Xatolos

AI Summary:

After many years, fans have successfully created a native PC port of Sonic Unleashed, called Unleashed Recompiled. This allows the game to run on modern PCs. The project utilized tools like XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp, which convert PowerPC code and Xenos shaders into x86 PC-compatible C++ and HLSL code, respectively. This means that, in theory, any Xbox 360 game can be recompiled for PC. The PC port supports modding, allowing players to enhance the game with new features and customizations, such as Music Attenuation and raising the FPS cap above 60 FPS. Users who want to play with Unleashed Recompiled or create their own Xbox 360 recompilations must legally obtain their copies of the Xbox 360 titles and DLC.

AI Summary:

Overview:

• Mozilla is updating its new Terms of Use for Firefox due to criticism over unclear language about user data.
• Original terms seemed to give Mozilla broad ownership of user data, causing concern.
• Updated terms emphasize limited scope of data interaction, stating Mozilla only needs rights necessary to operate Firefox.
• Mozilla acknowledges confusion and aims to clarify their intent to make Firefox work without owning user content.
• Company explains they don't make blanket claims of "never selling data" due to evolving legal definitions and obligations.
• Mozilla collects and shares some data with partners to keep Firefox commercially viable, but ensures data is anonymized or shared in aggregate.

Experiment with Google Pixels: New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) collaborated with Google to use Google Pixel smartphones for track inspections on the subway system. How It Worked: Six Pixel phones were mounted on subway cars, using their sensors and external microphones to detect track defects by recording audio, vibration, and location data. AI Technology: The collected data was used to train AI models to predict track issues. The system, known as TrackInspect, identified 92% of defects later confirmed by human inspectors. Human Involvement: Despite the technology, human inspectors are still essential for maintenance and verification. Robert Sarno, an assistant chief track officer, played a significant role in labeling the data collected by the phones. Future Plans: The MTA and Google plan to expand the experiment to a full pilot project, with the aim of creating a modernized system to automatically identify and organize track repairs.

The goal is to catch defects early to minimize service disruptions for the 3.7 million daily subway riders in New York City.

AI Summary:

The article discusses the issues with Google's Pixel 4a battery update. The update has caused drastically reduced battery life for many users, with some experiencing only two hours of charge. Google has offered three options for affected users: a battery replacement, $50, or $100 in Google Store credit. However, the update has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the inconvenience it has caused. Additionally, the update was built on a personal machine, not the proper build system, and has led to confusion and frustration among users.

AI Summary:

Apple's first-quarter earnings report revealed a mixed performance. While overall sales increased by 4%, iPhone sales showed weakness, particularly in China, where they declined by over 11%. CEO Tim Cook attributed this partly to the lack of Apple Intelligence in China and inventory changes. However, the Mac, iPad, and Services categories saw significant growth, with Services up 14% and both the Mac and iPad up 15%. The company reported $36.33 billion in net revenue, a 7.1% increase from the previous year.

AI Summary:

Tesla's 2024 financial results were disappointing, with several key points highlighted:

• Automotive Revenues: Fell by 8% in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023, totaling $19.8 billion.
• Energy and Storage Revenues: More than doubled, growing by 113% to $3 billion in Q4 2024.
• Services: Grew by 31% in Q4 2024, contributing $2.8 billion.
• Total Revenue: Increased by 2% in Q4 2024, but income fell by 23%, with an operating margin of 6.2%.
• Net Profits: Dropped by 71% to $2.3 billion in Q4 2024.
• Annual Performance: Automotive revenues decreased by 6% to $77 billion in 2024. Energy generation and storage increased by 67% to $10 billion. Services grew by 27%, bringing in $10.5 billion.
• Gross Profits: Fell by 1%, with net profits dropping by 53% to $7.1 billion for the year.
• Free Cash Flow: Decreased by 18% to $3.6 billion.
• Regulatory Credits: $2.8 billion of profit came from selling regulatory credits, not from core business activities.
• Future Predictions: Tesla expects energy storage revenues to grow by at least 50% year-over-year and aims to grow automotive sales by more than 60% in 2025.

Despite the poor financial results, Tesla's share price increased by 103% over the same period.

AI summary:

The article discusses two new side-channel speculative execution attacks targeting Apple silicon, named SLAP and FLOP. These attacks were presented by security researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Ruhr University Bochum.

• SLAP (Data Speculation Attacks via Load Address Prediction): Exploits Apple Silicon's Load Address Predictor, potentially leaking information like emails and browsing history.
• FLOP (False Load Output Predictions): Exploits Apple Silicon's Load Value Predictor, potentially leaking sensitive data like credit card information and location history.

Apple has acknowledged these vulnerabilities but stated they do not pose an immediate risk to users. The researchers have not observed these attacks in the wild yet. Users can mitigate risks by disabling JavaScript in Safari, though this may cause compatibility issues with websites