FCC opens probe into Comcast relationships with local TV affiliates
FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, seen by Reuters, that he was investigating after reports that NBC and other similarly situated networks are seeking "to extract onerous financial and operational concessions from local broadcast TV stations." Comcast did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Geeky Gadgets
42 minutes ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Claude HIVE Workflow : Upgrade Claude Code Agents for Faster, Smarter Coding
What if you could delegate the most tedious, time-consuming parts of app development to a team of hyper-focused, tireless assistants? Enter Claude Hive and sub-agents—AI-powered tools that are not just reshaping workflows but completely redefining what's possible in software development. With their ability to handle specific tasks like UX research, interface design, and even performance benchmarking, these sub-agents operate with surgical precision. Imagine a single project broken into perfectly synchronized parts, each managed by a specialized agent working in parallel to deliver results faster and with fewer errors. It's not just efficiency—it's a revolution. And the best part? These tools come with a staggering 200,000-token memory, making sure they never lose sight of the bigger picture, no matter how intricate your project gets. AI Labs explains more about Claude Hive and Claude Code sub-agents, you'll uncover how these AI tools can supercharge your development process, from optimizing workflows to integrating seamlessly with existing codebases using features like GitIngest. You'll learn how to harness their capabilities to tackle complex projects with ease, avoid common pitfalls like token mismanagement, and even unlock creative possibilities through advanced prompt chaining. Whether you're building a innovative app or refining a prototype, the potential of these sub-agents is nothing short of fantastic. So, how do you upgrade your coding game to match this new era of development? The answers lie ahead, waiting to challenge your assumptions and spark your imagination. Claude Code Sub-Agents Overview Understanding Claude Code Sub-Agents Claude Code sub-agents are specialized AI tools that handle specific tasks within a development workflow. Each sub-agent operates independently and is equipped with a substantial 200,000-token window, allowing it to retain deep context for intricate projects. These sub-agents can work sequentially by chaining tasks or in parallel to maximize efficiency and reduce development time. For instance, consider a scenario where a UX Researcher sub-agent defines user experience and navigation strategies while a UI Designer sub-agent concurrently plans interface components based on that research. By assigning distinct roles to sub-agents, you ensure that every aspect of your project is addressed with precision and expertise. This division of labor allows developers to focus on higher-level decision-making while the sub-agents handle specialized tasks. Optimizing Workflows for Maximum Efficiency To fully harness the potential of Claude Code, a well-structured workflow is essential. Sub-agents can be assigned to manage various tasks, including: Conducting UX research to understand user needs and preferences. Prioritizing sprints to align with project milestones. Designing user interfaces that are both functional and visually appealing. Benchmarking performance to ensure optimal app functionality. Prompt chaining is a powerful feature that allows tasks to be triggered in sequence, making sure a logical progression of work. Parallel processing, on the other hand, enables multiple sub-agents to operate simultaneously, significantly reducing development time. For example, if you're building a YouTube production manager app, one sub-agent could analyze user requirements, another could design the interface, and a third could implement advanced micro-interactions. This collaborative approach ensures that tasks are completed efficiently and to a high standard. HIVE Coding : Upgrade Your Claude Code Agents Watch this video on YouTube. Master Claude Code with the help of our in-depth articles and helpful guides. Using GitIngest for Seamless Integration One of the standout features of Claude Code is GitIngest, a tool that converts repositories into readable text for sub-agents. This functionality allows developers to integrate existing codebases into their workflows, providing sub-agents with the context they need to perform effectively. For example, you could use GitIngest to analyze a repository from a previous project. The insights gained can inform your current development process, making sure continuity and reducing redundancy. By combining GitIngest with markdown (MD) files for context management, you can maintain a clear and organized workflow. This integration not only saves time but also enhances the accuracy and relevance of the sub-agents' outputs. Addressing Challenges in Implementation While Claude Code offers numerous advantages, it also presents challenges that require careful management. Poor planning or insufficient review of sub-agent outputs can lead to suboptimal results. To mitigate this, it's crucial to refine prompts and adjust workflows to align with project goals. For instance, if a prototype lacks essential functionality, revisiting the sub-agent responsible and providing more detailed instructions can resolve the issue. Token management is another critical consideration. Tasks that consume a high number of tokens may necessitate a robust subscription plan, such as Claude Opus, to ensure that sub-agents have the resources they need to operate effectively. Monitoring token usage and allocating resources strategically can help you maximize the benefits of Claude Code while staying within budget. Key Benefits of Using Sub-Agents The integration of sub-agents into app development workflows offers several significant advantages: Enhanced app quality through the use of specialized, context-aware agents. through the use of specialized, context-aware agents. Accelerated development by distributing tasks and using parallel processing. by distributing tasks and using parallel processing. Streamlined project management within a single, cohesive session. For example, a Rapid Prototyper sub-agent can establish the foundational structure of your app, while a Test Runner ensures its functionality. Meanwhile, a Whimsy Injector can add intricate UI details and animations, creating a more engaging user experience. This collaborative ecosystem of sub-agents allows developers to achieve high-quality results with greater efficiency. Elevating App Development with Claude Code Claude Code sub-agents represent a significant advancement in app development, offering a more efficient and specialized approach to project execution. Tools like GitIngest, prompt chaining, and parallel processing empower developers to create workflows that deliver exceptional results. While challenges such as token management and prompt refinement require attention, the benefits of using sub-agents far outweigh the drawbacks. Whether you're developing a complex application or a simple prototype, Claude Code sub-agents provide the tools and capabilities needed to succeed in today's fast-paced development landscape. Media Credit: AI LABS Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
Once-loyal Target shoppers are finding alternatives after boycotts. Can the retail giant win them back?
Target was once the store that attracted shoppers looking to buy everything they needed in one place, and sucked them into its vortex with trendy yet affordable clothing, whimsical home decor and wide-ranging beauty products. The red bullseye store's ability to keep customers browsing for hours, even when they swore they'd only be five minutes, is one of its unique qualities that made it so popular – enough to even its own meme about people accidentally spending all their money and time at Target. Arianna, a 31-year-old teacher from East Texas, knew it well. Before June 2024, Arianna would take her three-year-old daughter to Target for a weekly trip. The store was convenient, her daughter could play with the toys and Arianna would browse the books. And the company also embodied values that Arianna, who asked for her surname not to be used for privacy reasons, aligned with. 'It was just a relaxing place to go and spend time with my girl,' Arianna told The Independent. But the call for Target shoppers to boycott the company when it was seen to abandon some of its progressive values changed everything. This past year, Arianna decided to cut ties with Target after the company announced it would end its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to comply with President Donald Trump 's executive order banning DEI. 'I don't like how they're propagating right-wing ideals by removing their D.E.I. initiatives and basically turning their backs on [people of color.]' Arianna said. 'Target has always tried to market themselves as being inclusive, but by quickly scrapping those inclusivity practices as soon as President Trump told them to do, it proves they never cared about inclusivity in the first place. Instead, it was all a farce and a clear example of rainbow capitalism,' she added. The Target boycott after it abandoned its DEI initiatives was first organized by Rev. Jamal Bryant, a prominent Black pastor in Georgia. He encouraged customers to stay away from Target for Lent — and then the boycott continued, with a variety of grassroots organizations getting involved. The boycott made a difference to Target's bottom line, in Q1, the retailer announced disappointing sales, with a 2.8 percent drop compared to sales from the same period last year. For years, Target's annual revenue reflected its success with customers. The company went from $73.7 billion in 2015 to an all-time high of $109.1 billion in 2022. Even during the pandemic, while other companies suffered, Target recorded a $15 billion growth in sales – proving that customers were still willing to shop at their favorite store – whether online or from a distance. But since 2022, Target's sales and stock value have stagnated. Shares of the company have dropped approximately 60 percent since its 2021 high. Target said it expects its annual sales to decline by a low single-digit percentage this year. While the company's slow decline cannot be directly attributed to one factor, it seems clear from discourse online that the retailer is losing its once loyal customers. Arianna's feelings toward Target first changed last summer when the retail giant scaled back its Pride merchandise to appease conservatives after anti-LBGTQ+ individuals and groups boycotted the store and threatened employees in June 2023. Some conservatives took aim at Target in 2023 after it began selling transgender-inclusive clothing. Then Target pulled some of its inclusive clothing after the blowback, and scaled back its Pride collections, upsetting many in the LGBTQ community. Arianna began shopping at Target less, opting to go to local or thrift stores — before abandoning it entirely after it pulled its DEI iniatives. On Reddit and Facebook, people have started pages to recommend alternative places to shop for clothing, groceries, beauty products, and more 'Boycotting Target has freed me from so much unnecessary spending. No matter what Target does in the future, I'm forever changed and free from their grip. I buy all my basics at the local drug store or Costco and I'm saving instead of giving 'Walmart in lipstick' all my expendable money,' one Reddit user said. 'Target is so unbelievably expensive most of the time for the same things I could find at Walmart for half as much,' a Reddit user complained. 'Don't even get me started on the cost of groceries at Target. I seriously question how people afford to buy full carts of groceries. The only things I've bought were a drink and some hot pockets for lunch one day and maybe a bag of chips.' Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, has attributed some of the company's stagnation to customers buying less overall – in part due to uncertainty around Trump's tariffs. "The difficulty level has been incredibly high given the rates we're facing and the uncertainty about how these rates in different categories might evolve," Cornell said in May. "We're focused on supporting American families and how they manage their budgets." Cornell said Target would only raise prices as a 'last resort.' But it's unclear if affordable prices would win back formerly loyal customers. For Arianna, there isn't much Target can do to bring her back. 'They've had plenty of time to do right by their customers of all skin colors, religions, and sexualities, but they've chosen to bury their heads in the sand and pretend like they've done nothing wrong. I'm saving more money now since I refuse to go to their stores, and instead I'm putting money into local stores which helps my community,' Arianna said. 'Maybe I'll shop there once more if they have a huge going-out-of-business sale where I can get a ton of stuff for 90% off. Other than that, I'm done for good.'
The Guardian
43 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ninety laptops, millions of dollars: US woman jailed over North Korea remote-work scam
In March 2020, about the time the Covid pandemic started, Christina Chapman, a woman who lived in Arizona and Minnesota, received a message on LinkedIn asking her to 'be the US face' of a company and help overseas IT workers gain remote employment. As working from home became the norm for many people, Chapman was able to find jobs for the foreign workers at hundreds of US companies, including some in the Fortune 500, such as Nike; 'a premier Silicon Valley technology company'; and one of the 'most recognizable media and entertainment companies in the world'. The employers thought they were hiring US citizens. They were actually people in North Korea. Chapman was participating in the North Korean government's scheme to deploy thousands of 'highly skilled IT workers' by stealing identities to make it look like they were in the US or other countries. They have collected millions of dollars to boost the government's nuclear weapons development, according to the US justice department and court records. Chapman's bizarre story – which culminated in an eight-year prison sentence – is a curious mix of geopolitics, international crime and one woman's tragic tale of isolation and working from home in a gig-dominated economy where increasingly everything happens through a computer screen and it is harder to tell fact from fiction. The secret North Korean workers, according to the federal government and cybersecurity experts, not only help the US's adversary – a dictatorship which has been hobbled by international sanctions over its weapons program – but also harm US citizens by stealing their identities and potentially hurt domestic companies by 'enabling malicious cyber intrusions' into their networks. 'Once Covid hit and everybody really went virtual, a lot of the tech jobs never went back to the office,' said Benjamin Racenberg, a senior intelligence manager at Nisos, a cybersecurity firm. 'Companies quickly realized: I can get good talent from anywhere. North Koreans and other employment fraudsters have realized that they can trick hiring systems to get jobs. I don't think that we have done enough as a community to prevent this.' To run the schemes, the North Koreans need facilitators in the United States, because the companies 'aren't going to willingly send laptops to North Korea or even China', said Adam Meyers, head of counter-adversary operations for CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. 'They find somebody that is also looking for a gig-economy job, and they say, 'Hey, we are happy to get you $200 per laptop that you manage,'' said Meyers, whose team has published reports on the North Korean operation. Chapman grew up in an abusive home and drifted 'between low-paying jobs and unstable housing', according to documents submitted by her attorneys. In 2020, she was also taking care of her mother, who had been diagnosed with renal cancer. About six months after the LinkedIn message, Chapman started running what law enforcement officials describe as 'laptop farms'. In addition to hosting computers, she helped the North Koreans pose as US citizens by validating stolen identity information; sent some laptops abroad; logged into the computers so that the foreign workers could connect remotely; and received paychecks and transferred the money to the workers, according to court documents. Meanwhile, the North Koreans created fictitious personas and online profiles to match the job requirements for remote IT worker positions. They often got the jobs through staffing agencies. In one case, a 'top-five five national television network and media company' headquartered in New York hired one of the North Koreans as a video-streaming engineer. The person posing as 'Daniel B' asked Chapman to join a Microsoft Teams meeting with the employer so that the co-conspirator could also join. The indictment does not list victims' full names. 'I just typed in the name Daniel,' Chapman told the person in North Korea, according to court records of an online conversation. 'If they ask WHY you are using two devices, just say the microphone on your laptop doesn't work right.' 'OK,' the foreign actor responded. 'Most IT people are fine with that explanation,' Chapman replied. Chapman was aware that her actions were illegal. 'I hope you guys can find other people to do your physical I-9s. These are federal documents. I will SEND them for you, but have someone else do the paperwork. I can go to FEDERAL PRISON for falsifying federal documents,' Chapman wrote to a group of her co-conspirators. Chapman was also active on social media. In a video posted in June 2023, she talked about having breakfast on the go because she was so busy, and her clients were 'going crazy!', Wired reported. Behind Chapman were racks with at least a dozen open laptops with sticky notes. In October 2023, federal investigators raided her home and found 90 laptops. In February this year, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Over the three years that Chapman worked with the North Koreans, some of the employees received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a single company. In total, the scheme generated $17m for Chapman and the North Korean government. The fraudsters also stole the identities of 68 people, who then also had false tax liabilities, according to the justice department. In a letter to the court before her sentencing, Chapman thanked the FBI for arresting her because she had been 'trying to get away from the guys that I was working with for awhile [sic] and I wasn't really sure how to do it'. 'The area where we lived didn't provide for a lot of job opportunities that fit what I needed,' Chapman wrote. 'To the people who were harmed, I send my sincerest apologies. I am not someone who seeks to harm anyone, so knowing that I was a part of a company that set out to harm people is devastating to me.' Last week, US district court judge Randolph Moss sentenced Chapman to more than eight years in prison; to forfeit $284,000 that was to be paid to the North Koreans, and to pay a fine of $176,000. Chapman and her co-conspirators were not the only ones conducting such fraud. In January, the federal government also charged two people in North Korea, a Mexican citizen and two US citizens for a scheme that helped North Korean IT workers land jobs with at least 64 US companies and generated at least $866,000 in revenue, according to the justice department. Racenberg, of Nisos, said he expected cybercriminals to use artificial intelligence to 'get better and better' at performing such schemes. Companies should conduct 'open-source research' on applicants because oftentimes the fraudsters reuse résumé content, Racenberg said. 'If you put the first few lines of the résumé in, you might find two, three other résumés online that are exactly the same with these very similar companies or similar dates,' Racenberg added. 'That should raise some flags.' During an interview, if there is background noise that sounds like a call center or if the applicant refuses to remove a fake or blurred background, that could also be cause for concern, Meyers, of CrowdStrike, said. And companies should ask new hires to visit the office to pick up their laptop rather than mail it to them because that allows the company to see if the person who shows up is the same one you interviewed, Racenberg said. Five years after the pandemic, more companies have also started to require employees to return to the office at least part time. If all corporations did that, would it eliminate the threat? 'It's going to prevent all of this from happening, yes,' Racenberg said. 'But are we going to go back to that? Probably not.'
