AnActOfCreation

Plex introduced an Auto-Sync Subtitles feature that aligns subtitles with audio using an algorithm that detects voices, supporting external SRT files and those from OpenSubtitles.com.

The feature requires a Plex Pass subscription, voice activity detection, and media analysis enabled on the server, but won't work on some systems like FreeBSD, Nvidia Shield, and certain NAS servers.

Plex is expanding its app offerings, including a new dedicated photos app in open beta, and currently offers a 20% discount on Lifetime Plex Pass subscriptions.

The DeCENC attack, developed by security researcher David Buchanan, can bypass the Common Encryption Scheme (CENC) used by streaming platforms like Amazon and Netflix, allowing decrypted but compressed video to be captured and saved, posing a theoretical risk to DRM protection.

Although DeCENC offers a novel method to exfiltrate protected video data, Buchanan notes it's largely impractical compared to simpler piracy techniques, such as HDMI capture or exploiting existing vulnerabilities like the Microsoft PlayReady client compromise.

Buchanan criticizes the CENC specification's lack of authentication, highlighting the challenge of conducting security research due to paywalled and complex technical documents, and calls for greater accessibility of these standards for researchers.

A former Twitter employee, Gary Rooney, won about $600,000 for unfair dismissal after Twitter assumed he resigned by not responding to Elon Musk's "hardcore" work email.

The case highlighted the importance of clear communication between employers and employees, especially regarding significant changes in employment terms.

Rooney’s private Slack messages, where he discussed leaving, were used as evidence by Twitter, underscoring that internal communication on platforms like Slack is not always private and can be used in legal disputes.

• Former President Trump defended his actions regarding the 2020 election, claiming he had the right to interfere and criticizing the charges against him as politically motivated.
• Trump argued that the legal actions against him set a bad precedent and accused prosecutors of bias, specifically mentioning federal charges and a Georgia case involving alleged election interference.
• The Harris-Walz campaign condemned Trump's remarks, stating that he is pushing false narratives and emphasizing Vice President Harris's commitment to upholding the rule of law.

• Senator JD Vance used a viral clip of Caite Upton's 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant mistake to mock Kamala Harris, sparking backlash.
• Upton criticized Vance's actions on social media, calling for an end to online bullying, and expressed that the viral clip had previously led to depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Vance stated he was unaware of Upton’s past mental health struggles and refused to apologize, dismissing the incident as a joke.

• Paleontologists found matching Early Cretaceous dinosaur footprints in Brazil and Cameroon, showing where dinosaurs walked before Africa and South America split.
• The footprints, mostly from three-toed theropods, date back 120 million years and reveal how dinosaurs migrated across the supercontinent Gondwana.
• Geological evidence supports that these areas were connected before the continents drifted apart, forming the South Atlantic Ocean.

• Sonos's botched app rollout is a significant leadership failure, resulting in widespread customer dissatisfaction and technical issues that undermine its brand.
• Over 100 employees were laid off, likely due to the mishandling of the app, reflecting poor leadership priorities and decisions.
• Sonos now faces potential long-term damage to its customer loyalty and market confidence, with upcoming updates needing to address these issues urgently.

• Peloton is introducing a $95 "used equipment activation fee" for bikes purchased from outside its official channels in the US and Canada, aiming to boost revenue and maintain onboarding quality for new subscribers.
• The fee has sparked criticism as it reduces the cost savings typically associated with buying secondhand equipment and diverges from practices in other industries, potentially discouraging used market purchases.
• Peloton's hardware sales continue to decline, but subscription revenue has seen slight growth; the company still faces financial struggles despite cost-cutting measures and layoffs.

• YouTube is intensifying efforts to combat adblockers, including blocking video playback and warning users of potential account suspension.
• Increased ads on YouTube have driven many users to adblockers, hurting both YouTube’s ad revenue and content creators reliant on ad-based income.
• Despite these measures, many users are leaving YouTube or finding workarounds, leading creators to seek alternative revenue streams off-platform.

• Judge James Donato intends to dismantle Google’s Android app store monopoly, following an earlier ruling declaring it illegal.
• Google argued that opening its store to competitors would be too costly and complex, but the judge dismissed this claim, emphasizing that barriers will be removed.
• Proposed remedies include banning discriminatory practices against rival app stores and setting up a committee to monitor compliance and report regularly.

• Sen. JD Vance recounted being asked if he had a "secret family" during the vice presidential vetting process, which he found intrusive and bizarre, especially since his wife was present.
• Vance described the vetting process as detailed and intrusive, including questions about potential family criticisms and criminal history.
• Politicians undergoing vice presidential vetting often face extensive scrutiny to prepare for media examination, highlighting past examples like Herschel Walker and John Edwards who had hidden children.