technology
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Source: ODD ANDERSEN / Getty / Elon Musk
Elon Musk is currently out here stumping for Trump and giving money to those who sign up for his Super PAC. Due to a new lawsuit, he may have to dig even deeper into his pockets.
Spotted on The Verge, one of the production companies behind the 2017 film Blade Runner 2049, feels Elon Musk, who is honestly just the Donald Trump of tech, ripped off the movie for his robotaxi event.
On Monday, October 21, LA-based production company Alcon Entertainment slapped Phony Stark, his company Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging the use of an AI image generator to create promotional art for the We, Robot event that resembles stills from Blade Runner 2049.
According to Alcon, who also owns the copyright to Blade Runner 2049, WBD and Tesla decided to slide them a request to use imagery from the film just hours ahead of the We, Robot event on October 10 that conveniently took place on the Warner Bros. lot in California.
The website notes that because this event was live-streamed internationally, Alcon directly had to provide clearance for the images, even though Warner Bros. owns some licensing rights to Blade Runner 2049.
Per The Verge:
“Any prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicized, capricious and arbitrary behavior, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account,” Alcon’s suit explains. “Alcon did not want BR2049 to be affiliated with Musk, Tesla, or any Musk company, for all of these reasons.”
Despite Alcon’s refusal, however, Tesla allegedly decided to feed shots from Blade Runner 2049 into an AI image generator to create “a lightly stylized fake screen still screen” which was displayed prominently during the We, Robot presentation.
The Verge also reports that Musk mentioned Blade Runner while describing sci-fi interpretations of the future. The live stream cut to a photo of a man wearing a trench coat standing in front of a dusty apocalyptic cityscape, basically the entire look of Blade Runner 2049.
This is not the first time Elon Musk and his company have been accused of copying someone else’s style. During the same event, the director of I Robot, Alex Proyas, accused Musk of swagger-jacking his designs, a claim many people on X, formerly Twitter, quickly made.
So, these latest accusations don’t shock us at all.
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Amazon October Prime Day
It’s Prime Day again, specifically for Amazon Prime members. Luckily, we are here to help you find some tech-related deals.
Amazon is looking out for Prime members and wants to help you get a leg up on your holiday shopping lists, specifically for the techie and gamer in your life.
Beginning on October 8 and ending on October 9, Amazon slashes prices on headphones, earbuds, gaming headphones, smart televisions, and games. So, the last two days have definitely been good days to be an Amazon Prime member, and if you’re not, it’s not too late to become one to take advantage of the deals we are about to list below.
Wireless Headphones & Earbuds
Source: Apple / Beats / Beats Solo 4 & Solo Buds
Are you looking for a new pair of wireless headphones or buds? There are plenty to choose from right now. Here are some of the best deals on Amazon.
Gaming Headsets
Source: SteelSeries / SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Headphones
Outside of controllers, televisions, and monitors, gamers need headsets to lock in and secure the W. Thankfully, there are some great options available on Amazon at great prices.
Video Games
Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / EA Sports Madden NFL 25
There aren’t many games getting that Prime Big Day Deal treatment, but there are some bangers worth adding to the gamer in your life or your personal collection.
Smart TVs
Source: JUNG YEON-JE / Getty
Now is a better time than ever to get a new smart television. Below are some hot deals.
Happy shopping.
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Source: JIM WATSON / Getty
Elon Musk continues to make a complete fool out of himself.
The billionaire tech exec who desperately wants to be like Tony Stark has made it no secret where he stands politically, but on Saturday, he made it very clear that he is MAGA, or as he put it, “Dark MAGA,” whatever the hell that means.
Phony Stark, aka Elon Musk, happily jumped his way onto the stage during Trump’s latest rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, yup, the same place of the first assassination attempt on former disgraced president Donald Trump back in July.
The Tesla and SpaceX Chief got on the stage and, in front of the microphone, spewed the same ridiculous rhetoric that Trump does daily, whether it’s on his bootleg social media platform where his loyal deplorable followers feel safe.
Elon Musk Is Proudly “Dark MAGA”
Musk said, “This will be the last election” if the orange menace doesn’t win while wearing an official new Klan Hood, a “Make America Great Again” cap.
“As you can see, I am not just MAGA — I am Dark MAGA,” he continued.
He also spewed the lies that Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz are coming “to take away your freedom of speech, they want to take away your right to bear arms, they want to take away your right to vote, effectively.”
Musk also criticized California for its effort to ban voter ID requirements, one of the many voter suppression ideas that would primarily affect voters of color.
Musk’s appearance yesterday at Trump’s rally marked the first time he has appeared alongside Trump during one of his rallies.
He already has formed a super political action committee, which is spending a lot of money to help get out the vote efforts to get the divider-in-chief back in office.
He also held a Spaces event for him on X, during which Donald Trump did a lot of meandering and talking about nothing, which is basically what he does best.
Trump has said that if he does win, he will appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency agency because he loves to “hire the best people” for jobs.
Phony Stark Is Getting Clowned On His Own Sh*t
Musk’s glazing of the man who once called him a phony and failure is getting him clowned on his platform, and deservingly so.
Lol.
We are always here for Phony Stark getting dunked on.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. TEARSSSSSS
2. Never forget
3. Looking absolutely stupid
6. Champion of misinformation
12. Again, never forget
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Source: Gilbert Flores / Getty / Kerry Washington
Spill, the Black-owned alternative to Elon Musk’s floundering platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has a big backer in Kerry Washington.
Tech Crunch reports that actress Kerry Washington is now an investor in the Black-owned social media platform Spill. The news comes as the platform celebrates its second year in existence.
Spill is the brainchild of Alphonzo Terrell, a former global head of editorial at Twitter who was laid off by the company following Musk’s reluctant acquisition of the platform, which he stupidly rebranded as X.
When Spill was created, he raised a $2 million seed extension and grew the app’s user base to around 200,000. One of those users was Emmy-Award-winning actress Kerry Washington.
Washington’s presence on Spill was very loud. She hosted Tea Parties, the platform’s name for live video conversations, and actively engaged in discussions with other users, encouraging people to vote.
Speaking with Tech Crunch, Terrell spoke about Washington’s presence on the platform.
“She’s incredibly accessible and knowledgeable, especially around these topics, and is not scared in any way, shape, or form about really engaging with people directly,” Terrell told the website. “I think it really does represent the kind of environment we want to cultivate on Spill … We’re all human here, too. Let’s connect.”
Washington, who is no stranger to making investments, added, “In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out. I’m proud to be part of this community as both a user and an investor.”
Spill Is Offering A New Space For Black & Brown Users To Be Creative On Social Media
Since Musk took over Twitter, users, specifically Black users, have sought a new platform to express their creativity. Spill, BlueSky, and Instagram Threads were among those options.
Spill has made significant strides in keeping people engaged on the platform. One reason is that it has found success in that area thanks to launching a live multiplayer Spades game.
We hope Spill continues to make a splash in the social media space.
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Source: Serato / Serato
Serato Scratch Live shifted DJ culture, and probably saved millions of dollars in future chiropractor bills. To celebrate its 25 anniversary, Serato just released a special limited-edition reissue of its original Serato Scratch Live Control Vinyl.
Source: Serato / Serato
The OG Digital Vinyl System (DVS) helped the art of the DJ become digital yet maintain its analog roots of manipulating vinyl physically. Think DJ’s like Jazzy Jeff being able to scratch and mix their digital files instead of lugging around heavy crates of records. Instead, all you needed was a pair of control vinyls and a hard drive full of music (and software and hardware but that’s another story).
Originally released in 2004, 20 years later only 1,500 units are available for sale for $49 USD. That gets you the “Serato Scratch Live Control Vinyl – 25th Anniversary Edition” package that includes a pair od 12” 140g control vinyls tucked into a commemorative jacket. The reissue arrives in five colors (black, transparent red, transparent blue, orange, and gray marble). However, you won’t see what color you get until you unwrap your purchase.
“At Serato’s core is a passion for music and technology, and we’ve built our foundation on the ongoing commitment to creating best-in-class products for DJs and music producers,” said Nick Maclaren, Serato’s Chief Strategy Officer, and a DJ himself, in a statement. “When Serato Scratch Live was first introduced, it reinvented what was in the realm of possibilities for DJs at the time. As we celebrate 25 years of empowering artists through Serato’s advanced technology, we’re excited for our community to experience the magic of this innovation once again with the reissue of the Serato Scratch Live Control Vinyl.”
Find out where to get the Serato Scratch Live Control Vinyl – 25th Anniversary Edition set right here.
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Source: CHRIS DELMAS / Getty / Disney Plus
The days of your homie, cousin, or boo thang sharing your Disney+ account for free are coming to an end.
Disney Plus is following Netflix’s example by cracking down on account and password sharing. Its new “paid sharing program” is rolling out to subscribers in the US and other territories.
The paid sharing program was teased during earnings calls earlier this year and is now a reality, with subscribers getting options from which they can choose.
The idea of the program is to convert those using other people’s accounts into paid subscribers.
Per THR:
The paid sharing program has a couple of options for users, per a blog post published Wednesday: People sharing an account with someone outside their household can add that person as an “Extra Member” for $6.99 per month for Disney+ Basic, or $9.99 for Disney+ Premium, both discounts to the normal retail price. Only one Extra Member will be allowed per account, and it is not available as part of the Disney Bundle.
In addition, users sharing an account can also subscribe to Disney+ themselves, and can transfer an eligible profile to the new account to keep their watch history and settings.
According to the Disney+ help center, “Disney+ will automatically detect and establish your Household based on your subscription activity, linked devices, and internet connection among other factors.” If it thinks you are watching outside your household, you may need to enter a one-time password to verify that you are adding a location to your household, or that you are traveling away from home.
Nobody Is Feeling This Decision From Disney Plus
As you can imagine, subscribers are not feeling the idea, especially since they are subject to annual price hikes.
“This is why people pirate bc of you dumbass companies not letting password sharing,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another user noted, “This is why I stick to Blu Rays and DVDs.”
Disney+ isn’t winning anyone with this decision; you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Lol, well damn
On this episode of Check The Tech, AI expert Brandon Johnson shares his picks for the latest back-to-school tech. From everyday tools that just make life easier, to gadgets that inspire even the most tech-savvy, there’s something here for everyone.
Johnson is a Senior AI Solutions Architect at NVIDIA, which develops the technology that powers everything from ChatGPT to movies that we watch. “NVIDIA is everywhere,” he tells Check The Tech host Sara Lovestyle. “Everyday I work with engineers at other companies to help them solve problems.” From developing self-driving cars to enhancing early detection in cancer patients, Johnson’s job is to work alongside engineers to solve these complex problems using NVIDIA’s technology.
With a steady flow of new tech products hitting the market, Johnson curates a list of the ones you need to know. Discover the latest tech on his radar this back-to-school season.
Perplexity redefines the search engine experience. Instead of producing a list of search results, Perplexity streamlines the process of finding information online. “Once you type in a prompt and you search for something, it synthesizes all that information, condenses it and gives it back to you,” says Johnson. He uses the $20 Pro version, but a free version is available too.
While the Perplexity search engine is a more user-friendly option, Johnson’s next pick is a bit more in-depth: the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. “It’s basically what we use to program robots,” he explains. “This is going to be for my nerds, people who like to code and things like that. If you want to get hands-on, this is usually where we recommend starting.”
When Johnson wants to unplug, he has a gadget for that. The Light Phone’s minimalist design offers an alternative to app-loaded smartphones. “The only thing you can do is call and text,” he says. “It is very minimalist. Sometimes you want to unplug, so this is the best way for me to personally unplug.” The Light Phone III is available for preorder and will include a new camera feature.
Johnson’s last pick is a must-have for any college student — a good pair of headphones. The AI specialist loves his AirPods Max headphones for its long battery life, which will definitely come in handy for busy students on the go.
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Source: PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty / Chase Bank
If it sounds too good to be true, chances are very high it is. Opportunists and scammers are finding out the hard way that check fraud isn’t wavy.
People are suffering heavy financial consequences after attempting to take advantage of the Chase Bank glitch, aka commit check fraud.
Per Complex’s reporting, many are now seeing their bank accounts overdrawn by thousands after trying to expose the glitch that went viral on TikTok by depositing fake checks for large sums of money and immediately withdrawing the funds or seeing money immediately reflected in their accounts because Chase is not flagging the deposited check or large loan applications.
The financial institution caught on quickly to the “glitch” and is now leaving the people who thought they got a come up with a large receipt, rendering their bank accounts useless.
If you typed in “Chase Bank glitch” on X, formerly Twitter, you would see actual videos of people running to Chase Bank locations, lined up at ATMs, trying to get their hands on what they thought was “free money.”
You will also see many people sharing screenshots of their accounts and reacting to being financially in the red.
This is not the first time a glitch similar to what Chase experienced over the weekend was exploited, leaving many people jammed up. Cash App users could transfer large sums of money they did not have.
Doordash users could order whatever they wanted without being charged. Both companies caught on to what was happening, and people had to pay their large debts.
Let this be a lesson to those looking for fast money.
The gallery below shows more reactions to the “Chase Bank glitch,” leaving people in financial ruin.
2. Ridiculous
4. Howling
7. It’s too late for a lot of these people
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Elon Musk
Since Elon Musk reluctantly dropped $44 billion on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, he has been giving a masterclass on how to ruin something already good. A new report details how one of his ideas, Twitter Blue, was a disaster from the start.
A New York Times report revealed that employees at X, formerly Twitter, tried to warn Musk about the dangers of his dumb idea, Twitter Blue, which allowed users to purchase verified blue checkmarks along with other features was a “dangerous” idea during a meeting at the company’s San Francisco office on November 9, 2022.
According to the report, Musk dismissed the employee’s concerns, telling them to be “adventurous” while eating the snacks in the office. Twitter Blue would go on to be the disaster his employees tried to warn them about as fake accounts with blue checkmarks began popping up instantaneously, spewing out false information and eroding trust among users.
Per The NYT:
“We’re going to be shooting from the hip in real time,” Mr. Musk said, fashioning his hands into a pair of finger guns.
Previously, Blue had been a small part of the company’s business, which relied on advertising for 90 percent of its revenue. Blue allowed a few thousand die-hard users to pay for premium features, like the ability to edit their tweets and customize the Twitter app on their phones, but it never gained much traction. To Mr. Musk, a Twitter obsessive who had purchased the company for $44 billion, the service represented an untapped financial opportunity.
Mr. Musk’s attempt to rescue a company he saw as a sinking ship was premised on the idea that he could persuade people — millions of them — to pay for Twitter Blue. That scheme, however, was doomed from the start by the haphazard planning and capriciousness of Twitter’s owner, whose nearly two-year stewardship of the company has cratered its finances and sullied his reputation as a generational entrepreneur.
Musk eventually shuttered Twitter Blue following its launch before relaunching it again, but the damage was already done, with the platform’s most famous users vowing not to pay for the service.
Phony Stark would also change the company’s name from Twitter to X, a very bonehead decision, and advertisers have shunned the platform.
The Tesla Chief has also begun pushing our right-wing conspiracies, restored Donald Trump’s account, and has endorsed the Orange Menace for president.
We really need Threads or some other app to give us a reason to kick X to the curb.
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Source: DJ OMINAYA / DJ OMINAYA
DJs are in for some good news. The community’s most trusted software Serato DJ Pro has received some updates geared to optimize performance and increase creativity.
Source: SERATO / Serato
Originally launched in 1999 as Pitch ‘n Time, the revolutionary platform has gone on to allow users to mix two tracks together with just their laptop, have a limitless music library, and a crisp, high-resolution interface. Throughout the years, Serato has become synonymous with a DJ’s must-haves when it comes to their set up. This month, the brand has announced some updates to the platform in Serato DJ Pro 3.2.0 and Serato DJ Lite 3.2.0. These new versions introduce a never-before-seen series of custom-built FX and includes many firsts for the platform including native Apple silicon support for Mac users.
Source: SERATO / Serato
The good folks at Serato were kind enough to provide us early access to their beta, and we couldn’t think of anyone better than DJ OMINAYA to demo the new features. As the DJ for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Lola Brooke, DJ OMINAYA is no stranger to the technology. For the last 10 years he has used Serato DJ Pro to rock crowds all over the world including venues like Madison Square Garden, O2 Arena, The Kia Forum, Spark Arena, TD Arena, Manchester Arena, AFAS Live and more. Below you will find his breakdown on the new DJ Pro 3.2.0.
Full Suite of New FX
DJ OMINAYA: I like the fact that there are now channel FX scroll them out to a single channel; one through four. Or even put it on the master. Also, you’re able to save your favorite FX in your bank, and if you want to reset it you can reset it. But if you save it in your bank, anywhere you DJ your favorites will always be available when you click down. You can also organize them where when you pull up your drop-down menu only your favorite FX shows instead of all 100. This is a game changer because it makes them a lot more accessible.
Create Your Signature Sounds With Custom FX
DJ OMINAYA: The option to create your own signature sounds is amazing because this is another way you can separate yourself from your peers. Individuality is key as a DJ, and you never want to sound like the next person. Another feature that is key is that you can also import your FX easily as well, which will help new DJs out who are still trying to find their sound and style.
But you got to be careful with sharing your custom FX [laughs]. Serato has a regular bomb FX, but what I did was I put five other bombs on that one bomb just so it can sound more powerful because I do concerts, big venues and arenas. So, when I hit that bomb, it sounds way louder because it has more bass to it. I shared that FX with one DJ and now every DJ in New York City uses it [laughing].
Source: DJ OMINAYA / DJ OMINAYA
Favorite FX Banks
DJ OMINAYA: In my opinion this is the most important update to Serato DJ 3.2.0.The bank lets you load songs or FX to scratch in advance. If you’re a DJ that transforms or uses scratch FX, you can load the sounds in there. What I suggest is to prepare your tracks. So, if you’re doing a party and you know the next five records you want to play you can load them into the scratch bank and have them ready there opposed to searching for them while you’re DJing.
This new Serato DJ 3.2.0 definitely makes it a lot more easier to access your files and songs. As a DJ sometimes you lose your train of thought, and you forget what record you want to play next. And you can put them in the sequence you want ahead of time. This is something that comes in handy regardless of where you are playing. Let’s say I am doing a concert with [A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie] I can use that same bank of songs to do the club performance after the concert. My favorite FX is the reverb. This is a clean way to get out of a song without the transition sounding messy.
New Enhanced Look and View Modes
DJ OMINAYA: I love the new look and view mode! I feel it’s more straightforward and to the point; it’s a much cleaner interface. Even if you are new to the Serato platform, it’s really self-explanatory. You don’t need years of DJ experience to pick up the flow and functionality with Serato 3.2.0; they really took the guess work out of it. Serato 3.2.0 has shortcuts for everything you really have to explore it to see what works best for you as a DJ and your set up. Once you do, you’ll be able to get to things a lot faster and easier.
You can read more about Serato DJ 3.2.0 here.