Nov 14
Amazon Restructures Games Division to Refocus on Prime Gaming, Lays Off 180
Posted in: Today's Chili
Another round of layoffs is underway at Amazon, and for the second time, it’s happening at the company’s video games division.
Nov 14
A year ago, James Cameron was everywhere ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water. Then came the Titanic 25th anniversary re-release, followed by Cameron’s name inevitably popping up alongside the growing cultural interest in AI. Avatar 3’s not due until next year, but don’t you dare think Cameron will be out of sight for…
Nov 14
You can now delete your Threads profile without nuking your Instagram account
Posted in: Today's ChiliMeta is continuing to (slowly) untangle some aspects of Threads from Instagram. Threads users are now able to delete their accounts on the app without also deleting their Instagram, the app’s top exec, Adam Mosseri, said in an update.
Users can remove their profile from the Threads app via Settings -> Account -> Delete or deactivate profile.
The change has been a long-requested feature among Threads users, many of whom were frustrated by the inability to purge their Threads profile without also nuking their Instagram account. The update comes shortly after Meta introduced another settings change that allows Threads users to opt out of having their posts promoted in Instagram and Facebook’s main feeds.
Despite the changes, Instagram and Threads are still tied very closely together. An Instagram account is required to join Threads, and the app’s only messaging feature relies on Instagram’s inbox. Threads also draws on users’ Instagram presence for recommendations and other features.
While Meta is unlikely to completely separate the two services, there’s reason to hope that Threads may eventually become more independent. Meta has said it intends to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, the open-source protocol that powers Mastodon and other services in the fediverse. The company hasn’t shared much about how this will work, but the integration should provide social media users with new ways to interact with Threads content even if they prefer to steer clear of Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-can-now-delete-your-threads-profile-without-nuking-your-instagram-account-232844974.html?src=rss
Nov 13
Pentagon Awards Lockheed Martin $33.7 Million for Nuclear Spacecraft Project
Posted in: Today's Chili
Lockheed Martin is at the early stages of developing a nuclear propulsion system to power a spacecraft through the depths of the cosmos.
Nov 13
New research seems to show the potential of a CRISPR-based gene therapy meant to neuter certain forms of cardiovascular disease. In the world’s first human trial of the therapy, people given the highest doses experienced significant and long-lasting reductions in their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The…
Nov 13
Google pays Apple 36% of its search advertising revenue from Safari, according to new details brought to light in Google’s search antitrust trial on Monday as reported by Bloomberg. The mere utterance of the number, which Google and Apple have tried to keep sealed, caused Google’s main litigator John Schmidtlein to…
Nov 13
He’s a man for all seasons, that Art the Clown—and while Terrifier 3, the follow-up to surprise sensation Terrifier 2, has claimed October 2024 as its release date, its first marketing push is all about Christmas. And while we’ve seen a lot of scary Santas in the past, Art’s version is exceptionally ghoulish.
Nov 13
Amazon has cut around 180 jobs from its gaming division. Sources from Reuters, Aftermath and Bloomberg reported on the cuts, which affected the entire Game Growth team and all staff working on Crown, an Amazon-backed Twitch channel. A leaked email reportedly cited a company pivot to refocus resources on growth areas like free monthly games for Prime subscribers.
“After our initial restructuring in April, it became clear that we needed to focus our resources even more on the areas that are growing with the highest potential to drive our business forward,” Amazon Games VP Christoph Hartmann wrote in the internal email viewed by Reuters. “We’ve listened to our customers and we know delivering free games every month is what they want most, so we are refining our Prime benefit to increase our focus there.” The company reportedly began telling employees on Monday morning that their jobs had been cut.
Amazon’s Crown channel on Twitch, which The Verge reports is shutting down after Amazon let go of its staff, included original shows and content. It aimed for the feel of traditional television, offering ad-supported programming, including Screen Invaders, which featured “mobile games transformed into arcade and IRL experiences like you’ve never seen them before.” The channel had big-name sponsors like Intel and Progressive.
However, a report from Bloomberg earlier this year suggested Amazon inflated the Crown channel’s metrics with “junk views,” or people who aren’t actively watching or serving any purpose for advertisers. The channel’s relatively paltry follow counts and chat participants aligned with Bloomberg’s reporting that its popularity may have been lower than expected.
The reported 180 jobs cut today are part of a broader restructuring that also saw alleged cuts to its streaming and podcast divisions last week. The online retailer last laid off employees from its gaming unit in April, impacting more than 100 workers from its gaming division. The company has reportedly cut 27,000 jobs since last fall — part of a broader trend of Big Tech companies tightening their belts and displacing workers in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-cuts-180-jobs-from-its-gaming-division-204231214.html?src=rss
Nov 13
Google Store Black Friday 2023: Pixel 8 Pro At $799, $400 Off Pixel Fold, And More
Posted in: Today's ChiliThe Google Store in the US is set to launch its Black Friday 2023 discounts a week ahead of Thanksgiving, starting on November 16. The spotlight of these promotions revolves around the Pixel 8 and Pixel Fold.
The Pixel Fold, Google’s foldable device, sees a substantial $400 discount, bringing the price of the 256GB model down to $1,399. This markdown marks a significant reduction from its original price since its announcement in May and subsequent launch a month later. The Pixel 8 Pro receives a $200 discount, making its starting price $799, while the Pixel 8 sees a $150 reduction, pricing it at $549. Notably, both phone models have a $50 increase in discount compared to the previous year.
The Pixel Fold sees a substantial $400 discount, bringing the price of the 256GB model down to $1,399.
Further discounts include the Pixel 7a, available at $374, and the Pixel Tablet, discounted by $100 to $399. In the realm of wearables, the original Pixel Watch is offered at $199.99 after an $80 discount, and the Pixel Buds Pro sees an $80 reduction, now priced at $119.99. The Pixel Buds A-Series is available for $59 after a $40 discount.
Deals Beyond Smartphones and Wearables
The Google Store’s Black Friday deals extend beyond smartphones and wearables, encompassing Nest smart home products. These include a $12 discount on the Chromecast with Google TV, now priced at $37.99, a $50 reduction on the Nest Hub (2nd gen), bringing it to $49.99, and a substantial $120 off the Nest Wifi Pro, making it $279.99.
While the start date for these deals is confirmed for November 16, the end date is yet to be disclosed. However, it is anticipated that the promotions will continue until Cyber Monday, providing an extended period for consumers to take advantage of the discounts.
Google Store Black Friday 2023: Pixel 8 Pro At $799, $400 Off Pixel Fold, And More
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Nov 13
Asus just launched its ROG Maximus Z790 Hero EVA-02 motherboard, and a screen on its left reads “Evangenlion” instead of “Evangelion.” Tragic, I know. This is a $700 limited edition motherboard and is the second iteration the company has released in collaboration with the wildly popular anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
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