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New AP guidelines lay the groundwork for AI-assisted newsrooms
The Associated Press published standards today for generative AI use in its newsroom. The organization, which has a licensing agreement with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, listed a fairly restrictive and common-sense list of measures around the burgeoning tech while cautioning its staff not to use AI to make publishable content. Although nothing in the new guidelines is particularly controversial, less scrupulous outlets could view the AP’s blessing as a license to use generative AI more excessively or underhandedly.
Argentinean football club to offer dermal implants to its fans
Buenos Aires-based football team, Club Atletico Tigre, has taken an unusual step in managing access to its stadium. The club is considering offering its fans an implantable microchip that would grant them faster access through the gate turnstiles.
China tightens its censorship grip on foreign content
China is set to enact a strict new law that effectively bans foreign publishers -- even those partnered with domestic companies -- from posting any content online in the country without first obtaining permission from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT). Text, pictures, maps, games, video, animation and virtually all audio must be submitted for approval.
White House says broadband is a 'Core Utility' just like power and water
Think you could survive in this day and age without access to a broadband connection? The White House has its doubts. A recent report from the Broadband Opportunity Council (under the auspices of the Oval Office) described broadband connectivity as an "essential infrastructure for communities" that "has steadily shifted from an optional amenity to a core utility" on par with water, electricity and sewers. According to the report, which was headed by the chairs of the US departments of Agriculture and Commerce, 51 million Americans lack access to download speeds beyond 25 Mbps. That's roughly a sixth of the national population.
Verizon and AT&T are opening mini-stores in 250 Best Buys
Best Buy announced a pair of independent agreements on Tuesday with both Verizon and AT&T, according to Re/Code. The deal will reportedly see both brands receive dedicated floor space within 250 of the electronics chain's locations by the end of the year. In many cases, both AT&T and Verizon outlets will be located in the same Best Buy. Each mini-store will range from 90 to 180 square feet and be staffed by Best Buy Associates specifically trained in each brand's products and services. These agreements follow similar pacts struck with Apple, Samsung and Microsoft (not to mention Best Buy and Macy's), all of whom are angling to reach consumers without having to invest in independent storefronts of their own. Best Buy has not released financial details regarding the agreements. [Image Credit: Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press]
California demands Verizon, AT&T pay for own network investigations
The California Public Utilities Commission has decided to launch an investigation into both Verizon and AT&T, claiming both networks failed to consistently provide quality service to their customers. What's more, the CAPUC is insisting that the carriers pay for the investigation themselves. The investigations were first proposed back in the winter of 2010 after storms repeatedly knocked out services to customers. In 2011, the commission found that neither network was restoring services after outages within prescribed (and standardized) time limits. By 2013, the PUC had decided a "study of carrier network infrastructure, facilities, policies, and practices" was necessary and culminated at the end of last month after the PUC rejected Verizon and AT&T's complaints of financial responsibility.
Jeb Bush wants to expand the NSA's reach to fight 'evildoers'
Presidential hopeful Jeb Bush says that the government should be granted broad surveillance powers over both the American people and and private technology firms so that intelligence agencies can better fight "evildoers", according to the Associated Press. No, seriously, he specifically used the term "evildoers." Dick Dastardly, Skeletor, Gargamel had all better watch their backs if Jeb lands the Oval Office.
Marine Corps finally declares the F-35B ready for combat
After years of testing and development, production setbacks and cost overruns and more than half a trillion dollars invested, the F-35B fighter jet has finally passed its biggest milestone to date: it's achieved initial operational capability (IOC) within the US Marine Corps. That means that the F-35B can now be deployed around the world and employed in active combat.
AMC's plans for an internet TV service leak out, but don't expect 'Mad Men'
AMC's cable TV channel has evolved from the home of old movies to hosting TV series, topped by Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Now, the infamous "people with knowledge of the situation" have revealed that it's working on a new subscription internet service. First reported in The Information, the rumors suggest AMC will launch websites focused on specific categories, like documentaries or horror, possibly with the help of a web video startup it's invested in called DramaFever. That's one way to go of course, instead of the "some of everything" route currently dominated by Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. A Bloomberg report says it won't host licensed shows like Mad Men (already tied up in licenses to the other services) so it's unclear exactly what content they might have to start. AMC has two video on-demand channels already, and its cable experience should serve it well in the suddenly crowded internet market. If this is as good as it gets for the traditional cable bundle -- and AMC can't increase rates for its channel -- trying its hand on the internet could be a way to grow. Update: These sites probably won't have Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul either, but AMC just announced that while the series' premiere is delayed until 2015, it has already picked the show up for a second season. [Image credit: Jordin Althaus/AP Photo/AMC]
2013 Academy Awards red carpet event streaming on Xbox Live
Xbox Live's latest streaming event struts its stuff at 6pm ET on Sunday, February 24, when film aficionados in the US with an Xbox Live Gold subscription can tune into the Associated Press' red carpet coverage of this year's annual Academy Awards. SmartGlass users can also engage with the second-screen experience through their tablets and smartphones.During the event, Xbox Live users can participate in the same interactive voting and tweeting stuff introduced during the Presidential Election coverage. We're not sure what kind of questions will be asked, but if the Presidential Election was any indication, it'll be a lot of bar graphs showing community support levels for Jessica Chastain's dress and questions about foreign policy in Iran. [Image credit]
Stanford archives offer look into Apple history
For Apple history buffs, the Stanford University's Silicon Valley Archives offers a firsthand glimpse into the company's past as it is the largest collection of historic material on Apple available. The Associated Press got a glimpse into the material, which was one time slated for an Apple museum that never materialized. Apple made the donation in 1997, which now makes up a significant portion of the archive's Apple Collection. Donated materials, which were added to substantially over the years by employees and Mac fans, include blueprints for the very first Apple computer, thousands of photos documenting Steve Jobs' time at NeXT Computer, a tongue-in-cheek company video parodying "Ghostbusters" and more.
AP, Google offer $20,000 scholarships to aspiring tech journalists, we go back to school
Love technology? Love journalism? Well, the AP-Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship program might be right up your alley. The initiative, announced earlier this week, will offer $20,000 scholarships to six graduate or undergraduate students working toward a degree in any field that combines journalism, new media and computer science. Geared toward aspiring journalists pursuing projects that "further the ideals of digital journalism," the program also aims to encompass a broad swath of students from diverse ethnic, gender, and geographic backgrounds. Applications for the 2012-2013 school year are now open for students who are currently enrolled as college sophomores or higher, with at least one year of full-time coursework remaining. Hit up the source link below to apply, or head past the break for more information, in the full presser.
Anti-Aliased Special Edition: Net neutrality, the FCC, Comcast, and Glenn Beck
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/What_net_neutrality_is_and_why_you_should_support_it'; So today's Wednesday and yes, I know, my column usually doesn't run on Wednesday. However, thanks the recent ruling against the Federal Communications Commission in their net neutrality case, it seems that there's a very relevant topic to talk about as soon as possible. Let me open by saying this -- net neutrality isn't another one of those overblown media stories, or something that we should put off on the backburner. Yet, while everyone's talking about net neutrality, few people are really talking about what it is, why you should care, and why you can't trust everything you're hearing about net neutrality. I've heard more than a few mistruths about the subject recently -- including a whole string of mistruths from everyone's favorite comedy network, Fox News. So today, let's set some things straight and talk about net neutrality. This is very serious stuff for the avid MMO gamer, the casual online gamer, or, well, anyone who touches the Internet.
iPad apps: news and magazines
Apple's done a pretty good job convincing the old media that the iPad will save their industry, so we've taken our time trying out the launch titles in the App Store -- it's plain to see that different publishers have radically different ideas about how you're supposed to buy and consume their content, and everything from pricing to UI is currently up in the air. But while the apps we've seen so far are definitely intriguing, we haven't seen any silver bullets yet -- and to be perfectly honest, in several cases we wondered why an app was preferable to an iPad-optimized web site, or even (gasp) a paper subscription. Let's run down the launch lineup, shall we? Update: We added in NPR and Zinio by popular request, check 'em out below!
iPad apps: defining experiences from the first wave
There are now over 1,348 approved apps for the iPad. That's on top of the 150,000 iPad-compatible iPhone programs already available in the App Store. When Apple's tablet PC launches, just hours from now, it will have a software library greater than that of any handheld in history -- not counting the occasional UMPC. That said, the vast majority of even those 1,348 iPad apps are not original. They were designed for the iPhone, a device with a comparatively pokey processor and a tiny screen, and most have just been tweaked slightly, upped in price and given an "HD" suffix -- as if that somehow justified the increased cost. Besides, we've seen the amazing potential programs have on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and webOS when given access to a touchscreen, always-on data connection, GPS, cloud storage and WiFi -- but where are the apps that truly define iPad? What will take advantage of its extra headroom, new UI paradigms and multitouch real estate? Caught between netbook and smartphone, what does the iPad do that the iPhone cannot? After spending hours digging through the web and new iPad section of the App Store, we believe we have a number of reasonably compelling answers. Update: Now includes Wormhole Remote, TweetDeck, SkyGrid, Touchgrind HD, GoToMeeting, SplitBrowser, iDisplay, Geometry Wars and Drawing Pad.
Associated Press sources report Associated Press working on iPad app
Business Insider's The Wire is reporting, rather humorously, that AP sources have the scoop that the Associated Press is working on its own iPad app. It will reportedly be a paid subscription news app that generates content from the AP and more than 1,000 member newspapers and broadcasters. The AP follows the New York Times and other news sources that are developing applications for the iPad. While the AP doesn't say if the app would be available for the iPad launch late next month, the hope is that its eventual release will generate sales from the three million people who have downloaded their free iPhone app and would be willing to pay for the apps features on a larger-screen device. To get users interested in the app, it may be free upon initial launch. From the official press release: The group already has drawn up plans to charge for an application designed for the iPad, a 1.5-pound tablet computer that Apple Inc. is scheduled to release at the end of March. The price of the application has yet to be determined, although it might start free, according to Jane Seagrave, a senior vice president who becomes the AP's chief revenue officer Monday. Much like the AP Mobile news product, the iPad app will show custom packages of headlines, stories, photos and video from the AP and from newspapers and broadcasters that choose to contribute their content and share the revenue. AP members also could use the same system to offer their own iPad apps that show their own content. The AP iPad app is just the first product from the AP's new business unit known as "AP Gateway" that will focus on mobile platforms. The AP is among the legion of print-centric news organizations that have seen revenue hit hard by free papers and the internet. A week ago, a Danish paper made the case that devices like the iPad are the newspaper industry's only hope for paid distribution. While many still debate whether the iPad is the savior the publishing industry needs, it's clear that the major publishers are gearing up for an iPad world.
Mom calls 911 over son's gaming habit
Look, we totally get it. Video games are evil -- they're turning your kid into some kind of arsonist or blood-obsessed psycho killer or -- in the case of one Boston area mom -- a rebellious little rabble-rouser. A frustrated mother called police about her son's overzealous gaming this past weekend, complaining the kid wouldn't shut off his console and go to bed. The call came in on 2:30 a.m. Saturday, when the mother complained her son was walking about the house, turning on all of the lights and failing to comply with her wishes. Two officers responded to the call and were able to diffuse the situation. The Boston Herald -- the outlet which broke the news -- said the kid was apparently playing "Grand Theft Auto."
Court not likely to delay Brutal Legend
During E3 2009, Activision fired its first volley in court, suing Brütal Legend developer Double Fine and asking that EA not be allowed to release the game as scheduled this October. Double Fine shot back with its own countersuit just over a week ago, and today, a tentative ruling in a Los Angeles courtroom denied the movement to stop the release of Brütal Legend.The Associated Press has Los Angeles Superior Court judge Craig Karlan pushing back the formal motions until August 6th, to allow both parties to further prepare their arguments -- and because his calendar is full at the moment (with dance parties, we assume). Though he called the case a "close call," he also noted that his tentative judgment is based on his belief that Activision's case doesn't have "a likelihood of success." Ouch.
Vengeful online paramour deletes MMO account, gets arrested IRL
The AP reports that a Japanese woman who had an online-only marriage with a Japanese man has been arrested for taking unlawful action against his avatar. We were talking about this sort of thing only this-morning, actually. You might want to refer back to that. When her online hubbie broke off the relationship, she retaliated by using her ex's password to get into his Maplestory account and deleted his avatar/character there. AP doesn't say what the charges are likely to be, but we can take a good guess. It passes the dishonesty and deprivation tests (Dishonest appropriation of property with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it), so that's criminal theft right there. Likely "destruction of property" will also be added as a rider. At the very least, we imagine that unlawful accessing of a computer and illegal data manipulation will wind up on the list. The 43 year-old woman has been remanded into custody in Sappporo, the jurisdiction where the 33 year-old man lives. AP says that she may face a prison term of up to five years, or a fine of up to US$5,000, though without any formal charges being laid, that seems a touch premature. Though the AP also bandies about the terms 'divorce' and 'murder', both of which are clearly inapplicable to the current case.
Dutch court convicts 2 minors of stealing virtual items
Should the theft of virtual items be punishable by law? This varies from country to country, but today's ruling in a Dutch court emphasizes that virtual crime is actual crime under their country's laws, regardless of whether the individuals involved are minors. Associated Press reports: "These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law) so this is theft," the court said Tuesday in a summary of its ruling. The court did not reveal the identities of the minors, but they are 15-years-old and 14-years-old, respectively. They apparently coerced a younger boy into giving them a 'virtual amulet and virtual mask' in RuneScape. The offenders have both been sentenced to community service -- 200 hours for the 15-year-old, and 160 hours for the 14-year-old. Do you feel this is too steep a penalty for virtual extortion, or not steep enough? Should it matter if the items or currency involved are real or virtual?Update: It's been communicated to us by our readers in Holland that the crime in question was not, in fact, a virtual one, but involved actual violence. The victim in question, according to this source, "was kicked and threatened with a knife." The original Associated Press source omitted this detail, which obviously changes the tone of the discussion below. To clarify, this was real world violence inflicted over virtual items, hence the community service sentences for both of the offending minors.
