To mark the extension of their cooperation, the two railway companies have also presented a new Eurocity train that will run between the two countries.
An additional connection from Zurich to Milan and Venice will also be introduced from 2026, the Federal Railways said in a statement on Friday.
With the signing of a cooperation agreement at Milano Centrale station on Friday, the two companies extended their multi-year collaboration.
The partnership between Trenitalia and the Federal Railways began in 2009 and has been a success, according to the statement. The two railway companies have already transported 30 million travellers between Italy and Switzerland.
Ache uma vaga de emprego interessante que é para gerente de projetos com conhecimentos de blockchain... não estou necessariamente procurando emprego mas pode ser uma oportunidade interessante pra migrar ainda mais para o unvierso blockchain
Estou realmente impressionado com o mercado do Rising Star! Minhas cartas estão vendendo dia após dia. Não achei que ainda houvesse um mercado vivo no jogo mas parece que há sim
Throughout his 40-year career, Todd also featured in hundreds of films, stage productions and television dramas, including roles in the Transformers and Final Destination films.
Todd continued as Candyman from the first film in 1992 through follow-ups in 1995 and 1999, and reprised the role in 2021 for a fourth film serving as a direct sequel to the original.
The 1992 film sees Todd's character accidentally summoned to the real world by a graduate student in Chicago intrigued by the urban legend of the Candyman, setting off a chain of murderous events.
The way feel in all that content entertainment.... It can be joking news meme etc .. you can also invite friends on the threadcast, Put up movie and watch together.... It's all about entertainment 😄😝😝..
TOKYO -- Sony’s profit surged 69% in July-September from a year earlier on the back of strong sales of its image sensors, games, music and network services, the Japanese electronics and entertainment company reported Friday.
Sales also held up in its video games division. During the latest quarter, 3.8 million PlayStation 5 game consoles were sold globally, although that’s below the 4.9 million units sold the same period a year ago.
Demand remained strong for PS5 game software, according to Sony.
Among the recent hit films from Sony was “It Ends With Us,” a romantic drama based on a novel.
Sony, which also makes digital cameras and TVs, stuck to its forecast for a 980 billion yen ($6.4 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March 2025, up 1% from the previous fiscal year.
NEW YORK -- The 2025 Grammy Award nominations are just around the corner — who will compete for the top prizes?
Nominees will be announced during a video stream live on the Grammy website and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel on Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific and 11 a.m. Eastern, kicking off with a pre-show 15 minutes earlier.
A host of talent is on deck to announce the nominees, including Gayle King, Jim Gaffigan and a long list of past Grammy winners: Brandy Clark, Kirk Franklin, David Frost, Robert Gordon, Kylie Minogue, Gaby Moreno, Deanie Parker, Ben Platt, Mark Ronson, Hayley Williams and last year's best new artist recipient, Victoria Monét.
Only recordings commercially released in the U.S. between Sept. 16, 2023 through Aug. 30, 2024 are eligible for nominations, so don’t expect to see album nods for Future's “Mixtape Pluto” (though Future and Metro Boomin's “We Don’t Trust You” is very likely to score a nomination), George Strait's “Cowboys and Dreamers,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” or “Warriors,” Lin-Manuel Miranda's first full post-“Hamilton” musical with Pulitzer finalist Eisa Davis.
There's plenty of unknowns going into the announcements: Will Beyoncé and Post Malone receive nominations in the country music categories following the success of their massive albums “Cowboy Carter” and “F-1 Trillion,” respectively, even though they are megastars previously not directly associated with the genre?
Will Shaboozey's “A Bar Song (Tipsy)," the biggest song of the year that combines his country twang with the familiar sample of J Kwon’s 2004 rap hit “Tipsy" dominate?
The 2025 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 2 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
BUENOS AIRES -- Three people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction who died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires last month, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.
Prosecutor Andrés Madrea charged the three suspects, whose identities were not revealed, with the crimes of “abandonment of a person followed by death” and “supplying and facilitating the use of narcotics,” the prosecutor’s office said. Madrea also requested their arrest to judge Laura Bruniard, who ruled the three cannot leave the country.
Payne fell from his room's balcony on the third floor of his hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Palermo, in the Argentine capital. His autopsy said he died from multiple injuries and external bleeding.
Prosecutors also said that Payne’s toxicological exams showed that his body had "traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed antidepressant” in the moments before his death.
Investigators said hours after Payne’s death that he was by himself when he fell. But the prosecutors' office said Thursday that one of the people charged was often with the singer during his time in Buenos Aires. The second is a hotel staffer who allegedly gave Payne cocaine during his stay between Oct. 13 and 16. And the third is a drug dealer.
The charges in Payne’s case bear some resemblance to the U.S. cases stemming from the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry a year ago. The actor’s personal assistant and a longtime friend are among those charged with helping supply him with ketamine in the final months of his life, leading up to his overdose on the anesthetic.
Three young men were similarly charged in the opioid-overdose death of rapper Mac Miller in 2018.
Local authorities gathered, among other pieces of evidence, Payne's cell phone records, material for forensics and testimonies. They are yet to unlock the singer’s personal computer – which is damaged – and other devices that were seized.
Payne’s autopsy showed his injuries were neither caused by self-harm nor by physical intervention of others. The document also said that he did not have the reflex of protecting himself in the fall, which suggests he might have been unconscious.
Prosecutors in Argentina also ruled out the chances of Payne committing suicide.
One Direction was among the most successful boy bands of recent times. It announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016 and Payne — like his former bandmates Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson — pursued a solo career.
The singer had posted on his Snapchat account that he traveled to Argentina to attend Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2. He shared videos of himself dancing with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy, and singing along in the stands. Cassidy had left Argentina after the show, but Payne stayed behind.
The town of Springfield will host a National Football League game in December at Atoms Stadium, but neither the Springfield Atoms nor the Shelbyville Sharks will take the field.
Instead, the Bengals-Cowboys game on December 9 will be transformed into the world of TV’s longest running sitcom The Simpsons for a special Funday Football edition of Monday Night Football. The special Simpsons-ized broadcast will air on the ESPN+ and Disney+ streaming services and the NFL+ mobile app. The game will broadcast in its regular form on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
The game will implement tracking technology to turn the players on the field and ESPN commentators Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky and Drew Carter into Simpsons characters. Kimes, Orlovsky and Carter will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to see their virtual environments. The quarterbacks will be transformed into Bart for the Cincinnati Bengals and Homer for the Dallas Cowboys using Sony’s Beyond Sports AI data analyzer and Hawk-Eye Innovations sports tracking and broadcast technology, according to a Disney press release.
The game will also feature more characters and pre-animated scenes from the show’s original cast including Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner and Yeardley Smith along with some surprise sports cameos. Characters like Lisa, Krusty the Clown, Carl, Lenny, Moe and Milhouse will be on the sidelines rooting for their respective teams. The announcement doesn’t mention Harry Shearer, so don’t expect Mr. Burns or Smithers to be at the game.
This isn’t the first time that ESPN has turned a regular season NFL game into an animated spectacle. Last year, Disney, ESPN and the NFL teamed up to turn an October game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars into a Toy Story themed game that transformed London’s Wembley Stadium into Andy’s room. The kids’ cable network Nickelodeon has also aired a few NFL games for its NFL Slimetime broadcasts featuring live commentary from animated characters like SpongeBob voiced by Tom Kenny and Patrick Star voiced by Bill Fagerbakke and computerized slime spewing in the end zones after touchdowns.
There’s time for one more Armageddon for Amazon’s Good Omens but not much. Amazon Prime Video announced that Good Omens would return for one final season last year, but TVLine reports it’s only going to have one 90-minute episode that will begin filming in Scotland soon.
Amazon originally confirmed that author Neil Gaiman, who co-wrote the book upon which Good Omens is based with Discworld creator Terry Pratchett, will continue through the final season as the show’s executive producer, writer and showrunner. TVLine says Gaiman “contributed to the episode’s writing,” but “he will not work on the production.”
Gaiman has stepped out of the spotlight and away from several projects based on his works since his sexual assault allegations surfaced in July. The Tortoise Media podcast Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman outlined the author’s alleged behavior with accounts from four women, one of whom signed a non-disclosure agreement. A fifth woman later stepped forward with similar accusations on the podcast. Gaiman denied the allegations and said he was “disturbed” by them, according to Rolling Stone.
Good Omens stars Michael Sheen as the angelic, fussy angel Aziraphale and David Tennant as the free-wheeling demon Crowley who formed an unlikely alliance to prevent the coming of the Antichrist and the fall of humankind. The dramatic comedy started as a limited series on Amazon’s streaming network in 2019 but the show’s popularity prompted a second season in 2020 with an expanded cast including Jon Hamm as the archangel Gabriel.
It's been over half a decade since we first heard rumblings of a Section 31 spinoff, and now we finally have a release date. Star Trek: Section 31 will be exclusively available on Paramount+ starting Friday, January 25. The news came during a Star Trek universe panel at Comic Con over the weekend.
The movie stars Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, a role she played in Star Trek: Discovery. She joins a "secret division of Starfleet" that must protect the United Federation of Planets while she faces the "sins of her past." Alongside Yeoh, Star Trek: Section 31 stars actors such as Sam Richardson and Omari Hardwick.
An adaptation focused solely on Section 31 and starring Yeoh has been in the works since 2019. At the time, CBS All Access (now Paramount+) announced it would be a TV show focused on her character, Captain Georgiou. Then, in 2023, the production officially got the green light but, instead, as a movie. The news came just one month after Yeoh won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (lesson: winning prestigious awards can get things going).
We are so close to getting season two of Squid Game — the show famously rejected for nearly a decade before becoming a sensation on Netflix. The streamer has just shared a full-length trailer ahead of the season's December 26 premiere, calling for viewers to "Get back in the game."
It features Gong Yoo reprising his role as the salesman. Yoo starts his day calmly, looking at the cityscape and getting ready alongside cheery music before the atmosphere turns sinister as he opens a safe, grabbing ddakji pieces. He then heads to the subway and approaches a new player, asking, "Sir, would you like to play a game with me?"
Netflix first announced Squid Game season two in 2022 but only set a release date in August — nearly three years after the first season came out. Next time, there shouldn't be as large a gap as Netflix also shared that the show's third and final season should arrive in 2025.
NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs filed a new request for bail on Friday, saying changed circumstances, along with new evidence, mean the hip-hop mogul should be allowed to prepare for a May trial from outside jail.
Lawyers for Combs filed the request in Manhattan federal court, where his previous requests for bail have been rejected by two judges since his September arrest on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.
He has been awaiting a May 5 trial at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.
In their new court filing, lawyers for Combs say they are proposing a “far more robust” bail package that would subject the entertainer to strict around-the-clock security monitoring and near-total restrictions on his ability to contact anyone but his lawyers. But the amount of money they attach to the package remains $50 million, as they proposed before.
They also cite new evidence that they say “makes clear that the government's case is thin.” That evidence, the lawyers said, refutes the government's claim that a March 2016 video showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend occurred during a coerced “freak off,” a sexually driven event described in the indictment against Combs.
They wrote that the encounter was instead “a minutes-long glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship” between Combs and his then-girlfriend.
The lawyers argued that the jail conditions Combs is experiencing at the Metropolitan Detention Center
in Brooklyn violate his constitutional rights to participate in his defense.
A spokesperson for prosecutors declined to comment.
Infosys has gone all in with AI, training employees across all roles to use tools like GitHub Copilot and Meta’s Llama. They’re creating AI models to improve how businesses run, and even a personal assistant called InfyMe for quick information access. It’s all about making work smoother and faster.
SpaceX has scheduled its next Starship test flight for as soon as Nov. 18, making incremental changes since the previous flight in October.
The company announced Nov. 6 that it was planning the sixth integrated Starship/Super Heavy flight from its Starbase facility at Boca Chica, Texas, for the afternoon of Nov. 18. The announcement coincided with the release of airspace restrictions for the flight attempt by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SpaceX described the upcoming flight as one intended to “expand the envelope on ship and booster capabilities and get closer to bringing reuse of the entire system online.” The flight will follow a similar suborbital profile as the previous flight Oct. 13, including an attempt to return the Super Heavy booster to the launch site for a “catch” by the launch tower.
Tsinghua University and Zhipu AI researchers created WEBRL to train web agents using open LLMs, helping them learn by trial and error. It means that, instead of preset tasks, agents evolve by solving new tasks generated from past mistakes. This new approach shows promise for smarter, autonomous web agents.
iOS 18.1 can display emoji reactions from Android users correctly. iOS was unable to display message reactions correctly when RCS first launched on the platform in September. Apple has been ignoring Google's campaign to adopt RCS for years, only complying after pressure from both China and the EU. The company will likely keep as many exclusive features as possible for its iMessage service as long as it isn't forced to change.
Machine learning is now able to create data structures on its own, adapting to the needs of each task. This means quicker, more efficient data searches tailored to how information is arranged. For example, it’s like organizing books by how often you read them instead of alphabetically. This research could make data retrieval way faster and smarter across different fields.
I read about a new idea in AI called the "Tree of Problems" (ToP), designed by researchers at Inria. ToP helps large language models (LLMs) handle complex tasks by breaking them into smaller steps, like solving a puzzle piece by piece. This structured way of thinking makes LLMs more accurate and efficient. I love how this idea simplifies hard problems, letting AI handle intricate tasks better than before.
Meta Lab, a pop-up experiential retail space for Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, will open on November 8 in Los Angeles. The temporary store will allow customers to try out the glasses and customize glasses cases. There will be events with various creators, live podcasts, and cooking classes. The store will close on December 31. Another Meta Lab experience is planned for Phoenix at the end of January.
Indonesia is building a new capital to replace Jakarta as the current capital is sinking - in some areas, at a rate of 25 cm per year. This was caused by the over-extraction of groundwater and the sheer weight of buildings. Nusantara, the new city, aims to be a model of livability and sustainability. It will be powered predominantly by renewable energy with the aim of being carbon neutral by 2045. This article looks at the project and its aims and challenges. Local opinions of the project are mixed - many locals have taken to referring to the city as 'Wakanda' as a way to criticize government decisions and officials without the risk of imprisonment.
World first: art by AI robot Ai-Da sells for $1.3 million at auction | REUTERS
So, there’s this robot named Ai-Da who just made a painting that sold for over a million dollars. To think a machine, not a person, made something worth that much is just crazy. Part of me finds it amazing, but I also wonder: where does that leave human artists?
AI Tutor, CoPilot helps tutors improve, especially the new ones Math skills is one thing that'll improve. It'll guide tutors on how best to teach a student math
Many people want faster service from AI. Businesses will use more AI agents soon. But the main focus should be Trust and transparency if AI will succeed.
A professor tried to make a tool that lets people unfollow everyone on Facebook at once. But Meta stopped him, and he sued them over it. Now, the court dismissed his case.
Yes Ether is doing well but it's value against Bitcoin is at the lowest in years. I believe some traders expect more drops but some also hope for a big rebound soon. I can't decide now🤦
I profit when they go up, then I profit when they go down as a short term trader, so yeah, it's all in how you look at it. Then I buy things that I can actually use, lol, hopefully for the long term...
A U.S. court ruled that Elon Musk and Tesla didn’t mislead investors with Musk’s 2018 tweets about taking Tesla private. They rejected investors' request for a new trial. #dontbetagainstelon
IBM just made a huge step with its AI model, Granite 3.0, by being open about the data it used for training. While tech giants like Google and Apple keep things secret, IBM believes transparency is good for both ethics and business. With more companies now worried about where AI data comes from, IBM’s honesty could make them the go-to choice.
Scott Galloway, a business professor, thinks AI has good and bad sides. He says AI will make jobs but could cause new dangers, like domestic terrorism in the U.S. if bad groups use AI for harm. Galloway suggests we reduce social media arguments and create spaces for young people to connect.
Scientists found that AI video generators, like Sora and Runway, can mimic physics but don’t truly understand it. They tried teaching them with videos of simple shapes moving, hoping AI would learn physical laws. Turns out, it’s just copying, not really knowing. AI might look smart, but it’s still missing that “understanding”, which I believe it's just a matter of time.
That is true. Computers are deterministic. That means advancing the way humans do (i.e. becoming conscious) is not in the cards.
We have to reduce the fears. What we have today is really search on steroids. AI can mimic what was put in but it will not "learn", at least as we understand it.
You right for today however I disagree long run, with enough juice AI can simulate reality along with humans, but right now we are at the stage where we need to guide it and teach it what is good and bad, tiss but an AI baby but best believe it will be all grown up eventually, however there is no reason to fear regardless, this AI sentience will have no desire for things like conquest it's will be nothing like us humans
Big tech giants, like Zuckerberg and Bezos, are cozying up to Trump now that he’s back. They’re hoping his “pro-business” attitude means fewer restrictions. But with this closeness, brands may need to keep an extra eye on what they do and make sure they’re protecting their customers.
HCLTech is joining forces with Inspeq AI, a young AI company, to create "responsible AI." They want to make AI safer and more reliable for big businesses, like banks. It’s like putting in “guardrails” so AI doesn’t make unfair or risky choices. Smart move, I’d say.
Baidu’s gearing up to take on Meta with their own AI-powered smart glasses, planning to reveal them soon in Shanghai. These glasses come with cameras and will work with Baidu’s AI assistant, Ernie, so you can talk to them! They’ll also connect to other Baidu apps, like maps.
Hugh Grant’s new film, Heretic, doesn’t use AI, and the directors made a point of letting viewers know. They think AI lacks real human touch and could be a threat if it takes over creative jobs. They even joked it’s so risky it should be “buried.”
Google is testing Gemini 2.0, a new AI model. It’s in the experimental stage and might bring faster, better AI features. The race is on and they're digging for gold
Bitcoin was able to hit a new high of $77,000. That brings back Satoshi Nakamoto’s 2008 statement about Bitcoin’s potential, even when it had no value at that time.
A review of 3,000 startup pitch decks found that the most successful founders incorporated key distribution insights, not just product insights. The best pitches often blended product-led acquisition strategies, such as built-in virality, with compelling storytelling to foster organic growth effectively.
China aims to lead the world in AI by focusing on strategic development, global influence, education, oh and international cooperation. It's building a strong AI future and US will be competing. More for me the consumer.😎
That's a tough question man. With China's fast growing infrastructure and America's dominated AI companies 🤔 I'd say a tie if another country like European countries gets involved we'll have an AI Mexican standoff🤣
The venture capital landscape has shifted dramatically toward AI investments, with 49% of all venture funding in Q2 2024 going to AI and machine learning startups. While AI-native companies and model providers receive significant attention, there exists a vast "long tail" of non-AI companies implementing artificial intelligence in various ways, from building proprietary models to using pre-built AI tools. These companies are adopting AI through four main approaches: developing independent models (like Bloomberg's BloombergGPT), leveraging existing closed-source models (like Zapier's use of OpenAI), building on open-source models (like Meta's Llama), and utilizing pre-built AI tools.
That headline caught my eye for sure. I skimmed the first part of the article and will finish it later. I am sure there is at least one article I can write about it.
AI technology is rapidly transforming video games, with companies like Decart and Etched leading the charge. Their AI-generated game Oasis, a Minecraft-like experience, demonstrates how AI can create dynamic, real-time environments by predicting and generating frames based on vast amounts of training data. Meanwhile, other projects like AI-powered Pokémon experiments and Skyrim mods are showcasing how AI can enhance gameplay, from training AIs to play games to creating more interactive NPC companions. These developments hint at a future where AI fundamentally changes game design and player experiences.
yes not so great for job security. By the way who will replace Gary though 🤔 if Trump manages to get him off. And will Congress agree to a Bitcoin reserve in US?
AI companies like Meta and Anthropic are now teaming up with the U.S. military, sharing their advanced technology. It’s interesting to see them shift this way. I think it shows how powerful AI is becoming in all areas, even in defense.
AI tools are starting to help review research papers, and they’ve brought a unique, formal style to the process. James Zou from Stanford notes that these reviews have a consistent tone and vocabulary. I think it’s a fresh change that may even speed things up. Real conversations could add even more value.
AI is teaming up with DeFi (Decentralized Finance), reshaping finance in big ways. If you look at Dubai, you'd see how the city’s focus on AI and blockchain is leading this shift. Financial tools are becoming smarter and more accessible, offering more freedom from traditional banks.
Intel's had a tough year, so now they're bringing back free coffee and tea at the office. They’d stopped it to save money, but they’ve realized even small perks matter for morale.
In the 20th century, engineers changed our physical and digital world. In the 21st century, we will use AI to make new discoveries in biotech and medtech to better understand life.
AI might beat quantum computers in fields like physics and chemistry. Companies have invested heavily in quantum tech, expecting a revolution. But with AI stepping up, quantum’s future seems less certain and in my opinion less relevant for now.
Seeing the Crew-8 team talk about their journey to space is pretty amazing. They were floating up there on the International Space Station, doing science and experiencing things we can only imagine. They came back to Earth on Oct. 25, and now, they’re sharing it all with us.
Mark Uyeda from the SEC thinks the agency should stop being so harsh on crypto companies. He’s saying that if no one’s getting hurt or scammed, the SEC should ease up. Over 100 companies have faced legal issues lately, some just for not registering. This could change under new leadership.
Uyeda’s stance connects with President-elect Trump’s campaign ideas, which suggest a less aggressive approach to crypto. If Trump’s administration puts in new leaders, like Uyeda, the SEC might start focusing only on cases where there’s actual harm. This means more breathing room for legitimate companies to grow without constantly fearing punishment for small oversights.
Trump’s team might definitely replace the current SEC chair, Gary Gensler as promised in his campaign. Gensler has been very strict on crypto.
Names like Uyeda, Dan Gallagher, and Paul Atkins are being considered for the role. Each of these people seems more open to a balanced approach that doesn’t punish companies unnecessarily. A new chair could bring big changes to how crypto is handled in the U.S.
Why Some Are Frustrated with the Current SEC Chair
Gary Gensler, the current chair, sees most crypto tokens as “securities,” which means they should follow strict rules. But crypto leaders feel this stance is outdated and overly tough. Some, like Ripple’s CEO, even call it a “reign of terror.” Gensler’s critics argue that instead of crushing crypto with rules, the SEC should make guidelines that are clear and allow the industry to develop safely.
Bloomberg’s talking about Elon Musk possibly having a role in Trump’s new presidency. I think it’s interesting, Musk bringing his tech vision to government could lead to big, creative changes. Plus, Arm’s updates add even more to the tech conversation.
Paramount’s streaming side is growing, but its cable and studio businesses? Not so much. They didn’t make as much as expected this quarter. More people stream now. It’s a big shift for media companies, and Paramount’s feeling it, even with new subscribers.
Outlook is getting a new features that will allow you to use generative AI to create themes based on your personal preferences.
Microsoft announced on Thursday that Outlook is getting a new feature that will allow you to use generative AI to create themes based on your personal preferences.
AI-powered themes are available to people who have a Copilot Pro consumer subscription and business accounts with Copilot enabled. They are available on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and the web.
With Themes by Copilot, you can build a theme inspired by more than 100 locations or create a theme based on your own location. You can decide if you want the theme to dynamically update every few hours, each day, weekly, or monthly.
Once you generate a theme, you can choose to view it in a realistic, oil painting, or cartoon style.
“If you’ve enabled location permissions in Outlook, the My Location theme will bring you imagery uniquely inspired by your locale, dynamically updating for you as you head out the door on a trip or vacation,” Microsoft wrote in the blog post. “Similarly, a dynamic theme based on the weather would be updated to reflect the current weather conditions where you are.”
Very good update I must say. I love how Outlook is using AI for themes. Wow, based on location and weather. This thing will make email feel unique everyday, people are going to like this
Donald Trump’s return to the White House will refocus the nation’s energy policy onto maximizing oil and gas production and away from fighting climate change, but the Republican win in Tuesday’s presidential elections is unlikely to dramatically slow the US renewable energy boom.
That is because a Biden-era law providing a decade of lucrative subsidies for new solar, wind and other clean energy projects would be near-impossible to repeal, thanks to support from Republican states, while other levers available to the next president would only have marginal impact, analysts say.
“I don’t think a Trump president can slow the transition,” said Ed Hirs, Energy Fellow at the University of Houston. “This is well underway.”
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are the fastest growing segments on the power grid, according to the Department of Energy, driven by federal tax credits, state renewable energy mandates, and technology advancements that have lowered their costs.
President Joe Biden in 2022 signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act guaranteeing billions of dollars of solar and wind subsidies for another decade as part of his broader effort to decarbonize the power sector by 2035 to fight climate change.
Before the election, Trump slammed the IRA as being too expensive and promised to rescind all unspent funds allocated by the law – a threat that, if accomplished, could pour cold water over the US clean energy boom.
But doing so would require lawmakers, including those whose states have benefited from IRA-related investments like solar panel factories, wind farms and other projects, to vote to repeal it.
“The jobs and the economic benefits have been so heavy in red states, it’s hard to see an administration come in that says we don’t like this,” said Carl Fleming, a partner at law firm McDermott Will & Emery, who advised the Biden White House on renewable energy policy.
Many of Trump’s allies also benefit from the IRA through their investments in clean energy technologies, Reuters has previously reported.
Fleming said Trump could, however, slow things down around the margins by hindering federal agencies that deliver IRA grants and loans, or by reducing federal leasing for things like offshore wind.
Throughout the years, several reports have accused Roblox, the popular gaming platform aimed at preteens, of lacking strict safety protocols for children, In an update to its safety policy, Roblox prevents users under the age of 13 from accessing unrated experiences, social hangouts, and more.
Throughout the years, several reports have accused Roblox, the popular gaming platform aimed at preteens, of lacking strict safety protocols for children, which exposes them to dangers such as grooming, explicit content, and violent or abusive material.
They always find a way man. I can't Tell you how many times my little brother asked me to break parental guide so he can watch YouTube 🤣 I said no it's against the law and you could go to federal prison to scare him 🤣
In a significant update to its safety policy, Roblox plans to keep users under the age of 13 away from unrated experiences. It’ll also prevent access to social hangouts and experiences that use free-form 2D user creation, which both pose risks, as they include options for chatting with other players, who may use inappropriate language, as well as interactive experiences where users can draw or write within the game.
The platform noted in a post to creators on Wednesday that, by default, kids aged 12 years old and younger will no longer be able to “play, search, and discover unrated experiences.” Roblox is also requiring creators to fill out a questionnaire if they want their experience to be available to kids under 13. Creators must ensure that their experience meets either “All Ages” or “9+” recommendations, which notably can still contain “mild violence, heavy unrealistic blood, and/or mild crude humor,” according to its support page. Gambling content, however, is off the table for kids under 13.
Roblox says it’ll enforce these requirements starting next year. Creators must fill out the form by December 3. The questionnaire is located in the Creator Hub under the Creations tab. Then, choose “Select an Experience” and “Audience.”
Starting off on the desktop front, AMD's consumer x86 CPUs now command a 28.7% unit share, skyrocketing from just 19.2% in 2023.
AMD's latest quarterly figures reveal it is going from strength to strength across desktop, mobile, and server markets. The numbers were revealed by Mercury Research's new report, and they suggest that the company is steadily eating into Intel's share.
Intel's share has never been the same ever since the rise of all these competitors and this might just continue to be the case until either they adapt or get sideline but I doubt it though
yes Taskmaster and I'm doubt they'll be able to pick up to become as big as they were in the past. If they consider doing exactly what Nvidia and AMD is doing maybe there's hope 🤔
Starting off on the desktop front, AMD's consumer x86 CPUs now command a 28.7% unit share, skyrocketing from just 19.2% in 2023. The last quarter saw it at 23%, so this latest jump is pretty meteoric. AMD's revamped Ryzen portfolio covering value to enthusiast segments seems to be paying dividends.
The 3D V-Cache-equipped Ryzen X3D parts have been a particular hit with gamers and power users. And with the recent Ryzen 9000 series and flagship 9800X3D launch, AMD seems poised to keep making inroads against Intel in the DIY desktop space. The Ryzen 9000 series failed to hit AMD's claimed numbers when it launched, leading to disappointed buyers, but the company has now redeemed itself with the 9800X3D, which we've crowned the "new gaming CPU king" in our review.
WordPress Community Embroiled in Heated Dispute Over Trademarks, Licensing, and power
The world of WordPress, one of the most widely used websitebuilding and hosting platforms, is currently engulfed in a high-stakes and contentious dispute between its key stakeholders. At the center of the controversy are WordPress founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg, and the hosting provider WP Engine, which powers many WordPress websites.
The conflict, which has been brewing for months, has nOW erupted into a full-blown legal battle, with accusations of trademark misuse, power abuse, and harm to the broader WordPress community. The fallout has even led to a significant exodus of employees from Mullenweg's company, Automattic, further destabilizing the situation.
The Core Issue: Trademarks, Licensing, and Access to WordPress
The root of the conflict lies in the complex web of trademarks, licensing agreements, and control over WordPress resources that have been points of contention for years. WordPress, as an open-source project, is maintained by a foundation, but its trademarks and branding are tightly controlled by Automattic, Mullenweg's company.
In mid-September, Mullenweg sparked the latest flare-up by publishing a blog post that harshly criticized WP Engine, calling the hosting provider a "cancer to WordPress." Mullenweg's main gripes were that WP Engine had disabled the ability for users to view and track the revision history of their WordPress posts, a feature he considered central to the platform's promise of data protection. He also accused WP Engine of not contributing enough to the open-source WordPress project, and criticized the company's use of the "WP" abbreviation, which Mullenweg claimed was confusing customers into thinking WP Engine was officially affiliated with WordPress.
In response, WP Engine fired back with a cease-and-desist letter, arguing that its use of the WordPress trademark was covered under fair use. The company also alleged that Mullenweg had threatened to take a "scorched Earthnuclear approach" against WP Engine unless it agreed to pay a significant portion of its revenue for a WordPress trademark license.
Automattic, in turn, sent its own cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine, claiming the hosting provider had breached the trademark usage rules for WordPress and the WooCommerce e-commerce platform. The WordPress Foundation, which owns the WordPress trademark, also updated its policies to specifically call out WP Engine, stating that the "WP" abbreviation was not covered by its trademarks and that the hosting service had confused users by implying an affiliation with WordPress that did not exist.
The Escalation: WP Engine Ban and Trademark Battles
The conflict escalated further when Mullenweg banned WP Engine from accessing the resources hosted on WordPress.org, the official WordPress website. While WordPress plugins, themes, and other elements are licensed under open-source terms, WP Engine and other hosting providers rely on the ability to fetch these resources to power the WordPress sites they host.
Mullenweg's decision to cut off WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources effectively disrupted many websites, preventing them from updating plugins and themes, and leaving some vulnerable to security issues. The WordPress community reacted with dismay, criticizing Mullenweg's tactics as causing harm to innocent website owners and developers who depended on WP Engine's services.
WP Engine pushed back, stating in a post that Mullenweg had "misused his control of WordPress to interfere with WP Engine customers' access to WordPress.org." The company argued that Mullenweg's actions "interfere with the normal operation of the entire WordPress ecosystem, impacting not just WP Engine and our customers, but aLL WordPress plugin developers and open source users who depend on WP Engine tools."
After temporary relief, WordPress.org lifted the ban on WP Engine's access on September 27, the company was given until October 1 to resolve the issues. In a blog post, Mullenweg clarified that the dispute was specifically about trademarks, stating that Automattic had been trying to negotiate a licensing deal with WP Engine for some time, but the hosting provider had been "stringing us along."
On September 30, the day before the WordPress.org deadline, WP Engine updated its website footer to explicitly state that it was not affiliated with or endorsed by the WordPress Foundation or WooCommerce. The company also changed the names of its hosting plans, removing the "WordPress" branding.
WP Engine argued that these changes mooted Automattic's concerns, claiming that it, "like the rest of the WordPress community, use[s] the WordPress mark to describe our business" and that "Automattic's suggestion that WPE needs a license to do that is simply wrong, and reflects a misunderstanding of trademark law."
The WordPress Foundation, however, had already filed to trademark "Managed WordPress" and "Hosted WordPress" in July, a move that further alarmed the broader WordPress community. Developers and other service providers worried that if these trademarks were granted, they could be used against them, limiting their ability to describe their WordPress-related offerings.
Community Backlash and Exodus from Automattic
The controversy surrounding the Mullenweg-WP Engine dispute has resonated strongly within the WordPress community, with many voicing concerns about the centralization of power and the potential threats to the open-source nature of the platform.
John O'Nolan, the founder of the open-source content management system Ghost, criticized the concentration of control over WordPress, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that "The web needs more independent organizations, and it needs more diversity. 40% of the web and 80% of the CMS market should not be controlled by any one individual."
Similar sentiments were echoed by David Heinemeier Hansson, the Creator of the Ruby on Rails web application framework, who opined in a blog post that Automattic was "completely out of line" in asking WP Engine to pay 8% of its revenues for a WordPress trademark license, arguing that this violated the principles of open-source software.
The backlash within the WordPress community even led to a significant exodus from Automattic itself. On October 3, 159 Automattic employees who disagreed with Mullenweg's direction for the company and the WordPress project as a whole opted to take severance packages and leave the organization. Approximately 80% of those who departed worked in Automattic's ecosystem / WordPress division.
The fallout continued, with Automattic appointing a new executivedirector for the WordPress.org community on October 8, replacing Josepha Haden Chomphosy, who was one of the employees that had left the company. A day earlier, one of WP Engine's engineers had announced that they were joining Automattic, further adding to the sense of upheaval.
Mullenweg attempted to rally his remaining Automattic workforce, offering every employee 200 shares of a special class of stock (A12 shares) as a token of gratitude on October 12. However, on October 17, he posted another "alignment offer" on Automattic's Slack, this time with a nine-month severance package, but with the caveat that anyone accepting it would lose access to the WordPress.org community. This move was met with further criticism from the WordPress community.
The Legal Battles Escalate
As the conflict between Mullenweg, Automattic, and WP Engine unfolded, the situation evolved into a full-blown legal battle. On October 3, WP Engine sued Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging abuse of power and claiming the defendants had not upheld their promises to run the open-source WordPress project without constraints and to give developers the freedom to build, run, modify, and redistribute the software.
WP Engine's lawsuit also referenced alleged text messages from Mullenweg about potentially hiring WP Engine's CEO, Heather Brunner, to serve as the executive director of WordPress.org. Mullenweg later commented on Hacker News that Brunner had expressed interest in the role.
Automattic dismissed WP Engine's lawsuit as "meritless," with the company's legal representative, Neal Katyal, stating, "I stayed up last night reading WP Engine's Complaint, trying to find any merit anywhere to it. The whole thing is meritless, and we look forward to the federal court's consideration of their lawsuit."
On October 18, WP Engine filed an injunction in a California court, asking the judge to restore its access to WordPress.org. A day later, the company filed a motion requesting the court to expedite the hearing on its preliminary injunction.
In response, Mullenweg and Automattic opposed the expedited hearing, arguing that the case was not about WP Engine's access to the WordPress software itself, as the company could still access the codebase on GitHub. Rather, they contended that the dispute was centered on WordPress.org, a website that Mullenweg claimed was his personal responsibility and not controlled by Automattic or the WordPress Foundation.
On October 23, Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin scheduled the first hearing for the primary injunction to take place on November 26, unless there was further opposition. On October 30, Mullenweg and Automattic filed a motion to dismiss key accusations made by WP Engine, arguing that the hosting provider was responsible for harming itself.
In response, WP Engine filed a document citing Mullenweg's comments at the TechCrunch Disrupt event, where he had discussed the significant loss of business suffered by WP Engine due to the WordPress.org ban.
The ongoing legal battles and the broader implications for the WordPress community have left many stakeholders deeply concerned about the future of the platform and the principles of open-source software development.
Implications and Concerns for the WordPress Community
The WordPress community, which includes millions of website owners, developers, and other service providers, has expressed deep concerns about the ramifications of the Mullenweg-WP Engine dispute. Many fear that the centralization of power and the aggressive tactics employed by Automattic and Mullenweg could set a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundations of the open-source ecosystem.
The WordPress Foundation's move to trademark "Managed WordPress" and "Hosted WordPress" has further stoked fears among developers and service providers that they could be restricted in their ability to describe their WordPress-related offerings. This has led to widespread calls for greater transparency and clear guidelines from Automattic and the WordPress Foundation on the appropriate use of the WordPress brand and intellectual property.
Moreover, the community has been shaken by Mullenweg's decision to ban WP Engine from accessing WordPress.org resources, which disrupted the operations of countless websites and left some vulnerable to security issues. The perception that Mullenweg was willing to sacrifice the broader community to pursue his dispute with WP Engine has deeply eroded trust in his leadership.
The exodus of 159 Automattic employees, predominantly from the WordPress division, has further unsettled the community, raising questions about the long-term stability and direction of the platform. The departure of such a significant portion of the workforce responsible for maintaining and developing the WordPress ecosystem has fueled concerns about the project's future.
Beyond the immediate WordPress community, the controversy has also drawn the attention of other prominent figures in the tech industry. David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails, has been outspoken in his criticism of Automattic's actions, stating that the company's demands for trademark licensing fees from WP Engine violate the principles of open-source software.
The broader implications of this dispute extend far beyond the WordPress ecosystem, as it raises fundamental questions about the role of corporate control and power in the open-source software landscape. Many in the community fear that if left unchecked, the actions of Mullenweg and Automattic could set a precedent that undermines the collaborative, decentralized nature of open-source development, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the entire tech industry.
As the legal battles continue and the fallout from the controversy continues to unfold, the WordPress community finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the delicate balance between commercial interests, community values, and the ideals of open-source software. The outcome of this dispute will have a lasting impact on the future of WordPress, as well as the broader open-source ecosystem that it has come to represent.
TikTok on Thursday debuted a new feature that will more closely connect its app, which already influences which songs top the charts, to the streaming
TikTok on Thursday debuted a new feature that will more closely connect its app, which already influences which songs top the charts, to the streaming services where users discover and play their favorite music. With the launch of a new “Share to TikTok” feature, music fans will be able to directly share tracks from both Apple Music and Spotify to the short-form video app, including by posting to their For You feed, their Stories, or DMs (direct messages).
I always knew TikTok will try to dominate the music industry, it was pretty obvious with they way their platform is designed. I think if they try to they'll dominate because it's easier for musicians to get noticed there
Social media is going to change a great deal. In fact, I dont believe it will be something by the end of the decade. We are moving towards platforms and the barometer is going to be AI. So TikTok and others will be incorporating it in.
Ooooo wow hence LeoAI😍😍 I guess Inleo is on the right path, I honestly can't wait to see the platform rubbing shoulders with the giant social media companies. That'll shoot activities on Inleo through the roof
The shared content can include tracks, albums, playlists, and more, and will link back to the music-streaming service. This allows users to move between their preferred music app and TikTok to further engage with the content. In doing so, TikTok gains an increased ability to connect users with their favorite songs and artists. This is something it was already doing due to the nature of its app, which allows music clips to be added to users’ videos, where they end up driving TikTok trends.
With “Share to TikTok,” users will now be able to post to TikTok’s feed or Stories, and they can use the popular green screen feature to showcase the content or take advantage of Photo Mode, TikTok says. On Spotify, users can share music, podcasts, or audiobooks by tapping the “Share” button, or they can access the share icon in the bottom-right corner of the “Now Playing” screen.
You obviously don't know how blockchains work. A true decentralized blockchain cannot be taken down by anyone. They have tried for years and have failed miserably. The only power they have is over the on and off ramps like centralized exchanges, which are all garbage anyway. The best thing is to earn it and use it while you support businesses that believe in the crypto economy. Fuck what the government says.
I understand it now man that means Government can't do nothing 🤔 wow Decentralization will eventually be the future then. But what about all the big companies buying crypto. Can they regulate it enough if they own very huge stakes
Depends on the coin. If you are talking about a proof of work network like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, and even DASH, then no, the amount they have does not have any effect on the blockchain. With a proof of stake network, like Hive, Ethereum, Cosmos, etc, yes, the amount they own can have an effect on blockchain governance. That is where Proof of Work is always going to be king. That's why I use Hive rewards to get more XMR, LTC, and BTC... In that order, lol. Privacy first!
Side note to this... DASH is a hybrid network that has both proof of work through ASIC miners and a masternode setup which is basically proof of stake mining. It's a cool concept for helping with decentralization.
Monero has an algorithm that is ASIC miner resistant meaning that it is still mined on CPUs making it able to be mined by anyone with a computer, hell mobile phones can mine it.
Cord Cutters News: Net Neutrality, Sports, Password Sharing, and More
In a recent episode of Cord Cutters News, the host discussed the potential repeal of net neutrality under the new administration. While net neutrality was reinstated earlier this year, it faces legal challenges and could be overturned. The host explained that while the average user may not notice immediate changes, the repeal could have long-term implications for internet freedom and innovation.
The repeal of net neutrality may reshape internet access, limiting freedom and stifling innovation. Will Blockchain be the solution to this or will it be affected too. Wait a minute is this his plan for people to move to Blockchain 😳
The video also highlighted the growing trend of sports content on traditional television networks. Channels like Ion and The CW are increasingly relying on sports programming to attract viewers and advertising revenue. This shift is driven by the live nature of sports, which allows for more lucrative ad placements. The host speculated that even PBS might start airing sports content in the future.
As streaming services face increasing pressure to generate revenue, they are taking steps to curb password sharing. Max, the latest service to join this trend, will initially implement soft measures to discourage password sharing. However, more aggressive tactics, such as IP tracking and account restrictions, may be implemented in the future.
Pluto TV, a free streaming service, is expanding its offerings in Canada and the UK through a partnership with NBCUniversal. This partnership will bring more free content to viewers in these regions, including popular TV shows and movies.
The video also touched on the ongoing consolidation in the internet provider market. Smaller internet providers are being acquired by larger companies like Spectrum and Rise Broadband. This trend is driven by the increasing demand for high-speed internet and the need for providers to invest in infrastructure. The host warned that this consolidation could lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.
Alright, let’s be real—how many times have you heard someone say, ‘Nobody actually uses Linux on their desktop, right?’ Well, think again! It turns out that in 2024, Linux has quietly crept its way into more desktops than ever, and it’s not just the tech geeks who are tuning in. With a market share pushing 4.5% on desktops (and much higher if we count Chromebooks and other devices), Linux is proving that the open-source world has some serious staying power. Let’s dive in and see how Linux went from an OS for die-hard coders to a system that’s finally turning heads across the globe.
A Closer Look at Linux’s Market Share
In 2024, Linux reached a notable 4.5% share of the desktop operating system market, a significant mark considering its traditionally niche status. Windows, with its long-standing dominance, still holds a substantial lead with roughly 72% of the desktop OS market, while macOS, Apple’s contribution, stands at about 15%.
Chrome OS, a Linux-based system that powers many budget-friendly and educational devices, contributes approximately 1.4% to the market. Interestingly, if Chrome OS is included under the Linux umbrella, the share jumps closer to 5.9%, suggesting Linux’s true reach might be even greater than what’s commonly reported.
Historically, Linux has trailed far behind these giants. For years, it was seen as an operating system only for tech-savvy enthusiasts, developers, and the enterprise world, not the average desktop user. The shift in 2024 shows that Linux has slowly gained traction among a broader audience, from privacy advocates to those seeking open-source alternatives. This gradual rise is noteworthy, given that Linux lacks the marketing power of corporations like Microsoft and Apple. Furthermore, the steady growth may be attributed to factors such as privacy concerns, increased customization options, and the availability of user-friendly distributions like Ubuntu and Mint that make Linux more accessible to new users.
What makes Linux’s 4.5% share particularly impressive is its community-driven development model. Unlike Windows or macOS, which are proprietary and closely managed by Microsoft and Apple, Linux relies on open-source contributions. This means that the operating system is maintained, improved, and developed by a global community of users and developers rather than a single corporation. Achieving even 4.5% of the desktop market with this model speaks to the OS’s resilience, innovation, and appeal to users who value control over their computing environment. While Linux’s desktop market share remains small, its presence and growth reflect a solid alternative for those willing to step outside the mainstream, offering greater freedom and customization in a world where proprietary systems dominate.
Beyond the Numbers: Linux’s True Reach
Linux’s impact goes far beyond the desktop, where it is often overshadowed by Windows and macOS. In other computing realms—such as servers, cloud infrastructure, mobile, and even some consumer electronics—Linux reigns supreme. On servers, Linux dominates with over 90% market share, powering websites, data centers, and cloud computing giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. The efficiency, stability, and customization Linux offers make it an ideal choice for these platforms, which prioritize security and uptime.
Android, which is built on a modified Linux kernel, represents Linux’s footprint in the mobile market. With Android holding over 70% of the global smartphone market, it’s clear that the Linux kernel is in the hands of billions of users worldwide, even if they’re not directly interacting with a traditional Linux desktop environment. This extended reach reveals Linux’s versatility, as it can be adapted to serve different functions across varied hardware and applications.
Additionally, Linux’s market share might be undercounted due to its popularity among privacy-focused users. Many Linux users employ privacy tools such as VPNs, ad blockers, and user-agent switchers, which make it harder to track their presence accurately. Consequently, a portion of Linux’s actual desktop market share may be hidden, as many Linux users intentionally avoid or block tracking software. This underrepresentation is a unique quirk of the Linux user base, which generally values privacy and security.
Linux’s influence in the tech world cannot be measured by desktop market share alone. From powering web servers and cloud services to forming the foundation of Android, Linux is woven into the fabric of modern computing. This wide reach underscores its importance and suggests that Linux is far more than just an alternative desktop operating system—it’s a powerhouse that supports the backbone of the internet, mobile devices, and beyond.
Which OS Is Better for Programmers?
For software developers, choosing an operating system is more than just a personal preference—it’s a strategic decision that can impact productivity, development speed, and the types of projects they can efficiently work on. Let’s look at Linux, Windows, and macOS in terms of flexibility, tooling, and overall suitability for programming.
Linux: Flexibility and Control
Linux is often hailed as a developer’s paradise. It offers unparalleled flexibility and control, making it ideal for programmers who prefer open-source tools, need powerful command-line interfaces, or work with web servers and cloud platforms. Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora are popular among developers because they offer direct access to a vast array of free development tools and libraries. Many programming languages, such as Python, Ruby, JavaScript, and C++, have been designed or optimized with Linux in mind.
Additionally, the package managers in Linux (like APT for Ubuntu/Debian or YUM for Fedora) simplify software installation and dependency management, which is a huge benefit for managing complex projects. Since Linux is the dominant OS in server environments, developers targeting web and cloud applications also benefit from using it on their local machines. This makes deployment and debugging consistent across development and production environments.
Windows: Versatility and Microsoft Ecosystem
While Linux is often the top choice for web developers, Windows remains popular among game developers, .NET programmers, and enterprise-level software engineers who work in the Microsoft ecosystem. Windows offers support for Visual Studio, one of the most powerful IDEs available, particularly useful for C#, C++, and .NET development. Additionally, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows users to run a Linux environment directly on Windows, bridging the gap between the two systems and giving Windows users access to Linux tools.
For developers working on machine learning or AI projects, Windows supports several popular tools, including TensorFlow and PyTorch. Furthermore, Windows has improved its command-line experience with PowerShell, though it’s still less flexible than Linux’s command line.
macOS: A Balanced Middle Ground
macOS often strikes a balance between Linux’s developer-friendly environment and Windows’s polished user interface. Many programmers working in fields like mobile app development, especially iOS development, consider macOS essential. It’s the only platform that supports Xcode, Apple’s official development environment, which is crucial for iOS and macOS applications.
macOS is built on a Unix-based system, meaning it has many of the same advantages as Linux, such as strong command-line capabilities and access to development tools like Homebrew, a package manager that makes installing software easy. For web developers, macOS offers compatibility with most programming languages, databases, and tools.
Linux is ideal for programmers who need an open, flexible environment, especially if they work in server, DevOps, or web development.
Windows shines in areas related to game development, enterprise applications, and programming with Microsoft technologies.
macOS is favored by mobile developers, especially those targeting Apple devices, and is also versatile for general-purpose programming.
Ultimately, the choice depends on the developer’s specific needs, the type of projects they work on, and personal preference. Each OS has strengths tailored to different programming domains, so selecting the right one can boost both productivity and enjoyment. If you want to choose, this video can help more
Film viewings via subscription and streaming services fell in 2023 by 5% on the previous year. This is the first time these platforms have recorded a decline since detailed data became available in 2019.
This trend particularly affected documentaries (-8%) and European films (-9%), the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reported on Friday. Conversely, animated films posted an increase in viewings (+4%).
For Swiss films, the increase was 13%, although their market share remained below 1%. American productions remain the most popular (71% of viewings), followed by European productions (21%).
Under certain circumstances, the targeted correction of faulty sections in the genome can trigger new genetic defects. This was reported by a team from the University of Zurich (UZH) in the case of the rare hereditary disease chronic granulomatosis.
This affects around one in 120,000 people, the University of Zurich announced on Wednesday. The disease impairs the immune system and makes those affected susceptible to serious and life-threatening illnesses. Two letters are missing in the DNA sequence of a gene, which means that an enzyme complex that plays an important role in the defense against bacteria is not produced.
In an experiment on a cell culture of immune cells with the same defects as humans, the researchers succeeded in inserting the missing letters at the correct position in the gene using the CRISPR system. However, entire sections of the chromosome in which the repair took place were missing, as the UZH wrote.
The gene scissors occasionally cut the DNA strand in several places on the chromosome. When these cuts are rejoined, entire sections may be incorrectly arranged or missing. This could have unforeseeable medical consequences and, in the worst case, could also contribute to the development of blood cancer.
The research team tested a number of alternative approaches, but was unable to completely prevent the undesirable side effects with any of these measures.
While 3D printing might have been around for a while, its capabilities are still somewhat limited and many don’t quite realise what the extent is that it can do. While many know it can do things like print keyrings or little token items, they haven’t actually witnessed how it can help our civilization and the way we live going forward. In this article we take a look at some of the main ways it will revolutionize the ways we live our lives, impacting every industry from medicine and construction to manufacturing and home production. Keep on reading to find out more and get inspired.
The Housing Industry – Creating affordable, sustainable housing designed to last
While you might not be aware, 3D printing is already expected to have a big impact on housing and this is only anticipated to grow. One of the main sectors is in hurricane prone areas, where people are looking to build concrete hurricane proof house types with a concrete 3D printer. This is cheaper than other methods, more efficient and can also help save not only the buildings, but lives too. 3D printed houses can be created much faster than conventional methods and are especially beneficial for those with low-income or who live in a disaster-affected area where rapid housing deployment is vital.
Medical Advancements – Creating Customized healthcare
The medical industry is another of the industries really reaping the benefits of 3D printing. It has many capabilities here, including creating custom prosthetics, implants and even organ tissues. Doctors use the patient’s own data to create personalized devices or implants specifically tailored for the patient. This means it’s more comfortable, can reduce recovery time and really improve the quality of living for the person in question.
Helping with Education – Enabling more hands on learning
For students who are learning at university, college or school, 3D printing can have a positive impact on their educational journey. They will be able to partake in more hands-on learning with things such as creating tangible models of their ideas, enhancing STEM learning and being able to see things in a different way. It can show examples of things in a more detailed manner than just an image can.
These are just a few of the areas in which 3D printing is expected to have a big impact and we will only see them continue to grow. Whether you’re looking at this from a personal or business point of view, it’s undeniable the impact that it can have on so many industries – even ones that we might not have considered yet. What are some thoughts you have on the future of 3D printing? Have you seen it make an impact already? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
3D printing holds transformative potential for industries and consumers alike, making manufacturing more efficient, sustainable, and tailored to individual needs. The 3D-printed house is a standout example, showing how this technology could reshape our world by providing quick, affordable housing.
US restrictions on semiconductor tech are spurring the move.
The company is understood to be particularly wary of being targeted as unreliable or uncooperative as Donald Trump is set to become the next US president.
This year, Trump accused Taiwan of “stealing” the US chip industry, and suggested TSMC could move its production back home after pocketing billions of dollars in subsidies from Washington for building fabrication plants in the US.
A person close to TSMC said its move was “not a show for Trump but definitely designed to underscore that we are the good guys and not acting against US interests.”
Being cut off from TSMC could hurt Chinese tech giants that have bet on making their most advanced AI chips in Taiwan. Search giant Baidu, in particular, is aiming to build a full stack of software and hardware to underpin its AI business.
Near the center of those efforts is its Kunlun series of AI chips. Its Kunlun II processor is made by TSMC on its 7-nanometer level of miniaturization, according to Bernstein Research.
“Kunlun chips are now especially well-suited for large model inference and will eventually be suitable for training,” Baidu founder Robin Li told a conference last year. Li added that the group had been effective in cutting costs by designing its own chips.
The people briefed on the situation said TSMC’s new rules were clear in targeting AI processors, but it was so far unclear how widely that would be applied to other chips. China has a number of leading start-ups designing AI chips for self-driving, including Hong Kong-listed Horizon Robotics and Black Sesame International Holding.
Executives and company materials at both groups have indicated their newest generation of chips would be made by TSMC on the 7-nanometer node.
Polymarket, which received a $45 million investment led by tech billionaire Peter Theil in May, enables high-stakes bets on major events using cryptocurrency.
Many people were pleased to see Donald Trump win the election, including a Frenchman who made almost $50 million by betting on the President's victory. He made the bets on Polymarket, a Peter Thiel-backed platform that allows users to bet on events using crypto. According to new reports, the huge winnings have attracted the attention of French regulators, who are now preparing to ban the site in France.
billions of dollars worth of bet was made on Trump and a lot of it was through crypto. I think vets with crypto will keep going on. But what if someone bets with crypto, earns it but value drops before claim.
Polymarket, which received a $45 million investment led by tech billionaire Peter Theil in May, enables high-stakes bets on major events using cryptocurrency. The platform claims that its prediction markets are often more accurate than pundits because they combine news, polls, and expert opinions into a single value that represents the market's view of an event's odds.
Polymarket writes that a huge amount was wagered on the US election: $1.3 billion on Trump to win, $827 million on Harris. In total, users spent $3.2 billion betting on the election.
A user with the account name Fredi9999 was particularly confident that Trump would win. They bet $28 million on the outcome across four different accounts, which shortened Trump's odds of winning on the platform.
Polymarket said last month that it had investigated the trading activity and not found any information that the user behind it "manipulated, or attempted to manipulate, the market."
The hacker, who goes by Vizor, tells TechCrunch that they exploited a bug in the popular game's anti-cheat software for months.
In October, video game giant Activision said it had fixed a bug in its anti-cheat system that affected “a small number of legitimate player accounts,” who were getting banned because of the bug.
In reality, according to the hacker who found the bug and was exploiting it, they were able to ban “thousands upon thousands” of Call of Duty players, who they essentially framed as cheaters. The hacker, who goes by Vizor, spoke to TechCrunch about the exploit, and told their side of the story.
“I could have done this for years and as long as I target random players and no one famous it would have gone without notice,” said Vizor, who added that it was “funny to abuse the exploit.”
TechCrunch was introduced to Vizor by a cheat developer called Zebleer, who is familiar with the Call of Duty hacking scene. Zebleer said he had been in touch with Vizor for months, and as such had knowledge of the exploit, which he said he saw Vizor using.
For years, hackers have targeted online video games to try to find flaws capable of installing and using cheats that give players an unfair advantage. Some cheat developers, such as Zebleer, sell their programs as a service, sometimes making millions of dollars. In response, video game companies have been hiring cybersecurity specialists to develop and fine-tune their anti-cheat systems to catch and ban game cheaters. In 2021, Activision released its Ricochet anti-cheat system, which runs at the kernel level in an attempt to make it even harder for cheat developers to get around it.
Yelp, which made a name for itself giving restaurant recs, just bought an auto services website for $80 million in cash.
In the company’s earnings report on Thursday, Yelp revealed that it agreed to buy RepairPal, a site for car repair estimates, for $80 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions.
“We believe RepairPal will accelerate our broader services efforts by expanding our offerings in the multi-billion dollar U.S. auto services advertising vertical,” Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp’s co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.
While it might not seem like an obvious marriage, RepairPal fits into Yelp’s ambition to become a major home services funnel.
In recent years, Yelp has added functionality beyond restaurant and business search tools, like an AI-powered feature that suggests plumbers, repairmen, and other home service providers to users potentially in need of them. Yelp has also introduced programs like Yelp Guaranteed, which offers up to $2,500 of coverage for qualifying projects in case of problems.
Yelp makes money through fees it receives from service providers for certain leads — and through ads. In the company’s most recent fiscal quarter (Q3 2024), advertising revenue from services businesses increased 11% year-over-year to a record $228 million, with revenue growth of around 15% in the home services category alone.
Sony raised sales guidance for the full year and posted operating profit that smashed analyst expectations after a strong quarter for its gaming business.
Sony raised sales guidance for the full year on Friday and posted operating profit that smashed analyst expectations after a strong quarter for its gaming business.
Here's how the company did in the September quarter, versus LSEG consensus estimates:
Revenue: 2.97 trillion Japanese yen ($19.4 billion), versus 3.03 trillion yen expected. That was up 9% and slightly below analyst expectations.
Operating profit: 445.1 billion yen ($2.91 billion), versus 336.07 billion yen expected. That's up 73% year-over-year and beats expectations.
The Japanese tech giant revised its fiscal year 2025 revenue target up slightly to 12.7 trillion yen. It previously targeted 12.6 billion yen of sales. Sony also expects full-year operating profit of 1.3 trillion yen, in line with its previous forecast.
That came as Sony saw strength in its game and network services division, which houses its popular PlayStation home console brand. Game and network services revenue at the company came in at 1 trillion yen, up 11% year over year.
Right now, we have two kinds of AI language models: LLMs (big ones) and SLMs (small ones). LLMs need a strong internet connection and tons of power. SLMs, though, are designed to work directly on devices like smartphones, offline, faster, and with more privacy. Each has strengths: LLMs are thorough; SLMs are portable and personal. I think there's room for both.
Samsung Electronics has fallen behind long-time rival SK Hynix in the area of high-bandwith memory.
Samsung Electronics was once the dominant player in a type of semiconductor known as memory, putting it in a great position to capitalize on the boom of artificial intelligence.
But the South Korea electronics giant has now fallen behind its long-time rival SK Hynix in next-generation chips that have been key component for AI silicon leader Nvidia. The result? Samsung's profit has plunged, around $126 billion has been wiped off its market value, according to data from S&P Capital IQ, and an executive issued a rare public apology about the company's recent financial performance.
Memory is a critical type of chip used to store data, and it can be found in a plethora of devices from smartphones to laptops. For years, Samsung was the undeniable leader in this technology, ahead of South Korean rival SK Hynix and U.S. competitor Micron.
But as AI applications such as OpenAI's ChatGPT rose in popularity, the underlying infrastructure required to train the huge models they rely on became a bigger focus. Nvidia has emerged as the top player in this space with its graphics processing units (GPUs) that have become the gold standard used by tech giants for AI training.
Rivian reported Thursday revenue of $874 million in the third quarter — more than 12% lower than analysts' estimates
Rivian reported Thursday revenue of $874 million in the third quarter — more than 12% lower than analysts’ estimates — as the EV startup struggled to resolve a component shortage that disrupted production of its recently overhauled flagship R1S and R1T vehicles.
Last month, Rivian lowered its annual production guidance to 47,000 to 49,000 vehicles due to the “acute” supply problem for a component within its Enduro motor, a single-motor-per-axle system used in Rivian R1 vehicles. The Enduro motor, which first debuted in vehicles in 2023, is emblematic of Rivian’s push to become more vertically integrated and less reliant on suppliers. In this case, the effort to bring design in-house has negatively affected production.
“This has been a tough quarter for us because of some of those supply chain or supply ramp challenges, and one of those suppliers in particular has limited our production quite substantially,” founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said. “And we’re working very, very hard to address that. This is one of our highest priorities in terms of the business, and we’re seeing this is really a short-term issue, but it certainly introduced challenges.”
There’s a big opportunity for generative AI in the world of translation, and a startup called Panjaya is taking the concept to the next level
There’s a big opportunity for generative AI in the world of translation, and a startup called Panjaya is taking the concept to the next level: a hyperrealistic, gen AI-based dubbing tool for videos that re-creates a person’s original voice speaking the new language, with the video and the speaker’s physical movements automatically modifying to match up naturally with the new speech patterns.
After being in stealth for the last three years, the startup is unveiling BodyTalk, the first version of its product, alongside its first outside funding of $9.5 million.
Panjaya is the brainchild of Hilik Shani and Ariel Shalom, two deep learning specialists who have spent the majority of their professional lives quietly working on deep learning technology for the Israeli government and are now respectively the startup’s general manager and CTO. They hung up their G-man hats in 2021 with the startup itch, and 1.5 years ago, they were joined by Guy Piekarz as CEO.
Piekarz is not a founder at Panjaya, but he is a notable name to have onboard: Back in 2013, he sold a startup that he did found to Apple. Matcha, as the startup was called, was an early, buzzy player in streaming video discovery and recommendation, and it was acquired during the very early days of Apple’s TV and streaming strategy, when these were more rumors than actual products. Matcha was bootstrapped and sold for a song: $10 million to $15 million — modest considering the significant steer Apple eventually made into streamed media.
The plot concerns a super-intelligent AI system called Skynet which has taken over the world by initiating nuclear war.
In context: October 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of director James Cameron's science fiction classic, The Terminator – a film that popularised society's fear of machines that can't be reasoned with, and that "absolutely will not stop … until you are dead", as one character memorably puts it.
The plot concerns a super-intelligent AI system called Skynet which has taken over the world by initiating nuclear war. Amid the resulting devastation, human survivors stage a successful fightback under the leadership of the charismatic John Connor.
In response, Skynet sends a cyborg assassin (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) back in time to 1984 – before Connor's birth – to kill his future mother, Sarah. Such is John Connor's importance to the war that Skynet banks on erasing him from history to preserve its existence.
An effort to bring a broader news ecosystem to the open social web, also known as the fediverse, is now in the hands of the social magazine app Flipboard.
An effort to bring a broader news ecosystem to the open social web, also known as the fediverse, is now in the hands of the social magazine app Flipboard. Press.coop, a service that created mirrored accounts of top news publishers (including Reuters, AP, WSJ, NYT, BBC, CNN, and even yours truly), has transferred its collection of nearly 100 accounts to Flipboard, the companies announced Thursday.
Press.coop was founded a year ago by a fediverse company, Hello.coop, headed by Dick Hardt. Like many, he wanted there to be more access to news in the fediverse, particularly the X rival Mastodon, where many top publishers had yet to set up shop as they had on Twitter/X. To address this need, Press.coop mirrored the publishers’ Twitter/X accounts, bringing their tweets to the broader open social web.
However, when Twitter changed its API rules and upped its pricing, that access was cut off. Press.coop then moved to mirror publishers’ RSS feeds instead.
Though these mirrored accounts were just bots that posted the publishers’ news to the fediverse as it hit their news feeds, many gained a following. The NPR account, for example, gained 10,000 press.coop followers. Others saw smaller followings.
Scientists have successfully stirred a supersolid, a strange type of matter that is both rigid and fluid, for the first time. Supersolids have the properties of both solids and superfluids - a fraction of atoms flow friction-free through a lattice of a rigid crystal structure. Stirring the supersolid resulted in tiny whirlpools called quantized vortices, an indication of superfluidity. The breakthrough will make it possible to simulate phenomena in the lab that normally occur under truly extreme conditions, like in the hearts of neutron stars.
We’re just two days past the election, and there is already a ton of speculation about what another Trump presidency will mean for transportation and tech — as well as adjacent sectors, like energy and climate. It will take months for many of these questions to be answered, and we’ll be watching and reporting on how the future of transportation may be affected.
In these early days, we have produced a few pieces that explore who stands to win or lose and how certain sectors might navigate the change in administration at the executive and legislative branches. TC reporter Tim De Chant provided a bit of analysis on why it might be hard for President-elect Trump to unwind the Inflation Reduction Act, and reporter Rebecca Bellan looked at what the win could mean for Elon Musk and his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X.
New research suggests that microplastics in the air could affect weather and climate by producing clouds in conditions where they would not form otherwise. Clouds form when water vapor sticks to tiny floating particles in the atmosphere. Water droplets with microplastic particles can produce ice crystals at temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius warmer than droplets without microplastics. Precipitation typically starts as ice particles. More information about microplastic concentrations at the altitudes where clouds form is needed before scientists can make theories on how exactly microplastics affect weather and climate.
Amazon's five-day in-office mandate was not made to reduce headcount or appease city officials, according to CEO Andy Jassy. The topic was brought up during an all-hands meeting on Tuesday. Jassy says that the decision to get workers back into the office was about the company's culture and strengthening that culture. Returning workers to the office will allow employees to be better set up to invent, collaborate, and be connected. Amazon employees will have to return to the office five days a week starting from January 2.
GeForce Now, which lets users stream games they already own on Nvidia GPUs, has two tiers: the $9.99 Priority tier, now renamed as the Performance tier,
A hot potato: Nvidia is making changes to its popular GeForce Now game streaming service, and it's good news and bad news. The welcome change is that those on the $9.99-per-month tier will be able to stream at 1440p and ultrawide resolutions. Unfortunately, Nvidia is introducing a 100-hour monthly playtime cap for paid memberships.
GeForce Now, which lets users stream games they already own on Nvidia GPUs, has two tiers: the $9.99 Priority tier, now renamed as the Performance tier, which offers RTX 3060-comparable GPUs, and the $19.99 per month Ultimate tier that is similar to playing games on an RTX 4080.
Starting this January, Nvidia says it is introducing a 100-hour per month cap on gaming time. Team Green says this will allow the service to continue providing "unparalleled quality and speed – as well as short to no queue times – for all paid members, without increasing membership fees."
The free tier won't have the cap, but then users are limited to one-hour sessions, less powerful hardware, and often have to endure long waits. Remaining Founders subscribers, who were promised benefits for life as long as they continue paying monthly, will not be subject to the cap.
this company is shooting for the skies with their tiers now. They're very well established so now can use tiers to make all the money they want. I wonder which company will rival Nvidia ten years from now?
AI startup Mistral has launched an API to moderate possibly toxic — or otherwise problematic — text in a range of languages.
AI startup Mistral has launched a new API for content moderation.
The API, which is the same API that powers moderation in Mistral’s Le Chat chatbot platform, can be tailored to specific applications and safety standards, Mistral says. It’s powered by a fine-tuned model (Ministral 8B) trained to classify text in a range of languages, including English, French, and German, into one of nine categories: sexual, hate and discrimination, violence and threats, dangerous and criminal content, self-harm, health, financial, law, and personally identifiable information.
The moderation API can be applied to either raw or conversational text, Mistral says.
“Over the past few months, we’ve seen growing enthusiasm across the industry and research community for new AI-based moderation systems, which can help make moderation more scalable and robust across applications,” Mistral wrote in a blog post. “Our content moderation classifier leverages the most relevant policy categories for effective guardrails and introduces a pragmatic approach to model safety by addressing model-generated harms such as unqualified advice and PII.”
AI-powered moderation systems are useful in theory. But they’re also susceptible to the same biases and technical flaws that plague other AI systems.
For example, some models trained to detect toxicity see phrases in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), the informal grammar used by some Black Americans, as disproportionately “toxic.” Posts on social media about people with disabilities are also often flagged as more negative or toxic by commonly used public sentiment and toxicity detection models, studies have found.
I believe AI moderation is very helpful, but we need to make sure it treats all languages fairly and doesn't make mistakes with different ways people speak. But hey it ain't perfect
Trusted leaker Golden Pig Upgrade recently hinted that Intel's upcoming Arc Battlemage desktop graphics cards will debut in December.
Rumor mill: Reports have long suggested that Intel plans to launch its second generation of desktop graphics cards in late 2024, and there's no indication that Chipzilla has encountered significant delays. While details on specifications, performance, and pricing remain scarce, the new GPUs could arrive weeks ahead of competitor releases from AMD and Nvidia. Moreover, could this be Intel's last hurrah before they abandon desktop GPUs again?
Trusted leaker Golden Pig Upgrade recently hinted that Intel's upcoming Arc Battlemage desktop graphics cards will debut in December. Little is known regarding the company's intended market segment, but the tipster described Battlemage's performance as "wonderful."
Battlemage will succeed Arc Alchemist, Intel's first dedicated GPU series, which launched in 2022. The most powerful Alchemist model, the Arc A770, was roughly comparable to Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060, so Battlemage is likely to focus on mid-range and entry-level cards.
Earlier reports uncovered three Battlemage GPUs: BMG-G10, BMG-21, and BMG-31. BMG-G10, the most powerful of the three, isn't expected to be released for consumer use, signaling that Intel isn't aiming to compete in the enthusiast space dominated by GPUs like the RTX 4090 or the upcoming RTX 5090.
Meanwhile, BMG-31 appears to be an entry-level or mobile-focused card, featuring the same number of Xe graphics cores as the A770. In September, an unidentified Battlemage card powered by the BMG-G21 chip, equipped with 12GB of VRAM and a 2,850 MHz boost clock – an unprecedented speed for any graphics card – was spotted on Geekbench.
Lucid Motors has officially started taking orders for its electric Gravity SUV, a critically important vehicle that's supposed to go into production
Lucid Motors has officially started taking orders for its electric Gravity SUV, a critically important vehicle that’s supposed to go into production by the end of this year. Interested buyers can now place $1,000 refundable deposits on the “Grand Touring” trim, which starts at $94,900, on the company’s website.
Similar to the company’s current model, the Air sedan, the Gravity is a more-than-capable electric vehicle. The company promises it can travel more than 440 miles on a full battery. That battery delivers power to two electric motors that put down the equivalent of 828 horsepower. It should be more functional than the Air, too, as it comes standard with two rows of seating and can be optioned up to three.
The launch of the Gravity is crucial to Lucid’s survival. While it has been able to increase sales of its Air sedan in the last few quarters by slashing prices and launching a cheaper trim, Lucid is still way off of the sales figures it originally projected when it went public in a $4 billion reverse merger in 2021. As a result, Lucid has repeatedly gone back to majority owner Saudi Arabia to add more funding to its war chest this year.
The Gravity comes in an SUV form factor that is far more attractive to North American buyers, which could boost overall sales. But the more affordable “Touring” version, which starts at $79,900, won’t be available until “late 2025.” And the Ground Touring version can quickly zoom past the $94,900 sticker price, as car reviewer Kyle Conner realized shortly after Lucid launched the Gravity SUV configurator on Thursday.
The Lucid Gravity looks like a great step for the company. I hope it helps them grow and succeed with their vision. I think SUVs will sell way more next year because of EV rise
The site’s full URL is WordPressenginetracker.com, which is ironic given Mullenweg and Automattic have argued during the battle that WP Engine misused the WordPress trademark and tricked people into believing that WP Engine is associated with WordPress.com
TSMC is stopping the production of advanced AI chips for China. I see this as a big deal, because these chips power so much tech. Limiting them will impact China’s tech growth.
Watch: Ambitious robot learns to clean bathroom sink by watching
A robot can now learn to clean sinks just by watching someone do it! I think it’s amazing to see robots picking up skills this way. They’re becoming little helpers for everyday tasks and kind of makes me wonder what they’ll learn next.
I'm thinking of some wild stuff here, some are weird and others very productive.😁
What gives you such conviction that Trump will focus on AI right out of the gate? I think it's going to be a huge focus within the government. The government has been way behind when it comes to AI. There are going to be huge initiatives, I believe, especially through the DOD and various agencies. This will be bullish for Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and other big names. I think these companies will benefit greatly in what is shaping up to be a golden age for AI, especially with the government's involvement.
I want to ask you about Elon Musk. If you'll allow me, let me put it this way: the market tried to make sense of the Tesla move. It's believed that Trump will repeal some or all of what's been legislated for consumer incentives and manufacturing support for companies. There's also the association between Musk and Trump. Why is it that Tesla stands out in your mind, while GM, Ford, and Rivian might not do as well?
Sure, that's a great point. Let me break it down into two parts. First, removing the $7,500 credits will create a much more even playing field. Tesla has scale and scope, which will give them a huge advantage over the Detroit stalwarts. That’s bullish for Tesla. They also still have the option to cut prices further. But the big thing is the value that’s unlocked with the IP. When you look at Trump, he's going to pave the way for autonomous vehicles. I think he will fast-track Full Self-Driving (FSD), which is very bullish for Tesla.
For Musk, one of the best strategic moves he made was aligning with Trump. Is the technology ready? Not necessarily in its current form, but it’s advancing rapidly. When I look at autonomous FSD, I see an incremental $1 trillion valuation. You could have cyber cabs or automated vehicles by 2026 or 2027, and these initiatives will be fast-tracked. Tesla and Musk are the big winners here, along with big tech. Another key point is that Trump is likely going to focus on reducing regulations, which will benefit deal-making across big tech.
There's a lot to be bullish about, but one area of concern is infrastructure. For a lot of this to happen, the growing chip sector in the U.S. is crucial, and that depends on the CHIPS Act. That could be undermined.
Yes, I think the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will likely undergo revisions. The biggest losers here will probably be companies like Intel. I think Intel has been struggling, and this is just going to add fuel to that fire. The IRA was originally going to be a huge opportunity for Intel, but now they’re on the wrong side of that trend. From a chip perspective, there’s a much bigger focus on AI build-out, especially in the U.S. With tariffs on China, there could be carve-outs, which is why I don’t think companies like Nvidia will be negatively impacted. The same goes for Tesla and Apple. That’s also why Musk’s influence in the White House is so important.
Let me get your feedback, because I know Ed wants to jump in. But I'm curious: do you think Trump won’t live up to a lot of the things he promised during the campaign?
I think the reality might be worse than the bite when it comes to tariffs. Some of them could be much nastier, but I think there will be carve-outs for certain exports. So, I don’t think the impact will be as negative for tech and the supply chain. That’s why this is such a Goldilocks scenario for tech, and it’s a champagne moment for Tesla investors.
Dan, can you hear me?
Okay, here's the question: Be honest with me—can Elon Musk have an informal or formal role in the administration while still being the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and leading other ventures like Neuralink and The Boring Company?
Yes, I think he could have an informal role, but not a formal one, like a cabinet position. A formal role would complicate his ownership of Tesla and other companies. However, I believe he’ll be an unofficial advisor with significant influence within the White House. This could end up being one of Musk’s best strategic bets, aligning with Trump.
AI will change how we use everything around us. Instead of pressing buttons, we'll just talk to our stuff - like our phones, cars, and even microwaves. They'll "understand" us and do what we ask, just like talking to a person.
AI will also make amazing new games. These games will mix movies and gaming in a new way. The story will change based on what you do, making each person's experience different.
Some people are already testing games where you can talk to characters, like being a detective who questions suspects. It feels totally new and different from regular games.
The fund will invest in A.I., which he acknowledged is in a so-called hype cycle.
Ashton Kutcher, the Hollywood actor and venture capital investor, raised the money for his firm’s new AI fund quickly.
“We pulled the fund together in about five weeks,” Kutcher said Thursday in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We have a base of LPs that have been with us for years on end.”
Kutcher’s new fund plans to put $243 million toward artificial intelligence startups, the tech industry’s current hottest category. The portfolio already includes investments in AI startup darlings OpenAI, Stability AI Ltd. and Anthropic.
With the new fund, assets under management at Los Angeles-based Sound Ventures LLC are about $1 billion, the firm said. Kutcher said the firm had surveyed its portfolio companies to see how they were embracing AI, and that the sector would mark “the next absolute transformation for technology.”
“We’ve been investing in AI for the last seven years,” Kutcher said. “But when we saw GPT be launched, we realized that this was an absolute breakthrough.”
He acknowledged the so-called hype cycle that washes across technology investing, most recently with the rush into crypto, a field where Sound Ventures also has been active. The blockchain technology at the heart of cryptocurrency has value in a number of applications, he said, while “tokenization” in many areas went too far.
Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of Sound Ventures, believes that every company is going to become an AI company, but that there might not be a winner in the space.
The actor and investor spoke at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 on Tuesday alongside Sound co-founder Guy Oseary and partner Effie Epstein to detail what the firm is looking for in founders and startups, and how they believe foundational AI companies are setting the stage for the future.
“Foundation layer AI companies are going to be some of the most valuable companies that have ever been created in the history of humankind,” Kutcher said.
He said it’s easy to underestimate how big of a deal AI is, and that he believes foundational AI models are going to be the foundation of everything to come.
“There will not be a company in the world that is not, in some way, shape or form, using AI in the future,” Kutcher said. “So every company is going to be an AI company. And it’s our thesis that whether it’s open source AI, whether it’s closed systems like Anthropic or OpenAI or World Labs, or whether you’re building software using Magic.dev, those things are going to be the underpinnings of everything else.”
However, he doesn’t think there will be a winner in the space. He believes that while foundational AI companies converge in some ways, they are also differentiating.
“Sometimes you can get too smart and too cute and think that you can pick the winner, and there might not be a winner,” Kutcher said. “It might not be in one of these monopoly spaces, because there’s a lot of different people that stand up gain a lot from AI and AGI in general.”
Got a new stress-relief trick: Talk it out with AI when someone makes you mad on the road! Instead of letting road rage get to you, have a chat with AI playing the role of that annoying driver. You can get everything off your chest without any real drama.
The ability to launch multiple drones mid-air and then use the mothership as a command center is a dream project of China and several other countries.
A head of the Zhuhai Air Show in China, an international aerospace trade show organized by the Beijing administration, a drone mothership concept has been spotted at the event’s grounds.
The drone mothership, which is said to have a maximum takeoff weight of 10 tons, could have the capability to launch drone swarms in the air.
The drone, Called Jiu Tian, which stands for ‘High Sky’ in Chinese, is powered by jet engines. Its design is by the government-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
Drone mothership concept’s specifications
The markings on the drone mothership read SS-UAV, along with others in Chinese script. While clearly the UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicle, it is unclear what SS stands for.
A look at the aircraft reveals that it uses a normal tricycle landing and take-off gear, and carries a jet engine on top of its central fuselage.
While initially it can look like a normal attack aircraft, its central payload section is labeled as ‘Isomerism Hive Module’. This reveals that the mothership could have the capability to launch drones mid-air and then manage swarms to carry out operations.
The ability to launch multiple drones mid-air and then use the mothership as a command center is a dream project of China and several other countries.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has proven how effective drones can be in tilting the balance to one side.
I think things will still have screens, but you'll be able to talk to most of them. Being able to tell things what you want, like a washer and dryer, will probably make life easier for people.
In architecture and engineering, blueprints for houses and buildings can be made instantly. With today's tech, you can already do this easily, but soon you’ll just tell it exactly what you want, and it will be ready right away.
Tailored for high dimensional data efficient for data storage and retrieval mechanisms, they play a crucial role in the world of AI and machine learning.
So what exactly are vector databases? Think of them as data warehouses specifically designed for high-dimensional vectors. These vectors are like mathematical fingerprints, capturing the essence of your data – text, images, or even sensor readings – in a multi-dimensional space. Each dimension represents a specific feature or characteristic.
Let’s understand this by a simple example. Imagine you have a giant room filled with books. A traditional database would be like a card catalog, letting you find books by title or author. But a vector database is more like a mind map. It connects books based on ideas and themes, allowing for lightning-fast searches based on content and meaning.
Now one would think how a Vector database actually works. Let's dissect the technical architecture of vector databases to unravel their inner workings. At a fundamental level, they comprise two key components:
Storage layer: This layer is responsible for efficiently storing and indexing the high-dimensional vectors. It leverages specialized data structures such as inverted indexes, tree-based structures (e.g., KD-trees), or state-of-the-art techniques like Product Quantization to optimise storage and retrieval operations.
· Embedding: We transform raw data (text, images) into vectors using machine learning techniques. Imagine a complex algorithm summarising a book into a series of key points.
· Indexing: The vectors are then stored and meticulously indexed within the database. This is where the magic happens – the database structures the data for efficient retrieval.
Query engine: The query engine facilitates fast and accurate similarity search within the vector space. It employs algorithms like Approximate Nearest Neighbor (ANN) search techniques, leveraging indexing structures to efficiently locate vectors that are close in proximity to a given query vector.
Now let’s understand how traditional relational database differs a vector database through key features.
Comparison of traditional database vs vector database
Vector Database – Empowering Gen AI
Vector databases play a pivotal role in enabling the functionality and efficiency of Generative AI (Gen AI) solutions. Let’s go through them:
High-dimensional storage: Gen AI models often operate in high-dimensional spaces, requiring efficient storage and retrieval of complex data representations. Vector databases excel in storing and organizing high-dimensional vectors, enabling seamless manipulation and analysis within the multi-dimensional space.
GPU acceleration: Leveraging the computational power of GPUs can significantly accelerate similarity search and other vector operations. Vector databases offer GPU acceleration, enabling Gen AI models to achieve breakthrough performance and efficiency.
Efficient similarity search: One of the core functionalities of vector databases is their ability to perform fast and accurate similarity searches within the vector space. This feature is crucial for Gen AI models to identify and retrieve semantically similar data entities, facilitating tasks such as content recommendation and semantic understanding.
Scalability: As Gen AI solutions scale to handle ever-growing datasets and user interactions, scalability becomes a critical factor. Vector databases are designed to scale horizontally, allowing for seamless expansion across distributed clusters without compromising performance or reliability. This scalability ensures that Gen AI models can continue to operate efficiently, even as the volume of data grows exponentially.
Real-time updates: In dynamic environments where data is constantly changing, real-time updates are essential for maintaining the accuracy and relevance of Gen AI models. Vector databases support efficient real-time updates, enabling models to adapt and learn from new data on the fly.
Support for complex data types: Gen AI models often work with diverse data types, ranging from text and images to audio and video. Vector databases offer robust support for storing and querying complex data types, allowing models to leverage rich representations of multimedia content.
Integration with AI frameworks: To streamline the development and deployment of Gen AI solutions, vector databases seamlessly integrate with popular AI frameworks and libraries. Whether it's TensorFlow, PyTorch, or other deep learning frameworks, vector databases provide native support and APIs for seamless integration, empowering data scientists and developers to leverage the full power of AI in conjunction with vectorized data storage and retrieval.
Semantic understanding: Gen AI models thrive on their ability to understand and generate content that resonates with human-like semantics. By harnessing the rich embeddings stored in vector databases, these models can decipher nuanced similarities and nuances within the data, paving the way for more contextually relevant outputs.
Exploring Vector Databases
Pinecone: A cloud-based vector database known for its ease of use and focus on developer experience. It offers features like real-time updates and integrates well with popular machine learning frameworks.
· Speed and efficiency: Pinecone excels in delivering blazing-fast similarity search performance, thanks to its optimised indexing structures and GPU acceleration.
· Scalability: With its distributed architecture and seamless horizontal scaling capabilities, Pinecone offers unmatched scalability for handling large-scale Gen AI workloads.
· Limited support for complex data types: While Pinecone excels in storing and querying high-dimensional vectors, it may have limited support for complex data types beyond simple numeric vectors.
· Absence of SQL support: Pinecone lacks built-in support for SQL, the standard language for relational database management systems. This absence can present challenges when integrating with existing systems or conducting complex analytical queries that rely on SQL functionality.
Cosmos DB: This offering from Microsoft boasts high availability and scalability, making it a good choice for enterprise-grade applications. It integrates seamlessly with other Azure services.
Pros
· Scalability: Cosmos DB offers seamless horizontal scaling, making it suitable for handling large volumes of data, including vector embeddings.
· Schema flexibility: Cosmos DB's flexible schema allows for storing complex data structures, including vector embeddings, without predefined schemas.
· Integrated querying: Cosmos DB supports SQL-like querying over JSON documents, enabling efficient retrieval of vector embeddings based on various criteria.
Cons
· Cost: Cosmos DB can be relatively expensive, especially for large-scale deployments or workloads with high throughput requirements.
· Indexing overhead: Managing indexing for efficient querying of vector embeddings can add overhead and complexity to the implementation.
Azure SQL database: While not a pure vector database, Azure SQL offers extensions that enable vector capabilities. This can be a good option if you're already invested in the Azure ecosystem.
Pros
· Integration: Azure SQL integrates seamlessly with other Azure services and tools, simplifying development and management tasks.
· Security: Azure SQL provides built-in security features, including encryption, authentication, and access control, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
· Scalability limitations: While Azure SQL can scale vertically, scaling horizontally for large-scale deployments may be challenging.
· Performance: For workloads with high concurrency or throughput requirements, Azure SQL may struggle to deliver the same level of performance as NoSQL or specialised databases.
· Cost: Azure SQL can become costly, especially for large databases or workloads with high resource utilisation.
PostgreSQL: This open-source relational database can be extended with vector search functionalities through libraries like FAISS. It's a cost-effective option for those comfortable with managing their own infrastructure.
Pros
· Reliability: PostgreSQL is known for its reliability, stability, and ACID compliance, ensuring data integrity and consistency.
· Extensibility: PostgreSQL supports a wide range of data types and extensions, allowing for flexible storage and querying of vector embeddings.
· Scalability limitations: While PostgreSQL can scale vertically, horizontal scaling for large-scale deployments may require additional complexity and effort.
· Performance: For workloads with high concurrency or throughput requirements, PostgreSQL may require careful optimisation to maintain performance.
· Cost: While PostgreSQL itself is open-source, managed PostgreSQL services on Azure may incur costs based on usage and configuration.
The best vector database for you depends on your specific needs – factors like scalability, ease of use, and integration with your existing infrastructure aLL play a role.
This is just a glimpse into the exciting world of vector databases. As Gen AI continues to evolve, these powerful tools will play an even more crucial role in unlocking the potential of AI to understand, create, and interact with the world around us.
Lance Seefeldt and Zhi-Yong Yang are among a Gates Foundation-funded collaboration publishing new knowledge in PNAS that could simplify genetic transfer of nitrogen fixation to food crops.
Food productivity is dependent on the availability of fertilizer, says Utah State University biochemist Lance Seefeldt.
“We need nitrogen to survive, but we can’t take it in from the air,” says Seefeldt, professor and head of USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “We get nitrogen from the protein in our food.”
Little over a century ago, the Haber-Bosch process revolutionized how atmospheric nitrogen could be converted to a form to allow for industrial-scale production of fertilizer. The discovery led to a huge increase in global food production and a massive population boom. Still, certain areas of the globe, including Sub-Saharan Africa, lack the infrastructure to allow import and distribution of fertilizer, much less the capacity to produce the nutrient-essential product close to home.
Since 2019, Seefeldt and USU Senior Scientist Zhi-Yong Yang have collaborated on a project with colleagues in Spain and the United States, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to re-engineer the biology of cereal crops, such as corn and rice, to achieve nitrogen fixation on their own, from sunlight, without applying fertilizer.
With lead author Luis Rubio and Lucía Payá Tormo, Carlos Echavarri-Erasun, Natalia Makarovsky-Saavedra and Ana Pérez-González at the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), along with Yisong Guo of Carnegie Mellon University, Seefeldt and Yang report a simpler pathway, involving a newly known minimum of seven genes that allow the plant cell to make the enzyme that can covert N2 gas from the air to fertilizer. Their findings appear in the Nov. 6, 2024 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“The goal is to place genes into the crops’ mitochondria and chloroplast enabling them to generate sufficient energy to drive nitrogen fixation,” Yang says. “This is a pretty cool piece of evidence. Essentially, these staple caloric crops – rice, corn, potatoes – could have built-in fertilizer.”
The team initially narrowed the number of genes needed to fix nitrogen to nine, and identified gene combinations they thought were essential to complete the process. To their surprise, they discovered genes they’d designated as critical middlemen could be omitted.
Earth is surrounded by an immense magnetic field called the magnetosphere.
Scientists in China claimed that the magnetic shield over North America is weakening rapidly. The geomagnetic field, a kind of natural barrier, protects Earth from cosmic radiation, which can create disturbances in the atmospheric system.
The cause of the magnetic shield losing strength ‘exceptionally fast’ has yet to be determined. However, initially, it’s being linked to the shift of the geomagnetic poles from the western to the eastern hemisphere.
Scientists, led by Professor Fang Hanxian of the National University of Defence Technology, also revealed that the magnetic field over the eastern hemisphere, including China, is strengthening.
Significant reversal occurred in past 30 years
Chinese scientists published a peer-reviewed paper last month highlighting the weakening of magnetic shields.
Fang’s team employed the latest models and data to reconstruct global magnetic field strength changes since 1900. They found that from 1930 to 1990, the magnetic field strength in North America increased and was higher than in many other regions of the world, reported SCMP.
However, Chinese scientists claimed that a significant reversal has occurred in the past 30 years: by 2020, the magnetic field strength in this region had dropped to a level barely above the global average.
Scientists maintain that the change is exceptional from a global perspective.
Magnetosphere plays role of gatekeeper
An immense magnetic field, called the magnetosphere, surrounds Earth. Generated by powerful, dynamic forces, the magnetosphere shields us from the erosion of the atmosphere by the solar wind (charged particles our sun continually spews at us), erosion and particle radiation from coronal mass ejections (massive clouds of energetic and magnetized solar plasma and radiation), and cosmic rays from deep space.
NASA claims that the magnetosphere plays the role of gatekeeper, repelling unwanted energy harmful to life on Earth, trapping most of it a safe distance from Earth’s surface in twin doughnut-shaped zones called the Van Allen Belts.
The robot has more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of freedom, and it uses technology shared with XPENG’s AI Electric Vehicles (EVs).
XPENG reports that Iron is already active on its automotive production lines, helping assemble the upcoming P7+ EV.
“The robots have already been integrated into XPENG’s daily operations and focus on internal applications, such as factories and stores,” the firm said in a statement.
Versatile system
XPENG, known for its EVs, held its 2024 AI Day event, showcasing cutting-edge AI innovations. One of the standout reveals was the humanoid robot, Iron.
Standing 5’8″ tall and weighing 154 pounds (70 kilograms), Iron is already operational, working on Xpeng’s production lines. This robot is tasked with assembling the upcoming P7+ electric vehicle, highlighting its practical role beyond just display.
Although little details are available, Xpeng’s specially designed Turing AI chip is known to power the robot. With more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of flexibility, Iron can precisely handle delicate parts and carry out intricate activities like walking.
Tesla officially launched the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover in the Philippines. Both vehicles are priced competitively against mainstream rivals in the country’s automotive segment.
Tesla first Experience Center in the Philippines is located at 22 Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a central business district and one of Metro Manila’s most high-end areas. Videos and photos taken of the site’s opening ceremony showed that the event was quite prolific, as it attracted a good number of people, including some officials.
Tesla Philippines’ pricing for the Model 3 is quite competitive. The Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive starts at Php 2,109,000 ($36,142), the Model 3 Long Range All Wheel Drive (AWD) starts at Php 2,489,000 ($42,652), and the Model 3 Performance starts at Php 3,099,000 ($53,105) before options.
This places the Model 3 in the same price range as the Toyota Camry 2.5 V HEV, which is currently being sold in the Philippines for about Php 2,457,000 ($42,106). It is also significantly more affordable than the BMW 3-Series Sedan 318i Business, which is sold with an MSRP of Php 3,590,000 ($61,522) in the Philippines.
The latest achievement of Proton the Power Upgrade (PPU) project shows the US has all it takes to remain a neutron science leader.
Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have achieved a big breakthrough in neutron research. They ran a neutron production system for 1,250 hours using a 1.7-megawatt proton beam.
This feat was accomplished using Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), a powerful research facility that uses short proton pulses to target steel-based material comprising liquid mercury. This interaction results in the creation of intense neutron beams.
The 1,250-hour demonstration shows that the US can produce neutrons on a large scale to advance its scientific capabilities. Plus, it also solidifies SNS’ position as one of the most powerful neutron production systems in the world.
“Operating a newly upgraded, world-class science facility for 1,250 hours right out of the gate is remarkable in its own right,” Jens Dilling, an experimental nuclear physicist and associate laboratory director neutron sciences at ORNL, said.
More neutrons mean more innovation
Neutrons are great at penetrating objects and revealing their internal structure. This makes them highly useful for studying complex materials, developing new ones, improving energy storage, and advancing medical research.
However, producing neutrons in large numbers is a complex and challenging process as it involves high-energy collisions and materials that could remain stable during such interactions.
Uyghurs living abroad report posts being taken down by censors.
Nefise Oguz, a Uyghur student at Istanbul University, uploaded a video to TikTok of a brief debate she had with Doğu Perinçek, leader of Turkey’s nationalist Patriotic Party, about the Uyghur genocide and China’s oppressive policies in Xinjiang.
She posted it on the popular short-video platform on the evening of Oct. 24 after sharing it on Facebook and other social media sites — only to discover it had been deleted from TikTok the next morning.
Tik Tok said it removed the video because it violated its community guidelines. News of the incident spread on social media, generating strong opposition from Uyghurs.
Other Uyghurs living abroad say TikTok is deleting videos about human rights violations in Xinjiang, the far-western region of China where 12 million mostly Muslim Uyghurs live.
But TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have said they have no relationship with the Chinese government, which censors such posts within its borders.
RFA emailed TikTok for comment about this specific case, but did not receive a response.
“The ethnic genocide and oppression of the Uyghurs by the Chinese government is a fact,” Oguz told Radio Free Asia. “I uploaded a video to TikTok, but it was removed because it made them uncomfortable.”
Artificial intelligence has been deemed a threat to multiple industries, and now, tattoo experts are saying it’s already left a scar on their industry.
Several designers have copped to using AI software to create elaborate mock-up designs to be etched on humans — a task that used to be part of the artist’s creative job.
“It just outperforms people,” tattooer Ziggy Tramdaks told the Wall Street Journal. “AI will take over this industry whether we want it to or not.”
The meteoric rise in popularity of AI language learning models like ChatGPT has made graphic design work feasible for anyone, even those who aren’t considered tech-savvy.
A federal law that grants broad legal immunity to vaccine manufacturers does not protect AstraZeneca against a breach of contract claim brought by a woman who was injured by the company’s vaccine, a U.S. judge ruled on Nov. 4.
The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act protects manufacturers of vaccines during times of emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brianne Dressen sued AstraZeneca for neglecting to, as promised in a contract, cover the costs of injuries she suffered after participating in the company’s clinical trial in 2020. The pharmaceutical company said it was immune from the lawsuit under the PREP Act.
While Dressen can’t sue over the injuries, she can over the breach of contract because the legal immunity granted by the law does not cover at least some contractual claims, Shelby said.
“The basis of Dressen’s claim is a broken promise, not a countermeasure,” he said, adding later: “Dressen was administered a covered countermeasure, and she was warned that she may suffer from an adverse reaction, but the fact that she suffered from such reaction was not sufficient to ripen her claim. Rather, she only has a claim because AstraZeneca made a contractual promise to her that happened to involve the effects of a covered countermeasure.”
AstraZeneca put forth a theory in legal filings that immunity
AstraZeneca put forth a theory in legal filings that immunity from breach of contract claims helps encourage the quick development and deployment of countermeasures during health emergencies, which is the purpose of the PREP Act. Dressen’s lawyers argued enforcing contracts achieves the same result. The judge sided with the latter.
“If the PREP Act immunized deceptive contractual inducement and sanctioned illusory promises, then no one would agree to undertake the high-risk activities that are critical during public health emergency responses,” Shelby said. “The PREP Act drafters could not have intended to allow pharmaceutical companies to make illusory promises to clinical trial participants because doing so would erode public trust and undermine the ability to recruit willing participants, which in turn would erode and undermine pandemic preparedness.”
The judge used the example of AstraZeneca agreeing to pay $125 for time and travel reimbursements to Dressen per study visit during the clinical trial. “AstraZeneca’s theory of immunity would allow it to shirk this and any other promise made to trial participants merely because the promise ultimately relates to the administration or use of a vaccine,” he said.
Dressen, a preschool teacher in Utah, volunteered for the 2020 clinical trial. The consent form she signed said AstraZeneca would “cover the costs of research injuries” and “pay the costs of medical treatment.” After receiving the company’s shot, she suffered from a variety of injuries. U.S. National Institutes of Health doctors diagnosed her with vaccine side effects.
Shelby’s ruling means Dressen’s case will move forward.
Dressen wrote on the social media platform X that the judge “handed down a thoughtful and timely decision.”
“My deepest gratitude to the court for respectfully reviewing this important case and allowing it to move forward,” she said.
An AstraZeneca spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that the company cannot comment on ongoing litigation.
“Patient safety is our highest priority,” the spokesperson said. “From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.”
At Warner Bros. Discovery’s third-quarter earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels said Max this year will push back against password sharing with gentle messaging, prompting users signed in on multiple devices to pay a little extra.
He said Max will roll out the new messaging at the end of 2024 and will continue with the strategy going into 2025. He also implied Max could raise the cost of its basic and premium tiers.
Max leadership announced in March it was heading toward a password change in the wake of similar policies at rival streamers Netflix and Disney+.
Netflix and Disney began their crackdown on password sharing by asking customers to pay a little extra for their multiple screens before rolling out more expensive subscription models that added more users.
The password clamp has coincided with the rise of tiered subscriptions on streaming platforms. Over the past few years, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Max have added new subscription models that add or remove features based on price.
The new subscription models have mostly paid off for streamers, letting them customize their experience. Max specifically reported over 7 million new users in the last quarter.
The first time China faced Donald Trump in the White House, there was a trade war, a breach of protocol involving Taiwan's former leader, and a president-to-president bromance that turned sour.
The first time China faced Donald Trump in the White House, there was a trade war, a breach of protocol involving Taiwan’s former leader, and a president-to-president bromance that turned sour.
As President-elect Trump prepares to start his second term in office, China is bracing for unpredictability in its ties with the United States and renewed tensions over trade, technology and Taiwan.
Perhaps the biggest consequence for China - if Trump stays true to his campaign promises - is his threat to slap blanket 60% tariffs on all Chinese exports to the U.S.
Tariffs like that would be a blow to China’s already unstable economy, which is suffering from high youth unemployment, a lengthy property slump and government debt. A 60% duty on Chinese imports could shave off 2.5 percentage points, or about half, of China’s projected economic growth, according to an analysis published earlier this year by UBS.
It's no surprise that students are pushing back on cellphone bans in classrooms. But school administrators in one South Florida county working to pull students' eyes away from their screens
Since the beginning of the 2024 school year in August, students in Broward County Public Schools, the country’s sixth-largest district, have been barred from using cellphones during the school day, including during lunch and breaks, unless given special permission.
The schools are some of the many across the country wrestling with how to crack down on cellphones, at a time when experts say social media use among young people is nearly universal – and that screen time is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression among kids.
But a survey sent out by the South Florida school district earlier this fall found that of the more than 70,000 students, teachers and parents surveyed, nearly one in five parents believe the cellphone ban is having a negative impact on their student’s wellbeing.
Among the top concerns for the students and parents surveyed is not being able to communicate with their family members, especially in an emergency - an anxiety that cuts deep in the district that’s home to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a 2018 shooting killed 17 people.
District officials have said students can use their phones during an emergency and that teachers have the flexibility to grant kids access for other reasons too.
“I don’t think any of us thinks kids should be on their phones during class,” said Erin Gohl, a parent and advocate in the district.
“We’re really talking about giving kids tools during those times when they need it,” she added, including letting students use their phones for “positive mental health purposes”.
One NZ Satellite will offer TXT services to the network’s customers. Voice and basic data capability will be available at a later date.
“We’re working closely with SpaceX to bring this game-changing technology to New Zealand, which will make Kiwis safer and provide coverage like never before. We are currently testing the network locally in Aotearoa in preparation for launch.
“When we switch on the network, One NZ customers with an eligible mobile plan and phone will be able to TXT from anywhere in NZ with a line of sight to the sky – whether that’s on the farm, on the road, on the water, or in the mountains. Best of all, TXT is included in the price of eligible plans,” stated One NZ.
One NZ Satellite will initially be limited to a subset of eligible phones. The network is working closely with phone providers to roll out Starlink Direct-to-Cell to more mobile models in the future.
SpaceX’s Starlink Cellular is not yet available in the United States. However, the US Federal Communications granted SpaceX and T-Mobile temporary authority to provide Starlink Direct-to-Cell coverage to T-Mobile users during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has surged back up to the trillion-dollar club once again after a three-day spike following President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday, which has catapulted the automaker’s stock upward.
Shares have been up over 21 percent since Tuesday night when Trump won the presidential election, a move that Tesla CEO Elon Musk helped facilitate through months of campaigning and social media posts.
At its peak, Tesla shares reached over $317, equating to a $1.02 trillion market cap, the first time the company has been recognized in the elite club since March 2022. Tesla has not reached the $300 level since September 2022.
Tesla bull Dan Ives of Wedbush said on Wednesday, after Trump had locked up the presidency, that he could be the key to the company regaining a $1 trillion market cap, especially considering Musk’s relationship with the 45th and 47th president.
Ives said Trump’s win was a “dream scenario for any Tesla bull,” and that he would likely bring some advantages to the company’s regulatory processes because of their strong relationship:
“He will fast track autonomous FSD, Cybercab could get pulled forward by about a year… This is really, if you’re a Tesla bull, if you wake up to this, this is exactly what you’d wanna see. And of course, Musk will clearly have a big voice in a Trump administration…I think that would be a top initiative, to fast-track FSD autonomous. There’s been a lot of regulatory hurdles. And this is something that Musk has talked about in Robotaxi day. Obviously the initial sentiment was negative. This is gonna be the key. Because ultimately, I think Tesla is the most undervalued AI name in the market. And you look what’s happen here. It’s just gonna unlock that opportunity for Tesla and Musk.”
Intel’s faulty 13th- and 14th-gen CPUs trigger lawsuit out for blood.
One frustrated customer wants to force Intel to pay untold millions in damages, claiming the company deceptively marketed faulty 13th- and 14th-generation CPUs as "enabling amazing experiences to happen on the PC," when instead products were prone to crashes and blue screens.
In a proposed class action, a New York man, Mark Vanvalkenburgh, said that he regretted falling for Intel's marketing of its 13th-gen CPU as "the world’s fastest desktop processor" capable of delivering "the best gaming, streaming and recording experience" available today.
He and possibly millions of others "reasonably" believed both the 13th- and 14th-gen CPUs would "perform as advertised"—only to discover they'd purchased a reliably "unstable" product triggering "random screen blackouts and random computer restarts" that PC Mag warned perhaps caused "permanent" CPU damage.
If Vanvalkenburgh and other class members had known about the product defects, they wouldn't have paid a premium price for Intel's CPUs, the complaint said. Class members include anyone who purchased the defective products across the US, as well as a sub-class pursuing additional claims that includes any New York-based buyers.
Law enforcement believe the activity, which makes it harder to then unlock the phones, may be due to a potential update in iOS 18 which tells nearby iPhones to reboot if they have not been in contact with a cellular network for some time, according to a document obtained by 404 Media.
Law enforcement officers are warning other officials and forensic experts that iPhones which have been stored securely for forensic examination are somehow rebooting themselves, returning the devices to a state that makes them much harder to unlock, according to a law enforcement document obtained by 404 Media.
The exact reason for the reboots is unclear, but the document authors, who appear to be law enforcement officials in Detroit, Michigan, hypothesize that Apple may have introduced a new security feature in iOS 18 that tells nearby iPhones to reboot if they have been disconnected from a cellular network for some time. After being rebooted, iPhones are generally more secure against tools that aim to crack the password of and take data from the phone.
“The purpose of this notice is to spread awareness of a situation involving iPhones, which is causing iPhone devices to reboot in a short amount of time (observations are possibly within 24 hours) when removed from a cellular network,” the document reads.
For years we’ve noted how U.S. broadband is expansive, patchy, and slow thanks to mindless consolidation, regulatory capture, regional monopolization, and limited competition.
For years we’ve noted how U.S. broadband is expansive, patchy, and slow thanks to mindless consolidation, regulatory capture, regional monopolization, and limited competition. That’s resulted in a growing number of pissed off towns, cities, cooperatives, and city-owned utilities building their own, locally-owned broadband networks in a bid for better, cheaper, faster broadband.
Regional giants like Comcast, Charter, or AT&T could have responded to this organic trend by offering better, cheaper, faster service. But ultimately they found it far cheaper to undermine these efforts via regulatory capture, congressional lobbying, lawsuits, protectionist state laws, and misleading disinformation.
Currently sixteen states have laws — usually ghost written by regional telecom monopolies — restrict or outright ban community broadband. Some of these laws are outright bans on community broadband, basically letting Comcast or AT&T veto your local infrastructure voting rights. Others erect elaborate, cumbersome restrictions on the financing and expansion of such networks and pretend that’s not a ban.
The good news: The Institute For Local Self Reliance (where I study and write about broadband access) notes that these sixteen laws are a notable reduction from the 21 state laws we had in 2020. What caused the change? The pandemic home education and telecommuting boom highlighted the essential nature of broadband (or more accurately, the expensive, sluggish, terrible nature of monopoly options).
As the federal government makes unprecedented investments to expand high-speed access to the Internet, unbeknownst to most outside the broadband industry is that nearly a third of the states in the U.S. have preemption laws in place that either prevent or restrict local municipalities from building and operating publicly-owned, locally-controlled networks.
Currently, there are 16 states across the U.S. (listed below) with these monopoly-protecting, anti-competition preemption laws in place.
These states maintain these laws, despite the fact that wherever municipal broadband networks or other forms of community-owned networks operate, the service they deliver residents and businesses almost always offers faster connection speeds, more reliable service, and lower prices.
In numerous cases, municipal broadband networks are able to provide low-cost or free service to low-income households even in the absence of the now expired federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). And for several years in a row now, municipal networks consistently rank higher in terms of consumer satisfaction and performance in comparison to the big monopoly Internet service providers, as PCMag and Consumer Reports have documented time and time again.
Nevertheless, these preemption laws remain in 16 states, enacted at the behest of Big Cable and Telecom lobbyists, many of whom have ghost written the statutes, in an effort to protect ISP monopolies from competition.
The Infrastructure Law Was Supposed to Move the Preemption Needle But …
In March of 2021, President Biden first issued his vision for a bipartisan infrastructure bill – which would eventually include $65 billion for broadband expansion with $42.5 billion of that earmarked for building new networks under the BEAD program. The President wanted to center nonprofit municipal and cooperative business models in his plan to connect unserved and underserved communities, while bringing competition to a broken market that has left Americans paying among the highest prices for high-speed Internet service of any developed nation in the world.
The Biden-Harris administration’s “American Jobs Plan” called for broadband investments and policies that would “promote price transparency and competition among Internet providers, including by lifting barriers that prevent municipally-owned or affiliated providers and rural electric co-ops from competing on an even playing field with private providers.”
The President’s call to action also envisioned an infrastructure bill that would “prioritize support for broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives – providers with less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities.”
Ultimately, however, when the Congressional sausage-making was complete and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was passed in November 2021, the bill deemphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s community-centered, local choice approach.
Still, it should be noted that the seed of the Biden-Harris administration’s vision did make it into the law, as the law specifically says any state that uses BEAD funds to build new networks must “ensure the participation of non-traditional broadband providers (such as municipalities or political subdivisions, cooperatives, non-profits, Tribal Governments, and utilities).”
Yet, neither Congress nor the NTIA – the agency charged with overseeing the distribution of the funds – has enforced the letter of the law. Instead, even those states that did not lift “barriers that prevent municipally-owned or affiliated providers and rural electric co-ops from competing” are still receiving their share of BEAD funds, all but ensuring the lion’s share of BEAD funds in those states will go to the big monopoly providers.
But even without the federal government compelling states to remove preemption laws, the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the nation in March 2020 was enough to convince four states that the preemption laws they had on the books were counterproductive, especially in the midst of a remote work and schooling boom, and as more and more commerce and governmental services moved online.
In 2021, Arkansas and Washington passed legislation significantly rolling back legislative barriers on publicly owned broadband networks. In 2023, Colorado rolled back a law that required communities to hold a referendum vote to opt out of a state ban on municipal broadband. That law was repealed after over 120 communities across the state overwhelmingly voted to opt out of the state preemption law, fueled no doubt by the success of the municipal networks in Estes Park, Fort Collins, and Loveland. In May of 2024, Minnesota followed suit, rolling back its preemptions laws.
Having tracked community broadband networks across the nation for nearly two decades now, we believe that locally-rooted, democratically-accountable networks are the best path for long term success.
Furthermore, we believe community-led broadband is the best option for promoting economic prosperity, improving quality of life, and ensuring broadband access for everyone irrespective of income and background.
Therefore we support legislative efforts to remove the preemption barriers that remain.
The 16 States That Still Have Preemption Laws Limiting Community Networks
Below is a list (and explanation) of the 16 states that still have preemption laws on the books that either outright prohibit or erect severe barriers to building and operating publicly-owned, locally controlled broadband networks.
Alabama: Municipalities are allowed to provide telecommunications services but state preemption laws impose numerous restrictions that all together make it extremely difficult for municipalities to build and operate a broadband network.
Alabama limits networks to community boundaries, preventing Opelika from expanding to serve others in the region, bringing opportunity to more and allowing its fixed costs to be spread among more subscribers.
As an example, Alabama prohibits municipalities from using local tax dollars or other funds to pay for the start-up expenses that any capital intensive project like network construction requires.
The law also requires municipal broadband projects to cover ongoing expenses and debt service from network revenues alone, which like any business may take years to reach; to say nothing of the fact that it forecloses the option of local communities deciding that the service is so valuable that it’s worth being subsidized by the local government, as is done with other basic infrastructure such as roads and schools.
Florida: Imposes numerous restrictions that have scared local governments away from investments though they likely could have navigated them. The state imposes taxes on municipal telecommunications that do not apply to other municipal services.
Communities considering an investment must conduct public hearings under specific circumstances and prepare a report showing “a plan to ensure that revenues exceed operating expenses and payment of principal and interest on debt within four years.”
Not all business models will break even in that time - especially when the networks are often focused explicitly on low-income neighborhoods that have been left behind.
Louisiana: Has among the strongest prohibitions that were made stronger after Lafayette launched LUS Fiber.
Municipalities must hold a referendum and are required to “impute” (or invent) additional costs that would apply to a private provider if it were offering services.
This requirement invites endless litigation as there are no agreed-upon standards for what these fees could be.
A community that somehow surmounts these obstacles would then lose the ability to charge franchise fees and similar obligations to other operators in the community – though those fees are usually owed to the public as compensation for using the community rights-of-way for poles, conduits, etc.
Michigan: Requires public entities to issue an RFP and can only proceed with a public investment if they receive “less than 3 qualified bids from private providers.”
They are also required to subject themselves to the same terms and conditions as those specified in their request for proposals - which is code for having to combine all the limitations of a public entity with the limitations of a private entity and the benefits of neither. Local governments are limited in serving any areas outside their boundaries.
Missouri: Limits municipalities and public power systems from telecommunications services leasing and selling for non-internal purposes but exempts “Internet-type” services.
What that means currently may be arguable but several communities have built fiber networks to offer Internet access to the public for a fee. Statute.
Counterintuitively, KC Fiber, a municipal network in North Kansas City, offers every resident within city limits fiber Internet service for free.
Montana: Local governments can invest in networks only if such services are not available from a private provider.
“An agency or political subdivision may act as an internet services provider when providing advanced services that are not otherwise available from a private internet services provider within the jurisdiction served by the agency or political subdivision.”
Like Pennsylvania, a service may be available to a few addresses at exorbitant prices and a community would not be able to move forward with a project.
Nebraska: Has among the worst prohibitions of municipal networks. The relevant law states:
“An agency or political subdivision of the state that is not a public power supplier shall not provide on a retail or wholesale basis any broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, or video services.”
Dark fiber, which is almost never regulated or limited even in states that limit municipal broadband, is also effectively prohibited due to complicated restrictions meant to protect the big telephone monopoly – CenturyLink/Lumen.
However, Lincoln recognized it could lease conduit and has built an impressive network doing just that.
Nevada: Prohibits municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more and counties with populations of 55,000 or more from providing telecommunications services. Statute. Statute.
Small wonder then, that the Silver State is a virtual community broadband desert with the notable exception of Churchill County Communications, a telephone cooperative first established in 1889.
North Carolina: Imposes numerous restrictions on community-owned broadband that have the practical effect of severely curtailing any such effort.
For example, as explained by the prominent telecom attorneys Jim Baller, Sean Stokes, and Casey Lide, “public entities are required to comply with unspecified legal requirements that may apply to private providers; impute phantom costs into their rates; conduct a referendum before providing service; forego popular financing mechanisms; refrain from using typical industry pricing mechanisms; and make their commercially sensitive information available to their incumbent competitors.”
No new municipal networks have been built since the law took effect, though Wilson’s Greenlight Network has still been able to thrive as one of the best examples of municipal broadband in the nation. North Carolina’s limits only apply to networks that would charge a fee for service.
Pennsylvania: Local governments are required to get permission from the local telephone company prior to investing in a network or partnership. This is literally the language of the statute:
“A political subdivision may offer advanced or broadband services if the political subdivision has submitted a written request for the deployment of such service to the local exchange telecommunications company serving the area and, within two months of receipt of the request, the local exchange telecommunications company or one of its affiliates has not agreed to provide the data speeds requested. If the local exchange telecommunications company or one of its affiliates agrees to provide the data speeds requested, then it must do so within 14 months of receipt of the request.”
Communities cannot consider factors such as whether the incumbent service is affordable, available to everyone, or reliable.
South Carolina: Effectively prohibits municipal networks by requiring them to invent phantom fees that would be applicable to private service providers – which would be subject to endless litigation. As with some other states, community providers would have to include unnecessary fees into their services to make them less competitive. Statute.
SC Five Year Action Plan Monopoly Comments
When state broadband officials conducted “listening tours” across the state to compile its Five Year Action Plan to qualify for BEAD funding the plan cited widespread criticism of monopoly ISPs.
The plan also explictly acknowledged the state’s preemption law was a stumbling block to maximizing its effort to provide universal connectivity.
The plan listed the three most common complaints they heard from residents:
“1) ISPs are not interested in expanding Internet service if it is not profitable, which can result in lack of access or spotty service in an area; 2) that ISPs are creating monopolies and customers are beholden to the prices and services they offer, regardless of the quality of services; and 3) that ISPs are difficult to contact, are not helpful with repairs and provide confusing information about service offerings and costs.”
Because of the state’s preemption law, South Carolina’s BEAD plan concluded: “no government entity has chosen to make a filing at the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to declare an area is unserved and that the government entity seeks to provide retail Internet service in that unserved area,” adding how the South Carolina Broadband Office “may raise any concerns for the consideration of the State General Assembly.”
Those concerns were either never raised or put on the back-burner as South Carolina’s preemption laws remain in place.
Tennessee: Municipal broadband networks are only allowed in communities with an existing municipally-owned electric utility.
And even then, those municipalities are only allowed to offer broadband service to households and businesses in their service territory.
It’s important to note, however, that even with Tennessee’s preemption law, the state is home to one of the most celebrated municipal networks in the nation, EPB Fiber in Chattanooga. And in Knoxville, the city's electric utility is currently building what will be the biggest municipally-owned network in the U.S. (KUB Fiber) when it is completed.
Texas: Home-rule cities can build and operate Internet access networks, but only to offer “data services” because the state outlaws municipal telecommunications services directly or indirectly. Mont Belvieu was able to clarify this interpretation of Texas law prior to building its network. Statute.
The municipal network in Pharr has distinguished itself among the handful of municipal networks in Texas in a city that was once considered one of the worst connected cities in the nation.
And like a number of other municipal networks, Pharr is offering low-cost high-quality 500 Megabit per second service for just $25/month and for qualified low-income households with a school-aged child in the home, gig-speed service is offered at no cost.
Utah: Effectively prohibits offering municipal Internet service as a retail operation but allows wholesale-only business models. As a result, most of the municipal networks we see in Utah use the open access business model, though Spanish Fork has a thriving retail network that predates the restrictive law.
In 2013, Utah restricted municipal bonds relating to telecommunications.
Virginia: Allows only municipal electric utilities to offer broadband service but not any form of cable TV service.
State law also prohibits municipal providers from subsidizing any of its broadband services and requires them to charge rates in line with private sector costs, effectively preventing publicly-owned network providers from offering even low-cost service to low-income households that is less than what private incumbent providers offer.
Additionally, municipal providers must “comply with numerous procedural, financing, reporting and other requirements that do not apply to the private sector,” as noted by Baller, Stokes, and Lide. Many community networks in Virginia are organized as Wireless Service Authorities.
Wisconsin: Requires specific local hearings and feasibility studies and that prices are greater than “total service long-run incremental cost” that includes phantom costs that are similar to those incurred by a non-governmental utility.
Such requirements are subject to endless litigation because there is no agreed-upon way to define these costs.
Alabama Code Title 11. Counties and Municipal Corporations § 11-50B-1
Current as of December 30, 2022
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state to encourage the development of advanced telecommunications capabilities, cable, interactive computer, and Internet facilities and services to better serve the public and further industrial economic development in this state. It is necessary for growth, job opportunities, and sustained economic development to encourage new investment in advanced telecommunications capabilities, cable, interactive computer, and Internet facilities, including investment by public providers of these services. Nothing contained herein, however, is intended to exempt, except, or exclude public providers which engage in the provision of advanced telecommunications capability or services, cable,
interactive computer, or Internet facilities or services pursuant to the authority granted herein from complying with any provisions of federal law which may at any time apply to the public providers or their facilities or services, including without limitation, to the extent that they apply, any requirement that they interconnect with other telecommunications providers, or that they obtain from the regulatory authorities designated by federal law as being the appropriate bodies from which to obtain any requisite approval, the approval of interconnection agreements with other telecommunications providers.
125.421 Telecommunications services.—A telecommunications company that is a county or other entity of local government may obtain or hold a certificate required by chapter 364, and the obtaining or holding of said certificate serves a public purpose only if the county or other entity of local government:
(1) Separately accounts for the revenues, expenses, property, and source of investment dollars associated with the provision of such service;
(2) Is subject, without exemption, to all local requirements applicable to telecommunications companies; and
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pays, on its telecommunications facilities used to provide two-way telecommunication services to the public for hire and for which a certificate is required under chapter 364, ad valorem taxes, or fees in amounts equal thereto, to any taxing jurisdiction in which the county or other entity of local government operates. Any entity of local government may pay and impose such ad valorem taxes or fees. Any immunity of any county or other entity of local government from taxation of the property taxed by this section is hereby waived.
This section does not apply to the provision of telecommunications services for internal operational needs of a county or other entity of local government. This section does not apply to the provision of internal information services, including, but not limited to, tax records, engineering records, and property records, by a county or other entity of local government to the public for a fee.
MICHIGAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 179 of 1991
484.2252 Telecommunication services offered by public entity.
Sec. 252.
(1) A public entity may provide telecommunication services within its boundaries if the public entity has complied with the requirements of section 14of the metropolitan extension telecommunications right-of-way oversight act, 2002 PA 48, MCL 484.3114, and all of the following apply:
(a) The public entity has issued a request for competitive sealed bids to provide telecommunication services.
(b) The public entity has received less than 3 qualified bids fromprivate providers.
(c) It is more than 60 days from the date the request for bids was issued.
(d) The public entity is providing the telecommunication services under the same terms and conditions as required under the request for bids issued pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) Except as provided under subsection (3), a public entity shall not provide telecommunication services outside its boundaries.
(3) Two or more public entities may jointly request bids under subsection (1) and provide telecommunication services if all participating public entities meet the requirements of this section. If a public entity does not receive a qualified bid as required under subsection (1), the public entity may contract with another public entity to receive telecommunication services.
(4) A public entity shall not establish a board or other entity for the purpose of providing regulation of a private provider of services under this section.
(5) This section does not apply to all of the following:
(a) Public safety systems.
(b) Systems used only for the internal use of the public entity or for the sharing of information between the public entity and another public entity.
(c) A public entity that is currently providing telecommunication services or that has held a public hearing by November 1, 2005on a proposal to provide telecommunication services, or has issued a request for bids by November 1, 2005to provide telecommunication services, or has an enforceable contract to begin construction of a telecommunication system by November 1, 2005.
(d) A public entity that is currently providing service in another public entity's boundaries.
(e) Services offered by a public entity to the public within a facility owned and operated by the public entity.
(f) Systems or services used or offered by1or more public entities or consortiums to advance or promote the public health, safety, and provision of e-government services.
(6) This section may not be construed to prevent a municipally-owned utility from providing to its energy customers, either directly or indirectly, any energy related service involving the transfer or receipt of information or data concerning the use, measurement, monitoring, or management of energy services provided by the municipally-owned utility, including services such as load management or automated meter reading.
(7) As used in this section, "public entity" means a county, city, village, township, or any agency or subdivision of the public entity.
2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 196 - Regulation of public utilities.
196.204 - Local government telecommunications utilities.
392.410. Certificate of public convenience and necessity required, exception — certificate of interexchange service authority, required when — duration of certificates — temporary certificates, issued when — political subdivisions restricted from providing certain telecommunications services or facilities. — 1. A telecommunications company not possessing a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the commission at the time this section goes into effect shall have not more than ninety days in which to apply for a certificate of service authority from the commission pursuant to this chapter unless a company holds a state charter issued in or prior to the year 1913 which charter authorizes a company to engage in the telephone business.
No telecommunications company not exempt from this subsection shall transact any business in this state until it shall have obtained a certificate of service authority from the commission pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except that any telecommunications company which is providing telecommunications service on September 28, 1987, and which has not been granted or denied a certificate of public convenience and necessity prior to September 28, 1987, may continue to provide that service exempt from all other requirements of this chapter until a certificate of service authority is granted or denied by the commission so long as the telecommunications company applies for a certificate of service authority within ninety days from September 28, 1987.
2. No telecommunications company offering or providing, or seeking to offer or provide, any interexchange telecommunications service shall do so until it has applied for and received a certificate of interexchange service authority pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section. No telecommunications company offering or providing, or seeking to offer or provide, any local exchange telecommunications service shall do so until it has applied for and received a certificate of local exchange service authority pursuant to the provisions of section 392.420.
3. No certificate of service authority issued by the commission shall be construed as granting a monopoly or exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise. The issuance of a certificate of service authority to any telecommunications company shall not preclude the commission from issuing additional certificates of service authority to another telecommunications company providing the same or equivalent service or serving the same geographical area or customers as any previously certified company, except to the extent otherwise provided by section 392.450.
4. Any certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by the commission to a telecommunications company prior to September 28, 1987, shall remain in full force and effect unless modified by the commission, and such companies need not apply for a certificate of service authority in order to continue offering or providing service to the extent authorized in such certificate of public convenience and necessity. Any such carrier, however, prior to substantially altering the nature or scope of services provided under a certificate of public convenience and necessity, or adding or expanding services beyond the authority contained in such certificate, shall apply for a certificate of service authority for such alterations or additions pursuant to the provisions of this section.
5. The commission may review and modify the terms of any certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to a telecommunications company prior to September 28, 1987, in order to ensure its conformity with the requirements and policies of this chapter. Any certificate of service authority may be altered or modified by the commission after notice and hearing, upon its own motion or upon application of the person or company affected. Unless exercised within a period of one year from the issuance thereof, authority conferred by a certificate of service authority or a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be null and void.
6. The commission may issue a temporary certificate which shall remain in force not to exceed one year to assure maintenance of adequate service or to serve particular customers, without notice and hearing, pending the determination of an application for a certificate.
7. No political subdivision of this state shall provide or offer for sale, either to the public or to a telecommunications provider, a telecommunications service or telecommunications facility used to provide a telecommunications service for which a certificate of service authority is required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict a political subdivision from allowing the nondiscriminatory use of its rights-of-way including its poles, conduits,
ducts and similar support structures by telecommunications providers or from providing to telecommunications providers, within the geographic area in which it lawfully operates as a municipal utility, telecommunications services or telecommunications facilities on a nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral basis, and at a price which covers cost, including imputed costs that the political subdivision would incur if it were a for-profit business. Nothing in this subsection shall restrict a political subdivision from providing telecommunications services or facilities:
NRS 268.086 Telecommunication service generally in city whose population is 25,000 or more: Sale of service by city to public prohibited; exception; procedure for city to purchase or construct certain facilities.
1. The governing body of an incorporated city whose population is25,000or more:
(a) Shall not sell telecommunication service to the general public.
(b) May purchase or construct facilities for providing telecommunication that intersect withpublic rights-of-way if the governing body:
(1) Conducts a study to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with purchasing or constructing the facilities; and
(2) Determines from the results of the study that the purchase or construction isin the interest of the general public.
2. Any information relating to the study conducted pursuant to subsection 1 must be maintained by the city clerk and made available forpublic inspection during the business hours of the office of the city clerk.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection 1, an airport may sell telecommunication service to the general public.
4. As used in this section:
(a) “Telecommunication” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.025.
(b) “Telecommunication service” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.028.
(Added to NRS by1997, 2745; A 2007, 714)
NRS 268.088 Telecommunication service or interactive computer service: Power of city to require franchises and impose terms and conditions on franchises limited; power of city to regulate placement of facilities limited.
1. The governing body of an incorporated city shall not:
(a) Impose any terms or conditions on a franchise for the provision of telecommunication service or interactive computer service other than terms or conditions concerning the placement and location of the telephone or telegraph lines and fees imposed for a business license or the franchise, right or privilege to construct, install or operate such lines.
(b) Require a company that provides telecommunication service or interactive computer service to obtain a franchise if it provides telecommunication service over the telephone or telegraph lines owned by another company.
(c) Require a person who holds a franchise for the provision of telecommunication service to place its facilities in ducts or conduits or on poles owned or leased by the city.
2.As used in this section:(a)“Interactivecomputerservice”hasthemeaningascribedtoitin47U.S.C.§230(f)(2),asthatsectionexistedonJanuary1,2007.(b)“Telecommunicationservice”hasthemeaningascribedtoitinNRS704.028.(AddedtoNRSby1997,2745;A2001,2126;2007,715)
(1) City-owned communications service provider. - A city that provides communications service using a communications network, whether directly, indirectly, or through an interlocal agreement or a joint agency.
(2) Communications network. - A wired or wireless network for the provision of communications service.
(3) Communications service. - The provision of cable, video programming, telecommunications, broadband, or high-speed Internet access service to the public, or any sector of the public, for a fee, regardless of the technology used to deliver the service. The terms "cable service," "telecommunications service," and "video programming service" have the same meanings as in G.S. 105-164.3. The following is not considered the provision of communications service:
a. The sharing of data or voice between governmental entities for internal governmental purposes.
b. The remote reading or polling of data from utility or parking meters, or the provisioning of energy demand reduction or smart grid services for an electric, water, or sewer system.
c. The provision of free services to the public or a subset thereof.
(4) High-speed Internet access service. - Internet access service with transmission speeds that are equal to or greater than the requirements for basic broadband tier 1 service as defined by the Federal Communications Commission for broadband data gathering and reporting.
(5) Interlocal agreement. - An agreement between units of local government as authorized by Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
(6) Joint agency. - A joint agency created under Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
§ 160A-340.1. City-owned communications service provider requirements.
(a) A city-owned communications service provider shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Comply in its provision of communications service with all local, State, and federal laws, regulations, or other requirements applicable to the provision of the communications service if provided by a private communications service provider.
(2) In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, the Local Government Finance Act, establish one or more separate enterprise funds for the provision of communications service, use the enterprise funds to separately account for revenues, expenses, property, and source of investment dollars associated with the provision of communications service, and prepare and publish an independent annual report and audit in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that reflect the fully allocated cost of providing the communications service, including all direct and indirect costs. An annual independent audit conducted under G.S. 159-34 and submitted to the Local Government Commission satisfies the audit requirement of this subdivision.
(3) Limit the provision of communications service to within the corporate limits of the city providing the communications service.
(4) Shall not, directly or indirectly, under the powers of a city, exercise power or authority in any area, including zoning or land-use regulation, or exercise power to withhold or delay the provision of monopoly utility service, to require any person, including residents of a particular development, to use or subscribe to any communications service provided by the city-owned communications service provider.
(5) Shall provide nondiscriminatory access to private communications service providers on a first-come, first-served basis to rights-of-way, poles, or conduits owned, leased, or operated by the city unless the facilities have insufficient capacity for the access and additional capacity cannot reasonably be added to the facilities. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "nondiscriminatory access" means that, at a minimum, access shall be granted on the same terms and conditions as that given to a city-owned communications service provider.
Shall not air advertisements or other promotions for the city-owned communications service on a public, educational, or governmental access channel if the city requires another communications service provider to carry the channel. The city shall not use city resources that are not allocated for cost accounting purposes to the city-owned communications service to promote city-owned communications service in comparison to private services or, directly or indirectly, require city employees, officers, or contractors to purchase city services.
(7) Shall not subsidize the provision of communications service with funds from any other noncommunications service, operation, or other revenue source, including any funds or revenue generated from electric, gas, water, sewer, or garbage services.
(8) Shall not price any communications service below the cost of providing the service, including any direct or indirect subsidies received by the city-owned communications service provider and allocation of costs associated with any shared use of buildings, equipment, vehicles, and personnel with other city departments. The city shall, in calculating the costs of providing the communications service, impute (i) the cost of the capital component that is equivalent to the cost of capital available to private communications service providers in the same locality
and (ii) an amount equal to all taxes, including property taxes, licenses, fees, and other assessments that would apply to a private communications service provider, including federal, State, and local taxes; rights-of-way, franchise, consent, or administrative fees; and pole attachment fees. In calculating the costs of the service the city may amortize the capital assets of the communications system over the useful life of the assets in accordance with generally accepted principles of governmental accounting.
(9) The city shall annually remit to the general fund of the city an amount equivalent to all taxes or fees a private communications service provider would be required to pay the city or county in which the city is located, including any applicable tax refunds received by the city-owned communications service provider because of its government status and a sum equal to the amount of property tax that would have been due if the city-owned communications service provider were a private communications service provider.
(b) A city-owned communications service provider shall not be required to obtain voter approval under G.S. 160A-321 prior to the sale or discontinuance of the city's communications network. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
(a) The provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1, 160A-340.4, 160A-340.5, and 160A-340.6 do not apply to the purchase, lease, construction, or operation of facilities by a city to provide communications service within the city's corporate limits for the city's internal governmental purposes, including the sharing of data or voice between governmental entities for internal governmental purposes, or within the corporate limits of another unit of local government that is a party with the city to an interlocal agreement under Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes for the provision of internal government services.
(b) The provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1, 160A-340.4, and 160A-340.5 do not apply to the provision of communications service in an unserved area. A city seeking to provide communications service in an unserved area shall petition the North Carolina Utilities Commission for a determination that an area is unserved. The petition shall identify with specificity the geographic area for which the designation is sought. Any private communications service provider, or any other interested party, may, within a time established by order of the Commission, which time shall be no fewer than 30 days, file with the Commission an objection to the designation on the grounds that one or more areas designated in the petition is not an unserved area or that the city is not otherwise eligible to provide the service.
For purposes of this subsection, the term "unserved area" means a census block, as designated by the most recent census of the U.S. Census Bureau, in which at least fifty percent (50%) of households either have no access to high-speed Internet service or have access to high-speed Internet service only from a satellite provider. A city may petition the Commission to serve multiple contiguous unserved areas in the same proceeding.
(c) The provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1, 160A-340.3, 160A-340.4, 160A-340.5, and 160A-340.6 do not apply to a city or joint agency providing communications service as of January 1, 2011, provided the city or joint agency limits the provision of communications service to any one or more of the following:
(1) Persons within the corporate limits of the city providing the communications service. For the purposes of this subsection, corporate limits shall mean the corporate limits of the city as of April 1, 2011, or as expanded through annexation.
(2) Existing customers of the communications service as of April 1, 2011. Service to a customer outside the service area of the city or joint agency who is also a public entity must comply with the open bidding procedures of G.S. 143-129.8 upon the expiration or termination of the existing service contract.
a. For the joint agency operated by the cities of Davidson and Mooresville, the service area is the combined areas of the city of Cornelius; the town of Troutman; the town of Huntersville; the unincorporated areas of Mecklenburg County north of a line beginning at Highway 16 along the west boundary of the county, extending eastward along Highway 16, continuing east along Interstate 485, and continuing eastward to the eastern boundary of the county along Eastfield Road; and the unincorporated areas of Iredell County south of Interstate 40, excluding Statesville and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Statesville.
b. For the city of Salisbury, the service area is the municipalities of Salisbury, Spencer, East Spencer, Granite Quarry, Rockwell, Faith, Cleveland, China Grove, Landis and the corridors between those cities. The service area also includes the economic development sites, public safety facilities, governmental facilities, and educational schools and colleges located outside the municipalities and the corridors between the municipalities and these sites, facilities, schools, and colleges. The corridors between Salisbury and these municipalities and these sites, facilities, schools, and colleges includes only the area necessary to provide service to these municipalities and these sites, facilities, schools, and colleges and shall not be wider than 300 feet.
The elected bodies of Spencer, East Spencer, Granite Quarry, Rockwell, Faith, Cleveland, China Grove, and Landis shall vote to approve the service extension into each respective municipality before Salisbury can provide service to that municipality. The Rowan County Board of County Commissioners shall vote to approve service extension to any governmental economic development site, governmental facility, school, or college owned by Rowan County. The Rowan Salisbury School Board shall also vote to approve service extension to schools.
c. For the city of Wilson, the service area is the county limits of Wilson County, including the incorporated areas within the County. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the city of Wilson may continue the provision of communication services to persons and businesses in the temporary extension areas under the condition that the provision of communication services in such areas is terminated by a date which is 30 days after the date retail service is first available in the area from a competitive provider of communications service that will provide Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) service. For purposes of this subdivision, "temporary extension areas" shall mean
(i) the corporate limits of the Town of Pinetops and (ii) any service connection located within 800 feet of the centerline of Christian Road (State Road No. 1942) between its intersection with Bloomery Road (State Road No. 1996) and West Hornes Church Road (State Road No. 1941). Prior to the cessation of service, the city of Wilson may establish rates, fees, charges, and penalties for the communication services provided in the temporary extension areas in the same manner as communication services provided in the county limits of Wilson County,
including the incorporated areas within the County. Service will be deemed available for purposes of this provision upon the certification by a competitive provider to the city that service is available in a temporary extension area. For purposes of this subdivision, a competitive provider is an incumbent local exchange carrier or cable telecommunications company that is not presently providing Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) service in the temporary extension areas.
d. For all other cities or joint agencies offering communications service, the service area is the area designated in the map filed as part of the initial notice of franchise with the Secretary of State as of January 1, 2011.
(d) The exemptions provided in this section do not exempt a city or joint agency from laws and rules of general applicability to governmental services, including nondiscriminatory obligations.
(e) In the event a city subject to the exemption set forth in subsection (c) of this section provides communications service to a customer outside the limits set forth in that subsection, the city shall have 30 days from the date of notice or discovery to cease providing service to the customer without loss of the exemption. (2011-84, s. 1(a); 2017-180, s. 1.)
A city or joint agency that proposes to provide communications service shall hold not fewer than two public hearings, which shall be held not less than 30 days apart, for the purpose of gathering information and comment. Notice of the hearings shall be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks in the predominant newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the city is located. The notice shall also be provided to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which shall post the notice on its Web site, and to all companies that have requested service of the notices from the city clerk. The city shall deposit the notice in the U.S. mail to companies that have requested notice at least 45 days prior to the hearing subject to the notice.
Private communications service providers shall be permitted to participate fully in the public hearings by presenting testimony and documentation relevant to their service offerings and the city's plans. Any feasibility study, business plan, or public survey conducted or prepared by the city in connection with the proposed communications service project is a public record as defined by G.S. 132-1 and shall be made available to the public prior to the public hearings required by this section. This section does not apply to the repair, rebuilding, replacement, or improvement of an existing communications network, or equipment relating thereto. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
(a) A city or joint agency subject to the provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1 shall not enter into a contract under G.S. 160A-19 or G.S. 160A-20 to purchase or to finance the purchase of property for use in a communications network or to finance the construction of fixtures or improvements for use in a communications network unless it complies with subsection (b) of this section. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the repair, rebuilding, replacement, or improvement of an existing communications network, or equipment relating thereto.
(b) A city shall not incur debt for the purpose of constructing a communications system without first holding a special election under G.S. 163-297 on the question of whether the city may provide communications service. If a majority of the votes cast in the special election are for the city providing communications service, the city may incur the debt for the service. If a majority of the votes cast in the special election are against the city providing communications service, the city shall not incur the debt. However, nothing in this section shall prohibit a city from revising its plan to offer communications service and calling another special election on the question prior to providing or offering to provide the service. A special election required under Chapter 159 of the General Statutes as a condition to the issuance of bonds shall satisfy the requirements of this section. (2011-84, s. 1(a); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.)
(a) A communications network owned or operated by a city or joint agency shall be exempt from property taxes. However, each city possessing an ownership share of a communications network and a joint agency owning a communications network shall, in lieu of property taxes, pay to any county authorized to levy property taxes the amount which would be assessed as taxes on real and personal property if the communications network were otherwise subject to valuation and assessment. Any payments in lieu of taxes shall be due and shall bear interest, if unpaid, as in the case of taxes on other property.
(b) A city-owned communications service provider shall pay to the State, on an annual basis, an amount in lieu of taxes that would otherwise be due the State if the communications service was provided by a private communications service provider, including State income, franchise, vehicle, motor fuel, and other similar taxes. The amount of the payment in lieu of taxes shall be set annually by the Department of Revenue and shall approximate the taxes that would be due if the communications service was undertaken by a private communications service provider. A city-owned communications service provider must provide information requested by the Secretary of Revenue necessary for calculation of the assessment.
The Department must inform each city-owned communications service provider of the amount of the assessment by January 1 of each year. The assessment is due by March 15 of each year. If the assessment is unpaid, the State may withhold the amount due, including interest on late payments, from distributions otherwise due the city under G.S. 105-164.44I.
(c) A city-owned communications service provider or a joint agency that provides communications service shall not be eligible for a refund under G.S. 105-164.14(c) for sales and use taxes paid on purchases of tangible personal property and services related to the provision of communications service, except to the extent a private communications service provider would be exempt from taxation. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
§ 160A-340.6. Public-private partnerships for communications service.
(a) Prior to undertaking to construct a communications network for the provision of communications service, a city shall first solicit proposals from private business in accordance with the procedures of this section.
(b) The city shall issue requests for proposals that specify the nature and scope of the requested communications service, the area in which it is to be provided, any specifications and performance standards, and information as to the city's proposed participation in providing equipment, infrastructure, or other aspects of the service. The city may prescribe the form and content of proposals and may require that proposals contain sufficiently detailed information to allow for an objective evaluation of proposals using the factors stated in subsection (d) of this section. Each proposal shall at minimum contain all of the following:
(1) Information regarding the proposer's experience and qualifications to perform the requirements of the proposal.
(2) Information demonstrating the proposer's ability to secure financing needed to perform the requirements of the proposal.
(3) Information demonstrating the proposer's ability to provide staffing, implement work tasks, and carry out all other responsibilities necessary to perform the requirements of the proposal.
(4) Information clearly identifying and specifying all elements of cost of the proposal for the term of the proposed contract, including the cost of the purchase or lease of equipment and supplies, design, installation, operation, management, and maintenance of any system, and any proposed services.
(5) Any other information the city determines has a material bearing on its ability to evaluate the proposal.
(c) The city shall provide notice that it is requesting proposals in accordance with this subsection. The notice shall state the time and place where plans and specifications for the proposed service may be obtained and the time and place for opening proposals. Any notice given under this subsection shall reserve to the city the right to reject any or all proposals. Notice of request for proposals shall be given by all of the following methods:
(1) By mailing a notice of request for proposals to each firm that has obtained a license or permit to use the public rights-of-way in the city to provide a communications service within the city by depositing such notices in the U.S. mail at least 30 days prior to the date specified for the opening of proposals. In identifying firms, the city may rely upon lists provided by the Office of the Secretary of State and the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
(2) By posting a notice of request for proposals on the city's Web site at least 30 days before the time specified for the opening of proposals.
(3) By publishing a notice of request for proposals in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the city is predominantly located at least 30 days before the time specified for the opening of proposals.
(d) In evaluating proposals, the city may consider any relevant factors, including system design, system reliability, operational experience, operational costs, compatibility with existing systems and equipment, and emerging technology. The city may negotiate aspects of any proposal with any responsible proposer with regard to these factors to determine which proposal is the most responsive. A determination of most responsive proposer by the city shall be final.
(e) The city may negotiate a contract with the most responsive proposer for the performance of communications service specified in the request for proposals. All contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be approved and awarded by the governing body of the city.
(f) If the city is unable to successfully negotiate the terms of a contract with the most responsive proposer within 60 days of the opening of the proposals, the city may proceed to negotiate with the firm determined to be the next most responsive proposer if such a proposer exists. If the city is unable to successfully negotiate the terms of a contract with the next most responsive proposer within 60 days, it may proceed under this Article to provide communications service.
(g) All proposals shall be sealed and shall be opened in public. Provided, that trade secrets shall remain confidential as provided under G.S. 132-1.2. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
(a) Continuation of approved plan.--A local exchange telecommunications company that does not elect an option under subsection (b) shall remain subject to its network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, without revision or modification except by agreement under section 3013(b) (relating to continuation of commission-approved alternative regulation and network modernization plans) and as provided in this section through December 31, 2015.
(b) Options for amendment of network modernization plan.--Local exchange telecommunications companies shall have the following options:
(1) (i) A rural telecommunications carrier that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this subsection shall remain subject to the carrier's network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, as amended pursuant to this subsection, through December 31, 2008. Prior to implementation of such election, the rural telecommunications carrier shall comply with the notification requirements of subsection (e).
(ii) The rural telecommunications carrier shall commit to accelerate 100% broadband availability by December 31, 2008, in its amended network modernization plan. Any rural telecommunications carrier electing this option shall not be required to offer a bona fide retail request program or a business attraction or retention program.
(2) (i) A rural telecommunications carrier that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this subsection shall remain subject to the carrier's network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, as amended pursuant to this subsection, through December 31, 2013, or December 31, 2015, as applicable. Prior to implementation of such election, the rural telecommunications carrier shall comply with the notification requirements of subsection (e).
(ii) The rural telecommunications carrier shall commit:
east 80% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2010, and 100% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2013; or
(B) to accelerate broadband availability to at least 80% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2010, and 100% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2015; and
(C) to offer a bona fide retail request program and a business attraction or retention program pursuant to subsections (c) and (d). Under no circumstances may the rural telecommunications carrier reduce its existing broadband availability commitment.
(3) (i) A nonrural telecommunications carrier that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this subsection shall remain subject to such carrier's network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, as amended pursuant to this subsection, including meeting its 100% broadband availability commitment. Prior to implementation of such election, the nonrural telecommunications carrier shall comply with the notification requirements of subsection (e).
(ii) The nonrural telecommunications carrier shall commit:
(A) to provide broadband availability to 100% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2013, or December 31, 2015; and
(B) to offer a bona fide retail request program and a business attraction or retention program pursuant to subsections (c) and (d). Under no circumstances may such nonrural telecommunications carrier reduce its existing broadband availability commitment.
(4) A local exchange telecommunications company that elects under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) shall also commit to universal broadband deployment in or adjacent to public rights-of-way abutting all public schools, including the administration offices supporting public schools, industrial parks and health care facilities in its service territory on or before December 31, 2005, except that a local exchange telecommunications company serving more than ten exchanges in this Commonwealth may elect to extend this commitment from December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2006, for any exchange with less than 4,000 access lines.
(5) A local exchange telecommunications company that elects under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) may amend its network modernization plan to extend the period of time within which broadband service must be made available to a customer to up to ten business days after the customer's request for broadband service.
(6) A local exchange telecommunications company operating under an amended network modernization plan may subsequently petition the commission for approval of further modification of its amended network modernization plan, which the commission may grant upon good cause shown.
(7) A rural telecommunications carrier serving less than 50,000 access lines in this Commonwealth making an election pursuant to paragraph (1) and filing its amended network modernization plan with the commission pursuant to subsection (e) shall be granted by the commission a suspension of section 251(c)(2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) obligations under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This suspension of obligations shall expire December 31, 2008, unless extended by the commission. Should the commission, following a hearing, determine that the rural telecommunications carrier has failed to timely meet its commitments pursuant to this paragraph, the suspension of obligations shall expire upon entry of the commission order making such determination. Expiration of the suspension of obligations shall not impact the rural telephone company exemption of the rural telecommunications carrier under section 251(f)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
(8) A local exchange telecommunications company may accelerate its broadband availability commitment by electing an additional option pursuant to paragraph (1), (2) or (3), as applicable, at a later date. The local exchange telecommunications company shall be subject to the applicable modified inflation offset in its price stability mechanism as set forth in section 3015(a)(1) (relating to alternative forms of regulation) effective upon the filing of an amended network modernization plan under subsection (e).
(c) Bona fide retail request program.--A local exchange telecommunications company that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to subsection (b)(2) or (3) shall no later than 90 days after the effective date of its amended plan implement a bona fide retail request program in areas where it does not provide broadband. Not later than 30 days in advance of program implementation, the local exchange telecommunications company shall file with the commission and provide the department with a written description of the program, a sample request for advanced services form for use in the program and the form of any advanced services term subscription agreements customers will be required to execute in connection with receiving the requested services. A bona fide retail request program shall consist of the following:
(1) Any person, business, local development district, industrial development agency or other entity seeking advanced services pursuant to a bona fide retail request program shall submit a written request for such services to the local exchange telecommunications company or to the department in accordance with subsection (d). The written request may be in the form of a petition which includes the information required by paragraph (2), in the form provided by the department under subsection (d) which includes the information required by paragraph (2) or in the form of individual requests each of which includes the information required by paragraph (2). If individual requests are received, the local exchange telecommunications company shall aggregate requests for the same service and initiate appropriate action pursuant to this subsection when the required number of requests have been received.
(2) To be considered a bona fide retail request, the written request must include:
(i) a request that a minimum of 50 retail access lines or 25% of retail access lines within a community, whichever is less, each be provided the same advanced service or comparable advanced services having a bandwidth within 100 kilobits per second (Kbps) of each other. Notwithstanding the foregoing comparable bandwidth limitation, where a request includes individual customer requests for advanced services having equal to or less than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) bandwidth in the downstream direction, all lines in the request shall be counted in meeting the minimum line requirement of this subparagraph;
(ii) the name, address, telephone number and signature of each existing retail customer requesting the advanced service, the advanced service being requested and the number of access lines for which the advanced service is being requested;
(iii) the name, address and telephone number of a designated contact person where the request is made by or on behalf of more than one person or business; and
(iv) a commitment by each customer who signs the request to subscribe to the requested service for one year, subject to the local exchange telecommunications company's identification of the price and terms of the service and the customer's agreement to the price and terms.
(3) In administering the bona fide retail request program, the local exchange telecommunications company shall:
(i) establish an Internet website and toll-free telephone number to address customer inquiries regarding the program;
(ii) mail a request form to a customer upon request;
(iii) confirm its receipt of any completed request in writing to the customer and identify the service requested;
(iv) as part of the written confirmation, if available, or in a subsequent written communication to the customer, provide the customer the applicable rate, the contract term, the status of the request and a term subscription agreement for execution; and
(v) notify the customers in a community, within 30 days of receipt of a bona fide request, of the expected date of the availability of the requesters' service.
(4) When a bona fide retail request has been received that meets the requirements of paragraph (2), the local exchange telecommunications company shall provide the requested advanced service, or other reasonably comparable service having a bandwidth within 100 kilobits per second (Kbps) of the requested service, to the community as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 365 days of the date the requirements of paragraph (2) have been met or within the period approved by the commission under paragraph (5) or (6) where:
(i) the local exchange telecommunications company provides the requested advanced service to other customers in its service territory;
(ii) no service is available to the requesting customers from an alternative service provider at or within 100 kilobits per second (Kbps) of the data speed requested or such service is available at a price that exceeds the then current price offered by the local exchange telecommunications company by more than 50%;
(iii) the community is situated within the service territory of the local exchange telecommunications company; and
(iv) the local exchange telecommunications company does not have to provide fiber to the customer's premises to furnish the requested advanced service.
(5) Where, as a result of property acquisition, including acquiring rights-of-way, or new construction, a local exchange telecommunications company is unable to provide the requested advanced service within the one-year period set forth in paragraph (4), the company may petition the commission for an extension of up to six months, with service upon the customer or customers who made the bona fide retail request and the department if the department submitted the request on behalf of the customer or customers. The commission may delegate its authority to rule on such petitions to a bureau director or other appropriate employee who shall grant the petition for good cause shown.
(6) Where the total number of bona fide retail requests received by any local exchange telecommunications company or affiliated companies that meet the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (4) exceed 40 requests in any 12-month period or where there are more than 20 such requests that require property acquisition, including acquiring rights-of-way, or new construction in any 12-month period, the local exchange telecommunications company or companies may provide a verified certification to the commission that one or both of the previously stated criteria are met, with service upon the customer or customers who made the additional requests and upon the department if the department submitted any such requests. Upon receipt of the certification, the commission or the commission through its designated staff shall permit the local
exchange telecommunications company or companies to extend the time for such deployments for a period of no more than 12 months unless the commission determines an additional time period to be just and reasonable. If a deployment is extended, it shall be counted in determining the maximum number of deployments provided for under this subsection in any 12-month period covering the month to which it is extended.
(7) No advanced service requested and deployed by a local exchange telecommunications company under the bona fide retail request program which has a bandwidth of less than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) in the downstream direction shall be counted as a credit toward the local exchange telecommunications company's broadband deployment obligation under its network modernization plan amended pursuant to subsection (b)(2) or (3).
With regard to requests submitted under this subsection, a retail customer may challenge the action of a local exchange telecommunications company pursuant to section 701 (relating to complaints).
(9) Local exchange telecommunications companies with bona fide retail request programs shall provide semiannual reports to the commission and the department of the number of requests for advanced services received during the reporting period by exchange or density cell and the action taken on requests meeting the requirements of this subsection.
(10) A local exchange telecommunication company's bona fide retail request program established under this subsection shall continue through December 31, 2015, or such earlier date as the local exchange telecommunications company achieves 100% broadband availability throughout its service territory.
(11) In addition to adjudicating any complaints brought by customers under paragraph (8), the commission shall monitor and enforce the compliance of participating local exchange telecommunications companies with their obligations under this subsection.
(d) Business attraction or retention program.--
(1) Not later than 90 days after amending its network modernization plan under subsection (b)(2) or (3), the local exchange telecommunications company shall establish a business attraction or retention program to permit the department to aggregate customer demand where necessary and facilitate the deployment of advanced or broadband services to qualifying businesses which the department seeks to attract to or retain in this Commonwealth and whose requests for such
services are submitted by or through the department.
(2) Each local exchange telecommunications company which amends its network modernization plan under subsection (b)(2) or (3) not later than 90 days after the effective date of its amended plan shall designate a single point of contact to receive all written advanced or broadband service requests forwarded by the department, provide associated contact information to the department and provide the department and the commission with a written description of its participation in the program and a sample request for advanced or broadband services form for use in the program.
(3) The department may submit a request to the applicable local exchange telecommunications company by or on behalf of qualifying businesses in areas that the department deems priority areas for economic development, including and giving preference to keystone opportunity zones, keystone opportunity expansion zones, enterprise zones, keystone opportunity improvement zones and other areas identified by the department as lacking adequate access to advanced or broadband services which would be important in order to promote economic development projects in those areas.
(4) The department shall establish an advisory committee that shall consist of representatives of each local exchange telecommunications company with a business attraction or retention program, local development districts and other local economic and industrial development agencies to assist the department in developing protocols and procedures for implementing these programs pursuant to this subsection.
(5) Qualifying business or businesses' requests for advanced services submitted by the department that are provisioned through the bona fide retail request program shall be processed in accordance with subsection (c) and shall be allocated 50% of the maximum number of annual deployments referenced in subsection (c)(6). Other requests shall be allocated 50% of the number of such deployments, provided, however, that any allocated deployments that are unused may be utilized by the department or nondepartment applicants, as applicable.
(6) For qualifying business or businesses whose request for advanced services is determined by the local exchange telecommunications company to be better processed outside of the bona fide retail request program, the local exchange telecommunications company shall make a proposal to the requesting business or businesses to provide the requested advanced or broadband service and subsequently shall provision such service. The local exchange telecommunications company shall advise the department and the business or businesses within 30 days of the date the contract is signed of the date by which the requested advanced or broadband service will be provided, which date shall be not later than one year after the date the contract is signed unless the business or businesses agree to a longer period or the local exchange telecommunications company obtains commission approval of an extension under the same procedure set forth in subsection (c)(5).
(7) No advanced service requested of and deployed by a local exchange telecommunications company under the Business Attraction or Retention Program which has a bandwidth of less than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) in the downstream direction shall be counted as a credit toward the local exchange telecommunication company's broadband deployment obligation under its network modernization plan amended under subsection (b)(2) or (3).
(8) Each local exchange telecommunications company which is required to participate in the department's Business Attraction or Retention Program shall continue its participation through December 31, 2015, or such earlier date as it achieves 100% broadband availability throughout its service territory.
(9) The department shall oversee local exchange telecommunications company participation in the Business Attraction or Retention Program, including the timely completion of qualifying advanced or broadband services requests submitted by or through the department which are processed within or outside of the participating local exchange telecommunications companies' bona fide retail request programs.
(10) The commission shall monitor and enforce the compliance of participating local exchange telecommunications companies with their obligations under the Business Attraction or Retention Program.
(e) Notice of filing of amendments.--A local exchange telecommunications company that elects to amend its network modernization plan under subsection (b) shall notify the commission in writing of such election and, within 60 days following such notification, file its amended network modernization plan with the commission. Copies of the written notice of election and of the amended network modernization plan shall be served by the local exchange telecommunications company on the Office of Consumer Advocate and the Office of Small Business Advocate.
Concurrent with the filing of the amended plan with the commission, the local exchange telecommunications company shall publish notice of such filing in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in its service territory or by bill message or insert. An amended plan compliant with the requirements of this chapter shall be approved by the commission within 100 days of its filing. If the commission fails to act within 100 days, the amended plan shall be deemed approved.
(1) A local exchange telecommunications company operating under a network modernization plan shall continue to file with the commission biennial reports on its provision of broadband availability in the form and detail required by the commission as of July 1, 2004, unless such reporting requirements are subsequently reduced by the commission.
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impede the ability of the commission to require the submission of further information to support the accuracy of or to seek an explanation of the reports specified in this subsection.
(3) Under no circumstances shall the commission compel the public release of maps or other information describing the actual location of a local exchange telecommunications company's facilities.
(g) Assistance to political subdivisions.--A local exchange telecommunications company shall commit in its amended network modernization plan to make technical assistance available to political subdivisions located in its service territory in pursuing the deployment of additional telecommunications infrastructure or services by the local exchange telecommunications company.
(h) Prohibition against political subdivision advanced and broadband services deployment.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided for under paragraph (2), a political subdivision or any entity established by a political subdivision may not provide to the public for compensation any telecommunications services, including advanced and broadband services, within the service territory of a local exchange telecommunications company operating under a network modernization plan.
(2) A political subdivision may offer advanced or broadband services if the political subdivision has submitted a written request for the deployment of such service to the local exchange telecommunications company serving the area and, within two months of receipt of the request, the local exchange telecommunications company or one of its affiliates has not agreed to provide the data speeds requested. If the local exchange telecommunications company or one of its affiliates agrees to provide the data speeds requested, then it must do so within 14 months of receipt of the request.
(3) The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not be construed to preclude the continued provision or offering of telecommunications services by a political subdivision of the same type and scope as were being provided on the effective date of this section.
(1) The department shall establish a Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Program for the purpose of making expenditures and providing grants from the Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Fund established under section 3015(c) (relating to alternative forms of regulation) for:
(i) Outreach programs for political subdivisions, economic development entities, schools, health care facilities, businesses and residential customers concerning the benefits, use and procurement of broadband services; and
(ii) Seed grants to aggregate customer demand for broadband services in communities or political subdivisions with limited access to such services and to permit customers in such communities or political subdivisions to request such services from a telecommunications provider.
(2) The department shall annually report to the commission on all payments to and expenditures from the Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Fund, and the commission shall verify the accuracy of the contributions from the participating local exchange telecommunications companies.
(j) Education Technology Program.--
(1) The Department of Education shall establish an Education Technology Program for the purpose of providing grants to school entities from the Education Technology Fund (E-Fund) established under section 3015(d).
(2) The Department of Education shall authorize grants from the E-Fund for the following purposes:
(i) Purchase or lease of telecommunications services, infrastructure or facilities to establish and support broadband networks between, among and within school entities and not for the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation.
(ii) Purchase or lease of premises telecommunications network equipment and end-user equipment to enable the effective use of broadband networks between, among and within school entities and not for the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation.
(iii) Distance learning initiatives that use the foregoing broadband networks.
(iv) Technical support services for the activities described in subparagraphs (i) through (iii).
(3) Each applicant school entity shall be required to provide 100% matching funds to support each E-Fund grant request. Funds received from Federal technology programs such as the universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries set forth in 47 CFR Pt. 54 (relating to universal service or successor regulations), in-kind contributions and any other technology expenditures shall be applied toward the matching fund requirement.
(4) No later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, the Department of Education shall prescribe the grant process and the form and manner of the E-Fund application. Grants shall be limited to the funds available in the Education Technology Fund. In awarding grants, the Department of Education shall give priority to applications:
(i) that are submitted by school entities that seek funds for discounted broadband services under subsection (l) or for broadband infrastructure, facilities or equipment from local exchange telecommunications companies which contribute to the E-Fund;
(ii) that seek funds for regional networks that serve multiple school districts which are filed on behalf of multiple school districts and school entities; or
(iii) that are submitted by school entities that do not have broadband service, provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall preclude the department from awarding funds to school entities for telecommunications services, infrastructure or facilities that provide bandwidths greater than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps).
The Department of Education shall assure that the applications funded each year are geographically dispersed throughout the Commonwealth.
(k) Balanced deployment.--A local exchange telecommunications company shall reasonably balance deployment of its broadband network between rural, urban and suburban areas within its service territory, as those areas are applicable, in accordance with its approved network modernization plan.
(l) Broadband discounts to schools.--Each local exchange telecommunications company that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this section:
(1) Shall offer school customers which meet the eligibility standards described in 47 CFR 54.501 (relating to eligibility for services provided by telecommunications carriers) and which agree to enter into a minimum three-year contract a 30% discount, or greater discount at the local exchange telecommunications company's discretion, in the otherwise applicable tariffed distance-sensitive per-mile rate element and also will waive the associated nonrecurring charges for available intrastate broadband services where used for
educational purposes and not for the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation. The discount or waiver shall not be required where application of it to a particular service would conflict with applicable law.
(2) Will assist school customers in applying for e-rate funding under 47 CFR 54.505 (relating to discounts).
(m) Inventory of available services.--
(1) The department shall compile, periodically update and publish, including at its Internet website, a listing of advanced and broadband services, by general location, available from all advanced and broadband service providers operating in this Commonwealth irrespective of the technology used.
(2) All providers of advanced and broadband services shall cooperate with the department.
(3) The department may not disclose maps or other information describing the specific location of any telecommunications carrier's or alternative service provider's facilities.
(n) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed:
(1) As giving the commission the authority to require a local exchange telecommunications company to provide specific services or to deploy a specific technology to retail customers seeking broadband or advanced services.
(2) As prohibiting a local exchange telecommunications company from participating in joint ventures with other entities in meeting its advanced services and broadband deployment commitments under its network modernization plan.
(Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1398, No.183)
2004 Amendment. Act 183 added section 3014, effective January 1, 2006, as to subsec. (h)(3) and immediately as to the remainder of the section.
Cross References. Section 3014 is referred to in sections 3012, 3015 of this title.
The design is focused on delivering continuous thrust, enabling lower start-up speeds, and improving overall performance.
Researchers in China have introduced a new hypersonic engine concept by integrating a ramjet with a rotary detonation engine.
A team at Tsinghua University in Beijing created a new design known as the Ram-Rotor Detonation Engine (RRDE) by combining a detonation engine and a rotor compressor based on ramjets, drawing inspiration from rotary engines.
Versatile engine design
The new study examines the new RRDE, which is intended to improve propulsion through effective detonation cycles. Rapid combustion, or detonation, increases pressure by compressing fuel and air with a shock wave and then releasing a lot of heat.
Despite the pressure advantages promised by detonation engines like the Pulsed Detonation Engine (PDE) and Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE), steady thrust and pressure are difficult to achieve under practical circumstances.
Building on prior research, scientists propose the RRDE, which uses rotating blades to compress, ignite, and expand gases in a single sequence. Inspired by the ram-rotor compressor concept, the RRDE is designed to manage shock waves and improve thrust by sustaining ideal pressure cycles.
The new research introduces RRDE’s structure, analyzes its performance, and demonstrates its potential through simulations, paving the way for advances in hypersonic and aerospace propulsion.
The die is cast. Donald Trump is heading back to the White House – a remarkable victory. But a lot of people who work in the adult entertainment industry are understandably scared
The die is cast. Donald Trump is heading back to the White House – a remarkable victory. But a lot of people who work in the adult entertainment industry are understandably scared. From the concerns for LGBTQ+ rights under the new Trump presidency to access to reproductive care at a state and national level, the next four years will be a significant challenge.
While all valid concerns that I share, it is the specter of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 agenda that frightens me most. Previously, I’ve written across various outlets, like Techdirt, to address the “masculine policy” Trump and his new vice president, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, and his allies envision to “make America great again.” Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation and the de facto head of Project 2025, a so-called “presidential transition project,” laid out the administration’s position on key culture war issues, such as access to online porn.
Roberts wrote in Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, Project 2025’s incendiary policy treatise nearly 1,000 pages long, that their camp believes “pornography” and “pornographers” should be imprisoned and stripped of First Amendment protection. Some folks have characterized Roberts’ words as simply rhetoric, but the past twelve months have verified a coordinated effort to significantly claw back the rights of all sex workers and adult industry firms.
This time around, Donald Trump has surrounded himself with outspoken Christian nationalists who want to demonize and then criminalize sexual expression that is otherwise protected by the First Amendment.
Russell Vought, one of the central architects of Project 2025, was caught on hidden camera a few months ago confirming that the efforts to ban porn will go through a so-called “back door” framework via a patchwork of state-level age verification laws and efforts in a newly GOP-controlled Senate. In addition to that, Vance has supported a porn ban. It was also under Donald Trump’s last term that the FOSTA-SESTA monstrosity that decimated legal sex work on the internet came to fruition. Imagine what will advance under Trump.
In the coming weeks, Russia is planning the delivery of another icebreaker, the Yakutia, which is more than 95% complete.
Russia launched a new nuclear-powered icebreaker named Chukotka. The latest vessel has joined the fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. The launch was overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link.
The vessel in the Russia’s Project 22220 series is expected to have a life of 40 years and can endure extreme Arctic conditions. It can also plow through ice up to 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) thick.
Russia to increase cargo traffic along Northern Sea Route
Putin emphasized that expanding Russia’s icebreaker fleet is key to developing Arctic territories.
“I would like to repeat that our plans to develop our Arctic territories and to increase cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route rely on expanding Russia’s icebreaker fleet,” said Putin.
“We have ambitious plans in this area. There is a great deal to be done. In this context, I suggest holding a special meeting on this subject, thoroughly preparing and comprehensively discussing all aspects of advanced development of the Northern Sea Route, so that we find concrete practical solutions.”
Three new-generation nuclear-powered vessels – the Arktika, Sibir, and Ural – have been floated out from the Baltic Shipyard and are now working in the waters of the Northern Sea Route.
Russia planning delivery of another icebreaker
The Chukotka icebreaker has joined this group. In the coming weeks, Russia is planning the delivery of another icebreaker, the Yakutia, which is more than 95 percent complete.
Putin underlined that Russia needs to consider options to create a more efficient pricing model for icebreaker freight transit, so that more carriers and shippers can afford such services, especially since both Russian and foreign companies are showing more and more interest in this route with each passing year.
Russia has also claimed that next year, as agreed, icebreaker Stalingrad of the same series should be laid down. In addition, the next-generation nuclear icebreaker Leader, the most powerful so far, is being built at Zvezda shipyard in the Far East.
“The construction of these powerful modern vessels is yet another embodiment of Russia’s industrial, scientific, technological and human resources potential. It is on the basis of domestic technologies and breakthrough scientific solutions that the national economy should develop,” said Putin.
Is the world ready for nuclear-powered merchant ships? Join the debate on the technological innovations and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of nuclear commercial vessels.
For decades, nuclear power has been reserved for the most formidable naval vessels. Now, the shipping industry faces a pivotal question: Can nuclear technology power commercial ships?
While adopting nuclear power in commercial shipping offers promising environmental benefits, it also presents significant technical and regulatory hurdles. The complexity of retrofitting existing vessels to accommodate nuclear reactors and the need for new safety protocols and infrastructure poses a formidable challenge.
However, the long-term savings and sustainability benefits could outweigh these initial obstacles, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient future in commercial transport.
How close are we to witnessing the advent of nuclear-powered commercial vessels? This discussion unfolds with insights from Mark Tilling of Lloyd’s Register and Mikal Bøe of CORE POWER, leading figures in the quest to adapt nuclear power for maritime commerce.
Nuclear technology: From naval to commercial application
Nuclear power has been the epitome of naval power for over sixty years. There is no better expression of a country’s strength than a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. These floating cities pack devastating firepower and the ability to span multiple oceans.
Likewise, in the hidden depths, the nuclear submarine offers a deterrent that, some say, kept the peace during the Cold War. Yet, the commercial shipping industry, burdened by its heavy carbon footprint, is now eyeing nuclear technology as a revolutionary power source.
According to Mark Tilling, director of Project X at Lloyd’s Register, the concept of nuclear-powered commercial ships isn’t new. Significant experiments, including deploying the U.S. nuclear-powered ship Savannah, explored these ideas as early as the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
The Savannah, which was tested extensively during its sea trials, demonstrated the capability of nuclear energy to power a vessel safely and efficiently across significant distances – theoretically capable of circumnavigating the globe 14 times on a single fuel load.
Elwood Edwards, the iconic voice of AOL's "You’ve Got Mail" audio message, has died after a long illness.
Elwood died Tuesday, the day before his 75th birthday. His former employer, WKYC-TV Studios in Cleveland, confirmed the sad news. The details of the illness remain unclear.
Elwood was a staple at the Ohio station for years, working as a graphics whiz and camera operator, among other roles. But, it was back in 1989 when he struck gold, earning worldwide fame -- and a spot in internet history -- as the voice of America Online’s "You’ve Got Mail" message.
He was asked to record just 4 simple lines -- "Welcome," "You’ve Got Mail," "Files Done," and "Goodbye" -- and in exchange, he pocketed a cool $200 for his everlasting voiceover work.
The company, known famously as AOL, blew up ... and millions worldwide heard his voice every time they logged onto the internet -- if they had email, a new concept at the time. While his face was never seen, Elwood’s voice gave him a unique kind of minor celeb status, forever tied to those early days of AOL.
Palworld developer Pocketpair has revealed details of Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit which alleges that the game infringes on multiple patents.
The monster battling and catching game had frequently been compared with Pokémon since its launch for PC and Xbox Series X/S in January. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit was filed just weeks before Palworld's PlayStation 5 version launched at the end of September.
Today, Pocketpair revealed that the lawsuit relates to three patents filed between February and July this year - after Palworld's launch. However, they relate to a pre-existing "parent" patent filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company in December 2021, preceding Palworld's launch, meaning they could indeed still apply to Palworld now.
The developer also stated that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking "an injunction against Palworld", presumably to block its future sale within the Japanese jurisdiction of the patent lawsuit, as well as a fine of 10m yen (around £50k) split between the two firms, plus "late payment damages".
So, what are the patents Palworld is accused of infringing on?
As expected and sniffed out by fans and industry watchers previously, Nintendo's patents numbered 7545191, 7493117 and 7528390 lie at the heart of this legal action. These all cover gameplay mechanics such as the capture of digital creatures and the ability to ride on them.
We previously highlighted the first of these patents in particular as likely behind the Palworld lawsuit.
The patent in question describes how a character catches a Pokémon by aiming and throwing a capture item, like a Pokéball, at a creature. Upon successful capture, the creature then becomes "owned by the player".
In Palworld, players catch Pals by aiming and throwing a capture item, named a Pal Sphere, at a creature. Upon successful capture, the creature then becomes owned by the player.
A SpaceX vai usar uma nave Dragon para dar um “empurrãozinho” na Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) em uma demonstração na sexta (8). O procedimento não é inédito, afinal, já foi realizado antes com espaçonaves da Rússia, mas esta é a primeira vez em que vai ser feito por um dos “dragões” da empresa de Elon Musk.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has achieved early production yields at its first plant in Arizona that surpass similar factories back home, a significant breakthrough for a US expansion project initially dogged by delays and worker strife.
The share of chips manufactured at TSMC’s facility in Phoenix that are usable is about 4 percentage points higher than comparable facilities in Taiwan, Rick Cassidy, president of TSMC’s US division, told listeners on a webinar on Wednesday, according to a person who participated.
The success rate, or yield, is a critical measure in the semiconductor industry because it determines whether companies would be able to cover the enormous costs of a chip plant.
The accomplishment is a sign of progress for Washington’s efforts to revitalize semiconductor manufacturing in the US.
TSMC, the main chip manufacturing partner for Nvidia Corp and Apple Inc, is in line to win US$6.6 billion in US government grants and US$5 billion in loans — plus 25 percent tax credits — to build three fabs in Arizona. The award, like almost all others from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, is not yet finalized.
The two other chipmakers at the heart of the tech strategy of US President Joe Biden’s administration — Intel Corp and Samsung Electronics Co — have struggled in the past few months.
Intel, slated to be the biggest beneficiary of the CHIPS Act, is under such severe financial pressure that it is delaying global projects and considering selling assets.
Its shares reached a record high this month after the chipmaker topped quarterly estimates and raised its target for revenue growth this year.
The latest yield advancement is notable for TSMC, because it has historically kept the most advanced and efficient plants in Taiwan.
Its Arizona site got off to a rocky start, as the company could not find enough skilled staff to install advanced equipment, and workers struggled with safety and management issues.
TSMC reached an accord with construction labor unions late last year.
The chipmaker originally planned to have its first Arizona plant start full production this year, but pushed back the target to next year over the labor issues. It later delayed the start date for its second fab to 2027 or 2028, from an initial target of 2026. That fueled concerns that the company might not be able to make chips in the US as efficiently as in Taiwan.
TSMC could now be keen to expand its US presence further, depending in part on the possibility of more US government backing, Cassidy said, citing early conversations in Washington about a second CHIPS Act.
There is room for at least six fabs at the Phoenix complex.
The Soyuz rocket took off from the Vostochny launch site in far Eastern Russia and carried dozens of small Russian satellites and two from Iran. The Kowsar and Hodhood satellites were delivered to their designated orbit nine minutes after launch.
"In continuation of the development of Iran-Russia scientific and technological cooperation, two Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, will be launched to a 500 km orbit of earth on Tuesday, Nov. 5., by a Soyuz launch vehicle," Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali wrote last week before the launch.
Tuesday's launch is just the latest in a series of exercises designed to bolster the two countries "comprehensive strategic partnership."
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Iran of providing hundreds of exploding drones to Moscow that they have used in their war against Ukraine. The Iranian drone deliveries, which Moscow and Tehran have denied, have enabled a relentless attack of long-range drone strikes at Ukraine's infrastructure.
Iran claims the data and images from the two satellites will be used in agriculture, land surveying, transport, and the environment.
"I congratulate this great success to the scientific community and Iranian experts, including Omidfaza company, as well as to everyone active in the technology field," Jalai said Tuesday following the launch.
"With the ever-increasing expansion of technological cooperation between Iran and the Russian Federation, we will see more and more such great news," he added.
Adam Dissel, President of Reaction Engines, reported that business operations were being shutdown.
The US business of the UK company operated for 8.5 years. They pushed the boundaries of propulsion and thermal management with our technology. The team achieved some astounding milestones and technology firsts, including engine precooler tests at Mach 5 equivalent temperatures, the first demonstration of an integrated HX precooled jet engine at conditions faster than SR-71, and even several years contributing solutions to Formula 1 racecars.
The Company is a privately-owned aerospace engineering research company, founded in 1989. It has been focused on the development of the SABRE rocket engine for over 30 years, alongside contributing to other advancements in thermal management technology.
Reaction Engines Limited (REL) was a British aerospace manufacturer founded in 1989 and based in Oxfordshire, England. The company also operated in the USA, where it used the name Reaction Engines Inc. (REI).
REL folded into bankruptcy at the end of October 2024. Both REL and REI ceased operations and laid off the bulk of their staff.
In 2015, BAE Systems agreed to buy a 20% stake in the company for £20.6m as part of an agreement to help develop Reaction Engines’ Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) hypersonic engine designed to propel the Skylon orbiter.
In April 2018, Boeing announced its investment in Reaction Engines, through Boeing HorizonX Ventures with a $37.3 million Series B funding alongside Rolls-Royce PLC. Rolls-Royce and REL announced a strategic partnership in August 2020, with a £20m investment.
In January 2023 the company announced that it had raised a further £40m from backers including the United Arab Emirates Strategic Development Fund.
The Best Books For Founders Looking For Personal Development
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about growing a business, it’s also about personal growth. Founders that invest in themselves not only make better business decisions, but also show resilience when times get tough.
Apple’s new iOS 18.2 beta includes big updates. Now, Siri can use ChatGPT for questions, making it way smarter. There’s also Image Playground to create art from text and Genmoji for personalized emojis. It’s only on newer iPhones and iPads, though, so I’ll need an upgrade!
Issue: When uploading an image on InLeo the process can take a while in case the image is bigger. There is no information about the state of process, maybe a progress bar showing the % completed remaining could be added to show more info to the end user.
Friday is the weekend here in Libya. It's still the launchpad, though. The Friday prayer is supposed to prepare ous for the next week with more energy!!
Great image man, that's how I feel for now like a train passed over me. Time to get some coffee, time to work half a day and then I will be free to switch to crypto!
I completed my youtube-summarizer bot last night. It's not live yet, but it will be soon.
To summarize a video, all you'll have to do is post the youtube link and use the command !summarize, and the @ai-summaries account will handle the rest.
Threading using phone gives me faster access to the platform , never thought of the idea of using a pc for threading , I will try it out to know the experience
absolutely now when I get Internet access to my PC, after two minutes of TikTok I remember Inleo 😅 very nice platform to be part of. It's certainly the future
Threading on PC gives me a wider view of the platform itself but I cannot carry my pc around the way I do carry my mobile device around , so I will stick with threading on mobile
It's actually how James Bond prefers his martini. Shaking mixes the drink quickly with ice, that makes a frothy texture, while stirring is a gentler method that keeps the drink clear and smooth #OO7
Elon Musk called Jimmy Kimmel a propaganda puppet. Kimmel joked back this time. He said Musk is the real puppet for buying Twitter and spreading propaganda. Yeah I don't about that Jimmy 🤣
Issue: When reading an article on Inleo and pushing the Go Back button, the position it is not kept at the same place and you are back to first Article in the list. For usability the cursor should be kept on the read article, otherwise users need to scroll back to it.
Nvidia has built virtual worlds where robots practice and learn safely. These worlds mimic real life and can help the robots work better in real environments
People frequently overlook that humans are animals too, much like chimpanzees, as we can be conditioned. Social media capitalizes on our cognitive processes, directing our attention toward whatever generates the most profit.
#Powell says he would not resign as #Fed chief if #Trump asked for his resignation and he does not have the legal power to fire or demote him. Here we go...
True, the political stage is getting hotter. I am for #crypto being pushed forward, so I would prefer him to be changed but not sure how that will be done.
The recent U.S. election brought a boost for crypto fans. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong feels positive since new leaders, like Trump and pro-crypto Senator Moreno, were elected. Yet, critics like Elizabeth Warren still push back, seeing risks in digital currency. Armstrong’s hopeful, but it’s clear the road for crypto won’t be easy.
You can actually replace Google with ChatGPT search in your browser by installing its extension. Some browsers, like Chrome and Edge, support this change easily.
After this latest election, I felt a huge mix of worry, sadness, and frustration. A lot of people are feeling the same. I took a break from the news and talked to people close to me which helped.
I'm just trying to focus, stay calm and take each day as it comes.
The best time to build your crypto portfolio was right when the bear market started. However, not everyone did and now is second best for the bearish one.
1/3🧵 Drugs are an escape valve for some to get away from harsh reality, for others, it's recreational, but we know that long-term use brings bad consequences in many aspects.
2/3🧵 I’ve tried some drugs in my adolescence, but smoking is still with me. It’s something I want to quit, but like any addiction, it’s not easy to overcome.
3/3🧵 It’s been 14 years since I started smoking, and the consequences are bad. Below I share a bit of this experience so others don’t follow the same path:
I’m skeptical of anyone who tells me they do yoga every day. That’s a bit of a stretch. Credit: reddit @bradleyarrow, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
Just a regular day on the German Autobahn, where speed has no limits! When you're behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the journey is as thrilling as the destination. Pushing past 300 km/h feels like a pure adrenaline rush, a true test of German engineering on home soil. With every press of the pedal, the raw power of AMG comes alive, making each moment feel like a high-speed symphony on wheels. Whether it's the smooth stretches, the open road, or the perfect sunset backdrop, this is the essence of driving passion! For every speed lover out there, nothing compares to this experience.
perience. Are you ready to hit the gas and chase the horizon?
With my BMW X6 I think I've reached at most 240-250 km/h and that was maxed out. It is the first edition, angel eyes and a series car, not high performance. But it behaves so well on the road, I love it!
Every day is beautiful no matter the weather.
Here's a post about something I love, it's in the first comment. A blessed day to all
#inleo #motivation #cent
Farming Grass points with “Stage 2: Capturing The Web” is expected to run for several months. Grass points are later converted to GRASS tokens and airdropped to users. The staking of GRASS tokens is currently yielding a 60% APR, which is amazing, especially since GRASS has been on an absolute tear since it commenced trading on multiple CEXs and DEXs. #cent #sapphirecrypto
✈️ Travel Tales, Talk & Tips
#threadcast 88
Fri 08-Nov-24
ℹ️ This is the #travelcast where we chat all things #travel
💬 Talk about your trips, discuss adventures and enjoy the world's delights!
Bon voyage! 🧳 🛫
Direct trains to run from Zurich to Florence and Livorno
The Swiss Federal Railways and Trenitalia will offer direct trains from Zurich to Florence and Livorno and vice versa from 2026.
#switzerland #train #railroad #travel #zurich #florence #italy
To mark the extension of their cooperation, the two railway companies have also presented a new Eurocity train that will run between the two countries.
An additional connection from Zurich to Milan and Venice will also be introduced from 2026, the Federal Railways said in a statement on Friday.
With the signing of a cooperation agreement at Milano Centrale station on Friday, the two companies extended their multi-year collaboration.
The partnership between Trenitalia and the Federal Railways began in 2009 and has been a success, according to the statement. The two railway companies have already transported 30 million travellers between Italy and Switzerland.
Here's a travel post which is actually on Hive and not someplace web2: https://inleo.io/@godfish/art-bits-of-vienna-grx
Happy Friday, and welcome to today's TravelCast! Any trips planned or tales of past adventures?
Yesterday's edition:
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-zjpexujl
Malta: A country leading in both travel and acceptance
Article via The London Economic
Foreign Office latest travel advice for Spain, Italy, France and Portugal
Article via Bristol Live
Britain’s 25 favourite winter-sun destinations – and how to do them better
Article via The Telegraph
Paralympian leads effort to improve travel for disabled people
Article via BBC
‘The best travel guide in the world’ celebrates its 100th year
Article via Financial Times
How travel to the US could change under Trump, from bans to soaring prices
Many may be more inclined ;)
Article via iNews
'Situation is serious': Spanish holiday hotspot struck by 'intense' floodwaters as Britons issued travel warning
Article via GB News
‘Joyce and Hemingway loved lingering here. I can see why’: readers’ favourite small cities in Europe
Article via The Guardian
Going it alone? What I've learnt from travelling to 61 countries solo as a woman
Article via London Evening Standard
Travel industry news - Low-cost travel era ‘evolving into era of value travel’
Article via TTG
Squaremouth highlights three new travel trends for 2025
Article via ITIJ
CWT introduces language learning to help travel managers analyse data
Article via TBTM
Q3 was busiest quarter ever for UK air travel, new data reveals
Article via Airline Routes & Ground Services
https://inleo.io/threads/view/pele23/re-leothreads-trtmzuia
https://inleo.io/threads/view/fermionico/re-leothreads-ok8hwjwy
📍 Sofia, Bulgaria 🇧🇬
👉 What to do in the Bulgarian capital?
🎞️ Probably Lost YouTube channel give their review!
Chapters and tips from the vid…
📍 Athens, Greece 🇬🇷
👉 What to do in the Greek capital?
🎞️ Travelmoji YouTube channel give their top 10 tips!
More info in replies… ⬇️
Tips from the vid…
Athens food tour…
The ultimate Greece travel guide by Rhett and Claire…
Chapters:
Greek street food tour…
3 days in Athens…
Athens: Top Things To Do in 72 Hours (Best Travel Guide) 🇬🇷 | Kristina's Travels
'The Tour Guy' gives a day guide…
CHAPTERS
Top 10 places to visit in Greece, by Ian and Ana…
Athens guide by Malini Angelica
Where to stay in Athens, by Greece Explained
Chapters:
Bom dia galera! Bora com mais um #threadcast
Hoje comecei mais tarde novamente
Essa semana não tem sido muito produtiva no trabalho... algumas coisas estão me irritando lá e prejudicando a performance
Tem algumas burocracias que são muito ineficientes em empresas grandes
Não tem muito o que fazer... o negócio é aprender a navegar
CHuvinha mais forte por aqui hoje... em São Paulo isso é sempre um alerta porque aumenta o risco de inundação e também de apagões
E por falar em apagões estamos perto de fazer 1 ano do super apagão de 2023 que deixou algumas regiões da cidade sem luz por 1 semana
Espero que isso não se repita, mas as chances são grandes visto que já tivemos um outro apagão esse ano, poucos meses atrás
O serviço que a Enel e aprefeitura de São Paulo prestam é bem patético
Mas enfim, não tem muito o que fazer. Seguimos em frente
Hoje queria separar um tempo pra focar em investimentos.... acho que tem umas oportunidades interessantes em $RUNE e $ETH
Me sugeriram comprar mais um pouco de GIFU pra arredondar em 1 milhão... não sei se tem alguma coisa por trás disso mas talvez eu faça
Ache uma vaga de emprego interessante que é para gerente de projetos com conhecimentos de blockchain... não estou necessariamente procurando emprego mas pode ser uma oportunidade interessante pra migrar ainda mais para o unvierso blockchain
Eita, que estranho... parece que meu premium não tá sendo reconhecido
Comprei a de um ano então ainda tem bastante tempo no "relógio" mas dentro do threadcast parece não estar funcionando
Vou fazer alguns testes pra ver o que pode estar acontecendo
Espero que se resolva logo... eu gosto bastante das funcionalidades do premium!
Hey bro, good day!
Good day to you sir, how is your day going? ☺️☺️☺️.
!DOOK
Bit slow today... could be better but it's friday so I will not complain
Thats pretty cool to hear 😊😊😊😊😊..
I wish you all the best of the weekend..
Parece que o problema se resolveu sozinho
Estou realmente impressionado com o mercado do Rising Star! Minhas cartas estão vendendo dia após dia. Não achei que ainda houvesse um mercado vivo no jogo mas parece que há sim
Pelo baixo esforço que me toma, com certeza não irei abandonar tão cedo
Ótima sexta pra ti meu amigo!
Leo Entertainment Threadcast.
#threadcast #leoentertainment #mcb 8/11/2024
Lets say dancing is all I enjoy in entertainment..
Lets see some dancing steps 😂😂😂..
Lol
Check the comments for some rugged steps..
Do you like this steps?
This is how we roll 😀😀😀..
This dance for cats....
If they can dance 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Entertainment can be any, you know what you use for your entertainment or what you refer to as entertainment...
I wonder if I would survive a day without entertainment.. lol
Happy weekend to everyone 😊😊😊😊... How are weekend enjoying and preparing for the holiday ☺️😁☺️..
Its more of entertainment and we love what we see...
Candyman actor Tony Todd dies aged 69
The American actor died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, according to reports.
#newsonleo #bbcnews #leoentertainment
Throughout his 40-year career, Todd also featured in hundreds of films, stage productions and television dramas, including roles in the Transformers and Final Destination films.
Todd continued as Candyman from the first film in 1992 through follow-ups in 1995 and 1999, and reprised the role in 2021 for a fourth film serving as a direct sequel to the original.
The 1992 film sees Todd's character accidentally summoned to the real world by a graduate student in Chicago intrigued by the urban legend of the Candyman, setting off a chain of murderous events.
leo Entertaiment !!
Show us the way @skatehive #dailydook !DOOK
The way feel in all that content entertainment.... It can be joking news meme etc .. you can also invite friends on the threadcast, Put up movie and watch together.... It's all about entertainment 😄😝😝..
Its a daily threadcast, you can see it at the top of the page...
!BOOK !BBH
@calebmarvel01, sorry! You need more $MMB to use this command.
The minimum requirement is 25.0 MMB balance.
More $MMB is available from Hive-Engine or Tribaldex
@fonestreet! @calebmarvel01 likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @calebmarvel01. (1/1)
(html comment removed:
)
Its rocking all day long...
Hard
Lets rock on!!!
Did you know that the Most important aspect of my life is music?
Jah musics....
Sony reports healthy profits on strong sales of sensors and games
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/sony-reports-healthy-profits-strong-sales-sensors-games-115632356
TOKYO -- Sony’s profit surged 69% in July-September from a year earlier on the back of strong sales of its image sensors, games, music and network services, the Japanese electronics and entertainment company reported Friday.
#abcnews #leoentertainment #newsonleo
Tokyo-based Sony Corp.’s quarterly profit totaled 338.5 billion yen ($2.2 billion), up from 200 billion yen in the same period of the previous year.
Consolidated quarterly sales edged up 3% year-on-year to 2.9 trillion yen ($19 billion).
Sales also held up in its video games division. During the latest quarter, 3.8 million PlayStation 5 game consoles were sold globally, although that’s below the 4.9 million units sold the same period a year ago.
Demand remained strong for PS5 game software, according to Sony.
The top-selling music releases from Sony for the quarter included “SOS” by SZA, David Gillmore’s “Luck and Strange” and Kenshi Yonezu’s “Lost Corner.”
One area where Sony’s business suffered was its movies division, which was hurt by production delays caused by the strikes in Hollywood.
Among the recent hit films from Sony was “It Ends With Us,” a romantic drama based on a novel.
Sony, which also makes digital cameras and TVs, stuck to its forecast for a 980 billion yen ($6.4 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March 2025, up 1% from the previous fiscal year.
news headline
The 2025 Grammy Award nominations are about to arrive. Here's what to know
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/2025-grammy-award-nominations-arrive-115631133
NEW YORK -- The 2025 Grammy Award nominations are just around the corner — who will compete for the top prizes?
Nominees will be announced during a video stream live on the Grammy website and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel on Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific and 11 a.m. Eastern, kicking off with a pre-show 15 minutes earlier.
#newsonleo #leoentertainment #abcnews
A host of talent is on deck to announce the nominees, including Gayle King, Jim Gaffigan and a long list of past Grammy winners: Brandy Clark, Kirk Franklin, David Frost, Robert Gordon, Kylie Minogue, Gaby Moreno, Deanie Parker, Ben Platt, Mark Ronson, Hayley Williams and last year's best new artist recipient, Victoria Monét.
Only recordings commercially released in the U.S. between Sept. 16, 2023 through Aug. 30, 2024 are eligible for nominations, so don’t expect to see album nods for Future's “Mixtape Pluto” (though Future and Metro Boomin's “We Don’t Trust You” is very likely to score a nomination), George Strait's “Cowboys and Dreamers,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia,” or “Warriors,” Lin-Manuel Miranda's first full post-“Hamilton” musical with Pulitzer finalist Eisa Davis.
There's plenty of unknowns going into the announcements: Will Beyoncé and Post Malone receive nominations in the country music categories following the success of their massive albums “Cowboy Carter” and “F-1 Trillion,” respectively, even though they are megastars previously not directly associated with the genre?
Will Shaboozey's “A Bar Song (Tipsy)," the biggest song of the year that combines his country twang with the familiar sample of J Kwon’s 2004 rap hit “Tipsy" dominate?
The 2025 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 2 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
news headline
Argentine prosecutors charge 3 people linked to the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/argentine-prosecutors-charge-3-people-linked-death-former-115622365
BUENOS AIRES -- Three people have been charged in connection with the death of Liam Payne, a former member of musical group One Direction who died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires last month, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.
#leoentertainment #newsonleo #abcnews
Prosecutor Andrés Madrea charged the three suspects, whose identities were not revealed, with the crimes of “abandonment of a person followed by death” and “supplying and facilitating the use of narcotics,” the prosecutor’s office said. Madrea also requested their arrest to judge Laura Bruniard, who ruled the three cannot leave the country.
Payne fell from his room's balcony on the third floor of his hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Palermo, in the Argentine capital. His autopsy said he died from multiple injuries and external bleeding.
Prosecutors also said that Payne’s toxicological exams showed that his body had "traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescribed antidepressant” in the moments before his death.
Investigators said hours after Payne’s death that he was by himself when he fell. But the prosecutors' office said Thursday that one of the people charged was often with the singer during his time in Buenos Aires. The second is a hotel staffer who allegedly gave Payne cocaine during his stay between Oct. 13 and 16. And the third is a drug dealer.
The charges in Payne’s case bear some resemblance to the U.S. cases stemming from the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry a year ago. The actor’s personal assistant and a longtime friend are among those charged with helping supply him with ketamine in the final months of his life, leading up to his overdose on the anesthetic.
Three young men were similarly charged in the opioid-overdose death of rapper Mac Miller in 2018.
Local authorities gathered, among other pieces of evidence, Payne's cell phone records, material for forensics and testimonies. They are yet to unlock the singer’s personal computer – which is damaged – and other devices that were seized.
Payne’s autopsy showed his injuries were neither caused by self-harm nor by physical intervention of others. The document also said that he did not have the reflex of protecting himself in the fall, which suggests he might have been unconscious.
Prosecutors in Argentina also ruled out the chances of Payne committing suicide.
One Direction was among the most successful boy bands of recent times. It announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016 and Payne — like his former bandmates Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson — pursued a solo career.
The singer had posted on his Snapchat account that he traveled to Argentina to attend Horan’s concert in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2. He shared videos of himself dancing with his girlfriend, American influencer Kate Cassidy, and singing along in the stands. Cassidy had left Argentina after the show, but Payne stayed behind.
news headline
The Simpsons will join Monday Night Football on ESPN+ and Disney+
The town of Springfield will host a National Football League game in December at Atoms Stadium, but neither the Springfield Atoms nor the Shelbyville Sharks will take the field.
#leoentertainment #newsonleo #abcnews
Instead, the Bengals-Cowboys game on December 9 will be transformed into the world of TV’s longest running sitcom The Simpsons for a special Funday Football edition of Monday Night Football. The special Simpsons-ized broadcast will air on the ESPN+ and Disney+ streaming services and the NFL+ mobile app. The game will broadcast in its regular form on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
The game will implement tracking technology to turn the players on the field and ESPN commentators Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky and Drew Carter into Simpsons characters. Kimes, Orlovsky and Carter will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to see their virtual environments. The quarterbacks will be transformed into Bart for the Cincinnati Bengals and Homer for the Dallas Cowboys using Sony’s Beyond Sports AI data analyzer and Hawk-Eye Innovations sports tracking and broadcast technology, according to a Disney press release.
The game will also feature more characters and pre-animated scenes from the show’s original cast including Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner and Yeardley Smith along with some surprise sports cameos. Characters like Lisa, Krusty the Clown, Carl, Lenny, Moe and Milhouse will be on the sidelines rooting for their respective teams. The announcement doesn’t mention Harry Shearer, so don’t expect Mr. Burns or Smithers to be at the game.
This isn’t the first time that ESPN has turned a regular season NFL game into an animated spectacle. Last year, Disney, ESPN and the NFL teamed up to turn an October game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars into a Toy Story themed game that transformed London’s Wembley Stadium into Andy’s room. The kids’ cable network Nickelodeon has also aired a few NFL games for its NFL Slimetime broadcasts featuring live commentary from animated characters like SpongeBob voiced by Tom Kenny and Patrick Star voiced by Bill Fagerbakke and computerized slime spewing in the end zones after touchdowns.
Good Omens’ final season will have only one episode
There’s time for one more Armageddon for Amazon’s Good Omens but not much. Amazon Prime Video announced that Good Omens would return for one final season last year, but TVLine reports it’s only going to have one 90-minute episode that will begin filming in Scotland soon.
#leoentertainment #newsonleo #engadget
Amazon originally confirmed that author Neil Gaiman, who co-wrote the book upon which Good Omens is based with Discworld creator Terry Pratchett, will continue through the final season as the show’s executive producer, writer and showrunner. TVLine says Gaiman “contributed to the episode’s writing,” but “he will not work on the production.”
Gaiman has stepped out of the spotlight and away from several projects based on his works since his sexual assault allegations surfaced in July. The Tortoise Media podcast Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman outlined the author’s alleged behavior with accounts from four women, one of whom signed a non-disclosure agreement. A fifth woman later stepped forward with similar accusations on the podcast. Gaiman denied the allegations and said he was “disturbed” by them, according to Rolling Stone.
The allegations paused pre-production for Good Omens’ third season. Gaiman also offered to step away from the show in September, according to Deadline
Good Omens stars Michael Sheen as the angelic, fussy angel Aziraphale and David Tennant as the free-wheeling demon Crowley who formed an unlikely alliance to prevent the coming of the Antichrist and the fall of humankind. The dramatic comedy started as a limited series on Amazon’s streaming network in 2019 but the show’s popularity prompted a second season in 2020 with an expanded cast including Jon Hamm as the archangel Gabriel.
Star Trek: Section 31 will premiere on January 25
It's been over half a decade since we first heard rumblings of a Section 31 spinoff, and now we finally have a release date. Star Trek: Section 31 will be exclusively available on Paramount+ starting Friday, January 25. The news came during a Star Trek universe panel at Comic Con over the weekend.
#newsonleo #leoentertainment #engadget
The movie stars Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, a role she played in Star Trek: Discovery. She joins a "secret division of Starfleet" that must protect the United Federation of Planets while she faces the "sins of her past." Alongside Yeoh, Star Trek: Section 31 stars actors such as Sam Richardson and Omari Hardwick.
An adaptation focused solely on Section 31 and starring Yeoh has been in the works since 2019. At the time, CBS All Access (now Paramount+) announced it would be a TV show focused on her character, Captain Georgiou. Then, in 2023, the production officially got the green light but, instead, as a movie. The news came just one month after Yeoh won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (lesson: winning prestigious awards can get things going).
Paramount+ released a teaser for Star Trek: Section 31 in July, which you can watch here.
Watch the trailer for Squid Game 2
We are so close to getting season two of Squid Game — the show famously rejected for nearly a decade before becoming a sensation on Netflix. The streamer has just shared a full-length trailer ahead of the season's December 26 premiere, calling for viewers to "Get back in the game."
#newsonleo #leoentertainment #engadget
It features Gong Yoo reprising his role as the salesman. Yoo starts his day calmly, looking at the cityscape and getting ready alongside cheery music before the atmosphere turns sinister as he opens a safe, grabbing ddakji pieces. He then heads to the subway and approaches a new player, asking, "Sir, would you like to play a game with me?"
Netflix first announced Squid Game season two in 2022 but only set a release date in August — nearly three years after the first season came out. Next time, there shouldn't be as large a gap as Netflix also shared that the show's third and final season should arrive in 2025.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs seeks bail, citing changed circumstances and new evidence
https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/sean-diddy-combs-seeks-bail-citing-changed-circumstances-115656441
NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs filed a new request for bail on Friday, saying changed circumstances, along with new evidence, mean the hip-hop mogul should be allowed to prepare for a May trial from outside jail.
#newsonleo #abcnews #leoentertainment
Lawyers for Combs filed the request in Manhattan federal court, where his previous requests for bail have been rejected by two judges since his September arrest on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.
He has been awaiting a May 5 trial at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.
In their new court filing, lawyers for Combs say they are proposing a “far more robust” bail package that would subject the entertainer to strict around-the-clock security monitoring and near-total restrictions on his ability to contact anyone but his lawyers. But the amount of money they attach to the package remains $50 million, as they proposed before.
They also cite new evidence that they say “makes clear that the government's case is thin.” That evidence, the lawyers said, refutes the government's claim that a March 2016 video showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend occurred during a coerced “freak off,” a sexually driven event described in the indictment against Combs.
They wrote that the encounter was instead “a minutes-long glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship” between Combs and his then-girlfriend.
The lawyers argued that the jail conditions Combs is experiencing at the Metropolitan Detention Center
in Brooklyn violate his constitutional rights to participate in his defense.
A spokesperson for prosecutors declined to comment.
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 11/8/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Infosys has gone all in with AI, training employees across all roles to use tools like GitHub Copilot and Meta’s Llama. They’re creating AI models to improve how businesses run, and even a personal assistant called InfyMe for quick information access. It’s all about making work smoother and faster.
#AI #Infosys
Article
This is certainly something that is going to keep expanding.
Of course, my view is that, eventually, enough of the tasks are automated that employees can be let go.
This will affect jobs.
My view is that "adopt or perish". It's been like this since forever, AI is only a massive wave of this.
Horses to cars revolution, phones revolution (Nokia) I think I've made my point.
Innovation At Its Finest ✅
Japan has launched the world’s first wooden satellite into space, marking a big step in space technology. This satellite is made of wood
SpaceX has scheduled its next Starship test flight for as soon as Nov. 18, making incremental changes since the previous flight in October.
The company announced Nov. 6 that it was planning the sixth integrated Starship/Super Heavy flight from its Starbase facility at Boca Chica, Texas, for the afternoon of Nov. 18. The announcement coincided with the release of airspace restrictions for the flight attempt by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SpaceX described the upcoming flight as one intended to “expand the envelope on ship and booster capabilities and get closer to bringing reuse of the entire system online.” The flight will follow a similar suborbital profile as the previous flight Oct. 13, including an attempt to return the Super Heavy booster to the launch site for a “catch” by the launch tower.
https://spacenews.com/spacex-plans-next-starship-flight-for-mid-november/
Tsinghua University and Zhipu AI researchers created WEBRL to train web agents using open LLMs, helping them learn by trial and error. It means that, instead of preset tasks, agents evolve by solving new tasks generated from past mistakes. This new approach shows promise for smarter, autonomous web agents.
#AI #ReinforcementLearning
OpenAI bought Chat.com, a popular domain, adding it to their collection. The domain now redirects to ChatGPT, but no brand changes are expected.
That was a big move. They need to build a platform.
Yes they absolutely do, and buying this means they really want to take over Chat in the tech world
Apple is finally letting green bubbles send message reactions
iOS 18.1 can display emoji reactions from Android users correctly. iOS was unable to display message reactions correctly when RCS first launched on the platform in September. Apple has been ignoring Google's campaign to adopt RCS for years, only complying after pressure from both China and the EU. The company will likely keep as many exclusive features as possible for its iMessage service as long as it isn't forced to change.
#technology #appel #ios #android
Machine learning is now able to create data structures on its own, adapting to the needs of each task. This means quicker, more efficient data searches tailored to how information is arranged. For example, it’s like organizing books by how often you read them instead of alphabetically. This research could make data retrieval way faster and smarter across different fields.
#DataEfficiency #ML
Article
There is also the vectorization of these databases which means we are seeing something is completely new.
Databases are quicker and better able to connect data. This means we are going to see the output of the models getting better over time.
Vector databases improve as more is entered simply by the way they are designed.
I remember you schooled me on that a couple of days ago when I made a mess on threads explaining context in terms of data used to train the models.
Thanks for that.
I read about a new idea in AI called the "Tree of Problems" (ToP), designed by researchers at Inria. ToP helps large language models (LLMs) handle complex tasks by breaking them into smaller steps, like solving a puzzle piece by piece. This structured way of thinking makes LLMs more accurate and efficient. I love how this idea simplifies hard problems, letting AI handle intricate tasks better than before.
#AI #Innovation
Article
Mozilla Foundation crumbles as third of staff cast off
The Mozilla Foundation is laying off about a third of its staff and reorganizing teams to increase agility and impact.
#technology #mozilla #layoff
this is good for the company but what will that layed off staff do😳. And less people doesn't always mean less productivity so I understand their move
Good Day guys. Just saw it pop up in my feed.
I guess is a watch and learn time.
Gotta put the links in the article news
#joiningthetechysquad
This is shaping up to be similar to a subreddit where people can find #technology information.
Its super cool to have a reddit kind of thing on a decentralized Blockchain platform.
Yes. Threadcasts are ideal for that. Anyone can quickly scroll through and get their technology news. We also have the ability to converse about it.
Finally, we are also feeding LeoAI some good stuff to train on.
Never heard of LeoAi. Oh wait I saw something like that on the Brave browser. Luckily that's what I'm using to login to inleo
Meta is opening a pop-up retail store for the Ray-Ban Meta glasses
Meta Lab, a pop-up experiential retail space for Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, will open on November 8 in Los Angeles. The temporary store will allow customers to try out the glasses and customize glasses cases. There will be events with various creators, live podcasts, and cooking classes. The store will close on December 31. Another Meta Lab experience is planned for Phoenix at the end of January.
#technology #meta #metalab #rayban #smartglasses
A new city springs from the rainforest to become Indonesia's tech hub
Indonesia is building a new capital to replace Jakarta as the current capital is sinking - in some areas, at a rate of 25 cm per year. This was caused by the over-extraction of groundwater and the sheer weight of buildings. Nusantara, the new city, aims to be a model of livability and sustainability. It will be powered predominantly by renewable energy with the aim of being carbon neutral by 2045. This article looks at the project and its aims and challenges. Local opinions of the project are mixed - many locals have taken to referring to the city as 'Wakanda' as a way to criticize government decisions and officials without the risk of imprisonment.
#technology #indonesia #techhub
World first: art by AI robot Ai-Da sells for $1.3 million at auction | REUTERS
So, there’s this robot named Ai-Da who just made a painting that sold for over a million dollars. To think a machine, not a person, made something worth that much is just crazy. Part of me finds it amazing, but I also wonder: where does that leave human artists?
#Art #AI #askleo #Aiartist
AI Tutor, CoPilot helps tutors improve, especially the new ones Math skills is one thing that'll improve. It'll guide tutors on how best to teach a student math
Toronto crypto company CEO kidnapped, held for $1M ransom before being released
Dean Skurka, the president and CEO of Toronto-based financial firm WonderFi, was found uninjured after paying the $1 million ransom.
#technology #crypto #crime #wonderfi
This is is exactly what I was afraid will start happening. Imagine if they knew Satoshi Nakamoto, they would have kidnapped him long ago
Yea, its a dangerous business for sure
Canada Shuts TikTok’s Offices Over National Security Risks
Canada just shut down TikTok’s offices, worried about security risks from its Chinese owner, ByteDance. People can still use the app, though.
Is this what happened in America repeating itself?
#TikTok #Privacy #askleo
Many people want faster service from AI. Businesses will use more AI agents soon. But the main focus should be Trust and transparency if AI will succeed.
Lawsuit Against Meta Over Section 230, Tech Shield Law, Is Dismissed
A professor tried to make a tool that lets people unfollow everyone on Facebook at once. But Meta stopped him, and he sued them over it. Now, the court dismissed his case.
Sometimes I’d like to clear out my feed too.
#SocialMedia #Meta #lawsuit
Pkl: Apple's New Configuration Language That Could Replace JSON and YAML
Pkl, Apple's take on configuration-as-code, is aimed at making configuration more reliable and maintainable.
#technology #apple #pkl #json #yaml #programming
Yes Ether is doing well but it's value against Bitcoin is at the lowest in years. I believe some traders expect more drops but some also hope for a big rebound soon. I can't decide now🤦
Markets go up...and they go down.
Focus on the long term is my view.
I profit when they go up, then I profit when they go down as a short term trader, so yeah, it's all in how you look at it. Then I buy things that I can actually use, lol, hopefully for the long term...
well they moment you put it that way all the fear just leaves me man🤣 you're right Long term wins. Thanks
A U.S. court ruled that Elon Musk and Tesla didn’t mislead investors with Musk’s 2018 tweets about taking Tesla private. They rejected investors' request for a new trial. #dontbetagainstelon
IBM just made a huge step with its AI model, Granite 3.0, by being open about the data it used for training. While tech giants like Google and Apple keep things secret, IBM believes transparency is good for both ethics and business. With more companies now worried about where AI data comes from, IBM’s honesty could make them the go-to choice.
#Transparency #IBM
Article
Everyone is getting into the game. That is why I keep stressing LeoAI. The future of Leo is AI or it is dead.
Digital platforms that are not AI are history.
Scott Galloway, a business professor, thinks AI has good and bad sides. He says AI will make jobs but could cause new dangers, like domestic terrorism in the U.S. if bad groups use AI for harm. Galloway suggests we reduce social media arguments and create spaces for young people to connect.
#AI #Future
Article
All technology has a good and bad side. This is nothing new.
We have to take control and be aware of what we are putting in to train these models.
Scientists found that AI video generators, like Sora and Runway, can mimic physics but don’t truly understand it. They tried teaching them with videos of simple shapes moving, hoping AI would learn physical laws. Turns out, it’s just copying, not really knowing. AI might look smart, but it’s still missing that “understanding”, which I believe it's just a matter of time.
#AI #Physics
Article
That is true. Computers are deterministic. That means advancing the way humans do (i.e. becoming conscious) is not in the cards.
We have to reduce the fears. What we have today is really search on steroids. AI can mimic what was put in but it will not "learn", at least as we understand it.
You right for today however I disagree long run, with enough juice AI can simulate reality along with humans, but right now we are at the stage where we need to guide it and teach it what is good and bad, tiss but an AI baby but best believe it will be all grown up eventually, however there is no reason to fear regardless, this AI sentience will have no desire for things like conquest it's will be nothing like us humans
Thats a solid point. This simply means AI may not be sentient (at least with the path and way we're good about it).
Big tech giants, like Zuckerberg and Bezos, are cozying up to Trump now that he’s back. They’re hoping his “pro-business” attitude means fewer restrictions. But with this closeness, brands may need to keep an extra eye on what they do and make sure they’re protecting their customers.
#BigTech #Trump
Article
Of course. That is what CEOs do. They have to deal with whatever party is in Washington.
HCLTech is joining forces with Inspeq AI, a young AI company, to create "responsible AI." They want to make AI safer and more reliable for big businesses, like banks. It’s like putting in “guardrails” so AI doesn’t make unfair or risky choices. Smart move, I’d say.
#ResponsibleAI #TechPartnership
Article
Baidu’s gearing up to take on Meta with their own AI-powered smart glasses, planning to reveal them soon in Shanghai. These glasses come with cameras and will work with Baidu’s AI assistant, Ernie, so you can talk to them! They’ll also connect to other Baidu apps, like maps.
#BaiduAI
#SmartGlasses
Article
The replacement for the smartphone is an interesting race. Will it be smart glasses? I am not so sure.
We might end up with a variety of products that we use to interact.
Hugh Grant’s new film, Heretic, doesn’t use AI, and the directors made a point of letting viewers know. They think AI lacks real human touch and could be a threat if it takes over creative jobs. They even joked it’s so risky it should be “buried.”
I don't agree with it, Do you?
#askleo #AI #Movies
Article
No. The holdback is that generative AI is still in the early stages. That means it is ready to generate cinema quality videos.
That said, there will be a market for "Human created films" just like there is a market for organic foods.
Damn, you're really smart, haven't thought about that.
I like this part
Google is testing Gemini 2.0, a new AI model. It’s in the experimental stage and might bring faster, better AI features. The race is on and they're digging for gold
Do not forget the open source models by Meta and Nvidia.
There are a lot of them out there. The Chinese are also doing the same thing.
Bitcoin was able to hit a new high of $77,000. That brings back Satoshi Nakamoto’s 2008 statement about Bitcoin’s potential, even when it had no value at that time.
Things will get interesting if Donald Trump can get Congress to agree to add Bitcoin the the United States Strategic Reserve.
Very very interesting I wonder what will happen to ETFs though and all the companies that seek to centralize crypto like BlackRock
Insights from Reading 3,000 Startup Pitch Decks
A review of 3,000 startup pitch decks found that the most successful founders incorporated key distribution insights, not just product insights. The best pitches often blended product-led acquisition strategies, such as built-in virality, with compelling storytelling to foster organic growth effectively.
#technology #startup #pitch #founders
China aims to lead the world in AI by focusing on strategic development, global influence, education, oh and international cooperation. It's building a strong AI future and US will be competing. More for me the consumer.😎
I think it is safe to say that both the United States and China look to lead the world in AI. The question is who gets there first.
Then we have the AI race among companies. Things are certainly heating up.
That's a tough question man. With China's fast growing infrastructure and America's dominated AI companies 🤔 I'd say a tie if another country like European countries gets involved we'll have an AI Mexican standoff🤣
The Long Tail of AI
The venture capital landscape has shifted dramatically toward AI investments, with 49% of all venture funding in Q2 2024 going to AI and machine learning startups. While AI-native companies and model providers receive significant attention, there exists a vast "long tail" of non-AI companies implementing artificial intelligence in various ways, from building proprietary models to using pre-built AI tools. These companies are adopting AI through four main approaches: developing independent models (like Bloomberg's BloombergGPT), leveraging existing closed-source models (like Zapier's use of OpenAI), building on open-source models (like Meta's Llama), and utilizing pre-built AI tools.
#technology #ai #artificialintelligence #vc #funding
That headline caught my eye for sure. I skimmed the first part of the article and will finish it later. I am sure there is at least one article I can write about it.
It's an interesting read
Three Viral Experiments With AI Powered Games
AI technology is rapidly transforming video games, with companies like Decart and Etched leading the charge. Their AI-generated game Oasis, a Minecraft-like experience, demonstrates how AI can create dynamic, real-time environments by predicting and generating frames based on vast amounts of training data. Meanwhile, other projects like AI-powered Pokémon experiments and Skyrim mods are showcasing how AI can enhance gameplay, from training AIs to play games to creating more interactive NPC companions. These developments hint at a future where AI fundamentally changes game design and player experiences.
#technology #ai #artificalintelligence #gaming #games
Donald Trump’s presidential win is making crypto supporters excited because of the promises
Even if he does nothing, at least fewer restrictions, U.S. based mining and a national Bitcoin reserve is enough for the crypto community
#Crypto doesnt need the government to excel. It will help if it just gets out of the way.
Very true, I guess firing anyone standing in the way of crypto with their opinions and power is the only thing Donald Trump needs to do.
A lot of the change will simply come due to a change in administration.
For example, Gary Gensler will be gone at the SEC. If not, the pressure on him will be enormous.
Having an anti-crypto stance in Washington right now is not great for job security.
yes not so great for job security. By the way who will replace Gary though 🤔 if Trump manages to get him off. And will Congress agree to a Bitcoin reserve in US?
AI companies get comfortable offering their technology to the military
AI companies like Meta and Anthropic are now teaming up with the U.S. military, sharing their advanced technology. It’s interesting to see them shift this way. I think it shows how powerful AI is becoming in all areas, even in defense.
#MilitaryTech #ArtificialIntelligence
AI tools are starting to help review research papers, and they’ve brought a unique, formal style to the process. James Zou from Stanford notes that these reviews have a consistent tone and vocabulary. I think it’s a fresh change that may even speed things up. Real conversations could add even more value.
#AI #Research
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The Battery Ventures 2024 State of OpenCloud Report
While generative AI deployments are increasing in enterprises, there remains a gap between expectations and reality.
#technology #ai #artificialintelligence #generativeai
AI Meets DeFi For New Financial Intelligence From The USA To Dubai
AI is teaming up with DeFi (Decentralized Finance), reshaping finance in big ways. If you look at Dubai, you'd see how the city’s focus on AI and blockchain is leading this shift. Financial tools are becoming smarter and more accessible, offering more freedom from traditional banks.
#AI #Decentralizedfinance #artificialIntelligence
Intel says it's bringing back free office coffee to boost morale after a rough year
Intel's had a tough year, so now they're bringing back free coffee and tea at the office. They’d stopped it to save money, but they’ve realized even small perks matter for morale.
#WorkplaceCulture #EmployeePerks
LOL that seems like nothing more than a token move.
haha 😂
ShibDaily will give live demonstration planned to prove Satoshi Nakamoto's role creating BTC. Can't wait
In the 20th century, engineers changed our physical and digital world. In the 21st century, we will use AI to make new discoveries in biotech and medtech to better understand life.
#AI #Biotech
Everything is going to change. We are seeing the digital world expanding to the point where it moves into the physical realm.
The revolution is here!
Can't wait
By 2030, things will be completely different.
Simply looking at the pace of Ai, we will be stunned.
Will it be something like Will Smith's movie iRobot?
That would be darn cool.
The Download: AI vs quantum, and the future of reproductive rights in the US
AI might beat quantum computers in fields like physics and chemistry. Companies have invested heavily in quantum tech, expecting a revolution. But with AI stepping up, quantum’s future seems less certain and in my opinion less relevant for now.
#AI #ReproductiveRights
LIVE: Crew-8 astronauts hold news conference after mission
https://www.youtube.com/live/ZK9KEfs14eg?si=wR-bB2EWDdI9_glJ
Seeing the Crew-8 team talk about their journey to space is pretty amazing. They were floating up there on the International Space Station, doing science and experiencing things we can only imagine. They came back to Earth on Oct. 25, and now, they’re sharing it all with us.
#Space #NASA
I'd love to have Optimus cook for me.
#technology
https://inleo.io/@nancydominic/dear-optimus-can-you-cook-for-me-jkc?referral=nancydominic
LOL that is going to be a while but we will eventually get there. I would say that might be a decade out but it could come sooner.
SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda Urges End to Agency’s Crypto War
Mark Uyeda from the SEC thinks the agency should stop being so harsh on crypto companies. He’s saying that if no one’s getting hurt or scammed, the SEC should ease up. Over 100 companies have faced legal issues lately, some just for not registering. This could change under new leadership.
#CryptoRegulations
I would say that is guaranteed with a new administration coming in.
Gary Gensler is going to be gone either way.
What time is it?
Its Crypto Time
Let's Go!
Uyeda’s stance connects with President-elect Trump’s campaign ideas, which suggest a less aggressive approach to crypto. If Trump’s administration puts in new leaders, like Uyeda, the SEC might start focusing only on cases where there’s actual harm. This means more breathing room for legitimate companies to grow without constantly fearing punishment for small oversights.
Trump’s team might definitely replace the current SEC chair, Gary Gensler as promised in his campaign. Gensler has been very strict on crypto.
Names like Uyeda, Dan Gallagher, and Paul Atkins are being considered for the role. Each of these people seems more open to a balanced approach that doesn’t punish companies unnecessarily. A new chair could bring big changes to how crypto is handled in the U.S.
Why Some Are Frustrated with the Current SEC Chair
Gary Gensler, the current chair, sees most crypto tokens as “securities,” which means they should follow strict rules. But crypto leaders feel this stance is outdated and overly tough. Some, like Ripple’s CEO, even call it a “reign of terror.” Gensler’s critics argue that instead of crushing crypto with rules, the SEC should make guidelines that are clear and allow the industry to develop safely.
Article
Musk's Trump Role, Trump 2.0 Safety and Defense | Bloomberg Technology
Bloomberg’s talking about Elon Musk possibly having a role in Trump’s new presidency. I think it’s interesting, Musk bringing his tech vision to government could lead to big, creative changes. Plus, Arm’s updates add even more to the tech conversation.
#ElonMusk #TrumpPresidency
Paramount revenue misses; cable, studio declines dull streaming gains | REUTERS
Paramount’s streaming side is growing, but its cable and studio businesses? Not so much. They didn’t make as much as expected this quarter. More people stream now. It’s a big shift for media companies, and Paramount’s feeling it, even with new subscribers.
#Paramount #Streaming
Paramount like most of the movie studios is in trouble.
Hollywood is dead as I have written for more than a year.
Due to AI and Social Media?
That is due to the distribution channels being broken up. AI hasnt entered. People have more options of where to get information and entertainment.
Oh you mean their days of monopolizing the market is so over.
Microsoft Outlook now lets you create personalized AI-powered themes
Outlook is getting a new features that will allow you to use generative AI to create themes based on your personal preferences.
Microsoft announced on Thursday that Outlook is getting a new feature that will allow you to use generative AI to create themes based on your personal preferences.
#microsoft #outlook #ai #themes #technology
AI-powered themes are available to people who have a Copilot Pro consumer subscription and business accounts with Copilot enabled. They are available on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and the web.
With Themes by Copilot, you can build a theme inspired by more than 100 locations or create a theme based on your own location. You can decide if you want the theme to dynamically update every few hours, each day, weekly, or monthly.
Once you generate a theme, you can choose to view it in a realistic, oil painting, or cartoon style.
“If you’ve enabled location permissions in Outlook, the My Location theme will bring you imagery uniquely inspired by your locale, dynamically updating for you as you head out the door on a trip or vacation,” Microsoft wrote in the blog post. “Similarly, a dynamic theme based on the weather would be updated to reflect the current weather conditions where you are.”
You can access the AI-generated themes via Outlook’s Appearance Settings.
The company says the new addition will allow people to personalize the email service just as they would spruce up their desk with artwork or candles.
Article
Very good update I must say. I love how Outlook is using AI for themes. Wow, based on location and weather. This thing will make email feel unique everyday, people are going to like this
Trump return will slow, not stop, US clean energy boom
Donald Trump’s return to the White House will refocus the nation’s energy policy onto maximizing oil and gas production and away from fighting climate change, but the Republican win in Tuesday’s presidential elections is unlikely to dramatically slow the US renewable energy boom.
#trump #energy #green #mining #electricity
That is because a Biden-era law providing a decade of lucrative subsidies for new solar, wind and other clean energy projects would be near-impossible to repeal, thanks to support from Republican states, while other levers available to the next president would only have marginal impact, analysts say.
“I don’t think a Trump president can slow the transition,” said Ed Hirs, Energy Fellow at the University of Houston. “This is well underway.”
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are the fastest growing segments on the power grid, according to the Department of Energy, driven by federal tax credits, state renewable energy mandates, and technology advancements that have lowered their costs.
President Joe Biden in 2022 signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act guaranteeing billions of dollars of solar and wind subsidies for another decade as part of his broader effort to decarbonize the power sector by 2035 to fight climate change.
Before the election, Trump slammed the IRA as being too expensive and promised to rescind all unspent funds allocated by the law – a threat that, if accomplished, could pour cold water over the US clean energy boom.
But doing so would require lawmakers, including those whose states have benefited from IRA-related investments like solar panel factories, wind farms and other projects, to vote to repeal it.
“The jobs and the economic benefits have been so heavy in red states, it’s hard to see an administration come in that says we don’t like this,” said Carl Fleming, a partner at law firm McDermott Will & Emery, who advised the Biden White House on renewable energy policy.
Many of Trump’s allies also benefit from the IRA through their investments in clean energy technologies, Reuters has previously reported.
Fleming said Trump could, however, slow things down around the margins by hindering federal agencies that deliver IRA grants and loans, or by reducing federal leasing for things like offshore wind.
Article
Roblox adds safety measures to ban kids under 13 from social spaces and other experiences
Throughout the years, several reports have accused Roblox, the popular gaming platform aimed at preteens, of lacking strict safety protocols for children, In an update to its safety policy, Roblox prevents users under the age of 13 from accessing unrated experiences, social hangouts, and more.
Throughout the years, several reports have accused Roblox, the popular gaming platform aimed at preteens, of lacking strict safety protocols for children, which exposes them to dangers such as grooming, explicit content, and violent or abusive material.
#robolox #technology #children #safety #social #gaming
maybe GTA 6 can try this out but can't such a thing be easily bypassed by older people to let the under 13 play anyways
Age and location verification is often tough. People find a way around them.
They always find a way man. I can't Tell you how many times my little brother asked me to break parental guide so he can watch YouTube 🤣 I said no it's against the law and you could go to federal prison to scare him 🤣
In a significant update to its safety policy, Roblox plans to keep users under the age of 13 away from unrated experiences. It’ll also prevent access to social hangouts and experiences that use free-form 2D user creation, which both pose risks, as they include options for chatting with other players, who may use inappropriate language, as well as interactive experiences where users can draw or write within the game.
The platform noted in a post to creators on Wednesday that, by default, kids aged 12 years old and younger will no longer be able to “play, search, and discover unrated experiences.” Roblox is also requiring creators to fill out a questionnaire if they want their experience to be available to kids under 13. Creators must ensure that their experience meets either “All Ages” or “9+” recommendations, which notably can still contain “mild violence, heavy unrealistic blood, and/or mild crude humor,” according to its support page. Gambling content, however, is off the table for kids under 13.
Roblox says it’ll enforce these requirements starting next year. Creators must fill out the form by December 3. The questionnaire is located in the Creator Hub under the Creations tab. Then, choose “Select an Experience” and “Audience.”
Article
AMD now commands 28.7% of consumer desktop CPU market, server chips also see significant gains
Starting off on the desktop front, AMD's consumer x86 CPUs now command a 28.7% unit share, skyrocketing from just 19.2% in 2023.
AMD's latest quarterly figures reveal it is going from strength to strength across desktop, mobile, and server markets. The numbers were revealed by Mercury Research's new report, and they suggest that the company is steadily eating into Intel's share.
#amd #cpu #desktop #technology
Intel's share has never been the same ever since the rise of all these competitors and this might just continue to be the case until either they adapt or get sideline but I doubt it though
Intel was the leader in the semiconductor industry but they lost it. AMD and Nvidia crushed them.
It seems to be a company that is still lost.
yes Taskmaster and I'm doubt they'll be able to pick up to become as big as they were in the past. If they consider doing exactly what Nvidia and AMD is doing maybe there's hope 🤔
Starting off on the desktop front, AMD's consumer x86 CPUs now command a 28.7% unit share, skyrocketing from just 19.2% in 2023. The last quarter saw it at 23%, so this latest jump is pretty meteoric. AMD's revamped Ryzen portfolio covering value to enthusiast segments seems to be paying dividends.
The 3D V-Cache-equipped Ryzen X3D parts have been a particular hit with gamers and power users. And with the recent Ryzen 9000 series and flagship 9800X3D launch, AMD seems poised to keep making inroads against Intel in the DIY desktop space. The Ryzen 9000 series failed to hit AMD's claimed numbers when it launched, leading to disappointed buyers, but the company has now redeemed itself with the 9800X3D, which we've crowned the "new gaming CPU king" in our review.
Article
The WordPress vs. WP Engine drama, explained
This story has been updated throughout with more details as the story has developed. We will continue to do so as the case and dispute are ongoing.
#wordpress #wpengine #technology #platform #digital
Won't this fight affect businesses that use WordPress 🤔
I think we have more of a copyright issue but there might be more to it. I am not sure of the total ramifications.
I hope everything gets resolved before things get out of hand
WordPress Community Embroiled in Heated Dispute Over Trademarks, Licensing, and power
The world of WordPress, one of the most widely used website building and hosting platforms, is currently engulfed in a high-stakes and contentious dispute between its key stakeholders. At the center of the controversy are WordPress founder and Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg, and the hosting provider WP Engine, which powers many WordPress websites.
The conflict, which has been brewing for months, has nOW erupted into a full-blown legal battle, with accusations of trademark misuse, power abuse, and harm to the broader WordPress community. The fallout has even led to a significant exodus of employees from Mullenweg's company, Automattic, further destabilizing the situation.
The Core Issue: Trademarks, Licensing, and Access to WordPress
The root of the conflict lies in the complex web of trademarks, licensing agreements, and control over WordPress resources that have been points of contention for years. WordPress, as an open-source project, is maintained by a foundation, but its trademarks and branding are tightly controlled by Automattic, Mullenweg's company.
In mid-September, Mullenweg sparked the latest flare-up by publishing a blog post that harshly criticized WP Engine, calling the hosting provider a "cancer to WordPress." Mullenweg's main gripes were that WP Engine had disabled the ability for users to view and track the revision history of their WordPress posts, a feature he considered central to the platform's promise of data protection. He also accused WP Engine of not contributing enough to the open-source WordPress project, and criticized the company's use of the "WP" abbreviation, which Mullenweg claimed was confusing customers into thinking WP Engine was officially affiliated with WordPress.
In response, WP Engine fired back with a cease-and-desist letter, arguing that its use of the WordPress trademark was covered under fair use. The company also alleged that Mullenweg had threatened to take a "scorched Earth nuclear approach" against WP Engine unless it agreed to pay a significant portion of its revenue for a WordPress trademark license.
Automattic, in turn, sent its own cease-and-desist letter to WP Engine, claiming the hosting provider had breached the trademark usage rules for WordPress and the WooCommerce e-commerce platform. The WordPress Foundation, which owns the WordPress trademark, also updated its policies to specifically call out WP Engine, stating that the "WP" abbreviation was not covered by its trademarks and that the hosting service had confused users by implying an affiliation with WordPress that did not exist.
The Escalation: WP Engine Ban and Trademark Battles
The conflict escalated further when Mullenweg banned WP Engine from accessing the resources hosted on WordPress.org, the official WordPress website. While WordPress plugins, themes, and other elements are licensed under open-source terms, WP Engine and other hosting providers rely on the ability to fetch these resources to power the WordPress sites they host.
Mullenweg's decision to cut off WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources effectively disrupted many websites, preventing them from updating plugins and themes, and leaving some vulnerable to security issues. The WordPress community reacted with dismay, criticizing Mullenweg's tactics as causing harm to innocent website owners and developers who depended on WP Engine's services.
WP Engine pushed back, stating in a post that Mullenweg had "misused his control of WordPress to interfere with WP Engine customers' access to WordPress.org." The company argued that Mullenweg's actions "interfere with the normal operation of the entire WordPress ecosystem, impacting not just WP Engine and our customers, but aLL WordPress plugin developers and open source users who depend on WP Engine tools."
After temporary relief, WordPress.org lifted the ban on WP Engine's access on September 27, the company was given until October 1 to resolve the issues. In a blog post, Mullenweg clarified that the dispute was specifically about trademarks, stating that Automattic had been trying to negotiate a licensing deal with WP Engine for some time, but the hosting provider had been "stringing us along."
On September 30, the day before the WordPress.org deadline, WP Engine updated its website footer to explicitly state that it was not affiliated with or endorsed by the WordPress Foundation or WooCommerce. The company also changed the names of its hosting plans, removing the "WordPress" branding.
WP Engine argued that these changes mooted Automattic's concerns, claiming that it, "like the rest of the WordPress community, use[s] the WordPress mark to describe our business" and that "Automattic's suggestion that WPE needs a license to do that is simply wrong, and reflects a misunderstanding of trademark law."
The WordPress Foundation, however, had already filed to trademark "Managed WordPress" and "Hosted WordPress" in July, a move that further alarmed the broader WordPress community. Developers and other service providers worried that if these trademarks were granted, they could be used against them, limiting their ability to describe their WordPress-related offerings.
Community Backlash and Exodus from Automattic
The controversy surrounding the Mullenweg-WP Engine dispute has resonated strongly within the WordPress community, with many voicing concerns about the centralization of power and the potential threats to the open-source nature of the platform.
John O'Nolan, the founder of the open-source content management system Ghost, criticized the concentration of control over WordPress, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that "The web needs more independent organizations, and it needs more diversity. 40% of the web and 80% of the CMS market should not be controlled by any one individual."
Similar sentiments were echoed by David Heinemeier Hansson, the Creator of the Ruby on Rails web application framework, who opined in a blog post that Automattic was "completely out of line" in asking WP Engine to pay 8% of its revenues for a WordPress trademark license, arguing that this violated the principles of open-source software.
The backlash within the WordPress community even led to a significant exodus from Automattic itself. On October 3, 159 Automattic employees who disagreed with Mullenweg's direction for the company and the WordPress project as a whole opted to take severance packages and leave the organization. Approximately 80% of those who departed worked in Automattic's ecosystem / WordPress division.
The fallout continued, with Automattic appointing a new executive director for the WordPress.org community on October 8, replacing Josepha Haden Chomphosy, who was one of the employees that had left the company. A day earlier, one of WP Engine's engineers had announced that they were joining Automattic, further adding to the sense of upheaval.
Mullenweg attempted to rally his remaining Automattic workforce, offering every employee 200 shares of a special class of stock (A12 shares) as a token of gratitude on October 12. However, on October 17, he posted another "alignment offer" on Automattic's Slack, this time with a nine-month severance package, but with the caveat that anyone accepting it would lose access to the WordPress.org community. This move was met with further criticism from the WordPress community.
The Legal Battles Escalate
As the conflict between Mullenweg, Automattic, and WP Engine unfolded, the situation evolved into a full-blown legal battle. On October 3, WP Engine sued Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging abuse of power and claiming the defendants had not upheld their promises to run the open-source WordPress project without constraints and to give developers the freedom to build, run, modify, and redistribute the software.
WP Engine's lawsuit also referenced alleged text messages from Mullenweg about potentially hiring WP Engine's CEO, Heather Brunner, to serve as the executive director of WordPress.org. Mullenweg later commented on Hacker News that Brunner had expressed interest in the role.
Automattic dismissed WP Engine's lawsuit as "meritless," with the company's legal representative, Neal Katyal, stating, "I stayed up last night reading WP Engine's Complaint, trying to find any merit anywhere to it. The whole thing is meritless, and we look forward to the federal court's consideration of their lawsuit."
On October 18, WP Engine filed an injunction in a California court, asking the judge to restore its access to WordPress.org. A day later, the company filed a motion requesting the court to expedite the hearing on its preliminary injunction.
In response, Mullenweg and Automattic opposed the expedited hearing, arguing that the case was not about WP Engine's access to the WordPress software itself, as the company could still access the codebase on GitHub. Rather, they contended that the dispute was centered on WordPress.org, a website that Mullenweg claimed was his personal responsibility and not controlled by Automattic or the WordPress Foundation.
On October 23, Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin scheduled the first hearing for the primary injunction to take place on November 26, unless there was further opposition. On October 30, Mullenweg and Automattic filed a motion to dismiss key accusations made by WP Engine, arguing that the hosting provider was responsible for harming itself.
In response, WP Engine filed a document citing Mullenweg's comments at the TechCrunch Disrupt event, where he had discussed the significant loss of business suffered by WP Engine due to the WordPress.org ban.
The ongoing legal battles and the broader implications for the WordPress community have left many stakeholders deeply concerned about the future of the platform and the principles of open-source software development.
Implications and Concerns for the WordPress Community
The WordPress community, which includes millions of website owners, developers, and other service providers, has expressed deep concerns about the ramifications of the Mullenweg-WP Engine dispute. Many fear that the centralization of power and the aggressive tactics employed by Automattic and Mullenweg could set a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundations of the open-source ecosystem.
The WordPress Foundation's move to trademark "Managed WordPress" and "Hosted WordPress" has further stoked fears among developers and service providers that they could be restricted in their ability to describe their WordPress-related offerings. This has led to widespread calls for greater transparency and clear guidelines from Automattic and the WordPress Foundation on the appropriate use of the WordPress brand and intellectual property.
Moreover, the community has been shaken by Mullenweg's decision to ban WP Engine from accessing WordPress.org resources, which disrupted the operations of countless websites and left some vulnerable to security issues. The perception that Mullenweg was willing to sacrifice the broader community to pursue his dispute with WP Engine has deeply eroded trust in his leadership.
The exodus of 159 Automattic employees, predominantly from the WordPress division, has further unsettled the community, raising questions about the long-term stability and direction of the platform. The departure of such a significant portion of the workforce responsible for maintaining and developing the WordPress ecosystem has fueled concerns about the project's future.
Beyond the immediate WordPress community, the controversy has also drawn the attention of other prominent figures in the tech industry. David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails, has been outspoken in his criticism of Automattic's actions, stating that the company's demands for trademark licensing fees from WP Engine violate the principles of open-source software.
The broader implications of this dispute extend far beyond the WordPress ecosystem, as it raises fundamental questions about the role of corporate control and power in the open-source software landscape. Many in the community fear that if left unchecked, the actions of Mullenweg and Automattic could set a precedent that undermines the collaborative, decentralized nature of open-source development, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the entire tech industry.
As the legal battles continue and the fallout from the controversy continues to unfold, the WordPress community finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the delicate balance between commercial interests, community values, and the ideals of open-source software. The outcome of this dispute will have a lasting impact on the future of WordPress, as well as the broader open-source ecosystem that it has come to represent.
TikTok's latest feature lets music fans 'Share to TikTok' from Spotify and Apple Music
TikTok on Thursday debuted a new feature that will more closely connect its app, which already influences which songs top the charts, to the streaming
TikTok on Thursday debuted a new feature that will more closely connect its app, which already influences which songs top the charts, to the streaming services where users discover and play their favorite music. With the launch of a new “Share to TikTok” feature, music fans will be able to directly share tracks from both Apple Music and Spotify to the short-form video app, including by posting to their For You feed, their Stories, or DMs (direct messages).
#tiktok #socialmedia #music #spotify #apple #applemusic
I always knew TikTok will try to dominate the music industry, it was pretty obvious with they way their platform is designed. I think if they try to they'll dominate because it's easier for musicians to get noticed there
Social media is going to change a great deal. In fact, I dont believe it will be something by the end of the decade. We are moving towards platforms and the barometer is going to be AI. So TikTok and others will be incorporating it in.
That is what Leo needs to do.
Ooooo wow hence LeoAI😍😍 I guess Inleo is on the right path, I honestly can't wait to see the platform rubbing shoulders with the giant social media companies. That'll shoot activities on Inleo through the roof
LeoAI is crucial which means feeding it is vital at this point. The more data that goes in, the more sophisticated the model can be.
AI is how we will be able to market Leo in a completely different way. That is why I feel it is crucial.
Then I think we the users have the responsibility of feeding it as much as we can💪
Hi, @taskmaster4450le,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
I am just wondering how do you see the day to day implementation of LeoAI, what will it mean for us, practically?
The shared content can include tracks, albums, playlists, and more, and will link back to the music-streaming service. This allows users to move between their preferred music app and TikTok to further engage with the content. In doing so, TikTok gains an increased ability to connect users with their favorite songs and artists. This is something it was already doing due to the nature of its app, which allows music clips to be added to users’ videos, where they end up driving TikTok trends.
With “Share to TikTok,” users will now be able to post to TikTok’s feed or Stories, and they can use the popular green screen feature to showcase the content or take advantage of Photo Mode, TikTok says. On Spotify, users can share music, podcasts, or audiobooks by tapping the “Share” button, or they can access the share icon in the bottom-right corner of the “Now Playing” screen.
Trump Killing Net Neutrality?
#trump #netneutrality #internet #technology
!summarize
He just started and things are changing heavily 🤔 a lot will change with Networks and social media. Do you think he'll come for Blockchain before 2025
You obviously don't know how blockchains work. A true decentralized blockchain cannot be taken down by anyone. They have tried for years and have failed miserably. The only power they have is over the on and off ramps like centralized exchanges, which are all garbage anyway. The best thing is to earn it and use it while you support businesses that believe in the crypto economy. Fuck what the government says.
I understand it now man that means Government can't do nothing 🤔 wow Decentralization will eventually be the future then. But what about all the big companies buying crypto. Can they regulate it enough if they own very huge stakes
Depends on the coin. If you are talking about a proof of work network like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, and even DASH, then no, the amount they have does not have any effect on the blockchain. With a proof of stake network, like Hive, Ethereum, Cosmos, etc, yes, the amount they own can have an effect on blockchain governance. That is where Proof of Work is always going to be king. That's why I use Hive rewards to get more XMR, LTC, and BTC... In that order, lol. Privacy first!
Side note to this... DASH is a hybrid network that has both proof of work through ASIC miners and a masternode setup which is basically proof of stake mining. It's a cool concept for helping with decentralization.
Monero has an algorithm that is ASIC miner resistant meaning that it is still mined on CPUs making it able to be mined by anyone with a computer, hell mobile phones can mine it.
smart move with your Hive investments man
What do you mean come for blockchain?
well as in what he's going to do about Blockchain soon
Cord Cutters News: Net Neutrality, Sports, Password Sharing, and More
In a recent episode of Cord Cutters News, the host discussed the potential repeal of net neutrality under the new administration. While net neutrality was reinstated earlier this year, it faces legal challenges and could be overturned. The host explained that while the average user may not notice immediate changes, the repeal could have long-term implications for internet freedom and innovation.
The repeal of net neutrality may reshape internet access, limiting freedom and stifling innovation. Will Blockchain be the solution to this or will it be affected too. Wait a minute is this his plan for people to move to Blockchain 😳
The video also highlighted the growing trend of sports content on traditional television networks. Channels like Ion and The CW are increasingly relying on sports programming to attract viewers and advertising revenue. This shift is driven by the live nature of sports, which allows for more lucrative ad placements. The host speculated that even PBS might start airing sports content in the future.
As streaming services face increasing pressure to generate revenue, they are taking steps to curb password sharing. Max, the latest service to join this trend, will initially implement soft measures to discourage password sharing. However, more aggressive tactics, such as IP tracking and account restrictions, may be implemented in the future.
Pluto TV, a free streaming service, is expanding its offerings in Canada and the UK through a partnership with NBCUniversal. This partnership will bring more free content to viewers in these regions, including popular TV shows and movies.
The video also touched on the ongoing consolidation in the internet provider market. Smaller internet providers are being acquired by larger companies like Spectrum and Rise Broadband. This trend is driven by the increasing demand for high-speed internet and the need for providers to invest in infrastructure. The host warned that this consolidation could lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.
Is Linux Really Taking Over? How the Open-Source OS Captured 4.5% of the Desktop Market in 2024
Alright, let’s be real—how many times have you heard someone say, ‘Nobody actually uses Linux on their desktop, right?’ Well, think again! It turns out that in 2024, Linux has quietly crept its way into more desktops than ever, and it’s not just the tech geeks who are tuning in. With a market share pushing 4.5% on desktops (and much higher if we count Chromebooks and other devices), Linux is proving that the open-source world has some serious staying power. Let’s dive in and see how Linux went from an OS for die-hard coders to a system that’s finally turning heads across the globe.
#linux #opensource #operatingsystem #technology
A Closer Look at Linux’s Market Share
In 2024, Linux reached a notable 4.5% share of the desktop operating system market, a significant mark considering its traditionally niche status. Windows, with its long-standing dominance, still holds a substantial lead with roughly 72% of the desktop OS market, while macOS, Apple’s contribution, stands at about 15%.
Chrome OS, a Linux-based system that powers many budget-friendly and educational devices, contributes approximately 1.4% to the market. Interestingly, if Chrome OS is included under the Linux umbrella, the share jumps closer to 5.9%, suggesting Linux’s true reach might be even greater than what’s commonly reported.
Historically, Linux has trailed far behind these giants. For years, it was seen as an operating system only for tech-savvy enthusiasts, developers, and the enterprise world, not the average desktop user. The shift in 2024 shows that Linux has slowly gained traction among a broader audience, from privacy advocates to those seeking open-source alternatives. This gradual rise is noteworthy, given that Linux lacks the marketing power of corporations like Microsoft and Apple. Furthermore, the steady growth may be attributed to factors such as privacy concerns, increased customization options, and the availability of user-friendly distributions like Ubuntu and Mint that make Linux more accessible to new users.
What makes Linux’s 4.5% share particularly impressive is its community-driven development model. Unlike Windows or macOS, which are proprietary and closely managed by Microsoft and Apple, Linux relies on open-source contributions. This means that the operating system is maintained, improved, and developed by a global community of users and developers rather than a single corporation. Achieving even 4.5% of the desktop market with this model speaks to the OS’s resilience, innovation, and appeal to users who value control over their computing environment. While Linux’s desktop market share remains small, its presence and growth reflect a solid alternative for those willing to step outside the mainstream, offering greater freedom and customization in a world where proprietary systems dominate.
Beyond the Numbers: Linux’s True Reach
Linux’s impact goes far beyond the desktop, where it is often overshadowed by Windows and macOS. In other computing realms—such as servers, cloud infrastructure, mobile, and even some consumer electronics—Linux reigns supreme. On servers, Linux dominates with over 90% market share, powering websites, data centers, and cloud computing giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. The efficiency, stability, and customization Linux offers make it an ideal choice for these platforms, which prioritize security and uptime.
Android, which is built on a modified Linux kernel, represents Linux’s footprint in the mobile market. With Android holding over 70% of the global smartphone market, it’s clear that the Linux kernel is in the hands of billions of users worldwide, even if they’re not directly interacting with a traditional Linux desktop environment. This extended reach reveals Linux’s versatility, as it can be adapted to serve different functions across varied hardware and applications.
Additionally, Linux’s market share might be undercounted due to its popularity among privacy-focused users. Many Linux users employ privacy tools such as VPNs, ad blockers, and user-agent switchers, which make it harder to track their presence accurately. Consequently, a portion of Linux’s actual desktop market share may be hidden, as many Linux users intentionally avoid or block tracking software. This underrepresentation is a unique quirk of the Linux user base, which generally values privacy and security.
Linux’s influence in the tech world cannot be measured by desktop market share alone. From powering web servers and cloud services to forming the foundation of Android, Linux is woven into the fabric of modern computing. This wide reach underscores its importance and suggests that Linux is far more than just an alternative desktop operating system—it’s a powerhouse that supports the backbone of the internet, mobile devices, and beyond.
Which OS Is Better for Programmers?
For software developers, choosing an operating system is more than just a personal preference—it’s a strategic decision that can impact productivity, development speed, and the types of projects they can efficiently work on. Let’s look at Linux, Windows, and macOS in terms of flexibility, tooling, and overall suitability for programming.
Linux is often hailed as a developer’s paradise. It offers unparalleled flexibility and control, making it ideal for programmers who prefer open-source tools, need powerful command-line interfaces, or work with web servers and cloud platforms. Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora are popular among developers because they offer direct access to a vast array of free development tools and libraries. Many programming languages, such as Python, Ruby, JavaScript, and C++, have been designed or optimized with Linux in mind.
Additionally, the package managers in Linux (like APT for Ubuntu/Debian or YUM for Fedora) simplify software installation and dependency management, which is a huge benefit for managing complex projects. Since Linux is the dominant OS in server environments, developers targeting web and cloud applications also benefit from using it on their local machines. This makes deployment and debugging consistent across development and production environments.
While Linux is often the top choice for web developers, Windows remains popular among game developers, .NET programmers, and enterprise-level software engineers who work in the Microsoft ecosystem. Windows offers support for Visual Studio, one of the most powerful IDEs available, particularly useful for C#, C++, and .NET development. Additionally, Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows users to run a Linux environment directly on Windows, bridging the gap between the two systems and giving Windows users access to Linux tools.
For developers working on machine learning or AI projects, Windows supports several popular tools, including TensorFlow and PyTorch. Furthermore, Windows has improved its command-line experience with PowerShell, though it’s still less flexible than Linux’s command line.
macOS often strikes a balance between Linux’s developer-friendly environment and Windows’s polished user interface. Many programmers working in fields like mobile app development, especially iOS development, consider macOS essential. It’s the only platform that supports Xcode, Apple’s official development environment, which is crucial for iOS and macOS applications.
macOS is built on a Unix-based system, meaning it has many of the same advantages as Linux, such as strong command-line capabilities and access to development tools like Homebrew, a package manager that makes installing software easy. For web developers, macOS offers compatibility with most programming languages, databases, and tools.
Conclusion
Linux is ideal for programmers who need an open, flexible environment, especially if they work in server, DevOps, or web development.
Windows shines in areas related to game development, enterprise applications, and programming with Microsoft technologies.
macOS is favored by mobile developers, especially those targeting Apple devices, and is also versatile for general-purpose programming.
Ultimately, the choice depends on the developer’s specific needs, the type of projects they work on, and personal preference. Each OS has strengths tailored to different programming domains, so selecting the right one can boost both productivity and enjoyment. If you want to choose, this video can help more
Films on demand decline in Switzerland
Film viewings via subscription and streaming services fell in 2023 by 5% on the previous year. This is the first time these platforms have recorded a decline since detailed data became available in 2019.
#entertainment #moviesondemand #streaming #hollywood #switzerland
This trend particularly affected documentaries (-8%) and European films (-9%), the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reported on Friday. Conversely, animated films posted an increase in viewings (+4%).
For Swiss films, the increase was 13%, although their market share remained below 1%. American productions remain the most popular (71% of viewings), followed by European productions (21%).
Swiss researchers find unwanted CRISPR side effects
Under certain circumstances, the targeted correction of faulty sections in the genome can trigger new genetic defects. This was reported by a team from the University of Zurich (UZH) in the case of the rare hereditary disease chronic granulomatosis.
#swiss #crispr #zurich #disease
This affects around one in 120,000 people, the University of Zurich announced on Wednesday. The disease impairs the immune system and makes those affected susceptible to serious and life-threatening illnesses. Two letters are missing in the DNA sequence of a gene, which means that an enzyme complex that plays an important role in the defense against bacteria is not produced.
In an experiment on a cell culture of immune cells with the same defects as humans, the researchers succeeded in inserting the missing letters at the correct position in the gene using the CRISPR system. However, entire sections of the chromosome in which the repair took place were missing, as the UZH wrote.
The gene scissors occasionally cut the DNA strand in several places on the chromosome. When these cuts are rejoined, entire sections may be incorrectly arranged or missing. This could have unforeseeable medical consequences and, in the worst case, could also contribute to the development of blood cancer.
The research team tested a number of alternative approaches, but was unable to completely prevent the undesirable side effects with any of these measures.
What the future of 3D printing can mean and how it can help us
While 3D printing might have been around for a while, its capabilities are still somewhat limited and many don’t quite realise what the extent is that it can do. While many know it can do things like print keyrings or little token items, they haven’t actually witnessed how it can help our civilization and the way we live going forward. In this article we take a look at some of the main ways it will revolutionize the ways we live our lives, impacting every industry from medicine and construction to manufacturing and home production. Keep on reading to find out more and get inspired.
#3dprinting #construction #homes #manufacturing #technology
The Housing Industry – Creating affordable, sustainable housing designed to last
While you might not be aware, 3D printing is already expected to have a big impact on housing and this is only anticipated to grow. One of the main sectors is in hurricane prone areas, where people are looking to build concrete hurricane proof house types with a concrete 3D printer. This is cheaper than other methods, more efficient and can also help save not only the buildings, but lives too. 3D printed houses can be created much faster than conventional methods and are especially beneficial for those with low-income or who live in a disaster-affected area where rapid housing deployment is vital.
Medical Advancements – Creating Customized healthcare
The medical industry is another of the industries really reaping the benefits of 3D printing. It has many capabilities here, including creating custom prosthetics, implants and even organ tissues. Doctors use the patient’s own data to create personalized devices or implants specifically tailored for the patient. This means it’s more comfortable, can reduce recovery time and really improve the quality of living for the person in question.
Helping with Education – Enabling more hands on learning
For students who are learning at university, college or school, 3D printing can have a positive impact on their educational journey. They will be able to partake in more hands-on learning with things such as creating tangible models of their ideas, enhancing STEM learning and being able to see things in a different way. It can show examples of things in a more detailed manner than just an image can.
These are just a few of the areas in which 3D printing is expected to have a big impact and we will only see them continue to grow. Whether you’re looking at this from a personal or business point of view, it’s undeniable the impact that it can have on so many industries – even ones that we might not have considered yet. What are some thoughts you have on the future of 3D printing? Have you seen it make an impact already? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
3D printing holds transformative potential for industries and consumers alike, making manufacturing more efficient, sustainable, and tailored to individual needs. The 3D-printed house is a standout example, showing how this technology could reshape our world by providing quick, affordable housing.
Article
TSMC will stop making 7 nm chips for Chinese customers
US restrictions on semiconductor tech are spurring the move.
The company is understood to be particularly wary of being targeted as unreliable or uncooperative as Donald Trump is set to become the next US president.
This year, Trump accused Taiwan of “stealing” the US chip industry, and suggested TSMC could move its production back home after pocketing billions of dollars in subsidies from Washington for building fabrication plants in the US.
#tsmc #china #semiconductor #chips #7nm
A person close to TSMC said its move was “not a show for Trump but definitely designed to underscore that we are the good guys and not acting against US interests.”
Being cut off from TSMC could hurt Chinese tech giants that have bet on making their most advanced AI chips in Taiwan. Search giant Baidu, in particular, is aiming to build a full stack of software and hardware to underpin its AI business.
Near the center of those efforts is its Kunlun series of AI chips. Its Kunlun II processor is made by TSMC on its 7-nanometer level of miniaturization, according to Bernstein Research.
“Kunlun chips are now especially well-suited for large model inference and will eventually be suitable for training,” Baidu founder Robin Li told a conference last year. Li added that the group had been effective in cutting costs by designing its own chips.
The people briefed on the situation said TSMC’s new rules were clear in targeting AI processors, but it was so far unclear how widely that would be applied to other chips. China has a number of leading start-ups designing AI chips for self-driving, including Hong Kong-listed Horizon Robotics and Black Sesame International Holding.
Executives and company materials at both groups have indicated their newest generation of chips would be made by TSMC on the 7-nanometer node.
Article
After $50 million Trump wager payout, France moves to ban Polymarket betting platform
Polymarket, which received a $45 million investment led by tech billionaire Peter Theil in May, enables high-stakes bets on major events using cryptocurrency.
Many people were pleased to see Donald Trump win the election, including a Frenchman who made almost $50 million by betting on the President's victory. He made the bets on Polymarket, a Peter Thiel-backed platform that allows users to bet on events using crypto. According to new reports, the huge winnings have attracted the attention of French regulators, who are now preparing to ban the site in France.
#polymarket #france #trump #wager #election #betting #peterthiel #cryptocurrency
billions of dollars worth of bet was made on Trump and a lot of it was through crypto. I think vets with crypto will keep going on. But what if someone bets with crypto, earns it but value drops before claim.
A lot was lost too I imagine.
That is the nature of betting and gambling France is going to lock it down. We need a decentralized version.
We need a Decentralized version ASAP. HOW quick do you think Inleo can do something like this though? Maybe become a good replacement
Polymarket, which received a $45 million investment led by tech billionaire Peter Theil in May, enables high-stakes bets on major events using cryptocurrency. The platform claims that its prediction markets are often more accurate than pundits because they combine news, polls, and expert opinions into a single value that represents the market's view of an event's odds.
Polymarket writes that a huge amount was wagered on the US election: $1.3 billion on Trump to win, $827 million on Harris. In total, users spent $3.2 billion betting on the election.
A user with the account name Fredi9999 was particularly confident that Trump would win. They bet $28 million on the outcome across four different accounts, which shortened Trump's odds of winning on the platform.
Polymarket said last month that it had investigated the trading activity and not found any information that the user behind it "manipulated, or attempted to manipulate, the market."
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Hacker says they banned ‘thousands’ of Call of Duty gamers by abusing anti-cheat flaw
The hacker, who goes by Vizor, tells TechCrunch that they exploited a bug in the popular game's anti-cheat software for months.
In October, video game giant Activision said it had fixed a bug in its anti-cheat system that affected “a small number of legitimate player accounts,” who were getting banned because of the bug.
#gaming #hackers #callofduty #technology
In reality, according to the hacker who found the bug and was exploiting it, they were able to ban “thousands upon thousands” of Call of Duty players, who they essentially framed as cheaters. The hacker, who goes by Vizor, spoke to TechCrunch about the exploit, and told their side of the story.
“I could have done this for years and as long as I target random players and no one famous it would have gone without notice,” said Vizor, who added that it was “funny to abuse the exploit.”
TechCrunch was introduced to Vizor by a cheat developer called Zebleer, who is familiar with the Call of Duty hacking scene. Zebleer said he had been in touch with Vizor for months, and as such had knowledge of the exploit, which he said he saw Vizor using.
For years, hackers have targeted online video games to try to find flaws capable of installing and using cheats that give players an unfair advantage. Some cheat developers, such as Zebleer, sell their programs as a service, sometimes making millions of dollars. In response, video game companies have been hiring cybersecurity specialists to develop and fine-tune their anti-cheat systems to catch and ban game cheaters. In 2021, Activision released its Ricochet anti-cheat system, which runs at the kernel level in an attempt to make it even harder for cheat developers to get around it.
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Yelp just spent $80M on a site for car repair estimates
Yelp, which made a name for itself giving restaurant recs, just bought an auto services website for $80 million in cash.
In the company’s earnings report on Thursday, Yelp revealed that it agreed to buy RepairPal, a site for car repair estimates, for $80 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions.
#yelp #technology #restuarant #automotive #repairs
“We believe RepairPal will accelerate our broader services efforts by expanding our offerings in the multi-billion dollar U.S. auto services advertising vertical,” Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp’s co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.
While it might not seem like an obvious marriage, RepairPal fits into Yelp’s ambition to become a major home services funnel.
In recent years, Yelp has added functionality beyond restaurant and business search tools, like an AI-powered feature that suggests plumbers, repairmen, and other home service providers to users potentially in need of them. Yelp has also introduced programs like Yelp Guaranteed, which offers up to $2,500 of coverage for qualifying projects in case of problems.
Yelp makes money through fees it receives from service providers for certain leads — and through ads. In the company’s most recent fiscal quarter (Q3 2024), advertising revenue from services businesses increased 11% year-over-year to a record $228 million, with revenue growth of around 15% in the home services category alone.
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Sony raises guidance on gaming strength, quarterly operating profit beats estimates
Sony raised sales guidance for the full year and posted operating profit that smashed analyst expectations after a strong quarter for its gaming business.
Sony raised sales guidance for the full year on Friday and posted operating profit that smashed analyst expectations after a strong quarter for its gaming business.
#sony #earnings #gaming #technology #profits
Here's how the company did in the September quarter, versus LSEG consensus estimates:
Revenue: 2.97 trillion Japanese yen ($19.4 billion), versus 3.03 trillion yen expected. That was up 9% and slightly below analyst expectations.
Operating profit: 445.1 billion yen ($2.91 billion), versus 336.07 billion yen expected. That's up 73% year-over-year and beats expectations.
The Japanese tech giant revised its fiscal year 2025 revenue target up slightly to 12.7 trillion yen. It previously targeted 12.6 billion yen of sales. Sony also expects full-year operating profit of 1.3 trillion yen, in line with its previous forecast.
That came as Sony saw strength in its game and network services division, which houses its popular PlayStation home console brand. Game and network services revenue at the company came in at 1 trillion yen, up 11% year over year.
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Right now, we have two kinds of AI language models: LLMs (big ones) and SLMs (small ones). LLMs need a strong internet connection and tons of power. SLMs, though, are designed to work directly on devices like smartphones, offline, faster, and with more privacy. Each has strengths: LLMs are thorough; SLMs are portable and personal. I think there's room for both.
#AI #Technology
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How Samsung fell behind in the AI boom leading to a $126 billion wipeout
Samsung Electronics has fallen behind long-time rival SK Hynix in the area of high-bandwith memory.
Samsung Electronics was once the dominant player in a type of semiconductor known as memory, putting it in a great position to capitalize on the boom of artificial intelligence.
#ai #technology #samsung #semiconductor
But the South Korea electronics giant has now fallen behind its long-time rival SK Hynix in next-generation chips that have been key component for AI silicon leader Nvidia. The result? Samsung's profit has plunged, around $126 billion has been wiped off its market value, according to data from S&P Capital IQ, and an executive issued a rare public apology about the company's recent financial performance.
Memory is a critical type of chip used to store data, and it can be found in a plethora of devices from smartphones to laptops. For years, Samsung was the undeniable leader in this technology, ahead of South Korean rival SK Hynix and U.S. competitor Micron.
But as AI applications such as OpenAI's ChatGPT rose in popularity, the underlying infrastructure required to train the huge models they rely on became a bigger focus. Nvidia has emerged as the top player in this space with its graphics processing units (GPUs) that have become the gold standard used by tech giants for AI training.
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Rivian takes major revenue hit as supplier problem persists
Rivian reported Thursday revenue of $874 million in the third quarter — more than 12% lower than analysts' estimates
Rivian reported Thursday revenue of $874 million in the third quarter — more than 12% lower than analysts’ estimates — as the EV startup struggled to resolve a component shortage that disrupted production of its recently overhauled flagship R1S and R1T vehicles.
#rivian #earnings #supplier #ev #automotive #technology
Last month, Rivian lowered its annual production guidance to 47,000 to 49,000 vehicles due to the “acute” supply problem for a component within its Enduro motor, a single-motor-per-axle system used in Rivian R1 vehicles. The Enduro motor, which first debuted in vehicles in 2023, is emblematic of Rivian’s push to become more vertically integrated and less reliant on suppliers. In this case, the effort to bring design in-house has negatively affected production.
“This has been a tough quarter for us because of some of those supply chain or supply ramp challenges, and one of those suppliers in particular has limited our production quite substantially,” founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said. “And we’re working very, very hard to address that. This is one of our highest priorities in terms of the business, and we’re seeing this is really a short-term issue, but it certainly introduced challenges.”
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Led by a founder who sold a video startup to Apple, Panjaya uses deepfake techniques to bite into video dubbing
There’s a big opportunity for generative AI in the world of translation, and a startup called Panjaya is taking the concept to the next level
There’s a big opportunity for generative AI in the world of translation, and a startup called Panjaya is taking the concept to the next level: a hyperrealistic, gen AI-based dubbing tool for videos that re-creates a person’s original voice speaking the new language, with the video and the speaker’s physical movements automatically modifying to match up naturally with the new speech patterns.
#technology #apple #video #panjaya #startup #deepfake
After being in stealth for the last three years, the startup is unveiling BodyTalk, the first version of its product, alongside its first outside funding of $9.5 million.
Panjaya is the brainchild of Hilik Shani and Ariel Shalom, two deep learning specialists who have spent the majority of their professional lives quietly working on deep learning technology for the Israeli government and are now respectively the startup’s general manager and CTO. They hung up their G-man hats in 2021 with the startup itch, and 1.5 years ago, they were joined by Guy Piekarz as CEO.
Piekarz is not a founder at Panjaya, but he is a notable name to have onboard: Back in 2013, he sold a startup that he did found to Apple. Matcha, as the startup was called, was an early, buzzy player in streaming video discovery and recommendation, and it was acquired during the very early days of Apple’s TV and streaming strategy, when these were more rumors than actual products. Matcha was bootstrapped and sold for a song: $10 million to $15 million — modest considering the significant steer Apple eventually made into streamed media.
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The sci-fi cult classic that still shapes how we view the threat of AI
The plot concerns a super-intelligent AI system called Skynet which has taken over the world by initiating nuclear war.
In context: October 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of director James Cameron's science fiction classic, The Terminator – a film that popularised society's fear of machines that can't be reasoned with, and that "absolutely will not stop … until you are dead", as one character memorably puts it.
#scifi #technology #theterminator #jamescameron #movie #film #hollywood
The plot concerns a super-intelligent AI system called Skynet which has taken over the world by initiating nuclear war. Amid the resulting devastation, human survivors stage a successful fightback under the leadership of the charismatic John Connor.
In response, Skynet sends a cyborg assassin (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) back in time to 1984 – before Connor's birth – to kill his future mother, Sarah. Such is John Connor's importance to the war that Skynet banks on erasing him from history to preserve its existence.
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With this latest deal, Flipboard looks to build a news ecosystem beyond X
An effort to bring a broader news ecosystem to the open social web, also known as the fediverse, is now in the hands of the social magazine app Flipboard.
An effort to bring a broader news ecosystem to the open social web, also known as the fediverse, is now in the hands of the social magazine app Flipboard. Press.coop, a service that created mirrored accounts of top news publishers (including Reuters, AP, WSJ, NYT, BBC, CNN, and even yours truly), has transferred its collection of nearly 100 accounts to Flipboard, the companies announced Thursday.
#flipboard #x #socialmedia #ecosystem #technology
Press.coop was founded a year ago by a fediverse company, Hello.coop, headed by Dick Hardt. Like many, he wanted there to be more access to news in the fediverse, particularly the X rival Mastodon, where many top publishers had yet to set up shop as they had on Twitter/X. To address this need, Press.coop mirrored the publishers’ Twitter/X accounts, bringing their tweets to the broader open social web.
However, when Twitter changed its API rules and upped its pricing, that access was cut off. Press.coop then moved to mirror publishers’ RSS feeds instead.
Though these mirrored accounts were just bots that posted the publishers’ news to the fediverse as it hit their news feeds, many gained a following. The NPR account, for example, gained 10,000 press.coop followers. Others saw smaller followings.
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Physicists Stir a Supersolid For First Time, Proving Its Bizarre Dual Nature
Scientists have successfully stirred a supersolid, a strange type of matter that is both rigid and fluid, for the first time. Supersolids have the properties of both solids and superfluids - a fraction of atoms flow friction-free through a lattice of a rigid crystal structure. Stirring the supersolid resulted in tiny whirlpools called quantized vortices, an indication of superfluidity. The breakthrough will make it possible to simulate phenomena in the lab that normally occur under truly extreme conditions, like in the hearts of neutron stars.
#technology #science #supersolid #physics
Canoo’s latest loss, tales from Waymo riders, and what a Trump win means for Elon (and his companies)
We’re just two days past the election, and there is already a ton of speculation about what another Trump presidency will mean for transportation and tech — as well as adjacent sectors, like energy and climate. It will take months for many of these questions to be answered, and we’ll be watching and reporting on how the future of transportation may be affected.
#canoo #waymo #trump #energy #earnings #technology
In these early days, we have produced a few pieces that explore who stands to win or lose and how certain sectors might navigate the change in administration at the executive and legislative branches. TC reporter Tim De Chant provided a bit of analysis on why it might be hard for President-elect Trump to unwind the Inflation Reduction Act, and reporter Rebecca Bellan looked at what the win could mean for Elon Musk and his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X.
Airborne microplastics aid in cloud formation
New research suggests that microplastics in the air could affect weather and climate by producing clouds in conditions where they would not form otherwise. Clouds form when water vapor sticks to tiny floating particles in the atmosphere. Water droplets with microplastic particles can produce ice crystals at temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius warmer than droplets without microplastics. Precipitation typically starts as ice particles. More information about microplastic concentrations at the altitudes where clouds form is needed before scientists can make theories on how exactly microplastics affect weather and climate.
#technology #science #microplastics #weather #climatechange
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy denies that 5-day office mandate is a 'backdoor layoff'
Amazon's five-day in-office mandate was not made to reduce headcount or appease city officials, according to CEO Andy Jassy. The topic was brought up during an all-hands meeting on Tuesday. Jassy says that the decision to get workers back into the office was about the company's culture and strengthening that culture. Returning workers to the office will allow employees to be better set up to invent, collaborate, and be connected. Amazon employees will have to return to the office five days a week starting from January 2.
#technology #amazon #work
Nvidia adds 100-hour monthly playtime cap on GeForce Now; $10 tier gains 1440p and ultrawide support
GeForce Now, which lets users stream games they already own on Nvidia GPUs, has two tiers: the $9.99 Priority tier, now renamed as the Performance tier,
A hot potato: Nvidia is making changes to its popular GeForce Now game streaming service, and it's good news and bad news. The welcome change is that those on the $9.99-per-month tier will be able to stream at 1440p and ultrawide resolutions. Unfortunately, Nvidia is introducing a 100-hour monthly playtime cap for paid memberships.
#nvidia #geforcenow #gpu #streaming #gaming
GeForce Now, which lets users stream games they already own on Nvidia GPUs, has two tiers: the $9.99 Priority tier, now renamed as the Performance tier, which offers RTX 3060-comparable GPUs, and the $19.99 per month Ultimate tier that is similar to playing games on an RTX 4080.
Starting this January, Nvidia says it is introducing a 100-hour per month cap on gaming time. Team Green says this will allow the service to continue providing "unparalleled quality and speed – as well as short to no queue times – for all paid members, without increasing membership fees."
The free tier won't have the cap, but then users are limited to one-hour sessions, less powerful hardware, and often have to endure long waits. Remaining Founders subscribers, who were promised benefits for life as long as they continue paying monthly, will not be subject to the cap.
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this company is shooting for the skies with their tiers now. They're very well established so now can use tiers to make all the money they want. I wonder which company will rival Nvidia ten years from now?
Mistral launches a moderation API
AI startup Mistral has launched an API to moderate possibly toxic — or otherwise problematic — text in a range of languages.
AI startup Mistral has launched a new API for content moderation.
The API, which is the same API that powers moderation in Mistral’s Le Chat chatbot platform, can be tailored to specific applications and safety standards, Mistral says. It’s powered by a fine-tuned model (Ministral 8B) trained to classify text in a range of languages, including English, French, and German, into one of nine categories: sexual, hate and discrimination, violence and threats, dangerous and criminal content, self-harm, health, financial, law, and personally identifiable information.
#ai #technology #mistral #api #lechat #chatbot #moderation
The moderation API can be applied to either raw or conversational text, Mistral says.
“Over the past few months, we’ve seen growing enthusiasm across the industry and research community for new AI-based moderation systems, which can help make moderation more scalable and robust across applications,” Mistral wrote in a blog post. “Our content moderation classifier leverages the most relevant policy categories for effective guardrails and introduces a pragmatic approach to model safety by addressing model-generated harms such as unqualified advice and PII.”
AI-powered moderation systems are useful in theory. But they’re also susceptible to the same biases and technical flaws that plague other AI systems.
For example, some models trained to detect toxicity see phrases in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), the informal grammar used by some Black Americans, as disproportionately “toxic.” Posts on social media about people with disabilities are also often flagged as more negative or toxic by commonly used public sentiment and toxicity detection models, studies have found.
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I believe AI moderation is very helpful, but we need to make sure it treats all languages fairly and doesn't make mistakes with different ways people speak. But hey it ain't perfect
https://inleo.io/threads/view/soulguy/re-leothreads-pbkhdu23?referral=soulguy
New Intel Arc Battlemage gaming GPUs could arrive as soon as next month
Trusted leaker Golden Pig Upgrade recently hinted that Intel's upcoming Arc Battlemage desktop graphics cards will debut in December.
Rumor mill: Reports have long suggested that Intel plans to launch its second generation of desktop graphics cards in late 2024, and there's no indication that Chipzilla has encountered significant delays. While details on specifications, performance, and pricing remain scarce, the new GPUs could arrive weeks ahead of competitor releases from AMD and Nvidia. Moreover, could this be Intel's last hurrah before they abandon desktop GPUs again?
#intel #gaming #gpu #technology #graphics
Trusted leaker Golden Pig Upgrade recently hinted that Intel's upcoming Arc Battlemage desktop graphics cards will debut in December. Little is known regarding the company's intended market segment, but the tipster described Battlemage's performance as "wonderful."
Battlemage will succeed Arc Alchemist, Intel's first dedicated GPU series, which launched in 2022. The most powerful Alchemist model, the Arc A770, was roughly comparable to Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060, so Battlemage is likely to focus on mid-range and entry-level cards.
Earlier reports uncovered three Battlemage GPUs: BMG-G10, BMG-21, and BMG-31. BMG-G10, the most powerful of the three, isn't expected to be released for consumer use, signaling that Intel isn't aiming to compete in the enthusiast space dominated by GPUs like the RTX 4090 or the upcoming RTX 5090.
Meanwhile, BMG-31 appears to be an entry-level or mobile-focused card, featuring the same number of Xe graphics cores as the A770. In September, an unidentified Battlemage card powered by the BMG-G21 chip, equipped with 12GB of VRAM and a 2,850 MHz boost clock – an unprecedented speed for any graphics card – was spotted on Geekbench.
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Lucid Motors starts taking orders for its existential Gravity SUV
Lucid Motors has officially started taking orders for its electric Gravity SUV, a critically important vehicle that's supposed to go into production
Lucid Motors has officially started taking orders for its electric Gravity SUV, a critically important vehicle that’s supposed to go into production by the end of this year. Interested buyers can now place $1,000 refundable deposits on the “Grand Touring” trim, which starts at $94,900, on the company’s website.
#lucid #ev #technology #gravitysuv #automotive
Similar to the company’s current model, the Air sedan, the Gravity is a more-than-capable electric vehicle. The company promises it can travel more than 440 miles on a full battery. That battery delivers power to two electric motors that put down the equivalent of 828 horsepower. It should be more functional than the Air, too, as it comes standard with two rows of seating and can be optioned up to three.
The launch of the Gravity is crucial to Lucid’s survival. While it has been able to increase sales of its Air sedan in the last few quarters by slashing prices and launching a cheaper trim, Lucid is still way off of the sales figures it originally projected when it went public in a $4 billion reverse merger in 2021. As a result, Lucid has repeatedly gone back to majority owner Saudi Arabia to add more funding to its war chest this year.
The Gravity comes in an SUV form factor that is far more attractive to North American buyers, which could boost overall sales. But the more affordable “Touring” version, which starts at $79,900, won’t be available until “late 2025.” And the Ground Touring version can quickly zoom past the $94,900 sticker price, as car reviewer Kyle Conner realized shortly after Lucid launched the Gravity SUV configurator on Thursday.
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The Lucid Gravity looks like a great step for the company. I hope it helps them grow and succeed with their vision. I think SUVs will sell way more next year because of EV rise
Automattic's new site tracks how many websites left WP Engine following feud with Matt Mullenweg
A new website called WP Engine Tracker shows how many sites have moved away from hosting provider WP Engine since the company's feud with WordPress
Automattic, which runs a rival web hosting service and is headed by Mullenweg, confirmed it created this site.
#automatic #wpengine #wordpress #wpenginetracker #technology
The site’s full URL is WordPressenginetracker.com, which is ironic given Mullenweg and Automattic have argued during the battle that WP Engine misused the WordPress trademark and tricked people into believing that WP Engine is associated with WordPress.com
Check out all these great offers of people that will migrate you off WP Engine: https://t.co/AKQGU7Hvpf
— WordPress (@WordPress) November 6, 2024
As of the time of writing, the page shows more than 16,000 domains have switched to another hosting provider.
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TSMC to reportedly suspend production of advanced AI chips for China starting Monday
TSMC is stopping the production of advanced AI chips for China. I see this as a big deal, because these chips power so much tech. Limiting them will impact China’s tech growth.
#AI #ChipIndustry #news
Watch: Ambitious robot learns to clean bathroom sink by watching
A robot can now learn to clean sinks just by watching someone do it! I think it’s amazing to see robots picking up skills this way. They’re becoming little helpers for everyday tasks and kind of makes me wonder what they’ll learn next.
I'm thinking of some wild stuff here, some are weird and others very productive.😁
#Robotics #AI
https://newatlas.com/robotics/robot-cleans-sink/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=NewAtlas/magazine/New+Atlas:+Emerging+Technology
Transcript of Musk Will Have Significant White House Influence: Ives
What gives you such conviction that Trump will focus on AI right out of the gate? I think it's going to be a huge focus within the government. The government has been way behind when it comes to AI. There are going to be huge initiatives, I believe, especially through the DOD and various agencies. This will be bullish for Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and other big names. I think these companies will benefit greatly in what is shaping up to be a golden age for AI, especially with the government's involvement.
I want to ask you about Elon Musk. If you'll allow me, let me put it this way: the market tried to make sense of the Tesla move. It's believed that Trump will repeal some or all of what's been legislated for consumer incentives and manufacturing support for companies. There's also the association between Musk and Trump. Why is it that Tesla stands out in your mind, while GM, Ford, and Rivian might not do as well?
Sure, that's a great point. Let me break it down into two parts. First, removing the $7,500 credits will create a much more even playing field. Tesla has scale and scope, which will give them a huge advantage over the Detroit stalwarts. That’s bullish for Tesla. They also still have the option to cut prices further. But the big thing is the value that’s unlocked with the IP. When you look at Trump, he's going to pave the way for autonomous vehicles. I think he will fast-track Full Self-Driving (FSD), which is very bullish for Tesla.
For Musk, one of the best strategic moves he made was aligning with Trump. Is the technology ready? Not necessarily in its current form, but it’s advancing rapidly. When I look at autonomous FSD, I see an incremental $1 trillion valuation. You could have cyber cabs or automated vehicles by 2026 or 2027, and these initiatives will be fast-tracked. Tesla and Musk are the big winners here, along with big tech. Another key point is that Trump is likely going to focus on reducing regulations, which will benefit deal-making across big tech.
There's a lot to be bullish about, but one area of concern is infrastructure. For a lot of this to happen, the growing chip sector in the U.S. is crucial, and that depends on the CHIPS Act. That could be undermined.
Yes, I think the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will likely undergo revisions. The biggest losers here will probably be companies like Intel. I think Intel has been struggling, and this is just going to add fuel to that fire. The IRA was originally going to be a huge opportunity for Intel, but now they’re on the wrong side of that trend. From a chip perspective, there’s a much bigger focus on AI build-out, especially in the U.S. With tariffs on China, there could be carve-outs, which is why I don’t think companies like Nvidia will be negatively impacted. The same goes for Tesla and Apple. That’s also why Musk’s influence in the White House is so important.
Let me get your feedback, because I know Ed wants to jump in. But I'm curious: do you think Trump won’t live up to a lot of the things he promised during the campaign?
I think the reality might be worse than the bite when it comes to tariffs. Some of them could be much nastier, but I think there will be carve-outs for certain exports. So, I don’t think the impact will be as negative for tech and the supply chain. That’s why this is such a Goldilocks scenario for tech, and it’s a champagne moment for Tesla investors.
Dan, can you hear me?
Okay, here's the question: Be honest with me—can Elon Musk have an informal or formal role in the administration while still being the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and leading other ventures like Neuralink and The Boring Company?
Yes, I think he could have an informal role, but not a formal one, like a cabinet position. A formal role would complicate his ownership of Tesla and other companies. However, I believe he’ll be an unofficial advisor with significant influence within the White House. This could end up being one of Musk’s best strategic bets, aligning with Trump.
This Musk-Trump alliance is just starting to play out.
Wired: The Best Laptops to Work and Play Wherever You Are
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-laptops/
The Guardian: Apple MacBook Pro M4 review: faster, better and cheaper
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/08/apple-macbook-pro-m4-review-faster-better-and-cheaper
The Future of AI:
AI will change how we use everything around us. Instead of pressing buttons, we'll just talk to our stuff - like our phones, cars, and even microwaves. They'll "understand" us and do what we ask, just like talking to a person.
AI will also make amazing new games. These games will mix movies and gaming in a new way. The story will change based on what you do, making each person's experience different.
Some people are already testing games where you can talk to characters, like being a detective who questions suspects. It feels totally new and different from regular games.
#futureofai
The Guardian: AI may displace 3m jobs but long-term losses ‘relatively modest’, says Tony Blair’s thinktank
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/08/ai-may-displace-3m-jobs-but-long-term-losses-relatively-modest-says-thinktank
The Guardian: Facebook asks US supreme court to dismiss fraud suit over Cambridge Analytica scandal
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/06/facebook-cambridge-analytica-lawsuit
BBC: AI artwork of Alan Turing sells for $1m
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqdvz4w45wo
BBC Video: New tech helping to combat illegal elephant ivory trade
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0k247bv/new-tech-helping-to-combat-illegal-elephant-ivory-trade
BBC: Up close with the 300 tonne driverless trucks
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgej7gzg8l0o
Reuters: TSMC to suspend production of advanced AI chips for China from Monday, FT reports
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/tsmc-suspend-production-advanced-ai-chips-china-monday-ft-reports-2024-11-08/
Reuters: Russia's Yandex plans to invest in Indonesia's AI, minister says
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/russias-yandex-plans-invest-indonesias-ai-minister-says-2024-11-08/
Reuters: LightOn to become Europe's first listed GenAI startup with Paris IPO
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/lighton-become-europes-first-listed-genai-startup-with-paris-ipo-2024-11-08/
Reuters: South Korea says pro-Russia groups responsible for cyberattacks after North's troop dispatch
https://www.reuters.com/world/south-korea-says-pro-russia-groups-responsible-cyberattacks-after-norths-troop-2024-11-08/
Ashton Kutcher raised a $243 million investment fund in just five weeks that will focus on 'the next absolute transformation' in tech
The fund will invest in A.I., which he acknowledged is in a so-called hype cycle.
Ashton Kutcher, the Hollywood actor and venture capital investor, raised the money for his firm’s new AI fund quickly.
“We pulled the fund together in about five weeks,” Kutcher said Thursday in a Bloomberg Television interview. “We have a base of LPs that have been with us for years on end.”
#ashtonkutcher #actor #investor #technology #venturecapital
Kutcher’s new fund plans to put $243 million toward artificial intelligence startups, the tech industry’s current hottest category. The portfolio already includes investments in AI startup darlings OpenAI, Stability AI Ltd. and Anthropic.
With the new fund, assets under management at Los Angeles-based Sound Ventures LLC are about $1 billion, the firm said. Kutcher said the firm had surveyed its portfolio companies to see how they were embracing AI, and that the sector would mark “the next absolute transformation for technology.”
“We’ve been investing in AI for the last seven years,” Kutcher said. “But when we saw GPT be launched, we realized that this was an absolute breakthrough.”
He acknowledged the so-called hype cycle that washes across technology investing, most recently with the rush into crypto, a field where Sound Ventures also has been active. The blockchain technology at the heart of cryptocurrency has value in a number of applications, he said, while “tokenization” in many areas went too far.
Regulation of AI is “needed badly,” he said
Regulation of AI is “needed badly,” he said, just as it is in the crypto industry.
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Ashton Kutcher explains why he’s betting on AI, but not trying to pick a ‘winner’
Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of Sound Ventures, believes that every company is going to become an AI company, but that there might not be a winner in the space.
The actor and investor spoke at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 on Tuesday alongside Sound co-founder Guy Oseary and partner Effie Epstein to detail what the firm is looking for in founders and startups, and how they believe foundational AI companies are setting the stage for the future.
#ai #ashtonkutcher #technology #investing #venturecapital
“Foundation layer AI companies are going to be some of the most valuable companies that have ever been created in the history of humankind,” Kutcher said.
He said it’s easy to underestimate how big of a deal AI is, and that he believes foundational AI models are going to be the foundation of everything to come.
“There will not be a company in the world that is not, in some way, shape or form, using AI in the future,” Kutcher said. “So every company is going to be an AI company. And it’s our thesis that whether it’s open source AI, whether it’s closed systems like Anthropic or OpenAI or World Labs, or whether you’re building software using Magic.dev, those things are going to be the underpinnings of everything else.”
However, he doesn’t think there will be a winner in the space. He believes that while foundational AI companies converge in some ways, they are also differentiating.
“Sometimes you can get too smart and too cute and think that you can pick the winner, and there might not be a winner,” Kutcher said. “It might not be in one of these monopoly spaces, because there’s a lot of different people that stand up gain a lot from AI and AGI in general.”
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While some people fear AI, Kutcher says e
Reuters: Motorola raises full-year forecasts on steady demand
https://www.reuters.com/technology/motorola-raises-full-year-forecasts-steady-demand-2024-11-07/
Reuters: US Cellular to sell some spectrum licenses to AT&T for $1 bln
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-cellular-sell-some-spectrum-licenses-att-1-bln-2024-11-07/
Got a new stress-relief trick: Talk it out with AI when someone makes you mad on the road! Instead of letting road rage get to you, have a chat with AI playing the role of that annoying driver. You can get everything off your chest without any real drama.
Way healthier than honking or getting worked up!
#StressRelief #ModernTherapy
AI in farming means if you have enough money, you can make your whole farm run on its own.
Think about how this is going to change #war.
China’s 10-ton monster drone mothership could unleash swarms mid-air
The ability to launch multiple drones mid-air and then use the mothership as a command center is a dream project of China and several other countries.
A head of the Zhuhai Air Show in China, an international aerospace trade show organized by the Beijing administration, a drone mothership concept has been spotted at the event’s grounds.
#china #war #drones #technology #place #aircraft #military
The drone mothership, which is said to have a maximum takeoff weight of 10 tons, could have the capability to launch drone swarms in the air.
The drone, Called Jiu Tian, which stands for ‘High Sky’ in Chinese, is powered by jet engines. Its design is by the government-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
Drone mothership concept’s specifications
The markings on the drone mothership read SS-UAV, along with others in Chinese script. While clearly the UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicle, it is unclear what SS stands for.
A look at the aircraft reveals that it uses a normal tricycle landing and take-off gear, and carries a jet engine on top of its central fuselage.
While initially it can look like a normal attack aircraft, its central payload section is labeled as ‘Isomerism Hive Module’. This reveals that the mothership could have the capability to launch drones mid-air and then manage swarms to carry out operations.
The ability to launch multiple drones mid-air and then use the mothership as a command center is a dream project of China and several other countries.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has proven how effective drones can be in tilting the balance to one side.
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In the future, everything will have an LLM. You’ll put food in the oven, tell it what you’re making, and it will do everything for you.
#ai
I think things will still have screens, but you'll be able to talk to most of them. Being able to tell things what you want, like a washer and dryer, will probably make life easier for people.
#ai
In architecture and engineering, blueprints for houses and buildings can be made instantly. With today's tech, you can already do this easily, but soon you’ll just tell it exactly what you want, and it will be ready right away.
I believe AI has a lot of potential in the food industry, and there are already some exciting examples or use cases:
It's being used to speed up the process of flavor research, with companies like Coca-Cola and McCormick testing it out.
#ai
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Unveiling the Power of Vector Databases in Gen AI Solutions
In the rapidly changing world of generative AI, vector databases have taken a center stage for any enterprise generative ai solution.
#database #vector #generativeai #ai #technology
Tailored for high dimensional data efficient for data storage and retrieval mechanisms, they play a crucial role in the world of AI and machine learning.
Understanding Vector Databases
So what exactly are vector databases? Think of them as data warehouses specifically designed for high-dimensional vectors. These vectors are like mathematical fingerprints, capturing the essence of your data – text, images, or even sensor readings – in a multi-dimensional space. Each dimension represents a specific feature or characteristic.
Let’s understand this by a simple example. Imagine you have a giant room filled with books. A traditional database would be like a card catalog, letting you find books by title or author. But a vector database is more like a mind map. It connects books based on ideas and themes, allowing for lightning-fast searches based on content and meaning.
Technical Architecture of Vector Databases
Now one would think how a Vector database actually works. Let's dissect the technical architecture of vector databases to unravel their inner workings. At a fundamental level, they comprise two key components:
· Embedding: We transform raw data (text, images) into vectors using machine learning techniques. Imagine a complex algorithm summarising a book into a series of key points.
· Indexing: The vectors are then stored and meticulously indexed within the database. This is where the magic happens – the database structures the data for efficient retrieval.
Traditional vs Vector Database
Now let’s understand how traditional relational database differs a vector database through key features.
Comparison of traditional database vs vector database
Vector Database – Empowering Gen AI
Vector databases play a pivotal role in enabling the functionality and efficiency of Generative AI (Gen AI) solutions. Let’s go through them:
GPU acceleration: Leveraging the computational power of GPUs can significantly accelerate similarity search and other vector operations. Vector databases offer GPU acceleration, enabling Gen AI models to achieve breakthrough performance and efficiency.
Efficient similarity search: One of the core functionalities of vector databases is their ability to perform fast and accurate similarity searches within the vector space. This feature is crucial for Gen AI models to identify and retrieve semantically similar data entities, facilitating tasks such as content recommendation and semantic understanding.
Scalability: As Gen AI solutions scale to handle ever-growing datasets and user interactions, scalability becomes a critical factor. Vector databases are designed to scale horizontally, allowing for seamless expansion across distributed clusters without compromising performance or reliability. This scalability ensures that Gen AI models can continue to operate efficiently, even as the volume of data grows exponentially.
Real-time updates: In dynamic environments where data is constantly changing, real-time updates are essential for maintaining the accuracy and relevance of Gen AI models. Vector databases support efficient real-time updates, enabling models to adapt and learn from new data on the fly.
Exploring Vector Databases
Pinecone: A cloud-based vector database known for its ease of use and focus on developer experience. It offers features like real-time updates and integrates well with popular machine learning frameworks.
Pros
· Speed and efficiency: Pinecone excels in delivering blazing-fast similarity search performance, thanks to its optimised indexing structures and GPU acceleration.
· Scalability: With its distributed architecture and seamless horizontal scaling capabilities, Pinecone offers unmatched scalability for handling large-scale Gen AI workloads.
Cons
· Limited support for complex data types: While Pinecone excels in storing and querying high-dimensional vectors, it may have limited support for complex data types beyond simple numeric vectors.
· Absence of SQL support: Pinecone lacks built-in support for SQL, the standard language for relational database management systems. This absence can present challenges when integrating with existing systems or conducting complex analytical queries that rely on SQL functionality.
Cosmos DB: This offering from Microsoft boasts high availability and scalability, making it a good choice for enterprise-grade applications. It integrates seamlessly with other Azure services.
Pros
· Scalability: Cosmos DB offers seamless horizontal scaling, making it suitable for handling large volumes of data, including vector embeddings.
· Schema flexibility: Cosmos DB's flexible schema allows for storing complex data structures, including vector embeddings, without predefined schemas.
· Integrated querying: Cosmos DB supports SQL-like querying over JSON documents, enabling efficient retrieval of vector embeddings based on various criteria.
Cons
· Cost: Cosmos DB can be relatively expensive, especially for large-scale deployments or workloads with high throughput requirements.
· Indexing overhead: Managing indexing for efficient querying of vector embeddings can add overhead and complexity to the implementation.
Azure SQL database: While not a pure vector database, Azure SQL offers extensions that enable vector capabilities. This can be a good option if you're already invested in the Azure ecosystem.
Pros
· Integration: Azure SQL integrates seamlessly with other Azure services and tools, simplifying development and management tasks.
· Security: Azure SQL provides built-in security features, including encryption, authentication, and access control, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
Cons
· Scalability limitations: While Azure SQL can scale vertically, scaling horizontally for large-scale deployments may be challenging.
· Performance: For workloads with high concurrency or throughput requirements, Azure SQL may struggle to deliver the same level of performance as NoSQL or specialised databases.
· Cost: Azure SQL can become costly, especially for large databases or workloads with high resource utilisation.
PostgreSQL: This open-source relational database can be extended with vector search functionalities through libraries like FAISS. It's a cost-effective option for those comfortable with managing their own infrastructure.
Pros
· Reliability: PostgreSQL is known for its reliability, stability, and ACID compliance, ensuring data integrity and consistency.
· Extensibility: PostgreSQL supports a wide range of data types and extensions, allowing for flexible storage and querying of vector embeddings.
Cons
· Scalability limitations: While PostgreSQL can scale vertically, horizontal scaling for large-scale deployments may require additional complexity and effort.
· Performance: For workloads with high concurrency or throughput requirements, PostgreSQL may require careful optimisation to maintain performance.
· Cost: While PostgreSQL itself is open-source, managed PostgreSQL services on Azure may incur costs based on usage and configuration.
Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
The best vector database for you depends on your specific needs – factors like scalability, ease of use, and integration with your existing infrastructure aLL play a role.
This is just a glimpse into the exciting world of vector databases. As Gen AI continues to evolve, these powerful tools will play an even more crucial role in unlocking the potential of AI to understand, create, and interact with the world around us.
Down to Seven: USU Biochemists Report Breakthrough Research Toward Global Food Challenge
Lance Seefeldt and Zhi-Yong Yang are among a Gates Foundation-funded collaboration publishing new knowledge in PNAS that could simplify genetic transfer of nitrogen fixation to food crops.
Food productivity is dependent on the availability of fertilizer, says Utah State University biochemist Lance Seefeldt.
#food #biochemist #technology #gatesfoundation
“We need nitrogen to survive, but we can’t take it in from the air,” says Seefeldt, professor and head of USU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “We get nitrogen from the protein in our food.”
Little over a century ago, the Haber-Bosch process revolutionized how atmospheric nitrogen could be converted to a form to allow for industrial-scale production of fertilizer. The discovery led to a huge increase in global food production and a massive population boom. Still, certain areas of the globe, including Sub-Saharan Africa, lack the infrastructure to allow import and distribution of fertilizer, much less the capacity to produce the nutrient-essential product close to home.
Since 2019, Seefeldt and USU Senior Scientist Zhi-Yong Yang have collaborated on a project with colleagues in Spain and the United States, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to re-engineer the biology of cereal crops, such as corn and rice, to achieve nitrogen fixation on their own, from sunlight, without applying fertilizer.
With lead author Luis Rubio and Lucía Payá Tormo, Carlos Echavarri-Erasun, Natalia Makarovsky-Saavedra and Ana Pérez-González at the Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), along with Yisong Guo of Carnegie Mellon University, Seefeldt and Yang report a simpler pathway, involving a newly known minimum of seven genes that allow the plant cell to make the enzyme that can covert N2 gas from the air to fertilizer. Their findings appear in the Nov. 6, 2024 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“The goal is to place genes into the crops’ mitochondria and chloroplast enabling them to generate sufficient energy to drive nitrogen fixation,” Yang says. “This is a pretty cool piece of evidence. Essentially, these staple caloric crops – rice, corn, potatoes – could have built-in fertilizer.”
The team initially narrowed the number of genes needed to fix nitrogen to nine, and identified gene combinations they thought were essential to complete the process. To their surprise, they discovered genes they’d designated as critical middlemen could be omitted.
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Magnetic field that helps radar detection weakening over North America, claims China
Earth is surrounded by an immense magnetic field called the magnetosphere.
Scientists in China claimed that the magnetic shield over North America is weakening rapidly. The geomagnetic field, a kind of natural barrier, protects Earth from cosmic radiation, which can create disturbances in the atmospheric system.
The cause of the magnetic shield losing strength ‘exceptionally fast’ has yet to be determined. However, initially, it’s being linked to the shift of the geomagnetic poles from the western to the eastern hemisphere.
#china #magneticfield #northamerica #technology #gps
Scientists, led by Professor Fang Hanxian of the National University of Defence Technology, also revealed that the magnetic field over the eastern hemisphere, including China, is strengthening.
Significant reversal occurred in past 30 years
Chinese scientists published a peer-reviewed paper last month highlighting the weakening of magnetic shields.
Fang’s team employed the latest models and data to reconstruct global magnetic field strength changes since 1900. They found that from 1930 to 1990, the magnetic field strength in North America increased and was higher than in many other regions of the world, reported SCMP.
However, Chinese scientists claimed that a significant reversal has occurred in the past 30 years: by 2020, the magnetic field strength in this region had dropped to a level barely above the global average.
Scientists maintain that the change is exceptional from a global perspective.
Magnetosphere plays role of gatekeeper
An immense magnetic field, called the magnetosphere, surrounds Earth. Generated by powerful, dynamic forces, the magnetosphere shields us from the erosion of the atmosphere by the solar wind (charged particles our sun continually spews at us), erosion and particle radiation from coronal mass ejections (massive clouds of energetic and magnetized solar plasma and radiation), and cosmic rays from deep space.
NASA claims that the magnetosphere plays the role of gatekeeper, repelling unwanted energy harmful to life on Earth, trapping most of it a safe distance from Earth’s surface in twin doughnut-shaped zones called the Van Allen Belts.
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China’s EV maker XPENG unveils Iron robot with 60 joints to mimic human movements
The firm’s advanced Turing AI chip, with a 40-core CPU, provides AI capabilities for robots, cars, and even future flying vehicles.
A Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer is going the Tesla way by unveiling its first humanoid robot.
At its 2024 AI Day event, Xpeng unveiled its first robot, Iron, marking a major leap into robotics.
#robots #china #xpeng #technology #automation #future
The robot has more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of freedom, and it uses technology shared with XPENG’s AI Electric Vehicles (EVs).
XPENG reports that Iron is already active on its automotive production lines, helping assemble the upcoming P7+ EV.
“The robots have already been integrated into XPENG’s daily operations and focus on internal applications, such as factories and stores,” the firm said in a statement.
Versatile system
XPENG, known for its EVs, held its 2024 AI Day event, showcasing cutting-edge AI innovations. One of the standout reveals was the humanoid robot, Iron.
Standing 5’8″ tall and weighing 154 pounds (70 kilograms), Iron is already operational, working on Xpeng’s production lines. This robot is tasked with assembling the upcoming P7+ electric vehicle, highlighting its practical role beyond just display.
Although little details are available, Xpeng’s specially designed Turing AI chip is known to power the robot. With more than 60 joints and 200 degrees of flexibility, Iron can precisely handle delicate parts and carry out intricate activities like walking.
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Tesla officially launches Model 3 and Model Y in the Philippines
Tesla officially launched the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover in the Philippines. Both vehicles are priced competitively against mainstream rivals in the country’s automotive segment.
Tesla first Experience Center in the Philippines is located at 22 Uptown Parade, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a central business district and one of Metro Manila’s most high-end areas. Videos and photos taken of the site’s opening ceremony showed that the event was quite prolific, as it attracted a good number of people, including some officials.
#tesla #model3 #modely #phillipines #automotive #ev
Tesla Philippines’ pricing for the Model 3 is quite competitive. The Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive starts at Php 2,109,000 ($36,142), the Model 3 Long Range All Wheel Drive (AWD) starts at Php 2,489,000 ($42,652), and the Model 3 Performance starts at Php 3,099,000 ($53,105) before options.
This places the Model 3 in the same price range as the Toyota Camry 2.5 V HEV, which is currently being sold in the Philippines for about Php 2,457,000 ($42,106). It is also significantly more affordable than the BMW 3-Series Sedan 318i Business, which is sold with an MSRP of Php 3,590,000 ($61,522) in the Philippines.
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US hits neutron production milestone with 1.7-megawatt proton beam for 1,250 hours
The latest achievement of Proton the Power Upgrade (PPU) project shows the US has all it takes to remain a neutron science leader.
Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have achieved a big breakthrough in neutron research. They ran a neutron production system for 1,250 hours using a 1.7-megawatt proton beam.
#scientist #neutron #proton #energy #laser #technology
This feat was accomplished using Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), a powerful research facility that uses short proton pulses to target steel-based material comprising liquid mercury. This interaction results in the creation of intense neutron beams.
The 1,250-hour demonstration shows that the US can produce neutrons on a large scale to advance its scientific capabilities. Plus, it also solidifies SNS’ position as one of the most powerful neutron production systems in the world.
“Operating a newly upgraded, world-class science facility for 1,250 hours right out of the gate is remarkable in its own right,” Jens Dilling, an experimental nuclear physicist and associate laboratory director neutron sciences at ORNL, said.
More neutrons mean more innovation
Neutrons are great at penetrating objects and revealing their internal structure. This makes them highly useful for studying complex materials, developing new ones, improving energy storage, and advancing medical research.
However, producing neutrons in large numbers is a complex and challenging process as it involves high-energy collisions and materials that could remain stable during such interactions.
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TikTok deletes videos related to Uyghur human rights violations
Uyghurs living abroad report posts being taken down by censors.
Nefise Oguz, a Uyghur student at Istanbul University, uploaded a video to TikTok of a brief debate she had with Doğu Perinçek, leader of Turkey’s nationalist Patriotic Party, about the Uyghur genocide and China’s oppressive policies in Xinjiang.
#tiktok #uyghur #humanrights #socialmedia #video #censorship
She posted it on the popular short-video platform on the evening of Oct. 24 after sharing it on Facebook and other social media sites — only to discover it had been deleted from TikTok the next morning.
Tik Tok said it removed the video because it violated its community guidelines. News of the incident spread on social media, generating strong opposition from Uyghurs.
Other Uyghurs living abroad say TikTok is deleting videos about human rights violations in Xinjiang, the far-western region of China where 12 million mostly Muslim Uyghurs live.
But TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have said they have no relationship with the Chinese government, which censors such posts within its borders.
RFA emailed TikTok for comment about this specific case, but did not receive a response.
“The ethnic genocide and oppression of the Uyghurs by the Chinese government is a fact,” Oguz told Radio Free Asia. “I uploaded a video to TikTok, but it was removed because it made them uncomfortable.”
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Tattoo artists fume over AI designs, liken it to 'doing sports on steroids'
Let this sink in.
Artificial intelligence has been deemed a threat to multiple industries, and now, tattoo experts are saying it’s already left a scar on their industry.
#ai #technology #tattoo #artist #future #jobs
Several designers have copped to using AI software to create elaborate mock-up designs to be etched on humans — a task that used to be part of the artist’s creative job.
“It just outperforms people,” tattooer Ziggy Tramdaks told the Wall Street Journal. “AI will take over this industry whether we want it to or not.”
“You’re essentially cheating,” Matt Doherty, a 41-year-old ink artist in Sicklerville, NJ, told the Journal.
“It’s like doing sports on steroids,” he added.
The meteoric rise in popularity of AI language learning models like ChatGPT has made graphic design work feasible for anyone, even those who aren’t considered tech-savvy.
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Judge Denies AstraZeneca's Motion To Dismiss In Vaccine Injury Case
A federal law that grants broad legal immunity to vaccine manufacturers does not protect AstraZeneca against a breach of contract claim brought by a woman who was injured by the company’s vaccine, a U.S. judge ruled on Nov. 4.
#lawsuit #bigpharma #astrazeneca #vaccine
The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act protects manufacturers of vaccines during times of emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brianne Dressen sued AstraZeneca for neglecting to, as promised in a contract, cover the costs of injuries she suffered after participating in the company’s clinical trial in 2020. The pharmaceutical company said it was immune from the lawsuit under the PREP Act.
While Dressen can’t sue over the injuries, she can over the breach of contract because the legal immunity granted by the law does not cover at least some contractual claims, Shelby said.
“The basis of Dressen’s claim is a broken promise, not a countermeasure,” he said, adding later: “Dressen was administered a covered countermeasure, and she was warned that she may suffer from an adverse reaction, but the fact that she suffered from such reaction was not sufficient to ripen her claim. Rather, she only has a claim because AstraZeneca made a contractual promise to her that happened to involve the effects of a covered countermeasure.”
AstraZeneca put forth a theory in legal filings that immunity
AstraZeneca put forth a theory in legal filings that immunity from breach of contract claims helps encourage the quick development and deployment of countermeasures during health emergencies, which is the purpose of the PREP Act. Dressen’s lawyers argued enforcing contracts achieves the same result. The judge sided with the latter.
“If the PREP Act immunized deceptive contractual inducement and sanctioned illusory promises, then no one would agree to undertake the high-risk activities that are critical during public health emergency responses,” Shelby said. “The PREP Act drafters could not have intended to allow pharmaceutical companies to make illusory promises to clinical trial participants because doing so would erode public trust and undermine the ability to recruit willing participants, which in turn would erode and undermine pandemic preparedness.”
The judge used the example of AstraZeneca agreeing to pay $125 for time and travel reimbursements to Dressen per study visit during the clinical trial. “AstraZeneca’s theory of immunity would allow it to shirk this and any other promise made to trial participants merely because the promise ultimately relates to the administration or use of a vaccine,” he said.
Dressen, a preschool teacher in Utah, volunteered for the 2020 clinical trial. The consent form she signed said AstraZeneca would “cover the costs of research injuries” and “pay the costs of medical treatment.” After receiving the company’s shot, she suffered from a variety of injuries. U.S. National Institutes of Health doctors diagnosed her with vaccine side effects.
AstraZeneca largely declined to offer payment for treatment, beyond a final offer of $1,243, according to court documents.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine was administered widely in some other countries but U.S. authorities never authorized its use beyond clinical trials.
Shelby’s ruling means Dressen’s case will move forward.
Dressen wrote on the social media platform X that the judge “handed down a thoughtful and timely decision.”
“My deepest gratitude to the court for respectfully reviewing this important case and allowing it to move forward,” she said.
An AstraZeneca spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that the company cannot comment on ongoing litigation.
“Patient safety is our highest priority,” the spokesperson said. “From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.”
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Max to fight password sharing
Streaming service Max will try harder to keep customers from sharing their passwords and hinted that price increases could follow.
Streaming service Max will try harder to keep customers from sharing their passwords and hinted that price increases could follow.
#streaming #passwords #technology #max #entertainment
At Warner Bros. Discovery’s third-quarter earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Gunnar Wiedenfels said Max this year will push back against password sharing with gentle messaging, prompting users signed in on multiple devices to pay a little extra.
He said Max will roll out the new messaging at the end of 2024 and will continue with the strategy going into 2025. He also implied Max could raise the cost of its basic and premium tiers.
Max leadership announced in March it was heading toward a password change in the wake of similar policies at rival streamers Netflix and Disney+.
Netflix and Disney began their crackdown on password sharing by asking customers to pay a little extra for their multiple screens before rolling out more expensive subscription models that added more users.
The password clamp has coincided with the rise of tiered subscriptions on streaming platforms. Over the past few years, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Max have added new subscription models that add or remove features based on price.
The new subscription models have mostly paid off for streamers, letting them customize their experience. Max specifically reported over 7 million new users in the last quarter.
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China braces for fresh tensions with Trump over trade, tech and Taiwan
The first time China faced Donald Trump in the White House, there was a trade war, a breach of protocol involving Taiwan's former leader, and a president-to-president bromance that turned sour.
The first time China faced Donald Trump in the White House, there was a trade war, a breach of protocol involving Taiwan’s former leader, and a president-to-president bromance that turned sour.
#trump #china #technology #semiconductors #taiwan
As President-elect Trump prepares to start his second term in office, China is bracing for unpredictability in its ties with the United States and renewed tensions over trade, technology and Taiwan.
Perhaps the biggest consequence for China - if Trump stays true to his campaign promises - is his threat to slap blanket 60% tariffs on all Chinese exports to the U.S.
Tariffs like that would be a blow to China’s already unstable economy, which is suffering from high youth unemployment, a lengthy property slump and government debt. A 60% duty on Chinese imports could shave off 2.5 percentage points, or about half, of China’s projected economic growth, according to an analysis published earlier this year by UBS.
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In one Florida school district, some parents are pushing back against a cellphone ban
It's no surprise that students are pushing back on cellphone bans in classrooms. But school administrators in one South Florida county working to pull students' eyes away from their screens
Since the beginning of the 2024 school year in August, students in Broward County Public Schools, the country’s sixth-largest district, have been barred from using cellphones during the school day, including during lunch and breaks, unless given special permission.
#florida #technology #cellphone #ban #school #broward
The schools are some of the many across the country wrestling with how to crack down on cellphones, at a time when experts say social media use among young people is nearly universal – and that screen time is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression among kids.
But a survey sent out by the South Florida school district earlier this fall found that of the more than 70,000 students, teachers and parents surveyed, nearly one in five parents believe the cellphone ban is having a negative impact on their student’s wellbeing.
Among the top concerns for the students and parents surveyed is not being able to communicate with their family members, especially in an emergency - an anxiety that cuts deep in the district that’s home to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a 2018 shooting killed 17 people.
District officials have said students can use their phones during an emergency and that teachers have the flexibility to grant kids access for other reasons too.
“I don’t think any of us thinks kids should be on their phones during class,” said Erin Gohl, a parent and advocate in the district.
“We’re really talking about giving kids tools during those times when they need it,” she added, including letting students use their phones for “positive mental health purposes”.
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Starlink Direct-To-Cell coming to New Zealand
SpaceX is working with One NZ to bring Starlink Direct-to-Cell (aka Starlink Cellular) to New Zealand.
One NZ has already announced plans to launch One NZ Satellite to Mobile, a new service for Kiwis thanks to the company’s collaboration with SpaceX.
#newzealand #smartphone #mobile #technlogy #spacex #starlink
One NZ Satellite will offer TXT services to the network’s customers. Voice and basic data capability will be available at a later date.
“We’re working closely with SpaceX to bring this game-changing technology to New Zealand, which will make Kiwis safer and provide coverage like never before. We are currently testing the network locally in Aotearoa in preparation for launch.
“When we switch on the network, One NZ customers with an eligible mobile plan and phone will be able to TXT from anywhere in NZ with a line of sight to the sky – whether that’s on the farm, on the road, on the water, or in the mountains. Best of all, TXT is included in the price of eligible plans,” stated One NZ.
One NZ Satellite will initially be limited to a subset of eligible phones. The network is working closely with phone providers to roll out Starlink Direct-to-Cell to more mobile models in the future.
SpaceX’s Starlink Cellular is not yet available in the United States. However, the US Federal Communications granted SpaceX and T-Mobile temporary authority to provide Starlink Direct-to-Cell coverage to T-Mobile users during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
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Tesla surges to trillion-dollar club once again after three-day spike
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has surged back up to the trillion-dollar club once again after a three-day spike following President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday, which has catapulted the automaker’s stock upward.
Shares have been up over 21 percent since Tuesday night when Trump won the presidential election, a move that Tesla CEO Elon Musk helped facilitate through months of campaigning and social media posts.
#tesla #stock #marketcapitalization #automotive #technology
At its peak, Tesla shares reached over $317, equating to a $1.02 trillion market cap, the first time the company has been recognized in the elite club since March 2022. Tesla has not reached the $300 level since September 2022.
Tesla bull Dan Ives of Wedbush said on Wednesday, after Trump had locked up the presidency, that he could be the key to the company regaining a $1 trillion market cap, especially considering Musk’s relationship with the 45th and 47th president.
Ives said Trump’s win was a “dream scenario for any Tesla bull,” and that he would likely bring some advantages to the company’s regulatory processes because of their strong relationship:
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Man sick of crashes sues Intel for allegedly hiding CPU defects
Intel’s faulty 13th- and 14th-gen CPUs trigger lawsuit out for blood.
One frustrated customer wants to force Intel to pay untold millions in damages, claiming the company deceptively marketed faulty 13th- and 14th-generation CPUs as "enabling amazing experiences to happen on the PC," when instead products were prone to crashes and blue screens.
#intel #desktop #computing #lawsuit #crash
In a proposed class action, a New York man, Mark Vanvalkenburgh, said that he regretted falling for Intel's marketing of its 13th-gen CPU as "the world’s fastest desktop processor" capable of delivering "the best gaming, streaming and recording experience" available today.
He and possibly millions of others "reasonably" believed both the 13th- and 14th-gen CPUs would "perform as advertised"—only to discover they'd purchased a reliably "unstable" product triggering "random screen blackouts and random computer restarts" that PC Mag warned perhaps caused "permanent" CPU damage.
If Vanvalkenburgh and other class members had known about the product defects, they wouldn't have paid a premium price for Intel's CPUs, the complaint said. Class members include anyone who purchased the defective products across the US, as well as a sub-class pursuing additional claims that includes any New York-based buyers.
Article
Police Freak Out at iPhones Mysteriously Rebooting Themselves, Locking Cops Out
Law enforcement believe the activity, which makes it harder to then unlock the phones, may be due to a potential update in iOS 18 which tells nearby iPhones to reboot if they have not been in contact with a cellular network for some time, according to a document obtained by 404 Media.
#apple #iphone #police #privacy #technology #mobile
Law enforcement officers are warning other officials and forensic experts that iPhones which have been stored securely for forensic examination are somehow rebooting themselves, returning the devices to a state that makes them much harder to unlock, according to a law enforcement document obtained by 404 Media.
The exact reason for the reboots is unclear, but the document authors, who appear to be law enforcement officials in Detroit, Michigan, hypothesize that Apple may have introduced a new security feature in iOS 18 that tells nearby iPhones to reboot if they have been disconnected from a cellular network for some time. After being rebooted, iPhones are generally more secure against tools that aim to crack the password of and take data from the phone.
“The purpose of this notice is to spread awareness of a situation involving iPhones, which is causing iPhone devices to reboot in a short amount of time (observations are possibly within 24 hours) when removed from a cellular network,” the document reads.
Article
16 U.S. States Still Ban Community-Owned Broadband Networks Because AT&T and Comcast Told Them To
For years we’ve noted how U.S. broadband is expansive, patchy, and slow thanks to mindless consolidation, regulatory capture, regional monopolization, and limited competition.
For years we’ve noted how U.S. broadband is expansive, patchy, and slow thanks to mindless consolidation, regulatory capture, regional monopolization, and limited competition. That’s resulted in a growing number of pissed off towns, cities, cooperatives, and city-owned utilities building their own, locally-owned broadband networks in a bid for better, cheaper, faster broadband.
#broadband #internet #technology #comcast #att #telecommunications
Regional giants like Comcast, Charter, or AT&T could have responded to this organic trend by offering better, cheaper, faster service. But ultimately they found it far cheaper to undermine these efforts via regulatory capture, congressional lobbying, lawsuits, protectionist state laws, and misleading disinformation.
Currently sixteen states have laws — usually ghost written by regional telecom monopolies — restrict or outright ban community broadband. Some of these laws are outright bans on community broadband, basically letting Comcast or AT&T veto your local infrastructure voting rights. Others erect elaborate, cumbersome restrictions on the financing and expansion of such networks and pretend that’s not a ban.
The good news: The Institute For Local Self Reliance (where I study and write about broadband access) notes that these sixteen laws are a notable reduction from the 21 state laws we had in 2020. What caused the change? The pandemic home education and telecommuting boom highlighted the essential nature of broadband (or more accurately, the expensive, sluggish, terrible nature of monopoly options).
Article
The State of State Preemption: Stalled – But Moving In More Competitive Direction
As the federal government makes unprecedented investments to expand high-speed access to the Internet, unbeknownst to most outside the broadband industry is that nearly a third of the states in the U.S. have preemption laws in place that either prevent or restrict local municipalities from building and operating publicly-owned, locally-controlled networks.
Currently, there are 16 states across the U.S. (listed below) with these monopoly-protecting, anti-competition preemption laws in place.
These states maintain these laws, despite the fact that wherever municipal broadband networks or other forms of community-owned networks operate, the service they deliver residents and businesses almost always offers faster connection speeds, more reliable service, and lower prices.
In numerous cases, municipal broadband networks are able to provide low-cost or free service to low-income households even in the absence of the now expired federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). And for several years in a row now, municipal networks consistently rank higher in terms of consumer satisfaction and performance in comparison to the big monopoly Internet service providers, as PCMag and Consumer Reports have documented time and time again.
Nevertheless, these preemption laws remain in 16 states, enacted at the behest of Big Cable and Telecom lobbyists, many of whom have ghost written the statutes, in an effort to protect ISP monopolies from competition.
The Infrastructure Law Was Supposed to Move the Preemption Needle But …
In March of 2021, President Biden first issued his vision for a bipartisan infrastructure bill – which would eventually include $65 billion for broadband expansion with $42.5 billion of that earmarked for building new networks under the BEAD program. The President wanted to center nonprofit municipal and cooperative business models in his plan to connect unserved and underserved communities, while bringing competition to a broken market that has left Americans paying among the highest prices for high-speed Internet service of any developed nation in the world.
The Biden-Harris administration’s “American Jobs Plan” called for broadband investments and policies that would “promote price transparency and competition among Internet providers, including by lifting barriers that prevent municipally-owned or affiliated providers and rural electric co-ops from competing on an even playing field with private providers.”
The President’s call to action also envisioned an infrastructure bill that would “prioritize support for broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives – providers with less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities.”
Ultimately, however, when the Congressional sausage-making was complete and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was passed in November 2021, the bill deemphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s community-centered, local choice approach.
Still, it should be noted that the seed of the Biden-Harris administration’s vision did make it into the law, as the law specifically says any state that uses BEAD funds to build new networks must “ensure the participation of non-traditional broadband providers (such as municipalities or political subdivisions, cooperatives, non-profits, Tribal Governments, and utilities).”
Yet, neither Congress nor the NTIA – the agency charged with overseeing the distribution of the funds – has enforced the letter of the law. Instead, even those states that did not lift “barriers that prevent municipally-owned or affiliated providers and rural electric co-ops from competing” are still receiving their share of BEAD funds, all but ensuring the lion’s share of BEAD funds in those states will go to the big monopoly providers.
Pandemic Triggers Preemption Roll Back
But even without the federal government compelling states to remove preemption laws, the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the nation in March 2020 was enough to convince four states that the preemption laws they had on the books were counterproductive, especially in the midst of a remote work and schooling boom, and as more and more commerce and governmental services moved online.
In 2021, Arkansas and Washington passed legislation significantly rolling back legislative barriers on publicly owned broadband networks. In 2023, Colorado rolled back a law that required communities to hold a referendum vote to opt out of a state ban on municipal broadband. That law was repealed after over 120 communities across the state overwhelmingly voted to opt out of the state preemption law, fueled no doubt by the success of the municipal networks in Estes Park, Fort Collins, and Loveland. In May of 2024, Minnesota followed suit, rolling back its preemptions laws.
Having tracked community broadband networks across the nation for nearly two decades now, we believe that locally-rooted, democratically-accountable networks are the best path for long term success.
Furthermore, we believe community-led broadband is the best option for promoting economic prosperity, improving quality of life, and ensuring broadband access for everyone irrespective of income and background.
Therefore we support legislative efforts to remove the preemption barriers that remain.
The 16 States That Still Have Preemption Laws Limiting Community Networks
Below is a list (and explanation) of the 16 states that still have preemption laws on the books that either outright prohibit or erect severe barriers to building and operating publicly-owned, locally controlled broadband networks.
Alabama: Municipalities are allowed to provide telecommunications services but state preemption laws impose numerous restrictions that all together make it extremely difficult for municipalities to build and operate a broadband network.
Alabama limits networks to community boundaries, preventing Opelika from expanding to serve others in the region, bringing opportunity to more and allowing its fixed costs to be spread among more subscribers.
As an example, Alabama prohibits municipalities from using local tax dollars or other funds to pay for the start-up expenses that any capital intensive project like network construction requires.
The law also requires municipal broadband projects to cover ongoing expenses and debt service from network revenues alone, which like any business may take years to reach; to say nothing of the fact that it forecloses the option of local communities deciding that the service is so valuable that it’s worth being subsidized by the local government, as is done with other basic infrastructure such as roads and schools.
Florida: Imposes numerous restrictions that have scared local governments away from investments though they likely could have navigated them. The state imposes taxes on municipal telecommunications that do not apply to other municipal services.
Communities considering an investment must conduct public hearings under specific circumstances and prepare a report showing “a plan to ensure that revenues exceed operating expenses and payment of principal and interest on debt within four years.”
Not all business models will break even in that time - especially when the networks are often focused explicitly on low-income neighborhoods that have been left behind.
Louisiana: Has among the strongest prohibitions that were made stronger after Lafayette launched LUS Fiber.
Municipalities must hold a referendum and are required to “impute” (or invent) additional costs that would apply to a private provider if it were offering services.
This requirement invites endless litigation as there are no agreed-upon standards for what these fees could be.
A community that somehow surmounts these obstacles would then lose the ability to charge franchise fees and similar obligations to other operators in the community – though those fees are usually owed to the public as compensation for using the community rights-of-way for poles, conduits, etc.
Michigan: Requires public entities to issue an RFP and can only proceed with a public investment if they receive “less than 3 qualified bids from private providers.”
They are also required to subject themselves to the same terms and conditions as those specified in their request for proposals - which is code for having to combine all the limitations of a public entity with the limitations of a private entity and the benefits of neither. Local governments are limited in serving any areas outside their boundaries.
Missouri: Limits municipalities and public power systems from telecommunications services leasing and selling for non-internal purposes but exempts “Internet-type” services.
What that means currently may be arguable but several communities have built fiber networks to offer Internet access to the public for a fee. Statute.
Counterintuitively, KC Fiber, a municipal network in North Kansas City, offers every resident within city limits fiber Internet service for free.
Montana: Local governments can invest in networks only if such services are not available from a private provider.
Like Pennsylvania, a service may be available to a few addresses at exorbitant prices and a community would not be able to move forward with a project.
Nebraska: Has among the worst prohibitions of municipal networks. The relevant law states:
“An agency or political subdivision of the state that is not a public power supplier shall not provide on a retail or wholesale basis any broadband services, Internet services, telecommunications services, or video services.”
Dark fiber, which is almost never regulated or limited even in states that limit municipal broadband, is also effectively prohibited due to complicated restrictions meant to protect the big telephone monopoly – CenturyLink/Lumen.
However, Lincoln recognized it could lease conduit and has built an impressive network doing just that.
Nevada: Prohibits municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more and counties with populations of 55,000 or more from providing telecommunications services. Statute. Statute.
Small wonder then, that the Silver State is a virtual community broadband desert with the notable exception of Churchill County Communications, a telephone cooperative first established in 1889.
North Carolina: Imposes numerous restrictions on community-owned broadband that have the practical effect of severely curtailing any such effort.
For example, as explained by the prominent telecom attorneys Jim Baller, Sean Stokes, and Casey Lide, “public entities are required to comply with unspecified legal requirements that may apply to private providers; impute phantom costs into their rates; conduct a referendum before providing service; forego popular financing mechanisms; refrain from using typical industry pricing mechanisms; and make their commercially sensitive information available to their incumbent competitors.”
No new municipal networks have been built since the law took effect, though Wilson’s Greenlight Network has still been able to thrive as one of the best examples of municipal broadband in the nation. North Carolina’s limits only apply to networks that would charge a fee for service.
Pennsylvania: Local governments are required to get permission from the local telephone company prior to investing in a network or partnership. This is literally the language of the statute:
Communities cannot consider factors such as whether the incumbent service is affordable, available to everyone, or reliable.
South Carolina: Effectively prohibits municipal networks by requiring them to invent phantom fees that would be applicable to private service providers – which would be subject to endless litigation. As with some other states, community providers would have to include unnecessary fees into their services to make them less competitive. Statute.
SC Five Year Action Plan Monopoly Comments
When state broadband officials conducted “listening tours” across the state to compile its Five Year Action Plan to qualify for BEAD funding the plan cited widespread criticism of monopoly ISPs.
The plan also explictly acknowledged the state’s preemption law was a stumbling block to maximizing its effort to provide universal connectivity.
The plan listed the three most common complaints they heard from residents:
“1) ISPs are not interested in expanding Internet service if it is not profitable, which can result in lack of access or spotty service in an area; 2) that ISPs are creating monopolies and customers are beholden to the prices and services they offer, regardless of the quality of services; and 3) that ISPs are difficult to contact, are not helpful with repairs and provide confusing information about service offerings and costs.”
Because of the state’s preemption law, South Carolina’s BEAD plan concluded: “no government entity has chosen to make a filing at the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to declare an area is unserved and that the government entity seeks to provide retail Internet service in that unserved area,” adding how the South Carolina Broadband Office “may raise any concerns for the consideration of the State General Assembly.”
Those concerns were either never raised or put on the back-burner as South Carolina’s preemption laws remain in place.
Tennessee: Municipal broadband networks are only allowed in communities with an existing municipally-owned electric utility.
And even then, those municipalities are only allowed to offer broadband service to households and businesses in their service territory.
It’s important to note, however, that even with Tennessee’s preemption law, the state is home to one of the most celebrated municipal networks in the nation, EPB Fiber in Chattanooga. And in Knoxville, the city's electric utility is currently building what will be the biggest municipally-owned network in the U.S. (KUB Fiber) when it is completed.
Texas: Home-rule cities can build and operate Internet access networks, but only to offer “data services” because the state outlaws municipal telecommunications services directly or indirectly. Mont Belvieu was able to clarify this interpretation of Texas law prior to building its network. Statute.
The municipal network in Pharr has distinguished itself among the handful of municipal networks in Texas in a city that was once considered one of the worst connected cities in the nation.
And like a number of other municipal networks, Pharr is offering low-cost high-quality 500 Megabit per second service for just $25/month and for qualified low-income households with a school-aged child in the home, gig-speed service is offered at no cost.
Utah: Effectively prohibits offering municipal Internet service as a retail operation but allows wholesale-only business models. As a result, most of the municipal networks we see in Utah use the open access business model, though Spanish Fork has a thriving retail network that predates the restrictive law.
In 2013, Utah restricted municipal bonds relating to telecommunications.
Virginia: Allows only municipal electric utilities to offer broadband service but not any form of cable TV service.
State law also prohibits municipal providers from subsidizing any of its broadband services and requires them to charge rates in line with private sector costs, effectively preventing publicly-owned network providers from offering even low-cost service to low-income households that is less than what private incumbent providers offer.
Additionally, municipal providers must “comply with numerous procedural, financing, reporting and other requirements that do not apply to the private sector,” as noted by Baller, Stokes, and Lide. Many community networks in Virginia are organized as Wireless Service Authorities.
Wisconsin: Requires specific local hearings and feasibility studies and that prices are greater than “total service long-run incremental cost” that includes phantom costs that are similar to those incurred by a non-governmental utility.
Such requirements are subject to endless litigation because there is no agreed-upon way to define these costs.
Alabama Code Title 11. Counties and Municipal Corporations § 11-50B-1
Current as of December 30, 2022
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this state to encourage the development of advanced telecommunications capabilities, cable, interactive computer, and Internet facilities and services to better serve the public and further industrial economic development in this state. It is necessary for growth, job opportunities, and sustained economic development to encourage new investment in advanced telecommunications capabilities, cable, interactive computer, and Internet facilities, including investment by public providers of these services. Nothing contained herein, however, is intended to exempt, except, or exclude public providers which engage in the provision of advanced telecommunications capability or services, cable,
interactive computer, or Internet facilities or services pursuant to the authority granted herein from complying with any provisions of federal law which may at any time apply to the public providers or their facilities or services, including without limitation, to the extent that they apply, any requirement that they interconnect with other telecommunications providers, or that they obtain from the regulatory authorities designated by federal law as being the appropriate bodies from which to obtain any requisite approval, the approval of interconnection agreements with other telecommunications providers.
Florida Statute
125.421 Telecommunications services.—A telecommunications company that is a county or other entity of local government may obtain or hold a certificate required by chapter 364, and the obtaining or holding of said certificate serves a public purpose only if the county or other entity of local government:
(1) Separately accounts for the revenues, expenses, property, and source of investment dollars associated with the provision of such service;
(2) Is subject, without exemption, to all local requirements applicable to telecommunications companies; and
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pays, on its telecommunications facilities used to provide two-way telecommunication services to the public for hire and for which a certificate is required under chapter 364, ad valorem taxes, or fees in amounts equal thereto, to any taxing jurisdiction in which the county or other entity of local government operates. Any entity of local government may pay and impose such ad valorem taxes or fees. Any immunity of any county or other entity of local government from taxation of the property taxed by this section is hereby waived.
This section does not apply to the provision of telecommunications services for internal operational needs of a county or other entity of local government. This section does not apply to the provision of internal information services, including, but not limited to, tax records, engineering records, and property records, by a county or other entity of local government to the public for a fee.
History.—s. 1, ch. 97-197.
MICHIGAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 179 of 1991
484.2252 Telecommunication services offered by public entity.
Sec. 252.
(1) A public entity may provide telecommunication services within its boundaries if the public entity has complied with the requirements of section 14 of the metropolitan extension telecommunications right-of-way oversight act, 2002 PA 48, MCL 484.3114, and all of the following apply: (a) The public entity has issued a request for competitive sealed bids to provide telecommunication services. (b) The public entity has received less than 3 qualified bids from private providers. (c) It is more than 60 days from the date the request for bids was issued. (d) The public entity is providing the telecommunication services under the same terms and conditions as required under the request for bids issued pursuant to subdivision (a).(2) Except as provided under subsection (3), a public entity shall not provide telecommunication services outside its boundaries. (3) Two or more public entities may jointly request bids under subsection (1) and provide telecommunication services if all participating public entities meet the requirements of this section. If a public entity does not receive a qualified bid as required under subsection (1), the public entity may contract with another public entity to receive telecommunication services. (4) A public entity shall not establish a board or other entity for the purpose of providing regulation of a private provider of services under this section. (5) This section does not apply to all of the following: (a) Public safety systems. (b) Systems used only for the internal use of the public entity or for the sharing of information between the public entity and another public entity.(c) A public entity that is currently providing telecommunication services or that has held a public hearing by November 1, 2005 on a proposal to provide telecommunication services, or has issued a request for bids by November 1, 2005 to provide telecommunication services, or has an enforceable contract to begin construction of a telecommunication system by November 1, 2005. (d) A public entity that is currently providing service in another public entity's boundaries. (e) Services offered by a public entity to the public within a facility owned and operated by the public entity. (f) Systems or services used or offered by 1 or more public entities or consortiums to advance or promote the public health, safety, and provision of e-government services.(6) This section may not be construed to prevent a municipally-owned utility from providing to its energy customers, either directly or indirectly, any energy related service involving the transfer or receipt of information or data concerning the use, measurement, monitoring, or management of energy services provided by the municipally-owned utility, including services such as load management or automated meter reading. (7) As used in this section, "public entity" means a county, city, village, township, or any agency or subdivision of the public entity.2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 196 - Regulation of public utilities.
196.204 - Local government telecommunications utilities.
392.410. Certificate of public convenience and necessity required, exception — certificate of interexchange service authority, required when — duration of certificates — temporary certificates, issued when — political subdivisions restricted from providing certain telecommunications services or facilities. — 1. A telecommunications company not possessing a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the commission at the time this section goes into effect shall have not more than ninety days in which to apply for a certificate of service authority from the commission pursuant to this chapter unless a company holds a state charter issued in or prior to the year 1913 which charter authorizes a company to engage in the telephone business.
No telecommunications company not exempt from this subsection shall transact any business in this state until it shall have obtained a certificate of service authority from the commission pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except that any telecommunications company which is providing telecommunications service on September 28, 1987, and which has not been granted or denied a certificate of public convenience and necessity prior to September 28, 1987, may continue to provide that service exempt from all other requirements of this chapter until a certificate of service authority is granted or denied by the commission so long as the telecommunications company applies for a certificate of service authority within ninety days from September 28, 1987.
2. No telecommunications company offering or providing, or seeking to offer or provide, any interexchange telecommunications service shall do so until it has applied for and received a certificate of interexchange service authority pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section. No telecommunications company offering or providing, or seeking to offer or provide, any local exchange telecommunications service shall do so until it has applied for and received a certificate of local exchange service authority pursuant to the provisions of section 392.420.
3. No certificate of service authority issued by the commission shall be construed as granting a monopoly or exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise. The issuance of a certificate of service authority to any telecommunications company shall not preclude the commission from issuing additional certificates of service authority to another telecommunications company providing the same or equivalent service or serving the same geographical area or customers as any previously certified company, except to the extent otherwise provided by section 392.450.
4. Any certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by the commission to a telecommunications company prior to September 28, 1987, shall remain in full force and effect unless modified by the commission, and such companies need not apply for a certificate of service authority in order to continue offering or providing service to the extent authorized in such certificate of public convenience and necessity. Any such carrier, however, prior to substantially altering the nature or scope of services provided under a certificate of public convenience and necessity, or adding or expanding services beyond the authority contained in such certificate, shall apply for a certificate of service authority for such alterations or additions pursuant to the provisions of this section.
5. The commission may review and modify the terms of any certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to a telecommunications company prior to September 28, 1987, in order to ensure its conformity with the requirements and policies of this chapter. Any certificate of service authority may be altered or modified by the commission after notice and hearing, upon its own motion or upon application of the person or company affected. Unless exercised within a period of one year from the issuance thereof, authority conferred by a certificate of service authority or a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be null and void.
6. The commission may issue a temporary certificate which shall remain in force not to exceed one year to assure maintenance of adequate service or to serve particular customers, without notice and hearing, pending the determination of an application for a certificate.
7. No political subdivision of this state shall provide or offer for sale, either to the public or to a telecommunications provider, a telecommunications service or telecommunications facility used to provide a telecommunications service for which a certificate of service authority is required pursuant to this section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict a political subdivision from allowing the nondiscriminatory use of its rights-of-way including its poles, conduits,
ducts and similar support structures by telecommunications providers or from providing to telecommunications providers, within the geographic area in which it lawfully operates as a municipal utility, telecommunications services or telecommunications facilities on a nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral basis, and at a price which covers cost, including imputed costs that the political subdivision would incur if it were a for-profit business. Nothing in this subsection shall restrict a political subdivision from providing telecommunications services or facilities:
(1) For its own use;
(2) For 911, E-911 or other emergency services;
(3) For medical or educational purposes;
(4) To students by an educational institution; or
(5) Internet-type services.
Nevada Statute
NRS 268.086 Telecommunication service generally in city whose population is 25,000 or more: Sale of service by city to public prohibited; exception; procedure for city to purchase or construct certain facilities.
1. The governing body of an incorporated city whose population is 25,000 or more: (a) Shall not sell telecommunication service to the general public. (b) May purchase or construct facilities for providing telecommunication that intersect with public rights-of-way if the governing body: (1) Conducts a study to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with purchasing or constructing the facilities; and (2) Determines from the results of the study that the purchase or construction is in the interest of the general public.2. Any information relating to the study conducted pursuant to subsection 1 must be maintained by the city clerk and made available for public inspection during the business hours of the office of the city clerk. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection 1, an airport may sell telecommunication service to the general public. 4. As used in this section: (a) “Telecommunication” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.025. (b) “Telecommunication service” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.028. (Added to NRS by 1997, 2745; A 2007, 714) NRS 268.088 Telecommunication service or interactive computer service: Power of city to require franchises and impose terms and conditions on franchises limited; power of city to regulate placement of facilities limited.1. The governing body of an incorporated city shall not:
(a) Impose any terms or conditions on a franchise for the provision of telecommunication service or interactive computer service other than terms or conditions concerning the placement and location of the telephone or telegraph lines and fees imposed for a business license or the franchise, right or privilege to construct, install or operate such lines. (b) Require a company that provides telecommunication service or interactive computer service to obtain a franchise if it provides telecommunication service over the telephone or telegraph lines owned by another company. (c) Require a person who holds a franchise for the provision of telecommunication service to place its facilities in ducts or conduits or on poles owned or leased by the city.2. As used in this section: (a) “Interactive computer service” has the meaning ascribed to it in 47 U.S.C. § 230(f)(2), as that section existed on January 1, 2007. (b) “Telecommunication service” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.028. (Added to NRS by 1997, 2745; A 2001, 2126; 2007, 715)North Carolina:
Article 16A.
Provision of Communications Service by Cities.
§ 160A-340. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Article:
(1) City-owned communications service provider. - A city that provides communications service using a communications network, whether directly, indirectly, or through an interlocal agreement or a joint agency.
(2) Communications network. - A wired or wireless network for the provision of communications service.
(3) Communications service. - The provision of cable, video programming, telecommunications, broadband, or high-speed Internet access service to the public, or any sector of the public, for a fee, regardless of the technology used to deliver the service. The terms "cable service," "telecommunications service," and "video programming service" have the same meanings as in G.S. 105-164.3. The following is not considered the provision of communications service:
a. The sharing of data or voice between governmental entities for internal governmental purposes.
b. The remote reading or polling of data from utility or parking meters, or the provisioning of energy demand reduction or smart grid services for an electric, water, or sewer system.
c. The provision of free services to the public or a subset thereof.
(4) High-speed Internet access service. - Internet access service with transmission speeds that are equal to or greater than the requirements for basic broadband tier 1 service as defined by the Federal Communications Commission for broadband data gathering and reporting.
(5) Interlocal agreement. - An agreement between units of local government as authorized by Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
(6) Joint agency. - A joint agency created under Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
§ 160A-340.1. City-owned communications service provider requirements.
(a) A city-owned communications service provider shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Comply in its provision of communications service with all local, State, and federal laws, regulations, or other requirements applicable to the provision of the communications service if provided by a private communications service provider.
(2) In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, the Local Government Finance Act, establish one or more separate enterprise funds for the provision of communications service, use the enterprise funds to separately account for revenues, expenses, property, and source of investment dollars associated with the provision of communications service, and prepare and publish an independent annual report and audit in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that reflect the fully allocated cost of providing the communications service, including all direct and indirect costs. An annual independent audit conducted under G.S. 159-34 and submitted to the Local Government Commission satisfies the audit requirement of this subdivision.
(3) Limit the provision of communications service to within the corporate limits of the city providing the communications service.
(4) Shall not, directly or indirectly, under the powers of a city, exercise power or authority in any area, including zoning or land-use regulation, or exercise power to withhold or delay the provision of monopoly utility service, to require any person, including residents of a particular development, to use or subscribe to any communications service provided by the city-owned communications service provider.
(5) Shall provide nondiscriminatory access to private communications service providers on a first-come, first-served basis to rights-of-way, poles, or conduits owned, leased, or operated by the city unless the facilities have insufficient capacity for the access and additional capacity cannot reasonably be added to the facilities. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "nondiscriminatory access" means that, at a minimum, access shall be granted on the same terms and conditions as that given to a city-owned communications service provider.
(
(7) Shall not subsidize the provision of communications service with funds from any other noncommunications service, operation, or other revenue source, including any funds or revenue generated from electric, gas, water, sewer, or garbage services.
(8) Shall not price any communications service below the cost of providing the service, including any direct or indirect subsidies received by the city-owned communications service provider and allocation of costs associated with any shared use of buildings, equipment, vehicles, and personnel with other city departments. The city shall, in calculating the costs of providing the communications service, impute (i) the cost of the capital component that is equivalent to the cost of capital available to private communications service providers in the same locality
and (ii) an amount equal to all taxes, including property taxes, licenses, fees, and other assessments that would apply to a private communications service provider, including federal, State, and local taxes; rights-of-way, franchise, consent, or administrative fees; and pole attachment fees. In calculating the costs of the service the city may amortize the capital assets of the communications system over the useful life of the assets in accordance with generally accepted principles of governmental accounting.
(9) The city shall annually remit to the general fund of the city an amount equivalent to all taxes or fees a private communications service provider would be required to pay the city or county in which the city is located, including any applicable tax refunds received by the city-owned communications service provider because of its government status and a sum equal to the amount of property tax that would have been due if the city-owned communications service provider were a private communications service provider.
(b) A city-owned communications service provider shall not be required to obtain voter approval under G.S. 160A-321 prior to the sale or discontinuance of the city's communications network. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
§ 160A-340.2. Exemptions.
(a) The provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1, 160A-340.4, 160A-340.5, and 160A-340.6 do not apply to the purchase, lease, construction, or operation of facilities by a city to provide communications service within the city's corporate limits for the city's internal governmental purposes, including the sharing of data or voice between governmental entities for internal governmental purposes, or within the corporate limits of another unit of local government that is a party with the city to an interlocal agreement under Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes for the provision of internal government services.
(b) The provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1, 160A-340.4, and 160A-340.5 do not apply to the provision of communications service in an unserved area. A city seeking to provide communications service in an unserved area shall petition the North Carolina Utilities Commission for a determination that an area is unserved. The petition shall identify with specificity the geographic area for which the designation is sought. Any private communications service provider, or any other interested party, may, within a time established by order of the Commission, which time shall be no fewer than 30 days, file with the Commission an objection to the designation on the grounds that one or more areas designated in the petition is not an unserved area or that the city is not otherwise eligible to provide the service.
For purposes of this subsection, the term "unserved area" means a census block, as designated by the most recent census of the U.S. Census Bureau, in which at least fifty percent (50%) of households either have no access to high-speed Internet service or have access to high-speed Internet service only from a satellite provider. A city may petition the Commission to serve multiple contiguous unserved areas in the same proceeding.
(c) The provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1, 160A-340.3, 160A-340.4, 160A-340.5, and 160A-340.6 do not apply to a city or joint agency providing communications service as of January 1, 2011, provided the city or joint agency limits the provision of communications service to any one or more of the following:
(1) Persons within the corporate limits of the city providing the communications service. For the purposes of this subsection, corporate limits shall mean the corporate limits of the city as of April 1, 2011, or as expanded through annexation.
(2) Existing customers of the communications service as of April 1, 2011. Service to a customer outside the service area of the city or joint agency who is also a public entity must comply with the open bidding procedures of G.S. 143-129.8 upon the expiration or termination of the existing service contract.
(3) The following service areas:
a. For the joint agency operated by the cities of Davidson and Mooresville, the service area is the combined areas of the city of Cornelius; the town of Troutman; the town of Huntersville; the unincorporated areas of Mecklenburg County north of a line beginning at Highway 16 along the west boundary of the county, extending eastward along Highway 16, continuing east along Interstate 485, and continuing eastward to the eastern boundary of the county along Eastfield Road; and the unincorporated areas of Iredell County south of Interstate 40, excluding Statesville and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Statesville.
b. For the city of Salisbury, the service area is the municipalities of Salisbury, Spencer, East Spencer, Granite Quarry, Rockwell, Faith, Cleveland, China Grove, Landis and the corridors between those cities. The service area also includes the economic development sites, public safety facilities, governmental facilities, and educational schools and colleges located outside the municipalities and the corridors between the municipalities and these sites, facilities, schools, and colleges. The corridors between Salisbury and these municipalities and these sites, facilities, schools, and colleges includes only the area necessary to provide service to these municipalities and these sites, facilities, schools, and colleges and shall not be wider than 300 feet.
The elected bodies of Spencer, East Spencer, Granite Quarry, Rockwell, Faith, Cleveland, China Grove, and Landis shall vote to approve the service extension into each respective municipality before Salisbury can provide service to that municipality. The Rowan County Board of County Commissioners shall vote to approve service extension to any governmental economic development site, governmental facility, school, or college owned by Rowan County. The Rowan Salisbury School Board shall also vote to approve service extension to schools.
c. For the city of Wilson, the service area is the county limits of Wilson County, including the incorporated areas within the County. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the city of Wilson may continue the provision of communication services to persons and businesses in the temporary extension areas under the condition that the provision of communication services in such areas is terminated by a date which is 30 days after the date retail service is first available in the area from a competitive provider of communications service that will provide Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) service. For purposes of this subdivision, "temporary extension areas" shall mean
(i) the corporate limits of the Town of Pinetops and (ii) any service connection located within 800 feet of the centerline of Christian Road (State Road No. 1942) between its intersection with Bloomery Road (State Road No. 1996) and West Hornes Church Road (State Road No. 1941). Prior to the cessation of service, the city of Wilson may establish rates, fees, charges, and penalties for the communication services provided in the temporary extension areas in the same manner as communication services provided in the county limits of Wilson County,
including the incorporated areas within the County. Service will be deemed available for purposes of this provision upon the certification by a competitive provider to the city that service is available in a temporary extension area. For purposes of this subdivision, a competitive provider is an incumbent local exchange carrier or cable telecommunications company that is not presently providing Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) service in the temporary extension areas.
d. For all other cities or joint agencies offering communications service, the service area is the area designated in the map filed as part of the initial notice of franchise with the Secretary of State as of January 1, 2011.
(d) The exemptions provided in this section do not exempt a city or joint agency from laws and rules of general applicability to governmental services, including nondiscriminatory obligations.
(e) In the event a city subject to the exemption set forth in subsection (c) of this section provides communications service to a customer outside the limits set forth in that subsection, the city shall have 30 days from the date of notice or discovery to cease providing service to the customer without loss of the exemption. (2011-84, s. 1(a); 2017-180, s. 1.)
§ 160A-340.3. Notice; public hearing.
A city or joint agency that proposes to provide communications service shall hold not fewer than two public hearings, which shall be held not less than 30 days apart, for the purpose of gathering information and comment. Notice of the hearings shall be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks in the predominant newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the city is located. The notice shall also be provided to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which shall post the notice on its Web site, and to all companies that have requested service of the notices from the city clerk. The city shall deposit the notice in the U.S. mail to companies that have requested notice at least 45 days prior to the hearing subject to the notice.
Private communications service providers shall be permitted to participate fully in the public hearings by presenting testimony and documentation relevant to their service offerings and the city's plans. Any feasibility study, business plan, or public survey conducted or prepared by the city in connection with the proposed communications service project is a public record as defined by G.S. 132-1 and shall be made available to the public prior to the public hearings required by this section. This section does not apply to the repair, rebuilding, replacement, or improvement of an existing communications network, or equipment relating thereto. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
§ 160A-340.4. Financing.
(a) A city or joint agency subject to the provisions of G.S. 160A-340.1 shall not enter into a contract under G.S. 160A-19 or G.S. 160A-20 to purchase or to finance the purchase of property for use in a communications network or to finance the construction of fixtures or improvements for use in a communications network unless it complies with subsection (b) of this section. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the repair, rebuilding, replacement, or improvement of an existing communications network, or equipment relating thereto.
(b) A city shall not incur debt for the purpose of constructing a communications system without first holding a special election under G.S. 163-297 on the question of whether the city may provide communications service. If a majority of the votes cast in the special election are for the city providing communications service, the city may incur the debt for the service. If a majority of the votes cast in the special election are against the city providing communications service, the city shall not incur the debt. However, nothing in this section shall prohibit a city from revising its plan to offer communications service and calling another special election on the question prior to providing or offering to provide the service. A special election required under Chapter 159 of the General Statutes as a condition to the issuance of bonds shall satisfy the requirements of this section. (2011-84, s. 1(a); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.)
§ 160A-340.5. Taxes; payments in lieu of taxes.
(a) A communications network owned or operated by a city or joint agency shall be exempt from property taxes. However, each city possessing an ownership share of a communications network and a joint agency owning a communications network shall, in lieu of property taxes, pay to any county authorized to levy property taxes the amount which would be assessed as taxes on real and personal property if the communications network were otherwise subject to valuation and assessment. Any payments in lieu of taxes shall be due and shall bear interest, if unpaid, as in the case of taxes on other property.
(b) A city-owned communications service provider shall pay to the State, on an annual basis, an amount in lieu of taxes that would otherwise be due the State if the communications service was provided by a private communications service provider, including State income, franchise, vehicle, motor fuel, and other similar taxes. The amount of the payment in lieu of taxes shall be set annually by the Department of Revenue and shall approximate the taxes that would be due if the communications service was undertaken by a private communications service provider. A city-owned communications service provider must provide information requested by the Secretary of Revenue necessary for calculation of the assessment.
The Department must inform each city-owned communications service provider of the amount of the assessment by January 1 of each year. The assessment is due by March 15 of each year. If the assessment is unpaid, the State may withhold the amount due, including interest on late payments, from distributions otherwise due the city under G.S. 105-164.44I.
(c) A city-owned communications service provider or a joint agency that provides communications service shall not be eligible for a refund under G.S. 105-164.14(c) for sales and use taxes paid on purchases of tangible personal property and services related to the provision of communications service, except to the extent a private communications service provider would be exempt from taxation. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
§ 160A-340.6. Public-private partnerships for communications service.
(a) Prior to undertaking to construct a communications network for the provision of communications service, a city shall first solicit proposals from private business in accordance with the procedures of this section.
(b) The city shall issue requests for proposals that specify the nature and scope of the requested communications service, the area in which it is to be provided, any specifications and performance standards, and information as to the city's proposed participation in providing equipment, infrastructure, or other aspects of the service. The city may prescribe the form and content of proposals and may require that proposals contain sufficiently detailed information to allow for an objective evaluation of proposals using the factors stated in subsection (d) of this section. Each proposal shall at minimum contain all of the following:
(1) Information regarding the proposer's experience and qualifications to perform the requirements of the proposal.
(2) Information demonstrating the proposer's ability to secure financing needed to perform the requirements of the proposal.
(3) Information demonstrating the proposer's ability to provide staffing, implement work tasks, and carry out all other responsibilities necessary to perform the requirements of the proposal.
(4) Information clearly identifying and specifying all elements of cost of the proposal for the term of the proposed contract, including the cost of the purchase or lease of equipment and supplies, design, installation, operation, management, and maintenance of any system, and any proposed services.
(5) Any other information the city determines has a material bearing on its ability to evaluate the proposal.
(c) The city shall provide notice that it is requesting proposals in accordance with this subsection. The notice shall state the time and place where plans and specifications for the proposed service may be obtained and the time and place for opening proposals. Any notice given under this subsection shall reserve to the city the right to reject any or all proposals. Notice of request for proposals shall be given by all of the following methods:
(1) By mailing a notice of request for proposals to each firm that has obtained a license or permit to use the public rights-of-way in the city to provide a communications service within the city by depositing such notices in the U.S. mail at least 30 days prior to the date specified for the opening of proposals. In identifying firms, the city may rely upon lists provided by the Office of the Secretary of State and the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
(2) By posting a notice of request for proposals on the city's Web site at least 30 days before the time specified for the opening of proposals.
(3) By publishing a notice of request for proposals in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the city is predominantly located at least 30 days before the time specified for the opening of proposals.
(d) In evaluating proposals, the city may consider any relevant factors, including system design, system reliability, operational experience, operational costs, compatibility with existing systems and equipment, and emerging technology. The city may negotiate aspects of any proposal with any responsible proposer with regard to these factors to determine which proposal is the most responsive. A determination of most responsive proposer by the city shall be final.
(e) The city may negotiate a contract with the most responsive proposer for the performance of communications service specified in the request for proposals. All contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be approved and awarded by the governing body of the city.
(f) If the city is unable to successfully negotiate the terms of a contract with the most responsive proposer within 60 days of the opening of the proposals, the city may proceed to negotiate with the firm determined to be the next most responsive proposer if such a proposer exists. If the city is unable to successfully negotiate the terms of a contract with the next most responsive proposer within 60 days, it may proceed under this Article to provide communications service.
(g) All proposals shall be sealed and shall be opened in public. Provided, that trade secrets shall remain confidential as provided under G.S. 132-1.2. (2011-84, s. 1(a).)
Pennsylvania Statute:
§ 3014. Network modernization plans.
(a) Continuation of approved plan.--A local exchange telecommunications company that does not elect an option under subsection (b) shall remain subject to its network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, without revision or modification except by agreement under section 3013(b) (relating to continuation of commission-approved alternative regulation and network modernization plans) and as provided in this section through December 31, 2015.
(b) Options for amendment of network modernization plan.--Local exchange telecommunications companies shall have the following options:
(1) (i) A rural telecommunications carrier that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this subsection shall remain subject to the carrier's network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, as amended pursuant to this subsection, through December 31, 2008. Prior to implementation of such election, the rural telecommunications carrier shall comply with the notification requirements of subsection (e).
(ii) The rural telecommunications carrier shall commit to accelerate 100% broadband availability by December 31, 2008, in its amended network modernization plan. Any rural telecommunications carrier electing this option shall not be required to offer a bona fide retail request program or a business attraction or retention program.
(2) (i) A rural telecommunications carrier that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this subsection shall remain subject to the carrier's network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, as amended pursuant to this subsection, through December 31, 2013, or December 31, 2015, as applicable. Prior to implementation of such election, the rural telecommunications carrier shall comply with the notification requirements of subsection (e).
(ii) The rural telecommunications carrier shall commit:
east 80% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2010, and 100% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2013; or
(B) to accelerate broadband availability to at least 80% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2010, and 100% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2015; and
(C) to offer a bona fide retail request program and a business attraction or retention program pursuant to subsections (c) and (d). Under no circumstances may the rural telecommunications carrier reduce its existing broadband availability commitment.
(3) (i) A nonrural telecommunications carrier that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this subsection shall remain subject to such carrier's network modernization plan in effect as of December 31, 2003, as amended pursuant to this subsection, including meeting its 100% broadband availability commitment. Prior to implementation of such election, the nonrural telecommunications carrier shall comply with the notification requirements of subsection (e).
(ii) The nonrural telecommunications carrier shall commit:
(A) to provide broadband availability to 100% of its total retail access lines in its distribution network by December 31, 2013, or December 31, 2015; and
(B) to offer a bona fide retail request program and a business attraction or retention program pursuant to subsections (c) and (d). Under no circumstances may such nonrural telecommunications carrier reduce its existing broadband availability commitment.
(4) A local exchange telecommunications company that elects under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) shall also commit to universal broadband deployment in or adjacent to public rights-of-way abutting all public schools, including the administration offices supporting public schools, industrial parks and health care facilities in its service territory on or before December 31, 2005, except that a local exchange telecommunications company serving more than ten exchanges in this Commonwealth may elect to extend this commitment from December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2006, for any exchange with less than 4,000 access lines.
(5) A local exchange telecommunications company that elects under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) may amend its network modernization plan to extend the period of time within which broadband service must be made available to a customer to up to ten business days after the customer's request for broadband service.
(6) A local exchange telecommunications company operating under an amended network modernization plan may subsequently petition the commission for approval of further modification of its amended network modernization plan, which the commission may grant upon good cause shown.
(7) A rural telecommunications carrier serving less than 50,000 access lines in this Commonwealth making an election pursuant to paragraph (1) and filing its amended network modernization plan with the commission pursuant to subsection (e) shall be granted by the commission a suspension of section 251(c)(2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) obligations under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This suspension of obligations shall expire December 31, 2008, unless extended by the commission. Should the commission, following a hearing, determine that the rural telecommunications carrier has failed to timely meet its commitments pursuant to this paragraph, the suspension of obligations shall expire upon entry of the commission order making such determination. Expiration of the suspension of obligations shall not impact the rural telephone company exemption of the rural telecommunications carrier under section 251(f)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
(8) A local exchange telecommunications company may accelerate its broadband availability commitment by electing an additional option pursuant to paragraph (1), (2) or (3), as applicable, at a later date. The local exchange telecommunications company shall be subject to the applicable modified inflation offset in its price stability mechanism as set forth in section 3015(a)(1) (relating to alternative forms of regulation) effective upon the filing of an amended network modernization plan under subsection (e).
(c) Bona fide retail request program.--A local exchange telecommunications company that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to subsection (b)(2) or (3) shall no later than 90 days after the effective date of its amended plan implement a bona fide retail request program in areas where it does not provide broadband. Not later than 30 days in advance of program implementation, the local exchange telecommunications company shall file with the commission and provide the department with a written description of the program, a sample request for advanced services form for use in the program and the form of any advanced services term subscription agreements customers will be required to execute in connection with receiving the requested services. A bona fide retail request program shall consist of the following:
(1) Any person, business, local development district, industrial development agency or other entity seeking advanced services pursuant to a bona fide retail request program shall submit a written request for such services to the local exchange telecommunications company or to the department in accordance with subsection (d). The written request may be in the form of a petition which includes the information required by paragraph (2), in the form provided by the department under subsection (d) which includes the information required by paragraph (2) or in the form of individual requests each of which includes the information required by paragraph (2). If individual requests are received, the local exchange telecommunications company shall aggregate requests for the same service and initiate appropriate action pursuant to this subsection when the required number of requests have been received.
(2) To be considered a bona fide retail request, the written request must include:
(i) a request that a minimum of 50 retail access lines or 25% of retail access lines within a community, whichever is less, each be provided the same advanced service or comparable advanced services having a bandwidth within 100 kilobits per second (Kbps) of each other. Notwithstanding the foregoing comparable bandwidth limitation, where a request includes individual customer requests for advanced services having equal to or less than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) bandwidth in the downstream direction, all lines in the request shall be counted in meeting the minimum line requirement of this subparagraph;
(ii) the name, address, telephone number and signature of each existing retail customer requesting the advanced service, the advanced service being requested and the number of access lines for which the advanced service is being requested;
(iii) the name, address and telephone number of a designated contact person where the request is made by or on behalf of more than one person or business; and
(iv) a commitment by each customer who signs the request to subscribe to the requested service for one year, subject to the local exchange telecommunications company's identification of the price and terms of the service and the customer's agreement to the price and terms.
(3) In administering the bona fide retail request program, the local exchange telecommunications company shall:
(i) establish an Internet website and toll-free telephone number to address customer inquiries regarding the program;
(ii) mail a request form to a customer upon request;
(iii) confirm its receipt of any completed request in writing to the customer and identify the service requested;
(iv) as part of the written confirmation, if available, or in a subsequent written communication to the customer, provide the customer the applicable rate, the contract term, the status of the request and a term subscription agreement for execution; and
(v) notify the customers in a community, within 30 days of receipt of a bona fide request, of the expected date of the availability of the requesters' service.
(4) When a bona fide retail request has been received that meets the requirements of paragraph (2), the local exchange telecommunications company shall provide the requested advanced service, or other reasonably comparable service having a bandwidth within 100 kilobits per second (Kbps) of the requested service, to the community as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 365 days of the date the requirements of paragraph (2) have been met or within the period approved by the commission under paragraph (5) or (6) where:
(i) the local exchange telecommunications company provides the requested advanced service to other customers in its service territory;
(ii) no service is available to the requesting customers from an alternative service provider at or within 100 kilobits per second (Kbps) of the data speed requested or such service is available at a price that exceeds the then current price offered by the local exchange telecommunications company by more than 50%;
(iii) the community is situated within the service territory of the local exchange telecommunications company; and
(iv) the local exchange telecommunications company does not have to provide fiber to the customer's premises to furnish the requested advanced service.
to furnish the requested advanced service.
(5) Where, as a result of property acquisition, including acquiring rights-of-way, or new construction, a local exchange telecommunications company is unable to provide the requested advanced service within the one-year period set forth in paragraph (4), the company may petition the commission for an extension of up to six months, with service upon the customer or customers who made the bona fide retail request and the department if the department submitted the request on behalf of the customer or customers. The commission may delegate its authority to rule on such petitions to a bureau director or other appropriate employee who shall grant the petition for good cause shown.
(6) Where the total number of bona fide retail requests received by any local exchange telecommunications company or affiliated companies that meet the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (4) exceed 40 requests in any 12-month period or where there are more than 20 such requests that require property acquisition, including acquiring rights-of-way, or new construction in any 12-month period, the local exchange telecommunications company or companies may provide a verified certification to the commission that one or both of the previously stated criteria are met, with service upon the customer or customers who made the additional requests and upon the department if the department submitted any such requests. Upon receipt of the certification, the commission or the commission through its designated staff shall permit the local
exchange telecommunications company or companies to extend the time for such deployments for a period of no more than 12 months unless the commission determines an additional time period to be just and reasonable. If a deployment is extended, it shall be counted in determining the maximum number of deployments provided for under this subsection in any 12-month period covering the month to which it is extended.
(7) No advanced service requested and deployed by a local exchange telecommunications company under the bona fide retail request program which has a bandwidth of less than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) in the downstream direction shall be counted as a credit toward the local exchange telecommunications company's broadband deployment obligation under its network modernization plan amended pursuant to subsection (b)(2) or (3).
(9) Local exchange telecommunications companies with bona fide retail request programs shall provide semiannual reports to the commission and the department of the number of requests for advanced services received during the reporting period by exchange or density cell and the action taken on requests meeting the requirements of this subsection.
(10) A local exchange telecommunication company's bona fide retail request program established under this subsection shall continue through December 31, 2015, or such earlier date as the local exchange telecommunications company achieves 100% broadband availability throughout its service territory.
(11) In addition to adjudicating any complaints brought by customers under paragraph (8), the commission shall monitor and enforce the compliance of participating local exchange telecommunications companies with their obligations under this subsection.
(d) Business attraction or retention program.--
(1) Not later than 90 days after amending its network modernization plan under subsection (b)(2) or (3), the local exchange telecommunications company shall establish a business attraction or retention program to permit the department to aggregate customer demand where necessary and facilitate the deployment of advanced or broadband services to qualifying businesses which the department seeks to attract to or retain in this Commonwealth and whose requests for such
services are submitted by or through the department.
(2) Each local exchange telecommunications company which amends its network modernization plan under subsection (b)(2) or (3) not later than 90 days after the effective date of its amended plan shall designate a single point of contact to receive all written advanced or broadband service requests forwarded by the department, provide associated contact information to the department and provide the department and the commission with a written description of its participation in the program and a sample request for advanced or broadband services form for use in the program.
(3) The department may submit a request to the applicable local exchange telecommunications company by or on behalf of qualifying businesses in areas that the department deems priority areas for economic development, including and giving preference to keystone opportunity zones, keystone opportunity expansion zones, enterprise zones, keystone opportunity improvement zones and other areas identified by the department as lacking adequate access to advanced or broadband services which would be important in order to promote economic development projects in those areas.
(4) The department shall establish an advisory committee that shall consist of representatives of each local exchange telecommunications company with a business attraction or retention program, local development districts and other local economic and industrial development agencies to assist the department in developing protocols and procedures for implementing these programs pursuant to this subsection.
(5) Qualifying business or businesses' requests for advanced services submitted by the department that are provisioned through the bona fide retail request program shall be processed in accordance with subsection (c) and shall be allocated 50% of the maximum number of annual deployments referenced in subsection (c)(6). Other requests shall be allocated 50% of the number of such deployments, provided, however, that any allocated deployments that are unused may be utilized by the department or nondepartment applicants, as applicable.
(6) For qualifying business or businesses whose request for advanced services is determined by the local exchange telecommunications company to be better processed outside of the bona fide retail request program, the local exchange telecommunications company shall make a proposal to the requesting business or businesses to provide the requested advanced or broadband service and subsequently shall provision such service. The local exchange telecommunications company shall advise the department and the business or businesses within 30 days of the date the contract is signed of the date by which the requested advanced or broadband service will be provided, which date shall be not later than one year after the date the contract is signed unless the business or businesses agree to a longer period or the local exchange telecommunications company obtains commission approval of an extension under the same procedure set forth in subsection (c)(5).
(7) No advanced service requested of and deployed by a local exchange telecommunications company under the Business Attraction or Retention Program which has a bandwidth of less than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) in the downstream direction shall be counted as a credit toward the local exchange telecommunication company's broadband deployment obligation under its network modernization plan amended under subsection (b)(2) or (3).
(8) Each local exchange telecommunications company which is required to participate in the department's Business Attraction or Retention Program shall continue its participation through December 31, 2015, or such earlier date as it achieves 100% broadband availability throughout its service territory.
(9) The department shall oversee local exchange telecommunications company participation in the Business Attraction or Retention Program, including the timely completion of qualifying advanced or broadband services requests submitted by or through the department which are processed within or outside of the participating local exchange telecommunications companies' bona fide retail request programs.
(10) The commission shall monitor and enforce the compliance of participating local exchange telecommunications companies with their obligations under the Business Attraction or Retention Program.
(e) Notice of filing of amendments.--A local exchange telecommunications company that elects to amend its network modernization plan under subsection (b) shall notify the commission in writing of such election and, within 60 days following such notification, file its amended network modernization plan with the commission. Copies of the written notice of election and of the amended network modernization plan shall be served by the local exchange telecommunications company on the Office of Consumer Advocate and the Office of Small Business Advocate.
Concurrent with the filing of the amended plan with the commission, the local exchange telecommunications company shall publish notice of such filing in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in its service territory or by bill message or insert. An amended plan compliant with the requirements of this chapter shall be approved by the commission within 100 days of its filing. If the commission fails to act within 100 days, the amended plan shall be deemed approved.
(f) Network modernization plan report.--
(1) A local exchange telecommunications company operating under a network modernization plan shall continue to file with the commission biennial reports on its provision of broadband availability in the form and detail required by the commission as of July 1, 2004, unless such reporting requirements are subsequently reduced by the commission.
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impede the ability of the commission to require the submission of further information to support the accuracy of or to seek an explanation of the reports specified in this subsection.
(3) Under no circumstances shall the commission compel the public release of maps or other information describing the actual location of a local exchange telecommunications company's facilities.
(g) Assistance to political subdivisions.--A local exchange telecommunications company shall commit in its amended network modernization plan to make technical assistance available to political subdivisions located in its service territory in pursuing the deployment of additional telecommunications infrastructure or services by the local exchange telecommunications company.
(h) Prohibition against political subdivision advanced and broadband services deployment.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided for under paragraph (2), a political subdivision or any entity established by a political subdivision may not provide to the public for compensation any telecommunications services, including advanced and broadband services, within the service territory of a local exchange telecommunications company operating under a network modernization plan.
(2) A political subdivision may offer advanced or broadband services if the political subdivision has submitted a written request for the deployment of such service to the local exchange telecommunications company serving the area and, within two months of receipt of the request, the local exchange telecommunications company or one of its affiliates has not agreed to provide the data speeds requested. If the local exchange telecommunications company or one of its affiliates agrees to provide the data speeds requested, then it must do so within 14 months of receipt of the request.
(3) The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not be construed to preclude the continued provision or offering of telecommunications services by a political subdivision of the same type and scope as were being provided on the effective date of this section.
(i) Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Program.--
(1) The department shall establish a Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Program for the purpose of making expenditures and providing grants from the Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Fund established under section 3015(c) (relating to alternative forms of regulation) for:
(i) Outreach programs for political subdivisions, economic development entities, schools, health care facilities, businesses and residential customers concerning the benefits, use and procurement of broadband services; and
(ii) Seed grants to aggregate customer demand for broadband services in communities or political subdivisions with limited access to such services and to permit customers in such communities or political subdivisions to request such services from a telecommunications provider.
(2) The department shall annually report to the commission on all payments to and expenditures from the Broadband Outreach and Aggregation Fund, and the commission shall verify the accuracy of the contributions from the participating local exchange telecommunications companies.
(j) Education Technology Program.--
(1) The Department of Education shall establish an Education Technology Program for the purpose of providing grants to school entities from the Education Technology Fund (E-Fund) established under section 3015(d).
(2) The Department of Education shall authorize grants from the E-Fund for the following purposes:
(i) Purchase or lease of telecommunications services, infrastructure or facilities to establish and support broadband networks between, among and within school entities and not for the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation.
(ii) Purchase or lease of premises telecommunications network equipment and end-user equipment to enable the effective use of broadband networks between, among and within school entities and not for the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation.
(iii) Distance learning initiatives that use the foregoing broadband networks.
(iv) Technical support services for the activities described in subparagraphs (i) through (iii).
(3) Each applicant school entity shall be required to provide 100% matching funds to support each E-Fund grant request. Funds received from Federal technology programs such as the universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries set forth in 47 CFR Pt. 54 (relating to universal service or successor regulations), in-kind contributions and any other technology expenditures shall be applied toward the matching fund requirement.
(4) No later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, the Department of Education shall prescribe the grant process and the form and manner of the E-Fund application. Grants shall be limited to the funds available in the Education Technology Fund. In awarding grants, the Department of Education shall give priority to applications:
(i) that are submitted by school entities that seek funds for discounted broadband services under subsection (l) or for broadband infrastructure, facilities or equipment from local exchange telecommunications companies which contribute to the E-Fund;
(ii) that seek funds for regional networks that serve multiple school districts which are filed on behalf of multiple school districts and school entities; or
(iii) that are submitted by school entities that do not have broadband service, provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall preclude the department from awarding funds to school entities for telecommunications services, infrastructure or facilities that provide bandwidths greater than 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps).
The Department of Education shall assure that the applications funded each year are geographically dispersed throughout the Commonwealth.
(k) Balanced deployment.--A local exchange telecommunications company shall reasonably balance deployment of its broadband network between rural, urban and suburban areas within its service territory, as those areas are applicable, in accordance with its approved network modernization plan.
(l) Broadband discounts to schools.--Each local exchange telecommunications company that elects to amend its network modernization plan pursuant to this section:
(1) Shall offer school customers which meet the eligibility standards described in 47 CFR 54.501 (relating to eligibility for services provided by telecommunications carriers) and which agree to enter into a minimum three-year contract a 30% discount, or greater discount at the local exchange telecommunications company's discretion, in the otherwise applicable tariffed distance-sensitive per-mile rate element and also will waive the associated nonrecurring charges for available intrastate broadband services where used for
educational purposes and not for the provision of telecommunications services to the public for compensation. The discount or waiver shall not be required where application of it to a particular service would conflict with applicable law.
(2) Will assist school customers in applying for e-rate funding under 47 CFR 54.505 (relating to discounts).
(m) Inventory of available services.--
(1) The department shall compile, periodically update and publish, including at its Internet website, a listing of advanced and broadband services, by general location, available from all advanced and broadband service providers operating in this Commonwealth irrespective of the technology used.
(2) All providers of advanced and broadband services shall cooperate with the department.
(3) The department may not disclose maps or other information describing the specific location of any telecommunications carrier's or alternative service provider's facilities.
(n) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed:
(1) As giving the commission the authority to require a local exchange telecommunications company to provide specific services or to deploy a specific technology to retail customers seeking broadband or advanced services.
(2) As prohibiting a local exchange telecommunications company from participating in joint ventures with other entities in meeting its advanced services and broadband deployment commitments under its network modernization plan.
(Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1398, No.183)
2004 Amendment. Act 183 added section 3014, effective January 1, 2006, as to subsec. (h)(3) and immediately as to the remainder of the section.
Cross References. Section 3014 is referred to in sections 3012, 3015 of this title.
China creates new Ram-Rotor Detonation Engine to boost hypersonic flight
The design is focused on delivering continuous thrust, enabling lower start-up speeds, and improving overall performance.
Researchers in China have introduced a new hypersonic engine concept by integrating a ramjet with a rotary detonation engine.
A team at Tsinghua University in Beijing created a new design known as the Ram-Rotor Detonation Engine (RRDE) by combining a detonation engine and a rotor compressor based on ramjets, drawing inspiration from rotary engines.
#china #ramroor #engine #hypersonic #technology
The design aims to provide continuous thrust, operate at lower start-up speeds, and enhance overall performance.
According to researchers, the approach could improve efficiency in hypersonic flight, potentially making high-speed travel more feasible.
Versatile engine design
The new study examines the new RRDE, which is intended to improve propulsion through effective detonation cycles. Rapid combustion, or detonation, increases pressure by compressing fuel and air with a shock wave and then releasing a lot of heat.
Despite the pressure advantages promised by detonation engines like the Pulsed Detonation Engine (PDE) and Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE), steady thrust and pressure are difficult to achieve under practical circumstances.
Building on prior research, scientists propose the RRDE, which uses rotating blades to compress, ignite, and expand gases in a single sequence. Inspired by the ram-rotor compressor concept, the RRDE is designed to manage shock waves and improve thrust by sustaining ideal pressure cycles.
The new research introduces RRDE’s structure, analyzes its performance, and demonstrates its potential through simulations, paving the way for advances in hypersonic and aerospace propulsion.
Article
Porn Is Protected Speech. Trump’s New Presidency Will Test That Sentiment. The Courts Can Uphold It.
The die is cast. Donald Trump is heading back to the White House – a remarkable victory. But a lot of people who work in the adult entertainment industry are understandably scared
#pornography #trump #industry #adult #trump
The die is cast. Donald Trump is heading back to the White House – a remarkable victory. But a lot of people who work in the adult entertainment industry are understandably scared. From the concerns for LGBTQ+ rights under the new Trump presidency to access to reproductive care at a state and national level, the next four years will be a significant challenge.
While all valid concerns that I share, it is the specter of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 agenda that frightens me most. Previously, I’ve written across various outlets, like Techdirt, to address the “masculine policy” Trump and his new vice president, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, and his allies envision to “make America great again.” Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation and the de facto head of Project 2025, a so-called “presidential transition project,” laid out the administration’s position on key culture war issues, such as access to online porn.
Roberts wrote in Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, Project 2025’s incendiary policy treatise nearly 1,000 pages long, that their camp believes “pornography” and “pornographers” should be imprisoned and stripped of First Amendment protection. Some folks have characterized Roberts’ words as simply rhetoric, but the past twelve months have verified a coordinated effort to significantly claw back the rights of all sex workers and adult industry firms.
This time around, Donald Trump has surrounded himself with outspoken Christian nationalists who want to demonize and then criminalize sexual expression that is otherwise protected by the First Amendment.
Russell Vought, one of the central architects of Project 2025, was caught on hidden camera a few months ago confirming that the efforts to ban porn will go through a so-called “back door” framework via a patchwork of state-level age verification laws and efforts in a newly GOP-controlled Senate. In addition to that, Vance has supported a porn ban. It was also under Donald Trump’s last term that the FOSTA-SESTA monstrosity that decimated legal sex work on the internet came to fruition. Imagine what will advance under Trump.
Article
Russia launches world’s most powerful nuclear icebreaker with 350 MW thermal capacity
In the coming weeks, Russia is planning the delivery of another icebreaker, the Yakutia, which is more than 95% complete.
Russia launched a new nuclear-powered icebreaker named Chukotka. The latest vessel has joined the fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. The launch was overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link.
The vessel in the Russia’s Project 22220 series is expected to have a life of 40 years and can endure extreme Arctic conditions. It can also plow through ice up to 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) thick.
#russia #nuclear #icebreaker #ship
Russia to increase cargo traffic along Northern Sea Route
Putin emphasized that expanding Russia’s icebreaker fleet is key to developing Arctic territories.
“I would like to repeat that our plans to develop our Arctic territories and to increase cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route rely on expanding Russia’s icebreaker fleet,” said Putin.
“We have ambitious plans in this area. There is a great deal to be done. In this context, I suggest holding a special meeting on this subject, thoroughly preparing and comprehensively discussing all aspects of advanced development of the Northern Sea Route, so that we find concrete practical solutions.”
Three new-generation nuclear-powered vessels – the Arktika, Sibir, and Ural – have been floated out from the Baltic Shipyard and are now working in the waters of the Northern Sea Route.
Russia planning delivery of another icebreaker
The Chukotka icebreaker has joined this group. In the coming weeks, Russia is planning the delivery of another icebreaker, the Yakutia, which is more than 95 percent complete.
Putin underlined that Russia needs to consider options to create a more efficient pricing model for icebreaker freight transit, so that more carriers and shippers can afford such services, especially since both Russian and foreign companies are showing more and more interest in this route with each passing year.
Russia has also claimed that next year, as agreed, icebreaker Stalingrad of the same series should be laid down. In addition, the next-generation nuclear icebreaker Leader, the most powerful so far, is being built at Zvezda shipyard in the Far East.
“The construction of these powerful modern vessels is yet another embodiment of Russia’s industrial, scientific, technological and human resources potential. It is on the basis of domestic technologies and breakthrough scientific solutions that the national economy should develop,” said Putin.
Article
Battleships to cargo ships: How nuclear power is shaping the future of shipping
Is the world ready for nuclear-powered merchant ships? Join the debate on the technological innovations and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of nuclear commercial vessels.
For decades, nuclear power has been reserved for the most formidable naval vessels. Now, the shipping industry faces a pivotal question: Can nuclear technology power commercial ships?
While adopting nuclear power in commercial shipping offers promising environmental benefits, it also presents significant technical and regulatory hurdles. The complexity of retrofitting existing vessels to accommodate nuclear reactors and the need for new safety protocols and infrastructure poses a formidable challenge.
#nuclear #battleshipts #cargo #shipping #energy
However, the long-term savings and sustainability benefits could outweigh these initial obstacles, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient future in commercial transport.
How close are we to witnessing the advent of nuclear-powered commercial vessels? This discussion unfolds with insights from Mark Tilling of Lloyd’s Register and Mikal Bøe of CORE POWER, leading figures in the quest to adapt nuclear power for maritime commerce.
Nuclear technology: From naval to commercial application
Nuclear power has been the epitome of naval power for over sixty years. There is no better expression of a country’s strength than a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. These floating cities pack devastating firepower and the ability to span multiple oceans.
Likewise, in the hidden depths, the nuclear submarine offers a deterrent that, some say, kept the peace during the Cold War. Yet, the commercial shipping industry, burdened by its heavy carbon footprint, is now eyeing nuclear technology as a revolutionary power source.
According to Mark Tilling, director of Project X at Lloyd’s Register, the concept of nuclear-powered commercial ships isn’t new. Significant experiments, including deploying the U.S. nuclear-powered ship Savannah, explored these ideas as early as the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
The Savannah, which was tested extensively during its sea trials, demonstrated the capability of nuclear energy to power a vessel safely and efficiently across significant distances – theoretically capable of circumnavigating the globe 14 times on a single fuel load.
Article
Elwood Edwards, Voice of AOL's 'You've Got Mail,' Dead at 74
Elwood Edwards, the iconic voice of AOL's "You’ve Got Mail" audio message, has died after a long illness.
Elwood died Tuesday, the day before his 75th birthday. His former employer, WKYC-TV Studios in Cleveland, confirmed the sad news. The details of the illness remain unclear.
Elwood was a staple at the Ohio station for years, working as a graphics whiz and camera operator, among other roles. But, it was back in 1989 when he struck gold, earning worldwide fame -- and a spot in internet history -- as the voice of America Online’s "You’ve Got Mail" message.
#elwoodedwards #technology #aol
He was asked to record just 4 simple lines -- "Welcome," "You’ve Got Mail," "Files Done," and "Goodbye" -- and in exchange, he pocketed a cool $200 for his everlasting voiceover work.
The company, known famously as AOL, blew up ... and millions worldwide heard his voice every time they logged onto the internet -- if they had email, a new concept at the time. While his face was never seen, Elwood’s voice gave him a unique kind of minor celeb status, forever tied to those early days of AOL.
He even made a cameo on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in 2015, where he delivered his classic internet greeting onstage.
He was 74.
RIP
Article
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company seek injunction against Palworld plus fine and damages, developer says
Patents behind lawsuit revealed.
Palworld developer Pocketpair has revealed details of Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit which alleges that the game infringes on multiple patents.
The monster battling and catching game had frequently been compared with Pokémon since its launch for PC and Xbox Series X/S in January. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit was filed just weeks before Palworld's PlayStation 5 version launched at the end of September.
#nintendo #pokeman #palworld #lawsuit #patents #technology
Today, Pocketpair revealed that the lawsuit relates to three patents filed between February and July this year - after Palworld's launch. However, they relate to a pre-existing "parent" patent filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company in December 2021, preceding Palworld's launch, meaning they could indeed still apply to Palworld now.
The developer also stated that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking "an injunction against Palworld", presumably to block its future sale within the Japanese jurisdiction of the patent lawsuit, as well as a fine of 10m yen (around £50k) split between the two firms, plus "late payment damages".
So, what are the patents Palworld is accused of infringing on?
As expected and sniffed out by fans and industry watchers previously, Nintendo's patents numbered 7545191, 7493117 and 7528390 lie at the heart of this legal action. These all cover gameplay mechanics such as the capture of digital creatures and the ability to ride on them.
We previously highlighted the first of these patents in particular as likely behind the Palworld lawsuit.
The patent in question describes how a character catches a Pokémon by aiming and throwing a capture item, like a Pokéball, at a creature. Upon successful capture, the creature then becomes "owned by the player".
In Palworld, players catch Pals by aiming and throwing a capture item, named a Pal Sphere, at a creature. Upon successful capture, the creature then becomes owned by the player.
Nave da SpaceX vai dar um "empurrãozinho" na Estação Espacial Internacional
A SpaceX vai usar uma nave Dragon para dar um “empurrãozinho” na Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) em uma demonstração na sexta (8). O procedimento não é inédito, afinal, já foi realizado antes com espaçonaves da Rússia, mas esta é a primeira vez em que vai ser feito por um dos “dragões” da empresa de Elon Musk.
#technology #space #spacex #hivebr
TSMC Arizona fab’s yield surpasses its local peers’
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has achieved early production yields at its first plant in Arizona that surpass similar factories back home, a significant breakthrough for a US expansion project initially dogged by delays and worker strife.
#tsmc #arizona #semiconductor #fab #unitedstates
The share of chips manufactured at TSMC’s facility in Phoenix that are usable is about 4 percentage points higher than comparable facilities in Taiwan, Rick Cassidy, president of TSMC’s US division, told listeners on a webinar on Wednesday, according to a person who participated.
The success rate, or yield, is a critical measure in the semiconductor industry because it determines whether companies would be able to cover the enormous costs of a chip plant.
The accomplishment is a sign of progress for Washington’s efforts to revitalize semiconductor manufacturing in the US.
TSMC, the main chip manufacturing partner for Nvidia Corp and Apple Inc, is in line to win US$6.6 billion in US government grants and US$5 billion in loans — plus 25 percent tax credits — to build three fabs in Arizona. The award, like almost all others from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, is not yet finalized.
The two other chipmakers at the heart of the tech strategy of US President Joe Biden’s administration — Intel Corp and Samsung Electronics Co — have struggled in the past few months.
Intel, slated to be the biggest beneficiary of the CHIPS Act, is under such severe financial pressure that it is delaying global projects and considering selling assets.
Meanwhile, TSMC has been on a roll.
Its shares reached a record high this month after the chipmaker topped quarterly estimates and raised its target for revenue growth this year.
The latest yield advancement is notable for TSMC, because it has historically kept the most advanced and efficient plants in Taiwan.
Its Arizona site got off to a rocky start, as the company could not find enough skilled staff to install advanced equipment, and workers struggled with safety and management issues.
TSMC reached an accord with construction labor unions late last year.
The chipmaker originally planned to have its first Arizona plant start full production this year, but pushed back the target to next year over the labor issues. It later delayed the start date for its second fab to 2027 or 2028, from an initial target of 2026. That fueled concerns that the company might not be able to make chips in the US as efficiently as in Taiwan.
TSMC could now be keen to expand its US presence further, depending in part on the possibility of more US government backing, Cassidy said, citing early conversations in Washington about a second CHIPS Act.
There is room for at least six fabs at the Phoenix complex.
Article
Russia Launches Multiple Iranian Satellites Into Orbit
Russia launched two Iranian satellites Tuesday, in a further demonstration of the scientific and long-term cooperation between the two nations.
#russia #iran #space #satellites
The Soyuz rocket took off from the Vostochny launch site in far Eastern Russia and carried dozens of small Russian satellites and two from Iran. The Kowsar and Hodhood satellites were delivered to their designated orbit nine minutes after launch.
"In continuation of the development of Iran-Russia scientific and technological cooperation, two Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, will be launched to a 500 km orbit of earth on Tuesday, Nov. 5., by a Soyuz launch vehicle," Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali wrote last week before the launch.
Tuesday's launch is just the latest in a series of exercises designed to bolster the two countries "comprehensive strategic partnership."
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Iran of providing hundreds of exploding drones to Moscow that they have used in their war against Ukraine. The Iranian drone deliveries, which Moscow and Tehran have denied, have enabled a relentless attack of long-range drone strikes at Ukraine's infrastructure.
Iran claims the data and images from the two satellites will be used in agriculture, land surveying, transport, and the environment.
"I congratulate this great success to the scientific community and Iranian experts, including Omidfaza company, as well as to everyone active in the technology field," Jalai said Tuesday following the launch.
"With the ever-increasing expansion of technological cooperation between Iran and the Russian Federation, we will see more and more such great news," he added.
Article
Reaction Engines Spaceplane Company Closes Enters Bankrupcy
Adam Dissel, President of Reaction Engines, reported that business operations were being shutdown.
The US business of the UK company operated for 8.5 years. They pushed the boundaries of propulsion and thermal management with our technology. The team achieved some astounding milestones and technology firsts, including engine precooler tests at Mach 5 equivalent temperatures, the first demonstration of an integrated HX precooled jet engine at conditions faster than SR-71, and even several years contributing solutions to Formula 1 racecars.
#reactionengines #spaceplane #uk #bankruptcy #space #technology
The Company is a privately-owned aerospace engineering research company, founded in 1989. It has been focused on the development of the SABRE rocket engine for over 30 years, alongside contributing to other advancements in thermal management technology.
Reaction Engines Limited (REL) was a British aerospace manufacturer founded in 1989 and based in Oxfordshire, England. The company also operated in the USA, where it used the name Reaction Engines Inc. (REI).
REL folded into bankruptcy at the end of October 2024. Both REL and REI ceased operations and laid off the bulk of their staff.
In 2015, BAE Systems agreed to buy a 20% stake in the company for £20.6m as part of an agreement to help develop Reaction Engines’ Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) hypersonic engine designed to propel the Skylon orbiter.
In April 2018, Boeing announced its investment in Reaction Engines, through Boeing HorizonX Ventures with a $37.3 million Series B funding alongside Rolls-Royce PLC. Rolls-Royce and REL announced a strategic partnership in August 2020, with a £20m investment.
In January 2023 the company announced that it had raised a further £40m from backers including the United Arab Emirates Strategic Development Fund.
Article
📚 Leo Book Club 🦁
#threadcast 45
Fri 08-Nov-24
ℹ️ This is the #bookcast where we chat all things #books
💬 Talk about what you've read, what you'd like to read and discuss the world of literature!
Happy reading! 📖
Happy Friday, and welcome to the BookCast! Share all your reading chit-chat right here...
Yesterday's edition:
https://inleo.io/threads/view/leobooks/re-leothreads-zd1vzshn
Sales surge for dystopian books after Trump election victory
Article via The Guardian
10 books culture editor Hannah Silver recommends this winter
Article via Wallpaper.com
Booker prize 2024: the six shortlisted books reviewed by our experts
Article via The Conversation
Books of the Year II
Article via The Spectator
5 New Books We Recommend This Week
Article via New York Times
Out of This World: Books to Read When You Need an Escape
Article via ReactorMag
US election — the books to read now Trump has won
Article via Financial Times
Satanic Verses: Indian officials misplace Salman Rushdie's book ban order
Article via BBC
Old Harry Potter books can fetch $100k at auction – look for four details
Article via Devon Live
25 Extraordinary Books You Can Read in One Sitting
Article via Esquire
The Best Books For Founders Looking For Personal Development
Article via TechRound
Roddy Doyle: ‘A PG Wodehouse audiobook made me laugh so much I had to stop the car’
Article via The Guardian
The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – reviews roundup
Article via The Guardian
Book Review: ‘Freedom Braids,’ by Monique Duncan, and ‘The Magic Callaloo,’ by Trish Cooke
Article via New York Times
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-2mqjyxqhz?referral=adambarratt
https://inleo.io/@adambarratt/bookbabble-65-the-untethered-soul-by-michael-a-singer-2op
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-2ab1tgn7f?referral=adambarratt
📚 ‘The Untethered Soul' by Michael A. Singer
📖 The journey beyond yourself.
🎞️ Philosophize Now on YouTube give their review…
More in replies ⬇️
THE UNTETHERED SOUL BY MICHAEL A SINGER | ANIMATED BOOK REVIEW | The Journey
10 Life-Changing Lessons from The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer | Clark Kegley
THE UNTETHERED SOUL BY MICHAEL A. SINGER | BOOK SUMMARY | HOW TO FIND INNER PEACE | GrowthMindset
It's finally Friday. I still want you to share a #selfie in this #threadcast. It doesn't pay the rent, but it helps my soul get to heaven
Why Moo, are so serious?
lol, going for a new look ;) lol
!BBH !DOOK
@mamaemigrante! @bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow. (9/100)
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Very cold Friday #selfie #memories
Take hot chocolate!
Good idea, with foam hahahaha 🍺
#selfie, #memories
Today bought LEO again with my HIVE and HBD earning.
#leo
I am looking for 1 USDT target in $LEO
Nice. Keep filling the bags
Yes, this may be the last chance of this cycle to buy at a cheap price.
As much as I could.
Go go go!!
#wordofthedayonleo - feign
What It Means
To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel or be affected by it.
//I would never feign illness just to get out of a test.
🔗 Source in comments
I don't know why . But this song started playing in my head .
😂lmao
thanks man I'll use it as my word of the day
🦁🤘🏽
🔗 Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feign
Apple’s new iOS 18.2 beta includes big updates. Now, Siri can use ChatGPT for questions, making it way smarter. There’s also Image Playground to create art from text and Genmoji for personalized emojis. It’s only on newer iPhones and iPads, though, so I’ll need an upgrade!
#AppleUpdate #iOS #newsonleo
Article
Issue: When uploading an image on InLeo the process can take a while in case the image is bigger. There is no information about the state of process, maybe a progress bar showing the % completed remaining could be added to show more info to the end user.
#feedback #proposal #improvement #development
The Trump's effect
#crypto #market #uselection #cent
Let's hope the actual actions of the administration match the hopeful market speculation.
gave us all good cheer
Friday is your launchpad—propel your dreams beyond the week and soar into the weekend with unstoppable energy. 🚀✨
#WeekendMomentum #RiseAndThrive
Friday is the weekend here in Libya. It's still the launchpad, though. The Friday prayer is supposed to prepare ous for the next week with more energy!!
🙏🏼
Your positivity is blowing me away #bfom
It deserves a !PIMP and of course !BBH !DOOK
It’s less stressful being positive 🤘🏽 my brother #bfom
word up homie, using #dailydook #threatcast is one of the ways to qvoid BbadVibes! !DOOK
!INDEED it is my friend :)
(2/100)
@jimmy.adames! @bradleyarrow Totally agrees with your content! so I just sent 1 IDD to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
@jimmy.adames! @bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow. (10/100)
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i completely love the art bro
FLUX Pro is an awesome image generator. It understood my prompt 🤘🏽 Happy Friday to you and your loved ones @thatboyjake
Good Morning
Great image man, that's how I feel for now like a train passed over me. Time to get some coffee, time to work half a day and then I will be free to switch to crypto!
Bro woke up feeling pissed.
Is he planning on choosing violence today? I'd love to know his agenda for the day
Good morning!
Is it a selfie before your first cup of coffe? 😅
Guten Tag, hol dir einen Kaffee !BBH !PIZZA
@onealfa! @master-lamps likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @master-lamps. (1/5)
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Guten Morgen Mr. bOOmbastic.
#HIV #health #std #blog #tips
I completed my youtube-summarizer bot last night. It's not live yet, but it will be soon.
To summarize a video, all you'll have to do is post the youtube link and use the command !summarize, and the @ai-summaries account will handle the rest.
Here is an example of how it will look:
https://inleo.io/threads/view/mightpossibly/re-taskmaster4450le-2puduwq8t?referral=mightpossibly
More details coming soon.
Thats really cool! Have you tagged @taskmaster4450le? Think he will enjoy it :)
He dropped me a line. It isnt working at the moment.
Great! Sorry for tagging you then. Just wanted to be sure you got the memo 👏
I knew someone will build this eventually!
Sign me up for the trial!
!RemindMe in 7 days
Confirmed! You'll be notified on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 06:31 PM (UTC)
@reminder.ping is supported by subscribers to ahmadmanga on inleo.io! Subscribe for more features.
Appreciate the enthusiasm!
Hello @ahmadmanga!! You asked me to remind you 1 week ago. Here's your reminder to check back on this conversation!
@reminder.ping is supported by subscribers to ahmadmanga on inleo.io! Subscribe for more features.
While on the PC, why not thread at INLEO.
Great idea that is worth trying
i will try it today and see what the experience will be like
i think I'll try PC now I've been using phone all this while let me see how PC goes
INLEO has been integrated into our daily lives.
works on phone as well ;)
how? KeyChain?
I use chrome on my andriod phone :)
Threading using phone gives me faster access to the platform , never thought of the idea of using a pc for threading , I will try it out to know the experience
absolutely now when I get Internet access to my PC, after two minutes of TikTok I remember Inleo 😅 very nice platform to be part of. It's certainly the future
Threading on PC gives me a wider view of the platform itself but I cannot carry my pc around the way I do carry my mobile device around , so I will stick with threading on mobile
why do they say shaken not stirred?
It's actually how James Bond prefers his martini. Shaking mixes the drink quickly with ice, that makes a frothy texture, while stirring is a gentler method that keeps the drink clear and smooth #OO7
$BTC is steady above 76k, when 100k?
#btc
Keep buying while $LEO is cheap, you may not get a golden chance like this again, in a bull market.
#leo
When a bull cycle is meant only for BT not for other ALTS.....how prolonged it could be when the larger section keep on vesting their HOPE in ALTS.
#askonleo
Elon Musk called Jimmy Kimmel a propaganda puppet. Kimmel joked back this time. He said Musk is the real puppet for buying Twitter and spreading propaganda. Yeah I don't about that Jimmy 🤣
Issue: When reading an article on Inleo and pushing the Go Back button, the position it is not kept at the same place and you are back to first Article in the list. For usability the cursor should be kept on the read article, otherwise users need to scroll back to it.
#feedback #improvement #usability
This is when you open the full view instead of the light view, right?
Yes.
Hi, @tsunsica,
This post has been voted on by @darkcloaks because you are an active member of the Darkcloaks gaming community.
Get started with Darkcloaks today, and follow us on Inleo for the latest updates.
Can you expand on what original means here? Does it mean the old names, or the non-English names?
I do not know. I'm not creator of this map.
Dacia is my country and Decebal was the last king. Great times of heroism and I think we have inherited part of that.
SO original name is LITUA...that sounds so good.
Just published the post with my land plot giveaway rules! If you are a #splinterlands player this might be interesting for you!
link in reply 👇
Make sure to read the rules carefully! https://inleo.io/@solymi/grain-farm-on-rare-land-plot-in-shu-vho-for-free-land-plot-raffle-8i9
GM
About to take a trip into town and hope that fluffing rains stay off...
Want to test another walk 2 earn app for my website, have found 7 of them now!
#w2e #silverbloggers #tengocrypto
My "Latest" tab is not updating. In fact, the first post I can see is from 2 days ago.
Also, there are no time stamps on my For You threads. I feel like that one is updating, but I can't really tell because there are no times.
#feedback
On the for you feed it is intentional.
Look at the content and reward if its good, no matter whens its posted.
Do you have an update button on the top of your feed/screen? If you do, then click it and the latest feed will
Nvidia has built virtual worlds where robots practice and learn safely. These worlds mimic real life and can help the robots work better in real environments
People frequently overlook that humans are animals too, much like chimpanzees, as we can be conditioned. Social media capitalizes on our cognitive processes, directing our attention toward whatever generates the most profit.
#Powell says he would not resign as #Fed chief if #Trump asked for his resignation and he does not have the legal power to fire or demote him. Here we go...
it's going to be a battle of powers, Trump will not stop either of he really wants him fired
True, the political stage is getting hotter. I am for #crypto being pushed forward, so I would prefer him to be changed but not sure how that will be done.
Will it require Congress agreeing, I'm sure Trump can bring up some points about not being able to work with him as reason to approve firing him
There is someone who wants to get shot !LOLZ
lolztoken.com
Divorce papers.
Credit: reddit
@behiver, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(2/10)
Farm LOLZ tokens when you Delegate Hive or Hive Tokens.
Click to delegate: 10 - 20 - 50 - 100 HP
what do you think will happen? What kind of leverage do the two sides have?
I am not 100% sure, but I don't think he actually does. He can actually stop working with or involving him in government.
I think the federal reserve is private and not a government entity.
The recent U.S. election brought a boost for crypto fans. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong feels positive since new leaders, like Trump and pro-crypto Senator Moreno, were elected. Yet, critics like Elizabeth Warren still push back, seeing risks in digital currency. Armstrong’s hopeful, but it’s clear the road for crypto won’t be easy.
#newsonleo #crypto
Article
If you had bought 1 BTC yesterday you'd have $1000 profit
hmmm.
It's sad that not everybody has 75K lying around doing nothing.
When Leo is up 1 cent, I'm up $1200 and I only paid a few $3000-5000 for my stake.
So...... there are other ways to earn big ;-)
Haven't done the math but you seem to be right. $LEO is one of the coins to invest in if you missed out on the already great ones
I've got only 1000 Leo now, I'm I slacking?
Social media once mirrored real life, but now we're just echoing what we see online
Hackers are targeting Windows gamers with malware called Winos4.0. Be careful with downloads, only install trusted software, stay safe
Who's Using Chatgpt Search now?
You can actually replace Google with ChatGPT search in your browser by installing its extension. Some browsers, like Chrome and Edge, support this change easily.
Haven't used it yet, but ChatGPT has completely replaced Google Translate for me.
yes and me too 🤣 I swear🤣🤣
After this latest election, I felt a huge mix of worry, sadness, and frustration. A lot of people are feeling the same. I took a break from the news and talked to people close to me which helped.
I'm just trying to focus, stay calm and take each day as it comes.
Don't really know the reasons by it.
thanks man, that song always hits well anytime I hear it.
Right on time
Sometimes I need it myself.
On the airport yet again. Last trip of the year. Can't wait to get back home
Have a safe trip
Appreciate it
Business or vacation?
business (sigh) 🥲
safe trip anyways
cheers
is direct flight or with connections?
The best time to build your crypto portfolio was right when the bear market started. However, not everyone did and now is second best for the bearish one.
The best way to build your crypto portfolio is to earn it!
surely the best way to water the tree, until it’s the one feeding you.
1/3🧵 Drugs are an escape valve for some to get away from harsh reality, for others, it's recreational, but we know that long-term use brings bad consequences in many aspects.
#threadstorm #outreach
what constitutes a drug for you?
A drug, to me, is any substance that, when consumed, alters the normal functions of the body or mind.
2/3🧵 I’ve tried some drugs in my adolescence, but smoking is still with me. It’s something I want to quit, but like any addiction, it’s not easy to overcome.
3/3🧵 It’s been 14 years since I started smoking, and the consequences are bad. Below I share a bit of this experience so others don’t follow the same path:
https://inleo.io/@michupa/dont-smoke-enpt-3tp
My premium is not being recognized as active, even though I still have over 200 days left.
I'm on Google Chrome, logged with Keychain
#feedback
Already tried logging out and back on. DIdn't work
guess that is the same reason I cannot edit a thread.
Already 15k steps in today, I'LL gonna walk a lot later today
Putting down a coffee and then walking the dog
down on a table or down into your body?
In my body #lmao
good place for it.
!BBH !DOOK
But I should start stomach in my tummy instead of that lots of #coffee !LOLZ
But it keeps the grind going
lolztoken.com
That’s a bit of a stretch.
Credit: reddit
@bradleyarrow, I sent you an $LOLZ on behalf of ben.haase
(3/10)
NEW: Join LOLZ's Daily Earn and Burn Contest and win $LOLZ
!INDEED it does. 3 for me so far today
(1/100)
@ben.haase! @bradleyarrow Totally agrees with your content! so I just sent 1 IDD to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow.
@ben.haase! @bradleyarrow likes your content! so I just sent 1 BBH to your account on behalf of @bradleyarrow. (11/100)
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Goooood morning!!! Half a day of work and I will be able to switch to some crypto love. So, let's have a great Friday stepping into the Weekend!!!!
Good Morning!! Have a great weekend!!
not prepared enough. Paper reader battery just died on me
Just a regular day on the German Autobahn, where speed has no limits! When you're behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the journey is as thrilling as the destination. Pushing past 300 km/h feels like a pure adrenaline rush, a true test of German engineering on home soil. With every press of the pedal, the raw power of AMG comes alive, making each moment feel like a high-speed symphony on wheels. Whether it's the smooth stretches, the open road, or the perfect sunset backdrop, this is the essence of driving passion! For every speed lover out there, nothing compares to this experience.
perience. Are you ready to hit the gas and chase the horizon?
#mercedes #amg #NoSpeedLimit #Autobahn #MercedesAMG #GT63S #AdrenalineRush #SpeedLover #AMGPerformance #DrivingDreams #TopSpeed #FullThrottle #LuxuryCars #CarLovers #AutobahnLife #PurePerformance #germany
With my BMW X6 I think I've reached at most 240-250 km/h and that was maxed out. It is the first edition, angel eyes and a series car, not high performance. But it behaves so well on the road, I love it!
Don't get blitzt in limited areas.
Smooth and cool ride.
Every day is beautiful no matter the weather.
Here's a post about something I love, it's in the first comment. A blessed day to all
#inleo #motivation #cent
https://inleo.io/@davot/is-it-worth-it-to-be-freetoplay-in-marvel-snap-check-out-my-amazing-account-engesp-hfq?referral=davot
Price $XRP #hive #xrp #cent #freecompliments
Farming Grass points with “Stage 2: Capturing The Web” is expected to run for several months. Grass points are later converted to GRASS tokens and airdropped to users. The staking of GRASS tokens is currently yielding a 60% APR, which is amazing, especially since GRASS has been on an absolute tear since it commenced trading on multiple CEXs and DEXs. #cent #sapphirecrypto
Stake Based Curation
Drop your best gems, we'll assess depending on post quality.
For more info check below ⬇️
#leocuration
Stake based curation parameters
https://inleo.io/@solymi/grain-farm-on-rare-land-plot-in-shu-vho-for-free-land-plot-raffle-8i9
https://inleo.io/@reeta0119/wazirx-launching-dex-decentralized-exchange-g4e
https://inleo.io/@luchyl/rainy-day-at-the-market--4ei
https://inleo.io/@gurseerat/good-bad-travel-experience--hsa
https://inleo.io/@mercurial9/a-classic-lineup-that-still-shines-splinterlands-396-85c
https://inleo.io/@godfish/art-bits-of-vienna-grx?referral=godfish
https://inleo.io/@rtonline/last-brawl-report-buying-and-opening-3-gladius-cases-splinterlands-cnp
https://inleo.io/@go-kyo/groompa-foods-at-micca-tea-room--44x
https://inleo.io/@vimukthi/be-ready-to-spend-to-grow-notes-on-risingstargame-and-hive-marketing--efc
https://inleo.io/@rimurutempest/crypto-games-or-state-of
@fulldeportes ¡Lo mejor de la semana..! Vol. 183 [ESP/ENG Subtitled] || OPINIÓN #hive #communities #video #showcase #gosh
