B2B leaders say economic climate is the top factor influencing marketing spend, whereas B2C leaders say corporate financial performance is the top factor influencing spend, according to recent research from The CMO Council and Zeta Global. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
This infographic explores how the concept of rhythm--building a relationship between different elements to create harmony--can be applied to social media content. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Learn how AI is transforming sales enablement with these five practical tips. Improve your team's efficiency and effectiveness. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
The first reports of instability issues with the 13th-gen Intel desktop CPUs started popping up in late 2022, mere months after the models came out. Those issues persisted, and over time, users reported dealing with unexpected and sudden crashes on PCs equipped with the company's 14th-gen CPUs, as well. Now, Intel has announced that it finally found the reason why its 13th and 14th-gen desktop processors have been causing crashes and giving out on users, and it promises to roll out a fix by next month.
In its announcement, Intel said that based on extensive analysis of the processors that had been returned to the company, it has determined that elevated operating voltage was causing the instability issues. Apparently, it's because a microcode algorithm microcodes, or machine codes, are sets of hardware-level instructions has been sending incorrect voltage requests to the processor.
Intel has now promised to release a microcode patch to address the "root cause of exposure to elevated voltages." The patch is still being validated to ensure that it can address all "scenarios of instability reported to Intel," but the company is aiming to roll it out by mid-August.
As wccftech notes, while Intel's CPUs have been causing issues with users for at least a year and a half, a post on X by Sebastian Castellanos in February put the problem in the spotlight. Castellanos wrote that there was a "worrying trend" of 13th and 14th-gen Intel CPUs having stability issues with Unreal Engine 4 and 5 games, such as Fortnite and Hogwarts Legacy. He also noticed that the issue seems to affect mostly higher-end models and linked to a discussion on Steam Community. The user that wrote the post on Steam wanted to issue a warning to those experiencing "out of video memory trying to allocate a rendering resource" errors that it was their CPU that was faulty. They also linked to several Reddit threads with people experiencing the same problem and who had determined that their issue lied with their Intel CPUs.
More recently, the indie studio Alderon Games published a post about "encountering significant problems with Intel CPU stability" while developing its multiplayer dinosaur survival game Path of Titans. Its founder, Matthew Cassells, said the studio found that the issue affected end customers, dedicated game servers, developers' computers, game server providers and even benchmarking tools that use Intel's 13th and 14th-gen CPUs. Cassells added that even the CPUs that initially work well deteriorate and eventually fail, based on the company's observations. "The failure rate we have observed from our own testing is nearly 100 percent," the studio's post reads, "indicating it's only a matter of time before affected CPUs fail."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/intel-has-finally-figured-out-its-long-standing-desktop-cpu-instability-issues-130042083.html?src=rss
Adobe has widely released a new and potentially contentious feature: text-to-image generation for Photoshop powered by Firefly, first teased in April. As with LLMs like Dall-E and Mid Journey, you can use it to create an image from scratch by typing a description into Photoshop's updated generative AI tool.
I tried it with the text "Dramatic low angle view of a steamship from the 1800s in a storm with large waves and lightning" in multiple styles (anime, watercolor, sketch, realistic) and got decent results. The usual AI art caveats apply though, particularly with weird details if you look closely. But it certainly created useable results and you have the benefit of already being inside Photoshop to fix any errors.
Adobe Firefly AI-generated image
Previously, Photoshop's Generative Fill feature only let you add, extend or remove specific parts of an image. Now, you can create images from scratch, then tweak them later. "This really speeds up time to creation," Adobe's Erin Boyce told Engadget in April. "The idea of getting something from your mind to the canvas has never been easier."
The feature is powered by Firefly Image 3 model, something at the heart of a recent artist backlash against Adobe. Creators were incensed by language in Adobe's recent ToS (terms of service), interpreting it to mean that Adobe could freely use their work to train the company's generative AI models.
In its latest post, however, Adobe stated that it has a "commitment to creator friendly AI" which means "never training on customer content." It promised to take a creator-friendly approach as part of its AI ethics principles of accountability, responsibility and transparency.
Adobe
Along with image generation, Adobe introduced an "Enhance Detail" feature in Photoshop's Generative Fill. For Illustrator, it introduced Generative Shape Fill to add detailed vectors in a designer's unique style (above), Enhanced Text to Pattern (creating customized vector patterns in the artists style) and Style Reference. It also added a Mockup tool to create "high-quality visual prototypes of art on objects like product packaging," enhanced selection capabilities and more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/adobes-photoshop-can-now-generate-ai-images-via-prompts-like-dall-e-or-mid-journey-130018181.html?src=rss
For all its stacked selection of original content, like Fallout, The Boys and Rings of Power, Prime Video has historically pffered a cluttered, confusing and less-than-intuitive layout especially compared to rivals like Netflix. That changes today as Amazon begins rolling out a new Prime Video UI that, in the companys words, brings clarity and simplicity back to streaming.
The Prime Video redesign starts with a streamlined navigation bar that should make it easier to find your way around. To the left, the bar includes the general categories Home, Movies, TV Shows, Sports and Live TV. Immediately to the right, the nav bar continues with a dedicated tab for content bundled with your Prime membership, followed by sections for add-on subscriptions like Max, Paramount+, Crunchyroll and others. Theres a separate section to add new subscriptions from Amazons more than 100 options straight from the bar.
Meanwhile, a new hero rotator below the bar drills down to highlight content available within each selected bar section. It looks similar to rival services, which doesnt sound like a big deal on paper but should be a welcome change for anyone whos ever futzed around with the confusing old Prime Video UI.
Amazon
Unsurprisingly, Amazon is adding personalized AI-generated recommendations (Made for you) when navigating the bars Movies and TV Shows sections. Using the companys Bedrock AI model, the machine learning recommendations will offer content tips based on your watch history and preferences.
AI will also power new show and movie synopses. Amazon says the change will make browsing their blurbs faster, preventing you from having to scroll around to learn more about a given piece of content.
Finally, Amazon says the UI has new animations, snappier page transitions and zoom effects to make the experience more frictionless. On living room devices, video content will auto-play on the hero rotator as you browse around (much like Netflix and other competitors). If you head to the Live TV tab, recommended stations will also play on their own, continuing until you pick something to give your full attention.
The UI update begins rolling out on Tuesday. You can read more in Amazons announcement post.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-video-gets-a-much-needed-ui-overhaul-with-a-new-content-bar-and-ai-recommendations-120019397.html?src=rss
Condé Nast, the media giant that owns The New Yorker, Vogue and Wired, has sent a cease-and-desist letter to AI-powered search startup Perplexity, according to The Information. The letter, sent on Monday, demanded Perplexity stop using content from Condé Nast publications in its AI-generated responses and accused the startup of plagiarism. It comes a month after Forbes took similar action.
Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch has warned many media companies could face financial ruin in the time it would take for litigation against generative AI companies to conclude. Lynch has called upon Congress to take immediate action.
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ThermoWorks new wireless meat probe uses radio waves
A more reliable connection than Bluetooth.
Right in the middle of BBQ season, ThermoWorks, makers of the Thermapen, is upgrading its wireless meat probe. The RFX Meat uses radio technology rather than Bluetooth to transmit data. The company explains its patent-pending sub-GHz RFX wireless technology provides a more reliable connection with up to 2,132 feet of direct line of sight range. When placed inside a grill or smoker, it should work at up to 659 feet of range, ThermoWorks says. The $159 RFX Meat starter kit is available for pre-order. Shipping starts September 10, so, arguably, not quite in time for BBQ season.
Continue reading.
Google isnt killing third-party cookies in Chrome after all
The advertising industry can heave a sigh of relief.
Google wont kill third-party cookies in Chrome after all, the company said on Monday in a blog. Instead, itll introduce a new experience in the browser that will allow users to make informed choices about their web browsing preferences. Killing cookies, Google said, would hurt online publishers and advertisers.
Over the past few years, multiple delays and regulatory hurdles have hit Googles plans to eliminate third-party cookies. Initially, the company wanted to phase out these cookies by the end of 2022 but pushed the deadline to late 2024 and then to early 2025 because of various challenges and feedback from stakeholders, including advertisers, publishers and regulatory bodies, like the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The company says it will now focus on giving users more control over their browsing data, including additional privacy controls, like IP Protection in Chromes Incognito mode, and ongoing improvements to Privacy Sandbox APIs.
Continue reading.
The Google Pixel 8a is on sale for $449
The best cheap Android phone.
Engadget
Googles Pixel 8a is the best Android phone for less than $500, and now its even cheaper than usual, making it the best Android phone for less than $450. Like past A-series devices (usually the best cheap Android phones in their time), it takes most of the headline features from last years flagship Pixel phone the Pixel 8, in this case and puts them in a slightly cheaper design. You still get a bright and vivid OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and superb camera performance.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-conde-nast-is-the-latest-media-company-to-accuse-ai-search-engine-perplexity-of-plagiarism-111559877.html?src=rss
iRobot unveiled its most advanced and expensive robot vacuum yet on Tuesday. The (deep breath) Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot + AutoWash Dock automatically washes and dries the mopping pad, something you had to do manually on all its previous combo vacs. But at $1,399, many customers will want to wait several generations for the feature to trickle down to models that dont cost nearly the equivalent of a MacBook Pro.
Cleaning robots exist to automate tasks that are a pain for us, and the Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot expands on that. iRobot says the dock, which contains premium antimicrobial materials, can empty its dirt into an enclosed bag, refill the mopping solution tank and clean itself after each pad wash. You can manually run self-cleaning, and its companion app will remind you when its time for standard maintenance or a deeper cleaning.
The robot can store dirt and debris for up to 60 days before emptying, and the mopping pad and self-cleaning tank hold up to seven days of water. At least in theory, the Combo 10 Max leaves less work for the user than any other Roomba before it.
iRobot
iRobot says the new Roomba can seamlessly transition from vacuuming carpet to mopping floors, automatically boosting its suction power when it detects carpets. It can then move back and forth with consistent pressure and deeper scrubbing when it senses that its time to mop.
The combo vacuum is designed to retract its entire mopping system when it reaches carpet, lifting its mop pad to the top of the robot to keep even high-pile carpets fresh and dry. Meanwhile, it can vacuum and mop simultaneously on hard floors.
While other Roomba models have been able to sense particularly messy areas, the Combo 10 Max adds a camera to visually pinpoint dirt on the floor. The company claims this allows it to recognize the dirtiest spots up to eight times more frequently, making multiple passes on those areas more efficiently.
Like other models, the robot cleaner can map your home, but iRobot says it can do so seven times faster than other models while automatically labeling each room type. Its software can even use past cleaning information to predict each rooms cleanliness, proceeding accordingly.
iRobot
The robot works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, and iRobot expects it to be Matter-enabled by the end of 2024. That should cover just about every type of smart home. Of course, it includes the companys memorably branded Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P.). It provides a free device replacement if the robot accidentally plows through pet waste and ruins your day.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max is available for pre-order today on iRobots website in the US and Canada. (Its also available to reserve in Europe and will launch there in the coming months.) However, as marvelous as the technological cleaning wonders sound, its $1,399 cost of admission prices it out of everything but the most well-heeled homes.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/irobots-newest-cleaning-machine-is-the-first-to-wash-and-dry-its-mopping-pad-for-you-110100150.html?src=rss
Aiming to help its residents cope with rising temperatures, the city of Madrid is testing a new type of bus stop shelter. In addition to providing shade, the 'Natural Cooling' bus shelter can actually lower ambient air temperature for waiting passengers by up to 9°C (16°F). Developed and patented by JCDecaux, the units aren't equipped with energy-intensive air conditioning. Instead, they use an age-old technique evaporative cooling. As water evaporates, it absorbs heat from its surroundings and cools the air around it.In the bus shelter, hot air passes through a wet, honeycombed panel. The cooled air is then directed toward people seated on its bench. The self-contained system runs on solar power and harvests rainwater, which is stored in a tank. It only switches on when temperatures exceed 25°C (77°F), and someone pushes a button on the cooling panel. No mist is produced, avoiding health risks associated with inhaling microscopic water droplets.Madrid's municipal transport company, EMT Madrid, recently installed two of the shelters in Pavones and Villaverde Cruce. While JCDecaux announced the product in 2020, this is the first time it's being trialed in a public setting. The pilot project will allow JCDecaux and EMT Madrid, which operates 4,565 shelters throughout the city, to evaluate the concept's real-world performance. If successful, cooling shelters could be widely implemented, offering a tangible solution to urban heat challenges and providing residents with a bit of relief on sweltering days.
Google wont kill third-party cookies in Chrome after all, the company said on Monday. Instead, it will introduce a new experience in the browser that will allow users to make informed choices about their web browsing preferences, Google announced in a blog post. Killing cookies, Google said, would adversely impact online publishers and advertisers. This announcement marks a significant shift from Google's previous plans to phase out third-party cookies by early 2025.
[We] are proposing an updated approach that elevates user choice, wrote Anthony Chavez, vice president of Googles Privacy Sandbox initiative. Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and theyd be able to adjust that choice at any time. We're discussing this new path with regulators, and will engage with the industry as we roll this out.
Google will now focus on giving users more control over their browsing data, Chavez wrote. This includes additional privacy controls like IP Protection in Chrome's Incognito mode and ongoing improvements to Privacy Sandbox APIs.
Googles decision provides a reprieve for advertisers and publishers who rely on cookies to target ads and measure performance. Over the past few years, the companys plans to eliminate third-party cookies have been riding on a rollercoaster of delays and regulatory hurdles. Initially, Google aimed to phase out these cookies by the end of 2022, but the deadline was pushed to late 2024 and then to early 2025 due to various challenges and feedback from stakeholders, including advertisers, publishers, and regulatory bodies like the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
In January 2024, Google began rolling out a new feature called Tracking Protection, which restricts third-party cookies by default for 1% of Chrome users globally. This move was perceived as the first step towards killing cookies completely. However, concerns and criticism about the readiness and effectiveness of Google's Privacy Sandbox, a collection of APIs designed to replace third-party cookies, prompted further delays.
The CMA and other regulatory bodies have expressed concerns about Google's Privacy Sandbox, fearing it might limit competition and give Google an unfair advantage in the digital advertising market. These concerns have led to extended review periods and additional scrutiny, complicating Google's timeline for phasing out third-party cookies. Shortly after Googles Monday announcement, the CMA said that it was considering the impact of Googles change of direction.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-isnt-killing-third-party-cookies-in-chrome-after-all-202031863.html?src=rss
