Technology

Jewish Baby Stroller Search Used to Spread Anti-Semitism

Published

4 years ago

October 3, 2020

A recent search of “Jewish baby stroller” on Google returns images of portable ovens which allude to the Holocaust.

Google acknowledged the presence of the “hateful memes” on its search engine and apologized over the image results, saying they “don’t reflect our opinions. We try to show content matching all key terms searched for, as people normally want. But for “data voids” like this, it can be problematic. For “Jewish baby strollers”, there’s lots of helpful content. For this, there’s not. That’s not surprising. It’s not likely a topic normally searched for, nor an actual product that’s marketed. There’s a “void” of good content to surface that matches what was asked for.”

Google’s executives elaborated on the issue. “It’s not meant as an excuse. We’ve done considerable work with improving data void situations and finding systematic improvements. We’ll look at this situation to see how we can further improve,” the firm’s Public Liaison for Search, Israel Figa, said. He rejected calls for removal, adding that they have no policy that covers removal of such content but would work to improve search results to surface more helpful content. According to Israel Figa, “There’s a scalable solution that allows us to improve results not just for one situation but many. These images may also be removed if the hosting sites themselves remove them. At least one has already done that.”

Researchers, however, disagree. They ruled out the possibility of an accident and suspected a coordinated extremist campaign on a fringe website to produce those specific images.

Human rights lawyer Brooke Goldstein from the Lawfare Project believes that by tagging meme images with the specific term ‘Jewish Baby Strollers’, Google’s search algorithm is deliberately manipulated to spread anti-sematic messages.

According to Brooke, “The publishers purposely trick Google into ranking images by tagging memes of portable ovens with innocent words such as Jewish Baby Stroller. One look at the picture is all it takes to understand the illustrations allude to Jewish Holocaust victims being sent to the Nazi crematoria.”

In an article in the Guardian, Carole Cadwalladr is of the opinion that the Holocaust never happened. “Did the Holocaust really happen? No. The Holocaust did not really happen. Six million Jews did not die. It is a Jewish conspiracy theory spread by vested interests to obscure the truth. The truth is that there is no evidence any people were gassed in any camp. The Holocaust did not happen.”

Cadwalladr had observed that right-wing websites had successfully colonized a vast swathe of the internet and gamed Google’s algorithm and how an associate professor at Elon University in the U.S., Jonathan Albright, had mapped them to show how they have become a vast and growing ecosystem that is encroaching on the mainstream news and information infrastructure like a cancer, alleging that the tech giant “with all its money and resources, is being owned by hate sites who have hijacked its search results.”

Cadwalladr accused the search giant of disseminating hate speech, lies and racist propaganda while pretending there is nothing wrong and fixing the examples in its search results.

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Hannah Barwell

Hannah Barwell is the most renowned for his short stories. She writes stories as well as news related to the technology. She wrote number of books in her five years career. And out of those books she sold around 25 books. She has more experience in online marketing and news writing. Recently she is onboard with Apsters Media as a freelance writer.

Technology

Sony has Revealed the PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, and a Limited Edition PSOne-Style Device

Published

16 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Archana Suryawanshi

In the PlayStation video below, the collection was unveiled along with a limited-edition DualSense, DualSense Edge, and PlayStation Portal. All products will be available for preorder starting on September 26 and will ship on November 21.

There are just 12,300 PS5 Pro bundles available worldwide, making it probably the most limited edition. Included in the bundle are the DualSense Edge controller and case in the iconic PlayStation design, along with the PS5 Pro itself, a vertical stand, a charging station, and other accessories. Along with four cable ties designed in the image of the sacred symbols, an original PlayStation controller-style cable connector, a sticker, poster, and paperclip are also included.

The PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition is the other console that is available; however, if you want to utilize discs on the retro-themed console, you will still need to purchase a matching disc drive cover. Along with four cable ties designed to resemble sacred symbols, a sticker, poster, paperclip, and the original PlayStation controller-style cable connector, it also includes a standard DualSense controller and a vertical stand.

Sony withheld the pricing of any of the collection’s products, but enthusiasts who aren’t willing to shell out a lot of cash will be glad to hear that the DualSense controller and DualSense Edge will be sold individually.

As stated on the PlayStation Blog, preorders will be accessible to PlayStation Network account holders via PlayStation Direct on September 26. Additionally, between September 26 and October 10, participating shops will be taking preorders for the DualSense controller and the PS5 Digital Edition. On September 26, those who wish to preorder PlayStation Direct in nations where it is not accessible can do so at participating retailers.

At a technical conference on September 10, PlayStation unveiled the PS5 Pro and its $699.99 price tag. Those who like to use discs and stand their PS5 Pro upright will have to shell out approximately $805 since the regular model does not come with a disc drive or vertical stand.

Technology

Google experiments with Android tablets’ desktop windowing

Published

1 week ago

September 13, 2024

Archana Suryawanshi

Google is testing a new feature for Android tablets that would allow you to easily rearrange apps on your screen and resize them, which will facilitate multitasking. Developer previews of the “desktop windowing” functionality are now accessible, and you can even run multiple instances of the app simultaneously if they support it.

At the moment, Android tablet apps always open in full screen mode. Each program will show up in a window with controls to let you move, maximize, or close it when the new mode is enabled. Moreover, your open programs will be listed in a taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

It sounds a lot like Stage Manager for the iPad, which allows you to do the same with windows on your screen, or with almost any desktop operating system. For years, Samsung has also provided its DeX experience, which gives Android apps on Galaxy phones and tablets desktop-like window management.

When the functionality becomes available to all users, you may activate it by tapping and holding the window handle located at the top of an application’s screen. The shortcut meta key (Windows, Command, or Search) + Ctrl + Down can also be used to enter desktop mode if a keyboard is connected. (You can drag a window to the top of your screen to dismiss the mode, or you can close all of your open apps.)

Apps that are locked to portrait orientation can still be resized, according to Google, which could have odd visual effects if some apps aren’t optimized. Google intends to fix this in a later release, though, by scaling non-resizable apps’ user interfaces without changing their aspect ratios.

For the time being, users with the most recent Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 for Pixel Tablets can access the developer preview.

Technology

Sony Faces Backlash for Pricing PlayStation 5 Pro Well Above Xbox

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2024

Archana Suryawanshi

Sony Group Corp. has set the price of its new, faster PlayStation 5 Pro at $700, significantly higher than Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, which costs $600. The PlayStation 5 Pro, launching on November 7, comes at a $200 premium over the original PS5, suggesting Sony is targeting a loyal audience willing to pay extra for enhanced performance.

This pricing positions both Sony and Microsoft at the high end of the gaming console market. Four years into their product life cycles, the two most popular home consoles are moving towards premium models. Analysts are split on whether Sony’s pricing strategy will drive sales, especially as it seeks to grow its entertainment portfolio across gaming, anime, and film.

Industry analyst Serkan Toto described the PlayStation 5 Pro as a niche device aimed at hardcore PlayStation users, rather than a mass-market offering. “It’s about Sony skimming the absolute top end of the market,” he said, with the gaming world questioning Sony’s high pricing.

Others speculate that Sony’s pricing strategy is aimed at boosting margins, particularly after recent price hikes in Japan due to rising component costs like chips. The new console will allow for higher resolution and faster frame rates without requiring users to switch between performance modes, delivering 45% faster rendering than the standard PS5, according to lead architect Mark Cerny.

Despite the steep price, some analysts believe Sony could benefit. Citi analyst Kota Ezawa pointed out that no previous game console successor has been priced significantly higher than the original model, and that the PS5 Pro’s improved components may not justify such a big price jump. Nevertheless, the higher price could enhance Sony’s gross margins.

The PlayStation 5, which has sold over 59 million units since its 2020 release, has slightly lagged behind the PlayStation 4. The increased cost of the PS5 Pro may narrow its appeal, as the price edges closer to that of a gaming PC—one of the console market’s biggest competitors.

Reviewers also highlighted the lack of a disc drive in the new model, reflecting a broader industry shift from physical media to digital content. A disc drive will be available separately for purchase.

In a blog post, Sony announced that the PS5 Pro would enhance the performance of older titles, with several popular games such as Hogwarts Legacy, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Spider-Man 2 receiving free updates to take advantage of the console’s new features.