YouTube Music is a decent Spotify alternative, especially if you're already paying for YouTube Premium to remove the ads. There's a big downside, though: Google doesn't offer a desktop app for YouTube Music, meaning you have to run the application in a browser. It also means you can't really customize YouTube Music the way you can with Spotify.That's why YouTube Music Desktop App—a free application not made by Google, to be clear—exists. The app, compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux puts YouTube Music in its own window, outside of your browser, while also adding extensions for things like downloading songs, skipping the non-music parts of videos, and blocking ads. The get started, simply download the application and launch it. You can log into Google, if you have an account, but you don't have to—you can start searching for and listening to music right away. The application is essentially a browser with a few extensions, so there shouldn't be any security concerns logging in. If you've used YouTube Music at all, everything should look very familiar—it's the web application but in a dedicated window.There are a few tweaks you can make in the Options menu that you should be aware of. You can set the application to run from the system tray, if you want, meaning if you close the window your music keeps playing. You can also choose which page you want to open when you launch the application. Credit: Justin Pot The real fun, though, is found in the Plugins section. Here, there are a wide variety of tweaks you can turn on. SponsorBlock automatically skips the non-music parts of music videos—for example, some music videos have intros or interstitials that you might not want to hear if you're just trying to listen. There's a tool to remove all Google login requests, if you'd rather not log in or be asked about logging in. There's a simple visualizer, if you'd rather see dancing bars in place of album art or the music video. And there's a plugin that lets you prevent videos from playing altogether. You can find a full list of the plugins on Github if you'd like to learn more.All of these features, along with putting YouTube Music in its own window, makes YouTube Music just a lot more pleasant to use. Give this application a shot if you're tired of forgetting which tab in which browser window is handling your music.

Ireland's data privacy regulator is investigating Elon Musk's X. The country's Data Protection Commission (DPC) said on Friday (via Reuters) that it's opening an inquiry into the social platform's use of European users' public posts to train its Grok AI chatbot. In this case, Ireland handles EU regulation enforcement because X's European headquarters are in Dublin. The DPC said it will probe "the processing of personal data comprised in publicly-accessible posts posted on the 'X' social media platform by EU/EEA users." Under Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules, Ireland has the legal muscle to fine X up to four percent of its global revenue. "The purpose of this inquiry is to determine whether this personal data was lawfully processed in order to train the Grok LLMs," Ireland's DPC said. If this sounds familiar, the DPC took X to court in 2024, seeking an order to stop it from training Grok on EU user data without consent. That followed a platform policy change in July that let the social site use public posts to train its AI chatbot. However, Ireland's data regulator ended the legal proceedings weeks later, saying the company had agreed to permanently limit its use of EU users' personal data in Grok. The DPC hasn't specified why it now believes the company may be violating GDPR rules. The DPC's last fine against the company (then known as Twitter) was a €450,000 penalty in 2020 for failing to notify the regulator about a data breach within the 72-hour window.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/irelands-privacy-regulator-is-investigating-xs-use-of-public-data-to-train-grok-182010855.html?src=rss

MSI's third-party RTX 5060 Ti GPUs are on the horizon, with new images leaked revealing their PCIe 5.0 interface.

On a panel this week, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the former WWE CEO who is now charged with making sweeping decisions for 100 million American school children, repeatedly referred to AI technology as “A1.” For McMahon, who was speaking at the ASU+GSV Summit for educators, it was an embarrassing mistake. But for Kraft Heinz’s A.1. steak sauce, it was basically free product placement—and the brand didn’t hesitate to take its cut.  McMahon’s first slipup occurred when she shared an anecdote with the audience about “a school system that’s going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A1 teaching in every year.” Matters only got worse when she continued, “Kids are sponges. They just absorb everything. It wasn’t all that long ago that it was, ‘We’re going to have internet in our schools!’ Now let’s see A1 and how that can be helpful.” Well, um, maybe it can help the cafeteria meatloaf taste better? A.1. was thinking along the same lines. The brand jumped on Instagram yesterday with a spoofed ad for a McMahon-inspired A.1. bottle, complete with a photoshopped version of the sauce with the label “For educational purposes only” accompanied by the slogan, “Agree, best to start them early.” The post was captioned, “You heard her. Every school should have access to A.1.” Heinz is no stranger to thinking up limited-edition novelty goods, from its neon pink Barbie-cue sauce to a Taylor Swift-inspired ranch and portable Velveeta packets. But this is the first time (that we know of) when the company has used its stunt marketing resumé to make a jab at a political figure.  So far, A.1.’s loyal fans seem to be in support of its “new sauce.” “My husband wants a bottle for his desk,” one commenter wrote under the brand’s post. “He teaches middle school, at least until they replace him with A.1.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by A.1. Original Sauce (@a1originalsauce)

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, creating art, writing stories, and even making decisions for us, there are still fundamental aspects of life where human presence remains essential. Parenting is one such domain, raising a child, nurturing a family, and forming emotional bonds cannot be automated. However, technology can play a crucial role in alleviating the burden of strenuous household tasks, enabling parents to focus on what truly matters: quality time with their children. Keepy, a home-operator robotic vacuum cleaner, is designed to support overall housework beyond just cleaning. The inspiration behind Keepy is deeply personal, drawn from the creator’s childhood memories of bedtime stories. While books provided valuable knowledge, the lasting impact came from the warmth and affection of shared moments with parents. Unfortunately, modern parents, particularly those in dual-income households, often struggle to find time for meaningful interactions due to the exhaustion of daily responsibilities. Designer: Dohyuk Joo Instead of reading to their children, many parents resort to educational automation devices, such as reading pens. While these tools are useful, they cannot replicate the warmth and comfort of a parent’s voice. Keepy seeks to change this dynamic by handling household management tasks, ensuring parents have more time to be present with their children. Throughout history, household appliances have evolved to reduce the time and effort spent on domestic tasks. Washing machines freed families from the drudgery of manual laundry, dishwashers streamlined kitchen cleanup, and robotic vacuum cleaners introduced automated floor cleaning. Keepy builds on this tradition by going beyond simple automation, it actively manages household operations. Household management is more than just cleaning; it includes tracking grocery expiration dates, ensuring laundry is removed on time, keeping up with school events, and managing essential supplies. Traditional appliances perform their tasks in a fixed manner, but with the advancement of IoT and AI, home appliances like Keepy are becoming more proactive. Unlike conventional robotic vacuum cleaners, Keepy does more than just clean. It acts as a household assistant, identifying emerging needs and filling in blind spots. By integrating with smart home appliances, Keepy can analyze supply usage, predict shortages, and even recommend or automatically order essential maintenance items. As an active home operator, Keepy patrols the house, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. It can remind parents of unpaid utility bills, check food stock levels, and turn off appliances when needed. In essence, it operates as a silent yet efficient partner in managing the complexities of family life. Beyond functionality, Keepy’s design sets it apart. Inspired by a playful toy patrol officer, its warm and approachable appearance ensures it blends seamlessly into a home environment. An Emoji Face LED display makes it engaging for children and pets, reducing any potential apprehension towards an AI-driven home assistant. By reimagining the role of a robotic vacuum, Keepy extends beyond cleaning to become an integral part of family life. It embodies a future where technology enhances human connections rather than replacing them, allowing parents to spend less time managing chores and more time creating lasting memories with their children.The post This ‘Friendly’ AI-Powered Robotic Vacuum Manages Your Home and Allows More Family Time first appeared on Yanko Design.

Donald Trump’s tariffs are likely to make tech manufacturers more risk averse—which could stymie innovation in favor of keeping costs down.

We're just weeks away from iOS 19, just months from iPhone 17, but already we're looking far ahead to future of the iPhone, the Apple Vision Pro, all on this week's episode of the AppleInsider Podcast.The current Apple Vision ProNormally by now you'd expect everyone to be deep into rumors and predictions for WWDC 2025, and there is some of that. There is a recurring spate and possibly even spat about rumors concerning iOS 19 and which pundit has the best details, but for some reason the spotlight this week has been on the far future of the iPhone 20, the Apple Vision Pro 2, and what comes next for the Apple Watch.Well, there's also been just a little attention on the price of iPhones following whatever today's tariffs are. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Here’s a preview of an upcoming presentation at the Venice Architecture Biennale designed by Carlo Ratti Associati in collaboration with the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and Prada Group. The SEA BEYOND Ocean Literacy Centre is to be located on San Servolo Island and will educate the public on issues related to water, ocean science, and their relationship to the human environment during climate change.   Image courtesy DotdotdotMultiple rooms equipped with data-driven storytelling abilities courtesy of design studio Dotdotdot will visualize a greater understanding of challenges that affect, among other bodies of water, the Venice Lagoon. The experience unfolds exponentially, based on the the Power of 10 concept from Charles and Ray Eames’ 1977 film. The Biennale opens on May 10th, 2025. Image courtesy DotdotdotImage courtesy DotdotdotImage courtesy Dotdotdot

That big flagship single-player PlayStation title that we’ve been waiting for for a while is finally coming not long from now in the form of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and as its release date draws nearer, creative director and Kojima Productions boss Hideo Kojima has offered an update on how development is going. Spotted by Twitter user @Genki_JPN, speaking recently during the official Kojima Productions podcast, Kojima revealed that Death Stranding 2’s development is roughly at the 95 percent mark. Likening the project to a 24-hour cycle, Kojima went on to say that it is currently at 10 PM, which means it’s within touching distance of the finish line. Of course, given how close to launch the game is, this is what most would have expected (or at least hoped for), but it’s good to have confirmation nonetheless, especially for those who may have been concerned about potential delays. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches exclusively for the PS5 on June 26. Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2 is currently 95% complete while speaking on his Koji10 radio show! #DS2 “It’s at about 95% now… It feels like it is 10 o’clock (PM), speaking of 24 hours, Koji Pro’s DS2 is at 10 o’clock (PM), there are 2 hours left” via @koji10_tbs pic.twitter.com/sOZjY7ZLg7 — Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) April 10, 2025

A new report from ProPublica published Thursday showed how the Louisiana government is using TIGER (Targeted Interventions to Greater Enhance Re-entry), a computer program developed by Louisiana State University to prevent recidivism, to approve or deny parole applications based on a score calculating their risk of returning to prison. Though the algorithm was initially designed to be used as a tool to help rehabilitate inmates by taking their background into account, a TIGER score – which uses data from an inmate’s time before prison, such as work history, criminal convictions, and age at first arrest – is now the sole measure of one’s eligibility. In interviews, several prisoners revealed that their scheduled parole hearings had been abruptly canceled after their TIGER score determined that they were at “moderate risk” of returning to prison. There is no factor in a TIGER score that takes into account an inmate’s behavior in prison or attempts at rehab – a score that criminal justice activists argue penalizes one’s racial and demographic background. (According to current state Department of Corrections data, half of Louisiana’s prison population of roughly 13,000 would automatically fall in the moderate or high risk categories.)One included Calvin Alexander, a 70-year-old partially blind man in a wheelchair, who had been in prison for 20 years, but had spent his time in drug rehab, anger management therapy, and professional skills development, and had a clean disciplinary record. “People in jail have … lost hope in being able to do anything to reduce their time,” he told ProPublica. Parole via algorithm is not just legal in Louisiana, but a deliberate element in Republican Governor Jeff Landry’s crusade against parole. Last year, he signed a law eliminating parole for all prisoners who committed a crime after August 1st, 2024, making Louisiana the first state to eliminate parole in 24 years. A subsequent law decreed that currently-incarcerated prisoners would only be eligible for parole if the algorithm determined they were “low risk”. See More: