Posts with «author_name|sarah fielding» label

Pick up Apple AirTag leather loops and keyrings while they're on sale for only $10

Apple's AirTag is certainly convenient for keeping track of everything from your cat to your keys, but it's lack of a key ring hole is frustrating to say the least. Fortunately, there are tons of great Apple AirTag accessories with a range of functions and prices. Right now, its worth checking out the Apple AirTag leather loop, on sale for $10 from $39 in California Poppy and Meyer Lemon. The 74 percent discount is part of a larger sale on Apple wireless accessories at Woot

While many Apple AirTag accessories are variations on key ring, the leather loop provides similar functionality with a sleeker look. It's a good option for attaching to a bag, suitcase or any item with a handle really. If you're in need of multiple AirTags then grab the two-pack, which Woot has discounted 81 percent to $15 from $78. You can also check out the AirTag leather key ring if you want a more traditional option. This model is on sale for $10 from $35, while the two-pack is discounted to $15 from $70. All of these items are marked down for 10 days or until they sell out. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pick-up-apple-airtag-leather-loops-and-keyrings-while-theyre-on-sale-for-only-10-133729231.html?src=rss

Australia ends legal fight for X to remove violent stabbing video

Australia's independent regulator for online safety has ended its bid to remove a violent video from X (formerly Twitter). 

On April 15, a clergyman was stabbed in Sydney, Australia, and, like some other horrific incidents these days, it was broadcast online. Australia's national regulator, eSafety, requested that all social media platforms take down the video. While eSafety claims Meta, Google, TikTok and more removed it, X only stopped Australian viewers from accessing the video — something a VPN can easily circumvent. When eSafety pushed for it to be fully taken down, X's CEO Elon Musk called the request an assault on free speech and argued that one country's laws couldn't control the entire world, The Register reported.

Despite dropping the fight against X, eSafety further reiterated their frustrations. "Our sole goal and focus in issuing our removal notice was to prevent this extremely violent footage from going viral, potentially inciting further violence and inflicting more harm on the Australian community," Julie Inman Grant, the commissioner of eSafety, stated. "Most Australians accept this kind of graphic material should not be on broadcast television, which begs an obvious question of why it should be allowed to be distributed freely and accessible online 24/7 to anyone, including children."

Grant notes that X did take down a video globally that compiled this attack with two other stabbing incidents. She also details the violence policy X laid out to the European Commission last October as proof that the platform should remove the video entirely. "...our service has clear rules that prohibit violent and hateful entities, perpetrators of violent attacks, violent speech, sensitive media and the synthetic and manipulated media policy," the passage states. "For the avoidance of doubt, we strictly adhere to our policies concerning illegal content and we continue to remove illegal content, including terrorist content, from our platform." In that vein, she calls taking down the video a "reasonable request" for X to take. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/australia-ends-legal-fight-for-x-to-remove-violent-stabbing-video-120048421.html?src=rss

TheraGun massagers are up to 17 percent off right now

If you're anything like me, you're reading this a bit hunched over and with sore neck and shoulder muscles. While weekly massages would be a great way to treat it, that's a big time and money commitment. Another option is the TheraGun Mini 2.0, our choice as an amazing gift for runners and fitness-minded college students. It's still an investment, but right now, it's on sale for $165, down from $199 — a 17 percent discount. 

The one-pound TheraGun Mini 2.0 is an amazing tool to use on the go, whether at the gym, when traveling or after a sports match. It has three speed settings and attachments with an ergonomic design that makes it easy to hold on to during use. You can get a "moderate 12mm" intensity and see visual routines. 

If you're looking for something cheaper, check out the TheraGun Relief, the company's newest massager. A 13 percent discount has cut its price to a record-low $129 from $149 in both Sand and Navy. The Relief is a good option if you want to keep your device in one place, as it has a larger frame and an extra third of a pound in weight. The massager is good if you don't want anything super firm, with an intensity labeled "comfortable 10mm." Plus, it offers TheraGun's patented triangle grip, three speed settings and three attachments. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/theragun-massagers-are-up-to-17-percent-off-right-now-145408266.html?src=rss

EU accuses Micrsoft of secretly collecting children's data

Microsoft is back under the microscope in the European Union, but Teams is finally not to blame. Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed two complaints against Microsoft over operations of its 365 Education software in schools and children's privacy. The group is also responsible for past complaints against OpenAI, Meta, Spotify and more tech giants. 

Noyb alleges that Microsoft 365 Education "installed cookies that, according to Microsoft's own documentation, analyse user behaviour, collect browser data and are used for advertising" — without the school's knowledge. The advocacy group further alleges that Microsoft is "consistently vague" about what it's doing with the students' data and could be tracking children in secret.

"Our analysis of the data flows is very worrying. Microsoft 365 Education appears to track users regardless of their age," Felix Mikolasch, a data protection lawyer at Noyb, expressed in a statement. "This practice is likely to affect hundreds of thousands of pupils and students in the EU and EEA. Authorities should finally step up and effectively enforce the rights of minors."

Noyb also claims Microsoft is dumping its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) responsibilities on schools without providing them with any access or insight into its privacy policies or data collection. "Microsoft holds all the key information about data processing in its software, but is pointing the finger at schools when it comes to exercising rights," Maartje de Graaf, another data protection lawyer at Noyb, said in a statement. "Schools have no way of complying with the transparency and information obligations."

The GDPR sets out strict guidelines for protecting minors' data, focusing on extra protections for the individual, transparency and accountability. Violating the GDPR could lead to a fine of €20 million ($22 million) or four percent of a company's annual worldwide turnover the previous year — whichever is the larger amount.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/eu-accuses-micrsoft-of-secretly-collecting-childrens-data-124141294.html?src=rss

Amazon Prime's 'Yakuza' adaptation launches October 25

Amazon has announced its latest series coming to Prime Video, and gamers might recognize it. The streamer is releasing Like A Dragon: Yakuza, a live-action adaptation of the Yakuza SEGA game series. The Japanese Original show will premiere worldwide in two batches of three episodes on October 25 and November 1, 2024.

Make the choice to take the next step. Like a Dragon: Yakuza comes to Prime Video October 24. pic.twitter.com/FasWRDpBez

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) June 4, 2024

SEGA launched Yakuza in 2005, with over 20 other titles and spinoffs joining it in the years since. Amazon bills Like A Dragon: Yakuza as a "crime-suspense-action series, follows the life, childhood friends, and repercussions of the decisions of Kazuma Kiryu, a fearsome and peerless Yakuza warrior with a strong sense of justice, duty, and humanity." The show takes place during 1995 and 2005 in Kamurochō, a fictional entertainment district modeled off Kabukichō, the game's setting.

There will be similar themes between the show and the game, of course, but it seems creators are attempting to give it a unique identity. "While the games let you experience their world through the subjective lens, this adaptation will be the ultimately objective way to enjoy the show," Yokoyama Masayoshi, Yakuza writer, head of Ryugagotoku Studio and executive producer. "I have no doubt that fans of the series will be drawn to how it brings the games to life and adds new surprises. Newcomers, I'm sure will find themselves invested simply in the gritty realism of the show."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-primes-yakuza-adaptation-launches-october-25-123028936.html?src=rss

The 13-inch MacBook Air M2 drops back down to a record low of $829

Less than a month after dropping to its all-time low price, our favorite budget MacBook is back on sale for $829. That's right — Apple's 2022 MacBook Air has a 17 percent discount, cutting its price from $999. This deal is available for the 256GB model in every color but doesn't include AppleCare+. 

Apple's 2022 MacBook Air might not be the flashiest option on the market, but it's really good. In fact, we dubbed it a "near-perfect Mac" in our review — in which we also gave it a score of 96. There are so many things to like about the 13.6-inch MacBook, including its Liquid Retina screen that offers 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen is slightly bigger and the device is slightly thinner than its predecessor, providing an extra bit of sleekness to the model. 

The biggest change for the 2022 MacBook Air was its M2 chip. The M2 features eight CPU cores and up to 10 GPU cores, making it a great, fast-performing option — even as Apple launches an M4 chip. The MacBook also has a quad-speaker system, compatible with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. Plus, there's a three-mic array for excellent video chat quality. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-13-inch-macbook-air-m2-drops-back-down-to-a-record-low-of-829-140002280.html?src=rss

Spotify is raising the cost of Premium subscriptions, again

Spotify is officially raising its Premium subscription rates in the US come July, following reports of the move in April. The platform is increasing its Individual plan from $11 to $12 monthly and its Duo plan from $15 to $17 monthly — the same jump as last year's $1 and $2 price hikes, respectively. However, its Family plan is going up by a whopping $3, increasing from $17 to $20 monthly. The only subscribers getting a break are students, who will continue to pay $6 monthly. 

Spotify announced the price hikes less than a year after its previous one last July. Before that, Spotify hadn't raised its fees since launching a decade and a half ago. I guess it was too optimistic to hope the next increase would also take that long, especially with Spotify's continued focus (and money dump) on audiobooks. 

Premium subscribers should receive an email from Spotify in the next month detailing the price hike and providing a link to cancel their plan if they would prefer to do so. Users currently on a trial period for Spotify will get one month at $11 after it ends before being moved up to a $12 monthly fee.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-is-raising-the-cost-of-premium-subscriptions-again-123058485.html?src=rss

Ticketmaster hack could affect 560 million users

Ticketmaster is the victim of a cyber attack, its parent company, Live Nation, confirmed. The information stolen allegedly includes personal information from 560 million individuals, including names, numbers, addresses, and partial payment details. Hacking group ShinyHunters has demanded $500,000 in ransom money to prevent the data's sale and confirmed it held the 1.3TB of stolen data to Hackread.

In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Live Nation stated it had "identified unauthorized activity" on May 20 and subsequently started investigating it. On May 27, "a criminal threat actor offered what it alleged to be Company user data for sale via the dark web." 

Live Nation claims to be working to lower the risks posed to its customers and its own business. "As of the date of this filing, the incident has not had, and we do not believe it is reasonably likely to have, a material impact on our overall business operations or on our financial condition or results of operations," the company added. "We continue to evaluate the risks and our remediation efforts are ongoing."

Ticketmaster has faced previous breaches, including a bot attack during Taylor Swift ticket sales. The company also has a history as a hacker, illegally — and repeatedly — accessing the computer system of its rival, Songkick. Ticketmaster paid a $10 million criminal fine rather than face prosecution. However, the company's former head of Artist Services, Zeeshan Zaidi, pled guilty to conspiring to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud due to his role in the scheme.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ticketmaster-hack-could-affect-560-million-users-121600931.html?src=rss

The IRS is making its free Turbo Tax alternative permanent

The United States notoriously makes tax filing stressful and expensive thanks to greed, the tax lobby and the idea that basically nothing should be free (fun stuff!). However, there's a little glimmer of hope, as the IRS is making Direct File, its free digital tool announced in late 2023, permanent. According to the US Department of the Treasury, a Direct File pilot program saved 140,000 individuals an estimated $5.6 million in filing costs for the 2024 tax session. 

Not only is the program here to stay (with the current government, at least), but its access is expanding. Taxpayers in 12 states could use Direct File this year, but the tool will be available in all 50 states and Washington DC starting with the 2025 filing season. The Treasury reports that Direct File users approved of the tool, with 90 percent of the 11,000 taxpayers surveyed rating the system "excellent" or "above average."  

Right now, the free TurboTax alternative only works for taxpayers with simple filings like a W-2 or standard deduction. However, the Treasury plans to "expand the reach and tax scope" it offers in the coming years. Despite this expansion, it will be up to states whether they want to participate in the program. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-irs-is-making-its-free-turbo-tax-alternative-permanent-142055378.html?src=rss

A $400,000 delivery of Playdates were (briefly) stolen

A misdelivered order, theft and a hasty return: those are the three acts comprising Playdate's recent real-life adventure. According to the handheld gaming system's account on X (formerly Twitter), FedEx dropped off $400,000 worth of Playdates to a construction site near their actual warehouse destination. Then, poof, it was all gone — but that wasn't the last of it. Suddenly, the shipment reappeared, not at the warehouse door but in front of a random restaurant. The return was seemingly quick, with some packages toppled over and entering the street.

We don't know who was behind the theft and eventual return, though no one seems too bothered, as a follow-up post says the necessary detective work was "enjoyed." Plus, the account (jokingly?) pitched selling these devices as a limited edition run called Playdate Hot. Playdate promised further details in the future — possibly on the Playdate Podcast. One user on X asked about getting their hands on any devices they don't need, to which Playdate responded, "Check the streets of North Las Vegas." 

The Playdate came out in April 2022 as a cute, monochromatic alternative to high-level gaming systems that features a crank on its side. Panic, which owns Playdate, sold about 70,000 units in the first two years and offers more than 100 titles in its built-in library. These black-and-white games are relatively simple but include everything from first-person shooters to puzzles. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-400000-delivery-of-playdates-were-briefly-stolen-124519551.html?src=rss