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Quantum Computers Are Here and They’re Real. You Just Haven’t Noticed Yet

The promise of quantum computers appears to be that they will upend modern computing as we know it. With exceptional computational power, they’ll be performing feats unimaginable for any classical supercomputer. The reality of quantum computers hasn’t quite lived up to its hype, however. Claims of “quantum advantage”—problems regular computers can’t solve but quantum computers can—draw criticism from both skeptics and enthusiasts in the field. Certainly, we’ve seen genuinely impressive advancem

What Even Is Instagram Now?

In her classic novel Frankenstein, author Mary Shelley imagines a monster that's reanimated with its piecemeal body sewn together, tendon by tendon. “The dissecting room and the slaughter-house furnished many of my materials,” Shelley writes. That’s exactly what scrolling through Instagram feels like right now—an ungodly morass of features stitched together. It’s an AI search tool! It’s a shopping app! It’s getting on my last nerve. Instagram is having a full-blown identity crisis, and I’m exha

How to safely escape JSON inside HTML SCRIPT elements

<script> tags follow unintuitive parsing rules that can break a webpage in surprising ways. Fortunately, it’s relatively straightforward to escape JSON for script tags. Just do this Replace < with \x3C or \u003C in JSON strings. with or in JSON strings. In PHP, use json_encode($data, JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES) for safe JSON in <script> tags. for safe JSON in tags. In WordPress, use wp_json_encode with the same flags. You don’t have to take my word for it, the HTML standard recom

LATAM adds support for AirTag luggage tracking via Apple’s Share Item Location

Last month, we reported that, with Saudia now supporting the AirTag luggage tracking program, the official list of supported airlines had grown to 30 globally. Now, Latin America’s largest carrier is also joining in. As reported this week by Folha (via MacMagazine), LATAM, the largest airline group in Latin America, has started supporting AirTag location sharing for passengers on flights within Brazil and across South America. Starting now, customers whose bags are delayed or missing can gener

Facebook and Instagram may be down for some users

Meta is apparently experiencing some capacity of server issues today. According to Downdetector, user reports of Facebook and Instagram not refreshing have spiked recently. Meta hasn’t acknowledged any outage on its system status page yet, and Facebook appears to be loading fine here. But if you’re having issues loading either app today, Downdetector shows that you’re not alone. ❗️Can't refresh your feed or messages on Facebook and Instagram? You're not alone! Downdetector users have been

Instagram’s Map is here, and this is how you can turn your location off

is a senior editor following news across tech, culture, policy, and entertainment. He joined The Verge in 2021 after several years covering news at Engadget. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. It’s only been a couple of days since the Instagram Map launched, and from the looks of our social feeds, people are not happy about it. Responses have ranged from being mildly annoyed that Instagram is ripping off Snapchat’s Snap Maps instead of offe

Instagram’s Map is here, and this is how you can turn it off

is a senior editor following news across tech, culture, policy, and entertainment. He joined The Verge in 2021 after several years covering news at Engadget. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. It’s only been a couple of days since the Instagram Map launched, and from the looks of our social feeds, people are not happy about it. Responses have ranged from being mildly annoyed that Instagram is ripping off Snapchat’s Snap Maps instead of offe

How to use Instagram Map and protect your privacy

Following Wednesday’s launch of Instagram’s new Snap Map-like opt-in “Instagram Map” feature — which lets U.S. users share their most recent active location with others and discover location-based content — Instagram head Adam Mosseri is having to reassure people that their location is only visible to others if they decide to share it. Although Meta has made it clear that location sharing is off by default, there have been numerous posts on social media urging users to turn off location sharing,

The Bluetooth tracker I trust more than AirTags - whether you use iPhone or Android

Pebblebee Clip ZDNET's key takeaways The finder tag is equipped with a rechargeable battery, so you won't have to throw away old button cells It features a bright LED for finding things in low light. The tag is on the pricier side. View now at Amazon I have a habit of putting things down and forgetting where I put them, so finder tags like the Apple AirTag have been a game-changer for me, saving me endless amounts of time and frustration. Also: The best Bluetooth trackers you can buy: Expert

Instagram's map feature spurs user backlash over geolocation privacy concerns

The launch of an Instagram feature that details users' geolocation data illicited backlash from social media users on Thursday. Meta debuted the Instagram Map tool on Wednesday, pitching the feature as way to "stay up-to-date with friends" by letting users share their "last active location." The tool is akin to Snapchat's Snap Map feature that lets people see where their friends are posting from. Although Meta said in a blog post that the feature's "location sharing is off unless you opt in,"

How to use Instagram Map and set your location-sharing preferences

This week, Instagram introduced a new Snap Map-like feature called Instagram Map that lets U.S. users share their most recent active location with others and discover location-based content. If you decide to turn on your location on Instagram Map, your location only updates when you open the app or have it running in the background, meaning it doesn’t provide continuous, real-time location updates. This is different from Snap Map, which lets users choose whether their location is updated only w

Adam Mosseri says 'people are confused' about how the Instagram map works

Yesterday, Meta introduced a new map feature that's almost identical to Snapchat's Snap Map. The feature has quickly sparked a backlash, though, and not just because it's yet another example of Instagram ripping off a Snapchat feature. While the map requires users to opt-in to share their location, many users were surprised and alarmed to see that their Instagram map was already populated with the locations of some accounts when it launched. That's because the map automatically pulls in locatio

This AirTag key organizer has survived the ultimate torture test - and I'd buy it again any time

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET In November of 2022, I decided I needed to organize my pocket EDC (everyday carry) gear. As part of that reorganization, I picked up a KeySmart Air key organizer as a way to both keep my keys sorted and also attach an AirTag to them. Also: 10 tiny tools I carry with me everywhere - how they work So, here we are, almost three years on, and I'm still using the KeySmart Air, and while it's looking a little battered, it's still going strong. The KeySmart Air comes in

Instagram adds a new friends map feature that sure looks a lot like the Snap Map

Instagram just announced an update with some long-requested features. The most notable is the introduction of a location-sharing tool for friends, though the long-awaited reposting tool is nothing ot sneeze at, either. Once opted into, the map shares a user's last active location with chosen contacts. The location sharing feature is turned off until selected and there are numerous customization controls. For instance, Instagram users can choose to share location data with all friends, Close Fri

Instagram Adds New Features, Including Reposts and Maps

Instagram has launched new features aimed at further connecting users with their online contacts, the company announced Wednesday. One involves sharing public feed posts and reels, another shares locations with others on an Instagram map, and a new Friends tab shows what content your contacts have liked or commented on. For reposts, you'll be able to share public reels and feed posts from other users. The original poster will be credited and those reshares will appear in the sharer's profile in

Instagram's new location sharing feature sure looks a lot like the Snap Map

Instagram just announced an update with some long-requested features. The most notable is the introduction of a location-sharing tool for friends. Once opted into, the map shares a user's last active location with chosen contacts. The location sharing feature is turned off until selected and there are numerous customization controls. For instance, Instagram users can choose to share location data with all friends, Close Friends, selected accounts or nobody at all. This data can be restricted wh

Instagram adds two familiar social media features to its app

Meta is updating Instagram today with some familiar social network features from other services. For example, the photo- and video-sharing service is basically getting its own version of the classic retweet. Separately, Instagram continues to take inspiration from Snapchat with its own social map feature. Instagram is two months shy of turning 15, and as a sign of maturity, we’re getting the first official repost button: With reposts, you can repost public reels and feed posts, making it easie

Instagram adds a reposts feed and rips off Snap Maps

Instagram is getting several new features that pull from competitors, and it’s updating a controversial feature that it added earlier this year. Starting today, users will have the ability to repost public Reels and grid posts from other accounts. And similar to TikTok, reposts will be collected in a designated tab on your profile and sprinkled into the feeds of people who follow you. It’s a small but meaningful shift from how Instagram currently operates: until now, the most efficient way to s

Instagram takes on Snapchat with new ‘Instagram Map’

Instagram is rolling out Instagram Map, a new feature that lets users share their most recent active location with others and discover location-based content. The Meta-owned social network is also launching reposts, and making its “Friends” tab in Reels available globally. With its new map feature, Instagram is copying yet another popular feature from Snapchat, after cloning the app’s core Stories functionality back in 2016. Instagram is coming for Snap Map’s crown, a feature that recently surp

Show HN: Stagewise (YC S25) – Front end coding agent for existing codebases

stagewise The frontend coding agent for production codebases About the project Welcome to stagewise — The frontend coding agent for production codebases 💬 Tell the agent what you want to change 🧠 Click on element(s) to let the agent know where a change should happen 💡 Let stagewise do the magic! Perfect for devs tired of pasting element information and folder paths into prompts. stagewise uses real-time, browser-powered context. Features ⚡ Works out of the box 🧩 Customize and extend fu

The best GPS trackers for kids recommended by parents in 2025

Why we like it: The Apple AirTag is an affordable and accurate solution to keep track of your child's location. It works with the Find My app and seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem. Apple's AirTags are about the size of a quarter, and there are countless accessories you can use to attach the small tracker to a jacket, backpack, or even slip it into your child's pocket. The device uses an easily replaceable CR2032 battery lasts that lasts around a year. The AirTag offers a solid per

Surveillance-Minded Parents Can Now Hide AirTags In Kids Shoes

We interrupt your regularly scheduled doomscrolling to bring you a new development from the blossoming world of child surveillance: the sneaker brand Skechers is selling new kids shoes that come with a hidden AirTag compartment, enabling parents to quietly track their meandering progeny at all times. Readers, we're officially Skech'd out. According to the sneaker company, the tiny Apple tracking devices can be slotted into a hole in the heel of the shoes that's accessed by lifting the sole. Th

Robert Wilson has died

Robert Wilson, a visionary artist best known for his highly visual and stylised approach to theatrical performances, has died, aged 83. According to a statement released by the Watermill Center, the arts organisation he founded in Water Mill, New York, Wilson died at his home there on Thursday (31 July) following “a brief but acute illness”. “While facing his diagnosis with clear eyes and determination, he still felt compelled to keep working and creating right up until the very end,” the state

Term sheets, traction, and truth bombs: Inside the Series A mindset at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, we’re getting real about what it takes to land a Series A in today’s market — no smoke, no mirrors, just the unfiltered perspective from the people signing the checks. Series A has changed — here’s how to win in 2026 This Builder Stage session brings together three power players in early-stage investing: Katie Stanton (Moxxie Ventures), Thomas Krane (Insight Partners), and Sangeen Zeb (GV). They’ve seen th

Topics: 2025 gv like series stage

PayPal and Venmo outage hit users Friday morning - what we know

SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty Images ZDNET's key takeaways PayPal and Venmo experienced an outage Friday morning. Affected accounts couldn't send or receive payments. PayPal has acknowledged the problem and said a fix is in the works. Did you have trouble with PayPal or Venmo this morning? You weren't alone. The problem has been resolved, but millions of people were scrambling to find a fix. Also: PayPal's AI-powered scam alert system might intercept your transactions now - here's why

Term sheets, traction, and truth bombs: inside the Series A mindset at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, we’re getting real about what it takes to land a Series A in today’s market — no smoke, no mirrors, just the unfiltered perspective from the people signing the checks. Series A has changed — here’s how to win in 2026 This Builder Stage session brings together three power players in early-stage investing: Katie Stanton (Moxxie Ventures), Thomas Krane (Insight Partners), and Sangeen Zeb (GV). They’ve seen th

Topics: 2025 gv like series stage

Skechers unveils kids' sneakers with hidden Apple AirTag compartment

In brief: Parents who worry about where their kids are might be interested in a new line of children's sneakers from Skechers. Each pair of these shoes has a hidden compartment on the inside designed to fit an Apple AirTag, allowing the wearer to be tracked. The sneakers in the new Find My Skechers line have a cutout inside the heel of the shoe. Lift up the insert to reveal a small compartment containing the AirTag holder, where the tracker can be securely placed. The compartment has a screw-i

Skechers releases kid shoes with a hidden AirTag compartment

Skechers just released a helicopter parent's dream shoe. Find My Skechers is a new line of children's shoes that encourages parents to hide an Apple AirTag under the heel. If tracking them on Snapchat wasn't enough and tracking their smartwatch didn't quite cut it, now you can hide an AirTag on their person. Remember running around the neighborhood with your friends and being told to be home for dinner? Or perhaps biking to and from school? You were figuring out how to navigate the world on you

Why I recommend this Bluetooth tracker to both iPhone and Android users over AirTags

Pebblebee Clip ZDNET's key takeaways The finder tag is equipped with a rechargeable battery, so you won't have to throw away old button cells It features a bright LED for finding things in low light. The tag is on the pricier side. View now at Amazon I have a habit of putting things down and forgetting where I put them, so finder tags like the Apple AirTag have been a game-changer for me, saving me endless amounts of time and frustration. Also: The best Bluetooth trackers you can buy: Expert

You can hide an AirTag in Skechers’ new kids’ shoes

is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid. If you’re a parent with kids in school or kids who are independently exploring their neighborhood for the first time, then there’s a good chance you’ve considered stashing a tracker somewhere on their person for added peace of mind. Skechers is making that a little easier with a new line of sneakers for kids that feature a hidden compartment in t