Your OnePlus phone is probably at risk from a major SMS vulnerability
The majority of OnePlus phones in use today may be vulnerable to a security flaw that leaves SMS and MMS data exposed, and it won’t be patched until mid-October. Only OnePlus phones still running 2020’s OxygenOS 11 or earlier are believed to be safe from the flaw. Security company Rapid7 was first to discover the […]
The UK announces mandatory digital ID plans
The United Kingdom is introducing a national digital ID scheme in an effort to crack down on illegal migrant workers. A government press release on Friday announced that the digital ID will be stored on mobile devices through the GOV.UK wallet app currently in development, and will be a mandatory requirement for adults to work […]
Instagram’s ‘pay or consent’ approach to ads is coming to UK after being rejected in EU
Meta is bringing its “pay or consent” ad model to the UK after months of wrangling with regulators over the controversial policy. The update will force Instagram and Facebook users to pick between being served up personalized ads or shelling out for monthly subscriptions to ad-free versions. Subscriptions start at £2.99 a month, around $4, […]
Microsoft and Asus open Xbox Ally preorders — the X costs $999
Today, Microsoft and Asus are officially opening preorders for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X at $599 and $999 respectively in the US. They’re $799 CAD and $1299 CAD in Canada, €599 and €899 in Europe, £499 and £799 in the UK, and $799 AUD and $1599 AUD in Australia. They both […]
Hell yeah, I want a Gundam keyboard with topre switches
Japanese keyboard maker Realforce is teaming up with the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise and releasing four limited edition mechanical keyboards inspired by popular Gundam designs. The four keyboards are based on the Z Gundam and Hyaku Shiki from Zeta Gundam and the Nu Gundam and Sazabi of Char’s Counterattack fame. Realforce’s Japanese site indicates reservations […]
Nintendo of America boss Doug Bowser is retiring
One of Nintendo’s most recognizable names is stepping down. Today the company announced that the aptly named Doug Bowser, who took over as president of Nintendo of America from Reggie Fils-Aimé in 2019, will be retiring. He’ll stay on until the end of the year — December 31st, to be precise — and will be […]
Nvidia is letting anyone use its AI voice animation tech
Nvidia is open-sourcing Audio2Face, its AI-powered tool that generates realistic facial animations for 3D avatars — all based on audio input. The change means developers can now use the tool and its underlying framework to create realistic 3D characters for their games and apps. Nvidia’s Audio2Face works by analyzing the “acoustic features” of a voice, […]
Trump signs executive order approving TikTok deal
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving a TikTok deal that will save it from a nationwide ban. The deal values TikTok’s US operations at $14 billion and puts it under the control of companies based in the US. “I spoke with President Xi [Jinping], we had a good talk,” Trump said during […]
Silicon Valley’s latest argument against regulating AI: that would literally be the Antichrist
In a four-part series of religious lectures in San Francisco, Peter Thiel - yes, that Peter Thiel - has argued that the End Times are nigh and that a biblical Antichrist - yes, that Antichrist - will come to Earth in the form of onerous government regulations placed on science, technology, and AI. These are, […]
Microsoft says this new cooling method could enable more powerful chips and efficient data centers
Microsoft is making advances with a new way to cool microchips that it says could lead to more energy-efficient data centers in the future. It's a method called microfluidics that involves liquid coolant flowing directly into the silicon. After lab tests, Microsoft found that this strategy can remove heat up to three times better than […]