Tech
Solos AirGo Vision: The Meta Ray-Bans Challenger with ChatGPT-4o and a Camera
If you’re in the market for smart glasses that offer hands-free video recording and an AI voice assistant, the options have been limited. However, Solos is stepping up to the challenge with their AirGo Vision glasses, which not only feature audio capabilities but also come equipped with a camera powered by OpenAI’s new GPT-4o AI model.
Here are the key features of the Solos AirGo Vision:
- Camera Integration: Unlike the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which focus solely on audio, the AirGo Vision includes a camera. This camera can recognize objects and provide answers to questions about what you’re seeing.
- Swappable Frames: Solos’ AirGo Vision uses the same swappable frame system as their other glasses. You can easily switch out the camera module if you prefer a different look or want to go camera-free for social situations. Additional frames are available at varying prices, ranging from $89 to $129.
- Notification LEDs: The AirGo Vision features notification LEDs that alert you to incoming calls or emails. Stay connected without needing to check your phone constantly.
- Integration with AI Models: Solos claims that the AirGo Vision can be integrated with Google Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude AI models. This opens up possibilities for enhanced functionality beyond what the camera and voice assistant offer.
- Audio Interaction: Similar to Meta’s Ray-Bans, the AirGo Vision responds to questions over audio. While it lacks a display, the LEDs provide visual cues for notifications and interactions.
As for pricing and availability:
- The exact release date for the AirGo Vision hasn’t been specified yet, but it’s expected to launch later this year.
- While the price remains undisclosed, it’s safe to assume that the camera-equipped version will cost more than the cameraless frames, which are priced at $249.99 and set to go on sale in July.
- For comparison, the Ray-Bans currently start at $299.
Keep an eye out for the Solos AirGo Vision if you’re intrigued by the combination of smart features and stylish eyewear!
International
Global IT Outage Causes Widespread Disruptions
A significant IT outage, triggered by a faulty update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, has caused widespread disruptions across various sectors globally. The issue, which affected systems running Microsoft Windows, led to the “blue screen of death” and network outages. Airports, banks, supermarkets, and media companies were among the most impacted, with airport check-in systems and payment systems facing significant downtime.
CrowdStrike’s CEO confirmed that the problem was not a cybersecurity incident but a defect in a recent update. A fix has been deployed, and experts expect the situation to normalize soon. Despite the disruptions, critical infrastructure such as emergency services remained unaffected.
Impact on Various Sectors
The outage had a ripple effect, impacting a wide range of sectors. Airports experienced significant downtime, with check-in systems going offline, leading to long queues and frustrated travellers. Banks also faced issues, with some ATMs and online banking services becoming temporarily unavailable. Supermarkets reported problems with their payment systems, causing delays at checkout counters. Media companies were not spared either, with some experiencing interruptions in their broadcasting services.
CrowdStrike’s Response
CrowdStrike’s CEO addressed the issue, confirming that the problem was not a result of a cybersecurity breach but rather a defect in a recent update. The company acted swiftly to deploy a fix, and efforts are ongoing to ensure that systems return to normalcy as soon as possible. Despite the widespread disruptions, it is noteworthy that critical infrastructure, such as emergency services, remained unaffected.
Looking Ahead
As the situation stabilizes, experts are analyzing the incident to prevent future occurrences. This event serves as a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of our digital world and the potential impact of software updates on global operations. Businesses and organizations are urged to review their update protocols and ensure robust backup systems are in place to mitigate such risks.
Tech
FreeDOS: Celebrating 30 Years of Open-Source MS-DOS
FreeDOS, an open-source recreation of MS-DOS, has reached a significant milestone—it’s now 30 years old and still going strong. In this article, we’ll explore the origins, purpose, legacy, modern features, and community behind FreeDOS.
Back in 1994, Microsoft announced the phasing out of its disk operating system (MS-DOS) as attention shifted to Windows. Jim Hall stepped in to create FreeDOS—an open-source continuation of MS-DOS. His goal was to maintain compatibility with existing MS-DOS software, ensuring that decades of computing history remained accessible.
MS-DOS, along with its variants like IBM-DOS, dominated the PC landscape from the early ’80s to the mid-’90s. A vast library of games and applications—from classics like Microsoft Word and DOOM to SimCity and Lotus 1-2-3—was built for DOS. FreeDOS allows users to revisit this rich history by running DOS software on real hardware or emulators.
Beyond nostalgia, FreeDOS offers modern conveniences:
- Package Manager: Streamlines software installation.
- Live CD Image: Simplifies testing and exploration.
- Ported Utilities: Vim, Curl, and more enhance functionality.
- FAT32 Support: Enables data compatibility (unavailable in public MS-DOS releases).
- Networking and Web Browsing: Possible with the right hardware.
Unlike proprietary alternatives, FreeDOS remains open-source and actively developed. A passionate community of retro computing enthusiasts keeps the project alive. Whether you’re curious about computing history or want to run classic DOS games, FreeDOS is your gateway to the past.
Visit the official FreeDOS website to download the latest version. While it may not natively run on most modern PCs due to UEFI and Secure Boot limitations, you can easily set it up in virtual environments like VirtualBox and QEMU.
Celebrate three decades of FreeDOS—a bridge between computing’s past and present! 🎉
Gadgets
Samsung will release Pokémon-themed Galaxy Buds 2.
Following the release of its Pokémon-themed Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung is returning to the Pokémon well. This time, the South Korean company is focusing on its accessories, with one of its most recent products, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, serving as the theme. While there are few details about the upcoming Pokémon bundle, there is plenty to look at, as the Pokémon Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 already has an official product page with a plethora of images.
The Galaxy Buds 2, a Pokéball shell, and a Pokémon sticker will be included in the set. Once attached, the Pokéball shell will house a standard Galaxy Buds 2 case, locking it in place. Users will be able to open the Pokéball with the press of a button once it has been secured inside.
The set will include a sticker in addition to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and Pokéball. That’s right, you won’t get the entire set shown in the promotional image. Instead, when you buy it, you will receive one sticker at random. There are ten popular stickers featuring characters such as Pikachu, Squirtle, Jigglypuff, and others. If you’re lucky, you’ll get your hands on the hologram Mewtwo sticker, which is the rarest of the bunch.
Although pricing is not yet available on the website, SamMobile reports that the bundle will cost 134,000 Korean Won, or approximately $105. While the price is reasonable, if previous Samsung and Pokémon collaborations are any indication, this will be a limited product that will sell out quickly.
Unfortunately, when the Pokémon-themed Galaxy Buds 2 will be available for purchase is unknown. However, like the Galaxy Z Flip 3 collaboration before it, the product will only be available in South Korea. There is no word on when it will be available in other parts of the world.