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Google’s 2020 transparency reports will include enterprise data requests

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“The publication of this information is an important milestone in our efforts to improve transparency and help address broader uncertainty about how often governments are coming to Google to request access to enterprise customer data,” said Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian in a brief blog post.

In the same post, Google outlines five new principles that the company says will guide its government advocacy efforts moving forward. As part of the new principles, Google says governments should approach companies directly when they want access to their data. Similarly, the company says jurisdictions should promote transparency efforts, including ones taken up by cloud service providers like Google, as well as efforts from governmental agencies.

The company will also push governments to provide a clear way for companies to challenge any data requests. Additionally, Google says it will continue to support policies that promote the creation of better security technologies. Last but not least, Google notes it will support initiatives that attempt to modernize existing policies. At the moment, however, we haven’t seen Google put its new pillars in action.

Over the years, Google has tried to make its transparency reports more useful to the public. In 2017, for instance, the company redesigned the documents to make them easier to read. At the time, Google said it embarked on the redesign because it saw how they “can help inform and shape the public debate about information online.” It’s likely the same thought inspired the company’s latest efforts.

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SpaceX’s next Crew Dragon test could happen next week

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An “anomaly” that occurred during another static fire test in April caused an uncrewed capsule to explode. Earlier this month, SpaceX suggested the problem was due to a leak somewhere between the launch abort and orbital maneuvering systems. It has redesigned that part of the capsule.

The capsule will eventually transport as many as seven astronauts to the International Space Station at a time. An empty Crew Dragon docked with the ISS and successfully returned to Earth during a test in March.

If all goes well during the static fire, SpaceX should then move on to its next test: an “in-flight abort” centered on the SuperDraco safety system. SpaceX would attach an empty Crew Dragon to a rocket and, soon after liftoff, activate the system. It also plans to run at least 10 tests of the Crew Dragon parachute system. A crewed test, Demo-2, could take place early next year.

Meanwhile, Boeing is set to test its own Starliner capsule with an uncrewed flight to the ISS in December. Boeing and SpaceX have contracts with NASA for human spaceflight systems under the Commerical Crew program. Both have struggled with issues with their capsules that have caused delays to crewed launches.

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Google researchers taught an AI to recognize smells

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The researchers created a data set of nearly 5,000 molecules identified by perfumers, who labeled the molecules with descriptions ranging from “buttery” to “tropical” and “weedy.” The team used about two-thirds of the data set to train its AI (a graph neural network or GNN) to associate molecules with the descriptors they often receive. The researchers then used the remaining scents to test the AI — and it passed. The algorithms were able to predict molecules’ smells based on their structures.

As Wired points out, there are a few caveats, and they are what make the science of smell so tricky. For starters, two people might describe the same scent differently, for instance “woody” or “earthy.” Sometimes molecules have the same atoms and bonds, but they’re arranged as mirror images and have completely different smells. Those are called chiral pairs; caraway and spearmint are just one example. Things get even more complicated when you start combining scents.

Still, the Google researchers believe that training AI to associate specific molecules with their scents is an important first step. It could have an impact on chemistry, our understanding of human nutrition, sensory neuroscience and how we manufacture synthetic fragrance.

Google isn’t alone. At an AI exhibit at London’s Barbican Centre earlier this year, scientists used machine learning to recreate the smell of an extinct flower. In Russia, AI is being used to sniff out potentially deadly gas mixtures, and IBM is experimenting with AI-generated perfumes. Some have even toyed with using our sense of smell to reimagine how we design machine learning algorithms.

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The Eero Pro mesh networking kit, and more!

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Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad

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Street price: $140; deal price: $104

If you’re an avid Apple fan and looking for a way to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, then this may be the pad for you. Available for $104, this is the first deal we’ve seen on the Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad since the news broke out that Apple would not be releasing their AirPower charging pad. This pad has a section specifically meant for your iPhone, an indented area for your AirPods case, and a mini stand for your Apple Watch.

In our guide to the best wireless charging station now that Apple AirPower is dead, the Mophie 3-in-1 is our top pick. Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer Nick Guy wrote, “The Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is the best choice if you want a single charging station that can power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and second-gen AirPods at once. It’s better designed to accommodate AirPods and the Apple Watch than any of the models we tested. We liked the simple, clean aesthetics and attention to detail, like the rubber elements that ensure your devices won’t slip.”

Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons

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Street price: $400; deal price: $320

Available for $320, down from a typical price around $400, this is a decent drop on an attractive and easy-to-set-up Wi-Fi mesh-networking kit. Great for starters, this 3-piece set is a good entryway into Wi-Fi mesh-networking for those looking to get started. We’ll likely see Eero bundles fall lower in price over Cyber Week, but if you’d prefer the certainty of buying one now, this is a worthwhile deal.

The top pick in our guide to the best Wi-Fi mesh-networking kits, the Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons works for homes with both simple and complicated layouts. Jim Salter and Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer Joel Santo Domingo wrote, “After testing dozens of mesh-networking kits, we found that the Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons set is the first mesh kit most people should consider. The system is physically attractive, simple to deploy and maintain, and high performing, and you can easily expand it with additional units for especially large or complicated spaces. Eero was the first home mesh-networking system, and this is the second time we’ve tested and recommended its second generation. It’s more expensive than our other picks, but we think it’s worth that investment.”

PowerA GameCube Style Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch

Gadget deals

Street price: $45; deal price: $37

Matching deals we’ve seen outside of deals events like Black Friday, the PowerA GameCube Style Switch Controller is on sale for $37 from $45. If you like purple and aren’t willing to wait and see if it falls any lower over Cyber Week, this deal is a good chance to pick up a retro controller for a classic gaming feel.

The retro-style controller pick in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch Accessories, the PowerA GameCube Style Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch is a classic alternative to the Switch Pro Controller. Wirecutter Editor Andrew Cunningham wrote, “Nintendo’s GameCube controller, originally released back in 2001, is still popular among fans of the Super Smash Bros. series—so much so that Nintendo sells a USB-to-GameCube adapter and new Smash-branded GameCube controllers. But if you don’t want to deal with all those wires—or if you want a GameCube-style controller with all the extra buttons you’ll need to play other Switch games—we like PowerA’s GameCube-style wireless controller.”

RAVPower 61W Type C PD 3.0 Power Adapter (RP-PC105)

Gadget deals

Street price: $36; deal price: $30 w/ on-page coupon

We recommend this dual port charger in our guide to the best USB-C laptop and tablet chargers. Clip the on-page coupon to bring the black color down to $30, a solid discount matching previous deals we’ve posted before, though not the lowest we’ve seen. Sales are rare on the RAVPower 61W, so if you’re interested, now is a good time to buy.Usually more expensive than our other picks, the RAVPower 61W Type C PD 3.o Power Adapter (RP-PC105) is the upgrade pick in our guide to the best USB-C Laptop and Tablet Chargers. Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer Nick Guy wrote, “RAVPower’s 61W Type-C PD 3.0 Power Adapter (RP-PC105) is the best solution for charging both your USB-C computer and a second device (such as a phone or Bluetooth speaker) at the same time. It’s a little smaller than the Nekteck 60W charger, but it offers the same output from its USB-C port when a single device is charging. If you plug into the USB-A port, the USB-C speed drops to 45 watts, a rate that is still fast enough to keep most computers charged. You pay for this level of convenience though, as the RP-PC105 is more expensive than the Nekteck charger and doesn’t come with a cable.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go here.TOC TAGS

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40 music festivals pledge not to use facial recognition

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Last month, musicians like Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Nahko of Nahko and Medicine for the People, Speedy Ortiz and Thievery Corporation began speaking out against the use of facial recognition at concerts. In a campaign organized by Fight for the Future, artists, fans and activists criticized the use of the technology and threatened to boycott events.

Yesterday, Morello and Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future, confirmed that 40 companies have gone on record to say they don’t plan to use the tech.

The organizers say this isn’t just about festivals. “This victory is the first major blow to the spread of commercial facial recognition in the United States, and its significance cannot be overstated,” Morello and Greer wrote in a BuzzFeed News op-ed.

Facial recognition is becoming more ubiquitous. We’ve seen it used at a Taylor Swift concert and police in Boston once used it to monitor concertgoers. But those behind the campaign note that it is still deeply flawed and has a proven racial and gender bias. Even Axon, a major supplier of police body cameras and software, says it won’t use facial recognition in its body cameras until it’s more accurate.

Three cities have banned the use of facial recognition, and a proposed bill could ban it in federally-funded housing. If the Fight for the Future campaign sets a precedent, we might see more private groups pressuring companies to drop it.



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Toyota will offer rides in self-driving cars at the Tokyo Olympics

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The “complex environment of pedestrians, vehicle traffic, diverse road infrastructure and tall glass buildings” in that area of the metropolis will pose a “challenging setting in which to demonstrate the capabilities” of the autonomous tech, Toyota said. The automaker will open up applications from members of the public who’d like to hitch a ride in the P4 vehicle, which is based on the Lexus LS500h sedan. Per Japanese law, a safety driver will be behind the wheel, ready to take over if needed.

Toyota is getting the P4 ready for the test by replicating some of Odaiba’s more challenging infrastructure and driving characteristics at its facility in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. Testing is also taking place around Toyota Research Institute’s offices in Los Altos, California and Ann Arbor.

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OnePlus 7T Pro with 5G is coming to T-Mobile later this year

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The standard 7T Pro is a mildly souped-up 7 Pro with a Snapdragon 855+ chip, a minimum 8GB of RAM, faster charging, an ever-so-slightly larger battery and photography extras like 960FPS slow motion video and a macro mode. The McLaren model bumps the RAM to 12GB and, of course, adds that signature black and orange color scheme with an ethereal pattern on the back. There’s not much rush to get this model if you already have a 7 Pro (or most other recent phones, really). It’s likely your best chance at getting a 7T Pro in the US, however, and the futureproofing for 5G might sweeten the deal.

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A ‘Hocus Pocus’ sequel is in the works for Disney+

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At first, Disney’s decision to bring back Hocus Pocus may come off as a bit of a headscratcher. As Variety notes, the movie wasn’t exactly a box office smash back in 1993, earning only a modest $39 million on a budget of $28 million. Hocus Pocus also didn’t impress critics at the time, but in the years since the movie has developed a cult following — thanks in part to frequent Disney Channel airings.

As a sequel to a cult classic then, a new Hocus Pocus makes a lot of sense for Disney+. Despite its extensive back catalog, what’s likely to convince people to subscribe to the service and keep them there is original content, especially if it mines properties people are nostalgic about. With the slate of new movies and TV series coming to competitors like Apple TV+ and HBO Max, Disney needs to use every asset it can to stand out in a crowded field.

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The ‘Narcos’ game is coming to PC and consoles in November

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The core gameplay style appears to be similar to X-Com and other tactical titles, but there are a few twists. It’s a class-based game where special characters (like Murphy for the DEA or El Mexicano/Gacha for the Cartel) have unique abilities and bonuses. You can also take direct control of characters at crucial moments, and occasionally move them multiple times in one turn. It’s far too soon to say if this is truly more than a turn-based game with cocaine thrown in, but it’s more in-depth than other Netflix tie-ins.

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Panasonic’s S1H is the first mirrorless camera approved by Netflix

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According to Netflix’s production guide for the S1H, you have to shoot in at least 4K using the V-Log color space with 4:2:2 10-bit All-I (400 Mbps) encoding. Crucially, Netflix requires a pixel-for-pixel sensor readout with no line-skipping. The S1H can handle that either by cropping to a Super 35 portion of the sensor (approximately APS-C) or using the full width of the sensor. The latter makes the S1H the cheapest option, by far, for a full-frame camera.

The S1H is approved for anamorphic productions in large format (3:2), using Panasonic’s uncropped 6K video (5,888 x 3,312) or Academy 4:3 capture in 4K. You can also shoot slow-mo at 60 FPS 4K using a cropped, Super 35 sensor size. Other settings on the camera like in-body stabilization and e-stabilization can be used with some limitations imposed (no panning with the boost I.S. mode). The S1H has a number of other features that likely helped with approval, like time code jamming, fine noise-reduction control and more.

The S1H isn’t a cheap camera at $4,000 for the body, but it’s by far the cheapest full-frame Netflix approved camera. Mind you, the body price is just one part of that equation — the lens alone on the front of the camera above retails for $10,000.

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