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Activision Blizzard and Epic Games halt sales of games in Russia

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Activision Blizzard and Epic Games halt sales of games in Russia

Activision Blizzard is suspending new gross sales “of and in” its video games in Russia, the sport firm’s president Daniel Alegre introduced in a publicly-shared letter to staff (through Eurogamer). The transfer bars Russians from any new transactions with the corporate, which incorporates each the gross sales of its video games and in-game purchases.

The press launch doesn’t specify whether or not the ban consists of each digital and bodily video games. It does, nonetheless, spotlight a number of the contributions the corporate and its staff made to Ukraine, and in addition provides assets to employees affected by the struggle. The disaster in Ukraine comes at a delicate time in Activision Blizzard’s historical past — the corporate continues to face criticism after it was sued for allegedly fostering a poisonous office tradition final 12 months.

“We’re doing every thing attainable to help staff, and their households, who’re being straight affected by this tragedy,” Alegre says within the letter. “If you happen to or a colleague wants help, please don’t hesitate to succeed in out to your supervisor or native HR leaders. I’d additionally wish to remind you that our Worker Help Program is offered to those that want emotional help throughout this troublesome time.”

Activision Blizzard joins a rising listing of recreation corporations which have stopped doing enterprise in Russia. Microsoft, which introduced its plans to buy Activision Blizzard in January, has moved to ban “new” gross sales of its services in Russia and Belarus — a block that not solely consists of Xbox video games, but in addition merchandise related to Home windows, Workplace, Microsoft 365, and extra.

In the meantime, EA Video games eliminated Russian groups from its FIFA and NHL video games, and later minimize off all gross sales to Russia and Belarus. Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Pink has additionally taken comparable steps in barring bodily and digital gross sales to clients in each nations. Activision Blizzard notably hasn’t blocked gross sales to Belarus, Russia’s financial associate. The Verge reached out to Activision Blizzard with a request for remark however didn’t instantly hear again.

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Shortly after Activision Blizzard’s announcement, Epic Video games said that it’s “stopping commerce with Russia” in its video games, and notes that it gained’t ban Russian gamers from accessing them. It’s unclear whether or not the Fortnite developer’s ban on commerce applies to microtransactions, video games, or each.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian vice prime minister Mykhailo Federov called for Xbox and PlayStation to “briefly block” Russian and Belorussian accounts and halt their participation in esport occasions. He later asked numerous builders, together with Epic Video games, Nintendo, Rockstar, and Tencent to halt their video games in Russia.

Disclosure: Casey Wasserman is on the board of administrators for Activision Blizzard in addition to the board of administrators of Vox Media, The Verge’s mother or father firm.

Replace March fifth 5:53PM ET: Up to date so as to add that Epic Video games has additionally banned gross sales in Russia.

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Correction March sixth 9:00AM ET: A earlier model of the story mistakenly referred to Mykhailo Federov because the vice prime minister of Russia, when he’s the vice prime minister of Ukraine. We remorse the error.

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L’Oréal claims its new skincare gadget can tell which ingredients work best for you

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L’Oréal claims its new skincare gadget can tell which ingredients work best for you

L’Oréal is hoping its latest beauty gadget can demystify skincare. At CES 2025, the company announced Cell BioPrint, a device that’s designed to analyze your skin and give personalized advice on how to slow down signs of aging.

The device is the result of a partnership with NanoEntek — a Korean startup that specializes in chips that can read biofluids. A person essentially takes a facial tape strip, sticks it on their cheek, and then puts the strip in a buffer solution. That solution is then inserted into a cartridge for the Cell BioPrint to analyze. Once that sample is processed, the device takes images of your face as you answer a few short questions about skin concerns and aging.

From there, L’Oreal says it uses proteomics, or the analysis of protein structure and function from a biological sample. In this case, the Cell BioPrint is designed to determine how well your skin is aging. It’ll then give personalized advice on how to improve your skin’s appearance, as well as predictions of how responsive your skin may be to certain skincare ingredients.

It’s an attractive claim, but as with most beauty tech, it’s difficult to properly evaluate L’Oréal’s methods without peer-reviewed studies or experts weighing in. L’Oréal also claims the device can help predict future cosmetic issues before they manifest. For example, it may be able to determine if your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation or enlarged pores.

The Cell BioPrint analyzes your skin’s proteins to see how well you’re aging.
Image: L’Oréal
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Skincare became massively popular during covid-19 lockdowns, sparking a shift in beauty trends toward self-care and the rise of “skinfluencers.” On the flip side, that virality has since turned skincare buying into an extreme sport. Hop onto TikTok, and you’ll find dozens of skinfluencers egging you into dropping $80 on a vial of vitamin C serum, debating the moisturizing properties of glycerin versus hyaluronic acid, or wagging a finger about this or that retinol cream. (Some, may even convince you to buy a wand that zaps your face to increase the efficacy of said ingredients.) It’s confusing, expensive, and maddeningly, what works for one person may not for another. The most the average consumer can do is cross their fingers and hope that the latest potion they bought will actually work.

The Cell BioPrint’s appeal is it claims to use science to cut through that noise. Maybe every skinfluencer says you need to start using retinol when you turn 30, but this device will purportedly tell you based on your own biology whether retinol will actually work for you. Personalization has always been a major theme with CES beauty tech, but it’s particularly compelling with skincare, which is highly dependent on your individual biology. But again, right now there’s no way to know how reliable the Cell BioPrint’s science and recommendations are.

L’Oréal says the Cell BioPrint will be easy to use, with the process taking only five minutes. It also says people will be able to repeat tests, enabling them to monitor changes and progress over time. That said, it might be a while before something like Cell BioPrint is available for consumers. L’Oréal says the device will first be piloted in Asia later this year but otherwise didn’t have a concrete launch timeline or price.

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Can I outsmart thieves with a hidden AirTag in RFID wallet?

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Can I outsmart thieves with a hidden AirTag in RFID wallet?

Apple AirTags can be a great way to outsmart car thieves, but there are some drawbacks to consider. A key limitation is that thieves who also have iPhones can usually detect a hidden AirTag in vehicles they are trying to steal. This makes hiding an AirTag tricky.

That’s why we were intrigued by Brian’s inquiry about using other ways to make Apple AirTags undetectable to car thieves or outsmarting them twice.

“If an AirTag is put in an RFID wallet and hidden in a car, can the AirTag be located by a thief using a locator? I know the AirTag will function in the wallet, but will it be undetectable by the thief? — Brian, LaSalle, Illinois

Below are reasons why using an RFID wallet might end up leaving you outsmarted instead.

I’M GIVING AWAY THE LATEST AND GREATEST AIRPODS PRO 2

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Illustration of a car thief checking to see if the vehicle has an AirTag. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why RFID wallets might not outsmart car thieves?

Some thieves use RFID readers, which use radio waves, to scan and read data such as credit cards in wallets. The function of RFID wallets and bags is to protect items or devices from these radio waves by blocking them.

Apple AirTags use different technology, so even if it was placed in an RFID-blocking wallet or bag, it could still be detected by a thief with an iPhone or locator. Unlike the radio waves used to scan for credit cards and other data, Apple AirTags use Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. Neither technology can be shielded by RFID-blocking material because those materials cannot block Bluetooth and UWB signals.

RFID wallet 2

A person holding an RFID wallet. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

DO EMF BLOCKERS REALLY PROTECT US?

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What can block AirTag technology?

Faraday bags, on the other hand, use electromagnetic shielding and can successfully block Apple AirTag signals, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals, from being detected by thieves. The only issue with putting an Apple AirTag in a Faraday bag to hide in your car is that if the car thief cannot read or locate the signal it emits, you cannot either.

While the Apple AirTag may go undetected when in a Faraday bag, you will likely not be able to use FindMy or any other tracking methods to locate it either, because those methods require signals pinged from the AirTag to other iPhones and Apple Devices to track location.

BEST CAR ACCESSORIES

rfid wallet 3

An RFID wallet. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Alternatives to AirTags for car security

While Apple AirTags offer some benefits, there are other technologies and methods to consider for enhancing car security. For example, GPS trackers provide real-time location data without the risk of being detected by a nearby iPhone. Additionally, physical deterrents like steering wheel locks and alarm systems can act as effective safeguards. Combining multiple layers of security can better protect your vehicle against theft. Check out how to prevent your car from being stolen.

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HOW TO OUTSMART CAR THIEVES WITH THESE SMART AIRTAG TACTICS

Kurt’s key takeaways

While Apple AirTags can be a useful device to help you keep track of your vehicle, whether it is lost or stolen, it does not replace the reliability of a GPS system installed in your vehicle if you are trying to outsmart car thieves. Because car thieves might be able to locate an Apple AirTag hidden in your vehicle, it may not provide the layer of protection you hope for. Though the technology in RFID wallets will not block signals from an Apple AirTag, which will make them detectable to locators and scanners, Faraday bags will. Unfortunately, you will end up outsmarting yourself in trying to outsmart car thieves if you use a Faraday bag because you will then not be able to track the Apple AirTags either. If you are looking for the optimal way to outsmart car thieves, the Apple AirTags might not be the answer you are looking for.

What personal experiences have you had with technology aiding in theft prevention? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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This pixel light grid can show you the weather (and the price of Bitcoin)

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This pixel light grid can show you the weather (and the price of Bitcoin)

Govee is launching a new pixel light grid that can display art, animations, and live data. The Gaming Pixel Light lets you upload your own images and GIFs to display or choose from 150 different data sources, letting it provide live updates on the weather, Bitcoin prices, NBA scores, and more.

You can also sync the display to games you’re playing by hooking it up to Govee’s HDMI sync box or play 8-bit tunes that sync to the pixel grid using the built-in speaker. Naturally, there’s an AI component as well — an accompanying app can generate new pixel art for you using Govee’s “AI Lighting Bot.”

You can generate pixel art with Govee’s “AI Lighting Bot.”
Image: Govee

The Gaming Pixel Light is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can wall-mount the screen or place it atop a table or desk, making it seem like a neat little addition to a gaming room or office.

Along with this pixel light, Govee is announcing the Table Lamp 2 Pro — an LED-packed tabletop lamp with a 2.5-inch JBL speaker that syncs up lighting with your music. The portable device has 210 independently controlled LED beads and 600 lumens of brightness. When it’s not synced with your music, you can customize the lighting yourself or choose from 100 preset scenes.

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The Table Lamp 2 Pro comes with a 2.5-inch JBL speaker.
Image: Govee

The lamp works with Matter, Google Assistant, and Alexa and comes with a rechargeable battery. You can also link two lamps together for a “full stereo surround experience.” Govee says it will release the Gaming Pixel Light and the Table Lamp 2 Pro in the second quarter of 2025, but it didn’t provide any pricing information.

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