Google wants users running Chrome 64-bit, starts automatically upgrading

Why it matters to you

If for some reason you’ve been running the 32-bit version of Chrome on your 64-bit compatible machine, that’s about to change.

The browser wars rage on, even as Google’s Chrome browser dominates the market. Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari continue to nibble at the edges and make promises of competitive performance and features, and Google isn’t sitting still in its desire to maintain its dominance.

The latest version of Google Chrome, 58.0.3029.96, was announced on Tuesday and promises the usual bug fixes and feature additions. It also makes one major change that will affect a number of users and bring their installations up to speed with the 64-bit version — whether they like it or not.

Today’s modern systems are capable of supporting 64-bit software, which offers enhanced memory management, performance, and even security. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, many users keep running 32-bit versions, perhaps because they simply never got around to upgrading. Chrome offers a number of enhancements in its 64-bit version, and Google thinks it’s about time for everyone who can to make the switch.

As the company put it in their blog post announcing Chrome 58:

“In order to improve stability, performance, and security, users who are currently on 32-bit version of Chrome, and 64-bit Windows with 4GB or more of memory and auto-update enabled will be automatically migrated to 64-bit Chrome during this update. 32-bit Chrome will still be available via the Chrome download page.”

Chrome 58 will be rolling out over the next several days or weeks, and so if you haven’t been migrated yet and for some reason want to remain on the 32-bit version, then you’ll want to disable automatic updates. Google hasn’t made the process easy to do, likely because the company wants everyone on the latest version for security reasons, and so you’ll probably want to avoid making the change.

Chrome includes a number of important security fixes, which Google outlines here. The bottom line is that Google is taking some serious steps to keep Chrome secure and performing well, and if you notice a change the next time you check our Chrome version, now you know why.

‘The Witcher III’ at 8K needs four Titan Xps to run smoothly

Why it matters to you

8K is doable today, but it won’t be anything close to mainstream for a long time yet.

Forget 4K, the mad scientists at Thirty IR have managed to get the already stunning The Witcher III running at 8K resolution with every setting maxed out. It looks phenomenal, but the PC required to run it is almost as impressive. It’s fitted with a ridiculous four Nvidia GTX Titan Xps.

Considering it takes a rather expensive graphics card and hardly a cheap display to run your games at 4K resolution, you’d be forgiven for not having made the jump yet — even if the major consoles are. 4K is a hefty resolution. At 3,840 x 2,160 it has four times the pixels as a standard 1080P display, but 8K takes it to a whole new level.

At 7,680 x 4,320, 8K resolution is four times again what 4K has, or 16 times the overall pixels of 1080P, so requires a monumental amount of computing power to run. Indeed to make The Witcher III play at that resolution and detail level at a smooth 60 frames per second, Thirty IR had to link up four Nvidia GTX Titan Xp graphics cards, which at $1,200 apiece are the most expensive and most powerful single-core graphics cards in the world.

You can’t pair up that much graphical power with a weak processor though. To go along with that hefty setup, there is an Intel Core i7-6950X CPU running at 4.3GHz, with 64GB of 3,200MHZ DDR4 memory, all mounted on an Asus Rampage V Extreme motherboard.

But that’s not all. To even record the footage for a game like that and to make sure that the performance of the main rig wasn’t impacted by it, Thirty IR used a secondary, super-powered system (thanks Kotaku). That one is fitted with four GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards, an Intel Core i7-3970X overclocked to 4.8GHz, and 32GB of 2,133MHz DDR3 memory.

That’s an insane amount of high-end hardware, but for an idea of why it was all necessary, just try running the header video at 8K resolution. Even high-powered gaming systems struggle to run the video of that gameplay, let alone play the game at even close to decent frame rates at such detail settings.

Bear in mind too that on top of that, the gamers recording this footage needed an 8K monitor, too. They used the newly released Dell $5,000 UP3218K display.

The Witcher III isn’t the only game they’ve been playing on that monster setup though. There’s also For Honor gameplay to enjoy at ultra detail settings, with others available on the main channel.

Here are 15 weird Japanese toys that should’ve never existed in the first place

Japan is a nation with an undeniably unique culture. The art, technology, and cuisine the country produces posses certain attributes that are distinctly Japanese. That said, it’s often easy to tell when something is made in Japan. While Japanese culture is often very fun and expressive, it can also be strange to an outsider who has little knowledge of the region’s customs. Certain taboos that exist in American culture are absent in Japanese culture, and vice versa. So certain things that might not fly here in the States — such as a children’s toy modeled after a dead cat, for instance — are a normal occurrence in Japan. Still, the 15 toys below have left us scratching our heads.

Editors note: Some may find a handful of the products below offensive, or graphic in nature. Please keep this in mind if you intend to read on.

Bandai Periperi Infinite Shipping Envelope Keychain Toy

Bandai’s offering is exactly what it sounds like: a keychain that allows you to experience the pure tactile nirvana that is opening an envelope. This little gadget isn’t a one trick pony, however, as there’s also a speaker on the bottom that produces the rich sound of an envelope opening with each subsequent “tear.” For about $10, you too can have the limitless enjoyment of opening an envelope without the risk of getting a paper cut. Sounds like a win-win.

Pachi Pachi Clappy

The Pachi Pachi Clappy takes the grunt work out of the act of applauding. Simply squeeze the trigger on your Clappy and the two plush hands will slap against one another. Yes, that’s right, thanks to the creators of the Pachi Pachi Clappy, the act of applause is now a low-impact endeavor. Is this at all necessary? No, but at least we now have the answer to the age-old Zen riddle: What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Barack Obama Action Figure

There are many of people out there who like to call President Obama a puppet, and Japanese manufacturer Gamu Toys has seemingly taken the ramblings of conspiracy theorists and made them a reality. The Barack Obama action figure comes with several interchangeable heads and hands, as well as full articulation, so you can deck out the 44th President of the United States with an assortment weapons and position him in whatever badass pose you see fit for our nation’s previous leader. The Obama presidency may have come to a close, but that doesn’t mean ol’ Barack “The Chop” Obama is done slaying injustice two katanas at a time.

Kappa Kick

All the fun of Russian Roulette with none of the mess! This gun-shaped toy is actually a hippo that will kick you in the head if you happen to pull the (un)lucky trigger . We’re a bit concerned at the idea of Russian Roulette being marketed to kids, no matter what adorable animals the toy is centered around. I mean, when’s the last time you sat down to watch The Deer Hunter?

Robot Cat

For those who have cat hair allergies, and don’t mind the cold dead stare of a machine, you’re in luck. The Yume Neko Venus Robotic Cat will give you the sensation of petting a tuft of moving, purring fur with none of the added benefits of owning a real cat whatsoever. No shots required.

Roadkill Cat

Speaking of dead cats, this lovely little bit of plastic and rubber recreates one of the most vivid and cloying images of any child’s nascent memories: the first time they witness a car running over the beloved family pet. We’re not sure what’s more disturbing, the toy itself, or the delightful expression on the child lining the bottom-right corner of the simple packaging.

“Shave The Baby” Doll

Who doesn’t love the rush of shaving another human being? Japan’s Shaving baby doll comes with thick, bushy tufts of red hair protruding all over its body (legs, face, buttocks, etc). The aim is to give customers the “satisfaction” of shaving the doll’s hair. Believe it or not, we’ll pass for now.

Crying Doll

Can’t you imagine the enthusiastic commercial voice over for this toy: “Arm puncturing action! Cries real tears! Satisfies your child’s deeply disturbing desire to inflict pain on another being!”

Tuttuki Bako

Japan is the mecca for virtual pet toys, and this little box is one of the stranger examples. The Tuttuki Bako has several different mini games in which you can interact with various creatures and characters by poking them. It also serves as an alarm clock, so you can poke the box first thing in the morning.

Pregnant Doll

This disgusting doll might look like it was ripped straight out of Cannibal Corpse’s album art, but it was actually used as an educational tool during Edo-era Japan. However, the meticulous detail and overall off-putting aesthetic of the doll also make it one of the most disturbing toys on our list.

Anpanman Toilet

While this toilet figure — which is based on one of the most popular Japanese children’s characters, Anpanman —  isn’t necessarily all that strange on its own, there seems to be a preoccupation with what each character in the Apanman franchise defecates. There are numerous YouTube videos of people showing off their favorite Apanman stools, and this toilet toy is at the center of it all.

Face Bank

This coin bank will slowly and creepily eat your pocket change right out of your hand… or gnaw absently at the air as if conveying some subtle threat to you and everyone you love. Yikes.

H-Bouya

The H-Bouya is a USB-powered figurine whose face goes red every time the “H” key is pressed. That may sound harmless, sure, but keep in mind that the letter “H” is often used as a shorthand label for all things perverted and/or pornographic in Japan.

The Humping Dog USB Stick

Since dealing with an over-zealous pup is something all dog owners adore, why not recreate that awkward encounter every time you plug in your USB stick? This USB powered gag sure lights the spark in Sparky, though, we imagine it would get old rather quick.

Baby in a Microwave

Look, we don’t know what to say about this one. Of all the entries on our list, the one takes the cake for being the most bizarre, gross, and disturbing “toy.” We’re not sure why it exists, but it does, and it’s baffling. Sometimes it’s just best to stick with a classic G.I. Joe figurine.

The biggest, baddest, most extravagant superyachts ever conceived

Are you thinking about buying a boat this year? This is the season, after all. But which type are you looking for, and how big? Are you in the market for a superyacht? If not, you can at least dream big and check out what some of them are like or, in the case of concept boats, hope to be like. If you decide to pass on a superyacht buy this year, don’t worry — you’ll be among the vast majority.

Spring is coming and boat shows abound as current and prospective boat owners and fans check out what’s new. Boat shows are famous for offering great deals. According to Statistica, even when the economy was struggling to tread water, total recreational boat sales in the U.S. never dipped below 500,000 new units. U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that more than 50 percent of recreational boats are power boats, and counting all types of recreational boats, 48 percent were less than 16 feet long and 85 percent were less than 26 feet. Less than half of one percent of all recreational boats in the U.S. are 40-footers or longer.

But what about superyachts? Definitions differ on what makes a superyacht. Some say 24 meters (about 80 feet) is the minimum length, while others stand strong at 30 meters (about 100 feet). As we take a look at superyachts, we’ll start with the higher cut-off, as there’s no shortage of interesting and, in some cases, outrageous superyachts. The vessels below are placed in order by overall length according to their designers. Some are currently for sale, starting at about $30 million, and there’s one for rent (you may not believe the weekly rental rate). Some of the superyachts below have been produced, while others are recent concepts, still waiting for buyers with hefty checkbooks to commission the build.

Spectre: 30.33 meters / 100 feet

The smallest superyacht in our roundup is also the fastest. The AB100 Spectre from Fila Group’s AB Yachts tops out at 62 mph and can cruise at 52 mph with three 1900-hp diesel engines, each paired with a waterjet thruster. The living space can be augmented by the stern garage area, which converts into a beach house.

PlanetSolar: 31 meters / 101 feet

The Tûranor PlanetSolar holds the title of the world’s largest solar yacht. The vessel is covered with 500 square meters of solar panels, its sole source of power. PlanetSolar launched in 2010 and set out to be the first solar-powered yacht to circumnavigate the globe, a leap forward for the promotion alternative energy. The journey set five Guiness World Records and spanned 19 months with a crew of five. SolarPlanet’s aerodynamic catamaran design has a top speed of 14 knots.

Majesty 155: 47 meters / 154 feet

Not just a boat with a pretty bow, the Majesty 155 is also a CEDIA Awards-winner for the best smart home technology installation and integration on a yacht. The ship’s lighting, navigation, and audio-visual system can be controlled via onboard monitors as well as an iPad. Twin 2,011-hp engines allow the Majesty 155 a 4,200 nautical mile range.

Time For Us: 52 meters / 171 feet

There’s room for 12 guests and 13 crew members on the classic Feadship superyacht, Time For Us. Launched in 1994 and extensively refit in 2007 and 2008, its extensive dark wood paneling and comfortable furniture are built for comfort, including stabilizer systems that are active underway and at anchor. With a range of 5,700 nautical miles at its 13-knot cruising speed, this yacht can take you wherever you’d like to go — if you have the time.

Galaxy of Happiness: 53.3 meters / 175 feet

Built by Latitude Yachts in 2016, Galaxy of Happiness offers zero-emission cruising using 40 percent less energy than single hull yachts. With exceptional stability, she cruises at 24 knots with a maximum speed of 30 knots. With space for six guests and six crew, she is currently for sale for just under $32 million.

Galactica Super Nova: 70 meters / 230 feet

Concert lovers will appreciate the Galactica Super Nova’s bow deck, which serves as an outdoor cinema and concert space when not in use as a helipad.

Swath 75: 75 meters / 246 feet

Zero emission fuel-cell technology powers Fincantieri’s Swatch 75 concept superyacht. Estimated range on hydrogen power alone is 450 nautical miles, with an overall 4,000-nautical-mile range under diesel power. The Swath 75 has space for 12 guests including the owner’s cabin and 24 crew members.

Silver Fast: 77 meters / 253 feet

Plunk down $85 million to reserve a permanent bed in the owner’s suite of the aluminum-hulled Silver Fast, named for its color and speed. With a full house of 18 guests and 18 crew, the Silver Fast can cruise as fast as 27 knots per hour. Built by Silver Yachts and put up for sale by Burgess Yachts, guests on the Silver Fast can enjoy the beach club with gym, massage room and beauty salon, mirrored bar, 8-person hot tub, and outdoor cinema.

An army of snow machines could help save a famous Swiss glacier

Why it matters to you

Switzerland’s famous Morteratsch Glacier is losing more than 100 feet in length each year. Snow machines may be able to help.

Big problems call for big solutions. That’s a description that certainly covers an innovative initiative dreamed up by Swiss scientists to help respond to the challenge of climate change.

Specifically, the ambition is to come up with a way to help save the Morteratsch Glacier in Switzerland, which is currently losing between 100 and 130 feet in length each year. The Morteratsch glacier is a popular tourist destination, and is reportedly the only glacier that can be reached by wheelchair: demonstrating just how accessible it is.

“This is one of the most frequently visited glaciers in Switzerland, but it’s receding at an incredibly fast rate,” Professor Johannes Oerlemans of Utrecht University in the Netherlands told Digital Trends. “This is where our preparatory study comes in, with the goal of seeing if there’s a way to stop the glacier’s retreat.”

Working with Dr. Felix Keller of Switzerland’s Academia Engiadina, Oerlemans suggests that one way to slow the melting of the glacier would be with the aid of masses of snow machines.

“We looked at various ways of trying to keep the glacier frozen, but the only possibility we see that may be feasible is to try and keep it covered with snow during the summer,” he continued. “Because you can make snow much faster than it melts, we think we can keep it covered with a white surface throughout the summer — with the snow simply protecting the ice to keep it from melting.”

The advantage of the artificial snow is that it would reflect sunlight, while hopefully allowing the glacier the chance to grow back. The project was recently presented at the annual meeting of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna, Austria, in late April.

It’s certainly an original idea, and to examine whether it works a pilot project funded by locals is currently underway. This pilot project involves testing the technology on a small artificial glacier at the foot of the Diavolezzafirn glacier. If this works, Oerlemans and Keller’s idea can then be put forward to officials more seriously.

This won’t necessarily be easy, though. As Oerlemans told us, the cost of such a project would be immense. “It will be huge, in the region of tens of millions of Swiss francs,” he said. “If you want to cover a glacier area of half a kilometer you would need about four to five thousand snow machines.”

HTC Ocean/HTC U 11: leaks, news, and rumors

Why it matters to you

The upcoming HTC Ocean (or HTC U) should showcase all the company’s most offbeat and potentially groundbreaking ideas.

Known as the HTC Ocean since rumors began, the HTC U 11 appears to be the final name for the device, which has been given an official announcement date by the company. It’s also teasing a very unusual feature; one that may have you squeezing the phone more than usual! Here’s everything we know about the HTC U 11, or HTC Ocean as it was previously known, so far.

Specs

So what kind of specs should we expect from the phone? According to an article from VentureBeat, the device will be powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The device will also sport a 2560 x 1440-pixel display, and will have a 16-megapixel Sony IMX351 camera on the back coupled with a 12-megapixel Sony IMX362 camera on the front.

Those specs are supported by a more recent leak from AnTuTu, which shows a log for a device called the HTC U-3f. That log was then spotted and posted on Weibo. The specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, a 2560 x 1440 resolution display, a 16MP rear-facing camera, and a 12MP front-facing camera. The log also shows 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. All of these specs are specs that we’ve heard the phone will have before, but it does confirm that it will be a very high-powered device.

Android Headlines corroborates the processor and display reports, while adding information on the storage, RAM, and battery. It could launch in two variations: One with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, and another with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. According to the preview materials, the phone will ship with a 3,000mAh battery featuring support for Quick Charge 3.0.

Remember the HTC Ocean? (https://t.co/q5ghm3vQ8Z) pic.twitter.com/GtpqowETjM

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 8, 2017

Release date

Rumors about the phone have been swirling for months, but now we have the official announcement date for the HTC U 11, which was confirmed to be the final name for the HTC Ocean, as per a new report from Venturebeat. The “U” indicates the family of phones the newest handset will join (the U Ultra and the U Play), whereas the “11” denotes that the phone succeeds the HTC 10, the company’s last flagship phone released in 2016.

HTC has started distributing invitations for a launch event that will take place on May 16, and it’s not being very subtle about the phone it will introduce. The invite shows a large, stylized letter U in the center, with the tag line “Squeeze for the brilliant.” Yes, really.

The squeezing part of the teaser links to rumors the phone will have pressure sensitive pads in its sides, for activating certain features. Additionally, HTC also tweeted a short video showing a glimpse of the phone, and hinting at this squeezable functionality.

Squeeze for the Brilliant U. 05.16.2017 https://t.co/89OuHXbBlt pic.twitter.com/jLaeFD2wMW

— HTC (@htc) April 20, 2017

HTC’s event will be held at 2 p.m. in Taipei, Taiwan, which means it will be an early start for anyone in New York, where that time converts to 2 a.m., and in London, where it’s 7 a.m.

Design

Our first supposed image of HTC’s new flagship comes courtesy of well-known Twitter leaker Evan Blass. The device shown unsurprisingly mimics the recently revealed HTC U Ultra, with a glossy backside, center-mounted camera, and minimal bezels to the left and right of the screen.

It’s also very evocative of the jet black iPhone 7. Those chunky bezels at the top and bottom are a dead ringer for Apple’s device, and are rather dated in light of recent output from companies like LG, Samsung, and Xiaomi, which have all been attempting to cut down on unused surface space as much as possible.

Naming: Is HTC Ocean really the HTC U 11?

The HTC Ocean is going to be called the HTC U 11 when it’s released. It will be the third device in the HTC U series — following the HTC U Play and HTC U Ultra — and the U name has been used in HTC’s teaser material for the phone’s May 16 launch. And because it’s part of the U family, the phone will feature the line’s signature vibrant color, and customers will be able to choose among white, black, blue, red, and silver.

Previous rumors, from Taiwanese news outlet ePrice, suggested the Ocean was a series of three phones, called “Master,” “Note,” and “Smart,” which backs a previous leak from Twitter user LlabTooFer. Presumably, the “Note” will have a larger display, the “Master” will offer higher specs, and the “Smart” will be the base model. The Note will offer storage options of 64GB and 128GB, ePrice says, but that’s all we know about the phone’s specs.

Codenames

OCEAN MASTEROCEAN NOTEOCEAN SMARThttps://t.co/r4FY9I0Ske

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) September 21, 2016

Software

HTC appears to be planning a number of additional software features atop Android 7.1 Nougat to enhance the camera and audio experience on the U/Ocean, according to pre-release materials obtained by Android Headlines. First and foremost is an HDR+ mode touting real-time scene detection, which would reportedly show HDR processing through the viewfinder before snapping a picture.

The leak also mentions two audio recording methods that use the phone’s four microphones in different ways. The 3D Audio option attempts to create a surround sound effect, while another Hi-Res setting is geared toward capturing lossless audio. Like other HTC devices, BoomSound should aid in playback from the Ocean’s double front-facing speakers. There’s also USonic, software that will supposedly allow users to develop a custom listening profile when using headphones that is tuned specifically for their ears.

Android Headlines has also reported the phone will release in tandem with HTC’s new SenseLink desktop software, which sports some basic connectivity features like notification viewing and read-it-later functionality, as well as the ability to easily move content between the device and a PC.

New input methods, secondary displays, and other quirks

When we saw the concept design of what was then called the HTC Ocean, many assumed that the touch-sensitive frame would remain just that: a concept. Now, however, it seems as though that frame has become a very important part of the phone, according to known leaker Evan Blass in an article from VentureBeat.

An HTC designer earlier posted a concept video highlighting some of the best features of the phone. In particular, the video shows off what appears to be a touch-sensitive frame, which would make it possible to control the phone’s software in a similar way to how the edge is used on Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge series. A leak from Mobile01 suggests this feature is called “Edge Sense,” based on a series of screenshots of the phone’s settings menu.

Images of another phone, called the Ocean Master, have also previously leaked on Chinese social media network Weibo, showing what appears to be a phone with a glass frame like the Galaxy S7 and a second display similar to the LG V10 and V20.

That second display would be used for things like app shortcuts and notifications, exactly like the LG V20, but it’s possible that HTC would also have something special planned for the phone. In general, the phone looks very sleek, and marks a pretty radical design shift for the company, which has long stuck with an aluminum unibody design for its flagship phones.

The images have a date stamp of January 5, with the location being Las Vegas — so it seems as though HTC may have had them at January’s Consumer Electronics Show.

Article updated on 05-03-2017 by Christian de Looper: Added specs leaked on Weibo.

Nissan wants to fight distracted driving with a signal-blocking box for phones

Why it matters to you

Do you find yourself tempted to answer the phone while you’re driving? The Nissan Signal Shield offers a simple way of removing that temptation.

We all know that using our phones while driving is dangerous, but unfortunately there are plenty of people who ignore those warnings. Nissan, however, is trying to help people deal with the temptation that arises when their phone starts buzzing while they’re driving.

How? It has built a device called the Nissan Signal Shield, which is basically just a box for your phone that blocks electromagnetic signals — including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. In other words, simply put your phone in the little box, and you won’t get any calls, texts, emails, or other communication during the drive.

“This is about delivering more control at the wheel, not less. Some drivers are immune to the activity of their smartphone, but for those who struggle to ignore the beeps and pings, this concept provides a simple solution in this very ‘connected’ world we live in,” said Alex Smith, managing director of Nissan Motor Great Britain.

The Signal Shield is currently only a prototype, but it’s installed in a Nissan Juke and could eventually become standard in Nissan’s range of cars. Interestingly enough, it’s not new technology. It was actually developed by Michael Faraday as the Faraday cage back in 1836. Of course, at the time it wasn’t developed to block cell phone signals, but rather other forms of electromagnetic fields.

While Nissan’s intentions are admirable, it’s hard to ignore the issues that this device raises. Strip away all the fancy apps and software, and your cell phone is still a device you may need in case of an emergency. Even if you don’t need to reach out to others in case of an emergency, there’s always the possibility that someone else may need to get in contact with you.

Technology is also improving to the point where there are better ways for managing our communications while driving and keeping our eyes on the road, including software like CarPlay, Android Auto, or other voice-controlled systems. Last but not least, instead of having to use a fancy electromagnetic-blocking box, you could just turn your phone off.

Whether this is a good idea or not, it’s nice to see companies making more of an effort to curb distracted driving. We just hope the likes of Nissan can come up with better ways of keeping our eyes on the road.

Check out the video below for more info on the Nissan Signal Shield.

Guarantee your mobile will never distract you while driving. Introducing #Nissan Signal Shield pic.twitter.com/kiW5sKgFm4

— NissanUK (@NissanUK) May 3, 2017

IBM Watson XPrize AI contest lures entrants with a $5 million prize pool

Why it matters to you

Although you’ve missed the deadline to take part, this XPrize could deliver some exciting AI developments by the time of its completion in 2020.

Once again the XPrize Foundation is offering a massive prize for those willing to innovate at the cutting edge of AI development. The IBM Watson AI XPrize is offering 147 teams the chance to earn a piece of a $5 million fund with their projects and ideas over the next three years.

The Xprize Foundation has helped encourage innovation in a variety of fields over the past two decades, giving inventors and engineers a real shot of monetizing amazing ideas and encouraging them to develop them. It’s currently running a number of competitions offering tens of millions of dollars for subjects as diverse as lunar robotics, carbon capture and literacy education. The latest initiative though, is for AI.

Although focused on artificial intelligence, this latest XPrize contest will be the first it’s run that’s “open.” While there will be themes, the basis for the competition will be that as long as the 147 competing teams address one of them using AI, it doesn’t necessarily matter in what manner they do it. All will be considered (via Engadget).

Some of the themes that teams will be exploring as part of their AI initiative include Health and Wellness, Civil Society, Space and Exploration and Energy and Resources. Projects can address any or all of the themes, they have complete autonomy in that regard.

The selected teams have already submitted their plans and will now have until October to send in evidence that they would work if fully developed. In early 2018, a panel of experts will announce which teams will progress through to the second round, with the selection further whittling down participants in early 2019. The finalists will eventually be announced in January 2020, with the prize being awarded at the Ted conference in April that same year.

While the eventual winners will receive $3 million in prize money, the second place team will receive $1 million, with $500,000 awarded for third place. A further $500,000 will be awarded in various amounts to different teams at the 2017 and 2018 milestone events, with both slated to take place in October.

Facebook recruits 3,000 additional moderators to review flagged content

Why it matters to you

Facebook wants to become a safer website to visit and realizes it needs to get better at removing objectionable pics and videos.

If Facebook has one big, overriding problem, it’s objectionable content. The social network’s billions of users report videos and pictures that violate the website’s terms of service every day and it is up to the site’s moderation team to review complaints. But, it has struggled lately.

On Wednesday, Facebook said it would recruit as many as 3,000 moderators to help parse the network’s content for hate speech, child exploitation, animal abuse, teenage suicide, and self-harm. They will join the existing 4,500-member review team.

Facebook’s moderation problem is an open secret. In 2016, a BBC reported that private Facebook groups were being used by sexual predators to trade images of exploited children. Despite promises by Facebook’s head of public policy to “[remove] content that shouldn’t be there,” a follow-up investigation found that Facebook failed to remove a vast majority of the images — about 18 or 100 — after the BBC used Facebook’s own systems to report them.

In response, the chairman of the U.K. House of Commons’ media committee, Damian Collins, told the BBC he had “grave doubts” about the effectiveness of Facebook’s moderation. “I think it raises the question of how can users can make effective complaints to Facebook about content that is disturbing, shouldn’t be on the site, and have confidence that it will be acted upon,” he said.

The chairman’s comments came on the heels of more onerous oversights. Earlier in 2017, three men live-streamed the gang-rape of a woman in the city of Uppsala, Sweeden, 50 miles north of Stockholm. Last month, a man in Thailand killed himself and his child and broadcast it. And two days prior to Facebook’s annual F8 developer conference, a Cleveland man filmed the shooting and killing of a 74-year-old man.

“We still have a lot of work to do, and we will keep doing all that we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during F8’s keynote address. “We’re going to make it simpler to report problems to us, faster for our reviewers to determine which posts violate our standards, and easier for them to contact law enforcement if someone needs help.”

Facebook is also improving its automated moderation tools. It is developing new algorithms that will automatically identify and take down objectionable content, and tools that will make it easier for users to report problems and contact law enforcement.

But Zuckerberg said that these measures won’t be an instant fix. “Artificial intelligence can help provide a better approach,” Zuckerberg said in an open letter. “[But it will take] many years to fully develop.”

He praised the company’s human moderators, who ensure flagged Facebook content abides by the network’s Community Standards.

“Just last week, we got a report that someone on Live was considering suicide. We immediately reached out to law enforcement, and they were able to prevent him from hurting himself,” Zuckerberg said.

Hulu launches live TV streaming service with over 50 sought-after channels

Why it matters to you

Hulu is one of the most popular on-demand streaming services online, and deals with every major network means that its live TV service will be a formidable option for the cord-cutting generation.

After months of rumors, a steady addition of licensed content from major networks ABC, Fox, CBS and — as of yesterday — NBCUniversal, on-demand video streamer Hulu has launched a public beta version of its live TV streaming service. Announced at its lavish Hulu Upfront press event, the service premieres as the next big challenger in the live TV streaming marketplace.

The service, which costs $40 per month, features over 50 live channels at launch, and comes with a bonus in the form of a subscription to Hulu’s premium on-demand service (an $8-per-month value) as well as up to 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and six individual profiles.

As with competing services like DirecTV Now and Playstation Vue, users can connect to multiple streams at once, though the service is limited to just two devices at once for the basic package. Adding a $15-per-month upgrade tacks on unlimited cloud DVR storage as well as unlimited in-home streams, so your entire family can connect at and surf the service at will.

Channels that viewers will likely be excited to see broken away from cable and satellite packages include sports stations like Fox Sports and ESPN, news stations like CNN and CNBC, and lifestyle channels like the Food Network and Adult Swim.

“Nearly a decade ago, Hulu forever redefined the way people watch TV. Today, as we add live sports, news and entertainment and introduce a more intuitive Hulu, we want to redefine the way people experience TV,” said Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins at a launch event in New York. “By bringing together thousands of live, on-demand and library shows and movies — and serving them up in a uniquely personalized way – Hulu can now be a viewer’s primary source of television. It’s a natural extension of our business, and an exciting new chapter for Hulu.”

The addition of the live TV streaming is a smart play for the company, though it is entering into a crowded market. Along with the services mentioned above, Hulu’s new service will have to contend with other competitors like SlingTV and YouTube TV, all of which are looking to capture a large portion of the live TV streaming subscriber pool. As one of the most popular on-demand streaming services online, it makes sense that Hulu should be able to grab some significant market share in the space, especially with so many sought-after channels.

Besides in-browser viewing, the service can be streamed on Apple TV, Xbox One, iOS, Android, and Chromecast devices at launch. The company says that popular streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Smart TVs will soon be supported. Those looking for more information on how to subscribe to the service or it’s functionality can find everything they need to know on Hulu’s website.