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Pluto TV brings free streaming network to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 cable boxes

Pluto TV, the free streaming service found on Samsung, Sony and Vizio TVs, is expanding. In a new partnership announced Thursday, the service will now be available on Comcast’s Xfinity X1 cable box.  The streaming service was already available on the cable provider’s Xfinity Flex, a $5-per-month streaming box that doesn’t include a cable subscription. The …

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San Francisco tapping AI to reduce racial bias in making criminal charges

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón says the city is using artificial intelligence to remove racial bias from the process of deciding whom to charge with crimes. A new AI tool scans police reports and automatically redacts any race information. It’s part of an effort to remove implicit bias caused by social conditioning and learned associations, Gascón’s office said in a press …

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Apple’s restrictions on kids apps will hurt PBS, the broadcaster says

The US Public Broadcasting Service faces challenges beyond the Trump administration’s efforts to defund it. Paula Kerger, CEO of the nonprofit broadcaster, says PBS has now encountered an obstacle from Apple. Kerger said Tuesday that a new restriction from the iPhone maker will limit how PBS can work with third-party developers and will ultimately harm the PBS Kids app. She made the …

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Microsoft Edge browser will block intrusive ads

Microsoft’s Edge browser will block ads that are deemed too intrusive, a new sign that browsers have begun competing to make the web better for you even if businesses might not like it. It’s a significant development for Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge, an overhauled app now available for Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS that’s based on Google’s open-source browser technology. …

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Kickstarter tells creators to stop calling projects ‘the ultimate’

Kickstarter has told its users to avoid using dubious and exaggerated claims when marketing their projects to potential backers. This includes “puffery” like world’s best, smallest, fastest, first, ultimate, unrivaled and revolutionary. The global crowdfunding platform has helped projects like a smart cheesemaker, a Dungeons & Dragons animated series and ketchup slices get off the ground, but now Kickstarter is …

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AT&T cancels Galaxy Fold preorders due to delay

Samsung missed the April release date of the Galaxy Fold to fix problems with the device, but that delay is causing issues for customers, retailers and carriers. Now AT&T is adding to the bad news, sending cancellation notices to those who preordered the foldable phone.  Those AT&T emails on canceling Galaxy Fold preorders were reported on earlier Thursday by Tom’s Hardware. …

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