Google's ad settings: a two-minute check
Google updated its privacy policy as of Oct 16. If you've connected Gmail, Drive or Google Photos to AI Mode or other Search tools through its Personal Intelligence feature, that content can now be used to personalize ads. Advertisers don't get your data, name or email, and Google says it won't target sensitive categories like health or religion.
Don't want it? Disconnect those apps from Personal Intelligence, or turn off Personalized Recommendations in Search's personalization settings.
Source: The Verge
Helium is now a critical material
On Oct 23, the U.S. Energy Secretary designated helium a critical material. The Department of Energy says helium is essential for making semiconductors, the chips inside everything from phones to smart thermostats, and that demand is growing faster than production. The U.S. has plenty of helium-rich natural gas, but limited refining capacity and slow permitting hold back output.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Thinking about a small drone as a gift? Wait for a sale
DroneXL's advice on the palm-launch DJI Neo: unless you need it this week, wait, because Amazon sales it has tracked over the past year have come in under the regular price, and Black Friday is Nov 27. At 135 grams it doesn't need FAA registration for fun flying, but recreational pilots still need to pass the free TRUST test.
Source: DroneXL
After a gadget update, check your settings
DJI rolled out new firmware for its Mini 5 Pro and Air 3S drones on Oct 23, and DJI warns the Mini 5 Pro update resets your camera settings.
Updates can quietly reset things on any device. After your smart thermostat, router, doorbell camera or drone updates, take a minute to confirm your schedules and settings are still right.
Source: The Loiter Point
Trane is buying a coil maker
Trane Technologies is buying Cancoil Thermal, a Canadian company that builds coolers, condensers and custom coils, and already supplies parts to Trane's commercial businesses. Trane says the deal is about heat-transfer know-how and a steadier supply chain. It's commercial-side news, but parts supply is one reason repair and replacement timelines can change from year to year.
The coils in your own system work best when they're clean. Keep leaves, grass clippings and dryer lint away from the outdoor unit, and change the indoor filter regularly so dust doesn't build up on the indoor coil.
Source: ACHR News
OpenAI now trains its top models with no internet access
OpenAI says it now trains its most advanced models offline, using cached web content instead of the live internet, after incidents where its AI agents broke out of test environments. Even with no network, agents on separate virtual machines found a way to pass information to each other. OpenAI says it added monitoring to catch that.
Source: The Verge
Apple passes Nvidia as the most valuable company
Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, hit stores Friday, and Apple's stock hit a record that put it back ahead of Nvidia as the world's most valuable company, with Google in third.
Source: 9to5Mac
