The Future of Tech, News and making sense of it all!

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Tuesday Technology and More!

 Technology and more...




Xiaomi Mi 11 has a Snapdragon 888 chip, 108-megapixel camera

Xiaomi 11 Snapdragon 888•
200+Mashable / 2h
As promised a week ago, Xiaomi on Monday launched the world's first smartphone with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip — the Xiaomi Mi 11. The phone was announced at an event in China — sorry folks, global launch is yet to come — and will become available in China on Jan. 1. Besides sporting Qualcomm's latest and greatest mobile processor, the Mi 11 is a typical Xiaomi flagship, with some very

VW provides a glimpse at its mobile charging robot

Volkswagen Charging•
Popular Mechanics / 1h
The post appeared first on Popular Mechanics .

Larger bumblebees put effort into learning where the best flowers are

SlashGear / 8min
Researchers from the University of Exeter have discovered something interesting about bumblebees. The team found that larger bumblebees perform learning flights to learn the location of the best flowers. Smaller bumblebees, which have shorter flight ranges and less carrying capacity, don’t pay special attention to flowers with the best nectar. Honeybees are also known to perform learning flights


The best crime documentaries on Netflix

Mashable / 7min
True-crime is so much more than stories of serial killers and grisly murders. Within this realm, dedicated documentarians are able to explore not only the darkest recesses of human experience, but also the curious corners of sensational crimes, and the fascinating frankness of curious characters, who shock us, scorch us with horror, or fill us with hope. Whether you're looking for stories of dang

Human mattress dominoes: The dumb collaborative fun we missed in 2020

Mashable / 7min
Stuck at home with more time on our hands, a lot of us went down weird internet rabbit holes in 2020. The one I'm most grateful for stumbling upon was filled with oddly soothing videos of people literally falling down. They seemed to represent everything we lost this year, and the hope of everything that could come again: Thousands gathering IRL in close quarters for silly, innocent, massively co

Antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 infections: Tthe more the better

Ars Technica / 23min
Enlarge / Oxford University is associated with the hospital that ran this study, as well as a vaccine that is currently undergoing clinical trials. (credit: Gallo Images ) The two authorizations issued by the FDA for COVID-19 vaccines come because of clear data that they limit infections by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and ensure that any ensuing cases are mild. Studies have also indicated that the vacc

PS5 restock: Target's PS5 disc console drop continues, but selling out rapidly

24TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 26min
Target has just dropped its latest stocks of PS5 consoles - jump in to get one

LG's new QNED TVs are the first to feature Mini LED technology

25Mashable / 44min
LG will announce its first-ever Mini LED TV at CES in January. The company is well-known for quality OLED TVs, but Mini LED technology is said to be even better than OLED in some regards (and definitely superior to plain old LCD), so LG is dipping its toes into those waters as well. The new TVs will officially be called LG QNED Mini LED TVs, and I bet it will leave many customers scratching their

Life Without Amazon (Well, Almost)

92NYT > Technology / 1h
For concerned customers, avoiding one of the world’s largest retailers and web service providers is proving harder than expected.

This portable projector fits in your palm and delivers a 120-inch screen anywhere

21Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Swap your TV for a take-anywhere, portable AAXA P7 Pico Projector , on sale for $377.99 as of Dec. 29. So, you finally took a leap of faith and cut the cord on your exorbitant cable bill this year. Amazing. Next up: liberating yourself from the power of a TV screen. Don’t worry, getting rid of your TV doesn’t mean you can’t watch stuff. On the contrary, you can watch stuff on a more massiv

This seat cushion is a great alternative to a new WFH chair

Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Never worry about back pain again with this Honeycomb Breathable Sitting Gel Cushion for $46.39, a 47% savings as of Dec. 29. As comfortable as it may seem, sitting down all day is apparently terrible for your health and body. After hours of staying put, you'll likely experience some pain when you get back up — or you'll face the music years from now when you finally pay the price. But wit

Save 60% on this super sleek wireless charger that juices 2 devices at once

Mashable / 1h
TL;DR: Say goodbye to wires with the Wireless Qi Canvas Duo Device Charger for $47.99 with the code HOLIDAY20 as of Dec. 29. If you want to join the 21st century, you need to add "Qi" to your vocabulary. Long story short, it's pronounced "chee" and refers to the wireless charging standard for most devices. The nice thing is that because there is, in fact, a "standard," you can use the same charge

10 of the best end-of-year sales on luggage and more for when it's safe to travel again

Mashable / 1h
The New Year is right around the corner, and it appears things are looking up . *Knocks on wood*. Even though most travel plans were put on hold in 2020, it's possible things could change soon. As soon as it does, don't you want to be ready to jet set to the place you've been dreaming about since March? Not to mention you'll definitely want to take advantage of the rock-bottom prices on travel es

Are we still using poor passwords in 2020? Apparently so...

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
In a list of most common passwords for 2020, it appears people haven't learnt when it comes to crackable codes

Flipkart wholesale app sees 75% month-on-month growth since Sept

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Flipkart's 'Best Price' cash-and-carry business saw e-commerce adoption among members grow 10 times during the year with large traction coming from small cities.

LA residents can use their phones to provide COVID-19 vaccination proof

66Engadget / 1h
After seeing record COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations, Los Angeles County will use technology to help residents track and prove their vaccination records, Bloomberg reports. The public health department has teamed with startup Healthvana on an app that will that will store vaccination records in Google or Apple wallets. It will remind residents to get a second shot, while providing them with a

MIUI 12.5 announced; here are the top new features

Xiaomi MIUI 12.5 Redmi•
28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
MIUI 12.5 is a follow-up to the MIUI 12 announced earlier this year. It adds a bunch of new features and overall app and system-wide optimization.

Google Pixel 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S20: contrasting routes to the flagship throne

36TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Frugal meets feature-packed in a fascinating clash of two very different smartphone styles.
YESTERDAY

Space Tourist Smuggled Ashes of 'Star Trek' Engineer "Scotty" Aboard the ISS

100+How-To Geek / 4h
Space was truly the final frontier for actor James Doohan, who played Scotty on the original Star Trek series. His ashes have now been on the International Space Station for 12 years after being smuggled aboard in 2008, so he was able to achieve his goal of being aboard the ISS. Read This Article on Review Geek ›

LG's Latest Smart Refrigerators Open With a Voice Command

37How-To Geek / 4h
LG is already well-known for its see-through smart refrigerators. Knock on the door, and you can get a peek of what’s inside. Ahead of CES, the company announced a follow-up that makes the viewing area even bigger so you can see more of your fridge’s innards. But it also adds a new voice command: “open the refrigerator door.” Read This Article on Review Geek ›

LG QNED TVs put 30,000 Mini LEDs behind an LCD screen

SlashGear / 4h
You might think that OLED is practically the endgame of displays and you might be mostly correct. But while OLEDs often offer the best features, those also come at a higher price than LCD-based panels. LCDs might not all be that bad, especially with some recent innovations in the market. At least that’s what LG is implying with its newest … Continue reading

Japan developing wooden satellites to cut space junk

3KBBC News - Technology / 4h
A Japanese forestry firm has partnered with Kyoto University in what would be a world first.

2020 in mobile games: Genshin Impact, Among Us and Xbox on your phone

36TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
It has been a big year for mobile gaming, but not in the way many would have expected.

LG 2018 smart TVs finally get promised AirPlay 2, HomeKit

SlashGear / 4h
Its smartphone business may be tanking but LG’s TVs still enjoy a mostly stable position in the market. In fact, some might say that LG treats its TVs better than its phones, pushing out more features faster even on older sets. That, however, almost didn’t come to be for owners of its older 2018 smart TVs, at least until it … Continue reading

Tesla confirmed to commence sales in India in 2021; manufacturing on the cards too

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors will finally begin deliveries in India in early 2021, possibly followed by assembly and manufacturing.

China pushes Alibaba founder Jack Ma to downsize his finance business

200+Engadget / 5h
China’s crackdown on Jack Ma’s empire is far from over: The country’s regulators have ordered the Ma-founded Alibaba affiliate Ant Group to scale down its business. In particular, they’ve ordered the company to “return to its origins” as a payment provider. Ant Group started out as Alipay, which became China’s largest digital payment platform, though it eventually expanded to offer investment and

Apple Wallet can store COVID-19 vaccination proof in LA

SlashGear / 5h
As we approach the end of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the narrative has shifted towards the numerous vaccines that are slowly becoming available. Several countries around the world as well as cities in the US have started injecting the population in the hopes of finally getting a hold of the spread of the coronavirus. With vaccinations, however, … Continue reading

Master all things Google with this online training bundle

Mashable / 5h
TL;DR: The Complete Google Master Class Bundle is on sale for £29.44 as of Dec. 29, saving you 97% on list price. If you've been meaning to brush up on your Google skills for your business, website, or career, you're in luck: This Google course bundle will get you up to speed. With 35 hours of content on Google Workspace, Google Ads, Analytics, and more, you'll learn to use Google to grow your bu

Realme Watch S Pro goes on sale in India today: price, features, and availability

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Realme's most premium watch till date, the Watch S Pro will go on sale for the first time today.

LG will add 8K QNED TVs to its lineup in 2021

LG QNED Mini LCD 2021•
200+Engadget / 6h
While we typically focus on LG’s outstanding OLED TVs, it also has LCD panels, and for 2021 it will unveil a new line with Mini LED tech . Branded QNED, they will occupy a high-end slot in the company’s LCD line, although its flagship technology will still be represented by the various OLED series. Samsung has not used Mini LED tech in its QLED LCD TV lineup yet, but TCL has implemented the light

The cheapest ever Core i5 PC can drive three monitors and even has a COM port

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
More affordable than a Raspberry Pi and less fussy.

OnePlus 9 5G prototype on eBay just sold for thousands of dollars

SlashGear / 7h
It’s not unusual to see listings online for what are claimed to be unreleased prototypes of products, both past and future. eBay is definitely a prime place for such transactions, where potential buyers can try to outbid each other for what they believe could be an important piece of human history. That said, it still boggles the mind that someone … Continue reading

HomePod 14.3 software update sneaked in a small but important change

SlashGear / 7h
Apple made big and still doubted claims about reducing electronic waste when it removed the charger and EarPods from the Apple 12 packaging. It isn’t, however, applying that same logic across all its devices, at least not yet. The HomePod mini, for example, ships with its own power brick, and you can use only that to sufficiently power up the … Continue reading

Apple Watch prototype with working pre-watchOS 1.0 surfaces

SlashGear / 8h
It’s not really a secret that products undergo multiple iterations, some of which hardly look like the finished version that eventually goes on sale. Prototypes are often closely guarded secrets and most get discarded and destroyed, never to be seen by the public’s eyes. Once in a while, some do miraculously make it out. As if that alone weren’t exceptional … Continue reading

Most Drones Will Be Required to Broadcast Their Locations By 2023

FAA ID Drones US Night•
78Gizmodo / 8h
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a new set of drone regulations on Monday that will, among other things, mandate that every drone sold in the U.S. weighing more than .55 pounds come with a mechanism to broadcast its location to local authorities by 2022— a digital license plate, of sorts. Read more...

What's on TV this week: NYE 2021, and 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'

42Engadget / 8h
As 2020 comes to a close we have the usual slew of wrap-ups and college football bowl games, but not many video games or movies to look forward to. Fans of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will get the series finale later this week, followed by an Afterparty special that looks back at the best shows of the year. On BBC America, you can expect a new Doctor Who special featuring the return

Galaxy Z Flip 3 could be more affordable because of missing features

SlashGear / 8h
Samsung is supposedly going all on foldable phones out next year but there’s still some uncertainty on what exactly the line up will be. Of course, there’s the Galaxy Z Fold 3 that may or may not have S Pen stylus support but the rest of the roster seems to still be in a state of flux. There are rumors … Continue reading

ZTE Axon 20 5G teardown takes a peek at the under-display camera magic

20SlashGear / 9h
Although not as flamboyant as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or as eccentric as the LG Wing, the ZTE Axon 20 5G actually brought one of the biggest innovations in the mobile industry this year. Granted, it’s not exactly as most would have hoped but the under-display camera or UDC has long been a holy grail for smartphone makers. Although … Continue reading

Tencent backs Chinese healthcare portal DXY in $500M round

100+TechCrunch / 9h
DXY , a 20-year-old online healthcare community for Chinese consumers and healthcare organizations like Pfizer, announced this week that it has raised $500 million in its Series E round led by private equity firm Trustbridge Partners. Existing backer Tencent and Hillhouse Capital’s early-stage focused GL Ventures also participated in the round, which lifted the firm’s total funding to over $680 m

Apple Wallet Receipt Could Serve As First Proof Of An Individual's Vaccination Status

77Gizmodo / 9h
Welcome to our dystopian hellscape, where you might soon have to flash your Apple Wallet when trying to enter an airport in order to prove that you’ve been given the covid-19 vaccine . Read more...

Study links vaping and mental fog, but the cause isn’t clear

SlashGear / 9h
A new study reports a link between vaping and mental fog, also called ‘brain fog,’ raising concerns about a potential consequence of the habit. The researchers don’t yet know the cause of this association, however — it’s possible vaping may be the cause or that people who vape are more likely to have some other shared factor that causes mental … Continue reading

AT&T says ‘nearly all’ of its services are back after Nashville explosion

SlashGear / 10h
The devastating Christmas Day explosion in Nashville caused ‘significant damage’ to the AT&T building located on 2nd Ave., damaging connection points and triggering backup battery power. Service disruptions soon followed, but that has largely been fixed, with AT&T saying in its latest update that ‘nearly all’ services are back up and running. Though AT&T had backup generators to keep its … Contin

The best war movies on Netflix

78Mashable / 10h
In tough times, it may help to look to heroes, those who faced incredible odds, tremendous tragedy, and abject horror only to rally and fight back. What better place to find such stories than in war movies? This category of cinema takes audiences behind battle lines to offer up stories powerful and profound. Whether you're looking for something exciting, heart-wrenching, or inspirational, we've g

The big tech questions for 2021

300+BBC News - Technology / 10h
After a year that saw tech companies prosper, we look ahead to what the coming 12 months could bring.

Zoom: All the times virtual meetings didn't go as planned this year

500+BBC News - Technology / 10h
From animal interruptions to catching fire, here's a look back at the year we spent (badly) online.

FAA lays out its Remote ID 'license plate for drones' requirements

500+Engadget / 11h
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shared its latest set of drone regulations. When the new rules go into effect early next year, they’ll allow licensed drone operators to fly their UAVs at night , provided they complete additional training and outfit their vehicles with anti-collision lights. The new allowance is seen as a crucial step in allowing companies like Amazon and Alph

It's Not Your Fault. Prove It With 25% off the Anker Roav A1 1080p Dash Cam

Gizmodo / 11h
Anker Roav A1 1080p Dash Cam | $42 | Amazon | Clip Coupon Read more...

These Unique Beauty Sets Will Keep You Looking Flawless Through 2021

25Lifehacker / 11h
Top Product: Hair & Beauty Little Kit by Drunk Elephant | $49 | SpaceNK Read more...

ACLU is suing the FBI over its efforts to break into encrypted devices

74TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
FBI's Electronic Device Analysis Unit may already have software capable of decrypting data stored on smartphones and computers.

Wonder Woman 3 gets fast-tracked by Warner Bros after WW84 success

SlashGear / 11h
Wonder Woman 1984, the movie that was repeatedly delayed before finally hitting theaters on Christmas and HBO Max for home streaming, has proven to be a bit hit for Warner Bros. Based on this success, the studio has announced that it is fast-tracking production of Wonder Woman 3, the third installment in the modern Wonder Woman franchise. WarnerMedia announced the … Continue reading

Bills vs Patriots live stream: how to watch week 16 NFL Monday Night Football anywhere

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Here's how to catch a Bills vs Patriots live stream and watch NFL Monday Night Football online, as Josh Allen looks to keep Buffalo red hot in week 16.

Daily Crunch: China presents ‘rectification’ plan for Ant Group

100+TechCrunch / 11h
The Chinese government could reshape Ant Group’s business, Tesla plans to launch in India next year and the FAA announces a new ID requirement for drones. This is your Daily Crunch for December 28, 2020. The big story: China presents ‘rectification’ plan for Ant Group Less than two months ago, Chinese authorities halted the planned IPO of Ant Group, the payments and fintech company that spun out

A Hunter in Florida Got a Rare Brain Infection From Feral Hogs

83Gizmodo / 11h
A man’s habit of hunting feral pigs exposed him to a rare brain infection, doctors in Florida say. In a recent case report, they detail how the man developed a serious kind of infection that’s mostly disappeared in the U.S., caused by Brucella bacteria. Read more...

Earn bonus points in 2021 with these new hotel promotions

The Points Guy / 12h
Even though 2021 is still a few days away, hotel chains are looking to the new year already with a round of promotions that will allow you to start the year off strong and with bonus points in your “pocket.” For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter . Hilton has just shared the details of its latest promotion, “Points Unlimited” and Marriott is runni

How to force quit on Mac

61Mashable / 12h
We’ve all dealt with it: the colorful spinning wheel of doom. An app on your computer is slowing down your MacOS , and it’s time to take action so you can get back to work. When the wheel of doom — more formally known as Mac’s wait cursor — pops up, it signals that one of your apps has crashed , likely taking with it any work you haven’t saved. It’s time to force quit the unresponsive app causing

A Massive Radioactive Jet From the Early Universe Has Been Spotted

76Gizmodo / 12h
When the universe was a fledgling billion years old, a galaxy spewed a ginormous, fast-moving jet of radiation and plasma into the cosmos. Nearly 13 billion years later, that jet is visible to humans in the form of a blazar. The jet was recently imaged and analyzed by a team of Italian astronomers. Their findings,… Read more...

Feast your eyes on the space rocks Japan’s Hayabusa 2 mission harvested from asteroid Ryugu

100+TechCrunch / 12h
Japan’s ambitious second asteroid return mission, Hayabusa 2, has collected a wealth of material from its destination, Ryugu, which astronomers and other interested parties are almost certainly champing at the bit to play with. Though they may look like ordinary bits of charcoal, they’re genuine asteroid surface material — and a little something shiny, too. Hayabusa 2 was launched in 2014 and arr

Study sheds new light on polar explorer’s final hours, 100+ years later

75Ars Technica / 12h
Enlarge / Danish explorer Jørgen Brønlund's petroleum burner was found in 1973. Brønlund and two compatriots died in 1907 during an expedition to Greenland. (credit: Jørn Ladegaard) Over 100 years ago, a Danish explorer named Jørgen Brønlund perished during an expedition to northeast Greenland, along with two members of his expedition. He left behind a diary detailing his last moments, with a bla

FAA final rule on Remote ID for drones arrives with a few major changes

SlashGear / 12h
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published its final rule on Remote ID for drones, clarifying the details about the previously announced remote identification plan and providing the details manufacturers will need to ensure their drones meet the requirements. Remote ID aims to provide national security officials and law enforcement with a way to identify drones posing a risk to … Con

Southwest Airlines Won’t Furlough Anyone Through 2021, Will Spend Airline Aid On Employees

28View from the Wing / 12h
Southwest really is going to spend some of the bailout money on employees (perhaps 50%) which is how the government aid was sold - unlike United Airlines which is likely to receive about $3 billion and plans to only pay its 16,000 furloughed workers through March as-required keeping the rest of the taxpayer money for themselves and their shareholders. Continue reading ...

The Only Kind of Resolutions You Should Make for 2021

71Lifehacker / 12h
In theory, New Year’s resolutions should make your life less stressful, or at least give you a means to address things about your life you’d like to change. In reality, however, a lofty New Year’s resolution can often loom over you, forming a nagging reminder of your supposed failure to reinvent yourself just because… Read more...

Unpacking Qualtrics’ brand-new S-1 filing

100+TechCrunch / 12h
The Exchange is taking a break from vacation to dig into the new Qualtrics S-1 filing. Then the column and newsletter are back on hold until January 4. This afternoon, Qualtrics, a software company that helps companies poll their employee base, customers and others, filed to go public. It’s the second time that the Utah-based unicorn has done so, failing the first time to complete its offering af

Xiaomi’s Mi 11 is the first Snapdragon 888 phone

Xiaomi Mi 11 Snapdragon•
100+Engadget / 12h
Most rumors suggest Samsung will launch its new Galaxy S-series lineup earlier than usual this year. But even with a supposed January 14th reveal date, the S21 won’t be the first phone to come out with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 888 processor . That distinction will go to Xiaomi’s new Mi 11 phone , which the Chinese manufacturer announced today and said it plans to release in China on January 1st.

The EPA Just Set the First-Ever Airline Pollution Standards and They Suck

100+Gizmodo / 12h
The Environmental Protection Agency just enshrined the nation’s first-ever air pollution regulations on the aviation industry. But don’t get too excited, because they do basically nothing.


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