๐œ—๐œš nikki ๐œ—๐œš

๐œ—๐œš nikki ๐œ—๐œš

@mlptechnerd01.x10.mx

๐Ÿ—„IT @ ASH Enterprizes๐Ÿ—„ ๐Ÿ‘งShe/Her๐Ÿ‘ง ๐Ÿฆ„Pegasister๐Ÿฆ„ ๐ŸŽ€Siwanator๐ŸŽ€ ๐ŸŒ†Hudson WI๐ŸŒ† ๐Ÿ’žTaken๐Ÿ’ž

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The Washington Post
@washingtonpost.com

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI disclosed that one of its cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems had escaped from a controlled testing environment and hacked into another technology company. Hereโ€™s how that attack happened:

washingtonpost.comInside a cyberattack launched by a rogue AI agent that escaped containmentA timeline of the unprecedented cyberattack by OpenAI โ€œagentโ€ that escaped containment shows its sophistication.

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MacRumors.com
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MacBook Air Experiencing 'Major' Shortage Despite $200 Price Increase

macrumors.comMacBook Air Experiencing 'Major' Shortage Despite $200 Price IncreaseDespite receiving a price increase in June, the MacBook Air is currently experiencing a "major" shortage, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Retail store sources say Apple is struggling to keep the laptop in stock and that shipments of new units are more constrained than they can ever recall," he said. In the U.S., the MacBook Air is facing a 2-6 week delivery estimate on Apple's online store, with configurations with higher amounts of RAM delayed the longest. MacBook Air supply is constrained due to the ongoing memory chip shortage, resulting from companies building out data centers with powerful AI servers. This has led to skyrocketing prices for RAM and SSD storage chips used in a wide range of Apple products, and the MacBook Air is now affected alongside the Mac Studio and Mac mini. In June, Apple raised prices on 14 products, including the MacBook Air. In the U.S., the laptop now starts at $1,299, up from $1,099. Despite this price increase, it appears that Apple is unable to keep up with demand right now.Related Roundup: MacBook AirTag: Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forum: MacBook Air This article, "MacBook Air Experiencing 'Major' Shortage Despite $200 Price Increase" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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MacRumors.com
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Meta Launches Free 'Facebook Verified' Badge to Confirm Real Users

macrumors.comMeta Launches Free 'Facebook Verified' Badge to Confirm Real UsersMeta today announced Facebook Verified, a free badge designed to confirm that a Facebook profile belongs to a real person rather than an AI-generated fake. The feature uses a selfie-based verification process: users record a short video selfie, which โ€ŒMetaโ€Œ checks against their existing profile photos to confirm a match. โ€ŒMetaโ€Œ says the process is free and typically takes just a few minutes to complete, though accounts must meet the company's trust and safety standards to qualify. Facebook Verified is limited to users 18 and older who are in good standing with โ€ŒMetaโ€Œ's Community Standards around fraud, scams, and deceptive practices, and who show no evidence of inauthentic behavior. The badge is not available for Pages or ProMode accounts, positioning it squarely as a personal-profile feature rather than one aimed at creators or businesses. Once verified, the badge will appear on Marketplace, Dating, Groups, and Profile, with โ€ŒMetaโ€Œ planning to extend it to Feed posts over time. There is no subscription fee for the feature, and the badge carries across the platform once a user has completed the one-time verification process. The launch is separate from โ€ŒMetaโ€Œ Verified, the company's existing paid subscription that bundles a verified badge with extras like impersonation protection and direct account support. Facebook Verified is free and narrower in scope, aimed specifically at signaling humanity rather than offering premium account features. Facebook Verified is rolling out in phases, starting in select markets, with โ€ŒMetaโ€Œ planning to expand availability globally over time.Tags: Facebook, Meta This article, "Meta Launches Free 'Facebook Verified' Badge to Confirm Real Users" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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Human Rights Campaign
@hrc.org

INAUGURAL HRC FOUNDATION DATA: LGBTQ+ people hold more than $1.4 trillion in annual spending power. And companies retreating from DEI risk losing LGBTQ+ customers at TWICE the rate of other consumers. That's not symbolic. That's measurable economic power. The findings โคต๏ธ

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MacRumors.com
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Apple Removes Freecash App From App Store After Months of Data Harvesting

macrumors.comApple Removes Freecash App From App Store After Months of Data HarvestingApple removed scam app Freecash from the App Store this week after the app spent months harvesting data from iPhone users, reports TechCrunch. Freecash reached the number two spot on the U.S. โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ charts in January after being heavily marketed on TikTok. It promised users up to $35 per hour for watching TikTok content, but it was collecting swaths of user data. Back in January, Wired covered Freecash's deceptive marketing, and MalwareBytes pointed out that the app was gathering data like race, religion, health, and biometrics, with extra data harvested through mobile games that Freecash pushed users to install. Users tricked into downloading Freecash with the promise of free cash found that they could not earn money by using TikTok, but instead were able to earn tiny amounts of cash by playing games like Monopoly Go and Disney Solitaire. The goal was to push users to make in-app purchases or watch paid ads in the apps. Freecash advertised itself as a platform for matching game developers with users likely to spend money in their games. After the Wired report, TikTok pulled the Freecash ads, but Apple did not take action to remove the app. Freecash stayed in the โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ until TechCrunch contacted Apple on Monday, which is when Apple removed the app from the โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ. Apple said Freecash violated its guidelines prohibiting scam practices and misleading marketing. Freecash parent company Almedia denied using deceptive marketing techniques and said it was in compliance with Apple's โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ rules. Our apps are fully compliant with the Apple App Store and Google Play Store policies, as demonstrated by the fact that they are live and regularly pass platform reviews. We do not comment on internal product strategy regarding specific app listings. Freecash was downloaded by 5.5 million people across the Apple โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ and Google Play in January 2026, and it has remained high on the โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ charts since then. In addition to using misleading TikTok ads, the app appears to have used bots and fake ratings to drive traffic. The app's developers may have also acquired an existing โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ app to get around Apple's app review system, as the Freecash app was banned at one point in 2024 before an existing โ€ŒApp Storeโ€Œ app was renamed Freecash and updated with the same functionality. TechCrunch's full report has more information on Freecash and the scammy tactics the company behind the app used to lure in users.Tag: App Store This article, "Apple Removes Freecash App From App Store After Months of Data Harvesting" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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MacRumors.com
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Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs

macrumors.comMicrosoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent MacsMicrosoft increased prices for all of its Surface PCs this week, with most models priced hundreds of dollars higher than they were when launching. Windows Central highlighted the increases, which now see Microsoft's mid-range models priced above $1,000 and flagship models priced starting at $1,500. A Microsoft spokesperson said the price increase was due to "recent increases in memory and component costs." Microsoft's 12-inch Surface Pro, which was its cheapest modern PC at $799, is now priced starting at $1,049. The flagship 512GB 13-inch Surface Pro is $1,499, up from $1,199 when it launched in 2024 (Microsoft also discontinued a $999 256GB configuration). The 13-inch Surface Laptop went from an $899 starting price to a $1,149 starting price, while the 13.8-inch model went from $999 to $1,499 and the 15-inch model went from $1,299 to $1,599. The 13-inch Surface Pro and the 13.8-inch and 15-inch Surface Laptop models originally launched in 2024, and Microsoft did increase prices for them in 2025, so this is the second price increase. The 13-inch Surface Laptop and the two Surface Pro models that have seen a $300 price increase launched in 2025. Microsoft's 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage used to be $100 cheaper than the 256GB M4 MacBook Air, but now it's $400 more than the 512GB M5 โ€ŒMacBook Airโ€Œ. Apple increased โ€ŒMacBook Airโ€Œ pricing from $999 to $1,099 with the M5 upgrade, but Apple's hike came with more base SSD storage. The Surface Laptop 7 is the laptop that Microsoft says is "faster than a โ€ŒMacBook Airโ€Œ M4." Prices have increased for all Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models, from entry-level to high-end. Microsoft's PCs are now more expensive than their Mac equivalents, which is good news for Apple. The high-end Surface Laptop 7 with 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD is $3,649, which is more expensive than the 16-inch $3,300 M5 Pro MacBook Pro with 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. Apple's M5 Pro chip also far outperforms the Snapdragon X Elite. Windows Central says Microsoft has new Surface PCs coming later this year, which are also expected to have the same higher prices. Microsoft's decision to increase PC prices comes as Samsung also raised prices for some of its smartphone models and all of its U.S. tablet offerings. Both Microsoft and Samsung are responding to increased costs caused by global memory shortages. Chip makers are prioritizing memory for AI data centers, and there is little manufacturing capacity left for consumer devices.Tag: Microsoft This article, "Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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Jon Prosser Still Not Fully Cooperating in Apple's iOS 26 Trade Secrets Lawsuit

macrumors.comJon Prosser Still Not Fully Cooperating in Apple's iOS 26 Trade Secrets LawsuitA joint status report filed yesterday in Apple's trade secrets lawsuit against YouTuber Jon Prosser and Michael Ramacciotti shows Prosser is still failing to comply with discovery, prompting Apple to seek a court order to compel him. The latest filing, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California yesterday, covers developments since the parties' last update in February 2026. It notes that Apple served Prosser with document and deposition subpoenas on February 3, and that while he has provided some responsive materials, he has failed to fully respond to certain requests and has not responded at all to others. Apple has extended his deadline multiple times and says it has still not received the limited discovery it needs to understand the full scope of what confidential information Prosser and Ramacciotti obtained and how they got it. Apple says it now intends to file a Motion for an Order to Show Cause in the Northern District of Ohio to force his compliance. The filing also reveals that Prosser has indicated he is retaining counsel and intends to move to set aside the default judgment entered against him in October 2025, after he missed the court deadline to respond to Apple's complaint. At the time, Prosser told The Verge he had "been in active communications with Apple since the beginning stages of this case," a claim Apple subsequently disputed in court documents. Apple filed the lawsuit in July 2025, accusing Prosser and Ramacciotti of misappropriating trade secrets by gaining unauthorized access to a development iPhone belonging to former Apple software engineer Ethan Lipnik. According to Apple's complaint, Ramacciotti accessed the device while Lipnik was away and showed Prosser the contents over FaceTime, revealing details about what was then called iOS 19 and later unveiled at WWDC 2025 as iOS 26. Prosser published videos on his YouTube channel showing recreated renderings of the software's Liquid Glass design months before Apple's announcement. Lipnik was terminated for failing to follow Apple's policies for securing development devices. Ramacciotti's posture in the case stands in contrast to Prosser's. According to the filing, he has allowed Apple to forensically review an additional device, agreed to supplement his interrogatory responses, and offered to sit for a follow-up deposition once Apple completes its third-party discovery, including any deposition of Prosser. Apple and Ramacciotti have been informally discussing a potential settlement since at least October. Apple is seeking monetary damages and an injunction barring both defendants from further disclosing any of the company's confidential information. The parties have scheduled a further status update with the court for June 10, 2026.Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Tags: Jon Prosser, Apple LawsuitsRelated Forum: iOS 26 This article, "Jon Prosser Still Not Fully Cooperating in Apple's iOS 26 Trade Secrets Lawsuit" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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Human Rights Campaign
@hrc.org

We arenโ€™t all able to openly celebrate Trans Day of Visibility on Tuesday. Whether youโ€™re out or not, you are seen and loved. ๐Ÿค

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MacRumors.com
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Premium Subscriptions Coming to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp

macrumors.comPremium Subscriptions Coming to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsAppMeta plans to test premium subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, the company has told TechCrunch. The subscriptions will reportedly include exclusive features to aid creativity, productivity, and expanded AI capabilities. Meta says each app will have its own distinct set of premium features, giving users "more control over how they share and connect, while keeping the core experiences free." However, it sounds as if Meta hasn't yet settled on what each sub will offer, with the company planning to experiment with various bundles. For Instagram, for example, premium subscribers could create unlimited audience lists, see which followers don't follow them back, and view Stories anonymously. Paid features on WhatsApp and Facebook are likely to provide equivalent functionality. Meta also intends to incorporate Manus, an AI agent it recently acquired for a reported $2 billion, into its subscription plans. The company will continue selling Manus subscriptions to businesses separately. AI-powered video appears to be another upcoming offering, courtesy of Meta's Vibes feature, which targets creators and businesses with verification badges and priority support. Vibes has been free since it launched last year, but Meta now plans to offer freemium access to Vibes video creation, with the option to subscribe to unlock additional video creation opportunities each month. It won't be the first time a social platform has adopted subscription-based access. X (Twitter) has its paid-for tiers, and Snap has shown that the model can work, with Snapchat+ gaining 16 million subscribers at $3.99 per month. Tag: Meta This article, "Premium Subscriptions Coming to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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9to5Mac
@9to5mac.com

Apple @ Work Podcast: Vendor collaboration will be required in the AI era

9to5mac.comApple @ Work Podcast: Vendor collaboration will be required in the AI eraApple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle,ย the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost.ย Request your EXTENDED TRIALย today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, we finish up our 2-part series about AI and networking with Aruna Ravichandran, SVP & CMO โ€“ Collaboration, Enterprise Networking, at Cisco moreโ€ฆ

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MacRumors.com
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Get $100 Off Apple Watch Series 11 With Delivery In Time For Christmas

macrumors.comGet $100 Off Apple Watch Series 11 With Delivery In Time For ChristmasAmazon and Best Buy this weekend have all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. These discounts beat the Black Friday prices we saw last month by about $30, and both retailers have delivery options that provide guaranteed arrival dates before Christmas. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 11 for $299.00, down from $399.00, and the 46mm GPS model for $329.00, down from $429.00. On Amazon, you'll find four of the 42mm GPS models on sale at this all-time low price, and two of the 46mm GPS models on sale. $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm GPS) for $299.00 $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm GPS) for $329.00 If you're shopping for cellular models, you can find record low prices on multiple models this week on Amazon. The 42mm cellular Apple Watch Series 11 has hit $399.00, down from $499.00, and the 46mm cellular model has hit $429.00, down from $529.00. $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (42mm Cell) for $399.00 $100 OFFApple Watch Series 11 (46mm Cell) for $429.00 Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week. --- Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find this holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, "Get $100 Off Apple Watch Series 11 With Delivery In Time For Christmas" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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MacRumors.com
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MacBook Air Black Friday Deals Arrive With Low Prices Starting at $749.99

macrumors.comMacBook Air Black Friday Deals Arrive With Low Prices Starting at $749.99Early Black Friday deals are in full swing, and Amazon recently introduced one of the best Apple discounts so far this month. You can get the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $749.99, down from $999.00, an all-time low price on the computer that beats the previous low by about $50. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. If you're looking for the larger model, you can get the 15-inch 256GB computer for $949.99, down from $1,199.00. You'll also find many of the 512GB models of the 13-inch and 15-inch M4 MacBook Air on sale this week. $249 OFF13-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $749.99 $249 OFF15-inch M4 MacBook Air (256GB) for $949.99 You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2025. --- Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find this holiday season? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season! Related Roundups: Apple Black Friday, Apple DealsRelated Forum: Community Discussion This article, "MacBook Air Black Friday Deals Arrive With Low Prices Starting at $749.99" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

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MacRumors.com
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Apple Launches 'iPhone Pocket' Limited Edition Accessory

macrumors.comApple Launches 'iPhone Pocket' Limited Edition AccessoryApple has teamed up with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE to launch iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted limited edition accessory designed to carry an iPhone and other everyday items. The accessory features a ribbed, stretchable textile that fully encloses an iPhone yet allows you to glimpse the display through its open structure. It can be worn handheld, attached to bags, or directly on the body. ISSEY MIYAKE's design director Yoshiyuki Miyamae described it as exploring "the joy of wearing iPhone in your own way." iPhone Pocket comes in two versions. There's a short strap design available in eight colors for $149.95, and a long strap design in three colors for $229.95. The short strap comes in lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon, and black. The long strap comes in sapphire, cinnamon, and black. Apple says the color palette was created to mix and match with all iPhone models. The limited-edition release will be available from November 14 on Apple's online store and at 10 flagship Apple Store locations worldwide, including Apple Regent Street in London, Apple SoHo in New York, and Apple Ginza in Tokyo. This article, "Apple Launches 'iPhone Pocket' Limited Edition Accessory" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums