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A ZDNET writer describes setting up Tailscale, a free service that links home computers—two physical machines and four virtual ones—into a secure private network called a tailnet. The setup allowed remote desktop access to all machines from abroad without configuring router settings or firewall rules, using tools already familiar to the user like Remote Desktop clients.
An Oviedo, Florida man, Evan Meyer, was charged with three felonies after cutting down and smashing what turned out to be a decoy Flock Safety camera. Police had installed the cheap 3D-printed replicas after real license-plate-reading cameras were stolen from a corridor between late July and early August, hoping to lure and catch vandals.
Microsoft has officially introduced a disc-to-digital feature that lets Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners convert physical game discs into digital copies by inserting the disc and launching the title. The feature rolls out to Xbox Insiders on August 31, supporting thousands of titles at launch, and unlocks digital perks like Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming access.
Boston Scientific detected a cybersecurity incident on August 25 that knocked out access to key IT systems and business applications, halting its ability to process and ship customer orders worldwide. The medical device maker has activated incident response protocols and hired outside cybersecurity experts to investigate and contain the breach, but has not given a timeline for full restoration. In its SEC filing, the company did not disclose details about the attack type, the perpetrators, or whether any data was compromised.
AI-generated images and videos depicting animals—rescues, reunions, and lost pets—are flooding social media, making it harder for viewers to trust what they see. In one case, a Los Angeles woman named Mibbby Butler was targeted by a scammer who used an AI-manipulated photo of her missing cat to extort payment for its supposed return, though she caught the deception due to garbled text in the background image.
Debian is holding a General Resolution asking its developers to choose among eight different stances on generative AI and large language model use in the project, ranging from an outright ban to conditional acceptance. Project Lead Sruthi Chandran extended the voting deadline by a week given the complexity of the more than 5,000-word ballot. Passing the strictest option, a total ban tied to Debian's Social Contract, requires a 3:1 supermajority, while the other proposals need only a simple majority.
A once-celebrated AI startup founder who drew massive investor enthusiasm and sky-high valuations has seen the company's worth collapse by billions, according to new reporting. The report traces how early hype around the founder's technology claims outpaced scrutiny of the underlying business, culminating in a dramatic financial unraveling.
A newly filed class-action lawsuit claims Oura Ring cannot accurately determine sleep stages because it relies on AI inference rather than direct brain-wave measurement, likening its accuracy to a coin flip. The complaint argues Oura is exploiting sleep-deprived consumers by marketing statistical estimates as reliable science. Verge writer Victoria Song notes that no wearable device measures brain activity directly, since all such gadgets rely on motion and physiological proxies interpreted through algorithms.
Ikea revealed its new Yxstaby gaming furniture line at Gamescom in Cologne, developed jointly with Xbox's device design team after a chance meeting at Milan Design Week in 2024. The nine pieces include a wheeled charging side table, a cable-hiding toolbox that doubles as a laptop stand, a lounge chair with a controller pocket, and a rollable TV stand for screens up to 55 inches. Several items, like a D-pad-shaped cushion and a controller-holding platter derived from a stool design, directly reference Xbox's visual language.
X Corp issued cease-and-desist letters to the operators of XCancel and Nitter, two third-party front-ends that let users view X (formerly Twitter) content without an account or ads. Both projects have gone offline in response, with their maintainers saying they are pausing all operations and seeking legal counsel before commenting further. Nitter had been running for seven years, while XCancel operated for about two.
Police in Oviedo, Florida arrested 24-year-old Evan Meyer and charged him with three felonies after he destroyed what he believed was a real Flock surveillance camera. In reality, the camera was a 3D-printed decoy set up as part of a sting operation targeting people who vandalize the AI-powered license plate readers. Mayor Megan Sladek said she was unaware of the decoy operation and acknowledged the charges are controversial, especially as the city council is weighing whether to end its Flock contract.
Microsoft has begun testing a feature in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26340.9233 that lets users control camera, microphone, and precise location access separately for each desktop application. Previously, these permissions were governed by a single device-wide toggle covering all desktop apps at once. The new controls are accessible via Settings > Privacy & security, with individual switches for each app.