Meta appeared to be blocking links to Pixelfed, a decentralized photo-sharing platform, on Facebook, according to both users on Bluesky and 404 Media. Any post that linked to “pixelfed.social” was deleted, with Facebook’s “Community Standards on spam” used as a justification.
When asked to comment, a Meta spokesperson said removing the posts was a mistake and that they’d be reinstated.
Pixelfed runs on the ActivityPub protocol and is part of the wider “fediverse” of decentralized posting platforms. It functions a lot like Instagram in its ability to let you share, like, and comment on images, but because its on ActivityPub, your posts could show up in other apps or be ported to entirely different takes on photo sharing if you want. Meta is slowly adopting parts of ActivityPub into Threads, which makes it possible to post to Threads and Mastodon at the same time, for example.
The timing of these deletions is enough to make anyone suspicious. Meta just announced pretty dramatic changes to how it plans to moderate speech on its platforms. The company decided to end both its third-party fact checking program and change its Hateful Conduct policy last week. The company’s loosening standards now allow for speech that would be defined as hateful under any normal circumstance, based on what Wiredwas able to dig up.
It’s not unreasonable to imagine users might consider jumping ship to an alternative like Pixelfed in response, and the platform did share on Saturday that it was “seeing unprecedented levels of traffic to pixelfed.social.” It’s also not unreasonable to imagine the new right-leaning Meta might preemptively block its competitors, just like X did with links to Mastodon and Substack.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-admits-it-deleted-links-to-decentralized-instagram-competitor-pixelfed-194624098.html?src=rss
Samsung just announced new sleep-tracking tools available via the company’s Health app. This includes a new analysis tool that leverages other SmartThings enabled devices. Each morning, users receive a “sleep environment report” that takes factors like temperature, humidity, air quality and light intensity into account.
The app will also let folks automatically adjust room settings via the aforementioned connected devices. This should help people “create the ideal sleep environment.”
There’s another tool called “sleep time guidance” that suggests the optimal bedtime and wake-up time for each individual user. This is determined by analyzing sleep patterns, nightly habits and room conditions. Finally, the app now includes a new mindfulness tracker that helps manage “mood, breathing and stress levels.”
The company also made some announcements regarding the Galaxy Ring, just ahead of Samsung Unpacked on January 22. New sizes of the smart ring will be available for purchase on that date, which include two larger variants. This brings the number of available ring sizes to 11, with three color options. Additionally, the device is coming to new regions. These countries include Greece, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and many more.
This news likely indicates that there won’t be a Galaxy Ring 2 announced at Unpacked. Instead, the event should focus on new smartphones and (of course) AI junk, er, I mean tools.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/samsung-introduces-new-sleep-tracking-metrics-that-take-advantage-of-smartthings-enabled-devices-182052999.html?src=rss
I think it’s safe to say that most humans on this planet are growing, how can I put this lightly, weary of the current billionaire stewards of our social media ecosystem. X is a hateful mess. Meta is trying to become a hateful mess. TikTok is likely on its way out. Social media is just not that fun or useful anymore.
However, a cadre of celebrities and notable ex-Twitter users are trying to “save social media from billionaire capture” by creating something called FreeOurFeeds. These folks want to build a new social media ecosystem, one that is focused on the public good instead of profit-driven incentives, as reported by User Mag.
We’ve got a chance here: Bluesky’s open protocol is an incredible opportunity to reimagine social media and take it back from fickle billionaires. https://t.co/QSjbg6MAIV
— Eli Pariser | @elipariser@mastodon.social (@elipariser) January 13, 2025
Some of the big names behind this project include actor Mark Ruffalo, actor/director Alex Winter and sci-fi writer/journalist Cory Doctorow. Brian Eno is involved, as is Jimmy Wales (the founder of Wikipedia.) The plan involves building new social media apps on top of the pre-existing AT Protocol, which is a decentralized framework that Bluesky runs on. This would ostensibly give users significant control over their data, algorithms and the entire online experience.
“The last two decades have seen the world sleepwalk into a situation where a handful of companies dictate our entire social media experience. Now, for the first time we have an opportunity to rewrite the rules. Bluesky’s underlying technology, the AT protocol, could offer a new pathway for the social web.” said Sherif Elsayed-Ali, Executive Director of the Future of Technology Institute.
There are a couple of major hurdles here. Bluesky is still backed by venture capital, so the team has to raise money to ensure the underlying technology is put “on an independent pathway, so that the future of social media can be freed from the whims of any one company or group of billionaires.”
The foundation also requires money to start building critical infrastructure. All told, the organization hopes to raise $30 million over the next three years. There’s a GoFundMe right now, with the intent to raise an initial $4 million. Initial funds will be spent to launch a public interest foundation that will attempt to make “Bluesky’s underlying tech fully resistant to billionaire capture.”
Before you dismiss this notion as a bunch of rich celebrities holding out a donation can, let’s remember that even the wealthiest celebrity doesn’t hold a handle to the billionaires that control the levers of power. Mark Ruffalo, likely the most notable member of the group, is worth around $30 million and Alex Winter is worth $4 million.
Elon Musk is worth $416 billion and Mark Zuckerberg’s worth is creeping up on $220 billion. Musk is worth, wait for it, around 14,000 times more than Ruffalo. The difference between million and billion is pretty serious.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/celebs-and-tech-luminaries-including-mark-ruffalo-want-to-create-a-fully-open-social-media-ecosystem-174641161.html?src=rss
Amid signs of a stagnating economy, the UK is going all-in on AI. On Monday, British Minister Keir Starmer announced a new AI Opportunities Action Plan. At the center of the initiative are “AI Growth Zones,” which the government plans to establish in de-industrialized areas throughout the country.
In these areas, the Labour government will fast-track planning approvals for data centers and offer better access to the national energy grid. Starmer said the UK’s first AI Growth Zone would be established in Culham, Oxfordshire, home to the country’s Atomic Energy Authority. More zones will be announced in the summer.
At the same time, Starmer’s government plans to increase state-owned compute capacity by a factor of 20, starting with the “immediate” construction of a new supercomputer with “enough AI power to play itself at chess half a million times a second.” As of November 2024, the UK has 14 supercomputers on the TOP500 list, putting it behind — by a significant margin — the US and China.
Additionally, the plan will see the government establish a National Data Library, which it says will make the country more attractive to investors by allowing private industry to “safely and securely unlock the value of public data.” Finally, a new AI Energy Council will work with energy companies to meet the power demands of the AI industry in a way that’s in line with the government’s clean energy strategy.
“Artificial Intelligence will drive incredible change in our country. From teachers personalising lessons, to supporting small businesses with their record-keeping, to speeding up planning applications, it has the potential to transform the lives of working people,” Starmer said. “But the AI industry needs a government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by.”
Over the next 10 years, Starmer’s government estimates that its strategy could generate as much as £47 billion ($57 billion) in annual economic growth. The announcement comes after the UK economy failed to grow in the third quarter of last year. From that perspective, making the country more attractive to outside investment isn’t the worst idea — especially with companies like Microsoft planning to spend $80 billion on new data centers this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/uk-to-fast-track-data-center-approvals-as-part-of-ai-action-plan-163753744.html?src=rss
The Meta Quest 3S 256GB model is currently down to $349, its lowest price yet. This is our favorite cheap VR headsets, and at $51 off it’s even cheaper than ever.
If you purchase a Meta Quest 3S now, you also get a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month free trial of Meta Quest+. Both freebies have a combined value of $70. The Meta Quest+ subscription unlocks around 25 games, as well as multiplayer support for some titles. Additionally, you can redeem two free games a month. All redeemed apps belong to you, too, so they won’t disappear if your subscription ends.
The Meta Quest 3S doesn’t only do VR; its mixed reality capabilities are also excellent. You can adjust how much VR immersion you want and it supports multiple windows in your display for effortless multitasking. The headset itself has speakers, but if you want better sound, you’ll have to choose between USB-C earphones or slotting a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for your other earphones.
If you’re interested in a deeper dive into the Meta Quest 3S capabilities, take a look at our review.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-256gb-meta-quest-3s-is-down-to-its-lowest-price-yet-153735525.html?src=rss
The Biden administration has unveiled its “AI diffusion rule,” which aims to restrict the export of GPUs that are most coveted for AI applications. Although it does not mention the nation by name, it’s broadly viewed as a means to prevent China from outpacing the US in AI development.
The rule proposes three licensing tiers. The first tier is unrestricted and includes the domestic market as well as 18 strategic allies. The majority of countries fall into a second tier, which will have caps on how much compute power they can import via top GPUs from the US. The third tier includes China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, and effectively bars US companies from selling their most powerful GPUs there.
US-based companies would also be prevented from sharing many details of their AI software models with countries outside that first tier, and would need to ask permission from the federal government before building large data centers in any tier two nation.
Many parties, including the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), issued statements condemning the decision, believing that the restrictions will do more to push nations towards working with China. “The new rule risks causing unintended and lasting damage to America’s economy and global competitiveness in semiconductors and AI by ceding strategic markets to our competitors,” SIA wrote.
NVIDIA also objected, with Ned Finkle, the company’s Vice President of Government Affairs, saying the Biden Administration “seeks to undermine America’s leadership with a 200+ page regulatory morass, drafted in secret and without proper legislative review.”
The rule has a 120 day comment period, so whether it survives the incoming Trump administration remains an open question.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/biden-proposes-new-export-controls-on-gpus-targeting-china-144022297.html?src=rss
At CES this January, I had the opportunity to explore the latest technologies. One standout innovation was the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 at the TDK booth. This next-generation assistive device is designed for blind and visually impaired users and offers groundbreaking features that set it apart from traditional white canes.
The WeWalk Smart Cane 2 has advanced sensors, making it the most sophisticated white cane I’ve encountered. Its standout feature is a vertical radar for obstacle detection, which identifies objects that conventional canes might miss, such as overhead branches that could strike the user’s face.
The vertical radar beam ensures comprehensive detection. When an obstacle is detected, the cane alerts the user through vibrations or audio cues reminiscent of proximity sensors in modern vehicles.
Building on the original model, this version incorporates improved sensors and AI capabilities, showcasing how artificial intelligence can take assistive technologies to the next level.
When paired with a smartphone, the cane’s motion sensors deliver precise navigation and context-aware information about nearby stores and buildings. This functionality is particularly valuable for users who rely on non-visual cues. While I haven’t tested it outdoors, it seems likely that the data is sourced from mapping applications, providing details such as street names, store information, and even menu options.
Its voice interaction capability makes the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 even more user-friendly. Users can keep their smartphones tucked away, as the cane has a microphone and speaker, effectively transforming it into an intelligent assistant. This feature streamlines interactions, making it easier for users to navigate their environment hands-free. The device boasts a battery life of approximately 20 hours, avoiding battery anxiety.
The cane’s handle houses all the intelligent features. The lower portion of it retains the standard design of a foldable white cane, ensuring familiarity for users. This thoughtful integration of technology and traditional design enhances its appeal and usability.
The potential impact of the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 on the lives of visually impaired individuals is significant. Priced at approximately $800 with a $5 monthly subscription, it is notably more expensive than traditional canes. However, the advanced functionality it offers—especially the vertical radar—justifies the cost for those who can afford it. This device represents a meaningful leap forward in assistive technology, bridging the gap between essential mobility tools and intelligent systems.
During the demonstration, I saw a black version of the cane, though a white version is also available. This innovation underscores how technology can transform lives, and the WeWalk Smart Cane 2 is a prime example of how thoughtful design can address real-world challenges for those with visual impairments.
To make this technological feat happen, the WeWALK Smart Cane 2 includes the following TDK hardware:
InvenSense SmartMotion (ICMICM-456xy): 6-axis IMU sensor, for indoor and outdoor environments with an integrated gyroscope and accelerometer (motion sensor). TDK is constantly working on making this smaller, and lower-power.
InvenSense SmartSound: low-power microphone that enables an intelligent voice assistant
InvenSense SmartSonic (ICU-20201): Ultrasonic time-of-flight sensor, for presence detection and obstacle avoidance at a distance up to ~9.5 yards (31 feet), which is way beyond what conventional canes can do.
+ Support hardware
TDK multilayer chip antenna
TDK wound metal inductors for power circuits
TDK multilayer ferrite inductors
WeWalk also offers WeASSIST, a live support service based on real-time video, in case the user prefers getting help from another person.
TDK was giving away eight Smart Cane 2 devices at CES 2025, so it looks like these will be on the streets with real users very soon.
Samsung’s 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (M80D, 2024 refresh) can act not only as a monitor with a webcam, but a smart TV as well thanks to the built-in speakers and support for cloud gaming and streaming platforms. It normally costs $700, but it’s back down near an all-time low of $400 at Amazon, netting you a savings of $300 or 43 percent.
The refreshed Smart Monitor M8 has the same features as past models, but can now do even more things with the need for a computer or console — including video calls via the detachable webcam and streaming content from providers like Netflix and Prime Video. There’s even a tool that lets you quickly send images and text from other Samsung devices, like Galaxy smartphones and Book laptops, to the monitor. It also integrates with Galaxy Buds to offer a “surround sound-like experience” with minimal latency.
It offers UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution at up to 60Hz, along with HDR10+. With a VA panel, it’s decently bright at 400 nits, offers a 4-millisecond response time and displays up to a billion colors, with 99 percent sRGB coverage. Input-wise, you get USB-C and Micro HDMI 2.0 inputs, along with a USB-C charging interface. Finally, it has a a detachable SlimFit Cam for video calls, making it a solid choice for work or light content creation.
That’s just the half of it, though. It’s a WiFi-capable smart TV that supports Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV, as well as cloud gaming platforms. It comes with built-in dual 5W speakers and a home hub that allows you to use it to control SmartThings-compatible IoT devices like lights and thermostats. It even has built-in support for Microsoft 365, so you can edit documents or browse the web without having to connect it to a computer.
Other features include the ability to change the angle and position with the high-adjustable stand, along with a game bar that makes it easy to switch between cloud services. Normally it sells for $700, making the $400 sale price a particularly good deal — so it’s best to act fast while it’s in stock.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/samsungs-2024-smart-m8-monitor-is-on-sale-for-just-399-130009470.html?src=rss
All manner of tech is shown off at CES, from the mundane to the absolutely wild — and it’s usually the oddest gadgets that steal the show. Thousands of exhibitors come from all over the world to show off their devices, and you never really know what they’re gonna come up with. CES 2025 definitely did not disappoint on the wild-and-wacky tech front. Below, we’ve rounded up the weirdest tech at CES 2025 that we encountered — all of the crazy (and crazy useful) devices we spotted out in the wild of the show floor. Remember: weird doesn’t necessarily mean bad — we actually want to buy some of these! But they’re definitely not your run-of-the-mill laptop or TV from a big-name company you can find at your local big-box store.
EcoFlow Power Hat
Engadget
Do you want to look like a professor at Hogwarts while effortlessly charging a smartphone? Then we have the hat for you. The EcoFlow Power Hat includes an embedded set of Monocrystalline Silicon solar cells and a pair of charging ports. It looks dorky, sure, but it also looks pretty dang useful. It costs $129 and is available right now.
Roto VR Explorer
VR can easily show us digital vistas, but can’t do much about natural movement. That’s where this bizarre, and cool, spinning chair comes in. The Roto VR Explorer moves in the direction you tilt your head and has been designed to work with Meta Quest headsets, but can integrate with other models. Surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to cause too much motion sickness. It costs $800 and is available now.
Yukai Mirumi
Say hello to Mirumi, the unbearably cute new robot from Yukai Engineering (be nice, it’s a little shy) #CES2025pic.twitter.com/miV8U71pnr
It wouldn’t be CES without an adorable robot to steal our hearts. This year’s cutie-pie is the Yukai Mirumi, and it’s an absolute unit of a fluffball. All it really does is look cute and engage in eye contact, with occasional coy glances elsewhere as it plays hard to get. But that’s enough. Playing with it feels like getting to know a new kitten, and we are totally fine with that. It should cost around $80 when it hits a crowdsourcing platform later this year.
Anker Solix Solar Beach Umbrella
Anker
Solar umbrellas are such a good idea. The thing is already open, to provide some much-needed shade, so may as well make it suck up juice from the sun. That’s Anker’s thought behind the Solix Solar Beach Umbrella. It uses perovskite solar cells in its panels, which are highly efficient, and offers of up to 80W of power. We don’t have pricing or availability on this one yet, but it should arrive in time for summer.
This is not a drill. The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum boasts actual robotic arms that will pick up objects from the floor as it cleans. It can lift stuff up to 300 grams, so it excels with dirty socks, pet toys and even some light sandals. However, it looks like there’s a cap on the number of items the AI can recognize. This handsy robovac doesn’t have a price or release date yet.
Mecha Systems Comet
Engadget
The Mecha Systems Comet is the handheld computer of our dreams. This diminutive little doodad is a modular, Linux-based computer built for hobbyists, engineers, artists and roboticists. It boasts a 1.8 GHz ARM64 Quad-core processor, 32GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. However, everything is expandable and customizable. A magnetic snap interface allows folks to clip on all kinds of different control panels for unique use case scenarios. It’s coming to Kickstarter soon, with a starting price of $160.
Jizai Mi-Mo
This is Mi-Mo a “general purpose AI robot” that looks kind of like the Pixar lamp on top of a small table. pic.twitter.com/yTHq8Smnoz
Here’s another robot, and this one looks exactly like the iconic Pixar lamp. The Jizai Mi-Mo is described as a “general purpose AI robot” that “thinks and acts” on its own. It has a built-in camera and microphones, and uses multiple large language models for voice and image recognition. The company hopes that one day the robot will be used for simple childcare tasks, like reminding kids to do their homework. This is just a prototype for now, so there’s no price or availability.
AirStudio One
Engadget
Why spring for both a microphone and headphones when you could just opt for this 2-in-1 oddball gadget? The AirStudio One is a decent wireless condenser microphone with a secret lurking underneath. When you open up the chassis, there’s an audio interface, a wireless USB-C dongle and a pair of true wireless headphones. We couldn’t really get a sense of how the mic sounded (CES is noisy) but this could be a real boon for musicians when it gets released later this year.
SwitchBot K20+ Pro
Engadget
Here’s a robot vacuum with a built-in stand that allows it to wander the home while carrying something else, like an air purifier or a tablet. The SwitchBot K20+ Pro is described as a “multitasking” household assistant that can do stuff aside from cleaning a floor. To that end, it supports a wide variety of attachments and connects seamlessly to other SwitchBot appliances. Theoretically, this thing can also deliver drinks and snacks. It goes on sale later this year, but there’s no price yet.
Haus.me microhaus Pro
Engadget
The Haus.me microhaus Pro is a tiny home with not-so-tiny ambitions. It can be placed just about anywhere, doesn’t require professional contractors or site prep and is seismic California fire code and CAT-5 hurricane compliant. These 120-square foot domiciles also include floor-to-ceiling windows, a full-sized shower, a kitchen and a Murphy bed that folds up to reveal a table and two bench seats. The price starts at $35,000, which isn’t that bad considering, well, it’s a home. Preorders are open right now.
Govee Gaming Pixel Light
Engadget
Want a unique set piece for your gaming room? The Govee Gaming Pixel Light comes in two sizes, with the option to be placed on a desktop or mounted to a wall. Out of the box, users can choose from 150 pixel-based scenes, but that’s just the beginning. The unit is programmable, both on the display itself or by using a companion app. That app actually has a chatbot, allowing folks to simply describe what they want to see. Pretty cool, right? It’ll be available later this year and should cost $100.
MSI Mag Coreliquid A13
MSI made a concept CPU water block for CES 2025 that has a built-in turntable and it’s kind of awesome.
Sadly, there are no plans to put it into actual production.
The MSI Mag Coreliquid A13 is a CPU cooler with a built-in turntable. Yeah. You read that right. It’s based on the Mag Coreliquid A15 360, but adds a cute spinning table that goes directly inside a desktop computer. Now, the word turnable is apt here, but it doesn’t play records. Instead, MSI showed off the device being used to spin around a dragon mascot character. It’s very cool and I want it very much, but it’s just a concept design for now. MSI has no plans to sell this thing.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-weirdest-tech-we-saw-at-ces-2025-190014510.html?src=rss
When not on sale, the Anker Charger (140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1) costs the same as Apple’s 140W wall charger for MacBooks but has loads of extra perks. Among those is its “high-definition” (although we don’t know the exact resolution) color display. There, you can monitor its total output power, a per-port wattage breakdown, temperature and its total hours of operating time (the aforementioned “odometer”). The screen even rotates 90 degrees with a long press of its button to fit different outlet orientations.
Its three USB-C ports, two of which are high-speed and can charge a 15-inch MacBook Air to 50 percent in 30 minutes. Also onboard is a single USB-A port. The Anker Charger supports multiple fast-charging options, including PD3.1 and UFCS. It’s bundled with a five-ft 240W USB-C to USB-C cable.
The four-port charger has an MSRP of $90, but you can get it for $80 by clipping a digital coupon on Amazon and Anker’s website.
Also on sale is Anker’s new 25,000mAh charger with two built-in cables. One cable is retractable, while the other loops into a lanyard when not in use. Anker says the retractable one has been tested for over 20,000 retractions, and the lanyard cable can support up to 44 pounds.
The soda-can-sized charger also has three USB-C ports, which can deliver up to 100W to your devices. It, too, has a display showing battery temperature, output and input wattage and battery health (this one is shown in a classic percentage rather than hours).
The Anker Power Bank (25K, 165W, Built-In and Retractable Cables) retails for $100 but can be yours for $90 with a coupon on Amazon and Anker’s website.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-newest-charger-from-ces-2025-is-already-discounted-183858056.html?src=rss
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