• ARSTECHNICA.COM
    Siri unintentionally recorded private convos; Apple agrees to pay $95M
    "I'm listening..." Siri unintentionally recorded private convos; Apple agrees to pay $95M Apple users may get $20 each for up to five Siri-enabled devices. Ashley Belanger Jan 2, 2025 2:29 pm | 184 Credit: Wachiwit | iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus Credit: Wachiwit | iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreApple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its voice assistant Siri routinely recorded private conversations that were then shared with third parties and used for targeted ads.In the proposed class-action settlementwhich comes after five years of litigationApple admitted to no wrongdoing. Instead, the settlement refers to "unintentional" Siri activations that occurred after the "Hey, Siri" feature was introduced in 2014, where recordings were apparently prompted without users ever saying the trigger words, "Hey, Siri."Sometimes Siri would be inadvertently activated, a whistleblower told The Guardian, when an Apple Watch was raised and speech was detected. The only clue that users seemingly had of Siri's alleged spying was eerily accurate targeted ads that appeared after they had just been talking about specific items like Air Jordans or brands like Olive Garden, Reuters noted(claims which remain disputed).It's currently unknown how many customers were affected, but if the settlement is approved, the tech giant has offered up to $20 per Siri-enabled device for any customers who made purchases between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. That includes iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, HomePods, iPod touches, and Apple TVs, the settlement agreement noted. Each customer can submit claims for up to five devices.A hearing when the settlement could be approved is currently scheduled for February 14. If the settlement is certified, Apple will send notices to all affected customers. Through the settlement, customers can not only get monetary relief but also ensure that their private phone calls are permanently deleted.While the settlement appears to be a victory for Apple users after months of mediation, it potentially lets Apple off the hook pretty cheaply. If the court had certified the class action and Apple users had won, Apple could've been fined more than $1.5 billion under the Wiretap Act alone, court filings showed.But lawyers representing Apple users decided to settle, partly because data privacy law is still a "developing area of law imposing inherent risks that a new decision could shift the legal landscape as to the certifiability of a class, liability, and damages," the motion to approve the settlement agreement said. It was also possible that the class size could be significantly narrowed through ongoing litigation, if the court determined that Apple users had to prove their calls had been recorded through an incidental Siri activationpotentially reducing recoverable damages for everyone."The percentage of those who experienced an unintended Siri activation is not known," the motion said. "Although it is difficult to estimate what a jury would award, and what claims or class(es) would proceed to trial, the Settlement reflects approximately 1015 percent of Plaintiffs expected recoverable damages."Siri's unintentional recordings were initially exposed by The Guardian in 2019, plaintiffs' complaint said. That's when a whistleblower alleged that "there have been countless instances of recordings featuring private discussions between doctors and patients, business deals, seemingly criminal dealings, sexual encounters and so on. These recordings are accompanied by user data showing location, contact details, and app data."Horrified Apple users sued, considering each recording "an egregious breach of social norms" that seemed to violate state and federal laws. They alleged that Apple's conduct was deliberate, arguing Apple commercially benefited from the secret recordings.Apple repeatedly moved to dismiss the suit, arguing that "there are no facts, much less plausible facts, that tie Plaintiffs receipt of targeted ads to their speculation that Siri musthave been listening to their conversations, and Apple must have used Siri to facilitate targeted ads by third parties."Through the settlement agreement, Apple ultimately agreed that Siri unintentionally recorded private conversations and is likely hoping the settlement will finally end the controversy for good.Meanwhile, Google faces a similar lawsuit in the same district from plaintiffs represented by the same firms over its voice assistant, Reuters noted. A win in that suit could affect anyone who purchased "Googles own smart home speakers, Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Max; smart displays, Google Nest Hub, and Nest Hub Max; and its Pixel smartphones" from approximately May 18, 2016 to today, a December court filing noted. That litigation likely won't be settled until this fall.Apple did not immediately respond to Ars' request to comment.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 184 Comments
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  • WWW.NINTENDOLIFE.COM
    Hamster Releases Its First Arcade Archives Game Of 2025, Teases A Year Full Of "Surprises"
    Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kIt's a new year and Hamster Corporation is already back at it with more retro releases for its 'Arcade Archives' series on the Switch.To kick things off, it's released Athena's 1989 side-scrolling action title Castle of Dragon. You'll go forth with the "power of love" as two young kings set out on a journey to save a princess from a castle inhabited by dragons. Here's what you can expect from the gameplay:"Use your shield to defend against enemy attacks, or move between the two lines of paths at the front and back to create an advantageous situation in the battle"Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWatch on YouTube This title will set you back $7.99 (or your regional equivalent) and as with all of Hamster's Arcade Archives releases is "faithfully reproduced". You can also change various game settings including the difficulty, and reproduces the atmosphere of arcade display settings. Along with this is the ability to share your high scores with other players around the globe.This particular version of Castle of Dragon uses the Japanese ROM for the main part of the game, with the options menu and manual available in multiple other languages including English.Image: Hamster Corporation, NintendoHamster's president and CEO Satoshi Hamada has also shared a new year update - mentioning how this is now the 11th year of the Arcade Archives series and noting how 2025 will be a year "full of surprises and joy":"Happy New Year! This is Arcade Archives 11th year. We couldnt have come this far without the continuous support of our users and everyone involved. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. In this 11th year, we will be taking on many new challenges. We aim to make it a year that is full of surprises and joy for you all! We look forward to your continued support this year."You can see all the Arcade Archives games released in 2024 on Hamster's official website. There are now well over 400 games. Here's to many more!Have you played any of Hamster's Arcade Archives collection on the Switch recently? What other games would you like to see join this extensive retro library? Let us know in the comments.See AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles126 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherFeature: 15 Best-Looking Switch Games Of 2024Hello, my prettiesBest Nintendo Switch Games Of 2024The finest Switch games of 202435 Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games To Look Forward To In 2025The best new Nintendo Switch games coming soonFeature: Nintendo Life's Alternative Game Awards 2024Biggest surprise! Most long-winded title! Crappiest Switch publisher!
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  • WWW.NINTENDOLIFE.COM
    Toby Fox New Year Message Reminds Us Deltarune's Next Chapters Are Launching This Year
    It's a catchphrase now.Following his end-of-year newsletter update in December, game developer Toby Fox has kicked off 2025 with a special post on social media.Read the full article on nintendolife.com
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  • WWW.FORBES.COM
    Logan Paul Vs. Conor McGregor Takes A Major Step Toward Reality
    Logan Paul - Conor McGregorCredit: Getty - (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)Things are beginning to sound serious between Logan Paul and Conor McGregor. More details about the proposed boxing match in India have been revealed, per Misfits Boxing News.According to reports, the UFC is involved in the negotiations for the fight, and the sides are targeting April. Having the UFC involved was key for things to move to the next level.McGregor still has two fights remaining on his contract, and the UFC could block his involvement. Many had speculated that if the fight was going to happen, it would need the blessing of TKO Holdings and UFC President Dana White.If the reports from Misfit are true, it sounds like the concept has gotten the requisite thumbs-up to, at the very least, progress past the introductory stage. The concept is likely helped by Pauls contract with WWE, which is also under the TKO umbrella.JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 25: Logan Paul in air against Cody Rhodes during King and Queen of the ... [+] Ring at Jeddah Superdome on May 25, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWhite previously OKd McGregors crossover boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017 but has hesitated to get back into cross-promotion in other situations.LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Dana White splits Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor apart during ... [+] the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour at SSE Arena on July 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)2017 Getty ImagesHowever, because Paul is associated with TKO, it wouldnt be as much of a stark cross-promotion as McGregor-Mayweather. Because of the connection and the WWEs strong presence and following in India, it wouldnt be a shock to see a TKO takeover weekend.Could we be headed toward a weekend that sees a WWE event, UFC card, and the Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor boxing match happen over the course of three days?White hasnt wanted to blend his business with WWE in the past, but as a one-off, its tough to imagine a more appropriate exception to make from a pure business standpoint.Read More: Former UFC Champion Has Perfect Idea For Donald Cerrones Return FightPeople asking for White to allow Jon Jones to fight Francis Ngannou are a bit delusional. Is it an all-time great fight that would captivate fans across the globe? Yes. Would I personally love to see it? You bet. However, businessmen and women arent interested in seeing fan fantasy fights play out unless they stand to gain from it.The Professional Fighters League would naturally jump at the chance to have Ngannou fight Jones. If their guy wins, they level up in a major way. The UFC is already No. 1. Even if Jones lost, the UFC would still be No. 1, but it would legitimize the PFL a bit more in fans eyes.Allowing Jones to fight Ngannou is simply giving the No. 2 promotion an opportunity to close the gap. Jones legacy may grow, but it does nothing for the UFC. Why would anyone running the UFC, in its current position allow that?LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Conor McGregor of Ireland greets UFC president Dana White during the ... [+] UFC 264 press conference at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCHaving McGregor fight Paul in an exhibition boxing match doesnt harm the UFC or give any sort of edge to a competitor. Having so many sports and entertainment companies connected makes that kind of weekend feasible.The Albani Family, who is said to be interested in funding the event for a national tourism campaign, could be delivering one of the more memorable weekends of combat sports and professional wrestlingif my wild speculative concept lands.I expect to hear info on this being finalized or killed before the end of January.
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  • WWW.FORBES.COM
    Oricos New Mac Mini Upgrade Series Boosts Apples M4 Baby
    The new Orico MiniMate is an easy way to add external storage to Apple's new Mac mini M4. OricoLast years most exciting computer launch for me had to be the new Apple Mac mini M4. This tiny computer is packed with processing power and is not much larger than an Apple TV. The baby Mac mini is even sensibly priced and should attract lots of new users to the macOS platform looking for an affordable Mac.Like all small computers, the Mac mini M4 is bound to attract accessory manufacturers looking to sell docks, hubs and stands for expanding Apples new baby. One of those accessory companies is storage specialist Orico. The brand will be announcing four new products designed exclusively for the new Mac mini M4 and those products will be on show at the upcoming CES 2025 show in Las Vegas next week.The Orico Mac Mini Upgrade Series has been designed to leverage the potential of Apples new Mac mini M4. The range offers stylish and cost-effective ways of extending the Mac mini M4s storage and connectivity. The products are bound to appeal to graphic designers, video editors, content creators or anyone working from home who wants enhanced productivity.The Orico MiniLink is an easy way of adding extra ports, SD/TF card slots and SSD storage to Apple's ... [+] Mac mini M4.OricoThe new Orico MiniMate is a cost-effective external storage option that boosts the storage capacity of the Mac mini M4 while blending in seamlessly with Apples sleek design. The MiniMate can be fitted with solid-state storage ranging from 512GB to 4TB. The size and finish of the MiniMate match the Mac mini M4 perfectly because it has identical dimensions for a seamless stacking fit.MORE FOR YOUThe MiniLink is the second product from the Orico Mac Mini Upgrade Series and as well as providing extra storage options, it also provides a selection of extra ports with transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, freeing up the Mac mini from its port limitations and boosting its efficiency.The Orico MiniDock mounts the Apple Mac mini M4 vertically and takes up less desk space. OricoWith nine expansion ports, including three USB-A 10Gbps, SD and microSD card slots, the MiniLink also has an M.2 NVMe SSD bay for adding storage up to 4TB. With ultra-fast 40Gbps SSD speeds, the MiniLink matches the Mac mini M4 perfectly with a cohesive-looking finish.The Orico MiniDock is a 10-in-1 Dock Stand designed for the new Mac mini M4 which mounts the Mac mini vertically on top of the dock and saves desk space while boosting the connectivity of Apples new Mac mini M4. The vertical design of the MiniDock reduces the footprint by 45% and makes it much easier to turn on the Mac mini because the power button is normally on the underside.The comprehensive connectivity offered by the MiniDock includes ports for USB-A, USB-C and HDMI, plus SD/TF card slots. Theres also a Gigabit Ethernet port for maximum compatibility. The MiniDock supports DIY SSD expansion using M.2 NVMe SSD which can expand storage by up to 8TB. Users can configure their Macs storage options to suit their needs.The rear of the Orico MiniDock has extra USB ports, HDMI, Ethernet and a bay for M.2 NVMe SSD. OricoFinally, the MiniTower is the fourth product in the Orico Mac Mini Upgrade Series and it has been designed for professionals working on video editing, audio production and graphic design. The Orico MiniTower offers hybrid storage expansion with a choice of SSD options up to 8TB and up to a further 48TB of space using traditional hard drives.The MiniTower can be configured to work as a RAID drive in RAID 0, RAID 1 or normal mode for enhanced data safety. With USB-A ports and SD 3.0 slots for handling large file transfers. The MiniTower is ideal for ingesting large amounts of video files.The Orico MiniTower is the same width and depth as Apple's Mac mini M4 and has space for two ... [+] traditional hard drives and up to 8TB of SSD NVMe storage.OricoThanks to multi-system compatibility, the MiniTower can work with macOS, Windows and Linux for those users with diverse workflows. The MiniTower is also ideal for creators who need a lot of high-speed storage options beyond the SSD offered by Apple when ordering a Mac mini M4.Pricing & Availability: The new Orico MacMini Upgrade Series will launch at CES 2025. Prices start from $99 / 90 /99 for the MiniMate with 512GB, but the cost of each unit depends on how much storage is ordered.The four Orico MacMini Upgrade Series products offer a range of expansion options for Apple's new ... [+] baby Mac.Orico
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  • WWW.WSJ.COM
    Sea Bean Review: Surviving in the Shetlands
    In the unique and fragile maritime environment of the Shetland Islands, a writer finds challenge and solace.
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  • WWW.WSJ.COM
    Fiction: Playworld by Adam Ross
    A child actor comes of age in 1980s Manhattan in Adam Rosss novel.
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  • WWW.WSJ.COM
    Ingrained Review: The Wisdom in Wood
    A furniture makers memoir reveals some of the secrets of woodworking artistry.
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  • WWW.NATURE.COM
    Author Correction: Oxidative cyclization reagents reveal tryptophan cation interactions
    Nature, Published online: 02 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08558-8Author Correction: Oxidative cyclization reagents reveal tryptophan cation interactions
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  • GAMERANT.COM
    The First Descendant: Ultimate Lepic Build Guide
    In The First Descendant, there are quite a few characters you can unlock, and even their Ultimate versions, which are much more powerful. One such character is the Descendant Ultimate Lepic. While the regular Lepic is a well-rounded character with strong offense and survivability, the Ultimate version of Lepic further enhances his stats and mod capacity.
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