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NieR fans may have a lot to be happy about in the near future. Square Enix has teased a pair of games in the series, including an "upgraded" version of the cult classic NieR Replicant for PC (via Steam), PS4 and Xbox One. The publisher hasn't said…
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Court finds algorithm bias studies don’t violate US anti-hacking law
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Bates observed that many sites’ terms of service (which are frequently buried, cryptic or both) didn’t provide a good-enough notice to make people criminally liable, and that it’s problematic for private sites to define criminal liability. The judge also found that the government was using an overly broad interpretation when it’s supposed to use a narrow view whenever there’s ambiguity.
It’s not certain if the government intends to contest the ruling. If it doesn’t (or loses), however, this effectively greenlights future bias studies without the approval of site operators. Facebook and other social networks could still have the power to kick researchers off their networks or file civil suits, but they couldn’t threaten federal charges and prison time.
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UK internet providers will lift data caps during COVID-19 pandemic
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Telecoms will have to provide “alternative methods of communication” if the outbreak prevents repairs to landlines. They’ll likewise have to ensure customers are “treated fairly” if they have a hard time paying their bills.
ISPs have already made some accommodations of their own, but this should ensure a consistent level of service across these larger companies. Not that there was necessarily much choice. Many of those still employed now have to work from home, and the internet is likely to be a key source of entertainment. While that sudden shift is putting added strain on networks, allowing business as usual could have led to widespread disconnections and overage charges at the worst possible time.
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2020 Detroit Auto Show canceled as venue becomes a field hospital
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Producers had moved the show from January to June to avoid clashing with other events. This was also supposed to enable outdoor events and even test drives that weren’t practical during a Michigan winter.
The Detroit gathering has long been an important show for American automakers, not to mention foreign brands hoping to make a splash in the region. More recently, though, it has served as a showcase for brands of all kinds as they venture into electric cars and connected tech. Companies will still introduce new vehicles, including at later auto shows if all goes well — it’s just going to be much harder to see these introductions in person, and there might not be as much fanfare.
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After Math: Can’t stop, won’t stop talking coronavirus coverage
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With folks expected to stay safe inside for the foreseeable future, a number of companies are stepping up and offering use of their software and apps free of charge for the duration. Apple is the latest to do so, this week announcing that its Final Cut Pro X suite will feature a 90-day free trial rather than the standard 30-day.
Data caps generally shouldn’t be an issue during the quarantine but if you find yourself in a situation where Wi-Fi isn’t readily available, AT&T and Cricket Wireless have a low-cost solution. For $15 a month you can get 2GB of data, unlimited talk and text with no activation fee.
If you live in California, chances are pretty good that your kids are out of class until at least the fall semester. If you live in LA county, however, that revelation won’t having you pulling your hair out because Verizon (which owns this news outlet) is offering free internet connections for as many as 100,000 LAUSD students so they can continue their studies at home.
A mere 10 days after being tasked with their development, the UK’s Dyson corporation has already finalized the design for ventilators very much needed to help combat the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Now comes the challenge of rapidly ramping up production of the “CoVent” devices and getting them to the hospitals that need them most.
DPA invocation or not, it’s great to see some of America’s largest companies step up and help out coronavirus first responders. Now if only we could convince them to pay their taxes so we can be better prepared for the pandemics yet to come.
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Dropbox beta for Mac can finally sync your desktop
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The move comes just weeks after Dropbox reworked its core sync engine to make it easier to maintain and improve reliability.
Like with iCloud, this only really makes sense if you subscribe to one of Dropbox’s paid tiers (2GB is woefully inadequate). Even so, it could be very helpful if you want cloud storage that serves more as a seamless backup for common files than a place to upload specific files.
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Russia busts card fraud ring that included an infamous hacker
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Stroganov was caught back in 2006 and sentenced to six years in prison alongside his associate Gerasim Selivanov, but the two were set free after two years. Selivanov was also arrested as part of this week’s bust.
While it’s unclear why officials chose to act now, cybercrime discussion forum members believe Stroganov and crew were arrested because they committed a cardinal sin in Russia: they targeted people within the country. While authorities are frequently tolerant of cybercriminals targeting the US (and orchestrate hacks themselves), they may have reached a breaking point with a fraudster on their own soil.
It’s not certain that the hacker will get a long sentence. We wouldn’t count on this deterring other crime rings, even those targeting Russia. However, it could disrupt attempts to swipe your financial info — if just for a little while.
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Lab-in-a-box test can detect COVID-19 in 5 minutes
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The key is its use of molecular testing that looks for a small section of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ RNA and amplifying that segment until there’s enough to detect. Other testing methods can take hours or days to produce viable results.
Abbott is in the midst of ramping up production and expects to deliver 50,000 of the tests per day in the US as of next week. However, one of its greatest advantages may be its existing footprint. The ID NOW platform already has the “largest” molecular testing presence in the US, and is already “widely available” in doctors’ offices and emergency rooms. If all goes well, the US could both have a more accurate representation of the pandemic’s scope and ensure that the infected get the right care as quickly as possible.
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Satellite internet startup OneWeb declares bankruptcy to look for a buyer
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The company also alluded to job cuts with references to “remaining employees,” but didn’t say how many people were losing jobs.
This isn’t the end for OneWeb; Chapter 11 is usually used to regroup and get a second chance at life. However, the company clearly in a much more fragile position than it was even a few weeks ago. It has launched 74 satellites so far, but it’s unclear how many more you’ll see if the company doesn’t find a buyer relatively quickly.
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US officials use mobile ad location data to study how COVID-19 spreads
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The goal is reportedly to create a portal with location data for up to 500 American cities, one tipster said. The CDC is understood to be getting data through a COVID-19 Mobility Data Network project coordinated by experts at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton and other schools.
Neither the CDC nor the White House has responded to requests for comment.
This could be helpful for authorities looking where to take action next, such as discouraging people from visiting parks or finding businesses that aren’t complying with shelter-in-place orders. At the same time, there are clear privacy concerns. While the data shouldn’t identify anyone, there are concerns it could still be abused. The rush to defend against COVID-19 may have unintended consequences if the data is mishandled, especially if it sticks around once the pandemic is over.
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