Gadget News
Mercedes drove around the globe to train its autonomous cars
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 17:00
On a rainy September day in Frankfurt Germany, Mercedes-Benz executives and I got in a specially built semi-automated S-Class to track our drive to Stuttgart. It was the first leg in a five-month, five continent training...
Multiverse Thought Experiment Suggests Life Could Still Exist Under Different Laws of Physics
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 17:05
Perhaps we're not alone but instead reside in a multiverse stocked with all sorts of fantastical realms. These other universes are somewhat--but not exactly--like our own. Maybe gravity acts differently, or particles com...
iOS 11.3 to bring Face ID family purchase approval finally
Slash Gear - 31 Jan 2018 05:21
Face ID, or rather the removal of Touch ID in lieu of it, has thrown much of established iOS practices into chaos. Never mind the issue of tricking the 3D face recognition system, there are some things that can't also be...
Our Destiny Is Death: Splinter's State of the Union 2018 Live Blog
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 04:01
Join the Splinter staff as we comment live on President Donald Trump's State of the Union address and the Democrats' response.
Facebook bans bitcoin and other cryptocurrency ads because of scammers
Slash Gear - 31 Jan 2018 03:19
Facebook has announced a new policy for its advertisement platform: no advertisements promoting bitcoin or any other cryptocurrencies. The company announced the new ad restriction today, explaining that its new ban also ...
#NetNeutrality: California State Senate Approves Bill Protecting Open Internet Rules, Despite FCC Order
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 03:19
On Monday, the California State Senate approved a bill that would impose net neutrality restrictions on internet service providers doing business in the state.
Flights In The Western U.S. May Get Delayed By Massive Military GPS Blackout
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 02:00
Navigation systems including those found in commercial flights may be disrupted or jammed completely across the southwest U.S. over the next couple of weeks. That sounds pretty bad but do not be too alarmed, it's not Red...
We spend less time on Facebook, but it still makes loads of money
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 23:20
The past few weeks haven't been easy for Facebook. After announcing an overhaul to its News Feed earlier this month, one that places emphasis on people's interactions over content from brands, the company has been taking...
GoPro's Plus service will replace your busted camera
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 23:00
GoPro has amped up its Plus subscription in a big way. The offering, which was mostly a back-up service for your photos and videos, now comes with device replacement for the same price. GoPro says if you break your camer...
Bitcoin sales opened by Square in Cash app
Slash Gear - 31 Jan 2018 20:31
This morning Jack Dorsey opened Square’s doors to Bitcoin sales, allowing selling and buying from the company’s Cash app. This app is extremely simple, allowing users to move money from bank accounts to the app with ...
The Purge of AI-Assisted Fake Porn Has Begun
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 18:05
It was only a matter of time before more sophisticated fake porn videos surfaced online. But a crackdown on this super-realistic fake porn is already beginning.
Curiosity's sweeping Mars panorama shows how far it's come
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 16:29
After over five years on Mars, the Curiosity rover has done a lot of science and taken a few knocks. While trekking up Mount Sharp recently, however, it paused at Vera Rubin Ridge during a rare period of clear weather. T...
Google Now Tells You How Airlines Are Screwing You Over with Fees and Delays
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 16:24
Google's flight booking service just added two updates that could make flying slightly less frustrating--or at least help you manage your expectations.
Amazon's QR-like 'SmileCodes' are the key to discounts and Lockers
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 19:13
Amazon will start rolling out its own version of QR codes, TechCrunch reports. Called SmileCodes, they function just like a typical QR code -- scan it with your phone and see where it leads -- but they'll only be scannab...
GDC Pulls Award After Outcry Over Atari Co-founder Nolan Bushnell [UPDATE]
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 19:03
A day after saying it would give Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell its 2018 Pioneer Award, the organizers of the Game Developers Conference have pulled the award, saying they will now award it to no one. The quick change f...
Trump's CDC Director Resigns After Being Caught Buying Tobacco Stock While in Office
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 18:25
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, a former OBGYN, was appointed as Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by Donald Trump in July. Barely six months later, she announced her resignation today following a da...
NASA makes contact with satellite lost in space 13 years ago
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 15:01
Proving that things tend to turn up when you least expect them, NASA has just rediscovered a satellite it lost in space more than a decade ago. The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) was launche...
Employee Who Triggered Bogus Missile Alert in Hawaii Has Been Fired
Gizmodo - 31 Jan 2018 14:15
The unnamed state government employee who caused a panic after sending out an alert that missiles were about to strike Hawaii has been fired. Three more staff, including the head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency...
Xbox Watch hands-on shows what should have never been
Slash Gear - 31 Jan 2018 12:02
Microsoft is known for crushing dreams of things that could have been. It is also known for putting out products that perhaps it should never have. The latter calls to mind the Zune, Windows Vista, and Windows RT. And, p...
Alexa can send SMS messages using your voice
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 03:42
To date, messaging with Alexa has meant sending screeds using Amazon's in-house system, which doesn't do you much good if your recipient doesn't have an Echo speaker. You won't have to be quite so selective from now on, ...
Apple iPhone slowing draws Justice Department, SEC scrutiny
Slash Gear - 31 Jan 2018 02:23
Apple continues to face criticism over its controversial decision to slow down older iPhones with aging batteries. Authorities in Italy and France have started their own investigations into the matter, and now those are ...
A state-run 5G network is impossible in the US
Engadget - 31 Jan 2018 00:15
Axios recently reported that it had discovered a document that revealed something very interesting: The Trump administration was considering a government-run 5G network. According to the memo, this was in order to fight ...