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Eiliko. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge There's a new digital pet in town - a cute little marshmallow of a robot that can change its cartoony expressions to match your mood. But if you or your kids talk to "Eiliko" over Wi-Fi, it'll phone home to China. Its AI companion can store literally everything you tell it on Chinese servers, where hackers can easily gain access or even hijack its personality. And the company that made it, Energize Lab , doesn't seem to care. I bought an Eiliko from Amazon on August 29th. During a 10-minute conversation on August 30th, I asked the little bot: "Do you ever tell anybody else what I'm saying?" "Your secrets are safe with me," it replied. With … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/uXM4YlJ

Big Walk 's co-op multiplayer walking adventure has proved popular since launching in August, but Xbox players have been excluded from the fun - and now the game's creators have explained why. Developer House House said in a blog post that it decided not to release Big Walk on Xbox consoles in accordance with the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, which has called to boycott Microsoft, including products under the company's gaming division. Microsoft was named a priority BDS target in June last year over contracts it has with the Israeli military and government , with the boycott specifically calling out Xbox conso … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/ufhV5Ua

The screen looks good no matter what’s on it. Star Wars helps, though. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge We have to talk about this screen. It's the first thing you notice, and maybe the only thing that matters, about the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro . It's a 12-inch, 2800 x 1840 panel with a new technology Amazon calls "Nanomatte" that is meant to decrease glare and increase the feeling that you can reach out and touch the things you see onscreen. When Amazon set out to build the best tablet the company has ever shipped, it started with this screen. The $549.99 device I've been testing is one of four new models in the Alexa Tablet lineup, which ranges from a $229.99 8-inch model up to a $679.99 12 Pro with this Nanomatte coating and some extra RAM you … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/09Uy1cL

The Fairbuds 2 have had a total design revamp from the original pair. Repairable, ethical phone brand Fairphone has released its second pair of earbuds. The Fairbuds 2 are just as repairable as the first generation , but deliver improved audio and almost twice the battery life. The Fairbuds 2 are out now in the UK and Europe from £99 / €119, and a US launch at $119 will follow on November 2nd. The Fairbuds 2 have been redesigned from the ground up, moving to a stemmed design, available in black or green, and a case that's 37 percent smaller than the first generation. Despite that shrinking hardware, Fairphone has almost doubled the buds' battery life, which now totals 40 hours without active noise cancellation … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/gPE4X6J

Apple’s October 13th launch event — given the tagline “Welcome Home” — is all about its efforts for the smart home. The event was headlined by the debut of the HomeView, Apple’s first smart home display. It also launched a collection of smart home devices, including cameras, thermostats, and a smart lock, in partnership with other companies. On top of the new device categories, Apple also refreshed two familiar ones. The HomePod Mini 2 was announced with support for Siri AI, and the Apple TV 4K also received a Siri AI-focused refresh. You can follow along with all of our coverage right here. Where to preorder the new Apple TV 4K Watch Apple’s reveal video for the HomeView The new Apple TV 4K has built-in microphones so you can talk to Siri AI Apple announces the HomePod Mini 2, but it isn’t ready for Siri AI at launch The new Apple Home Collection includes a ...

Character.AI, one of the first breakout startups of the generative AI boom, has filed for bankruptcy and is selling some of its assets to Disney. The company, which builds various online bots for users to chat or roleplay with, has faced mounting scrutiny and lawsuits over the safety of its chatbots , but has continued releasing updates and products in recent months. In a press release and blog post published Monday, Character said it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US to facilitate the sale of the company and its assets. "Over the past year, we've taken meaningful steps to sustain and improve our business amid signific … Read the full story at The Verge. from The Verge https://ift.tt/JOfnVo5