Mar 10
This is truly wild. In our year 2023, we’re finally hitting robotics at theme parks with the knowledge of how to get back up if knocked down, which is totally a good idea. Totally.
Mar 10
What to Expect from Google I/O 2023
Posted in: Today's Chili
Google announced its annual developer conference this week in the most annoying way possible—with a Glass Onion-style puzzle invite encouraging developers to bring their friends along for the “fun.” Google eventually revealed that Google I/O 2023 would be a hybrid event taking place May 10 at the Shoreline…
Mar 10
TikTok’s efforts to address US data privacy fears may have holes. A self-proclaimed whistleblower talking to The Washington Post says the social network’s plan to protect American users’ data, Project Texas, has major flaws. The former Trust and Safety team member claims the $1.5 billion initiative will still let TikTok connect to parent company ByteDance’s Toutiao, a well-known Chinese news app. That link could theoretically allow China to access US data. A truly secure approach would require a “complete re-engineering” of the service’s infrastructure, the ex-employee says.
The staffer also claims to have met with the offices of Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Mark Warner to discuss the alleged weaknesses. Representatives for both senators acknowledged that meetings had taken place.
We’ve asked TikTok for comment. Unnamed people at the social media giant tell The Post that the claims are “unfounded,” and the Toutiao code only amounts to a “naming convention and technical relic” that doesn’t tie the app to China. They also believe that the relocation of US data to Oracle servers undercuts the assertion that Toutiao could affect the US business. The whistleblower was only employed for half a year, and he supposedly left months before Project Texas was finalized. He may not know the full picture, in other words.
TikTok has repeatedly denied cooperating with the Chinese government, and there’s no publicly known evidence to that effect. Douyin, the equivalent app available inside China, has completely separate content.
The timing of the purported revelation isn’t good for TikTok. House and Senate bills (Warner co-sponsored the latter bill) could lead to nationwide TikTok bans if they become law, and CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify before the House on March 23rd to address security and child safety concerns. Politicians are worried the Chinese government may use TikTok to collect data on Americans and spread propaganda, and the report doesn’t help ease those fears.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-whistleblower-claims-us-data-privacy-efforts-are-seriously-flawed-211255093.html?src=rss
Mar 10
Emily Ratajkowski On Why She ‘Didn’t Have The Courage’ To End Her Marriage Sooner
Posted in: Today's ChiliThe model split from Sebastian Bear-McClard last year and shares a 2-year-old son with the movie producer.
Mar 10
Borrowing from lessons learned on Instagram, Meta is designing a Twitter-like social media app that borrows from Mastodon’s decentralized foundation.
Mar 10
Automatic motorcycles buck the traditional gear-laden bikes, but these top-tier models ride well enough to convince most holdouts.
Mar 10
It’s a big day for Mario Mario. It’s literally his day—March 10, a.k.a. Mar10—his new movie just got a cool trailer, and Nintendo has decided that the best way to celebrate that is to steal his shoes and put them in the plumber’s ancestral home of New York. Of course, io9 was there to take a look!
Mar 10
After three years, Lego’s Super Mario lineup is still going strong, finally adding Princess Peach to its roster of starter sets last summer and continuing to release new expansions ever since. The Fliprus Snow Adventure Expansion Set, available now, is a blast from the more-recent past, showcasing an enemy from 2012’s New Super Mario Bros. U. With the International Toy Fair being on ice for the past few years, chances to check these sets in person out have been few and far between, but we got to take a peep at them at a recent industry event in New York.
The Princess Peach Starter Set was announced one year ago on March 10th (aka Mario Day or “Mar10 Day”), and it’s been available since August. The $60 set is the same price as the Mario and Luigi starter sets, though you’re likely to see those on sale more often since they’re older. Aside from the Bluetooth-connected Peach figurine, the pack also comes with Lemmy Koopa and a yellow Toad. Also unique to the set is a flower-adorned swing — when the Peach figure is placed in the seat and pushed, she collects “coins” every time she passes over the sensor.
Like the Mario and Luigi figures, Peach has LED eyes and a small screen in her chest. The eyes are very expressive, if not a little uncanny valley, but no worse than we’re getting in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie. The bottom of her dress comes off so you can plug her into other sets like the Cat Peach Suit (unfortunately not included in this display, but available for $80 at plenty of retailers).
Kris Naudus
The Fliprus set is the newest of the bunch and it’s a bit more affordable at $65, since it doesn’t include any new costumes for Peach, Mario or Luigi. It’s compatible with all three starter characters, though the icy-blue palette is probably best suited visually with the Princess. There’s a little catapult behind the Fliprus that launches an “ice” boulder, and even a Cooligan (also from New Super Mario Bros. U).
Peach is already on sale at Amazon for a nice price of $45, though members of Lego’s VIP program can earn double points on Super Mario purchases at the Lego site now through March 12th.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/peach-is-a-solid-addition-to-legos-super-mario-lineup-203020823.html?src=rss
Mar 10
Knowles recently said, “transgenderism must be eradicated.” So, when he came to the University at Buffalo, students told him trans people were here to stay.
Mar 10
Apple launched a new colorway for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The new yellow flavor is up for preorder today and ships next week on Tuesday.
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