Day: November 13, 2024

Now the copyright industry wants to apply deep, automated blocking to the Internet’s core routers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A central theme of Walled Culture the book (free digital versions available) and this blog is that the copyright industry is never satisfied. Now matter how long the term of copyright, publishers and recording companies want more. No matter how harsh the punishments for infringement, the copyright intermediaries want them to be even more severe. Read more about Now the copyright industry wants to apply deep, automated blocking to the Internet’s core routers[…]

Judge: Just Because AI Trains On Your Publication, Doesn’t Mean It Infringes On Your Copyright. Another case thrown out.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

I get that a lot of people don’t like the big AI companies and how they scrape the web. But these copyright lawsuits being filed against them are absolute garbage. And you want that to be the case, because if it goes the other way, it will do real damage to the open web by Read more about Judge: Just Because AI Trains On Your Publication, Doesn’t Mean It Infringes On Your Copyright. Another case thrown out.[…]

Mapping the ionosphere with millions of phones

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The ionosphere is a layer of weakly ionized plasma bathed in Earth’s geomagnetic field extending about 50–1,500 kilometres above Earth1. The ionospheric total electron content varies in response to Earth’s space environment, interfering with Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS) signals, resulting in one of the largest sources of error for position, navigation and timing services2. Networks Read more about Mapping the ionosphere with millions of phones[…]

Ubisoft Facing Lawsuit Over Shutting Down Online Game

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In 2014, Ubisoft launched The Crew as an open-world, always-online racing game with a campaign and multiplayer mode. It was a fairly successful game for Ubisoft, spawning two sequels—The Crew 2 and Crew: Motorfest. But in December 2023, Ubisoft suddenly delisted the racing game from digital stores and, in April 2024, completely shut off its Read more about Ubisoft Facing Lawsuit Over Shutting Down Online Game[…]

LG’s New Stretchable Screen Can Morph like a Piece of Laffy Taffy

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Imagine a display as flexible as plastic wrap—so malleable you could stretch it over your face in a futuristic impression of expert Saran-wrapping serial killer Dexter. LG is supposing the future will be full of such flexible displays, and its latest rendition of the concept screen is capable of stretching up to 50% of its Read more about LG’s New Stretchable Screen Can Morph like a Piece of Laffy Taffy[…]

Pakistan limits outdoor activities, market hours to curb air pollution-related illness – attacks symptom but not cause

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Pakistan’s Punjab province banned most outdoor activities and ordered shops, markets and malls in some areas to close early from Monday to curb illnesses caused by intense air pollution. The province has closed educational institutions and public spaces like parks and zoos until Nov. 17 in places including Lahore, the world’s most polluted city in Read more about Pakistan limits outdoor activities, market hours to curb air pollution-related illness – attacks symptom but not cause[…]

Retailers Eye Radio emitting ink on fibres to Stop Shoplifting

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] small Spanish technology company, Myruns, and telecommunications operator Telefónica SA about the possible application of a system based on an anti-theft alarm product so thin it’s imperceptible to the naked eye […] The technology from Myruns, in San Sebastian, Spain, may be just one of the efforts to curb thefts that have been studied Read more about Retailers Eye Radio emitting ink on fibres to Stop Shoplifting[…]

The Open Source Project DeFlock Is Mapping License Plate Surveillance Cameras All Over the World

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Flock is one of the largest vendors of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in the country. The company markets itself as having the goal to fully “eliminate crime” with the use of ALPRs and other connected surveillance cameras, a target experts say is impossible. In Huntsville, Freeman noticed that license plate reader cameras were Read more about The Open Source Project DeFlock Is Mapping License Plate Surveillance Cameras All Over the World[…]

Spotify’s Car Thing, Due For Bricking, Is Getting an Open Source Second Life

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you have Spotify’s soon-to-be-bricked Car Thing, there are a few ways you can give it a new lease on life. YouTuber Dammit Jeff has showcased modifications to Car Thing that makes the device useful as a desktop music controller, customizable shortcut tool, or a simple digital clock. Ars Technica’s Kevin Purdy reports: Spotify had Read more about Spotify’s Car Thing, Due For Bricking, Is Getting an Open Source Second Life[…]

Formula 1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults after swearing punishments

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Formula 1 drivers have urged the sport’s governing body to treat them like adults after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has also criticised FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his “tone and language” when addressing the topic. An open letter from the GPDA said: “There Read more about Formula 1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults after swearing punishments[…]