Author: alex

O2 Germany launches AI ‘grandma’ Hilde — criticized for tone and execution Telefónica’s UK experiment with an AI "grandma" called Daisy drew attention last year, and now O2 Germany has introduced its own version named Hilde. The idea — an AI persona that embodies a warm, grandmotherly voice — is meant to make AI interaction friendlier, but Hilde’s debut has prompted criticism that the execution is neither funny nor well judged. Critics say Hilde feels tone‑deaf and risks trivializing sensitive contexts where a human voice or personal interaction matters. Observers also point out the marketing risk: using an elderly archetype for light entertainment can come across as patronizing rather than endearing, especially if the persona is used for promotions or automated customer interactions. Key issues raised Tonal mismatch: Reviewers argue…

Grab the Anker MagGo 10K power bank — now $60 (34% off) Travelers: a reliable portable charger is one of the best accessories you can bring on holiday trips. Right now the Anker MagGo 10K — one of our top MagSafe power bank picks — is on sale for $60, down from $90. That’s a 34% discount and within $5 of its all-time low. The MagGo is Qi2-certified and can deliver about 1.7 full charges to an iPhone 15, taking a phone from roughly 5% to 60% in about 45 minutes. The integrated stand is handy for using your phone while it charges, and overall it’s one of the most convenient MagSafe power banks available. Other MagSafe power bank deals Baseus Picogo 25W: $53 (24% off) Ugreen MagFlow 10,000mAh 25W:…

Philips Hue app v5.57.0 adds Bridge Pro migration — consolidate multiple standard Bridges The Philips Hue app’s latest update (version 5.57.0) introduces a migration path that lets users move multiple standard Hue Bridges onto a single Bridge Pro. The change simplifies management for households and installations that previously relied on several bridges to cover different rooms or buildings. Alongside the bridge‑consolidation feature, the update includes various smaller improvements for the Hue lighting ecosystem and Philips’ app‑supported security products. The goal is to streamline control and reduce fragmentation for advanced or multi‑bridge setups. What’s new Bridge migration: Move multiple conventional Hue Bridges to one Bridge Pro for centralized management. System tweaks: Miscellaneous performance and stability improvements for lights and supported security devices. App version: The feature arrives with Philips Hue app…

Apple Music and Apple TV briefly affected by partial outage (resolved) Apple logged a partial outage impacting Apple Music and Apple TV (including the Apple TV Channels feature) starting around 2:53PM ET. According to Apple’s System Status updates, the issue affected “some” users and was resolved around 4:31PM ET. Reports on DownDetector began appearing shortly before Apple’s official notice, with initial reports near 2:33PM ET. The outage was intermittent and limited in scope — many users (including some Engadget staff) remained able to stream normally while others experienced interruptions. Timeline ~2:33PM ET — Users begin reporting problems on DownDetector. ~2:53PM ET — Apple logs the outage on its System Status page. ~4:31PM ET — Apple marks the incident as resolved. What to do if you were affected Check Apple’s live…

Apple Music and Apple TV experiencing a partial outage Apple has reported a partial outage affecting Apple Music and Apple TV, including the Apple TV Channels feature. The company logged the incident on its System Status page at around 2:53 PM ET, and says the issue is impacting "some" users rather than a full service disruption. Reports on outage tracker DownDetector began appearing shortly before Apple’s notice, indicating users started seeing problems around 2:33 PM ET. Anecdotal evidence suggests many subscribers can still access content, so the issue appears intermittent or regionally limited at this time. What to check if you’re affected Visit Apple’s System Status page for live updates: https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/. Try restarting the app or device, sign out and back into your Apple ID, and confirm your internet connection.…

Top AI headlines right now: Claude Code in Slack and an expanded Anthropic–Accenture push Perplexity research of the past 24–48 hours highlights two notable developments in the AI industry: Anthropic’s new Claude Code integration for Slack, and an expanded partnership between Anthropic and Accenture to accelerate enterprise AI deployments. No other major breaking stories from OpenAI, Google Gemini or xAI appeared within the timeframe of this brief. 1) Anthropic brings Claude Code into Slack Headline: Anthropic launches Claude Code integration into Slack for agentic coding workflows. Summary: Anthropic introduced Claude Code (beta) inside Slack, letting teams delegate end‑to‑end coding tasks directly within chat threads. The assistant can create files, debug, run tests and post updates in Slack, shifting AI coding help from IDEs into collaborative chat environments. Source: TechCrunch: Claude…

Apple Music and Apple TV experiencing partial outage Apple has logged an outage affecting Apple Music and Apple TV (including the Apple TV Channels feature). The issue appeared on Apple’s System Status page at about 2:53PM ET and is reported to impact "some" users rather than a full worldwide outage. DownDetector reports began appearing shortly before Apple’s notice, suggesting users started seeing problems around 2:33PM ET. Anecdotal reports indicate that many subscribers can still stream normally, so the outage appears intermittent or limited in scope at the moment. What to check if you’re affected Visit Apple’s official System Status page to see live updates: Apple System Status. Try restarting the app or device, sign out and back into your Apple ID, and confirm your network connection. Check community outage trackers…

Spotify rolls out Prompted Playlist beta in New Zealand — write a prompt, get a custom playlist Spotify is testing a new feature called Prompted Playlist that lets users type a custom instruction and have Spotify generate a playlist based on that prompt plus their complete listening history. The beta begins in New Zealand on December 11 and is available in English at launch. Unlike earlier AI playlist efforts, Prompted Playlist emphasizes user control: you can tell Spotify exactly what mood, era, or vibe you want, set a cadence for auto‑updates, and use an "Ideas" tab for inspiration. Spotify also says it will draw on your entire listening history "back to day one," making recommendations that blend prompt intent with long‑term taste signals. How it works Custom prompts: Type free‑form…

PS Plus Game Catalog: December additions include Assassin's Creed Mirage, Granblue Fantasy: Relink & more Sony has announced December additions to the PS Plus Game Catalog, with most titles arriving on December 16. Highlights include Assassin's Creed Mirage, Granblue Fantasy: Relink and Cat Quest III — while Skate Story is already available now for PS5 subscribers. The December slate mixes big-budget and indie fare: Assassin's Creed Mirage returns to the series' stealth roots and will be playable on PS4 and PS5; Granblue Fantasy: Relink brings a console version of the beloved action RPG to both platforms; and Cat Quest III offers open‑world, cat‑and‑dog themed action on PS4/PS5. Full list of notable additions Skate Story — available now on PS5 (indie skateboarding sim) Assassin's Creed Mirage — PS4, PS5 (arrives Dec…

State Department returns to Times New Roman 14‑pt, reversing 2023 Calibri policy The U.S. State Department is reversing its 2023 decision to use Calibri for official communications and is now requiring Times New Roman at 14‑point. A memo titled "Return to Tradition: Times New Roman 14‑Point Font Required for All Department Paper" frames the change as a move to restore formality and align documents with the department’s letterhead. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued the sans‑serif Calibri looked "informal" and clashed with official stationery. Former Secretary Antony Blinken had adopted Calibri in 2023, citing improved accessibility for screen readers and text‑to‑speech tools. The shift back to a serif typeface has prompted debate about readability, accessibility and whether the choice is politically motivated. Why font choice matters Readability vs. accessibility: Serif…