Renewed interest in traditional crafts and the ever-evolving tech landscape are the focus of recent developments, with a Japanese swordsmith finding a new audience and Apple facing delays in its AI-powered Siri revamp. Meanwhile, the cyber world sees the resurgence of a dangerous infostealer, and the art world mourns the loss of a pioneering illustrator. Finally, new research suggests that bird poop may have played a key role in the rise of an ancient Peruvian kingdom.
In Saitama Prefecture, Japan, 57-year-old swordsmith Akihira Kawasaki is experiencing a resurgence of interest in the centuries-old art of katana making, according to Euronews. Popular culture, including anime and video games, has contributed to drawing a new generation of fans to the craft. However, the profession still faces challenges, including an aging workforce and a demanding five-year apprenticeship.
Apple's plans to revamp its digital assistant, Siri, have been delayed once again, according to a report from TechCrunch. The new, AI-powered Siri, which was initially expected to launch with the iOS 18 update in March, will now roll out more slowly over time. Some features may be postponed until the May iOS update or even the release of iOS 19 in September. The delay was reportedly caused by issues encountered during software testing.
Cybersecurity experts are warning of the return of the Lumma Stealer, an infostealer that infected nearly 395,000 Windows computers in just two months last year, Ars Technica reported. The malware, which first appeared in Russian-speaking cybercrime forums in 2022, is back with hard-to-detect attacks that pilfer credentials and sensitive files. The cloud-based malware-as-a-service model provides a sprawling infrastructure for hosting lure sites offering free cracked software, games, and pirated movies.
The art world is mourning the loss of Robert Tinney, the illustrator whose airbrushed cover paintings defined the look and feel of Byte magazine for over a decade, Ars Technica reported. Tinney, who died at age 78 on February 1, was the primary cover artist for Byte from 1975 to the late 1980s. He created a visual language for personal computing, translating complex topics into vivid, surrealist-influenced paintings.
Finally, a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE suggests that seabird guano may have played a significant role in the rise of the pre-Inca Chincha Kingdom in Peru, according to Ars Technica. The kingdom, which flourished along Peru's southern coast from around 1000 to 1400 CE, was one of the wealthiest and most influential of its time. "Guano dramatically boosted the production of resources," said co-author Jacob Bongers, a digital archaeologist at the University of Sydney.
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