AI is changing video games — and striking performers want their due
- August 14, 2024
Performers are on strike against major video game companies, and AI is the sticking point. Here’s how game development has evolved since early animation.
Waymo driverless cars have gotten inexplicably chatty, honking at one another all night
- August 14, 2024
Waymo driverless cars in San Francisco have been coming back online at night and honking at each other, as reported by CBS News. Videos have begun circulating showing dozens of the vehicles sitting in the same parking lot and just honking away without a care in the world. This has, obviously, irked some human neighbors who need sleep.
Is this a sign of the forthcoming AI apocalypse or is it some robotaxis learning how to flirt? Unfortunately for those looking for a “robots in love” narrative, it’s neither. It’s just an error within the security software. Simply put, the software mandates a honk when another car gets too close. These particular Waymo taxis sit right next to one another in a cramped parking lot when not in use and, well, there you go.
"We recently introduced a useful feature to help avoid low-speed collisions by honking if other cars get too close while reversing toward us," the company said in a statement. "It has been working great in the city, but we didn't quite anticipate it would happen so often in our own parking lots.”
Waymo says that it has updated the software to address the issue, noting that “our electric vehicles should keep the noise down for our neighbors moving forward.” So that’s that. Another mystery solved.
Despite this brief foray into vehicular anthropomorphism, Waymo is still expanding its taxi service. It’s currently available to anyone with the app who’s located in San Francisco, Phoenix and a small section of Los Angeles. The company recently touted that these robotaxis complete 50,000 paid trips per week.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-driverless-cars-have-gotten-inexplicably-chatty-honking-at-one-another-all-night-162115440.html?src=rss
Rosenberg: Ukraine’s advance undermines Putin’s image as ‘Mr Security’
- August 14, 2024
Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk raises questions about Mr Putin’s ability to keep Russia safe.
Disney wants a wrongful death lawsuit thrown out because the plaintiff had Disney+
- August 14, 2024
Jeffrey Piccolo’s wife died of an allergic reaction after eating at a Disney World restaurant. Disney says his claims must be arbitrated out of court based on the terms of his years-old Disney+ trial.
Men found dead in Sweden confirmed as missing Britons
- August 14, 2024
Swedish prosecutors say their investigation into the deaths is ongoing.
Students wait for A-level, T-level and BTec grades
- August 14, 2024
It is the first year that A-level grades are set fall to 2019 levels in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Galadriel and Sauron meet in single combat in final Rings of Power S2 trailer
- August 14, 2024
“Once the deceiver obtains a being’s trust, he gains the ability to sculpt their thoughts.”
Harris, Obama, Biden & Progressives: How Far Left is Too Far?
- August 14, 2024
Whether the Democrats moved too far left after Obama has serious implications for the next election.
Our favorite cheap wireless earbuds drop to just $49
- August 14, 2024
There are many, many options for earbuds, all the way up to high-end sets that are bursting with features and deliver stellar audio. But for folks who are looking for a solid pair of earbuds that work well without breaking the bank, there are plenty of options in that area too.
Our pick for the best budget wireless earbuds is the Soundcore by Anker Space A40. You’re in luck, because that model has dropped back down to their record low price of $49. It often retails for $80, so that’s a $31 discount. Given that we felt the Space A40 already offered great value at the full retail price, this is a strong deal.
The lightweight earbuds should be comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions. The battery life is rated for 10 hours, with the charging case adding an extra 40 hours of listening time. Anker says that 10 minutes of fast charging will add four hours of listening time.
As you might expect from a lower-cost pair of earbuds, there’s not as much detail in the sound profile as in higher-end models, though they offer warm tones and decent bass performance. EQ settings are adjustable in the Soundcore app, as are touch controls.
The Space A40 earbuds have an IPX4 rating for water resistance, so they should endure everyday sweat and light rain without much of an issue. You can use each earbud independently and connect them to two devices simultaneously.
What makes the Space A40 really stand out compared to rival models is the active noise cancellation (ANC), which performs very well for a set of earbuds in this price range. Adaptive ANC tech adjusts the intensity of the noise cancellation depending on your surroundings. However, higher pitched sounds won’t be completely blocked out. You also have the option of adjusting ANC levels manually. The transparency mode isn’t bad, either.
On the downside, the mic quality isn’t fantastic, so folks on the other end of a phone call may not hear you super clearly. There’s no auto-pause when you remove an earbud either. However, those are but small quibbles considering how well the Space A40 earbuds perform in other departments.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-cheap-wireless-earbuds-drop-to-just-49-155507153.html?src=rss
Valve’s bespoke Steam Deck OS will be officially available on Asus’ ROG Ally
- August 14, 2024
When exactly that support will come is still anybody’s guess, though.
