Posts Tagged: would

AI has spoken: the Apple Car would have been adorable

After a decade of rumors and speculation, the Apple Car is dead. Last week, Bloomberg reported that the multibillion-dollar project had finally been scrapped. Reports about the electric vehicle never quite seemed real, but now we have many new details about the car that never was thanks to an excellent post-mortem from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The story includes many astonishing details about various Apple executives’ plans for the car, and why the project ultimately failed. But some of the best details are the descriptions of what the vehicle was supposed to look like.

At one point, Apple’s leaders were adamant that the autonomous “microbus” should not include a steering wheel or pedals. It would have “club seating like a private plane” and curved sides and a glass roof. Famed Apple designer Jony Ive thought the interior should be “covered in stainless steel, wood and white fabric,” and that it should only come in one color: white.

Since any actual mock-ups of the car, which Gurman says was sometimes referred to as the “Bread Loaf,” are presumably locked deep inside a well-guarded Apple office, I did the next best thing and asked AI. The results are, actually, kind of cute?

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-has-spoken-the-apple-car-would-have-been-adorable-020527007.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Would You Buy The Galaxy S25 If It Was Exynos-Only?

A currently uncredible rumor claims the Galaxy S25 lineup will only come with Exynos chips. While we’re taking that with a pinch of salt, it begs the question: would you still buy one?
TalkAndroid

FTC appeals ruling that would have let Microsoft’s Activision takeover move forward

The Federal Trade Commission isn't giving up on its attempt to halt Microsoft's pending $ 68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. The agency said in a filing it's appealing Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley's denial of its request for a preliminary injunction to temporarily stop the deal from going through.

The FTC has sued to prevent the merger from happening over antitrust concerns. An administrative trial is set to start in August, but the companies have a merger deadline of July 18th. The agency was concerned Microsoft and Activision would close their deal by then despite a UK regulator blocking the deal in that country.

Bloomberg first reported that the agency was considering an appeal against Corley's decision. The FTC told Engadget after Tuesday's ruling that it would announce its "next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers" in the following days.

Corley ruled that, unless the FTC obtains an emergency stay from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by 11:59PM PT on July 14th, a temporary restraining order that's currently preventing Microsoft and Activision from closing the deal will be dissolved. The restraining order was put in place until Corley made a decision on the preliminary injunction. 

Meanwhile, after Corley's ruling, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority said they agreed to pause their legal battle and see if they could reach a compromise. The CMA later clarified that although "merging parties don’t have the opportunity to put forward new remedies once a final report has been issued, they can choose to restructure a deal." It added that doing so could lead to a fresh merger investigation.

"The District Court's ruling makes crystal clear that this acquisition is good for both competition and consumers," Microsoft president and vice-chair Brad Smith said in a statement posted to Twitter. "We're disappointed that the FTC is continuing to pursue what has become a demonstrably weak case, and we will oppose further efforts to delay the ability to move forward."

"The facts haven’t changed. We’re confident the US will remain among the 39 countries where the merger can close," Activision Blizzard said in a statement to Engadget. "We look forward to reinforcing the strength of our case in court, again.”

Update 7/12 9:10PM ET: Added Activision's statement.

Update 7/12 10:19PM ET: Added Brad Smith's statement.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ftc-appeals-ruling-that-would-have-let-microsofts-activision-takeover-move-forward-231729137.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Senate bill would hold AI companies liable for harmful content

Politicians think they have a way to hold companies accountable for troublesome generative AI: take away their legal protection. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley have introduced a No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act that, as the name suggests, would prevent OpenAI, Google and similar firms from using the Communications Decency Act's Section 230 to waive liability for harmful content and avoid lawsuits. If someone created a deepfake image or sound bite to ruin a reputation, for instance, the tool developer could be held responsible alongside the person who used it.

Hawley characterizes the bill as forcing AI creators to "take responsibility for business decisions" as they're developing products. He also casts the legislation as a "first step" toward creating rules for AI and establishing safety measures. In a hearing this week on AI's effect on human rights, Blumenthal urged Congress to deny AI the broad Section 230 safeguards that have shielded social networks from legal consequences.

In May, Blumenthal and Hawley held a hearing where speakers like OpenAI chief Sam Altman called for the government to act on AI. Industry leaders have already urged a pause on AI experimentation, and more recently compared the threat of unchecked AI to that of nuclear war.

Congress has pushed for Section 230 reforms for years in a bid to rein in tech companies, particularly over concerns that internet giants might knowingly allow hurtful content. A 2021 House bill would have held businesses liable if they knowingly used algorithms that cause emotional or physical harm. These bills have stalled, though, and Section 230 has remained intact. Legislators have had more success in setting age verification requirements that theoretically reduce mental health issues for younger users.

It's not clear this bill stands a greater chance of success. Blumenthal and Hawley are known for introducing online content bills that fail to gain traction, such as the child safety-oriented EARN IT Act and Hawley's anti-addiction SMART Act. On top of persuading fellow senators, they'll need an equivalent House bill that also survives a vote.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/senate-bill-would-hold-ai-companies-liable-for-harmful-content-212340911.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

I thought I would hate the Apple Watch Ultra, but I love it

Since it was announced, I thought I would hate the Apple Watch Ultra’s big, bulky design. But I finally tried one for myself — and now I love it.
Digital Trends

What is a DAC and why would you need one?

What is a DAC, or digital-to-analog converter? Here’s how these common components work, and why audiophiles like to use upgraded versions for their music.
Digital Trends

Clubhouse adds chat function for those who would rather text

Social audio app Clubhouse is adding a text chat function to its voice rooms, it announced Thursday. Similar to what you see in Discord or a Zoom call, users who don’t want to speak can write out their opinions in the room’s chat channel. While it may seem counterintuitive for an audio-only app to also feature text, it’s a change that some users have been gunning for. Especially in extra-large rooms or rooms dominated by a few celebrity speakers, an in-chat function may be the only way some people can join the discourse.

But a chat function can also be a moderation nightmare, as anyone who has spent a few minutes on Twitch can attest to. Clubhouse has laid out a few ways for creators to keep their rooms from flying off the handle. Creators can appoint mods to delete messages and kick out disruptive users from the room. You can also report messages that violate Clubhouse’s user guidelines to the platform. For those who would rather keep their rooms audio-only, the in-chat room function is optional. Creators can opt-out of in-room chat when they create their room. And if you choose to record your room’s audio, the written chat log will also be saved.

As social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Reddit add Clubhouse-like features, Clubhouse is starting to resemble the rest of social media. Once only available as a mobile app, Clubhouse last month rolled out a way for people to listen to conversations on their desktops. Users can also send direct messages to each other with Backchannel. As live voice chat rooms become less of a novelty, Clubhouse will likely have to get creative in order to keep up with competitors.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

NYC bill would ban grocery apps from promising 15-minute deliveries

Grocery apps in New York City might have to tone down promises of ultra-fast deliveries. The New York Postreports city Councilman Christopher Marte plans to introduce a bill that will ban these apps from advertising 15-minute delivery times. The estimates encourage couriers to violate traffic laws and put people at risk, Marte said.

The bill should be ready within the next few weeks. It would be part of a larger legislation bundle tackling grocery apps. Marte said he was pressing for bills that would provide more benefits and protections to delivery workers, but hasn't shared more details.

The potential law comes as competition for fast deliveries heats up in New York. Services like Gorillas, Fridge No More and Jokr already boast of 15-minute delivery times, and DoorDash is piloting a similarly quick service in Manhattan. In many cases, the services manage speedy deliveries by shopping within a small radius and using full-time employees instead of gig workers.

However, they also follow a small but growing string of e-bike accidents in NYC. At least 20 people died in collisions linked to e-bikes in 2020. The bill won't guarantee the safety of delivery workers, but it might reduce the chances that they'll gamble with their health to arrive on time.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

SpaceX shows what a Starship launch would look like

Elon Musk has given SpaceX's first huge Starship update in years, and during his presentation, the company showed off what a launch with the massive launch system would look like. The Starship system is composed of the Starship spacecraft itself on top of a Super Heavy booster. SpaceX is working towards making it rapidly and fully reusable so as to make launches to the Moon and to Mars feasible. After making its way outside our planet, the booster will break off and return to its launch tower, where it will ideally be caught by the tower arms. As for the spacecraft, it will proceed to its destination before making its way back to Earth. 

Musk said the booster will spend six minutes in the air over all, two upon ascent and four for its return trip. In the future, the system could be reused every six to eight hours for three launches a day. SpaceX says achieving a fully and rapidly reusable system is "key to a future in which humanity is out exploring the stars." Musk also talked about how in-orbit refilling — not "refueling," since the vehicle's Raptor engines use more liquid oxygen than fuel — is essential for long-duration flights. 

The Super Heavy booster, Musk said, has more than twice the thrust of a Saturn V, the largest rocket to ever head to space so far. In its current iteration, it has 29 Raptor engines, but it could eventually have 33. Speaking of those engines, Raptor version 2 is a complete redesign of the first, costs half as much and needs fewer parts. The company is capable of manufacturing five to six a week at the moment, but it could apparently be capable of producing as many as seven by next month. 

Aside from being able to carry hundreds of tons, the Starship could revolutionize space travel if SpaceX can truly make launches as affordable as Musk said it could. He revealed during the event that a Starship launch could cost les than $ 10 million per flight, all in, within two to three years. That's significantly less than a Falcon 9 launch that costs around $ 60 million. 

SpaceX wants to launch the Starship from its Boca Chica, Texas facility called Starbase, where it's been building the rocket's prototype. It has yet to secure approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to do so, and Musk said the company doesn't know where things stand with the agency exactly. However, there's apparently a rough indication that the FAA will be come with its environmental assessment in March. SpaceX also expects the rocket to be ready by then, which means Starship's first orbital test flight could be on the horizon. 

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

How the Huawei Watch GT 3 shows what an Apple Watch for Android would be like

You can’t use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, but what if Apple suddenly made it possible? The Huawei Watch GT 3 shows what it may be like.
Wearables | Digital Trends

Rumors point to Samsung announcing a Fan Edition of the Galaxy Note 20, would you buy one?

With a plastic rear panel, a 60Hz display with lower resolution, inferior rear cameras, and costing $ 999, the regular Galaxy Note 20 was always going to be found wanting in comparison to its more capable sibling, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. What’s worse, is that the Galaxy Note 20 doesn’t offer much over its Galaxy […]

Come comment on this article: Rumors point to Samsung announcing a Fan Edition of the Galaxy Note 20, would you buy one?

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Chinese government reportedly would rather TikTok shut down than be sold

China could throw yet another wrench in TikTok’s attempts to secure its future in the US. Officials in the country are opposed to a sale and would rather see the app be banned than sold to an American company, Reuters reports.The report, which cites…
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Senate bill would set privacy requirements for COVID-19 tracking

Now that COVID-19 lockdowns are slowly starting to lift in the US, a group of senators want to set privacy expectations for the contact tracing apps that could help keep the virus in check. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Jerry Moran, John Thune and Roger…
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Would you be interested in a Windows 10 phone that could run Android apps?

Windows Phone is long gone, and even Microsoft’s attempts to get back into the smartphone game just run Android. But if you still like the idea of Windows as a mobile operating system, well, you’re not alone. Emperion is a smaller company that’s apparently worked with Microsoft to put Windows 10’s ARM version on a […]

Come comment on this article: Would you be interested in a Windows 10 phone that could run Android apps?

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Would you pay a $10 subscription every month for a pair of high-end headphones?

Headphones can be expensive. High-quality headphones can be really expensive. If you really wanted a nice set, would you be willing to pay a monthly fee for a rental service on a pair? That’s exactly what Nura is offering. They’re an Australian company that’s developed a pretty snazzy pair of headphones, and they apparently offer […]

Come comment on this article: Would you pay a $ 10 subscription every month for a pair of high-end headphones?

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What would you have named Android Q?

Yesterday Google announced that they’ll be moving away from naming Android releases after desserts, and Android Q will officially be Android 10. There’s a ton of good reasons for that, especially with certain desserts and treats not really making sense in some countries around the world. Q, for example, would’ve actually be really hard to […]

Come comment on this article: What would you have named Android Q?

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Texas bill would make it illegal to throttle data in disaster areas

The revelation that Verizon (Engadget's parent company) throttled California firefighters' data is prompting new legislation… in Texas. State Representative Bobby Guerra has submitted a bill that would make it illegal for wireless carriers to "imp…
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Trump proposal would end California’s tougher car emission standards

It's no secret that the Trump administration is bristling at the Clean Air Act waiver that lets California apply stricter car emissions standards — the state effectively determines the standards for the rest of the country, negating any federal atte…
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Sony’s autonomous concept would make a great party bus

Sony's concept vehicle is all about entertainment on the go. Naturally. Its SC-1 (translated) is more or less a shuttle outfitted with high-res image sensors, displays, AI, 5G data connectivity via Docomo, alternative fuels, LIDAR and a bevy of ultra…
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This $36,000 safe is what Bruce Wayne would use for his watch collection

If you’re lucky enough to have a large, valuable watch collection, you need somewhere to keep them safe and in good working order. This $ 36,000 Bluetooth-connected, leather-wrapped safe will do both.

The post This $ 36,000 safe is what Bruce Wayne would use for his watch collection appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

Elon Musk’s Mars colony would have a horde of mining robots

If it wasn't already clear that Elon Musk has considered virtually every aspect of what it would take to colonize Mars, it is now. As part of his Reddit AMA session, the SpaceX founder has revealed that his vision of a permanent colony would entail a…
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Would you like your Amazon Prime delivery left inside your door?

August smart locks and Garageio connected garage door openers are being tested with an unnamed Seattle-based retailer for in-home package delivery service. Best guess? Amazon is prepping another home delivery option for Prime members.

The post Would you like your Amazon Prime delivery left inside your door? appeared first on Digital Trends.

Cool Tech–Digital Trends

Acer might launch a gaming smartwatch, but would you wear it?

Acer is rumored to introduce a smartwatch in the near future, and to make it standout, it’ll be one made for gamers. Exactly what that means isn’t known, but here’s what we think we know about the watch so far.

The post Acer might launch a gaming smartwatch, but would you wear it? appeared first on Digital Trends.

Wearables–Digital Trends

What advice would you give your younger self? #DearMe

Remember being a teenager? At times it was tough, especially if you were a girl. The gossip. The bullying. The self-doubt. For many girls, the path to finding themselves was littered with doubt, uncertainty and pressure from all sides.

But what if you could speak to your younger self? What if you could offer advice and encouragement to help make that path a little smoother?

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re encouraging people to upload a video letter to YouTube, addressed to their younger selves. It all starts with two words: #DearMe


Whether you’re worrying about your body (Laci Green), fearing being afraid (Grace Helbig), questioning who you are (Hannah Hart), failing to fulfill stereotypes (Issa Rae), or learning to be comfortable being your weird, wonderful self (Superwoman), you can share your experiences to help make that journey easier for a new generation of girls.

Take part in this movement by uploading a video letter to your younger self to YouTube and join the conversation with #DearMe. You can also put together a GIF using our easy GIF-maker on our Tumblr page at youtubedearme.com.

YouTube is a place where people can come together, share interests, relate experiences and offer each other support. From #ItGetsBetter to #ProudtoPlay, we’ve seen our community inspire and empower those in need of encouragement. Today, we’re asking you to do the same for girls who don’t have to face their problems alone.

It all starts with two words.

Cathy Tang, Marketing Manager for YouTube, recently watched “Girls & Body Image.”


YouTube Blog