Technology News and More...
Amazon will give your overworked delivery driver $5 if you ask Alexa to say thank you
13KTechCrunch / 15h
Last year, an Amazon delivery driver said that the high volume of orders during holiday season “ makes life hell .” This year, these contracted workers can get a $5 tip if their customer says, “Alexa, thank my driver.” Meanwhile, news also broke today that Amazon is being sued by the DC Attorney General, seeking penalties for allegedly misleading consumers by using tips to cover couriers’ base pa
'Never doubt James Cameron': Avatar 2 first critical reactions call it a 'visual masterpiece'
400+TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 22h
Avatar: The Way of Water has been hailed as a "monumental filmmaking achievement" in early reactions from critics and influencers alike. The highly anticipated sci-fi sequel, which lands in theaters worldwide on December 16, had its world premiere in London last night (December 6). And, once the credits had rolled on Avatar: The Way of Water , journalists and other attendees moved quickly to give
GM's Answer To Tesla Destination Charging Is Finally Rolling Out
68SlashGear / 17h
The first chargers in GM's ambitious plan to install up to 40,000 across North America have gone live, but the automaker itself isn't picking the locations.
Twitter is reportedly raising Blue subscription's pricing on iOS to $11
Engadget / 29min
When Twitter's Blue subscription comes back, it may cost a lot more than before if you purchase it straight from the app. According to The Information , the company informed some employees that it's going to charge users $11 for Blue subscription if they pay through its iOS application. But if they pay through the web, it will only cost them $7 a month for the service, which includes getting the
Sigfox tech owner UnaBiz doubles its Series B funding to $50 million
TechCrunch / 1h
UnaBiz , the Massive Internet of Things service provider and owner of Sigfox’s technology , announced today it has raised another $25 million in Series B funding. This doubles the round’s total amount to $50 million, after the first tranche was announced in October 2021 . UnaBiz, which is based in Singapore, has now raised $60 million in total. The funding was led by SPARX Group, an investment co
Pixyle AI wants to make visual search more intuitive for online retailers
TechCrunch / 1h
When Svetlana Kordumova was studying for her doctorate in AI and computer vision, she grew frustrated by the process of looking for items to buy online. Search results were often inaccurate, and she knew the tech she was learning could improve the experience. Pixyle AI was launched in 2019 to improve product discovery on e-commerce sites and today announced a €1 million seed round (about $1.05 mi
Apple Officially Cancels Its Plans to Scan iCloud Photos for Child Abuse Material
Gizmodo / 1h
Apple has officially killed one of its most controversial proposals ever: a plan to scan iCloud images for signs of child sexual abuse material (or, CSAM). Read more...
'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for December 8
Mashable / 1h
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need. What is Quordle ? Quordle is a five-letter word guessing gam
Wirecard trial of executives opens in German fraud scandal
37BBC News - Technology / 2h
Markus Braun, who ran the disgraced payment firm, presided over its meteoric rise and disastrous fall.
Today's Wordle Answer #537 – December 8, 2022 Solution And Hints
SlashGear / 2h
If you are trying to guess today's Wordle answer, you might say it won't come to you intuitively. If you need help, we have hints and the final answer for you.
India’s Uolo raises $22.5M to bring edtech to the masses
TechCrunch / 2h
Uolo , an Indian edtech platform that works with private K-12 schools to offer online learning programs to middle and low-income families, has raised $22.5 million in a funding round led by UAE-headquartered VC fund Winter Capital. The vast majority of edtech startups operate in a business-to-consumer model and spend on ads to reach the parents and guardians of the students. Uolo says it is reduc
Twitter will reportedly charge $11 on iOS for Blue subscription to offset App Store fees
TechCrunch / 3h
Twitter Blue plan is on halt right now but when it resumes you will have to pay $11 per month if you subscribe from iOS, according to a report from The Information . The report noted that the subscription plan will cost $7 per month if you purchase from the web. But it will be costlier on iOS to offset Apple’s App Store fees. Notably, Apple charges 30% fees to the developers for the first year of
Ask these questions before you make your Lensa Magic Avatars
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Why did I do it? Why did I shell out $8 for 50 different abstract, impressionistic, mind-bending portraits of myself? Am I that much of a narcissist? Are we all? Our Instagram and other social feeds are currently flooded with these high-resolution interpretations of our faces and various lewks , also known as Magic Avatars. They all come courtesy of the Lensa app, an AI-image-generation engine th
Get a lifetime of Rosetta Stone and access to thousands of online courses for under £130
Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: The Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle (including Rosetta Stone) is on sale for £124.28, saving you 91% on list price. A new language you start learning today could be a doorway to fulfilling work opportunities or exciting places to travel. A new skill you start practicing could very well turn into a valuable side hustle. The only thing you have to do is get started, and we’re
Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for December 8
Mashable / 3h
It's Thursday, and you can pass a fraction of the endless hours til Friday with a fresh Wordle. We're here to help you with some subtle clues and the word of the day itself. A friendly reminder, in case you missed the recent rule change: The New York Times has added a new word list and updated the rules , so now plurals ending in S or ES will never be the solution. If you'd rather have the answer
Bundle up and save big with the best Western Digital December deals
Mashable / 3h
BUNDLE UP AND SAVE: The Western Digital December sale is live until Dec. 11, with bundle deals on memory cards, SSDs, wireless chargers, and more. Christmas is all about giving, and that even extends to the biggest of brands. And if you're shopping for memory cards, SSDs, wireless chargers, and other storage solutions, it doesn't get much bigger than Western Digital. This popular provider of lead
Americans Are Moving Into Danger Zones
30Wired / 3h
Folks are flocking to areas plagued with wildfires and extreme heat. Climate change will only make things worse.
Smartynames uses AI to find you the perfect domain name
TechCrunch / 3h
There’s a lot of weird and wonderful uses for AI applications. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen AI powering better marketing emails , more smartly understanding the context of video content , and getting the most from customer feedback. It shows no sign of slowing: OpenAI announced it is pouring $10 million into the ecosystem to accelerate things further. Now, Kirill Zubovsky is taking on the ch
Porsche, World Fund join $63M bet on batteries for electric planes
TechCrunch / 3h
To help electric planes take off, German battery company Customcells says it landed about $63 million (€60 million) in Series A funding from Porsche and several climate-tech investors. World Fund, a one-year-old venture firm that backs European climate startups , led the deal. Abacon Capital and Vsquared Ventures also chipped in. Customcells develops and recycles high-performance lithium-ion batt
TikTok sued by Indiana over security and safety concerns
63BBC News - Technology / 3h
The app is accused of deceiving users over China's access to data and exposing kids to mature content.
Indiana Is The First State To Sue TikTok Over Child Safety Worries
SlashGear / 4h
In a sign of mounting legal threats for the platform, the state of Indiana has filed two lawsuits against TikTok and parent company ByteDance.
Here are the Readers’ Choice winners from the 2022 TPG Awards
The Points Guy / 5h
The 2022 TPG Awards are in the books — and an array of companies took home trophies tonight at our first live ceremony in three years. Some of the most interesting winners came courtesy of TPG readers, as many of you weighed in during voting from Oct. 11 through Nov. 11. Note that these awards were decided entirely by reader votes — our editorial staff had no say in them. Here’s a full rundown of
Google combines Maps and Waze teams as pressures mount to cut costs
24TechCrunch / 5h
Google plans to combine the teams working on its Maps product and on Waze, a mapping service that Google acquired in 2013 . The merger comes as the search engine giant feels the pressure to cut costs and consolidate operations, reports The Wall Street Journal . Waze’s team of 500 employees will fall under Google’s Geo organization, which oversees Maps, Earth and Street View, starting Friday. Neha
Elon Musk turns Twitter into 'hotel' for staff
200+BBC News - Technology / 5h
One photo shows a double room with wardrobe and slippers, as Elon Musk seeks to instil a "hardcore" work culture.
How Fast Is The Electric Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Really?
SlashGear / 6h
The Livewire was Harley-Davidson's first venture into electric motorcycles and later refreshed as the cheaper and faster Livewire ONE.
Amazon Sued Over Allegedly Stealing Tips From Delivery Drivers
SlashGear / 6h
The attorney general of the District of Columbia, Ken Racine, filed suit against Amazon for allegedly stealing tips from Amazon Flex drivers.
The Most Luxurious Features Of Mariah Carey's 1.8 Million Dollar RV
SlashGear / 6h
While the origins and current ownership of this RV are unclear, the RV billed as Mariah Carey's is one swanky home on wheels.
Need For Speed Unbound Review: A Beautiful But Shallow Next-Gen Racer
SlashGear / 6h
Need for Speed Unbound takes the series out a whole new door with new visual flavor and top-tier performance -- but are looks enough to forget the rest?
Elon Musk Lost The Title Of World's Richest Man, But Not For Long
SlashGear / 6h
Elon Musk lost the top spot as the world's richest person, but only for a couple of hours. Bernard Arnault surpassed Musk briefly for the honor.
Apple Drops Controversial Plans To Scan iCloud Uploads For CSAM
SlashGear / 6h
In a recent reversal of policy, Apple has announced the company will not be searching iCloud data for content related to CSA and other illegal acts.
15 Best McLarens Of All Time
SlashGear / 6h
Bruce McLaren is a legend in the automotive industry, creating a make that has redefined the hypercar. These are the best examples.
Apple Reveals Three Major Security Features For iMessage, iCloud, And 2FA
SlashGear / 6h
Apple is rolling out new security features designed to keep user data safe, not the least of which is end-to-end encryption for most of your data.
Would You Buy The Xbox Streaming Stick? Here's What Most Gamers Said
SlashGear / 6h
Microsoft is one of the multiple companies with cloud gaming solutions, so it's no surprise it also explored launching a streaming stick. Would you buy one?
Epic Games Launches 'Cabined' Accounts To Protect Younger Fortnite, Rocket League, And Fall Guys Players
SlashGear / 6h
Epic Games launched a new type of account called Cabined accounts to prevent children from succumbing to the pitfalls of microtransactions and toxic behavior.
Tesla appears to be turning back to radar for its vehicles
TechCrunch / 6h
Tesla plans to add a new radar product to its vehicles in mid-January, according to documents posted with the Federal Communications Commission. The disclosure, which was first reported by Electrek , comes as the company faces scrutiny over the safety and capabilities of its standard advanced driver assistance system known as Autopilot and the $15,000 optional upgraded product branded as “Full Se
Amazon’s Echo Show 15 smart display becomes a transportable Fire TV
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / Fire TV on the Amazon Echo Show 15. (credit: Amazon) Amazon's Echo Show 15 versatile smart display now has a more mainstream purpose: streaming TV and movies. Amazon pushed a free software update today that grants the Echo Show 15 with Fire TV capabilities, and newly purchased devices will be able to stream content from the likes of Disney+, Peacock, and other Fire TV apps. Amazon initi
New kilonova has astronomers rethinking what we know about gamma-ray bursts
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / Artist’s impression of GRB 211211A. The kilonova and gamma-ray burst is on the right. (credit: Aaron M. Geller/Northwestern/CIERA) A year ago, astronomers discovered a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) lasting nearly two minutes, dubbed GRB 211211A. Now that unusual event is upending the long-standing assumption that longer GRBs are the distinctive signature of a massive star going superno
Sunny Balwani sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for Theranos fraud
Ars Technica - All content / 7h
Enlarge / Former Theranos COO Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani and his legal team leave the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building on July 7, 2022 in San Jose, California. Balwani was found guilty on 12 counts of conspiracy and fraud for allegedly engaging in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud investors. (credit: Getty | David Odisho ) A federal judge has sentenced Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, 58, to nearly 13
Democratic lawmakers want Elon Musk to explain China's role in 'platform manipulation' during protests
Engadget / 7h
Three Democratic lawmakers in the House are demanding answers from Elon Musk about a recent “platform manipulation campaign” related to recent protests in China. In a letter to the Twitter CEO, Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Adam Schiff and Jackie Speier write that they have “deep concern” about the recent spam campaign that drowned out tweets about the protests. The lawmakers want Musk to
Wonder Woman 3 May Be Dead, and the Snyderverse Could Die With It
100+Gizmodo / 7h
When Warner Bros. hired James Gunn and Peter Safran to reimagine the DC Universe, everyone expected changes. But no one could have expected that one of the studio’s surefire heroes, Wonder Woman, would come under the axe. That is apparently what has happened though, as Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 has been canceled—w… Read more...
Sunny Balwani: Former Theranos executive gets nearly 13 years in prison
100+BBC News - Technology / 7h
Second-in-command Sunny Balwani receives a heavier sentence than the start-up's founder Elizabeth Holmes.
FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Faces Market Manipulation Inquiry
1KNYT > Technology / 7h
Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Sam Bankman-Fried and his hedge fund orchestrated trades in a way that led to the collapse of two cryptocurrencies in May.
Dyson’s Zone air-purifying headphones start at $949
Engadget / 8h
When Dyson announced its Zone noise-canceling and air-purifying headphones earlier this year, the company kept some details close to its chest. Specifically, Dyson didn’t announce pricing or availability, nor did it say much about battery life. On Wednesday, it shared that information. Let’s begin with the detail everyone wants to know. When the wearable arrives in the US next March, it will star
Dyson's air-purifying ANC headphones are really coming to market next year
46TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Originally announced earlier this year, appliances giant Dyson has officially unveiled the full specifications for the upcoming Dyson Zone – the company’s first wearable purifier and advanced noise-cancelling headphones. Reportedly the product of five years of research, the Dyson Zone combines two unique product offerings for the company as both its first foray into audio and wearable tech. And t
This Week's Willow Has a Very Surprisingly Cameo—Here's How It Happened
Gizmodo / 8h
When you’re dealing with franchises as popular as the ones Lucasfilm makes, it’s not all that surprising to see hugely famous people pop up in small roles. Everyone wants to work on Star Wars or Indiana Jones so they’ll do whatever they can to get on screen. Apparently though, that also extends to Willow . Read more...
Dyson's Air Purifying Headphones Will Cost $949
100Gizmodo / 8h
Earlier this year, Dyson revealed its first audio product , a pair of headphones that promised to not only block noise, but unwanted airborne particles as well, thanks to a built-in filtration system and mask. Today, the company revealed more details on the Dyson Zone , including when you’ll be able to buy a pair and… Read more...
Jack to Elon: Can We Just Get the Doxxing Over With?
Gizmodo / 8h
As the saga of the “ Twitter Files ” continues, the platform’s former CEO Jack Dorsey seems to be wondering why we can’t just hurry this up already and dump all of the company’s related dirt in one fell swoop. Read more...
Judge Hands Theranos’ Other Fraudulent Exec ‘Sunny’ Balwani Near-13 Year Prison Sentence
43Gizmodo / 8h
Despite his rather chipper name, there’s not a lot that ex-startup executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani can feel happy about during his long Wednesday spent in court. A federal judge sentenced Theranos’ other big executive to 155 months, or a little less than 13 years in prison. Read more...
Most Twitter users can no longer create new "Moments"
Engadget / 8h
Twitter is effectively sunsetting Moments, the company announced on Wednesday. First launched in 2015 , the feature allowed users to create curated collections of tweets in a bid to make it easier to follow current events on the platform. “Not all moments last. As of today we’re removing the option to create Moments for users as we focus on improving other experiences,” the Twitter Support accoun
Pollster Frank Luntz Publicly Begs United Airlines For An Upgrade
View from the Wing / 8h
Pollster Frank Luntz took to twitter to "shamelessly" beg for an upgrade on United flight 950 from Washington Dulles to Brussels, enroute to a Brussels Airlines connecting flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Given the timing of his tweet, and that premium cabins show as full after clearing upgrades, it looks like his chances were slim. Continue reading ...
Meta is scheming to replace Twitter
41Mashable / 8h
There are few things in this life that we can consistently count on. Maggie Nelson's writing will always move us, my mom's pancake recipe will always slap, and Meta will always try to take users from other platforms by morphing their own. On Wednesday, just weeks after Elon Musk "let that sink in" to the Twitter headquarters, social media consultant and industry analyst Matt Navarra tweeted about
Daily Crunch: Plaid unravels a fifth of its workforce after ‘growth did not materialize as quickly as expected’
TechCrunch / 9h
To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here . Hello, and welcome to Hump Day! If you haven’t gotten your fill yet of tech egos, you’ll want to tune into today’s Equity podcast , where Natasha M and Alex talk about how ego brought both Sam Bankman-Fried and Elizabeth Holmes to where they are today. Mark your ca
Shining Girls Author Lauren Beukes Reveals Bridge, Her New Multiverse Tale
Gizmodo / 9h
Author Lauren Beukes ( Broken Monsters ) has been an io9 favorite for many years , and saw her profile raised earlier this year with Apple TV+’s adaptation of her time-travel thriller The Shining Girls , starring Elisabeth Moss . Next year, Beukes will release a new spec-fiction novel, Bridge , and io9 was excited to talk… Read more...
Gun stockpile in hospital closet leads to $63K in fines from NJ health dept.
57Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / A health care worker exits the emergency room at Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus, New Jersey, on December 11, 2020. (credit: Getty | KENA BETANCUR ) The New Jersey health department has fined a state hospital $63,000 after police discovered a stockpile of 39 firearms—including an illegal assault rifle with a high-capacity magazine—stashed in an unlocked hospital closet. The firearm
Oldest DNA yet sequenced shows mastodons once roamed a warmer Greenland
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge / An attempt to reconstruct what northern Greenland looked like about 2 million years ago. (credit: Beth Zaiken ) When once-living tissue is preserved in a cold, dry environment, fragments of its DNA can survive for hundreds of thousands of years. In fact, DNA doesn't even have to remain in tissue; we've managed to obtain DNA from the soil of previously inhabited environments. The DNA is
Amazon sued by DC attorney general for deceiving customers who tipped drivers
Ars Technica - All content / 9h
Enlarge (credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto ) Today, as Amazon dealt with a site-wide outage impacting thousands of customers, the District of Columbia attorney general, Karl Racine, filed a lawsuit against the online shopping giant for deceiving its customer base. In a press release , Racine said that Amazon still needs to pay for tricking DC consumers by “stealing” portions of their Amaz
Theranos exec Sunny Balwani sentenced to 13 years in prison for defrauding patients and investors
46TechCrunch / 9h
The former COO of disgraced blood testing startup Theranos, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani was sentenced to 155 months, or about 13 years, in prison, and three years of probation. After a three-month trial, Balwani was found guilty on all 12 criminal charges, ranging from defrauding patients and investors to conspiring to commit fraud. Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes was convicted on four of these charges
Taylor Swift and FTX Had $100M Sponsorship Deal Talks
63Gizmodo / 9h
Taylor Swift came close to finalizing a sponsorship deal with FTX earlier this year as the crypto company was in a downward spiral and burning through all the money it didn’t have. The deal would have brought yet another celebrity into the already-sizable FTX endorsement fold, reportedly for a price tag of $100… Read more...
Former Theranos COO Sunny Balwani sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison
Engadget / 9h
Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, Theranos’ former chief operating officer, has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison. Balwani was found guilty of all charges in a trial earlier this year that charged him with defrauding the blood testing startup’s patients and investors. Of note, his sentence is slightly longer than the 11 years and three months given to Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos.
Everyone Will Be Able to Encrypt Their iCloud Backups Soon
79Gizmodo / 9h
Apple is making new efforts to increase user security. While the company has previously touted its overall privacy prowess, the new features are specifically meant to to safeguard iCloud accounts and iMessage. Read more...
Apple Gives Up on Making Its Upcoming Car Fully Autonomous
100+Futurism / 9h
Backtracking Tech giant Apple is giving up on full autonomy for its upcoming car and delaying the target launch date by a year to 2026, Bloomberg reports . The company's highly secretive project, known as Titan , has been in limbo as execs started to realize that current technologies don't feasibly allow for a car that fully drives itself without a steering wheel or pedals. That means Apple is no
Sunny Balwani, No. 2 Theranos Executive, Is Sentenced for Fraud
500+NYT > Technology / 9h
Ramesh Balwani, the former chief operating officer of the failed blood testing start-up, was convicted of 12 counts of fraud in July.
iPhone AirDrop restriction first seen in China will roll out worldwide with iOS 16.2
Engadget / 9h
Apple’s next iOS update will tighten AirDrop security for everyone. The new default settings will arrive globally in the upcoming iOS 16.2 after the company limited AirDrop use in China , where protestors had used the feature to organize with strangers. The restriction will put a 10-minute cap on the window for users to share AirDrop files with “everyone.” After that, the setting reverts to “cont
How 'Planned Happenstance' Can Add Luck to Your Career
Lifehacker / 9h
Many of us think we need a defined career plan—a strategy of sorts that puts our career on an upward trajectory, like a line graph that moves forward and up in responsibility, salary, and satisfaction, resulting in success. And we think that if we don’t have that plan, if we are uncertain about what to do or what the… Read more...
Let Amazon know what ads you see and it will give you money
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
Amazon’s new ad verification program will pay users $2 a month - if they make available what ads they see on their smartphone . Currently, the scheme is only available to UK and US members of the Amazon Shopper Panel, a rewards program that already lets users hand over third-party shopping receipts in exchange for perks. Those with the Amazon Shopper Panel app will see a setting to opt-in to the
America’s weak EV charging infrastructure might get a boost from dealers
TechCrunch / 9h
As electric vehicles begin to take some market share, the nation’s charging infrastructure is playing catch-up. Some folks already have an edge in this race, including some California residents and Tesla fans , but many EV owners in America still face charging deserts and unreliable stations — two key obstacles to decarbonizing transportation and doing right by our neighbors . The Department of E
Willow's Third Episode Has Everyone Chasing Elora Danan
Gizmodo / 10h
Elora Danan has been captured by servants of the Crone, an unspeakable evil that threatens to destroy the world. They mean to banish Elora’s soul for all eternity, completing the task the evil queen attempted in the original film. So it’s up to Willow and his friends to go after her. But first, how about a nice… Read more...
Racist Burger King Claims “Ye Is Right” On Board Southwest Airlines
View from the Wing / 10h
Two years ago Racist Burger King got banned from Jetblue, so he flew American and got kicked off of them too . Somehow, though, he managed to fly American again after that . That man didn't like black people. Another Burger King took to the skies on Southwest, and this one doesn't like Jews either. Continue reading ...
You Can Now Turn Apple Music Into a Free Karaoke Machine
Lifehacker / 10h
We all have the songs we have to sing along to—whether they pop up on the radio, a streaming playlist, or the Sonos speaker in the office bathroom, when that track hits your ears, you’re grabbing the imaginary mic. And now, if you have Apple Music, you actually have a free karaoke machine in your pocket at all times,… Read more...
Halo and Sea of Thieves ambience tracks come to Calm meditation app
TechCrunch / 10h
Sound design in games is rarely given the same level of attention as graphics, but games these days really do have extraordinarily detailed and interesting soundscapes. Microsoft thinks so, anyway, and is bringing two auditory environments from Halo Infinite and Sea of Thieves to the meditation app Calm. It’s small news and in a way just a promo for the games and Calm, but it’s also a nice thing
Microsoft is reportedly planning a one-stop "super app" for all your needs
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Microsoft is reportedly considering turning its attention to an all-in-one “super app” that would see it challenging Apple and Google’s dominance in the mobile search space. According to reports by The Information , the app could combine shopping, messaging, web search, and news feeds, among potentially even more concepts, that will see it act as a single platform for most personal daily needs. M
NASA's Next Asteroid-Hunting Telescope Will Launch Later and Cost More Than Expected
Gizmodo / 10h
NASA’s plan for an upcoming infrared asteroid-hunting telescope, called Near Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor, has officially changed. NEO Surveyor’s expected price tag has doubled from an estimated high of $600 million to a whopping $1.2 billion, while the launch has also been pushed from 2026 to June 2028. Read more...
Indiana sues TikTok over alleged security and child safety issues
Engadget / 10h
TikTok is now facing its first state lawsuit over data security. Indiana's Attorney General has sued TikTok for allegedly misleading users about China's data access and violating child safety. The social media service supposedly broke state consumer law by failing to warn that the Chinese government could theoretically obtain sensitive data. The ByteDance-owned firm also supposedly tricked custom
Why So Many Homes Are Being Taken Off the Market Right Now
Lifehacker / 10h
Buying a home in the colder months is often a smart move , but this year is a bugger. A new report from real-estate firm Redfin shows that on average, a record 2% of the homes for sale on the U.S. market were pulled from listings every week in the 12 weeks leading up to Nov. 20. For buyers and sellers alike, that might… Read more...
Instagram will finally help creators understand why they're failing
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Instagram is updating its Account Status feature to better inform business and creator accounts why some of their posts get suppressed as it aims for more transparency with users. These accounts will now know which of their posts is “eligible to be recommended” by Instagram’s algorithm to non-followers on other sections of the platform. This includes places like the Explore page, Reels, and In-Fe
Residents Alarmed When Entire River Turns White
77Futurism / 10h
Off Color Something alarming happened in the south of England when an entire river mysteriously turned snow white, the BBC reports . Officials from the UK's Environment Agency (EA) say they're closing in on the cause: a contaminant being discharged into the waterways, though they declined to elaborate on the source or nature of the pollution. According to the EA, more than 12 miles of river have
Uber’s Las Vegas Robotaxies Still Need Chaperones (For Now)
How-To Geek / 10h
Testing a robotaxi along the strip in Vegas with the drunken crowds and bright lights and occasional escaped lion seems like a natural fit. If they can handle that, other cities should be a breeze. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›
Apple Plans to Beef Up iCloud Data Encryption
64NYT > Technology / 10h
The move could frustrate law enforcement efforts to circumvent the already tough security of iPhones.
25 Spellbinding Photos of the Northern Lights
29Gizmodo / 10h
The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) are caused by energized particles from the Sun that collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The collisions cause the dazzling light displays known as aurorae; in the southern hemisphere, they’re aurora australis. Read more...
James Cameron Wrote 'Avatar 1.5' to Fill in the Gaps Between Films
32Gizmodo / 10h
Although we’ll likely never get a movie that takes place between Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water , James Cameron apparently knows exactly how the main characters of his first film lived their lives during that time. In fact, he’s already written it . Read more...
New year’s resolutions for CIOs
28MIT Technology Review / 10h
From security to quantum, AI and edge to cloud, our digital world is evolving and expanding more quickly than ever. With so much “noise,” it can be hard to concentrate, let alone figure out where to start beyond the bits and bytes, speeds and feeds. I hear this from everyone I meet with, and it’s clear that CIOs, in particular, are feeling the pressure. So this year, I’m going to outline four eme
Oh no, they added NFTs to Winamp
TechCrunch / 10h
Winamp version 5.9.1 is here, rejoice! The venerable — nay, aged — but reliable media player has been receiving sporadic updates over the last couple decades, but little truly new functionality has appeared (and that’s just fine by us users). But this new version brings an unexpected and thankfully optional feature: NFT playback. No, this doesn’t just read out the current valuation of your variou
Amazon Sued for Allegedly Stealing Driver's Tips, Launches New Gamified Tipping System
20Gizmodo / 10h
This holiday season, Amazon says it will pay its delivery workers an extra $5 every time a customer tells their Alexa smart speaker to thank their driver. That sounds like a nice gesture until you realize Amazon’s allegedly spent years redirecting or stealing tips intended for many of those very same drivers. Read more...
This reader nearly lost 750,000 Ultimate Rewards points — reader mistake story
The Points Guy / 11h
It’s no secret that closing a credit card can result in losing unused credit card points. That’s why we recommend redeeming or transferring your credit card points before you close a card. Have you ever considered, though, that a misunderstanding on a phone call could cost all your credit card points? Today, TPG reader Erik weighs in with his nightmare of losing 750,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards poi
Renewable Energy Set to Overtake Coal Power Globally by 2025
Gizmodo / 11h
On this fine Wednesday, may I present you with a rare bit of positive climate news: Sustainable energy is on the rise. Globally, the amount of renewable energy from sources like wind and solar is set to increase as much in the next five years as it did over the past 20, according to a new report from the International… Read more...
A Book Detailing Elon Musk's Twitter Fiasco Is Already in the Works
100+Gizmodo / 11h
A book detailing Elon Musk’s chaotic Twitter takeover is already in the works. Ben Mezrich, the author of “The Accidental Billionaires” which became the inspiration for the film “The Social Network,” announced he will be publishing his new book “Breaking Twitter” next year. Read more...
The New Mayfair Witches Trailer Wants to Cast a Spell on You
39Gizmodo / 11h
AMC+ has released another trailer for Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches , the second installment in Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe . Mayfair Witches arrives in January, following up the the wildly successful and critically acclaimed Interview with the Vampire . Watch the new trailer below. Read more...
Apple Will Allow End-To-End Encrypted iCloud Backups
How-To Geek / 11h
The lack of full end-to-end encrypted cloud backups has been a problem for Apple devices, leaving only local iTunes and Mac backups for people concerned about their security. That’s finally changing. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›
Save $600 on VIZIO's 75-inch 4K QLED TV During This Limited-Time Deal
How-To Geek / 11h
If you’re on the hunt for a beautiful smart TV, now’s the time to pull out your wallet. The 75-inch VIZIO MQ7 is currently 46% off at Amazon—that brings the price down to just $698, far below its MSRP of $1,300. And yes, this thing is a beast. Read This Article on Review Geek ›
Hackers are using Telegram to target crypto firms
4 TTPs•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
VIP customers of cryptocurrency exchanges, particularly cryptocurrency investment companies, have become targets of a highly sophisticated phishing attack, Microsoft is warning. In a recent report , Microsoft said it observed an unknown threat actor, labeled as DEV-0139, moving into Telegram groups “used to facilitate communication between VIP clients and cryptocurrency exchange platforms”. After
Apple adds end-to-end encryption to iCloud device backups and more
31Ars Technica - All content / 11h
The advanced data protection panel in iOS [credit: Apple ] End-to-end encryption is coming to most of iCloud with a new optional feature called Advanced Data Protection, according to Apple's announcement on Wednesday. Previously, 14 data categories within iCloud were protected. This new feature brings that count to 23, including photos, notes, voice memos, reminders, Safari bookmarks, and iCloud
Please take the Ars Reader Survey, 2022 edition
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Cyber man in chrome armor writing answers on a survey while floating on a cyberspace grid, 3D Render, Detailed Render. (credit: Aurich Lawson, DiffusionBee) Friends, Romans, denizens, lend me your… votes on this survey ! It’s been a few years, but the Ars Reader Survey is back to gauge your thoughts on the work we do and the ways we can do it better. This feedback is crucial to how we o
Strep A is soaring in UK after pandemic lull; invasive infections kill 8
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Streptococcus pyogenes Enlarge / A microscope image of Streptococcus pyogenes , a common type of group A strep. (credit: Getty | BSIP ) Scarlet fever is spiking in the UK, with case numbers more than fourfold higher than normal for this time of year. And a rare but serious invasive disease caused by the same bacteria that causes scarlet fever and strep throat—Group A streptococci—is also surging,
San Francisco decides killer police robots aren’t such a great idea
1KArs Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / The social media flyer for the "no killer robots" rally. (credit: EFF ) The robot police dystopia will have to wait. Last week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the San Francisco Police Department to add lethal robots to its arsenal. The plan wasn't yet "robots with guns" (though some police bomb disposal robots fire shotgun shells already, and some are also used
Twitter running major brands’ ads with extremist tweets—until they get flagged
48Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Anadolu Agency / Contributor | Anadolu Agency ) After the US Department of Health and Human Services realized its promoted tweet about updated COVID vaccines was appearing on Twitter pages of white nationalist accounts, the agency told The Washington Post it promptly moved to remove the ads from Twitter. But their promoted tweets weren’t the only ones populating near extremist tw
Two months of Intel Arc driver updates begin to fix low performance in old games
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Intel is talking up big performance gains in some old, but noteworthy, games. (credit: Intel) In the run-up to the launch of Intel's Arc graphics cards, the company emphasized for months that the cards might not perform well in games that didn't use newer graphics APIs like Vulkan and DirectX 12. The GPUs are actually quite price-competitive with aging midrangers like Nvidia’s GeForce R
Four-person dev team gets Apple’s M-series GPU working in Linux
27Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / Has any game been more associated with proof of concept than SuperTuxKart? It's the "Hello World" of 3D racing. (credit: Asahi Linux) For the brave people running Linux on Apple Silicon, their patience has paid off. GPU drivers that provide desktop hardware acceleration are now available in Asahi Linux , unleashing more of the M-series chips’ power. It has taken roughly two years to rea
Microsoft promises Call of Duty for Nintendo consoles in surprise 10-year deal
20Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) Nintendo fans hoping that the ultra-popular Call of Duty series would eventually come to the Switch got an unexpected boost last night. That's when Microsoft's Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced that the company had reached "a 10-year commitment to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo following the merger of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King." The announcement comes
Prue Leith's Favorite Low-Fuss, High-Happiness Dessert
Lifehacker / 11h
Read more...
Sam Bankman-Fried Hires Lawyer Who Defended Ghislaine Maxwell
100+Futurism / 11h
Past Representation The cryptosphere's enfant terrible has a new lawyer — and he hired one who's defended an old antagonist. As Reuters reports , FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has tapped Mark Cohen of New York's Cohen & Gresser law firm, whose client list includes convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell , Jeffrey Epstein's notorious procurer. Previously, Bankman-Fried was represented by the pr
Snag this Dyson Airwrap dupe on sale for nearly $50 off
Mashable / 11h
SAVE $47.49: As of Dec. 7, the T3 AireBrush Duo Hot Air Blow Dry Brush is on sale at Best Buy for $142.50. That's a savings of 25%. The holiday season often calls for sprucing up your look. Whether the dry air affects your hair type, or you're just ready for a change, a dependable hair tool is a great weapon in your style arsenal. As of Dec. 7, the T3 AireBrush Duo Hot Air Blow Dry Brush is on sa
The Airwheel is a rideable, electric suitcase
Mashable / 11h
The latest rideable luggage from Airwheel lets you cruise around at running speed, with a host of new tech features that let you charge your devices, and even take the battery with you for safety or swapping. You can even get the suitcase in a transparent color options, to show everyone what you've got packed. The case comes with smart anti-theft technology to stop anyone else who wants to ride a
Big Oil Is Once Again Throwing Money at Sucking Carbon From the Sky
Gizmodo / 11h
Big Oil has a fancy new piece of climate technology to sink money into. As Bloomberg reported on Monday, both Shell and Norwegian oil giant Equinor have helped a new Israeli direct air capture startup, called RepAir, raise a cool $10 million in funding—despite the company only having a shoebox-size prototype for a… Read more...
Xbox thinks its game soundscapes can lull you to sleep
Engadget / 11h
Mindfulness app Calm has a couple new audioscapes to help people relax and drift off, and they're both from first-party Xbox games. Starting today , folks with a Calm Premium membership can chill out to the ocean vibes of Sea of Thieves or the ambient alien noise of Zeta Halo from Halo Infinite . It's the first time Calm has added game-themed soundscapes, so let's hope they're not interrupted by
Make a Disinfectant Using Your Christmas Tree
Lifehacker / 11h
Nothing beats the scent of a real Christmas tree in the living room. But what those pine tree needles could be used as a general cleaner? Pine disinfectant is a popular, old-timey DIY that’s perfect for the season. Here are a few ways to make it. Read more...
End of an era: Boeing just finished building the final 747
500+The Points Guy / 11h
The Wright brothers’ first flight. The first transatlantic trip. The invention of the jet engine. The introduction of the Boeing 747. Few moments in commercial aviation history have had as big an impact as Boeing’s jumbo jet: It first flew in 1969 and entered service a year later with the now-inoperative U.S. carrier Pan Am. The first wide-body passenger plane and a defining icon of the golden ag
A healthcare brand for women begins to take shape
TechCrunch / 11h
Until last year, healthcare funding continued to shatter previous records. But there remains at least one very big hole in the industry. No one has yet created a broad, leading women’s healthcare brand, and that spells opportunity. Dina Radenkovic is among those who see it, and at her company, Gameto , she specifically wants to build a massive healthcare business that redefines reproductive healt
Navier’s 30-foot hydrofoiling electric boat hits the water and prepares for production
TechCrunch / 11h
Electric leisure boat startup Navier has managed to bring its concept hydrofoiling watercraft into reality, and has opened preorders — if you happen to have a few hundred grand laying around. It may not be affordable, but it’s not like the other 30-foot boats you can order are a bargain either. At least this one doesn’t burn 10 gallons of gas an hour. Navier just picked up a seed round at the beg
Indiana Sues TikTok for Security and Child Safety Violations
100+NYT > Technology / 11h
The lawsuits are the first by an American state against TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, in a sign of mounting legal pressure.
Atari revives unreleased arcade game that was too damn hard for 1982 players
Engadget / 12h
Atari is reviving Akka Arrh , a 1982 arcade game canceled because test audiences found it too difficult. For the wave shooter’s remake, the publisher is teaming up with developer Jeff Minter, whose psychedelic, synthwave style seems an ideal fit for what Atari describes as “a fever dream in the best way possible.” The remake will be released on PC, PS5 and PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch an
Jenna Ortega Had Covid While Filming Wednesday's Dance Scene
200+Gizmodo / 12h
Reviews of Netflix’s Addams Family s pin-off Wednesday have been mixed, but there’s one thing everyone could agree on: Jenny Ortega ’s unapologetically goofy dance scene was amazing. Unfortunately, notice I said “could”—your enthusiasm might wane upon learning she filmed the scene while having the coronavirus . Read more...
12 White Elephant Gifts That Are Just Barely Appropriate
Lifehacker / 12h
The true gift of White Elephant is the element of surprise. It’s the promise of possibility, the anticipation of your gift recipient’s shock and awe upon opening your carefully curated gag gift. For those of us who like to toe the line of what makes an “appropriate” gift, White Elephant is our time to shine. Read more...
You can now redeem Alaska miles on El Al, business-class awards start at 85,000 miles
The Points Guy / 12h
If you’re dreaming of traveling to the Middle East or love using your miles to fly on airlines you’ve never experienced before, we have good news for you. It’s now possible to redeem Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles for flights on El Al , Israel’s national airline. Unlike many of Alaska Airlines ‘ partners, El Al isn’t part of the Oneworld alliance — nor any other alliance. With a growing list
Here’s What Happens When You Don’t Clean Your Bellybutton
Lifehacker / 12h
Bodies are exhaustingly high-maintenance. The list of things you’re supposed to be doing just to stay alive and in reasonably good health gets more detailed the longer you live—especially when it comes to grooming and hygiene . You might think you’re doing a reasonably good job of detailing all the bits on your body,… Read more...
Qantas’ Intriguing Round The World Oneworld Awards
300+One Mile at a Time / 12h
While I wouldn’t consider Qantas Frequent Flyer to be all that lucrative of a loyalty program in general, there are definitely some sweet spots. In this post I wanted to take a look at one of those, which is the ability to book oneworld round the world award tickets through Qantas. Basics of Qantas’ round the world awards on oneworld Long story short, for 318,000 Qantas points you can fly round t
Apple changes AirDrop security for all with iOS 16.2 after backlash over restrictions in China
70TechCrunch / 12h
Apple is clamping down on AirDrop privacy settings for all its users with the iOS 16.2 update, after backlash its recent restrictions were impacting the feature’s use in China. In November, reports circulated that Apple had begun limiting the use of AirDrop in China as the country was facing widespread protests over the Chinese government’s “zero Covid” policy. Protesters had been using AirDrop,
Apple launches end-to-end encryption for iCloud data
TechCrunch / 12h
Apple today launched Advanced Data Protection, a new, optional end-to-end encryption scheme that prevents data in a customer’s iCloud from being decrypted on an “untrusted” device. Concretely, Advanced Data Protection would keep most of an iCloud account’s data secure even in the event that Apple was hacked, and — as a Wall Street Journal piece notes — would prevent Apple from accessing iCloud ph
Amazon Says It'll Pay You $2 Per Month to Spy on Your Phone's Internet Traffic
74Futurism / 12h
Hard Bargain Allow an overbearing tech conglomerate to see traffic coming out of your phone, and you can clinch yourself a cool $2 a month. That kind of minuscule moneymaking deal is what Amazon is offering customers as part of its invite-only Amazon Shopper Panel, Insider reports . Select customers can use an associated app to submit photos of receipts for ten bucks, complete surveys for cash —
When Flight Attendants Dance Like No One Is Watching, Love Like They’ve Never Been Hurt [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 12h
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading ...
The Best Holiday Gifts For Car Lovers In 2022
SlashGear / 12h
If you have a car enthusiast on your gift list, we have a range of offerings for the holiday season that meets every budget. Check out our picks!
2023 Volvo S60 T8 Recharge Review: Plug-In Hybrid Packs Punch
SlashGear / 12h
As the auto industry transitions to electric vehicles on all levels, the plug-in hybrid sedan 2023 Volvo S60 T8 Recharge is a breed that might not last long.
2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Review: Hybrid SUV Offers Greener Go-Anywhere
SlashGear / 12h
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe aims to provide the best of both worlds with emissions-free electric power for everyday driving and gas engine power when you need it.
Can You Overclock Your Intel CPU? Here's How To Tell
SlashGear / 12h
Intel only officially allows overclocking on certain CPU and motherboard combinations. Here's how to find out if your setup is ready to be overclocked.
This Flagship Phone From Tecno Has A Retractable Rear-Camera
SlashGear / 12h
Phone maker Tecno launched a new flagship phone with a retractable rear camera that offers natural portrait shooting, plus a power processor and lots of RAM.
Telegram Is Selling Fake Telephone Numbers for Crypto
25Gizmodo / 12h
Telegram is not yet done finding new ways to monetize access to its platform. On Tuesday, the encrypted messaging app announced users will be able to sign up for its services without needing access to a SIM card. How, you may ask? By buying up a phone number with crypto, of course. Read more...
Sore Loser Bezos Is Hoping for a Second Chance to Build NASA's Lunar Lander
100+Gizmodo / 12h
Blue Origin is once again making a pitch to build a lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program. The space company is partnering with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Astrobotic Technology, Honeybee Robotics, and Draper in hopes of building a second lander, Blue Origin announced on Tuesday. Read more...
Why You Should Never Choose "Pay Later" At Checkout
How-To Geek / 12h
The holiday shopping season is a busy time of year, especially when shopping for several people. Whether you’re getting gifts for others or buying yourself something nice, you’ll likely see those options to buy now and pay later with Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, or even PayPal’s installment plans. Read
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