Tom Regan
Articles by Tom Regan
Amazon's Echo lets you sign up for Prime just by asking (updated)
As Amazon gears up for next week's annual Prime Day sale, the online shopping behemoth has also opted to lower the barrier of entry for Prime subscriptions. With Prime members previously having to sign up for the service online, Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Fire TV or compatible Fire tablet owners can now opt in for a Prime Membership simply by saying "Alexa, sign me up for Prime". Doing so will not only save users time but also money, netting Echo owners a year's membership for $79 -- $20 less than the usual price.
GTA modding tool quietly reappears after legal threats
The popular Grand Theft Auto V modding tool OpenIV now looks to be back in action, just weeks after its creators found themselves in a whole heap of legal trouble. Last month GTA publisher Take Two Interactive sent the creators of the modding software a cease and desist letter, claiming that the tool allowed users to bypass the game's security features and violated the publisher's rights. Unsurprisingly, this forced OpenIV to remove the mod's download link from its site on June 14th, resulting in a huge community backlash. Now, that link is back up and fans can once again download the modding tool directly from OpenIV's website.
Scientists made an AI that can read minds
Whether it's using AI to help organize a Lego collection or relying on an algorithm to protect our cities, deep learning neural networks seemingly become more impressive and complex each day. Now, however, some scientists are pushing the capabilities of these algorithms to a whole new level - they're trying to use them to read minds.
Xiaomi is bringing cinema tech to a living room projector
When it comes to home theater setups, high-quality projectors have traditionally been the pricier way to enjoy your movies. Now, however, Chinese tech company Xiaomi is hoping to change that with its new cinema-quality Mi Laser Projector. Priced at a reasonable 9,999 yuan (around $1,470), Xiaomi's latest offering boasts a 150inch display and custom laser tech straight out of movie theaters. The Mi Laser Projector utilizes ALPD 3.0 laser light source tech developed by Appotronics, the company behind the laser tech in 90 percent of China's movie theaters. Yet, Xiaomi doesn't end its cross-company projector collaboration there, as it also features its own custom digital light processing (or DLP) solution created by Texas Instruments.
Volkswagen and NVIDIA want to help humans and robots work together
After just confirming its plans to help Volvo create self-driving cars, NVIDIA has now revealed that it's also working with another leading car manufacturer. Announcing a partnership with Volkswagen, the tech company states its artificial intelligence and deep learning tech will be used to help VW expand its AI business beyond just autonomous vehicles.
'Life is Strange’ studio's ‘Vampyr’ arrives this November
Life is Strange was one of my favorite games of last year. Putting players in a refreshingly normal college setting, it was an interactive experience built around the complexity of human relationships. Now, with its latest title Vampyr, developer Don't Nod has decided to go completely the other way, fully embracing the fantastical. A new trailer shows more of the studio's supernatural take on 1918 London, and also confirms a November release date on PS4, PC and Xbox One for the choice-based action game.
iOS 11 users will never have to memorize a WiFi password again
Modern life with all of its technological conveniences can be an absolute wonder. Yet when you go to a friend's house and they spend 30 minutes trying to dig out a WiFi password from under their rug, all of that wide-eyed wonder quickly turns to rage. Luckily then, it looks like Apple has found a way to counter this devastating first world problem with iOS 11. According to 9to5 Mac, a new WiFi sharing feature will notify iOS 11 users when a visitor wants to join their network, automatically sharing their WiFi password with them if the host approves their request.
A video game trailer is eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award
Despite being one of the biggest entertainment mediums on the planet, it's rare to see video games getting the mainstream recognition that they deserve. Now, it looks like that's beginning to change, as, for the first time in history, a video game trailer is eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award. The promotional video in question is for this year's intriguing philosophical world simulator, Everything.
Facebook's new maps will help responders during natural disasters
When natural disasters hit, the role of a site like Facebook switches from a fun social networking platform to a tool that can be used to save lives. Fully aware of the role it plays in natural disasters, Facebook has today announced that it will be using its software to lend emergency services a helping hand.
Wireless pacemakers could make life easier for heart patients
Since its invention in 1932, the pacemaker has saved countless lives. Now, thanks to researchers at Rice University and the Texas Heart Institute, it looks like this essential medical device could be getting a pretty signifcant upgrade. In a bid to reduce costly and invasive operations, the aforementioned institutions have joined forces to create the world's first wireless and battery-less pacemaker. Powered purely by microwaves, this new pacemaker is smaller than a dime, allowing it to be implanted directly into a patient's heart. Doing away with the wires that usually power pacemakers, this new device takes its energy from radio waves emitted by an external battery pack.
Quench your thirst with Instagram likes from a vending machine
Ever since the dawn of the internet, people have found a way to artificially make themselves look more popular online. In exchange for a small sum, various dodgy-looking websites have long promised to boost your ego by selling you fake followers. Now, one Russian company is taking that concept offline, allowing you to improve your social standing by buying likes at a vending machine.
HP’s VR backpack PC doubles as a desktop
Last year, HP revealed its solution to the trail of cables that plagues every Vive experience -- a VR powered-PC in a backpack. Aiming to make virtual reality a more immersive and portable experience, the latest in the company's Omen gaming range promised to transform users into a cable-free, VR-ready turtle. Now, a year later, HP has redesigned the Omen in an attempt to make it more versatile.
Uber hires a VP to fix its toxic company culture
Despite its incredibly high userbase, a string of controversies has led to what can only be described as a pretty terrible year for Uber. Now, just a few months after its employees left the company in droves, the successful ride-hailing company has recruited a new executive to save its sinking ship. After a former employee spoke out about sexual harassment at the company, Uber launched an investigation into its workplace culture, calling in Frances Frei, an expert on gender equality from Harvard Business School. Now, Frei has joined the successful tech startup full time, taking a role as Uber's Senior Vice President of Leadership & Strategy.
Mobile is helping The Pokémon Company make tons of money
It's not every year that a mobile game becomes a genuine global phenomenon -- but as I'm sure you all noticed, that's exactly what Pokémon Go was. For a good few months, Nintendo and Niantic transformed most of the world into wandering cellphone zombies, and now, The Pokémon Company is reaping the benefits. In the previous fiscal year, the house of Pikachu found itself in a bit of a slump, turning over a middling profit of just $5.6 million dollars. Now, a report spotted by analyst Serkan Toto reveals that this financial year The Pokémon Company's profits exceeded $143.3 million -- more than 26 times what it made the previous year.
AT&T's $70 bundle pairs unlimited data with 60 TV channels
First, it gave Unlimited Choice customers unrestricted mobile data, then it tried to lure people in with free HBO. Now, AT&T is attempting to win over more customers by sweetening its mobile deals even further. Today the company announced a brand new package for its Unlimited Choice customers, offering over 60 DirectTV channels for only $10 more a month than the regular Unlimited Choice bundle.
Sony has shipped its last ever PlayStation 3 in Japan
11 years after its release, Sony has finally stopped shipping the PlayStation 3 to retailers in Japan. We all knew this day was coming, with the country ceasing production on the 500 GB standard model in December last year. Now, however, a recent update on PlayStation Japan's website suggests that the final lingering units have all been shipped. For those who somehow still haven't bought one, Sony's long-standing game machine is still being produced in other parts of the world.
‘District 9’ director to debut his new sci-fi flick on Steam
After taking a lengthy absence from sci-fi, South African film director Neill Blomkamp has decided to pit the human race against extraterrestrial forces once again. Created by his new science fiction studio, Oats Studios, his latest project is a short film called Volume 1 -- and surprisingly, it could make its debut on PC gaming platform, Steam.
Apple, Facebook and Google condemn Texas transgender bill
Proposed legislation in Texas has irked some of the biggest names in tech, sparking condemnation from the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and 12 other influential tech leaders. If passed, this controversial state law would only allow transgender students to use restrooms that match the gender printed on their birth certificate. While Texan lawmakers continue to debate what's become known as the "bathroom bill", the influential executives have penned a letter urging the state's governor not to pass the "discriminatory" legislation. Senior employees from Microsoft, Amazon and game developer Gearbox Software have also co-signed the letter with Facebook and Apple, claiming that the proposed law would be "bad for employees and bad for business." Governor Greg Abbott has revealed that he intends to pass the controversial bill before the end of May.
Alto uses your emails to clean up your calendar
Smartphones are an absolute godsend for organizing... well, pretty much everything. Yet despite all they do for us, it can still be hugely frustrating when your various calendar apps don't play nicely with each other. AOL (Engadget's parent company, for full disclosure) is trying to solve this headache with the latest update for its Mail tool, Alto.
A major investment company is taking bitcoin very seriously
Many predicted that the world would soon lose interest in bitcoin. Yet, eight years after its inception, its surprisingly robust Blockchain tech and prominence on the darkweb has led to the cryptocurrency trading at an all time high. This success hasn't gone unnoticed in the financial world, and now bitcoin is being integrated into one of America's largest brokerage company -- Fidelity Investments.