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This is today’s edition of The Download our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

What’s next for batteries

Every year the world runs more and more on batteries. Electric vehicles passed 10% of global vehicle sales in 2022, and they’re on track to reach 30% by the end of this decade.

The transition from gas-powered cars to EVs will require lots of batteries—and better and cheaper ones at that. Most EVs today are powered by lithium-ion batteries, a decades-old technology that academic labs and companies alike are seeking to make more efficient and even more affordable.

In the midst of the soaring demand for EVs and renewable power, and an explosion in battery development, one thing is certain: batteries will play a key role in the transition to renewable energy. Here’s what to expect in 2023. Read the full story.

—Casey Crownhart

Chinese chips will keep powering your everyday life

The global semiconductor industry is in a state of flux. The US started to take steps to freeze China out of the industry in 2022, pushing the sector to diversify from the Chinese supply chain and build factories elsewhere.

But while the US government’s punitive restrictions will start to bite over the next few months, and the high end of China’s chip industry is likely to suffer, the country may take a bigger role in manufacturing older-generation chips that are still widely used in everyday life. Read the full story.

—Zeyi Yang

Zeyi’s story is from China Report, his weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things about China. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Tuesday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 China is furious at other countries’ covid travel restrictions 
Beijing claims the covid testing requirements “lack scientific basis.” (The Guardian)
AI isn’t very good at detecting covid. (New Scientist $)

2 Sam Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to all charges
He’ll face trial in October. (CoinDesk)
It’s possible he’ll try to strike a plea deal with prosecutors. (Economist $)

3 Microsoft wants to integrate ChatGPT into Bing
It hopes to chip away at Google’s search dominance. (The Information $)
How accurate its answers will be is still up for debate. (Bloomberg $)
A new app claims to detect whether essays have been written using ChatGPT. (Insider $)
How to spot AI-generated text. (MIT Technology Review)

4 US pharmacies can sell abortion pills for the first time
While a prescription is still required, it’ll significantly broaden access to medicated abortions. (BBC)
Where to get abortion pills and how to use them. (MIT Technology Review)

5 Political adverts are returning to Twitter
The U-turn comes months after advertisers started leaving in their droves. (Politico)
Covid misinformation spiked on Twitter after NFL player Damar Hamlin collapsed. (WP $)

6 Ethereum is getting greener
It won’t solve crypto’s environmental footprint entirely, though. (Motherboard)
Taiwan isn’t worried about the crypto crash. (Rest of World)

7 Instagram is paying musicians a fortune to soundtrack its Reels
It’s low-effort, high-reward. (New Yorker $)
But it’s mostly getting tougher out there for online creators. (The Information $)

8 Amazon in Pakistan is overrun with scammers
The fraudsters are concocting increasingly elaborate schemes to trick victims. (Rest of World)

9 Those cheap TVs come at a price

Once a staple of the American home, they’re not the status symbol they used to be. (The Atlantic $)

10 Don’t hold a holiday party in the metaverse

Your colleagues are unlikely to want to join, unfortunately. (Wired $)

Quote of the day

“I can smell the stench of crime.”

—An unnamed customer criticizes crypto exchange FTX in a complaint filed with the FTC, Gizmodo reports.

The big story

What cities need now

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April 2021

Urban technology projects have long sought to manage the city. The latest, “smart city” projects, have much in common with previous iterations. Again and again, these initiatives promise novel “solutions” to urban “problems.”

After a decade

Read More

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By: Rhiannon Williams
Title: The Download: the future of batteries, and China’s chips
Sourced From: www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/04/1066171/download-future-batteries-china-chips/
Published Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2023 13:10:00 +0000

EDM

5 Reasons Why All Inclusive Resorts Like Holy Ship! Wrecked Might Be Better Than A Festival

Holy Ship 1 scaled

Imagine a music festival that is right on the sandy beaches of Mexico. Drinks, food and lodging are all taken care of the entire weekend and you are always just minutes from any of the stages.

Well, there’s no need to imagine because numerous events around the world like Holy Ship! Wrecked are happening at all-inclusive resorts.

Here’s why all-inclusives might actually be better than a normal festival.

Holy Ship 1 1 scaled
Gina Joy

1. Convenience

The convenience of being at an all-inclusive resort while simultaneously being at a music festival is unmatched. The walk from your bed to each part of most resorts is no longer than 10 minutes.

No more waiting for Ubers to the festival itself, because you are already on the festival grounds, 24/7. Feel free to grab a bite to eat while jamming out to your favorite artists. Most resorts have grab-and-go food options that allow you to eat what you want, at the speed you want. 

2. Included Amenities

Talk about a beautiful backdrop for a music festival, as the Hard Rock Cancun Resort sits on the beautiful beaches of Cancun. With your stay you get a music festival ticket, all-you-can-eat meals, and all-you-can-drink alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) beverages.

At the Hard Rock, you can also expect to have 24-hour room service and a jacuzzi in your room. If that wasn’t enough, you can enjoy many amenities on the property as well, such as a gym, swimming, and even a whole water park! 

holy ship dj jpeg
Julian Bajsel

3. No Hidden Fees

Have you ever been to a city festival and realized that you wanted to get a drink? And then you realize later that you lost track and accidentally bought a few rounds for each of your friends?

Sometimes city festivals can cost more than originally planned, which is the beauty of an all-inclusive resort festival. You are made aware of all amenities beforehand and unless you want to participate in an off-resort activity, or you break something in your room, you will not be charged anything extra to enjoy what the Hard Rock Resort has to offer. 

4. Unlimited Re-entry 

While not allowing re-entry at most festivals is a measure put in place for safety reasons, it can be an inconvenience when you have scanned inside the festival and forgot something like a jacket or water bottle.

When you get to Holy Ship! Wrecked, there is programming that lasts almost all day and night. At any time you are allowed to leave, go to your room, and come back to the music. Having unlimited re-entry can allow you to go swimming during the day and dress into your best rave fits at night! 

Holy Ship Friends jpeg
Jason Kenmore

5. Make Friends Around the World 

Holy Ship! Wrecked attracts a worldwide crowd, many of whom will be traveling to Cancun, Mexico for this year’s edition of the festival.

While at city-wide festivals there can be some travelers, the majority of the attendees are from the city/country the festival is being held in.

The majority of attendees of Holy Ship are not living in Cancun, Mexico, so it gives attendees a chance to meet new friends from around the world and experience a little bit of what makes Mexico such a fantastic place to visit.

Holy Ship! Wrecked is taking place in Cancun, Mexico December 12-16, 2023. Click here to reserve a room.

The post 5 Reasons Why All Inclusive Resorts Like Holy Ship! Wrecked Might Be Better Than A Festival appeared first on EDM Maniac.

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By: Maddie Whelan
Title: 5 Reasons Why All Inclusive Resorts Like Holy Ship! Wrecked Might Be Better Than A Festival
Sourced From: edmmaniac.com/holy-ship-wrecked-all-inclusive-resort/
Published Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:59:14 +0000

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Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/event-review-sidepiece-home-run-tour-at-avant-garner-brooklyn/

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EDM

[Event Review] SIDEPIECE: Home Run Tour at Avant Garner, Brooklyn

GASNdvibcAEbB9a jpeg

Party Favor and NITTI‘s house project never misses a beat. SIDEPIECE has earned a reputation for pulling inspiration from a wide gamut of genres, all the while keeping pace with a 4 beat kick drum. The duo specializes in house music, with a focus on groovy basslines and catchy hooks. Their shows carry a certain type of unique energy that enthralls listeners who can’t help but dance. After a huge year of releases including a recent collab with the Golden State Warriors, The GRAMMY-nominated Los Angeles based house duo returned to New York for the next iteration of their tour Friday December 1st, with support from Mark Knight, Cloverdale and Akki.

GASNdvibcAEbB9a 1 jpeg

Having followed the duo since their early days working together, it was amazing seeing their sound evolve into what is today along with their production. SIDEPIECE as a project has an easy to grasp and goofy concept that doesn’t take itself too seriously; and it reflects in the energy and music that they produce. This carries over into their live performances as well, where Dylan and Ricky think quick on their feet and are able to deliver exactly what the crowd wants and when they want it. You can tell that they are just there to have fun, and it puts the crowd at ease and encourages them to do so as well. The Great Hall was decked out with large inflatable lips — aligning with their visual concept, and the stage was elevated and well thought out. There was no shortage of lights, lasers, and cryo cannons. It was a spectacular show, and one of the last few tour stops this year. Make sure to catch them if they are in your city! Ticket information here.

The post [Event Review] SIDEPIECE: Home Run Tour at Avant Garner, Brooklyn appeared first on EDMTunes.

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By: Jaesyun
Title: [Event Review] SIDEPIECE: Home Run Tour at Avant Garner, Brooklyn
Sourced From: www.edmtunes.com/2023/12/event-review-sidepiece-home-run-tour-at-avant-garner-brooklyn/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=event-review-sidepiece-home-run-tour-at-avant-garner-brooklyn
Published Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:20:56 +0000

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Did you miss our previous article…
https://mansbrand.com/finlands-weekend-festival-announces-headliners/

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EDM

Finland’s Weekend Festival Announces Headliners

image jpeg

Weekend Festival returns to Espoo’s new Vermo Arena for a second time on August 2 and 3 2024 with a mouthwatering line-up of global dance superstars. The first wave of headliners for this year’s event includes Timmy Trumpet, Ann Clue, Boris Brejcha, Da Tweekaz, Darude, Deniz Bul, Kanine, Moritz Hofbauer, Showtek, Sub Zero Project, Tungevaag, Vibe Chemistry, Will Sparks and on top of that come even more global superstars including Alan Walker, Tiësto, Wade, Miane, Coone and Dion Visser.

General sale will start on December 11th 8 am CET.

The Award winning Weekend Festival has fast established itself as one of the best electronic festivals in Europe and is considered the best party of the year in Finland. Over the last decade, it has welcomed more than 850 artists, over 840,000 visitors from more than 50 different countries and has been held not only in Finland but also in Estonia and Sweden. It is an unforgettable two days for those who seek the adrenaline rush of live performances but also look for a comprehensive experience that includes visual arts, interactive installations, and the companionship of like-minded music lovers.

Weekend Festival welcomes 20,000 people to the Vermo Arena – a famous horse racing track venue. It is a great setting with plenty of nearby accommodation options, and is accessible from local train and tram stations just 10 minutes away from Helsinki city centre. It comes alive with next level production, world class sound systems, immersive lights and plenty more. This year Weekend Festival will cater for 18+ attendees only.

Weekend Festival continues to uphold a remarkable reputation by offering the largest-scale electronic music event ever witnessed in Finland, backed of course by top level production. This significant investment in the festival’s production is also reflected in the event’s appeal, the pre-sale registrations exceeded 15,000—a number that greatly surpasses the registration figures of previous years. The limited availability of tickets further highlights the festival’s exclusivity and high demand.

image 1 jpeg

Weekend Festival 2023 Main Stage – © Heikki Salonen

Says Marketing Director Atro Anttila, “We definitely think that going back to our roots was exactly the right direction for us. Electronic music is again clearly growing internationally, and Weekend Festival is the only festival of this scale in Northern Europe where you can get such a comprehensive electronic dance music experience. Coming back to Espoo felt like a warm homecoming. With our finger on the pulse of the latest trends and an ear for the globe’s hottest beats, we are ready to amplify the energy and bring the most electrifying parties to Northern Europe. Get ready for an even more vibrant, bass-dropping, and unforgettable festival journey as we continue to cater exclusively to the most passionate adult fans of the electronic music scene.”

This year the theme is ‘Disco Nation’ and there will be three impressive stages to choose from; WKND Stage which offers more mainstream sounds, the Future Stage which deals in hardstyle and drum & bass, and CNNCT Stage which offers techno and tech house. As well as that there will be plenty of food areas, an indoor VIP space and VIP Tribune.

image 1 1 jpeg

Weekend Festival 2023 – © Olav

Musically, all bases are covered with EDM superstars Timmy Trumpet and Showtek, joined by cutting edged selectors such as Boris Brejcha whose label Fckng Serious will take over The Future Stage on Friday and will feature a set from the man himself as well as Ann Clue, Deniz Bul, Moritz Hofbauer and Frieder & Jakob. Also playing will be Brennan Heart, Da Tweekaz, Sub Zero Project, Tungevaag and Will Sparks.

Added on December 4th are further legends such as Norwegian hit maker Alan Walker, pioneering trance star Tiësto, hardstyle heavyweight Coone and influential house innovators Wade, Miane and Dion Visser.

Weekend Festival is like nothing else in Finland and is an experience not to be missed.

The post Finland’s Weekend Festival Announces Headliners appeared first on EDMTunes.

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By: Shane Spiers
Title: Finland’s Weekend Festival Announces Headliners
Sourced From: www.edmtunes.com/2023/12/finlands-weekend-festival-announces-headliners/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=finlands-weekend-festival-announces-headliners
Published Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:21:59 +0000

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https://mansbrand.com/club-space-and-factory-93-will-curate-stages-at-forever-midnight-in-las-vegas-and-la/

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