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Half a million users could be leaving X due to “blocking” changes  

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X, formerly known as Twitter, has undergone multiple changes under Elon Musk’s administration. In some cases, the changes have led to backlash from users who try alternative platforms in response. That’s what’s been happening in the last few hours with modifications to the behavior of the “blocking” feature and terms of use on X. Up to half a million users could be leaving X, according to reports.

Bluesky reported half a million new users after the latest X’s announcements

Bluesky is a social platform that emerged as a rival to Twitter. It was the brainchild of Jack Dorsey, former co-founder and CEO of Twitter. However, Dorsey is not currently part of the project and has even been highly critical of it. He claims that Bluesky is making the same mistakes as Twitter and is not the original idea.

Anyway, after news about updates to the terms of use of X, Bluesky published that it received 100,000 new users. A day after the announcement, Bluesky updated the numbers, stating that they received 500,000 folks. So, up to half a million users could be leaving X right now. The influx of new people even caused an outage on Bluesky’s servers for a couple of hours.

That said, it is not the first time something like this has happened. There have been multiple instances of users massively trying out an alternative service to X/Twitter after an announcement that caused anger. However, for various reasons, many users later returned to the platform. We will likely find out in the coming hours whether the situation has changed this time.

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The changes in the “blocking” feature that caused the backlash

First, the blocking function will no longer work as it has until now. When you block a profile on X, it prevents you from viewing any posts or replies from that particular profile. It also prevents the blocked profile from interacting with you. If the profile comments on a post you are reading or a contact shares a post from that profile, you will only see a message indicating that the post has limited visibility. If you tried to check that account, you would only see a message saying that you blocked it (or you were blocked) on the feed.

However, X is rolling out a new behavior for the block option. Now, all public posts on the blocked profile will still be accessible, but the account will not be able to interact with you. Of course, it won’t be able to send you direct messages or anything similar. Notably, checking the feed of a blocked profile was not particularly difficult. Opening said profile from a tab in “Incognito mode” of your browser was enough.

Elon Musk showed intentions to change the way the “block” feature works last year. It even seems that his initial intention was to remove it, since in August 2023 he said that it “makes no sense.” However, more than a year later, the X dev team is only changing the behavior of the option.

New AI training policies too

The other reason behind the backslash is the new data usage policies for AI training. Until now, X only used the platform’s content to train Grok, its own AI-powered chatbot. However, the platform will now allow third parties to use X’s content to train their AI models as well. The topic of artificial intelligence training always generates controversy, and this time was no exception. The artists were particularly unhappy with the announcement.

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Netflix’s most popular movie right now is this obscure Russell Crowe revenge flick

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Netflix's most popular movie right now is this obscure Russell Crowe revenge flick
A man lights a match in his car in Unhinged.
Solstice

Among the many mysteries of the world, few are more profound or significant than the question of why a particular movie or TV show is at the top of the Netflix chart on any given day. Some of the movies that get to that spot make sense, but others can be head-scratchers, at least at first blush.

Unhinged is one such title that has been dominant on the Netflix charts recently, and while it may seem like a pretty random movie, there are some important reasons for its appeal. The movie tells the simple story of a woman who honks at another car in rush hour traffic, only to discover that the man behind the wheel of the other car is now tailing her, and has hatched a plan for revenge. Here are three reasons you should check it out.

We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Maxand the best movies on Disney+.

It gives Russell Crowe a chance to go full villain mode

Russell Crowe in Unhinged.
Solstice Studios

For most of his career, Russell Crowe has played some variation of the leading man. As lead actors age, though, they often slip into other kinds of roles, and those roles often give them a chance to show off skills that they didn’t get to display during their leading-man days.

That’s exactly the case for Crowe here as he plays a villain who lives up to the name of the movie he’s in. Crowe displays some true menace here that isn’t part of his normal body of work, and by the end of the movie, it’s easy to forget that we rooted for this guy in Gladiator.

It’s delightfully pulpy

Unhinged Trailer #1 (2020) | Movieclips Trailers

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Part of the reason Unhinged might be so popular is that it has a remarkably simple, easy-to-engage premise. It’s a story of road rage gone horribly awry, taking a circumstance that many people have encountered and pushing it to its extreme.

The result is a film that’s full of propulsive energy, and one that will keep you watching in part because of the danger it puts its central character in. Unhinged feels like a B movie, and it doesn’t have any aspirations to be anything more than that.

It’s indebted to an early Spielberg masterwork

Duel (1971) Official Trailer – Dennis Weaver, Steven Spielberg Thriller Movie HD

Unhinged has a lot of obvious similarities with Duel, one of Steven Spielberg’s very first movies. The film tells the story of a man who inadvertently makes a truck driver very angry, and then is pursued across the country by that very same truck. The difference with Duel is that we never see the other driver.

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While Unhinged lacks some of the technical wizardry that a young Spielberg was able to bring to the project, both movies are worth watching, if only to remember how the legacy of older films gets passed down to newer titles.

Unhinged is streaming on Netflix.



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Crypto’s $130 million election binge has boosted Utah’s John Curtis

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Crypto's $130 million election binge has boosted Utah's John Curtis


U.S. Rep. John Curtis speaks during the Utah Senate primary debate for Republican contenders battling to win the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, June 10, 2024, in Salt Lake City.

Rick Bowmer | AP

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SALT LAKE CITY — John Curtis, a Republican congressman from Utah, has become a favorite of the crypto industry in his bid to win the Senate seat held by the departing Mitt Romney. He took a somewhat oblong route through the telecommunications sector to get there.

At an event in Salt Lake City last week, Curtis told a few dozen crypto enthusiasts that he had a conversation a few years ago with some fellow House members about internet service providers and how to incentivize them to boost their offerings. The various lawmakers were throwing around different connection speeds — 50 megabits, 100 megabits — but when Curtis asked whether they’d ever run a speed test, he got puzzling responses.

“They looked at me like I was from another planet,” Curtis told the crowd at the Permissionless conference.

Curtis, 64, said he realized then that lawmakers needed to be smarter about regulations and actually understand the user experience. That’s particularly true in crypto, he said.

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“This is so important to get government involved, because if they don’t understand what you’re doing, they’ll make really bad decisions,” the Provo-based congressman said, as the attendees nodded their head in unison. “The worst part of regulation is its unpredictability.”

Curtis’ attitude toward crypto is a big reason why digital coin enthusiasts have filled his coffers in his campaign against Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich, setting him up for what appears to be a landslide victory next month.

The Defend American Jobs PAC, a single-issue committee focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain policy, has contributed more than $1.9 million to Curtis’ campaign, according to Federal Election Commission data compiled by crypto market and blockchain analyst James Delmore and verified by CNBC. Additionally, the PAC spent more than $1.5 million to oppose Curtis’ Republican primary challenger, Trent Staggs.

Crypto PAC money backs Utah Senate candidate and others across U.S.

Ben Lucas, Curtis’ campaign spokesman, declined an interview on behalf of the congressman. He sent a statement from Corey Newman, the chief of staff, saying that, “John has always been a strong supporter of the crypto industry as it will help Utah’s economy continue to grow and be a great place to create jobs.” 

The sprawling and decentralized digital asset industry is backing Curtis and others who are publicly adopting a pro-crypto policy within their campaigns. The crypto industry accounts for nearly half of all donations made by corporations this election cycle as the sector outpaces both the big banks and oil. Of the 42 primary candidates that crypto-backed super PACs supported, they were successful in 36.

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In total, crypto groups have spent over $130 million in congressional races for this year’s election, including the primaries, according to FEC data.

Crypto picks its targets

Venture firm Andreessen Horowitz found in its recent State of Crypto report that more than 40 million Americans hold crypto, a group that’s young and bipartisan. The report said 51% of them indicated they’re likely to throw their weight behind crypto-friendly candidates.

Curtis says the best thing the industry can do is police itself, and then come to lawmakers with the right kind of guardrails, striking a balance of safety and security without excessive regulation.

Three crypto PACs, which are primarily backed by Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz, have been targeting competitive Senate and House races across the U.S.

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Protect Progress has given more than $10 million apiece to Senate candidates in Arizona and Michigan. In Arizona, the group favors Democrat Ruben Gallego, who is vying for the seat being vacated by Kyrsten Sinema. In Michigan, the preferred choice is Elissa Slotkin, who is currently a Democratic House member.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) becomes emotional as the crowd cheers on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 22, 2024. 

Kevin Wurm | Reuters

The Republican candidates in Indiana and West Virginia have each received more than $3 million from Defend American Jobs. In Massachusetts, a super PAC for Republican John Deaton has pulled in $2.6 million from the crypto industry. Deaton, however, is polling way behind Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is one of the crypto sector’s top antagonists in Washington.

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“Elizabeth Warren is not going to lose her election in Massachusetts, so the industry can’t get rid of Warren,” said Delmore. “But they can at least help to vote out candidates who are allied with her against the crypto industry.”

One big target is Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, the chair of the banking committee. Some $40 million of crypto money has been directed at defeating Brown, and one PAC has paid for five ads designed to boost awareness of his Republican rival, Bernie Moreno, a blockchain entrepreneur. The race is currently very close and is crucial in determining which party will control the Senate.

In House races, around $3.6 million in crypto PAC money has gone to candidates in Arizona, $5.4 million in New York, more than $4.8 million in Virginia, and $5.7 million in California, with half of that spend going to Republican Michelle Park Steel.

Crypto PAC money has been party agnostic and not just focused on battleground districts. The focus is on supporting lawmakers who embrace regulation that favors the technology rather than getting in its way.

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“When we talk about digital assets, when we talk about crypto, that is not about Republicans and Democrats,” said House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), at Permissionless. “That’s about Americans, that’s about decentralization of a system that has been, literally, consolidated at the top.”

WATCH: Trump family given $337.5 million token stake in new crypto project

Trump family given $337.5 million token stake in new crypto project, document reveals



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Songs from Instagram can now be quickly added to Spotify playlist

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Instagram and Spotify are now collaborating to ensure users have quick and seamless access to songs. Instagram users will now be able to quickly add what they like to their Spotify library with just a few taps.

Short-form videos make song discovery easy but listening to them was difficult.

Nearly every social media platform app is now offering short and ultra-short videos. These videos have a wide variety of content. However, one of the most included elements is songs or audio tracks from popular albums and even movies.

It is quite common to discover new songs and artists from apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. Despite knowing the names of the songs, it has been cumbersome to add them to a Spotify playlist. The process involved multiple steps, which the two platforms have now reduced.

Instagram and Spotify have reportedly ensured that users can quickly add songs they like to their Spotify playlists. Specifically speaking, Spotify indicated it is working with Instagram for a seamless experience.

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“We know that music is all around you and sometimes that means right on your social media feed. That’s why beginning today, Spotify is excited to unveil a new integration with Instagram that makes it even easier to capture and instantly add songs to Spotify from Instagram with just one simple tap.”

How to add songs from Instagram to Spotify playlists?

Instagram users will reportedly have a simple and quick way to add songs they like on Instagram and Reels to their Spotify library with just a few taps.

Previously, Instagram and Reel users were able to get more information about the song they listened to in one of the videos. However, moving forward, users would be able to the song to Spotify without leaving the app.

Instagram has essentially added a new button that appears right next to the player for listening to a preview of the song. The button says “Add” with the Spotify logo right next to the audio scrubber.

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When users tap that Add button, the song will get added to the “Liked Songs” in their Spotify library. Instagram has indicated that the new Add button will be available all around the world. As expected, the feature would be rolled out gradually.

It goes without saying, Instagram users will have to link their Spotify account with their Instagram account. However, after the linking process, it is a one-tap process to add songs from Instagram to Spotify playlists. Incidentally, TikTok has been offering this future for quite some time.

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The US Treasury is using AI (a vehicle for fraud) to detect fraud

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The US Treasury is using AI (a vehicle for fraud) to detect fraud

AI has been used to defraud people through everything from calling voters to faking celebrity giveaways. Now, the US Treasury Department claims machine learning AI has played a critical part in its enhanced fraud detection processes over the past year — if a broken clock can be right twice a day, maybe AI can do something good one time?

In a new release, the Treasury states it prevented and recovered “fraud and improper payments” worth over $4 billion over the last fiscal year (October 2023 to September 2024). This number represents a tremendous increase from the previous year, which reached just $652.7 million. One-fourth of the $4 billion apparently comes from recovery by “expediting the identification of Treasury check fraud with machine learning AI.” Again, does it feel a bit like making a deal with the devil? Yes. But, such is 2024.

The $1 billion comes alongside $2.5 billion in prevention from “identifying and prioritizing high-risk transactions” and another $680 million toward additional prevention techniques.

The Treasury plans to share the technology with other federal agencies, though some have already implemented their own. The IRS, for example, has taken steps to use AI to find tax evaders, automate services and conduct audits.

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Embracing diversity: GamesBeat’s Diversity in Gaming Lunch is just around the corner

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Embracing diversity: GamesBeat's Diversity in Gaming Lunch is just around the corner

Presented by Xsolla


“Inclusivity in gaming” isn’t a buzzwordy slogan, and it shouldn’t be a burden for game developers – in fact, it’s good for business. The game playing audience is 3 billion strong, encompassing enthusiasts of every age, background and ability. But there’s a big gap between who’s playing, and the kinds of characters they see on the screen. Why should developers care?

“Diversity and inclusion are not just ethical imperatives; they are essential for driving innovation, creating meaningful connections within the gaming community and building sustainable growth for the entire industry,” said Bridget Stacy, VP of marketing at Xsolla. “A sizeable majority of players want more diverse characters, and more diverse stories, and at this year’s Diversity in Gaming Lunch, we’ll share actionable strategies to meet their needs and bring diversity, equity and representation in gaming to our players and our industry.”

Stacy is referring to the Diversity in Gaming Lunch at GamesBeat Next 2024, presented by Xsolla (October 28-29, 2024 in San Francisco, CA). The lunch will take place on Tuesday, October 29 from 12:30-1:30pm PT and it’s open to all GamesBeat Next attendees.

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Attendees will join a panel of industry experts in an engaging panel discussion that takes on the big challenge: the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry, and why inclusion is actually a key driver of innovation and long-term success.

That’s because gamers in every demographic are putting their money where their mouth is: inclusive game companies can generate $500M+ of additional incremental monthly revenue, and double the average spending of women players. Meanwhile, the challenge to create bigger, more representative stories is fostering major innovation in the ways developers of every size are approaching game design, and bringing to life a more resilient and vibrant industry for all.

Date: October 29, 2024

Time: 1-1:30 pm PT (doors open at 12:30pm)

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Speakers: Sheloman Byrd, CEO, Open Ocean Games; Jessica Murrey, CEO, Wicked Saints Studios; Bridget Stacy, VP of global marketing, Xsolla and more to be announced.

Ready to join? Register to attend GamesBeat Next 2024, and RSVP for the lunch during registration. 


VB Lab Insights content is created in collaboration with a company that is either paying for the post or has a business relationship with VentureBeat, and they’re always clearly marked. For more information, contact sales@venturebeat.com.

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Stoke Voltaics’ portable electric cookware review

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Stoke Voltaics’ portable electric cookware review

Sometimes you just need a portable electric cookset. Maybe it’s during a major power outage when everyone’s huddled together over the warm glow of the family power station. Or maybe it’s at a tailgate party or picnic. In my case, it’s anywhere I decided to park my van over the last few months while testing two cooking systems from Stoke Voltaics.

Most portable cooksets are powered by a liquid fuel like propane. It’s inexpensive and readily available in canisters of all sizes. But sometimes you’d rather not deal with an open flame, pollutants, and the noise and smell that comes with it. Stoke Voltaics’ gear is powered by electricity, which can be easily supplied by a solar generator and replenished by the sun.

I tested the company’s new $219.99 Nomad Cooking System and existing $99.99 Joulle Kettle Pot. They’re not cheap, but portability and convenience rarely are.

One of these predates the other by almost two decades.
Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
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Let’s start with the Joulle which is just an electric JetBoil — the ubiquitous “flash cooking” camping stove launched two decades ago. The size, graphics, insulated sleeve, handle, lid with integrated filter, are very very similar, right on down to the little pot’s ability to act like a French press for coffee. JetBoil even sold its own Joule variant at one point, which is perhaps why Stoke Voltaic promotes Joulle as the “Kettle Pot” on its website. Joulle does distinguish itself with a popcorn setting, so… take that, lawyers.

Each of the Joulle’s three settings pull different amounts of AC power. Move the slider to “Drink” to boil water at max power before automatically shutting off unlike the flame on a JetBoil. Move it to “Eat” to slowly bring a stew up to a simmer. “Pop” varies the power to ensure nearly every kernel placed inside becomes popcorn and then automatically shuts off to conserve power.

In my testing, I was able to boil about eight ounces (240ml) of water for coffee or tea in 3 minutes and 42 seconds while consuming 28.06Wh. Slowly heating up 19 ounces (570ml) of a hearty soup to a simmer took 8 minutes and 30 seconds and used 40.2Wh, while a single serving of popcorn took 7 minutes and used 16.69Wh. So that’s about 85Wh on any given day, or over 10 days of use from a solar generator with a modest 1kWh capacity.

I like that the Drink and Pop modes shut off automatically so I can just set it and forget it, without worrying about unnecessary power usage. Eat mode can require a bit of stirring to prevent things sticking to the bottom of the stainless steel surface. Joulle’s a bit bulky to wash (especially when using it as a French press) since the sink in my van is relatively shallow and I have to be extra careful with the water since it’s an electrical device.

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Nevertheless, Joulle is so convenient that I’ve gone days without using my induction cooktop and pan on solo tips.

The Nomad Cooking System.

While Joulle integrates the heating element right into the pot, the Nomad Cooking System is modular. It comes with the AC-powered heating base, lid, clip-on handle, and two stackable aluminum pots with non-stick surfaces: one large 50-ounce pot for “bubbling” and a smaller pot for frying. The 8.5-inch diameter pots slot into the 6.8-inch diameter heating base using a proprietary connector.

The on / off button lets you dial up the power from 200W to 1000W in 200W increments. Yeah, they could have just done a 1-5 setting, but I like knowing how much power I’m pulling. The button also shows how long the unit’s been running. The electric base can only be turned on when a pan is inserted and shuts off when the pan is removed. Pressing the button will pause cooking while holding it in will turn off power completely. 

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I like that the pots heat up quickly and uniformly and cook enough food for one to two people. The pots also stay in place, which isn’t guaranteed with portable induction cooktops, especially when parked on a slope. The Nomad handle is also grippy and easy to attach and detach from the pans. The whole system is also very compact allowing it to be easily stowed away in a drawer, especially when using the carrying bag (which also helps prevent rattles while driving).

1/8

A carrying case makes it easy to keep all the Nomad components in one place.

I do have some minor gripes. Washing up the Nomad pots requires hand-washing like the Joulle as they can’t be submerged in water. The system is also proprietary so you can’t use the base with other pots, and the Nomad pots won’t work on a gas stove or induction cooktop. And it’s kind of annoying that you can only use one Nomad pot at a time since you only have one base.

Stoke Voltaics’ gear might not be cheap, but the Nomad Cooking System and Joulle Kettle Pot are both super convenient and capable cooking systems that tuck away nice and small when not needed. If you can afford them, I can recommend both for anyone seeking gas-free portable cookware.

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