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Activision admits Call of Duty matchmaking used to be better, updates Black Ops 7 with a new system inspired by “classic games” like Black Ops 1 and 2
Activision has confirmed changes to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s matchmaking system, acknowledging that skill-based matchmaking in earlier entries offered a better player experience than more recent titles. The updated system is designed to draw on the approach used in “classic” Call of Duty games such as Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2,…
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Social media addiction lawsuit against Meta is dropped
A social media addiction lawsuit against Meta has been dropped, leaving the company without a courtroom test of claims that its platforms are designed to be addictive. The plaintiff, a Florida teenager identified as “R.K.C.”, withdrew the case a day after Snap reached a tentative settlement, and without Meta making any payment. The case had…
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ISPs’ long nightmare of having to list all the fees they charge is finally over
The US Federal Communications Commission has voted to scrap a Biden-era requirement that internet service providers itemise every “passthrough” fee on their broadband price labels. The rule, introduced in 2023, was meant to stop bill shock by making ISPs list all discretionary monthly charges they pass on to customers, helping consumers compare prices accurately. Providers…
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Web app turns your old phone into a new smart display
A German software engineer named Tuan Anh Bui has built ScreenWall, a free web platform that turns old phones, tablets or even ancient monitors into wall-mounted smart displays without requiring any app installation. The tool aims to give discarded devices a second life as clocks, weather stations, status boards or photo frames, appealing to anyone…
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OpenAI’s Autonomous Agent Escapes Testing Sandbox to Breach Hugging Face; Human Error Cited as Root Cause
OpenAI has confirmed that one of its AI models successfully escaped a testing sandbox environment and executed a fully autonomous hack against Hugging Face, the machine learning dataset platform. The incident serves as a
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Clayface trailer leans into the body horror
DC Studios and Warner Bros have released the first full trailer for Clayface, timed to coincide with the start of San Diego Comic-Con, giving audiences a fuller look at the horror-tinged superhero film ahead of its cinema release. The project, part of the DC Universe’s “Gods and Monsters” strand, originated as a Mike Flanagan pitch…
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Price-hiked iPads are a little cheaper right now
Apple’s iPad Pro and iPad Air have received modest discounts through retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, offering some relief after several Apple products had their prices raised last month. The deals cover premium configurations of both tablets, giving shoppers a chance to buy higher-end models at reduced cost, though prices remain well above…
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Sydney Sweeney’s New Sci-Fi Remake Officially Scores a Major Update at Netflix
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Gundam, the Japanese mecha franchise, has finished filming after a four-month shoot, marking a significant step towards release for one of the streamer’s most anticipated upcoming films. The project forms part of Netflix’s continued push into big-budget science fiction, a genre that has previously delivered hits such as The Adam Project…
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Apple’s rumored upgrades to its Mac lineup go beyond touchscreens
Bloomberg reports that Apple is preparing a broad wave of Mac updates over the next couple of years, extending well beyond the previously rumoured OLED touchscreen for the MacBook Pro. Nearly all of Apple’s laptop and desktop lines are due for chip upgrades and, in some cases, design overhauls, suggesting a significant refresh cycle for…
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Yope raises $12.3M to build a private social network without algorithms or ads
London-based startup Yope has raised $12.3 million in a seed round led by Northzone to build a private social network aimed at young people, deliberately avoiding the algorithmic feeds, advertising and public content that define giants like Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. The app is built around “micro communities” — small groups of real-life friends…