A year after a billion-dollar seizure of the dark web market’s crypto, the same agency found a giant trove hidden under a different hacker’s floorboards.
Activision Blizzard reports Q3 net bookings down 3% YoY to $1.83B vs. $1.7B est., and MAUs down 6% YoY to 368M; Modern Warfare II made $1B+ in its first 10 days (Dean Takahashi/VentureBeat)
Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat: Activision Blizzard reports Q3 net bookings down 3% YoY to $1.83B vs. $1.7B est., and MAUs down 6% YoY to 368M; Modern Warfare II made $1B+ in its first 10 days — Activision Blizzard reported that its bookings for the third quarter ended September 30 fell 3% to $1.83 billion compared […]
End-to-end encrypted messaging app Signal launches its Stories feature out of beta on Android and iOS; users’ Stories will automatically expire after 24 hours (Aisha Malik/TechCrunch)
Aisha Malik / TechCrunch: End-to-end encrypted messaging app Signal launches its Stories feature out of beta on Android and iOS; users’ Stories will automatically expire after 24 hours — End-to-end encrypted messaging app Signal is rolling out a new Stories feature to all users on Android and iOS, the company announced on Monday.
Source: Twitter is telling advertisers the site added 15M+ mDAUs since the end of Q2, “crossing the quarter billion mark”; Musk also tweeted user numbers are up (Alex Heath/The Verge)
Alex Heath / The Verge: Source: Twitter is telling advertisers the site added 15M+ mDAUs since the end of Q2, “crossing the quarter billion mark”; Musk also tweeted user numbers are up — Twitter’s daily user growth hit “all-time highs” during the first full week of Elon Musk owning the platform …
A whole new world of learning via MIT OpenCourseWare videos
Like millions of others during the global Covid-19 lockdowns, Emmanuel Kasigazi, an entrepreneur from Uganda, turned to YouTube to pass the time. But he wasn’t following an influencer or watching music videos. A lifelong learner, Kasigazi was scouring the video-sharing platform for educational resources. Since 2013, when he got his first smartphone, Kasigazi has been […]
UpNano joins MIT.nano Consortium
MIT.nano has announced that UpNano US Inc., a company that manufactures and supplies high-precision and high-resolution 3D printing instruments for academia and industry, has joined the MIT.nano Consortium. This engagement, initially planned for two years, will include locating one of UpNano’s NanoOne 1000 instruments in MIT.nano. “We’re thrilled to welcome UpNano to the MIT.nano Consortium,” […]
When Your Partner Isn’t Giving You the Support You Need
In unpacking one woman’s dilemma, we pull out advice for anyone in a serious relationship.
Research Roundup: How Technology Is Transforming Work
New studies explore its impact on hiring, employee experience, and more.
The U.S. Labor Market Is Less Tight Than It Appears
New research from economists at LinkedIn suggests that conventional metrics may be misleading.
Elon Musk Is Overloaded
Twitter’s new CEO also leads Tesla, SpaceX, and startups working on tunnel digging and brain implants. His social media project will make it harder to juggle them all.
Twitter’s Ex-Election Chief Is Worried About the US Midterms
Edward Perez says that “manufactured chaos” by bad actors will be even riskier thanks to Elon Musk’s own mayhem.
Europeans Are Burning Trees to Keep Warm
Sky-high energy prices have people turning to wood to provide a cheaper alternative—and EU laws are helping incentivize this.
Algerian startup Yassir, which offers on-demand ride hailing, banking, and more, raised $150M led by BOND to expand overseas, bringing its funding to $193M (Nicolas Parasie/Bloomberg)
Nicolas Parasie / Bloomberg: Algerian startup Yassir, which offers on-demand ride hailing, banking, and more, raised $150M led by BOND to expand overseas, bringing its funding to $193M — Startup Yassir secured $150 million from global investors in North Africa’s largest fundraising as the tech firm seeks to roll out its super app overseas.
Hua Hong Semiconductor, China’s second-largest chipmaker, receives approval for a ~$2.5B Shanghai IPO and plans to use the funds to build a plant in Wuxi, China (Reuters)
Reuters: Hua Hong Semiconductor, China’s second-largest chipmaker, receives approval for a ~$2.5B Shanghai IPO and plans to use the funds to build a plant in Wuxi, China — Chinese chip manufacturer Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd (1347.HK) has received regulatory approval for an 18 billion yuan …
Unity, which makes the eponymous game engine, merges with adtech company ironSource in a $4.4B all-stock deal; Unity stock is down ~75% YTD and ironSource ~50% (Paul Sawers/TechCrunch)
Paul Sawers / TechCrunch: Unity, which makes the eponymous game engine, merges with adtech company ironSource in a $4.4B all-stock deal; Unity stock is down ~75% YTD and ironSource ~50% — Unity’s proposed merger with IronSource has formally concluded, with the two companies coming together to create an end …
How to Get Slack’s Paid Features for Free
If you can afford it, the app is worth it. But if you can’t, some workarounds will get you similar features without spending a dime.
5 Best Dog Beds (2022): Indoor, Outdoor, Elevated
These WIRED pup-tested tiny mattresses will keep your pooch supported through every snooze.
How to Make Sure Your Cloud Files Are Always Synced
Keep your most important data close at hand, whether you’re on or offline.
Elon Musk tweets that “any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended” (Richard Lawler/The Verge)
Richard Lawler / The Verge: Elon Musk tweets that “any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended” — Elon Musk’s Twitter has a new rule for everyone with an account on Twitter to follow, as he announced from his own account …
Apple says it expects iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max shipments to be lower than anticipated due to COVID-19 restrictions at a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China (Joe Rossignol/MacRumors)
Joe Rossignol / MacRumors: Apple says it expects iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max shipments to be lower than anticipated due to COVID-19 restrictions at a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China — Apple today said it expects iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments to be lower than the company previously anticipated […]
Sources: Meta plans to lay off thousands of employees this week, with an announcement expected as soon as Wednesday, the first broad layoffs in its history (Wall Street Journal)
Wall Street Journal: Sources: Meta plans to lay off thousands of employees this week, with an announcement expected as soon as Wednesday, the first broad layoffs in its history — Social-media giant’s planned cuts expected to affect many thousands of its workforce, which exceeded 87,000 as of September
TikTok’s Greatest Asset Isn’t Its Algorithm—It’s Your Phone
Escaping the platform’s addictive grasp means first overhauling our relationship to our devices.
Vizio M-Series Elevate Review: Affordable Atmos Soundbar
This Dolby Atmos system sounds great, no matter what you watch.
Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy says the company will cut back on dealmaking and hiring as losses mount, amid fierce competition from Amazon and Reliance (Financial Times)
Financial Times: Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy says the company will cut back on dealmaking and hiring as losses mount, amid fierce competition from Amazon and Reliance — CEO Krishnamurthy insists country’s ecommerce sector remains ‘vibrant’ — Flipkart’s chief executive says the Walmart-owned ecommerce group …
A look at Twitter’s chaotic first week under Elon Musk, who is acting like a poker player on tilt trying too hard to get his money back all at once (Dave Karpf/The Future, Now and Then)
Dave Karpf / The Future, Now and Then: A look at Twitter’s chaotic first week under Elon Musk, who is acting like a poker player on tilt trying too hard to get his money back all at once — Well, Elon’s first week running Twitter has gone worse than I expected. I said last week […]
Hands-on with Matter devices at an official launch event; Matter has a long way to go before it delivers on a promise of an interoperable and simple smart home (Jennifer Pattison Tuohy/The Verge)
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge: Hands-on with Matter devices at an official launch event; Matter has a long way to go before it delivers on a promise of an interoperable and simple smart home — At the official launch event for Matter this week, I saw a lot of exciting things: a Google Nest […]
BMW i7 2022 Review: High Life, High-Tech
Yes, we enjoyed the built-in 31-inch 8K TV, but this electric sedan also offers impeccable interior design and handling (if you can afford it).
TikTok Admits Staff in China Can Access Europeans’ Data
Plus: Liz Truss’ phone-hacking trouble, Cash App’s sex-trafficking problem, and the rising cost of ransomware.
23 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories (2022): Docks, Cases, Headsets, and More
Here are some screen protectors, chargers, and other extras for your new best friend.
The US DOJ seizes internet domains for Z-Library, a repository that went viral on TikTok for offering 11M+ books, including pirated textbooks, and 84M articles (Bill Toulas/BleepingComputer)
Bill Toulas / BleepingComputer: The US DOJ seizes internet domains for Z-Library, a repository that went viral on TikTok for offering 11M+ books, including pirated textbooks, and 84M articles — Internet domains for the popular Z-Library online eBook repository were seized early this morning by the U.S. Department of Justice, preventing easy access to the […]
Elon Musk says Twitter will offer the ability to attach long-form text to tweets, creator monetization for all forms of content, and better search (Elon Musk/@elonmusk)
Elon Musk / @elonmusk: Elon Musk says Twitter will offer the ability to attach long-form text to tweets, creator monetization for all forms of content, and better search — Twitter will soon add ability to attach long-form text to tweets, ending absurdity of notepad screenshots
A Twitter product lead says the new Blue subscription isn’t live yet, but some users may see updates “because we are testing and pushing changes in real-time” (Kyle Wiggers/TechCrunch)
Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch: A Twitter product lead says the new Blue subscription isn’t live yet, but some users may see updates “because we are testing and pushing changes in real-time” — Just days after newly minted Twitter CEO Elon Musk floated changes to Twitter’s system for verifying user accounts …
19 Best Gifts for PC Gamers (2022): Headsets, Desks, Monitors
It’s dangerous to go alone! Take these headsets, keyboards, and mice.
MSR Freelite Backpacking Tent Review: Ultralight and Comfortable
This featherweight tent cuts down the weight so you have room for what really matters in the backcountry: great food.
All the Free Resources You Can Find at Your Library
From magazines to music and movies, your local library is a haven for information.
A look at the Rust programming language after 12 years, evolving from side project to robust ecosystem, as developers praise its security, ease, and performance (Lily Hay Newman/Wired)
Lily Hay Newman / Wired: A look at the Rust programming language after 12 years, evolving from side project to robust ecosystem, as developers praise its security, ease, and performance — Rust makes it impossible to introduce some of the most common security vulnerabilities. And its adoption can’t come soon enough.
As chess explodes on Twitch, a look at Chess.com’s Global Championship, its first in-person event since 2018, and “fair play” measures amid a cheating scandal (Jordan Pearson/VICE)
Jordan Pearson / VICE: As chess explodes on Twitch, a look at Chess.com’s Global Championship, its first in-person event since 2018, and “fair play” measures amid a cheating scandal — Cheating allegations have changed how chess is played, just as the game is shifting into looking a lot more like esports.
El Salvador’s Bitcoin “revolution” is failing miserably and behind the debacle are crypto evangelists from wealthier countries who cheered on President Bukele (Zeke Faux/Bloomberg)
Zeke Faux / Bloomberg: El Salvador’s Bitcoin “revolution” is failing miserably and behind the debacle are crypto evangelists from wealthier countries who cheered on President Bukele — On an estuary along the coast of El Salvador, a few miles west of the Conchagua volcano, about 70 families live in a settlement called Flor de Mangle.
Elon Musk Has Fired Twitter’s ‘Ethical AI’ Team
As part of a wave of layoffs, the new CEO disbanded a group working to make Twitter’s algorithms more transparent and fair.
New Mexico Is a Great Place for Sci-Fi
The state is home to an unusually high concentration of science fiction writers and a strong mix of science and superstition.
What Is Apple One? A Breakdown of Plans, Pricing, and Included Services
Going all-in with the services bundle could be a smart move, especially for families. We break down what’s included and how much it costs.
Filing: Apple settles lawsuit against an ex-employee accused of stealing trade secrets and sharing them with the media; he will pay an undisclosed sum to Apple (Jay Peters/The Verge)
Jay Peters / The Verge: Filing: Apple settles lawsuit against an ex-employee accused of stealing trade secrets and sharing them with the media; he will pay an undisclosed sum to Apple — Apple has settled its lawsuit against Simon Lancaster, a former design architect, who the company accused of stealing trade secrets and sharing them […]
The US DOJ charges two former MoviePass executives in a securities fraud case for allegedly trying to artificially inflate parent company HMNY’s stock price (Jason Guerrasio/Insider)
Jason Guerrasio / Insider: The US DOJ charges two former MoviePass executives in a securities fraud case for allegedly trying to artificially inflate parent company HMNY’s stock price — – Lowe and Farnsworth have been charged in a securities fraud case by the Department of Justice.
Sources: Apple is building a live TV ad network and talking to ad partners as part of its deal to stream Major League Soccer games starting in February 2023 (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg: Sources: Apple is building a live TV ad network and talking to ad partners as part of its deal to stream Major League Soccer games starting in February 2023 — Apple Inc. is building an advertising network for live television as part of its deal to stream Major League Soccer games next year …
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra performs with AI for the first time
Robert Laidlow’s new composition, Silicon, uses Artificial intelligence to create new works for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Video on the record
Among the Pulitzer Prizes awarded in 2021 was a citation for a teenager who changed history with her cell phone. The Pulitzer committee acknowledged Darnella Frazier “for courageously recording the murder of George Floyd, a video that spurred protests against police brutality around the world, highlighting the crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for […]
Professor Emeritus Louis Braida, speech and hearing scientist and hearing aid innovator, dies at 79
Louis Braida, the Henry Ellis Warren (1894) Professor Emeritus in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), died Sept. 2. He was 79. Braida was a principal researcher in the Research Laboratory of Electronics, and a faculty member in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), which is housed in […]
MIT engineers develop a low-cost terahertz camera
Terahertz radiation, whose wavelengths lie between those of microwaves and visible light, can penetrate many nonmetallic materials and detect signatures of certain molecules. These handy qualities could lend themselves to a wide array of applications, including airport security scanning, industrial quality control, astrophysical observations, nondestructive characterization of materials, and wireless communications with higher bandwidth than […]
To Sustain DEI Momentum, Companies Must Invest in 3 Areas
Findings from an analysis of 48 companies across 16 industries.
How Fossil Fuel Divestment Falls Short
Selling these assets allows someone else to operate them — exactly the opposite of what’s intended.