Google Bard is saying its first words thanks to a recent update that gives the AI the ability to read out generated responses in over 40 different languages. The newfound language support includes Arabic, Chinese, German, and Spanish.
According to Google, being able to hear text out loud can be helpful in learning the correct pronunciation of words. Activating Bard’s speech tool is pretty simple. All you have to do after entering a prompt is select the sound icon in the upper right-hand corner of a response. In addition to the voice, Google is expanding Bard’s availability to more global regions, most notably Brazil and Europe. It's important to point out the European Union initially forced the tech giant to postpone the chatbot’s launch “over privacy concerns”. But it looks like everything has been squared away with the EU.
Also, users can now adjust the “tone and style of Bard’s responses [across] five different options: simple, long, short, professional, or casual.” Google says this can be helpful in creating marketplace listings for businesses that want to maintain a certain voice. It’s reminiscent of the tone parameters on Microsoft’s SwiftKey app. However, unlike SwiftKey, it doesn’t appear Bard will make any cringe dad jokes if you ask it (shame).
Productivity boost
There is more to the update than just the language features. Google is also introducing some productivity tools. First, users can now finally pin Bard conversations in case they ever want to revisit them at a later time. If the AI gives you some helpful information, you can share the response with friends via shareable links. The chatbot creates a hyperlink that you can send over a messaging app or you can directly post the URL to LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
Google is aware that people use “Bard for coding tasks.” To help these programmers, the company is adding a direct to “export Python code to [the] Replit” platform. Lastly, the chatbot is gaining the “capabilities of Google Lens” meaning you’ll be able to “upload images with prompts” to the AI. Bard will then analyze the photograph before providing the information you seek. This last feature can be found behind the Plus symbol next to the Prompt bar.
The addition of Google Lens to Bard is pretty exciting as the chatbot can now serve as a reverse image search engine of sorts.
Availability
Most of the update is currently online in the 40 different languages mentioned earlier but with a couple of exceptions. The five tones and Google Lens support can only be found in the English version of Bard. There are plans, however, to “expand to new languages soon.”
Sony has been committed to its mirrorless camera system for so long now that it’s launching second-generation lenses, and the latest is the camera giant’s 50th full-frame lens, the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II.
This is no mere refresh of the (almost) 10-year-old Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS stalwart, but a complete redesign and comprehensive update. Stand-out improvements include its physically smaller body, next-level macro focusing, and what Sony claims is quicker autofocus and sharper image quality. It could be one of the best Sony lenses ever, so let’s take a look at how this second-gen model has evolved.
Incredible close focusing
Professional mid-telephoto zoom lenses are usually associated with events and sports, and not macro, but the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G II breaks new ground. Its close focusing is much improved for what Sony claims is a world-first; a constant 0.5x magnification capability at any focal length.
Our macro lens explainer unpacks the terminology in greater depth, but 0.5x magnification renders subjects at half-life size on, in this case, Sony’s full-frame image sensor measuring 36x24mm. Here it’s achieved with a minimum focus distance of 0.26m / 0.86 ft at 70mm, and 0.42m / 1.38ft at 200mm.
The 70-200mm F4 II lens is also compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, and if you pair it with the latter that max magnification is doubled to 1.0x, which is life-size. The first-gen model is no way near as versatile for close-up photography, nor in fact, is any other lens in this category.
(Image credit: Sony | Peter Sabol)
A redesigned compact body
The exterior of the lens is unmistakably pro-level Sony, and fairly complex, packing no fewer than five switches covering functions such as a focus range limiter (including a new macro setting), full-time direct manual focus, and SteadyShot optical stabilization.
But this is also a lens that is 15% smaller and lighter than the original version. It weighs 794g / 28.1 oz, and measures 149mm / 5.8in long, making it an ever better fit with Sony’s typically compact mirrorless Alpha cameras. And when you compare its size against Sony’s more heavy duty FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II, the two are in different leagues – you have to really want that extra stop of light that the f/2.8 version brings.
Sadly, the lens barrel extends as you adjust the zoom rather than focusing internally, but Sony says that this type of design was necessary in order to create such a compact lens – clearly there’s a travel-friendly ethos here. The saving grace is a zoom-lock switch that prevents the lens barrel from extending while you’re on the move.
(Image credit: Sony)
Faster operator
Another factor that has kept the size of the lens down and also in turn improved focusing speed, is the use of Sony’s new linear XD focusing technology. It comprises four ‘high-thrust’ focus motors to increase autofocus tracking precision, even while zooming, and ultimately achieves what Sony claims is 20% faster focusing than in the 2014 version.
The lens’ optical construction is decorated with an array of advanced aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements that suppress lens distortion and reveal sharpness, while a 9-blade aperture mechanism produces what Sony describes as ‘exquisite full-frame bokeh’.
It all makes for very impressive reading, and the new compact and versatile zoom lens makes a lot of sense in Sony’s full-frame mirrorless camera ecosystem, even if it is pretty steep at $1,699 / £1,750. We’ve currently got our hands on the lens, so do look out for our full review coming soon.
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Cars burning, smashed shop windows, and violent clashes between police and protesters. These were the images coming from the 8-day long unrest in France after an officer shot dead 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, of north African descent, during a traffic stop on June 27.
The average age among the 3,300+ people arrested over that week was 17, with children as young as 12 detained during the unrests. French President Emmanuel Macron blamed social media platforms, like Snapchat or TikTok, and even video games for inciting violence among the youth, threatening to cut them off.
French politicians from both sides of the political spectrum accused Macron of echoing authoritarian leaders like those of Iran, China and Russia, where people need to turn to VPN services to access blocked apps. However, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton is now backing Macron's call for debate. Social media shutdowns could be enforced, he said, if these platforms failed to quickly delete hateful content during riots under the new Digital Service Act.
EU Digital Service Act (DSA)
"Social media didn't do enough," said Breton during an interview on France Info, Politico reported. "If they don't act immediately, then yes, at that point we'll be able not only to impose a fine but also to ban the operation [of the platforms] on our territory."
Similarly to what the UK is trying to do with the Online Safety Bill, the Digital Service Act (DSA) seeks to tackle online dangers, hateful content, consumer fraud, commercial surveillance and disinformation. Pushers of DSA say its main goal is to protect children and democratic values and failing to comply with the new rules could result in fines as high as 6% of a company's global turnover.
Cases like the French situation, makes us feel worried about certain provisions
Sebastian Becker Castellaro, EDRi
Coming into force on August 25, the DSA brings some important regulations for digital services, including more transparency and accountability over the algorithms and content moderation practices employed, a ban on deceptive design and a special duty-of-care for larger platforms. The latter includes the obligation of deleting hateful content immediately when required.
Sebastian Becker Castellaro, Policy Advisor at European digital right advocacy group EDRi, told TechRadar,"online platforms have a duty to implement the DSA and its terms and conditions with due regard to freedom of expression."
He added, "it is problematic that the highest authority in charge of the DSA implementation declares what is hateful content. Based on European fundamental rights standards, 'call for revolt' and even 'call for burning cars' is not hateful content and therefore are not illegal."
It's exactly this vagueness and ambiguity around several DSA provisions that's been worrying digital rights activists for a while and they are now calling regulators to better engage with these groups to mitigate the risks.
The #DSA Human Rights Alliance issued its latest statement, demanding from @EU_Commission to formalize and include global civil society voices when enforcing its content moderation rule book 💪🏻 https://t.co/refjeXxABuJuly 6, 2023
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According to Eliška PĂrková, Europe Policy Analyst and Global Freedom of Expression Lead at Access Now, the DSA aims to protect instead of hindering EU citizens' fundamental rights.
"The Digital Services Act does not contain any provision that would call for such an extreme measure. Political messaging that may suggest that the Act justifies internet shutdowns or arbitrary blocking of online platforms is misguided," she said.
The same as any law attempting to regulate the internet, the DSA is anything but perfect. Both experts told TechRadar to be particularly worried about the law's approach the entities in charge of detecting and identifying illegal content online as it allows government and law enforcement agencies to hold the status of trusted flaggers.
According to PĂrková, this could "open the door to potential notice, action, and human rights misuse," especially among those EU Member States with an already weakened rule of law.
"Cases like the French situation, makes us feel worried about certain provisions," said again Becker Castellaro, citing the trusted flaggers conundrum. "It is problematic that the political situation of one specific European country may affect the implementation of the DSA."
Social media blackout: "real debate we need to have," said French President Macron
As protests calm down across France, the risk for social media apps getting blocked is off the table—for now, at least. Yet, according to Macron, the possibility of enforcing social media blackouts "when things get out of hand" is a "real debate we need to have."
Although mentioned in public, the government didn't discuss potential shutdowns with the companies behind these platforms when they met on July 7, a French official from Digital Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's team told Politico.
A 17 year old was killed by police on June 27th during a traffic stop near Nanterre, the third fatal traffic stop shooting this year in France—causing nationwide unrest and clashes with the police.(Image credit: Photographer: Benjamin Girette/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Angry citizens filled the streets in France from June 27 to July 4 calling for greater police accountability and to stand against alleged racial profiling. Potests spread across the suburbs of several cities including Paris, Lille and Toulouse.
Damages are thought to exceed €1 billion ($1.1 billion) as over 200 businesses were looted and 300 bank branches and 250 tobacco stores destroyed according to Fortune. This doesn't include the damage to schools, town halls, community centers, city buses, and citizens' cars.
Rioters were reported to use social media platforms and other messaging apps to organize themselves and mobilize more people. Hence the strong stances against their use from the French government, which also called companies behind these services to remove the anonymity of those possibly breaking the law.
Yet, Becker Castellaro said: "Challenging authorities and organizing demonstrations on social platforms are citizens' fundamental rights which are protected in the EU."
The scenario gets even more worrying considering that on July 5 French lawmakers voted in favor of further police powers to spy on citizens through phones and other devices if suspected of breaking the law.
Social media shutdowns: what's at stake?
Governments infamous for their more authoritarian policies are more likely to attack freedoms on social media, yet sadly, social media shutdowns are an increasingly used tactic worldwide.
"Disabling access to online platforms—such as social media—without adequate safeguards is a go-to tool for authoritarian regimes used to censor and oppress," PĂrková told TechRadar. "Such a shortsighted action would mean a strong blow to democracy and its core values that would be very hard to recover from."
The internet can be a lifeline and should be a priority for governments, not a pawn for manipulation
Eliška PĂrková, Access Now
Restricting online access will always result in the gross abuse of peoples’ fundamental rights, she went on to explain.
And, even when citizens manage to circumvent these blocks by using location-spoofing tools like virtual private network (VPN), internet shutdowns negatively impact the well-being of people while costing millions to national economies.
The EU, including France, know very well that these measures hinder the economic, social, and cultural rights of citizens. A joint statement coming from the Delegation of the European Union to the UN dated July 7 called, in fact, not to impose shutdowns. The French government also has endorsed several UN resolutions condemning internet disruptions in the past.
PĂrková said: "No authority should ever disconnect—or threaten to disconnect— populations from access to information, especially during crises. During turbulent times, the internet can be a lifeline and should be a priority for governments, not a pawn for manipulation."
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Sleep trackers give you important insight that you can use to get better sleep. We tested the best sleep trackers on the market and these five made the list.
Google is currently beta testing an enhanced version of the Pixel Call Screen that introduces a conversational AI to help users deal with annoying robocalls.
If you’re not familiar with the feature, Call Screen gives Pixel phone owners a direct way to vet phone calls from unknown sources. You could, for example, automatically decline people whose number matches those found on Google’s spam database. With this beta, the company is adding a “series” of natural sounding voice prompts to “determine who’s calling and why.” The goal here, according to Google, is to help further reduce the amount of robocalls Pixel users get.
Surprisingly, the beta actually released nearly two months ago on May 15. Google, for whatever reason, has been pretty quiet about it. Keep in mind it is a work in progress, so it may not work as well as intended. We're still in the early stages. Because of this, the tech giant is asking first adopters for feedback on how to improve the AI.
The company seemingly wants to nail down that natural sounding voice. Once they get the feedback, Google states it has plans to incorporate those changes for the final version whenever it comes out. The launch date for the AI-powered Call Screen remains unknown although we did ask for more information.
Availability and feedback
In addition to the AI voices, Google is simplifying the Call Screen user interface. Now a new window will appear after selecting Protection Level in the Settings menu, offering more granular control over how to filter calls. You have the Basic level, which instantly declines numbers known to be spam. And you have two other levels, which add in their own level of scrutiny on top of stopping spam numbers. Medium limits “suspicious calls” while Maximum outright blocks all unknown numbers.
The beta is available for recent Pixel models like “the Pixel 6 and above” but only in the United States. Google has a list of instructions on its Help website teaching people how to install the AI-boosted feature. Basically, you’ll need to first download the “latest version of the Phone app” then go to the Call Screen section in the Settings menu. It appears the voices will be automatically be included in the screening process.
Hopefully, Google is successful in reining in the spam. Things have gotten pretty bad in recent years. To give you an idea, a recent study shows 75 billion robocalls and 225 billion robotexts were sent out in 2022 alone.
For those who want a more creative way to filter out spam, you should look into Jolly Roger Telephone. It’s an AI subscription service that utilizes ChatGPT tech to “engage in ridiculous conversations with scammers.” Afterwards, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the Pixel phones for 2023 if you’re looking to upgrade.
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Square Enix is "considering various ideas" about its upcoming titles, including remasters of its classic older games.
Addressing investors at a recent shareholders' meeting, the board was asked if it had plans to remaster further games from its archives, and the reply – whilst, admittedly, expertly non-committal – has fans hoping that the success of games like Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster will see further titles get spruced up for current-gen systems.
"Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster has been well received. Are there plans to remaster other past titles?" asked a shareholder at the latest investor meeting (thanks, VGC).
"Personally, I would like to play Xenogears."
The response didn't specifically confirm Square's plans one way or the other (nor address the Xenogears fan's specific desires at all). Instead, a member of the Square Enix board said:
"We will refrain from sharing information about new titles, but we are considering various ideas within the company and hope that you will look forward to forthcoming announcements."
As for the latest Final Fantasy game to release?
"Final Fantasy 16 is a shining example of narrative-focused games at their best, boasting immersive storytelling and cinematic action that invites you into its richly detailed world," we wrote in our Final Fantasy 16review, awarding the game a full five out of five stars.
"The expansive, deeply immersive setting and cast of lovable, fully realized characters set a gold standard for Final Fantasy titles, offering something that is more than the sum of its parts.
"Overall, Final Fantasy 16 is an absolute triumph. It is a modernized Final Fantasy that breaks new ground for the series, boldly defying convention to produce something that stands apart from the rest of the series. Final Fantasy 16 itself, much like its protagonist, seeks to stand on its own terms, succeeding at this difficult task with skill and flair."
If you want something to play while you wait for the next Square Enix remaster, Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon, and great Prime Day gaming deals are already popping up as we get closer to the main event.
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Electronic Arts has revealed that EA Sports UFC 5 is in development.
The highly-anticipated MMA sequel – the first addition to the franchise since 2020 – was announced on the game's official social media channels overnight.
EA is keeping its cards close to its chest, though: the 15-second video teaser is essentially just an animated logo and contains no gameplay or screenshots – promising only that a "full reveal" would follow in September 2023.
Coming soon #UFC5Full reveal September 2023 đź—“️Sign up for more news➡️ https://t.co/vLBNhbt3QN pic.twitter.com/qIFoAmLbWNJuly 8, 2023
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Beyond that, though, EA was surprisingly taciturn, only inviting fighting fans to sign up to EA's UFC mini-site, where they can receive news, updates, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive offers, "and more".
No release window was given, nor any indication of what platforms we may be able to play it on, either.
We do, however, now know a little more about another of EA's celebrated franchises, The Sims. According to a now-deleted job listing that briefly popped up on publisher EA's careers website last week, The Sims 5 will launch as a free-to-play title for the first time.
The job advert was swiftly pulled offline, but not before the internet saw and screenshotted the website and advertisement, which you can still view in full on the web archive site, Wayback Machine.
If you want something to play while you wait for UFC 5, Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon, and great Prime Day gaming deals are already popping up as we get closer to the main event.
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