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What’s the difference between Windows and ChromeOS? What’s the difference between Windows and ChromeOS? If you’re trying to decide on a new laptop for work, school, or personal use, then knowing the differences between Windows and ChromeOS is essential. Both are operating systems that handle processes and applications and control your machine’s hardware. However, Windows and ChromeOS are distinct in how they work and the functionality they can offer you as the end user. Whether you’re considering one of the best laptops or one of the best cheap laptops, these are among the two most popular operating systems available in entry-level to mid-range computers. For more information on ChromeOS, we recommend reading up on the best Chromebooks. This way you will be able to see the ways that the operating system can utilize different form factors of hardware (and how the various asking prices compare to your budget). Additionally, you can read five ways Chromebooks are better than laptops. What is Windows? (Image credit: Microsoft) In short, Windows is Microsoft’s leading operating system and the most popular desktop OS by market share. Around 75% of all computers worldwide use Windows, whether that’s on laptops or desktops. The most recent version is Windows 11, which was launched in October 2021 and took over from Windows 10. Windows can either be used on x86 hardware or ARM-based systems, with different levels of compatibility for software between the two. Microsoft’s operating system is renowned for its straightforward and iterative user experience which has (largely) remained the same for decades. What is ChromeOS? First released in 2011, alongside first-generation Google Chromebooks, ChromeOS was billed as a web-based and lightweight alternative to operating systems such as Windows, which could unify everything tied to a Google account. As a result, the requirements for running the software are (usually) much less demanding than what’s typically seen from alternatives. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Your Google account is key to everything you can do on ChromeOS, including web browsing, word processing, and downloading applications. In 2016, Google included Android functionality through the addition of the Google Play Store, meaning access to thousands of applications running in the operating system. However, it’s important to note that a lot of features of ChromeOS require an internet connection. This is why it can perform a lot of tasks on slower hardware, as the workloads are done in the cloud, but it also means that when you’re offline you might find ChromeOS is less useful. Main differences between Windows and ChromeOS (Image credit: Acer, Future) The biggest difference to understand when weighing up Microsoft Windows against ChromeOS is that the former runs native applications and the latter is mainly cloud-based, relying on an internet connection to perform optimally. It’s an important consideration to make depending on your use case; if your home, school, or work has unreliable internet then you may be better served with the tried-and-true Windows experience. As a result of being cloud-based, ChromeOS devices typically feature far better battery lives than their Windows alternatives as there is less of a drain on the hardware. Windows is far more versatile in what you can install and use it for, but that performance comes at the cost of power. That isn’t to say that Windows-based laptops are poor in this department, but they traditionally fall behind when directly compared. ChromeOS is designed to be fast and simple to use, with an interface that is unintimidating and instantly familiar to today’s modern user, and with everything tied under your Google account (including Gmail and the Google Workspace), for all the essential computing functionality, Android smartphone users will likely find ChromeOS easy to use and personalize. The Workspace encompasses Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, Slide, Calendar, and more; while these are available to use on Windows via their respective websites, Google’s operating system makes them a crucial part of the experience. Due to their low power requirements and lightweight operation, Chromebooks running ChromeOS can boot up near-instantly as they are well-optimized for web-based programs. The major trade-off here, however, is the lack of compatibility with programs you can download and install through this operating system. You are essentially limited only to what’s available on the Google Play Store (barring limited exceptions of Wine, the open-source compatibility layer that can translate the Windows API). Many Chromebooks also feature what’s called the Everything Button. Branding aside, it essentially acts as a built-in search bar for the internet as well as a file explorer. Pressing the Windows button on your laptop will do similar, albeit without the built-in shortcut to the browser. ChromeOS is also renowned for its security features (including sophisticated antivirus protection and background updates to be as unobtrusive as possible). (Image credit: Tada Images / Shutterstock) In contrast, Windows runs anything you could ever want to install and use, from productivity programs to video games, and more. It’s far more feature-rich and versatile than the otherwise streamlined approach of ChromeOS. If you’re someone that only needs a machine for getting work done and watching streamed media then it may be all you need, but anything you will need to install externally is better done with Windows. Downsides of Windows (Image credit: Stokkete / Shutterstock) While Windows is incredibly versatile and is the most widely used operating system for computers for a reason, it can be difficult to understand all of its functionality. Windows 11 took more of a step towards a tablet/smartphone-inspired layout, with its now-default bottom middle taskbar placement and a revised Start Menu experience. However, it can take time to come to grips with the expansive settings options, wrapping your head around the quirks of the File Explorer, and downloading programs online. Windows 11 also updates often which can add new features but also subtract ones you may have only just become familiar with. Certain Windows updates can be obtrusive to your experience and require you to schedule a restart of your machine (or have to stop what you’re doing immediately). There are also several different versions of Windows 11 (and Windows 10 for that matter) which can make deciding on the right one for you more of a challenge than it has to be. There’s the most basic version known as Windows 11 Home as well as Windows 11 Pro aimed for business and professional use. Additionally, Windows 11 Pro for Workstations is aimed at power users, whereas Windows 11 Education is geared towards students and teachers. In a similar vein, Windows 11 Enterprise prioritizes large-scale operations. Each version has its specific license (and slight differences tailored towards specific user experiences). Windows 11’s popularity is also a double-edged sword, as it means virus makers and malicious users mostly target Windows devices, as there are so many of them being used. The good news is that Windows 11 comes with robust anti-virus protection, though you will still need to be careful when online. Meanwhile, the chances of a Chromebook getting a virus is much, much lower. Downsides of ChromeOS (Image credit: Future) As touched upon above, ChromeOS’ biggest downside is its limitations of being web-based and (largely) restricted to applications available on the Google Play Store. The bulk of the usability is beholden to an internet connection, so you run the risk of having a heavily compromised user experience if you are disconnected from the internet for any reason. While some ChromeOS apps have dedicated offline modes, such as Docs and Slides, that’s not necessarily the case for many of the programs available on the operating service as they are essentially running in a glorified web browser. Consequently, ChromeOS does not have access to the vast native library of software that’s available on Microsoft Windows. While the Google Play Store has thousands of apps you can use (which can include versions of video-editing apps, photo-editing programs, and video games) but are, arguably lacking compared to the full x86/ARM versions. Chromebooks are not necessarily limited in what they can do, but you will not have all the options you could get elsewhere. You might also like… Source link #Whats #difference #Windows #ChromeOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Volunteers and Can Do Albany transform Paragon Games into all-abilities accessible gaming environment Volunteers and Can Do Albany transform Paragon Games into all-abilities accessible gaming environment Volunteers from community groups and businesses chipped in on Sunday to help with refurbishments to transform Paragon Games into an accessible space for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants and the public. Operations manager Rebecca Brennan said she was “overwhelmed” by the amount of support. “It was really humbling, and it was definitely a moment where I felt the most connected to my community,” she said. Albany Delivery and Removals assisted by moving furniture into the gaming space, and General Fabrications assisted with fitting the design into a tight budget. The day included assembling pods for the centre and a sausage sizzle run by Albany Youth Support Association chief executive Ian Clarke and Jess Davies. Camera IconCan Do Albany’s Rebecca Brennan, Jess Davies and AYSA’s Ian Clarke. Credit: Laurie Benson Ms Brennan said pre-planning and preparedness for the day enabled volunteers to have fun. “We were able to just enjoy each others’ company and enjoy the fact that we were doing something cool and different,” she said. “Everybody’s that joined in on this project so far for Paragon has been really committed to supporting the overall goal. “To be able to get everybody in here and get it started was a really significant moment.” Video games and tabletop gaming will be on offer at the refurbished gaming centre once it opens, as well as coding and graphic design workshops. Camera IconAlbany Vikings’ Simon Deegan, Albany Delivery and Removals Mat Sydenhan, Vikings’ Daniel Lee and Jason Lockhart. Credit: Laurie Benson Can Do Albany acquired Paragon Games in June 2024 and intend to transform the space into an all-ability friendly environment. “We’re trying to create a space that’s friendly for all abilities,” Ms Brennan said. “Which means that we are trying to create areas that have smaller, more comfortable spaces where people who don’t enjoy being in large crowds or having loud noise can have individual or more personal spaces so that they can feel more comfortable and also be able to relax and feel like they can make new friends in whatever form that looks like.” Paragon Games will begin slowly re-opening from March 3. It will be available to the general public on the weekend and will operate privately for NDIS participants during the week. Camera IconCan Do Albany’s Rebecca Brennan with refurbishment plans for Paragon Games. Credit: Laurie Benson Source link #Volunteers #Albany #transform #Paragon #Games #allabilities #accessible #gaming #environment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An Ancient Diary Reveals How 3 Horrifying Summers May Have Altered the Path of an Entire Nation An Ancient Diary Reveals How 3 Horrifying Summers May Have Altered the Path of an Entire Nation An abnormally cold ******* known as the Little Ice Age significantly cooled down most of Europe during the late 16th through early 19th centuries, but historical documents reveal it had the opposite effect on some regions. Transylvania experienced some cold flashes, but mostly suffered from punishingly hot summers that resulted in famine and a ***** in the rodent population that spread the Bubonic Plague. While the Little Ice Age was not caused by human activity, researchers think that historical records like this are valuable in helping us determine how to prepare for natural disasters and prevent anthropogenic climate change in the future. The yellowed and sometimes barely legible pages of 16th-century texts speak of disaster after disaster—from the ****** Death to locust invasions to a ******* of intense climate change that ravaged Transylvania. The Little Ice Age, as it’s now known, was a ******* during which the expansion of mountain glaciers had a severe impact on the European climate. From the 16th to the mid-19th century, the unusual weather patterns caused most of Europe to experience what seemed like an everlasting winter. But, oddly enough—as a team of researchers found out when they looked through pages of chronicles and diaries from the *******—Transylvania instead suffered from strangely hot weather that led to famine and a Bubonic Plague epidemic. “The analysis of the periods in which the testimonies were recorded indicates that the great majority of the analyzed century is characterized by relatively warm weather, with hot summers and hot years, particularly cold winters and cold years, being mentioned very rarely,” the research team said in a study recently published in Frontiers in Climate. People have a tendency to record extremes in weather. For instance, there was once a summer that saw hail the size of goose eggs, and it was so warm one autumn that strawberries were still growing in October. Years for which few weather records (if any) can be found probably mean that those years saw a brief respite in extreme weather. The Little Ice Age did bring a few cold flashes to the Transylvania region. Some writings from 1510 record a winter so harsh that hay for livestock dried up and led to a string of thefts, while others from 1550 recall a winter that dragged on until May. But alas, much more common were the heat waves, which written records attest continued for several consecutive years. There were three significant hot periods in Transylvania at the time, but the worst undoubtedly started in 1527, and is thought to be the longest ******* of hot weather during the entire 16th century. There were eleven years of scorching, dry summers that often led to locust invasions—sometimes, it even became unnaturally dark during the day because the entire sky was thick with locusts. Grain crops were destroyed by the insects and led to famine. It only grew worse from there. “The poor harvests of the rainy years and the atypical weather from the fall of 1553 and the winter towards 1554, sunny as if it were spring, caused the malnutrition that facilitated the terrible plague epidemic of 1553–1554, especially in the south of Transylvania,” one written record states. While mortality from starvation increased during the famine, nothing took so many lives as the Bubonic Plague. Warmer climates can cause rodent populations to explode, and this is most likely how the Plague—which was carried largely by fleas on rodents such as rats—spread through Transylvania. Also known as the ****** Death, the Bubonic Plague had at least a 60-80% mortality rate, and easily wiped out much of a population already weak from famine. Some tried fleeing to the mountains to escape it, but only ended up starving to death. While many people of the time believed that storms, infestations, and disease were some form of divine retribution, scientists now know that disruptions in climate have much more tangible causes. The Little Ice Age was not the result of human activity, but the researchers who read through all these accounts think that such documents could teach us more about those causes and possibly help us prevent anthropogenic climate change in the future. “By corroborating historical sources with modern proxy data, not only a deeper understanding of past climate variability,” the team said in the study, “but also obtaining relevant information for managing current and future climate variability.” You Might Also Like Source link #Ancient #Diary #Reveals #Horrifying #Summers #Altered #Path #Entire #Nation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Isn’t Being Delayed Anymore as Devs Confirm That It’s “pretty much done” Assassin’s Creed Shadows Isn’t Being Delayed Anymore as Devs Confirm That It’s “pretty much done” 2024 has been one of the most disastrous years for Ubisoft. Apart from three highly flopped title releases, the company also decided to postpone the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the one game that gamers were actually excited about. Assassin’s Creed Shadows was supposed to launch last year | Image Credits: Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed Shadows was supposed to be the game that saved Ubisoft from its constant decline, but even that got delayed in 2024. But now, the developers have finally confirmed that it will be released this year. Why did Ubisoft even delay the launch when this game was supposed to revive the company’s fortunes? Let’s delve deeper. Where did Assassin’s Creed Shadows go wrong? Yasuke is an African-origin samurai in feudal Japan | Image Credits: Ubisoft The whole Assassin’s Creed series has a major fan following because of its historical accuracy and captivating storyline. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is not going to be a stranger to that concept. This upcoming action RPG will take place in feudal Japan and was supposed to be released in September 2024, but the game got delayed for various reasons, including a ****troversy regarding the protagonist. Although the franchise has a devoted fan base, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has met with extreme backlash since the reveal of its protagonist, Yasuke. In the game, Ubisoft made Yasuke an African samurai, and some people were debating whether he was a real person or not. While the gaming company often takes historical liberties to make the game more fun and interesting, they really fumbled on this one. This backlash resulted in Ubisoft delaying the launch of the game and postponing it to 2025. In a recent conversation between Insider Gaming and the developers of the game, they stated that the game would launch on 20 March of this year, and one source even commented that the game is “pretty much done.” The CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot said that the early previews of the game have been positive. Early previews have been positive, praising its narrative and immersive experience, with both characters playing critical roles in the game’s storyline, as well as the quality and complementarity of the gameplay provided by the dual protagonist approach, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, currently has over 300,000 pre-orders as of 18 February and it’s estimated that the game will sell almost 3.5 million units in its first month. Ubisoft probably messed up with this one Sales are looking pretty good for Ubisoft despite controversy | Image Credits: Ubisoft The inclusion of an African-origin samurai in feudal Japan angered a lot of Japanese fans who wanted the protagonist to be an indigenous Japanese samurai and not a foreigner. This led to Ubisoft issuing an apology to them and stating that their games never follow history the way it is. Regardless of the controversy surrounding the protagonist of the game and the subsequent delays, Ubisoft has finally managed to announce the release date of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Players and critics alike are excited about how the game will turn out, and only time will tell, whether this title will save Ubisoft or accelerate its further downfall. With strong pre-order numbers and positive early impressions, the game has the potential to reignite interest in the franchise. Source link #Assassins #Creed #Shadows #Isnt #Delayed #Anymore #Devs #Confirm #pretty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Israeli hostage families forum receives ‘heart-shattering’ news of Bibas deaths – CNN Israeli hostage families forum receives ‘heart-shattering’ news of Bibas deaths – CNN Israeli hostage families forum receives ‘heart-shattering’ news of Bibas deaths CNNLIVE: Handover of 4 Israeli captives’ bodies begins in Gaza’s Khan Younis Al Jazeera EnglishPM’s office confirms Israeli troops have received coffins containing slain hostages, says families notified The Times of IsraelIsrael prepares to receive bodies of youngest Gaza hostages, coffins placed on a stage ReutersBodies of 4 hostages, including Bibas family, to be released by ****** ABC News Source link #Israeli #hostage #families #forum #receives #heartshattering #news #Bibas #deaths #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple Might Hold October Launch Event for Updated iPad Mini, M4-Powered Mac Models: Gurman Apple Might Hold October Launch Event for Updated iPad Mini, M4-Powered Mac Models: Gurman Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ launch event is scheduled to take place later today, as the Cupertino company is expected to launch up to four handsets in the iPhone 16 series that will offer Apple Intelligence features, as well as new AirPods and Apple Watch models. This isn’t likely to be the company’s final launch event of the year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who says that Apple could unveil new iPad models and well as a new version of its smallest computer — the Mac Mini — next month. In the latest version of his Power On newsletter, Gurman states that Apple could launch new iPad models at an event in October. One of these will be the successor to the iPad Mini (2021) that was launched three years ago, with an A15 Bionic chip. The Bloomberg journalist has not specified which processor will power the upcoming iPad Mini model. Apple has already updated the iPad Air and iPad Pro earlier this year, powered by its M2 and M4 chips, respectively. This suggests that the company could launch new versions of the iPad Mini and the standard iPad at the purported launch event in October. Gurman has also reiterated his previous claim that Apple will launch new Mac models at a launch event next month. One of these new models will reportedly be a Mac Mini powered by Apple’s M4 chipset, housed in a much smaller body than the existing M2-powered Mac Mini model. Apple didn’t launch an M3 powered Mac Mini model to succeed the one powered by its M2 chip, which means that the purported successor could offer a considerable increase in performance over its predecessor. The company will also announce updated versions of the MacBook Pro and the iMac in October, alongside the purported M4 Mac Mini, according to the journalist. These are also expected to be powered by the company’s M4 chip, which is its most powerful Apple Silicon processor to date. Source link #Apple #Hold #October #Launch #Event #Updated #iPad #Mini #M4Powered #Mac #Models #Gurman Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘I had nothing to do with it’ ‘I had nothing to do with it’ President Trump is seeking to distance himself from a rise in inflation, arguing the uptick had “nothing to do” with his return to the Oval Office. Trump instead placed the blame on former President Biden in an interview Tuesday, decrying what he characterized as reckless spending during the previous administration. “Inflation is back. No, think of it: Inflation’s back,” the president told Fox News’s Sean Hannity during an interview alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk that aired Tuesday night. “And they said, ‘Oh, Trump,’ and I had nothing to do with that.” “These people have run the country. They spent money like nobody has ever spent. … They were given $9 trillion to throw out the window — 9 trillion,” he added. Trump pointed to bills turned law during Biden’s four years in office, noting the government spent money on the “’Green New Scam,’ I call it.” “The greatest scam in the history of the country. One of them. We have a lot of them, I guess. But one of them. Dollar-wise, probably,” he said, likely referring to Biden’s signature legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022. Inflation in the U.S. sped up more than expected last month. Prices of gasoline, homes — including rent — and groceries also ticked up. The consumer price index increased by 3 percent last month compared to a year ago, according to the Labor Department, an increase from 2.9 percent in December. Experts have warned since before the president was sworn into office that his economic goals, including lowering taxes and issuing more tariffs on foreign imports, among other proposals, could cause a rise in inflation. Trump, throughout the interview Tuesday, praised his billionaire ally, giving Musk credit for implementing some of his sweeping executive orders. He also acknowledged it has been an uphill battle, as legal fights have begun over some of his most controversial actions. “You write a beautiful executive [order] and you sign it, you assume it’s going to be done, but it’s not,” Trump said, The commander in chief added that Musk, who helms six major companies, should be able to discover $1 trillion in cuts to the federal government’s spending. The Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by the Tesla CEO — though the president suggested recently that he’s not technically part of the advisory group — announced Tuesday that it found $55 billion in savings in January alone. “As good as they are, they’re not going to find some contract that was crooked, you know crooked as hell, Trump told Hannity. “And I mean, this going to be so much that isn’t found. But, what is that I think he’s going to find $1 trillion.” “Yeah, I think so,” Musk affirmed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft to Improve Windows Handheld Consoles With the ‘Xbox Experience’: Report Microsoft to Improve Windows Handheld Consoles With the ‘Xbox Experience’: Report CES 2025 has seen the launch of new handheld gaming consoles, such as the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Acer Nitro Blaze 11. While there’s no sign of Microsoft’s rumoured gaming handheld, a senior executive dropped a hint of the company’s plans to improve the user experience for Windows-based consoles that could arrive as early as this year. The company upcoming improvements could see the traditional Windows desktop elements and take a *********, in favour of an interface designed for use with controllers. In an interaction with The Verge at CES, Microsoft VP (Xbox Gaming Devices & Ecosystem) Jason Ronald said that the company was looking to bring improvements that were developed for consoles to PCs and the handheld gaming sector. He added that the Redmond-based company was looking to “combine” the Xbox and Windows experiences. Running Windows on a gaming handheld can be a frustrating experience “I would say it’s bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it’s really locked to the console,” the executive told the publication. We’ve reviewed a handful of Windows-based gaming handhelds at Gadgets 360, and one of the most common complaints we’ve had is related to the operating system. Windows still lacks an optimised UI for smaller screens — most handheld consoles have a 7-inch display — while you can also run into requests to install drivers and might also be disturbed by system notifications. On the other hand, Valve’s SteamOS offers a much more intuitive experience that feels like a miniaturised version of larger, popular consoles. It also works very smoothly on the company’s gaming handheld, the Steam Deck. On Windows-based handhelds, users are currently limited to using their Game Pass subscription inside the Xbox app, which has been updated with improved support for these devices. Ronald told The Verge that Microsoft is working on improving the experience of using Windows on devices that use controller buttons, instead of a mouse. He also pointed out that a lot of the company’s technology for the Xbox can be incorporated into Windows, as the company’s console was built on the same operating system. Gamers might not have to wait for very long to see all of these improvements arrive on handheld gaming devices, according to the executive, who told the publication that announcements related to changes to Windows for smaller devices are expected to arrive later this year. It’s currently unclear whether these enhancements will be available on existing devices, or whether only upcoming models — such as the Lenovo Legion Go 2 — will arrive with an improved interface. We can expect to hear more details of the company’s plans to bring the Xbox experience to Windows in the coming months. Source link #Microsoft #Improve #Windows #Handheld #Consoles #Xbox #Experience #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Captain America must die in China': Patriotism fuels Ne Zha 2 fans – BBC.com 'Captain America must die in China': Patriotism fuels Ne Zha 2 fans – BBC.com ‘Captain America must die in China’: Patriotism fuels Ne Zha 2 fans BBC.comChinese film Nezha 2 becomes highest-grossing animated film globally ReutersNe Zha 2 Box Office Mojo‘Ne Zha 2’ Review: ******** Blockbuster Is Visually Engaging, But Its Elaborate Plot Is A Challenge Deadline‘Ne Zha 2’ Is Now the Highest-Grossing Animated Feature of All Time Animation Magazine Source link #039Captain #America #die #China039 #Patriotism #fuels #Zha #fans #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft’s Majorana 1 Chipset With Topological Core Architecture Could Boost Quantum Computing Microsoft’s Majorana 1 Chipset With Topological Core Architecture Could Boost Quantum Computing Microsoft announced the development of the Majorana 1 chipset on Wednesday, highlighting a breakthrough in quantum computing. The Redmond-based tech giant has been researching new materials and architectures for 17 years and now claims to have developed the world’s first ‘topoconductor’ — a material that exists in a distinct state beyond solids, liquids, and gases. It can also observe and control the Majorana particles. The company said that this new innovation can lead to building scalable and error-resistant quantum computers. Notably, the Majorana 1 processor can accommodate up to a million qubits on a single chip. Understanding Quantum Computing Before exploring the Majorana 1 processor, let’s first understand quantum computing and how this breakthrough contributes to the advancement of reliable and scalable quantum computers. Traditionally, the computers (desktops, laptops, or smartphones) we are familiar with are called classical computers and they use tiny transistors in the chipset called bits. These bits, which exist in either on or off states, can process information in a sequential order. So, if a classical computer is a library where each book represents a piece of information, bits pick up one book at a time and read through it. This is a slow process and can take a long time to complete complex tasks. This is why scientists fit in multiple transistors on a computer to induce parallel processing. Notably, thousands of such processors are paired together to create a supercomputer. Quantum computers are fundamentally different. Instead of bits, they use quantum bits or qubits. These are special quantum materials such as superconductors or trapped atoms (or ions) and they follow the quantum physics of superposition. What this means is unlike bits, they can exist either in the states of on, off, or both at the same time. Now, due to this superposition, qubits can process a large amount of data at the same time. Going back to the library analogy, quantum computers can open all the books at the same time to find the required information. This also allows these computers to process multiple possibilities at the same time, and they can complete research that typically takes decades within years. While the potential is significantly high with qubits, there is a stability problem. Qubits are extremely sensitive to their environment and any minor fluctuations can lead to errors in processing. This is why quantum computing is still not used commercially or in research spaces. Can Microsoft’s Majorana 1 Chipset Solve Quantum Computing’s Stability Issue? The tech giant described the Majorana 1 chipset as the world’s first topological quantum processor. A topological state is a phase of matter that is distinguished by global, instead of local properties of its wavefunction. They can remain unchanged under continuous deformations, and resist the impact of the external environment. Built on a new topological core architecture, the Majorana 1 chipset can potentially accommodate up to one million qubits on a single chip that can fit in a palm. Interestingly, the tech giant is not using electrons for the compute. Instead, it uses Majorana particles, which were first described by theoretical physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937. Majorana particles or Majorana fermions are exotic particles that act as their own antiparticles. These are topological superconductors, which means while the bulk of its structure remains superconducting, the surface or edge states are protected from disorder or impurities. Needless to say, Majorana particles do not exist in nature. Microsoft aims to use these properties to create a more robust qubit, reducing the need for complex error correction mechanisms. This is said to lead to scalable and reliable quantum processors. However, these are early days, and the tech giant will still need to design and build the topological qubits. The Windows maker is not the only company trying to innovate in the quantum computing space. Google, for instance, is developing its Willow chip using superconducting transmons in its Sycamore processors. Maryland-based quantum computing company IonQ is also developing a trapped-ion technology that offers low coherence times despite slower gate speeds. IBM and D-Wave are other companies working on the same problem. Source link #Microsofts #Majorana #Chipset #Topological #Core #Architecture #Boost #Quantum #Computing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Weekend sport presenter Abbey Gelmi exits Channel 7, Melbourne Weekend sport presenter Abbey Gelmi exits Channel 7, Melbourne The weekend newsreader says it is “time for a new chapter” after joining the Seven network in April 2022, but she has already started in another job. Source link #Weekend #sport #presenter #Abbey #Gelmi #exits #Channel #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Despite Being Marred by Controversy, Avowed Outdoes Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on Steam Despite Being Marred by Controversy, Avowed Outdoes Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on Steam 2024 was a year full of controversies in the gaming industry, and Avowed is no stranger to that. The game, made by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, faced a public outcry after it was announced back in July of 2020. While the announcement itself was met with good reception, a tweet from its art director would change the title’s entire trajectory. This new fantasy RPG is the answer to Skyrim | Image Credits: Obsidian Entertainment Although Avowed is getting major backlash from gamers and non-gamers alike, it is still doing better on Steam than its competitor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. But what is this controversy about, and how did it not affect the game in the way it was supposed to? Let’s find out. Avowed faces massive controversy amidst development The game faces massive backlash from players | Image Credits: Obsidian Entertainment Avowed is a first-person action RPG that was initially pitched as Obisidian’s take on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It was announced in Xbox Games Showcase, where the title was hyped as being the next Skyrim. While the game is heavily inspired by it, the studio later chose against replicating Skyrim’s style and instead opted to emphasize a more narrative and character-driven experience. Having pronouns in a fantasy video game is utterly unacceptable [Hidden Content] — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024 Everything was going fine for Avowed until, in November of 2024, the CEO of X, Elon Musk, tweeted out how the game features an option to select the character’s pronouns and how that is completely unacceptable. This led to the art director of the game, Matt Hansen, addressing the issue by posting on his BlueSky account about how happy he is to irritate Musk. It’s honestly deeply surreal to have the world’s richest, sh**tiest boy whine about something I am making. I am quite frankly giddy. I cannot think of a single person in the world I would rather irritate. This action started the whole controversy, and fans of the title were divided into two groups. A large amount of them claimed that the devs were trying to force a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) mindset in the games and forcing the players to adapt to a particular set of political views. The reception from players was so negative that it led to Obsidian Entertainment removing the pronouns section from the character’s display screen completely and making it an option that players can activate based on their preference. The game is doing surprisingly well despite the controversy The title became the top-selling game on Steam | Image Credits: Obsidian Entertainment Despite the controversy and many players even hating Hansen for imposing political agenda onto them. Avowed is doing better than most games in the RPG genre. The game currently has more than 10,000 players and has peaked at 17,000 players in the last 24 hours. The game is currently the best-selling title on Steam in the US, ranking above even heavyweights like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Comment byu/HomeMadeShock from discussion inavowed Comment byu/HomeMadeShock from discussion inavowed Comment byu/HomeMadeShock from discussion inavowed Comment byu/HomeMadeShock from discussion inavowed Comment byu/HomeMadeShock from discussion inavowed Although the controversy might have changed the perspectives of some players and may have even angered some, fans of the title are enjoying it to the fullest. According to Steam and Reddit comments, Avowed has some of the best combat and exploration in the RPG genre and some are even predicting that this will be Obsidian’s best-selling game ever. Avowed has clearly resonated with its players through its gameplay and narrative, but whether it will become a massive success or get overshadowed by online backlash remains to be seen. Source link #Marred #Controversy #Avowed #Outdoes #Kingdom #Deliverance #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Middletown rescinds transgender student policy; Marlboro, Manalapan schools will follow Middletown rescinds transgender student policy; Marlboro, Manalapan schools will follow Two school districts in Monmouth County are expected to abolish their policies on transgender students on Tuesday, a move parents’ rights advocates say marks a victory against state officials. Marlboro and Manalapan-Englishtown Regional school districts will vote to abolish their guidance documents that set standards for school staff on transgender and nonbinary students. Middletown’s school board voted last week to abolish their own own transgender student policy. Critics of the state’s standard transgender student policy said it encourages school staff to keep a student’s changed gender identity secret from parents and violates parents’ rights to information about their children. “This vote… will guarantee no child faces individual discrimination and every parent in this district will remain actively involved in their child’s education with complete transparency in Middletown,” school board President Frank Capone said during the Middletown board meeting. The state-recommended transgender student policy adopted by many New Jersey schools provides guidance to teachers and staff to use and respect a child’s preferred pronoun. Staff should also use the child’s chosen name and permit them to participate in activities that align with their gender identity, according to the document. The policy also recommends staff not share the student’s changed gender expression with parents or guardians without the child or teenager’s consent. An exception is made in the policy for cases where student health and safety is compromised or there is a bias-related crime. However, advocates for the rights of transgender students say outing a child to a parent or guardian without the student’s consent puts them in danger. “We know that LGBTQ+ youth — particularly trans youth — make up over 40% of the entire youth homeless population in our nation,” Christian Fuscarino of Garden State Equality, the executive director of New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, said in a statement about the student policy. “Forcibly outing students to potentially unsupportive homes does not create safer schools; it puts vulnerable young people at risk. Related: Advocates applaud NJ appeals court upholding K12 transgender student protections In Middletown, Marlboro and Manalapan-Englishtown Regional, school board members tried to amend the standard transgender student policy and add a requirement for staff and teachers to notify parents if a student changed gender expression. As a result, the school districts were sued in 2023 by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who said passing school policies that would out transgender students violates the state’s Law Against Discrimination. While the case has been pending before the state Division on Civil Rights, the Appellate Division of Superior Court ruled last week that while the three school districts await a court decision on that matter, they cannot enact the policy with the parental notification provision. However, they can adopt entirely new transgender student policies for their staff, according to the Appellate Division decision. Capone, of Middletown, called the court ruling a “significant victory” during last week’s board meeting, where the board voted to abolish their policy. One Middletown school board member, Deborah Wright, cast the only opposing vote. “Let this outcome send a powerful message to Gov. Murphy and Attorney General Platkin,” Capone said. “It’s time to stop using our children as pawns and political games. Middletown will not accept the abuse.” At Manalapan-Englishtown Regional, Board of Education President David Ferber said transgender students are protected from discrimination through other board policies; therefore, keeping the previous transgender student policy is not necessary or mandatory. “The Attorney General weaponized his position for political purposes, never afforded us a hearing before the (state) Division on Civil Rights, and (is) wasting taxpayer dollars for a frivolous lawsuit against three school districts, including Manalapan-Englishtown, which continues to be at the top of state rankings in education,” Ferber said. “We strongly believe that parental involvement is in the best interest of our K-8th grade students.” He added: “We do not intend to replace it (the transgender student guidance) with another policy.” The Middletown Democrats denounced their local school board rescinding the transgender student guidance. “By choosing to repeal this policy, the Board has sent a clear and troubling message: transgender students are not welcome or protected in our schools,” the township Democrats said in an email to the Asbury Park Press. “This reckless move does nothing but create confusion, fear, and unnecessary division.” Transgender students will still be protected by the state’s Law Against Discrimination, despite the board’s moves, the Middletown Democrats said. “By calling a special meeting solely to target transgender youth, this board has made it clear that they are more focused on culture wars than on providing quality education for all students,” they said. Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, *****@*****.tld or 732-557-5701. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Middletown school board removes policy on transgender students Source link #Middletown #rescinds #transgender #student #policy #Marlboro #Manalapan #schools #follow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Signs Executive Order Ending Federal Funds for Undocumented Migrants – The New York Times Trump Signs Executive Order Ending Federal Funds for Undocumented Migrants – The New York Times Trump Signs Executive Order Ending Federal Funds for Undocumented Migrants The New York TimesTrump signs executive order ending use of taxpayer money to ‘incentivize or support’ ******** immigration Fox NewsTrump signs order aimed at denying undocumented immigrants federal benefits AxiosLive updates: Trump to sign order terminating federal benefits for migrants BBC.com Source link #Trump #Signs #Executive #Order #Federal #Funds #Undocumented #Migrants #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Coast Eagles star Elliot Yeo takes massive step forward in recovery from foot, knee injury West Coast Eagles star Elliot Yeo takes massive step forward in recovery from foot, knee injury Prized West Coast midfielder Elliot Yeo has taken an important step towards a highly-anticipated comeback from injury. Source link #West #Coast #Eagles #star #Elliot #Yeo #takes #massive #step #recovery #foot #knee #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Myanmar scam center escapees recall torture and coercion Myanmar scam center escapees recall torture and coercion STORY: :: February 19, 2025 :: Mueang Tak District, Thailand :: Myanmar scam center escapees recall torture at a notorious crime compound Faysal/21-year-old Bangladeshi scam compound victim “I asked one of my colleagues from this place, what happened there? What is the job? He was telling me about the punch, electric shock. And same at night, I informed to the (inaudible) I want to go back to my country. I don’t want to work.” “We are not scammers. We are victims. They use us. And if somebody don’t want to work with them, they’re in Myanmar they say, in ******** said, they have one of biggest market, the place where they’re selling the organs, human organs, kidney, eyes, like this. They are warning us, if you are not working with us, we can (do this) with your body.” Yotor/19-year-old Ethiopian scam compound victim “I got a lot of punishments, like I receive shock, electric shock everyday. I received punch everyday. Like nothing, they just want to punish us, and they punish us. Because, like, we were working for 18 hours without salary, without, like they did not allow us to contact our family.” “I got a lot of punishments,” said 19-year-old Yotor, who gave only one name and had cuts along his leg. “I received electric shocks every day.” Yotor and his countrymen are among 260 people, most of them human-trafficking victims, who were sent from Myanmar to Thailand last week as a multinational crackdown on scam centers along the border between the two countries gathers pace. For years, according to the United Nations, criminal gangs have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people to scam compounds across Southeast Asia, including along the Thai-Myanmar frontier, where victims have been forced to work in ******** online operations. But Thai authorities launched a renewed clampdown last month after the abduction of ******** actor Wang Xing, who had been lured to Thailand by the promise of a lucrative acting job. He was later found near the Myanmar town of Myawaddy and has since returned home. Around 7,000 people rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar are waiting to be transferred to Thailand, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Wednesday. Of these, around 600 ******** nationals will be sent home on three flights starting Thursday from the Thai border town of Mae Sot once they cross over, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said. Some of those rescued from the scam compounds said they were forced to work nearly 20 hours each day to defraud men using instant messaging applications like WhatsApp. “When a client says ‘I love you’, then we start washing his brain how to get money,” said Faysal, 21, from Bangladesh. But when scam workers were unable to meet targets, he said, they were beaten. “We are not scammers,” said Faysal. “We are victims.” Source link #Myanmar #scam #center #escapees #recall #torture #coercion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

****** to Hand Bodies of 4 Hostages Back to Israel – The New York Times ****** to Hand Bodies of 4 Hostages Back to Israel – The New York Times ****** to Hand Bodies of 4 Hostages Back to Israel The New York TimesHamas hands bodies of four Israeli hostages to Red Cross in Gaza, including Bibas children and their mother CNNCoffins apparently of slain hostages Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, Oded Lifshitz, transferred to Red Cross The Times of IsraelUpdates: ****** offers all captives for permanent truce amid Israel attacks Al Jazeera English Source link #****** #Hand #Bodies #Hostages #Israel #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

JACKSON HEWETT: What’s next for iron ore as profits slump at big miners? JACKSON HEWETT: What’s next for iron ore as profits slump at big miners? If share prices are anything to go by, Australia’s economic prospects are looking grim. The big thee iron ore miners have been hammered after reporting results, led by Fortescue who saw a six per cent selloff, and Rio who lost two per cent on today’s earnings. BHP, which reported Tuesday was also sold off by more than two per cent as investors digested a future where the iron ore price continues to be squeezed by a slow and slowing China. After years of generating cash, the big miners are tightening their belts. Rio today was forced to slash its dividend by eight per cent to its lowest payout in seven years. Fortescue was forced to cut its dividend in half. In just six months, iron ore revenue has plunged 20 per cent in the last year to an average of $US85 a tonne at Fortescue in the second half of 2024, compared to an average $US108 a tonne across the previous periods. With earnings down, cost cutting is in order. Rio announced it would be cutting 500 workers, while Fortescue has been forced to put green ambitions on ice. The miners weren’t just worried about a naturally slowing China. A tariff wielding Trump administration is throwing the global economy into chaos, threatening not just returns but costs and investment intentions. So important is Mr Trump to Rio Tinto, that CEO Jakob Stausholm delivered the earnings call from Washington DC, where he was hoping to build closer ties amid a “a seismic change” in global politics. Rio’s highly leveraged to Canada’s aluminium output, which has been slapped with a 25 per cent tariff by the US. Mr Forrest has long held ambitions to become a leader in green steel and had bet $US500 million on a liquid green hydrogen project in Arizona that relied on US funding under Joe Biden. While the company said it was still “steadfast in its commitment”, the economics of the plant are surely in question, and the demand for green steel very possibly diminished. BHP tried to reassure the market that the demand for iron ore may return, with chief executive Mike Henry telling investors, “we see early signs of recovery, (with) policy support to re-balance its economy and improve domestic demand in the near term”. But each week it appears the US is using trade policy to further corner China into slowing down its huge manufacturing machine. China no longer has the same requirements for infrastructure as it once did and while only eight per cent of the steel produced in China goes to export, that still adds up to 80 million tonnes. Add to that the steel required to produce 80 million cars, and the trajectory for iron ore does not look good. Huw McKay a former economist at BHP and now a non-resident fellow at the Crawford School at *********** National University said ******** buyers were likely to start cutting back. “We’re moving to a ******* of inventory build up and structural surplus,” he said. “That will be negative for margins.” At a time when the outlook for revenue is dim Mr McKay worried that miners like Rio Tinto have not been able to get their costs down. Productivity, the near continual bugbear of the mining sector, and the economy at large is still an issue. “I think it is very telling there is still a considerable amount of cost pressure in the Pilbara,” he said, worried that both labour costs were an issue and that new investment were not increasing productivity. He said it was likely that the hangover in inflation post COVID and the Ukraine invasion was resulting in high prices for inputs like explosives, and just as those costs were coming down, the US tariffs would likely put them up again. That would be a problem for Fortescue who was replacing their fleet of trucks with electric ones. “If they come through the US supply chain, they will be tariff affected,” he said. The outlook for the miners can be extrapolated to Australia the country. Treasurer Jim Chalmers would be as worried as any investor about the slashing of dividends. An iron ore price of about $US100 has funded government spending, and despite Treasury forecasting a price of $US65 a tonne, successive governments have relied on revenue upgrades to make the budget look good. “You are tens if hundreds of billions of dollars apart,” in terms of revenue projections, Mr McKay said. So what about the future? Well, the miners at least have a plan, with BHP and Rio betting big on a future where electrification drives the growth of cities and technologies like data centres. BHP is also banking on a growing global population requiring more food, and will soon open their giant ********* potash mine for fertiliser production. Rio is investing in lithium for electric batteries. They are promising products tailored for megatrends. Unfortunately, with the exception of BHP’s South *********** copper most of the assets are in countries outside of Australia, meaning the royalty will prop up some other country’s budget. “There’s not going to be a rolling new generation of iron ore, coking coal coming down the pipe,” Mr McKay said. “So there will be more capital deployed outside the country. It’s a good use of shareholder’s funds which at least will contribute to their super.” Source link #JACKSON #HEWETT #Whats #iron #ore #profits #slump #big #miners Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Exclusive-******** lithium company halts tech exports as trade tensions build Exclusive-******** lithium company halts tech exports as trade tensions build By Ernest Scheyder and Lewis Jackson (Reuters) – A ******** company has stopped exporting a piece of equipment used to process the electric vehicle battery metal lithium, in the clearest sign yet manufacturers are already implementing export controls proposed by Beijing. Jiangsu Jiuwu Hi-Tech told customers last month it would stop exporting a piece of filtration equipment known as a sorbent from February 1, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter and documents seen by Reuters. China is the world’s largest producer of sorbents, used to extract lithium from brines or other solutions containing the battery metal, although its market size can be difficult to ascertain given Beijing’s reticence to share data, analysts say. The decision by Jiangsu shows Beijing’s threat, made public in January, to restrict the export of some battery and lithium technology, including sorbents, is changing behaviour even though the change is for now only a proposal. If approved, companies would need government licenses for overseas sales. An executive at another lithium extraction technology company, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Jiangsu and Sunresin New Materials, another major sorbent producer, are negotiating with the government over the proposal. Representatives for Jiangsu and Sunresin did not respond to questions from Reuters. Sunresin’s chairman said a month ago the company’s overseas expansion plans included transferring technology to customers. Beijing has not publicly discussed the proposal since it was released last month. Some in the industry consider it is already a deterrent to exporting listed items to unfriendly countries. A China-based international lawyer with clients in the clean energy industry said it was having a “chilling effect”. Officials with China’s Ministry of Commerce have visited several companies to discuss the proposal and in one case, warned against proceeding with a $1 billion export deal that is being negotiated, the lawyer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Banks are also asking for extra approvals before signing off on export finance for items on the list, the person added. China’s Ministry of Commerce did not respond to questions from Reuters. While it is unclear how restrictive the curbs would be if implemented, the proposal alone underscores Beijing’s willingness to use its dominance of the mining and processing of lithium and many other critical minerals as leverage in its escalating trade war with Washington. Story Continues China’s antimony export ban, announced last December, has already affected the Western auto market, Reuters has reported. A spokesperson for Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia, the joint venture between China’s Tianqi and Australia’s IGO that controls the world’s largest lithium mine and a major lithium refinery, said it was taking advice on Beijing’s export proposal and considering its options. BUILDING AN ALTERNATIVE SUPPLY CHAIN In the near term, any disruption of ******** sorbent exports may affect plans by Western oil producers to extract lithium from their operations by limiting their technological options. Among them, Exxon Mobil has studied the potential use of ******** processing equipment at its planned lithium operations, in the U.S. state of Arkansas, two sources familiar with the plans said. Exxon declined to comment. Koch Industries, the largest investor in Arkansas lithium developer Standard Lithium, agreed in 2023 to use sorbents from China’s Xi’an Lanshen New Material Technology in its North American operations. A representative for Koch declined to comment. Several Western sorbent producers say they may be able to take market share, although none of them has the market experience of ******** rivals and their equipment has yet to reach commercial production. “We have to completely change the technologies and innovate in production and processing, and we have to do it without being beholden to China, which has a 20-year head start and controls the game,” said Brian Menell, CEO of TechMet, which invests in Western mining companies and lithium equipment producers. Francis Wedin, chairman of Vulcan Energy Resources, which has developed its own sorbent technology that it plans to use in Germany, said would-be lithium producers were lining up for help. “Over the past few weeks we’ve gotten inundated by companies wanting to approach us and buy our sorbent and license the technology,” he said declining to name the companies but saying they included large lithium companies from North and South America. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston and Lewis Jackson in Beijing; additional reporting by Melanie Burton in Melbourne and Amy Lv in Beijing; editing by Veronica Brown and Barbara Lewis) Source link #ExclusiveChinese #lithium #company #halts #tech #exports #trade #tensions #build Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Inside the 48 hours that Trump turned on Zelensky – CNN Inside the 48 hours that Trump turned on Zelensky – CNN Inside the 48 hours that Trump turned on Zelensky CNNWatch Trump Calls Zelenskiy ‘Dictator,’ Pressures Kyiv Bloomberg‘Gone from suspicion to outright hostility’: Jeff Zeleny on Trump’s turn on Ukraine CNNTrump’s attack on Zelensky stirs fear of major U.S. shift on Russia The Washington Post Source link #hours #Trump #turned #Zelensky #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple launches iPhone 16e and ditches home button | iPhone Apple launches iPhone 16e and ditches home button | iPhone Apple has put the final nail in the coffin of the home button after 18 years with the release of the new iPhone 16e. The lowest-cost new iPhone replaces the 2022 iPhone SE, which was the last Apple product standing with the touch ID button, finishing off its drawn-out demise, which started with the iPhone X back in 2017. The iPhone 16e costs £599 (€709/$599/A$999) and offers a modern iPhone experience similar to the regular iPhone 15 and latest iPhone 16 but with a few bells and whistles removed to reach a slightly lower price. It replaces the previously cheapest available £599 iPhone 14 and £429 iPhone SE in Apple’s lineup, and thus marks a considerable price increase for the cheapest new iPhone when it ships on 28 February. The iPhone 16e resembles an iPhone 14 but with the latest A18 chip. Photograph: Apple The new iPhone has an aluminium frame, glass front and back and an 15.4cm (6.1in) OLED screen, relegating the old-school iPhone design, with its chunky forehead and chins, to history. But the 16e is only available in ****** or white and has the older, notch-style cutout at the top of the screen from the iPhone 14, not the newer pill-shaped dynamic island design used by the rest of the iPhone lineup. The notch contains the face ID sensor that replaces the touch ID system for unlocking the phone and authenticating payment. The phone starts with 128GB of storage and has Apple’s latest A18 chip, which enables the firm’s various AI tools, to bring the cheapest iPhone up to par with the rest of the line. It has 5G powered by a new Apple modem for the first time, emergency satellite messaging, charges via USB-C and has an action button instead of the mute switch in the side. But the phone has only a single 48-megapixel camera on the back instead of the double or triple cameras of other iPhones, and lacks the recently added camera control button on the side. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Despite a sizable price hike over the outgoing iPhone SE, Apple will be hoping this beefed-up lower cost model can recapture some of the mid-range smartphone market and improve slumping sales in countries such as China. It may also help in moving a greater share of iPhone users on to devices capable of receiving Apple intelligence features, on which the firm has bet big to catch up to rivals such as Google’s Gemini on Pixel and Samsung devices. Source link #Apple #launches #iPhone #16e #ditches #home #button #iPhone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jetstar Asia set to resume direct Singapore-Broome flights for 2025 season Jetstar Asia set to resume direct Singapore-Broome flights for 2025 season Jetstar Asia is set to reconnect the vibrant city of Singapore with the picturesque town of Broome, reviving its seasonal direct flights following a successful inaugural season in 2024. Source link #Jetstar #Asia #set #resume #direct #SingaporeBroome #flights #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Mark Zuckerberg’s charity guts DEI after assuring staff it would continue | Technology Mark Zuckerberg’s charity guts DEI after assuring staff it would continue | Technology The for-profit charity organization founded by Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, has done an about-face on its commitment to corporate diversity. Executives at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) informed employees on Tuesday evening that the organization would in effect do away with both internal and external diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, according to an internal email and other correspondence viewed by the Guardian. On 10 January, leaders at CZI reassured staff that its longstanding support for DEI was not changing. Zuckerberg’s company Meta had announced earlier that day it would terminate its DEI programs, in the days before Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Marc Malandro, CZI’s chief operating officer, wrote in the email to all employees: “Given the shifting regulatory and legal landscape, we will no longer have a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility team at CZI.” The organization also rolled back its Diverse Slate Practice, an effort to ensure that qualified candidates from a diverse set of backgrounds be interviewed for all open roles at the charity. Meta nixed a similar rule last month. The changes “align with our focus as a science philanthropy”, Malandro wrote. CZI’s billions of dollars in funding for investments and grants flows from Zuckerberg and Chan’s enormous personal fortune created by Meta, the social media company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp that Zuckerberg co-founded more than 20 years ago. The couple operate CZI as co-founders and co-CEOs. When Meta early this year decided it would end its own DEI efforts, CZI employees grew concerned that their organization would follow since the company and the foundation often enact similar corporate policies. As Meta’s CEO, Zuckerberg has made clear in recent months his desire to be in the good graces of Trump’s new administration, which has ended diversity initiatives in federal hiring and pressured businesses to do the same. Despite CZI’s top HR executive telling staff last month: “Meta’s changes to its DEI efforts does not impact ours,” employees had remained wary the organization would stick to its commitments. There have been several past instances of CZI following Meta’s lead in making operational changes, from layoffs to a recent return-to-office mandate. A CZI spokesperson declined to comment. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion In addition, Malandro wrote that CZI has ended all “social advocacy funding”, including work and grants focused on immigration reform and racial equity. “There are a small number of multi-year grant commitments we made previously that we will still honor, but none of these will support political activism,” Malandro wrote. The organization will now focus more strictly on grants and work around “biology and AI”, his email added. To that end, CZI also conducted layoffs within its community team, formerly part of the organization where work has focused on affordable housing and “economic inclusion”, and moved other members of the team elsewhere within the organization. The head of the community team is leaving CZI next month, according to another email viewed by the Guardian. The landing page for CZI’s community work has been scrubbed of any mention of work on inclusivity or economic fairness. CZI’s website has changed more drastically in recent days, removing many past references to its years of public support of corporate diversity and promoting underrepresented groups in scientific research. Among the changes: a page previously dedicated to CZI’s DEI work that highlighted its own employees’ diverse backgrounds no longer exists. Another page that previously said the foundation focused all its work through “a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens” removed that phrase. A quote from Chan from CZI’s main page that read: “Luck is not a national strategy. We need to build strategies that take luck out of the equation for every person,” is gone. The organization has given thousands of grants over the years, including to many programs and organizations focused on diversity efforts, as well as to institutions that the Trump administration has railed against, such as the National Institutes of Health. CZI also on Tuesday informed those who had already applied to its Science Diversity Leadership awards, a grant program awarding $1.15m to selected researchers, that it had “decided not to continue” with the program. The organization did not give an explanation in an email about the end of the program, though the process for selecting a new cohort of researchers was well under way, according to another webpage that has now been deleted from CZI’s website. A person who had applied for the award and was expecting to hear back this month instead received a brief email informing them that it would be discontinued. The person told the Guardian it was “extremely frustrating”, and that it pointed to “an even ******* problem at CZI”. Source link #Mark #Zuckerbergs #charity #guts #DEI #assuring #staff #continue #Technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 kids found living alone in squalor for years in Michigan 3 kids found living alone in squalor for years in Michigan The fate of a mother whose three children were found living alone in squalor for years is now in the hands of the Michigan prosecutor, who will decide whether to charge the 34-year-old woman at the center of what one official described as a “horrifying story” of neglect. The children − ages 12, 13 and 15 − were found on Friday living in “absolute squalor” in a Pontiac home: Rooms were covered in human waste. Garbage was piled 4 feet high. Two of the children slept on pizza boxes. The children’s toenails were so long that they struggled to walk. They lived off food that was dropped off weekly by their mother or a stranger, according to the sheriff’s office. The case was sent to the county prosecutor’s office on Monday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Pontiac woman and accused her of abandoning her children years ago, leaving them to live in alone as their house accumulated garbage and waste. According to the sheriff’s office, the 15-year-old said he and his two sisters had lived alone in the home after their mother abandoned them in 2020 or 2021. Police said in a news release Sunday that the children “had not attended school since their abandonment.” The Pontiac School District confirmed Monday that the three children are not enrolled in the district but said they were unable to provide further details because of the sensitive nature of the case, stating “we do not wish to jeopardize any ongoing investigations.” “The Pontiac community has been shaken by the horrifying story of the three children who were discovered suffering from extreme neglect this past weekend,” Pontiac School District Interim Superintendent Kimberly Leverette said in a statement. “As a school district we are working with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department to assist in any way we can. As educators our hearts are breaking for these children and what they have endured over the past several years.” The woman who is accused of abandoning her children at the home years ago was arrested Friday and is being held at the Oakland County Jail. Her name has not been released. Jeff Wattrick, a spokesperson for the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, said the office will not comment on the pending case until it has been reviewed and a charging decision has been made. The children, meanwhile, have been turned over to a relative via Child Protective Services. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is collecting donations on their behalf, specifically asking for new or gently used clothes and shoes for a 15-year-old boy and two girls, ages 12 and 13. Police began investigating the case after receiving a tip from a landlord who said he had not received rent payments since October and had not heard from the mother since December. That sent investigators to the house on the 600 block of Lydia Lane, a quaint street of what appears to be well-kept townhomes. But inside one of the units, police discovered the unimaginable: children living alone among garbage, human waste and mold, playing video games and living off food that was dropped off. According to police, neighbors on the otherwise idyllic-looking street had no idea what was going on inside. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 3 kids found living alone in squalor for years in Michigan Source link #kids #living #squalor #years #Michigan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘They’re Safe, Have Basic Amenities’: India After US Deportees Seen Crying For Help At Panama Hotel – News18 ‘They’re Safe, Have Basic Amenities’: India After US Deportees Seen Crying For Help At Panama Hotel – News18 ‘They’re Safe, Have Basic Amenities’: India After US Deportees Seen Crying For Help At Panama Hotel News18Migrants Deported to Panama by Trump Administration Taken to Jungle Camp The New York TimesUS deports ******** Indian migrants to Panama, govt says they are ‘safe and secure’ The Indian ExpressPolice search for woman who escaped Panama hotel where US deportees are being held The Guardian Source link #Theyre #Safe #Basic #Amenities #India #Deportees #Crying #Panama #Hotel #News18 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]