“The industry continues to evolve, and Paramount is at an inflection point where changes must be made to strengthen our business,” company CEOs wrote in a staff memo.
Paramount representatives say these cuts will happen in three stages, with layoffs beginning today and 90 percent of all cuts being completed by the end of September. The layoffs will primarily impact employees involved in marketing and communications, though the company’s legal and finance arms will also face cuts.
Paramount already laid off three percent of its workforce back in February, and this was after a three percent increase in revenue growth that was largely credited to its streaming and film businesses. So, a three percent increase of revenue translated to a three percent reduction of Paramount’s workforce and missing revenue expectations by around four percent is leading to layoffs accounting for 15 percent of company employees. Workers can’t catch a break.
All of these layoffs are likely being used to clear the runway, so to speak, for the forthcoming merger with Skydance. The merger was announced back in June and will soon head to the regulatory review process. Paramount has also been raising prices for its streaming service and, of course, deleting whole libraries of content for reasons that make a lot of sense to corporate executives but not so much to regular people.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/paramount-laying-off-another-15-percent-of-its-us-workforce-153119425.html?src=rss
Several months after a hacking group claimed to be selling nearly 3 billion records stolen from a prominent data broker, much of the information appears to have been leaked on a forum. According to Bleeping Computer, the data dump includes 2.7 billion records of personal info for people in the US, such as names, Social Security Numbers, potential aliases and all physical addresses they are known to have lived at.
The data, which is unencrypted, is believed to have been obtained from a broker called National Public Data. It’s said that the business assembles profiles for individuals by scraping information from public sources and then sells the data for the likes of background checks and looking up criminal records. (A proposed class-action suit was filed against National Public Data over the breach earlier this month.)
In April, hacking collective USDoD attempted to sell 2.9 billion records it claimed was stolen from the company and included personal data on everyone in the US, UK and Canada. The group was looking for $3.5 million for the whole 4TB database, but since then chunks of the data have been leaked by various entities.
Previous leaks included phone numbers and email addresses, but those reportedly weren’t included in the latest and most comprehensive dump. As such, you won’t be able to check whether your information has been included in this particular leak by punching your email address into Have I Been Pwned?
The data includes multiple records for many people, with one for each address they are known to have lived at. The dump comprises two text files that amount to a total of 277GB. It’s not really possible for any independent body to confirm that the data includes records for every person in the US, but as Bleeping Computer points out, the breach is likely to include information on anyone who is living in the country.
The publication states that several people confirmed the information that the dump has on them and their family members (including some dead relatives) is accurate, but in other cases some SSNs were associated with the wrong individuals. Bleeping Computer posits that the information may have been stolen from an old backup as it doesn’t include the current home address for the people whose details its reporters checked against the data.
In any case, it’s worth taking some steps to protect yourself against any negative repercussions from the leak, such as fraud and identity theft. Be extra vigilant against scammers and phishing attacks that look to obtain access to your online accounts.
Keep an eye on credit reports to see if there has been any fraudulent activity on your accounts and inform credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and TransUnion if so. You can ask the bureaus to put a freeze on your credit files to stop anyone else opening a bank account, taking out a loan or obtaining a credit card under your name.
You can sign up for services that offer identity fraud protection and remove your personal information from the public web to reduce the chances that you’ll be negatively impacted. However, such services often charge a fee.
Be sure to use two-factor authentication wherever possible (preferably with you obtaining codes from an authenticator app rather than SMS). And, as always, we highly recommend having a password manager, never reusing the same login credentials for different services and regularly changing the password on your most sensitive accounts.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/hackers-may-have-leaked-the-social-security-numbers-of-every-american-150834276.html?src=rss
Just as an enormous wildfire tears through the suburbs of Athens, scientists in Europe are racing to understand why “extreme” fires like this are becoming more common.
It’s almost time once again for the tech world to stop everything else it’s doing and pay attention as a major company shows off its latest hardware. Next up is Google’s turn at bat. Thanks to a string of leaks and Google’s own teases, we already have a pretty clear idea of what the company has planned for its Made by Google hardware event. The show will take place today: Tuesday, August 13 at 1PM ET.
We’ll get the official reveal of the Pixel 9 lineup, for one thing. This includes what the company is calling the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is certainly more of a mouthful than “Pixel Fold 2.” In addition, Google will certainly reveal more details about Android 15 and the operating system’s public rollout. Expect to hear the word “Gemini” a lot too as Google is likely to focus on the AI-powered features of the new handsets. Some accessories could be in store in the form of Pixel Buds Pro 2 and a new Pixel Watch (or two) as well. These products are in addition to the new Nest Learning Thermostat and Google TV Streamer that the search giant launched last week.
In the meantime, this is what we know for certain Google will show off at the event and everything else we expect to learn about at Made by Google:
Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL
As usual, the main event of Made by Google will be the Pixel 9 lineup. Google has confirmed (as if it were ever really in doubt) that it will show off new smartphones at the event, but it’s expected to have three traditional models this year instead of two.
The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro will be straight-up successors to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Leaks and rumors suggest Google will be adding a Pixel 9 Pro XL, with a larger screen than the other two models, to the lineup as well. YouTuber Andro-news claims to have gotten their hands on an engineering sample of the larger handset, which has flat edges, polished metal on the sides and matte-textured glass on the rear. However, the phone isn’t switched on in the video.
The Pixel 9 Pro is slated to have more advanced specs than the Pixel 9 but with the same display size. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, meanwhile, is expected to have almost the same specs as the 9 Pro but in a bigger handset. Per Tom’s Guide, the 9 and 9 Pro displays will measure around 6.3 inches while the Pixel 9 Pro XL may have a whopping 6.9-inch screen.
All three of the phones are expected to have a redesigned camera module. This large camera bar (which Google has confirmed at least for the Pixel 9 Pro) looks like it protrudes quite a bit from the main body. Unless you pick up an appropriate case, you can probably expect this to snag on your pocket more often than you’d like. The Pixel 9 is believed to have 50MP wide and 48MP ultrawide lenses in its camera array.
Google is likely to employ a new chipset this year, which will probably be called the Tensor G4. Leaks have also suggested that the base Pixel 9 will come with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The two larger phones are expected to max out at 512GB of storage. One other expected addition this year is the introduction of emergency satellite messaging, a feature that Apple has supported on the last two generations of iPhones.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google will be hoping that consumers find the design of its latest foldable phone more elegant than its name. “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily as “Pixel Fold 2.” However, the change does make sense if Google is looking to more clearly position the foldable as a premium product with the inclusion of “Pro” in the name. If the foldable has the same chipset as the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, the name change is even more logical.
It’s not rare for phone manufacturers to go with a major redesign on their second (or even third) stab at a new form factor as they learn more about what works and what doesn’t. Like its more rigid siblings, the 9 Pro Fold also has a noticeable camera bump albeit one that positions the lenses vertically. Leaked images from a regulator in Taiwan indicate that the selfie camera has been moved on the interior screen to support a wider field of view. It appears that Google has reduced the fold crease this time around too.
Android 15 and Gemini
As ever, Google has been gradually announcing Android 15 features over the last several months, in large part to help developers update their apps ahead of the operating system’s public rollout. Along with security measures such as Theft Detection Lock and Google Play fraud prevention, it should come as little surprise that Google is weaving AI more tightly into the fabric of its mobile OS.
The Made by Google teasers have made it very clear that the company is focusing heavily on the AI features of its new devices, such as the ability to draft a letter or email based on a prompt. Google confirmed back at I/O that Gemini will be more deeply integrated into Android 15 (which perhaps could spell the demise of Google Assistant) and will have better contextual awareness of what you’re doing. For instance, you’ll be able to ask the chatbot questions about a YouTube video you’re watching and it should be able to answer them. You might think of it as a modern, interactive version of Pop-Up Video.
We should get a release date for Android 15 — at least for supported Pixel devices — at the event. It’ll be around the same time Google starts shipping the new Pixel lineup, most likely later in August.
Pixel Watch 3
#GooglePixelWatch3 will feature thinner bezels, increased screen sizes (41mm with 10% more screen and 45mm with 40% more screen), and an “Actua” display with 2,000 nits peak brightness. It also promises an “ultra responsive” display, possibly with a higher refresh rate. pic.twitter.com/RsnMzQPlV9
It’s just as well Google doesn’t build ships considering how many leaks it has to deal with. A couple of weeks ahead of Made by Google, Android Headlines got its hands on the specs of the Pixel Watch 3, which is expected to be available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.
The Pixel Watch 3 will likely have an Actua display capable of delivering up to 2,000 nits of brightness — that’s twice as bright as the previous model’s AMOLED display. Per the leak, Google claims that a battery saver mode extends the time between charges to up to 36 hours, though you’ll get up to 24 hours of standard use out of the wearable when the always-on display is enabled. The smaller model is expected to offer 20 percent faster charging compared with the previous model as well.
It had been anticipated that Google would name the larger model the Pixel Watch 3 XL. However, that’s no longer expected to be the case, according to Android Headlines. Each variant will have its size listed in parentheses to differentiate them, the publication says.
Pixel Buds Pro 2
It’s been two years since Google released the Pixel Buds Pro, so those are very much due for an upgrade. Rumors suggest the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will debut at Made By Google. Some unofficial renders have popped up, indicating that along with the existing Charcoal and Porcelain colorways, there will be Aloe and Hot Pink variants to match various Pixel phone options. It appears that Google is bringing back a version of the wingtip design from the original Pixel Buds too.
It remains to be seen what Google is cooking up for the audio side of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 but we do have at least some sense of the price. Rumors suggest the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will cost $229, which is $30 more than the base price of the current model.
Everything else
In all honesty, that’s about everything we’re expecting to see at Made by Google. It had been anticipated that the company would unveil the latest Nest Learning Thermostat and a new streaming box at the event, but Google actually revealed those a week ahead of the main showcase.
The fourth-gen Nest Learning Thermostat has a 60 percent larger LCD display than the previous model with the ability to have customizable faces. It’ll be available on August 20 in three colors: silver, black and gold. It costs $280 and comes with one wireless temperature sensor.
As for the Google TV Streamer, that will run you $100 and it’ll be available next month. While that’s twice as expensive as the Chromecast with Google TV dongle, the company has upgraded the specs with a faster GPU, 4GB RAM instead of 2GB and four times the storage at 32GB. There’s support for HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and spatial audio (via Google Pixel Buds) too. What’s more, the Google TV Streamer is designed to be a smart home hub. There’s Matter support and a Google Home panel through which you can control smart bulbs and view live video from connected doorbells and security cameras.
Those are at least reasonably compelling devices, so it seems a little odd that Google wouldn’t want to give them more of a spotlight by instead unveiling them at its splashy August 13 event. It stands to reason then that Google wants the event to be primarily about smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds. That does make sense as those are the most likely going to be the most successful hardware categories for the company over the all-important holiday period. Still, there’s always space for at least one surprise (bring back Stadia, you cowards).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-made-by-google-pixel-9-launch-event-kicks-off-tomorrow-heres-what-we-expect-160338624.html?src=rss
Opera One, the browser with a focus on generative AI features that Opera launched for desktop last year, is now available for iOS devices. It retains its desktop counterpart's cleaner look, but it comes with a full screen interface and features specifically designed for mobile use. The company said it experienced a 63 percent growth in new users across the European Union after the Digital Markets Act was implemented, and now it has "embraced the opportunities presented by the new regulatory landscape."
Users will be able to move their search bar to the bottom of the screen if that will make it easier to type in queries on the go, especially if they're only using one hand. They can also activate the search bar simply by swiping down in the same way they'd swipe down to look for apps on their phone, as well. In addition, the browser's updated search function can make it faster to look up information: As soon as they start typing, a set of predictive chips will show up right above their keyboard with several possible options, including complete URLs for websites they may want to visit. The colors of the browser's top bar and bottom search bar change to blend in with the website the user is visiting, and both bars disappear when the user starts browsing.
And since Opera One has a focus on generative AI features, it comes with the company's Aria built-in browser assistant. Aria now has voice input, so users can speak queries out loud. Plus, users will be able to ask Aria to generate images using Google’s Imagen2 image generation model. Finally, since Opera puts a focus on security, the One iOS browser comes with a built-in ad blocker and free VPN.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/operas-ai-focused-web-browser-one-is-now-on-ios-130013697.html?src=rss
