Technology - Kalakshar US

Anthropic is letting Claude AI control your PC

Anthropic’s latest development gives its Claude AI assistant the ability to control a PC, reportedly just like a person would. The feature, dubbed ‘computer use,’ entered public beta today. With computer use, Claude can be directed to execute tasks such as “looking at a screen, moving a cursor, clicking buttons, and typing text,” according to the company’s announcement.

We’ve built an API that allows Claude to perceive and interact with computer interfaces.

This API enables Claude to translate prompts into computer commands. Developers can use it to automate repetitive tasks, conduct testing and QA, and perform open-ended research. pic.twitter.com/eK0UCGEozm

— Anthropic (@AnthropicAI) October 22, 2024

In theory, this could make the AI even more useful in automating repetitive computer tasks. However, a second blog post focused on computer use acknowledged that this application of Anthropic’s AI models is still early in development and, to paraphrase, buggy as heck. The company said that in internal testing, Claude stopped in the middle of an assigned coding task and began opening images of Yellowstone National Park. While that is uncannily human behavior (who doesn’t want to take a break to stare at natural beauty during the work day?), it’s also a reminder that even the best AI models can have errors.

In addition to unveiling computer use, Anthropic also released an upgraded version of its Claude 3.5 Sonnet model alongside a brand new model called Claude 3.5 Haiku that will be released later in October. In August, Anthropic joined OpenAI in agreeing to share its work with the US AI Safety Institute.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-is-letting-claude-ai-control-your-pc-181500127.html?src=rss

Stable Diffusion 3.5 follows your prompts more closely and generates more diverse people

Stable Diffusion, an open-source alternative to AI image generators like Midjourney and DALL-E, has been updated to version 3.5. The new model tries to right some of the wrongs (which may be an understatement) of the widely panned Stable Diffusion 3 Medium. Stability AI says the 3.5 model adheres to prompts better than other image generators and competes with much larger models in output quality. In addition, it’s tuned for a greater diversity of styles, skin tones and features without needing to be prompted to do so explicitly.

The new model comes in three flavors. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large is the most powerful of the trio, with the highest quality of the bunch, while leading the industry in prompt adherence. Stability AI says the model is suitable for professional uses at 1 MP resolution.

Meanwhile, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large Turbo is a “distilled” version of the larger model, focusing more on efficiency than maximum quality. Stability AI says the Turbo variant still produces “high-quality images with exceptional prompt adherence” in four steps.

Finally, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium (2.5 billion parameters) is designed to run on consumer hardware, balancing quality with simplicity. With its greater ease of customization, the model can generate images between 0.25 and 2 megapixel resolution. However, unlike the first two models, which are available now, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Medium doesn’t arrive until October 29.

The new trio follows the botched Stable Diffusion 3 Medium in June. The company admitted that the release “didn’t fully meet our standards or our communities’ expectations,” as it produced some laughably grotesque body horror in response to prompts that asked for no such thing. Stability AI’s repeated mentions of exceptional prompt adherence in today’s announcement are likely no coincidence.

Although Stability AI only briefly mentioned it in its announcement blog post, the 3.5 series has new filters to better reflect human diversity. The company describes the new models’ human outputs as “representative of the world, not just one type of person, with different skin tones and features, without the need for extensive prompting.”

Let’s hope it’s sophisticated enough to account for subtleties and historical sensitivities, unlike Google’s debacle from earlier this year. Unprompted to do so, Gemini produced collections of egregiously inaccurate historical “photos,” like ethnically diverse Nazis and US Founding Fathers. The backlash was so intense that Google didn’t reincorporate human generations until six months later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/stable-diffusion-35-follows-your-prompts-more-closely-and-generates-more-diverse-people-184022965.html?src=rss

The next-gen Roomba Essential robovacs have self-emptying docks and double the suction

Only six months after iRobot launched its budget-friendly Essential robot vacuums, the lineup already has two new models. The Roomba Combo 2 Essential and Roomba Vac 2 Essential “double the cleaning power” of their predecessors and bring self-emptying dust bins to the series for the first time.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential ($425) combines vacuuming and mopping capabilities, while the Vac 2 Essential ($400) is a vacuuming-only model for those without tile or hardwood floors. Both have 100 percent stronger suction than the first Essential vacs. The latter already had 20 times the suction power of the Roomba 600 series it replaced on the low end of iRobot’s product line.

Both machines have self-emptying capabilities, spitting dirt and debris into self-sealing bags inside the docking station. The bags can hold up to 60 days of dirt before you need to change them. The vacuums have four levels of suction power, a multi-surface bristle brush and an edge-sweeping brush.

iRobot

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential has the cheaper model’s vacuuming capabilities while adding mopping with three levels of water dispensing. For only $25 over the vacuum-only model, this one seems like the obvious choice unless your home is fully carpeted.

One thing higher-end models offer that these don’t is advanced navigation with LiDAR. Instead, budget models like these move in simple (but still effective) neat rows.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential is now available in North America for $425 on iRobot’s website and at third-party retailers. The vacuum-only Vac 2 Essential costs $400 and is sold at select retailers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/the-next-gen-roomba-essential-robovacs-have-self-emptying-docks-and-double-the-suction-164014213.html?src=rss

Medical record tracking comes to Samsung Health

In an update spotted by 9to5Google, Samsung Health now lets users view their medical records. Samsung is working with b.well Connected Health, a platform designed to provide people with access to their health data, to make these changes happen. They can access previous medical records, including vaccinations, prescriptions and specific medical tests.

Not only does Samsung Health provide information from the past. It can also provide recommendations for next steps and actions, as well as prompt users to seek medical attention.

Since the end of last year, Samsung Health has had a medication tracking feature. Now, Samsung says the feature is coming to South Korea and India, and it is collaborating with healthcare providers in those countries as needed.

One final notable update involves food intake monitoring. Samsung Health now has a barcode scanner to more easily record food products. The company is partnering with fatsecret, a provider of verified food and nutrition data. As a result, you can scan a barcode to get nutritional information instantly. This feature is coming first to the US and some EU countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. There are plans to expand it to other regions in the future.

Samsung isn’t only working to improve people’s health with the Samsung Health app. The FDA greenlit a sleep detection feature for Galaxy Watch this year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/medical-record-tracking-comes-to-samsung-health-170011090.html?src=rss

Metal Slug Tactics finally arrives on November 5

The return of Metal Slug is almost upon us. It’s been three years since spin-off Metal Slug Tactics was unveiled. After some delays, the game finally has a firm release date of November 5.

Rather than the classic run-and-gun gameplay of the original games, Metal Slug Tactics takes a more methodical approach to the action. As the name suggests, it’s a tactical RPG. It does retain the pixel art look of the old games, though. Metal Slug Tactics is billed as both an homage to its predecessors and a new spin on the series, with some roguelite elements designed to boost replayability.

In their latest trailer, developer Leikir Studio and publisher Dotemu provide a fresh look at the game. It reveals three additional characters who appeared in earlier games from original publisher SNK in Clark Still, Ralf Jones and Leona Heidern.

The last new mainline game, Metal Slug 7, debuted in 2008. Since Metal Slug Tactics was announced, a couple of other spin-offs have arrived in the form of mobile titles Metal Slug: Commander and Metal Slug: Awakening, which later came to PC. However, this one is bound for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/metal-slug-tactics-finally-arrives-on-november-5-171012984.html?src=rss

The Ring Stick Up Cam is back on sale for a record-low price

FAO bargain hunters: in case you happened to miss this deal when it was previously available, the Ring Stick Up Cam has dropped back down to a record-low price at Amazon. The camera is available for $55, which is $45 off of the $100 list price. The device fell to this price a couple of times in recent months, including in the lead up to the October edition of Prime Day.

The camera’s name doesn’t have anything to do with an old-fashioned heist. Instead, the “stick up” part refers to the fact you can position the camera just about anywhere. This is a model with a rechargeable battery, so you won’t have to worry about figuring out how to hook it up to a power outlet.

You can keep an eye on the live 1080p camera feed using the Ring app or a compatible Echo device, such as the Echo Show. Two-way communication is available through those too. You’ll get real-time notifications when the Stick Up Cam detects movement. There’s the option to set up privacy zones for which the camera won’t record or enable motion detection. In addition, there’s a night vision mode. To store footage in the cloud, you’ll need to subscribe to the Ring Protect Plan. This costs between $5 and $20 per month.

The latest Ring Battery Doorbell is on sale as well. This model only debuted in August but it has already dropped from $100 to a record low of $60. Amazon says this iteration has a 23 percent improvement in battery life compared with the prior version. There’s a pin-push mount that’s said to make installation easier as well, while there’s support for the Head-to-Toe HD video mode seen on other Ring cameras.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-ring-stick-up-cam-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-154035881.html?src=rss

Meta and GoFundMe team up to streamline social media donations

Meta and GoFundMe have partnered up to simplify the process by which folks use social media to donate to charitable causes. GoFundMe links will still be shared via social media, but now they’ll boast a suite of improvements. This integration impacts both Instagram and Facebook.

The companies say the new GoFundMe links create an “interactive experience for potential donors.” To that end, there’s a big and bold new donate button that jettisons users to the official GoFundMe page to complete the transaction. The social media posts are also now dynamic, meaning they change in real time as the amount of money raised and the number of donors fluctuates.

GoFundMe

There’s also new “seamless” integration with Instagram Stories, which is handy. GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said in a press release that this move was intended to “give organizations the tools to inspire a new generation of supporters to make a difference for the causes they care about.”

These new features will soon be available in the US, Australia, Ireland, Canada and the UK. Beyond GoFundMe integration, social media sites have always experimented with different ways to streamline charitable giving. Instagram gave users the ability to create group fundraisers back in 2021 and added donation stickers before that.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-and-gofundme-team-up-to-streamline-social-media-donations-163042446.html?src=rss

The Xbox Wireless Headset receives microphone and battery life upgrades

Microsoft has just announced its new Xbox Wireless Headset, and it now comes with a free Dolby Atmos license. Previous iterations of the headset required owners to purchase a license separately. That’s typically a $15 purchase, which covers up to 10 Windows or Xbox devices. Another notable upgrade is its battery life, which, according to Microsoft, has increased to 20 hours of playtime.

Microsoft

Regarding the Dolby Atmos license, Microsoft once posted that it had an exclusivity window with Dolby for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. This was later proven untrue as the company clarified that the post was published in error. However, the fact that this headset comes with a license saves users some cash and could help more people try out the technology. Our best gaming headset list also contains some headsets that come with Dolby Atmos licenses, like the Audeze Maxwell.

The new Xbox Wireless Headset model doesn’t only have audio improvements. The microphone now has voice isolation and an improved auto-mute to prevent outside noises from garbling your audio output. Clear communication is important when communicating with the team to win, after all.

Besides having Dolby Atmos support, this new headset works with Windows Sonic and DTS Headphone:X. Windows Sonic is a spatial sound solution found on Windows computers. DTS Headphone:X is another 3D sound solution also for Windows, but requires a free download from the Microsoft Store. All three are designed to help enhance game audio and make it more immersive for the player. If the sound isn’t good enough for your tastes, you can adjust it using the Xbox Accessories app.

To reduce latency, the Xbox Wireless Headset comes with a Qualcomm S5 Gen 2 chipset. It also has Bluetooth 5.3 support.

Currently, the Xbox Wireless Headset is available for purchase for $110. While Microsoft hasn’t mentioned which regions have it in stock, it’s available in select regions both online and from retailers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/the-xbox-wireless-headset-receives-microphone-and-battery-life-upgrades-151455182.html?src=rss

One of our favorite budget robot vacuums is 33 percent off right now

The Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ robot vacuum is on sale via Amazon for just $300. That’s 33 percent off and a record low, as the regular price is $450. This is a limited time deal, for those who tend to mull things over for significant periods of time. No judgment. I do that too.

In any event, this model actually made our list of the best budget robot vacuums. We loved the suction power, the precision LiDAR mapping and the robust app and voice controls. The DuoRoller+ is actually an updated version of the original Q5 with a bevy of upgrades. The suction power has gone up to 5500 Pa, the dustbin grew to 770ml and there’s a self-emptying base.

This model also comes with dual brushes, thus the name, which helps deal with ornery pet hair and the like. It’s worth noting that Roborock’s app has come a long way in recent years, if you had trouble navigating the UI back in the day. It’s still not the most polished app, but it gets the job done.

The battery allows for 240 minutes of continuous use on a single charge. This translates to around 3,700 square feet of cleaning per charge. The only major downside here is that the Q5 is a traditional robovac. It can’t mop. You can’t beat that $300 price tag though.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-budget-robot-vacuums-is-33-percent-off-right-now-152526989.html?src=rss

Epic Games launches a new unified game development assets marketplace, Fab

If you’re a game developer or animator, chances are you frequent sites like the Unreal Engine Marketplace, Quixel, ArtStation Marketplace and Sketchfab Store. The days of buying assets from each of these stores separately are over, as Epic Games just launched Fab, its new marketplace merging all of the sites mentioned above.

While the Fab website is live, Unreal Engine 5 Editor users can also access it in the app directly when the update is live. Unreal Editor for Fortnite also has Fab integration, which is currently down for maintenance.

Fab’s content includes animations, VFX, environments, characters, plug-ins and much more. These assets may have either a Creative Commons license or Standard License; the latter comes in Personal and Professional tiers. Epic Games says that both tiers of the Fab Standard License allow assets to be used in any game engine you want. However, the Creative Commons license only allows assets to be used on Unreal Engine. 3D assets can also be viewed in real time before purchasing to ensure developers only get the products they need.

Epic Games

The entire Quixel Megascans library is available for free now until the end of this year, and the contents are free to use in all engines and creation tools. There are 17,000 assets from the original library, along with 10 packs accompanying Fab’s launch.

Epic Games also mentioned some future goals for Fab, including Roblox and Minecraft assets, access to MetaHumans and more. There will also be a portion of Fab’s Megascans content made free next year in the form of a starter pack.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-games-launches-a-new-unified-game-development-assets-marketplace-fab-135335228.html?src=rss