Tech News Feed

Landlines Are Dying Out

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 15:21
An anonymous reader shares a report: The number of landline users has plummeted with the rise of cellphones, and the 19th-century technology's days appear to be numbered. Providers like AT&T are looking to exit the business by transitioning customers to cellphones or home telephone service over broadband connections. But for many of the millions of people still clinging to their copper-based landline telephones, newer alternatives are either unavailable, too expensive, or are unreliable when it matters most: in an emergency. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, only a quarter of adults in the United States still have landlines and only around 5 percent say they mostly or only rely on them. The largest group of people holding onto their landlines are 65 and older. Meanwhile, more than 70 percent of adults are using wireless phones only. The copper lines used for traditional landlines carry electricity over the wires, so as long as a phone is corded or charged it will work during a power outage. Landlines are separate from cellular and broadband networks and are not affected by their outages, making them a necessary backstop in rural areas. Many of those same areas have inadequate cellular or internet coverage. "In three, four, maybe five years a lot of states are going to say 'Okay, it's permissible to discontinue service if you, the phone company, can demonstrate there's functional alternative service,'" says Rob Frieden, an Academy and Emeritus Professor of Telecommunications and Law at Pennsylvania State University. AT&T recently asked the California Public Utilities Commission to end its obligation to provide landline service in parts of the state. The Federal Communications Commission, which has to approve a request to end service, said it hasn't received one from AT&T.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Casper Dream Hybrid Review 2024: Casper's New Most Accommodating Bed - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 15:00
Casper has updated its entire mattress lineup, and the new Dream Hybrid is its new accommodating coil bed that is meant to work pretty well for everyone. Here's what our mattress experts think.

Get Some Extra Storage for Cheap During Amazon's Big Spring Sale - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 14:50
If you're constantly struggling with low storage on your devices, then these Western Digital and SanDisk deals are perfect, but you'll want to act fast.

Bitcoin 'Halving' Spurs Exodus of Old US Mining Computers Abroad

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 14:41
An anonymous reader shares a report: About 6,000 older Bitcoin mining machines in the US will soon be idled and sent to a warehouse in Colorado Springs where they'll be refreshed and resold to buyers overseas looking to profit from mining in lower-cost environs. Wholesaler SunnySide Digital operates the 35,000 square-foot facility taking in the equipment from a mining client. The outdated machines are among several hundred-thousand it expects to receive and refurbish around a major quadrennial update in the Bitcoin blockchain. Known as the halving, the late April event will slash the reward that's the main revenue stream for miners, who will try to lessen the impact by upgrading to the latest and most efficient technology. With electricity the biggest expense, mining companies including publicly traded giants Marathon Digital Holdings and Riot Platforms need to lower usage costs to maintain a positive margin. Their older computers may still bring a profit, just not likely in the US. Some 600,000 S19 series computers, which account for a majority of machines currently in use, are moving out of the US mostly to Africa and South America, according to an estimate by Ethan Vera, chief operating officer at crypto-mining services and logistics provider Luxor Technology in Seattle. In Bitcoin mining, specialized machines are used to validate transactions on the blockchain and earn operators a fixed token reward. Anonymous Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto baked in the once-every-four-years halving to maintain the hard cap of 21 million tokens. Next month's event is the fourth since 2012 and the reward will drop to 3.125 Bitcoin from 6.25 now.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Behind the Plot To Break Nvidia's Grip on AI By Targeting Software

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 14:01
An anonymous reader shares a report: Nvidia earned its $2.2 trillion market cap by producing AI chips that have become the lifeblood powering the new era of generative AI developers from startups to Microsoft, OpenAI and Google parent Alphabet. Almost as important to its hardware is the company's nearly 20 years' worth of computer code, which helps make competition with the company nearly impossible. More than 4 million global developers rely on Nvidia's CUDA software platform to build AI and other apps. Now a coalition of tech companies that includes Qualcomm, Google and Intel, plans to loosen Nvidia's chokehold by going after the chip giant's secret weapon: the software that keeps developers tied to Nvidia chips. They are part of an expanding group of financiers and companies hacking away at Nvidia's dominance in AI. "We're actually showing developers how you migrate out from an Nvidia platform," Vinesh Sukumar, Qualcomm's head of AI and machine learning, said in an interview with Reuters. Starting with a piece of technology developed by Intel called OneAPI, the UXL Foundation, a consortium of tech companies, plans to build a suite of software and tools that will be able to power multiple types of AI accelerator chips, executives involved with the group told Reuters. The open-source project aims to make computer code run on any machine, regardless of what chip and hardware powers it. "It's about specifically - in the context of machine learning frameworks - how do we create an open ecosystem, and promote productivity and choice in hardware," Google's director and chief technologist of high-performance computing, Bill Hugo, told Reuters in an interview. Google is one of the founding members of UXL and helps determine the technical direction of the project, Hugo said. UXL's technical steering committee is preparing to nail down technical specifications in the first half of this year. Engineers plan to refine the technical details to a "mature" state by the end of the year, executives said. These executives stressed the need to build a solid foundation to include contributions from multiple companies that can also be deployed on any chip or hardware.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Judge dismisses X's lawsuit against anti-hate group

Engadget - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:30

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit from X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that researches hate speech on the Elon Musk-owned platform. In the decision, the judge said that the lawsuit was an attempt to “punish” the organization for criticizing the company.

X sued the CCDH last summer, accusing the group of “scraping” its platform as part of a “scare campaign” to hurt its advertising business. The group had published research claiming X was failing to act on reports of hate speech, and was in some cases boosting such content.

In a ruling, federal judge Charles Breyer said that “this case is about punishing” CCDH for publishing unflattering research. “It is clear to the Court that if X Corp. was indeed motived to spend money in response to CCDH’s scraping in 2023, it was not because of the harm such scraping posed to the X platform, but because of the harm it posed to X Corp.’s image,” Breyer wrote. “X Corp.’s motivation in bringing this case is evident. X Corp. has brought this case in order to punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp.—and perhaps in order to dissuade others.”

X said it planned to appeal the decision.

In a statement, CCDH CEO Imram Ahmed said that the ruling “affirmed our fundamental right to research, to speak, to advocate, and to hold accountable social media companies for decisions they make behind closed doors.” He added that “it is now abundantly clear that we need federal transparency laws” that would require online platforms to make data available to independent researchers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/judge-dismisses-xs-lawsuit-against-anti-hate-group-173048754.html?src=rss

Save 25% on Nike, Under Amour and More at Macy's Spring Sale - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:27
Macy's is ramping up for better weather with deals on clothing and shoes from Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Puma, Reebok and more.

How to Calculate Your Solar Payback Period - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:17
It can take several years for solar panels to save you enough money to offset the thousands of dollars they cost to install. How to do the math.

Atlas VPN To Shut Down, Transfers Paid Subscribers To NordVPN

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:10
Atlas VPN informed customers on Monday that it will discontinue its services on April 24, citing technological demands, market competition, and escalating costs as key factors in the decision. The company will transfer its paid subscribers to its sister company, NordVPN, for the remainder of their subscription period to ensure uninterrupted VPN services. Atlas VPN, founded with the mission of providing accessible and user-friendly VPN services, expressed gratitude for its users' support.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Final Fantasy XIV Online's Dawntrail expansion arrives on July 2

Engadget - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:02

It's a busy spell for fans of Final Fantasy, and fantasy RPGs in general. Many folks are still working through Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but Dragon's Dogma 2 just dropped and Elden Ring expansion Shadow of the Erdtree arrives in June. The second Final Fantasy XVI DLC, The Rising Tide, will drop on April 18. On top of all that, Square Enix has revealed that Dawntrail, the fifth expansion for Final Fantasy XIV Online, will arrive on July 2. Phew.

Dawntrail arrives just over 19 months after the last major expansion, Endwalker. You'll be able to check out a new storyline, try two fresh classes or jobs (Pictomancer and Viper) and tackle more dungeons. Square Enix is also increasing the level cap to 100 and there are several other additions to delve into.

Pre-orders for the $40 expansion open on Tuesday. Those who buy it in advance will be able to check out Dawntrail several days early, likely starting on June 28. Digital and physical collector's editions will also be available. Snap up either of those and you'll get access to several in-game items, including an Ark mount based on the eidolon from Final Fantasy IX. All editions include access to the previous expansions, Shadowbringers and Endwalker.

Meanwhile, a crossover questline with Final Fantasy XVI will run from April 2 until May 8. Those who complete quests in The Path Infernal will receive several Final Fantasy XVI-themed in-game rewards.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-xiv-onlines-dawntrail-expansion-arrives-on-july-2-170227638.html?src=rss

Google's Original Pixel Watch Now Matches Its Amazon All-Time Low of $200 - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:02
The first-gen Pixel Watch is still a great wearable, and you can now put one on your wrist for just $200.

Best Sim Racing Cockpit for 2024 - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 13:00
A racing sim seat can help you become immersed in your favorite racing games like iRacing, Forza Horizon or Gran Turismo.

Consumers Sue Apple, Taking Page From Justice Department Lawsuit

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 12:41
Apple has been hit with a flurry of new consumer lawsuits accusing the iPhone maker of monopolizing the smartphone market, piggybacking on a sweeping antitrust case lodged by the U.S. Justice Department and 15 states last week. From a report: At least three proposed class actions have been filed since Friday in California and New Jersey federal courts by iPhone owners who claim Apple inflated the cost of its products through anticompetitive conduct. The lawsuits, seeking to represent millions of consumers, mirror the Justice Department's claims that Apple violated U.S. antitrust law by suppressing technology for messaging apps, digital wallets and other items that would have increased competition in the market for smartphones.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Pick up the 2023 Echo Show 8 with a free smart bulb for $100 in the Amazon Spring Sale

Engadget - Mon, 2024-03-25 12:09

Today marks the end of the Amazon Big Spring Sale and there are still a few tech deals still worth checking out, including this bundle of an Echo Show 8 paired with an Amazon Basics smart bulb. If you bought them at full price and separately, you'd pay $163, but now the set is down to $100. That amounts to a 38 percent discount. If you want the smart display on its own, it's the same $100. That's about $10 more than its record low price and a 33 percent savings.  

If you're just starting on the path towards smart home grandeur, you can think of the set as a starter kit, as the Echo Show gives you voice and routine control over your new bulb. We named the previous generation of the Echo Show 8 the best Amazon display in our guide. It strikes a good balance between not taking up too much space and offering a sizable enough viewing area with its 8-inch screen. We also liked how adept it is at handling video calls. 

We were able to get a look at this latest version of the display at a demo during Amazon's hardware event last fall. It has a new edge-to-edge glass front and a more refined design overall. But perhaps the most interesting update is the introduction of the adaptive content feature. Depending on where you are in the room, the display will show different content: large-font time and weather info when you're far away, and more personalized calendar and news articles when you get closer. 

The bulb lets you change its brightness and color just by talking to your smart display. You can also use the Alexa app to set up routines that will, for example, turn off the light when you say "goodnight" or turn it on an hour before sunset.   

Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pick-up-the-2023-echo-show-8-with-a-free-smart-bulb-for-100-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-160940079.html?src=rss

Best Organic Mattress for 2024 - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 12:00
If you've been looking for an organic bed, you've come to the right place. Here are our picks of the best organic mattresses with sustainably sourced materials that are nontoxic and hypoallergenic.

UK Blames China for Massive Breach of Voter Data

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 12:00
The U.K. government has blamed China for a 2021 cyberattack that compromised the personal information of millions of U.K. voters. From a report: In a statement to lawmakers in Parliament on Monday, U.K. deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden attributed the 2021 data breach at the Electoral Commission to hackers working for the Chinese government. Dowden told lawmakers that the U.K. government "will not hesitate to take swift and robust actions wherever the Chinese government threatens the United Kingdom's interests." It's the first time the United Kingdom has attributed the breach since the cyberattack was first disclosed in 2023. The Electoral Commission, which maintains copies of the U.K. register of citizens eligible to vote, said at the time hackers took the names and addresses of an estimated 40 million U.K. citizens, including those who were registered to vote between 2014 and 2022 and overseas voters. The data breach began as early as 2021 but wasn't detected until a year later. In a statement Monday, the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said it is "highly likely" that the Chinese hackers accessed and exfiltrated emails and data from the electoral register during the hack.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Astronomers discover 49 new galaxies in under three hours

Science Daily Astronomy - Mon, 2024-03-25 11:41
New work aimed to study the star-forming gas in a single radio galaxy. Although the team didn't find any star-forming gas in the galaxy they were studying, they instead discovered other galaxies while inspecting the data. In total, the gas of 49 galaxies was detected.

Final Day of Amazon's Big Spring Sale Brings a Whopping 52% Discount on This Exercise Bike - CNET

CNET News - Mon, 2024-03-25 11:30
Grab this $500 Echelon EX-15 Smart Connect fitness bike for just $240 with this one-day deal.

DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit Says Apple Is Causing Android Users 'Social Stigma'

SlashDot - Mon, 2024-03-25 11:21
FrankOVD shares a report: Here's a paragraph from the DOJ's antitrust lawsuit against Apple in full: "In addition to degrading the quality of third-party messaging apps, Apple affirmatively undermines the quality of rival smartphones. For example, if an iPhone user messages a non-iPhone user in Apple Messages -- the default messaging app on an iPhone -- then the text appears to the iPhone user as a green bubble and incorporates limited functionality: the conversation is not encrypted, videos are pixelated and grainy, and users cannot edit messages or see typing indicators. "This signals to users that rival smartphones are lower quality because the experience of messaging friends and family who do not own iPhones is worse -- even though Apple, not the rival smartphone, is the cause of that degraded user experience. Many non-iPhone users also experience social stigma, exclusion, and blame for 'breaking' chats where other participants own iPhones. This effect is particularly powerful for certain demographics, like teenagers -- where the iPhone's share is 85 percent, according to one survey. This social pressure reinforces switching costs and drives users to continue buying iPhones -- solidifying Apple's smartphone dominance not because Apple has made its smartphone better, but because it has made communicating with other smartphones worse."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Prime members can get two Switch-ready SanDisk microSD cards for $25 in the Amazon Spring Sale

Engadget - Mon, 2024-03-25 11:13

Amazon is selling a two-pack of SanDisk microSD cards for $25 as part of the company’s Big Spring Sale. Each card is 128GB, totaling 256GB of sweet, sweet game storage. These are drives that have been designed and pre-formatted for Nintendo Switch systems, though they’ll work with just about any microSD reader. This deal, however, is only for Prime members.

The Nintendo Switch is notoriously stingy when it comes to integrated storage, offering just 32GB, so microSD cards are an absolute must for AAA titles. Nintendo may be wizards when it comes to compressing its games, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is only 16GB, but that space is still gonna fill up fast.

As a Switch-friendly bonus, each card comes emblazoned with a Mario-esque mushroom logo. We’ve always liked these SanDisk drives and gave them a call out in our list of the best microSD cards. They come with a lifetime warranty and boast read/write speeds that are, more or less, comparable to rival products. The max write speed is 90MB/s and the max read speed is 100MB/s. This isn’t as fast as something like the Samsung Pro Ultimate, but it’s a whole lot cheaper.

Looking for more than 128GB of storage? The above deal is part of a larger sale on SanDisk and Western Digital products. There are microSD drives up to 1TB, plenty of USB stick drives and external storage solutions. Also, if Mushroom Kingdom iconography is not your bag, you can pick up a 1TB SanDisk card that has been stamped with the Triforce from Zelda for $95.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-members-can-get-two-switch-ready-sandisk-microsd-cards-for-25-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-151356052.html?src=rss

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