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

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Technology News Thursdays and More...

 Technology News and More..



Why does Apple think my M1 Pro MacBook Pro is suddenly worth nothing?


33TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
With the new M2 Pro MacBook Pros finally official, it's a great upgrade for anyone moving on from an Intel Mac. However, if you're thinking of trading it in through Apple to knock some of the price off, you might be far worse off than I've found with my M1 Pro MacBook Pro . While I'm holding off for an M3 Pro MacBook Pro , curiosity made me check on Apple's site about how much my current Mac woul


These scientists used CRISPR to put an alligator gene into catfish


MIT Technology Review / 1h
Millions of fish are farmed in the US every year, but many of them die from infections. In theory, genetically engineering fish with genes that protect them from disease could reduce waste and help limit the environmental impact of fish farming. A team of scientists have attempted to do just that—by inserting an alligator gene into the genomes of catfish. Americans go through a lot of catfish. In


Apple wants to take over your home with new iPad-like device, report claims


Mashable / 46min
Apple's second-generation HomePod , which launched yesterday, may be just the beginning of a new smart home expansion of Apple's lineup. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman , Apple is working on a cheap, iPad -like device that will let you control various smart home functions, such as thermostats and lights. It'll also be able to display video, as well as handle FaceTime chats, the report claims



Twitter's Blue subscription comes to Android devices


Engadget / 12min
Twitter Blue has arrived on Android, and just like on iOS, it will cost you $11 a month to pay for a subscription through Google Play. The social media website has updated its About page for Blue to add Android pricing for all the countries where the service is currently available, namely the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Before this, you'd have to pay for a subscription v


Leslie Jones goes gloriously off-topic in 'Daily Show' bit about TikTok college ban


Mashable / 16min
Following Trevor Noah's departure , Leslie Jones is guest-hosting The Daily Show this week, and we couldn't be happier about it. Especially when the comedian and Saturday Night Live favourite goes well off topic and hands it to the youths . During a segment running through the latest headlines, Jones began with the recent bans of TikTok by a handful of universities and colleges across America , a


Tempur-Pedic’s smart bed frame taught me I’m bad at sleeping


Mashable / 27min
Being a product reviews editor, I often have neat gadgets in my apartment, whether I’m testing them or was just influenced by another writer to buy them. I currently have a new reigning champ for the coolest thing in my home: the Tempur-Ergo smart base . Apologies to the previous title-holder, the TheraFace PRO . I was initially interested in the Tempur-Pedic smart bed because it has sleep tracki


Score a refurbished MacBook Air and a lifetime of Microsoft Office for under $500


Mashable / 27min
TL;DR : As of Jan. 19, you can grab a refurbished MacBook Air with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Mac for just $476 — that's 64% in savings from the usual value. You can’t always plan when you’re going to need a new computer. Whether your old one was lost or stolen, or just isn’t cutting it anymore even though you have a deadline, sometimes you need a new computer in a hurry. Here’s y


This $45 IT exam prep bundle could help prepare you for your first tech job


Mashable / 27min
TL;DR : As of Jan. 19, you can get the Complete CompTIA and IT Exam Lifetime Access Training Bundle for $44.99 — that's over 90% off its original value. The cybersecurity industry may be growing , but the salary you may one day earn doesn’t make expensive tuition costs any easier to deal with if you’re pursuing higher education. If you want to take your education into your own hands, then there a


Prep for in-demand IT certifications with this $69 study bundle


Mashable / 27min
TL;DR : As of Jan. 19, you can sign up for the CompTIA Certification Course Super Bundle for only $69 — that's just over $5 per course and a significant discount of over 90% from the usual MSRP. The IT industry is growing , and you don’t have to wait for someone’s permission to start preparing for your first job. If you want to study up on core concepts in cybersecurity , network management, and


Score this electric toothbrush for less than $30


Mashable / 27min
TL;DR : As of Jan. 19, you can pick up the Aquasonic Black Series Toothbrush , along with a travel case and eight extra brush heads, for just $29.99 instead of $189.99. That's a massive 84% in savings. 120 minutes or two whole hours — that's roughly the total amount of time you should be spending cleaning your teeth in a month. Since time immemorial, dentists have always drilled into everyone's h


'That '90s Show's coming-out scene proves Kitty Forman is the heart of the show


Mashable / 27min
If you found yourself crying at That '90s Show 's coming-out scene, you're not alone. The touching exchange between Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Ozzie (Reyn Doi), a new friend of Leia (Callie Haverda) — Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna's (Laura Prepon) daughter — has quickly risen in the "Kitty Forman Best Moments" Hall of Fame. Through brilliant line delivery courtesy of Rupp, That '90s Show 's coming


Supreme Court Poised to Reconsider Key Tenets of Online Speech


NYT > Technology / 34min
The cases could significantly affect the power and responsibilities of social media platforms.


Apple may release an ‘iPad-based’ smart home device to compete with Nest Hub and Echo Show


Engadget / 1h
Apple is reportedly working on an iPad-like smart home device designed to compete against Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub products, according to Bloomberg . It would reportedly be "essentially a low-end iPad" that would operate as a hub to control thermostats, lights and security systems, while also allowing FaceTime chats. It could be mounted on walls using magnetic clips or positioned


Next up for CRISPR: Gene editing for the masses?


MIT Technology Review / 1h
CRISPR for high cholesterol is one of MIT Technology Review’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2023. Explore the rest of the list here. We know the basics of healthy living by now. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction can help us avoid heart disease—the world’s biggest killer. But what if you could take a vaccine, too? And not a typical vaccine—one shot that would alter your DNA


Icky 'Swallowed' trailer teases a botched drug run with a gross twist


Mashable / 1h
The thought of swallowing a dangerous substance in order to transport it is already horrifying enough, but now imagine the thing you swallowed turns out to be something different to what you thought it was — maybe even something living . That's the icky conceit for writer/director Carter Smith's Swallowed , which sees two friends biting off more than they can chew after they try to make a bit of


German teens went crazy for this ‘compliments’ app, and now VCs are backing its next phase


TechCrunch / 1h
The teenage market for apps is a tough nut to crack and stay relevant in. Just ask Snapchat. Equally, teens are going through a stage in life where almost every social interaction seems to carry portent of some kind of other. This would explain in part why apps like SendIt, NGL, and Nocapp (some are Snapchat connected tools) took off as ways for teens to anonymously comment on each other. And Ask


Oro, an open-source B2B ecommerce platform from Magento’s cofounder, raises $13M


TechCrunch / 1h
Oro , an open source ecommerce platform co-created by Magento’s cofounder and former CTO, today announced it has raised $13 million in a strategic growth round of funding. Founded in 2012, Los Angeles-based Oro’s platform constitutes a range of applications, including OroCommerce , its flagship B2B ecommerce platform for building storefronts and marketplaces; OroMarketplace , an end-to-end manage


Sex toy retailer Lovers is offering up to 20% off its newly-launched Playboy Pleasure collection


Mashable / 2h
SAVE 20%: Playboy just dropped a line of one-of-a-kind sex toys, and you can snag them all for up to 20% off starting Jan. 19 at Lovers . But you’d better hurry! The sale ends on Sunday, Jan. 22. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, you’ve probably seen more than a few Instagram ads for lingerie, sex toys, and the like popping up on your feed. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to wait unt


Microsoft is laying off 10,000 employees


Mashable / 3h
Microsoft will let go of 10,000 employees over the coming months, becoming the latest tech giant to significantly reduce its headcount. Working in this industry feels increasingly precarious every day. The plan to cut thousands of employees was announced in a blog post on Wednesday , which was also shared with Microsoft's employees. In it, CEO Satya Nadella noted the impact of decreased consumer


A lot of fintechs “have to fix their business models,” say VCs who invest in fintech


26TechCrunch / 3h
In recent years, working for, or banking with, a traditional financial institution was decidedly uncool. Far cooler was working for or banking with one of the many fintech startups that seemed to thumb their nose at stodgy bank brands. Then the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates, stocks tanked, and a lot of fintech outfits that appeared to be doing well began looking far less hardy and hale . T



Twitter Blue is now available on Android at the same price as iOS


38TechCrunch / 3h
A day after launching an annual subscription for Twitter Blue , the social media company has extended the paid plan to users on Android. Individuals will have to pay $11 per month if they buy the Twitter Blue plan through Android. The pricing, same as that on iOS, is higher than the $8 offering for those who subscribe through a web browser. It’s likely that Elon Musk & co. wants to avoid paying f


Amazon is shutting down the AmazonSmile charity program in February


Engadget / 4h
Amazon plans to wind down AmazonSmile, its giving program that allows buyers to donate to their favorite charities with every purchase, by February 20th, 2023. In its announcement , the e-commerce giant said "the program has not grown to create the impact that [it] had originally hoped" almost a decade after it was launched. Apparently, the program's ability to make meaningful impact was hampered


India’s PhonePe tops $12 billion valuation in new funding


29TechCrunch / 4h
PhonePe’s valuation has more than doubled to over $12 billion in a new funding round as the Indian fintech giant readies for life without parent firm Flipkart . The Bengaluru-headquartered startup said it has raised $350 million and anticipates raising up to another $650 million as part of the round in a remarkable feat at a time when fundraising activity has slowed down globally as investors bec


'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for January 19


Mashable / 5h
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


Today's Wordle Answer #579 – January 19, 2023 Solution And Hints


SlashGear / 5h
The Wordle answer for today is a bit grotty, but if you're having trouble nailing the answer down, we have some hints (and the solution) if you need help.


This just-launched brand from Accor will focus on smaller, independent hotels


The Points Guy / 5h
The hotel industry’s branding bonanza continues. This time, it continues in a newer subset of hospitality known for properties that don’t necessarily fit into the mold of a “normal” hotel brand. Accor Thursday launched the Handwritten Collection, the latest in the Paris-based hotel giant’s collection brand segment. Accor already has the luxury Emblems Collection and the upper upscale MGallery Col


The best Roombas for every home


Mashable / 5h
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience. It would come as a surprise to more people than you think that "roomba" actually isn't the generic term for a robot vacuum . The interchangeability is nearing Hoover territory, exemplifying just how iconic iRobot's impact has been on the world of small household appliances. Though 20-ish Roomb


Kickstart a career in cybersecurity with this discounted InfoSec training course


Mashable / 5h
TL;DR : Lifetime access to the InfoSec4TC Platinum Membership training course is on sale for £56.64, saving you 93% on list price. By 2027, projections predict cybersecurity will be a $403 billion industry . With all that growth comes job opportunities, but they aren’t just giving positions away. If you want to begin your cybersecurity training, get started with the InfoSec4TC Platinum Membership


How to unblock and watch U.S. Netflix with ExpressVPN


Mashable / 5h
SAVE 49%: The process of unblocking U.S. Netflix is straightforward with ExpressVPN. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £83.90 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. We're all looking for ways to increase our content options, and whilst it would be nice to subscribe to all the streaming platforms on the market, this just isn't feasible for most


Shein valuation reportedly plummets by a third as it seeks $3B


57TechCrunch / 6h
Shein, the fast fashion behemoth that has swept across the world, is raising a significant down round as the startup world braces for a funding crunch . The e-commerce platform known for jaw-dropping outfit prices and savvy TikTok marketing is seeking $3 billion at a valuation of $64 billion, down from the $100 billion price tag in April , according to Financial Times . Shein denies the accuracy


How To Find Your MAC Address On Windows 11


SlashGear / 8h
A MAC address is essentially, well, an address that supplies any device an identity on the network and helps determine where data goes.


Getting Started With Podman Desktop, an Open Source Docker Desktop Alternative


How-To Geek / 8h
Podman Desktop is a free alternative to Docker Desktop that’s another great option for local development use. It offers a similar feature set while remaining entirely open-source, letting you avoid the licensing implications of using Docker’s product. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›


The Sleek Toyota Concept That Tried To Make Minivans Cool


SlashGear / 9h
In the early 2000s, Toyota was trying its best to shake off the dorky stigma of minivan ownership with the F3R.


A Damning US Report Lays Bare Amazon’s Worker Injury Crisis


29Wired / 9h
Investigators found that conditions in three of the company’s facilities risk “serious physical harm” to workers.


Jordan Peele Goes Over the Answers to Everyone’s Nope Questions


Gizmodo / 9h
If you haven’t seen Nope , you’ve had plenty of time to catch up—but if you want to have it explained and don’t care about spoilers, here you go. Read more...


Curated Loop is ranging indie designer picks for an edgier take on fashion rentals


20TechCrunch / 10h
Here’s a fashion rental startup with a twist: London, U.K.-based Curated Loop — which soft-launched a high-end fashion rental marketplace last week after bootstrapping to launch an MVP — is sourcing statement pieces from independent designers’ sample stock to style itself as an edgier alternative to more conventional rivals. Its approach means items available for rent on its marketplace may be li


Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for January 19


Mashable / 10h
It's the best of times, it's Wordle time. A new Wordle puzzle is now live, giving you another opportunity to prove your linguistic prowess. And as always, we're here with some hints and tips to help you work out the solution. If you just want the answer without the effort, scroll to the bottom of this article for January 19's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather figure it out yourself, r


The Legacy Of Honda's Motocompo Lives On In New EV Bikes


SlashGear / 10h
While Honda's Motocompo is no longer produced, there remain two successors seemingly inspired by its rectangular crown.


Here's How To Redeem Microsoft Rewards For Free Game Pass Memberships On Your Xbox


SlashGear / 10h
You can earn Microsoft Rewards for anything from launching the mobile app to buying games. Here's how you can use those points for your Game Pass subscription.


How To Start A Twitch Livestream From Your Xbox


SlashGear / 10h
If you want to stream an Xbox game on Twitch, you don't need a capture card or a fancy setup. Microsoft has a built-in Twitch integration that's easy to set up.



How To Drop And Share Pins In Apple Maps On iPhone


SlashGear / 10h
Pins in Apple Maps can be useful for referencing a place you frequently go, or for sharing locations with other contacts. We'll show you how to use them!


Bitzlato crypto founder charged with $700m financial crimes


89BBC News - Technology / 10h
Bitzlato co-founder Anatoly Legkodymov is accused of helping to process $700m in illicit funds.


There's Something Wrong With the Children Is Full of Terrors Big and Small


Gizmodo / 10h
There’s Something Wrong With the Children drops a big hint as to what it’s about with that title—but what’s wrong with the kids, as well as the adults surrounding them, not to mention how everyone got that way, are the prickly pleasures in Roxanne Benjamin’s ( Creepshow , XX , Body at Brighton Rock) new film, written by… Read more...


Musk stands to lose billions in trial over ‘funding secured’ tweet


300+TechCrunch / 10h
The question of whether Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a fraud or is just too careless with his words took center stage in a San Francisco court room Wednesday. Under the microscope was Musk’s notorious 2018 tweet that stated funding was “secured” to take Tesla private at a potential value of $420 per share . In a class-action lawsuit that’s already two days underway, Tesla shareholders who traded the co


Time(s) for a change: State Department picks a new official typeface


32Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Official correspondence from America's diplomats is getting a bit of a spruce-up next month. From February 6, the US Department of State will adopt Microsoft's sans serif Calibri in 14-point size "for all paper submitted to the Executive Secretariat," according to The Washington Post's diplomacy reporter John Hudson . big news for font freaks: Times


Carnivorous oyster mushrooms can kill roundworms with “nerve gas in a lollipop”


100+Ars Technica - All content / 10h
Enlarge / Oyster mushrooms ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) serenely growing on a tree trunk in a forest. But nematodes beware! These oyster mushrooms want to eat you—and they have evolved a novel mechanism for paralyzing and killing you. (credit: Arterra/Getty Images) Oyster mushrooms ( Pleurotus ostreatus ) are a staple of many kinds of cuisine, prized for its mild flavors and a scent vaguely hinting at


Why a Dormant Temperature Sensor Has Been Sitting in the HomePod Mini This Whole Time


Gizmodo / 10h
The smart home has become a renewed priority for companies since Matter launched , soon to usher in all sorts of refreshed gadgets. Until recently, Apple was trailing behind a bit in terms of offerings, which is why we’re buzzing over the revelation of a temperature sensor not only in the brand-new HomePod but also in… Read more...


Amy Jo Johnson Reveals Why She Isn't Returning for Power Rangers' 30th Anniversary


Gizmodo / 10h
This week we got our first look at Power Rangers ’ big celebration for its 30th birthday—a new special episode reuniting a mix of first and second-generation rangers from the original Mighty Morphin’ team. But a notable face was missing among them. Read more...


DOJ charges tiny crypto exchange Bitzlato with money laundering after teasing 'major' crypto announcement


Mashable / 11h
After a hellish 2022, was crypto's biggest reckoning about to hit in the first weeks of 2023? That's what many thought after word quickly spread on Wednesday from the United States Department of Justice about an upcoming press conference announcing a "major international cryptocurrency action." Many assumed the announcement could very possibly be about the world's largest crypto exchange, Binance


Yes, Wikipedia looks weird. Don’t freak out.


Mashable / 11h
If you took a big sip of coffee on Wednesday and tried to dive down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, you may now have a wet screen, because get this: Wikipedia looks different. Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab) Perhaps your brain rejected all the new white space, or the way the "sticky" new table of contents hovers while you scroll. But also maybe you just hate change. Tweet may have been


Blackout Dates When Redeeming Hotel Points: How Policies Compare


One Mile at a Time / 11h
Some people get frustrated by how complicated it can be to redeem airline miles , given blackout dates and capacity controls. By comparison, this is something that’s awesome about hotel points , at least on the surface. Most hotel loyalty programs don’t have blackout dates on award redemptions. However, not all policies are created equal, so in this post I wanted to compare the blackout dates pol


Apple's Smart Home Roadmap Leaks With iPad-Style Smart Display Tipped


SlashGear / 11h
Rumors are circulating that Apple might release a smart tablet designed to control your smart home as well as more smart home products in the future.


Daily Crunch: GoMechanic lays off 70% after investors discover ‘founders knowingly misstated facts’


33TechCrunch / 11h
To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PST, subscribe here . Helloooo, Crunchers! The heavy goods train of tech news keeps on rollin’ down (and sometimes off) the tracks. Apropos tracks, we’ve been a little besotted with this absolutely magnificent music video of Ren this week . It’s full of surprises and powerful bits — giv


10 Most Helpful Photoshop Shortcuts


SlashGear / 11h
Photoshop has a number of keyboard shortcuts that you can use to seriously up your graphic and photo editing game. Here's a list of our favorites.


ChatGPT's surprisingly human voice came with a human cost


Mashable / 11h
Popular, eerily-humanlike OpenAI chatbot ChatGPT was built on the backs of underpaid and psychologically exploited employees, according to a new investigation by TIME . A Kenya-based data labeling team, managed by San Francisco firm Sama , reportedly was not only paid shockingly low wages doing work for a company that may be on track to receive a $10 billion investment from Microsoft , but also w


How The Last of Us' Opening Was Improved by Reshoots


Gizmodo / 11h
The word “reshoots” means different things to different people. Some assume they’re a sign of a troubled production , one that needs to fix its own mistakes. Others see them as a blessing, a rare chance to go back and make something better with added perspective. Depending on the situation both viewpoints can be true,… Read more...


Love it or leave it: TPG managing editor Clint Henderson’s elite status plans for 2023


The Points Guy / 11h
The easy paths many airlines and hotels laid down during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are now long gone. In fact, Delta Air Lines is making it even harder than it was pre-pandemic to achieve its coveted Delta Diamond status with huge spending requirements. I no longer have expedited ways to get to top-tier Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta or Hyatt status, but that doesn’t mean I’m


Authorities dismantle crypto exchange Bitzlato, allege it was cybercrime “haven”


Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested the founder of Bitzlato, a cryptocurrency exchange they said has been a financial haven for Russia-aligned criminals engaged in ransomware and illicit drug sales on the dark web. Anatoly Legkodymov, a 40-year-old Russian national residing in Shenzhen, China, was arrested on Wednesday in Miami, US prosecutors said . The prose


RSV vaccine for older adults is 84% effective, Moderna says


20Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: DeFodi Images ) Moderna's mRNA-based vaccine against RSV (respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus) was effective at preventing disease in older adults, according to preliminary, top-line results of an ongoing phase III clinical trial the company announced Tuesday . Moderna said it will now seek regulatory approval for the vaccine in the first half of this year. According to th


Logitech announces $70 webcams with USB-C, built-in shutters


Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge / The new webcams are supposed to be home office-friendly and come in graphite, off-white, and rose. (credit: Logitech) Logitech today released a new series of webcams for users and IT managers seeking something below the $100 mark that still incorporates handy home office features, like a physical shutter and noise-canceling microphone. The Brio 300 and almost identically specced but ent



Very fat tires, a battery, front and rear springs and… a hinge?


Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: John Timmer) Cyrusher offers a wide range of e-bikes , from basic around-town frames to rugged all-terrain bikes, with the unifying theme being very, very fat tires. I'd seen a number of people cruising around on extra-fat tires (as in, much fatter than a mountain bike's) and was curious about them. Just how much did the huge surface area of these tires slow down your ride? And i


Wikipedia Has a Fresh New Look


How-To Geek / 12h
Wikipedia has largely looked the same for the last decade, with no major variations to its design. Now, though, Wikipedia has rolled out what might be its largest redesign ever. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›


Meteorite Hunters Find 17-Pound Space Rock in Antarctica


48Gizmodo / 12h
Researchers combing the surface of Antarctica for space rocks hit the jackpot by finding five meteorites in the tundra, one of which weighs almost 17 pounds. Read more...


New Font Mandate Creates Frenzy at State Department


43Gizmodo / 12h
The font style used in the U.S. State Department is changing, prompting complaints from employees who find the change to be an inconvenience. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent an email to the state department, headlined “The Times (New Roman) are a-Changin,” ala Bob Dylan, saying they will be changing the font… Read more...


Scrintal raises $1 million for its visual collaboration tool


TechCrunch / 12h
Founded by Ece Kural and Furkan Bayraktar, Scrintal is a visual note-taking and collaboration tool. The Sweden-based company’s product combines visual canvases with documentation to help professionals and teams go from idea to presentable work on the same screen — think Miro meets Notion meets a slew of other tools companies use to keep their knowledge in one place and their projects pointed more


Capital One Premier Collection now live: Get free breakfast, experience credits and room upgrades on hotel bookings


The Points Guy / 12h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Capital One has tossed its hat into the ring, launching a luxury hotel program to compete with those offered by Chase and American Express. Say hello to the Premier Collection. While the original October 2022 announcement covered what the Premier Collection should look like, the booking portal was not yet


Amazon fined by regulators for unsafe warehouse work conditions


TechCrunch / 12h
Federal regulators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that three Amazon warehouse facilities had violated legislation designed to require employers to provide safe working environments. Investigations found that Amazon workers are at high risk for back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), especially in warehouse environments that prioritize speed o


Watch a Boston Dynamics Robot Deftly Toss a Bag of Tools to a Construction Worker


2KFuturism / 12h
Pass Me Those Tools Boston Dynamics' bipedal robot Atlas has picked up even more impressive new skills. The parkour expert showed off its problem solving skills in a video titled " Atlas Gets a Grip ," released by the robot maker today. In it, the bot navigates a mocked up construction site with ease — and even tosses a bag of tools to a construction worker standing on top of some scaffolding. At


Man Claims He Woke Up Partway Through Spine Surgery


36Futurism / 12h
A provocative court case rests on a fascinating question: whether or not a man's recurrent nightmares were evidence of medical malpractice. As the San Diego Union-Tribune reports , Randy Dalo claims in his case that went to court this week that since getting spinal surgery for a cervical disc issue at UC San Diego in 2017, he's had recurring nightmares about waking up during the procedure, and be


American Airlines Promises Flight Attendants A Free Bowl Of Chili If They Don’t Picket Next Week


View from the Wing / 12h
On January 24th, American Airlines flight attendants will be conducting 'informational picketing' at the airline's hubs and also in Boston and San Francisco. They're unhappy with the time it's taken to get a new contract, and that American Airlines flat out rejects many of the changes to work rules their union proposes. American, for its part, has been telling cabin crew that on the same day as t


How to Stop (or at Least Slow Down) Porch Pirates


Lifehacker / 12h
Most folks who have ever purchased something from an online retailer or meal kit service have probably experienced—or at least feared —package theft. Even if you’re extra careful about tracking your packages and you’ve never had a package stolen from your front steps or porch, you’ve probably gone through the anxiety… Read more...


Try and Spot the Differences in Wikipedia's First New Look in 11 Years


Gizmodo / 12h
On Wednesday, the Wikimedia Foundation finally showed off the changes it made to the desktop version of its open online encyclopedia, an update that’s been over a decade coming and close three years in development. Read more...


The Benefits of Taking Vitamin D Might Depend on Your Weight


Gizmodo / 12h
The potential benefits of taking vitamin D supplements may be affected by your weight and height, new research suggests. The study found that overweight and obese people taking these supplements experienced a smaller increase of vitamin levels and other related markers relative to those with a lower body mass index. Read more...


The M3GAN Sequel Has a Release Date, Title, and Returning Talent


52Gizmodo / 12h
Watch out, Chucky. There’s a new killer doll franchise in town. After a massive opening weekend, the buzz for a sequel to M3GAN began almost immediately. Now, it’s official. Titled M3GAN 2.0, the horror sequel will hit theaters on January 17, 2025. Two years from yesterday. Read more...


5 Best Sex Tech Deals From Lelo’s Anniversary Sale: Vibrators, Lube, Condoms


Wired / 12h
There are discounts on vibrators, lube, and other accessories—it’s a great time to stock up for Valentine’s Day.


Font furore as State Department retires Times New Roman for retired Calibri


TechCrunch / 12h
In a heartwarming callback to the absurdly low-stakes controversies of the Obama era, the State Department is making extremely small waves by officially retiring the old workhorse Times New Roman font from official communications. It will be succeeded by Calibri, a font best known now for being publicly retired in 2021 . Really, though, there is no furore (let alone furor) about this, since if an


Researchers find UV nail polish dryers can cause DNA damage and mutations


Engadget / 12h
Since arriving on the market around 2010, gel manicures have become a staple in nail salons across the US and many parts of the world, and it’s easy to see why. Compared to traditional nail polish, gel variants are more resilient to damage and smudging, and they retain their shine until you remove the