Kalakshar US

A group of TikTok creators have joined the legal fight to keep the app from being banned in the United States. Eight creators have sued the US government in an effort to block a law requiring TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell the service. 

The lawsuit claims that the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment rights of the creators who depend on the platform. “They have found their voices, amassed significant audiences, made new friends, and encountered new and different ways of thinking—all because of TikTok’s novel way of hosting, curating, and disseminating speech,” it states. “The Act’s ban of TikTok threatens to deprive them, and the rest of the country, of this distinctive means of expression and communication.”

The lawsuit comes one week after TikTok filed its own lawsuit against the government. According to The Washington Post, the company is “covering” the legal fees for the creators participating in the latest suit. It’s also strategy that has worked for the company in the past. A group of Montana-based TikTok creators sued the state over an attempted statewide ban last year. That effort was ultimately successful and the ban never went into effect. The Montana creators were represented by the same law firm currently repping the eight creators involved in the latest suit.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-group-of-tiktok-creators-are-also-suing-the-us-government-to-stop-a-ban-of-the-app-181524472.html?src=rss 

Microsoft just released a new update for Xbox Cloud Gaming that finally brings mouse and keyboard support, after teasing the feature for years. The tool is currently in beta release and works with both the Edge and Chrome web browsers. It looks pretty simple to use. Just select a game that supports a mouse and keyboard and have at it.

You can also instantly switch between a mouse/keyboard combination to a standard controller by pressing the Xbox button on the controller or pressing a key on the keyboard. The company says it’ll be rolling out badges later in the month to alert users which games support mouse and keyboard inputs.

For now, there’s support for 26 games. These include blockbusters like ARK Survival Evolved, Halo Infinite and, of course, Fortnite. Smaller games like High on Life and Pentiment can also be controlled via mouse and keyboard. Check the above link for the full list.

Microsoft hasn’t said what took it so long to get this going. The feature was originally presumed to launch back in June of 2022, but we didn’t get a progress update until two months ago. No matter the reason, KBM setups are practically a requirement for first-person shooters and, well, better late than never.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xbox-cloud-gaming-finally-supports-keyboard-and-mouse-inputs-on-web-browsers-165215925.html?src=rss 

After shirking tradition and devoting its entire Google I/O keynote to showcase how it’s stuffing AI into everything imaginable, the company has reserved day two to catch up on the one-time star of the show, Android. Alongside the arrival of the second Android 15 beta on Wednesday, Google is unveiling previously unannounced security features in its 2024 mobile software, including AI-powered theft detection, Google Play fraud protection and more.

Theft Detection Lock is a new Android 15 feature that will use AI (there it is again) to predict phone thefts and lock things up accordingly. Google says its algorithms can detect motions associated with theft, like those associated with grabbing the phone and bolting, biking or driving away. If an Android 15 handset pinpoints one of these situations, the phone’s screen will quickly lock, making it much harder for the phone snatcher to access your data.

A fallback Remote Lock feature lets you quickly lock your handset if someone manages to take it without triggering Theft Detection Lock. With Remote Lock, you can (you guessed it) remotely lock the phone’s screen from any device with only your phone number and the completion of a “quick security challenge.” This is designed to avoid situations where someone gets their phone taken (or loses it) but doesn’t know their Google account password to access Find My Device.

Along similar lines, Offline Device Lock automatically locks your phone’s screen — requiring authentication to unlock — when it’s off the grid. This is designed to counter thieves who quickly take a stolen device offline before the owner can lock or wipe it remotely.

Meanwhile, an update to factory reset protection will require your credentials to use the phone after a data wipe, reducing the incentives for them to steal it in the first place. In addition, disabling Find My Device or lengthening the phone’s screen timeout will require security authentication, voiding another common tactic phone snatchers use to reset the device before getting locked out.

Similar to a feature Apple rolled out earlier this year, Android 15 will also require extra authentication when trying to change account security settings (changing the PIN, disabling theft protection or accessing Passkeys) from an untrusted location.

Catch up on all the news from Google I/O 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/android-15-will-make-it-harder-for-phone-thieves-to-steal-your-data-170037992.html?src=rss 

Google just announced at an update coming to Android for Cars that should make paying attention to the road just a tiny bit harder. The automobile-based OS is getting new apps, screen casting and more, which were revealed at Google I/O 2024.

First up, select car models are getting a suite of new entertainment apps, like Max and Peacock, for keeping passengers busy during road trips. The company hasn’t announced which makes and models are getting this particular update, and there are dozens upon dozens of major car models that use this platform. Still, more entertainment options are never a bad thing.

To that end, Android Auto is getting Angry Birds, for those who want another game to fool around with while stuck in traffic. The once-iconic bird-flinging simulator is likely the best known gaming IP on the platform, as Android Auto’s other games include stuff like Pin the UFO and Zoo Boom.

Cars with Android Automotive OS are getting Google Cast as part of a forthcoming update, which will let users stream content from phones and tablets. Rivian models will be the first to get this particular feature, with more manufacturers to come.

Google’s also rolling out new developer tools to make it easier for folks to create new apps and experiences for Android Auto. There’s even a new program that should make it much easier to convert pre-existing mobile apps into car-ready experiences.

Android Auto is becoming the de facto standard when it comes to car-based operating systems. Google also used the event to announce that there are now over 200 million cars on the road compatible with the OS. Recent updates to the platform allow users to instantly check on EV battery levels and take Zoom calls while on the road.

Catch up on all the news from Google I/O 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-announced-an-update-for-android-auto-with-new-apps-and-casting-support-170831358.html?src=rss