Facebook is building an AI assistant called TLDR that will summarize news articles into bullet points, so that you won’t have to read a full story, Buzzfeed News reported Tuesday. The tool — named for the internet acronym “too long, didn’t read” — would also provide audio narration of full articles and a voice assistant …
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December, 2020
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16 December
Bitcoin tops $20K for the first time
Bitcoin continues its meteoric rise, for the first time ever hitting a price of more than $20,000. As of Dec. 16 at 12 p.m. PT, the cryptocurrency clocked in at a value of $20,842.90, as reported earlier Wednesday by CoinDesk. Its previous high came on Nov. 30 when it reached a price of $19,850. Bitcoin has been slowly rising throughout …
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16 December
The Cheapskate Show podcast: AirPods Max definitely aren’t worth the money
Last week 2020 took another turn for the worse, with Apple’s launch of the AirPods Max, a set of $549 headphones. To be sure, they sound good — CNET’s own audio expert David Carnoy was impressed by their sound quality and noise cancellation. But they’re priced well beyond their value, at least in my humble opinion, and any number of …
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16 December
Google Stadia on iPad is my favorite way to play Cyberpunk 2077
I haven’t played Cyberpunk 2077 on a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X, or a PS4 or Xbox One, or a PC. Instead, I’ve been playing the game on a couple of iPads (and a TV, and laptops) using Google’s streaming game service Stadia. Considering the outcry over dated console graphics and massive glitches and bugs, it feels like …
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16 December
Facebook will shift UK users to California terms after Brexit
Facebook confirmed on Wednesday that users in the UK will shift over to the same user agreements the social network uses in California when the country parts way with the EU next year. Facebook’s current relationship with the UK, as with other EU countries, is managed through Ireland, where the company has its European headquarters. But as the country’s legal …
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16 December
BBC will launch a new subscription streaming channel in the US in 2021
BBC Studios on Wednesday unveiled plans for BBC Select, a new subscription streaming channel that will launch in the US and Canada in early 2021, Deadline reported. BBC Select will be available as a subscription channel on Amazon Prime Video and the Apple TV app, and will specialize in news programming around culture, politics and ideas. At launch, shows will …
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16 December
Trump reportedly mulling clemency for Silk Road drug kingpin Ross Ulbricht
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering clemency for Ross Ulbricht, the convicted founder of online drug marketplace Silk Road. Trump has privately expressed sympathy for Ulbricht, and the White House counsel’s office is reviewing documents related to his case, the Daily Beast reported Tuesday, citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter. Ulbricht’s name is among others being considered for commutations …
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16 December
Facebook is helping Fortnite maker Epic Games in its legal battle against Apple
Facebook wants to participate in Fortnite maker Epic Games‘ high profile lawsuit against Apple, providing what it says is information about how the iPhone and iPad maker’s policies hurt other businesses. The move was revealed the same day Facebook launched a nationwide print ad campaign criticizing Apple’s privacy policies. “We think it’s really important that the court understand far reaching …
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16 December
Uber urges early COVID
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. In early December, Uber’s head of federal affairs, Danielle Burr, sent a request to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ask was straightforward: Give drivers early access to the COVID-19 vaccine. “Rideshare drivers continue to provide critical transportation services for …
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16 December
Apple TV app is coming to Google’s Android TV, Chromecast with Google TV next year
The Apple TV app is coming to Google’s Android TV platform, the companies announced on Monday. The new app will first appear on Google’s latest Chromecast with Google TV streaming stick “early next year” before heading to other Android TV devices “in the future.” In bringing Apple TV to its platform, Android TV joins Apple’s TVOS software in supporting all …
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