Illustration: The Verge The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced fines totaling $89 million against Apple and Goldman Sachs because the companies “illegally mishandled transaction disputes and misled iPhone purchasers about interest-free payment options” with the Apple Card. The CFPB says the issues affected “hundreds of thousands of Apple Card users.” Apple didn’t send “tens of thousands” of Apple Card transaction disputes to Goldman Sachs, according to the CFPB. The CFPB says that Goldman Sachs didn’t complete timely inquires on disputes it received in accordance with federal law, either. Cardholders were also led to believe that they would automatically get interest-free financing if they bought Apple devices using the Apple Card, but... Continue reading…

Image: Apple Apple is now letting developers try more Apple Intelligence features. The company has released the first developer beta of iOS 18.2, and it adds tools like the ability to generate emoji with Genmoji and images with Image Playground, more AI-powered writing features, integration with ChatGPT, Visual Intelligence to search with your camera on iPhone 16 phones, and more, according to 9to5Mac. With this beta, Apple Intelligence is now supported in more regions, too. iOS 18.2 will bring the second batch of Apple Intelligence features to users. The first batch, including features like a slightly smarter Siri and notification summaries, is set to launch next week with the official release of iOS 18.1. Apple debuted its planned Apple... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge An investigation conducted by a data privacy group has revealed a vast tracking network that can follow the movements of a person’s phone, according to reports from 404 Media and Krebs on Security. The people-tracking service, called Locate X, reportedly lets users follow a device using its mobile advertising identifier, a unique number assigned to phones. The New Jersey-based Atlas Data Privacy Corp, which aims to help people remove their personal information from data brokers, found that the software is capable of showing the whereabouts of mobile phones on a map, allowing anyone with access to track someone’s precise location across state lines, according to 404 Media. The information could then be used to figure out a specific phone... Continue reading…

Ahead of iOS 18.1's release next week, Apple is already seeding the first developer's beta of iOS 18.2. This upcoming software update is packed with several Apple Intelligence features and is expected to be available to all users later this year. These are the top features available with iOS 18.2 beta 1: Image Playground: Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app; Genmoji: Create custom emojis by combining two figures; users can type a prompt like "monkey with pink hat" to make an entirely new emoji; here's how to use it; ChatGPT integration: When you feel Apple Intelligence isn’t enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response. For iPhone 16 users, iOS 18.2 beta 1 also unlocks new capabilities for Camera Control. Visual Intelligence helps users learn about objects and places faster than ever. Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and more. iOS 18.1 Apple Intelligence on iPhone 15 Pro: The all-new Siri design Image source: José Adorno for BGR Despite these Apple Intelligence features, it's unclear what else Apple is tweaking with the latest developer's beta. With iOS 18.1, Apple brings the first AI functions to iPhone 15 Pro or newer devices, such as: Writing Tools: Proofread your text, rewrite different versions until the tone and wording are right, and summarize the selected text with a tap. Improved Siri: With a new design, Siri can maintain context between requests. Even if you stumble over words or shift what you’re saying mid-sentence, Siri can understand what you actually want. Priority notifications: They appear at the top of the stack, letting you know what to pay attention to at a glance. Notifications are summarized, so you can scan them faster. Clean Up: This feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject. Summarization: Apple Intelligence can now summarize more than just Messages and Mail notifications. Alongside iOS 18.2 beta 1 to developers, Apple is seeding the first test versions of iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2. Don't Miss: Apple Intelligence: AI, features, research, and supported devices The post iOS 18.2 beta 1 now available with Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and more appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: Apple Watch Series 10, Ninja Blender, Dreo space heaters, portable tire inflator, more Last chance Prime Day deals: $119 AirPods 4, $50 Ninja portable blender, $99 BISSELL Little Green, more Today’s deals: Free Echo Pop & Amazon Smart Plug, $30 Philips OneBlade 360, $38 Sony headphones, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2024: Get $450+ free

macOS Sequoia will finally bring the first batch of Apple Intelligence features next week. However, Apple is already preparing for another expansion with macOS 15.2, as the company just seeded its first developer's beta. So far, macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta 1 is adding the following Apple Intelligence improvements: Image Playground: Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app; ChatGPT integration: When you feel Apple Intelligence isn’t enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response. For now, Genmoji isn't available with macOS 15.2. It's unclear if it will be added during this beta cycle. We also don't know other features Apple is planning for this software update, which is expected to be released later this year. With macOS 15.1, Apple is adding iPhone Mirroring improvements and the first Apple Intelligence features, which include: Writing Tools: Proofread your text, rewrite different versions until the tone and wording are right, and summarize the selected text with a tap. Improved Siri: With a new design, Siri can maintain context between requests. Even if you stumble over words or shift what you’re saying mid-sentence, Siri can understand what you actually want. Priority notifications: They appear at the top of the stack, letting you know what to pay attention to at a glance. Notifications are summarized, so you can scan them faster. Clean Up: This feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject. Summarization: Apple Intelligence can now summarize more than just Messages and Mail notifications. Alongside macOS 15.2 beta 1, Apple is seeding the first developer's beta of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2. Public versions are expected next month. BGR will update this article once we learn more about the new features. Don't Miss: macOS Sequoia 15: Features, Apple Intelligence, download, beta, Mac compatibility The post macOS 15.2 beta 1 now available with expanded Apple Intelligence features appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Best Sony headphones deals of Prime Big Deal Days 2024 Today’s deals: Govee AI Sync Box 2, $55 Vizio soundbar, $499 M2 Mac mini, Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim laptop, more Last chance Prime Day deals: $119 AirPods 4, $50 Ninja portable blender, $99 BISSELL Little Green, more Top Prime Day deals you can still get: $279 Oura Ring 3, Apple sale, Ninja air fryers, Sonos speakers, more

We're about three months away from the Galaxy S25 launch, but Samsung's next big flagship phone is already popping up in all sorts of leaks. The most exciting one just dropped from a reliable insider who claims that all three Galaxy S25 variants will get Qualcomm's just-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. That's an exciting thought, considering what happened with the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year. Every US version of the phone featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, sure. But international buyers who didn't want the Galaxy S24 Ultra got Samsung's Exynos 2400 chip instead. Samsung chips haven't been that great in recent years, though the Exynos 2400 turned out to be better than expected. Still, there's a reason Qualcomm changed the name of the chip that will power many 2025 Android flagships. It's called Snapdragon 8 Elite instead of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 because Qualcomm says this chip is the "fastest mobile CPU in the world." That's a big claim to make in a mobile world that's been dominated by the iPhone's A-series chip since Apple started making its own processors. Just look at the iPhone 16 launch a few weeks ago, where Apple made similar claims about the A18 Pro that powers its new iPhone 16 Pro models. Continue reading... The post All Galaxy S25 models will get the ultra-powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, not just the Ultra appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $40 in Amazon credit, Nintendo Switch games, $20 waterproof Bluetooth speaker, more Last chance Prime Day deals: $119 AirPods 4, $50 Ninja portable blender, $99 BISSELL Little Green, more Today’s deals: $367 Apple Watch Series 10, $66 14-piece cookware set, $99 230-piece Craftsman tool set, more Today’s deals: Govee AI Sync Box 2, $55 Vizio soundbar, $499 M2 Mac mini, Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim laptop, more

In a brilliant archaeological find on the Danube Plain near Riedlingen, southwestern Germany, a Celtic burial chamber has been painstakingly unearthed. Likely an elite burial from early Celtic society, it is situated at the heart of a large burial mound - an imposing structure spanning 65 meters (213 feet) in diameter. Standing at nearly 2 meters (6.5 feet) high today, archaeologists believe that in its original form, it would have towered over 6 meters (nearly 20 feet)! Princely Burial Mound of the Region! Such dimensions categorize it among the “princely burial mounds” of the region, dating back to between 620 and 450 BC, a time when such elaborate tombs were reserved for the highest-ranking members of Celtic society in southwestern Germany. Generally, elite Celtic burials were reserved for individuals of high social status such as warriors, chieftains, or princes. The burial practices often included the use of wooden chambers or stone constructions, with elaborate feasting rituals sometimes accompanying the burial. These tombs were designed not only to honor the dead but also to display the prestige of the family. Cutting Edge Celtic Tech - 2,300-year-old Scissors Still Sharp and Shiny! Treasure Hunter Finds the First Celtic Chariot Burial in Wales, Rewrites Ancient History Read moreSection: ArtifactsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesEuropeHistoryAncient TraditionsRead Later 

Former President Donald Trump's campaign officials, as well as family members of a murdered U.S. Army private, Wednesday accused The Atlantic of publishing "a false smear" against him through an extensive article concerning his relationship with the nation's military.

The Department of Homeland Security said there are more than 600 migrants in the country who might have connections to a dangerous Venezuelan gang, NBC News reported.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democrat Rep. Colin Allred are virtually tied in their senate race to represent Texas, according to a poll released Wednesday by Emerson College/The Hill.Cruz has the support 48% of likely voters compared with 47% who support Allred. Five...