Jul 26
The bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer makes the Wolverine State the 22nd state to outlaw the controversial treatment.
Jul 26
Many have tried to bring the Batman to the big screen, and many have done well—but few have come close to doing it quite so perfectly as Mask of the Phantasm, which took the strengths of the already legendary Batman: The Animated Series and sharpened them to a fine, emotional point. And now, we’re about to get the…
Jul 26
Don’t expect to see many Waymo-powered autonomous big rigs in the near future. Waymo now plans to “push back” its driverless trucking efforts and shift its attention toward its One ride-hailing service. The move will help the company concentrate on making these self-driving taxis a “commercial success,” according to co-CEOs Dmitri Dolgov and Tekedra Mawakana.
Waymo justified the decision by pointing to “significant” growth in demand for its robotaxis in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco. It also noted rapid upgrades to Driver, the AI system that handles its autonomous cars. There’s “tremendous momentum” in One, the co-chiefs say, and the new strategy will help make the most of this trend.
The Alphabet-owned brand still intends to work with Daimler on self-driving semi trucks. It’s shifting most of its technical development toward Waymo One, but believes work on Driver (particularly for highway driving) will indirectly benefit trucking. There’s no updated timeline for when trucks may reach the roads, but TechCrunchunderstands only a handful of workers will lose jobs as a result of the transition. Most have taken other positions at Waymo.
Waymo started testing autonomous big rig trucks in 2017, with rapid expansions in 2019 and 2020 that included the launch of its Via cargo transportation division. The firm won the attention of major partners, including UPS and former rival Uber Freight. However, there’s no doubt that Waymo One was the star and won the most interest. Uber even expects to offer Waymo rides and deliveries in Phoenix later this year.
The change isn’t guaranteed to pan out. While Waymo is closer to offering paid rides in multiple markets, it’s still facing opposition from officials who are concerned about safety issues. Driverless cars have blocked traffic, interfered with first responder vehicles and otherwise caused problems, and there’s a call for regulators to limit just where and when robotaxis can operate.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/waymo-pushes-back-its-self-driving-truck-efforts-to-focus-on-ride-hailing-211355559.html?src=rss
Jul 26
High School Student Who Sat In Pence’s Chair During Capitol Riot Gets Sentenced
Posted in: Today's ChiliBruno Joseph Cua will serve one year in prison for storming the U.S. Capitol, assaulting a police officer and sitting in a Senate floor chair reserved for the vice president.
Jul 26
The Strange New Worlds-Lower Decks Crossover's 'Hot Spock' Moment Was Improv
Posted in: Today's Chili
There’s a lot to love in Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks’ special Star Trek crossover, but getting to see Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid bring some of their chaotic energy from the world of animation into the live-action Mariner and Boimler was a highlight—especially because that energy radiated through the Strange…
Jul 26
Your hands are probably heavier than you think, a new study suggests. In a series of experiments, researchers showed that people consistently underestimated the weight of their hands. The findings might one day help us better design prosthetics that feel more comfortable for their users to wear, the authors say.
Jul 26
Measuring Helium in Distant Galaxies May Give Physicists Insight Into Why the Universe Exists
Posted in: Today's Chili
When theoretical physicists like myself say that we’re studying why the universe exists, we sound like philosophers. But new data collected by researchers using Japan’s Subaru telescope has revealed insights into that very question.
Jul 26
X tells advertisers to spend $1,000 per month or risk losing verification status
Posted in: Today's ChiliAmid its rebranding to X, Twitter is reportedly hardballing advertisers in an effort to increase its bottom line. Reports earlier this month suggested that Twitter’s revenue had dropped by a staggering 50 percent. The company’s latest strategy to increase revenue, according to The Wall Street Journal, is asking brands to spend at least $1,000 per month on ads in order to maintain their verified status on the platform.
Responding to a tweet about The Wall Street Journal’s report, Musk says that the “moderately high” cost is a preventative measure to help reduce the number of scammers creating “millions of accounts” on the platform. Musk added that brands could instead choose to pay $1,000 per month for the company’s verified organization badge.
It’s clear that Twitter is looking for ways to reduce its losses, and the company’s main source of revenue is advertising. The Wall Street Journal also reports that Twitter is slashing prices on some of its advertising slots. For example, Twitter is giving all new bookings a 50 percent discount through July 31st. The company claims that the point of these discounts is to allow advertisers to “gain reach during crucial moments” such as sporting events.
While the $1,000 monthly rate is unlikely to be an issue for larger brands, the new change could hurt smaller businesses that don’t want to or don’t have the extra budget to commit.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-tells-advertisers-to-spend-1000-per-month-or-risk-losing-verification-status-201528621.html?src=rss
Jul 26
A New Millipede Species Is Crawling Under LA. It’s Blind, Glassy And Has 486 Legs
Posted in: Today's ChiliAn American metropolis known for freeways and traffic has a newly discovered species named in its honor: The Los Angeles Thread Millipede.
Jul 26
Microsoft has teamed up with Paramount Pictures ahead of the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem to give away some TMNT-themed Xbox controllers. But the theme doesn’t just stop at the controller’s artwork, oh no – each has an integrated diffuser designed to waft the delicious scent of New York-style pizza at its user. Mmmm, I’ve never wanted to take a bite out of a controller so badly.
The controllers come in four styles (one for each Ninja Turtle) and will be given away to lucky Twitter (er, X) users who follow Xbox Game Pass and retweet the official sweepstakes tweet with hashtag #XboxTMNTMoviesweepstakes. Simple enough. I mean, I still won’t win, but at least I’m confident I entered correctly.
I do wish they’d made a Splinter-themed controller too. He took those turtles under his wing (technically a furry leg), and what thanks did he get? Not even his likeness on a custom Xbox controller! We always talk about the heroes in a half shell, but what about the real hero in a tattered kimono?
[via XBoxNews]
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