Technology News
A MacBook Air Review at the Worst Possible Time
Wall Street Journal - 4 Apr 2020 15:00
Many are facing bigger concerns than new gadgets right now, but laptops are crucial in this moment of self-isolation, and Apple's latest entry-level model rights all its past wrongs. Too bad about its webcam, though.
A Hacker Found a Way to Take Over Any Apple Webcam
Wired - 4 Apr 2020 02:16
They've been patched, but the Safari vulnerabilities would have given an alarming amount of access.
Skype rolls out 'Meet Now' calls that don't need a a sign-up or installation
Engadget - 4 Apr 2020 05:33
With people forced out of their offices and schools to avoid spreading coronavirus, there are more video calls going on than ever. However, a significant chunk of the action has gone to Zoom, and not Skype, Microsoft's p...
Discovery of Living Microbes Deep Beneath the Seafloor Offers Hope for Life on Mars
Gizmodo - 4 Apr 2020 01:30
Surprising quantities of bacteria have been found living in clay-rich rocks under the Pacific seafloor. The discovery raises the possibility of equally resilient microbes living deep beneath the surface of Mars.
Bill Gates risking billions on new factories for 7 coronavirus vaccine candidates
BGR - 4 Apr 2020 16:33
Bill Gates said in an interview with Trevor Noah that his foundation will invest billions of dollars in building factories for seven vaccine candidates for the novel coronavirus. The former Microsoft executive explained ...
NASA's Perseverance rover's new wheels can grip and better withstand rocks
Digital Trends - 4 Apr 2020 16:24
With gently curved treads as opposed to Curiosity's chevron treads
Coronavirus Has Created a Sex Boom--but Maybe Not a Baby Boom
Wired - 4 Apr 2020 16:00
Isolated couples are purchasing toys by the bucketload, and activity on dating apps is way up. But more babies might not be on the way.
iPhone camera hack yields security researcher $75,000 from Apple
BGR - 4 Apr 2020 15:35
A security researcher unearthed seven zero-day vulnerabilities in mobile Safari and leveraged them to hijack an iPhone camera. The iPhone camera hack landed the researcher a $75,000 check from Apple. Apple fixed the expl...
Firefox Zero-Day Flaws Exploited in the Wild Get Patched
Threatpost - 4 Apr 2020 15:28
Mozilla Foundation rushes patches to fix bugs in its browser that could allow for remote code execution.
Apple Music Was Second Biggest Global Music Streaming Service in 2019
Mac Rumors - 4 Apr 2020 02:38
Global online music streaming subscriptions were up 32 percent year-over-year in 2019, hitting 358 million subscribers, according to new estimates shared today by Counterpoint Research. Spotify was the market leader with...
CDC says we all should wear face coverings to avoid spreading coronavirus - CNET
CNET - 4 Apr 2020 02:25
But medical-grade N95 masks, which are in short supply, should be reserved for health workers. And don't stop social distancing or hand washing.
The FDA just approved a key coronavirus test
BGR - 4 Apr 2020 01:06
The FDA just approved a brand new test for the novel coronavirus which could speed up the return to normal life. The test looks for antibodies in the bloodstream of a COVID-19 survivor, which could prove that person is i...
Tech supply chains are still a complete mess
The Verge - 4 Apr 2020 17:58
Last week, we made the case that tech manufacturing was uniquely vulnerable to pandemic problems, from a combination of just-in-time manufacturing practices and a far-flung network of suppliers. But just a week later, th...
Space Photos of the Week: Awesome Planets and Ancient Gods
Wired - 4 Apr 2020 16:00
Earth aside, all the planets in our solar system were named after Greek and Roman gods.
New York has been crushed by COVID-19. Will other US cities be spared?
Live Science - 4 Apr 2020 15:45
The number of coronavirus cases continue to shoot up in New York City, and are overwhelming the city's health care systems. Other cities could experience the same if precautions are taken seriously.
Study warns THC in marijuana may have major impact on fertility
Slash Gear - 4 Apr 2020 15:00
A newly published study has found that consuming cannabis (“marijuana”) or an edible containing its psychoactive compound THC may have a major impact on female fertility. The findings will be presented at the ENDO 20...
A Notorious Spyware Vendor Wants to Track Coronavirus Spread
Wired - 4 Apr 2020 15:00
Plus: An evacuated aircraft carrier, Iranian hackers, and more of the week's top security news.
Astronomers are hoping to see the very first stars and galaxies in the Universe
Universe Today - 4 Apr 2020 14:37
Sometimes it’s easy being an astronomer. When your celestial target is something simple and bright, the game can be pretty straightforward: point your telescope at the thing and just wait for all the juicy photons to p...
Tesla cuts contractors from California, Nevada factories: CNBC
Reuters - 4 Apr 2020 05:19
Tesla Inc is cutting contractors from its U.S. car and battery plants, CNBC reported on Friday, citing workers and a contract staffing agency.
Disney+ is now live on India's Hotstar: Everything you need to know
Android Central - 4 Apr 2020 04:14
Here's what you need to know about Disney+ in India. Five months after its launch in the U.S., Disney+ has made its debut in India. Content from the streaming service has been integrated into Disney-owned Hotstar's libra...
Removing the novel coronavirus from the water cycle
Neuroscience News - 4 Apr 2020 04:03
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can linger for days in sewage and water systems and remain infectious. Researchers call for new studies to determine if current water treatment methods are efficient and ef...
How Apple's fee exemption program for in-app video purchases works
AppleInsider - 4 Apr 2020 02:21
Amazon's Prime Video app now features in-app rentals and purchases across Apple's platforms. While that's new, there's much more to the story -- including the previously obscure Apple initiative that allowed it.