Tag: technews

The Google Gemini AI app is live in the Google Play Store. Here’s how to install it and use it on your supported device. You can also replace Google Assistant.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is 2024’s first big game disappointment, but not all hope is lost for its future.

Xiaolang Zhang, the former Apple employee who pleaded guilty to stealing information about the development of the company’s self-driving vehicle, has been sentenced to 120 days in prison followed by a three-year supervised release. Zhang was arrested back in 2018 at San Jose International Airport just as he was about to board a flight to China. He initially pleaded not guilty until he changed his tune in 2022 and admitted to stealing trade secrets. In addition to serving time behind bars, he also has to pay restitution amounting to $146,984, according to the court document of his sentencing first seen by 9to5Mac. Zhang originally faced up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The former Apple employee worked as a hardware engineer for the company’s decade-old autonomous vehicle initiative codenamed Project Titan. Based on Apple’s complaint, Zhang transferred a 25-page document containing engineering schematics of a circuit board for the company’s self-driving vehicle to his wife’s laptop via AirDrop. He also saved a copy of technical manuals that described Apple’s prototype to that laptop, in addition to stealing circuit boards and a Linux server from the company’s development labs. 

Zhang resigned from Apple following a paternity leave and a trip to China, telling the iPhonemaker that he was going to work in the country for XPeng Motors. That reportedly triggered an investigation, since XPeng is also working on autonomous driving technology, which revealed that Zhang was caught on CCTV taking hardware from Apple’s labs and transferring files to his wife’s computer. He’s expected to surrender himself by June 19, after which he will be sent to a minimum-security facility as close as possible to his home in San Jose, California. 

Apple’s self-driving vehicle has been in the works for a decade, but it has yet to launch a product consumers can buy. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that the company changed its plans and is now developing an EV like Tesla’s instead of a full-fledged autonomous vehicle. The long-awaited Apple Car is now projected to debut no earlier than 2028. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ex-apple-engineer-sentenced-to-six-months-in-prison-for-stealing-self-driving-car-tech-110537599.html?src=rss

WWE has been shaking up its broadcast platforms recently, with the latest development coming via a partnership with X, formerly known as Twitter. The pair have signed a two-year deal for a new weekly series called WWE Speed, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show will be exclusive to X and feature timed matches lasting under five minutes.

Well-known wrestlers across the WWE franchise are set to participate in WWE Speed. The plan is for the show to be shot with a studio audience, with new episodes airing every week, starting this spring. WWE Speed will be the latest sports show on X. The platform aired exclusive content in partnership with Fox during the last FIFA World Cup. This year, it will work with NBC Universal to stream segments during the Paris Olympics.

As for the WWE world, X isn’t the only company getting in on the action. The news follows Netflix’s recent acquisition of WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, for a reported $5 billion over 10 years. The deal includes weekly shows in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and more, along with airings of the WWE shows NXT and SmackDown in countries outside of the US. International audiences will also get access to documentaries, new shows and more original series starting next year.

Netflix users in the US will likely have to wait a while for access to more WWE programs. NBC Universal is reportedly paying $1.4 billion over the next five years to broadcast Smackdown on USA Network, while the CW is paying between $100,000 and $250,000 for the same time period to air NXT.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-will-host-a-new-wwe-speed-weekly-series-starting-in-the-spring-103013383.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Ring is raising the price of its cheapest Basic subscription, following similar bumps by Google and others, the company said in a FAQ seen by The Verge. As of March 11, it’s going from $4 to $5 per month (or $40 to $50 dollars a year), an increase of 25 percent. 

The last time Ring raised its Basic plan rate in June of 2022 (from $3 to $4 per month), it also added a few features like additional cloud storage, larger bulk videos downloads and the ability to receive exclusive discounts on future Ring product. This time, though the price is increasing with no additional benefits added. 

While just a couple of Starbucks Flat White coffees per year more, the bump could be more significant for some users. The Basic plan only covers one camera and each requires a sub to save and record videos. That means users with two or more cameras may be better off with the Ring Protect Plus plan (which covers all Ring doorbells and home cameras at one location), since it’s now exactly twice as much at $10 per month or $100 per year. (Without a plan, you can only view a livestream and receive motion alerts.)

Ring’s move follows Google, which raised its cheapest Nest Aware plan from $6 to $8 per month ($60 to $80 per year) in September last year, though that option covers every camera on your account. That now makes Google’s option better for new users who haven’t bought any hardware. 

If you’re looking to spend even less, Blink and Wyze both offer single camera cloud plans for $3 per month, and both companies support local storage as well. Another option is buying devices that support Apple HomeKit Secure Video, provided you have an iCloud+ subscription.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rings-cheapest-subscription-plan-is-going-up-by-10-a-year-093533654.html?src=rss

January 2024 IT outage turns out to be a ransomware attack, after all, as Hyundai confirms losing data to Black Basta.

Google’s AI image generator just launched and it’s surprisingly good. Here’s how you can use it.

Connections is the new puzzle game from the New York Times, and it can be quite difficult. If you need a hand with solving today’s puzzle, we’re here to help.

Dyson’s signature Supersonic hair dryer hasn’t changed much since its launch back in 2016, so the brand caught us by surprise when it unveiled a brand new model with a completely different look at New York Fashion Week earlier today. The “Supersonic r” is a tube-shaped hair dryer that dwarfs its predecessor, and it’s lighter as well, weighing just 325g (around 11.5 ounces) — almost half that of the original Supersonic, which my hairstylist friend said was too heavy for all-day use. 

This impressive weight and size reduction is largely thanks to some re-engineered heating elements, which allowed the team to replace the old design’s large head with just a bend at the end of the shaft — like a lower case “r,” hence the name. (Remember the HTC RE camera?) Miniaturized heating grills consisting of 99.9% copper microfins are lined up along the pipe’s curve, to ensure the high-pressure airflow is heated evenly with high precision (via intelligent heat control) to achieve better hair shine. The elements are also laid out in a way that avoids hot spots being generated, which may otherwise cause heat damage on your hair.

Dyson

The buttons for three precise airflow settings and four heat modes (including constant cold shot) are just a thumb-click away. The air inlet at the bottom of the handle now comes with a longer-lasting depth-loaded filter, which captures air pollutants typically present in hair salons.

In addition to Dyson’s improved Hyperdymium motor in the handle, the Supersonic r is also equipped with an RFID sensor to recognize its magnetic accessories — diffuser, flyaway attachment, wide tooth comb, pro concentrator and a new powerful air attachment. This feature allows the hair dryer to automatically adjust the motor and heater accordingly, in order to deliver optimal airflow and temperature to suit the purpose. On example is that the diffuser is set to low flow and low temperature, which reduces frizz and enhance curls. Each attachment can also save your customized settings for future use.

Dyson

Dyson’s Supersonic r is asking for $570, but it’s currently aimed at professionals, meaning us mere mortals will have to figure out other ways to get hold of one. If you happen to be a US-based hairstylist with a valid cosmetology license, feel free to join the waitlist, and your salon can pick up a Supersonic r as soon as April.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dysons-new-lightweight-supersonic-r-hairdryer-looks-a-lot-like-a-periscope-085820478.html?src=rss