IT

GrapheneOS is defending its duress-password feature after an environmental activist used it to wipe his Pixel phone during a U.S. Customs search and was later indicted for allegedly destroying property under government control. The nonprofit says the operating system is "completely legal," cannot recover the erased data, and should not be weakened with encryption backdoors. Meanwhile, the activist faces up to five years in prison if found guilty. PCMag reports: In a post on Saturday, the Canadian nonprofit behind the operating system, the GrapheneOS Foundation, explained that the software offers a range of features to prevent data extraction. For example, one safeguard is the "auto-reboot timer" that'll reboot a locked device after a set period of time to put the data at rest, leaving all files inside encrypted. The group's post subtly suggests that GrapheneOS phones can withstand law enforcement searches without requiring users to resort to a duress password. "People should carefully consider how to use it in an actual duress situation where there can be physical or legal consequences for wiping the device," the nonprofit wrote. "GrapheneOS doesn't require it to protect data from being extracted from the device, but it takes recovering it completely off the table even with the PIN/password for each profile on the device." On X, the nonprofit has also said it can do nothing to help US law enforcement recover data from Tunick's phone. "Data cannot be recovered after the key derivation material is reliably wiped. It's not possible and there's nothing we can do to assist with it," the group wrote. "Similarly, it's not possible to assist with bypassing encryption because the hardware and software has been designed to prevent it."

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The review embargo has lifted for the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro, and the consensus across the board is that it is a massive leap forward in terms of build quality and battery life. The main issue reviewers complained about is the sky-high price, with the higher-end model jumping dramatically from $2,100 up to $2,900 due to the memory shortage crisis. (Some note that the price "nearly doubled" overnight while they were in the middle of testing.) In his video review, Marques Brownlee says, "This is their best build yet. They're finally doing what people have been asking for: a premium... modular... laptop." ZDNET agrees that this device "represents a new approach for Framework and a maturation of the brand's catalog," noting that the new construction is "sleek and airtight, with no gaps, spaces, or evidence that was even put together by your hands at all." Tom's Hardware echoes this enthusiasm, declaring that "The Framework Laptop 13 Pro's sturdy design, haptic trackpad, and bigger battery feel like they should have been there all along". Battery life, which has historically been a weak point for Framework, is now a standout feature. Ars Technica points out that the combination of Intel's efficient Panther Lake chips and a new 74-watt-hour battery is "finally long enough to decisively eliminate 'mediocre-to-poor battery life' as the laptop's biggest downside." They also said it's "Framework's nicest-looking, nicest-feeling, most polished laptop design." For Linux users, the machine appears to deliver on its promises. Phoronix says the device "is designed with great Linux compatibility in mind," offering a seamless out-of-the-box experience for distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora. As mentioned above, the overarching complaint is the extreme cost. Ars Technica notes that Framework unfortunately "switched to an exotic new upgradeable LPDDR5X RAM format just in time for those modules to become astronomically expensive." Still, Marques Brownlee summarizes the long-term value proposition perfectly: while it might be painfully expensive on day one, "the longer you keep this laptop, the more it feels worth it" because you can easily repair and upgrade it over time. Compared to Apple's flagship, the Framework is "80% of the quality, way more modular," he says.

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An anonymous reader quotes a report from 404 Media: Claude is exposing a wealth of users' chats and creations in Google search results, meaning anyone can dig through conversations or other material that people used Claude to make but may not have realized were publicly available for strangers to see. The exposed data includes an AI-powered therapy app that someone appears to have vibe-coded, notes on meetings, and a dashboard someone made apparently to analyze medical billing data. Exposed chats reportedly include private cryptocurrency wallet keys and personal information like peoples' addresses Like other chatbots, Claude lets people share their conversations with others by creating a publicly accessible link of the chat. People may do this to send the full text of a conversation to their friends or coworkers in a group chat, for example. But they may not realize Google is also surfacing these links in search results, making them available to essentially anyone. [...] Claude users can change their privacy and sharing settings to make their chats no longer publicly accessible.

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Arizona State University has launched a 120-credit bachelor's degree in content creation that teaches video, podcasting, branding, analytics, media law, and social strategy. For their capstone, students are "expected to build a real social media account and demonstrate audience growth during the program," reports Dexerto. From the report: The Content Creation BA is housed within ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and appears in the university's 2026-2027 course catalog. The 120-credit-hour degree prepares students to become "an influencer and strategic storyteller" by teaching video production, podcasting, personal branding, audience analytics and social media strategy. The program was approved by the ASU University Senate in March 2026. Its proposal said graduates would be prepared to work independently as influencers and content creators across livestreaming, videography, writing, podcasting, graphics and emerging media. [...] For the program's final project, students will choose a social media platform, such as TikTok, create a content and growth strategy, and attempt to gain real followers throughout the semester. "They will have demonstrable audience growth," [explained Jessica Pucci, senior associate dean at the Cronkite School]. "They will have a platform of their choice with real content and real followers and a real audience behind them." The curriculum includes courses titled How to Become an Influencer, On-Camera Presence, Introduction to Editing, Videography, Podcasting and Audio Storytelling, Social Media Foundations and The Digital Audience.

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A new analysis of 89 major geological events over the past 260 million years found evidence that mass extinctions, volcanic eruptions, ocean crises, and other upheavals may cluster around a roughly 27.5-million-year cycle. The cause remains unknown, with possibilities ranging from mantle activity and orbital changes to speculative galactic influences. Slashdot reader alternative_right shares a report from ScienceAlert: One possibility lies deep within Earth itself. The planet's mantle is constantly circulating through convection, albeit at an almost unimaginably slow pace. Periodic changes in mantle convection, or the initiation of mantle plumes, could influence volcanism, plate tectonics, mountain building, and other large-scale geological processes. Because these systems are closely interconnected, disturbances originating deep within Earth could eventually ripple through the planet's surface, oceans, climate, and biosphere. Another hypothesis focuses on interactions between Earth's surface and interior. Long-term orbital variations influence climate and sea level, periodically redistributing enormous amounts of water, ice, and sediment across the planet. [New York University geologist Michael Rampino] discusses the possibility that these changing surface loads subtly modify stresses within Earth's crust and upper mantle, potentially influencing tectonic and volcanic activity over geological timescales. Rampino also considers possible influences beyond Earth, an idea he has been weighing up since the 1980s. As the Solar System orbits the center of the Milky Way, it oscillates above and below the galaxy's mid-plane, with the timing of these passages aligning with that of Earth's major upheavals. These crossings, other researchers have suggested, could also gravitationally perturb comets in the distant Oort Cloud, increasing the likelihood of large asteroid impacts. Another, even more speculative, hypothesis suggests that if dark matter is concentrated near the galactic plane, a fraction of it could occasionally be captured by Earth. Over millions of years, this process could generate small amounts of internal heat, potentially influencing geological activity. At present, however, there is no direct evidence supporting either mechanism, so they remain very controversial. Large asteroid impacts are discussed separately in the paper. Although they were not included in the statistical analysis of the 89 geological events, the timing of several of Earth's largest known impact craters appears broadly consistent with the proposed 27.5-million-year rhythm, as Rampino has discussed in earlier papers. Rampino suggests this correspondence may warrant further investigation, but stops short of claiming a causal relationship.

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The investment comes after speculation that Saudi Arabia may take Lucid Motors private -- which the EV maker has denied.

The decision arrives as the breakneck pace of data center construction has grid operators scrambling to generate power.

After reporting better-than-expected Q2 results, PayPal said it remains focused on its AI-driven turnaround, but would consider a deal that creates more value for shareholders.

Users get an X Visa debit card, which they can immediately add to Apple Pay and use to make instant peer-to-peer transfers within the app without fees or limits.

Similar to the smartphone and desktop apps, the web app will support calling features such as screen-sharing and reactions.

Faster access and more secure recoveries are driving business, but mishaps and attacks can endanger data

More organizers prohibit camera-equipped specs, even with prescription lenses

Government finds some loose change down to chuck at emission-free flight research

VulnCheck says fewer than 2% of AI-assisted vulnerability discoveries have been weaponized, casting doubt on claims frontier models are handing attackers a major advantage

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The program will take the sting out of owning Apple devices, including Macs, iPads and Apple Watches.

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 28.

Trump is fixated on the false, long-debunked claim that vaccines cause autism.

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Microsoft says tools cost less than competing ones and outperform them, too.

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Kennedy has focused on nutrition but has neglected food safety, critics say.

Veo is launching accessibility-focused electric tricycles in Denver, with plans to put its e-trikes on the streets nationwide.

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Should you splurge on the new Series 11, or will the SE 3 do? Let us help you figure out which version to get (and which to avoid).

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Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

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Our AI Model Release Tracker keeps new models in context with their peers, so you know which are worth your time.

Pressing the Copilot key on your laptop keyboard launches Copilot. But whether or not you use Microsoft's AI, you can remap the key to trigger a different feature.

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Did it look like the ransomware threat was receding last year? New research suggests it was more of a reshuffle - and recommends renewed vigilance.

Apple is reportedly targeting a June 2027 reveal for its N50 smart glasses as it tests camera limits, on-device processing, and other privacy safeguards.

The post Apple’s Smart Glasses Have a Meta Problem: Earning Privacy Trust appeared first on TechRepublic.

Google says rising memory costs will increase Pixel 11 prices as AI-driven demand reshapes the smartphone supply chain.

The post Google Confirms Pixel 11 Price Increase As RAM Costs Force Higher Phone Prices appeared first on TechRepublic.

Google will sign the EU's voluntary AI content labeling code as the bloc prepares to enforce new AI transparency requirements under the AI Act.

The post Google Signs EU AI Content Labeling Code Ahead of AI Act appeared first on TechRepublic.

The Trump administration is considering sanctions against Chinese AI developers over alleged model distillation, escalating U.S.-China tensions over AI and intellectual property.

The post US Threatens Sanctions Over Alleged Chinese AI Model Distillation appeared first on TechRepublic.

Meta is introducing a free Facebook badge that uses video selfies to verify human-run accounts, but questions remain about privacy and trust.

The post Meta Launches Free Facebook Verification Badge for Personal Accounts appeared first on TechRepublic.

WhatsApp has rolled out web calling with new voice and video call features, allowing users to make calls directly from their browsers. The update brings call transfers, waiting rooms, screen sharing and improved video quality for a better experience.

Some of the exposed conversations included sensitive information such as cryptocurrency wallet keys and personal details, including names and addresses

Xiaomi has confirmed the Redmi Note 17 India launch on August 6, with an 8,000mAh battery and 7-inch display expected. The Redmi Note 17 will launch in India on August 6, bringing a large display and an 8,000mAh battery.

Apple has released iOS 26.6 with security updates, bug fixes, Spotlight improvements and preparations for iOS 27 features. Apple's iOS 26.6 update brings security fixes, Spotlight enhancements and readies iPhone 11 and newer models for iOS 27.

Vi has launched a Rs. 200 prepaid plan with 20 OTT apps, 200+ live TV channels, 30GB data and Unlimited 5G benefits. Vi's new Rs. 200 prepaid recharge bundles OTT streaming, live TV, 30GB data and Unlimited 5G for eligible users.

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Diredt-to-device network would complement connectivity via fixed antennas and Globalstar's satellites. Read More

Warner Bros. Discovery sued Amazon in Los Angeles County Superior Court over the hiring of HBO Max marketing executive Pia Barlow, alleging Amazon induced her to break a contract that ran through October 2027. The suit asks the court to bar Amazon from hiring any Warner Bros. Discovery employee under contract. Read More

Replify's software handles phone calls, emails, chats, and texts for health and wellness businesses, including inbound customer messages as well as proactive outbound marketing." Read More

From writing apps to coding autonomous drone swarms, software engineers are becoming defense innovators through a new open source military ecosystem.

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Some people struggle to switch off from their wearables, but is there anything brands can do about it?