N e w s C e n t r a l
The best Nintendo Switch controllers to buy right now
<figure> <img alt="Photocollage of a variety of Nintendo Switch controllers." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UnfFceeTyhhAetFGkI7eiKNkmfc=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71435209/247143_Buying_Guide_Switch_Controllers_CVirginia.6.jpg" /> <figcaption>Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge</figcaption> </figure> <p>From the unbeatable Switch Pro and comfy Joy-Con alternatives to a dongle that lets you use your Xbox or PlayStation controllers with your Switch, these are the best Switch controllers you can get. </p> <p> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23350899/nintendo-switch-controllers-best-wireless-joy-con-gamepad">Continue reading…</a> </p>
Source: www.theverge.com
Reception: Positive
House committee advances Kids Online Safety Act
<figure> <img alt="Photo collage showing a child attempting to use a tablet screen that has a combination lock." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Pq-b163ebHnhCxV4pMme5IULKao=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73594668/STK461_INTERNET_CHILD_SAFETY_Stock_D_CVirginia.0.jpg" /> <figcaption>Image: The Verge</figcaption> </figure> <p id="6DvXMP">The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has advanced two <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24221014/kosa-child-safety-bills-online-free-speech-first-amendment-congress-decoder-podcast">high-profile child safety bills</a> that could remake large parts of the internet: the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). The proposed laws passed on a voice vote despite discontent over last-minute changes to KOSA, in particular, that were aimed at quelling persistent criticism. </p> <p id="gr13ci">KOSA and COPPA 2.0 would give government agencies <a href="https://www.vox.com/technology/352251/kosa-congress-online-child-safety-bill-explained">more regulatory power over tech companies</a> with users under 18 years of age. The former imposes a “duty of care” on major social media companies, making them potentially liable for harm to underage users. The latter raises the age of enforcement for the 1998 COPPA law and adds new rules around...</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/18/24248117/kosa-coppa-house-energy-commerce-committee-passage-amendments">Continue reading…</a> </p>
Source: www.theverge.com
Reception: Positive
14 people have been killed by a second day of device explosions in Lebanon
<figure> <img alt="Exploded radio devices are seen across the country in Lebanon" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dKTJtaG83zc3HOieLuhsFMxBe3M=/311x0:3689x2252/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73594617/2172022314.0.jpg" /> <figcaption><em>A radio device exploded in the city of Baalbek is seen as wireless communications device explosions continued for a second day across Lebanon.</em> | Photo by Suleiman Amhaz / Anadolu via Getty Images</figcaption> </figure> <p id="tzRvmk">A day after <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/17/24247200/exploding-pager-attack-hezbollah-lebanon-syria">exploding pagers targeting Hezbollah members</a> killed 12 people, including two children, and injured nearly 3,000 people in Lebanon and Syria, the attacks started again. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/18/world/israel-hezbollah-gaza-hamas"><em>The New York Times</em> reports</a> 14 people have died, along with hundreds injured in the second wave of explosions. Lebanese state media agency <a href="https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/justice-law/722432/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B0-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1">NNA</a> reports they resulted from wireless devices like walkie-talkies and fingerprint analysis devices that also damaged cars and motorcycles and started fires, including one at a lithium battery store.</p> <p id="gpRViI">At least one of the exploding devices on Wednesday went off in the middle of a funeral procession for several of the people killed in the previous attack, causing additional panic as people ran for safety and were asked to...</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/18/24248214/lebanon-hezbollah-exploding-radio-attacks">Continue reading…</a> </p>
Source: www.theverge.com
Reception: Negative
Soundcore’s new $24.99 waterproof speaker is almost an impulse purchase
<figure> <img alt="Two people sitting next to each other each holding a Soundcore Select 4 Go wireless speaker." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nLY4Gm6Ex-DZqOefMBag-fKIvew=/0x1:1100x734/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73594607/soundcore3.0.jpg" /> <figcaption><em>It can’t be used as a speakerphone, but at $24.99, Soundcore’s new Select 4 Go Bluetooth speaker is claimed to have 20 hours of battery and can be paired for stereo sound.</em> | Image: Soundcore</figcaption> </figure> <p id="0XdTMx">Soundcore has launched another ultralight wireless speaker called the Select 4 Go. It’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB1753RZ?tag=theverge02-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">priced at $24.99</a>, making it the most affordable option in Soundcore’s current lineup of Bluetooth speakers and much cheaper than similarly sized options such as <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/9/24239682/ultimate-ears-miniroll-bluetooth-speaker-price-availability">Ultimate Ears’ recently launched $79.99 Miniroll</a>.</p> <figure class="e-image"> <cite>Image: Soundcore</cite> <figcaption><em>A cutaway illustration of the Select 4 Go revealing a 1.75-inch speaker with a passive radiator next to it.</em></figcaption> </figure> <p id="ugp8sM">The Select 4 Go pairs a 1.75-inch 5W full-range speaker driver with a passive radiator to help bolster the intensity of lower frequencies. That’s only a slightly smaller speaker than you’ll find inside the pricier <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1514734&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fus.ultimateears.com%2Fproducts%2Fminiroll%3Fvariant%3D49093113348382&referrer=theverge.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2024%2F9%2F18%2F24248304%2Fsoundcore-anker-bluetooth-speaker-portable" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Miniroll</a>, which has a claimed 12 hours of battery life. <a href="https://support.soundcore.com/s/article/Soundcore-Select-4-Go-FAQ">Soundcore says</a> the Select 4...</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/18/24248304/soundcore-anker-bluetooth-speaker-portable">Continue reading…</a> </p>
Source: www.theverge.com
Reception: Positive
Craig Newmark pledges $100M to fight hacking by foreign governments
<p>Craigslist founder Craig Newmark plans to donate $100 million to further strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, addressing what he sees as a growing threat from foreign governments, he tells the WSJ. Half the funds will focus on protecting power grids and other infrastructure from cyberattacks; half will be earmarked to educate people about so-called cybersecurity hygiene.  Newmark, […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Bluesky addresses trust and safety concerns around abuse, spam, and more
<p>The company is in various stages of developing and piloting a range of initiatives focused on dealing with bad actors, harassment, spam, fake accounts, video safety, and more.</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Fal.ai, which hosts media-generating AI models, raises $23M from a16z and others
<p>Fal.ai, a dev-focused platform for AI-generated audio, video, and images, today revealed that it’s raised $23 million in funding from investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Black Forest Labs co-founder Robin Rombach, and Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas. It’s a two-round deal: $14 million of Fal’s total came from a Series A tranche led by Kindred Ventures; […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Bill requiring AM radio in new cars gets closer to law
<p>A House committee overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill that would require new cars to be built with AM radio at no additional cost to the owner. The AM for Every Vehicle Act will now head to the House floor for final approval. If successful, it’ll go to the president’s desk to be signed into […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Positive
HTC takes on Apple’s Vision Pro and PC Gaming with $1,000 Vive Focus Vision
<p>The Vive Focus Vision has enough firepower under the hood to appeal to PC gamers tethered via the DisplayPort.</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Neutral
Fisker reverses course on making Ocean owners pay for recall repairs
<p>The reversal comes as EV startup Fisker prepares to enter the fourth month of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. </p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Neutral