new birthDate field to the JSON user records managed by userdb in response to the age verification laws of California, Colorado, and Brazil," reports the blog It's FOSS.
  They note that the field "can only be set by administrators, not by users themselves" — it's the same record that already holds metadata like realName, emailAddress, and location:Lennart Poettering, the creator of systemd, has clarified that this change is "an optional fi
  
  Read more

• Jeff Bezos Seeking $100 Billion to Buy Manufacturing Companies, 'Transform' Them With AI

  21-03-2026 15:34 via slashdot.org
  Jeff Bezos "is in early talks to raise $100 billion," reports the Wall Street Journal, "for a new fund that would buy up manufacturing companies and seek to use AI technology to accelerate their path to automation."
  "The Amazon.com founder is meeting with some of the world's largest asset managers to raise funding for the project."A few months ago, [Bezos] traveled to the Middle East to discuss the new fund with sovereign wealth representatives in the region. More recently, he went to Singapore
  
  Read more

• NASA's Hubble Unexpectedly Catches Comet Breaking Up

  21-03-2026 12:00 via science.slashdot.org
  NASA's Hubble Space Telescope unexpectedly captured a rare, early-stage breakup of comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) just days after it first began disintegrating. Phys.org reports: "Sometimes the best science happens by accident," said co-investigator John Noonan, a research professor in the Department of Physics at Auburn University in Alabama. "This comet got observed because our original comet was not viewable due to some new technical constraints after we won our proposal. We had to find a new target
  
  Read more

• Officer Leaks Location of French Aircraft Carrier With Strava Run

  21-03-2026 08:00 via tech.slashdot.org
  schwit1 shares a report from the BBC: A French officer has reportedly revealed the location of an aircraft carrier deployed towards the Middle East after publicly registering a run on sports app Strava. French news outlet Le Monde first reported the officer, referred to as Arthur, logged a 35-minute run on the app while exercising on the deck of aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on 13 March. He used a smartwatch to record his run and upload the activity to the app, the paper said, creating a ma
  
  Read more

• White House Unveils National AI Policy Framework To Limit State Power

  21-03-2026 04:30 via yro.slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNBC: The Trump administration on Friday issued (PDF) a legislative framework for a single national policy on artificial intelligence, aiming to create uniform safety and security guardrails around the nascent technology while preempting states from enacting their own AI rules.
  The six-pronged outline broadly proposes a slew of regulations on AI products and infrastructure, ranging from implementing new child-safety rules to standardizing the permitting a
  
  Read more

• CBS News Shutters Radio Service After Nearly a Century

  21-03-2026 00:00 via news.slashdot.org
  CBS News is shutting down its nearly 100-year-old radio news service due to economic pressures and the shift toward digital media and podcasts. Longtime CBS News anchor Dan Rather said: "It's another piece of America that is gone." The Associated Press reports: When it went on the air in September 1927, the service was the precursor to the entire network, giving a youthful William S. Paley a start in the business. Famed broadcaster Edward R. Murrow's rooftop reports during the Nazi bombing of Lo
  
  Read more

• Microsoft Says It Is Fixing Windows 11

  20-03-2026 23:00 via tech.slashdot.org
  BrianFagioli writes: Microsoft says it is finally listening to user complaints about Windows 11, promising a series of changes focused on performance, reliability, and reducing everyday annoyances. In a message to Windows Insiders, the company outlined plans to bring back long requested features like taskbar repositioning, cut down on intrusive AI integrations, and give users more control over updates. File Explorer is also getting attention, with promised improvements to speed, stability, and g
  
  Read more

• Work From Home and Drive More Slowly To Save Energy, IEA Says

  20-03-2026 22:00 via hardware.slashdot.org
  As energy prices soar from the Iran conflict, the International Energy Agency is urging governments to cut energy use by taking up measures like remote work and reduced speed limits. The group warns the energy security crisis could persist for months, even if supply routes stabilize. "I believe the world has not yet well understood the depth of the energy security challenge we are facing," said IEA's executive director, Fatih Birol. "It is much bigger than what we had in the 1970s... It is also
  
  Read more

• OpenAI Plans Launch of Desktop 'Superapp'

  20-03-2026 21:00 via slashdot.org
  joshuark shares a report from Neowin: OpenAI is planning to combine its Atlas web browser, ChatGPT app, and Codex coding app into a singular desktop "superapp." CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, said the company was doubling down on its successful products. By taking this move, the AI company aims to streamline the user experience and reduce fragmentation. Simo said in an internal memo: "We realized we were spreading our efforts across too many apps and stacks, and that we need to simplify our ef
  
  Read more

• Oregon School Cell Phone Ban: 'Engaged Students, Joyful Teachers'

  20-03-2026 20:00 via news.slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader quotes a repot from the Portland Tribune: There was plenty of uncertainty and debate about the effectiveness of a cell phone ban decreed (PDF) by executive order last summer. But at least in Estacada, the policy has earned two thumbs up, including approval from a "grumpy old teacher." Jeff Mellema is a language arts teacher at Estacada High School. He has worked in the building for 24 years, and he said the new policy that prohibits students from using their phones during the
  
  Read more

• DOJ Charges Super Micro Co-Founder For Smuggling $2.5 Billion In Nvidia GPUs To China

  20-03-2026 19:00 via yro.slashdot.org
  Longtime Slashdot reader AmiMoJo shares a report from CNN: The co-founder of Super Micro Computer and two others were charged with diverting $2.5 billion worth of servers with Nvidia's artificial intelligence chips to China, in violation of U.S. laws barring exports to that country without a license. Yih-Shyan Liaw, known as Wally; Ruei-Tsang Chang, known as Steven; and Ting-Wei Sun, known as Willy, were charged with conspiring to violate export control laws, smuggling goods from the U.S. and co
  
  Read more

• Chuck Norris Dies At 86

  20-03-2026 18:00 via news.slashdot.org
  Longtime Slashdot reader SchroedingersCat writes: Chuck Norris, known for his roles in action films and as Texas Ranger Cordell Walker on the TV show "Walker, Texas Ranger," passed away on March 19, leaving behind a legacy of inspiring millions around the world. He was 86.He became Internet phenomenon after "Chuck Norris Facts" went viral online with such wildly hyperbolic statements as, "Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun -- and won," and, "When Chuck Norris does push-ups, he doesn
  
  Read more

• Amazon Plans Smartphone Comeback More Than a Decade After Fire Phone Flop

  20-03-2026 17:00 via mobile.slashdot.org
  Amazon is reportedly developing a new AI-focused smartphone that doesn't rely as heavily on traditional apps. "The phone is seen as a potential mobile personalization device that can sync with home voice assistant Alexa and serve as a conduit to Amazon customers throughout the day," reports Reuters. From the report: As envisioned, the new phone's personalization features would make buying from Amazon.com, watching Prime Video, listening to Prime Music or ordering food from partners like Grubhub
  
  Read more

• As OpenClaw Enthusiasm Grips China, Kids and Retirees Alike Raise 'Lobsters'

  20-03-2026 16:00 via slashdot.org
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Fan Xinquan, a retired electronics worker in Beijing, has recently started raising a "lobster," hoping that the AI agent he has been training can help organize his specialized industry knowledge better than chatbots like DeepSeek. "OpenClaw can actually help you accomplish many practical things," the 60-year-old said at a recent event hosted by AI startup Zhipu to teach people how to use and train the AI agent, which has gone viral in China, with
  
  Read more

• Opera GX Web Browser Comes To Linux

  20-03-2026 12:00 via linux.slashdot.org
  BrianFagioli writes: Opera GX has officially landed on Linux, bringing its gamer-focused browser experience to Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE-based systems. The browser includes GX Control for limiting RAM and network usage, a Hot Tabs Killer to shut down resource-heavy tabs, and built-in sidebar integrations for Discord and Twitch. Opera says this is not just a one-off port, but a long-term effort with ongoing updates and community engagement. "PC gaming has long been associated with a si
  
  Read more

Follow @newslocke_ict on Twitter!