Hasta La Gadget!

The next big update to your Ford EV might bring some decidedly old technology. Ford chief Jim Farley has revealed that the brand will add AM broadcast radio to its 2023 Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning models through a software update following discussions with politicians about the emergency alert system. It will also be included on all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including the previously announced Mustang coupe.

Ford cut AM radio from its 2023 EVs after data showed that less than 5 percent of customers used it, according to spokesperson Alan Hall. The company was also concerned about interference with the EV system, and was trying to reduce cost and manufacturing challenges. You could still stream AM stations, but conventional broadcasts weren’t available.

The decision comes less than a week after a bipartisan group of senators and House representatives introduced a bill, the AM for Every Vehicle Act, to require the older radio format in new cars without charging a premium. They believe AM is “essential” during emergencies, and that removing it could put public safety at risk. A trade group that includes Ford, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, claimed the measure was unneeded as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can deliver alerts through FM, satellite and streaming.

This isn’t an altruistic gesture, then, and it’s unclear how Ford will address potential interference problems. Even so, this may be good news if you live in an area prone to natural disasters. You can buy EVs from Ford knowing you’ll get potentially life-saving warnings. This also applies pressure to BMW, Tesla and other vendors that have dropped AM radio in newer cars.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ford-will-add-am-radio-to-evs-following-concerns-over-emergency-alerts-164841361.html?src=rss

In a unique approach, a startup called Telly plans to offer free TVs instead of the usual free or cheap streaming services that rely on data monetization and personalized ads.

Led by Ilya Pozin (the founder of Pluto TV), Telly aims to ship potentially millions of 55-inch, dual-screen 4K smart TVs to households across the United States, completely free of charge; the first batch of 500,000 TVs will be given to those who sign up for Telly, with deliveries scheduled for this summer and subsequent orders will be shipped in 2024.

The response has been impressive, with over 100,000 sign-ups within the first 36 hours. Particularly, younger adults, including Gen Zers and millennials, make up two-thirds of the sign-ups — however, there’s a significant condition for obtaining these TVs: interested users must agree to provide a substantial amount of sensitive data.

Service aims to offer free TVs but wants your sensitive data in exchange (Image: Telly TV).

Telly’s free TV comes with impressive specifications; valued at $1,000, the smart TV features artificial intelligence, voice control, and motion-sensor capabilities. It includes a five-driver soundbar with a high-definition camera, separating the top traditional TV display from a smaller screen below that displays personalized ads.

The smaller screen can also synchronize with mobile apps while the main screen is in use. Although it can be turned off completely, it must remain on when the main screen is active. Telly assures users that the camera has a privacy shutter and is only necessary for specific applications like video-conferencing or motion-tracking apps and games.

Even so, there’s a catch. As the popular tech adage goes, “if the product is free, you’re the product.” Telly’s ad-supported TV set exemplifies this notion: to receive the free TV, users are required to provide extensive personal data upfront — in addition to basic information like name, address, email, and telephone number, users must complete a five-minute survey that collects data on their preferred brands, shopping habits, household size, income, and more.

Valued at $1,000, the smart TV features artificial intelligence, voice control, and motion-sensor capabilities. (Image: Telly TV)

Furthermore, the terms of service state that users must have a credit card on file to use the TV. If users violate these terms by attempting to disable certain ads or disconnecting the TV from WiFi for an extended period, Telly reserves the right to request the return of the TV and a failure to comply may result in charges to the user’s credit card.

It’s important to note that users cannot simply dispose of or give away the TV if they no longer want it — they must return it to Telly, or they may face additional charges. The exact amount for breaking the terms of service and failing to return the TV has not been disclosed.

Telly’s business model is raising concerns

These data collection practices have raised concerns among consumers and privacy experts. Critics argue that Telly’s extensive data collection, even with user consent, could have unforeseen consequences. Some worry about the impact on children in households with the TV, although individuals under the age of 18 are ineligible to apply.

Dallas Lawrence, Telly’s Chief Strategic Officer, acknowledges the level of data collection but emphasizes the company’s transparency. He argues that regular smart TVs collect similar data without explicit consent, while Telly is upfront about its data harvesting in exchange for a free device.

Lawrence states that users have a choice: if they are uncomfortable sharing their information, they can opt not to get a Telly. On the other hand, those willing to share their data will receive a high-value TV worth $1,000.

While Telly’s offer of free smart TVs is appealing, users should carefully consider the privacy implications and weigh the value of the TV against the potential risks of data sharing.

Startup Aims To Distribute Free 55-Inch Smart TVs: But There’s A Catch

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Amazon has been accused again of illegal anti-union behavior. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint Monday, saying the company changed its policies to squash union support at its only unionized warehouse in Staten Island, as reported byBloomberg. The complaint says Amazon changed policies to prohibit onsite union meetings while bypassing labor negotiations for providing paid leave for COVID-19 cases, among other violations. The accusations paint a picture of a corporation essentially dismissing the union, which voted to organize in 2022, as illegitimate — an image that lines up with its CEO’s public comments.

The NLRB accuses Amazon of changing a policy to prevent unionized workers from accessing the Staten Island warehouse during their time off. In addition, the agency says the company terminated two employees because of their association with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) and changed its paid-leave policy for COVID-19 cases unilaterally — without negotiating with the workers’ organization.

The complaint also alleges that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy broke federal labor laws by saying unionized employees would be less empowered and have difficulty enjoying direct relationships with supervisors in an interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit in December. “That has a real chance to end up in federal courts,” Jassy added about the workers’ establishment of “bureaucratic” unions. Amazon has argued that the union’s establishment should be overturned because of “misconduct.”

The NLRB complaint describes Jassy’s comments as “interfering with, restraining and coercing employees,” saying his quotes about losing access to managers were an illegal threat. The NLRB filed a previous complaint in October following similar anti-union comments from Jassy. “All these Succession-style billionaires should be held accountable for unlawful actions, and that’s what we’re doing,” said ALU attorney Seth Goldstein. “[The complaint] is going to send a strong message to the union-busters and to CEOs like Jassy who think that they can say whatever they want to and they won’t be held accountable.”

In cases like this, NLRB prosecutors’ complaints are sent to agency judges, whose rulings can be appealed to labor board members in Washington and, if it stretches beyond that, to federal court. But, unfortunately, although the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) allows the independent agency to make employers reinstate wrongly terminated workers and change policies, it can’t issue fines to them (or individual executives like Jassy). So don’t be shocked if this saga makes its way through the courts as Amazon flexes its muscle to try to avoid meaningful consequences and prevent the lone unionized warehouse from sparking a broader movement within the corporation.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-again-accused-of-breaking-labor-laws-at-unionized-warehouse-165523220.html?src=rss

The GHLBD doesn’t come with these games installed, which means if you want to do this you’ll have to delve into the world of emulators and ROM.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has stated in an advisory that “we cannot conclude social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents.” Murthy argued that the potential harms of social media outweigh the benefits for younger users.

Citing “a substantial review of the available evidence” on the impact of social media, the advisory says “there are ample indicators” it can “have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.” It states that, according to Pew Research, as much as 95 percent of US teens aged 13 to 17 use social media while 19 percent said they were on YouTube “almost constantly.”

“Children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety,” the advisory reads. “This is concerning as a recent survey showed that teenagers spend an average of 3.5 hours a day on social media.”

The advisory calls on tech companies to take “immediate action to mitigate unintended negative effects” of online interactions. It also asks lawmakers to “strengthen protections to ensure greater safety for children and adolescents interacting with all social media platforms.”

However, some evidence suggests that social media can be a net benefit for teens. According to a recent Pew Research study, most say they’re more connected to their friends through social media. The study indicated that a majority of 13 to 17-year-olds in the US felt that social media provided them with a space to express their creativity, find support and feel more accepted.

Murthy acknowledged that social media can provide benefits to younger users. However, he has been sounding the alarm bell about youth and teen use of such services for some time.

In January, he told CNN that 13 was “too early” for young people to be on social media (companies in that space typically don’t allow under 13s to use their services without consent from a parent or guardian). “If parents can band together and say you know, as a group, we’re not going to allow our kids to use social media until 16 or 17 or 18 or whatever age they choose, that’s a much more effective strategy in making sure your kids don’t get exposed to harm early,” Murthy told the broadcaster.

There have certainly been well-documented instances of social media negatively impacting teens’ mental health. Still, the advisory is being published at a time when there is a growing appetite among lawmakers for regulating teen use of social media. 

A bill was introduced to the Senate last month that aims to block teens from using social media without parental consent (Utah and Arkansas have both passed statewide legislation on that front). A separate Senate bill called the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) aims to force social media companies to add more protections for younger users. The bill was reintroduced after it failed to reach the Senate floor last year.

Critics say such legislation can infringe on the right to privacy and freedom of speech, among other concerns. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, among others, has argued that social media parental consent laws deprive both young people and adults of their First Amendment rights. As for KOSA, American Civil Liberties Union senior policy counsel Cody Venzke said the bill’s “core approach still threatens the privacy, security and free expression of both minors and adults by deputizing platforms of all stripes to police their users and censor their content under the guise of a ‘duty of care.’” 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/us-surgeon-general-says-social-media-can-pose-a-profound-risk-to-teens-mental-health-170517411.html?src=rss