Apple Announces Big AI Highlights at WWDC 2024

Apple introduced its new AI system called Apple Intelligence that will power Siri and new features across devices using on-device processing and Apple's private servers. Siri is gaining new capabilities through integration with ChatGPT and better handling of contexts. New AI features are coming to apps like Photos, Mail, and Messages focusing on summarization, generation, and natural language searches.

iOS 18 will introduce more customization options like customizable Control Centers and home screen app placement. RCS messaging is finally supported in iMessage along with new reply scheduling and satellite emergency texting. Notable updates are coming to the Photos, Notes, and Phone apps as well.

Apple unveiled new operating system updates including iPadOS gaining a Calculator app and Mac support for mirroring iPhone interfaces. watchOS will surface contextual widgets and new health-tracking features. Vision OS 2 adds spatially aware photo viewing and ultrawide Mac displays in vision.

Additionally, Apple announced a new Passwords manager app, "insights" in TV Plus for actor identification, and improvements to AirPod Pros like head gesture Siri control and better noise cancellation. WWDC highlighted Apple's expanding focus on privacy-centric AI applications across its platforms.

Lima AI Debuts Realistic Video Generation System ‘Dream Machine’

Luma AI has released Dream Machine, a new AI system that can generate realistic 5-second video clips from simple text descriptions like "a corgi chasing a ball on the beach at sunset" within 2 minutes. Early beta users praised its ability to render specified details while maintaining coherent motion and storytelling faithfully.

Unlike competitors like OpenAI's Sora which is only accessible to select partners, Luma AI has made Dream Machine freely available online, planning to release APIs and plugins as well to give more creators access. This open approach could help Luma AI build momentum by spurring innovation from users experimenting with the technology.

The release of Dream Machine comes as generative AI startups and tech giants are increasingly developing tools for synthesizing images, audio, and video from text. However, the technology remains in the early stages, and consistency and reliability need improving. A key question is whether capabilities will concentrate among industry leaders or whether an open ecosystem can flourish.

While generative tools like Dream Machine hold potential, they also raise ethical concerns around potential misuse such as deepfakes and intellectual property infringement. Lawmakers face challenges regulating fast-moving technological change in this area. Balancing innovation and responsibility will be important for the industry and society.

Yahoo Mail Adds More AI to Simplify Desktop Email

Yahoo Mail is adding new AI capabilities to its desktop version, automatically generating brief email summaries highlighting tasks and proposed actions. This joins Yahoo's Priority inbox, which uses AI to surface important messages.

Quick access buttons will now let users directly take actions like adding calendar events, checking flights, and tracking packages from within emails. A persistent starred view also makes flagged tasks and items easy to access.

Yahoo Mail lets users link other email accounts like Gmail, Outlook, and AOL to manage all accounts in one inbox. It also offers quick shortcuts to perform tasks without leaving the inbox.

The updates aim to simplify daily activities like managing multiple accounts, schedules, long emails, and order tracking according to Yahoo Mail's VP. The features are rolling out to US users over time in both the desktop and future mobile apps.

Last year Yahoo Mail added generative AI for improved search, helping find discounts, and writing assistance - showing its increasing focus on using AI to streamline the email experience.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater Trailer Revealed

The 2024 Summer Xbox Showcase provided a first substantial look at the gameplay for the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. The footage looked great and showed sneaking, eating, and CQC combat without spoiling any major story details, helpful for newcomers to the original Metal Gear Solid 3 storyline.

However, other important details about the game remain unknown such as whether creator Hideo Kojima is involved in any capacity, which seems unlikely, as well as a specific release date. The trailer focused on demonstrating the remade gameplay faithfully bringing Snake Eater's mechanics to a new generation.

Fans are still excited to embark on Snake Eater's virtuous mission once more in the remake, hopefully getting more information soon on its development and launch. The Xbox Showcase trailer offered reassurance that the remake appears to be handling the core stealth and combat gameplay well while preserving the experience for existing fans and newcomers alike.

Microsoft Unveils Digital-only Xbox Series X and S

Microsoft has announced three new Xbox console models launching this holiday season, including an all-digital Xbox Series X. The new models consist of a white digital Series X without a disc drive priced at $449.99, a 2TB black Series X for $599.99, and a white 1TB Series S for $349.99.

The consoles will be available in select markets by the end of 2022. Microsoft will provide more details on specific market availability and regional pricing in the coming months when pre-orders open.

Rumors of a disc-less Series X and white Series S first emerged in documents from Microsoft's FTC lawsuit last year, showing plans for mid-generation refreshes in 2024 with enhanced features and cylindrical Series X design. It's unclear if the new models will have any of this functionality.

In addition to the new consoles, Microsoft unveiled upcoming games for its lineup like Gears 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, Dragon Age: Veilguard, and State of Decay 3, with deeper looks at Perfect Dark, Fable, Indiana Jones, and more AAA titles. Microsoft also reaffirmed it is hard at work on the next Xbox generation.

Valve Gets Sued for Allegedly Overcharging 14 Million UK Players

A £656 million (about $841 million) lawsuit has been filed against Valve by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal claiming Valve overcharged players. Valve is accused of using its Steam platform to require publishers to sign price parity obligations that keep games from being cheaper on other storefronts.

The lawsuit cites Steam's commission of up to 30% from game purchases as "excessive" and argues it allows Valve to hold a monopoly and breach UK competition law. According to campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, the 30% cut means players "pay too much" for games and DLC on Steam.

Shotbolt has previously accused Valve of breaching competition law with Steam and hopes this lawsuit will "get people back what they're owed." Valve has faced criticism over the years from developers for its 30% revenue share. This criticism has allowed competitors like Epic to launch stores with more favorable terms for studios.

Similar concerns have been raised about Steam's potential to monopolize the PC games market. Shotbolt alleges in this case that Valve has "rigged the market and taken advantage of UK players" through its operations on Steam. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the estimated 14 million UK players affected.

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zkSync’s ZK Nation Announces ZK Token and Airdrop, Provides More Clarity After Backlash

ZkSync will distribute 3.7 billion ZK tokens, representing two-thirds of the total supply, to user wallets next week. The airdropped tokens will be fully liquid with no lockup, though distributions are capped at 100,000 tokens per wallet. Eligibility is based on a March 2024 usage snapshot of the zkSync L2 and wallet.

The ZK token will enable holders to introduce and vote on protocol upgrades and pay network fees, allowing community governance to evolve ZkSync. As more ZK chains launch, the token can coordinate innovation across the expanding network. Two-thirds of ZK tokens will go to the community through the airdrop and future distributions.

One-third of tokens are allocated to investors (17.2%) and the Matter Labs team (16.1%), under a gradual one-year lockup releasing until 2028. zkSync Era has seen its total value locked peak at $990 million since launching one year ago, now at $786 million, ranking it the eighth largest L2 solution.

The massive airdrop aims to put meaningful governance in the hands of the community to ensure zkSync remains decentralized. Eligible community members who contributed through usage, development or advocacy can claim tokens starting next week until January 2025 to participate in protocol governance.

Pirate Nation’s PIRATE Token Goes Live with a Plunder, Introduces Staking and Utility on Day 1

The $PIRATE token claim went live on June 13th, where eligible Pirate Nation players and collectors could choose to claim tokens or claim and stake them. Staking provided benefits such as earning Proof of Play points through the infrastructure being built. Staking earlier yielded a higher points multiplier, with a bonus for claiming and staking tokens together.

Staked $PIRATE could still be spent in-game without affecting the multiplier, such as on Gems. Stakers also received purchase discounts when using $PIRATE, initially for Gems. Stakers could unstake at any time without penalty, though removing the full balance or Founder's Pirates lost accrued points.

In other news, Season 2 launched on June 11th at 12AM UTC, bringing new quests, challenges, and surprises including a potential new fish emoji. The leaderboard and BOOTY points scoring were revealed soon. However, point accumulation for the new season started at the June 11th launch time. This allowed players an early start by participating in certain pre-launch activities.

Crypto Prices Dip as Fed Signals One Rate Cut Instead of Three

Cryptocurrency prices wavered after the Fed left interest rates unchanged but projected one rate cut in 2024 instead of the expected two cuts. Bitcoin and Ethereum prices dipped around 1.2% following the announcement. Inflation had slowed to 3.3% in May, below forecasts, but the Fed still sees more progress needed before cutting rates.

The Fed has maintained it will not cut rates until confident inflation is sustainably moving to its 2% target. While acknowledging inflation progress, Fed Chair Powell said more data is still needed before greater confidence in the inflation outlook. Powell pointed to the flat monthly inflation in May as a potential sign of progress but added the Fed's quest for 2% is not over.

Before the Fed decision, futures markets forecast a 61% chance of a September rate cut, falling to 59% after Powell's comments. Powell said the Fed would adjust policy if risks emerge preventing its goals of maximum employment and 2% inflation. Investor sentiment typically pressures risk assets like stocks and crypto as rates rise but ease with the Fed loosening.

Not long after inflation peaked at 9.1% in mid-2022, the Fed began lifting rates from near zero to cool the economy. Powell affirmed the Fed's stance that it has made good progress on inflation with current policy and is looking for a gradual decline and balanced labor market.

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