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The FCC just sold a chunk of the wireless spectrum to T-Mobile
The results are in. After a year-long process, the Federal Communications Commission today announced the conclusion of its first-ever broadcast incentive auction, naming T-Mobile, Dish, Comcast and US Cellular as the biggest winners.
Google comes for Pinterest (and your dated sense of style)
For years, Pinterest has been the go-to place for many people looking for fashion inspiration. Google wants to change that. That's why today it introduced a new feature called "style ideas" in the Google app for Android and mobile web.
Russia blocks protest app for refusing to share data
Back in 2013 when messaging apps seemed to be cropping up every day, Zello's walkie-talkie audio dispatches seemed a novel addition to a crowded niche. We didn't anticipate that the app would become a hit with protesters in Ukraine, Turkey, Hong Kong, Venezuela, and elsewhere. But after the simultaneous demonstrations around Russia in the last couple weeks, it seems the government is hitting the perpetrators where they coordinate: Yesterday, they banned the use of Zello in the country.
Slack adds status messages, a feature it should have had on day one
After its meteoric rise to popularity, Slack has been slowly adding useful features to help keep fast-moving chatrooms from getting bogged down. Earlier this year, the company introduced much-needed threaded conversations and now Slack users can finally set an away message or status update so friends and coworkers no longer have to sit and wonder why it's taking so long to reply.
Kim Dotcom asks the Supreme Court to hear him out
Kim Dotcom, the founder of file-sharing website Megaupload, is taking his case to the United States Supreme Court. He's petitioned the highest court in the land to overturn a ruling allowing US authorities to keep $75 million in assets seized during a 2012 raid on Dotcom's house in Auckland, New Zealand.
Finally, a good digital masturbator
NSFW Warning: This story may contain links to and descriptions or images of explicit sexual acts.
California will start charging electric vehicle fees in 2020
While some states are still offering incentives for electric vehicle buyers, California will soon become the biggest state to start charging fees for EV ownership. California is estimated to account for about half of the country's EV sales, so the state is keen on recuperating some of the money it won't be making from gasoline taxes.
The Morning After: Thursday, April 13th 2017
Despite its newly christened console, Nintendo is keeping the 3DS alive with a slew of new games in addition to new Switch titles (that's what the pudding above is about). Meanwhile, the New York Auto Show shows us a mix of cars we do and do not want, and our Buyer's Guide gets updated for Spring 2017. You need to buy things, right?
GM's self-driving car operation in San Francisco will keep growing
Every carmaker is pushing to develop autonomous vehicles, and GM is no different. Despite having tech rated in second place by Navigant Research and the announcement of a Super Cruise-equipped Cadillac on the way, the company will do more. Bloomberg reporter Dana Hull tweeted the link to a California tax credit filing (saving GM $8 million) showing that the company plans to take its San Francisco operations from 485 employees last year to 1,648 by 2021. That office is home to Cruise Automation, a startup it acquired last year for $1 billion that had previously built self-driving kits for the Audi S4 and A4.
Uber's 'Hell' program tracked and targeted Lyft drivers
In its quest to ensure Lyft remains in second place, Uber reportedly ran a program that exploited a vulnerability in its rival's system. According to The Information, the ride-hailing company's covert software-based program called "Hell" spied on its staunchest competitor's drivers from 2014 to early 2016. It's called Hell, because it served as the counterpart to "God View" or "Heaven," Uber's in-company app that tracked its own drivers and passengers. Unlike God View, which was widely available to corporate employees, only top executives along with select data scientists and personnel knew about Hell.
Google's Areo app can order a plate of food or a plumber
Google has a new app you can't access unless you live in Bangalore and Mumbai, India -- and it's a shame, because it sounds pretty darn useful. The app called Areo combines food delivery and home services in one. You can use it to order meals from your favorite restaurants, since it has menus of participating locations like what you'd expect from typical food delivery apps. But here's where it differs from the rest: it can also book local pros like carpenters, plumbers, electricians and make-up artists in case what you need is someone to help you with a leaky toilet, a home expansion project or a wedding celebration.
Internet giants resist the FCC's relaxed net neutrality rules
It's no secret that many people object to new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's plans to soften net neutrality rules, but the companies affected by these plans have now had a chance to object directly to his strategy. The Internet Association lobbying group, which represents tech companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google, has privately told Pai to maintain the existing rules rather than gut them. Net neutrality "preserves the consumer experience, competition and innovation," the Association said. It also objected to Pai's plans to have the FTC enforce the rules, saying that an "expert agency" like the FCC should be responsible.
New in our buyer's guide: Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 and much more!
With spring here -- and an erratic winter quickly fading from memory -- we've finally refreshed our buyer's guide with a healthy heaping of gear. This year, slim and flexible is still the norm for laptops, with Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 and Lenovo's Yoga 910 offering great overall quality for their respective prices. If you're a gamer ready to invest, Razer's updated Blade Pro offers high-end features and processing, as long as you bring a power cord. Our guide also includes the latest consoles from Sony and Microsoft, along with a slew of audio gear. Sony's MDR 1000x takes the lead in the sound-cancelling wireless headphone category, while Bragi's Headphones top the truly wireless earbud set. Rounding out the list, Roland and Korg each have some great additions for your home studio. Check out our buyer's guide for the full rundown, and stay tuned for new additions throughout the season.
The Morning After: Wednesday, April 12th 2017
Nothing makes for morning reading quite like the protracted death of Windows' black sheep, Vista, the sex doll of the future, and terrifyingly upgraded VR horror rides. Something for everyone, we would hope.
Twitter @support is testing a bot that handles complaints
Twitter launched a handful of features in recent months meant to cement its new role as a customer service platform. Now it's putting some of those features to use: the social network has begun testing a bot to handle your questions and complaints. The company's @support account can now serve automated replies to basic inquiries, so long as they fall under one of the five available topics, through direct messaging. Based on Buzzfeed News' experience engaging the bot, it can help you regain access to your account, deal with users impersonating you and report abuse or harmful behavior. You can also hit it up for tips and tricks and to send the company feedback.
Walmart.com uses discounts for in-store pickups to fight Amazon
Walmart has made a few moves already to make shopping there more appealing vs. Amazon, but the latest one leverages its existing stores and distribution network. With a new program called "Pickup Discount," it will lower the price for many items that are only available online, as long as buyers have them shipped to a nearby store for pickup. Walmart says that by relying on its existing fleet of delivering trucks and skipping the last mile, it can save money and pass that savings on to customers.
Google's AutoDraw turns your clumsy scribbles into art
Google wants to help you get in touch with your inner Picasso. Today, it's launching AutoDraw, a web-based tool that uses machine learning to turn your hamfisted doodling into art. It's similar to, but clearly far more advanced than, Android Wear's ability to recognize a crudely drawn smiley face and replace it with an emoji.
Russia hopes legitimizing Bitcoin will thwart crooks
Russia's existing stance on bitcoin and other digital currencies is... less than welcoming. You could face website bans and prison time just for using it. However, the country is making an about-face on the idea. Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Moiseev tells Bloomberg that Russia hopes to recognize cryptocurrencies in 2018. Officials still have to determine how they will categorize this virtual money (assets? Cash? Securities?) sometime in mid-2017, but it's now more a question of "when" than "if." Of course, this isn't a purely benevolent move -- it's really about cutting back on crime.
Yahoo misused millions meant for humanitarian aid, lawsuit claims
Yahoo executives allowed the head of the company's Human Rights Trust to use $13 million -- the bulk of the organization's funding -- for personal gain, according to a federal lawsuit filed today in DC. These allegations aren't new and the trust itself was dissolved in 2015 after years of suspicious activity, but today's lawsuit puts Yahoo on the hook for $17.3 million, at least.
Swatch's provocative 'Tick different' slogan has Apple riled
We don't know when exactly Apple and Swatch first had a falling out, but trademark disputes seem to be the stage both have chosen to publicly acknowledge their strained relationship. In the latest example of this, Apple is challenging Swatch's "Tick different" trademark, which features in marketing campaigns for its Bellamy range of simple, analog watches that include NFC for contactless payments. Apple is arguing the phrase is too similar to its now-retired "Think different" slogan, thus causing confusion among consumers.
