Tech Boys

DirecTV users can now watch Ted Lasso without buying extra hardware. The television provider announced today that the Apple TV+ app is now available to install on the company’s DirecTV Stream box. This is the first time Apple’s streaming network has been available on DirecTV Stream , a multipurpose device for subscribers that supports live TV, streaming apps, on-demand content and DVR recordings. The satellite provider launched the device in 2020; subscribers can rent it for $20 per month, and it’s bundled with some premium plans. In addition, it includes a remote control with access to Google Assistant. The Apple TV+ app will include the iPhone maker’s original content like Ted Lasso , Severance and CODA , and access to Apple’s broader library of rentals / purchases for television series and movie rentals. Additionally, it includes in-app support for premium add-ons like AMC+, Paramount+ and Starz. The app is widely available on other streaming devices, including PlayStation an...

Toni Collette, John Leguizamo, Naomi Alderman and the cast of The Power give us all the backstory we need before diving in to the new series, streaming on Prime Video March 31st. from Mashable https://ift.tt/wNl4KdB via IFTTT

Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks the 18th hole during a pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on October 27, 2022 in Doral, Florida. Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via Getty Images An attorney for former President Trump told Insider that he will not resist attempts to arrest him. Trump is due to present himself to the Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday. "It will be a smooth surrender," attorney Susan Necheles promised. The lead attorney for former President Donald Trump said the indicted Republican will voluntarily present himself without a fight on Tuesday in Manhattan, where he faces charges related to an alleged 2016 "hush" payment made to an adult film star. "It will be a smooth surrender," lawyer Susan Necheles told Insider. Final arrangements for Trump's appearance were still being hammered out on Friday by staff at the Manhattan Criminal Court as well as the Secret Service and the New York ...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images A group of Florida evangelicals on Thursday criticized a bill that criminalizes the transport of migrants. The bill makes it a felony to knowingly assist an undocumented immigrant. Church leaders warned it could hinder their ability to preach the gospel. A group of evangelicals on Thursday spoke against an effort by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans to make it a felony to knowingly transport an undocumented immigrant, calling it a potentially dangerous infringement on religious liberty. DeSantis, who is weighing a run for the presidency , has styled himself as a warrior for the Christian faith and a hardline opponent of illegal immigration. But on a conference call, Florida pastors said his support of a measure making its way through the Florida legislature threatens their ability to preach the gospel. "As followers of Christ, we are living out our faith most clearly when we answer...

A U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York threw out a lawsuit against Meta this week that had been simmering for a year and a half. The suit, filed in late 2021 by now-shuttered social app Phhhoto, alleged that Meta violated federal antitrust law by copying its core features with the Instagram-adjacent video looping app Boomerang . Like Boomerang, which Meta launched in October of 2015 and later integrated into Instagram itself, Phhhoto invited users to share very short GIF-like loops. U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ultimately granted Meta’s motion to dismiss the complaint due to time-limits imposed by the relevant statutes of limitations. “Phhhoto has failed in its 69-page Amended Complaint of 222 paragraphs to allege sufficient facts that cure the untimeliness of all of its federal claims,” Matsumoto wrote in the opinion, calling the possibility of any amendment to resolve the issue of the lawsuit’s timing “futile.” New antitrust suit from Phhhoto a...

The US government might not lean solely on lawsuits to limit online ad monopolies . A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the AMERICA Act (Advertising Middlemen Endangering Rigorous Internet Competition Accountability — yes, it's overwrought) with the intention of breaking up the ad businesses of tech giants like Google and Meta. Large digital ad firms (those handling more than $20 billion in transactions) wouldn't be allowed to own both an ad exchange as well as either a demand- or supply-side platform. A supply-side platform owner couldn't own a demand-side system (and vice versa), while those buying and selling ads couldn't own either of the other platforms except to sell their own ad stock. Companies that are medium-sized or larger (those handling over $5 billion in transactions) would also have to make the "best execution" for ad bids rather than deliberately holding back to serve their own operations. They need to be transparent and provide f...

Virgin Orbit is laying off around 85% of its workforce in order to further reduce expenses, after the troubled space company said it was unable to secure additional funding to keep it afloat. The news, which Virgin Orbit filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday, comes just two weeks after the company furloughed all employees and entered an “operational pause” in order to find more cash. There were talks that Matthew Brown, a Texas-based venture capitalist, may come to the rescue, but those talks dissolved over the last weekend. Today’s filing confirms that Virgin was unable to find another lifeline. According to audio of an employee all-hands on Thursday afternoon obtained by CNBC, Virgin CEO Dan Hart – reportedly choking up, again per CNBC – said, “We have no choice but to implement immediate, dramatic and extremely painful changes.” He said the call would “probably the hardest all-hands that we’ve ever done in my life.” The layoffs span all departments. Bu...

Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, center, a member of the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, accompanied by defense lawyer David Kenner, right, arrives at federal court for his trial in an alleged campaign finance conspiracy, Thursday, March 30, 2023. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik The conspiracy and fraud trial of American rapper Pras Michel kicked off on Thursday. Prosecutors alleged that Michel was involved in an international scheme to influence the US government. Michel is accused of working with Malaysian businessman and fugitive Jho Low.  An award-winning American rapper and producer allegedly involved in an international fraud scheme to influence the US government was "willing to break any laws necessary to get paid," a federal prosecutor said during opening arguments on Thursday, according to several news reports .  Pras Michel, a 50-year-old musician best known as a member of the 1990s hip-hop group Fugees, is on trial for several criminal charges, including conspiring to m...

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a D-30 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on March 21, 2023. Photo by SERGEY SHESTAK/AFP via Getty Images Russia is once again seeking weapons from pariah states like North Korea to fuel its war in Ukraine. Moscow is offering Pyongyang food in exchange for munitions, the White House says.  North Korea has battled food shortages in recent years while Moscow faces weapons shortages. Russia is offering North Korea food in exchange for weapons, a top White House official said on Thursday, marking the latest instance where Moscow has turned to Pyongyang for help as it struggles to wage war in Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Russia is seeking additional weapons and munitions from North Korea as part of the proposed deal. The US has previously accused North Korea — and other isolated countries like Iran — of backing Russia's campaign by providing it with military a...

Audible is testing ad-supported access to select titles for non-members, the Amazon-owned audiobook company revealed on a help page on its website. The company confirmed to TechCrunch that the test is very limited and does not apply to paid members. The news was first reported by Marketing Brew . The move indicates that the company may be exploring the possibility of an ad-based membership option. Audible declined to comment on any specific plans. The test includes audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals. Audible says the test applies to a limited subsection of titles on its platform. Content providers were informed of the change and given the chance to opt out of ads. Users who are part of the test will hear a total of eight ads within a 24-hour period. Audible says it has taken additional measures to make sure that ads won’t be heard too frequently within a short time span. “Audible is dedicated to continuously optimizing how we deliver audio programming to listeners every...

RTX 40-series graphics card prices may soon come down to Earth... if ever so slightly. VideoCardz sources claim NVIDIA will price the standard GeForce RTX 4070 at $599. That's decidedly more affordable than the $799 RTX 4070 Ti , but just as much as the RTX 3070 Ti from 2021. The days of paying $500 or less for an x070 GPU are over, apparently. You may get more for your money than any 3070 card, at least. The GeForce RTX 4070 will reportedly have the same 5,888 CUDA core count as the regular 3070 and a narrower 192-bit memory bus, but a much higher 1.92GHz base clock speed (even the 3070 Ti tops out at 1.58GHz), more RAM (12GB versus 8GB), and a higher 29 teraflops of 32-bit floating point computing power (versus 22 for the 3070 Ti). And did we mention that it should use less power than a 3070? While the core tally and clock speeds are noticeably lower than for the 4070 Ti, it could still provide tangible gains over the last generation. NVIDIA is said to be releasing the ...

With help from acclaimed actor Daniel Radcliffe, LGBTQ youth organization The Trevor Project is uplifting the perspectives of trans and nonbinary youth amid a national conversation on their identities and rights. Launching on March 31 — recognized as Transgender Day of Visibility — the new “Sharing Space” video series aims to provide a platform for LGBTQ youth to discuss topics impacting their lives, with support from a guest moderator. The first episode is hosted by Radcliffe, who facilitates conversation with six transgender and nonbinary young people about their experiences, the feeling of gender euphoria, self-discovery, and what it means to be a genuine ally to trans people.  SEE ALSO: School district bans 'Rainbowland' Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton duet as 'controversial' "There are some people in this world not trying to engage with this conversation in any kind of good faith," Radcliffe says to the group. "I think a lot of the time it's j...

The first crewed flight test of Boeing’s Starliner capsule is facing yet another delay, with NASA officials saying Wednesday that it was now targeting no earlier than July 21 for launch. The space agency and Boeing blamed the delay on certification issues related to the capsule’s parachute system and other verifications on Starliner’s components and capabilities, as well as scheduling constraints with other missions scheduled to fly to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Steve Stich, NASA’s program manager for the commercial crew program, told reporters that NASA and Boeing needs to complete an additional ground test on the parachute system, as well as a test of Starliner’s abort system. Stress testing of the flight and guidance, navigation and control systems and additional testing with crew are due to be complete by the end of this month. “The Starliner spacecraft is in really good shape,” Stich told reporters during a media briefing Wednesday, adding that it’s “largel...

Getty Images Tesla has gained over $200 billion in market value during in the first three months of the year.  The EV company's stock enjoyed its best weekly performance in history in January.  Tesla's strong quarter started on a rally in the tech sector and the company's cost-saving efforts. Tesla stock is having its best start of the year in its history, gaining over $200 billion in market value during the first three months of 2023. Shares of the electric vehicle maker are up 78% year-to-date. Tesla's market value has increased from $388 billion at the end of 2022 to $601 billion, according to Nasdaq data on Wednesday. Shares of the company were up 2.5% to about $194 as the market headed into the close of Wednesday's session.  Tesla's strong quarter started on a broad rally in the technology sector as investors hoped high inflation was in the rearview and the Federal Reserve would soon pump the brakes on raising interest rates. On top of that, CE...

If you think embedded insurance is the only hot thing in insurtech these days, we’ve got a surprise in store for you: While it’s true that startups that help sell insurance together with other products and services are enjoying tailwinds, there are plenty of other opportunities in the space, several investors told TechCrunch+. You see, insurtech startups often need to take into account the myriad rules and regulations in place when they seek to innovate and embed insurance into products, which might make it difficult to pull it off. And given the current emphasis on achieving cost efficiency to extend runways in the broader startup ecosystem, it appears investors are open to insurtech startups that can build a sustainable business model, regardless of it including embedded insurance. “Insurtech startups that do not offer embedded insurance, and rather provide other innovative solutions will still attract VC funding this year, especially if they can show cost-efficient and sustainabl...

Let's be honest: you were probably curious about Sackboy: A Big Adventure when it launched alongside the PlayStation 5 , but not so much that you were willing to buy that instead of Demon's Souls or Miles Morales . Thankfully, you no longer have to pay extra to indulge that curiosity. Sony has made the LittleBigPlanet spinoff (also available on PS4) free to all PlayStation Plus members between April 4th and May 1st. Sackboy is decidedly different than the core franchise. Where Little Big Planet is a 3D-enhanced side-scroller that revolves more around environment interaction and creativity, this game is a 3D platformer that revolves around its namesake hero's acrobatics. They all share a relatively uncommon co-op mechanic, though. Up to four players can tackle stages together, and some segments require teamwork to move forward. This may be an ideal game to play with your kids. You have options if Sackboy doesn't strike your fancy. The newly launched build-and-raid...

UPDATE: Mar. 29, 2023, 3:15 p.m. EDT This post has been updated to reflect the current availability and sale pricing of Dyson vacuums, air-purifying fans, and hair tools. Shop our top picks below: Our top picks this week: Best cordless vacuum deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim (opens in a new tab) — $519.99 $649.99 (save $130) Best upright vacuum deal Dyson Ball Multi Floor Origin (opens in a new tab) — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100) Best hair tool deal Dyson Corrale (opens in a new tab) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100) The automated convenience of a robot vacuum is undeniably sweet, but for some, a Roomba just can't compare to the rush or attention to detail of manual vacuuming. That's where Dyson comes in. Shop this week's deals on Dyson vacuums below. For help comparing models, check out our guide to Dyson's current stick, ball, canister, and handheld vacs. Our top pick Opens in a new tab Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson V12 Detect S...

March Mindfulness is an annual Mashable series that explores the intersection of meditation practice and technology. From an expansive point of view, the first video game to promote mindfulness was also the first successful home video game. Pong , created in 1972, required its millions of players to focus their attention on a bouncing square as it traversed a screen. The ultimate casual game, Pong is so basic that brain cells have been taught to play it in a lab . Its quietly engrossing allure is timeless. Really, what's the difference between playing Pong and a meditation practice where you follow your breath? Only the fact that the game is effectively keeping score of the times your attention drifts. Similarly, Tetris — which arrived in 1984 and is about to get its own movie — has been praised for its ability to put players in a Zen-like flow state . One study suggests that, like mindfulness meditation if done right, playing Tetris can help people mitigate the effects ...

A scientific theory is an explanation of facts based on robust research that's been replicated numerous times. Peter Macdiarmid / Staff / Getty Images Modern humans did not evolve from monkeys or any other animal that lives today. Humans continue to evolve but the traits we pass down aren't always for the species' betterment.  "Survival of the fittest" probably doesn't mean what you think and has nothing to do with strength.  Human evolution is complex. Misconceptions, misunderstandings, and myths readily arise when we try to simplify it too much. America has struggled to get schools nationwide to teach human evolution as fact. Gallo Images / Contributor / Getty Images The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that humans evolved over time , yet misconceptions about human evolution persist in American society for a few reasons. One reason is that evolution is complex, and easily drawn conclusions aren't always entirely accurate. In the ...