But what exactly goes into its battery packs. What do they even look like? [Read: How Netflix shapes mainstream culture, explained by data] Thankfully, electric vehicle restomodders like to take Tesla battery packs apart, and cannibalize the parts to electrify other vehicles. There are a bunch of videos floating around the web showing Tesla batteries at certain stages of being dismantled, but the video below by EV modder and YouTuber Jehu Garcia, even though it was published in 2017, is still one of the clearest and most comprehensive start to finish teardowns of a Tesla Model S battery pack....

In Iraq, Facebook removed 76 accounts, seven Instagram accounts, 120 pages, and a smaller number of groups and events. Analysis of the posts from the suspended profiles shows a focus predominantly on social issues, as well as the complex relationship between Iran and Iraq. Throughout the content there’s a theme of Saddam-era nostalgia, with one post describing a photo of the former dictator as evidence of his “bravery and manhood....

More than just straight-up messaging, the app lets you create a scrapbook-like feed that you can use to easily review memories with your partner. Aside from the basics like sending photos, you can send voice memos, cards, notes, and custom stickers. You can also connect your Spotify account to share playlists and set your mood like the messaging apps of old. Here’s how Facebook describes it: While the app probably isn’t much use to couples currently quarantining with each other, it could help those who have been separated by the current global pandemic feel a little closer....

Initially released to mixed-reviews, the franchise’s first multiplayer offering has grown into its own unique blend of MMORPG and Bethesda-style shooter. If you haven’t played 76, it’s like Fallout-lite. It uses a modified version of the Fallout 4 engine to host dozens or hundreds of players at a time in persistent online-only game worlds. I checked it out at launch and was underwhelmed. It was fine, but a lack of NPCs (non-playercharacters you can interact with) and an overabundance of real humans turned me off to the whole idea so I didn’t stick with it....

According to a tweet from late last week, the US Marshals has updated its warning about cryptocurrency scammers that coerce their victims to send them money through Bitcoin ATMs. — U.S. Marshals (@USMarshalsHQ) December 6, 2019 In the full update, US Marshals say that scammers call targets and attempt to collect a fine by claiming they have failed to report for jury duty. Scammers then tell their targets that they can avoid arrest by depositing cash into a Bitcoin ATM, presumably with the funds being sent to the scammers....

Scott’s attorney has told US court that Bush met Ignatova in regards to a $60 million loan to buy an African oil field using, in part, OneCoin cryptocurrency, Law360 reports. The deal was to be funded by Hoifu Energy, a company run by Chinese businessman Dr. Hui Chi Ming, who was also said to be in attendance. Hoifu Energy was to finance the ‘oil field’ deal with cash, as well as “very large portion of the purchase price” in OneCoin....

A report by Forbes notes FIFA tested the new system during last year’s Club World Cup, but kept it separate from on-ground refereeing decisions. Currently, on-ground referees use VARs to check whether a player involved in a goal was offside. Sometimes, when the call is too close, VARs need to manually mark the offside line and check if a player’s limb is crossing it. This can prove very controversial when there are close calls....

Compared to the already-good Versa and Versa Lite, the Versa 2 brings Alexa support, an always-on OLED display, and a slightly tweaked design. I’m not sure why people would want Alexa on their smartphone that already includes the Google Assistant or Siri, but it’s there if you want it. The always-on display, however, is greatly appreciated – it’s annoying to have to tap the screen or flick your wrist every time you want to check the time....

The Google sister company yesterday published a research paper and accompanying blog post detailing its new neural probabilistic motor primitives (NPMP) — a method by which artificial intelligence agents can learn to operate physical bodies. Per the blog post: Up front: Essentially, the DeepMind team created an AI system that can learn how to do things inside of a physics simulator by watching videos of other agents performing those tasks....

The company’s chairman, Liu Young-way, announced today that it wants to provide components and services for 10% of the world’s EVs by between 2025 and 2027. To that end, it said it’s in talks with several automakers; the company also revealed a modular EV platform today with a variety of chassis sizes, as well as support for different battery capacities, suspension types and ground clearance. This should enable Foxconn to partner with manufacturers for sedans, SUVs, and even commercial vehicles....

Claiming to have reached speeds of 177 kmph (110 mph) while airborne, the 40-year-old completed the journey in 22 minutes early Sunday morning, stopping midway on a floating platform in the water to refuel his Zapata Flyboard. It’s the Frenchman’s second attempt to cross the Channel with his ‘personal aviation system.’ On his first one at the end of July, Zapata narrowly missed the refueling platform while descending, and fell into the water....

Who’s on first? I won’t tell you too much about the story, because it’s something that most people will no doubt want to experience for themselves — but I will tell you it is prime melodrama. This is a thick hamburger of a game: not the most refined creation, perhaps, but it’s really damned juicy. This story is darned good… when it actually knows who the protagonist is. The first act of this five-act game stars Gears 4‘s JD Fenix, before abruptly switching gears (literally) to relative newcomer Kait Diaz....

According to figures from analyst Matthias Schmidt, shared by The Guardian, 31,800 battery electric cars were sold in the UK over the first three months of the year. France sold 30,500 EVs across the same time period. [Read: 3 new technologies ecommerce brands can use to connect better with customers] However, Germany is still far and away the biggest EV nation in Europe. In the country some 64,700 electric vehicles were sold in the first quarter of the year....

Since GPT-2, there has been much excitement around the applications of large language models. And in the past few years, we’ve seen LLMs used for many exciting tasks, such as writing articles, designing websites, creating images, and even writing code. But as I have argued before, there’s a wide gap between showing a new technology do something cool and using the same technology to create a successful product with a workable business model....

In today’s update, it’s rolling out a toggle for comment wrapping. After the app was launched in March, a lot of developers asked for an option to stop line warping by default. GitHub added the ability for multi-line referencing and commenting last year on the web. Now, it’s bringing this feature to mobile and you can use it by just long pressing on lines you want to leave a comment on....

His credits range from Black Panther’s Vibranium Sand and Iron Man’s J.A.R.V.I.S., to General Motor’s Hummer EV and IBM’s Project Debater system. His innovations that we see in films frequently influence those we use off-screen — and vice-versa. This feedback loop connects fantasy to everyday life. LePore’s conference talk promises unique insights into futuristic design. But I’m even more intrigued to hear how the realms of fiction and reality influence each other — with both positive and negative effects....

While this use case might be useful for queries you don’t want the company to record, it can also come in handy when you have friends over at your house and they are yelling from different directions, asking the smart speaker to play the song of your choice. [Read: Google beefs up your account security with new in-app alerts] Google says this feature will roll out in the coming weeks and you’ll be able to activate it simply by voice command....

To help you with that, Google Maps is rolling out new information related to COVID-19 in a particular area. The app will now display the total number of cases and deaths till now and a 7-day trend indicating if the numbers are going up or down. Plus, you’ll also get to access local guidelines, restrictions, and information related to testing centers. This will help you make a decision if you want to cancel or postpone your trip....

In its latest product killing, the search giant has slaughtered the Daydream VR. The company confirmed to VentureBeat the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL don’t support the VR project. Notably, the company didn’t include Daydream support in its budget Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL as well. In a statement provided to VentureBeat, Google said over the time it noticed clear limitations of the smartphone VR platform for a long-term solution: The company added that it’s focusing on AR experiences with Maps, Lens, and search....

Fast pair Google has tried to recreate a quick pairing experience with its Fast Pair feature, but device makers don’t follow it consistently. For instance, the OnePlus Buds Pro doesn’t support it, but the newest OnePlus Buds Z2 supports the standard. Plus, it mostly works with only phones and tablets. To solve this problem, Google is bringing Fast Pair to Chromebooks, Google TV, and Android TV, so you can pair your buds or speakers easily with these devices — no rifling through Bluetooth settings to get connected....