Technology
Amazon’s FTC antitrust lawsuit gets partially dismissed
Amazon’s FTC antitrust lawsuit has been partially dismissed according to new reports, resulting in a “partial win” for the online retailer. In 2023, the FTC sued Amazon for alleged monopolistic practices. Claims from the FTC ranged from Amazon punishing sellers by deprioritizing them from the algorithm if they sold items on their own websites for less than Amazon, to artificially increasing prices which caused consumers to have to pay more money for items.
Amazon requested the case be dismissed in December of last year. Just a couple of months after the lawsuit was initially filed. The case wasn’t dismissed at that time. However, it seems that now almost one year later, things may be partially going in Amazon’s favor.
Amazon’s antitrust lawsuit hasn’t been completely dismissed, but a motion has been partially granted
There isn’t a ton of detail about the motion being partially dismissed. However, it does look like Amazon may be in less trouble than was initially thought when the lawsuit first came up. This week, Reuters and Business Insider have reported that Judge John Chun partially granted Amazon’s motion. This ruling was sealed, so the particulars are unclear. Chun has said that the FTC can still proceed with some of its claims. So while some were permanently dismissed, others are still open for continued pursuance.
It’s also not clear what parts of the lawsuit may have been dismissed and what wasn’t. Chun also ruled that the FTC’s case will be split up into two separate trials. “Chun also ruled the case will be tried in two parts, rejecting Amazon’s bid to have the FTC present evidence of the alleged violations and its proposed remedies in the same trial,” Reuters reports.
Amazon’s FTC lawsuit is a major one for US regulators
Amazon among other big tech companies has according to regulators, been allowed to operate unchecked. Google itself has been involved in several big lawsuits with regulators. The most recent is Google’s trial over the way it operates its ad business. Amazon’s trial is monumental in that it’s the world’s biggest online retailer, and the FTC wants to see Amazon forced to run its business in a way that won’t harm consumers.
The final ruling of Amazon’s case is still uncertain. However, this week’s recent ruling certainly goes a long way to help Amazon, it seems.
Technology
Pebblebee Universal trackers support Google’s & Apple’s networks
These days, choosing a Bluetooth tracker can be a bit of a headache. Since both Apple and Google have their own advanced device tracking networks, you have to choose devices for one or the other. However, Pebblebee has decided to solve this problem with its new Universal trackers that support both networks.
Bluetooth trackers usually only support one tracking network. Therefore, if you want to take advantage of the advanced network-level tracking possibilities, you’ll have to use your tracker only with certain devices. However, you won’t have that problem with Pebblebee’s new Universal trackers. The company has released three models: Pebblebee Clip Universal, Pebblebee Tag Universal, and Pebblebee Card Universal.
You can set these Pebblebee Universal trackers on Google’s and Apple’s networks
Although the new trackers are compatible with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device, they don’t support both networks at once. You can only set them to one of the networks, and you’ll have to reset them if you want to switch to another. This is normal and will likely be the case for all similar trackers in the future. While both networks perform similar tasks, there are fundamental architectural differences that prevent full interoperability between them. Basically, each company uses its own proprietary tech.
The Pebblebee Clip has a small circular form factor that’s ideal for keychains. On the other hand, the Pebblebee Card is similar to a credit card, though a bit thicker. Then there’s the Pebblebee Tag, which stands out as the smallest of the bunch.
All models boast an IPX6 rating, multi-sensory alarms, and rechargeable batteries. The Card and Clip models offer a Bluetooth range of up to 500 feet, while the Tag variant stops at 300 feet. Interestingly, Pebblebee’s network offers some features not yet available on the Find My Device network, such as Left Behind notifications and reverse phone finding.
Pricing and availability
Pebblebee’s new Universal trackers are now available on the company’s website. All variants cost $35 per unit, so you just have to choose which form factor best suits your needs. You can also get better prices if you buy the trackers in packs (2-pack and 4-pack).
Technology
Switch emulator Ryujinx is kaput after Nintendo pressure
Nintendo has shuttered another emulator, this time putting an end to Ryujinx. The program was an open-source emulator for playing Nintendo Switch games on Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems. A message shared today with the emulator’s Discord server stated that the developer was contacted by Nintendo with a deal to cease work on the project. No additional details were given about the conditions of that agreement. The same message was also posted on X:
The emulator will still function for anyone already running it, but the Github repository has been removed. Ryujinx also made some headlines last month for running the new game at more than , vastly outstripping the Switch’s capabilities.
Nintendo has taken an aggressive stance on emulators, even teaming up with in 2023 to try and curb game piracy. Ryujinx is one of the more popular emulators it has taken on, but the game company also reached a settlement with the emulator Yuzu in March. It issued a whopping in May to try and remove all the Yuzu code hosted across different Github repositories.
Servers computers
The all-new Secretlab MAGNUS Pro Sit-to-Stand Metal Desk
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Technology
Pika 1.5 launches with physics-defying AI special effects
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Pika, also known as Pika Labs, was one of the first startups to emerge with its own AI video generation model, allowing users to simply type in text and get video clips in return, raising $35 million in a Series A in November 2023.
But it’s been nearly a year since Pika launched its 1.0 text-to-video AI platform and since that time, many competitors have emerged and/or updated their models to outclass Pika in terms of realism and the effects they’re capable of, chief among them, Runway which is on its Gen-3 Alpha Turbo model and Luma AI which in August debuted its Dream Machine 1.5 AI video model.
But no longer: acknowledging its relatively lengthy (at least for the AI industry) period of quiet, Pika today announced it is launching Pika 1.5, an updated version of its model that offers eye-popping, physics defying special effects or “Pikaffects” that can transform imagery subjects into bizarrely malleable versions of themselves.
These animated special effects are available from a new button labeled Pikaeffects, and include the following pre-sets: Explode it, melt it, crush it, inflate it and “cake-ify it” — the latter of which essentially turns your image subject into the meme videos of highly realistic prop cakes.
Pika 1.5 will automatically seek to identify the subjects or objects in the video and apply the corresponding effect, even if it’s not possible for that subject or object to transform in that way in reality.
Some of the effects — namely crush it, squish it, and cake-ify — actually insert new props such as a hydraulic press, human hands and a knife into the frame, yet allow them to interact with the objects in the still image and thus, resulting video.
The results are often hilariously incongruous yet convincing, with Pikaffects turning the entire world into a playground of convincing yet surprising deformations.
Already winning fans among AI video creators and early adopters
Already, AI early adopters and video creators on X are posting incredible results and noting that while other rival AI video generators have largely all raced to provide increasing realism and more control of the virtual “camera” in their platforms, Pika is laudable for pursuing a radically different approach.
Starting today, both free and paid users can access this new version, unlocking an array of advanced features and creative possibilities.
More improvements across the board
Pika 1.5 promises significant improvements across the board, particularly in generating more powerful video clips through both image-to-video (i2v) and text-to-video (t2v) workflows.
Users can now create high-quality, five-second clips, incorporating lifelike movements such as running, skateboarding, and even flying.
For those looking to make their creations truly cinematic, the platform has added new motion control features, allowing users to include advanced shots such as Bullet Time, Vertigo, Dolly Left, and Crane Down.
This makes it easier to capture dynamic, professional-level footage without needing deep technical expertise.
Paid users can still use Pika 1.0 and its Lip Sync and AI Sound Effects
While Pika 1.5 offers a range of exciting new features, paid users still have the option to switch between the older Pika 1.0 model and the new version.
Features such as its ElevenLabs-powered Lip Sync, SoundFX, and the ability to extend and expand clips remain tied to Pika 1.0 for now.
The platform has also made it easy to control camera motion, styles, and effects directly within text prompts, offering more creative flexibility.
Pricing remains unchanged — but the number of credits to make a video is going up
The company has confirmed that while subscription prices remain unchanged, each five-second clip generation will now require 15 credits, reflecting the increased power and resource demands of the new model.
Users will notice that generation times are naturally longer for the Pika 1.5 model, though Pikaffects is designed to generate faster, offering a quicker way to explore the new capabilities.
Pika is actively encouraging users to experiment with Pika 1.5 by joining its community challenges, where participants can win free credits to use on the platform. Credits won through these challenges are fully valid for use with the latest model. Additionally, users are invited to share their feedback and report bugs via the platform’s feedback channels, helping Pika continue to improve its tools.
With the release of Pika 1.5, users now have access to a more powerful model for creating high-quality, dynamic video content.
The addition of Pikaffects, cinematic shots, and lifelike movements offers exciting new possibilities for creators, regardless of their experience level, and is clearly already helping Pika differentiate itself amid an increasingly crowded and competitive AI video model space.
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Servers computers
Dell Enterprise Glasgow: Introduction to Blades and Chassis
An Introduction to the m1000e modular solution including a brief summary and basic troubleshooting that can help to identify faults .
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Technology
Ashton Kutcher, Effie Epstein, and Guy Oseary are coming to Disrupt 2024
Last year, Sound Ventures, the 9-year-old, Beverly Hills, California-based venture firm led by general partners Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, and Effie Epstein, announced a new $265 million AI fund that was betting big on large language model companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face.
In fact, the plan was to invest in just six companies — a risky but potentially lucrative bet on the team’s vision of the future, where, because of the technical talent required and the capital needed to cover compute costs, the biggest winners in AI will be few and massive.
Sound has since raised more money for that same fund. It also appears to have stuck to its mission, judging by the few deals it has publicly disclosed in 2024, and we’re thrilled to be hosting all three at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 to dish about their strategy — along with the trends they are tracking right now.
Kutcher has perhaps made the transition between the worlds of acting and investing more seamlessly than anyone else in Hollywood, starting on his venture path in 2010 with the launch of A-Grade Investments with talent manager and business partner Guy Oseary, whose early bets on Airbnb and Uber helped cement their reputation for getting into the right deals at the right time.
The two, who went on to found Sound Ventures in 2014, brought aboard Epstein several years later to complement their own skill sets. Epstein previously led global strategy at the Marsh & McLennan subsidiary Marsh. She also served as SVP of planning and head of investor relations at iHeartMedia, and before that, she worked in business development at Clear.
Epstein also previously worked in investment banking in the energy sector, bringing a diverse set of experiences and contacts to the table.
In fact, in addition to Sound Ventures, the three also run SoundWaves, an investment vehicle dedicated to the next generation of clean, circular, and sustainable businesses, which are good for the environment and often hard to scale and sustain; we’ll talk with them about this, too.
You definitely don’t want to miss this fireside on the Disrupt Stage, where you’ll be among the 10,000 tech, startup, and VC leaders attending Disrupt 2024. Register today to lock in your ticket price before it goes up at the door.
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