Microsoft’s Xbox closed out 2023 with a decreasing number of Xbox Game Pass subscribers, according to third-party data.

Estimates on Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers at the end of the last year place it at around 33 million users, reports IGN. This rings true with reports that adoption is slowing down and growth falling by two percentage points in 2023 according to industry analysts.

“We’re seeing slowing adoption of Xbox Game Pass even though Microsoft will claim otherwise thanks to the repositioning of Xbox Live Gold as Xbox Game Pass Core,” Omdia senior game analyst James McWhirter told IGN. “Our forecast estimates total Xbox Game Pass subscriptions (excluding Core/Live Gold) to be at 33.3 million at the end of 2023, which represents subscriber growth of just 13% – down from 15% in 2022. Notably, over half (55%) are currently on the device-agnostic Ultimate tier.”

Xbox is typically shy of sharing exact hardware or software numbers publicly, so it’s worth taking these numbers with a pinch of salt. However, what can’t be denied is that there’s immense pressure on Xbox to stand up to the big boys of Sony and Nintendo, especially with the Activision Blizzard deal now tidied away.

Pressure on Microsoft’s plans for 2024 subscriber growth

Microsoft has long since voiced plans to “meet gamers where they are”, not wanting to force players to buy consoles to play games. Indeed, it put its money where its mouth is in 2019, releasing previously exclusive games Cuphead and Ori and the Blind Forest to Nintendo’s Switch store.

This is an unusual move for gaming companies that sell their own consoles, with the majority pursuing Apple-style campaigns where consumers need to own the consoles to buy the in-house games. This still applies to some major titles on Xbox, but crucially not all. After all, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play games on console, PC, or cloud, negating the need for a console on all Xbox Game Pass titles.

However, with Xbox Game Pass subscribers now flagging, it might be that Microsoft will need to think of another way to appeal to the wider market of gamers in 2024.

Featured image: Jakub Sisulak/Pexels

The post Xbox Game Pass: Microsoft saw subscriber numbers fall last year appeared first on ReadWrite.

While Bing’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) has sent usage of the search engine skyrocketing, Google still remains the top dog with the biggest market share in internet search by a huge margin.

Google has been synonymous with search engines for years, so much so that it is now a common verb for looking something up on the internet (‘Google it’). While Microsoft’s Bing has rebranded and redesigned its service several times since its birth in 2009, it’s only the recent integration of AI that has made it hold its head above the parapet.

Powered by OpenAI’s generative AI technology, the new version of Bing stands out from ChatGPT (backed by the same tech) by answering questions in a natural, easy way. Despite US monthly active Bing users more than doubling year-over-year, reaching 4.4 million in actual terms, Microsoft’s search engine still ended 2023 with only 3.4% of the global search market, reports Bloomberg using data from analytics firm StatCounter. That marks an increase of less than one percentage point since the ChatGPT integration announcement.

The bottom line is in the face of huge increases in the number of people using Bing, Google is still holding steady with the biggest market share in search with a whopping 92%. Perhaps 2024 is the year Google delivers on its plans for defending its position too, with fast-tracked plans to integrate AI into its search services.

Google plans to incorporate AI

In May 2023, Google launched an experimental, early version of its signature search engine, known as the “search generative experience” (SGE). Much like Bing’s counterpart, it delivers conversational responses alongside the familiar list of links that Google users are comfortable with. There’s no need to use a separate tool; rather, AI capabilities are being incorporated into the existing search engine.

SGE is still not widely available, initially open to beta testers via manual sign-ups, but Google has confirmed its plans to embed its latest large language model, Gemini, into SGE sometime in 2024.

On Thursday (Jan.18) the search giant announced Samsung’s new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24 will benefit from Gemini, following a joint statement from the two companies.

Featured image: Dall-E

The post Google’s market share of search hasn’t been disrupted by AI – yet appeared first on ReadWrite.

Xbox Games Pass is a way for subscribers to play certain titles for free, but one game won’t be available for much longer.

Although the Xbox Games Pass roster is updated each month with new options, some games stay on there for much longer than a few weeks, offering players enough time to play them through in full. One such title is Hitman: World of Assassination, the third in the Hitman series.

The assassin-themed game has been on Xbox Games Pass since the beginning of January 2022, making it over 12 months on the platform. However, that time is now coming to an end, with it leaving the line-up of free titles at the end of the month.

Considering Hitman: World of Assassination is around 24 hours in total, and as long as 171 hours if you want to complete every side quest and achievement, you’ll want to start playing it soon if you want to complete it for free.

How to play Hitman: World of Assassination for free on Xbox Game Pass

You’ll need to sign up for the Xbox Games Pass subscription via the ‘Memberships’ tab in the Xbox Store before you can access the Xbox Games Pass roster. From there, your Game Pass Ultimate or Console membership will enable you to begin downloading console titles like Hitman: World of Assassination.

With cloud gaming, you don’t even need to download the game to start playing, so long as you have a strong internet connection. You can find a number of items on your Xbox home screen or search directly within the Xbox Store.

Hitman: World of Assassination brings a new freedom to the trilogy through its sandbox-style format, meaning the main avatar Agent 47 can take out targets through a wide variety of methods, from simple silenced pistol shots to much goofier techniques. The wilder your imagination, the crazier your eliminations can get.

Featured image: IO Interactive

The post Xbox Game Pass: Hitman 3 leaving soon, last chance for free play appeared first on ReadWrite.

PlayStation has several PS4 games available for low prices but for a limited time only.

We might be halfway into January already but the PlayStation New Year Deals sale is still on, continuing until January 31. That means you can still score some massive savings on popular games, from well-known titles like Mortal Kombat X to smaller horror games like Slender: The Arrival.

There are savings of up to 75% on some games, ranging from niche games that you can pick up for less than £2 to huge AAA titles that are reduced by over half the original RRP. With the weather getting colder, now is the perfect time to stock up on games that have been on your wishlist for a while and hibernate with your PS4.

What’s included in the PlayStation New Year Deals sale?

Many games are discounted to less than £5 a pop, including:

Featured image: Respawn Entertainment

The post How to get PS4 games for next to nothing – if you move fast appeared first on ReadWrite.

Google has published several new features to its range of services, but only available to those in the EU.

Tech companies around the world are making changes to fall in line with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a bill that aims to make digital markets fairer and open. There are various new obligations that tech companies will need to adhere to, ranging from preventing the removal of pre-installed apps on their systems or stopping the tracking of end users outside of their core platforms without user consent.

Several improvements are on the way to Google services in particular along these lines, as announced in a recent blog. As the changes come into effect, EU Google users may start to some changes in how they look and function.

What changes are coming to Google services in the EU?

The changes are across four main areas: consent for link services, changes to search results, choice screens, and data portability.

At the moment, Google shares user data across certain products and services. In the next few weeks, the platform will present EU users with an additional consent banner to confirm whether this data can continue to be shared. It’s worth noting that if you don’t consent, some features will be limited or unusable but you can change your decision at any time.

For search results, many changes are coming to the results page, from grouping links to comparison sites from across the web to query shortcuts designed to help users find what they need faster. This will be especially applicable when comparing things like hotels or bookable services online, with extra information like price comparisons, images, and star ratings available to see directly from the results page.

According to the DMA, Google will also start to show additional choice screens on Android when setting up a device to make Chrome your default search engine, as well as on iOS for desktop devices.

Finally, EU users will be able to download or transfer a copy of their data from more than 80 Google products and services. This is to meet new requirements from the DMA around moving user data to a third-party app or service.

Featured image: PhotoMIX Company; Pexels

The post Google improvements are coming, but only to EU customers appeared first on ReadWrite.

Within the Wizarding World, Avada Kedavra is the worst of the Unforgivable Curses – but anything is possible in Hogwarts Legacy.

Hogwarts Legacy has taken the gaming community by storm, with it becoming one of the most-played games of 2023, according to Steam. Not only has the story captivated fans of the world of Harry Potter, but the open-world concept means that you can truly immerse yourself in the detailed game, as well as mod it to your satisfaction.

It’s proved such a success that more games are promised to be on the way. Although much of the game is mostly wholesome, as it goes on, Hogwarts Legacy has more and more enemies to face. There are plenty of curses to use against them, however, including one powerful one: the infamous Killing Curse.

Avada Kedavra is one of three Unforgivable Curses, alongside the torturous Crucio and the mind-controlling Imperio. It delivers a kill with one hit, making it the most powerful weapon against enemies.

How to use Avada Kedavra

You won’t be able to unlock the spell until pretty late on in your Hogwarts Legacy journey, however, so it won’t help too much with the core story-based missions. In fact, it comes so late in the game, you may well have already completed it all before you can unlock the curse.

To learn Avada Kedavra in Hogwarts Legacy and unlock the Killing Curse, you need to follow Sebastian Sallow’s relationship quest line. This takes place within ‘In the Shadow of the Relic’ and the game recommends players be above level 28 before starting this quest.

You must have completed all of Sallow’s previous quests, including ‘In the Shadow of Hope’ and the main story mission called ‘Lodgok’s Loyalty’. From there, you can complete ‘In the Shadow of the Relic’, the 11th of the 13 Sallow quests.

Sallow can be easily missed, so keep an eye out for his green Slytherin robes. This will be easiest to do if you are sorted into Slytherin but is possible for players from any House.

Featured image: Warner Bros. Games

The post How to learn Avada Kedavra in Hogwarts Legacy appeared first on ReadWrite.

Elon Musk has promised that X creators will soon earn more for their posts, in response to a public blasting from MrBeast.

On December 30, YouTube creator MrBeast took to X to promote a new video. When a fan asked him in the comments to upload on X as well, Musk added his voice with a simple “yeah”.

Creator rewards will increase significantly this year https://t.co/TlQKxFci9y

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2024

In response, MrBeast wrote: “My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn’t fund a fraction of it :/ I’m down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!”

A few weeks later, on January 9, Musk announced that creator monetization would “increase significantly this year”. While he didn’t mention MrBeast directly, it could well be a response to his and others’ feedback.

With MrBeast uploading for an audience of 229 million subscribers on YouTube, he’s certainly a force to be reckoned with in the creator market. It wouldn’t be surprising for Musk to be led by his preferences.

Elon Musk and X creator talent

It’s long since been a part of Musk’s plans to attract top influencer talent to the platform since he took hold of the reins. As far back as October 2022, Musk promised “higher compensation for creators” than on YouTube – something many, including MrBeast were skeptical of.

“I’d be shocked if you crack that code,” the YouTuber wrote on X at the time. Another major YouTuber, Olajide Olatunji, better known as KSI, told fellow YouTuber Logan Paul on his podcast in August of 2023 “Impaulsive” that he didn’t think X “paid that much.”

“There are going to be people who are like, you got $1,500 from Twitter? Which is cool,” Paul said. “But comparatively is what we’re saying, to other platforms, for hundreds of millions on YouTube, that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

At the moment, creators are eligible to get paid up to 97% of the revenue X has earned from the content they create, after in-app purchase fees. This is capped at $50,000 in lifetime earnings from X across all X monetization products, after which it drops to 90% of revenue.

In real terms, however, it’s unclear what this breaks down as. With ad revenue down across most social media and for X in particular, it’d be wise for any creator not to put all their eggs in one basket.

Featured image: Pixabay

The post Elon Musk says ‘rewards will increase significantly’ for X creators appeared first on ReadWrite.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet was initially thought to end with its final DLC – but there’s still more to play.

Following on from the main game and DLCs, the Pokemon Scarlet & Violet epilogue is launching slightly differently from other DLCs, with it becoming available to play at different times around the world. Everyone around the world will be able to play the game today (January 11) – but not all at the same time.

The epilogue for the smash hit Nintendo franchise isn’t quite a full-fledged expansion, but there’s still plenty of interest for Pokemon gamers. Early leaks spotted by Gamerant suggest that a new mythical Pokemon could be making an appearance, along with some long-awaited multi-battle features.

This comes after Scarlet & Violet already introduced some new game mechanics in the story proper, such as Blueberry Quests to earn extra BP as you journey through the game.

It’s worth noting that you will need to play the entire game and the DLCs already to unlock the epilogue. Time is now short if you haven’t got there and are keen to play straight after its release, so it’s time to start the gaming grind if you haven’t already.

When can you play Pokemon Scarlet & Violet epilogue

Launching on January 11 at 9pm ET, usually, players around the world can simply log in from midnight the day of a release and play simultaneously. For this release, however, there are specific times for every region around the globe.

Here’s a summary of various major regions and their release times:

• Los Angeles: January 11 at 6 am
• New York: January 11 at 9 am
• San Paulo: January 11 at 11 am
• London: January 11 at 2 pm
• Berlin: January 11 at 3 pm
• Shanghai: January 11 at 10 pm
• Hong Kong: January 11 at 10 pm
• Tokyo: January 11 at 11 pm
• Sydney: January 12 at 1 am

If your region isn’t mentioned, you can also find your local timezone and convert it to 9pm ET using online tools like this one.

Featured image: Nintendo

The post Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: When you can play in UK, US, Europe and Australia appeared first on ReadWrite.

ChatGPT has become the flagship product of all generative artificial intelligence (AI) but there’s much more than just that one tool, as evidenced by the newly-launched store.

GPT, which stands for generative pre-trained transformers, can encompass several functions, all powered by AI. Where ChatGPT is quite literally an AI-powered chat, there is a wealth of other tools on offer.

Some of the most popular GPTs, as chosen by OpenAI’s community, include Consensus, which works as an AI research assistant by searching over 200 million academic papers for science-based answers. Another academic-focused GPT, AskYourPDF Research Assistant, takes this one step further by incorporating a chat function to talk through multiple files at once and even generate fresh articles to assist in your research.

Moving over to coding, Grimoire is a popular GPT that can create code for entire websites with a few quick prompts. It works in more than 20 programming languages.

There’s space for creatives too, with VideoGPT by WEED enabling you to create high-quality videos via prompts, Logo Creator (which does what it says on the tin), and OpenAI’s own DALL-E image generator.

How to access the new GPT store

You can easily access the new GPT store by heading to chat.openai.com and clicking ‘Explore GPTs’. From there, the store is set up to cover top daily picks, popular GPTs among the community, and a section for GPTs made by OpenAI themselves.

You can search for the names of GPTs or functions within the navigation bar, or browse through topics like Writing, Productivity, Research & Analysis, Programming, Education, and Lifestyle.

You must be signed up to ChatGPT Plus to use the other GPTs, which are available for $20 a month. Not only does it gain you access to the GPT store but it also guarantees users general access, even during peak times when the free version is at capacity. As new models roll out, premium users get first access and generally experience faster response times across all models.

Featured image: Pexels

The post How to access the new GPT store and most popular GPTs appeared first on ReadWrite.

Google laid off hundreds of employees in its latest round of layoffs yesterday to cut costs.

Looking forward, Google intends to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and has cut tech jobs, in line with a rising number of layoffs across the industry. The key areas experiencing layoffs at the search giant include its core engineering division, those working on the voice-powered Google Assistant, and the hardware division responsible for products like the Pixel phone, Fitbit watches and Nest thermostat, reports the New York Times.

Several hundred people across those three areas were notified their roles had been terminated on Wednesday, January 10, according to sources from within Google.

“We’ve had to make some difficult decisions about the ongoing employment of some Google employees and we regret to inform you that your position is being eliminated,” the company told employees.

Featured image: Photo by PhotoMIX; Dall-E

The post Google layoffs: Hundreds of employees face job cuts appeared first on ReadWrite.

A group of MPs has called for the Premier League and other sporting bodies to reduce the number of gambling adverts in stadiums.

This comes after eight Premier League clubs featured gambling companies on the front of their shirts due to partnership deals worth an estimated combined £60m per year.

The cross-party Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee has called for a reduction in gambling ads in a new report in order “to shield children from exposure” to betting companies’ logos, reports the BBC.

The parliamentary group’s chair, Dame Caroline Dinenage, stated that “more should be done…[over] what often seems like a bombardment of advertising branding at football and other sporting events.”

Current efforts don’t go far enough

The Premier League already agreed to a groundbreaking deal in April of this year, cementing a plan to prevent gambling sponsorships on the front of match shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season. However, the CMS Committee is pushing for more action, stating that this will “not significantly reduce the volume of betting adverts visible during a game.”

Namely, clubs have various other avenues to promote gambling companies prominently, such as on shirt sleeves and with LED perimeter advertising.

The CMS report cites a recent study showing that front-of-shirt gambling branding accounted for just 7% of all gambling advertising visible during ten broadcast matches. In total, almost 7,000 gambling messages could be seen during just six games during the season’s opening weekend.

To combat this wealth of messaging, the MPs recommend a fresh code of conduct for sporting bodies, including a provision to reduce gambling adverts and dedicate space to messaging around safer gambling. The committee challenges a white paper published earlier this year that avoided defined rules around advertising. Although not calling for a total ban, the CMS maintains that “there is still scope for further regulation.”

Featured image: Pexels

The post Premier League among sporting bodies urged to cut gambling ads appeared first on ReadWrite.

India’s parliament has passed a controversial bill to modernize its telecommunications and connectivity ahead of the country’s general election in spring 2024.

The new bill, voted through on Thursday, December 21, would replace original legislation dating back as early as 1885 and affect over 1.17 billion telephone connections and 881 million internet subscribers. The aim is reportedly to embrace more modern services like satellite broadband but the details of the legislation have raised some privacy concerns among digital rights groups.

Specifically, the Telecommunications Bill grants the government the power to take control of telecom networks and monitor traffic data in the interest of national security, as well as retains the right for Indian security services to intercept communications. It would also favor companies like Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper by allowing spectrum allocation for satellite-based services without auctioning.

This has earlier been resisted in India, due to the influence of India-based telecoms company Jio, attempting to take on global giants but lacking the resources to do so. Now, however, the Indian government seems keen to attract foreign investments through the new legislation.

When does the Telecommunications Bill come into effect?

Although now voted through the Indian parliament, the Telecommunications Bill is not yet cemented in law. It must now gain the Indian President’s approval to become an official act.

Digital rights activists and privacy advocacy groups have raised concerns over the ambiguity related to the regulation and absence of public consultations for the bill’s final version, which could also delay the bill coming into effect.

Digital rights organization Access Now has also called for the bill’s withdrawal and the creation of a new draft through consultation, citing the fact that the bill allegedly undermines end-to-end encryption, possibly endangering the privacy of individuals.

The post India passes controversial telecoms bill amid privacy concerns appeared first on ReadWrite.

Activision-Blizzard announced today that its long-term CEO Bobby Kotick is stepping down from the role.

After 32 years at the company, Kotick will officially step back from the company on December 29, 2023. This comes two months after Microsoft officially acquired Activision-Blizzard in a $69 billion deal in October.

The acquisition marked a massive increase to Microsoft’s gaming arm, previously limited to Xbox, as the company sought to compete with Sony and Nintendo.

Activision-Blizzard is not without its controversies, however. The last two years have seen the company embroiled in a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit, ultimately coming to a close on December 18 as Activision-Blizzard settled for around $54 million.

Although Kotick defended his company in an interview with Variety, maintaining that Activision-Blizzard had “every possible form of investigation done” and that they “did not have a systemic issue with harassment — ever”.

Kotick’s departure was announced via a public-facing memo to the company, complimenting Xbox boss Phil Spencer and stating that, “as we move into our next exciting chapter, you could not be in better hands.”

“I will always be profoundly grateful to the people who contributed tirelessly to building this company and I am confident you will keep inspiring joy and uniting people through the power of play,” Kotick continued.

What is Bobby Kotick’s net worth?

Now leaving the company, Kotick is still set to make a tidy sum from the Microsoft acquisition. As it stands, Kotick’s net worth is around $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

What’s more, the Verge reports that Kotick is estimated to receive more than $375 million in compensation following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

With some free time now on his hands, the businessman is rumored to be eyeing up an investment into UK football, with a potential buy-in to West Ham United

Featured image: Flickr/Tarcil Tarcil via CC 2.0 Licence

The post Bobby Kotick to leave Activision before the end of the year appeared first on ReadWrite.

Chrome extensions help users of the world’s most popular browser personalize their experience and Google has released a list of its favorites of the year – with one area conspicuously missing.

From improving the aesthetic of your browser to boosting productivity, there’s a Chrome extension for everything. One of the most popular uses is ad-blocking software, which automatically blocks pop-up and pre-roll ads.

Many sites will now require you to turn off your ad blocker to access their pages as it impacts their ad-based revenue and such extensions are also not popular with Google. It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that ad-blocking extensions do not appear anywhere on Google’s list of top extensions for 2023.

Google hasn’t been quiet about its plan to prevent ad-blocking software from working at all, as part of its long-term plan to improve its services. After all, ad block impacts its revenue made through YouTube videos and on-site ads, so it was inevitable that ad-blocking extensions aren’t top of Google’s list of favorites for 2023.

Google’s top 12 Chrome extensions of 2023

Despite skipping over what’s surely one of the most used Chrome extensions, there are still some handy examples included in their list, such as:

• Scribe, which uses AI to document workflows and create step-by-step guides to easily train colleagues
• DeepL Translate, which translates web pages without navigating away from the page
• QuillBot, which allows you to compose and respond to emails faster with its spell checker, summarizer tool, and AI writing assistant
• Sider, an in-browser sidebar that lets you use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Bard without having to open another tab
• Teal, which bookmarks jobs from popular job boards and keeps job applications in one place
• Transkriptor, a tool for automatically transcribing meetings from audio to text to review later
• Bonjourr, to create a minimalist aesthetic on  your Chrome homepage
• Speechify, a text-to-speech extension that reads articles, emails and PDFs using natural voices and accents for those who prefer to listen than read
• Equalizer, offering more fine-tuned audio controls for online content
• Boxel 3D, a platformer game that allows you to create your own levels
• BTRoblox, to enhance the game’s platform with a variety of new features
• Coupert, an extension designed to find the best promo codes from across the web and automatically apply them at checkout

Featured image: DALL-E

The post Google’s list of top Chrome extensions for 2023 has one convenient gap appeared first on ReadWrite.

Social media platform X experienced widespread outages early on Thursday, December 20, affecting thousands of users around the world.

Peaking just before 6am GMT, thousands of users reported experiencing now-resolved issues on X, including problems in the UK, the US, and India. Between 5.30 am and 7am (GMT), there were over 70,000 reports of problems on the platform before a solution was found, according to data from Downdetector.com.

Both premium and free users of the platform faced issues loading their feeds, instead being greeted with a message “Waiting for posts”, rather than the usual flurry of posts. Some users were able to see notifications and share posts but were unable to load either the ‘Following’ page or the ”For You page.

X now reports all systems are operational on its status page and the platform appears to be working as usual in all regions.

Is X still down?

Account holders faced issues between 5.30am and 7am, reaching a peak just before 6am. However, this isn’t the first time the platform experienced problems.

Back in March, X experienced a similarly major outage, just after one of many rounds of layoffs that resulted in a drop of 200 employees. Much like December’s outage, users were faced with a blank welcome page, without the ability to see posts on the For You or Following pages.

People also complained they could not access links, images, or videos on the site, impacting their experience of scrolling through their feeds.

This was followed by another outage in July, where thousands of users reported being unable to see tweets, missing timelines, and the number of followers displayed on their account seemingly decreasing overnight. In many cases, these followers were reinstated once the outage was over.

Most recently in October, some X users were unable to log into their accounts, while others could access the platform but could only see empty feeds. In all cases, X was able to solve the issues within a few hours.

Featured image: Pexels

The post Is X down? Social media platform back after global outage appeared first on ReadWrite.

The European Union (EU) has provisionally approved rules to improve protections and benefits for gig economy workers, largely aimed at those who deliver food and offer rides through apps.

Those who work for apps like Deliveroo, Uber, Bolt, and more tend to get missed in terms of workplace protection. The proposed rules would determine who should get similar benefits to full-time employees, as well as restrict the use of algorithms to manage gig workers.

The goal is to increase accountability and transparency for apps that rely on independent contractors, as well as remove gray areas around labor rights. The directive has been worked on for years and was provisionally approved by the EU on Wednesday, December 13.

What do the new rules state?

Although the directive still needs to be ratified by lawmakers and member states, the new rules “ensure platform workers, such as drivers and riders, receive the social and labor rights they are entitled to, without sacrificing the flexibility of the platform business model,” according to Nicolas Schmit, the bloc’s executive commissioner for jobs and social rights, as reported by AP.

Specifically, the rules aim to help clear up the employment status of as many as 5.5 million people, many of whom are currently classed as gig workers but should actually be entitled to employee benefits.

As such, some platforms that meet at least two criteria will be deemed an “employer” and people working for that company will be reclassified as “workers” with the right to a minimum wage, paid vacation, pensions, and unemployment and sickness benefits.

The criteria include factors such as limiting pay electronically through algorithms, supervising work performance, controlling working conditions, or dictating a worker’s appearance and conduct. There will also be more insight into automated monitoring and decision-making systems, to prevent companies from accessing certain types of personal data, such as the emotional or psychological state of workers, or predictions about potential union activity.

After ratification, member states will then have two years to transpose it into their local laws.

Featured image: Pexels

The post New EU gig worker rules would see millions receive employment benefits appeared first on ReadWrite.

With online shopping for Christmas presents ramping up and Boxing Day Sales ahead, the holiday period is a prime opportunity for scammers.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the next couple of weeks could see millions of scams flooding people’s inboxes, as scammers use the holiday period to take advantage of the high level of online shopping and potential deals, reports Metro.

That’s why it’s vital for email users to be extra vigilant in the coming weeks, with more opportunities than ever for phishing emails or fake deals. Often, this will result in the theft of personal data or malware that gives scammers access to other people’s devices.

“With an additional 10 million online threats expected on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, it’s never been more important to cast a skeptical eye over any festive deals or unexpected order and delivery updates,” said Vonny Gamot, Head of EMEA at McAfee.

“Even if an email or text looks legitimate, it’s always best to go directly to the source, whether it’s an online retailer or delivery provider.”

How to protect against phishing scams

Fake online deals are common dangers to look out for, so if a deal seems too good to be true, be wary. A good tip if you’ve been sent through a deal for a particular company, navigate directly to that retailer via a search engine and see if you can find the same deal. If not, you might be looking at a fake webpage.

Other common scams include fake delivery messages. Keep a careful track of what you’re expecting and when and note that you should never expect to pay to book another delivery slot from reputable couriers, so be wary of entering your payment details if prompted in this way.

“Many scams are effective because the scammer creates a false sense of urgency or preys on a heightened emotional state,” continued Ms Gamot. “Pause before you rush to interact with any message that is threatening or urgent, especially if it is from an unknown or unlikely sender.”

Featured image: Pexels

The post Gmail, Outlook and Hotmail scam warning ahead of holidays appeared first on ReadWrite.

American viewers can now watch movies and shows from the ad-free tier of Max on YouTube Primetime.

For a while now, the world’s most popular video-sharing platform has used its Primetime Channels to host third-party entertainment from several networks. Now, Warner Bros.’ Max (formerly HBO Max) has teamed up with YouTube to provide the ad-free tier of Max via Primetime.

That means American viewers will be able to watch a variety of scripted and unscripted programming from Warner Bros. brands like HBO, TLC, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network, and OWN from December 15 onwards.

This integration is the latest effort from Warner Bros. to encourage Max subscriptions. Max’s With-Ads tier is currently priced at $9.99 a month, and its Standard Ad-Free tier is $15.99 a month, as well as its highest-priced Ultimate Ad-Free tier at $19.99 a month.

Using YouTube Primetime, users can browse, sign up for and watch their favourite shows, movies, sports and more. With so many streaming options today, Primetime Channels are designed to make it easier for viewers to watch content from multiple streaming services in one place, as well as subscribe directly to YouTube.

How to watch Max content on YouTube Primetime

You can find Primetime Channels by visiting the Explore tab on the left of YouTube, then navigating to ‘Movies and TV’. You can subscribe and watch more than 40 on-demand streaming services, with many offering a seven-day trial before requiring a paid subscription.

YouTube primetime channels are similar to Amazon Prime Channels, allowing you to stream across various networks via the YouTube app. You can also manage your different subscription services in one place.

Other features within the YouTube app or website include the recent addition of the Multiview feature, offering sports fans the option to watch four different games at once. The progression of the platform demonstrates that Google is working on having YouTube function as more than the video site it once was, but as a multi-functional entertainment platform and, in its ideal world, as a go-to streaming service for Google customers.

Featured image: Unsplash

The post Max teams up with YouTube Primetime appeared first on ReadWrite.

Scientists are creating virtual reality goggles for mice so they can study the brain activity of the tiny creatures in various scenarios.

Putting animals into VR scenarios is nothing new but it usually needs cumbersome and expensive equipment. What’s more, the scientists involved noted that it was difficult to get the animals to engage, as they seemed to be aware that they were looking at mere screens.

“So far, labs have been using big computers or projection screens to surround an animal. For humans, this is like watching a TV in your living room: you still see your couch and your walls; there are cues around you, telling you that you aren’t inside the scene,” Daniel Dombeck, a professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University who led the research, told the Independent.

“Now think about putting on VR goggles, like Oculus Rift, that take up your full vision. You don’t see anything but the projected scene; a different scene is projected into each eye to create depth information. That’s been missing for mice.”

How do VR goggles for mice work?

Indeed, tiny VR goggles could solve this problem, opening up new areas for potential study. Entire virtual worlds can be created to that scientists can study the mice’s brain activity in a number of different situations, from running through imaginary mazes to being hunted by predators.

Rather than attaching the VR goggles to the mice’s heads as you would with humans, the technology involves perching them directly in front of the animal’s face while keeping it in place on a treadmill. There are also sensors used to detect brain activity so that researchers can closely examine the neural circuits associated with specific behavior.

Such experiments are vital to understanding how animals react to certain stimuli and it’s hoped that more scenarios may be added down the line, such as placing mice in situations where it’s predator, not prey.

Featured image: Pexels

The post Scientists invent VR goggles for mice for a fully immersive experience appeared first on ReadWrite.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has released a cryptic Christmas puzzle for those aged between 11 and 18, testing their minds in a series of festive challenges.

More than 1,000 secondary schools signed up for the event this year as the third annual edition of the challenge gets underway. It was designed after a Christmas card sent by Anne Keast-Butler, the director of the UK intelligence agency.

GCHQ, similar to the USA’s National Security Agency (NSA), is a British intelligence agency that focuses on gathering and analyzing information from communications to help protect national security and counter threats.

Our Chief Puzzler, Colin, is back once again to guide you through your festive puzzle assignment.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started with the #GCHQChristmasChallenge

Download it now https://t.co/X77jVmAy8V pic.twitter.com/vCZE5ylxTr

— GCHQ (@GCHQ) December 14, 2023

Challenges enclosed in the card are designed to test valuable skills such as codebreaking, maths, and analysis. They get progressively harder as the challenges go on and each has a connection to Christmas in some shape or form.

There are seven questions in total, some focused on word problems and others on numerical challenges. Here’s a look at the first question.

This is the first question and therefore the easiest. It asks participants to place the nine green gift tags in three groups of three. Each group is defined by a single word that links all three of the tags. When combined, those three answers are linked by another word that can follow ‘Christmas’. We’ll leave you to work out the answer…

How to take part in the 2023 GCHQ Christmas puzzle

If you head to the GCHQ website, you can find the full PDF of all seven questions, as well as hints, a blank worksheet to hand out to classes, and a teaching pack for educators. Children are encouraged to work in groups, pooling their knowledge to succeed in the various different challenges.

All of the resources are free to download, as well as the challenge from 2022. The GCHQ encourages participants to share their results on social media and even ask for help from online communities as needed, with the GCHQ itself offering tips online.

Featured image: GCHQ

The post GCHQ Christmas puzzle: Can you solve puzzle from Britain’s top cybersecurity agency? appeared first on ReadWrite.