Author: alex

Anthropic settles authors’ class-action over AI training on copyrighted works Anthropic has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought by a group of book authors; the financial terms were not disclosed. The case had raised the prospect of enormous statutory damages after a judge found the company had acquired copyrighted works without payment — even while recognizing that training large language models can in some circumstances constitute fair use. Background In June, U.S. District Judge William Alsup issued a mixed ruling: he said that using copyrighted material to train LLMs could be fair use, but that Anthropic’s illegal and unpaid acquisition of certain copyrighted works exposed it to claims of piracy. Statutory damages for willful copyright infringement can start at $750 per infringed work — and plaintiffs alleged a…

iOS 26: Release Date, Features & Device Compatibility Apple’s iPhone 17 event is scheduled for September 9, 2025. If past timing holds, iOS 26 should be released about one week later (around Sept 16, 2025). Quick highlights Liquid Glass — refreshed UI with translucent, floating elements and updated app icons. Phone app redesign — unified contacts, recent calls and voicemail on one screen plus new Hold Assist. Live Translate — real-time translation for calls and messages; reports say AirPods may support live translation. Messages polls — create quick polls in group chats. Betas — public beta 5 and developer beta 8 are in testing as of mid‑2025; public beta is more stable but still carries risk. Device compatibility Apple appears to be dropping support for several 2018 iPhones. The models…

Marshall Bromley 750 — Marshall's First Dedicated Party Speaker Marshall has introduced the Bromley 750, its first speaker designed specifically for parties. Inspired by the brand's heritage in guitar amplifiers, the Bromley 750 blends powerful sound with stage-like features for musicians and event hosts. Key features 360° true stereophonic sound for consistent coverage in any space. Replaceable LiFePO4 battery offering 40+ hours of playback on a single charge. Sound character knob to switch between "Loud" (punchy, outdoor-friendly) and "Dynamic" (clearer, indoor-friendly) tones. IP54 dust and water resistance — handles light rain and splashes. Integrated stage-inspired lighting with multiple presets to set the mood. Built-in handles and wheels for easier transport; weighs approximately 23.9 kg (52.7 lbs). Two XLR/6.35mm combo inputs for mic and instrument use, plus 3.5mm, USB-C, and RCA…

Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 — First Look & Anime NYC PreviewStar Wars: Visions Volume 3, a Japan-focused anime anthology, arrives on Disney+ on October 29, 2025. The season features nine shorts produced by a mix of returning and new Japanese studios, including Studio TRIGGER, Kamikaze Douga, Kinema Citrus, Production I.G and others.At Anime NYC a full episode preview of the David Production short “Black” screened. Directed by Shinya Ohira, “Black” is a dialogue-free, music-driven, highly experimental short that follows a stormtrooper through distorted, watercolor-like visuals and shifting styles — more a vibe piece than a conventional plot.Volume 3 also includes sequels to three Volume 1 stories — “The Duel: Payback,” “The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope,” and “The Lost Ones” — and will be followed by a limited spin-off…

YouTube Adds Month-to-Month NFL Sunday Ticket for 2025 With the 2025 NFL season days away, YouTube is offering a new month-to-month payment option for NFL Sunday Ticket. Below are the key details: New subscribers: $85 per month (up to four payments) Returning subscribers with YouTube TV: $115 per month Returning subscribers without YouTube TV: $145 per month Context and notable details: YouTube holds NFL Sunday Ticket rights through the 2029 season in a deal reportedly worth about $2.5 billion per year. There is an ongoing carriage dispute between Fox and YouTube TV. If the two sides don't reach a renewal deal by 5PM ET on August 27, Fox channels (including Fox Sports) could be removed from YouTube TV. YouTube has warned that Fox is seeking considerably higher payments than peers…

Whistleblower: DOGE Allegedly Uploaded SSA Numident Database to Unsecured Cloud Charles Borges, the Social Security Administration's Chief Data Officer, has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uploaded a copy of the Numident Social Security database to an unsecured cloud environment in June. The complaint warns this may have exposed the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans. Key points Who filed: Charles Borges, SSA Chief Data Officer. What: A copy of the Numident database (names, Social Security numbers, birth info, citizenship, race/ethnicity, addresses, parents' names, including deceased records). When: Uploaded in June (complaint filed in August). Allegation: The cloud environment lacked security oversight and did not follow SSA protocols; approvals were fast-tracked by SSA CIO Aram Moghaddassi and a DOGE official.…

Whistleblower: DOGE Allegedly Uploaded SSA Numident to Unsecured Cloud Charles Borges, the Social Security Administration's Chief Data Officer, has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uploaded a copy of the Numident (Numerical Identification System) database to an unsecured cloud environment in June. The complaint says this may have exposed the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans. Key details Who filed it: Charles Borges, SSA Chief Data Officer. Database: Numident (names, Social Security numbers, place & date of birth, citizenship, race, ethnicity, addresses, parents' names — records for anyone who has ever had a SSN). When: Uploaded in June (per the complaint). Officials named: Aram Moghaddassi (SSA Chief Information Officer) and DOGE officials including Michael Russo. Agency response: SSA spokesperson said the agency…

German court rules Apple cannot call Apple Watch Series 9 'carbon neutral' A regional court in Frankfurt (ruling dated August 26, 2025) found that Apple’s claim that select Apple Watch Series 9 models are "carbon neutral" is misleading under German competition law. The court concluded the claim relied on an insufficient carbon-offset project based on eucalyptus plantations in Paraguay. Main points: The court questioned the long-term security of the forestry offset: about 75% of the land for the Paraguay planting was only leased through 2029, leaving no guaranteed continuation of the project after that date. Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), which brought the case, said the claim "deceives consumers" and described the offset as an ineffective carbon-indulgence scheme. Apple disagrees with DUH, reiterating its broader climate strategy and goal to make all…

Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Image — AI image editing comes to the Gemini app Google (DeepMind) has introduced Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, a major update to its AI image-generation and editing capabilities now integrated into the Gemini app and available to developers via APIs and Google AI platforms. Key features Multi-image blending and editing — combine, merge or restyle multiple images seamlessly. Character consistency — keeps people, animals or objects visually coherent across edits and different poses. Precise localized edits — targeted changes via natural-language prompts (background blur, object removal, blemish fixes, etc.). Improved prompt accuracy — better at following detailed user instructions for edits. Low latency and cost-efficient — optimized for faster outputs and lower costs (Google lists pricing and token-based rates in the official announcement). Developer & enterprise…

Dyson Labor Day Sale: 360 Vis Nav $500, V15s Detect Submarine $800 Dyson is running a Labor Day sale with notable discounts on several vacuums. Highlights reported: Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum: Reported at $500 (~50% off). We praised the Vis Nav for its exceptional suction — the strongest of any robovac we've tested — and reliable obstacle avoidance using cameras and LEDs. It cleans pet hair and deep dirt from carpets effectively. The unit has a large dustbin but lacks a self-emptying base and does not mop. Dyson V15s Detect Submarine: Reported at $800 (about $200 off). This cordless stick offers HEPA filtration and advanced wet-cleaning capabilities, making it suitable for both carpets and hard floors. Availability note: Our quick check found both models listed on Dyson's official…