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Submission + - SPAM: Bitcoin Hits $80,000 Boosting Las Vegas Tourism

Ammalgam writes: Bitcoin’s recent surge past the $80,000 mark has captivated investors and holds significant implications for various sectors, including tourism in Las Vegas.

As the cryptocurrency market experiences a robust bull run, the ripple effects are poised to enhance the economic landscape of the Entertainment Capital of the World.

From the Las Vegas Travel Guide

Bitcoin’s Ascent to $80,000

In early November 2024, Bitcoin achieved a historic milestone by surpassing $80,000, marking a new all-time high. This surge is attributed to several factors:

Institutional Adoption: Major financial institutions have increasingly integrated Bitcoin into their portfolios, signaling mainstream acceptance.

Regulatory Developments: The approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has made investing in the cryptocurrency more accessible.

Market Sentiment: A growing perception of Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation has bolstered investor confidence.
The Bull Market’s Impact on Las Vegas Tourism

Las Vegas, renowned for its vibrant entertainment and hospitality industries, stands to benefit from the bullish cryptocurrency market in several ways:

Increased Disposable IncomeThe appreciation of Bitcoin has augmented the wealth of cryptocurrency investors. This increase in disposable income is likely to translate into higher spending on travel and leisure activities. Las Vegas, with its array of attractions, is a prime destination for such expenditures.

Attracting a Tech-Savvy DemographicThe cryptocurrency boom appeals to a younger, tech-savvy audience. Las Vegas has adapted to cater to this demographic by integrating technology-driven experiences and accepting digital currencies in various establishments.

Cryptocurrency Integration in HospitalitySeveral Las Vegas hotels and casinos have begun accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for payments. This integration enhances the city’s appeal to crypto enthusiasts, offering them seamless transaction experiences.

Enhanced Marketing OpportunitiesThe intersection of cryptocurrency and tourism presents unique marketing opportunities. Las Vegas can position itself as a crypto-friendly destination, attracting a niche market of affluent travelers.

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Submission + - SPAM: The Iconic Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel gets demolished

Ammalgam writes: Today marks the end of an era in Las Vegas. The iconic Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino was demolished, closing the chapter on one of the Strip’s most historic landmarks.

Known for its rich history, vintage charm, and association with the classic Vegas experience, the Tropicana’s demolition is a reminder of the city’s relentless evolution. Let’s take a look back at what made the Tropicana so special, why it was demolished, and what’s next for this legendary corner of the Strip.

Why Was the Tropicana Demolished?

Despite its storied past, the Tropicana faced mounting challenges in recent years. As Las Vegas continued to attract a new generation of tourists, many of whom sought ultra-modern experiences and high-tech amenities, older properties like the Tropicana struggled to compete.

The rise of mega-resorts such as the Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, and Resorts World Las Vegas brought unparalleled luxury, dining, and entertainment options, making the aging Tropicana less competitive.

The decision to demolish the Tropicana wasn’t easy. However, Bally’s Corporation acquired the property in 2022 and made the tough call to replace the aging resort with a new development that better fits the evolving Las Vegas Strip.

Read More...

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Submission + - What You Need to Know About the Upcoming End of Windows 10 Support (theredmondcloud.com)

Ammalgam writes: Microsoft Windows 10 has been a staple in homes and businesses worldwide since its release in July 2015.

With its intuitive interface, robust security features, and many improvements over its predecessors, it quickly became the go-to operating system for millions. However, as with all good things, the time has come for Windows 10 to start its journey towards the end of its support lifecycle.

Before we discuss the specifics, it’s essential to understand what “end of support” actually means. Microsoft offers two types of support for its operating systems: mainstream support and extended support.

Mainstream Support: This includes all the primary updates, including security updates, new features, and performance improvements. Mainstream support for Windows 10 ended on October 13, 2020.

Extended Support: This phase focuses primarily on security updates and bug fixes without adding new features. Windows 10 will end extended support on October 14, 2025.

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide updates or security patches for Windows 10. Any vulnerabilities discovered after this date will not be patched, exposing your system to security risks.

Read more about the implications of this move.

Submission + - Salesforce raises prices for the first time in 7 years – stock rises (crmrank.com)

Ammalgam writes: Salesforce, the leading provider of software for customer relations management, announced that it will implement a price increase for some of its cloud and marketing tools starting in August.

The company’s decision to raise prices, the first in seven years, was met with a positive market response as its shares surged nearly 4% during early trading on Tuesday.

This move by Salesforce aligns with the current trend among technology companies, including Salesforce itself, to invest in generative artificial intelligence (AI) and incorporate it into their products and services.

To enhance its software capabilities, Salesforce has dedicated over $20 billion to research and development efforts over the past seven years.

These investments have led to the introduction of new features, particularly generative AI tools, aimed at providing enhanced value to customers.

The price increase comes at a time when the rapid growth of cloud services, observed during the pandemic lockdown, has begun to decelerate. Major players in the cloud industry, such as Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Alphabet, are facing pressure as enterprise clients seek to optimize their cloud spending amidst the rising cost of borrowing.

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Submission + - Kaspersky raises alarm - Fake Windows 11 installers are spreading malware (kaspersky.com)

Ammalgam writes: If you’re planning to install Windows 11, you should make sure you download it from official sources.

This is because, people who are using pirated or fake methods to get Windows 11 are also downloading malware along with it, according to Kaspersky.

The particular file referenced is called 86307_windows 11 build 21996.1 x64 + activator.exe.

While it sounds like it includes Windows 11 build 21996.1, and an installer that will automatically activate Windows for you there are some red flags.

First, it’s only 1.75GB, so while people who want to install Windows 11 might think that’s a large file that could be Windows, a real Windows 11 ISO is about 4.87GB.

Learn more

Submission + - Microsoft will start force upgrading Windows 10 for some users (theredmondcloud.com)

Ammalgam writes: Starting this month, Microsoft will begin forcing some users to upgrade to Windows 10 version 1909 or version 2004 if they don’t update their PC manually.

This is coming after Microsoft announced that it’s ending support for Windows 10 version 1903, including Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.

If you’re on Windows 10 version 1903, you’ll be force upgraded to version 1909 later this month.

If you’re on Windows 10 version 1909, you’ll be forcefully upgraded to Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 Update) by the spring of next year.

If you’re still using last year’s Windows 10 versions, it’s better to attempt the upgrade manually.

You can learn more about Microsoft's notifications about the upgrade here.

Submission + - Microsoft officially announces the Surface Book 3 (theredmondcloud.com)

Ammalgam writes: Microsoft has officially announced the Surface Book 3. Not much has changed for the device in terms of external design, but internal circuitry is where it’s at.

This newest addition to the Surface family was formally unveiled alongside the Surface Go 2 today.

And the detachable PC finally got the long overdue refresh.

Microsoft decided to go with the latest Intel 10th generation CPUs, codenamed Ice Lake. There was talk that the company might opt for the Comet Lake processors. Both are 10th generation chips, but Ice Lake is made on a 10nm process, while Comet Lake is 14nm.

Yet, the Comet Lake lineup is more powerful of the two, as Intel had to tone down the clock on Ice Lake.

Nevertheless, Ice Lake makes up for this with its Iris Plus Graphics. More so, as the Surface Book comes with a detachable screen. Ice Lake processors give you this boost in graphics while using it as a tablet, which makes up for it all.

As for the CPU options, we have the Core i5-1035G7 and Core i7-1065G7 available. The Core i5 models don’t offer dedicated graphics, while the 15-inch variant of the Surface Book 3 only comes in the Core i7 flavor.

GPU got a real look, too. The 13.5-inch Surface Book 3 gets you the 4GB Max-Q variant of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, while the 15-inch one comes with a GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q with 6GB. The latter is good enough for many of the top games that are available for Windows.

Commercial customers will also have the option of choosing the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 GPU for their mobile workstations.

On the display side, we have a 3000 x 2000 screen on the 13.5-inch model, while the 15-inch one offers a resolution of 3240 x 2160.

Microsoft also claims that the Surface Book 3 has the best battery life of any device it has made up until now. It’s rated at 17.5 hours on the 15-inch model and 15.5 hours on the 13.5-inch variant.

Some neat improvements when it comes to port selection, with both the USB Type-A and Type-C ports now being USB 3.1 Gen 2, meaning you get 10Gbps instead of 5Gbps. There is also a Surface Connect port on both the base and the tablet, to go with the 3.5mm audio jack in the tablet.

All these enhancements mean that the starting price of the Surface Book 3 is a bit higher at $1,599.

It will be available on May 21.

Submission + - Facebook bans deepfake videos in the lead up to the 2020 U.S. election (unirobotica.com)

Ammalgam writes: Last year, Facebook announced measures to protect the 2020 U.S. election from foreign influence and misleading information last year.

Now, in addition to those, the firm has announced that it is banning deepfakes – manipulated photos and videos, from its platforms, a move aimed to curb misinformation ahead of the U.S. presidential election later this year.

This move is similar to a move made by Twitter to ban deepfakes from it's platform.

This was announced in a blog post by Monika Bickert, their Vice President of Global Policy Management, stated that “misleading manipulated media” would be removed if it meets the following criteria:

It has been edited or synthesized – beyond adjustments for clarity or quality – in ways that aren’t apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say. And:

It is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges, replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic.

Facebook did reveal that “this policy does not extend to content that is parody or satire, or video that has been edited solely to omit or change the order of words.”

Submission + - Microsoft is radically refreshing the Windows and Office logos (theredmondcloud.com)

Ammalgam writes: Today, Microsoft announced they were refreshing their Windows logo and the icons for many of the operating system’s apps.

While Microsoft already announced new icons for the Office suite, Microsoft is now redesigning more than 100 icons across the company with new colors, materials, and finishes.

We can see a softer modernized design based on their Fluent Design set of principles.

You can see the new Windows logo in the images here.

This is all part of a bigger push to modernize Microsoft’s software and services under the Fluent Design set of principles. “With the newest wave of icon redesigns, we faced two major creative challenges,” explains Jon Friedman, corporate vice president of design and research at Microsoft.

Read more at The Redmond Cloud

Submission + - Microsoft releases a list of deprecated Windows 10 Features (theredmondcloud.com) 1

Ammalgam writes: In a recent document, Microsoft outlines a whole bunch of features in Windows 10 that they are not only not developing anymore but, wait for it, might remove from future versions.

Their words:

Every version of Windows 10 adds new features and functionality; occasionally we also remove features and functionality, often because we’ve added a better option. Below are the details about the features and functionalities that are no longer being developed in Windows 10. For information about features that have been removed, see Features we removed.

The features described below are no longer being actively developed, and might be removed in a future update. Some features have been replaced with other features or functionality and some are now available from other sources.

Take a look at some of the more prominent Windows 10 features that will be going away soon..

Submission + - New AI Tool Knows Whether You Are Nervous Or Confused (unirobotica.com)

Ammalgam writes: Interesting new facial recognition technology has been developed by Fujitsu Laboratories.

Fujitsu wanted a way to better track emotions, even as other companies are already using emotion tool to recognize facial expressions.

Microsoft, for example, is one such company, but its AI tool is limited to eight core states — anger, contempt, fear, disgust, happiness, sadness, surprise, or neutral.

The current technology works by identifying various action units (AUs) that are basically certain facial muscle movements that we make. That is to say, if the technology identifies cheeks raised and lip corners pulled up, the AI concludes that the person it is analyzing is happy.

However, this one goes much further.

According to Fujitsu, instead of creating more images to train the AI, researchers at its lab came up with a tool to extract more data out of one picture. This is done by what it calls a normalization process, where pictures taken from a particular angle are converted into images that resemble a frontal shot.

After the technology appropriately enlarges, reduces, or rotates the newly created frontal picture, this new AI detects these AUs much more easily, and much more accurately.

Source — Unirobotica.com

Submission + - Will AWS be spun off into a separate company? (theredmondcloud.com)

Ammalgam writes: A credible business school professor who correctly predicted that Amazon would buy Whole Foods now says an AWS spinoff is inevitable.

marketing guru Scott Galloway said Monday at Business Insider's IGNITION conference.

The move will also help the company placate regulators who are starting to scrutinize its anticompetitive practices, said Scott Galloway, a professor at New York University's Stern School of Business.

He said this at Business Insider's IGNITION conference on Monday.

After the e-commerce giant spins it off, Amazon Web Services (AWS) "will be one of 10 most valuable companies in the world," he said.

"The question then becomes, what happens to the old retail-side of Amazon," Galloway added.

Amazon will decide to split off AWS, because it makes a lot of sense and market forces will dictate it, Galloway said. Cloud computing is one of the most important trends taking place in the technology industry, but there's no simple way for investors to profit off it.

The three biggest cloud services — AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud — are all part of much bigger companies whose results only partially reflect their cloud businesses.

As the biggest of the bunch, AWS would be a natural to become its own standalone business, he said. And it could be a huge windfall for Amazon shareholders.

Depending on how it would be valued and the multiple to earnings that the market would assign to it, AWS by itself could be see a valuation of anywhere from $70 billion to $600 billion, he said.

What do you think? Is this possible?

Submission + - Microsoft's Windows Phone platform is dead. (windows10update.com) 1

Ammalgam writes: Tom Warren at the Verge today gave voice to what a lot of other technology analysts and today definitively declared that Microsoft's Windows Phone platform is dead.

This largely based on the abysmal adoption numbers released in Microsoft's most recent earnings report" Mr. Warren articulates the obvious by stating:

"With Lumia sales on the decline and Microsoft's plan to not produce a large amount of handsets, it's clear we're witnessing the end of Windows Phone. Rumors suggest Microsoft is developing a Surface Phone, but it has to make it to the market first. Windows Phone has long been in decline and its app situation is only getting worse. With a lack of hardware, lack of sales, and less than 2 percent market share, it's time to call it: Windows Phone is dead. "

Now this news should not be surprising to anyone who has watched the slow decline of Windows Phone.

Last December, in an article on Windows10update.com, Onuora Amobi also wrote off the platform.

In this case, his analysis was based on the nonconformity of the Microsoft user interface to Apple and Android's widely adopted aesthetic appeal.

He said the following:

"I believe Windows Phone is dead. Kaput. Finished. Over. Done. I’ve said this ad nauseam but it bears repeating. When Windows 8 started going south, it was pretty clear what the issue was – users didn’t like the interface. Windows 10 is successful in part because it’s a return to Windows 7 in many ways and that’s what made the consumers happy. One of the definitions of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result”. This is exactly what Microsoft is doing and it’s insane. Over 90% of Microsoft’s desired audience like the look and feel of iPhones and Android devices. They do – it’s not good or bad – it just is what it is. They spend their money on those two user interfaces."

What do you guys think? Is there hope for the Windows 10 platform?

Submission + - The reason a Surface Phone won't fix Microsoft's mobile problem (windows10update.com)

Ammalgam writes: Microsoft’s CMO recently admitted that Microsoft was behind in the mobile arena and needed time to build a competitive phone. In the Windows community however, some feel that the Windows Phone platform is out of time. On Windows10Update.com, the author discusses some of the reasons why a “Surface Phone” might not be enough to fundamentally change public perception about Microsoft mobile phones.

Submission + - Microsoft rolls out major fall update to Windows 10 (windows10update.com)

Ammalgam writes: Microsoft have rolled out a major update to Windows 10 called the Fall Update, November Update or Threshold 2. The update is now publicly available for everyone to download and Microsoft have confirmed that it will be a staggered release.

This update is full of fixes and refinements to Windows 10 including substantial changes to Edge, Cortana, icons, the Start Menu, Activation and multiple enterprise features. Here is a full list of changes.

Have you updated your Windows 10 install yet? What was your experience?

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