Saturday, February 26, 2022

Saturday Technology News and More

Technology News and More...





500+Ars Technica / 1h
Enlarge / Zebra finches sitting together on a tree branch and sunning. (credit: sagarmanis | Getty Images) In our quest to find what makes humans unique, we often compare ourselves with our closest relatives: the great apes. But when it comes to understanding the quintessential human capacity for language, scientists are finding that the most tantalizing clues lie farther afield. Human language i



Ukraine Russia China•
Facing a wary United States and worried about depending on imports by sea, China is buying more energy and food from its northern neighbor.



Meta Team AR VR AR/VR•
While we wait for new virtual reality hardware from Meta – including the Oculus Quest 3 and the mysterious Project Cambria – there's news of some internal shuffling around on the software side that could have an impact on these upcoming devices. According to a report from The Information (via The Verge ), the company formerly known as Facebook is disbanding the team working on an all-encompassing




From our stacks: Illustration from Getting Ahead By Pansy (Isabella Macdonald Alden). Boston: D. Lothrop & Co., n.d. (1877?)



On February 3, a black woman flying Delta from Atlanta to San Francisco was asked to move to the back of the aircraft in order to make two white women more comfortable, giving them extra space in their row. Continue reading ...



Mashable / 19min
As a sophomore in college, I was on Tumblr every minute that I wasn't in class or watching YouTube. And as a fan of One Direction, I couldn't avoid the platform's No. 1 ship of 2015: Larry Stylinson, the pairing of band members Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. Larry supporters scoured videos of the group for "evidence" of their romance — a lingering gaze, a gentle brush of an arm — and transform



Mashable / 19min
Over the last few years, there's been hand-wringing over (young) people not having sex anymore . The latest came on Valentine's Day, when CNN declared Americans are "less likely to have sex…than ever." Twenty-six percent of American adults didn't have sex at all in 2021, according to the latest General Social Survey (GSS), a national representative survey of American adults released most years si



Wired / 20min
Once nonexistent in the northwest part of the state, beavers are both benefiting from and changing a warming landscape.



How-To Geek / 20min
With its grand, inquisitive take on space exploration, Star Trek has been a staple of TV for 50-plus years. The sci-fi franchise spans multiple shows, with various starship crews exploring the galaxy. Here’s how to stream every Star Trek series. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›



For Pokémon Go players, the true villain of the game isn’t Team Go Rocket and their shadow Pokémon, it's the ever-elusive Kecleon. That’s because this chameleon-like critter is one of a handful of Pokémon still missing from the game. But what makes Kecleon special is that it’s the only unreleased creature left in the Hoen Pokédex. Since Jirachi’s arrival in June 2019, Kecleon is the sole reason p



The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel, so in this post I wanted to take a closer look at it. What is Companion Pass, how do you earn it, and how can you use it? What is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? With Southwest Companion Pass, qualifying Rapid Rewards members can take a travel companion with them on Southwest flights an unlimited number of times over the cour



App Android Google•
There are some apps that are abandoned through no fault of their own. The team responsible could have moved on to other projects, or a new, redesigned app may have appeared to take its place. If you go trawling through YouTube or even find an old PC in the family office, you can find yourself transported back to a time when the only way you could use the internet was by being sat down in front of



23Wired / 1h
Six women discuss their photography style—and where they'd like to see their work go next.



Wired / 1h
Scientist and writer Camilla Pang explains what the rationality of science showed her about making better decisions, processing feedback, and feeling like an outlier.



Wired / 1h
The weather is getting warmer, but you can still stay in and play Elden Ring all weekend.



21Wired / 1h
Cookies are on the way out—but not enough is being done about browser fingerprinting. So what is it?



Every year, children and their parents seek medical care for tics. These involuntary, repetitive verbal expressions and physical behaviors are often caused by the neurologic condition Tourette syndrome . Typically, symptoms begin when children are between the ages of five and seven. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition. But during the pandemic, physicians around the world notic



Climate 101 is a Mashable series that answers provoking and salient questions about Earth’s warming climate. The oceans are the true keeper of climate change. Earth's seas soak up over 90 percent of the heat humanity is now trapping on the planet, a nearly an unfathomable amount of energy that expands the oceans. And as Earth's ice sheets and glaciers melt in a hotter world, this new water inevit



For beginner runners, a good attainable first goal is to run a 5K. These are nice entry-level races with low stakes, but you’ll still feel accomplished for participating. A smartwatch is a great coach to help you prepare. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›



Desk Job Steam Deck•
Valve has announced Aperture Desk Job, a “free playable short” set in the Portal universe that’s been designed to help players get to grips with the new Steam Deck . Valve describes Aperture Desk Job as a game that re-imagines the “been-there-done-that genre of walking simulators” and puts players “in the lightning-spanked, endorphin-gorged world of sitting still behind things.” In Aperture Desk



32Mashable / 1h
If you don't know the French film, you've likely seen its iconic imagery: In the 1902 silent movie A Trip to the Moon , a rocket smashes into the eye of the Man in the Moon. One hundred and twenty years later, life will painfully imitate art. Bill Gray, who tracks objects in near-moon orbits for asteroid hunters in his spare time, recently noticed a four-ton rocket booster on a collision course w




the Steam Deck•
Both Elden Ring , the new game from FromSoftware, and Valve's Steam Deck handheld console/PC hybrid were launched at the same time, and both are highly anticipated releases. Perhaps most excitingly of all, Elden Ring can be played on the Steam Deck, and it launched with a Steam Deck verified certification. This means it should run well on the Steam Deck, with default settings ensuring a good leve



With The Afterparty 's finale approaching and still no leads on the killer, we have some theories. Apple TV+'s genre-bending murder mystery has been nonstop fun since the premiere . We're sad to see it go, but can't wait to learn what happened at this high school reunion turned homicidal party foul. We know that not every suspect is as likely as the others. So, we broke the list down by prime sus



US Russia Ukraine China•
The US government has imposed harsh export restrictions against Russia designed to drastically limit its access to both low- and high-tech goods from overseas. As first reported by Reuters , the Commerce Department has posted a list of expanded licensing policies and requirements implemented in response to Russia's further invasion of Ukraine . Under the expanded sanctions, US suppliers that want



If you somehow predicted that a company best known for its high-end vacuums and air purifiers would also wind up making the world's most coveted hair tool, please come collect your prize. We're talking, of course, about Dyson and its legendary Airwrap. Launched in 2018, the multi-functional styler has since earned a cult following for its ability to dry, smooth, and curl without the use of extrem



The Covid-19 pandemic and the measures governments enacted in order to slow its spread brought huge changes to our lives in 2020 and 2021. Work moved from the office to our homes and social interaction online became the only way to see friends and family. Businesses were hit hard too as they grappled with how to handle their customer’s new habits, and for some companies, the pandemic led them to



TL;DR: As of Feb. 26, the GoSun Go® Portable Solar Oven is on sale for 16% off its original price of $139 — get it for just $116 for a limited time. When you have a source of healthy nourishment, you can stay in the great outdoors longer. Reset your mind and spirit by getting back to basics, and bring this portable, lightweight, and solar-powered oven with you on your next adventure. The GoSun Go



TL;DR: As of Feb. 26, the Callaway Pro Series Hitting Mat is on sale for $165.99, 16% down from $199. Before you know it, it’ll be golf season once again. But until that day comes, you'll need a way to get your skills back up to par. Callaway offers all kinds of goodies for golfers looking to practice their game at home — and their Pro Series Hitting Mat happens to be on sale for a limited time.



TL;DR: As of Feb. 26, you can slash 60% off the Gamma Graphene Infused Heated Jacket and get it for just $199.99 (it normally costs $500). There's nothing like the comforting feeling of activating those pocket hand warmers in cold winter weather. Now, imagine having that feeling wash over your entire body. With this heated jacket from Gamma , you can wrap your whole body in even, comfortable warm



TL;DR: The Cheerble Board Game, an All-in-One Interactive Toy for Cats , is on sale for $48 with the code CHEERBLE30 as of Feb. 26. That'll get you 38% off its regular price of $78. Cats need engaging playtime to stay healthy and happy. If yours is bouncing off the walls and scratching furniture, it’s probably time to buy some new toys. One that truly stands out in the overly crowded toy store th



TL;DR: As of Feb. 26, a lifetime subscription to Ultrahuman , a holistic fitness app, is just $49.99. That's 87% down from its regular price of $399. If you want to sign up for a fitness app , but can’t fathom yet another monthly subscription, this deal on Ultrahuman might tickle your fancy. Right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to this holistic fitness app for just $49.99. You’ll save



You know what they say (and by "they," we mean millennials, basically): Pets are the new kids and plants are the new pets! And just like any pet, you want to give your lush little plant babies the proper pampering and care that they deserve. But what if you're a houseplant parent — is that what we're calling ourselves these days? — who lives in an apartment or house that doesn’t quite get enough



Russian Ukraine Putin•
Google, Apple and others were warned that they must comply with a new law, which would make them more vulnerable to the Kremlin’s censorship demands.



Customs officials aim to save time and increase security by ramping up the use of facial recognition. But what about privacy? A biometrics specialist weighs in.



Online shopping was supposed to give consumers more power and freedom. Instead, costs are so fluid that household goods fluctuate almost like Bitcoin.



Microsoft Confirms Windows•
The “Remove everything” option used to reset Windows device may actually leave some data behind due to a known issue that has now been acknowledged by Microsoft. In a post on the Windows Health dashboard, the software giant explained the issue is caused by its cloud storage service OneDrive , saying: “When attempting to reset a Windows device with apps which have folders with reparse data, such a



The Panasonic Lumix GH6 has finally landed – and we've been putting the video powerhouse through its paces ahead of our full review. It's impressed us so far, but there are still lots of tests to be done. So we thought we'd round up some of our favorite GH6 features so far, plus a few of the downers, to help give you an idea of whether it's shaping up to be the camera for you. Some of the obvious



Unexpected high demand means supplies of many pre-orders of the gaming console have been delayed.



South Africa Carbon•
The post appeared first on Popular Mechanics .



Fries and chicken wings are the first treats that spring to mind when you think of deep-fried foods. But what about donuts? For me, Homer Simpson’s favorite food is one of the most delicious treats you can indulge in. Whether you prefer Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’ Donuts, or another bakery’s offering, the problem with these sweet bread-based snacks that are made with enriched dough (which contains fat

YESTERDAY



Ukraine Apple Russia•
Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister has called on Apple to stop selling its products and to shut down its App Store in Russia. Mykhailo Fedorov, who also serves as the country's Minister of Digital Transformation, has asked Tim Cook for the tech giant's support in a letter. "The whole world is repelling the aggressor through the imposition of sanctions — the enemy must suffer significant losses... [I]n



After marinating in conspiracy theories and Donald J. Trump’s Russia stance, some online discourse about Vladimir Putin has grown more complimentary.



400+Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: The Premium Novice-to-Expert Day Trading and Technical Analysis Bundle is on sale for £22.31, saving you 97% on list price. Investing isn't just for those who were born with money. Nowadays, you can truly start at the bottom and build wealth from the ground up. You just have to know where to start and have the right tools under your belt. With this Day Trading and Technical Analysis Bundle



TL;DR: The SelectTV and KeepSolid VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription Bundle is on sale for £73.63, saving you 85% on list price. Cutting the cord with your TV provider isn’t as easy as you think — especially when you’re used to watching TV in a traditional way. But this lifetime subscription bundle of SelectTV and KeepSolid VPN makes the transition a bit smoother. It offers two unique services t



SAVE 49%: ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing HBO Max from the UK. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £76.04, and includes an extra three months for free. The good news is that HBO Max has finally decided to expand its service to 15 European countries in March. The bad news is that the UK is not on the list. Yes, many HBO titles air in the UK on Sky Max, but it's just n



SAVE 82%: Surfshark is a low-cost option for unlocking the best content from Disney+. A two-year subscription to Surfshark is on sale for £43.90, and includes an extra two months for free — 82% off for a limited time. Looking for the best VPN for unlocking streaming sites? You should probably start with ExpressVPN , but if that seems too pricey, Surfshark should be your next stop. This cheap VPN



Fujitsu has quietly revealed its plans to shutter both its mainframe and Unix server system business by the end of this decade. In a notice posted to the Japanese IT giant's website, the company announced its plans to stop selling its mainframes and Unix server systems by 2030 though support systems will continue for an additional five years. Fujitsu will stop manufacturing and selling its mainfr



FCC Media Telecom Russia•
Engadget / 11h
The Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation this week into a large number of media, telecom and infrastructure companies that operate in the United States with ties to Russia, CNN reported . The probe, allegedly being conducted jointly with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, is aimed at firms considered a “national security risk,” and covers a w



Gizmodo / 12h
Welcome back to Toy Aisle, io9's regular round up of the latest in wallet-sapping toy and merchandise news. This week: Lego gives us another glimpse at Thor: Love and Thunder ’s Mighty Thor and her friends, a classic Voltron gets updated, and... brace yourselves, it’s toys based on the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy… Read more...



Twitter Russia Ukraine•
Engadget / 12h
Twitter has temporarily paused ads in Ukraine and Russia, one of several steps the company is taking to highlight safety information and minimize “risks associated with the conflict in Ukraine.” “We’re temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don’t detract from it,” the company wrote in an update that was also shared



Intel OpenVINO 2022.1 AI•
Ahead of MWC 2022 , Intel has released a new version of the Intel Distribution of the OpenVINO toolkit which induces major upgrades to accelerate AI inferencing performance. Since the launch of OpenVINO in 2018, the chip giant has enabled hundreds of thousands of develo


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