Emma Roth

News Writer

Emma RothFeb 6, 2024

The EPA just fined a Bitcoin-mining plant for violating coal ash rules.

Greenidge Generation, a gas-powered Bitcoin-mining operation, agreed to pay $105,000 to settle claims it violated the EPA’s coal ash program. This requires companies to follow certain groundwater monitoring rules, among other things.

Greenidge Generation started mining Bitcoin at a shuttered New York power plant that used to burn coal in 2020. It has faced pushback from state lawmakers due to concerns about its environmental impact.

EPA Reaches Settlement with Greenidge Generation LLC on Actions to Address Compliance with Coal Ash Regulations

[US EPA]

Here’s how WhatsApp plans to interoperate with other messaging apps

Emma RothFeb 6, 2024

Substack is experimenting with ads.

Substack creators primarily make money by charging for a subscription, but a report from Axios suggests the publishing platform is piloting a program that helps creators sell ads.

As pointed out by Axios, one example is Jesse Singal’s Blocked and Reported podcast, which is getting “support finding advertisers and coordinating ad buys” through Substack. This reportedly allows them to read out ads provided by Substck during the show.

Scoop: Substack is helping creators sell ads

[Axios]

Emma RothFeb 6, 2024

This healthcare group just bought over $100,000 worth of Vision Pro headsets.

Sharp HealthCare in San Diego got a shipment of 30 Vision Pro headsets to explore how they can be used in healthcare, including as a potential way for anesthesiologists to monitor a patient’s vitals:

One idea is to put those readouts into the headset and have them appear around an anesthetized patient’s head if the headset was set to use its outward-facing cameras to pass through a view of the real world, allowing information to be overlaid on top.

I’m not sure how I would feel waking up to my anesthesiologist with a Vision Pro on their face.

Is Apple's new Vision Pro a health care machine? Sharp Healthcare thinks so

[San Diego Union-Tribune]

Emma RothFeb 6, 2024

LinkedIn’s latest AI feature uses your profile to help you start a conversation.

If you’re a Premium subscriber, you might see an option to use AI the next time you want to send a message to someone. The AI will use the information from your profile, as well as whoever you want to message, to help you write an introduction or ask about someone’s experience working at a company.

LinkedIn rolled out a similar tool for recruiters last year, along with some new features for Premium users that are supposed to help you find a job and summarize posts in your feed.

Image: LinkedIn

Adam Neumann got kicked out of WeWork — now he wants to buy it

Emma RothFeb 6, 2024

Emma RothFeb 5, 2024

That’s one fancy SIM tool.

Its size befits the price of what it comes with: Apple’s $299 Developer Strap for the Vision Pro.

The tool (which is actually engraved if you look closely enough) is used to disconnect the Developer Strap from the headset, in case users want to swap to using a Dual Loop Band or Single Knit Band instead.

Emma RothFeb 5, 2024

YouTube TV is adding an “enhanced” 1080p option for some channels.

The company confirmed the change in a reply on Reddit, saying it’s rolling out the enhanced bitrate option for “updated 4K-compatible streaming devices.” It doesn’t mention which channels support the new picture quality, so you might have to do a little channel surfing to find out.

YouTube Premium subscribers can already watch videos in 1080p enhanced on web, mobile, and TVs.

YouTube TV is Rolling Out Improved Picture Quality & Enhanced 1080p

[Cord Cutters News]