Nearly a month after DC Young Fly lost Jacky Oh, he honored his longtime partner, the mother of his children, and his ‘Wild ‘N Out’ costar in his latest comedy special.
Nearly a month after DC Young Fly lost Jacky Oh, he honored his longtime partner, the mother of his children, and his ‘Wild ‘N Out’ costar in his latest comedy special.
Apple is once again in trouble for its union-busting practices. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge ruled Apple interfered with employees’ organizing efforts at its World Trade Center store in New York City after workers, Bloomberg reported. Managers were found to have taken away pro-union flyers in the break room and attempted to dissuade employees from joining unions, which prosecutors argued had led employees to end the organizing campaign. A judge ordered Apple “cease and desist from coercively interrogating employees regarding their protected concerning activities and Union sympathies.”
The news broke in early 2022 that Apple store workers nationwide were quietly organizing in response to concerns that their wages didn’t reflect the rising cost of living. However, Apple soon hired the anti-union law firm Littler Mendelson, which also represents Starbucks and McDonalds, among others. The company also instructed store managers to share anti-union sentiments, such as warning employees that joining a union could bring reduced pay, career opportunities and time off. That May, the Communications Workers of America filed Unfair Labor Practice charges for the Apple stores in the World Trade Center and Atlanta’s Cumberland Mall.
Union efforts are slowly gaining ground at Apple stores across the country. The NLRB previously found Apple had violated federal law in Atlanta, including daily mandatory anti-union meetings for employees and interrogating workers. Last year, employees at an Apple store in Maryland and another in Oklahoma voted to unionize. Yet, other locations like the St. Louis branch abandoned plans to unionize, blaming similar tactics by Apple.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-union-busting-practices-violated-employee-rights-at-nyc-store-judge-rules-115036323.html?src=rss
More than a year after he appeared on ‘My 600-Lb. Life,’ Larry Myers Jr. has died at the age of 49.
More than a year after he appeared on ‘My 600-Lb. Life,’ Larry Myers Jr. has died at the age of 49.
You can get your kid a new e-reader or tablet at a discount from Amazon right now if you’re looking to stoke their love of reading or just simply want to get them a new toy. The 8GB Kindle Paperwhite Kids is currently on sale for $90, which is 44 percent off its list price of $160. That’s a new all-time low for the e-reader that only sold for as low as $100 in the past. Paperwhite for Kids is simply just the ordinary version of the e-reader that comes bundled with a cover, a screen protector and a year-long subscription to Amazon Kids+. The company’s subscription service for children gives them access to thousands of child-friendly books, including the complete Harry Potter series.
If you want a multi-purpose device instead, Amazon’s Fire tablets for kids are also on sale for up to 50 percent off. You can get the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet for only $75 instead of $150 and the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet for $55 instead of $110. The 8-inch Pro tablet comes with 32 GB of internal storage, while the latter comes with 16GB. All the Fire tablets ship with sturdy covers, and all of them come bundled with a year-long subscription to the Amazon Kids+ service, where children could find age-appropriate apps, videos, books and games. They also have parental controls you can use to filter content based on your kid’s age.
Finally, you can also pick up an Echo Dot with a cool dragon or owl design for $28. That’s also the lowest we’ve seen the smart speaker go for on the website, where it usually sells for $60. Alexa will automatically switch to kid-friendly responses on this speaker, though your children could choose to customize the assistant so that it speaks in pretend dragon or owl voices. The device also comes with a year-long subscription to Amazon Kids+, giving your children access to age-appropriate Audible books, interactive games and educational Alexa skills. All the devices on sale ship with a two-year worry-free guarantee — simply put, if it breaks within two years, Amazon will replace it.
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/amazon-sale-drops-the-kindle-paperwhite-echo-dot-and-fire-tablets-for-kids-to-all-time-lows-105536967.html?src=rss
Amazon has announced the dates for its next annual shopping event. Prime Day 2023 will be on July 11th and 12th this year, beginning at 12AM PT/ 3AM ET on Tuesday, July 11th, and concluding at the end of Wednesday, July 12th.
Prime Day isn’t necessarily a perk of Amazon’s subscription service, like access to Prime Video content, but most deals on Amazon during the two-day event are exclusively available to Prime members. The cost of Prime has increased quite a bit since its launch in 2005, and even in the past few years. An annual membership will set you back $139 right now, $20 more than its previous price. (Then again, maybe free phone service could soon sweeten the deal?).
Prime Day is typically the best time of the year to get Amazon devices – I’m keeping an eye out for the Kindle Scribe – but we also expect to see worthwhile sales on headphones, robot vacuums, laptops, SSDs and much more. I suggest following Engadget Deals on Twitter for the latest news during Prime Day and sign up for the new Engadget Deals newsletter to get the best deals delivered right to your inbox.
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Panasonic launched the S5 II and S5 IIX full-frame cameras, finally embracing phase-detect autofocus to put it on par with rivals. We’ve already tested the S5 II but now we’re looking at what I think is the more interesting model, the S5 IIX. It has an identical design and many of the same features as its sibling, like the new autofocus system and highly effective in-body stabilization. However, it adds a key function: the ability to record high-quality, easy-to-edit ProRes video internally. The new autofocus is good but not quite up to the Sony A7 IV, and it lacks the full-frame 4K 60p video of the Canon R6 II, but it’s far better for video than both models, thanks to the ProRes option and other features not in either rival model. Engadget’s Steve Dent tests it out.
The Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., said this week that although the organization will consider music with limited AI-generated voices or instrumentation for award recognition, it will only honor songs written and performed “mostly by a human.”
“At this point, we are going to allow AI music and content to be submitted, but the Grammys will only be allowed to go to human creators who have contributed creatively in the appropriate categories,” Mason said in an interview with Grammy.com. On the other hand, it raises questions about artists like Holly Herndon, who used an AI version of her voice to cover Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Or, for that matter, there’s the upcoming “final” Beatles track that Paul McCartney says will use AI to isolate a garbled recording of John Lennon’s voice.
Mason acknowledged AI would upend the music industry. “AI is going to absolutely, unequivocally have a hand in shaping the future of our industry,” Mason said. “So, we have to start planning around that and thinking about what that means for us.”
Apple is widening its Self Service Repair program to cover its more recent devices. From June 21st, you can get the parts, tools and manuals to fix the iPhone 14 range and the M2 versions of the 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Apple has even expanded component repairs on older models: You can fix the TrueDepth camera and top speaker on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models in the US, UK and seven European countries. Crucially, you won’t have to call Apple to finish your repairs. The System Configuration tool, which verifies and authenticates fixes with official parts, now works simply by putting a device into Diagnostics mode and following instructions.
A great smartphone doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Features once exclusive to high-end devices – including big batteries, multi-camera arrays and high refresh rate displays – are moving down to their more affordable siblings. While there are still some things you’ll only find on flagship smartphones, you don’t have to compromise as much anymore. If you have less than $600 to spend, you still have some decent options.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-amazon-prime-day-kicks-off-july-11th-111557870.html?src=rss
TikTok has enjoyed a significant advantage over Instagram Reels in that anyone can download a TikTok video and post it to another social media network — something that helps draw new users to the platform. Now, Instagram has finally gained that ability, according to a post by CEO Adam Mosseri (using the new broadcast channels feature) spotted by TechCrunch.
The feature is only available to US users on mobile for now, and only for public and not private accounts. At the same time, users with public accounts can choose a setting that blocks users from downloading their Reels. To use the feature, you tap on the “Share” icon for a given Reel and select “Download.”
An image posted by Mosseri (top) appears to show that downloaded Reels will be watermarked with the Instagram logo and name of the account, much as TikTok does. YouTube also started adding watermarks to Shorts videos created on desktop, likely also as a way to bring attention to its short video feature.
Instagram now appears to be taking the same tack, likely also seeing it as a way to ensure people see Reels on other social media networks. It’s not going out of its way to accommodate videos from rival platforms, though. The Meta-owned company allows TikTok and other videos to be uploaded, but its algorithms stopped promoting any watermarked videos from rivals back in 2021.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-finally-lets-users-download-reels-093425845.html?src=rss
Twitch has overhauled its mature content policies, switching from a general toggle to specific categories describing what viewers can expect. The new Content Classification Labels are mature-rated games, sexual themes, significant profanity or vulgarity, gambling, violent and graphic depictions and, lastly, drugs, intoxication or excessive tobacco use.
The ratings apply to both the game and you. For example, if you’re playing a mature-rated game, Twitch will automatically label it as such. But, if you’re playing an E-rated game and excessively swearing, you will need to mark your stream as having significant profanity or vulgarity. In general, it’s pretty obvious when to use a label based on their names, but Twitch’s Content Classification Guidelines break down when to use each one in incredible detail (from pose examples to categorizing swear words). The rules around what’s not allowed on streams have stayed the same.
You can access Content Classification Labels in the Stream Manager’s “Edit Stream Info” section below the language control. A pull-down menu will show the six options with a short description following each. All you need to do is click whichever applies to your current stream and, if it changes, add or remove them as you go.
Keep in mind that whatever labels remain checked when you end a stream will be automatically applied to your next one unless you unclick them. You can report users to Twitch (and vice versa) for not including required labels, and if Twitch agrees, they will issue a warning.
While these new Content Classification Labels are already available to use, Twitch is giving everyone an adjustment period of sorts. You can still get warnings, but Twitch will only start tallying them after July 20. At that point, “repeated warnings” will likely still not get you suspended with Twitch, instead opting to lock certain classifications onto your account for a set amount of days or weeks.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitch-replaces-its-mature-content-mode-with-more-granular-labels-100501056.html?src=rss
An all-out sister battle went down during the June 21 episode of ‘The Family Stallone’ after Jennifer spilled a family secret.
An all-out sister battle went down during the June 21 episode of ‘The Family Stallone’ after Jennifer spilled a family secret.
While most subreddits that went dark to oppose the website’s API changes are now live and active again, some moderators aren’t done protesting the changes on the platform. As The Verge reports, several popular subreddits that historically prohibited porn have started allowing users to post NSFW or Not Safe For Work content. These communities include r/interestingasfuck, r/TIHI (Thanks, I Hate It), r/mildlyinteresting and r/videos.
In r/TIHI’s case, for instance, a stickied post says the subreddit is removing a rule that forbids extreme NSFW content and will now welcome them, as long as they’re legal under US law. A similar post on r/interestingasfuck lists a smaller and less restrictive set of new rules, including labeling whether a post is NSFW or not and prohibiting sexual content with minors. By allowing their subreddits to be filled with posts deemed not safe for work, the moderators have made sure that Reddit can’t monetize them. NSFW subreddits haven’t been eligible for ad targeting in years, and the website doesn’t allow ads for adult-oriented products, as well.
Reddit’s response to the situation has been swift — administrators have reportedly removed whole moderating teams for communities that have labeled themselves NSFW. If you take a look at the r/interestingasfuck and r/TIHI subreddits, you’ll see that their moderator boxes are empty, save for a note that says “This subreddit is unmoderated. Visit r/redditrequest to request it.” Reddit spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt told The Verge: “Moderators incorrectly marking a community as NSFW is a violation of both our Content Policy and Moderator Code of Conduct.”
The other subreddits mentioned now have a full moderating team and no longer have explicit posts. It’s unclear whether the mods themselves decided to go back to regular programming or whether they were forced to do so. Several r/mildlyinteresting moderators told the publication that while it’s true they were locked out of their subreddits by a Reddit admin, they were reinstated by a different administrator. Said admin reversed the seven-day suspension they got, as well.
All these events stemmed from Reddit’s decision to start charging access to its API. Reddit was originally targeting companies scraping the website for content used to train Large Language Models for generative AI, but its decision also affects thousands of third-party clients and apps that tie into the platform, including ones with moderation tools. Thousands of communities protested the move by setting their subreddits private and making them inaccessible.
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, however, was unmoved by the protest and told the NPR: “It’s a small group that’s very upset, and there’s no way around that. We made a business decision that upset them.” He also told NBC News that he plans to allow ordinary users to vote moderators out more easily based on their decisions. A company representative echoed that sentiment in a post on the website and added: “If a moderator team unanimously decides to stop moderating, we will invite new, active moderators to keep these spaces open and accessible to users”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/popular-subreddits-welcomed-porn-content-to-protest-reddits-api-changes-061033337.html?src=rss
Amazon has officially announced the dates for its next annual shopping event. Prime Day 2023 will be on July 11th and 12th this year — the event will begin at 12AM PT/3AM ET on Tuesday, July 11th, and conclude at the end of the day on Wednesday, July 12th. As it has been for the past few years, Prime Day will be a two-day event during which Prime members can snag deals on everything from electronics to fashion to Amazon’s own devices.
The past couple of years saw Prime Day in different seasons, mostly due to COVID-19 repercussions. In 2020, Amazon had to delay Prime Day until October, and it rebounded a bit in 2021 by having Prime Day in June. Last year, Amazon fully returned to its roots by having its main shopping event in July, although it did add a second Prime Day in October in the lead-up to the holiday shopping season.
Aside from drumming up a large number of sales in a short period of time, Prime Day has always been a way for Amazon to increase the numbers of subscribers it has for its subscription service. Prime Day isn’t necessarily a perk of Prime like access to Prime Video content or free two-day shipping are, but it certainly helps that most deals you’ll find on Amazon during the two-day event are exclusively available to Prime members. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the cost of Prime has increased quite a bit since its launch in 2005, and even within the past few years. An annual membership will set you back $139 right now, $20 more than its previous price.
If you do plan on putting that Prime membership to use next month, you can turn to Engadget to find the tech deals worth your month during the two-day event. Unsurprisingly, Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to get Amazon devices, since most of them will likely be down to all-time-low prices. But we also expect to see worthwhile sales on headphones, robot vacuums, laptops, SSDs and much more. You can also follow Engadget Deals on Twitter for the latest news during Prime Day, and sign up for the new Engadget Deals newsletter to get the best deals delivered right to your inbox.
Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know, and hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-kicks-off-july-11th-this-year-050624779.html?src=rss
