Pornhub attacks states for passing “unsafe” age-verification laws

Pornhub wants to punt privacy concerns of age verification to Big Tech.

Pornhub attacks states for passing “unsafe” age-verification laws

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Pornhub)

Starting today, Pornhub visitors in Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas will see a "very important message" on the adult website's homepage. Pornhub's public service announcement prompts visitors to contact representatives and oppose recently passed age-verification laws in these states that Pornhub claims puts children and all users' privacy at risk. If users don't support Pornhub before laws go into effect, the company says, Pornhub could potentially restrict access in these states—a threat it already followed through on in Utah.

In the PSA, adult entertainer Cherie Deville tells Pornhub users that instead of states requiring ID to access adult content, "the best and most effective solution for protecting children and adults alike is to verify users' age at a device level and allow or block access to age-restricted materials and websites accordingly."

According to CNN, this PSA is part of a larger effort by Pornhub and its private equity owners, Ethical Capital Partners (ECP), to work with big tech companies to create new device-based age verification solutions. So far, ECP partner Solomon Friedman told CNN that ECP has lobbied Apple, Google, and Microsoft to "develop a technological standard that might turn a user’s electronic device into the proof of age necessary to access restricted online content."

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Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit lets Windows games run on macOS (but it’s not meant for end users… yet)

One of the reasons Valve’s Steam Deck has become such a great platform for gaming is that, despite running a Linux-based operating system, it can run thousands of Windows games without any modifications thanks to Valve’s Proton compatibili…

One of the reasons Valve’s Steam Deck has become such a great platform for gaming is that, despite running a Linux-based operating system, it can run thousands of Windows games without any modifications thanks to Valve’s Proton compatibility layer (which is based on Wine). Now Apple is bringing a similar feature to macOS… but it’s […]

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Twitch bans stream sponsor overlays, and “I’ve never seen creators so pissed”

Twitch tries to walk back “overly broad” new policy following instant creator furor.

Visual examples of the kinds of "burned in" sponsorships that Twitch's new guidelines won't allow.

Enlarge / Visual examples of the kinds of "burned in" sponsorships that Twitch's new guidelines won't allow. (credit: Twitch)

A recent update to Twitch's guidelines restricts many kinds of overlaid ads that streamers themselves can sell and insert on top of their own content. And while Twitch now says it "missed the mark with... policy language" that was "overly broad," many major streamers are still up in arms over a policy they say could severely affect their ability to make money from content on the popular Amazon-owned streaming platform.

In a June 6 update to its Branded Content Policy guidelines (that Twitch says it will start enforcing on July 1), the platform said that so-called "burned in" videos, display banners, or audio ads are not permitted on the platform. These ad formats are popular with many major streamers, who sell a portion of their screen real estate as part of overall branded stream sponsorship deals.

While basic sponsor logos will still be allowed to be shown on these streams, those sponsorships "are limited to 3% of screen size" under the new guidelines. That could be a problem for some disabled streamers because, as blind streamer Steve Saylor pointed out, that size "isn't accessible for low vision users as it is too small for overlays and even smaller on mobile."

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Apple has a Proton-like Game Porting Toolkit for getting Windows games on Mac

Eager gamers already have Cyberpunk, Diablo IV running on Apple Silicon Macs.

Apple screenshot showing diagnosing a game

Enlarge / Apple's demonstration of loading and inspecting the performance of The Medium on a Mac. (credit: Apple)

There was so much packed into Apple's WWDC presentation Monday that it's hard to believe there are still major pieces of it left to uncover. And yet, as part of a developer presentation, Apple has quietly announced what could be major news for PC games on Mac hardware—its own SteamOS-like Windows compatibility initiative, but for millions of Apple Silicon Macs instead of Steam Decks.

"Bring your game to Mac" is laid out over three videos covering a game controller guide, a Game Porting Toolkit (Apple developers only), and a converter for making games' shaders work with Apple's Metal hardware acceleration API. Apple claims you "have everything you need to deliver an amazing gaming experience" with Apple-Silicon-based Macs and that its toolkit provides "an emulation environment to run your existing, unmodified Windows game."

"It doesn't take months to get a sense of how your game looks, sounds, and plays," Aiswariya Sreenivassan, technical project manager at Apple, says in the video's introduction. "You see your game's potential right away."

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GMK K4 mini PC with Ryzen 9 7940HS now available globally

GMK’s first mini PC with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor is now available for purchase from GMK’s website, AliExpress, or Amazon. The GMK K4 is a 123 x 112 x 43.2mm (4.84″ x 4.41″ x 1.7″) computer with a metal chassis and…

GMK’s first mini PC with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor is now available for purchase from GMK’s website, AliExpress, or Amazon. The GMK K4 is a 123 x 112 x 43.2mm (4.84″ x 4.41″ x 1.7″) computer with a metal chassis and the most powerful mobile chip in AMD’s “Phoenix” range. We first learned […]

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Why you’ll never fly in an airplane with those double-decker seats

Yet again, a designer proposes cramming way more people into airliners.

A 3D rendering of the double decker airline seat concept.

Enlarge / You can explore a 3D model of the Chaise Longue Economy Seat. (credit: Chaise Longue Economy Seat)

Regular travelers know all too well just how uncomfortable airplanes have gotten over the last few years. Seats are narrower and offer less legroom than they have in years past, and as prices rise, thanks to the perfect storm of inflation and corporate greed, flying economy feels more like some form of modern torture to be endured than a luxurious experience. Add in the terrifying double-decker and standing-room-only seat configurations that airliners and designers are attempting to sell to the paying public, and the picture of the future of airline travel only gets bleaker.

Take the most recent hubbub around designer Alejandro Núñez Vincente’s so-called Chaise Longue setup, which has made its second, updated appearance at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, this week. We may have just reached peak uncomfortable airline seating.

Don’t believe us? Media outlets are running stories about what happens when someone farts in these seats. But before we declare the end of human-oriented economy airline travel or wring our hands in dismay at just how many people are packed into flying jerky-makers in the sky, we decided to do some digging and find out why these designs are unlikely to take off (pun fully intended).

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ONEXPLAYER 2 Pro is a Ryzen 7 7840U handheld gaming PC with detachable controllers

The company behind the ONEXPLAYER line of handheld gaming PCs has unveiled its first model powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. The ONEXPLAYER 2 Pro features an 8.4 inch display, detachable controllers, Windows software, and support for up to 64…

The company behind the ONEXPLAYER line of handheld gaming PCs has unveiled its first model powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. The ONEXPLAYER 2 Pro features an 8.4 inch display, detachable controllers, Windows software, and support for up to 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 4TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage. But the […]

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Dealmaster: Savings on maker tools and board games

Keep summer crafty with savings on a range of maker tools.

Graduation season is upon us, and if you're looking for a way to keep your kids busy this summer while school is out, consider some maker tools! From Cricut machines to 3D printers, these tools are fun and educational, and getting involved in maker activities is a great creative outlet for everyone.

Father's Day is also coming up, and a new drill or a soldering station might just hit the spot for maker-minded dads. We also found some terrific savings on board and card games if tinkering's not your style. Have a look below!

DIY, maker tools, and crafting

  • Cricut Maker 3 + Essentials bundle for $530 (was $628) at Cricut
  • Cricut Maker + Everything bundle for $480 (was $652) at Cricut
  • Cricut Explore Air 2 + Everything bundle for $400 (was $502) at Cricut
  • Cricut Explore 3 + Essentials bundle for $380 (was $518) at Cricut
  • Creality Ender 3 Max Neo 3D Printer for $389 (was $529) at Amazon
  • Elegoo Jupiter Resin 3D Printer for $990 (was $1,300) at Elegoo
  • Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer for $229 after coupon (was $319) at Amazon
  • Anycubic Photon Mono 4K 3D Printer for $280 (was $380) at Amazon
  • Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro 3D Printer for $459 (was $519) at Amazon
  • Monoprice Maker Ultimate 2 3D Printer for $175 (was $500) at Monoprice
  • Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver combo with 2 batteries and charger for $154 (was $239) at Amazon
  • Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit for $99 (was $179) at Amazon
  • Dewalt 20V Max XR Brushless Cordless 1/2-inch Drill/Driver Kit for $202 (was $249) at Amazon
  • Dewalt 20V Max Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit with 2 batteries and charger for $299 (was $409) at Amazon
  • Dewalt 20V Max XR Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill (tool only) for $137 (was $259) at Amazon
  • Toauto DS90 soldering station for $55 (was $76) at Amazon
  • Weller digital soldering station for $115 (was $153) at Amazon
  • Yihua 926 III soldering station for $40 (was $60) at Amazon
  • LDK soldering iron kit for $10 (was $13) at Amazon
  • xTool M1 Desktop Laser and Blade Cutting Machine for $1,299 (was $2,010) at xTool

Laptops and tablets

(credit: Valentina Palladino)

  • Lenovo Yoga 7i (16-inch Intel Core i5-1335U) for $550 (was $800) at Best Buy
  • Lenovo Slim Pro 7 (14-inch AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS) for $900 (was $1,200) at Best Buy
  • HP Envy x360 2-in-1 (15.6-inch AMD Ryzen 7 5825U) for $751 (was $1,050) at Best Buy
  • HP Envy 2-in-1 (14-inch Intel Core i7-1355U) for $780 (was $1,080) at Best Buy
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch Intel Core i5-1235U) for $1,000 (was $1,300) at Best Buy
  • Apple MacBook Air (13.3-inch M1) for $800 (was $1,000) at Best Buy
  • Apple MacBook Pro (13.3-inch M1) for $1,275 (was $1,500) at Best Buy
  • Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 7 (16-inch AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, Radeon RX 6700M) for $1,501 after GAMINGEXTRA coupon (was $2,300) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 (15-inch AMD Ryzen 5 7530U) for $500 (was $700) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo Yoga 7i (14-inch Intel Core i7-1355U) for $1,105 (was $1,350) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (14-inch Intel Core i5-1240P) for $1,377 with THINKDADGRAD2023 coupon (was $2,909) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo Slim 7i (14-inch Intel Core i5-1340P) for $880 (was $1,180) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i (14-inch Intel Core i5-1335U) for $625 (was $850) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo Legion Slim 5i Gen 8 (16-inch Intel Core i7-13700H, RTX 4060) for $1,450 (was $1,630) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo ThinkPad P16 (16-inch Intel Core i9-12900HX, RTX A4500) for $2,839 (was $7,099) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo ThinkPad P16 (16-inch Intel Core i7-12800HX, RTX A1000) for $1,450 (was $3,619) at Lenovo
  • Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 5 (16-inch Intel Core i7-12800H, RTX 3070 Ti) for $2,139 (was $5,339) at Lenovo

Routers and mesh networking gear

  • Netgear Nighthawk MK83 Tri-band whole-home Wi-Fi 6 AX3600 (3-pack) mesh network for $300 (was $390) at Amazon
  • TP-Link Deco XE75 Tri-band whole-home Wi-Fi 6E AXE5400 (3-pack) mesh network for $360 (was $400) at Amazon
  • Netgear Orbi RBK852 Tri-band whole-home Wi-Fi 6 AX6000 (2-pack) mesh network for $600 (was $700) at Amazon
  • TP-Link Deco X55 Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 (3-pack) mesh network for $185 after coupon (was $280) at Amazon
  • Asus ZenWiFi XD5 AX Mini Wi-Fi 6 (3-pack) whole-home mesh network for $220 (was $300) at Amazon

Toys and games

  • Star Wars Say What You See trivia party game for $9 (was $11) at Amazon
  • Trouble: Star Wars The Mandalorian Edition board game for $13 (was $20) at Amazon
  • Star Wars playing cards for $11 (was $13) at Amazon
  • Operation: Star Wars The Mandalorian Edition game for $16 (was $22) at Amazon
  • Clue: Star Wars Edition board game for $40 (was $70) at Amazon
  • Star Wars Outer Rim board game for $60 (was $75) at Amazon
  • Monopoly: Star Wars Boba Fett Edition board game for $15 (was $22) at Amazon
  • Star Wars Rebellion board game for $88 (was $110) at Amazon
  • Monopoly: Star Wars Dark Side Edition board game for $26 (was $40) at Amazon
  • Ravensburger Star Wars Villainous: Power of the Dark Side board game for $24 (was $40) at Amazon
  • A Pandemic System: Star Wars The Clone Wars game for $48 (was $60) at Amazon
  • Taco vs. Burrito card game for $18 after coupon (was $25) at Amazon
  • Connect 4 game for $8 (was $12) at Amazon
  • Cascadia board game for $38 (was $40) at Amazon
  • Clue board game for $10 (was $12) at Amazon
  • The Game of Life: Super Mario Edition board game for $25 (was $30) at Amazon
  • Mysterium board game for $44 (was $55) at Amazon
  • Trouble board game for $8 (was $12) at Amazon
  • Ticket to Ride board game for $48 (was $55) at Amazon
  • Kids Against Maturity game for $18 after coupon (was $35) at Amazon
  • Monopoly board game for $20 (was $22) at Amazon
  • Guess Who? board game for $14 (was $17) at Amazon
  • Jumanji deluxe board game for $25 (was $55) at Amazon
  • Leder Games Root for $48 (was $60) at Amazon
  • Avalon Hill Scooby-Doo Betrayal at the Mansion game for $18 (was $37) at Amazon

Wearables, fitness trackers, and personal care

(credit: Corey Gaskin)

  • Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige rechargeable electric toothbrush for $330 (was $380) at Amazon
  • Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9300 rechargeable electric toothbrush for $200 (was $230) at Amazon
  • Philips One by Sonicare rechargeable electric toothbrush for $30 (was $40) at Amazon
  • Oral-B iO Series 9 rechargeable electric toothbrush for $280 after coupon (was $300) at Amazon
  • Philips Norelco 9800 rechargeable wet/dry shaver for $215 (was $260) at Amazon
  • Philips Norelco 3800 rechargeable wet/dry shaver for $65 (was $80) at Amazon
  • Philips Norelco Multigroomer all-in-one Series 5000 for $38 (was $40) at Amazon
  • Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced fitness tracker for $120 (was $150) at Best Buy
  • Fitbit Inspire 3 fitness tracker for $80 (was $100) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Instinct 2 45 mm smartwatch for $250 (was $350) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Venu 2 Plus 43 mm smartwatch for $400 (was $450) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Epix Gen 2 47 mm smartwatch for $800 (was $1,000) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar 51 mm smartwatch for $800 (was $1,000) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Fenix 7S Solar 42 mm smartwatch for $600 (was $800) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Fenix 7 47 mm smartwatch for $500 (was $700) at Best Buy
  • Oura Ring Gen 3 on sale—prices vary at Best Buy
  • Amazfit Band 7 37.3 mm fitness tracker for $45 (was $50) at Best Buy
  • Amazfit GTS 4 Mini smartwatch for $112 (was $120) at Best Buy
  • Amazfit T-Rex 2 smartwatch for $190 (was $200) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Instinct 2S 40 mm smartwatch for $250 (was $350) at Best Buy
  • Garmin Vivomove Sport 40 mm smartwatch for $160 (was $180) at Best Buy

Smart grills and cooking

  • Weber Genesis E-325s liquid propane grill for $899 (was $999) at Best Buy
  • Weber Genesis EX-325s natural gas grill for $1,079 (was $1,179) at Best Buy
  • Weber Genesis SX335 liquid propane grill with side burner for $1,499 (was $1,599) at Best Buy
  • Weber Genesis E-435 propane gas grill with side burner for $1,549 (was $1,649) at Best Buy
  • Weber Genesis S335 natural gas grill with side burner for $1,329 (was $1,429) at Best Buy
  • Nespresso Vurtuo Next by De'Longhi for $130 (was $210) at Amazon
  • Instant Pot Dual Pod 3-in-1 coffeemaker compatible with Keurig and Nespresso for $189 (was $200) at Best Buy
  • Ninja 7-Style Expresso and Coffee Barista System compatible with Nespresso for $200 (was $250) at Best Buy

Storage and memory

  • Samsung 980 Pro 2TB internal PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD for $130 (was $160) at Amazon
  • Crucial X8 2TB portable SSD for $115 (was $220) at Amazon
  • Samsung T7 Shield 1TB portable rugged SSD for $80 (was $160) at Amazon
  • Samsung T7 Shield 2TB portable SSD for $115 (was $140) at Amazon
  • SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC card for $118 (was $300) at Amazon

USB-C cables and chargers

(credit: Getty)

  • Statik 100 W USB-C to USB-C 6-foot silicone cable for $15 (was $30) at Amazon
  • Baseus 100 W PD USB-C to USB-C 3.3-feet braided cable for $10 (was $12) at Amazon
  • INIU 100 W 2-pack USB-C to USB-C 6.6-feet braided cable for $13 (was $21) at Amazon
  • UGREEN 140 W GaN charger for $77 (was $110) at Amazon
  • Apple Lightning to USB-C 1m cable for $17 (was $19) at Amazon
  • Baseus wireless MagSafe charger for iPhone for $14 after coupon (was $26) at Amazon
  • Apple MagSafe charger for iPhone for $31 (was $39) at Amazon
  • Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand (2nd Gen) for $127 (was $150) at Amazon

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