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Apple’s newest headache: An app that upended its control over messaging

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — For years, Ben Black’s phone annoyed his family. It was the only Android device in a family message group with eight iPhones. Because of him, videos and photos would arrive in low resolution and there would be green bubbles of text amid bubbles of blue.But a new app called Beeper Mini gave him the ability to change that.Black, 25, used the app to create an account for Apple’s messaging service, iMessage, with his Google Pixel phone number. For the first time, every message the family exchanged had a blue bubble and members were able to use perks like emoji and animations.Since it was introduced Dec. 5, Beeper Mini has quickly become a headache and potential antitrust problem for Apple. It has poked a hole in Apple’s messaging system, while critics say it has demonstrated how Apple bullies potential competitors.Apple was caught by surprise when Beeper Mini gave Android devices access to its modern, iPhone-only service. Less than a week after Beeper Mini’s launch...

My not-so-perfect holiday shopping excursion with AI chatbots

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — To help with my holiday shopping this year, I recently turned to a new personal assistant online. “I’m looking for a Christmas present for my mother, who spends long hours working,” I typed. “Is there something she can use in her office every day?”“Of course!” came the instant reply. “Does your mother have any specific preferences or needs for her office? For example, does she need organization tools, desk accessories, or something to help her relax during breaks?”So began my conversation with Shop AI, a new chatbot from Shopify, an e-commerce marketplace. Over 10 minutes, Shop AI and I engaged in a question-and-answer session. I told the chatbot my budget and more about my mother, such as her need to alleviate back pain. Shop AI also asked me about my mother’s preferred design and color for an office chair.More people may eventually replicate this kind of shopping experience. A year after ChatGPT debuted, retailers around the world have started rolling out cha...

1 killed at South Los Angeles Metro station; suspect at large

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

A suspect remains on the run after a man was shot to death at a Metro platform in South Los Angeles Saturday.Los Angeles police responded to reports of a shooting at Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard around 12:45 p.m.The victim, identified only as a man between 35-45 years old, was walking with another person toward the Hyde Park station. Suddenly, a male suspect took out a handgun and fired at the victim, police said. The suspect fled the scene before LAPD arrived. Officers found the victim with a gunshot wound on his back. He was transported to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.A man was fatally shot at the Hyde Park K-Line Metro Station in South L.A. on Dec. 30, 2023. (KTLA)A man was fatally shot at the Hyde Park K-Line Metro Station in South L.A. on Dec. 30, 2023. (KTLA)A man was fatally shot at the Hyde Park K-Line Metro Station in South L.A. on Dec. 30, 2023. (Citizen)A man was fatally shot at the Hyde Park K-Line Metro Station in South L.A. on Dec. 30, 2023...

New California laws taking effect in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

As always, the start of a new year means new laws are taking effect in California. In 2024, Californians will see new rules governing issues ranging from camping to cannabis to cruising.First, there's Senate Bill 2, which establishes new measures for concealed carry firearm permit holders. SB 2 limits where firearms can be carried, such as schools, government buildings and public transit, and requires CCW applicants to be 21 years old, have previous firearm training and pass background checks."If you have a record of domestic abuse, you shouldn't have a gun. If you're on social media threatening the lives of people, you shouldn't have a gun," said the bill's author, State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank).The law was supposed to take effect on January 1, but was blocked by a U.S. District Judge, meaning the law will make its way to federal court and likely the US Supreme Court for a decision.In the fight against fentanyl, lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 701, which enhances punishme...

Warriors have no answer for Luka Doncic in loss to Dallas Mavericks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors had no answers for Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on either end, dropping their third consecutive game 132-122 on Saturday night.Doncic, an MVP hopeful, eased into a 39-point game shooting 14-of-29 from the field and 10 assists with no Warriors defender able to offer much resistance.Offensively, the Warriors snagged on cold first-half shooting nights from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Curry and Chris Paul fueled a second-half push that wasn’t enough to overcome Mavericks lead that lasted all but the game’s opening seconds. Curry finished with 25 points and scored 13 of his points in the second half. Paul finished with 24 points shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 6-of-9 from 3.Thompson, who finished 1-for-11 from the field, sat out during crunch time in place of a closing lineup featuring Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Curry and Paul.The Warriors’ homestand continues in the new year against the Orla...

Approximately $1M worth of merchandise stolen from Ross in Solano County: authorities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

(KRON) – Six people were arrested as a result of the Fairfield Police Department's two-day theft operation. On Dec. 22, officers say they witnessed two men leaving a store with a shopping cart full of unpaid items. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the getaway vehicle and discovered there were four occupants in the car.  5 arrested in illegal casino, prostitution operation in San Jose The vehicle’s occupants were all Vallejo residents.Gregory Carson, 27Tavani Cole, 36Nehmia Hatchett, 29Rashad Brown, 34Carson also had a Solano County warrant. According to police, when the group of four was being booked at the Solano County Jail, a Vallejo Police Department officer noticed the group was wanted in Vallejo. All four individuals allegedly stole approximately $1 million worth of merchandise from Ross and $500,000 worth of merchandise from another retail store in Vallejo.Vallejo PD subsequently arrested the four suspects at the jail. According to the police investigation, th...

Haliburton ties franchise record with 23 assists in second straight 20-20 game as Pacers beat Knicks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points and tied a franchise record with 23 assists, becoming only the third player in NBA history with consecutive 20-20 games in those categories, and the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 140-126 on Saturday night.Haliburton, who picked up his 23rd on a pass to Andrew Nembhard with 1:05 remaining, joined Hall of Famers Magic Johnson (Dec. 18-19, 1984) and John Stockton (March 1 and March 3, 1994) as the only players with consecutive outings of at least 20 points and 20 assists. Jamaal Tinsley set the Indiana mark with 23 against Washington on Nov. 22, 2001.Haliburton has 43 assists and two turnovers in the last two games, raising his NBA-leading assist average to 12.8.Indiana won its third in a row to improve to 17-14. The Pacers shot 60% from the field and made 23 3-pointers. Myles Turner had 28 points and eight rebounds, while Aaron Nesmith scored 25 points.The Knicks were undermanned in their third straight loss after trading R...

Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes hold off Maple Leafs 3-2 for third consecutive win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Sebastian Aho had one goal and two assists in leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.Michael Bunting and Seth Jarvis also scored for Carolina. The victory extended the Hurricanes’ winning streak to three games.Pyotr Kochetkov made 25 saves.Timothy Liljegren and Nicholas Robertson scored for Toronto, which got 25 stops from Martin Jones.The Leafs have dropped five of their last six games.Carolina went 2-for-4 on the power play, while Toronto went 0-for-3.Bunting opened the scoring just 2:24 into the contest on the power play. Aho found him open in the slot from behind the goal and he beat Jones five-hole.The Leafs continued to struggle finding the back of the net in the second period. Matthew Knies got a takeaway in Carolina’s zone and went in on net but couldn’t get a shot off trying to shield the puck from a defender.Jarvis doubled the lead on another power play at 13:52 of the second period. Liljegren put Toronto ...

Zach Anderson scores 21 as Florida Gulf Coast beats No. 7 Florida Atlantic 72-68

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Dunk City has pulled off another surprise.A decade or so removed from making the Sweet 16 of the 2013 NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed, Florida Gulf Coast made a splash again Saturday night — this time taking down a Florida Atlantic team that made the Final Four last season and was ranked No. 7 in the country this week.Zach Anderson scored 21 points, Dallion Johnson added 18 and the Eagles beat the Owls 72-68. FAU became the highest-ranked opponent FGCU has beaten in its history; that “Dunk City” crew beat then-No. 8 Georgetown in the first round of the 2013 NCAA tourney.“We created our luck tonight,” FGCU coach Pat Chambers said. “We had everything going against us tonight … and we still found a way.”Cyrus Largie scored 12 and Franco Miller Jr. finished with 10 for FGCU (6-9), which never trailed in the game’s final 34 minutes. The Eagles came into the game as 17-point underdogs and needed overtime to beat NAIA member Florida Memorial last week.Vladisl...

Roddy Gayle Jr. scores 32, Ohio State beats WVU 78-75 in OT at Legends of Basketball

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:42 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Roddy Gayle Jr. scored a career-high 32 points, Jamison Battle added 17 points and nine rebounds and Ohio State held on to beat West Virginia 78-75in overtime Saturday night at the Legends of Basketball Showcase.Gayle made 11 of 21 from the field, 7 of 10 from the free-throw line and finished with seven rebounds and six assists. Bruce Thornton scored six of his 11 points after regulation for Ohio State (11-2). Battle hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring in OT and, after RaeQuan Battle made a tip-in for the Mountaineers on the other end, Gayle sank another 3 to give Ohio State a 71-67 lead with 3:25 to play. RaeQuan Battle threw down a dunk, but Bruce Thornton scored all the Buckeyes’ points in a 6-2 spurt that gave them a six-point lead with two minutes remaining. West Virginia interim coach Josh Eilert was called for a technical foul for arguing a no-call on a missed 3-point shot by RaeQuan Battle. After Gayle missed both free throws, Battle stole the ball and...