Friday, 30 November 2018

InSight lander settles into its Martian 'sandbox'

Now that the Insight lander has settled in on Mars, scientists are learning more about the spot it's in. With its 7-foot-wide solar panels fully deployed, it has already set a record for the most energy generated in a single day by any lander or rove...

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Rumor claims Google Hangouts will shut down in 2020

Stop us if you've heard this one before: there's a report that Google is considering either launching or shutting down a messaging app. 9to5Google said that based on a "source familiar with the product's internal roadmap," Google Hangouts as a consum...

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Apple reportedly extends Watch return period for heart feature issues

Apple is reportedly extending its Apple Watch refund window from two weeks to 45 days -- but only for returns related to heart health features, including the upcoming electrocardiogram app on Apple Watch Series 4. You'll have to make such refund requ...

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Facebook and MIT tap AI to give addresses to people without them

About four billion people in the world are without a physical address. The MIT Media Lab and Facebook are teaming up to create a solution that will use a machine learning algorithm to identify and assign addresses from satellite images. The system wo...

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NYC lawmakers want to criminalize sending unwanted dick pics

While Apple's AirDrop feature makes it simple for people to share photos, videos and documents with each other, it unfortunately also makes it really easy for people to anonymously send unsolicited images to others nearby. The technology has opened u...

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Survey says teens find some benefit from social media

The Pew Research Center has already given us a look into teens' social media and smartphone use, and in a new survey it's sharing some of the more positive effects of social media, as experienced by teens. While these younger social media users noted...

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Some companies are considering ditching WiFi for private 5G

No matter how much it's changed our lives, WiFi can be endlessly annoying because of how spotty and unreliable it often is, even for those of us in small homes. It can prove a bigger headache still for companies that need reliable connections for the...

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Windows 10 may soon tell you which apps are using your microphone

Microsoft is testing some privacy and notification features in its latest Windows 10 Insider preview for Fast Ring users. A previous build added an icon to the notification area that tells you when your microphone is in use, and the newest update wil...

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AT&T's WarnerMedia streaming service will include three plans

When AT&T's WarnerMedia-themed streaming service arrives in late 2019, you may have to think about how much you want -- not just whether or not you want it in the first place. In a presentation discussing its 2019 strategy, the company noted tha...

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Google’s China search engine drama

The first time many of us heard about China's use of facial recognition on jaywalkers was just this week when a prominent Chinese businesswoman was publicly "named and shamed" for improper street crossing. Turns out, she wasn't even there: China's te...

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'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' comes to Facebook Watch

Starting today, you can give in to your nostalgia and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly on Facebook Watch. The show comes to the social network as part of a deal with 20th Century Fox. Every episode of the classic programs from Joss W...

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Hacker hijacks 50,000 printers to tell people to subscribe to PewDiePie

Over the course of this week, some printers have been printing out a strange message asking people to subscribe to PewDiePie's YouTube channel. The message appears to be the result of a simple exploit that allows printers to receive data over the int...

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Google explains the Pixel 3's improved AI portraits

Google's Pixel 3 takes portrait photos that are more accurate than its predecessor could take when new, which is no mean feat when you realize that the upgrade comes solely through software. But just what is Google doing, exactly? The company is ha...

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The Black Shark looks like a gaming phone, runs like any other

Some of the most popular mobile games have player bases far exceeding those of big-name, AAA console titles. And where simple but addictive puzzlers like Candy Crush Saga used to be the pinnacle, we now have much more elaborate and engaging games lik...

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E Ink display lets you write on it as if it were paper

You can already get e-paper notepads that come close to replicating the feel of writing on dead trees, but E Ink thinks it can do better. The company has unveiled a new film, JustWrite, that promises more natural scribbling. It doesn't require a ba...

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Inside Chronicle, Alphabet’s cybersecurity moonshot

Fifteen years ago, cybersecurity could be boiled down to a simple strategy: Secure the perimeter. Experts fought against malware and other nefarious code by implementing firewalls and other point-of-entry defenses. Since then, however, companies have...

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The best LED desk lamp

By Anna Perling This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full LED desk lamp guide here. After co...

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Google Pixel Slate review: The burden of bad software

Google's Pixel Slate is a maddening device to review. It's the latest in a line of premium, expensive Chrome OS devices from Google -- but the first that's a tablet, meant to compete with the iPad Pro and Surface Pro. Based purely on its hardwa...

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Facebook reportedly agrees to share an update on its civil rights audit

The civil rights advocacy group of Color of Change released a statement today describing a meeting it had with Facebook leaders regarding a civil rights audit the organization has demanded from the social network since 2016. At the meeting, attended...

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The best VR gifts

Virtual reality offers all manner of immersive experiences, including short films, but gaming is where VR really shines right now. So, if you have a gamer in your life who seems to already have everything, consider giving them some of the VR gear fro...

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Google adds more media and messaging options to Android Auto

Google is rolling out media playback and messaging updates on Android Auto to make it more convenient while keeping safety at the forefront. The refreshed media interface should quickly help you find something you want to listen to , while the system...

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Lawmakers still want details from Amazon on its facial recognition tech

In July, three members of Congress -- Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Representative Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) and Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) -- sent Amazon and CEO Jeff Bezos a letter requesting information about the company's facial recogni...

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Marriott data breach highlights basic failings



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Grindr president defends controversial LGBTQ marriage remarks

The president of Grindr is trying to walk back controversial same-sex marriage comments reported by the app's in-house magazine and elsewhere. "Some people think that marriage is a holy union between a man and a woman, I think so too, but that's your...

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Cambridge Analytica used fashion tastes to profile Facebook users

The Cambridge Analytica scandal blew the lid off Facebook's haphazard handling of user data earlier this year. More than eight months have passed since it came to light and we're still gleaning more info about the ways the now-defunct company -- with...

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Apple Music will work on Echo speakers starting December 17th

Amazon is pretty platform-agnostic when it comes to music. Its Echo speakers obviously work with Amazon Music as well as Spotify, Pandora, IHeartRadio and a number of other options. Starting on December 17th, Echo owners will have another option: App...

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WannaCry borderline national cyber emergency



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Marriott says Starwood data breach could affect 500 million guests

Starwood Hotels has been hit by another data breach, the third such incident in as many years. Parent Marriott today revealed that the records of 500 million guests have been stolen from Starwood's guest reservation database. The hotel chain says it...

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How to manage software auditor independence



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Inside Dolby and Odeon's mission to revive a British cinematic icon

Trips to the movies are just the worst, with exorbitant prices, endless trailers, bad seats and, of course, the other people. Attendances in the UK are flat and dwindling in the US as more folks choose to stay at home. As gimmicks like 3D fizzle, the...

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UK supermarket Tesco teams with VW to install 2,500 EV chargers

The UK's EV charging infrastructure is getting a huge boost courtesy of a new partnership between the country's biggest supermarket chain, Tesco, and Volkswagen. They're joining forces to install 2,500 charging bays at 600 Tesco stores by 2020. Custo...

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The Morning After: Netflix drops 'Daredevil'

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. We have bad news for yet another Marvel series on Netflix, and Starbucks said it's putting a porn filter on its free WiFi networks. Finally, kick off your Friday with our review of HP's surprising leather-bound...

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DJ Khaled and Floyd Mayweather fined for illegally promoting ICOs

Last year the SEC issued a warning to celebrities promoting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency offerings, saying they "must disclose the nature, scope, and amount of compensation received in exchange for the promotion." That warning carried a bit more...

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Instagram's 'Close Friends' feature lets you keep Stories private

Instagram is introducing a bit more privacy to its social network with a new feature called Close Friends. It lets you share Stories that might be of a more private nature with just a select group of besties, while shutting out the rest of your follo...

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Toyota untethers its T-HR3 humanoid robot thanks to 5G

Toyota just brought your dreams of an Avatar-like proxy one step closer to reality. Teaming with NTT Docomo, it remotely controlled its T-HR3 humanoid robot over a 5G network from a distance of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). So far the bot, first unveile...

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Thursday, 29 November 2018

Sheryl Sandberg asked Facebook staff to 'look into' Soros investments

It has been about two weeks since the New York Times published an exposé on Facebook's response to bad press and protests against it over the last couple of years. Since then, an outgoing exec took responsibility for hiring a PR firm, Definers...

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Netflix and Disney cancel 'Daredevil' too

Last month Netflix announced two of the "Defenders" series it produces with Marvel and Netflix had come to an end, and now it's pulling the plug on Daredevil too. Season three debuted just a few weeks ago starring Charlie Cox as the blind hero protec...

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Hulu Live TV adds a few channels from Discovery

Starting today, Hulu Live TV subscribers will have access to Discovery networks. The channels, spread across a variety of packages available on the live streaming service, include Discovery, TLC, MotorTrend, Animal Planet and Investigation Discovery...

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China reportedly tracks EV data including drivers’ locations

The Associated Press reports today that more than 200 EV manufacturers including Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW and others transmit real time vehicle data like position, engine information and battery charge level to centers backed by the Chinese government....

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Sidewalk Labs reveals site plan for smart neighborhood in Toronto

Sidewalk Labs' smart neighborhood in Toronto is edging closer to becoming a reality after it revealed the initial draft plan for the site. It's proposing that Quayside should be focused around 12 mass-timber buildings, with a maximum height of 30 sto...

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The tiny synth craze has gotten out of hand

Calculator watch fans rejoice: there's a new contraption that makes your wrist wear a little more useful. Audioweld has made what it claims is the first synthesizer watch -- which is appropriately named Synthwatch. The husky contraption offers a set...

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T-Mobile is launching mobile banking solution 'T-Mobile Money'

T-Mobile is getting back into the mobile banking game. The company is launching T-Mobile Money, a checking account that will offer perks to T-Mobile subscribers. The company hasn't officially announced the launch of T-Mobile Money, but mobile apps ar...

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Hackers targeted Dell customer information in attempted attack

Earlier this month, hackers attempted to breach Dell's network and obtain customer information, according to the company. While it says there's no conclusive evidence the hackers were successful in their November 9th attack, it's still possible they...

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Volkswagen plans a North America factory to build EVs

Volkswagen is planning a new factory in North America to build electric vehicles for the market, and the automaker is exploring potential sites. Scott Keogh, the new Volkswagen Group of America CEO, said at the LA Auto Show that VW's existing plant i...

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YouTube expands its Instagram-style Stories to more creators

YouTube is rolling out its Instagram-style Stories feature to more creators starting today, according to a report from The Verge. The latest expansion of the feature, which YouTube first started testing last year, will allow creators with more than 1...

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Microsoft's redesigned Office icons reflect its move to the cloud

Microsoft's Office icons on Windows and the web have been conservative, to put it mildly. They've been functional things you click while you scramble to finish a business spreadsheet or school report. The company would like you to sit up and take n...

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White House to host innovation talk with tech CEOs

The White House is set to host a roundtable discussion next week that will include a number of tech CEOs, the Wall Street Journal reports. A White House email says those attending will discuss "bold, transformational ideas" that "can help ensure US l...

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Wirecutter's best deals: Save $50 on a Philips Hue starter kit

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read Wirecutter's continuously updated list of deals here.

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Lyft will 'more than triple' Citi Bike's size in $100 million deal

Lyft has just completed its acquisition of the company behind Citi Bike, and it's not wasting any time ensuring it's a force to be reckoned with in the bike sharing world. The company has struck a deal with New York City to expand Citi Bike through...

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NASA reveals companies that will help it return to the moon

Last year, President Trump signed a directive that tasked NASA with returning to the moon -- an effort that Vice President Pence and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine have repeatedly backed. And that goal is set to include commercial companies, whic...

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