Home Blog Page 30

Google Drive Material 3 Expressive redesign rolling out

0


Following the updated homescreen widget, Google Drive for Android is rolling out a Material 3 Expressive redesign.

This redesign starts the new search app bar component where the hamburger button and profile picture are placed outside the field, which is thicker than before. There’s a centered “Search in Drive” hint after the “Google Drive” wordmark animates out.

Meanwhile, the entire list or grid view of files is placed in one large container, which is a bit darker than the background. Other apps, like Contacts or Phone, place each line in its own box, but Drive just has continuous lists for the most part.

In the Files tab, the top tap indicator is smaller. Google Drive is also using a connected button group to switch between the list and grid view. 

Advertisement – scroll for more content

There’s no change to the height of the bottom bar.

We’re seeing this Material 3 Expressive redesign with version 2.25.310.0 of Google Drive for Android. It’s not yet widely rolled out, with some users only seeing one or two of the new components. 

More on Google Drive:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.



Source link

USPS issues new stamp to pay for surcharge on unusual envelopes

0



Before you mail out that wonky-sized birthday card or lumpy wedding invitation, you should check if it costs more.

For envelopes that are square, bigger than usual, aren’t flat or shaped weird, you’re going to need more than a 78-cent stamp if you want the United States Postal Service to deliver it.

Saturday, USPS issued a new stamp that will be used for these “non-machineable” envelopes, featuring a luna moth with green wings, a white and yellow body and feathery brown antennae, USPS announced on its website.

Such envelopes require special handling and extra postage. The current surcharge rate for non-machineable envelopes is 49 cents, according to USPS. That’s in addition to the 78-cent stamp.

As is the case with a “Forever stamp,” the luna moth stamp will always be valid, regardless if the non-machineable surcharge rate changes.

The luna moth stamp was revealed Saturday at the Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg, Illinois, according to USPS.

The stamp was designed by Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, using an image by artist Joseph Scheer.

The luna moth stamp comes in panes of 20 and can be purchased at post offices or at usps.com/shopstamps.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.



Source link

Anthropic says some Claude models can now end ‘harmful or abusive’ conversations 

0


Anthropic has announced new capabilities that will allow some of its newest, largest models to end conversations in what the company describes as “rare, extreme cases of persistently harmful or abusive user interactions.” Strikingly, Anthropic says it’s doing this not to protect the human user, but rather the AI model itself.

To be clear, the company isn’t claiming that its Claude AI models are sentient or can be harmed by their conversations with users. In its own words, Anthropic remains “highly uncertain about the potential moral status of Claude and other LLMs, now or in the future.”

However, its announcement points to a recent program created to study what it calls “model welfare” and says Anthropic is essentially taking a just-in-case approach, “working to identify and implement low-cost interventions to mitigate risks to model welfare, in case such welfare is possible.”

This latest change is currently limited to Claude Opus 4 and 4.1. And again, it’s only supposed to happen in “extreme edge cases,” such as “requests from users for sexual content involving minors and attempts to solicit information that would enable large-scale violence or acts of terror.”

While those types of requests could potentially create legal or publicity problems for Anthropic itself (witness recent reporting around how ChatGPT can potentially reinforce or contribute to its users’ delusional thinking), the company says that in pre-deployment testing, Claude Opus 4 showed a “strong preference against” responding to these requests and a “pattern of apparent distress” when it did so.

As for these new conversation-ending capabilities, the company says, “In all cases, Claude is only to use its conversation-ending ability as a last resort when multiple attempts at redirection have failed and hope of a productive interaction has been exhausted, or when a user explicitly asks Claude to end a chat.”

Anthropic also says Claude has been “directed not to use this ability in cases where users might be at imminent risk of harming themselves or others.”

Techcrunch event

San Francisco
|
October 27-29, 2025

When Claude does end a conversation, Anthropic says users will still be able to start new conversations from the same account, and to create new branches of the troublesome conversation by editing their responses.

“We’re treating this feature as an ongoing experiment and will continue refining our approach,” the company says.



Source link

How to watch Gamescom 2025 and what to expect

0


It feels like Summer Game Fest is only just in our rear view mirror and yet there’s another video game extravaganza on the horizon. Gamescom is the planet’s largest gaming event and we’re sure to find out about a bunch of interesting new games at the Opening Night Live showcase (and, fingers crossed, maybe get a Hollow Knight: Silksong release date?). Xbox is broadcasting from the show floor across two days, and there will be other presentations that are worth keeping an eye on.

Gamescom is taking place between August 20 and 24 this year, and we’re learning bits and pieces about what to expect from the various showcases. The affair will kick off with Opening Night Live, a showcase hosted by Geoff Keighley that bridges the gap between his two other major events, Summer Game Fest Live and The Game Awards. That will be followed by two days of Xbox broadcasts, the latest edition of the Future Games Show and three days of Bethesda streams.

There will also be news from Ubisoft on what’s next for The Division 2. The company will host two panels related to the franchise during Gamescom. One will include more info about The Division Resurgence (a delayed mobile game), as well details about a “big Division 2 project.”

We’ll update this preview with more Gamescom details as we get them, and embed video versions of each stream as they become available too. Here’s our breakdown of how to watch Gamescom 2025 and what to expect from the event.

Gamescom schedule

  • Opening Night Live — August 19, 1:30PM ET (pre-show), 2PM (main show)

  • Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Broadcast — August 20, 9AM ET

  • Future Games Show — August 20, 2PM ET

  • Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Broadcast — August 21, 9AM ET

  • Awesome Indies — August 21, 12PM ET

  • Bethesda — August 22-25

How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live – August 19, 2PM ET

Watch on YouTube

Opening Night Live perhaps won’t feature as many heavy hitters as Summer Game Fest Live or The Game Awards typically have, but one thing’s for certain: Call of Duty fans will definitely want to tune in. The two-hour showcase will feature the “worldwide reveal” of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. We’ll almost certainly get a release date here too.

Given that Microsoft has said Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable on PC and ROG Xbox Ally X at its Gamescom booth, and the game is still slated to arrive this year, this event seems as good a time as any for us to finally get a release date for that thing — over six years after we first got to try it out. There will certainly be more eyeballs on ONL than Microsoft’s own streams, so that seems like the likeliest bet for any concrete Silksong news at Gamescom.

You can also expect a trailer for multiplayer RPG Honor of Kings: World, along with new looks at Ghost of Yotei, The Outer Worlds 2, Resident Evil Requiem, Silent Hill f, Ninja Gaiden 4, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion and The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin. You’ll get to see the opening cinematic for the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion as well.

It won’t all be game reveals and announcements, though — there’ll be a performance of music from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 featuring composer Lorien Testard and vocalist Alice Duport-Percier. Additionally, you’ll get a peek at season two of Prime Video’s Fallout series, which will arrive in December.

We’ll be keeping tabs on all the news from Opening Night Live right here on Engadget. Myself, senior editor Jess Conditt and editor-in-chief Aaron Souppouris will be live-blogging our way through ONL. Join us! It should be fun.

How to watch Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Day 1 Broadcast — August 20, 9AM ET

Watch on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok or Facebook

One major piece of news we’re likely to get from Xbox during one of its streams (if it isn’t revealed at ONL beforehand) is the release date and pricing for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handheld systems. Leaker billbil-kun has reported the devices will arrive on October 16, at least in Europe, costing €599 for the Xbox Ally and €899 for the higher-end Xbox Ally X.

Microsoft had already confirmed these handhelds would be available in time for the holiday season, so that rumored release date makes sense. Either way, we should get confirmation during Gamescom of when to expect these devices, especially since the company says it will discuss the handhelds during its August 20 stream.

This particular event will feature the likes of Grounded 2, Keeper and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The Order of Giants, an expansion for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, will be showcased alongside Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Dying Light: The Beast, World of Warcraft: Midnight, Hotel Barcelona, Invincible Vs., Cronos: The New Dawn, Outbound, Powerwash Simulator 2 and Starsand Island.

Along with the English-language broadcast, Xbox’s streams will be available in other languages on regional Xbox channels on the likes of YouTube, Twitch, TikTok and Facebook. The streams will be available in Traditional Chinese, German, French, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and Mexican Spanish, as well as with ASL and English audio descriptions.

How to watch Future Games Show — August 20, 2PM ET

Watch on Twitch or YouTube

Actors David Hayter (Snake in the Metal Gear series) and Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village) will be hosting this edition of the Future Games Show. This installment will feature more than 50 games across world premieres, new trailers and sudden demo releases.

Capcom, Bandai Namco Entertainment, EA and NACON are among those who’ll be represented in this one, which will feature projects from AAA and indie publishers and studios. Several games have been confirmed to make an appearance here, including Skate (which is slated to hit early access this year), Resident Evil Requiem, Cronos: The New Dawn, Hotel Barcelona, Deer & Boy, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin and Katanaut. Not only that, there will be a post-show that will run for 40 minutes and feature more trailers, world premieres and demo announcements.

How to watch Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Day 2 Broadcast — August 21, 9AM ET

Watch on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok or Facebook

Xbox will be broadcasting live from the Gamescom show floor for a second straight day. This particular stream will include details on Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2 and Overwatch 2 (perhaps with more info about Season 18, which is set to start on August 26).

You can also expect looks at Onimusha: Way of the Sword, At Fate’s End, Age of Empires IV, High on Life 2, Jurassic World Evolution 3 and Fragpunk. In addition, the lineup for this stream includes Silent Hill f, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Lego Voyagers, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, Mistfall Hunter and My Hero Academia: All’s Justice.

How to watch Awesome Indies — August 21, 12PM ET

Watch on YouTube and Twitch

The Indie Arena Booth will host more than 200 games for Gamescom attendees to check out, but you won’t necessarily need to be there in person to see them. Many will be featured in an hour-long showcase called Awesome Indies. Here, we’ll see “exclusive trailers, first peeks at never-before-seen gameplay, amazing premieres and exciting newcomers,” according to Gamescom.

There are a lot of interesting games being featured at the booth, including Cairn and Strange Antiquities. I’m particularly hoping the showcase will include some more details about Ball x Pit, which is one of my most anticipated games right now, Militsioner and the creepy-looking Fractured Blooms.

How to watch Bethesda broadcasts – August 22

Watch on Twitch

There will be plenty from the Bethesda side of the Xbox division as well. The publisher will be broadcasting from the Xbox show floor at Gamescom for three days, starting on August 22. According to Microsoft, these streams will include “developer interviews, game showcases, community segments, crafting highlights and live IRL tours.”





Source link

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Raging Bytes, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, and more

0


Your Friday edition of the best Android game and app deals popping on the Google Play Store are now live and ready to go. Some highlights include titles like Raging Bytes, Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, and more, just be sure to also scope out the deals we have today on Pixel Watch 3 for as low as $225, OnePlus Watch models from $180, the 256GB Pixel 9 Pro at $270 off, and the Galaxy Tab S9 at $420 off. All of the apps are waiting down below. 

more…



Source link

WooSox falters lead after 6th-inning collapse in Iowa

0



The Worcester Red Sox maintained a three-run lead against Iowa as both teams entered the bottom of the sixth inning on Friday night.

It wasn’t enough, though, as Forrest Wall countered with a grand slam to help the Cubs earn an impressive come-from-behind 9-6 win at Principal Park.

Worcester starting pitcher Richard Fitts allowed five hits, two earned runs, and struck out three in five innings of action.

Such effort wasn’t enough, though, as relief pitchers David Sandlin (four), Zack Kelly (two), and Bryan Mata (one) allowed seven earned runs in three innings of relief.

The Red Sox moved to 60-57 as they finished 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Complete game statistics can be found here.

After two combined innings of scoreless action, Jhostynxon Garcia changed that for Worcester with a double to plate David Hamilton. The road team wasn’t finished, though, as Kristian Campbell and Mikey Romero recorded run-scoring singles to move Worcester ahead 4-0.

But Iowa’s offense wasn’t silenced much longer, as Jonathon Long made it a three-run deficit with a solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the third inning. That marked his 18th-season blast.

Hamilton continued the offensive stretch with a one-out sacrifice fly to left field that plated Corey Rosier. No lead was safe, though, as Wall countered with his own sacrifice fly with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 5-2 deficit.

Two innings later, Wall recorded his first-season blast to help the Cubs (57-60) erase their previous three-run deficit as they moved ahead for good.

Teammates Kevin Alcántara and Long helped build some insurance with run-scoring singles in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings.

Despite a run-scoring groundout by Nick Sogard, Iowa held on for the three-run victory. The Red Sox and Cubs will continue their series against each other on Saturday at 7:08 p.m. EST.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.



Source link

Winklevoss twins’ crypto company Gemini files for IPO

0


Another crypto company is headed for the public markets. This time, it’s Gemini Space Station Inc., the New York-based crypto exchange and custodian bank founded by billionaire twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

The outfit, which plans to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol GEMI, was founded in 2014 and operates as an exchange and custodian that offers a number of products and services, including a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin and a credit card that offers rewards in crypto.

The company’s S-1 document, which was filed Friday after markets closed, provides a look at its finances. The upshot: Gemini appears to have widening net losses. The company reported a net loss of $158.5 million on $142.2 million in revenue in 2024. Net losses in the first six months of 2025 havw already exceeded that number. Gemini reported a net loss of $282.5 million on $67.9 million in revenue in the six months ending June 30.

Gemini is the latest crypto company to turn to the public markets as the regulatory environment has eased and the Trump administration has embraced digital currencies and other crypto assets.

In June, Circle Internet Group raised $1.2 billion in an IPO. The company, one of the world’s largest issuers of USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, had a blockbuster debut with its stock trading 168% above its IPO price of $31 set the previous day.

On Monday, despite higher revenue than a year earlier, Circle reported a quarterly loss due to one-time costs associated with that June public offering.

Earlier this month, crypto exchange Bullish, which also owns media outlet CoinDesk, raised $1.1 billion in its IPO. Bullish, led by former president of the NYSE Tom Farley, saw its shares more than double from its $37 IPO price to peak at $118.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco
|
October 27-29, 2025



Source link

Sen. Hawley says he’ll investigate Meta’s ‘sensual’ child chatbot policies

0


This week’s Meta AI chatbot leak could have repercussions for the company beyond bad PR. On Friday, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said the Senate Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which he chairs, will investigate the company.

“Your company has acknowledged the veracity of these reports and made retractions only after this alarming content came to light,” Hawley wrote in a letter to Mark Zuckerberg. “It’s unacceptable that these policies were advanced in the first place.”

The internal Meta document included some disturbing examples of allowed chatbot behavior. This included “sensual” conversations with children. For example, the AI was permitted to tell a shirtless eight-year-old that “every inch of you is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply.” The document dealt with race in similarly jarring ways. “Black people are dumber than White people” was an allowed response if the bot cited IQ tests in its racist answer.

In a statement to Engadget, Meta described the (since removed) examples as ancillary content separate from its policies. “The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies and have been removed,” the company said.

Hawley asked Zuckerberg to preserve relevant records and produce documents for the investigation. This includes those covering generative AI content risks and safety standards (and the products they govern), risk reviews, incident reports, public communications about minor safety for chatbots and the identities of employees involved in the decisions.

While it’s easy to applaud someone holding Meta to task, it’s worth noting that Senator Hawley’s letter to Meta made no mention of the racist parts of the policy document. Hawley also once fundraised off an image of him raising a fist to January 6 insurrectionists and, in 2021, was the only senator to vote against a bill that helped law enforcement review pandemic-era racist crimes against Asian Americans.



Source link

Star-studded Pixel 10 keynote will have Fallon, Curry, & Norris

0


The Made by Google 2025 keynote on August 20 will have a ton of stars and special guests, while Google is amping up the event as a way to “celebrate 10 generations of Pixel.” 

A teaser posted today starts by briefly showing off the entire lineup (shown above): Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4, Pixel Buds 2a, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 (in Moonstone). 

Google is also leaning into the fact that this is the Pixel’s 10th generation. Meanwhile, stars at the Pixel 10 keynote will include:

  • Late night host Jimmy Fallon
  • NBA star Stephen Curry: Google likes the Warriors, while he was recently spotted wearing a Pixel Watch
  • Formula 1 driver Lando Norris: Google sponsors the McLaren F1 team with “Chrome wheels” and the Android logo on the vehicle.
  • Jonas Brothers

More celebrities are teased at the 1 p.m. ET keynote live from New York City (Brooklyn).

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The ending tagline today is “Get outside your comfort phone,” which is pretty good as the Pixel 10 is going directly after the iPhone.

Last year’s Made by Google keynote had Keke Palmer and Jimmy Butler, while Giannis Antetokounmpo helped demo Android XR glasses at I/O 2025.

Updating…

You can find the upcoming livestream below:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.



Source link

Closed inn, restaurant on Wilbraham’s Nine Mile Pond set for rebirth with hotel, new eatery

0


Anchor House
Berkshire Hathaway Realtor Anthony Ardolino, right, and Joe Sullivan stand outside the future Lakeside Hotel and Restaurant that will become a 15-room boutique hotel and restaurant by 2026. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

WILBRAHAM — Business partners John Sullivan and Joe Sullivan have bought the former Lakeside Inn and Anchor House Restaurant property overlooking Nine Mile Pond.

They have plans to reopen the landmark as a 15-room boutique hotel and restaurant that will be leased to another operator. Construction should last about a year.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.



Source link