Apple's iPads continue to dominate the tablet market with a diverse lineup catering to various users and uses. Whether you're a casual user who enjoys browsing and streaming or a professional seeking a powerful device for creative work, there's an iPad suited for you. The lineup includes the budget-friendly 11th-generation iPad with an A16 chip, offering great value for everyday tasks; the iPad Air with the fast M3 chip, ideal for medium to long-term use with excellent accessory support; the premium 13-inch iPad Pro featuring the powerful M4 chip and OLED display for top performance and visuals; and the compact 2024 iPad Mini equipped with the A17 Pro chip, perfect for one-handed use. Accessory compatibility, storage options, and budgeting for features like Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard are key considerations. Apple's regular updates suggest it's a good time to buy now, with newer models possibly on the horizon. Overall, buying the best iPad within your budget and holding onto it for years offers the best value and experience.
Welcome to Installer No. 88, your weekly guide to the most interesting and Verge-worthy topics. This week, we've explored crypto crimes, egg thieves, and the Gap, enjoyed documentaries like Last Breath and The Four Seasons, tested the Min browser, learned from The Magic of Code, played Ridiculous Fishing, coded a baby feeding tracker, conquered Mario Kart World, admired the Teenage Engineering scooter, enjoyed Project Indigo photography, and listened to Star Wars Lofi tunes all day. As this is my last edition for the summer, I’m excited to introduce Jay Peters, who will take over next week with fresh content. Feel free to reach out to Jay with your favorite apps and interests to keep the conversation going!
Tesla's recent robotaxi launch event in Austin, Texas lacked the usual big, bold hype and was predominantly covered by a dedicated group of Tesla influencers and Elon Musk superfans. Critical journalists and tech bloggers were sidelined and often mocked by fans for raising basic questions about the service. This behavior reflects a broader culture encouraged by Musk, which fosters resentment against critical media coverage. Prominent influencer Zack on X reportedly ignored repeated attempts from a Reuters journalist to engage, garnering strong support from other users who expressed disdain for traditional media.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a charming top-down adventure game reminiscent of classic Game Boy Advance titles. You play as Pippit, a goofy bat who uses his yo-yo to attack enemies and explore the world. The story kicks off when Pippit's wealthy aunt, merged with his yo-yo, has her Mega Batteries stolen by villains. Your mission is to retrieve these batteries and free her. Along the way, quirky tasks like organizing a soccer fan club help progress through the game. The pixel art and gameplay evoke fond memories of childhood GBA games, offering a delightful retro experience.
After almost ten years of testing wearables and accumulating extensive health and fitness data, I've grown weary of AI fitness summaries. Over the past couple of years, many fitness and wellness apps have integrated AI-generated summaries designed to interpret raw workout data into simple language. Examples include Strava's Athlete Intelligence, Whoop's AI chatbot Daily Outlook, and Oura's Oura Advisor. Despite minor differences, these AI summaries often deliver obvious insights like sleep duration and resting heart rate, accompanied by common sense advice such as suggesting an earlier bedtime if you're tired. This trend results more in repackaging known data than offering deep, deductive analysis.
AI-generated videos have become ubiquitous across social media, often depicting uncanny scenarios like fake natural disasters or animals performing impossible feats. Despite frequently poor visual quality, these videos attract significant engagement, with many praising AI-generated content as a revolutionary art form. Enthusiasm for AI video technology as the future of filmmaking and a disruption to Hollywood is growing. However, skepticism remains about the entertainment industry's immediate embrace of AI, given that the current outputs of AI models often lack the quality needed for professional movies or series.
Critical infrastructure in the US, including water, health, and energy systems, is increasingly susceptible to cyberattacks. The risk heightens during geopolitical tensions, such as recent US military actions in Iran, where digital battlefields pose significant threats to essential services. Joshua Corman from the Institute for Security and Technology highlights the importance of protecting these vital systems as cyber threats evolve. Past incidents like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and recent assaults on community water systems underscore the urgency of strengthening cybersecurity defenses. While immediate panic isn't necessary, there is a crucial need to rethink and enhance protections for hospitals, water supplies, and other critical lifelines.
Meta has traditionally trained its AI using publicly uploaded images on Facebook and Instagram. Now, the company is exploring access to private, unpublished photos on users' devices. Facebook users attempting to post Stories have received prompts to opt into "cloud processing," allowing Facebook to regularly upload selected photos from their camera rolls. This enables Meta's AI to analyze the media, including facial features, dates, and other content, for creating AI-generated features like collages and themes. Users who agree consent to Meta's AI terms, granting Meta rights to use and retain this personal media data. Meta has not yet started training AI with these private images but has not ruled out future plans.
As the automotive industry embraces hybrid technology, Lamborghini introduces the 2025 Revuelto, its latest V12-powered supercar featuring a plug-in hybrid system. Traditionally known for their powerful but fuel-thirsty engines, Lamborghini surprises with this model by combining exhilarating performance with improved fuel economy. Priced at $612,858 before options, the Revuelto represents Lamborghini's entry into the hybrid era without sacrificing the driving excitement the brand is known for.
Recently, AI firms like Anthropic and Meta have seen significant legal victories regarding their use of authors' books for training AI. Judge William Alsup ruled training on authors' books as fair use in Anthropic's case, while Judge Vince Chhabria dismissed a similar complaint against Meta. However, these rulings reveal the complexity of copyright law in AI, highlighting concerns over the use of pirated material and the impact of AI content on human artists. These developments have added new layers to the ongoing legal debates about AI and copyright.