Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Wednesday Technology News and other things...

 Technology News and More...




Twitter suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene for 7 days over vaccine misinformation.


Marjorie Greene Twitter•
78KNYT > Technology / 17h
Ms. Greene violated Twitter’s Covid-19 misinformation policy with a tweet on Monday, the platform said. She could be permanently barred if she violates the policy again.

How to Finally FaceTime Your Non-Apple Friends


1KLifehacker / 17h
If you’re an Apple devotee, there’s a good chance the company’s Messages and FaceTime services are two of the key features that keep you locked into the Cupertino ecosystem. But now, Apple has opened the floodgates just a crack, allowing us to invite anyone to a FaceTime call—even those on Android and Windows. Read more...

United Airlines Updating Employee Appearance Standards To Be More Inclusive


3KOne Mile at a Time / 18h
In mid-June 2021, United Airlines revealed that it will be adjusting employee appearance standards to be more inclusive. The airline has today revealed the full details of what’s changing, so let’s go over that. United revising employee appearance standards As of September 15, 2021, United Airlines will be adjusting its appearance standards for uniformed, customer-facing employees, including cust


T-Mobile is selling fiber internet in a 'very limited' pilot program


Mobile Fiber Internet•
Engadget / 21min
T-Mobile has launched a pilot offering fiber optic home internet service in New York City, according to a report from T-Mo confirmed by The Verge . It's testing the service in select Manhattan residential buildings, offering 940Mbps upload and download speeds along with a WiFi 6 router, according to the company's new fiber product page . It's using a third-party provider's fiber rather than its o

Confirmed: Realme Book laptop to launch on August 18 in India


Realme India August 18•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 41min
The Realme Book Slim India launch date is August 18, confirmed the company. It will be amongst the best laptops around Rs 50,000.

Singapore’s logistics tech startup Parcel Perform raises $20 million


Singapore Parcel Perform•
TechCrunch / 45min
Singapore-headquartered Parcel Perform, which connects merchants with e-commerce carriers and provides shipment tracking features, said on Wednesday it has raised $20 million in a new financing round as it scales its business in several parts of the world. Cambridge Capital led the logistics tech startup’s Series A financing round, while SoftBank Ventures Asia and existing investors including Wav

CRANQ launches to save developers time when adding text code


TechCrunch / 45min
When adding text code from a 3rd party source into a platform, the process is an unavoidable and time-consuming chore. Developers currently spend a large part of their day reviewing things like “NPM” packages, and such. There are developer libraries and text code platforms like JetBrains and Visual Studio, but these don’t entirely solve the problem. A UK startup thinks it might have the answer. C

In the wake of recent racist attacks, Instagram rolls out more anti-abuse features


Instagram Anti Comments•
26TechCrunch / 45min
Instagram today is rolling out a set of new features aimed at helping people protect their accounts from abuse, including offensive and unwanted comments and messages. The company will introduce tools for filtering abusive direct message (DM) requests as well as a way for users to limit other people from posting comments or sending DMs during spikes of increased attention — like when going viral.

Straight on OTT: How to catch the Kargil war hero movie Shershaah


TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 48min
The much awaited war-drama, Shershaah, tells the true story of Captain Vikram Batra (PVC) and has been made with the full support of the late war hero’s family.
YESTERDAY

Facebook’s vaccine stance is part of a familiar pattern, says author and NYTimes journalist


33TechCrunch / 1h
Today, in a new report about “coordinated inauthentic behavior” on its platform, Facebook states that it last month removed hundreds of accounts across its Facebook and Instagram platforms that were tied to anti-vaccination disinformation campaigns operated from Russia. In one campaign, says the company, a newly banned network “posted memes and comments claiming that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vacc

Instagram's new anti-hate feature lets you limit comments and requests on popular posts


Instagram Anti Comments•
Engadget / 1h
Instagram has introduced new features called Limits and Hidden Words designed to reduce hate and abuse on trending posts, the company announced . The update is designed to protect its users, particularly creators and public features, from seeing harassing, racist, homophobic and sexist content in comments and DM requests. The new Limits feature, available starting today, will allow all users to h

Starship delivery robots are coming to four more campuses in the US


Robots Four US This Fall•
SlashGear / 1h
Delivery robots and drones are the stuff of science fiction, but many companies have been slowly but surely working to make that a reality in the past years. The need for autonomous delivery methods, however, became even more apparent last year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Starship was able to discern that need and deployed its fleet of robots to … Continue reading

How to watch What if…? online: stream the new Disney Plus Original series now


TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Our guide explains how to watch What If…? online with a subscription to Disney Plus, where you can geek out over Marvel Studio’s first animated series from August 11.

Google, YouTube roll out new safety features for kids


Google YouTube Under 18•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Google is rolling out a series of updates to YouTube and its Search feature aimed at increasing safety for kids and teens on its platforms.

China tech giant Xiaomi aims at global smartphone top spot


Xiaomi Samsung Apple•
37BBC News - Technology / 2h
The comments come as the Beijing-based firm celebrates the 10th anniversary of its first smartphone.

Audi's Skysphere concept EV roadster can transform into a grand tourer


Audi Skysphere Concept•
Engadget / 2h
Audi has just come out with a pretty wild EV concept: A convertible roadster that extends its wheelbase to transform into a grand tourer (GT). With the touch of a button, the Audi Skysphere's entire front end can extend or retract 9.8-inches (and drop 0.4 inches). The Skysphere is meant to show Audi's design chops as well as its technical prowess. It took inspiration from the company's 1931 Horch

Panasonic Toughbook 55 MK2 refresh brings Thunderbolt 4, dual SIM support


SlashGear / 2h
The majority of the laptops we cover here revolve around models designed for the consumer market, whether casual computer users, gamers, or anything in between. Those, of course, aren’t the only ones that need portable computers, and those who work in industrial areas or field operations aren’t well-served by this class of notebooks. Panasonic’s TOUGHBOOK line has long catered to … Continue readi

OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Edition could be on its way to India


TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
The OnePlus Watch Harry Potter Edition is not available anywhere globally and India might one of the first countries to get it.

OnePlus teases a foldable device to steal the spotlight from Samsung


OnePlus Samsung Galaxy•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
OnePlus's brief teaser video showing off a dual-screened device could be an attempt to steal the limelight from Samsung on its big launch day.

Private Internet Access is extending VPN subscriptions for free


Mashable / 3h
SAVE 83%: A three-year subscription to Private Internet Access is on sale for £1.71 per month as of Aug. 11, and includes an extra two months for free. Private Internet Access has always had a reputation for delivering powerful and reliable protection for the data and identity of its users. It was difficult to find flaws in the features that it offered, but it was let down by a clunky and dated i

How Facebook Failed to Stem Racist Abuse of England’s Soccer Players


Facebook Failed England•
77NYT > Technology / 3h
For more than two years, soccer officials pushed the social network to limit the invective. As a new season begins, the hate continues.

Signal disappearing messages can now be the default for new chats


SlashGear / 3h
There are many popular messaging platforms today that advertised a lot of privacy features, including that much-desired but controversial end-to-end encryption or E2EE. While WhatsApp is known for that feature, it isn’t exactly the first nor the most popular in that area. Signal remains one of the most recommended privacy-minded messaging apps, and it is taking one small step further … Continue r

2022 iPhones and Macs might run on 3nm processors


SlashGear / 4h
Smartphones and laptops are getting more powerful every year, but those improvements do carry some costs, like power consumption and thermal output. It isn’t enough to just cram in more battery or add cooling fans inside, and some strategies to counter those side effects involve shrinking down components. Processors, for example, grow increasingly smaller to squeeze out more performance and … Con


Salesforce is launching its own streaming service


Salesforce Streaming•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
Salesforce's new streaming service Salesforce+ will launch ahead of the company's annual Dreamforce conference.

Amazon will pay buyers who get injured by defective products


SlashGear / 4h
E-commerce and online shopping platforms have opened a whole new world of products for buyers that would have never been available to them previously, but that power doesn’t come without some drawbacks. Although items sold through Amazon carry more weight than those on custom or smaller online shipping sites, it isn’t an assurance that those products actually work as advertised. … Continue readin

Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 hands-on video leaks ahead of debut


SlashGear / 5h
It’s probably safe to assume that we already know almost everything there is to know about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 by now. Of course, there might be some incorrect details here and there, but the big picture for Samsung’s next foldable phones is pretty much complete. Of course, we haven’t seen the real … Continue reading

Blockchain technology could be set for a major security boost


IDB Lab Cambridge Quantum•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
By using a new cryptographic layer researchers have made it possible for blockchain networks to protect themselves from attacks launched by quantum computers.

How to use soundmojis in Facebook Messenger


Mashable / 6h
A picture is worth a thousand words — and also maybe some laughs, cries, and goat bleats. In July, Facebook Messenger introduced "soundmojis" : Emojis that play a sound when you send them within Messenger. Facebook's sound design team has assigned unique sounds to 30 emojis. So, for example, if you want to send a hands clapping emoji, it can now come with actual uproarious applause. Other soundmo

DJI Mini SE adds another entry-level option to the drone market


SlashGear / 6h
Commercial drones today come in a wide range of sizes and prices, but the ones that carry popular names often also carry heavy price tags. DJI has, of course, been trying to offer affordable options, and it might have finally hit that mark. It rather silently launched the new DJI Mini SE that distills the core experiences consumers might be … Continue reading

How Your Ad Blocker Can Track You Across the Web


Gizmodo / 6h
Ah, ad blockers. Even if you aren’t among the growing number of people downloading one of these extensions, chances are you’ve heard people sing their praises for all sorts of reasons . They make the web a less cluttered , less laggy , less invasive place to be. So naturally, the money-hungry tech upstarts have found a… Read more...

Star Trek USS Enterprise gets realistic Playmobil makeover with AR app


Playmobil Star Trek•
SlashGear / 7h
Toy company Playmobil has unveiled its first item from the Star Trek universe: the 70548 Star Trek – USS Enterprise. The product features “authentic details,” according to the company, as well as “specially designed mounting” for those who want to present it in their living space. Even better, the USS Enterprise comes with a companion app that enables augmented reality … Continue reading

Guy Behind Fake Cormac McCarthy Twitter Account is Actually a California Gubernatorial Candidate


63Gizmodo / 7h
Cormac McCarthy, author of many a novel about dark, dark things, has never been on Twitter, but that hasn’t stopped other people from tweeting for him. Read more...

All of Superman: The Animated Series Is Coming to Blu-ray


200+Gizmodo / 7h
Twenty-five years have passed since Warner Bros. Animation followed up its legendary Batman: The Animated Series the only way it could—with Superman: The Animated Series . Produced by Bruce Timm , Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett, the show debuted on September 6, 1996 and leaped tall buildings right into our hearts. Read more...

Brutal Twitter meme explores how Delta variant is crushing our fall plans


48Mashable / 7h
The Delta variant is fully raining on Twitter's parade. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage , both in the U.S. and around the world, the denizens of Twitter are faced with an unfortunate reality: The Delta variant doesn't give a shit about their fun fall plans. Pairing protagonists of the big and small screens with their respective undoings, the meme practically screams out in despair:

Hackers steal $600m in major cryptocurrency heist


Cryptocurrency Heist•
200+BBC News - Technology / 7h
Thousands of digital tokens have been stolen by hackers in one of the largest cryptocurrency heists.

Florida is ablaze with COVID-19—and its case data reporting is a hot mess


100Ars Technica / 7h
Enlarge / Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during an event on August 10, 2021. (credit: Getty | Joe Raedle ) With the hypertransmissible delta variant on the rampage, Florida has become the epicenter of transmission in the US. The state is experiencing its largest surge of COVID-19 cases yet in the pandemic. Hospitalizations have reached record levels, and deaths are on the rise. But instead of f

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 teaser reveals Idris Elba’s role in the movie’s sequel


SlashGear / 8h
Idris Elba has dropped a teaser for the upcoming film Sonic Movie 2, a teaser that was boosted and therefore confirmed by the official Sonic the Hedgehog account. The image features a familiar gloved fist with spikes for knuckles, as well as a red furry arm that fans will immediately recognize. It seems Idris Elba will voice the character Knuckles … Continue reading

Woman Goes Viral For Showing Up To The Airport A Year Early For Her Flight


View from the Wing / 8h
I've made some big mistakes in my travels like booking a hotel for the wrong month and even showing up at the wrong hotel because I know where I stay near the Miami airport every single time . I've never booked a ticket to the wrong city, like flying to Rochester, Minnesota instead of Rochester, New York or Sydney in Nova Scotia instead of Sydney, Australia. One woman, though, showed up at the ai

10 free audiobook sites for discovering your next literary obsession


Mashable / 8h
Great literature is closer than you think, and you don't even need to visit a bookstore or pick up your e-reader to find it. If you haven't got time to sit down with a book — or if you just like being read to — check out one of these sites, which allow access to thousands of free audiobooks. There's the perfect one for you in the mix! 1. Loyal Books In the past, you might have known Loyal Books a

Marvel's 'What If...?' is like a love letter to every MCU fan theory


Marvel If… Review MCU•
31Mashable / 8h
So many rabbit holes. After 13 years, I think Marvel Cinematic Universe fans can all agree that the game of digging through the text for clues and cooking up theories on where the juggernaut franchise will go next is a huge part of the fun. In that sense, then, the new Disney+ animated series What If...? amounts to Marvel saying: "You are seen." This is a show that dares to ponder what might have

Pave gets Y Combinator to back better startup compensation tools, again


Pave Better Compensation•
50TechCrunch / 8h
Pave, a San Francisco-based startup that helps companies benchmark, plan and communicate compensation to their employees, has raised a $46 million Series B. YC Continuity led the round, which also saw participation from Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer Venture Partners. The round comes eight months after Pave closed a $16 million Series A round . Today’s financing puts Pave’s valuation at $400 mi

Chinese hackers disguised themselves as Iran to target Israel


Chinese Iran Israel•
200+MIT Technology Review / 8h
When hackers broke into computers across Israel’s government and tech companies, investigators looked for clues to find out who was responsible. The first evidence pointed directly at Iran, Israel’s most contentious geopolitical rival. The hackers deployed tools normally associated with Iranians, for example, and wrote in the Farsi language. But after further examination of the evidence—and infor

Hit songs rely on increasing “harmonic surprise” to hook listeners, study finds


58Ars Technica / 8h
Enlarge / A study of "harmonic surprise"—points where the music deviates from listener expectations—in popular music over several decades found that Childish Gambino's "This is America" had the most contrastive harmonic surprise. (credit: YouTube/Donald Glover) Hip-hop artist Childish Gambino (aka actor Donald Glover ) made a splash in 2018 with the release of his Grammy-winning hit single, " Thi


SpaceX makes rare acquisition of satellite start-up Swarm – here’s what it means


SpaceX Swarm Elon Musk•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
SpaceX made a worrying move this week when it agreed to acquire Swarm, a small satellite start-up with some valuable FCC licenses.

Boeing's Starliner sees August launch slipping away after more valve trouble


Russia Boeing Starliner•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
The August launch window for Boeing's Starliner capsule is closing fast as engineers work to fix persistent valve issues.

iPhone 13 successors could tell you when its screen is cracked and broken


iPhone Apple Future•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
A new patent suggests the iPhone 13’s successors could detect damage to the display and warn the user.

DC's Batman Family Just Got a Little More Queer


100+Gizmodo / 8h
Because there are multiple Batman books released by DC Comics in any given week , there’s always something going on with the Bat-family . Events might include a devastating death , the introduction of a new member , or, as is the case in this week’s Batman: Urban Legends #6 from writer Meghan Fitzmartz, artist BelĂ©n… Read more...

Google reveals new tools and big changes to help protect kids online


SlashGear / 9h
Google has announced a variety of new digital tools and changes to products designed to better protect young users while they’re online. The announcement comes only days after Apple revealed its controversial decision to proactively check images on users’ devices to detect harmful content and help prevent the exploitation of minors. According to Google, kids and teens under the age … Continue rea

The 7 do’s and don’ts in an airport lounge


Chase Sapphire Club•
The Points Guy / 9h
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Airport lounges can be great places to relax before your flight. They provide you with food and drink and a quiet, comfortable place to sit, and allow you to charge up your devices or get some last-minute work done before your flight. Some really good lounges may also have amenities like a spa, a la carte dining or s

Game engine, meet game streaming: Unity acquires Parsec for $320M


Unity Acquire Parsec•
Ars Technica / 9h
Enlarge / Unity unites with Parsec in a $320 million deal. (credit: Aurich Lawson) The parent company of Unity, one of the most popular game development engines in the world, has made arguably its biggest acquisition of another gaming company yet. The deal , announced on Tuesday, sees Unity taking control of Parsec, a peer-to-peer game-streaming protocol. The acquisition is valued at $320 million

Microsoft is using ML to help you catch ransomware infections early


Microsoft Azure Fusion•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 9h
New Azure service hopes to help admins prevent ransomware attacks before they do any real damage.

Daily Crunch: Apple’s head of Privacy addresses concerns over Messages safety, child abuse detection


23TechCrunch / 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 Daily Crunch for August 10, 2021. Today we have all sorts of goodies for you: Apple’s privacy stance, cannabis tech, even some crypto-focused items. Please enjoy. Also note that Salesforce’s Kathy Baxter is coming to TC Sessions: SaaS to talk A

It’s a tough time to be a kid named “Delta” – so this airline sent a little love


100+The Points Guy / 9h
Let’s face it, it’s bit of a tough time to be known as Delta, Delta Air Lines or similar given the rise of the delta variant of the coronavirus. The Atlanta-based airline knows this all too well and empathized with a young traveler by the name of Delta V . after her mom, Kellie Gerardi, a Florida-based scientist for Virgin Galactic, tweeted with the airline about the difficulties her daughter had

This Anti-Aging Coffee Creamer Fights Collagen Loss and Sagging Skin


Futurism / 9h
The problem with getting older is we often show the signs of aging before we actually feel them. That’s because the first signs of aging show up in our skin. Seemingly overnight, it can start to loosen and sag in places where it used to be tight and supple. The culprit is actually collagen loss . In fact, if you’re over the age of 20 and starting to show the signs of aging, you’re not alone. That

Wyze Cam Spotlight security camera boosts night vision with built-in lamp


SlashGear / 9h
Smart home and Internet of Things company Wyze has introduced a new security camera product designed for users who want maximum video visibility at night. The product, which is called the Wyze Cam Spotlight, is the company’s cube-shaped security camera with one big upgrade: it has a built-in spotlight for thoroughly illuminating subjects and scenes. The Wyze Cam Spotlight is … Continue reading

Coinbase rides cryptomania to a $1.6 billion quarterly profit.


36NYT > Technology / 9h
Coinbase has shown that a large, profitable and legal business can be built to service the growing groups of people who want to use the digital currencies.

'Diablo II: Resurrected' open beta begins on August 20th


Diablo II 2 Open Beta•
Engadget / 10h
In the midst of a sexual harassment lawsuit that has engulfed the company in turmoil, Blizzard will give Diablo II fans the chance to play the game’s upcoming remaster during two separate early access weekends . The first of those will begin on August 13th at 1PM ET. It will be open to those who pre-ordered Diablo II: Resurrected or the Diablo Prime Evil Collection, which includes both the remast

Extra Crunch roundup: Influencer marketing, China’s tech clampdown, drafting growth teams


37TechCrunch / 10h
Before you hire a marketing consultant who doesn’t understand your products or commit to a CMO who has several years of experience — but none in your sector — consider influencer marketing. If the phrase evokes images of celebrities hawking hard seltzer, think again: An influencer can be as humble as an enthusiastic Reddit user who manages your Telegram channel. According to Uber growth marketing

New Atlas Ocean Voyages ship cancels Egypt call after passenger tests positive for COVID-19


The Points Guy / 10h
Editor’s note: TPG’s Gene Sloan is sailing on Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Navigator as a guest of the line. New cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages is making a last-minute adjustment to its inaugural voyage after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. In a shipwide announcement late Tuesday, the captain of the line’s 196-passenger World Navigator said the vessel would not call at Alexandria, Egypt,

Dominion Voting files scorching $1.7B defamation lawsuits against Newsmax, OAN


Dominion Voting Newsmax•
Ars Technica / 10h
Enlarge (credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images ) Dominion Voting Systems filed another round of lawsuits today, alleging that the company was defamed by conservative news channels Newsmax and One America News Network when they aired segments that claimed the 2020 US election was rigged. Dominion also filed a defamation suit against Patrick Byrne, the founder and former CEO of Overstock.com, who has p

TCL’s newest 6-Series and 5-Series 4K TVs use Google TV instead of Roku


TCL Google TV Roku•
Ars Technica / 10h
TCL's 5-Series 4K QLED TV with Google TV. [credit: Jeff Dunn ] TCL on Tuesday announced updated versions of its popular 5-Series and 6-Series 4K TVs . The biggest update is that the new models run Google TV , Google’s big-screen operating system. Google TV is found most prominently on the search giant’s Chromecast streaming dongle , but it has also popped up on a handful of recent 4K TVs from Son

Turns Out Police Were Pretty Pissed at the Officer Who Played Taylor Swift


100+Gizmodo / 10h
As we reported last month , Alameda County sheriff’s deputy David Shelby started blasting Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” on a phone in his lapel while talking to activists outside a courthouse. Seemed odd, until the officer clearly explained, on camera, that he was orchestrating a failsafe ruse to cloak himself from the… Read more...

How to Avoid Getting Caught by the Android 'FlyTrap' Malware


FlyTrap Android Facebook•
62Lifehacker / 10h
Beware, Android users—a new trojan malware is infecting smartphones worldwide, stealing thousands of users’ personal data and compromising their Facebook accounts. Read more...


Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Adds Idris Elba as Knuckles


100+Gizmodo / 10h
The ending of 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog movie confirmed to audiences that one fan favorite character would be in the sequel: Tails. And now, there’s confirmation that another hugely popular character from the Sonic franchise is joining his pal on the big screen—with a suave, superstar voice to boot. Read more...

Starship Technologies is bringing food delivery robots to four more US college campuses this year


Kiwibot Sodexo Delivery•
38TechCrunch / 10h
Starship Technologies, an autonomous delivery services company, announced that it will begin delivery service on four additional college campuses this fall, adding to the 20 campuses on which it already operates. The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), the University of Kentucky (UK), the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, Florida campus w

Coinbase crushes Q2 expectations, notes Q3 trading volume is trending lower


Coinbase Q2 Bitcoin•
26TechCrunch / 10h
After the bell today, Coinbase reported another period of impressive results in its second quarter earnings report . During the quarter, Coinbase’s total revenue reached $2.23 billion, which helped the company generate net income of $1.61 billion in the three-month period. The company benefited from a one-time line item worth $737.5 million, which stemmed from what Coinbase described as a “tax be

Russia Mocks Boeing, Offering to Fix Its Broken Starliner Spacecraft


Russia Boeing Starliner•
100+Futurism / 10h
From Russia With Love Both SpaceX and Boeing developed spacecrafts designed to hoist astronauts into orbit as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program. But so far, SpaceX is running circles around Boeing, having launched several astronaut crews to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Boeing’s Starliner has endured setback after setback. Most recently, 13 valves in its propulsion system faile

Venmo crypto support expands to cashback credit card rewards


Venmo Credit Bitcoin•
SlashGear / 10h
PayPal-owned Venmo has announced another cryptocurrency feature that is available to its credit cardholders: crypto cashback rewards. Credit card users already receive cashback rewards based on their usage; that, as you’d expect, comes in the form of actual cash. Going forward, however, users also have the option of getting those rewards in bitcoin or select other digital coins rather than … Cont

Parallels Desktop 17 is here and ready to run Windows 11 on M1 Macs


Parallels 17 11 Mac•
Ars Technica / 10h
Parallels Desktop 17 running Windows on a Mac. [credit: Parallels ] Parallels Desktop 17 has arrived with support for macOS Monterey and Windows 11. Further, the popular virtualization software for Macs is now a universal binary, making deployment a little less complicated for many IT professionals. Note that you can only run ARM versions of Windows (10 or 11) on Macs with Apple Silicon chips lik

Perform a quality of earnings analysis to make the most of M&A


40TechCrunch / 10h
Pierre-Alexandre Heurtebize Contributor Pierre-Alexandre is an Investment and M&A director at HoriZen Capital — a team of experienced SaaS operators, digital marketing and finance experts helping micro-SaaS companies deliver their growth potential. He is an ex-PwC senior consultant in financial due diligence and the creator of The Financial Due Diligence Framework online course. As a startup foun

Sony Crunchyroll buyout complete with big PlayStation Plus potential


Sony Crunchyroll AT&T•
SlashGear / 10h
Late last year, Sony announced that it had entered an agreement to purchase anime streaming service Crunchyroll from AT&T for a whopping $1.175 billion. Fast forward eight months and Sony has announced that the planned acquisition is now complete – Crunchyroll will join the Sony family, which importantly includes another anime streaming service called Funimation. It sounds like Sony has … Continu

Uber Visa Being Discontinued, Shows How Uber Gave Up On Its Vision Of World Domination


View from the Wing / 10h
The Uber credit card was supposed to be the centerpiece of Uber's strategy to build its own currency , Uber credits, which would become ubiquitous as a payment system not just for Uber products but outside of the Uber ecosystem. The primary way these credits would be generated would be through the co-brand credit card, and they'd hopefully become spendable everywhere at retail. Just as the refres

How to Negotiate Absolutely Anything, With Expert Strategist Victoria Medvec


Lifehacker / 10h
This week we’re raising our haggling game with help from negotiation expert Dr. Victoria Medvec. Vicki is the Adeline Barry Davee Professor of Management and Organizations at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the CEO of Medvec and Associates, a consulting firm focused on high-stakes… Read more...

OnePlus Is Trying to Steal Samsung's Foldable Phone Thunder


Gizmodo / 10h
Ahead of what we expect to be a jam-packed Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday, OnePlus took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce that it, too, had scheduled a surprise event for Aug. 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET. What a coincidence! And the overlap didn’t end there: On Tuesday, OnePlus also leaked a teaser image for what… Read more...

Signal now lets you choose disappearing messages by default for new chats


Signal Disappearing•
62TechCrunch / 10h
The encrypted chat app Signal is adding a few new options for users looking to lock down their messages. The app will now allow anyone to turn on a default timer for disappearing messages, automatically applying the settings to any newly initiated conversations. Signal’s disappearing messages option deletes chats for both the sender and receiver after a set amount of time passes. Previously, you

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS pricing revealed for luxe EV sedan


2022 Mercedes EQS US•
SlashGear / 10h
Mercedes has confirmed pricing for its first 2022 EQS all-electric luxury sedans, leaning on the EV’s over-the-air update support for a number of new features. The zero-emission counterpart to the legendary S-Class, the EQS is the first of Mercerdes-Benz’s models to be based on its new modular architecture for large luxury cars. To begin with, there’ll be two variants. The … Continue reading

Idris Elba will play Knuckles in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2'


Idris Elba Knuckles Sonic•
Engadget / 10h
Well, we knew the next Sonic the Hedgehog movie would include Knuckles , but we must admit never in our wildest dreams did we think Idris Elba would voice the red echidna. Yet here we are with the famed actor announcing on Tuesday that he’s been cast to the role. Knock, knock.... #SonicMovie2 #Knuckles pic.twitter.com/N1PW5XaCEd — Idris Elba (@idriselba) August 10, 2021 All of this is another sur

OnePlus 2-screen phone trolls Samsung while OPPO patent stands


SlashGear / 11h
Tomorrow Samsung has an event scheduled where we will, more than likely, see the next major foldable smartphones from the brand. OnePlus released a teaser for something today with a time and date that matches the start of the Samsung event. Given the relative lack of a lead-up with teasers and/or rumors and/or leaks of a device such as this, … Continue reading

First Image From This Week's Rare Double Flyby of Venus


1KGizmodo / 11h
The BepiColombo mission got this close-up image of the planet Venus as it passed by on August 10. The spacecraft was using Venus for a gravity assist on its way to its ultimate destination, Mercury. It’s one of two spacecraft zipping by the planet this week, the other being Solar Orbiter, which flew past yesterday. Read more...

Scientists Create Chameleon Robot That Can Blend in With Its Surroundings


84Futurism / 11h
Active Camo A team of Korean researchers seems to have cracked the code for rudimentary “cloaking,” or active camouflage tech that can automatically blend into its surroundings in real-time. The flexible, color-mimicking technology is durable and sensitive enough to help a soft robot blend into its surroundings, much like a real-world chameleon, according to research published in the journal Natu

I flew premium economy for the first time: my coach mindset says it’s not worth the extra $


72The Points Guy / 11h
For my first work trip for TPG, I flew a red-eye British Airways flight to London to arrive just in time for the United Kingdom’s reopening to vaccinated Americans, sans quarantine. TPG last reviewed British Airways’ premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, in 2018 . As we noted then, BA had a premium economy class on international flights years before its American counterparts. This was my f

Netgear might have revealed its most secure router software yet


Netgear Armor NA Smart•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Netgear routers will now ship with a new version of its Armor security service designed to better secure smart home devices.

Feds dismantle Blue Origin and Dynetics protests of NASA’s SpaceX lunar lander award


44TechCrunch / 11h
Blue Origin and Dynetics are still steaming over NASA’s decision to award only one contract — to SpaceX — to build a Human Landing System for the Artemis program. Their protest of the decision was recently rejected , and now the Government Accountability Office’s arguments, which Blue Origin publicly questioned, are available for all to read. Here are a few highlights from the point-by-point take


2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Review


SlashGear / 11h
Talk about a glow-up: the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is leagues ahead of its crossover predecessor, and all it took was a Nissan intervention. That’s not to say the new Outlander and its cousin, the 2021 Rogue, are badge-buddies, with Mitsubishi throwing in niceties like a third row of seating to help set its compact SUV apart. Mitsubishi’s aesthetic remains a … Continue reading

Diablo II Resurrected open beta dates and details revealed


Diablo 2 II Beta August•
SlashGear / 11h
The release date for Diablo II Resurrected is quickly approaching, but Blizzard will be hosting a pair of beta tests before the full game arrives. The first is an early access test that will only be available to those who pre-ordered the game, while the second is an open beta test that anyone can participate in. Today, Blizzard confirmed the … Continue reading

You Can Reheat Your Sad, Limp Fries on the Stove


49Lifehacker / 11h
“Leftover french fries” are a divisive topic. Some people claim to have “never heard of them,” while other, more realistic people (begrudgingly) accept them as a takeout eventuality, and love to argue over the “best” way to reheat them. Read more...

OpenAI’s New Algorithm Can Turn Written Commands Into Code


OpenAI Codex API English•
100+Futurism / 11h
Grunt Work OpenAI, the AI research company originally founded by Elon Musk — before he quit in disgust — just unveiled a new algorithm called Codex that can interpret commands written in English and turn them into chunks of usable code . Codex can reportedly take instructions ­— either as a way to simplify programming work for experienced coders or as a tool to help beginners learn — and turn it

Unity to acquire Parsec in its biggest acquisition to date


Unity Acquire Parsec•
200+TechCrunch / 11h
Unity, the company behind the super popular 2D/3D engine of the same name, is today announcing plans to make its biggest acquisition to date. Unity says it will acquire Parsec , a remote desktop tool for developers and creatives, for $320 million in cash. Parsec’s pitch has long been remote desktop access without compromise. Tuned for creatives, it works fine even if your rig has multiple high-re

Warner Bros says Back 4 Blood racial slur was “unintentional”


WB Games 4 Blood Beta•
Ars Technica / 11h
Zombie-killing with friends: You've done this before, but Back 4 Blood makes a strong case for its version feeling surprisingly fresh. [credit: Turtle Rock / WB Games ] A number of players taking part in the recent beta test for co-op zombie shooter Back 4 Blood were shocked to hear the undead hordes screaming what seemed to be a racial slur as they shambled forward. Now, publisher WB Games says

How Westworld Prepared Lisa Joy for Her Ambitious Feature Debut, Reminiscence


44Gizmodo / 11h
First-time filmmakers usually start their careers with something simple. Something small. Something to prove they can tell a story, which can then be used as a calling card to do bigger and better things. Very few first-time filmmakers start off with a film that’s largely set on water, with scenes underwater, about a… Read more...

Zimbabwe’s iconic Victoria Falls has opened to vaccinated travelers


72The Points Guy / 11h
After nearly a year and a half, Kazungula and Victoria Falls, the border towns that access Zimbabwe’s popular tourist destination, Victoria Falls, is once again open to vaccinated visitors after 60% of Victoria Falls was successfully vaccinated, Voice of America first reported on July 28. “Cabinet acceded to a request by the tourism industry to open the Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border Posts t

TCL Finally Embraces Google TV, but It's Not Giving Up On Roku


TCL Google TV Roku•
Gizmodo / 11h
TCL has been the premier Roku TV brand ever since it first partnered with the streaming platform in 2014, but on Tuesday, the company announced that it’s broadening its horizons—specifically with Google, which will power newly debuted versions of its 5-Series and 6-Series models. Read more...

Futuristic Quarterhorse reusable aircraft scores $60 million from USAF


Quarterhorse USAF Aircraft•
SlashGear / 11h
Private aircraft developer Hermeus has scored a $60 million deal with the United States Air Force (USAF), the company has announced. The funds are earmarked specifically for flighting testing the aerospace firm’s Quarterhorse, a sleek aircraft featuring Hermeus’s own turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine and a futuristic, nearly sci-fi appearance. Quarterhorse is Hermeus’s first aircraft and

Brightline Resuming Florida Operations In November


Brightline November•
71One Mile at a Time / 11h
While I don’t typically cover train topics on the blog (my enthusiasm for modes of transportation is largely centered around planes… sorry President Biden), I like to keep tabs on Brightline. Why? Well, it’s in my backyard, and I’d argue it’s the coolest train service in the United States. The basics of Brightline The United States isn’t exactly known for great rail service, though Brightline Flo

'The Green Knight' will be available to stream August 18th for one night only


The Green Knight One Night•
Engadget / 12h
The Green Knight , one of the best movies of the year, is currently only available to watch in theaters. However, there's some good news if you can't make it out to your local cinema. Distributor A24 plans to stream the film for one night only on August 18th, and you can purchase the $20 ticket to see The Green Knight starting today through the company's Screening Room website. One. Knight. Only.

Watch us fly JetBlue 2 different ways: Mint Studio vs. economy


31The Points Guy / 12h
With JetBlue about to launch flights to London from New York-JFK for the first time ever on Aug. 11, I was very eager to get on board to see if this airline lived up to all the hype. Related: A business-class boost: Reviewing JetBlue’s new Mint Suite that will fly to London While JetBlue will fly its new Airbus A321LR aircraft to London, it’s already flying its almost-as-new Airbus A321LD planes

Hawaiian becomes the latest airline to require employee vaccination, following United and Frontier


500+The Points Guy / 12h
At this point in the pandemic , it’s clear that we need to get more shots into arms if we’re hoping to build enough herd immunity to move the needle , potentially controlling the spread of COVID-19. Following a handful of new vaccine mandates for government employees, momentum is building within corporate America — airlines in particular are among the companies helping to lead the charge. United

No, Hermit Crabs Are Not Trying to Bone Plastic Trash


Gizmodo / 12h
Have you ever been turned on by someone—or something—you knew was trash? Reading the news today, you’d think that was happening to crabs. A number of media outlets have reported that crabs are horny for plastic pollution. While I love a horny crab as much as the next person, I have some bad news: New research… Read more...

How to Spot 'Breadcrumbing' in Your Relationships, and What to Do About It


31Lifehacker / 12h
When you’re getting to know someone romantically, you should be able to expect them to be honest about their feelings for you—otherwise, why bother? But sometimes, you’ll meet someone who seems interested in you, but unwilling to actually commit to anything approaching a real relationship. If this sounds familiar,… Read more...

Chinese State News Agency Floods Social Media With Anti-America COVID Memes


Futurism / 12h
While the US and the World Health Organization are still trying to nail down the origins of the coronavirus — despite China’s efforts to block those investigations — a different war is waging online. Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua is practically flooding its feeds with propaganda about the pandemic, ranging from conspiracy theories suggesting the US military covered up the leaks of other ha

Meet the billionaire who wants to help you profit from your personal data


TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
Square co-founder Jim McKelvey is piling his energy into a new project: data marketplace Invisibly.

What’s driving the global surge in retail media spending?


38TechCrunch / 12h
Cynthia Luo Contributor Cynthia Luo is the head of Marketing at Epsilo , an all-in-one e-commerce SaaS solution for marketplace sellers in Southeast Asia. Cynthia also runs CAOSE , a boutique e-commerce and digital consulting firm working with clients such as ExxonMobil, Criteo and Shippit. Most businesses by now are well versed with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: Faltering offline sa

Niantic buys LiDAR scanning app Scaniverse to create a 3D map of the world


Niantic Scaniverse•
Engadget / 12h
PokĂ©mon Go developer Niantic Labs has acquired Scaniverse, the company announced on Tuesday . According to creator Keith Ito , the iOS 3D scanning app will remain available on the App Store , with all the features previously part of its $17 annual subscription now included for free. What’s more, Niantic will continue to support the software with future feature updates. Much like its other recent


Facebook caught a marketing firm paying influencers to criticize COVID-19 vaccines


Facebook AstraZeneca•
Engadget / 12h
Facebook has banned a marketing firm for its involvement in a disinformation campaign that used influencers and fake accounts to undermine COVID-19 vaccines. The company removed 65 Facebook accounts and 243 Instagram accounts associated with a campaign, which also recruited unwitting influencers to boost its message. According to Facebook, the network “originated in Russia,” but was linked to Faz

Big chicken recall hits Aldi, other stores: USDA details outbreak


SlashGear / 12h
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a new food recall from Serenade Foods over potential contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis. The recall impacts Aldi, among other stores selling certain frozen chicken-based food products. Though the foods were produced back in February, some consumers may still have them in their freezers. This recall builds upon an advisory published in J

Elon Musk Offers to Make Spacesuits for NASA


Musk NASA 2024 Moon•
500+Futurism / 12h
Suit Up NASA’s lunar-grade spacesuits won’t be ready for the first landing on the Moon in 2024, according to a new audit by the agency’s Office of Inspector General. “Given these anticipated delays in spacesuit development, a lunar landing in late 2024 as NASA currently plans is not feasible,” it reads. But there may be a glimmer of hope, if SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has anything to do with it. “Space

How to Set Up and Use Google Assistant’s ‘Good Morning’ Routine


How-To Geek / 12h
Google Assistant routines are one of the most powerful features on Nest smart speakers and displays. Make the start of your day a little less stressful by using the “Good Morning” routine to automate your home. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

The Dixie Fire Is Now the Largest Single Wildfire in California History


100+Gizmodo / 12h
Many parts of the world are on fire right now , but California is in a league of its own. The Dixie Fire, which is currently roaring through Northern California, has burned through 487,764 acres as of Tuesday morning, making it the second-largest overall fire in state history and the largest single fire on record in… Read more...

HP's new Chrome OS devices are great news for Chromebook fans


HP Two Chrome OS One•
TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
HP revealed new Chrome OS products this week and they have us genuinely intrigued.

Plan a Low(ish) Risk Vacation With the CDC's Travel Map


21Lifehacker / 12h
If you’re considering an international trip any time soon, your first stop should be the CDC’s Travel Recommendations by Destination map. There you can see how your destination country ranks in terms of COVID cases. Read more...


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