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British man considers buying a landfill to recover a hard drive containing £600 million in Bitcoin.

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Technology Insights Daily
February 18, 2025

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A British IT worker who accidentally discarded a hard drive in 2013 that contained 8,000 Bitcoin (now worth hundreds of millions of pounds). He has since been trying to gain permission to excavate a landfill in Newport, Wales, where he believes the hard drive is buried.

Howells has proposed using AI, robotic dogs, and specialist excavation teams to recover the drive, but local authorities have rejected his requests due to environmental concerns. To overcome this, he has considered purchasing the landfill or finding other legal ways to search for the missing cryptocurrency fortune.

Google has announced that NotebookLM Plus, an advanced version of its AI-powered research and note-taking tool, is now included in the Google One AI Premium plan at no additional cost.

Key Features of NotebookLM Plus:

  • Enhanced Usage Limits: Subscribers can create up to 500 notebooks, each containing 300 sources, with a daily limit of 500 chat queries and 20 audio generations.

  • Premium Functionalities: The Plus version offers customizable response styles, advanced sharing options, and analytics to track notebook usage.

Google One AI Premium Plan Benefits:

  • Gemini Advanced Access: Integration of advanced AI features in Gmail, Docs, and other Google services.

  • Expanded Storage: 2 TB of cloud storage for your files and data.

  • Priority Support: 24/7 access to Google experts for assistance.

Additionally, Google is offering a 50% discount on the AI Premium plan for U.S. students aged 18 and older, reducing the monthly cost to $9.99 for the first year.

This integration enhances the value of the Google One AI Premium plan, providing users with advanced tools to optimize their research and note-taking experiences.

Recent reports suggest that Costco Canada may have inadvertently revealed the anticipated price for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. An internal product listing labeled "Nintendo Switch Place Holder" was spotted with a price of $499.99 CAD, which is approximately $350 USD.

While this leak provides an intriguing glimpse into potential pricing, it's essential to await official communications from Nintendo for accurate information.

In a groundbreaking development, Meatly, in collaboration with plant-based dog food brand THE PACK, has introduced Chick Bites, the world's first dog treats made from cultivated meat. These treats are now available at Pets at Home in Brentford, London, marking a significant milestone in sustainable pet food.

Key Highlights:

  • Innovative Production: Chick Bites combine plant-based ingredients with Meatly's cultivated chicken. The cultivated meat is produced from a single sample of cells taken from one chicken egg, allowing for indefinite meat production without the need for raising or slaughtering animals. This method ensures that the meat contains all essential amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins necessary for canine health.

  • Sustainability: This approach offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional meat production, aiming to reduce the environmental impact associated with conventional pet food. By eliminating the need for animal farming, cultivated meat production can significantly decrease land use and carbon emissions.

  • Future Plans: Meatly plans to expand production and make its cultivated chicken more widely available over the next three to five years, with further collaborations planned with THE PACK and Pets at Home.

This innovation not only provides a nutritious and ethical option for pet owners but also aligns with a growing movement towards sustainable and humane food sources for animals.

In a concerning incident, a smart door lock reportedly exploded, causing significant damage to a residence in China. Following this event, China's Market Supervision Administration conducted an investigation and found that over 30% of electronic locks did not meet safety standards.

Key Points:

  • Incident Details: The explosion resulted in the destruction of half of the affected house, highlighting potential safety risks associated with certain smart lock models.

  • Regulatory Findings: The Market Supervision Administration's assessment revealed that a significant portion of electronic locks failed to comply with established safety criteria, underscoring the need for stricter quality control and certification processes.

Industry Response:

In light of these findings, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of fire safety certifications for smart locks. A survey indicated that 84% of industry professionals advocate for such certifications to ensure user safety. Efforts are underway to develop comprehensive standards addressing fire resistance and emergency functionalities for electronic locks.

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