How 60-year-old company Interstates faced the challenge of frequently upgrading data center hardware to meet its business needs.

Case study: How Interstates rehauled its aging data center infrastructure. Read the full series here: Data centers in 2023: How to do more with less

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Roku issues a pop-up related to its dispute resolution terms.  Did you get a pop-up message when you queued up your Roku device? The company has been notifying customers about changes to its dispute resolution terms. While some users received emails informing them of the update, others discovered it upon opening up Roku TVs or media players and found themselves blocked from using the hardware -- until they agreed to the new terms.According to Roku's website, its latest dispute resolution policy went into effect on Feb. 20, 2024. There's a way for customers to opt out, but the process isn't instant and can't be done digitally. Rather, you will have to use snail mail to decline the agreement. A copy of the email sent to Roku customers.We've outlined the steps below. While you may not be able to use your Roku devices until you've accepted the new terms, note that even after you used your device to agree, you'll still be able to opt out using this method.According to Roku's terms, you have 30 days to opt out (presumably, the countdown began on Feb. 20), but it must be done in writing. CNET reached out to Roku about the updated agreement, and a company spokesperson said, "Like many companies, Roku updates its terms of service from time to time. When we do, we take steps to make sure customers are informed of the change."

Message on Your Roku TV? Here's How to Opt Out of Roku's New Terms. According to Roku's terms, you have 30 days to opt out (presumably, the countdown began on Feb. 20), but it must be done in writing.

CNET

Message on Your Roku TV? Here's How to Opt Out of Roku's New Terms     - CNET

By  Emilia David, a reporter who covers AI. Prior to joining The Verge, she covered the intersection between technology, finance, and the economy.A federal grand jury has indicted a Google engineer, Linwei Ding, aka Leon Ding, for allegedly stealing trade secrets around Google’s AI chip software and hardware on March 5th, before he was arrested Wednesday morning in Newark, California. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement that Ding “stole from Google over 500 confidential files containing AI trade secrets while covertly working for China-based companies seeking an edge in the AI technology race.”  Much of the stolen data allegedly revolves around Google’s tensor processing unit (TPU) chips. Google’s TPU chips power many of its AI workloads and, in conjunction with Nvidia GPUs, can train and run AI models like Gemini. The company has also offered access to the chips through partner platforms like Hugging Face. Software designs for both the v4 and v6 TPU chips, hardware and software specifications for GPUs used in Google’s data center, and designs for Google’s machine learning workloads in data centers are among the allegedly stolen files. Amid a growing arms race around AI technology and US government efforts to ban China from accessing chips built for AI, some Chinese companies have turned to local chip producers to power AI platforms. Late last year, intelligence chiefs of the so-called Five Eyes alliance of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand warned US tech companies about companies in China potentially stealing intellectual property related to AI, quantum computing, and robotics. The government accuses Ding of transferring those files to a personal Google Cloud account between May 2022 and May 2023. He allegedly did so “by copying data from the Google source files into the Apple Notes application on his Google-issued MacBook laptop,” and then converting them from Apple Notes to PDFs to avoid detection by Google’s “data loss prevention systems.” The government says that less than a month after he began stealing files, a Chinese machine learning company named Rongshu offered to make him CTO, he flew to China for five months to raise funds for the company, and he subsequently founded and led a machine learning startup named Zhisuan, all while still working for Google. He resigned from Google in December 2023 — and reportedly booked a one-way ticket to Beijing scheduled to depart two days past his end date — after the company began asking him about his uploads.The DOJ also claims that in December 2023, he allegedly faked being present at Google’s office in the US by having another employee scan his badge at the door while he was actually in China. Ding has been charged with four counts of theft of trade secrets, so he’s facing up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count if convicted. / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily.The Verge is a vox media network© 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Google engineer indicted over allegedly stealing AI trade secrets for China. The government says that less than a month after he began stealing files, a Chinese machine learning company named Rongshu offered to make him CTO, he flew to China for five months to raise funds for the company, and he subsequently founded and led a machine learning startup named Zhisuan, all while still working for Google.

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Google engineer indicted over allegedly stealing AI trade secrets for China

Our expert deal-hunting staff showcases the best price drops and discounts from reputable sellers daily. If you make a purchase using our links, CNET may earn a commission.     The PS5 is among the most popular consoles for a reason, and now you can pick one up with a great game and save some money into the bargain.  The PlayStation 5 Slim is the latest version of the popular Sony console, and while there are some great handheld game consoles out there, you can't beat kicking back on the sofa with a big-screen TV. If you want to do that but don't yet have the hardware required, Best Buy is currently offering a pretty sweet deal on a PS5 Slim and one of the console's most iconic games.That game is Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and you can pick it up with a PS5 Slim console today for just $450, a deal that saves you a cool $50. There are no codes or coupons here, but you do need to place your order soon because we don't know how long we can expect this deal to last. Looking to save even more? You can trade in your old console and save up to $120 more, too.The PS5 features 1TB of storage in its ultrahigh-speed solid-state drive and supports 4K HDR gaming with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz if you have a compatible TV. The DualSense controllers feature haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and the console is backward-compatible so you can play more than 4,000 PS4 games. Add that to the hugely impressive PS5 catalog, and you'll never be short of games to play. Remember that with this deal, you'll also get a digital code to download the Marvel Spider-Man 2 game, so you'll have something great to play as soon as your console arrives.Once you have your new PS5 console, you'll probably be looking to pick up some games and accessories as well. Our collection of the best PlayStation deals will have you all set in no time at all.CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and check out our CNET Coupons page for current Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and more from hundreds of other online stores. Sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. Peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.

Get a PS5 Slim With Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for Just $450 Right Here, Right Now. The PS5 is among the most popular consoles for a reason, and now you can pick one up with a great game and save some money into the bargain.

Get a PS5 Slim With Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for Just $450 Right Here, Right Now     - CNET

A comprehensive list of 2023 & 2024 tech layoffs | TechCrunch. Announced March 20 that it has laid off at least 100 employees, about 2% of the company’s workforce

TechCrunch

A comprehensive list of 2023 & 2024 tech layoffs

Accessibility, long overlooked by the world’s biggest hardware and software developers, has started to find its groove in the world of tech. It’s about time: It’s estimated that more than one-quarter of all adults in the U.S. report themselves as having disabilities; and in the U.K., in a report last year from the ONS, more than 30% of all people surveyed found services difficult to access. Regulations are finally starting to catch up to enforce better accessibility for all. But in the meantime, some prescient startups are doubling down now.Catalan startup Showee, which is building smart showers with accessibility in mind, is one such company. A couple of weeks ago, its team was awarded the first prize at the Spanish Red Cross’ Humanitarian Technology Awards at 4YFN 2024, Mobile World Congress’ startup event.Showee’s shower is designed for people with disabilities who face challenges both physical and intellectual. It has a height-adjustable structure, and also includes a smart touchscreen that guides users through each step, from wetting and lathering to drying.Here’s a video showing how it works:More than the hardware, Showee won awards and praise for the social impact it’s trying to make. By adapting to a user’s level of autonomy, it gives them back a lot of privacy without endangering their safety; instead of being a stressful experience, showers can be relaxing. In a testimonial, a user referred to the experience as “liberating.” Another testimonial noted that in facilities that lack enough staff or time to care for patients individually, Showee could help nursing assistants give showers more often to patients who want them.Showee’s goal, however, isn’t to replace caretakers, whether they are family members or professionals, the company’s CIO, Alejandro Castro, told TechCrunch at 4YFN. For example, rather than having to be present during the whole shower, caretakers can control the steps through Showee’s mobile app, and only come in when they’re needed and notified.CEO Èric Güell was inspired by the needs of his own family — his mother has a chronic illness and his grandmother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Castro explained. He started Showee in 2017, and the team soon after received mentoring and support from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, also known as BarcelonaTech.It’s not surprising that Showee has been in the works for several years when you consider its focus. Bringing hardware innovations to market is notoriously hard, especially in a niche, but Showee made a couple of calls that helped it enter the market.First, the company found a manufacturing partner, which provided it with R&D space and helped it build prototypes. Then, the team focused on selling to businesses like hospitals and care facilities. The company’s CTO, Eloi Mirambell, admitted that the smart shower’s price will have to go down before it has a real chance at B2C.For now, Showee’s showers are being used at retirement homes, hospitals and tutored housing care centers for people with severe autism, and the like. The startup is also looking to sell to hotels with a slightly less customizable shower program that will make it more immediately usable for one-time users.Accessibility and inclusion aside, Showee has another selling point: water savings. The startup says its shower uses 50% less water than a regular shower. This is a strong point, given that its native Catalonia recently declared a drought emergency. It also offers a monetary benefit, as this issue has driven many municipalities across Spain to raise their water rates.Since showers represent a large portion of retirement homes’ water bills, future savings could help amortize the purchase, Castro said.Priced at about €5,000, (around $5,420), a Showee shower is definitely going to burn a hole in most homeowners’ wallets, but the startup knows what it needs to do to become more affordable. For instance, some hardware components could be replaced with less expensive parts if it starts producing more units, Mirambell explained. The product could also become modular, and the company could make some features optional for users who don’t need them.Just as importantly, Showee is giving buyers the option to pay a monthly subscription for three years instead of buying the shower upfront. It is seeking to raise more funding this year, and is also in talks with distributors who could help it sell the next version of its shower to a wider audience.This new version is coming to market soon and the model that Showee showed off at MWC is on its way out. In its FAQ, the startup says that all shower units are sold out, but Showee will be available again starting April 2024. The more it sells, the more chances it will have to bring Showee to homes and benefit more people.

Showee, a smart shower startup, shines a light on accessibility | TechCrunch. Just as importantly, Showee is giving buyers the option to pay a monthly subscription for three years instead of buying the shower upfront.