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To the horror of businessmen and parents with easily bored children everywhere. Flights from a number of Middle Eastern Airports will now prevent passengers from bringing large electronics in their hand luggage. This will affect flights to the US from Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia to the UK will also be impacted. You will still be able to take your laptop or tablet in the hold with you, but you won’t be able to bring it as a carry-on.

Yesterday intelligence officials revealed that the new rules stemmed from a Daesh associated threat . Intelligence was obtained which indicated that Daesh associates were working on smuggling explosive-packed electronics onto US bound flights. This intelligence was deemed credible and acted upon by US Officials.

There is a precedent for this kind of terrorism. The insurgent group al-Shabaab smuggled an explosive filled laptop on to a flight departing from Mogadishu last year. The resulting explosion tore a hole in the side of the plane, thankfully the aircraft was still low enough that the pilot was able to land safely. The only person killed was the terrorist who detonated the device. It should also be noted that the terrorist was handed this device after the security check-point. So restrictions on carry-ons likely would not have helped.

Some security experts greeting the announcement with surprise. Phillip Baum, editor of Aviatian Security International said that “If we cannot, in 2017, distinguish between a laptop that contains an IED and one that is not, then our screening process is completely flawed.” On top of this there are fears that criminals will target the hold luggage of passengers boarding these flights in the hopes of acquiring their expensive electronics.There is also the risk that passengers on short haul flights may now be forced to purchase expensive hold luggage instead of just bringing a carry-on, as many of us do when we travel.

So, is this just another example of an ineffective, inconvenient security measure? Or will it save lives? Well, an explosive placed in the hold of a plane would be significantly harder to deploy. Even if it utilized a timer or pressure sensor there is a risk that it would go off on the ground or before the plane reached cruising altitude. This would allow the pilot more opportunity to land, as in the Somali case. It also means that the would-be bomber cannot choose the location of the explosion, giving the aircraft a better chance of survival.

Both the British and US governments have assured their citizens that this measure is being taken in the interest of their safety. Only time will tell whether the measures are effective. In the meantime, Might I suggest investing in some good books and maybe a sturdy luggage lock to pass the time on your flight to Cairo?

You'll find me wandering around the Science sections mostly, excitedly waving my arms around while jumping up and down about the latest science and tech news. I am also occasionally found in the gaming section, trying to convince everyone else that linux is the future of the computer gaming.

Artificial Intelligence

CES 2023 :Learn the latest information from the greatest technology event of the year

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Although the CES doesn’t start until tomorrow, we’re back in Vegas for the event, and several exhibitors have already shown their new items at numerous press conferences and media events. In addition to more news from TV manufacturers, gaming laptop manufacturers, smart home firms, and other companies, we are starting to see some of the early automotive news that typically headlines CES today. Here is a summary of the top news from Day 1 of CES 2023 in case you haven’t caught up yet.

Since last night
But first, even though we covered the most of yesterday’s launches in a different video, more things were announced last night after we had finished filming that. For instance, Withings demonstrated the $500 pee-scanning U-Scan toilet computer.

It’s a 90mm block that you install inside your toilet bowl as a deodorizer and employs a microfluidic device that functions like a litmus test to identify the components in your pee. Although Withings is developing a consumer-focused version that will evaluate your nutrition and hydration levels and forecast your ovulation and period cycles, you will need to decide the precise tests you wish to run in your module. Prior to launching in the US, it is still awaiting regulatory approval from the European Union.

We also witnessed the Fufuly pulsing cushion by Yukai Engineering, which was less… gross news. Although a vibrating cushion may sound like something out of an anime, the concept is that cuddling something that might simulate real-life pulsation may have calming effects. Another thing that could calm anxiety? watching a video of adorable birds! Additionally, Bird Buddy unveiled a brand-new intelligent feeder with a built-in camera so you can watch your feathered friends while they build nests. The most recent version, which is intended for hummingbirds, uses AI to recognize the different breeds that are in the area and, in conjunction with a motion sensor, determines when they are ready for a feast.

Speaking of nibbles, there was a ton of food-related technology news last night, like as the $1,000 stand mixer from GE Profile that has a digital scale and voice controls. We also observed OneThird’s freshness scanners, which determine the freshness of produce using near-infrared lasers and secret algorithms. Even the shelf life of an avocado can be determined instantly, preventing food waste!

We also witnessed the Wisear neural earbuds that let you control playback by clenching your jaw, the blood pressure monitor that hooks onto your finger from Valencell, and Loreal’s robotic lipstick applicator for people with limited hand or arm mobility. Smart speakers, smart pressure cookers, smart VR gloves, smart lights, and more were available.

Let’s move on to the recent news. Prior to the onslaught that is set to happen tomorrow, there was only a little trickle of auto news. Volkswagen debuted the ID.7 EV sedan, tempting us with only the name and a rough body form. BMW, meanwhile, revealed the I Vision Dee, or “Digital Emotional Experience,” to provide additional information about its futuristic I Vision concept vehicle development. It’s a simplified design with a heads-up display that spans the entire front windshield. Many of the Dee’s characteristics are anticipated to be incorporated into production vehicles starting in 2025, notably BMW’s new NEUE KLASSE (new class) EV platform. BMW’s Mixed Reality slider will also be available on the Dee to regulate how much digital stuff is shown on the display.

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TVs
The premium 2023 TVs from Samsung were also not unveiled until the evening, with this year’s models emphasizing on MiniLED and 8K technologies. Additionally, it added more sizes to its selection and unveiled new soundbars with Dolby Atmos capability at all price points. While this was going on, competitor LG unveiled a 97-inch M3 TV that can wirelessly receive 4K 120Hz content, allowing you to deal with fewer connections in your living room and… more soundbars. Leave it to LG and Samsung to essentially duplicate each other’s actions.

Hisense, a competitor with comparatively smaller TVs, today announced its 85-inch UX Mini LED TV, which has more than 5,000 local dimming zones and a maximum brightness of 2,500 nits. Startup Displace, meanwhile, demonstrated a brand-new 55-inch wireless OLED TV that can be attached to any surface via vacuum suction, doing away entirely with the requirement for a wall mount or stand. You can even live without a power cord thanks to its four inbuilt batteries. Essentially, this is a fully functional, portable TV.

Laptops

We also noticed more HP, MSI, and ASUS laptops. A laptop with glasses-free 3D, a sizable Zenbook Pro 16X with lots of space for thermal dissipation, and a Zenbook 14X with a ceramic build are all products of ASUS. Both of the latter Zenbooks include OLED displays. In the meantime, HP unveiled a new line of Dragonfly Pro laptops that are designed to simplify the purchasing process for customers by removing the majority of configuration options. The Windows version exclusively uses an AMD CPU and has a column of hotkeys on the right of the keyboard that provide shortcuts to camera settings, a control center, and 24/7 tech support, whilst the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has an RGB keyboard and Android-like Material You theming capabilities. The last of these buttons can be programmed to open a particular program, file, or website.

The first of some audio news is now being presented to us, starting with JBL. The business presented its array of five soundbar models for 2023, all of which will support Dolby Atmos. New true wireless earbuds with a “smart” casing including a 1.45-inch touchscreen and controls for volume, playback, ANC, and EQ presets were also introduced. Nearly simultaneously, HP unveiled the Poly Voyager earphones, which are comparable to the JBL in terms of controls and have a touchscreen on the carrying case. However, the Voyager also features a Broadcast mode that enables you to connect the case to an older device with a headphone port (like while you’re on an airline) via the provided 3.5mm to USB-C connection, so you can view movies during a flight without having to bring along a second set of headphones.

Not only today but also the remainder of the week will see a ton more CES news. I was unable to tell you about Citizen’s latest wristwatch or Samsung’s new, more affordable Galaxy A14 smartphone. Keep checking back for updates on all CES 2023 news.

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Android

Google appeared as a car manufacturer

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Google has recently used CES as a platform to present its philosophy of “Better Together,” the notion that all devices should get along with one another. Typically, this entails making announcements regarding new Cast compatibility and features like Fast Pair. The business revealed that it is collaborating with Spotify to incorporate the Connect streaming capability into the Android UI at CES 2023. Additionally, it showed a sneak peek at an audio handoff tool that would recommend various devices to shift your music to based on your preferences and location.

However, CES is a significant vehicle event, and Google also sells items for cars. Additionally, it said today that the Polestar 3 would receive its higher-resolution maps, and it debuted the most recent Android Auto user interface for the first time since it was revealed at I/O 2022.

Two vehicles, a Volvo EX90 with Google preinstalled and a BMW i7 with the new Android Auto experience, were at the Google stand in the trailer lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center. We had never seen the Volvo before, and we’ll be posting a separate hands-on on that experience shortly. The new Android Auto is the main topic of this article and video.

The redesigned interface will support larger screen sizes and have a split screen layout, as we discovered at I/O. Google has eliminated the status bar and inserted a row of shortcut keys below it, along with some indication icons in a small area to the top left. When we were in the car, the Spotify app was located on the left panel, and we could access a list of suggested playlists by swiping in from the right side.

Alerts that you won’t have time to respond to while driving are likewise stored in this left pane. For instance, you can swipe right on a notification to move it to the dock, where it will wait until you’re ready to deal with it.

Check out the video up top for more of our experience with the updated Android Auto in the BMW i7! And be sure to pay attention this week as there will be a ton of news at CES 2023.

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Technology

Reportedly, client information from GameStop’s website includes addresses

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According to reports, the retailer GameStop disclosed customer data including billing addresses and payment information.

On Saturday, clients were allegedly seeing other users’ details when refreshing their order pages, according to numerous people on social media.

Although one user posted a picture of a partial credit card number, it’s unclear if this also includes entire digits.

One Reddit user observed that “it’s like a cycle of four or five people,” adding that “every time I refresh the website, I can see someone else’s name, phone number, address, order history.” This is really concerning because the issue prevents even changing the password.

Another user said, “Oh God, I tried it and it’s doing it for me too.” Addresses, birthdays, emails, etc…. This is awful.

You can view the digital currency codes as the verification code is sent to your email, they continued. By clicking on a card, my friend could see the complete credit card number, but the page quickly refreshed after that.

On Saturday, one Twitter user claimed they could switch between different account just by refreshing their screen.

The GameStop website was acting strangely and constantly switching between a few dozen different profiles for me. The products in the cart, the Pro Rewards points, and the name at the top of the screen all constantly changing. I though I was seriously being hacked, but the GS app appears to be stable.

GameStop has been contacted by VGC for comment; we’ll update this post if we hear back.

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