Engadget Podcast: Samsung Galaxy Ring review, EFF on KOSA, and another AI “Friend”

Samsung's Galaxy Ring is here, and honestly it's just a bit basic. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into what does and doesn't work with Samsung's latest wearable. Also, we discuss Friend's new AI gadget, which listens to your conversations and sends text messages to help you feel less lonely. To get a better sense of the device, Devindra also talks to Friend's CEO, Avi Schiffmann, about why he's leaning away from the productivity side of AI helpers and more towards the vibes of friendly AI. (And yes, we also ask why he spent $1.8 million of Friend's $2.5 million funding just to buy the Friend.com domain.) In other news, we discuss the potential impact of KOSA (the Kids Online Safety Act) with India McKinney, the EFF’s Director of Federal Affairs. While lawmakers are uniformly positioning KOSA as a way to protect kids on the internet, it could also lead to draconian censorship and destroy free speech on the web as we know it. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! Topics Cherlynn reviews the Samsung Galaxy Ring: Great sleep tracking, but needs more features – 2:13 Interview with Avi Schiffmann, founder of AI wearable company Friend – 27:27 KOSA passes the senate – we chat with EFF’s India McKinney about why it matters – 48:22 What we’ve learned since the massive 7/19... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-08-02 11:30:09 UTC ]

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Libraries that close due to coronavirus should keep the Wi-Fi on, says ALA.

More and more public libraries are temporarily closing shop across the country to limit the spread of coronavirus, but their Wi-Fi can still be a valuable resource for communities, the American Library Association said Monday. Libraries that close should leave their Wi-Fi open to the public... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-23 18:01:46 UTC ]
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Chicago Public Libraries Need To Close Now To Save Lives

Why are Chicago Public Library branches still open to the public during this global health crisis? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-03-19 12:06:40 UTC ]
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NYC public libraries are suspending all programs through March, but will remain open to readers.

This morning, both the Chief Librarian of the Brooklyn Public Library and the President of the New York Public Library released statements announcing that they would be cancelling public library programs for the rest of March, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and encourage social... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-03-12 16:51:47 UTC ]
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Amid Public Health Crisis, MN Legislature Focuses Instead on Drag Queen Story Hour

Minnesota House Republicans threaten to slash funding to public libraries hosting Drag Queen Story Time. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-03-12 10:43:18 UTC ]
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Tennessee Becomes Second State to Propose ‘Parental Review Boards’ for Public Libraries

The bills propose to give elected parental review boards the power to decide which “age-appropriate" materials can be accessible to minors within a public library, with librarians who don’t comply with the board’s decisions subject to prison time. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-02-28 05:00:00 UTC ]
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What’s With All of the Star Wars Manga?

Wondering why there are STAR WARS manga adaptations of middle-grade and young adults prose versions of the stories? We have thoughts. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-02-26 11:34:14 UTC ]
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S&S strikes partnership with Library Link

Simon & Schuster (S&S) has struck a new partnership with public libraries in the UK Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-02-16 17:38:06 UTC ]
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Netflix is turning manga and anime 'One Piece' into a live-action series

If you're a One Piece fan, this may be the best or the worst piece of news ever, depending on how you feel about Netflix's anime adaptations: The streaming giant has approved a 10-episode live-action series based on the classic manga and anime. Even... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2020-01-30 02:20:00 UTC ]
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A new Missouri bill proposes jailing librarians who provide children “age-inappropriate” books.

A proposed law in Missouri would fine, and possibly jail, librarians who provide books to children that a parental board deemed inappropriate, a policy so extreme that it has attracted national attention. House Bill 2044, or “the Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act,” introduced by... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-16 16:35:23 UTC ]
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The 2020 Olympic posters are here. They’ll warp your brain

Is this a simulation? The manga series Akira, created by Japanese Artist Katsuhiro Otomo, and first published  in 1982, was set in the future: 2019. And though written long before a host city announcement was made, the backdrop for the action in Akira is eerily accurate: it took place during... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-01-13 10:00:53 UTC ]
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PW’s Most-Read Comics Stories of 2019

The enormous popularity of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man graphic novel series, trends in the changing U.S. comics and graphic novel retail landscape, and the growing popularity of manga and anime-influenced Japanese light novels, were among PW’s most-read stories about comics in 2019. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-01-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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OverDrive Reports Record Digital Borrowing in 2019

Public Libraries around the world generated a record level of digital content circulation in 2019, providing patrons access to more than 326 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines, according to a report by Rakuten OverDrive, a digital distribution vendor for libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-01-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England boss suggests library funding boost

Arts Council England (ACE) could make funding public libraries one of its priorities over the next decade, the organisation’s c.e.o. has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-03 11:55:05 UTC ]
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How Libraries Are Dealing With Bedbugs

Bedbugs in public libraries are becoming routine. Luckily, there are a few things that librarians can do to stop them...starting with preparation. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-12-17 11:32:47 UTC ]
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Participation in Summer Reading Challenge up 2.6%

The Reading Agency has reported 722,731 children took part in public libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge this summer, representing a 2.64% increase on last year’s participation. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-22 10:29:12 UTC ]
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Manga, Novels, Anime, Games Mingle at Anime NYC 2019

Anime NYC 2019, held at the Javits Center November 15-17, expanded to fill the entire 410,000 square foot main exhibition floor of the convention center, with booths from anime, game, and manga companies and all kinds of merchandise. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The longlist for this year’s €100,000 International DUBLIN Literary Award is 156 books long.

The longlist for the 2020 International DUBLIN Literary Award was announced today, and it is indeed long—156 books long, to be precise. The prize is sponsored by the Dublin City Council, and the longlist is comprised of nominations from public libraries around the world. Last year’s winner,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-11 17:21:15 UTC ]
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Panel Mania: ‘The Drops of God’

An international manga bestseller, The Drops of God is often credited with spurring wine sales in the regions it has been published. The post Panel Mania: ‘The Drops of God’ appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2019-11-08 17:00:29 UTC ]
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Editorial: Why We Choose to Boycott Macmillan E-books

A librarian explains the decision to draw the line over Macmillan's decision to embargo new release e-books in public libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Yu-Gi-Oh! and the Ethics of Adaptation

On the sanitization of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga for the kid-friendly anime adaptation, and the ethics of drastically modifying the story for marketing. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-04 11:42:51 UTC ]
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