Tech Spite

Microsoft just let us know how it has been making the popular Bing chatbot more helpful in some areas, and most recently there have been improvements to how the AI handles queries about traveling and recipes for cooking. In a blog post summarizing improvements made over the past week, Microsoft noted that steps have been taken to give its ChatGPT -powered AI better answers on those two topics. In both cases, the software giant further observes that it has “improved the accuracy of citations” and that with recipes, improved ‘grounding data’ from recipe content providers has been used, with citations directing you to the provider’s site rather than Bing.com (avoiding poaching traffic). Expect more tweaking in these areas based on user feedback, Microsoft tells us. Elsewhere, the amount of ‘end-of-conversation triggers’ have been reduced, meaning instances where the Bing AI just clams up and ends a chat session prematurely (telling you something like: “I’m sorry but I prefer not to...

These nontoxic beds are easier on the environment and your health—and they feel like a dream. from Wired https://ift.tt/36Wj0UB

Whether you want a beast of a machine with dedicated graphics or a light, easy-to-upgrade PC, we have the perfect rig for you. from Wired https://ift.tt/jpxPXHA

From hair tools and coffee machines to iPad accessories and game subscriptions, we have a pick for every type of mom and mom figure. from Wired https://ift.tt/18fPQt3

While we wait patiently for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to get its grand unveiling, some unofficial renders of the foldable have appeared online. These are third-party renders, based on information from a variety of sources that has leaked out so far. The images are courtesy of the well-known leak-monger OnLeaks and Smartprix , and they show a phone that's very much like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 that was launched last year. It looks like there won't be any massive design changes this time around. That's partly to be expected – there aren't that many ways you can design a foldable phone , really. One change is on the rear camera module, where the flash has moved to the side of the camera lenses rather than sitting underneath them. Good morning #FutureSquad! Here comes your very first look at the #Samsung #GalaxyZFold5 (360° video + stunning 5K renders + dimensions)!On behalf of @Smartprix 👉🏻 https://t.co/CP8EVA9eQB pic.twitter.com/QAnWJtSOoB April 29, 2023 See mo...

Amazon is selling a 2TB Silicon Power NVMe SSD (SP002TBP34A60M28) for just under $74.99 , a price that includes free shipping in the US and the option for up to three year data recovery plan for a mere $14.99 extra (worth taking it in case something goes wrong). This is the cheapest 2TB NVMe SSD right now on the market, joint with the Teamgroup MP33 (TM8FP6002T0C101). (Note: the price of this SSD is in US Dollars but Amazon ships internationally and you should be able to purchase it either for the same price or for a small premium depending on where you live)   It uses the older PCIe 3.0 protocol (we’re on PCIe 5.0) which is why this SSD would be ideal either as a secondary drive (great if your laptop has a spare secondary port) or as a portable SSD (when paired with an appropriate external enclosure). It has a modest performance - due to the lack of DRAM - which is more than adequate when dealing with small files. Silicon Power’s SSD is both faster and has a higher warranty...

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints - now with added Daily Sequence answers!  Yes, that's right: the makers of Quordle have a new game, which sees you complete four Wordle puzzles consecutively. The twist is that the letters you've already used on the first game are repeated on the second and so on.  It's good fun, but also difficult - so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints , you'll probably need some for Quordle and the Daily Sequence too.  I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #461 and the answers to the Daily Sequence.  SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.  Quordle today (game #461) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different ...

Two gay hookup websites have been breached with sensitive and personal user data stolen and sold online, new reports have claimed. The databases, which are now being sold on dark web forums, were taken from platforms called TruckerSucker, and CityJerks. They contain enough personally identifiable information to engage in identity theft , such as usernames and passwords, email addresses, profile pictures, sexual preferences, birth dates, postal addresses, IP addresses, and bios. The passwords are encrypted, but according to TechCrunch, the algorithm is “weak” and could be broken by a more persistent hacker. The silent treatment HaveIBeenPwned founder Troy Hunt, who was tipped off on the leak, described the incident as a “typical forum breach, albeit with super sensitive content.”  However the content includes more than just identity data, as there are also messages users exchanged, including arranging meetings and describing their sexual preferences.  In total, more than...

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 's directors are having a good time reading all of your fan theories about the forthcoming movie. Unfortunately for you, though, most of them are "way off base". Speaking exclusively to TechRadar during a long lead press day ahead the next Spider-Man film's launch, Kemp Powers and Joaquim Dos Santos confirmed they were yet to see a fan theory that was close to being right. Given the secrecy surrounding Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 's plot, it's understandable why that would be the case. Even so, some movie and TV show lovers – particularly those who frequent rumor-filled forums like Reddit – have accurately guessed certain plot points about forthcoming films or TV series. A case in point is The Mandalorian season 3 , which recently finished airing on Disney Plus – director/executive producer Rick Famuyiwa exclusively telling TechRadar that some Star Wars fans had correctly guessed the direction of this season...

Everything you need for a May full of fun and games—of every kind. from Wired https://ift.tt/uM52GDt

Millions of gamers have been tricked into downloading fake Minecraft Android apps that run ads in the background, earning serious profit for the developers.  Cybersecurity researchers from McAfee recently discovered 38 games posing as Minecraft for the Android platform, running adverts in the background without user knowledge, or consent. Of the 38 games, the most popular ones are Block Box Master Diamond (10 million downloads), Craft Sword Mini Fun (5 million), Block Box Skyland Sword (5 million), and Craft Monster Crazy Sword (5 million).  Games play as advertised Block Pro Forrest Diamond, Block Game Skyland Forrest, Block Rainbow Sword Dragon, Craft Rainbow Mini Builder, and Block Forrest Tree Crazy all have one million downloads each. They were all found on the Google Play Store, and not on third-party, or obscure repositories. Aside from the smartphone heating up, or performing somewhat slower than what one might expect, there is no way for the user to actually k...

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints - now with added Daily Sequence answers!  Yes, that's right: the makers of Quordle have a new game, which sees you complete four Wordle puzzles consecutively. The twist is that the letters you've already used on the first game are repeated on the second and so on.  It's good fun, but also difficult - so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints , you'll probably need some for Quordle and the Daily Sequence too.  I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #460 and the answers to the Daily Sequence.  SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.  Quordle today (game #460) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different ...

Would it be possible to have a physical keyboard on a smartphone while keeping the touchscreen intact? The Future Interfaces Group (FIG) from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) seems to think so as the researchers recently demonstrated such a keyboard can exist via inflatable buttons on an OLED screen . This type of technology is called Flat Panel Haptics and has been in the works at CMU for the past 15 years . The new breakthrough is that FIG has been able to develop a Flat Panel Haptics board five millimeters thick by developing an Embedded Electro-Osmotic Pump or EEOPs. According to the demo video , the EEOPs can manipulate a special pumping fluid by running an electrical current through it. The pumps sit between a reservoir of this fluid on the bottom and a flexible surface on top. Running electricity through the stack allows the pumps to inflate a rigid button on top up to five millimeters in height. FIG published an accompanying paper explaining this tech in detail and revealin...

Samsung has quietly launched the 2023 version of its Frame QLED (Quantum Light Emitting Diode) Smart TV line with the company closely adhering to the idea of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.  The Frame series is a bit of an oddball in the realm of smart TVs as it has exclusive access to Samsung’s Art Store , a subscription service where owners can purchase pieces of digital versions of famous artworks. These TVs double as decorative pieces and the 2023 rendition is no different . Each display can be customized by installing magnetic wooden bezels onto its frame, or, as is the case with this year’s Frame, a metallic one sporting a Sand Gold finish for that extra pizzazz. Beyond the aesthetic changes, the 2023 Frame is nearly identical to the 2022 model . You still get a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with a refresh rate of 60Hz. You still get all of the bells and whistles like HDR10 Plus , an Anti-Reflection matte screen to “reduce the effects of glare”, plus a motion senso...

From Shotgun Wedding to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, these are the must-watch films on the streamer. from Wired https://ift.tt/yKh6Akr

Running a business is hard enough without dealing with the myriad security threats that are around today.  There are a wide range of potential issues to consider, however a deceptively easy way for outside actors or hackers to infiltrate your business is simply through emails.  Email threats have been around for some time, but still pose a significant danger to many businesses simply down to the fact many of them are simple and effective. However it is also fairly easy to try and combat falling victim to such threats, and we've listed a few of our top tips below to help keep you and your business protected. Steer clear of spam Email spam is nothing new - the first spam message was sent in 1978 when the Internet was still in its ARPANET infancy - but it has remained a thorn in the side of users ever since, clogging up inboxes for millions of us. Most email clients offer some kind of spam filtering tools, but if you need that extra boost in making sure your inbox stays str...

These high-end cans look fantastic and sound great, but they don’t have noise canceling or advanced EQ. from Wired https://ift.tt/kGKjIbP

It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints - now with added Daily Sequence answers!  Yes, that's right: the makers of Quordle have a new game, which sees you complete four Wordle puzzles consecutively. The twist is that the letters you've already used on the first game are repeated on the second and so on.  It's good fun, but also difficult - so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints , you'll probably need some for Quordle and the Daily Sequence too.  I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #459 and the answers to the Daily Sequence.  SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.  Quordle today (game #459) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different ...

Smart home security brand Ring is updating its flagship Indoor Cam with a brand new, never-before-seen feature on its devices: a shutter. Admittedly, that is a little hyperbolic on our part, but it’s true. The Indoor Cam 2nd Gen is the first of the company’s lineup to come with a physical shutter pre-attached. Before this, you either had to use the official app to turn a Ring camera off or purchase the Privacy Kit to install a shutter; however, that can only stop the video. Closing the new Privacy Cover, as it’s officially called, on the improved model actually disables both audio and video recording. All you have to do is flick the cover shut. It is possible, according to the product listing, to remove the shutter for constant surveillance. The only other major difference with the new Indoor Cam is its “flexible, swivel mount” allowing it to be placed on a “wall or ceiling beam" for a bird’s eye view.  Back in late March, the company placed the previously free Home Mode...

Leading eSign firm DocuSign has launched a new identity verification (IDV) tool powered by AI for EU and UK markets.  ID Verification for EU Qualified allows a person's identity to be verified remotely, without needing to use video conferencing software or in-person checks, all in a bid to speed up the process considerably DocuSign claims that the new feature can be used in various documents across numerous industries, such as loan agreements in finance, policy documents and claim forms in Insurance, agreements and witnessing in housing, prescriptions and claims in Healthcare, and contracts in employment matters. Streamlining verification What's more, the firm also claims that it meets the "stringent identity verification requirements necessary to be considered a qualified electronic signature (QES), the most rigorous digital signature standard in the EU and UK." The identity standards as set by the European Standards Organization (ESO) ETSI, as well as those ...

The streaming service doesn’t quite have Netflix’s back catalog, but it has a solid lineup. from Wired https://ift.tt/wph9lmv

Following its fire-breathing debut at CES 2023 , Nakamichi’s new Dragon Dolby Atmos soundbar is now available for pre-order. The company is only making 500 units available at the outset, which is likely a good call given the Dragon’s steep $3,500 / £2,800  / AU$5,300 pre-order price. Nakamichi is pitching the Dragon not so much as a soundbar but rather as a plug-and-play home surround sound system. And while it shares many of the same features found in the best Dolby Atmos soundbars such as upfiring drivers and a central, horizontally arrayed enclosure for the main speakers, this 11.4.6-channel system easily trounces the capabilities of many separate component-based home theater audio systems on specs alone. Digging into those specs, the Dragon’s main soundbar unit features 14 speakers, four of them up-firing, in a 58-inch wide stainless steel casing. Total system power is specified at 3,000 watts and Nakamichi claims it can hit staggeringly loud 125 dB SPL peaks. There’s onboa...