The article discusses the experience of Kacey Smith, a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, as she navigated TikTok in the lead-up to the US presidential election. Initially optimistic about Harris' chances against Donald Trump, Smith began to notice troubling messages in her TikTok feed that seemed to oversimplify complex issues, such as framing women's rights as opposed to economic concerns.
Qualcomm brings its Snapdragon X chips to mid-range Windows laptops and desktops
Qualcomm is making a move for the mid-range PC market with a new system-on-chip. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Qualcomm unveiled Snapdragon X, the latest chip in its Snapdragon X Series of PC processors. The company claims that the chip, built on a 4nm fabrication process, delivers up to “multi-day” battery life […]
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon X chip for mid-range PCs, revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show. This new chip is part of the Snapdragon X Series of PC processors and is built on a 4nm fabrication process. Qualcomm touts that the chip can provide extended battery life, lasting up to multiple days.
VITA-1.5: A Multimodal Large Language Model that Integrates Vision, Language, and Speech Through a Carefully Designed Three-Stage Training Methodology
The development of multimodal large language models (MLLMs) has brought new opportunities in artificial intelligence. However, significant challenges persist in integrating visual, linguistic, and speech modalities. While many MLLMs perform well with vision and text, incorporating speech remains a hurdle. Speech, a natural medium for human interaction, plays an essential role in dialogue systems, yet […]
The article discusses the development of a multimodal large language model called VITA-1.5 that integrates vision, language, and speech through a carefully designed three-stage training methodology. While many models perform well with vision and text, incorporating speech remains a challenge. The integration of speech is crucial for dialogue systems, and this new model aims to address this issue.
Graph Generative Pre-trained Transformer (G2PT): An Auto-Regressive Model Designed to Learn Graph Structures through Next-Token Prediction
Graph generation is an important task across various fields, including molecular design and social network analysis, due to its ability to model complex relationships and structured data. Despite recent advancements, many graph generative models still rely heavily on adjacency matrix representations. While effective, these methods can be computationally demanding and often lack flexibility. This can […]
The article discusses the Graph Generative Pre-trained Transformer (G2PT), an auto-regressive model designed to learn graph structures through next-token prediction. Graph generation is crucial in various fields like molecular design and social network analysis for modeling complex relationships and structured data. The G2PT aims to improve upon existing graph generative models that heavily rely on adjacency matrix representations, which can be computationally demanding and lack flexibility.
This fuzzy, purse-mounted robot is designed to ‘delight bystanders’
Best known for its Qooba cat pillow, Yukai Engineering has made a name for itself with some of the strangest little robots around. Who could forget, for example, Amagami Ham Ham, whose sole purpose is to gnaw on fingers, offering a “somewhat pleasing sensation.” At CES 2025, Yukai unveiled its latest, Mirumi, and it follows […]
The article discusses a new robot called Mirumi unveiled by Yukai Engineering at CES 2025. Yukai Engineering is known for creating unusual robots, such as the Qooba cat pillow and the Amagami Ham Ham finger-nibbling robot. Mirumi is described as a fuzzy, purse-mounted robot designed to delight bystanders.
Stolen e-bike batteries could be made worthless if Bosch was less greedy
Removable Bosch batteries like the ones on this Gazelle Eclipse would be rendered useless if stolen. | Image: Gazelle
Electric bikes built around Bosch’s smart drive systems will be getting a new digital Battery Lock function this summer that would make stolen batteries worthless to thieves looking to make a quick buck. Great idea — if only Bosch wasn’t being so greedy with the rollout.
Battery theft is a major issue. I’ve personally had to replace two stolen e-bike batteries here in the Netherlands, where over half of all new bicycles sold are electric. The mechanical locks protecting all those removable batteries can be defeated with force, costing owners anywhere from $300 to $1,000 — in the case of e-bikes built around Bosch systems — to replace the stolen battery, in addition to any costs required to repair the broken housing.
Bosch says that Battery Lock supports several digital keys that can be used simultaneously — in the form of the Bosch Flow app and Kiox 300 and Kiox 500 bike displays — or disabled to share batteries with family and friends. The digital lock is compatible with all batteries in the Bosch smart system, including DualBatteries and the PowerMore 250 Range Extender.
Once activated, Battery Lock will engage automatically when a Bosch-based e-bike is turned off. “If a locked battery is inserted into another e-bike with the smart system, it automatically deactivates its motor support and renders the entire e-bike unusable for the thief,” says Bosch in a press release shared with The Verge. “This also makes reselling the battery pointless, which reduces the risk of theft.”
In other words, once thieves realize there’s no market for the stolen Bosch batteries, they’ll stop trying to steal them. It’s all part of Bosch’s “vision of ensuring that no e-bike with a Bosch system is stolen in the future.” Great!
Image: BoschThis Bosch PowerTube 800 smart system battery costs $1,000, making it a prime target for thieves.
Here’s the catch: Battery Lock requires a Flow Plus subscription, according to the Bosch:
Battery Lock can be installed over-the-air as usual on any Bosch e-bike with the smart system via the e-bike Flow app and will be available from summer 2025 as part of the Flow+ subscription.
This is dumb. To be an effective theft deterrent, Battery Lock needs to be active on all Bosch smart system batteries, whether the owner subscribes to Flow Plus or not. Otherwise, there will still be a sizable resale market for thieves to profit from. Bosch does offer owners a free year of Flow Plus, which then costs $35 / £35 / €40 each year thereafter.
It makes sense to put premium services like an e-bike alarm with GPS tracking and notifications behind Flow Plus, like Bosch does now. But Bosch smart drive e-bikes already feature an integrated system lock that requires a digital key to activate the motor — no subscription required — and the same should be true for Battery Lock if the company’s zero-theft vision is to be believed.
Summary
The article discusses Bosch’s new digital Battery Lock function for electric bikes, designed to make stolen batteries worthless to thieves. The function automatically engages when the e-bike is turned off, rendering the bike unusable if a stolen battery is inserted. This aims to reduce battery theft and resale, ultimately preventing e-bike theft. However, the catch is that Battery Lock requires a Flow Plus subscription, which some see as a deterrent to widespread adoption and effectiveness. The author suggests that for the anti-theft feature to be truly effective, it should be available on all Bosch smart system batteries, regardless of subscription status.
The article highlights the best video doorbell cameras for monitoring activity at your front porch, including people and packages. For more details, you can read the full story on The Verge website.
New ship, new year: SpaceX to deploy model Starlink satellites on next Starship launch
SpaceX is significantly upping the ante of its Starship test flight program, with the next rocket launch expected to demonstrate payload deployment for the first time. The payload in question will be 10 Starlink “simulators” that will be similar in size and weight to the next-gen satellites SpaceX plans to use Starship to deploy in […]
SpaceX is planning to deploy 10 Starlink satellite simulators on its next Starship test flight, marking the first demonstration of payload deployment for the rocket. These simulators are similar in size and weight to the next-generation satellites that SpaceX intends to launch using Starship in the future.
ProTrek: A Tri-Modal Protein Language Model for Advancing Sequence-Structure-Function Analysis
Proteins, the essential molecular machinery of life, play a central role in numerous biological processes. Decoding their intricate sequence, structure, and function (SSF) is a fundamental pursuit in biochemistry, molecular biology, and drug development. Understanding the interplay between these three aspects is crucial for uncovering the principles of life at a molecular level. Computational tools […]
The article discusses the importance of proteins in biological processes and the significance of decoding their sequence, structure, and function. It introduces a new computational tool called ProTrek, a tri-modal protein language model designed to advance analysis in the field of sequence-structure-function relationships. This tool aims to enhance our understanding of the principles of life at a molecular level, impacting areas such as biochemistry, molecular biology, and drug development.
Apple Fitness Plus and Strava are collaborating with a new integration
The Apple Fitness Plus integration in Strava is getting a revamp. | Image: Apple
Apple Fitness Plus is getting a fresh makeover in the Strava app. The two companies just announced they’re collaborating to revamp how Fitness Plus integrates with the popular fitness community, which includes more detailed workout summaries, Strava athletes appearing in Fitness Plus content, and a free three-month trial to the service for Strava subscribers.
Starting today, you’ll be able to see a thumbnail of the Fitness Plus workout and information like episode number, music genre, trainer, metrics, and achievements. While mostly a design update, this brings Fitness Plus more in line with other Strava integrations from services like Peloton and Ladder.
Technically, Apple Watch users have been able to import their workouts into Strava from the get-go. However, that integration has been limited with bare-bones workout summaries. While you could see the activity type, calories burned, and basic heart rate metrics, there wasn’t any information about the class or instructor. (As you can see from this screenshot, you’d be hard-pressed to know that my New Year’s Day yoga workout was even a Fitness Plus class.)
The Fitness Plus and Strava integration goes in both directions. For starters, new and existing Strava subscribers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia will get a free three-month trial of Fitness Plus regardless of whether they have an Apple Watch. (You do, however, need an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV to access the service.) Popular Strava athletes will also feature as guests in Fitness Plus workouts. That includes a strength workout with runner Hellah Sidibe on January 13th and a treadmill workout with Kayla Jeter.
So far, Apple has only offered free Fitness Plus trials with the purchase of a new Apple gadget. And while the service regularly features well-known athletes as guest hosts in its programming, it’s never sourced those guests from a third-party fitness community.
Sidibe, for example, may not be quite as famous as two-time Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety (who recently hosted a Fitness Plus series). However, if you’re into running and on social media, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Sidibe’s seven-year daily run streak and penchant for running with four smartwatches.
“Over the past 10 years, we’ve hugely admired what Strava has done to impact the fitness space, especially around community,” says Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of fitness technologies, acknowledging that Apple doesn’t often partake in this sort of collaboration.
Blahnik says working with Strava also presents a new opportunity for Fitness Plus’ reach. When the service first launched, there was an emphasis on making sure it was inclusive, motivating, and accessible for people of all levels. And in those early days, it often felt like Fitness Plus was like a fitness starter pack for the average person who might need a little encouragement — something The Verge pointed out in its initial review. That’s not exactly the typical Strava user.
“They don’t need us for motivation! They’re already self motivated,” says Blahnik. Instead, for seasoned athletes, Blahnik is pitching Fitness Plus as a supplemental resource for cross-training and discovering new activity types.
“Maybe they’re taking up running for the first time, and they want to make sure that they don’t get injured, and they need to do the yoga and the strength,” adds Zipporah Allen, Strava’s chief business officer.
Both Allen and Blahnik also note that the collaboration isn’t a one-and-done type of deal, hinting that the integration could evolve further down the road. While both demurred on providing specifics, Blahnik noted the companies “have bold ambitions for what [they] might be able to do down the road in terms of sharing.”(Asked if perhaps one day you could tap on a Fitness Plus class a Strava friend took and immediately be taken to that workout on your phone, Blahnik said they’d keep that in mind.)
In the short term, it’s a beneficial move for both companies. Strava recently angered users by changing the terms of its API for third-party apps, leaving some disgruntled users questioning the value of a Strava subscription. A free three-month trial to Apple Fitness Plus could appease some of those users. Strava has long been a de facto fitness data hub for dedicated athletes, giving Fitness Plus easy access to long-term athletes who aren’t likely to quit their New Year’s resolutions.
Summary
Apple Fitness Plus and Strava have announced a collaboration to enhance how Fitness Plus integrates with the fitness community. The integration includes more detailed workout summaries, featuring Strava athletes in Fitness Plus content, and offering a free three-month trial to Strava subscribers. Users can now see Fitness Plus workout details within the Strava app, such as episode number, music genre, trainer, metrics, and achievements. The integration goes both ways, with Strava subscribers in select countries receiving a free trial of Fitness Plus and popular Strava athletes appearing in Fitness Plus workouts. This collaboration aims to expand Fitness Plus’ reach and provide seasoned athletes with supplemental resources for cross-training. Both companies hint at further evolving the integration in the future. This move benefits both companies, especially amidst
The development of multimodal large language models (MLLMs) has brought new opportunities in artificial intelligence. However, significant challenges persist in integrating visual, linguistic, and speech modalities. While many MLLMs perform well with vision and text, incorporating speech remains a hurdle. Speech, a natural medium for human interaction, plays an essential role in dialogue systems, yet […]
Graph generation is an important task across various fields, including molecular design and social network analysis, due to its ability to model complex relationships and structured data. Despite recent advancements, many graph generative models still rely heavily on adjacency matrix representations. While effective, these methods can be computationally demanding and often lack flexibility. This can […]
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Proteins, the essential molecular machinery of life, play a central role in numerous biological processes. Decoding their intricate sequence, structure, and function (SSF) is a fundamental pursuit in biochemistry, molecular biology, and drug development. Understanding the interplay between these three aspects is crucial for uncovering the principles of life at a molecular level. Computational tools […]
