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Blizzard will be taking Overwatch 2 offline again

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Blizzard will be taking Overwatch 2 offline again

Blizzard might be taking the Overwatch 2 servers offline as soon as once more to repair extra of the problems which have cropped up in the course of the sport’s rocky launch. The corporate plans to close the sport down at about 9PM ET (6PM PT), and expects the downtime to final for an hour. This downtime would be the third in two days, as Blizzard needed to take the sport offline twice on Thursday.

Blizzard detailed the fixes within the works and a few updates on a couple of of the larger points in a submit on its boards. In Friday night’s downtime, Blizzard plans to repair Watchpoint Packs not showing as out there for gamers who preordered them, and to handle the LC-208 error that’s stopping some gamers from logging in.

In Friday’s submit, Blizzard confirmed that the change to its SMS Defend cellphone quantity necessities is now formally in impact. Initially, Overwatch 2 gamers had been required to have a postpaid cellphone quantity registered to their accounts to have the ability to play. Nevertheless, in response to gamers’ outcry, Blizzard stated it will be softening the coverage in order that individuals who had performed the primary Overwatch with a linked Battle.web account now not wanted to register a cellphone quantity to play the sequel.

“Weekend gamer hours might be its largest take a look at but”

The corporate can also be wanting into the lengthy wait occasions gamers is perhaps experiencing earlier than matches. To handle them, “we’re altering configurations inside this method at the moment and hope to considerably shorten that wait all through the day,” Blizzard stated within the submit.

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Blizzard is optimistic in regards to the fixes it carried out on Thursday. The adjustments “resulted in a quadrupling of our capability and an eventual discount in login queues in a single day,” in accordance with the discussion board submit. Blizzard will proceed monitoring issues over the approaching days, as “weekend gamer hours might be its largest take a look at but.” Hopefully, issues is perhaps beginning to easy over for Overwatch 2.

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Here are 58 Prime Day deals you can still nab for $50 or less

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Here are 58 Prime Day deals you can still nab for  or less

Amazon Prime Day is an excellent time to save on a wide range of big-ticket items, including 4K TVs, laptops, and the latest pairs of noise-canceling headphones. But if you, like me, are in the market for something more budget-friendly, rest assured that there are plenty of deals to be had for $50 or less. Thankfully, we’ve sifted through hundreds of discounts to find a host of Bluetooth speakers, charging accessories, video games, smart home devices, and other gadgets that come in under that threshold. It’s the final day of Prime Day, which means these deals aren’t going to be available for much longer.

While Prime Day 2025 runs a little longer than previous installments — the event lasts through July 11th this year — these sub-$50 deals might sell out quickly. The good news is retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy are matching Amazon’s pricing in some instances, giving you more places to shop over the next few days. We’ll continue to update this post as Prime Day progresses, but for now, feel free to browse the options below.

Headphone and earbud deals

Other miscellaneous deals

Update, July 11th: Adjusted to reflect current pricing and availability, and to provide a link for readers to our coverage of Prime Day day four.

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Noninvasive brain tech and AI moves robotic hand with thought

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Noninvasive brain tech and AI moves robotic hand with thought

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Noninvasive brain tech is transforming how people interact with robotic devices. Instead of relying on muscle movement, this technology allows a person to control a robotic hand by simply thinking about moving his fingers. 

No surgery is required. 

Instead, a set of sensors is placed on the scalp to detect brain signals. These signals are then sent to a computer. As a result, this approach is safe and accessible. It opens new possibilities for people with motor impairments or those recovering from injuries.

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PARALYZED MAN SPEAKS AND SINGS WITH AI BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE

A woman wearing non-invasive brain technology  (Carnegie Mellon University)

How noninvasive brain tech turns thought into action

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have made significant progress with noninvasive brain technology. They use electroencephalography (EEG) to detect the brain’s electrical activity when someone thinks about moving a finger. Artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning algorithms, then decodes these signals and translates them into commands for a robotic hand. In their study, participants managed to move two or even three robotic fingers at once, just by imagining the motion. The system achieved over 80% accuracy for two-finger tasks. For three-finger tasks, accuracy was over 60%. All of this happened in real time. 

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Meeting the challenge of finger-level control

Achieving separate movement for each robotic finger is a real challenge. The brain areas responsible for finger movement are small. Their signals often overlap, which makes it hard to distinguish between them. However, advances in noninvasive brain technology and deep learning have made it possible to pick up on these subtle differences. 

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The research team used a neural network called EEGNet. They fine-tuned it for each participant. Because of this, the system allowed for smooth, natural control of the robotic fingers. The movements closely matched how a real hand works.

brain tech 2

A robotic finger being controlled by non-invasive brain technology  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why noninvasive brain tech matters for everyday life

For people with limited hand function, even small improvements can make a huge difference. Noninvasive brain technology eliminates the need for surgery because the system is external and easy to use. In addition, this technology provides natural and intuitive control. It enables a person to move a robotic hand by simply thinking about the corresponding finger movements. 

The accessibility of noninvasive brain technology means it can be used in clinics and homes and by a wide range of people. For example, it enables participation in everyday tasks, such as typing or picking up small objects that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to perform. This approach can benefit stroke survivors and people with spinal cord injuries. It can also help anyone interested in enhancing their abilities. 

What’s next for noninvasive brain tech?

While the progress is exciting, there are still challenges ahead. Noninvasive brain technology needs to improve even further at filtering out noise and adapting to individual differences. However, with ongoing advances in deep learning and sensor technology, these systems are becoming more reliable and easier to use. Researchers are already working to expand the technology for more complex tasks. 

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As a result, assistive robotics could soon become a part of more homes and workplaces.

brain tech 3

Illustration of how the noninvasive brain technology works  (Carnegie Mellon University)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Noninvasive brain technology is opening up possibilities that once seemed out of reach. The idea of moving a robotic hand just by thinking about it could make daily life easier and more independent for many people. As researchers continue to improve these systems, it will be interesting to see how this technology shapes the way we interact with the world around us.

If you had the chance to control a robotic hand with your thoughts, what would you want to try first? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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YouTube’s ‘Trending’ section is about to disappear

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YouTube’s ‘Trending’ section is about to disappear

YouTube is preparing to sunset the Trending section that shows users which videos are currently going viral on the platform. The Trending page and Trending Now list will be removed within the “next couple of weeks,” according to YouTube, with the platform instead shifting its attention toward expanding YouTube Charts that rank top-performing content.

YouTube is directing users to lean on personalized recommendations and YouTube Charts to explore new videos ahead of the Trending page removal. YouTube Charts allow users to see the most popular content for specific categories, which currently includes music videos, podcasts, and movie trailers. The platform says that it will add more content category charts “over time,” and that trending gaming videos can still be found under the Gaming Explore page in the meantime.

“Back when we first launched the Trending page in 2015, the answer to ‘what’s trending’ was a lot simpler to capture with a singular list of viral videos that everyone was talking about,” the company said in a blog post. “But today, trends consist of many videos created by many fandoms, and there are more micro-trends enjoyed by diverse communities than ever before.”

Viewers now learn about viral video trends from a variety of different sources, including Shorts, search suggestions, and other platforms like TikTok, which YouTube says has significantly reduced Trending page traffic, “especially over the last five years.” Creators have also criticized YouTube for demanding far higher viewership numbers to appear in the Trending section compared to branded accounts that post movie trailers, TV clips, and other traditional media, suggesting the experience doesn’t entirely reflect what videos are actually popular on the platform.

Creators who use the Trending page to research video ideas are being directed to instead use the Inspiration Tab in YouTube Studio, which provides AI-generated content suggestions. YouTube also says it’s working on new ways to help boost discovery for up-and-coming creators on the platform, such as the Hype promotional system it released last year that lets viewers amplify videos to a platform-wide leaderboard.

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