PCMag

Maryland is the first state to ban grocery stores and delivery apps from changing prices based on shoppers' personal data. Several other states are looking to do the same. https://www.pcmag.com/news/maryland-bans-dynamic-pricing-adjusts-grocery-costs-based-on-your-data

Xbox's new CEO has confirmed Copilot doesn’t ‘align with where’ the gaming brand is heading. Thus, it's being axed from Xbox console: https://www.pcmag.com/news/your-xbox-wont-get-microsoft-copilot-ai-features-after-all

Chrome will automatically download a 4GB model to support on-device AI features, and the large file may stay on your computer unless the features are turned off. https://www.pcmag.com/news/chrome-may-quietly-use-4gb-for-ai-features-heres-how-you-can-stop-it

Windows will now allow you to pause updates almost indefinitely, restart without mandatory updates, and will try to condense non-essential updates into one monthly restart. https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-finally-tackles-frustrating-windows-updates

Two Japanese companies are trying to keep Blu-ray discs alive: https://www.pcmag.com/news/two-japanese-companies-are-trying-to-keep-blu-ray-technology-alive

After years of reviewing cameras and taking countless photos, these are the top techniques one of writers relies on for consistently good shots. https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/ive-tested-hundreds-of-cameras-these-tips-will-instantly-improve-your-photos

A lawsuit claims Apple illegally accessed millions of YouTube clips for AI training and profited massively from the results. https://www.pcmag.com/news/youtubers-sue-apple-for-scraping-their-videos-to-train-ai

To win over AI skeptics, OpenAI is pushing some big ideas to ensure the technology benefits society, which includes a four-day workweek. But the announcement arrives amid allegations that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is a habitual liar. https://www.pcmag.com/news/openai-touts-4-day-work-week-wealth-fund-to-sell-public-on-next-gen-ai

Anthropic has clamped down on people using its Claude chatbot via OpenClaw. https://www.pcmag.com/news/anthropic-you-cant-use-openclaw-with-claude-without-paying-extra

We’ve heard of 1Hz laptop screens to save on battery life. But Chinese display manufacturer TCL is going 100x further with a 0.01Hz laptop panel. https://www.pcmag.com/news/tcls-001hz-screen-aims-to-squeeze-more-battery-life-out-of-your-laptop

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has updated its rules for the upcoming year, prohibiting AI-generated performances or screenplays from winning awards. https://www.pcmag.com/news/you-need-to-be-human-to-win-an-oscar-says-academy

Microsoft trims the number of Windows Insider channels and makes it easier to switch between beta and stable versions of Windows. https://www.pcmag.com/news/attention-early-adopters-microsoft-just-simplified-the-windows-insider

Amazon is preparing to pull support for several older Kindle models and Kindle Fire tablets that were originally released before 2013. https://www.pcmag.com/news/got-a-kindle-from-before-2013-amazon-is-pulling-support

T-Mobile's Mint Mobile prepaid brand has a new discount: 5G broadband for a home and a phone for $45 a month as long as you pay for a year of it up-front: https://www.pcmag.com/news/mint-mobile-launches-45-bundle-of-home-and-mobile-5g-broadband

The UK and Microsoft warn that Russia's "Fancy Bear" hackers are targeting outdated consumer routers, many of which are 'end-of-life' TP-Link devices that no longer receive software patches. https://www.pcmag.com/news/are-you-using-these-tp-link-routers-russian-hackers-are-targeting-them

Two class-action lawsuits have been filed against LinkedIn over the social network's alleged covert surveillance of users via browser extensions scanning. However, LinkedIn says the dispute is overblown and mischaracterizes practices already disclosed in its privacy policy. https://www.pcmag.com/news/linkedin-hit-with-class-action-lawsuits-over-browser-extension-scanning

AT&T logged over 10,000 cases of copper theft last year, mostly in California, where the company is still required to provide old-school landline services. https://www.pcmag.com/news/att-faced-huge-surge-in-copper-wiring-thefts-last-year

Only $400: The Vizio Mini LED Quantum 4K QLED TV delivers impressively bright, colorful picture quality at a rock-bottom price. Here's our review: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/vizio-65-inch-mini-led-quantum-tv-vqm65c-1004

Should owning a smartphone be required for modern life? LA Dodgers deny printed tickets for one loyal fan, who doesn't own a smartphone: https://www.pcmag.com/news/no-smartphone-no-ticket-la-dodgers-digital-only-policy-blocks-loyal-fan

Qualcomm predicts a fast rollout for 6G, leading to a commercial debut in 2029. But there are a few major challenges to overcome first, not least of which is the lack of any only-on-6G selling points. https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/time-to-talk-about-6g-what-you-need-to-know

The PlayStation Store axes more shovelware games, including Jesus Simulator: https://www.pcmag.com/news/playstation-store-axes-more-shovelware-games-including-jesus-simulator

The FBI and NSA say Iranian-connected hackers appear to be focusing on vulnerable programmable logic controllers used in industrial processes. https://www.pcmag.com/news/us-warns-that-iranian-hackers-are-targeting-water-energy-sectors

Home security provider ADT has experienced a data breach that seems to be linked to notorious hacking gang ShinyHunters, which is now trying to extort the company. https://www.pcmag.com/news/adt-data-breach-shinyhunters-hackers-say-they-stole-10-million-records

We check out Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip. Is it the new 18-Core laptop performance leader? https://www.pcmag.com/news/snapdragon-x2-elite-extreme-benchmarked-a-new-18-core-laptop-performance

Google has launched a new AI dictation app that provides polished speech-to-text transcriptions for free. https://www.pcmag.com/news/looking-for-a-free-speech-to-text-tool-googles-new-ai-app-could-be-the