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I've Had It with Microsoft

Screenshot by the author. Photo: Microsoft . Generative AI is nothing but a con dressed up in big promises that become harder to believe with every passing month. After narrativizing chatbots and image generators into the next big thing, to such an extent that credulous governments now believe access to the technology is key to their geopolitical position in the world, tech companies can’t allow the bubble to burst. But keeping the bubble inflated costs hundreds of billions of dollars, and tha

Steam, Itch.io Are Pulling 'Porn' Games. Critics Say It's a Slippery Slope

Late in the evening on July 23, developers with games tagged as NSFW on Itch.io, a digital marketplace, began to notice something strange. Their work—whether it was a game about navigating disordered eating as a teenager, or about dick pics—no longer appeared in search results. “No notification or anything,” says former NYU Game Center educator and developer Robert Yang, whose work explores gay history and culture. “Just found out via Bluesky.” Itch.io is deindexing, or removing from its searc

Women dating safety app 'Tea' breached, users' IDs posted to 4chan

Users from 4chan claim to have discovered an exposed database hosted on Google’s mobile app development platform, Firebase, belonging to the newly popular women’s dating safety app Tea. Users say they are rifling through peoples’ personal data and selfies uploaded to the app, and then posting that data online, according to screenshots, 4chan posts, and code reviewed by 404 Media. In a statement to 404 Media, Tea confirmed the breach also impacted some direct messages but said that the data is fr

Topics: 4chan app data tea users

Researchers value null results, but struggle to publish them

Credit: Getty Scientists overwhelmingly recognize the value of sharing null results, but rarely publish them in the research literature, according to a survey. The findings suggest that there is a need for increased awareness of how and why to share such data, as well as for changes in how research productivity is assessed. The survey drew responses from 11,069 researchers in 166 countries and all major scientific disciplines. It found that 98% recognize the value of null results, which the su

nullable but not null

When working on backend applications, especially those with evolving database schemas, it’s common to see a recurring pattern: A new field is added to a model. To avoid locking the table during the migration, the field is added as nullable. The application logic is updated to start filling in this field. A backfill job runs to populate the existing records. The field is left as nullable. People often forget the final step which is updating the schema to make the field non-nullable once the dat

Intel May Be Prepping a Massive Apology to Gamers

If the rumors are to be believed, Intel may be gearing up for a major apology to gamers in the form of a suite of gaming-specific CPUs. Intel has suffered through multiple crises, a CEO ouster, sweeping layoffs, and a dour outlook on the future of the once-massive chipmaker. To make its case to consumers, Intel needs goodwill, and who better to get it from than the outspoken gamer crowd? Multiple semi-reliable leakers have come out of the woodwork to talk about Intel’s plans to copy what makes

Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Watch 4 Leaks Just Spoiled Google’s Whole Party

The faucet for Google leaks is on, and no one is home. After Google’s Pixel 10 was leaked by Google itself, and then the whole Pixel 10 family on top of that, we’re now getting an alleged look at the rest of the previously unconfirmed products from reputable gadget leaker Evan Blass. These particular leaks include images of not only Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 but also its next smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 4. Sorry, Google, looks like the whole cat is now out of the bag. While there’s nothing part

Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic Review: The Squircle

For the length of our tenure at WIRED, editor Julian Chokkattu and I have differed on one significant point: He prefers the circular face of the Pixel Watch, while I counter by saying that you can see more text on a square Apple Watch. It is clear to me that Samsung has somehow learned of this debate from afar (ChatGPT, is that you?), which has resulted in this … well, the “squircle” design. It is neither a square nor a circle, but both? Samsung refers to this as its “cushion” design. The cushi

Lyft’s self-driving shuttle buses are coming soon

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Lyft is partnering with Benteler Mobility to launch a self-driving shuttle service. In late 2026, Lyft plans to deploy the company’s all-electric Holon Urban shuttles in airports and cities around the US, allowing users to book trips from its ride-sharing app. Holon, a subsidiary of Benteler, says its rectangular bus has enough room to fit up to 15

Google took a month to shut down Catwatchful, a phone spyware operation hosted on its servers

Google has suspended the account of phone surveillance operator Catwatchful, which was using the tech giant’s servers to host and operate the monitoring software. Google’s move to shut down the spyware operation comes a month after TechCrunch alerted the technology giant the operator was hosting the operation on Firebase, one of Google’s developer platforms. Catwatchful relied on Firebase to host and store vast amounts of data stolen from thousands of phones compromised by its spyware. “We’ve

Galaxy Watch 8 users are roasting Samsung over this awkward charging flaw

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 owners complain it won’t charge properly on Samsung’s wireless charging pad. The issue stems from the curved default strap, which prevents the watch from lying flat on the Wireless Charger Duo. The included magnetic puck charger works fine, but users are frustrated by the poor fit with official accessories. Samsung has clearly impressed many people with the Galaxy Watch 8, including us. However, the tech giant may have overlooke

Google's new Search mode puts classic results back on top - how to access it

Google Google's new AI-powered feature aims to help organize your search results. Web Guide organizes links into helpful categories that break down a complex topic, the company said in a blog post, Thursday. It's intended for both open-ended searches like "how to solo travel in Japan" or detailed queries in multiple sentences like, "My family is spread across multiple time zones. What are the best tools for staying connected and maintaining close relationships despite the distance?" How Web G

Topics: ai guide links search web

Your Apple Watch is getting a big upgrade for free - 8 WatchOS 26 features you can try now

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Your iPhone, Apple Watch, and other Apple-owned devices are getting a big overhaul. The best part? You won't have to pay a dime for them -- all you have to do is update your software. Several new features are coming to WatchOS 26, and the public beta software is now available for interested users to try. Just remember: before updating to the public beta, it's encouraged to backup your device. Reddit users in the r/Apple Watch subreddit are already getting into the latest upda

I tried Gemini on the Pixel Watch — here’s what it’s like

is a reviewer with over a decade of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview. I’m just getting acquainted with Gemini on the Pixel Watch I’m wearing when it tells me that there’s a kind of pastry called “nun’s farts.” This relationship is off to a good start. “Nun’s farts” was a totally appropriate response, by the way. I’d asked it for a list of pastries with silly names, prompted by a question fro

Bluetti’s small, camp-friendly generator is over 30 percent off

We’re in the middle of prime camping season, when the days are longer and the temperatures are warmer. While it’s the perfect time to unplug, you don’t have to go completely off the grid, as Bluetti’s AC2P Portable Power Station can power your essential gadgets when no traditional power sources are available. And right now, the power station is on sale at Amazon (with an on-page coupon), Walmart, and Lowe’s for around $169 ($80 off), matching the all-time low we saw during Prime Day. If you pla

Why I swear by this Garmin smartwatch over competing models (including the Apple Watch Ultra)

Garmin Venu X1 ZDNET's key takeaways The Garmin Venu X1 is available in two color options for $799.99. The big 2-inch display is fantastic, the LED flashlight is brilliant, the thin case and light band make it a joy to wear, and the calculator now has a tip button. The always-on mode reduces battery life significantly, the watch is expensive, and dual-band GPS is not installed. $799.99 at Amazon $799.99 at Crutchfield more buying choices I've been using Garmin sports watches for over a decade

Intel May be Prepping a Massive Apology to Gamers

If the rumors are to be believed, Intel may be gearing up for a major apology to gamers in the form of a suite of gaming-specific CPUs. Intel has suffered through multiple crises, a CEO ouster, sweeping layoffs, and a dour outlook on the future of the once-massive chipmaker. To make its case to consumers, Intel needs goodwill, and who better to get it from than the outspoken gamer crowd? Multiple semi-reliable leakers have come out of the woodwork to talk about Intel’s plans to copy what makes

Taste testing battery-flavored tortilla chips

I get a lot of odd pitches in my inbox, but “9V battery-flavored corn chips” still stopped me in my tracks. My mind was ringing with questions (What? Who? Why!?!), but most importantly: What are they going to taste like? This limited edition flavor comes from Rewind, a new brand launching in Europe, starting with the Netherlands, promising to blend “nostalgia with exciting flavors.” Most of these sound pretty normal — cheese and onion, sriracha, paprika — but their nod to the “weird universal m

Teens Are Using AI to "Get Out of Thinking"

An alarming proportion of teenagers are turning to AI chatbots to not just help them with tasks like homework, but to act as their friends. And even that may not tell the full story. According to one high schooler contemplating the technology's effects on her generation, her peers are increasingly using the tech to handle anything they would have previously used their brains for. "Everyone uses AI for everything now. It's really taking over," Kayla Chege, a 15-year-old sophomore honors student

Topics: ai chatbots old told year

Galaxy Watch 8 review: Samsung’s best smartwatch in years

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . I’m too tired to write this review. Last week, I penned a work-in-progress version because I hadn’t yet spent enough time to fully explore the new features Samsung packed into the Galaxy Watch 8 . One of those features is the new AI-powered running guidance, which I followed. I have r

Ember’s Travel Mug 2 with Find My is $30 off right now

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . The annoying thing about coffee is that its ideal temperature is fleeting. Get caught up in a particularly lively debate in your morning meeting and by the time you return to your cup of joe, it’s cooled right down. That’s where Ember’s smart heated mugs come in, and right now one of i

Forget Whoop: I found a worthy fitness tracker alternative with none of the subscription fees

ZDNET's key takeaways The Amazfit Helio Strap is available now for $99. As a smartwatch alternative, the strap offers virtually all the same health tracking features via the robust Zepp app, with over a week of battery life. The fabric strap isn't made of exceedingly high quality materials, but luckily can be easily replaced. View now at Amazon Amazfit, makers of such smartwatches as the Bip 5 and the new Balance 2, recently released its Helio Strap, a fitness tracker that has all the core fu

How to sync passkeys in Chrome across your PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Passkeys promise to replace passwords as a more secure and convenient login method. But they still have a way to go before fulfilling that promise. That's because passkeys are often way too difficult to set up on one device, let alone all the devices you use. The industry itself offers no standard or consistent method to save and store passkeys, so each company has cobbled together its own process, which may or may not work. Also: Passkeys won't be

The Age-Checked Internet Has Arrived

Beginning today, millions of adults trying to access pornography in the United Kingdom will be required to prove that they are over the age of 18. Under sweeping new online child safety laws coming into force, self-reporting checkboxes that allow anyone to claim adulthood on porn websites will be replaced by age-estimating face scans, ID document uploads, credit card checks, and more. Some of the biggest porn websites—including Pornhub and YouPorn—have said that they will comply with the new rul

I tried Gemini on the Pixel Watch. Here’s what it’s like

is a reviewer with over a decade of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview. I’m just getting acquainted with Gemini on the Pixel Watch I’m wearing when it tells me that there’s a kind of pastry called “nun’s farts.” This relationship is off to a good start. “Nun’s farts” was a totally appropriate response, by the way. I’d asked it for a list of pastries with silly names, prompted by a question fro

Porsche 911 GTS review: The first hybrid 911 is better with a battery

When Porsche first unveiled the new 911 GTS, it's safe to say that there weren't many people on planet Earth pining for a hybrid 911. The idea of one of the world's most iconic sports cars taking a cue from the humble Toyota Prius is a concept that's a little hard for the average auto enthusiast to get their head around. But they should try, because the technology that Porsche has deployed in the new 911 GTS, Porsche's first hybrid sports car, is properly impressive. This is a hybrid system tha

Internet Archive is now an official US government document library

The US Senate has granted the Internet Archive federal depository status, making it officially part of an 1,100-library network that gives the public access to government documents, KQED reported. The designation was made official in a letter from California Senator Alex Padilla to the Government Publishing Office that oversees the network. "The Archive's digital-first approach makes it the perfect fit for a modern federal depository library, expanding access to federal government publications a

13 tech trends to watch now, according to McKinsey (and no, it's not all AI)

MF3d / Getty Images When we hear the word "technology," most of us automatically think of hardware; the physical devices that have become such a conspicuously present part of many of our day-to-day lives. But technology is a much more expansive phenomenon, encompassing not only all the various tools and gadgets we can clearly see, but also a vast and mostly invisible digital infrastructure of software and code upon which our modern world is based. When trying to understand technological change

I got ChatGPT Agent to deliver a truly useful report - and then NotebookLM took it to the next level

Vlad Georgescu/Getty Images What happens when you take a billion dollars of computer power and let it research a question for twelve whole minutes? A lot more than if you use that same power for just a few seconds, that's for sure. Since ChatGPT Agent is so new, I've been exploring its capabilities and trying to understand what kinds of problems it's best suited for. This time, I asked it to compare cloud storage services. It took twelve minutes to come up with an answer. Also: 9 programming