The move away from usernames and passwords continues to gather pace with another company seemingly on the way to allowing people to start using passkeys when securing their PlayStation Network accounts.

The PlayStation Network accounts are currently protected via an email and password system with 2FA support also included to help ensure that people keep their accounts safe and sound. Sony has published a new webpage on its website detailing how passkeys work while there is also an option for activating a passkey for a user’s account as well. However, there have been mixed responses as to whether the feature currently works or not and there has been some suggestion that a bigger PSN security announcement could come soon.

Passkeys are a new way to secure accounts using biometrics rather than passwords that have to be remembered or saved in a password manager. People tend to use the same passwords over and over which is a bad security practice and one that puts accounts at risk. By removing the need to choose a password, passkeys are more secure as a result.

Unlocking an account with a passkey is done so via biometrics like Face ID or Touch ID on iPhones, iPads, and Macs and facial or fingerprint recognition on Android and Windows devices.

Passkeys are steadily being added to more and more services and apps as people start to move away from the traditional usernames and password setup that the internet has been using for decades. Quite when Sony will enable the new passkey support has yet to be confirmed, however.

It’s not every day you come across savings massive enough to make all other Super Bowl TV deals jealous, but Best Buy is doing just that with the TCL S5 4K Smart TV. In fact, the savings aren’t the only massive part of the deal, as the it’s the 98-inch model that’s seeing a discount, which is perfect to gather around for the coming Super Bowl. The deal is worth a savings of $3,000. It drops the price of the TCL 98-inch S5 from $5,000 to an impressive sale price of just $2,000. Free delivery is included with a purchase.

Why you should buy the TCL 98-inch S5 4K LED Smart TV

Whether you’re building a home theater from scratch or want to upgrade to watch the Super Bowl this year, the 98-inch model of the TCL S5 4K LED Smart TV should be at the top of your list of considerations. It’s capable of producing a massive, high quality 4K image that competes with what you’ll find in the best TVs. That image comes via an LED display that offers superior brightness and high color contrast. It utilizes directly-lit backlighting that offers good light uniformity and makes the TV work well in any room.

And because this is a smart TV, it comes with easy, built-in access to streaming content. This includes access to the Super Bowl, but also to things like the best movies on Hulu. This TV utilizes the Google TV for its smarts, which brings your favorite movies, shows, and live TV together all in one place. Additional smart features include the ability to control the TV using voice commands. The TCL S5 4K TV is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and it can also pair with any of the best wireless headphones that have Bluetooth connectivity in order to create a private listening experience.

This Super Bowl deal on the 98-inch TCL S5 4K Smart TV is a tough one to beat. You can add it to your entertainment hub for $2,000, which is a savings of $3,000 from its regular price of $5,000. Free delivery is included, and in many areas you can pick it up today at your nearest Best Buy.

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Interconnected smart devices continuously exchange data, solve problems, and simplify everyday life. In fact, over 120 devices connect to the internet every second — and no matter your profession, you’ve probably interacted with at least one already today. One such device is an IoT intercom. 

While you might not expect a building intercom to be connected to the Internet of Things, an IoT intercom creates a secure and seamless property access experience. Read on to discover what an IoT intercom is and how it creates a better living and working experience for staff and tenants.

What is an IoT intercom?

An IoT intercom uses the internet to enhance its functions. IoT intercoms improve the communication capabilities of traditional analog intercoms while adding new, innovative features. 

IoT intercoms use the internet. Because of this, they share a few similarities with another type of intercom system: IP intercoms. However, IoT intercoms use a larger breadth of the internet. For example, an IP intercom might only use the internet to allow visitors and tenants to communicate wirelessly. On the other hand, IoT intercoms have the sensors and processing power to take full advantage of everything the internet has to offer.

As a result, an IoT intercom’s internet connection means that users can connect to it from anywhere. So, if you live or work in a building with an IoT intercom, you can grant access to somebody, even if you aren’t in the building yourself. 

Further, the speed at which data flows through the internet means that IoT intercoms also support flawless audio communication. Plus, the most robust IoT intercoms offer video communications as well. Some even offer a mobile app that lets you use your smartphone with the IoT video intercom system.

Benefits of an IoT intercom

Intercoms that use the Internet of Things are designed to make tenants’ lives easier. 

Here are some of the many benefits of an IoT intercom: 

• Enhanced security. Property staff can track door release events to boost security and give their tenants peace of mind. 
• Easy video and audio communication. IoT intercoms are connected to the internet, which makes them very fast. Because of this, IoT intercoms can facilitate video and audio communication between staff, tenants, and guests. 
• Robust integrations. IoT intercoms can integrate with property management software and other smart access solutions. As a result, even if your IoT intercom is from a different brand than your property’s other access control devices, such as keypads and smart locks, you can control them all from one central hub instead of needing to monitor several.
• Elevator connections. You can connect an IoT intercom with your elevator to empower tenants to unlock key-fobbed elevators from their smartphones, enabling property-wide access control.

How do tenants use IoT intercoms?

Thanks to the strong connection between IoT intercoms and the internet, it’s easy for everyone to use IoT intercoms!

Tenants can view who’s requesting access via the IoT intercom video camera, allowing them to visually verify the identity of guests. Similarly, property staff can use IoT intercoms to grant remote access to delivery couriers, property service providers, and maintenance workers. So, if there’s a late-night maintenance emergency, they don’t have to travel to the property to grant access.

Alternatively, guests can use an IoT intercom to request access from tenants or staff. And because an IoT intercom facilitates remote access, tenants don’t need to be present to grant entry. This means visitors, like service providers, can gain access even when the tenant isn’t present. 

How real estate professionals can use the Internet of Things

Real estate professionals like property owners, managers, and developers can use the Internet of Things by investing in proptech (property technology). Proptech systems that are powered by the Internet of Things improve the tenant’s living and working experiences in new ways.

Many IoT devices are developed with smart homes and smart properties in mind. For example, temperature sensors can detect when a room is occupied. Then, with that information, the sensors can determine whether that room needs air conditioning. 

However, many IoT devices created for properties weren’t built to address the primary challenge faced by property managers and owners: ensuring seamless yet secure property access. However, IoT intercoms are! So, by investing in an IoT intercom, managers can use the Internet of Things to create a smart visitor management system and solve one of the hardest and most prevalent problems.

If you want an intercom system that makes your renters’ lives easier and puts a world of new information at your fingertips, consider an IoT intercom. Countless others have used the power of the internet to transform the way they do business. Invest in an IoT solution and make the future work for you.

Krotos has unveiled a “groundbreaking update” to its Krotos Studio application at the NAMM 2024 show in Anaheim. The Quick FX module allows you to intuitively position sounds within a scene, quickly and efficiently. In addition, the update adds new AI-powered sound effect presets.

Krotos Studio

Krotos Studio is designed to simplify sound design and foley (adding sound effects) in film and video post-production. It is available as a standalone app or as VST, AU and AAX plug-ins. The plug-in version of Krotos Studio can also be used in all of the major DAWs as well as DaVinci Resolve. You can choose from a range of over 200 presets to begin your sound design before adjusting the timing and length to suit your scene. In addition, Krotos Studio has an extensive library of samples with new samples and presets added each month.

Quick FX

With the new Quick FX module, you can place any sound effect in a real space and then easily adjust its distance or apply a muffle effect. Using Quick FX’s Reverb Only, Distance and Filter Only modes you can also shape how a sound is rendered. Quick FX integrates seamlessly with Krotos Studio, so you can apply the effects to any of the existing presets. In addition, Quick FX is designed to allow users to create realistic audio environments without requiring extensive expertise in sound manipulation. This means it is ideal for content creators and video editors as well as sound designers and audio professionals.

AI-powered presets

The AI features in Krotos Studio have been enhanced with AI-powered sound effect presets. The new presets showcase an X-Y pad interface with a cluster of colored pins, representing each sound segment by timbre and intensity. You can use this to create sound effects through intuitive interaction and shape the sound in real-time to suit your project. There is also a new AI-powered search engine which employs machine learning. Krotos says this significantly improves search efficiency, which is a productivity drain on other sound design platforms.

What we think

Krotos Studio is a powerful sound design tool that delivers high-quality audio. With the introduction of Quick FX, Krotos has opened up that creativity to content creators and video editors as well as audio specialists. The addition of new AI-powered presets will also enhance the soundscapes you can put together. The subscription model of paying for software isn’t always popular. However, there is a free version of Krotos Studio if you want to try it before you buy.

Pricing and availability

Krotos Studio is available on a subscription-based model. This costs $120 billed annually or $15 if you prefer to pay monthly. There’s also the option to get started for free with the cut-down Krotos Studio Free.

If you thought Z-Wave was another post-apocalyptic zombie flick, be glad it’s not. Z-Wave is really a new radio frequency (RF) protocol that smart home devices can use to communicate. It uses a lower frequency than typical wireless networks, which allows it to avoid interference and more effectively penetrate walls. It’s also markedly cheaper to set up than many current-day competitors.

A defining feature of the new technology is the way Z-Wave devices actually communicate better with one another as more devices are added to the network. Communication is controlled by a Z-Wave hub, to which you can add new devices using an app on your computer or smartphone. Devices “mesh” with one another, and the network becomes stronger with each new addition.

Z-Wave is one of the best-supported smart home protocols on the market today, with more than 375 vendors offering a wide array of solutions for your home. Here are a few examples.

Smart Locks

Security is a concern for any homeowner, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is making home protection more practical than ever. Schlage, a longtime leader in lock design, already offers Z-Wave-approved smart locks, as do several other manufacturers.

Climate Control devices

No home is complete without a well-orchestrated heating and cooling system. There are a number of Z-Wave-compatible thermostats already on the market, plus offerings including the popular Honeywell brand.

Window Coverings

The IoT lets you control light in and out of a room without getting up, thanks to technologies like ZebraBlinds’ smart blinds and shades. The removal of cords and drawstrings makes smart blinds longer-lasting, which means no more worrying about the kids destroying your blinds!

Emergency Sensors

Whether it’s a fire detector, carbon monoxide detector or even a water or flood sensor, you can replace all of the old-fashioned disaster-response equipment in your home with modern, network-aware versions that run longer and alert you to the need for new batteries through your phone or computer.

Light and Fan Controls

Set the dimmers on your lights in one room and turn off the ones from the room you left using your smart home app. You can also pre-program lights in specific areas to come on during nighttime and act as a nightlight or follow a set schedule while you’re out of town to protect your home. There are plenty of these currently available, such as these in-wall switches from Aeotec.

Security Cameras

Thanks to Z-Wave’s affordable price, you can reinvest in some high-tech security gadgets like motion-sensing cameras. View all the streams, or whichever one you choose, directly from your mobile app or computer.

Digital Assistants

In the future, the Z-Wave Alliance (a group of supporting vendors) has promised to offer increased levels of integration with devices like Apple’s HomeKit and Amazon’s Echo. This will deliver new levels of integration and open up even more possibilities for your smart home.

These are just some of the ways you can take advantage of this new technology. Check out the Z-Wave homepage to learn more about how you can optimize your smart home using Z-Wave and GearBrain’s guide for how to get started on building your own smart home.

-Scott Huntington has written for Forbes, Business Insider, and CarBuzz.

Echo (4th Gen) | With premium sound, smart home hub, works with Z-Wave devices and Alexa | Charcoal

ETRO‘s SS24 campaign emerges from the collaboration between Marco De Vincenzo, the brand’s creative director, digital artist Silvia Baldotti, and Artificial Intelligence. The resulting images are both manmade and machine-made, designed by AI software but prompted by Baldotti’s textual cues.

The collection transports to places that stretch the limits of reality, inhabitable only through an active imagination and shine with an otherworldly glow in gardens teeming with oversized flowers and alien creatures as their velvety complexions melt into pastel palaces.

This dialogue between man and machine mirrors the conversation that occurs between an article of clothing and the wearer. Fashion is an art form hinged on the combination of numerous factors that can occur in infinite iterations as the article of clothing interacts not only with the person wearing it but the rest of their outfit. Imagination and creativity, then, invite endless opportunities for expression.

Microsoft said Azure delivered revenue growth of 30% in its fiscal second quarter and CEO Satya Nadella noted that moved from “talking about AI to applying AI at scale.”

The company reported second-quarter net income of $21.9 billion, or $2.93 a share, on revenue of $62 billion, up 18% from a year ago. Wall Street was looking for fiscal second quarter revenue of $61.12 billion with non-GAAP earnings of $2.78 a share.

CFO Amy Hood noted that Microsoft Cloud revenue was $33.7 billion, up 24% from a year ago due to “strong execution by our sales teams and partners.”

Microsoft said revenue in its productivity and business processes unit was $19.2 billion, up 13% from a year ago, with Office commercial and cloud services revenue gaining 15%. Dynamics had revenue growth of 21%.

For the Intelligent Cloud unit, powered by Azure, second quarter revenue was up 20% from a year ago. The personal computing division saw Windows revenue gain 9% from a year ago.  

Azure revenue in the second quarter accelerated sequentially.

Also see: How Generative AI Has Supercharged the Future of Work | Generative AI articles | Why you need a Chief AI Officer | Software development becomes generative AI’s flagship use case | Enterprises seeing savings, productivity gains from generative AI | Work in a generative AI world will need critical, creative thinking

Automotive BDC software provider Volie is integrating STELLA Automotive AI’s conversational artificial intelligence technology into its call center software with the goal of delivering a “next-generation” customer experience.

The deal integrates STELLA data into Volie’s call screen to give dealers enhanced interactions for streamlined communication. The combination is designed to provide relevant customer details from previous STELLA conversations, reducing repetitive questions and creating a more seamless experience.

Volie president and co-founder Scott Davis called the integration “a win for auto dealers and their customers.”

“The goal is to provide a better experience for our dealers’ customers,” he said. “Working with STELLA Automotive AI will allow our dealers more time to focus on growing their business through outbound calls.”

Volie’s call center software is designed to simplify BDC operations, eliminating the need for desk phones. The integration campaign engine consolidates data from the DMS, CRM, OEM, web leads and all data sources to optimize daily workflows and prioritize the most important areas for dealership agents.

STELLA is designed to manage repetitive calls and transfer customers to dealership personnel, like BDC agents, using Volie software.

The companies said the integration enhances dealership operations, reduces costs and improves customer satisfaction scores.

“By seamlessly integrating our advanced conversational AI technology with Volie’s all-in-one BDC software,” STELLA CEO Rich Sands, CEO said, “dealers are empowered with more robust information, gaining an edge for more intelligent interactions with their customers. We already have dealers taking advantage of this integration and reporting enhanced customer interactions as a result.”

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Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Enforceability of Forfeiture-for-Competition Provisions in Limited Partnership Agreements, Rejecting Chancery Court’s Application of ‘Reasonableness’ Scrutiny from the Employment Non-Compete Context

01/30/2024|4 minute read