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Monday, December 25, 2023

Technology News and More-Christmas Day Edition...

 Technology News and More...





The Best Xbox Series X and Series S Accessories of 2023
72How-To Geek / 3h
Want to make your Xbox Series X or Series S gaming experience better? It's time to pick up some accessories. A new headset, an extra controller, and more storage space for your favorite games can go a long way.


I held the future of data storage in my hands and it couldn't look weirder - 2024 could be the year DNA storage goes mainstream and it couldn't come sooner
22TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
This is a hands-on “review” like no other. This is a product that has no equivalent right now and yet is so limited in scope that there’s no real market for it. Don’t underestimate its impact though: DNA storage is the future of data storage and it can’t be otherwise given the current rate of growth of global data production, new use cases like generative AI and how much power is associated with


How I Earn Reward Points Paying My Property Taxes – With No Extra Fee


View from the Wing / 1h
My county takes credit cards for property taxes, but they charge a 3% fee. I could have Plastiq charge my credit card for the rewards and send the county a check, but they now charge a 2.9% fee. Property taxes in Texas are a big deal. I pay about 1.5% of my home’s assessed value each year (the assessed value is likely lower than current market). Continue reading ...


People can see what you want to know by shaking wrapped Christmas gifts
Ars Technica - All content / 12min
Enlarge / Shake, shake, shake: this adorable young child would love to guess what he's getting for Christmas this year. (credit: Johns Hopkins University) There's rarely time to write about every cool science-y story that comes our way. So this year, we're once again running a special Twelve Days of Christmas series of posts, highlighting one science story that fell through the cracks in 2023, ea


Best after-Christmas sales 2023: deals from Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 51min
While it's still technically Christmas Day, after-Christmas sales are live from retailers like Walmart and Best Buy, with clearance prices on best-selling tech, appliances, mattresses, fitness equipment, and so much more. To help you find all the top offers in one place, I've scoured the web to bring you today's best after-Christmas sales and stand-out deals. The after-Christmas sales event is th


Space Based Solar Power in Orbit Demos in 2024
Next Big Future / 51min
Factories in Space (www.factoriesinspace.com) has tracked space solar power and wireless power transfer companies since 2018. There are 52 primarily commercial entries as of September 2023, which makes it one of the largest public lists. Survey of Space Based Solar Power Efforts as of 2023 In this survey, the range of solutions and applications is ... Read more


Power Engineering Re-analysis of Space Based Solar Power Economics
Next Big Future / 51min
The current interest in Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) is opening the way to an eruption of projects. The permanent sun illumination met in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) could enable the cost per continuous watt to be competitive with ground based like solar and wind. There have been a number of assumptions made in the ... Read more


The Best Tablet Stands of 2023
How-To Geek / 1h
The best tablet stands let you interact with your tablets creatively, whether drawing, relaxing, livestreaming, or even lying in bed. Different stands offer a variety of helpful features, such as adjustable necks and 360-degree rotations support for extra flexibility.


🎄 You have probably seen this #Christmas tree photo circulating around the web. It was created at…
Music, Arts & Literature / 1h
readerupdated : 🎄 You have probably seen this #Christmas tree photo circulating around the web. It was created at the Public Library of Sulecin, Poland#libraries http://dlvr.it/T0PR1q


Horror Fans Had a Screamingly Good 2023
Gizmodo / 1h
In early 2023, io9 gazed into a blood-splattered crystal ball and made a list of all the horror entertainment we were most looking forward to . Some of the titles we were excited about delivered; others did not—and perhaps most excitingly, several releases we knew nothing about in advance swooped in and scared the hell… Read more...


Apple Needs to Make Pro Products in Fun Colors Too
How-To Geek / 1h
Apple's highest-spec and most expensive products usually have "Pro" tacked on to the end of their names, but when it comes to color selection, Apple's cheaper options have a clear advantage.


Progress to Mass Produced Nuclear Microreactors
Next Big Future / 1h
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced $80 million for the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) funding to demonstrate the Westinghouse eVinci micro nuclear reactor in Saskatchewan. SRC will apply the research and knowledge gained from the licensing and deployment of an initial microreactor to support the Saskatchewan nuclear industry to better understand this type of technology and ... Read more


The best books we read in 2023
Engadget / 2h
With El Niño slated to drop a warm, wet winter on most of the US in the coming months, everybody’s going to need something good to read while the weather outside is frightful. Engadget’s well-read staff have some suggestions: our favorite books of 2023! We’ve got a phenomenal assortment of genres and titles for you this year, from horror and true crime to rom-coms and fantasy adventures, here to


The Best Game Subscription Services for Your Phone
How-To Geek / 2h
Signing up for a game subscription has become the cheapest way to enjoy quality, ad-free mobile games. A growing number of games are only available as part of a subscription. Here are the best options for your phone.


Capital One Venture X Card Review: The No-Brainer Premium Card
One Mile at a Time / 2h
Link: Apply now for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ( Rates & Fees ) The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a card that’s in a league of its own. I’d say this card is almost too good to be true, thanks to all the amazing benefits it offers for a reasonable fee. The Venture X has a big welcome bonus, a great return on everyday spending, lounge access, lots of valuable trave


5 best luxury Alaska cruises for 2024
The Points Guy / 2h
Luxury Alaska cruises have a different vibe than posh sailings in balmy climes. Lounging poolside plays second fiddle to shore excursions showcasing the state’s spectacular natural wonders. Onboard experiences are uniquely Alaskan; viewing glaciers and wildlife from your ship’s spacious decks and listening to fascinating lectures from passionate expert guests overshadow trivia games and wine tast


Want cheap economy award flights to Europe next summer? Focus on these programs
94The Points Guy / 2h
Summer is the peak time for flights across the Atlantic, and prices reflect how many travelers want to visit Europe in the sunshine. Round-trip economy flights for less than $400 are common in the slower winter months. However, if you want to walk the cobblestone streets of Rome or take in the sunset on a Greek island next summer, you can expect to pay significantly more than this. While redeemin


In a slow year for enterprise tech M&A, there were few standout deals
TechCrunch / 2h
It was a slow year in enterprise technology M&A, and the total was the second lowest since we started compiling the data in 2018. © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.


How to Enable Secure Private DNS on Android
55How-To Geek / 3h
Almost everything you do on the internet starts with a DNS query, so having secure communication with a DNS provider is essential. This is where Android's Private DNS feature comes into play.


The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories of 2023
39How-To Geek / 3h
You've got a Switch, some games, and an online subscription—what more could you need? How about some of the best console accessories to make controlling, traveling, and powering your console a more pleasant experience?


withnailrules: withnailrules:National Association of Book...
Music, Arts & Literature / 3h
withnailrules : withnailrules : National Association of Book Publishers — 1927 Never goes out of style ❤️📚


Revamped Elegance: My Experience at the Renovated Park Hyatt Chicago [Review]
View from the Wing / 3h
This hotel had been 'off my list' for awhile. They finished renovations a little over a year ago, and they did a fantastic job of it. My priors had been stuck in 2012, when my wife stayed at the Park Hyatt Chicago and reported a dirty, dusty in-room phone with missing and stuck buttons. That's no longer the case. The hotel is much brighter than it used to be - no longer the same dark tones - and


Oneworld Airport Lounge Access Explained
100+One Mile at a Time / 3h
One of the great things about the “big three” global airline alliances is that they offer reciprocal lounge access for travelers. In this post I wanted to take a closer look at the oneworld alliance’s lounge access policy, as understanding the nuances of airport lounge access can be complicated. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect that you’ll get lounge access with oneworld either if you h


Aquaman 2 Leaves the DCEU in a Fitting Place, Actually
Gizmodo / 3h
Unless something truly crazy happens, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be the final film in the DC Extended Universe that began 10 years ago with Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel . It was a universe dominated by Snyder’s decisions, which resulted in some memorable highs and embarrassing lows . And while Lost Kingdom completel… Read more...


The 20 most-read stories of 2023
Ars Technica - All content / 3h
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Every so often, you live through a year that you know you're going to remember. Sometimes it's because of a personal milestone. Other times it's because of noteworthy events that affected all of us in one way or another. And in some years, it's because we were all surprised by unanticipated and rapid technological advances. 2023 definitely will be a


Inside Gaylord Ice! Meet the artisans who turn 5,000 tons of ice into winter wonderlands
22The Points Guy / 4h
You don’t usually need a parka inside a hotel, but most hotels aren’t chilled to a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit. That is unless you visit one of the five Gaylord Hotels across the U.S. during their annual Ice! experience. Ice! brings favorite holiday stories like “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “The Polar Express” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to life with immersive walk-through displays creat


Suspect Your Windows PC Has Malware? How to Quickly Reduce and Remove the Threat
How-To Geek / 4h
If you suspect your PC is infected with malware, or you get a legitimate warning from a tool like Microsoft Defender telling you as such, there are steps you should take immediately to minimize the impact and cure your computer. Whether you're running Windows 10 or 11, here's what you need to do.


How to Redeem an Amazon Gift Card
How-To Geek / 5h
Do you have a physical or digital Amazon gift card ? Great. To use the card, you will have to redeem it in your Amazon account. You can perform the redemption process on both your desktop and mobile devices. We'll show you how.


"Simply the best OEM SSD ever made": Micron's new SSD gets glowing reviews thanks to new controller and new NAND — Expect it to come to a workstation PC near you
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
Micron's 3500 1TB SSD might just be among the best SSDs ever made – if not the best – having scored 100% on TweakTown and winning its highly coveted Editor's Choice Award. Launched in December 2023, this 232-layer NAND SSD, which adopts a M.2 2280 form factor, comes in at 512GB, 1TB and 2TB variations, and features a superb Phison E25 controller that can also be found in the Crucial T500 SSD. The


View of a librarian leading a Christmas story hour at the Duffield Branch Library, Detroit Public…
Music, Arts & Literature / 5h
View of a librarian leading a Christmas story hour at the Duffield Branch Library, Detroit Public Library. Children pose in front of Christmas tree; fireplace on left. Handwritten on back: “Christmas story hour. Dec. 21, 1918. Duffield Branch Library, W. Grand Boulevard and Dunedin. This room connected by sliding doors with main room. Duffield Branch interior view, photo taken in 1918.” Burton Hi


Review: Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge Singapore Airport (SIN)
27One Mile at a Time / 5h
During my long journey to Abu Dhabi , I had the chance to check out some of Singapore Airlines’ lounges at its Changi Airport hub. In the past couple of years, Singapore Airlines has completely redesigned its lounges in Terminal 3. In this installment I wanted to review the Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge. Despite its name, this isn’t actually the carrier’s “real” first class lounge. I’ve r


Film Technica: Our favorite movies of 2023
Ars Technica - All content / 5h
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Warning: Although we’ve done our best to avoid spoiling anything too major, please note this list does include a few specific references to several of the listed films that some might consider spoiler-y. It's been an odd couple of years for film as the industry struggles to regain its footing in the wake of a devastating global pandemic, but there ar


Expired In-Flight Meals: A Cautionary Tale [Roundup]
View from the Wing / 5h
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 ...


How to Save and Find Your Parked Car with Google Maps
How-To Geek / 5h
We've all parked our cars on the street or in a random parking garage and then struggled to find it a few hours later. Don't get caught wandering around tapping the button on your key fob, hoping to find it. Instead, use Google Maps to save and find your parked car quickly.


The Best TV Shows You Missed in 2023—and Where to Watch Them
Wired / 6h
From creepy Cronenberg adaptations to Cold War spy thrillers, 2023 was awash in great television. Here’s where you can binge it all.


The Hollywood Strikes Stopped AI From Taking Your Job. But for How Long?
28Wired / 6h
The year was dominated by talk of what artificial intelligence could do—and what it could do better than most humans.


Got an iPad for Christmas? Here are the first 7 apps you should download
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Christmas is a great time to buy or receive an iPad. With one single device it's possible to play games, create beautiful artwork, edit photos and learn new languages. But where do you start? Whether you have in your hands the popular iPad 10.9 (2022) , the incredibly powerful iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) , or indeed any of the best iPads , you'll have a choice of thousands of apps to hunt through on the


Hands-On: Deciding Between Asus ROG Ally and Valve Steam Deck
How-To Geek / 7h
With over 130 million units and 1.1 billion apps sold to date since early 2017, the ubiquitous Nintendo Switch platform is a force to be reckoned with. It's no surprise then that by 2021, several smaller companies like GPD, AYANEO, and ONEXPLAYER began to explore the possibilities of a handheld gaming market on the PC side with powerful, but somewhat clunky and expensive, devices.


Review: Singapore Airlines The Private Room Singapore Airport (SIN)
61One Mile at a Time / 7h
During my long journey to Abu Dhabi , I had the chance to check out some of Singapore Airlines’ lounges at its Changi Airport hub. In the past couple of years, Singapore Airlines has completely redesigned its lounges in Terminal 3. In this installment I wanted to review Singapore Airlines’ The Private Room, which is the carrier’s most exclusive lounge. Then in the next installment I’ll review the


'The Boys in the Boat' review: George Clooney's WWII sports drama aims high, lands low
Mashable / 8h
It's been a bad week for aquatic cinema, between the middling DC farewell Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and the George Clooney-directed period drama The Boys in the Boat . The two have little in common in terms of subject matter and style, but they're plagued by the same sense of glum involvement. Clooney's Olympic drama follows the young men of the University of Washington's rowing crew as they l


This 4K drone is ideal for beginners and on sale for $86.99
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: As of Dec. 25, the beginner-friendly Ninja Dragon Blade K drone is on sale for just $86.99 instead of $169 — that's a savings of 48%. Looking to change things up in 2024? Get a fresh new perspective from a bird's-eye view with a little help from a high-quality drone . Snap some aerial photography while getting some fresh air as you play with your new toy. Pick up a brand-new hobby for the


This refurbished Acer N7 Chromebook is just $56.99
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: This refurbished Acer N7 C731 Chromebook (Intel Celeron N3060, 4GB RAM, 16GB eMMC) is down to just $56.99 (reg. $289) as of Dec. 25. That's a savings of 80% for a limited time. When you need an extra computer for everyday tasks or to give your older child a device to stream shows and movies and do school work, a refurbished device should really be considered. Something like this refurbishe


Save 30% on a 64GB 4-in-1 smart flash drive
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: Grab a 4-in-1 smart flash drive with 64GB for just $20.99 (reg. $29.99), or a 128GB one for just $30.99 (reg. $39.99) and enjoy high-speed data transfers for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. That's up to 30% in savings. Digital content is where everything is at. And that means having a reliable and versatile storage solution is essential. Ahead of the coming new year, this smart flash


Enjoy unlimited access to this all-in-one AI tool for only $50
Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: Through Dec. 25, Create content, write code, generate images, transcribe interviews , and more with Producti, an all-in-one AI-powered tool, on sale for $50. With the rise of tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E, many have started fearing that AI-powered programs will come for our jobs. In reality, however, they are complementary tools that can help us perform our tasks more efficiently. If you'r


'The Color Purple' review: Does this Broadway musical work on the big screen?
Mashable / 8h
The Color Purple had a long road from Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to Academy-honored movie adaptation to Tony Award-winning musical, and back to the big screen. To understand director Blitz Bazawule's vision, you have to step back to where it all began. The Color Purple is essential reading. Alice Walker's 1982 novel is a gorgeous, heartbreaking, and difficult story about Black women dealing wit


This N.Y.U. Student Owns a $6 Million Crypto Mine. His Secret Is Out.
95NYT > Technology / 8h
A legal dispute in a tiny Texas town unexpectedly reveals how Chinese nationals can move money to the U.S. without drawing the attention of authorities in either country.


The 2023 Good Tech Awards
NYT > Technology / 8h
Toasting a year of breakthroughs (and a few breakdowns) in Silicon Valley and beyond.


Future AI Data Center Energy Needs
Next Big Future / 10h
Estimated global data center electricity consumption in 2022 was 240-340 TWh, or around 1-1.3% of global final electricity demand. “It is really hard to quantify how much demand is needed for things like ChatGPT,” David