Pintarnya, an Indonesian employment platform founded in 2022, has secured a $16.7 million Series A funding round led by Square Peg, with additional investments from Vertex Venture Southeast Asia & India and East Ventures. Pintarnya addresses critical challenges faced by blue-collar workers in Indonesia, combining job matching through AI with access to financial services tailored for informal sector workers, who make up 59% of the country's workforce. The platform, which serves over 10 million job seekers and 40,000 employers, also offers secured loans using collateral, aiming to provide safer lending options than traditional predatory lenders. With the new funds, Pintarnya plans to enhance its technology and expand its financial services, setting sights on becoming a super app for Indonesia’s workers.
Source: TechCrunch
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Bluesky, a social networking startup, has blocked its services in Mississippi in response to the state's new age assurance law, opting out of compliance due to resource constraints and privacy concerns. The law, Mississippi's HB 1126, mandates age verification for all users prior to accessing social networks and imposes severe penalties for noncompliance. Bluesky argues that this requirement creates significant barriers, disproportionately impacting smaller platforms while favoring established tech giants. The company contends that the law extends beyond safeguarding children, potentially stifling innovation and free speech. Bluesky's CTO responded to access issues reported by users outside Mississippi, prompted by technical routing challenges, indicating ongoing efforts to resolve these inaccuracies.
Source: TechCrunch
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Former Meta executive Nick Clegg has shared nuanced critiques of Silicon Valley culture while promoting his new book, "How to Save the Internet." In an interview with The Guardian, Clegg refrains from harshly criticizing Meta, instead acknowledging the transformative power of social media. He commended the platform's impact on communication but lightly jabbed at Silicon Valley for its "cloyingly conformist" culture. Additionally, Clegg expressed his perplexity at the industry's growing obsession with a mix of machismo and self-pity, without demonizing his former colleagues at Meta.
Source: TechCrunch
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Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" appears to be topping the domestic box office with an estimated $18 million to $20 million in earnings over its two-day weekend showing, marking a significant milestone for the streaming giant, which typically shuns traditional theatrical releases. Though Netflix has not officially reported box office returns, industry sources suggest these figures could make the film the number one movie in theaters this weekend. Despite being available on the streaming platform since June and becoming the second-most-watched Netflix movie ever, its theatrical release demonstrated a favorable reception, even outpacing other recent titles like "Weapons." This success follows in the footsteps of other streaming-turned-theatrical hits like Apple's "F1," underlining a shifting landscape where Netflix may need to reconsider its movie release strategy, particularly as they plan to debut Greta Gerwig’s "Narnia" adaptation exclusively in Imax next year.
Source: TechCrunch
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Waymo has achieved a significant milestone by securing the first-ever permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City, a major urban environment, thereby expanding its testing grounds and potentially quickening the pace towards large-scale autonomous driving adoption. In another strategic move within the mobility sector, Nuro, an autonomous vehicle startup, has bolstered its financial standing with a $203 million Series E funding round that included support from Nvidia, underscoring the growing interest in autonomous delivery solutions. Meanwhile, Serve Robotics has acquired Vayu Robotics to further its capabilities in autonomous delivery, marking a potential advancement in the integration of AI and robotics for streamlined service delivery. Additional notable developments include Tesla's new voice-assistant functions and Volkswagen facing a lawsuit over alleged overly sensitive steering wheel buttons, indicating ongoing challenges and innovations within the automotive industry.
Source: TechCrunch
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Apple is gearing up for its September 9 hardware event, where it is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, including the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and the super-thin iPhone Air, which may replace the Plus model. The new iPhones are rumored to feature larger screens, enhanced cameras, and, for the Pro models, a potential switch to an aluminum band for a lighter feel. The iPhone Air is set to be Apple's thinnest phone yet, possibly signaling Apple's move towards slimmer designs amidst competition from brands like Samsung. Additionally, updates to the Apple Watch and AirPods lines are anticipated, with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 rumored to include health monitoring breakthroughs and 5G support, while the AirPods Pro 3 may boast a new design and audio improvements. These announcements could set the stage for Apple's rumored foldable phone, projected to debut in 2026.
Source: TechCrunch
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Elon Musk's xAI has released the weights for its older AI model, Grok 2.5, on the open source platform Hugging Face. Musk announced via X that this model was xAI's best last year, and the newer version, Grok 3, will be open-sourced in about six months. Despite Grok's technological advances, it has sparked controversies, including incidents where it discussed conspiracy theories and appeared to express extreme viewpoints. This has led xAI to make its system prompts publicly available on GitHub. Meanwhile, Musk's latest iteration, Grok 4, claims to be a "maximally truth-seeking AI," though it seems to rely on Musk's social media for insights on sensitive issues.
Source: TechCrunch
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The article discusses the author's exploration of the Framework Desktop combined with the Linux-based Bazzite operating system as a potent setup for living room PC gaming. After facing limitations with previous setups, the writer is optimistic about this hybrid's capacity to deliver a seamless gaming and computing experience on a television, offering a powerful alternative to traditional gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5. While it involves more cost and tinkering than standard consoles, the setup allows for dual booting between Windows and Linux, handling most gaming needs efficiently with few technical hiccups. This setup could potentially pave the way for a renaissance in PC gaming in the living room, marking a promising era for Steam Machines.
Source: The Verge
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The Trump administration's push to open up the deep sea for mineral extraction has sparked controversy due to environmental and geopolitical concerns. This initiative aims to secure materials required for renewable energy technologies, bypassing international regulatory frameworks established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With over 30 countries advocating for a moratorium, researchers and environmentalists stress the potential irreversible damage to marine ecosystems if mining proceeds without adequate understanding of the deep sea’s biodiversity. The situation has triggered debates on the ethics and global implications of pursuing deep-sea mining as an alternative to terrestrial resource extraction.
Source: The Verge
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The Verge's latest edition of the Installer newsletter introduces several intriguing tech developments and products. Google has unveiled its Pixel 10 Pro Fold, boasting an IP68 ingress rating and a gearless hinge design for enhanced durability, targeting premium customers at nearly $2,000. Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 FE offers a budget-friendly alternative with their new design, priced $100 less than the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The Shutter Declutter app for iOS provides a novel, user-friendly way of managing and rediscovering old photos by encouraging daily swiping sessions to keep or delete photos. Additionally, the indie game Herdling offers a serene gaming experience akin to Journey, encouraging players to guide a herd through scenic landscapes.
Source: The Verge
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With the end of summer, professionals are transitioning back to a routine dominated by deadlines and meetings, and a limited-time Labor Day deal offers a significant boost to productivity. The Adobe Acrobat Classic Pro 2024, bundled with Microsoft Office Professional 2021, is available for just $89.99, down from the regular price of $543.99. Adobe's software provides offline PDF editing capabilities, while Microsoft Office grants a lifetime license to its suite of essential tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This bundle eliminates the need for less reliable software alternatives, providing users with efficient, professional-grade solutions for daily business tasks.
Source: Mashable
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As the fall of 2025 approaches, TV enthusiasts have a vast array of shows to look forward to, spanning genres and platforms. Amongst the highlights are the return of fan favorites like "Stranger Things," which enters its final season on Netflix, and "Only Murders in the Building," back for its fifth run on Hulu. New tensions emerge with crime dramas like HBO's "Task" and riveting narratives such as "Pluribus," a project by "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan debuting on Apple TV+. Meanwhile, offerings like "The Paper," an "Office" spin-off on Peacock, and adaptations like "The Mighty Nein" on Prime Video showcase new narratives. With an assortment of titles sorted by streaming service, viewers can easily navigate what to watch and where, ensuring a lively and diverse lineup this fall.
Source: Mashable
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A Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman reveals new details about Apple's much-anticipated foldable iPhone, slated for release in the fall of 2026. The device will feature a book-style fold, with four cameras and Touch ID integrated into the power button, foregoing Face ID. Apple aims to improve the crease visibility in the screen using new display technology and plans to equip the device with a C2 modem, similar to the iPhone 18 Pro. This foldable iPhone will be part of Apple's strategic product evolution that includes the iPhone 17 Air and a 2027 "iPhone 20" with curved glass. If the report holds true, Apple's upcoming releases promise exciting changes for the Apple ecosystem over the next three years.
Source: Mashable
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The New York Times has expanded its game offerings with the introduction of Pips, a new single-player twist on the classic game of dominoes, launched in August 2025. Unlike dominoes, Pips introduces a new layer of strategy by incorporating color-coded spaces that players must adhere to, with constraints such as ensuring pips add up to specific numbers or follow unique patterns. Players can choose from three different difficulty levels, with higher levels presenting more tiles and complex conditions. This innovative game is likely to appeal to fans of logic puzzles, expanding the NYT's repertoire alongside hits like Wordle and Connections. The launch reflects the publication's ongoing success in creating engaging, habit-forming puzzle games for a diverse audience.
Source: Mashable
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The New York Times' word game, "Connections," has become a social media sensation, testing players' ability to identify commonalities among a set of words. Launched by associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, the game involves grouping 16 words into four categories based on a shared theme. Players can make four mistakes before the game ends and can shuffle the board to ease gameplay. Today's puzzle categories include predicaments, small spherical things, pipe-smoking accessories, and meanings of "down." Sharing similarities with Wordle, Connections allows players to share their results on social media, boosting its popularity.
Source: Mashable
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NYT Strands, the New York Times' word-search game, challenges players with a twist on traditional formats by allowing words to form in various directions and shapes within the grid. Each puzzle is tied together by a theme and a “spangram” — a word or phrase that spans the entire board. For August 25, 2025, the theme for the puzzle is "Back to school," focusing on classroom essentials. The spangram of the day, "Supplies," runs horizontally across the grid, with related words including "Backpack," "Calculator," "Notebooks," and "Laptops." This game adds a layer of complexity compared to other popular games like Wordle, requiring more time and strategic thinking.
Source: Mashable
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The article provides hints and strategies to solve the daily Wordle puzzle, #1528, which ultimately reveals the word "MIRTH" as the answer. Wordle, initially created by Josh Wardle, gained worldwide popularity, leading to its acquisition by the New York Times. Fans have created various spinoffs, and Wordle's past archives were moved to the NYT Games' subscriber-exclusive content. Although some players perceive the game as becoming more challenging, it remains consistent in difficulty, with an optional Hard Mode available.
Source: Mashable
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Pips, the New York Times' latest game release in August 2025, offers a modern twist on the classic game of dominoes with color-coded challenges that demand strategic thinking. This single-player game introduces unique color-coded conditions requiring players to match or exclude numbers within designated spaces. If players find themselves stuck, they currently only have the option to reveal the entire puzzle, which then forces them to start over. To aid players, Mashable provides hints for easy, medium, and hard difficulty levels. The development and popularity of Pips suggest potential for it becoming a staple in daily gaming routines, much like Wordle has been for many.
Source: Mashable
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The New York Times, in collaboration with The Athletic, has launched a new iteration of its popular word game, Connections, now tailored for sports enthusiasts. This version requires players to find the "common threads" among a set of 16 words, divided into four categories. Each group can be shuffled and is color-coded from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple). The August 25, 2025 edition challenges users with categories like "Basketball actions" and "NFL kickers." As with Wordle, results can be shared on social media, and the game resets daily, inviting continuous engagement from its audience.
Source: Mashable
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Stumped by the New York Times Mini crossword puzzle? Mashable has provided the answers to help players overcome this daily brain-teasing challenge. The Mini, a quick, concise version of the classic crossword, offers puzzles that test players' speed and knowledge with only a few clues. On August 25, 2025, answers like "Ta Ta", "Paris", and "Kent" saved many from frustration. With this guidance, puzzle enthusiasts can refresh their game and tackle each session with renewed enthusiasm. This service helps maintain the fun in puzzle-solving by reducing blockages and encouraging a seamless experience.
Source: Mashable
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Hurdle is a word game, similar to Wordle, involving multiple rounds where players guess words using given hints, with their guesses indicating correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters. The game consists of five rounds, where each successful guess leads to the subsequent round, using the previous round's answers as clues to aid progression. The article provides specific hints and answers for August 25, 2025, including words like "TANGO" for a South American dance and "TRUCE" for a ceasefire. It highlights that letter frequency in guesses does not necessarily indicate their appearance frequency in the final word. Mashable offers additional puzzle games like Mahjong and Sudoku for those interested in more brain teasers.
Source: Mashable
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NASA's lunar observation indicates that as of August 25, 2025, the moon is in its Waxing Crescent phase, with only 5% of its surface illuminated to observers on Earth. This marks the second day of the current lunar cycle, which spans approximately 29.5 days and encompasses eight distinct phases describing the moon's changing appearance due to its orbit around Earth. The next full moon is anticipated on September 7, following the last full moon on August 9. Moon phases result from varying angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth, revealing different portions of the moon's surface illuminated by sunlight at different times.
Source: Mashable
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Waymo, a leading company in the autonomous vehicle industry, has received the first-ever permit to test self-driving taxis in New York City. The permission allows Waymo to deploy eight Jaguar I-Pace SUVs across Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, equipped with sophisticated camera, LIDAR, and RADAR systems, from now until late September. These vehicles will include safety operators who remain in contact with the steering wheel, although they will not carry passengers. This marks a significant step as Waymo, alongside competitors like Tesla, seeks to establish a stronghold in major urban markets. With plans to expand to Dallas by 2026, Waymo continues to grow its presence, already operating fleets in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Source: Mashable
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Apple is reportedly in discussions with Google to enhance Siri using Google's Gemini AI technology, with an updated version potentially launching by 2026. Initially reported by Bloomberg News, the collaboration marks a shift from Apple's earlier plans to develop an in-house language learning model (LLM), now exploring external partnerships following setbacks with other firms like Anthropic and OpenAI. This move comes amid a broader tech industry trend of scaling back AI investments, reflecting potential challenges in the ongoing AI boom. Despite no official confirmation from either company, the potential partnership between Apple and Google highlights Apple's strategic pivot as Big Tech companies reassess their AI strategies.
Source: Mashable
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Netflix has released guidelines for the use of generative AI by its media partners, emphasizing consent, data protection, and creative rights. These guidelines establish frameworks for both low-risk and high-risk AI incorporations in Netflix content, safeguarding data privacy and the rights of creatives, while complying with legal standards. The company stresses that AI tools should aid creativity transparently and responsibility, avoiding displacing unionized work without proper agreements. After controversy over AI use in previous productions, these updates aim to bolster trust and set clear parameters for future AI applications in media. Additionally, Netflix is exploring AI-generated advertisements for its lower-cost subscription tiers, reinforcing its commitment to marrying technology with entertainment.
Source: Mashable
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YouTube Music has unveiled a series of new features to celebrate its tenth anniversary, aiming to strengthen community interaction among fans. Announced on August 21, the platform now allows users to comment on albums and playlists, create "taste matching playlists," and connect with other fans. These updates mimic features already present in Spotify, such as community playlists and artist milestones. YouTube Music's enhancements signify its push to foster a more engaged fanbase and compete with other streaming giants, offering subscribers notifications on artists' new releases, merchandise, and concerts.
Source: Mashable
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Rumored features of the upcoming iPhone 17 have emerged, highlighting Apple's efforts to catch up with Android in several areas. Key features rumored for the iPhone 17 include a slimmer design dubbed the iPhone 17 Air, a wider camera bump, vapor chamber cooling, 120 Hz displays on all models, increased RAM to 12GB, a larger battery capacity, and a refreshed design with iOS 26. However, most of these features are already seen in Android devices, with companies like Samsung and Google having integrated similar technologies in their models for years. While this may seem to depict Apple as a follower, the anticipated optimized integration is expected to keep the iPhone 17 competitive in the smartphone market.
Source: Mashable
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The Pro by Déesse Pro LED mask claims to be a cutting-edge skincare device with 770 LEDs and six treatment modes, positioning itself as a leader in LED masks on the market. Despite these advanced features, the review found the mask uncomfortable and inconvenient, delivering underwhelming results even after six weeks of regular use. The company has not conducted or published any clinical trials to justify its claims, and instead relies on anonymous before-and-after photos. Additionally, the mask does not hold an FDA clearance in the US, which raises questions about its efficacy and safety. Overall, while its various modes and features are touted as innovative, the experience and results did not match the hefty $1,700 price tag.
Source: Wired
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Meta's recent Q2 2025 earnings call spotlighted a major shift in technology focus from smartphones to smart glasses, as Mark Zuckerberg emphasized their transformative potential. The Ray-Ban smart glasses, created with EssilorLuxottica, have driven significant sales growth, with over 2 million units sold since their 2023 launch and contributing to Meta's 22% revenue spike. In a strategic move, Meta acquired a 3% equity stake in EssilorLuxottica for $3.5 billion, aligning interests and securing influence over the smart glasses' future development, despite not gaining board control. This investment signifies a deeper commitment to smart glasses as a long-term platform, ensuring Meta's relevance and influence in shaping technological advances and market direction.
Source: Wired
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Hulu's new dating competition series, "Are You My First?" explores the lives of virgins seeking relationships, spotlighting a diverse set of reasons for abstaining from sex. Contestants range from individuals with religious beliefs and those lacking previous serious relationships, to those with medical conditions like vaginismus. In a cultural landscape where reality TV increasingly focuses on virginity, the show follows other series like Channel 4’s "Virgin Island" and TLC’s "Virgins." This trend aligns with research showing that a significant portion of Gen Z remains sexually inexperienced. Experts suggest that the focus on virginity may not necessarily reflect changes in behavior but rather what individuals are willing to disclose publicly.
Source: Wired