TechAmok News Archive
US Government Sues Adobe Over Shady Business Practices: Hidden Fees and Subscriptions Too Hard to Cancel - [crime-law] 05:42 AM EDT - Jun,18 2024 - post a comment The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken legal action against software giant Adobe and two of its top executives for allegedly deceiving consumers about the actual costs of its popular subscription services and deliberately obstructing cancellations. In a federal court complaint filed by the Department of Justice at the FTC's request, the commission accuses Adobe of obscuring hefty early termination fees and making it excessively difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions. The complaint alleges that when signing up for subscriptions on Adobe's website, the company steers consumers toward the "annual paid monthly" option, pre-selecting it as the default while burying details about the 50% early termination fee for canceling within the first year. Customers have lodged numerous complaints, saying they were unaware the plan committed them for a full year.
According to the FTC, even when customers did attempt to cancel, Adobe forced them to navigate a bureaucratic maze of web pages, unhelpful customer service reps, dropped calls, and transfers. Some customers who thought they had successfully canceled continued to be charged. Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, noted, "Adobe trapped customers into year-long subscriptions through hidden early termination fees and numerous cancellation hurdles." The complaint charges that these deceptive "dark patterns" violate the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act. It names Adobe's President of Digital Media, David Wadhwani, and Vice President Maninder Sawhney as co-defendants for their oversight roles in these shady business practices. |
Adobe Acrobat is adding a way to generate images in PDF files with AI text prompts - [briefly] 03:46 PM EDT - Jun,17 2024 - post a comment Adobe is adding an image generation feature to its popular Adobe Acrobat app for opening and editing PDF files. In an email press release, the company revealed that starting later this week, Adobe Acrobat will support the generation and editing of images created by AI, specifically via Adobe's Firefly Image 3 model.
The app will add the new Generate Image function this week, which will allow users to have control over AI-made images in PDF files. The feature will also let users adjust both the style and size of an AI-made image so they can fit in a PDF document.
In addition, the new Edit Image feature will let users access the Generative Fill, Remove
Background, Erase, and Crop functions in the Firefly model. Users can edit images in PDF files so they can remove unneeded objects, or get rid of backgrounds and more.
In addition to the new AI-based image features, more functions are being added to Acrobat AI Assistant. One of them will allow users to find specific themes and trends from a number of different documents and sources. Users can drag all that content into Acrobat AI Assistant, which can then format that information. The new feature will include adding citations so people can know where the information in the document comes from. Users will also be able to go to a specific source for more information.
Adobe AI Assistant is also adding a way to generate summaries of meetings. The feature will offer fast access to a meeting's main topics and action items. |
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE - FIRST LOOK - [mobile] 01:38 PM EDT - Jun,16 2024 - post a comment Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is Samsung's next Fan Edition smartphone and the first look at the handset reveals some positive changes. Samsung will also increase the display size on the Galaxy S24 FE making it the biggest display on an FE phone. Samsung will launch the Galaxy S24 FE in December.
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Confronting ASUS Face-to-Face - [hardware] 04:09 PM EDT - Jun,14 2024 - post a comment In this video, we meet with ASUS physically to go over the ASUS RMA and warranty investigation. This follows our ASUS ROG Ally warranty claim series, with each episode linked below. Our objective is to see improvement for the betterment of the community, especially because ASUS is a sales leader and can set the example for its competitors.
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NVIDIA Antitrust Investigation, AMD GPUs Hurting, be quiet! Light Base Case - [hardware] 04:45 AM EDT - Jun,13 2024 - post a comment In hardware news this week, we cover the NVIDIA antitrust investigation by the FTC and US Department of Justice, AMD's hurting GPU sales, be quiet!'s new Light Base 600 & 900 cases, Cooler Master's MasterHub and SDK, Thermaltake's TR1 and 3DVC vapor chamber air cooler, and more. Intel and Qualcomm also come into the news, as well as a brief update on the ASUS warranty situation.
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iOS 18 Overhauls Home Screen, Messaging, Photos - [mobile] 08:29 AM EDT - Jun,12 2024 - post a comment Apple has announced iOS 18 for iPhones. The update will bring a slew of new features, with the biggest changes coming to home screen icons, messaging, and the Photos app. You'll now be able to put app icons anywhere, even at the bottom of the screen. Icons also have a special dark mode appearance, and a monochrome appearance that lets you customize them all to the color of your choice. Other new features let you lock or hide specific apps (and their data) so they're unavailable when you hand your phone to someone else. Finally, there's a new option for extra-large app icons. A major new service is Messages by Satellite, which lets you communicate via iMessage or SMS over a satellite connection even in non-emergency situations. Like Apple's existing SOS service, it requires that you point your phone at a certain part of the sky, which it guides you through. This feature offers end-to-end encryption. As promised, Messages now supports RCS for rich messaging compatibility with Android phones. iMessage will also now let you Tapback with any emoji, and apply formatting and animations (" Text effects") to your text. Finally, Messages will now let you schedule messages to be sent automatically at a later time. The Photos app gets a complete redesign, with a single home screen that shows the photos grid in the upper half and Collections below that. New automatic Collections include Recent Day and Trips, as well as People and Pets to group photos by who's in them. The grid has date tools and filters. Maps gains topographical maps, including offline hiking maps. Tap to Cash lets you send money to someone else just be tapping your phones together. Apple Wallet also gains enhanced event tickets that automatically include venue info, including maps. The Mail app gains new automatic Categorization. A new Game Mode minimizes background activity for better performance, and improves audio latency. Control Center also gets a major upgrade with third-party Controls, multiple pages of controls, and the ability to re-arrange and even resize controls. Third-party Controls can be assigned to lock screen shortcuts or the physical action button on iPhones that have one. A new feature of macOS called iPhone Mirroring lets you wirelessly view and use your iPhone from your Mac. It also integrates your iPhone notifications with your Mac notifications. Apple also introduced whole new password manager called Passwords, that's available for iOS and many other platforms. A beta version of iOS 18 will be available to developers today. Apple promises a public beta next month, and the final version this fall. |
Apple Intelligence Promises Personalized AI, Requires iPhone 15 Pro - [mobile] 08:28 AM EDT - Jun,12 2024 - post a comment Apple has launched Apple Intelligence, its big generative AI effort. Apple Intelligence focuses on personalized on-device AI, but also includes a limited cloud component for more advanced requests, and the option to use OpenAI's ChatGPT for certain types of requests. The on-device component maintains a private "semantic index" of your data like your recent messages, calendar, contacts, and more. This allows Siri to answer new kinds of requests more intelligently, using the context of that data and what's on your screen at the moment. Siri also now maintains conversational context across multiple requests, and can be queried via text instead of voice. New system-wide Writing Tools work across all apps. They can proofread, summarize, and rewrite. Any selected text can be rewritten in any style of your choice. New options offer to summarize long emails or messaging threads for you. Genmoji uses on-device generative AI to create any new emoji you can cream up. More advanced image generation is available via Image Playground, available in Messages and other Apple apps, some third-party apps, and as its own standalone app. Image Playground lets you create a small image based on any prompt. If the image includes a person, you can ask it to make them look like someone specific in your contacts. It will not generate photorealistic images, though, offering only "animation", "illustration", and "sketch" styles. Apple is also introducing a " Cleanup Tool" in Photos that can remove unwanted objects from photos using generative fill, much like Google's Magic Eraser. A new Priority Notifications feature uses the semantic index to understand and highlight which notifications are actually important, and a Reduce Interruptions option hides all non-Priority notifications. When a request cannot be handled on-device, Apple Intelligence sends only the necessary info to Apple's own "Private Cloud Compute" servers for processing, where Apple promises your data is not saved or logged. Apple Intelligence is free to use. Basic use of ChatGPT is also free, and you can link a paid OpenAI account to Apple Intelligence so you can access more advanced ChatGPT features right from Siri. The ChatGPT integration is multimodal, offering both text and images as input and output. Apple says it's working to integrate other models besides ChatGPT. On phones, Apple Intelligence requires the A17 Pro chip, which means it will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, not the standard iPhone 15, nor any older models. It will also be available on tablets and computers using any M-series chip |
New York State Launches Mobile ID App - [mobile] 08:27 AM EDT - Jun,12 2024 - post a comment New York is now the ninth US state to offer an official, standards-compliant mobile ID (MiD). The new New York Mobile ID app is available for both Android and iOS. The dedicated app is required for both setup and use; New York's solution is not yet compatible with Apple Wallet nor Google Wallet. During setup, the user scans both their physical ID card and face. The app can then display a personalized QR code any time identity and/or age need to be verified. The code is scanned by the person requesting verification using any standard-compliant verification app. They then choose what information to request, the ID holder gives permission on their device, then the requested information (and that info only) is transmitted wirelessly and automatically verified with the NY DMV. The ID holder does not need to hand over their phone at any time. The verifying device must have an internet connection, but the device of the ID holder can be offline. The TSA currently accepts mobile ID at 28 airports, including all terminals of JFK and LaGuardia in New York City. Businesses that need to check ID can start accepting mobile ID at any time, but verification apps are not yet in widespread use. New York's app is similar to that of California, Iowa, Louisiana, and Utah. States with mobile IDs that can also be added to mobile wallets are: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland. |
Remember when GPUs were AWESOME?! - [hardware] 02:13 AM EDT - Jun,11 2024 - post a comment It's truly disheartening to hear that EVGA video cards are no longer available. Their top-notch quality, reliability, and innovation have set a benchmark in the industry. Many gamers and enthusiasts, myself included, will miss the unparalleled gaming experience that EVGA cards provided. Farewell, EVGA, you'll be dearly missed in the gaming world.
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The Worst Monitor Ever...In Color! - [hardware] 06:52 AM EDT - Jun,10 2024 - post a comment While we love looking at cool gaming monitors with features like MiniLED and QD-OLEDs, Dasung is coming to us today with something out of left field, an E-INK display. That's right the same tech that graces the Amazon Kindle is in a monitor now. Only this time it is in color! Could this be the difference between e-ink and e-stink?
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Qualcomm X Elite Laptops at Computex 2024, with Davinci Resolve, Chrome, ecosystem, performance - [briefly] 04:22 PM EDT - Jun,06 2024 - post a comment At Computex 2024, Qualcomm showcased their upcoming Snapdragon X Elite laptops, set to hit the market on June 18th. PJ Jacobowitz from Qualcomm introduced these laptops as the ultimate Arm Laptops, the best Arm-based processors for Windows, emphasizing their superior performance, exceptional battery life, and the inclusion of the world's fastest NPU for laptops. This NPU enhances AI features in Windows apps, making the devices not only powerful but also incredibly efficient, cool, and silent. Major manufacturers like Samsung, Microsoft Surface, HP, and Lenovo will be releasing these laptops, offering a variety of designs including the sleek Yoga and the robust ThinkPad.
The new Orion CPU in the Snapdragon X Elite promises outstanding performance with remarkable power efficiency, ensuring the laptops remain cool and quiet even during intensive tasks. This allows for extended battery life and a comfortable user experience. Various models will feature high-resolution OLED displays with over a billion shades of color, appealing to both creative professionals and general users. The laptops are designed to handle prolonged usage, especially for tasks like video calls and productivity applications, without compromising on performance.
One of the highlights of the presentation was the demonstration of hardware-accelerated app support, particularly for AI-driven applications. Julia showcased how AI features like Magic Mask in Davinci Resolve now run significantly faster on the NPU compared to traditional GPU processing. This improvement allows for real-time object identification and editing, enhancing the capabilities of video editing software. Adobe Premiere and other creative software like Vegas and Avid will also be natively supported on Snapdragon, broadening the scope of professional-grade tools available on these laptops.
The event featured a live demonstration of an innovative audio tool by Algorithm, which uses a neural network to isolate and manipulate individual elements within a song in real time. This technology, available in the Windows store, exemplifies the potential of on-device AI processing to deliver high-quality audio editing quickly and efficiently. Such advancements in AI capabilities underline the versatility and power of the Snapdragon X Elite platform, making it a compelling choice for creative professionals.
In addition to creative applications, the laptops are optimized for a wide range of popular apps, ensuring smooth performance across various use cases. Microsoft and Qualcomm have tested over 300 applications to ensure compatibility, with day-one support for full Chrome and a suite of enterprise applications. The presentation also highlighted the benefits for graphic designers and architects, with full support for Adobe Suite, including Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as tools for 3D game design and other professional software.
Qualcomm's collaboration with Microsoft extends to the development of new NPU tools and the Qualcomm AI Hub, which offers developers access to over 100 AI models. This platform allows for the rapid deployment and optimization of custom neural networks, enabling developers to create high-performance AI-driven applications efficiently. The AI Hub facilitates the development of sophisticated applications that can leverage the Snapdragon X Elite's powerful AI capabilities, making it an attractive option for software developers.
Another key feature demonstrated was the seamless integration of Microsoft's Co-Pilot Plus, fully hardware-accelerated on the Snapdragon X Elite. This includes live captions and translation features for video calls, enhancing communication and accessibility. The Surface devices with Snapdragon X Elite showcased their capability to handle advanced tasks with ease, supported by features like OLED displays and extensive connectivity options, including USB 4 and potentially Thunderbolt support.
Finally, the presentation highlighted the versatility and adaptability of the Snapdragon X Elite platform, from gaming to professional applications. The laptops demonstrated impressive thermal management, maintaining performance without overheating. Qualcomm also showcased their AI-powered code generation tools, which significantly speed up development processes by generating code in real time. Overall, the Snapdragon X Elite laptops represent a significant leap forward in ARM-based Windows devices, offering unparalleled performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities.
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This Old Mercedes Sounds Like A V12 F1 Car! - [off-topic] 05:51 PM EDT - Jun,05 2024 - post a comment The Stig's secret subterranean lair is the perfect place to make a lot of noise with a lot of noisy cars. Welcome to Top Gear Tunnel Run.
In the fifth episode of our series, our tame racing driver welcomes the Mercedes S600 limo... Wait, what?!
Fear not, because while the W140-era Merc S-class is famously quiet (it even had double-glazed windows, so you could hear a pin drop in the cabin) it also had the same V12 that powered the original Pagani Zonda. And thanks to a trick exhaust, this one sounds like an old Formula One car.
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Noctua stole my idea! - [hardware] 04:09 PM EDT - Jun,05 2024 - post a comment We're at the Noctua booth at Computex 2024 where they've cooked up a handful of really cool prototypes and upgrades- including one that I suggested to them 3 years ago that they turned down!
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Alien: Romulus - Official Trailer - [off-topic] 04:07 PM EDT - Jun,05 2024 - post a comment They're really throwing it back a bit with the old ship settings, the claustrophobic, closed-in scenes... This is almost a breath of fresh air!
Alien: Romulus premieres in theaters August 16. |
Lian Li's Brilliant Airflow Design: Lancool 207 Budget Case, 217 Wood, & "Wireless" RGB (ft. CEO) - [briefly] 04:54 PM EDT - Jun,03 2024 - post a comment Lian Li announced its Lancool 207 $80 high-airflow budget case, coming out later this year and likely competing as one of the fiercest sub-$100 PC cases for 2024. We'll see how it does in our review. The company also showcased its Lancool 217 with wood paneling at #computex 2024, alongside its SL V3 "wireless" RGB solution (or at least, wire reducing). The Lancool series is exciting for bringing the industry back towards cheap competitors. We're looking forward to seeing how it does. CEO Jameson Chen joined us for some engineering discussion as well.
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2025 Audi A7 Launched! - Preview of A6 Successor - [briefly] 03:35 AM EDT - Jun,02 2024 - post a comment The current form of the Audi A7, which came out in 2019 and got a facelift in 2024, is likely to end with the 2025 model. For the 2026 model year, we expect a brand-new A7, which could have plug-in hybrid power. It is said that Audi's A6 cars will move to the A7 line at that point.
The 2025 A7 will likely stay the same since its replacement is already being made. The four-door, medium coupe-style car has enough room for five people and can be used as a hatchback. The A7 looks like a sedan, but it can hold up to 50 cubic feet of goods, which makes it just as useful as some smaller SUVs. All models come with an all-wheel drive system, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.1-inch tablet, and leather seats.
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How to install Windows 11 LTSC Made for Old Computers - [guides] 02:48 AM EDT - Jun,01 2024 - post a comment This is first Version of Windows 11 LTSC Made for Old unsupported computers today I'm showing how to install and test this amassing version IoT LTSC released by Microsoft as evaluation copy just for testing and playing around with it till the stable release will be ready in latter of this year 2024
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra - FIRST LOOK IS HERE - [gadgets] 11:25 AM EDT - May,31 2024 - post a comment Samsung is apparently putting a circle inside of a square for the newly leaked Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra. The device features a brand-new, chunkier look for the dial. The Watch 7 Ultra also reportedly sports a third mysterious button.
Do you like the design of the leaked Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra?
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Why it Was Almost Impossible to Put a Computer in Space - [briefly] 03:49 PM EDT - May,28 2024 - post a comment It's really hard to put a computer into space...so hard in fact that laptops on the international space station are treated as effectively disposable. So when the folks at HPE wanted to put a SERVER on the ISS, people were a bit skeptical… and it turned out even with the help of KIOXIA's fast and reliable storage devices, to be harder than they thought.
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