Author: Robin Edgar

Organisational Structures | Technology and Science | Military, IT and Lifestyle consultancy | Social, Broadcast & Cross Media | Flying aircraft

Google taken to court in NL for large scale privacy breaches

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Foundation for the Protection of Privacy Interests and the Consumers’ Association are taking the next step in their fight against Google. The tech company is being taken to court today for ‘large-scale privacy violations’. The proceedings demand, among other things, that Google stop its constant surveillance and sharing of personal data through online advertising Read more about Google taken to court in NL for large scale privacy breaches[…]

BMW Ends Heated Seat Subscriptions Because People Hated It

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Last year, BMW underwent media and customer hellfire over its decision to offer a monthly subscription for heated seats. While seat heating wasn’t the only option available for subscription, it was the one that seemed to infuriate everyone the most, since it concerned hardware already present in the car from the factory. After months of Read more about BMW Ends Heated Seat Subscriptions Because People Hated It[…]

Kokoon / Philips Sleep Headphones (Designed for Ultimate Comfort)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Philips and sleep specialists Kokoon have partnered to create an unparalleled sleep headphone. The Philips Sleep Headphones, powered by Kokoon, blends sleep science and ergonomic know-how with Philips’ century-long reputation for crafting top-notch products. […] Experience a comfort revolution. After numerous nights of testing, our team has crafted an earbud that flawlessly conforms to the Read more about Kokoon / Philips Sleep Headphones (Designed for Ultimate Comfort)[…]

The Grammys will consider that viral song with Drake and The Weeknd AI vocals for awards after all

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The person behind an AI-generated song that went viral earlier this year has submitted the track for Grammy Awards consideration. The Recording Academy has stated that such works aren’t eligible for certain gongs. However, Ghostwriter, the pseudonymous person behind “Heart on My Sleeve,” has submitted the track in the best rap song and song of Read more about The Grammys will consider that viral song with Drake and The Weeknd AI vocals for awards after all[…]

A US senator has a grip on the Confirmation Process for Military Officers and is using it to blackmail the government

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Senator Tuberville’s blanket hold on general officer nominations reaches its six-month anniversary this week. This all seems to have started with a reckless idea dreamed up by a staffer with no experience in the Senate who then left the Senator’s employment after taking credit for it in a Washington Post exposé. From its shaky foundations, Read more about A US senator has a grip on the Confirmation Process for Military Officers and is using it to blackmail the government[…]

Grasping entropy: Teachers and students investigate thermodynamics through a hands-on model

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Though a cornerstone of thermodynamics, entropy remains one of the most vexing concepts to teach budding physicists in the classroom. As a result, many people oversimplify the concept as the amount of disorder in the universe, neglecting its underlying quantitative nature.   In The Physics Teacher, researcher T. Ryan Rogers designed a hand-held model to Read more about Grasping entropy: Teachers and students investigate thermodynamics through a hands-on model[…]

Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft will finally stop forcing Windows 11 users in Europe into Edge if they click a link from the Windows Widgets panel or from search results. The software giant has started testing the changes to Windows 11 in recent test builds of the operating system, but the changes are restricted to countries within the European Read more about Microsoft to stop forcing Windows 11 users into Edge in EU countries[…]

Big Tech failed to police Russian disinformation: EU study

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[…] The independent study of the DSA’s risk management framework published by the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, concluded that commitments by social media platforms to mitigate the reach and influence of global online disinformation campaigns have been generally unsuccessful. The reach of Kremlin-sponsored disinformation has only increased since the major platforms all signed Read more about Big Tech failed to police Russian disinformation: EU study[…]

TV Museum Will Die in 48 Hours Unless Sony Retracts YouTube Copyright Strikes on 40 – 60 year old TV shows

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Rick Klein and his team have been preserving TV adverts, forgotten tapes, and decades-old TV programming for years. Now operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Museum of Classic Chicago Television has called YouTube home since 2007. However, copyright notices sent on behalf of Sony, protecting TV shows between 40 and 60 years old, could shut Read more about TV Museum Will Die in 48 Hours Unless Sony Retracts YouTube Copyright Strikes on 40 – 60 year old TV shows[…]

Mozilla investigates 25 major car brands and finds privacy is shocking

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] The foundation, the Firefox browser maker’s netizen-rights org, assessed the privacy policies and practices of 25 automakers and found all failed its consumer privacy tests and thereby earned its Privacy Not Included (PNI) warning label. If you care even a little about privacy, stay as far away from Nissan’s cars as you possibly can Read more about Mozilla investigates 25 major car brands and finds privacy is shocking[…]

Experts Fear Crooks are Cracking Keys Stolen in LastPass Breach

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In November 2022, the password manager service LastPass disclosed a breach in which hackers stole password vaults containing both encrypted and plaintext data for more than 25 million users. Since then, a steady trickle of six-figure cryptocurrency heists targeting security-conscious people throughout the tech industry has led some security experts to conclude that crooks likely Read more about Experts Fear Crooks are Cracking Keys Stolen in LastPass Breach[…]

Paper Cups Are Bad for the Environment Too, Study Finds

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[…] A study published last month in the journal Environmental Pollution outlines how paper cups can leach toxic materials into the surrounding environment. This is because paper cups are often coated in a layer of polylactic acid, otherwise known as PLA. It’s a bioplastic and is touted as a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic. However, Read more about Paper Cups Are Bad for the Environment Too, Study Finds[…]

Watch Oscilloscope Kickstarter rewards sent – 10 years after backing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It may have taken ten years to come through on this particular Kickstarter, but a promise is a promise. In late August 2023, backers who had since likely forgotten all about the project started receiving their oscilloscope watches from creator [Gabriel Anzziani]. Whatever the reason(s) for the delay, the watch looks great, and is miles Read more about Watch Oscilloscope Kickstarter rewards sent – 10 years after backing[…]

Some Galaxies Contain Double Supermassive Black Holes

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Blazars occupy an intriguing spot in the cosmic zoo. They’re bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) that blast out cosmic rays, are bright in radio emission, and sport huge jets of material traveling in our direction at nearly the speed of light. For some blazars, their jets look curvy and snaky and astronomers have questions. […] Read more about Some Galaxies Contain Double Supermassive Black Holes[…]

antiX 23: Ultralightweight minimal Debian 12 desktop

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The latest release of antiX is Linux how it used to be, in the good way. It’s not the friendliest, but it does everything – and, wow, it’s fast. The “proudly antifascist” antiX project has released its latest edition, based on Debian 12. This release is codenamed Arditi del Popolo – “the People’s Daring Ones” Read more about antiX 23: Ultralightweight minimal Debian 12 desktop[…]

Australian Government, Of All Places, Says Age Verification Is A Privacy & Security Nightmare

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In the past I’ve sometimes described Australia as the land where internet policy is completely upside down. Rather than having a system that protects intermediaries from liability for third party content, Australia went the opposite direction. Rather than recognizing that a search engine merely links to content and isn’t responsible for the content at those Read more about Australian Government, Of All Places, Says Age Verification Is A Privacy & Security Nightmare[…]

Don’t update Baldur’s Gate 3: Companions Hornyness and sex is being cancelled

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Sorry, it turns out it wasn’t that there was just something irresistible about you. Instead it seems that Baldur’s Gate 3 shipped with a bug that meant all the companions were way hornier than intended. I thought something felt odd. Having played enough BioWare games over the years to know that all my companions would Read more about Don’t update Baldur’s Gate 3: Companions Hornyness and sex is being cancelled[…]

Posted in Sex

The AI Act needs a practical definition of ‘subliminal techniques’ (because those used in Advertising aren’t enough)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

While the draft EU AI Act prohibits harmful ‘subliminal techniques’, it doesn’t define the term – we suggest a broader definition that captures problematic manipulation cases without overburdening regulators or companies, write Juan Pablo Bermúdez, Rune Nyrup, Sebastian Deterding and Rafael A. Calvo. Juan Pablo Bermúdez is a Research Associate at Imperial College London; Rune Read more about The AI Act needs a practical definition of ‘subliminal techniques’ (because those used in Advertising aren’t enough)[…]

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: a dual-screen laptop

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Every now and then, a device comes along and challenges you to consider the viability of an entirely new product category. That’s precisely what Lenovo is doing with the Yoga Book 9i. By replacing the traditional physical keyboard with Read more about Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: a dual-screen laptop[…]

Sourcegraph published admin token, someone creates API endpoint with free access

Posted on by Robin Edgar

An unknown hacker gained administrative control of Sourcegraph, an AI-driven service used by developers at Uber, Reddit, Dropbox, and other companies, and used it to provide free access to resources that normally would have required payment. In the process, the hacker(s) may have accessed personal information belonging to Sourcegraph users, Diego Comas, Sourcegraph’s head of Read more about Sourcegraph published admin token, someone creates API endpoint with free access[…]

Lenovo’s new 27-inch, 4K monitor offers glasses-free 3D

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Lenovo’s next 27-inch 4K monitor is unlike any display it has released before. Featuring a lenticular lens and real-time eye-tracking, it’s a 3D monitor that doesn’t require any glasses. Other companies are already pushing stereoscopic products, but Lenovo’s ThinkVision 27 3D Monitor, announced at the IFA conference today, takes the glasses-free experience to a bigger Read more about Lenovo’s new 27-inch, 4K monitor offers glasses-free 3D[…]

Microplastics Tied to Behavioral Changes in Mice, Study Finds

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Researchers at the University of Rhode Island exposed mice to different levels of microplastics via their drinking water to research the impacts on behaviors and how the plastics build up in their bodies. Researchers observed that the microplastics accumulated in the tissue of multiple organs, including those outside of the digestive systems of the Read more about Microplastics Tied to Behavioral Changes in Mice, Study Finds[…]

Magic Leap 1 Vaporware Headsets Will Cease To Function After 2024

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Magic Leap 1 AR headsets will “cease to function” from 31 December 2024, the company announced. Magic Leap sent an email to all customers containing the following: As such, we are announcing that Magic Leap 1 end of life date will be December 31, 2024.  Magic Leap 1 is no longer available for purchase, but Read more about Magic Leap 1 Vaporware Headsets Will Cease To Function After 2024[…]

Alfa Romeo Releases Gorgeous Concept Car – only makes 33 of them. Apparently doesn’t like sales

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is one of only a few cars out there that’ll be available with both a V6 engine and a fully electric drivetrain. While that lets it swing from both sides of the plate, it also highlights just how much heavier EVs are than their combustion counterparts these days. And try Read more about Alfa Romeo Releases Gorgeous Concept Car – only makes 33 of them. Apparently doesn’t like sales[…]

OpenAI disputes authors’ claims that every ChatGPT response is a derivative work, it’s transformative

Posted on by Robin Edgar

This week, OpenAI finally responded to a pair of nearly identical class-action lawsuits from book authors […] In OpenAI’s motion to dismiss (filed in both lawsuits), the company asked a US district court in California to toss all but one claim alleging direct copyright infringement, which OpenAI hopes to defeat at “a later stage of Read more about OpenAI disputes authors’ claims that every ChatGPT response is a derivative work, it’s transformative[…]