Author: alex

Meta allegedly suppressed VR safety research on children Summary: Reporting by The Washington Post and Engadget says current and former Meta employees presented documents to Congress alleging that internal research showing children being exposed to predators in Meta's VR platform was edited to remove the worst incidents. Researchers claim at least one child under 10 was sexually propositioned while using a Meta VR headset; Meta denies the allegations. Key points Employees presented documents to Congress describing grooming incidents in Meta VR and say internal reports omitted the worst offenses. Researchers reported meeting a German family whose child under 10 was allegedly approached and sexually propositioned; they say those claims were removed from the internal report. Documents reportedly include legal guidance limiting data collection about children due to regulatory concerns, and…

OpenAI backs 'Critterz' — a mostly AI-generated animated feature OpenAI is supporting a feature-length animated film called Critterz, expanding on a 2023 short by Chad Nelson that used DALL·E to generate visuals. The film mixes AI-generated imagery with human voice acting and traditional artistry. Producers include London-based Vertigo Films and LA’s Native Foreign. Key facts Concept: Forest creatures go on an adventure after their village is disturbed by a stranger. Technology: Visuals generated with OpenAI’s DALL·E (and related tools); artists and voice actors will be hired. Budget & schedule: Target budget under $30M and production in ~9 months — far less time and money than a typical Hollywood animated picture. Creative team: Script contributors include writers behind Paddington in Peru. The project aims to premiere at Cannes. Why it matters…

Apple TV+ wins 15 Creative Arts Emmy Awards ahead of the main ceremony Apple TV+ secured 15 awards at the first night of the 77th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, taking home multiple honors in technical and creative categories ahead of the main Emmy telecast on Sept 14, 2025. Notable winners among Apple titles included: Severance The Studio Shrinking Slow Horses The Creative Arts Emmys recognize achievements in areas such as casting, sound mixing, visual effects and other crafts. For the full official winners list and detailed breakdown, see the Television Academy's winners page and Apple’s newsroom release linked below. Sources: Television Academy – Creative Arts winners, Apple Newsroom. Which Apple series was your favorite this season? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Signal launches end-to-end encrypted cloud backups (Android beta) Signal has begun beta testing a new cloud backup system, initially rolling out on Android. The service stores end-to-end encrypted backups that only users can unlock with their unique encryption key. Signal says cross-platform restore support (Android ↔ iOS) is a goal for the future. Key points End-to-end encrypted backups stored on Signal’s servers; only accessible with the user’s encryption key. Cross-platform restore planned so users can move chats between Android and iOS. Media offloading to reduce local storage; different storage tiers available. Free tier: all messages + ~45 days of recent media (exact details may vary by region). Paid option for extended storage (examples mention ~100GB for about $1.99/month; pricing and availability may vary). Paid backups currently rely on Google Play…

Paramount+: 50% Off Annual Subscriptions (Limited Time) Paramount+ is offering 50% off its annual plans through September 18. That brings the Essential plan (with ads) to $30 for one year and the Premium plan to $60 for one year. Key details Pricing: Essential (with ads) — $30/yr; Premium — $60/yr. Eligibility: Offer available to new and returning subscribers during the promotion period. Payment: You must pay for the full year up front; month-to-month pricing is unchanged. Offer end date: September 18. Notable content Paramount+ includes a variety of programming, including RuPaul-related shows, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, other Star Trek series, live sports, and (with Premium) Showtime titles such as Yellowjackets and the rebooted Dexter. Sign up or find more information on the official Paramount+ site:…

Levoit LVAC-300: Budget Cordless Vacuum Now $270 — Deal & ReviewThe Levoit LVAC-300 cordless vacuum is on sale for $270 (list $350) — an $80 (23%) discount. It's a solid budget option with good suction, convenient handling and a polished design suitable for apartments and small-to-medium homes.Key specsPrice: $270 (was $350)Bin size: 0.75 LFilter: HEPA (Levoit claims 99.99% @ 0.3μm)Battery life: up to 60 minutes (Eco), ~12 minutes (Turbo)Modes: Eco / Mid / Turbo; digital battery displayProsGood suction for the priceEasy to assemble and remove batteryDecent bin capacity for quick cleansHEPA filtrationConsNo charging dock includedTurbo mode drains battery quicklyOur take: The LVAC-300 is a practical, budget-friendly cordless vacuum that performs well for everyday messes like dust, pet hair and small debris. It's particularly suited to apartment dwellers or anyone needing…

Google Gemini: Free users can create up to 100 images per day Google has clarified daily usage limits for Gemini AI. According to recent reports, free users can now generate or edit up to 100 images per day using the Gemini 2.5 Pro model. Google also applies limits to other features (reported figures): Free tier: ~100 image generations/edits per day, ~5 text prompts per day, and ~5 Deep Research reports per month. Some sources also report audio overview limits (e.g., 20/day). Paid tiers: substantially higher limits (examples reported include Pro and Ultra tiers with up to 1,000 images/day and more prompts/reports). Exact limits and prices vary by plan. These concrete figures replace previously vague terms like “limited access,” giving users clearer guidance on how much they can use Gemini’s creative…

Ford F-150 Lightning STX: Replaces XLT with More Power, Range and Rugged Styling Ford has introduced the F-150 Lightning STX, a new trim that replaces the XLT and adds a more rugged look plus improved range and power. Built from customer feedback, the STX aims to offer a factory-ready rugged Lightning without aftermarket mods. Key Specs Powertrain: Dual motor Horsepower: 536 hp Torque: 775 lb-ft EPA range: ~290 miles (extended-range battery) Starting price: $63,345 (does not include destination charges) Availability: Expected at dealerships early next year Notable Features Rugged styling cues: new off-road wheels, all-terrain tires, Tremor-sourced running boards, and STX badging Interior options: optional black vinyl floor and blue accent lines New color options: Argon Blue and Marsh Gray Why it matters Ford projects the STX will be its…

Uber & Momenta to test Level-4 robotaxis in Munich (2026) Uber and autonomous-driving software company Momenta have announced plans to test Level‑4 robotaxis in Munich, Germany, with testing and commercial operations targeted to begin in 2026. Rides will be summoned through the Uber app; the fleet will start with safety drivers on board and aim to transition to fully driverless service. Key facts Location: Munich, Germany Start of testing/commercial launch: 2026 Vehicle automation level: Level 4 (high automation; vehicle can handle driving without a human in defined conditions) Initial operations: safety drivers on board, then move to fully driverless How to ride: via the Uber app once available in the area About Momenta Momenta is a Shanghai-based autonomous driving software company that partners with automakers and has been developing scalable…

Eero Signal: Cellular Backup for Eero NetworksAmazon’s eero has introduced eero Signal, a cellular backup device designed to keep your eero Wi‑Fi network online when your primary internet connection fails. The device uses a built‑in multi‑carrier eSIM to automatically switch to cellular data and then revert to your home internet when it returns.Key featuresAutomatic failover: Detects outages and switches to cellular backup automatically.Models & pricing: 4G LTE model at $99.99; 5G RedCap model at $199.99 (5G arrives later).Subscription required: Backup data is supplied via an annual eero plan (e.g., ~10 GB for $99/yr; higher tiers available).Compatibility: Works with USB‑C powered eero routers (Wi‑Fi 6+) and the eero PoE Gateway.Use case: Intended as a location‑bound backup (not a mobile hotspot or primary broadband replacement).AvailabilityThe 4G LTE version is expected to launch…