Author: alex

Authors sue Apple over alleged use of pirated books to train AI Two authors, Grady Hendrix and Jennifer Roberson, have filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging the company used pirated copies of copyrighted books from so-called "shadow libraries" to train its AI systems (Apple Intelligence) via its web crawler, Applebot. The plaintiffs claim Apple used their works without consent or payment and are seeking class-action status. Key claims Plaintiffs: Grady Hendrix and Jennifer Roberson Allegation: Applebot accessed unlicensed/pirated book collections ("shadow libraries") and used those works to train AI models without permission Relief sought: Class-action status, damages, and an injunction to stop unauthorized use Claimed harm: Loss of control over works, economic harm to authors, and unfair commercial gain by Apple Context This case joins a wave of lawsuits targeting…

Sonos Labor Day / Back-to-School Deals: Era 300 $359 & Ace Headphones $299 Back-to-school and Labor Day sales have knocked prices down on Sonos gear. The Sonos Era 300 (spatial-audio speaker) is currently on sale for $359 (was $449, ~20% off). The Sonos Ace headphones are also discounted to $299 (was $399, ~25% off). Why it’s worth considering Era 300: Sonos’ 2023 spatial-audio speaker with excellent sound, easy setup, and Trueplay tuning for room optimization. Ace headphones: Improved since launch, with features like TrueCinema when paired with a Sonos soundbar for enhanced spatial audio. Where to buy (affiliate links) Sonos Era 300 — https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sonos+Era+300&tag=f1rede-20 Sonos Ace headphones — https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sonos+Ace+headphones&tag=f1rede-20 These prices were observed on major retailers (Amazon and Sonos store) during current Labor Day / back-to-school promotions and may end…

Paramount+ — 50% Off Annual Plans (Through Sep 18) Paramount+ is offering a limited-time promotion: 50% off annual subscriptions through September 18. That drops the annual pricing to: Essential (with ads): $30/year (regularly $60) Premium: $60/year (regularly $120) Important: The discount applies only to annual plans and requires paying for the full year up front. Monthly plans remain at the usual monthly rate. What’s included Star Trek highlights — Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks, plus other Star Trek series and movies RuPaul’s shows Showtime titles (Premium plan) such as Yellowjackets and Dexter: Resurrection Live sports and local CBS content depending on region and plan How to get the deal Visit the Paramount+ website: https://www.paramountplus.com/ Select the annual plan (Essential or Premium) and complete checkout before Sep 18. Remember you’ll…

Apple Event — Sept 9: What to Expect Apple's livestreamed keynote is set for Tuesday, September 9 at 1PM ET. Watch the official livestream on YouTube: Apple Event — September 9 (YouTube). Top rumors to watch iPhone Air (rumored): An ultra‑thin iPhone (~5.55 mm) that may be positioned as a lighter, thinner model. Reports suggest compromises such as a single 48MP camera and a smaller battery, though TrendForce has suggested a high‑density "silicon anode battery" could help offset capacity limits. iPhone 17 / iPhone 17 Pro: Expect the new iPhone 17 lineup, possible Pro design tweaks (aluminum instead of titanium), an expanded rear camera island, improved telephoto (rumored 48MP zoom), and potential 120Hz ProMotion on the standard iPhone 17. iOS 26: New phones will ship with iOS 26, which brings…

Pokémon Legends: Z-A — Hands-on Preview & Release Info Pokémon Legends: Z-A shifts the series toward an action-RPG with real-time combat, dodgeable attacks, and dramatic Mega-Evolved boss encounters in a Paris-inspired Lumiose City. The demo impressions suggest a promising evolution of the franchise for players who want a more active, moment-to-moment trainer experience. What to expect Real-time combat: No turn-based battles — you control a trainer who locks on to enemy Pokémon, uses active skills on cooldowns, and dodges attacks to protect your party. Action-RPG feel: Combat plays more like a smaller-scale JRPG (think elements of Xenoblade Chronicles), with sneak attacks, active skill timing, and player mobility. Rogue boss encounters: Boss battles feature Mega-Evolved Pokémon in special arenas and can include allied Pokémon joining the fight, creating showy, cinematic encounters.…

Silksong, Epic Sale & New Indie Games — Weekly Recap Welcome to this week's indie roundup. Big highlights: Hollow Knight: Silksong — Released on PC & consoles. Steam: Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam. Buy/merch search on Amazon: Hollow Knight: Silksong (Amazon search). Epic Games Store — End of Summer Sale — Running through Sept 18. Notable discounts mentioned: Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, and Alan Wake 2. Monument Valley is free on Epic until Sept 11: Monument Valley on Epic Games Store. Prime Gaming — Into The Breach is currently available via Prime Gaming: Claim Into The Breach on Prime Gaming. New Releases to Check Rogue Labyrinth — Action-narrative roguelite (launch discount on Steam): Rogue Labyrinth on Steam. Hirogami…

Zuckerberg’s hot-mic moment: promising $600B for US AI, and why it matters At a recent White House dinner, Mark Zuckerberg told President Trump that Meta would "probably... at least $600 billion through 2028" in U.S. spending on AI infrastructure. A later hot-mic clip captured Zuckerberg apologizing to Trump: "sorry, I wasn't ready …I wasn't sure what number you wanted to go with." This post summarizes the exchange, context, and reactions. Key details Quote: "probably going to be something like, I don't know, at least $600 billion through [20]28 in the US." Hot-mic addition: Zuckerberg saying he "wasn't ready" and apologizing for the number choice. Context: The meeting followed a year of tense interactions between Zuckerberg and Trump, donations to Trump’s inauguration, policy shifts at Meta, and private meetings. Why it…

Unity adds native screen reader support for macOS & Windows Unity has introduced native screen reader support in the Unity 6 alpha (version 6000.3.0a5). The new AssistiveSupport API enables Unity apps to interface with macOS VoiceOver and Windows Narrator, and Unity plans to include this feature in the upcoming Unity 6.3 release. Why it matters Screen readers let blind and low-vision players navigate menus and UI by narrating on-screen elements. Until now, developers often had to build custom screen reader solutions per game, which is time- and resource-intensive. With native in-engine support, much of the heavy lifting is handled by Unity, lowering the barrier and cost for making games accessible. Key details Available now in Unity 6 alpha: 6000.3.0a5. Planned full integration in Unity 6.3. Main API: AssistiveSupport (Unity Scripting…

Anthropic reaches proposed $1.5B settlement in copyright class action — what it means Anthropic has agreed to a proposed $1.5 billion settlement to resolve a class-action copyright lawsuit brought by authors and publishers. Reports indicate the settlement would provide roughly $3,000 per work to affected authors and may cover around 500,000 works, subject to court approval and final notices to class members. Key points Settlement amount: $1.5 billion (proposed) Per-work payment: ~ $3,000 per registered work (reported) Affected class: Authors and publishers whose works were allegedly used without authorization to train Anthropic’s models Legal context: A June district-court ruling on fair use (Judge William Alsup) finding that certain AI training can be transformative influenced the litigation’s course Statement “In June, the District Court issued a landmark ruling on AI development…

Amazon Greenlights Live-Action "Life Is Strange" Series Amazon Prime Video has ordered a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed 2015 adventure game Life Is Strange. British writer/actor Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World, KAOS) will serve as creator, showrunner and executive producer. Production involves Amazon MGM Studios alongside Square Enix, Story Kitchen and LuckyChap. Premise The series will follow Max Caulfield, a photography student who discovers she can rewind time after saving the life of her childhood friend Chloe. As they investigate the disappearance of a fellow student, they uncover a darker side to their town that forces a life-or-death choice with lasting consequences — mirroring the game’s blend of teen realism, supernatural elements and moral branching. Key Players Showrunner/Creator/EP: Charlie Covell Executive Producers: Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg,…