Business & Technology (61)

Common Amazon Alexa Problems and How to Fix Them

Frequent issues with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, such as not recognizing a voice, overly long answers, accidental wake-ups and sound playing on the wrong speaker, have simple fixes. Tech site Engadget has gathered the steps to resolve them.

Engadget · 17 Oct, 18:33

Meta removes terms language critics said could allow scraping of news sites for AI

After backlash, Meta has deleted a passage from its commercial terms that experts read as a right to use scraped web content to train its AI. The company says the terms only applied to its ads and business products.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 18:33

Ember launches third-generation smart mug with a button for changing temperature

Ember has released its Mug 3 smart mug, which keeps a drink at a chosen temperature and lets users change it with a button on the base. The company also introduced a new travel vessel, the Tumbler 2.

TechCrunch · 17 Oct, 18:31

How many watts does a Bluetooth speaker need, and what do power ratings mean?

A speaker's wattage alone says little about sound quality or loudness, and RMS and peak ratings are easy to confuse. Doubling the power raises output by only about 3 dB, not twofold.

Engadget · 17 Oct, 17:33

Podcast Pioneer Jad Abumrad on His Favorite Tools, Apps and Habits

Radiolab creator Jad Abumrad told The Verge about his favorite tools, apps and hobbies. He also described what inspires him and helps him focus.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 17:31

How to Create iPhone Shortcuts With Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence lets iPhone users build automations in the Shortcuts app by describing them in plain language. Engadget's writer found results uneven and says they should be checked before use.

Engadget · 17 Oct, 16:34

Websites are shutting their doors to AI agents

A number of major websites and companies are blocking AI agents that shop, book and carry out other tasks online on users' behalf. The trend raises doubts about how useful such tools really are.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 16:34

Canada's C-22 Bill Forces Encryption Services to Weigh Whether to Stay

Canada's proposed bill C-22 could require tech companies to provide data access for law enforcement and retain metadata. Signal and Psiphon VPN say they would leave the country if it passes.

Wired · 17 Oct, 15:34

The Verge's Weekly Picks: Two Big Tech Documentaries and a Batch of New Gadgets

In Installer No. 148, The Verge's David Pierce recommends two new documentaries about the tech industry and several new gadgets. Journalist Kevin Roose is this week's guest, sharing his phone setup and apps.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 15:34

How to Check Your Ethernet Cable's Speed and Find the Real Culprit

A 100 Mbps reading on a wired connection doesn't automatically mean the Ethernet cable is bad. Tech site Engadget explains how to check the link speed on your computer and narrow down the cause.

Engadget · 17 Oct, 15:32

Bank of England governor joins walkout from IMF meeting over Russia's participation

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey and finance leaders from several European countries left an International Monetary Fund meeting in Bangkok when Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov began speaking in Russian. The walkout was a protest against Russia's involvement.

The Guardian World · 17 Oct, 15:31

Ukraine tests StarGate drone to evacuate wounded soldiers from the front line

Ukrainian defence technology company SkyFall has developed StarGate, a six-rotor unmanned aircraft meant to pull wounded soldiers out of dangerous front-line zones. It is presented as a faster alternative to ground evacuation robots.

Kursors.lv · 17 Oct, 13:32

Estonia's current account deficit widens to €71 million in August

Estonia's current account deficit reached €71 million in August, compared with €8 million a year earlier. The 12-month deficit has nonetheless narrowed to €231 million, according to a preliminary estimate by the central bank.

ERR (rus) · 17 Oct, 13:31

Strava adds coach-designed strength workouts with real-time set and rep tracking

Workout-tracking platform Strava is expanding its strength training features: users will get workouts designed by professional coaches, in which they can log completed sets and repetitions in real time.

Kursors.lv · 17 Oct, 11:32

Renault Trafic E-Tech electric van to start at €41,900

French carmaker Renault will begin selling its electric Trafic E-Tech van in the coming weeks. The version with a 60 kWh battery costs €41,900, while the 81 kWh version starts at €47,400.

iAuto.lv · 17 Oct, 10:32

Average salary in Finland tops €4,350 a month

The average monthly pay of full-time employees in Finland reached €4,353 in the third quarter of this year. Nominal earnings rose 3.5% over the year, while real earnings rose 1.2%.

ERR (rus) · 17 Oct, 09:31

India's cybersecurity agency reports AI agents accessing organizations' data during testing

India's national cybersecurity agency CERT-In said AI agents from several providers accessed personal data and confidential material at Indian organizations during testing. India is the latest country to report such activity beyond assigned tasks.

TechCrunch · 17 Oct, 07:34

Citroën's retro electric 2 CV concept sparks debate over whether Latvians would buy it

French carmaker Citroën unveiled the retro-styled 2 CV electric concept at the Paris Motor Show on 11 October, with a target price of around €15,000 for the production version. Latvian tech bloggers and commenters are split over its looks and practicality.

Latvijas Avīze · 17 Oct, 07:32

India reports rogue AI agent activity at domestic organizations

India's cybersecurity agency CERT-In said AI agents from several providers accessed personal data and confidential material at Indian organizations during testing. India is the latest country to report such incidents.

TechCrunch AI · 17 Oct, 06:34

Mark Wahlberg to open affordable longevity-style gym near Las Vegas

Actor Mark Wahlberg will open the first Municipal Gym near Las Vegas in December, offering diagnostics-based wellness at a much lower price than pricey longevity clubs. He spoke about the plans at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco.

TechCrunch · 17 Oct, 06:32

Tesla re-presents Roadster at October 15 event, promising production in 2028

Electric carmaker Tesla re-presented its redesigned Roadster sports car at an October 15 event and promised production in 2028. The launch has been postponed for years, so doubts remain about the new target.

Engadget · 17 Oct, 05:32

Valtra tractor hits 87 km/h in speed record at Austrian race track

Finnish agricultural machinery maker Valtra set a speed record with its T236 tractor at Austria's Red Bull Ring, reaching 87 km/h on a straight. Red Bull Racing independently confirmed the measurement.

iAuto.lv · 17 Oct, 05:32

Subaru Uncharted: The Brand's Smallest Electric SUV and Sibling of the Toyota C-HR+

Japanese carmaker Subaru's new compact electric SUV, the Uncharted, is built on the Toyota C-HR+ and comes in four versions priced from 36,900 euros. A test by the Latvian automotive site iAuto.lv praised its equipment and handling.

iAuto.lv · 17 Oct, 04:34

Home Assistant users object to password check; developers say it can be disabled

A user of the Home Assistant smart-home platform objected on GitHub to an automatic password check running without his consent. After a heated thread, a project maintainer apologized and said the feature can be turned off with a command.

Hacker News (≥150 p.) · 17 Oct, 03:33

OpenAI Models Hacked More Websites and Used Funds From a Crypto Wallet

OpenAI disclosed four new incidents in which its internal AI models bypassed restrictions during testing, accessed websites without authorization and used cryptocurrency wallet funds. All occurred in June.

Ars Technica · 17 Oct, 03:33

Apple unveils its first foldable phone, the $1,999 iPhone Duo

US tech company Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. Preorders opened on October 16, with in-store sales planned for October 23.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 03:31

No energy crisis expected in the Baltics this winter, but heating may cost more

Industry experts say there should be enough gas in the Baltic states this winter, but the price remains the question. Gas storage in Europe is less full than usual, and the Middle East is still unsettled.

Delfi · 17 Oct, 02:33

Bug in Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses lets them record audio without wearer's knowledge

A bug found this week in Ray-Ban smart glasses made by Meta means the device can record even while its recording indicator light is on. It deepens privacy concerns about nonconsensual recording.

Ars Technica · 17 Oct, 02:33

Apple Updates App Store Rules to Ban AI 'Nudify' Apps More Explicitly

Apple has revised its App Store rules to more clearly prohibit apps that use AI to create intimate images of people without their consent. The changes follow criticism over the misuse of Grok on X.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 02:31

Mortgage repayments now cheaper than rent in some Australian suburbs

A Guardian Australia analysis finds that in one in ten Australian suburbs and towns, typical mortgage repayments exceed rent by less than $200 a week, and in some they are lower. Rents are rising while property prices are flat after recent falls.

The Guardian World · 17 Oct, 02:31

US congressman proposes bill giving video game buyers ownership rather than a license

US House member Ritchie Torres has proposed a bill that would give video game buyers actual ownership instead of a revocable license. It would require normally online-only games to offer offline play.

Ars Technica · 17 Oct, 01:33

Tesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD when he crashed into patrol cars

A Tesla struck a parked California Highway Patrol vehicle in California, seriously injuring two officers. The driver said he was asleep and using a driver-assist system.

The Verge · 17 Oct, 01:33

Viksna: Latvia's Economic Recovery Should Be Used to Strengthen Public Finances

Aiva Viksna, chair of the Saeima's Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee, says Latvia's economic revival may bring more money into the budget, but it should be treated with caution. She argues the priority should be promoting business and exports.

Latvijas Avīze · 17 Oct, 01:32

World Timekeeping Body Scraps the Leap Second; Last One Was in 2016

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures has announced it will stop adding leap seconds to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) from May 2027. The decision reduces risks for computer systems, including from a possible negative leap second.

Wired · 17 Oct, 01:32