Amazon’s ‘free, no hassle returns’ issue results in over $1 billion settlement
Amazon is resolving claims that it incorrectly processed returns with a proposed settlement valued at over $1 billion, as reported earlier by Reuters and Bloomberg Law. The settlement includes $600 million in refunds, along with an additional $309.5 million in payments to affected customers.
Initially filed in 2023, the class action lawsuit claims that while Amazon advertises "free, no hassle returns," it often "fails to issue refunds or re-charges customers who have returned items." It also alleges that Amazon knows customers aren't aware of the return issues, leading to "substantial unjustified monetary losses by consumers." Amazon began …
Pinterest cuts workforce by around 15 percent to focus on AI
Pinterest is planning to lay off hundreds of workers and reduce its office space to reallocate resources for its artificial intelligence initiatives. In a regulatory filing posted Tuesday, Pinterest says the reduction is expected to impact "less than 15 percent" of its current workforce, and that the layoffs should be complete by September 30th, 2026.
Pinterest said it had 4,666 full-time employees as of the end of 2024, which would mean around 700 staffers are impacted by today's announcement. The document said these changes are to support three "transformation initiatives," with two of them connected to AI:
- Reallocating resources to AI- …
The Samsung Trifold will cost nearly three grand
Samsung's much-anticipated Galaxy Z Trifold goes on sale on this Friday, January 26th, and the price is every bit as steep as we'd feared: $2,899, which gets you 512GB of storage and a phone that kind of wants to be a tablet all the time. The Trifold first premiered in Korea late last year, so the sky-high price isn't totally unexpected. You can spend two thousand bucks on a slab-style iPhone after all; maybe $2,900 for three phones in one isn't so outrageous.
Samsung first teased the Trifold almost exactly a year ago, which is a pretty rapid journey from teaser to shipping product - especially considering that there's really just one other …
Truth and AI in Minneapolis
When federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, video of the shooting - from lots of people, and lots of angles, with wildly varying levels of quality - immediately began to fly around the internet. This is what always happens in times like these, and there have unfortunately been a lot of times like these recently.
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There was something different about this one, though. Something about how visible the whole act was. Something about this one coming so …
Google Photos now lets you describe how to transform images into video
Google is giving Photos users more control over the app's generative AI photo-to-video feature. Google Photos now supports text prompts for video generation, according to the update announcement on Monday, allowing users to describe the specific movement, style, or effect they want to see when bringing still images to life.
Text prompts join the existing "Subtle Movement" and "I'm feeling lucky" options that are already available for Google Photos' image-to-video tool - neither of which allowed users to enter their own descriptions to guide the results. Google says Photos will provide prompt suggestions "for instant video inspiration," and …
Roland’s TR-1000 is the ultimate drum machine
It took way too long, but Roland finally caved and gave the people what they want: a proper analog successor to the iconic TR-808 drum machine. The 808's sound, especially the kick drum, is embedded so deeply in the DNA of modern music that it would be a gross disservice to try and boil its influence down to a single sentence or a list of artists. (Note: Not all of the songs linked necessarily use an actual 808, but they at least feature samples or approximations of its sounds.)
But, in typical Roland fashion, the company didn't just re-create some iconic analog circuits. No, the TR-1000 also has digital emulations of other classic Roland d …
All rise for JudgeGPT
Bridget McCormack is used to correcting judges' work. As the former chief justice on the Michigan Supreme Court, it was her job to review complaints about how judges at the lower courts failed to consider key evidence or rule on certain aspects of a case.
In her current job, McCormack is working on a new kind of legal decision-maker. Like a judge, it would make mistakes. But unlike many judges, it wouldn't be burdened by more casework than it had hours in the day. It could make sure to always show its work, check that each side agreed it understood all the facts, and ensure it ruled on each issue at play. And it wouldn't be human - it's ma …
Xbox Cloud Gaming’s new design teases the future of Xbox console UI
Microsoft has started testing a refreshed web experience for Xbox Cloud Gaming that looks even more console-like. Xbox Insiders can now try out the preview UI, which includes updated navigation features, plenty of new animations, and a refreshed design. It all feels like a teaser of what's to come for Xbox consoles in the years ahead.
The existing Xbox Cloud Gaming interface got its last major overhaul nearly two years ago, when Microsoft added the social features and UI you'd normally find in the Xbox dashboard. This new design makes that existing UI feel even closer to an Xbox console, thanks to a variety of new animations, a new library …
Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp will test premium subscriptions
Meta is gearing up to trial new premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in the coming months that will allow users to access expanded AI capabilities and additional features. TechCrunch reports that the upcoming subscription plans aim to "unlock more productivity and creativity" by providing premium users with "more control over how they share and connect."
The core Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp services will remain free to use, and the new premium subscriptions will be separate from the paid Meta Verified service that was launched in 2023. Meta told TechCrunch that it will test a variety of subscription features and …
Strava and Komoot finally bring offline maps to Apple Watch
Strava and Komoot - two of the most popular apps for cyclists, hikers, and runners - are each bringing offline maps to the Apple Watch, ending a major source of frustration for many. Now you can easily see routes and record your workouts all in your preferred app, without having to bring along a relatively heavy and cumbersome iPhone.
Strava says the offline maps are only available to subscribers, but Komoot's offering is free (though you might have to pay to unlock additional map regions) and also bakes in turn-by-turn navigation. Strava subscribers pay $11.99/month or $79.99/year plus any taxes.
One of the biggest selling points of the …