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'I have crawled through depths of hell': One coder's suffering is a potential joy to every web user, as their project could make sluggish browsers a thing of the past
Coder Cheng Lou has developed Pretext, a system designed to rapidly calculate text size and positioning for web browsers, potentially solving performance issues. Lou utilized AI to test the system across numerous browser and language combinations, a task deemed impossible for a single person otherwise. The project, though currently focused on specific text setups, has garnered significant interest from web developers.
IGN Entertainment and Dentsu Gaming announce Women in Gaming UK event
IGN Entertainment and Dentsu Gaming are hosting a Women in Gaming UK networking event on April 17, featuring panels, a headshot studio, and Meta hardware demos. The article also details the retirement of Brian Raffel, co-founder of Raven Software, after 36 years in the industry, highlighting his contributions to titles like Hexen and the Call of Duty franchise. Additionally, it briefly mentions the union contract ratified by Raven Software workers with Microsoft.
Evening Mobilization
Meta's smart glasses are being developed to track users' nutritional data by observing their eating habits. This feature is part of a broader initiative to integrate data tracking capabilities into the company's wearable technology.
Three YouTubers accuse Apple of illegal scraping to train its AI models
Three YouTubers have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of illegally scraping copyrighted videos from YouTube to train its AI models. The creators allege Apple circumvented platform controls and that its success relies on content like theirs. Similar lawsuits have been filed by these channels against Meta, Nvidia, ByteDance, and Snap, while Apple itself faces other legal challenges regarding AI training data.
Somehow, you can still get the Meta Quest 3S Arkham Shadow bundle for less than full price, a year and a half after it…
Despite being a year and a half past its initial launch, the Meta Quest 3S bundle including the VR game Batman: Arkham Shadow is still available, sometimes below its original MSRP. While the 128GB model is harder to find and may exceed its $299 price, the 256GB version is currently available for under $399 at Best Buy. The article suggests this is a good deal for those looking to enter VR gaming on a budget.
Meta will "substantially reduce" describing Instagram teen accounts as PG-13
Meta has agreed to significantly reduce its use of the PG-13 rating system for Instagram Teen Accounts, starting April 15, following objections from the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The MPA argued that comparing movie ratings to social media content moderation was misleading. While Meta will no longer explicitly link the two, it will continue to draw inspiration from MPA guidance for its content settings.
Morning Metaverse
The Webby Awards 2026 nominations have been announced, featuring notable figures like Taylor Swift and Stephen Colbert. In related news, Meta has agreed with the MPA to limit PG-13 references for Instagram teens, indicating a push for better content moderation on social media platforms.
Rec Room, a Roblox-style VR game, is shutting down
Rec Room, a social VR game inspired by Roblox, will shut down on June 1 after a decade of operation due to profitability challenges. Despite attracting 150 million players, developers could not find a sustainable business model. Some features will be temporarily free, and users can download room assets. Snap has acquired some Rec Room assets and employees.
VR developer Polyarc Games facing layoffs, unspecified number of employees affected
VR developer Polyarc Games has announced company-wide layoffs due to the cancellation of a major project and an inability to secure further funding. The studio, known for the adventure game Moss, stated that a significant reduction in staff was necessary. This situation reflects a broader trend of workforce reductions within the VR industry, with Meta also implementing cuts across its Reality Labs division.
Ex-Sandsoft CTO announces new AI start-up, Think, and says “games industry experience is the secret ingredient” to solving some of AI’s biggest problems
Former Sandsoft CTO Ahmed AlSharif has launched a new AI start-up called Think, aiming to develop more efficient AI hardware infrastructure. AlSharif leverages his extensive experience in the games industry, including roles at PlayStation, EA, and Meta, to address bottlenecks in cooling, power efficiency, and GPU utilization. Co-founder Ammar Enaya brings over 30 years of technology sales experience to the venture, which is seeking initial funding and has patents pending on new products.
The latest Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are more customizable and expensive
Meta and Ray-Ban, under parent company EssilorLuxottica, have released new styles of their smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics, starting at $499. These updated models offer increased customization, including compatibility with a wider range of prescription lenses, and new features like Japanese, Mandarin, and Arabic translation support and AI-enabled food tracking.
The Morning After: Meta tests Instagram Plus subscription service
Meta is testing a new subscription service called Instagram Plus in the Philippines and Mexico, offering features like extended Stories and the ability to see who viewed them. This move appears to be modeled after Snapchat+'s success with premium features. The article also briefly touches on other tech news, including a custom PlayStation PCB, Apple's 50th anniversary, and new Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses.
Evening Metaverse
Meta is reportedly testing a new subscription service called Instagram Plus, which would offer exclusive features to paying users. The details of the subscription tiers and specific benefits are still under wraps.
Evening Legal Briefs
The FTC has indicated that Mastercard's past actions pressuring Steam to remove NSFW games were not viewed favorably. Separately, a legal ruling may allow a class-action lawsuit against Meta concerning alleged torrenting activities to proceed.
Meta is testing an Instagram Plus subscription service with exclusive features
Meta is testing a new subscription service called 'Instagram Plus' in the Philippines and Mexico, offering exclusive features such as longer Stories, audience segmentation, and viewing analytics. The service, priced around $1-2 USD per month with a free trial, appears to be modeled after Snapchat+'s success in generating non-advertising revenue.
As a court rules that social media platforms are harmful and addictive, new bans are considered, and VPN use is sure to rise
A court has ruled that Meta and YouTube knowingly created addictive products that harmed users, leading to considerations of new bans on social media platforms. This ruling, coupled with potential new regulations in the UK, is expected to increase the appeal and use of VPNs.
Meta to pay $375 million for 'thousands' of children's safety violations, a whole 0.19% of its 2025…
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been ordered by a New Mexico jury to pay $375 million for thousands of children's safety violations. Prosecutors argued that Meta prioritized profits over safety, violating the state's Unfair Practices Act by failing to protect children from sexual exploitation. A similar verdict in California found Meta and Google negligent in protecting young users, though the shared penalty was significantly lower.
Saturday Mobilization
Android has implemented a new policy regarding sideloading that is less restrictive than initially feared. In other tech news, Meta is planning to release Ray-Ban smart glasses that will accommodate prescription lenses.
Meta's next AI glasses are reportedly designed with prescription lenses in mind
Meta is reportedly preparing to release new AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses designed with prescription lenses in mind. While not a new generation, these upcoming models will be sold through traditional eyewear channels and are specifically targeted at users who require vision correction. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has previously indicated a future where most glasses will incorporate AI technology.
Virtual Reality Check
Meta has reportedly laid off approximately 700 employees, with a significant portion of the cuts affecting its Reality Labs division. This division is responsible for the development of virtual and augmented reality hardware, including the PlayStation VR2.