Google Sues Facebook Scammers Spreading Malware Disguised as its Bard AI Chatbot | Mashable

November 14, 2023November 13, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

AI is the big thing right now. So, of course, scammers have glommed on to the hype in order to take advantage of people interested in new technology.

Now, Google is stepping in and suing a group of scammers impersonating the tech giant to steal victims’ sensitive data.

In a new post on the company’s official blog, Google General Counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado announced that it had filed a lawsuit in California on Monday against a scammer group that had duped users into downloading malware on Facebook.

Apple might launch an OLED iPad Pro and larger iPad Air in early 2024 | Mashable

November 14, 2023November 13, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Apple is planning a big overhaul of its iPad lineup next year.

This is according to a new report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims that the company plans to launch new iPad Pro models with M3 processors and OLED displays.

All of the current iPads have LCD displays, though the larger, 12.9-inch iPad Pro has an enhanced, mini-LED display. But OLED is a logical choice for the iPad, as it would likely offer deeper blacks, better viewing angles, and less battery consumption.

The new iPad Pro models are likely to come in the first half of 2024, with mass production starting either late in the first quarter, or in the second quarter.

‘The Marvels’ struggles at box office on opening weekend | CNN Business

November 13, 2023November 12, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

“The Marvels” finished No. 1 at the box office in its opening weekend but grossed just $47 million in domestic sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

According to data from Comscore, the latest Marvel project is also the studio’s lowest-performing one. It finished below 2008’s “The Incredible Hulk,” the previous record-holder, which opened at just over $55 million.

But the Marvel Cinematic Universe was still finding its footing in the late aughts and, since then, Marvel projects have amassed a robust fan base and raked in historic numbers at the box office. In fact, “The Marvels” is only the third Marvel movie to make less than $60 million during its opening weekend, and the first since “Ant-Man” opened with $57 million in 2015.

The Fed is terrified Americans could get used to high inflation. It may already be happening | CNN Business

November 13, 2023November 12, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A worrisome sign for the Federal Reserve is starting to emerge.

The Fed keeps a close eye on several risks that could make its job of taming inflation even more difficult, such as red-hot consumer demand keeping some upward pressure on prices and the possible effects of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on oil prices.

But the US central bank also pays close attention to whether Americans still have faith inflation will eventually return to normal. That faith seems to be eroding.

The University of Michigan’s latest consumer survey released Friday showed that Americans’ long-run inflation expectations rose to 3.2% this month, the highest level since 2011.

King Arthur launches a new 100% regeneratively-grown flour blend | Fast Company

November 8, 2023November 7, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A new King Arthur Baking Company product is hitting the shelves: In a verdant green bag, the company is now selling a 100% Regeneratively-Grown Climate Blend—a first for the more than 230-year-old brand—meant to help restore soil health.

The whole wheat flour blend is a mix of grains developed by the Breadlab, a research lab at Washington State University that breeds varieties of wheat, barley, and rye that are healthier for both humans and the soil than commodity wheats. Those commodity wheats, grown for the industrial-scale market, have been bred primarily for durability and disease resistance, or with high yields in mind, at the expense of attributes like nutrients, flavors, and soil benefits.

Dropbox Rolls Out Advanced Tools for Enhanced Knowledge Work | Small Biz Trends

November 6, 2023November 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Dropbox has announced a suite of new features and tools designed to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and support the next generation of knowledge work. This as remote work culture continues to evolve and the tools that drive it need to keep pace.

In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, the rise of remote work compelled many companies to adapt and innovate. Dropbox was no exception, transitioning to a Virtual First model to combine the best elements of remote and in-person working. Yet, despite these strides, challenges persist. A recent study sponsored by Dropbox revealed startling insights: a whopping 42% of participants claimed they could not sustain productive work for more than an hour due to distractions. This has led to the average knowledge worker losing over 500 hours each year, with a significant chunk of this time – 157 hours – wasted on non-productive messages from workplace chat apps.

Disney will soon own 100% of the streaming service Hulu | Digital Trends

November 2, 2023November 1, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As part of a buyout move that’s been several months in the making, Disney will soon purchase Comcast’s 33% stake in Hulu, becoming the sole owner of the popular streaming service.

The Walt Disney Company, which already owns the other two-thirds of Hulu thanks to its 2019 purchase of 20th Century Fox, made an announcement today that updates the timeline for its acquisition. In the statement, Disney said it expects to pay Comcast Corp.’s NBC Universal approximately $8.61 billion. The purchase amount is to be based on an appraisal of Hulu’s value conducted on September 30, 2023.

Facebook and Instagram launch ad-free subscription tier in EU | BBC News

October 31, 2023October 30, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Facebook and Instagram are launching subscriptions in most of Europe that will remove adverts from the platforms.

People using the Meta-owned platforms will be able to pay €9.99 (£8.72) per month for an ad-free experience. It will not be available in the UK.

In January, Meta was fined €390m for breaking EU data rules around ads.

The regulator said at the time the firm could not “force consent” by saying consumers must accept how their data is used or leave the platforms.

The subscription tier will be exclusive to people in the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland from November.

General Motors deal clears the way for an end to US car strike | BBC News

October 31, 2023October 30, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

General Motors has struck a deal with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union to end a six-week strike in the US.

The tentative agreement follows similar deals at Ford and Chrysler-maker Stellantis, the other two carmakers affected by walkouts.

Nearly 50,000 workers and dozens of sites were involved in the action, the first in union’s history to target all three firms at once.

US President Joe Biden welcomed the deal hailing the deal as “great.”

The president added: “These record agreements reward auto workers who gave up much to keep the industry working and going during the financial crisis more than a decade ago.”

A look at how one fintech CEO’s PR decision backfired | TechCrunch

October 30, 2023October 29, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

This past week, Carta CEO Henry Ward took it upon himself to send a letter to customers addressing the company’s recent negative press. The move had many scratching their heads, including many customers and at least one investor.

I first learned about it when I saw one of those customers, Winnie co-founder and CEO Sara Mauskopf, post something on X. In her post, she noted that prior to receiving the email from Ward, she “didn’t actually read any negative press about Carta recently.”

She wasn’t alone.

So essentially what Ward did was notify all of Carta’s customers that the company was the target of lawsuits around allegations of sexual abuse on the part of executives and has been accused of having a toxic “boy’s club culture,” among other things. He did so by pointing them to a Medium post/missive he had shared with Carta employees a few days earlier.