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Category: Tech News
NASA Astronauts Get Ready for Launch in SpaceX Capsule
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HBO Max Is Left Out of Amazon’s, Roku’s Platforms
HBO Max was absent from the nation’s two largest streaming players when it launched Wednesday, the result of increasingly frequent clashes between streaming services and distributors. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Sony could be holding a PlayStation 5 game showcase next Wednesday
Sony might be ready to unveil some upcoming PlayStation 5 games as early as next Wednesday anonymous sources with knowledge of the event told Bloomberg. Like many other presentations we have seen, particularly during the Summer Game Fest season, it … Read more…
Trump Draft Order Could Seek to Limit Protections for Social-Media Companies
The draft executive order would make it easier for federal regulators to hold companies such as Twitter and Facebook liable for curbing users’ speech, for example by suspending their accounts or deleting their posts. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Extradition of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei CFO, Clears Major Hurdle
A Vancouver court ruled that fraud charges against Meng Wanzhou in the United States would constitute a crime in Canada, opening the way for her extradition. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Xiaomi RedmiBook is Ryzen 4000 powered starting at $559
Xiaomi has launched three new RedmiBook laptops powered by AMD Ryzen 4000-series processors, joining an expanding club that includes Asus, Lenovo, MSI, and others who have used the new CPUs in a variety of designs, from thin laptops focused on … Read more…
Apple buys an AI startup to improve Siri’s data
Apple is continuing its string of AI startup acquisitions, this time to improve Siri’s performance. The company has confirmed to Bloomberg that it recently acquired Inductiv, a Waterloo, Ontario, Canada-based company that uses AI to correct data — wh… Engadget … Read more…
Twitter Comes Under Attack From Trump’s Supporters
After the social media company labeled two of the president’s tweets as inaccurate on Tuesday, his adherents pounced. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Xbox Family Settings app sets limits on your kids’ game time
Microsoft is doing more to keep tabs on your kids’ digital habits. It just released the preview version of an Xbox Family Settings app for Android and 10,000 iOS users that manages what, when and how children play on Xbox … Read more…
Whoooaaa Duuuuude: Why We Stretch Words in Tweets and Texts
Notice you’ve been elongating your words lately? You’re actually loading them with a whooooole lot of meaning. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Facebook Shut Efforts to Become Less Polarizing
The social-media giant internally studied how it polarizes users and how it might address the resulting harms, then largely shelved the research. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Weather Delays the SpaceX Crew Dragon Launch
The historic launch planned for Wednesday gets pushed back due to stormy conditions, but the launch window remains open. SpaceX and NASA will try again Saturday. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Bad Weather Scrubs SpaceX Launch
The company’s launch of two NASA astronauts into orbit was canceled because of adverse weather, delaying a new era of corporate-driven space missions. The next attempt is expected Saturday. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Richard Branson’s Small-Satellite Launch Venture Fails First Test
A company founded by entrepreneur Richard Branson to launch small satellites botched its initial demonstration flight, as a rocket released from a specially outfitted jumbo jet failed to reach low-earth orbit. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Google says 70 percent of serious security bugs are memory safety issues
Google notes in this memory safety report that Chromium’s security architecture was designed to assume that such bugs exist, using sandboxes to help stop them from taking over host machines. It’s an effort that has allowed the team to stay … Read more…
Virgin Orbit Launch Attempt Ends Without Trip to Space
The company, founded by Richard Branson, had hoped to show that it can send small satellites to orbit from virtually anywhere. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
What’s on TV this week: HBO Max, ‘Space Force’ and ‘Uncut Gems’
This week HBO makes its assault on streaming with the new HBO Max service. At launch it will include tons of archival content like the back catalog of Friends, Rick & Morty and 2001: A Space Odyssey, as well as … Read more…
11 Best Mattress Deals and Sales for Memorial Day (2020)
Just about all of our WIRED Recommended bed-in-a-box mattresses are on sale right now. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
U.S. Flying Through Fog in $16 Billion Broadband Push
The Federal Communications Commission is set to move forward with an October auction to fund internet providers’ expansion of high-speed service in rural areas, despite faulty data on where gaps exist. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
How Etsy Became America’s Unlikeliest Breadbasket
Homebound consumers are flocking to the site for scones, biscuits, muffins, breads, doughnuts and…alkaline tahini spelt cookies. Homebound chefs are eager to satisfy this newfound hunger for baked goods. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Coronavirus Raises Demand for Skin-Temperature Scanners
A coronavirus-triggered rush for infrared cameras that identify people with elevated skin temperature is causing makers of the devices to re-examine their product lineups to meet increasing demand. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Internet giants are fighting to protect your private browsing history
The amendment was proposed by Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana. Neither party opposes the amendment at all. When the Senate voted, a number of the amendment’s supporters were absent, and it failed … Read more…
Latest iPhone jailbreak even works on all recent versions of iOS
A team of mobile operating specialists over the weekend published a tool that’s reportedly capable of jailbreaking all versions of iOS from 11 through the just-released 13.5 update. TechSpot BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Robots! (Don’t Get Too Excited.)
Robots are cool. But we should be skeptical of emerging technology. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Virgin Orbit Pushes Back First Rocket Launch From Jumbo Jet
The company, founded by Richard Branson, aims to show it can send small satellites to orbit from virtually anywhere. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Texas Instruments makes it harder to run programs on its calculators
Texas Instruments’ graphing calculators have a reputation as hobbyist devices given their program support, but they just lost some of their appeal. Cemetech has learned (via Linus Tech Tips) that Texas Instruments is pulling support for assembly- and… Engadget RSS … Read more…
Hacked NES Power Glove controls a modular synth with finger wriggles
Never mind controlling a modular synth by twiddling knobs. If one modder has his way, one of Nintendo’s legendary controllers is the way of the future. Look Mum No Computer (aka Sam Battle) has hacked an NES Power Glove into … Read more…
The DHS Prepares for Attacks Fueled by 5G Conspiracy Theories
The claim that 5G can spread the coronavirus has led to dozens of cell-tower burnings in Europe. Now, the US telecom industry is on alert as well. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
30 Best Memorial Day Sales of 2020: Tech, Headphones, TVs, and More
This long weekend, you can save on everything from headphones to an iPad. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Large Tech Companies Prepare for Acquisition Spree
After pushing the pause button during the coronavirus pandemic, big enterprise-technology companies later this year are expected to go on a shopping spree for smaller tech firms, industry analysts say. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Our Habits Have Changed. These Gadgets Are Proof.
From Pelotons to “Animal Crossing,” these are the things that hooked us during the pandemic—and that we’ll likely stick with when it’s over. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Readies First Astronaut Launch by Private Firm
With the scheduled launch of two NASA astronauts into orbit Wednesday, Space Exploration Technologies aims to propel the U.S. into a historic new era of commercially led space exploration. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Final Fantasy VII Remake led record-setting month for video games
Final Fantasy VII bested both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the top spot. The other two titles finished in second and third place, respectively, according to NPD. TechSpot BEST DEAL UPDATE:
SpaceX Gets Go-Ahead for NASA Astronaut Launch Next Week
The agency confirmed its mission was proceeding smoothly, but made the announcement amid the puzzling departure of a top NASA official. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Halo 3’ for PC should be ready for public testing in June
It won’t be too much longer before you can play the whole of the original Halo trilogy on PC. The 343 Industries team has announced (via Windows Central) that public testing for Halo 3’s Master Chief Collection PC release should … Read more…
There’s a Jailbreak Out for the Current Version of iOS
The Unc0ver tool works on all versions of iOS from 11 to 13.5, the current release. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Trump Considers Forming Panel to Review Complaints of Online Bias
The president is considering establishing a panel to review complaints of anticonservative bias on social media, a move that would likely draw pushback from tech companies. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Bloomberg Technology’ Full Show (05/22/2020)
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Next in Videoconferencing—Hiding Your On-Screen Double Chin
Lockdown computer conversations reveal that webcams add about 10 pounds under the jawline; ‘I didn’t realize I was this vain’ WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Nvidia AI creates a playable version of Pac-Man without any source code
Up until now, that’s seemingly been the case, but one Nvidia-created AI is challenging the norm. To celebrate Pac-Man’s 40th anniversary, the hardware maker fed a computer farm a whopping 50,000 “episodes” of gameplay from the title — but not … Read more…
Nvidia Earnings Rise, as Coronavirus Lifts Games and Remote Services
The chip maker recorded strong growth in computer games and remote computing services, driven by people stuck at home during the pandemic. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Why All the Shouting About Google?
Here’s the one question that matters: Does Google rig the system to squash its rivals and hurt us? NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Samsung is building a second 5nm factory in South Korea
Samsung has talked a lot about its ambitions around building more manufacturing capacity for next generation silicon, both for its own custom chips as well as serving the needs of others like Apple, Google, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Amazon. The plan … Read more…
Grandmother’s Refusal to Remove Photos From Facebook Tests Privacy Law
A Dutch court ruled a woman violated Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation after refusing to take down photos of her grandchildren from social media. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Apple’s AirPods with wireless charging case drop to $150 on Amazon
Now’s a prime opportunity to get some AirPods if you’d like them for your walks or just to improve your video calls. Amazon is selling AirPods with a wireless charging case for $ 150. That’s $ 50 off the official … Read more…
Tesla’s Arcade adds ‘Fallout Shelter’ for in-car play
Nearly a year after it was announced at E3, Fallout Shelter has joined the list of games Tesla owners can play on their in-car infotainment systems. After initially launching on smartphones five years ago, the free-to-play spin-off has come to … Read more…
Google Pixel 3A Deal: WIRED’s Favorite Android Phone Is Nearly Half Off
Google’s affordable Pixel is still our favorite Android phone, and it’s never been a better value. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Doom Eternal’ Will Drop Its Controversial Anti-Cheat Software
The move comes just a week after the software was added to the game. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
For Many, Remote Work Is Becoming Permanent in Wake of Coronavirus
Companies across the economy are considering a permanent shift to remote work in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak, following the lead of tech-sector giants. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Alibaba’s Profit Tanks With Investment Loss
Alibaba’s fourth quarter profit fell 88% from the same period a year ago after the coronavirus pandemic affected the value of the Chinese e-commerce giant’s public investments. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Watch the Launch of a Secret U.S. Military Spy Plane Into Oribt
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iOS Update Addresses iPhone Coronavirus Gripes
The latest version, iOS 13.5, includes features like faster unlocking by people wearing face masks, Covid-19 exposure-notification app support and improved group FaceTime calling WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Bloomberg Technology’ Full Show (05/15/20)
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Netflix to automatically cancel dormant subscriptions
The goal of virtually every subscription-based service is to boost enrollment. The problem for some – especially those that don’t keep a keen eye on their checking account – is that once you put something on auto-pay, it’s easy to … Read more…
Amazon Targets Fall for Prime Day as it Tries to Return to Pre-Pandemic Operations
Amazon.com is taking a number of steps to return to pre-pandemic business operations, including scheduling its annual Prime Day shopping promotion for the fall and allowing unlimited shipments of nonessential goods to warehouses. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
A Case for Cooperation Between Machines and Humans
A computer scientist argues that the quest for fully automated robots is misguided, perhaps even dangerous. His decades of warnings are gaining more attention. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
This Raspberry Pi-like SBC packs a Ryzen APU with Vega 11
Single-board computer (SBC) maker Axiomtek unveiled its latest design dubbed CAPA13R. The 3.5-inch SBC has a form factor comparable to a Raspberry Pi board. However, the CAPA13R comes embedded with an AMD Ryzen APU. TechSpot BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Twitter says disappearing ‘Fleets’ are reported less often than tweets
Twitter says one of its boldest experiments is showing some promise at reducing harassment. No, it’s not the company’s recent move to allow some users to limit replies on tweets, but its move into disappearing content.The company gave one of … Read more…
Facebook Starts Planning for Permanent Remote Work from Home
The move is a stark change from an office-centric culture. But there’s a catch: Salaries are likely to change to match local costs of living. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Magic Leap raises $350 million and puts layoffs on hold
Magic Leap has been struggling for quite a while now, but the past year has been especially difficult due to poor sales and the coronavirus pandemic. Back in April, the company announced that it’s laying off employees at every level, … Read more…
Joe Biden Answers Your Most Searched Questions About Him
The Democratic presidential candidate responds to the internet’s most searched questions, including his stances on immigration, education, and gun control. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Facebook to Shift Permanently Toward More Remote Work After Coronavirus
The social-media giant plans to become a substantially remote workforce over the next decade, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, as it moves to embrace the dispersed structure made necessary by the pandemic. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
REI Anniversary Sale and More: 21 Best Summer Outdoor Deals for 2020
REI’s Anniversary Sale, and some other outdoor retailer sales, are still on through Memorial Day. It’s the best time of the year to pick up all the bikes, tumblers, and coolers that you’ll need. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
IBM Announces First Job Cuts Under New Chief Executive
An unspecified number of layoffs come as a major economic slowdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic causes many customers to dial back investments. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Bloomberg Technology’ Full Show (05/19/2020)
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Coronavirus Contact-Tracing Apps Face Another Challenge: Designing a Great User Experience
Health officials consider tracing the contacts of people who test positive for the coronavirus an essential tool for controlling its spread, particularly as states across the U.S. loosen their lockdowns. Developers have rushed to answer the need with apps meant to … Read more…
Huawei Will Leave U.S.,’Won’t Come Back’ Over New Ban, Says Security Chief
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Google gets Serious Sam 4 as a Stadia exclusive this August
Google was able to convince publisher Devolver Digital to make Serious Sam 4 a Stadia exclusive for one year. This agreement did not affect the PC release. TechSpot BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Apple, Google Unveil Technology for Covid-19 Exposure Alerts
The technology can help governments track the spread of the coronavirus through apps that notify mobile-device users if they have been exposed to someone who tested positive. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
How the ‘Plandemic’ Movie and Its Falsehoods Spread Widely Online
Conspiracy theories about the pandemic have gained more traction than mainstream online events. Here’s how. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Crucible’ is a new free-to-play team-based sci-fi shooter from Amazon
In Amazon’s own words, Crucible is a “team-based action shooter” that’s allegedly driven by the choices its players make. That might be a bit of a generous description, from the hands-on reports we’ve read, but it certainly appears to offer … Read more…
Jammy’s new MIDI guitar can control all your virtual instruments
Since the MIDI standard was released in the early ‘80s, plenty of musicians have wanted to control electronically-generated sounds with a guitar. Goofy attachments have come and gone, and last year’s Jammy — a stringed MIDI controller that can be … Read more…
Everything You Need to Know About Slow Internet Speeds
Our crummy connections are the biggest tech headache in the pandemic. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what to do about them. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Scientists create a cyborg eye that mimics the real thing
Scientists have been working on artificial eyes for years, but mimicking the shape and behavior of a real eye has been difficult. A breakthrough might just lead to a practical design, though. Researchers have created (via New Scientist) a cyborg … Read more…
The Flimsy Veneer of Gigantic Advertisements
Next time your eyes are drawn to a billboard or a commercial facade, try to notice what it’s obscuring. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Inside Facebook and Private Equity’s $8.8 Billion Bet on India’s Richest Man
Facebook and a trio of U.S. private-equity firms have in the past month poured billions of dollars into an upstart mobile operator controlled by India’s richest man. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Coronavirus Guide: Symptoms, Testing, Treatment, and Economics
Everything we know about Covid-19, from avoiding the virus to caring for your loved ones, with regular updates. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Virus Layoffs Remake Silicon Valley Job Market
Major layoffs at big companies including Uber and Airbnb, as well a host of smaller startups, have shaken any sense that the tech industry is insulated from the broader employment destruction. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
U.S.-China Relations Have Fallen Off a Cliff, Says Strategist
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Spotify Strikes $100 Million-Plus Podcast Deal With Rogan
Joe Rogan is taking his podcast exclusively to Spotify Technology in a licensing deal worth more than $ 100 million, according to a person familiar with the matter. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
New GPU acceleration patch for Adobe Premiere Pro makes video encoding much faster
Hardware acceleration in Premiere Pro is nothing new. It has been using Nvidia CUDA for acceleration for a while now. Version 14.2 incorporates Nvidia’s Nvencode API to utilize the video card’s hardware-based NVENC encoder. Likewise, the patch will use the … Read more…
A City Locks Down to Fight Coronavirus, but Robots Come and Go
Like many other places, a community 50 miles outside London went into quarantine. A fleet of delivery robots has been helping with the groceries. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Twitch clarifies what its Safety Advisory Council will do
Twitch only unveiled its Safety Advisory Council days ago, but it left a few questions unanswered. What will the advisors do, exactly? The livestreaming service now hopes to elaborate. Company chief Emmett Shear has posted a clarification of just why… … Read more…
Covid-19’s Toll on Prison Labor Doesn’t Just Hurt Inmates
Work stoppages impact the incarcerated workforce as well. The financial losses extend beyond the walls. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Facebook Launches Shopping Platform for Small Businesses
The service, Facebook Shops, will enlist small businesses to sell their wares online at the same time the coronavirus pandemic is upending business world-wide. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Bloomberg Technology’ Full Show (05/18/2020)
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Uber Cuts 3,000 More Jobs, Shuts 45 Offices
Uber is reducing staff, closing more than three dozen offices and re-evaluating big bets in areas ranging from freight to self-driving technology, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an email to employees. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
FedEx and Microsoft announce partnership to improve package delivery
Microsoft and FedEx are joining forces with a new partnership that will supposedly “transform commerce” by pairing the former company’s cloud prowess with the logistics network of the latter. TechSpot BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Now More Than Ever, Facebook Is a ‘Mark Zuckerberg Production’
For years, he was an obsessive C.E.O. in some ways, distant in others. Then Facebook’s problems became too acute to leave to anyone else. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ package will cost $1,000 more by July
Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” package will get a price hike and cost $ 1,000 more worldwide come July 1st, Elon Musk has revealed on Twitter. The company chief didn’t mention an exact adjusted price for it, but the option currently costs … Read more…
The FBI Backs Down Against Apple—Again
The agency cracked the Pensacola iPhones, but it still views Cupertino as a problem—even though it’s easier to break into iPhones than it has been in years. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
SoftBank to Seek Buyers for About $20 Billion of Its T-Mobile Shares
The Japanese conglomerate’s plan to sell about $ 20 billion of its shares in T-Mobile US represents what would be one of the largest stock trades ever. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
What Happened When I Switched From Macs to Windows
Fed up with the rising cost and declining quality of Apple laptops, I migrated to Microsoft. It has been both a total joy and a complete pain in the neck. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Now Chrome Can Block Ads That Leach Power From Your CPU
Google developers have built a feature to help you avoid abusive ads. Here’s how to turn it on now. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Alibaba Co-Founder Jack Ma to Leave SoftBank’s Board
Another confidant of SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son is stepping down as the technology investment company faces losses. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Silicon Valley’s Next Big Office Idea: Work From Anywhere
Tech companies were among the first to send employees home when the coronavirus outbreak paralyzed the U.S. in March. Two months later, some firms say the changes will have lasting impact on how their industry works and recruits. WSJ.com: WSJD … Read more…
China may be considering restrictions against US chipmakers amid renewed Huawei ban
Early on Friday, the Trump administration renewed the Huawei ban that prevents the company and its subsidiaries from doing business with hardware and software companies in the United States. While the Chinese tech giant has been able to circumvent some … Read more…
Konami’s delayed TurboGrafx-16 mini arrives in the US May 22nd
After missing its initial March 19th release date, Konami's TurboGrafx-16 mini will finally make its way to North America on May 22nd. When it becomes available next Friday, you'll be able to pick it up for $ 100. At the start … Read more…
Amazon Makes No Promises on Bezos Testimony
The company said it would be happy to send someone to testify. But it never mentions Jeff Bezos. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Valve opens ‘Half-Life: Alyx’ level editing tools to the community
The debut of Half-Life: Alyx has already added more than a million new VR users to Steam, and now comes the next step: mods. The game’s latest update brings beta support for the Steam Workshop so users can add their … Read more…
Buying Giphy Gives Facebook a New Window Into Its Rivals
The social media giant acquires another rich source of data, this time in the form of the internet’s favorite GIF library. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Taiwan Firm to Build Chip Factory in U.S.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of silicon chips, said it would spend $ 12 billion to build a chip factory in Arizona, as U.S. concerns grow about dependence on Asia for the technology. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL … Read more…
Epic Games’ New Unreal Engine 5 Looks Pretty Incredible
The game engine won’t be released until next year, but man it looks nice. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
DOJ, States Likely to Bring Antitrust Suits Against Google
Both the Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general are likely to file antitrust lawsuits against Alphabet’s Google—and are well into planning for litigation, according to people familiar with the matter. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
The US Says Chinese Hackers Went Too Far During the Covid-19 Crisis
The FBI and DHS say that Beijing’s hacking “jeopardizes” the delivery of much-needed Covid-19 treatment options. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Coronavirus Finishes the Retail Reckoning That Amazon Started
Even as malls and stores begin to reopen, the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on an industry already battered by the shift to online shopping. Roughly 100,000 stores are expected to close over the next five years—more than triple … Read more…
Redfin CEO Admits Decisions He Once Opposed Turned Out to Be Good Ones
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Twitter to Add Labels to Disputed Coronavirus Posts
Twitter will start adding labels to tweets that have disputed information about the coronavirus, a step that comes as a new survey shows that 78% of Americans believe that misinformation about the virus is a major problem. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST … Read more…
Steam’s Summer Sale date leaks, alongside loyalty program details
SteamDB developer Pavel Djundik confirmed that 2020’s Steam Summer Sale will kick off on June 25, with an end date scheduled for July 9. That’s a pretty lengthy sale — it’ll run two weeks in total, which should give everyone … Read more…
Employers Rush to Adopt Virus Screening. The Tools May Not Help Much.
Symptom-checking apps and fever-screening cameras promise to keep sick workers at home and hinder the virus. But experts warn they can be inaccurate and violate privacy. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
iFixit takes a look inside Apple’s Magic Keyboard
Apple’s Magic Keyboard works so well that it blurs the line between iPads and full-blown Macs. Now, iFixit has taken a closer look at what’s inside its keys as well as its sturdy, elegant trackpad, which we called one of … Read more…
Elon Musk Defies Lockdown Orders and Reopens Tesla’s Factory
The CEO sued a California county over the weekend and threatened to move the company to Texas—his latest tangle with government authorities. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Musk Says Tesla Is Restarting Production, Defying Local Order
The Tesla CEO said the company would resume production at its assembly plant outside San Francisco that authorities have ordered to remain closed. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Vonage Sees Boost in 1Q Earnings
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How to Take Better Breaks From Your Screens
Feeling burned out from too much screen time? Try the Pomodoro technique, use voice-to-text dictation, and opt for audio workouts instead of Zoom classes. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Intel won’t benchmark GPUs with more than 768 shaders and 3GB memory
That marketing team flipped the paradigm and introduced an unprecedented level of transparency into the development process. (I’m personally grateful to Intel’s marketing team for giving me so much to write about.) Their ploy has often worked. Early promises of … Read more…
Virus Conspiracists Elevate a New Champion
A video showcasing baseless arguments by Dr. Judy Mikovits, including attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, has been viewed more than eight million times in the past week. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Top fashion houses are showing their latest styles in ‘Animal Crossing’
Real-world fashion shows (and in some cases, fashion in general) aren’t options during a pandemic, so how do labels get the word out? In 2020, they flock to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As Elle and Kotaku have noticed, designers like … Read more…
Thunderbolt Flaws Expose Millions of PCs to Hands-On Hacking
The so-called Thunderspy attack takes less than five minutes to pull off with physical access to a device, and affects any PC manufactured before 2019. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Trump and Chip Makers Seek Self-Sufficiency
The administration and American companies including Intel are looking to jump-start development of new chip factories in the U.S. as concern grows about reliance on Asia. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
The Next Concert You See Will Look and Sound Different
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Google Parent Alphabet Drops Controversial ‘Smart City’ Project
Alphabet subsidiary Sidewalks Labs said it is abandoning a project to develop a “smart city” in a Toronto neighborhood, citing the economic uncertainty and harm to Toronto’s real-estate market caused by the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
AMD has developed an 8-core desktop APU
A month ago, AMD released a smattering of mobile pieces to immediate success. Now they’re prototyping the same hardware in desktop form: Renoir, fully unlocked and power hungry. TechSpot BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Is ‘Death Diving’ the Future of TV?
The pandemic has shown we’ll watch any garbage on TV. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
GameStop’s PC gaming sale discounts ASUS monitors, Razer mice and more
GameStop might just help you put the finishing touches on your computer setup. It’s running a PC gaming sale between now and May 16th that promises deals on a slew of hardware. To start, it’s offering a $ 100 gift … Read more…
Facebook and the Folly of Self-Regulation
The company’s new review board is designed to move slowly and keep things intact. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
LiveXLive to Join Podcast Fray With PodcastOne Acquisition
Digital-media company LiveXLive Media will acquire PodcastOne parent Courtside Group in a bet that bigger is better amid the coronavirus pandemic and that ad revenue for podcasting will continue to soar. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Vaynerchuk Sees More Job Cuts Ahead in Silicon Valley
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Uber Redraws Road Map to Profit in Wake of Weakened Ridership
Uber’s net loss ballooned in the first quarter as the ride-hailing giant was stung by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and signaled further cost reductions a day after announcing plans to cut about 14% of its staff. WSJ.com: WSJD … Read more…
Amazon and Microsoft are accusing each other of playing dirty to get JEDI contract
Last month, the DoD cleared Microsoft’s JEDI contract award, after it couldn’t find any wrongdoing in the whole process. This was the first result of legal action where Amazon, the company that came closest to winning the bid, argued that … Read more…
Zoom, Xoom, Zum: Why Does Every Start-Up Sound Fast Now?
An investigation into Zoomd, Zoomi, Zoomy and Zoomies. Also, Zoomin. And Zoomvy and Zoomly. And … NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Lionsgate is streaming ‘John Wick’ for free on YouTube at 9 PM ET
For the final night of its ‘Night at the Movies’ events to benefit people who work in the movie industry, Lionsgate is planning to stream John Wick tonight. The live stream will kick off at 9 PM ET on YouTube, … Read more…
Microsoft Is Starting to Tease Xbox Series X Games
Also, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is on ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ now. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Gawande in Talks to Leave Helm of Health-Care Venture Haven
Harvard surgeon and writer Atul Gawande would shift to the role of chairman of the Amazon, JPMorgan and Berkshire Hathaway joint venture. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Uber Reports First-Ever Decline in Rides Booked, Business Drops by 80%
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
China’s WeChat Monitors Foreign Users to Refine Censorship at Home
While international users aren’t censored like their mainland Chinese counterparts, images and documents they send through WeChat, mainstay of everyday life in China, are still analyzed for taboo content. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs abandons its Toronto smart neighborhood project
For those who don’t know, Quayside was going to be a true neighborhood of the future, complete with buildings made of “mass timber” (a material as strong and fire resistant as steel, but more sustainable), modular rooms and walls, automated … Read more…
The Results Are In for the Sharing Economy. They Are Ugly.
Lyft, Uber and Airbnb depend on travel, vacations and gatherings. That’s a problem when much of the world is staying home. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Clearview AI claims its facial recognition tech isn’t for private companies
Startup Clearview AI has built a facial recognition system that claims to be able to ID people in real-time, matching them with billions of images pulled from databases and scraped from social media. Earlier this year, a list containing the … Read more…
Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs Scraps Its Ambitious Toronto Project
The Google sibling envisioned a tech-enabled and eco-friendly neighborhood. But residents rebelled over plans to collect and use their data, among other things. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Dish Network’s Commercial Customer Base Hit by Coronavirus
Dish Network’s profit sank during the first quarter as hotels and airplanes emptied by the coronavirus crisis sapped its satellite-TV business. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
T-Mobile Was ‘Firing on All Cylinders’ Before Pandemic, CEO Says
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Chinese Chip Giant Prepares to Build Its War Chest During U.S.-China Tech Battle
China’s leading chip maker, SMIC, is preparing for a multibillion-dollar stock sale, as the country tries to build up its semiconductor capabilities during a heated trade conflict and tech battle with the U.S. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Microsoft launches Surface Book 3 with updated internals, new Surface accessories
The Surface design has aged quite well, so the company didn’t need to make any major changes. It could have done smaller things like adding a Thunderbolt 3 port, moving the headphone jack lower on the clipboard part, or adding … Read more…
People Are Panic-Buying Meat, Toilet Paper … and Pelotons?
With gyms closed and nowhere to go, more people are shelling out $ 2,245 for the workout bike. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
FCC slaps Sinclair with $48 million record-breaking fine
Sinclair Broadcast Group, a conservative media giant, has agreed to pay a $ 48 million penalty to close three open FCC investigations. In its announcement, the agency says it’s the largest civil penalty involving a broadcaster it has ever imposed … Read more…
Which States Are Reopening, Which Remain on Lockdown, and Why
There’s not a national plan to restart US businesses. That’s led to inconsistencies among governors’ orders, and some confusion among residents. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Uber, Lyft Cut Costs as Fewer People Take Rides Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Uber and Lyft are bracing for a new reality in ride-hailing: fewer passengers for the foreseeable future. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Spotify Wants to Make the Music Industry More Efficient
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
WeWork Co-Founder Adam Neumann Sues SoftBank Over Failed $3 Billion Deal
WeWork’s co-founder and former chief executive, Adam Neumann, sued SoftBank, accusing the Japanese technology group of breaking a key provision of a deal that gave SoftBank control of the shared-office-space company. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Opinion: HP’s new Chromebooks, thin clients, and gaming machines highlight PC evolution
While most of the news wasn’t triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, all of it takes on a new degree of relevance because of it. Why? As recent US retail sales reports demonstrate and conversations with PC OEMs and component suppliers … Read more…
California Sues Uber and Lyft, Claiming Workers Are Misclassified
The ride-hailing companies are accused of defying a new state law that says gig workers should be treated as employees. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
NBA 2K League comes to traditional TV on ESPN2
Despite establishing an esports footprint a couple of years before COVID-19 canceled live sports for a while, the NBA 2K League is only just now coming to traditional TV. While we’ve seen a number of broadcasts for NASCAR, F1, FIFA … Read more…
California Sues Uber and Lyft to Classify Drivers as Employees
The state and three cities say the ride-hail companies are violating a new state law. The suit could lead to tens of millions of dollars in fines. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Airbnb to Cut 25% of Workforce
Airbnb said it is slashing 1,900 jobs and cutting investments in noncore operations, as the home-sharing giant predicted the coronavirus pandemic would change its business even after more people start traveling again. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
ADP CEO on Third-Quarter Earnings, Ackman’s Proxy Fight
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
FBI Director Previously Represented Facebook in Encryption Fight
FBI Director Christopher Wray, who has been pushing tech companies to give law-enforcement officials access to encrypted messages, once advocated the opposite view when representing Facebook’s WhatsApp. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Intel’s Raja Koduri confirms that massive ‘father of all’ GPU is aimed at the data center
Intel tweeted a photo teasing a massive and mysterious GPU on Friday, and in doing so, lit the internet aflame with speculation. Early on, pretty much everyone settled on it being a form of Intel’s upcoming Xe HP or Xe … Read more…
A Private Equity Firm Is Blocked From Buying .Org
The deal for the internet domain for nonprofit organizations had set off fierce opposition. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
‘Half-Life: Alyx’ added nearly 1 million VR users to Steam
Half-Life: Alyx appears to have given VR gaming a serious boost. Road to VR has used historical data and direct Valve data to calculate that Steam users added nearly 950,000 VR headsets in April — a huge spike over March. … Read more…
Roku Smart Soundbar Review: Great Sound, With a Roku Player Built In
This home theater upgrade comes with our favorite streaming player inside, and it makes movies and shows sound damn good. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
A Smartphone App Tries to Guide the Way Out of Coronavirus Lockdowns
The app, installed by more than three million British users, helps researchers locate spikes of new-coronavirus infection as they emerge. It holds promise as a critical tool for policy makers as they ease lockdowns. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Amazon Is Investing From Position of Strength Amid Coronavirus Crisis, Says MKM Analyst
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
U.S. Probes University of Texas Links to Chinese Lab
The Education Department has asked the University of Texas System to provide documentation of its dealings with the Chinese laboratory U.S. officials are investigating as a potential source of the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Intel tweets a photo of the biggest and weirdest GPU ever made
This graphics processor is strange. As you can see from the image, from the outside it’s more like a CPU than a GPU. It sits in a socket using almost three thousand pins. It has an integrated heat spreader. TechSpot … Read more…
‘I Could Solve Most of Your Problems’: Eric Schmidt’s Pentagon Offensive
The former Google C.E.O. has reinvented himself as the prime liaison between Silicon Valley and the military-industrial complex. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Senate bill would set privacy requirements for COVID-19 tracking
Now that COVID-19 lockdowns are slowly starting to lift in the US, a group of senators want to set privacy expectations for the contact tracing apps that could help keep the virus in check. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Jerry Moran, John … Read more…
Space Photos of the Week: Happy Birthday, Hubble\!
Every year on the telescope’s birthday, we’re the ones who get a gift: a brilliant and never-before-seen snapshot of the cosmos. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Elon Musk Tweeted That Tesla’s Stock Was Too High. The Market Agreed.
Shares of the electric-car maker fell after Chief Executive Elon Musk tweeted he felt Tesla’s share price was “too high.” Asked later if the tweet was vetted or made in jest, the CEO said: “No.” WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Covid-19 Pandemic Showed How Essential Gig Workers Are: TaskRabbit CEO
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Facebook Warned That It May Lose a Key Seal of Approval for Ad Gauge
Facebook is at risk of losing a key seal of approval that gives companies confidence they are getting what they pay for when it comes to advertising with the social-media giant. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Gigabyte: Intel Z490 motherboards will support 11th-gen Core Rocket Lake CPUs
Intel’s latest 10th generation Comet Lake-S CPUs are going to be rather power-hungry, especially at the high end. And since they require a new, LGA 1200 socket, gamers and enthusiasts will want to pair these with Z490 motherboards, which are … Read more…
Congress Calls on Jeff Bezos of Amazon to Testify
Lawmakers want to question Mr. Bezos, Amazon’s chief executive, as part of its antitrust investigation. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Diplo hosts live Major Lazer set in Fortnite’s Party Royale mode
So what’s next after an in-game concert experience from Travis Scott? For Fortnite, it’s apparently an attempt at a live DJ set hosted by actor Jordan Fisher and Diplo. It started at 9 PM ET and is playing in the … Read more…
Apple Considers a Face ID Workaround for Users Wearing Masks
Your iPhone can’t read your face if half of it is covered. While the new iOS 13.5 update won’t fix that, it’s likely to make logging in less of a nuisance. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Amazon CEO Bezos Called to Testify Before Congress
Lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee called on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to testify on its private-label practices, citing a WSJ investigation that found Amazon employees used data about independent sellers on its platform to develop competing products. WSJ.com: WSJD … Read more…
Amazon’s Top Line Is a ‘Bonanza’ Says Wedbush Analyst
Bloomberg Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Apple Sales Edge Higher, Showing Resilience in Pandemic
The iPhone maker reported a slight uptick in revenue for its latest quarter despite the coronavirus shutting down factories and denting sales in China, as the tech giant’s services business picked up the slack. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
NASA awards moon lander contracts to Blue Origin and SpaceX
As part of the program, one of these human landing systems (HLS) will be used to deliver the “first woman and next man” to the Moon’s surface within the next four years: an ambitious time frame, but one NASA’s funding … Read more…
This Should Be V.R.’s Moment. Why Is It Still So Niche?
Virtual escapism is perfect for a pandemic, but V.R. still seems far from a mainstream technology. NYT > Technology BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Netflix removes a ‘Designated Survivor’ episode in Turkey
Netflix has removed an episode of the political thriller Designated Survivor from its streaming service in Turkey following a demand from a regulator. It did so to comply with local law, it told Variety in a statement.The episode in question, … Read more…
The ADL Calls Out Steam for Giving Extremists a Pass
The nonprofit has identified hundreds of profiles that espouse hate, with little attempt from the gaming platform to stop them. Feed: All Latest BEST DEAL UPDATE:
Amazon’s Sales Jump as Coronavirus Prompts Surge in Online Shopping
Amazon.com reported soaring quarterly sales as the company experienced a surge in online orders from homebound customers contending with the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ.com: WSJD BEST DEAL UPDATE:
