Technology News and More...
This “smoking gun” killed the McDonald’s ice cream hackers’ startup
100+Ars Technica - All content / 23min
Enlarge (credit: lovelypeace via Getty ) A little over three years have passed since McDonald's sent out an email to thousands of its restaurant owners around the world that abruptly cut short the future of a three-person startup called Kytch —and with it, perhaps one of McDonald's best chances for fixing its famously out-of-order ice cream machines. Until then, Kytch had been selling McDonald's
How to Stream 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' in 2022
97How-To Geek / 11min
The first-ever TV special based on Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts characters, A Charlie Brown Christmas , premiered on CBS in December of 1965 and has been a beloved holiday tradition ever since. Here's how you can celebrate the holidays by streaming A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The iPhone’s Notes App Is the Purest Reflection of Our Messy Existence
28Wired / 40min
This deceptively simple app is where we deposit both our grocery lists and our deepest, darkest thoughts. It is the medium of our time.
Microsoft Office apps arrive on Meta Quest VR headsets
Engadget / 10min
Meta Quest users will now be able to write reports, edit spreadsheets and create presentations — if they event want to do any of those tasks on a VR headset, that is. Android Central reports that support for the basic Microsoft Office suite has arrived on the original Oculus Quest, the Meta Quest 2, the Meta Quest Pro, and the latest model, the Meta Quest 3 . Users can now download Microsoft Word
Here’s how an off-road racing series will make its own hydrogen fuel
Ars Technica - All content / 23min
Enlarge / Extreme E travels to remote locations by boat and brings its own energy infrastructure with it. Currently, it makes its own hydrogen on site and uses that to charge EV batteries, but in 2025, the cars will switch to hydrogen fuel cells. (credit: Colin McMaster / LAT Images) Extreme E provided flights from New York City to Antofagasta, Chile, and accommodations so we could attend the ser
Meta Ray-Bans Hate Your Outfit, PlayStation 5 Pro Rumors, and More Top Product News of the Week
Gizmodo / 34min
If you ever wanted help picking out an outfit, Meta just rolled out a beat for its Ray-Ban Smart Glasses that’ll give you fashion advice based on what’s in your closet. Meanwhile, the Apple and Beeper Mini messaging saga took a dramatic turn. Gizmodo covered all this news and more, and you can catch up with our weekly… Read more...
Ricoh GR IV: 5 things I want to see
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 39min
If you want a discreet everyday camera that slips easily into a pocket, you can’t really go wrong with the Ricoh GR III series. And fans of the street photography snapper were given a big boost when Ricoh GR designer Inaba San dropped a hint during an interview – shared on Ricoh's YouTube earlier this month – that a fourth installment is in the pipeline (see video link, below, starting at 20:58).
5 Great Steam Deck OLED Upgrades Besides the OLED Screen
How-To Geek / 40min
While the most significant upgrade in the new Steam Deck is that stunning OLED screen, Valve has managed to pack the revised handheld with a metric ton of improvements. Some of these are just as substantial as the new display. Here are five of the most important ones.
On thrilling ocean world, NASA spots a vital element for life
Mashable / 49min
There's no proof of life on the moon Enceladus , which shoots giant geysers of water vapor into space . But NASA thinks the icy Saturnian satellite is one of the best places to look. In new research published in Nature Astronomy , planetary scientists investigated detections from the space agency's Cassini mission , which flew through Enceladus' watery, carbon-rich plumes. They concluded that the
Mysterious Signals From Space Are Getting Stranger, Scientists Say
30Futurism / 52min
Blipped Out Ever since the first fast radio burst was discovered in 2007, scientists have been racing to understand the unusual flashes of radio waves emanating from extremely distant locations. Some of these signals blip at astonishingly regular intervals , while some blast out extremely powerful flashes all at once, lighting up ground-based radio dishes like a Christmas tree for mere millisecon
Twitch Reverses Allowing "Artistic Nudity" After Disastrous Results
Futurism / 52min
Cacophony of Flesh The streaming platform Twitch has done an about-face just two days after changing its policies to allow "artistic nudity." In an update posted to the company blog on Friday, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy admitted that allowing some forms of simulated or suggested nudity, including angles of topless people with breasts cut off just before their nipples are shown, was a bad idea. The ent
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 16
Mashable / 1h
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times ' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe. With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it. So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustr
NASA video shows spectacular recreation of pivotal Mars event
Mashable / 1h
NASA is exploring one of the most intriguing spots on Mars : the Jezero Crater. Planetary scientists suspect that this region, a former river delta supporting a sizable lake, once teemed with water. That's why the agency sent its car-sized Perseverance rover to Jezero, a 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer) basin that has preserved Mars' wet past. Of over 60 enticing landing sites, NASA chose to land Pers
9 thoughtful gift ideas for home theater fans looking to upgrade their entertainment setup
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
Got a home theater lover in your life? It’s undoubtably great to watch movies with them but how about finding a great Christmas gift for making that experience even better for them (and you)? No one is expecting you to buy one of the best TVs for them but we have got some great and more affordable options than a huge and expensive OLED TV. We’ve picked out some fantastic choices to entertain your
Insta360 Ace Pro Review: Flipping the Script
How-To Geek / 1h
Insta360 has been making cameras since 2016, but as the name gives away, the majority of those devices have been 360-degree cameras. The company hasn’t dabbled much in the world of GoPro-like action cameras. With the Insta360 Ace Pro , they're diving in head first.
Scientists say they conversed with a whale. It may be practice for aliens.
Mashable / 2h
Scientists searching for life outside our planet say they’ve finally made contact – with a humpback whale. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, and the Alaska Whale Foundation reported in a new study that they had a 20-minute "conversation" with a humpback whale named Twain. The study, published in the journal Peer J
How does 'Wonka' connect to Gene Wilder's 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'?
Mashable / 2h
Viewers walking out of Wonka this weekend might have their heads spinning, wondering just how this prequel to Roald Dahl's Charlie Chocolate and the Chocolate Factory connects to the 1971 movie adaptation Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory . Sure, there are some visual cues and characters in common, from the eponymous chocolatier with his top hap to his ruthless business rivals Slugworth, Prod
Yes, ‘AI laptops’ are a thing now: 5 that will boost your AI workflow
Mashable / 2h
We already told you about the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 that Lenovo unleashed on Thursday, but what about the other PCs ushering in a new era of AI laptops? For the uninitiated, popular chipmaker Intel unveiled the next generation of chipsets, called Intel Core Ultra processors. What's the big deal about 'em? Well, they include an NPU, which means AI and machine-learning tasks should get a bo
Get an AI eBook Writer for $34.99
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: As of December 16, get a lifetime subscription to My AI eBook Creation Pro for only $34.99 — you'll save 91%. Writing a book takes time, a lot of time. Or it used to. With a little help from AI, you may be able to streamline the process and turn eBooks into your very own page-turning side hustle. Whether you have an idea for a book or just know you want to start churning out words people m
Get a refurb Apple iPad 6th gen for under $175
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR : As of Dec. 16, you can snag a refurbished sixth-gen iPad (WiFi, 128GB) for only $174.99 instead of $209.99. That's an extra 16% in savings. Across all of our gifting picks of the season, the iPad shines as one of the greatest: students love them for studying, kids for gaming, grandparents for reading, artists for drawing, and we could go on forever…but we have to share this refurbished de
Give the gift of a portable scanner and PDF editor for $34.97
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: As of December 16, get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner app for only $34.97 — usually $199.90. We all have at least one Apple fan in our lives. You yourself might also prefer to use Apple devices. If you are looking for a gift for an iPhone or iPad user without worrying about shipping times or costs, you may want to take advantage of this gift-worthy app . A lifetime subscription to
Get alerts for flight deals for just $79.97
Mashable / 2h
TL;DR: This digital deal gets you a lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus for just $79.97 (reg. $1,690) or a two-pack of lifetime subscriptions for just $139.97 (reg. $3,380) with instant download when you order through December 25. Travel can be thrilling. It can take you to new places, meet new people, and gain a new perspective on life. It can also be sort of expensive, whic
Activision Blizzard will pay $54 million to settle California's gender discrimination lawsuit
Engadget / 2h
California's Civil Rights Department (CRD) has announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Activision Blizzard for a case it filed in 2021, accusing the company of systemic gender discrimination and fostering a culture that encouraged rampant misogyny and sexual harassment. The agency, which sued the developer when it was still called the California Department of Fair Employment and
Fewer Electric Vehicles Will Qualify for U.S. Tax Credits in 2024
22NYT > Technology / 2h
Purchases of popular models like the Tesla Model 3 and the Ford Mustang Mach-E may no longer entitle buyers to tax savings because the cars do not meet tougher sourcing requirements.
My LASIK Eye Surgery Experience: I CAN SEE!!!
25One Mile at a Time / 2h
Earlier this week, I wrote about how I’d be getting LASIK eye surgery this week. Many of you kindly chimed in with your thoughts, so I wanted to report back with my experience, 36 hours post-operation. I don’t want to bury the lede, so let me just state upfront that I couldn’t be happier with the results so far. I now have 20/15 vision (that’s better than 20/20), and have had no complications (at
Hidden feature in Windows 11 suggests we could get the ability to uninstall AI components – and maybe even Copilot eventually?
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Windows 11 often has incoming changes hidden away behind the scenes of the operating system, and another of these has just been spotted – and it’s a big one pertaining to AI. Windows Central stumbled upon a tweet by regular leaker PhantomOfEarth on X, who has been digging around in Windows 11 preview build 26016 (in the Canary channel). Hidden in Canary 26016: a settings page for AI components. C
The very best digital gifts and subscriptions you can send via email
Mashable / 2h
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who get all their holiday shopping done in November (my sister literally put her tree up the day after Halloween) and those who wait until the very last minute. If you fall into the latter category, there's a loophole that'll not only hide the fact that you're a procrastinator (which happens to the best of us) but will also guarantee that your gi
LK99 Thin Film Room Temperature Superconducting Researcher Says Big DARPA Funding is Coming
Next Big Future / 3h
Professor Guilan says that IF the original South Korean LK99 team are not direct cheaters then the evidence is that they did create room temperature superconductors. Armen Gulian, professr of physics Chapman University, discusses his effort to make LK99 thin film with funding from the US Navy. At about 37 minutes into the talk, he ... Read more
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories, from Apple's Journal app to Galaxy Book 4
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
We get it, you've been busy – frantically searching for some last-minute headphone gifts or re-watching Netflix's Rebel Moon trailer ahead of your holiday TV marathon. There are lots of very good reasons why you missed all of this week's tech news, but luckily we're here to hand you a glass of mulled wine and fill you in. Surprisingly, given that 2023 is very much winding down, this week gave us
This MS Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro bundle is on sale for under £70
Mashable / 7h
TL;DR: The Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows Lifetime License and Windows 11 Pro Bundle is on sale for £63.67, saving you 80% on list price. You can drop hundreds (or maybe even thousands) on a PC with the best technology, but you won't be able to get the most out of it without high-quality software and an upgraded operating system. Pay just £63.67 for a lifetime license to both the Microsoft
Quick Points: How to earn Marriott Bonvoy bonus points on Uber rides and food delivery
22The Points Guy / 8h
Whether you live in a big city or a small town, it’s safe to assume that most people have used Uber and Uber Eats . One of the greatest benefits is that you can earn valuable rewards through your transactions with these platforms, which can help you progress toward a free night at one of Marriott’s best hotels . In April 2021, Marriott partnered with Uber, allowing its members to earn Marriott Bo
Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Saturday, December 16, 2023
LifeHacker / 8h
If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 16, 2023 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is maybe a little harder than usual; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 16, Wordle #910! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game. How to play Wordle Wordle lives here on
Today's NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Saturday, December 16, 2023
LifeHacker / 8h
Don’t let those similar-looking words TRICK you; today is another easy one. If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Saturday, December 16, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below
Original LK99 Team Reassert Superconductivity Claim and New Evidence is Not Ready Yet
Next Big Future / 9h
The Korean Society of Superconductivity and Cryogenics’ review committee on Wednesday said LK-99, an alleged room-temperature superconductor created by a South Korean research team, has not shown any key features of superconductivity. The Seoul-based startup Quantum Energy Research Centre, headed by Lee Suk-bae, the first author of the LK-99 research, did not send the superconductor ... Read more
Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for December 16
Mashable / 9h
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle . As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Dec. 16's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle co
Indian Space Startup Skyroot Raised $27.5 Million
Next Big Future / 10h
India’s Skyroot Aerospace raised $27.5 million from Singapore’s Temasek in October. Indian startup Agnikul Cosmos raised a similar amount. Skyroot launched India’s first private rocket in 2022 and will launch the Vikram-I rocket in 2024. The launch vehicle can take payloads of upto 300 kilograms into low earth orbit. They are developing rockets for small ... Read more
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for December 16
Mashable / 10h
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the e
A top-secret Chinese spy satellite just launched on a supersized rocket
Ars Technica - All content / 11h
Enlarge / A Long March 5 rocket, the largest launcher in China's inventory, deployed a classified Chinese military satellite into orbit Friday. (credit: CASC ) China's largest rocket apparently wasn't big enough to launch the country's newest spy satellite, so engineers gave the rocket an upgrade. The Long March 5 launcher flew with a payload fairing some 20 feet (6.2 meters) taller than its usua
Mirror Stealth Coatings for Stealth Against Infrared
Next Big Future / 11h
Youtuber Pilot Photog describes new mirror coatings on some new Navy F-35C stealth fighters. This is being used to achieve greater stealth against new infrared sensors used on Russian and Chinese planes.
Quordle today - hints and answers for Saturday, December 16 (game #691)
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off. Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I'm still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it's fun, but also difficult. What's more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keep
Marketer sparks panic with claims it uses smart devices to eavesdrop on people
25Ars Technica - All content / 12h
Enlarge (credit: Getty ) We've all experienced it or heard about it happening: Someone has a conversation about wanting a red jacket, and then suddenly, it seems like they're seeing ads for red jackets all over the place. Makers of microphone-equipped electronics sometimes admit to selling voice data to third parties (advertisers). But that's usually voice data accumulated after a user has prompt
Apple is settling a class action lawsuit over Family Sharing for $25 million
Engadget / 12h
If you used Apple’s Family Sharing feature with at least one other person and bought a subscription to an app through the App Store between 2015 and 2019, you might just get a settlement of up to $50 from the company. MacRumors reports that Apple will pay $25 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accuses the tech giant of misleading customers over Family Sharing. The feature lets up to si
Why Water Is Coming Up Through Your Sink (and How to Fix It)
LifeHacker / 12h
As annoying as a slow-draining sink or tub can be, it could be worse: Water—along with sediment or other gunk—could be coming up through your drain. Like our alimentary canal, our drains are supposed to be a one-way thoroughfare, and when they operate in reverse, things can get pretty unpleasant. That's why I asked two veteran plumbers to explain what causes water to come up through our sink and
These Discounted Amazon Devices Will Still Arrive in Time for Christmas
LifeHacker / 12h
Christmas is less than two weeks away, and filling up those stockings or crossing those names off your list is becoming more urgent with each passing day. Luckily, there are still plenty of deals to be found—like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at its lowest price yet , price drops on first-party Nintendo Switch
Posts
