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Tech News
A developer has ported the original Quake engine to Rust, using memory-safe code rather than the game's original C codebase, and compiled it to run in a web browser. The port supports keyboard and mouse controls as well as gamepads, including original id Software joystick configurations, with adjustable mouse sensitivity to account for platform differences like macOS.
A developer has released SVG Spark, a collection of ten single-page utilities for working with SVG files aimed at developers, marketers and creators. The tools process files entirely client-side in the browser, meaning no files are uploaded to a server.
ICANN's Application Publication System has listed a new application for the .lan generic top-level domain. Details of the applicant and intended use were not accessible from the source, which required JavaScript to view full content.
Google Labs unveiled Playground, a tool that lets users build browser-based games using text prompts instead of code. Users can pick a genre, choose 2D or 3D and single- or multiplayer modes, upload images for AI-generated assets, and publish finished games privately, via link, or to a public gallery with leaderboards. The platform is live for users 18+ in the U.S., with free token-limited access and higher limits for Google One AI subscribers.
YouTube is testing a new desktop layout that relocates comments and video details into a right-hand sidebar while placing enlarged recommended-video thumbnails below the player. The test appears to be reaching more web users, and reports on Reddit describe the resulting watch page as cramped and cluttered. A similar layout was tested and rolled back in 2024 after user backlash.
Google has launched Playground, a browser-based platform that lets users 18 and older create custom games by typing prompts rather than writing code. The service, free with usage limits tied to Google One subscriptions, is powered by Gemini, Nano Banana and Lyria models, and lets creators share games via link or publish them to a public gallery. Google also unveiled Unity Spark, a more advanced collaborative AI game-development tool built with Unity, whose outputs can be shared on Playground.
A research paper published via Nature describes a technique for controlling where semiconductor crystals begin forming during growth, rather than letting nucleation occur randomly. The underlying article content was not accessible, limiting details on the specific materials, methods or experimental results involved.
A technical article explains how to block advertisements across an entire Android device rather than within individual apps, noting that Android has become increasingly locked down and harder to customize. It describes four DNS-based techniques that intercept ad-serving hostnames and redirect them to invalid IP addresses, which can be applied either on the device itself or via an external DNS server. The piece notes DuckDuckGo's browser blocks trackers but not ads outright, so additional measures are needed.
Google is rolling out its Email Verification origin trial to Chrome on Android, adding a 'Verified Email' option under Settings > Addresses with an auto-confirm toggle. The feature lets Chrome confirm a user's email address directly with a supporting email provider, skipping the usual verification email or one-time code, though both the site and provider must support Google's protocol.
Developer Josh Pigford built a free browser extension called Knockoff that grays out or hides generic, mass-produced brand listings on Amazon, making genuine brand products easier to find. Launched in early July, it works on Chrome, Firefox, Chromium-based browsers and Safari, and has surpassed 100,000 downloads. Pigford has said the tool builds on earlier similar extensions like AmazonBrandFilter and Amazon Brand Detector, and runs locally on users' devices.
Security firm Island discovered a phishing campaign using fake ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity sites that target advertising agency staff and media buyers. The sites exploit the recent launch of Meta's Muse AI agent and use browser-in-browser techniques to fake Google login windows, capturing credentials and MFA codes to hijack high-value ad accounts.
Researchers have mounted a radiometer on a hot-air balloon to collect atmospheric data at various altitudes. The experiment aims to improve understanding of thermal radiation in the atmosphere. The balloon's flight provided valuable readings that could enhance climate models.