Category: Uncategorized

RSL: Publishers Push New Licensing Standard to Charge AI Scrapers Publishers are launching the Really Simple Licensing (RSL) standard to give web publishers machine-readable ways to set licensing terms for AI scrapers. RSL adds licensing options to the robots.txt protocol with choices such as free, attribution, subscription, pay-per-crawl and pay-per-inference (pay when content is used in AI responses). Who's involved Reddit Yahoo (Engadget's parent) Medium People Inc. O'Reilly Media, Ziff Davis, The Daily Beast, wikiHow and others RSL Collective & enforcement The RSL Collective, a new nonprofit led by former Ask.com CEO Doug Leeds and RSS co-creator Eckart Walther, will manage licensing and royalty collection—similar to music-rights organizations like ASCAP. Fastly is partnering with RSL to act as a technical gatekeeper to help enforce terms at the edge. Debates &…

Grammarly adds beta support for French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish Since its launch, Grammarly mainly focused on English. In a recent beta rollout, Grammarly expanded its language support to include French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The update brings spelling and grammar checks, paragraph-level rewrite suggestions for tone and clarity, and inline translation. What’s new Language checks: Grammar, spelling and style suggestions for French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish (beta). Rewrite suggestions: Paragraph-level options to refine tone, style and flow in the new languages. Inline translation: Convert text into 19 languages without leaving the app. Availability The features are available to all Grammarly customers (free and paid) where the apps or extensions run — including Windows, Mac, Chrome extension, web apps and supported plugins. No manual settings change is…

Bose SoundLink Micro (Gen 2) — Hands-on Bose has released the SoundLink Micro (2nd Generation), updating its ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker with several useful improvements under the hood and in daily use. We tested the new version and summarize the key points below. Key features Compact size (approx. 4.3 × 10.4 × 10.4 cm) — pocket- and bag-friendly Improved audio: single driver + dual passive radiators and Active EQ for fuller bass and clearer mids Battery life: up to 12 hours playback USB-C charging (replaces micro-USB) Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint pairing and support for SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive IP67 water and dust resistance and a rugged silicone exterior with powder-coated steel grille Removable fabric strap for easier carrying Bose Music app support for EQ, firmware updates and shortcut customization Improvements…

Perseverance Finds Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater NASA's Perseverance rover has identified minerals—such as vivianite and greigite—in sedimentary rocks from Jezero Crater that may be potential biosignatures indicating ancient microbial activity on Mars. The samples, formed over 3.5 billion years ago, were collected by Perseverance and analyzed by researchers, who published their findings in Nature. Key points: Minerals like vivianite and greigite can form when organic matter reacts with mud; on Earth, that process is often driven by microbes. Researchers caution these minerals are potential biosignatures, not definitive proof—nonbiological processes can produce similar minerals. The samples were collected by Perseverance during its surface mission (launched 2021) and analyzed by the team led by Joel Hurowitz. Quote from the study lead: "On Earth, reactions like these, which combine organic matter and…

Bluesky rolls out age verification in South Dakota & Wyoming Bluesky is expanding its age verification measures in the U.S.: users in South Dakota and Wyoming will be required to verify their age to access direct messages (DMs) and adult content. The company says other features remain available to unverified users, but age-restricted features will be blocked until verification is completed. How verification works Bluesky will use Epic Games' Kids Web Services (KWS) to perform checks. Offered verification methods include anonymous facial-age estimation, ID/document scans, or payment-card checks. Why this matters The move follows new state laws in South Dakota and Wyoming requiring platforms to verify ages for access to potentially harmful or adult content. Bluesky previously chose to block its service in Mississippi rather than comply with a broader…

Bending Spoons Agrees to Acquire Vimeo for $1.38B (Deal Pending Approvals) Italian app developer Bending Spoons has agreed to buy Vimeo in an all‑cash deal valued at about $1.38 billion. The transaction is not yet closed — it remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and shareholder consent. The deal is expected to close in Q4 2025. Key details Purchase price: approximately $1.38 billion (all‑cash) Per‑share offer: about $7.85, representing a significant premium Status: Agreement signed; closing contingent on regulatory and shareholder approvals Expected timeline: close in Q4 2025 (subject to the above conditions) What this could mean Bending Spoons has signaled plans to invest in Vimeo’s product and add new capabilities — reports mention potential AI enhancements and further product development. After closing, Vimeo would likely be taken private and…

Rode Wireless Go III — Now $199 on Amazon (Record Low) The Rode Wireless Go III is currently available on Amazon for a record-low price of $199 (about 30% off typical pricing). If you've been looking for a compact, versatile wireless mic for vlogging, interviews, or content creation, this is a strong value right now. Key Features 32-bit float onboard recording with up to 40 hours of storage 2.4 GHz wireless connection (no Bluetooth) Universal compatibility: iPhone, Android, cameras, and PCs Includes charging hub, cables, windshield, and carry pouch Available in 13 colorways to match branding or channels Why it’s worth considering The Wireless Go III balances professional features and portability: excellent sound quality, onboard backup recording, and wide device compatibility. It’s earned spots on “best mobile microphones” lists and…

Apple extends free satellite features for iPhone 14 & 15 owners Apple has announced an extension of free access to its satellite-based features for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users for another year — now lasting at least until September 2026 for devices activated in supported countries before Sept 9, 2025. What remains free Emergency SOS via satellite Satellite messaging Find My via satellite Roadside Assistance via satellite These services operate through Apple’s partner Globalstar in supported regions. Apple has extended the free period multiple times already, and while it could introduce a paid subscription in the future, no pricing or subscription plan has been announced. Notes & availability Satellite features are available only in countries where Apple has enabled the service (some countries such as mainland China, Russia and…

Center Stage: iPhone 17 & iPhone Air make selfies orientation-free Apple's latest iPhone 17 and iPhone Air introduce an improved Center Stage experience powered by a square front-facing sensor and machine-learning tracking. The result: the camera can dynamically crop between portrait and landscape framing without forcing you to rotate the phone, keeping high-resolution selfies and 4K video stable and well-centered. How it works Square front-facing sensor enables flexible cropping across orientations without loss of resolution. Machine-learning-assisted tracking (Center Stage) detects and follows subjects in real time to keep them centered during video calls and recordings. Works alongside iPhone imaging features like HDR, ultra-stabilization, and Apple's Photonic Engine to improve sharpness and reduce noise. Why it matters Center Stage is a good example of AI used to solve a real, everyday…

Bending Spoons to Acquire Vimeo for $1.38 Billion Bending Spoons, the company behind Evernote, WeTransfer and other tech properties, has agreed to acquire Vimeo in an all-cash deal valued at $1.38 billion. Shareholders will receive $7.85 per share. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Key Details Deal value: $1.38 billion (all cash) Per-share price: $7.85 Expected close: By the end of the calendar year Board approval: Unanimous What This Means Vimeo, once a go-to platform for independent filmmakers, has shifted its focus toward business and enterprise video services over the past few years. The company has emphasized privacy protections such as prohibiting content scraping and forbidding generative AI models from training on hosted videos without uploader permission—features that…