OpenAI has scooped up a domain name that sounds like a logical fit. TechCrunch reports that Chat.com, which was previously bought for over $15 million, is now in the hands of the ChatGPT maker.
According to the domain history website who.is, Chat.com was first registered way back in September 1996. Before OpenAIs acquisition, it last changed hands in 2023, when HubSpot co-founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah reportedly bought it for $15.5 million. We can speculate that the executive saw the burgeoning AI chatbot industry and the concise terms potential for a big return. It was reportedly one of the top two publicly reported domain sales ever.
OpenAI hasnt said how much it paid for Chat.com, but it confirmed with TechCrunch that it bought the domain. And if youre expecting drastic changes from OpenAIs chatbot, the move isnt likely tied to a ChatGPT rebrand. Regardless, the domain now redirects to the world-changing AI tool.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-bought-the-web-domain-chatcom-213638986.html?src=rss
Massachusetts has passed a statewide ballot initiative that gives rideshare drivers the opportunity to unionize while remaining independent contractors. The initiative was brought forward by the Service Employees International Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. It passed with a narrow margin of about 54 percent of the vote.
The measure will allow the state's 70,000 rideshare drivers to form unions and leverage collective bargaining power, which is not permitted for independent contractors under the National Labor Relations Act. These workers can unionize if they receive signatures from at least 25 percent of active drivers in Massachusetts. The initiative also creates a hearing process so that drivers for companies such as Lyft and Uber can bring complaints about unfair work practices to a state board. However, the ballot initiative does not contain language about strike protections. It also does not extend to food delivery drivers.
Uber and Lyft did not actively campaign against the Massachusetts measure, but they have raised concerns about the specific language. Some labor advocates also opposed the initiative, cautioning that it could hamper efforts for rideshare drivers to win recognition as full-time employees. "We're not against unionization," Kelly Cobb-Lemire, an organizer with Massachusetts Drivers United, told The New York Times. "But we don't feel this goes far enough."
Independent contractors often are not protected by federal or state labor laws because they aren't full-time employees. The Massachusetts ballot measure could create a precedent for other states to offer unionization options for gig workers. California has been a battleground for labor protections for gig workers who drive for Uber and Lyft for several years. Most recently, a court allowed California drivers to retain independent contractor status.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/rideshare-drivers-in-massachusetts-can-unionize-without-being-full-time-employees-212202426.html?src=rss
Jarvis is real. Googles new AI prototype accidentally found its way to the public through the Chrome Web Store. This isnt just some AI helper that can tell you the weather or remind you about doctor appointments. The Information reported that the store page describes the Jarvis prototype as a helpful companion that surfs the web for you through web browsers to take care of common tasks such as buying groceries, booking flight and research topics
In other words, Googles new AI has the ability to take control of a computer to complete these simple tasks without manual human input. The prototype that popped up on Googles extension store wasnt in full working mode. A reporter tried to use Jarvis but access permissions prevented the app from performing any functions.
Google took down Jarvis store page by midafternoon ahead of its planned reveal in December. Jarvis will have some competition from outfits like Anthropic and its Claude AI assistant that started its public beta phase last month. Anthropics AI assistant can do more than just basic functions through a web browser. Claude can take over a computer to type text, activate buttons and move the cursor.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-accidentally-leaked-a-preview-of-its-jarvis-ai-that-can-take-over-computers-203125686.html?src=rss
Amazon has a deal on one of LGs premium OLED TVs ahead of Black Friday. The 65-inch LG OLED evo C4, which only arrived earlier this year, typically costs $2,700. Today, you can get it for an all-time low of $1,394. Thats even lower than its October Prime Day sale price.
Although the C4 skips out on some bells and whistles of the ultra-premium LG G4 flagship TV, that model starts at $2,600 and goes all the way up to $25,000. (Cue spit take.)
The LG C4 includes AI features, thanks to its Alpha 9 Gen 7 chip. That enables AI Super Upscaling, which enhances your picture quality on the fly. Meanwhile, Multi View lets you split your screen into two, letting you plop your favorite content on each side.
Even if AI features arent high on your priority list, the TV has plenty of presentational perks. The 65-inch display has over eight million self-lit pixels and all the quality improvements youd expect from OLED, like deeper blacks and richer colors. The TV has 100 percent color volume (meaning it can display the full range of colors at any brightness level) and 100 percent color fidelity (content-accurate colors). It boasts a 0.1ms response time and up to a 144Hz refresh rate for high gaming frame rates.
The TV gets brighter than its predecessor, reaching nearly nearly 1,000 nits. Its brightness booster feature magnifies individual pixels. If you have an LG soundbar, you can transmit wireless, lossless Dolby Atmos audio from the TV to it. As Engadgets Steve Dent summarized at launch, that feature can give you high-quality surround sound with less hassle.
The TV supports Alexa out of the box if your smart home is plugged into Amazons ecosystem. Its array of ports includes USB, Ethernet and four HDMI inputs.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/early-black-friday-deal-takes-1300-off-the-lg-c4-oled-191840056.html?src=rss
Stranger Things VR started as a Meta Quest exclusive, but its officially coming to Sonys PS VR2. The game will be available on December 5, with an asking price of $25. However, PS Plus members get 20 percent off.
This announcement was made as part of a fake holiday called Stranger Things Day. Along with cross-platform support for Stranger Things VR, Netflix formally set a 2025 release date for season five of the show. This will be the final season. The platform dropped another trailer with the names of all of the episodes, so thats something to look forward to.
As for Stranger Things VR, players take control of season four villain Vecna as he wreaks havoc on the poor citizens of Hawkins. Reviews were fairly middling, but its a VR game set in the universe of a mega-popular show. Its going to move some units on the PS VR2. Even if you dont end up liking the gameplay, hanging out in VR while listening to that blazing synth soundtrack will be fun.
from the set of ST5 #StrangerThingsDay pic.twitter.com/evRVBmBYzO Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 6, 2024
To further commemorate, gulp, Stranger Things Day, the creative team also released some behind the scenes snapshots that chronicle the filming of the final season. They all look like they are having a grand ole time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/stranger-things-vr-is-coming-to-ps-vr2-on-december-5-180832394.html?src=rss
Early Black Friday deals are popping up all over the place and there are already some good offers on charging gear. An Anker 3-in-1 foldable magnetic charger, which is primarily designed for Apple devices, has dropped to a record low price. But just how low depends on your preferred colorway.
The white model of the MagGo 3-in-1 is available for $82.49, which is a 25 percent discount. The black version, meanwhile, will run you $88. Thats 20 percent off the list price.
This charger features on our list of the best Apple Watch accessories. It can simultaneously charge your smartwatch, MagSafe-compatible iPhone and, if you have a wireless charging case, AirPods. It's handy when power outlets are at a premium or you want to keep your nightstand or desk as clutter-free as possible.
The MagGo is compact it's similar in size to Apple's Magic Mouse and weighs 6.9 oz. Anker says it can charge an Apple Watch Series 9 from zero to 47 percent capacity in 30 minutes. The charger comes with a 40W USB-C adapter and a five-foot cable.
You can snap up the MagGo as part of a broader sale on Anker devices. There's another good deal on one of the best power banks around. A 3-in-1 model with a 10,000mAh capacity (enough to fully charge an iPhone 15 nearly twice over) has dropped to $36, but only for Prime members. That's a $9 discount. The charger has a built-in AC plug and USB-C cable.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deals-include-an-anker-3-in-1-foldable-magnetic-charger-for-a-record-low-price-155939390.html?src=rss
Stardew Valley on mobile just received its latest update, and in it is a new secret multiplayer mode. Developer ConcernedApe says its currently secret because of its experimental nature, and mobile multiplayer can be frustrating.
Unlike Stardew Valley multiplayer on other platforms, players on mobile cant discover others farms and can only connect via IP address. They can still join a PC-hosted farm using their mobile devices. The developers also warn that using a mobile network isnt recommended, as it may not be stable enough. The experience works best when both devices are on the same network, but thats not compulsory.
ConcernedApe
To unlock mobile multiplayer, youll have to tap the leaves in a specific order. Its actually part of the Konami code, but without the A and B buttons because, well, smartphones and tablets dont have them. The Stardew Valley multiplayer blog has instructions if youre interested.
Once you see the new co-op menu on the screen, you can host or join a farm. Youll need an IP address if you want to join someones farm, but that isnt difficult to find on your mobile device. The Stardew Valley post also has instructions for that for both iOS and Android users.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/stardew-valley-now-has-a-secret-multiplayer-mode-on-mobile-150956438.html?src=rss
What will B2B marketers in the United States be increasing their spend on in the coming years? Which tactics and strategies do they think will grow in importance? To find out, researchers conducted a survey and analyzed marketing spend data. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Discover the future of the "positionless" marketer in an AI-driven world, where adaptability and cross-functional skills are essential. Learn more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
US-based glass manufacturer Corning is the company behind Gorilla Glass, a break-resistant glass used to protect screens thats used on essentially all of the most popular smartphones. Today, the European Commission announced an investigation into Corning for anti-competitive practices, alleging that the glassmaker is preventing competition through exclusive supply agreements.
According to the press release, Corning requires mobile phone manufacturers to source all or nearly all of their alkali-AS glass from it, and it also grants rebates to these companies if they do so. Additionally, these phone makers must tell Corning if they receive competitive offers from other glass manufacturers. They arent allowed to accept these offers unless Corning cannot match or beat the price.
Similarly, Corning has agreements with companies that process raw glass, forcing them to get all or most of their alkali-AS glass from Corning. They also arent allowed to challenge Corning patents.
These charges reinforce how aggressive Corning is in defending its dominant position in the smartphone glass screen market. The latest Apple and Android devices, like the Google Pixel 9, usually have Gorilla Glass screens, as theyre scratch-resistant and prevent cracking or breaking. While not indestructible, the glass does hold up well against damage. However, Cornings market dominance coupled with these practices are enough to get the EUs attention.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/the-eu-is-looking-into-corning-for-alleged-anti-competitive-practices-140328416.html?src=rss
