Mars to Acquire Maker of Pringles, Cheez-It and Eggo in $36 Billion Deal
- August 14, 2024
Mars is acquiring Kellanova in one of the largest deals in the industry in years, creating a new global giant with a stable of well-known brands.
These states will vote on abortion in 2024. And, a mysterious ant takes over NYC
- August 14, 2024
Missouri and Arizona are two of the latest states to get enough signatures to add abortion rights to ballots in the November elections for voters. Plus, ManhattAnt, a mysterious ant, takes over NYC.
Proton VPN’s browser extension is now free for all users
- August 14, 2024
You can now get and use Proton VPN’s browser extension even if you’re not a paying user. The extension used to only be accessible if you’re on one of the service’s paid plans, but now you can install it as long as you’re on a Firefox- or a Chromium-based browser. Proton VPN was our top choice for VPNs last year, because it was fast and doesn’t collect data that passes through its network.
Its apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux have always been free to use, but the unpaid service does come with limitations. The service’s paid plans are faster, has over 100 countries to choose from and lets you connect up to 10 devices at once. Meanwhile, the free version struggled to stay connected at times when we tested it out. Still, it does its job and now it comes with access to the service’s browser extension, which lets you keep your Proton VPN connection within your browser only.
Yes, the extension will let you use your standard internet connection outside of your browser. If you’re using an app that doesn’t work properly when you’re on a device-wide VPN, but you want to protect your connection or circumvent region-based website blocks, the extension can solve your problem. Proton unfortunately has no plans to release a Safari browser for now, but we’ll let you know if that changes. You can get the Chrome and Firefox extensions from Proton VPN’s official website.
The company has also recently launched a new plan called Proton Duo, if you’re considering paying for its products. It was specifically designed for two users who’ll then get to share 1 TB of storage space (with additional 15 GB of bonus storage every year), as well as full access to Proton Mail, Drive, Calendar, Pass and VPN.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/proton-vpns-browser-extension-is-now-free-for-all-users-100049528.html?src=rss
This Gargantuan Lab Simulates Blasting Satellites Into Space
- August 14, 2024
If you spend millions of dollars developing a satellite, you need to know it can handle the rigors of hurtling around the Earth at 17,000 mph. The UK’s National Satellite Test Facility is here to help.
The Morning After: The biggest reveals from Google’s Pixel 2024 event
- August 14, 2024
Google’s big Pixel event was packed with phones, and the company has redesigned them all. No more Cyclops camera band, now it’s an Among Us camera oval. That’s across all the Pixels (barring the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold). There are new flattened sides and softer corners, making these phones look more like iPhones than ever before.
First up, the entry-level Pixel 9 has a 6.3-inch screen, slightly larger than its predecessor, and a substantial camera bump up to a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens. New AI-powered photo editing tricks, like Add Me and Reimagine, join features I use daily on my Pixel 8, like Magic Editor and Night Sight.
It’s joined by the same-sized Pixel 9 Pro and the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL. Technically, the Pixel 9 Pro is the new proposition: the best Pixel camera in a more convenient size. Besides screen size and battery, specs are the same across both Pro phones. The base Pixel 9 has a matte satin finish, while the Pro devices have a shiny, polished treatment. (I wish it was the other way around, personally.) Alongside that 50- and 48-megapixel camera duo, there’s a third 48MP cam with a 5x telephoto zoom. That’s the ‘pro’ part.
One surprise was that Google’s brand-new $1,000 Pixel 9 Phones won’t launch with Android 15.
This may be because the new Pixels are out earlier than usual. Android 14 arrived in October last year, so we can expect to hear more about Android 15 in the fall. Don’t worry, though. There’ll still be plenty of new AI features — which we’ll play with once our review devices land. Trust and believe.
— Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
All the AI features coming to the Pixel 9 phones
Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro hands-on
Pixel Watch 3 hands-on: A bigger screen
Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are its first earbuds that work with Gemini AI
Waiting for a new Fitbit smartwatch? Google says that’s the Pixel Watch 3
How to pre-order the new Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold
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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold hands-on
A clever new shape and even bigger displays.
Engadget
Google’s first attempt at a foldable was different. The company went for different screen ratios, an insane price and capable cameras. This year, don’t call it the Pixel Fold 2, because this is Pixel 9 Pro Fold. As well as a revamped design, it has what Google says is the largest display of any phone on the market. Farewell, passport shape. The new foldable has a 6.3-inch outside display almost identical in size to the standard Pixel 9. But inside… boom. An eight-inch screen that beats Samsung, OnePlus and other rival foldables.
With cameras, a new module houses a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultrawide camera and a 10.8MP telephoto cam with a 5x optical zoom. It’s not quite the Pixel 9 Pro, but on paper, it sounds capable. Still, no support for a stylus.
Gemini, Google’s AI-powered chatbot, is the default assistant on Pixel 9 phones
This is the new Google Assistant.
The default assistant on all these new Pixels will be Gemini — Google’s AI-powered chatbot — not Google Assistant. “Gemini is an evolution of the Assistant,” said Sissie Hsiao, Google’s vice president and general manager of Gemini Experiences. Gemini, powered by Google’s own family of large language models, can apparently do everything the classic Google Assistant could do. To be clear, you can still use Gemini as your assistant on most current Android phones, Pixels or otherwise — but only if you opt in.
Hackers may have leaked the social security numbers of every American
A dump of 2.7 billion records.
Several months after a hacking group claimed to be selling nearly three 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 people in the US, including names, social security numbers, potential aliases and all physical addresses they are known to have lived at. Worse still, it’s all unencrypted. It may be worth taking some steps to protect yourself against fraud and identity theft.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-the-biggest-reveals-from-googles-pixel-2024-event-111519925.html?src=rss
Supplements Companies Are Cashing In on the Ozempic Wave
- August 14, 2024
With demand for GLP-1 drugs sky-high, the supplement industry is elbowing into the market. Some products are meant to complement meds like Ozempic. Others are positioned as “natural” alternatives.
US police officer charged with fatally shooting pregnant woman
- August 14, 2024
The charges stem from the police shooting of Ta’Kiya Young, 21, last August in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.
After 8 years of a Democratic governor in Louisiana, Landry moves policy to the right
- August 14, 2024
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who signed the Ten Commandments law, is the first Republican governor in the state in eight years and has gotten national attention for a number of right-wing policies.
Venezuela moves to shut down dissent after a disputed election
- August 14, 2024
Lawmakers aligned with Venezuela’s autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro say they will pass a bill regulating social media companies. Opponents say it is a move to repress dissent.
Ex-federal prosecutor who charged George Floyd rioters rips ‘radical’ Gov Walz for ‘letting our city burn’
- August 14, 2024
Former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab told Fox News Digital that Gov. Tim Walz is not "fit" to be vice president based on his track record in Minnesota.
