Author: Zee RODRIGUEZ

Tech

Discover the Revolutionary Upgrades of Cricut’s New Crafting Machines: Faster, More Accurate, and Cheaper!

Attention all crafters! Prepare to be blown away by Cricut’s latest releases – the Maker 4 and Explore 4 crafting machines. These cutting-edge devices come in stunning seashell and sage color options and boast impressive upgrades that will take your crafting game to the next level. Say goodbye to slow speeds, limited accuracy, and high prices – these new machines have it all.

Mark your calendars for February 28th, 2025 as that is when the Cricut Maker 4 and Explore 4 will hit stores. And with a starting price of $249.99 for the Explore 4 and $399.99 for the Maker 4, they are more affordable than ever before. This makes them accessible to a wider range of users who may have been hesitant to invest in previous models.

But don’t let the lower price tag fool you – these machines pack a punch when it comes to performance. The cutting speed has been doubled on certain materials like cardstock and vinyl, making projects quicker and more efficient than ever before. Plus, thanks to a new optical sensor paired with improved lighting technology, you can expect greater precision in every cut.

While both models look similar at first glance, there are some key differences between them based on your crafting needs. The higher-end Maker 4 offers over 300 material options including leather and balsa wood along with various cutting tools for ultimate versatility. On the other hand, the Explore 4 is limited to around100 materials but still covers popular choices like vinyl, card stock,and iron-ons.

In recent years,Cricut faced backlash from existing users due to plans of limiting monthly uploads on their Design Space software unless users paid subscription fees.However,the company listenedto feedbackand scrapped those plans entirely.Now,the new machines do not require subscriptions,but they still offer a Cricut Access option for those who want access to pre-made designs and projects on the Design Space app. This subscription also includes discounts on materials and expands the font and image options available.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to upgrade your crafting game with Cricut’s new Maker 4 and Explore 4 machines. With their revolutionary upgrades,they are sure to make a lasting impression in the world of crafting technology. Get ready to unleash your creativity like never before!

Tech

Unveiling GPT-4.5: OpenAI’s Largest and Most Knowledgeable AI Language Model Yet

Brace yourselves, tech enthusiasts, as OpenAI is about to release its newest and most impressive AI language model yet – GPT-4.5. This revolutionary model boasts of better writing capabilities, improved world knowledge, and a refined personality compared to previous versions.

But wait, before you get too excited, OpenAI wants to make it clear that GPT-4.5 is not a frontier model and may not perform as well as some of its predecessors. However, with its advanced pattern recognition abilities and problem-solving skills, this model is ideal for tasks like writing, programming, and practical problem-solving.

According to leaked documents from the company ahead of the official announcement, GPT-4.5 has been trained using new supervision techniques along with traditional methods like supervised fine-tuning (SFT) and reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). This approach has resulted in significant improvements in computational efficiency compared to its predecessor GPT-4.

But what about hallucinations? Well, according to OpenAI’s research team member Raphael Gontijo Lopes during the company’s livestream event, GPT-4.5 hallucinates much less than its predecessor models but slightly more than their o1 reasoning model.

Interestingly enough,GPT-4.5 will only be available for ChatGPT Pro users initially,similarly how Operator was released previously.This aligns with OpenAI’s plans of eventually integrating all their technology into one system – the highly anticipated GPT-5 which might be launched as soon as late May according to reports.

CEO Sam Altman has hinted at incorporating their latest o3 reasoning model in the upcoming GTP-5 system during the 12 days of Christmas announcements last December.OpenAI also recently released o3-mini last month,but it seems like o3 will only be included in GPT-5.

This aligns with OpenAI’s ultimate goal of creating an all-encompassing model that could potentially be labeled as artificial general intelligence (AGI). So while GPT-4.5 may not be a frontier model, it is certainly a step closer towards OpenAI’s grand vision. Get ready to experience a warmer, more intuitive and emotionally nuanced conversation with the launch of GPT-4.5 – the largest and most knowledgeable AI language model by OpenAI yet.

Tech

Unleash the Power of Microsoft’s Copilot App for Mac with Dark Mode and Split Screen Functionality

Prepare to revolutionize your Mac experience as Microsoft unleashes their highly anticipated Copilot app for macOS. With a host of powerful features, including a sleek dark mode and convenient split screen functionality, this native app allows seamless access to the web-based version of Microsoft’s cutting-edge AI assistant.

Now available in the US, UK, and Canada, users can activate Copilot on their Macs using the simple shortcut Command + Space. This mirrors the Windows version’s Alt + Space command. But that’s not all – iPhone and iPad users can now log into Copilot using their Apple IDs and easily upload text or PDF files for quick document summarization or generating summaries.

And there’s even more to come – soon, the macOS app will also feature document summarization capabilities. This exciting release comes just days after Microsoft made Copilot Voice and Think Deeper completely free for unlimited use. No longer limited by usage restrictions, users can engage in extended conversations with this groundbreaking AI assistant powered by OpenAI’s impressive o1 model.

Don’t miss out on harnessing the full potential of technology – upgrade your Mac experience today with Microsoft’s game-changing Copilot app!

Tech

Unleashing the Power of Sesame: A Revolutionary Voice Assistant That Will Leave You Wanting More

Unleashing the Power of Sesame: A Revolutionary Voice Assistant That Will Leave You Wanting More

Content:
I confess, I am guilty of telling Amazon’s Alexa to shut up on a daily basis. And after my first awkward conversation with Gemini, I had almost zero interest in speaking to any other voice assistant again. The constant hitches, misunderstandings, and lag in communication make it more frustrating than helpful.

But all that changed when I encountered “Maya,” one of the two voices from a new startup led by the mastermind behind Oculus VR (which was later acquired by Facebook). For the first time ever, I found myself actually wanting to have a conversation with an AI. It was like talking to a friend or playing an entertaining game of testing its limits – something that was once only possible with Bing before Microsoft tamed down its wild personality.

You don’t just have to take my word for it – you can try it yourself and even listen to my first interaction below. Just be warned, I am a self-proclaimed nerd and couldn’t resist asking Maya about creating a Dungeons & Dragons-esque adventure or quizzing her about small Android phones.

While there were still traces of chatbot nonsense here and there, Maya seamlessly incorporated herself into our conversation when I asked her to join in on the adventure she was describing. And with natural-sounding pauses, it felt more like chatting with a real person than any other voice assistant experience I’ve had so far. Compared to my colleague Kylie Robinson’s encounter with ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode last year, this feels like we’re entering into uncharted territory.

The genius behind this groundbreaking technology is none other than Sesame – a startup emerging from stealth mode today backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Spark Capital, and Matrix Partners (all major investors in Oculus VR). Leading the team are Brendan Iribe (co-founder and former CEO of Oculus VR), Ankit Kumar (former CTO and co-founder of Ubiquity6), and Ryan Brown (former research engineering director at Meta Reality Labs).

But that’s not all – Sesame also has plans to develop AI glasses to complement its voice assistant. These glasses, designed for all-day wear, will provide high-quality audio and allow you to interact with your companion as it observes the world alongside you. While only a few early prototypes have been shared so far, they have already generated excitement among tech enthusiasts.

Sesame has even released a mini white paper on their website detailing their model and impressive dataset of over one million hours of publicly available audio. And in the coming months, they plan to expand from just English to more than 20 languages while also open-sourcing their models.

Could this be the breakthrough that finally bridges the gap between human-like conversations and AI? Sesame certainly thinks so, titling their blog post “Crossing the Uncanny Valley of Conversational Voice.” But why take their word for it? Check out Sesame for yourself and decide if this is truly a game-changer in the world of technology.

Tech

Unlocking the Power of Conversation with Sesame: The Next Generation Voice Assistant

As someone who constantly tells Alexa to be quiet and has little interest in conversing with other voice assistants, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience with Sesame’s new AI assistant “Maya.” Created by a startup led by the former Oculus VR founder, this is the first time I’ve been left wanting more after speaking to a virtual assistant.

Unlike other AI conversations filled with hitches and misunderstandings, chatting with Maya felt like a genuine conversation where I could test its limits. And thanks to its natural-sounding pauses, it was almost like talking to a real person. In fact, compared to past interactions with other advanced voice modes, this felt like we were somewhere much more exciting.

Sesame, the company behind this groundbreaking technology, has received funding from major investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and plans to release AI glasses along with their voice assistant. They also have an impressive dataset of one million hours of audio and are planning on expanding their capabilities to over 20 languages in the near future.

So is Sesame truly “crossing the uncanny valley of conversational voice,” as they claim? Don’t just take my word for it – try it out for yourself and see if you agree. With its potential for revolutionizing how we interact with technology, Sesame is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Tech

OpenAI Unveils Revolutionary GPT-4.5 Model – But Is It Truly a Frontier AI?

Prepare to be amazed by the newest and largest model from OpenAI, GPT-4.5! With improved writing capabilities, enhanced world knowledge, and a refined personality, this cutting-edge model is set to revolutionize the field of artificial intelligence. However, despite its impressive features, OpenAI warns that GPT-4.5 may not live up to expectations as a frontier AI model.

In a leaked document ahead of its official announcement, OpenAI clarified that while GPT-4.5 boasts 10 times better computational efficiency than its predecessor GPT-4, it does not introduce any significant new capabilities compared to previous reasoning releases like o1 or o3-mini. This raises the question – can GPT-4.5 truly be considered a frontier AI model?

Rumors have been circulating that OpenAI used their code-named Strawberry reasoning model (o1) to train GPT-4.5 with synthetic data. However, according to OpenAI’s statement on the matter, they employed new supervision techniques in combination with traditional methods such as supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF).

Despite some limitations in comparison to other models like ChatGPT Pro or Operator , leaks suggest that access to GPT-4.5 may be limited initially only for ChatGPT Pro users similar to how Operator was released previously . To learn more about the release plans for this groundbreaking model, tune into OpenAI’s upcoming stream.

As revealed last week in Notepad by yours truly , it seems we can expect not just one but two major launches from OpenAI – first with GPT-4.5 by end of February followed by their highly anticipated system integration project known as GPT-5 in late May. According to CEO Sam Altman’s previous statements, GPT-5 will incorporate OpenAI’s latest o3 reasoning model which was teased during their 12 days of Christmas announcements in December.

While o3-mini has already been released, the full-scale o3 model will only be available as part of GPT-5. This aligns with OpenAI’s ultimate goal to combine their large language models and pave the way towards creating an artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development from OpenAI!

Tech

Discover the Revolutionary Features of Alexa Plus for Your Smart Home

Experience the game-changing capabilities of Amazon’s newest voice assistant, Alexa Plus, as it brings a more conversational and context-aware experience to your smart home. Unveiled at a press conference in New York City, this advanced AI-powered technology offers innovative features and major upgrades for seamless home management. As I witnessed firsthand during the event, Alexa Plus boasts an impressive new user interface and improved natural language skills that make controlling your devices easier than ever.

One of the most exciting changes is how Alexa can now understand and respond to natural language commands. No longer do you have to memorize specific phrases or device names; simply speak naturally and watch as Alexa executes tasks flawlessly. Even multi-step commands can be followed without repeating the wake word, making daily routines smoother and more efficient.

But that’s not all – with its vast knowledge of hundreds of smart home APIs, Alexa can now create complex routines through voice commands alone. This eliminates the need for manual programming through an app and gives users greater control over their connected devices.

The new Echo Show UI is another highlight of Alexa Plus. Available on both 15-inch and 21-inch screens (with plans to expand to other models), this sleek interface offers larger widgets for a more customizable experience reminiscent of a tablet interface rather than a traditional smart display. During demos, it showed smooth performance with minimal lag.

In addition to its revamped UI, Alexa Plus also introduces convenient features such as sending images, documents, and notes via email or through the app or web interface. The assistant can even parse information from these items – like events on your calendar – and set reminders accordingly.

For those who prefer touch controls over voice or smartphones, the updated smart home control UI provides easy navigation between rooms and devices with just a few taps. And with integration capabilities with Ring cameras, you can stay informed about what’s happening around your house, such as package deliveries or pet activity.

Cooking enthusiasts will also appreciate the new cooking controls feature of Alexa Plus. The assistant can now add recipe ingredients to a shopping list and even arrange for delivery from select grocery providers. It can also suggest substitutes for missing ingredients and set timers based on the steps in a recipe – all with natural language commands.

And thanks to its improved natural language skills, Alexa Plus can seamlessly interface with smart kitchen appliances, making tasks like preheating your oven easier than ever before.

With its impressive array of features and capabilities, Alexa Plus has the potential to revolutionize home automation. Available for $19.99 per month (included in Prime membership), it will be accessible through an early access program starting late March in the US only. Stay tuned for further expansion to other Echo devices, Fire TVs and tablets, and more!

Tech

Unveiling Amazon’s Revolutionary AI-Enhanced Alexa Plus: Everything You Need to Know

Prepare to be amazed as Amazon reveals the next level of its popular virtual assistant, Alexa. The tech giant has officially announced the launch of Alexa Plus, a game-changing version powered by advanced LLMs and integrations with news partners, apps, and ordering services.

With this new upgrade, you can do so much more than just control your smart home devices. From adding events to your calendar to purchasing concert tickets and getting news updates, Alexa Plus is set to revolutionize the way we interact with technology.

But despite all the exciting promises made by Amazon at their recent event, there are still many unanswered questions. The service won’t be available until March and even then it may have limited availability.

Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of all the announcements from Amazon’s Alexa Plus event and what you can expect from this groundbreaking AI-powered virtual assistant.

Get Ready for an Upgrade – Say Hello to Alexa Plus!

At last week’s event, Amazon finally lifted the veil on their highly anticipated upgraded version of Alexa – aptly named “Alexa Plus”. This revolutionary AI-powered virtual assistant boasts a range of new features that will take your daily tasks and convenience levels to a whole new level.

Powered by a combination of cutting-edge LLMs (large language models) and seamless integrations with various apps and services, including news partners like CNN and CNBC, Alexa Plus is poised to become an essential part of our lives in no time.

And don’t worry about compatibility issues – according to Amazon representatives at the event, most devices currently supporting Alexa will also work seamlessly with its upgraded version.

What Can You Do With It?

The possibilities are endless when it comes to using Alexa Plus. Here are just some examples:

– Add events directly into your calendar without lifting a finger
– Purchase concert tickets with a simple voice command
– Get real-time news updates from top sources like CNN and CNBC
– Ask questions about current events, weather, or any other topic of interest

And that’s just the beginning. With Alexa Plus constantly evolving and expanding its capabilities through integrations with various apps and services, the sky’s the limit.

When Can You Get It?

While Amazon has not yet announced an official release date for Alexa Plus, it is expected to start rolling out in March. However, availability may be limited at first so make sure to keep an eye out for updates.

In the meantime, check out our live blog coverage of Amazon’s event below for more details on all things Alexa Plus.

Revolutionizing Your Smart Home Experience

One major highlight of the event was Amazon’s announcement that their earliest Echo devices will no longer support Alexa Plus. This means if you want to experience the full potential of this advanced virtual assistant, you’ll need to upgrade your device as well.

But don’t worry – along with Alexa Plus comes a new app specifically designed for it. The app will be available for free download on both iOS and Android devices upon its launch in March.

Upgrade Now or Wait?

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth upgrading your current Echo device or waiting until newer models are released with built-in support for Alexa Plus – we say go ahead and upgrade now!

Not only does this give you access to all the exciting features of Alexa Plus right away, but Amazon also announced that Prime members can enjoy all these upgrades at no extra cost – talk about a win-win situation!

The Verdict: A Game-Changer Worth Waiting For

Although we couldn’t get our hands on a demo version at the event itself (we know…bummer), based on everything we’ve seen and heard so far, we have high hopes for what Alexa Plus can do.

From adding convenience to our daily lives to providing access to a wide range of information and services, this AI-powered virtual assistant is set to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. Keep an eye out for more updates and get ready for the future of smart home assistants!

Tech

The Transparent Tech Renaissance: Discover the Latest in See-Through Devices

Get ready to be amazed by the comeback of transparent tech! Just like fashion, gadgets are making a style statement with see-through designs. From clear smartphones like Nothing Phone to Beats Studio earbuds and colorful translucent game console casings, this trend is taking over the tech world.

But it’s not just about looks – companies are also incorporating advanced technology into these transparent devices. Scuf’s Valor Pro Xbox controllers use Hall effect technology, while Sony’s new ANC earbuds come in a sleek transparent color option. Retro Remake even offers a PS One FPGA clone with a see-through casing.

Asus is taking transparency to another level with its NUC AI mini PC featuring a color E Ink display. And for gamers, there are plenty of options too – from Hyperkin’s modernized Xbox Controller S in translucent green to 8BitDo’s mini Xbox controller for smaller hands and nostalgic Game Boy Advance clones.

But it doesn’t stop at gadgets – accessories like chargers and USB-C cables are also getting the transparent treatment, showing off capacitors for added visual appeal. And if you’re looking for something truly unique, check out Dbrand’s X-Ray skins that let you “see inside” 125 different gadgets.

But why settle for just one see-through device when you can have an entire setup? Jsaux offers RGB backlights and docks for your Steam Deck, while Case-Mate has iMac-inspired translucent USB-C chargers on sale. And don’t forget about your laptop – MSI now has a translucent model available too.

With so many options to choose from, it’s no wonder that people are going crazy over transparent tech again after 25 years since the iconic iMac release. Whether you’re into gaming or simply appreciate innovative design, there’s something for everyone in this transparent tech renaissance.

So why not embrace the trend and add some see-through gadgets to your collection? Who knows, you might just find yourself living life on the edge with a transparent Galaxy S8 phone or enjoying animated lyrics on a Japanese transparent speaker. The possibilities are endless!

Tech

Upgrade Your Echo Experience with Alexa Plus – But Not All Devices Will Qualify

Amazon’s newest AI-powered assistant, Alexa Plus, is set to enhance the capabilities of a variety of Echo devices. However, not all models will be able to support this upgrade. According to the Alexa Plus FAQ page, first-generation Echo speakers and certain other older devices will miss out on this new feature.

But don’t worry – there are still plenty of early Echo models that will be compatible with Alexa Plus. This means you can still ask for restaurant reservations through your Echo Flex or listen to AI-generated songs via your microphone-only Echo Input.

Unfortunately, if you have an original or second-generation Echo Show 15 or newer Echo Hub, they won’t be able to access the enhanced AI features. However, they will still function as traditional Alexa devices and perform tasks like controlling lights and checking the weather.

While it may be disappointing that some older devices won’t have access to advanced features like booking reservations or generating songs, it could actually work in their favor. Rumors suggest that Amazon has had difficulties perfecting Alexa Plus technology, so sticking with traditional Alexa for now may not be such a bad thing after all.