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Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y can be a backup battery for your house
Tesla is expanding Powershare Home Backup to some Model 3 and Model Y owners, allowing their cars to supply electricity to a home during a power outage. The feature could extend household backup power, though it depends on compatible equipment and is currently limited to certain vehicles and locations. Tesla says Premium and Performance versions…
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Google backs $4.3bn nuclear upgrades to supply expanding data centres
Google has signed a 20-year agreement with Constellation to help fund upgrades at six existing US nuclear power plant sites, aiming to add electricity for its expanding data centres. The deal matters because growing demand from AI data centres is putting pressure on the PJM grid, where concerns about reliable supply and rising bills have…
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Ithaca bar disputes student’s claim it served her while intoxicated
Moonies Bar and Nightclub in Ithaca denies a Cornell student’s claim that it served her alcohol until she was visibly intoxicated shortly before an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity house. The dispute matters because the student’s level of intoxication is central to her civil allegations, while the bar says it complied with rules for…
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Google’s Googlebooks Laptops Launch with Pixel-Only Integration, Leaving Android Promise Unfulfilled
New information confirms that Googlebooks’ “Better Together” features do not yet work with Samsung phones, including recent models running Android 17. This leaves Pixel devices as the only phones offering full integration at launch, narrowing the appeal of Google’s premium laptops and complicating its promise of broad Android compatibility. The features require Android 17 and…
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Amazon Removes Alexa Voice Control for AUX Input on Select Echo Speakers
Amazon this week confirmed it has disabled Alexa voice command control for the auxiliary input port on four older Echo speaker models, with users receiving emails explaining that commands such as “Alexa, play from line in” no longer work. The company has provided no explanation for removing the feature or disclosed how many users are…
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The next hurdle for AI agents: getting websites to let them in
Consumer AI agents can book flights, reserve tables and order groceries for users, but websites increasingly block them, preventing tasks from being completed. The problem matters because existing anti-bot protections can treat helpful agents like malicious traffic, leaving customers unsure whether a retailer is deliberately blocking access or a security check has simply failed. Amazon…
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Alexa voice control removed for aux playback on select Echo models
Amazon has confirmed that Alexa voice commands to play or pause audio from the aux input will no longer work on a small number of Echo devices. The change affects people using an older Echo as a speaker for audio connected through its 3.5mm input, though the physical connection itself remains usable. The affected models…
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Hark launches privacy-focused AI assistant with a paid subscription option
Hark, a startup founded less than a year ago, has launched Hark Pro, an AI personal assistant prioritising privacy and data protection. Unlike competitors such as OpenAI and Meta, the company is not harvesting user data or selling advertising, a crucial distinction when these assistants require access to users’ entire digital lives. Available free with…