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Reddit has commenced its assault on search engines, reportedly blocking those that don’t have a commercial relationship with the company. 
Back in February this year, Google agreed to a $60 million “expanded partnership” with the mega-site which combines elements of social media, news aggregation, and messageboards. Reddit data can now be used for the advances of the Alphabet company’s AI models, while Reddit content will have a more prominent position on Google Search, making it easier to participate in the site’s conversations and communities.
One of the most notable aspects is that the US multinational tech leader now has access to the Reddit Data API which delivers real-time content.
As reported by 404 Media, Reddit results on other search engine platforms are now being blocked as the company goes on the offensive against web crawlers. That impacts the likes of Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Mojeek, with results either not showing any recent content, or not displaying the search result in full. 
Microsoft spokesperson Caitlin Roulston stated, “Microsoft respects the robots.txt standard and we honor the directions provided by websites that do not want content on their pages to be used with our generative AI models,” adding that its Bing search engine stopped crawling Reddit when it updated its robots.txt file on July 1.
It’s a bold move for Reddit to effectively block some of the biggest search engines on the web, but it could be another pointer of its direction of travel since the IPO earlier this year and desire to find new ways to drive revenue.
Unable or unwilling to make enforceable promises
However, a Reddit spokesperson has provided a different explanation of the situation.  
“This is not at all related to our recent partnership with Google,” stated Tim Rathschmidt in a statement to The Verge. 
“We have been in discussions with multiple search engines. We have been unable to reach agreements with all of them, since some are unable or unwilling to make enforceable promises regarding their use of Reddit content, including their use for AI.”
It has been conveyed that the online results are due to changes to Reddit’s robots.txt file, aimed at “all crawlers” that do not agree to not utilize Reddit data for AI training, with the company listing Internet Archie and reddit4research as two examples of crawlers that still work.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
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The workforce behind World of Warcraft has voted to unionize, with 500 staff taking action, according to the Communication Workers of America. 
Those involved include artists, designers, engineers, QA testers, and other professionals in the development team of the ever-popular video game franchise.
CWA has stated World of Warcraft’s publisher, Blizzard Entertainment, has recognized the union which takes the number of unionized workers at parent company Microsoft to more than 1750. This development sees the formation of the World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild, with the CWA-aligned entity establishing significant influence at the subsidiary, Activision Blizzard. It is believed to be the largest-ever union presence at a Microsoft-owned studio.
Last year, the US tech giant secured a $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, which included a “labor neutrality” agreement. Microsoft pledged to not interfere in unionizing efforts to satisfy the demands of the regulators overseeing the acquisition, which goes against the grain in the tech industry.
“Just the beginning” of union efforts
First released in 2004, World of Warcraft has been a trailblazer for the multiplayer role-playing genre. The title allows thousands of players to explore a fantasy environment simultaneously, earning billions of dollars for Blizzard in the process.
In 2021, staff at the publisher staged a walkout after California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing alleged Activision Blizzard of creating a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination against its female employees.
“What we’ve accomplished at World of Warcraft is just the beginning,” said Eric Lanham, a World of Warcraft test analyst and member guild.  The statement also indicated the next aim would be to secure greater conditions in workers’ contracts, “We know that when workers have a protected voice, it’s a win-win for employee standards, the studio, and World of Warcraft fans looking for the best gaming experience.
Tom Smith, senior director of organizing at CWA, added the news “marks a key inflection point” in the wider industry efforts to organize video game workers.
On the other side of the fence, a spokesperson for Microsoft stated the company will continue “to support our employees’ right to choose how they are represented in the workplace” and will meet with the CWA to negotiate on matters in good faith to work towards a collective bargaining agreement.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
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After a decade of Apple Maps on iPhones, the very useful travel assistant is now available on web browsers following the release of a beta version. 
The new option provides driving and walking directions for users, as well as ratings and reviews for further information. 
Apple Maps for web is very similar to the iOS app, but it doesn’t quite have all the functionality that existing Apple users will be used to. The interface is a stripped-back version of the app, with the data layers offering Standard, Hybrid, and Satellite. 
General map navigation, destination guides, business information, and food ordering are available, while the big tech giant has stated it will add other features in the coming months, such as the Look Around tool. 

It’s here y’all! Apple Maps beta is now live on the web! This means you can now integrate Apple Maps in your web apps using MapKit JS! #AppleMaps https://t.co/kv37LdzCHc
— Timirah James (@TimirahJ) July 24, 2024

More functionality planned for Apple Maps
Who will use the web version of Apple Maps, given every existing Apple user already has access? On iPhones and Macs, the service has its own dedicated app so there won’t be much fanfare around the launch, but it could be about wider competition. 
Web availability means more internet users have another alternative to Google Maps, and service providers like DuckDuckGo appear to be a great outlet for Apple Maps to secure further expansion. Another contender on the market is the Overture Maps Foundation, backed by Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, which has launched its first public mapping platform, giving developers free access to mapping information for their applications.
Apple Maps for web is currently only available in English, compatible with Safari and Chrome on iPad and Mac, as well as Chrome and Edge on Windows PCs. The iPhone maker has plans to add support for many more languages, browsers, and other platforms. 
It will be interesting to gauge how Apple Maps progresses on the web and if it can take a bigger slice of the pie from Google Maps.
The service is accessible now at  beta.maps.apple.com.
Image credit: Via Ideogram
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Pepe Unchained is a new meme coin aiming to emulate the success of predecessors like Pepe and other successful meme coins.
Addressing the limitations of traditional blockchains, it’s developing a specialized Layer-2 solution for meme coins, promising faster transactions and reduced fees.
A successful presale and potential for substantial gains have drawn attention, positioning Pepe Unchained as a potential market disruptor.
Pepe Unchained: A high-speed, high-reward investment opportunity
Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) is rapidly gaining momentum as a highly anticipated investment. The project has already garnered significant investor interest, successfully raising over $5.4 million in its presale.

This impressive feat, achieved in a short timeframe, reflects the strong confidence in Pepe Unchained’s potential. Early investors have a unique opportunity to acquire tokens at a discounted price before the upcoming price increase.
This project stands out due to its innovative features. Pepe Unchained offers lightning-fast transaction speeds, being 100 times faster than Ethereum, combined with low fees and a high volume capacity.
Its seamless integration between Ethereum and the Pepe Chain through instant bridging ensures efficient and cost-effective operations. Moreover, a dedicated block explorer provides transparency and enables easy tracking of transactions.
One of the most enticing aspects of Pepe Unchained is its staking platform, which offers an impressive annual return of 350%. Investors can start earning passive income even before claiming their presale tokens, making it an attractive proposition.
This potential for significant returns, coupled with the project’s other advantages, has fueled investor enthusiasm, as evidenced by the rapid accumulation of over $5 million in funding.

To participate in the presale, investors can use USDT, ETH, BNB, and cards. However, it’s crucial to note that only Ethereum purchases qualify for the lucrative 350% annual staking rewards.
Pepe Unchained’s blockchain technology could revolutionize the market, offering investors a potential 50x return. This makes it a prime candidate for the best meme coin investment today.
Analyzing Pepe Unchained’s strategic roadmap and influencer backing for long-term growth
Pepe Unchained is a meme coin project aiming to capitalize on the growing popularity of the genre. The project’s core is the $PEPU token, which powers its ecosystem.
A total of 8 billion PEPU tokens have been issued, with the allocation as follows: 20% for the presale, 30% for staking, 20% for marketing, 10% for liquidity, 10% for project finance, and 10% for chain inventory.
This distribution is designed to foster long-term growth and community involvement. Given the substantial token supply, a $1 price point is unlikely. However, reaching $0.10 or even $0.01 is a feasible target.

Assembly in progress 🐸🔧 pic.twitter.com/si3nflppoP
— Pepe Unchained (@pepe_unchained) July 24, 2024

The presale and staking mechanisms provide opportunities for early investors to potentially benefit from price appreciation. The project roadmap is centered around building a Layer 2 blockchain.
Key milestones include doubling stake rewards during the presale and the full launch of the blockchain. Presale tokens will be available for claim post-presale.
Early investment often carries the advantage of lower entry prices, potentially leading to higher returns upon launch.
Pepe Unchained has garnered significant traction, with a combined influencer following of over 750,000. A strong community of 4,000 Telegram members and nearly 10,000 X followers further supports the project.
Pepe Unchained offers a promising opportunity within the meme coin market, with potential rewards making it an exciting choice for investors exploring this space. To take part in the $PEPU token presale, visit pepeunchained.com.
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