Archive for April 2015

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Accessories (12)

• TomTom put its navigation know-how to work in an action cam

  TomTom, a company best known for its GPS gadgets and a line of watches for runners and athletes, is diving deeper into action sports. Meet the Bandit camera: a GPS action cam that'll beam footage to a connected smartphone. If you're in a hurry, and don't want to futz with proper edits on a computer, TomTom's app will pull videos from the camera so you can share them quickly -- all you have to do is give your phone a shake. The company claims that its device is the first of its kind to pack a built-in media server, capable of processing files before sending them to your phone. That's where the phone shaking comes in: doing so will alert the camera/app duo to automatically compile a video for you. In addition to that bit of heavy lifting, the Bandit's on-board motion and GPS automatically tag highlights based on speed, altitude, acceleration, G-force and heart rate -- the last of which is likely tracked with one of TomTom's fitness watches. Don't worry, you can manually pick those spots, too.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Pretend you have Project Ara with this modular smartphone case

  As awesome as Project Ara is, we've yet to hear a solid timeline nor pricing info for Google's ambitious modular smartphone. But we bring you good news: For those who lack patience and want to try the next best thing, you may want to consider the Nexpaq, a modular case for the iPhone 6, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6 Edge and many more devices to come. Admittedly, we were a bit skeptical with this project's claim upon receiving the startup's pitch, but after meeting two of the co-founders in Hong Kong, we know they mean business.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Livescribe 3 smartpen now sends your notes to Android devices

  Making good on its promise back in January, the Livescribe 3 smartpen now works with Android devices. A preview version of the requisite app is now available for download, ready to equip devices running KitKat and newer versions of Google's mobile OS. In addition to the Livescribe+ Preview Edition app, you'll also need to install the Livescribe Link Preview Edition software, with the latter handling Bluetooth pairing duties so you don't have to swipe over to the setting menus every time. If you'll recall, using the high-tech pen with Livescribe's paper notebooks automatically digitizes your scribbles to the companion app on your trusty mobile device. Folks who are eager to employ the peripheral can grab the either the Livescribe 3 or Livescribe 3 Pro Edition at a $25 discount during this so-called preview period ($130 and $175, respectively). Unfortunately, you'll have to be in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the United Arab Emirates to take advantage, but a global launch is expected in the coming weeks. We're hoping the final software arrives then, too.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• popSLATE gives your iPhone a second (not so useful) screen

  Like most smartphone users, I unlock my screen incessantly so I usually run out of battery when I most need it. But popSLATE promises to be the rehab for my swipe-screen addiction. It's a smartphone case with an in-built E Ink screen that can personalize the back of an iPhone 6. I could use it to flaunt my favorite pictures or if I run out of battery, at say, an airport, I'd be able to flip my phone over to scan my boarding pass. It seemed like the perfect solution for my excessive phone usage. So I turned the back of my phone into a second, always-on screen for about a week.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• At some point in life, you'll want a marble iPhone case

  Wood and leather are so yesterday. What you really want is some genuine marble on your precious gadgets. At least that's the pitch from Native Union, which recently announced its Clic Marble iPhone 6 case, available in matte black or glossy white -- the latter consisting of the nice Carrara white marble from Italy. Don't be fooled by its simple look, as the company took a year and a half to figure out how to carefully slice marble at just 0.8mm thick, and then reinforce it with fiberglass to keep it flexible and shatter-resistant. The case does add 2mm of bulk onto your device, and it does ask for $80 in the US or £70 in the UK, but these are the kinds of sacrifices that some are willing to make in return for that cold luxurious feel.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Accessory makers are solving Apple's MacBook problem

  We like Apple's 12-inch MacBook with its sleek look, high-res screen and scant mass -- but we have a big problem with the single USB-C port. For one, it doubles as the lone power connector, meaning you can't even charge your MacBook and transfer files at the same time. Another issue is finding peripherals that even support the new standard, fancy as it is. However, you're not totally screwed -- if you don't want to pay for Apple's own (expensive) USB-C adapters, there are options coming from established companies like Belkin and some very intriguing products on Kickstarter.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a Jamstik and SOL Republic speaker courtesy of Zivix!

  There's a new generation of MIDI-connected interface tools to help your creative juices flow without being tethered to a computer or lugging around a full kit. The Jamstik smartguitar is a mobile instrument for the digital age, whether you're a seasoned guitar player or just looking to learn a few chords. It's a lightweight, 16-inch guitar interface that uses WiFi to connect to Macs, PCs and iOS 7+ devices. The Jamstik works with hundreds of apps including GarageBand and Ableton Live, letting you play guitar, synth, drums or anything else simply by plucking the strings. There's also a Kickstarter for the new Jamstik+, which adds Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity and a focus on musical education. What's more, for every 15 Jamstik+ devices that are backed, Zivix will give one to a non-profit educational organization, opening up the world of music to tomorrow's musicians. To help give you a taste, the company has given us two Jamstiks, along with a set of SOL Republic Deck Bluetooth speakers for a pair of lucky Engadget readers this week. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning. Winners: congratulations to Jeremiah N. of Moscow, ID. and Jeremy M. of Southington, CT!

  By Jon Turi Read More

• This adorable desk gadget motivates you like Pavlov's bell

  We're almost halfway into April and chances are your self-improvement-minded New Year's Resolutions bit the dust sometime between Valentine's Day and Easter. Whereas our day-to-day habits are pretty ingrained into our minds, establishing new ones is the hard part, and that's where MOTI comes in. It's a cute little gizmo that you place in plain sight (this is key) that acts as a motivator, hence the name, for your menial tasks. How it works seems pretty simple, too. Just put it on your desk or wherever else you might see it on the daily and press its face when you do the task you're having trouble keeping up with.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Manfrotto turns your iPad into a giant DSLR remote

  Manfrotto isn't just content with making tripods and backpacks for your camera -- it wants to improve the camera itself. The gear designer has unveiled the Digital Director, an adapter that turns your iPad into a remote controller for Canon and Nikon DSLRs. It's not wireless like its biggest rival, the CamRanger, but it still gives you a giant viewfinder and control over virtually every facet of your shot, from the aperture to manual focusing. Think of it as a conventional remote control app that doesn't require lugging a full-fledged computer to your photo shoots. Be ready to pay for that portability, however. The Digital Director will cost $500 when it ships in June, so it's clearly meant more for pro work than augmenting your hobbyist photography.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• You can't ride on this Harley-Davidson-themed PC case

  We don't normally come across whacky desktop towers until Computex (which is less than two months away), so this beast of a PC at IDF was a nice surprise for us. Courtesy of Chinese startup Micle, this case is awkwardly called the "Proud of Blood" but has nothing to do with Diablo; instead, you're better off remembering it as the 90cm-tall desktop tower inspired by Harley-Davidson motorcycles. All the details are there: the V2 engine, the pipes, the tank cover, the spoiler and more. Unlike the plastic prototype we saw, the final version will be mostly aluminum, according to Micle co-founder and famed local modder Wei Zheng.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Mophie's 'Space' battery cases bring more storage to iPhone 6, iPad Mini

  Last year Mophie, a company best known for its mobile battery offerings, stepped into slightly new territory by releasing a battery-toting iPhone case with external storage dubbed the "Space Pack." Now, as if on cue, Mophie is unveiling new entries in the Space Pack line for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and iPad Mini. And, not to be forgotten, there's also a new standalone battery pack called the "Spacestation." They all look very similar to Mophie's existing battery solutions, but they include anywhere from 32GB to 128 GB of flash storage, which could be useful for anyone stuck with a paltry 16GB iPhone or iPad Mini. But, as is typical for Mophie, that convenience won't come cheap. The iPhone Space Packs and the Spacestation start at $150 for 32GB of storage, and jump up to $200 for 64GB and $300 for 128GB. The iPad Mini pack, meanwhile, runs from $200 to $400.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Touchscreen-enabled routers double as home automation hubs

  If at all possible, we like to keep our router and hub count down to a nice round number of "one." That's the idea behind a pair of new models from Almond which eliminate the need to have both a smarthome hub and router by combing them into one device. The Almond+ and Almond 2015 both support ZigBee home automation, letting you program security camera, lights or lawn sprinkler automation on the built-in touchscreens. They both also function as full-featured routers, with high-powered amplifiers and extender/bridge/access point functionality in case the main router can't reach a corner of your sprawling mansion.

  By Steve Dent Read More

AI (5)

• Cooking with Watson: Austrian asparagus and pigs' feet croquettes

  'Cognitive Cooking with Chef Watson' is a collaboration between IBM and the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Once a week, as part of an ongoing series, we'll be preparing one recipe from the book until we've made all of them. Wish us luck. "Austrian grilled asparagus." That should be simple. Let's see... Pigs' feet? Sous vide? Croquettes? Mustard "foam"? Damn it Watson! Well, if the carrot pearls from last week weren't sufficiently weird for you, fear not. This week's recipe is the sort of thing that would send most casual cooks running for the hills. And to make matters worse, the title lulls you into a false sense of security. The first two steps in this recipe, that's theoretically for grilled asparagus, are to brine two pigs' feet overnight, then to cook them in a 162-degree water bath (sous vide) for 24 hours. Yes, 24 hours. Between the eight-plus-hour brine and the 24-hour cook, this is already the most time-intensive dish I've ever made.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• IBM's cognitive computer will help solve your health problems

  Just because you can collect a lot of information about your health doesn't mean that you can easily make sense of it. How do you connect the dots between, say, your smartwatch and your medical records? IBM thinks it has the answer: it's launching Watson Health Cloud, a platform that uses the company's cognitive computer system to help companies and doctors make decisions based on data that might otherwise prove daunting. They could recommend a change in your prescription, for example, or outline your surgery recovery plans.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• IBM's Watson cognitive computer has whipped up a cookbook

  IBM's Watson learning computer system isn't just content with making the occasional meal -- it has a whole slew of recipes lined up. The tech company is launching Cognitive Cooking with Chef Watson, a cookbook based on Watson's knack for combining food in a way that produces unique (and typically tasty) flavors. There's only about 65 foodstuffs in the mix, but they're considered "greatest hits" that should work well in real life. Just be prepared to do more grocery shopping than usual when the book arrives on April 14th, since IBM's machine tends to choose ingredients that you probably don't have in the pantry.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• IBM starts testing AI software that mimics the human brain

  We haven't talked about Numenta since an HP exec left to join the company in 2011, because, well, it's been keeping a pretty low-profile existence. Now, a big name tech corp is reigniting interest in the company and its artificial intelligence software. According to MIT's Technology Review, IBM has recently started testing Numenta's algorithms for practical tasks, such as analyzing satellite imagery of crops and spotting early signs of malfunctioning field machinery. Numenta's technology caught IBM's eye, because it works more similarly to the human brain than other AI software. The 100-person IBM team that's testing the algorithms is led by veteran researcher Winfried Wilcke, who had great things to say about the technology during a conference talk back in February.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Daily Roundup: PlayStation originals, super intelligent AI in movies and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, you won't find any cheap jokes or fake stories having fun at your expense. It's all serious news and wholesome fun! Read about PlayStation's push into original programming with a new series called Powers, get the details on Ex Machina, a movie about super intelligent AI, and learn how the makers of Eve Online are making a big bet on virtual reality.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

Amazon (15)

• Amazon UK doubles the minimum spend for free delivery to £20

  In times past, when Amazon offered you Free Super Saver Delivery, it really meant free. That all changed in July 2013, when the company introduced a £10 minimum spend to have your order delivered on the house. Almost two years later, the online retailer has announced it's raising that limit again, by doubling it to £20. One reason for the change could be to incentivise customers to put down £79 for Prime, which ships millions of items next day (and includes video streaming and other media services). The company may also be moving to to cover the cost of its wide range of delivery options, which now include same-day collection and shipment to your local Post Office. Regardless, the new threshold will come into effect from 6pm tonight (UK time), so if you have some low-cost items sitting in your basket, now might be the time to buy them.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Amazon's making digital homework easier to assign, ugh

  If you've ever seen a 6th grader lugging around a 30 pound backpack, you'll understand the allure of e-readers and tablets as a replacement for traditional textbooks. To help school districts make the digital transition from physical textbooks, Amazon launched Whispercast, a free content management and distribution tool. Schools can buy or rent books directly via the online tool and push them to anything that supports the Kindle app including: Kindles, Fire Tablets, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Chromebooks. Today, the free two year-old online tool gets an upgrade with tiered administration, support for purchase orders, an easier-to-use online interface and an assisted setup service for new schools.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Quirky wine rack could refill itself using Amazon Dash

  Do you wake up in the middle of the night, soaked in cold sweat and frantically worrying, "Oh God, is my wine rack sufficiently full?" Well, fear not, because this automated wine rack from Quirky not only keeps tabs on your vital vino supply, it could even automatically restock its cellar when you run out of wine. The Poppy Reserve, as it's called, is a two-part system consisting of a smart rack and its associated app. The semi-autonomous wine rack comes packed with temperature, weight and humidity sensors. That way it can monitor how much wine you have left as well as whether they're being stored under the proper conditions.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Amazon Web Services is a $5 billion business

  Even though Amazon Web Services has taken off in recent years to become the cloud computing solution of choice for businesses, not much was known about how much money it was bringing in. Now, however, we do. In its first quarterly earnings report today, Amazon has reported the financials for its AWS division for the first time, stating that it is a "$5 billion business and growing fast." In Q1 alone, AWS brought in $1.57 billion in revenue, which is up from $1.1 billion this time last year (in previous Amazon reports, this info was simply filed under a mysterious "Other" column). On the whole, AWS seems to be one of a few operations within Amazon that is profitable, with about $265 million in profits in Q1. Despite that, however, the online retail giant still reported a net loss of $57 million overall for the quarter.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Amazon trial delivers packages directly to Audi cars

  Tired of having to stay home (or ship to the office) just to collect your online orders? If you live in Germany and drive the right car, you might not have to. In an expansion of what Volvo tried last year, Amazon is teaming up with Audi and DHL for a trial that delivers Amazon Prime purchases directly to connected Audi cars in the Munich area. All you have to do is provide the rough location of your car during the delivery window -- after that, the DHL courier gets temporary access to the trunk of your vehicle to drop off your packages. Suffice it to say that this could be more than a little handy if you're busy working or visiting family. The trial will only involve a handful of people when it kicks off in early May, but here's hoping that it expands quickly... the days of staring anxiously at your front door could eventually come to an end.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Amazon Destinations handpicks hotels in LA, NY and Seattle

  Amazon's rumored new travel site has appeared and it's well, exactly as rumored. While the company previously sold flash-sale hotel rooms as part of Amazon Local, alongside steep discounts, Destinations is more about curated hotels. The service currently focuses on areas around LA, New York and Seattle, with the aim of selling short-term getaways that are near to those aforementioned transport hubs. There's no news on whether it'd roll-out the new service to other US areas (let alone other countries), but it wouldn't be a shocker if it did. The site is already accepting user reviews, but expanding the service will likely depend on how many people are looking to pay typical list prices - if only because it's paired with the ubiquity of Amazon.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Amazon and HarperCollins renew friendship with multi-year contract

  Amazon started mending its tattered relationship with the big five publishers last year, signing deals with Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and even Hachette. Now it's HarperCollins' turn to make peace with the e-commerce giant, according to The Wall Street Journal. While the publisher held out on signing the contract, it reportedly agreed to the same terms the other three found acceptable, just in time for Go Set a Watchman's (Harper Lee's controversial second novel) release in July. The multi-year agreement apparently states that HarperCollins retains the right to set prices for its eBooks and to decide when to offer discounts. It also says the publisher will get to keep 70 percent and the retailer 30 percent of the revenue from each eBook sale.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Amazon adds IMDb-fueled X-Ray for Movies to Fire TV

  Amazon's X-Ray for Movies and TV Shows feature is great when you're trying to figure out the name of the actor on your screen. Today that feature is hitting Amazon Instant Video on the Fire TV, which is frankly where it should have been since the set-top box's launch. The IMDb-powered X-Ray feature brings many of the same attributes found on the Fire tablet to your television. To activate it, viewers can either pause what they are watching or press up on the remote's directional button to see the names of the actors and music playing in the current scene. Pressing up a second time drops the viewer into the full X-Ray environment with access to information about the actors, characters, music and IMDb's user-submitted trivia.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Amazon's web services are smart enough to make predictions

  You no longer have to run a tech giant (or work in a lab) to take advantage of learning computers. Amazon has launched a machine learning feature for Web Services that lets any developer use this computer intelligence to make predictions. Instead of having to sift through data yourself and spend ages fine-tuning algorithms, you let Amazon's servers comb through the info and create predictions largely on their own. This potentially saves you a ton of time, especially if you're running a small outfit that can't afford a lot of servers -- Amazon claims that it took 20 minutes to solve one problem that previously took 45 days.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Amazon is bringing HDR to Prime Video

  There's another confusing video acronym on the horizon: HDR, or high dynamic range. When it comes to photos, HDR refers to merging footage shot in different exposures into a single, hyper-realistic scene -- but for video it's more about improving the dynamic range of contrast and color. Today Amazon announced that it'll be bringing the feature to its Prime Instant Video service, starting with its original series, later this year. The company claims that it will offer better contrast and "detailed shadows and distinct highlights to make colors appear richer." That's something filmmakers have wanted for some time, but judging from HDR demos we saw at CES, it's not an aesthetic appropriate for everything. Amazon isn't the only company hyping it up: Netflix also demoed 4K HDR video at CES, and its chief product officer Neil Hunt even considers it "more important" than 4K.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Amazon can finally test its delivery drones in the US

  Amazon's drone team must have heaved a collective sigh of relief: the company only had to wait a few weeks for the FAA's approval this time. The agency has officially granted Amazon's request to test its new UAVs in the US on Wednesday, April 8th. If you recall, the company's previous request spent six months in limbo, forcing it to take all testing overseas. By the time the agency allowed the drone noted in the first application to be flown within the US, the machine was already obsolete, and Amazon was already using a new model.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Amazon files lawsuit against fake review providers

  Amazon has had enough of fake reviews that skew its products' ratings, so it's reportedly taking the issue to court. According to GeekWire, the e-commerce giant has filed a lawsuit against a man known as Jay Gentile from California, who was identified as the operator of several websites that peddle product reviews, including bayreviews.net, buyreviewsnow.com, buyazonreviews.com and buyamazonreviews.com. The Seattle TImes, however, notes that while the last two are included in the lawsuit, they are owned by different people, and that buyamazonreviews.com belongs to someone named Mark Collins.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Spike Lee is reportedly making a movie for Amazon

  Amazon has scored a coup for its new film production arm by signing Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee for his next film, according to a report from the Wrap. Called Chiraq, the project is reportedly set in Chicago and revolves around a the city's gun violence (Chiraq is a derogatory mashup of "Chicago" and "Iraq"). Lee is said to be pursuing Samuel L. Jackson and native Chicagoans Jeremy Piven, Common and Kanye West to star. The deal marks the first big splash for Amazon Original Movies, an Amazon Studios venture aimed at producing films for theatrical release and Prime Instant Video streaming.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Amazon Echo controls Belkin WeMo and Philips Hue with your voice

  Amazon's voice-controlled speaker just became a lot more useful. In an email to Echo owners, the online retailer revealed some Philips Hue and Belkin WeMo gadgets can now be paired with the audio device. This means that the unit's ability to accept your spoken commands extends to home automation tech -- in addition to its music duties. Once the whole lot is connected to your home WiFi, a simple "discover my appliances" will automatically pair them. From there, dimming the lights, turning on the coffee pot and more is a matter of uttering the proper phrase. For now, supported products include Philips Hue A19, Lux, BR30, Bloom, and LightStrip as well as Belkin WeMo Switch, Insight Switch and Light Switch. If the added features convinced you to splurge for one, you'll have to wait in line. You can request an invite to order the $200 speaker, but it'll take several weeks to hit your inbox.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Amazon's grocery service stops delivering beer and wine

  We hope you weren't counting on AmazonFresh to stock up on alcohol for your next big party. GeekWire reports that beer and wine have vanished from the internet grocery service without either a warning or any indication as to whether or not the booze will return. We've reached out to Amazon for an explanation, but it's possible that Amazon is simply playing it safe with regulations. Some states don't allow alcohol delivery, and those that do (such as Amazon's home state, Washington) have regulations that determine both who can make deliveries and how the goods reach your door. Whatever the reasons, you're going to have to either switch to alternatives like Drizly or else get your adult beverages the old-fashioned way. [Image credit: Andrew Hitchcock, Flickr]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Apple (27)

• Apple and IBM customize iPads to help the elderly in Japan

  The partnership between tech giants Apple and IBM, which began last year, isn't just about working together on enterprise products. In Japan, the two companies just announced an initiative that will deliver up to 5 million iPads to Japanese senior citizens, at no cost. Apple, IBM and the Japan Post Group, a local corporation that's also involved with the project, say the goal is to "improve the quality of life" for millions of elderly people in the Land of the Rising Sun. How so? Well, the iPads are said to feature custom-built apps by IBM, all designed with senior citizens in mind -- some can be used to set reminders and alerts about medications, or to request help with things like grocery shopping.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Apple Pay hits Best Buy's app, coming to stores later this year

  Best Buy, one of the largest Apple Pay holdouts, is changing its mind. Apple CEO Tim Cook just announced during its earnings call that Best Buy stores will support Apple Pay later this year. It's also available starting today within Best Buy's mobile apps. The news comes only a few hours after we learned the service will soon be supporting Discover cards, making it compatible with the top four biggest credit card companies in the U.S. Best Buy's reversal is especially interesting since its a member of MCX (Merchant Customer Exchange), a joint initiative between big retailers like Walmart and Target to support their own mobile payments app, dubbed CurrentC. None of the MCX members supported Apple Pay when it launched last fall (though Target's mobile app does support it now), so Best Buy's flip-flop might be a sign that we'll see wider support eventually. [Photo source: Getty Images]

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Apple sold 61 million iPhones last quarter thanks to China

  Back in January this year, Apple recorded a blockbuster of a quarter thanks to holiday sales of its new, larger-screened handsets. It sold a whopping 74.5 million iPhones in the last three months of 2014, chalking up $74.6 billion in revenue in the process. While today's second quarter results don't quite match that number, Cook & co. still managed to rake in a respectable amount of cash: According to the report, Apple made around $58 billion and sold close to 61 million iPhones in the first three months of 2015 alone. That makes this the most successful March quarter in the company's history. This is in large part due to Apple's rising popularity in China, having brought in $16.8 billion in revenue from the country in the past three months. Indeed, China is now Apple's second-biggest market (Americas is still the first), with Europe falling to third place.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Every major US credit card will soon work with Apple Pay

  The roster of credit cards that work with Apple's mobile payments platform has always had one notable absentee. Thankfully, the folks at Discover have realized that there's little to be gained from not being available to use on Apple Pay. That's why the firm has signed a deal that'll see its customers be able to buy goods and services with their iPads, iPhones and Apple Watches, which will begin at some point in the fall. Naturally, users are afforded the same offers and protections that they would if they'd paid by card, including Cashback Bonus and Freeze It -- now all we need is for Chipotle to join in and we're all set.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Apple Watch App Store is ready to equip your device upon arrival

  If you've already ordered Apple's smartwatch, it should arrive sometime in the next few weeks. To prep for that delivery, the App Store's selection of Watch-specific apps is available for browsing on the web or with that trusty iOS device. The Wall Street Journal reports that over 3,000 software options now reside in iTunes, ready to outfit the wearable with tools for keeping tabs on scores, fitness data, news, social channels, payments and more. Of course, if you haven't secured one yet, you won't be able to nab the gadget at your local retail store tomorrow, so you'll have to wait until it arrives by mail.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Apple Stores won't sell the Watch at launch, but six other shops will

  You've likely heard or read that Apple's debut wearable isn't going to be sold quite like the company's previous products. Whether it's about where the demand for the product is coming from (or where Apple hopes the demand will come from), there will be no in-store purchases when the Watch finally lands this Friday. Well, not in Apple's stores. You might have reserved (past tense there) a Watch online, and made an appointment for a fitting of sorts, but there will actually be some places where you'll be able to pick one up, cash-in-hand, tomorrow. By some we mean a few. And by few we mean precisely six fashion stores. Scattered across the world.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Apple Pay reportedly headed to Canada this fall

  Canadian iPhone users will finally be able to use Apple Pay this fall, according to the Wall Street Journal. Sources say Apple is in discussions with six major Canadian banks, including Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank and National Bank of Canada, to launch its mobile payment service in the country in November. The big sticking points for many of the banks, though, are the fees Apple would take from every transaction, as well as security issues around authenticating cards, which has been a problem for some U.S. banks. If everything pans out, it would make Canada the first territory to get Apple Pay outside of the U.S. The WSJ notes that Canada's high iPhone penetration is one reason Apple may be focusing on it. iPhones make up a third of all smartphones in Canada, compared to just 20 percent globally, according to research company Catalyst.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Apple's extra-slim MacBook is near impossible to fix yourself

  It's already evident that most Apple computers aren't designed with do-it-yourself repairs in mind, but the new MacBook takes that inaccessibility to a new level. The crew at iFixit has torn down the ultra-slim machine, and it's clear that Apple took away a lot of repair options in its quest to squeeze everything into such a compact metal shell. The giant battery is glued firmly to the case, while the processor, memory and storage are all soldered to the tiny motherboard. Even the lone USB port is buried under other components, so it won't be easy to replace if it breaks. The findings aren't completely shocking -- Apple is treating the MacBook more as a high-powered iPad than a conventional computer, and designed the system accordingly. Still, you'll want to look elsewhere if you insist on fixing or upgrading PCs at home.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple considered messenger-like status options for phone calls

  A great thing about messenger apps is letting people know when you're away (even if you're not). Convenient, no? An Apple patent spotted by AppleInsider describes a feature that would let you do the same for voice calls, too. Since it's just a patent and (and thus, might never be developed), Cupertino doesn't have anything solid on how the system will work. The documents submitted to the trademark office do offer some ideas, though. For instance, it says the feature would upload data about its condition (such as its ringer volume, vibration status, device location, cellular strength, battery life, etc.) to a remote server.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Apple bought a company that makes depth-sensing cameras

  Your next iPhone's camera may be decidedly more sophisticated. Apple has snapped up LinX, a camera technology company that specializes in depth-sensing cameras that can create 3D image maps -- think Intel's RealSense, or the Duo Camera in the HTC One M8. While Apple isn't commenting on its future plans for the company, LinX's hardware allows for post-capture refocusing, DSLR-like soft backgrounds and better low-light photography. None of those features are new in the smartphone world (numerous devices offer one or more similar options), but they'd be welcome additions if you've ever flubbed an iPhone shot and wished you could fix it after the fact. Photo by Will Lipman.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple finally realized that audiobooks aren't music

  Have you scratched your head wondering why Apple would put audiobooks in iOS' music player, rather than... y'know, a book app? So has Apple. Besides a redesigned music app, the early iOS 8.4 beta also moves audiobooks into iBooks, where they arguably should have been all along. You'll also get must-have playback features like chapter selection and a sleep timer. It's not certain when 8.4 will be ready for the public (WWDC, perhaps?), but it's already obvious that this is much more than a simple bug fix.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple's ResearchKit is now open to medical researchers

  ResearchKit, Apple's open-source initiative to transform iDevices into medical diagnostic tools, is now available to researchers so they can create their own apps. ResearchKit launched with apps aimed at studying asthma, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Parkinson's disease, but now scientists can develop programs that gather information about other medical conditions. Tens of thousands of users have already submitted data to ResearchKit, including 11,000 to a Stanford University cardiovascular trial in the app's first day. The raw data and interest is there, though the quality of the information sent via ResearchKit is still up in the air, for now.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference begins June 8th

  If you're wondering what Apple will do next with its mobile devices and the Mac, you won't have to wait too long to find out. The tech giant has announced the 2015 Worldwide Developer Conference, which starts on June 8th. It's not providing too many clues as to what will be there, but you can apply for tickets now -- and you'll have the option to stream sessions live if you can't make it out to San Francisco. It's safe to say that the event will include news on software for the Apple Watch, iOS and OS X, and it won't be shocking if Apple has something to say about a new streaming music service or a next-generation Apple TV. Whatever happens, you know we'll be there to give you the full scoop.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple's iOS 8.4 beta includes a brand-new music player

  Think that iOS' music player is overdue for a remake? You're going to get your wish. Apple has released the first iOS 8.4 beta to developers, and its centerpiece is a shiny, new Music app. The refresh includes at least a few long-sought changes, including some borrowed from iTunes: There's a mini player that sticks around while you're browsing, global search and an "Up Next" song queue. You'll also see a sleeker iTunes Radio interface that helps you discover new tracks. There's no sign of the Beats-based music service rumored to come alongside 8.4, but that's not supposed to show up until Apple's developer conference at the earliest -- if it exists, it's probably going to stay under wraps for a little while. Update: For a look at the new app in action, check out a video hands-on from Youtuber DetroitBORG embedded after the break. [Image credit: 9to5Mac]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple reportedly in talks with Taylor Swift for Beats Music exclusives

  Exclusive content was mentioned more that once during Tidal's recent relaunch at the hands of Jay Z & Co. Not to be outdone by the celebrity-backed competition, it seems Apple is also looking to offer releases that you won't be able to find anywhere else -- at lease for a period of time. Bloomberg reports the folks in Cupertino are in talks with Florence and the Machine, Taylor Swift and "more than a dozen" others about exclusive deals for its upcoming streaming service. The former has an album that's set to drop in June -- a follow-up to 2011's Grammy-nominated effort Ceremonials. If you'll recall, Ms. Swift's catalog will be available on Tidal, as it doesn't have a free option like the service she spurned last year.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Kanye West says he rejected an Apple partnership worth millions

  Kanye West worked with Nike and Adidas on versions of his iconic Yeezy sneakers, but the artist says the folks on Infinite Loop wanted to collaborate, too. The New York Times' T Magazine reports that West turned down "a multimillion dollar partnership with Apple." During a meeting with a group of designers, the hip-hop mogul briefly mentioned the offer without elaborating on the details, since the subject of the talk was his lofty fashion-focused ambitions. The obvious deal would be some sort of collaborative effort with the upcoming Beats Music/iTunes relaunch. Of course, there's no concrete evidence of this, but reports indicate that Apple's Jimmy Iovine (a Beats co-founder) is doing his best to lure some of Tidal's roster of artist-owners over to its streaming option. Exclusive releases or release windows wouldn't be too much of a stretch, as Apple tried a similar tactic with last year's U2 release -- though it didn't go so well.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Apple's fixed a serious OS X security flaw, but only for Yosemite users

  There are times in life when you wonder what it is that you've done to deserve such neglect from those you hold dear. It's a feeling that plenty of Mac users will be experiencing today as Apple has announced that it found a serious security flaw in OS X, but will only fix it for users of the latest version. If you aren't running Yosemite, which was updated yesterday with the relevant patch, then you'd better get it, and quick.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Apple Watch and MacBook pre-orders are open (updated)

  Apple's Watch is now on pre-order at Apple's Store, but unlike Katy Perry, you're going to have to wait until at least April 24th to get one. It could take a lot longer than that if you don't order one sooner than later, however, and if time is of the essence, you may have to settle for a model you didn't have your heart set on. Apple said that it expects "strong customer demand will exceed our supply at launch," and information on the Apple Store backs that up. For instance, the 38mm sport model is shipping between April 24th and May 8th, but the 42mm model isn't going out until May 8th at the earliest.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Apple's iOS 8.3 update breaks Touch ID purchasing for some users (updated)

  If you haven't downloaded and installed iOS 8.3 yet, you might want to hold off for a bit first. Apple says the update packs that new emoji keyboard and a slew of performance fixes, but multiple reports on Reddit, Twitter and Apple's own support forums claim that the new software build basically breaks TouchID support for iTunes and App Store purchases. It's not yet clear how widespread the issue is -- Twitter in particular is light on the moaning today -- but we've just installed iOS 8.3 on a pair of iPhone 6s on different carriers and now neither of them work the way they're supposed to.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• There's no point lining up for an Apple Watch

  It's a fact of life that, shortly before Apple launches a product, gadget fans begin lining up outside stores equipped with a tent and some rations. That's why it was surprising to see new(ish) retail chief Angela Ahrendts discouraging the practice in a memo leaked to Business Insider. She wasn't joking, either, since the only way you can buy an Apple Watch, at least to begin with, will be to order one online. Let's just hope that you can return those vouchers for that Bear Grylls-style survival course.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Apple's iOS 8.3 update brings wireless CarPlay to your iPhone

  Apple's busy today -- on top of finally releasing Photos, it's rolling out the long-expected iOS 8.3 update. It's not as huge as 8.2 was, but you'll likely appreciate it if you're a tech-savvy driver. The upgrade brings wireless CarPlay in supporting vehicles, so you don't have to plug in your iPhone just to get directions or music on your car's center display. You'll also find more diverse emoji (as in OS X), the option to download free apps without a password and a much easier way of signing into Google accounts when you use two-factor authentication. There's a whole bunch of app performance and interface fixes on top of this, so you'll definitely want to grab the 8.3 patch when you get the chance.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple's Photos app is now available to all OS X Yosemite users

  You no longer have to be a beta tester (or work at Apple) to give the new Photos app a spin. The Cupertino crew has released the finished version of its OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 update, which centers around the more powerful and iOS-friendly picture management hub. Yes, you can now kick iPhoto to the curb and rely on iCloud Photo Library to sync your images. There are also a few things you might appreciate even if you're not a shutterbug, such as support for more diverse emoji and Spotlight suggestions in Look Up. While this isn't a gigantic update, it's definitely worth grabbing if you think that the Mac's official photo software is overdue for a tune-up.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple wants you to avoid product launch lines

  Apple no longer wants you to wait in long lines during product launches -- in fact, it would sometimes prefer that you stay at home. An Angela Ahrendts memo leaked to Business Insider shows that the company is going to steer you toward using either the Apple Store app or its online store to buy devices like the Apple Watch and 12-inch MacBook. There's "more availability" online, she says, and you'll know just when you'll get your goods instead of "crossing your fingers" while you sit in a queue.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• LG may have just outed an 8K iMac

  Apple's suppliers take a $50 million blood oath on new model secrecy, but it looks like someone from LG didn't get that memo. In a press release explaining why 4K is now passé (really?), the company's display division inadvertently leaked an iMac with an incredible 8K screen. While discussing its own 98-inch 8K TV, it said "Apple has also announced that they will release the 'iMac 8K' with a super-high resolution display this year." Unfortunately for LG, Apple announced no such thing, meaning the Korean company may have revealed information meant for its eyes only.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The next Apple TV won't play 4K video

  The long-rumored Apple TV update is expected to do many things, including run apps and stream a TV service, but there's one thing it isn't expected to do: play 4K video. A source for BuzzFeed News' John Paczkowski (who's historically accurate with such rumors) claims that Apple's upcoming media hub will stick to 1080p because 4K technology is "still in its infancy." While the A8 chip rumored to be in the device can handle the ultra-high resolution, the market just isn't there yet. Even Amazon and Netflix don't have a lot of 4K content, and there's also the question of finding enough people with both compatible TVs and sufficiently speedy internet access. That's disappointing if you were hoping to get a truly future-proof box, but it's hard to see Apple investing a lot of money into services that you probably won't use for a while.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple reportedly can't ship its watch in Switzerland due to a trademark

  Here's a textbook case of irony: the Apple Watch may not have a quick launch in Switzerland... you know, the spiritual home of watches. Swiss broadcaster RTS reports that Leonard Timepieces has a trademark in the country that supposedly prevents companies from using the word "apple" in association with watches and other jewelry. The 30-year-old legal filing expires on December 5th, but that's not much consolation to Apple if it hopes to challenge the traditionalists in Geneva this year.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple made how-to videos for a Watch you can't buy yet

  Let's say you've devoured just about everything you can find on the Apple Watch but are still craving more. That's perfectly natural. Well, Cupertino has a guided tour of the wearable that should help answer any remaining questions you might have. For now there are four separate videos with a disembodied voice talking through the different features (messages, general functionality, digital touch and faces), showing how they work and generally being pretty informative. The digital crown, for example, is apparently as integral to Watch as the clickwheel was to the original iPod. Huh.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

Apps (61)

• 'OK Google, Shazam this song'

  Siri started handling song queries when iOS 8 arrived, and now Google's voice commands recognize Shazam as a prompt to do the same on Android. That's right, Android devices now recognize the "Shazam" command, in addition to "recognize" or "name" for "track," "song" or "tune" identification. It's not the only one either, as a few other apps like NPR One, TuneIn, Zillow, Flixster and TripAdvisor (a complete list is here) are also enjoying early access to the Custom Voice Actions feature. Previously you could search apps that way, but with this access developers can get more specific. It seems like the perfect kind of feature to use along with something like Android Auto, just when your phone is slightly out of reach.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• California ACLU chapter unveils police-monitoring video app

  In an effort to reduce police abuses that have occurred with frightening regularity throughout the US, the Southern California branch of the ACLU has just released a new smartphone app designed to securely record your next interaction with law enforcement. Sure, you could simply snap photos and take video using your onboard camera. But what happens when the cop smashes your phone (as one did in South Gate, California) or tries to delete the data (as another attempted in Virginia Beach, Virginia)? Instead of simply saving a copy to your local drive, the Mobile Justice CA app automatically forwards a copy of your video directly to the ACLU for review. Not only that, but it also alerts nearby users that also have the app installed that an incident is going down. The app is available on both iOS and Android, but is only for California residents. ACLU chapters in Oregon, Missouri and New York have already released similar apps.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Waze will tweet if there's unusual traffic in your area

  Unless you live in California, it's not that often that you make an effort to specifically check the traffic conditions for your morning commute. That's probably because you'll be spending a big chunk of your time with your face buried in Twitter instead. That's why Waze thought it'd be a good idea to launch a traffic alerts program on the social network, called Unusual Traffic. The system compares current journey times with historical data and, when there's a noticeable difference, will send a tweet letting you know.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Android's built-in texting app lets you reply from notifications

  Hangouts may be Android's star messaging app at the moment, but Google is still willing to show its original Messenger client a little TLC. The company has updated its basic Android texting app with support for quick replies from notifications. While the feature isn't quite as slick as what you get in iOS' Messages (where the notification itself has a reply box), it'll save you from constantly switching apps when you're juggling a rapid-fire conversation alongside your usual phone tasks. Grab the upgrade today if you want some of Google's latest bells and whistles without having to use Hangouts as your SMS software of choice.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Adidas and Spotify offer another way to soundtrack your run

  Adidas and Spotify are already quite friendly, especially when it comes to supplying workouts with the proper tunes. The duo teamed up for offline playback on the Adidas SmartRun watch and soundtracking a jog with the help of RunKeeper. Now, there's an Adidas Go app that varies music based on movement tracked by your iPhone's accelerometer. Using that piece of smartphone tech, the app measures stride rate and matches songs from Spotify's library -- based on your listening habits -- to help you keep pace. When the run is over, stats like time, distance and pace can all be reviewed, saved and used to calculate your Adidas MiCoach RunScore. And if you'd like, you can save the collection of tracks the music service piped in along the way, too. Ready to lace up those sneakers? Well, you'll need an iPhone 4S or later to take advantage of the free app that's available at iTunes now.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Evernote's Plus tier gives you a bit more notetaking for $25 a year

  Until now, Evernote's service options have been something of an all-or-nothing proposition: either you stick to the free, very limited tier for your notetaking or shell out $50 a year for the full Premium package. You won't have to pay quite so much after today, though. The company has introduced an in-between plan, Evernote Plus, that unlocks a few key features at a more reasonable $25 per year, or $3 per month. You can only upload 1GB per month, but you get access to offline notes on mobile devices, automatic email-to-note conversion and a passcode lock. It's enough to help you with some serious life organization or your schoolwork, and not much more. If you do need more, though, you'll be glad to hear that Premium now has unlimited uploads and larger note sizes. All told, you're more likely to pay only for the features you'll actually use.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Desktop apps are coming to the Windows Store

  One of the reasons some people didn't like Windows 8 was that it seemed to include two versions of Windows: Live Tiles and the desktop, with touch-friendly apps kept far away from traditional x86 programs. With Windows 10, Microsoft seems to be trying hard to make the user experience feel less jarring, and now, it's taking things a step further with the Windows Store. Once home exclusively to touch-friendly, "Metro-style" apps, it will now house a mix of Win32 and .NET apps as well, along with server-hosted web applications. The result is that users will now have a one-stop shop for all manner of Windows downloads. From a developer standpoint, meanwhile, all of these apps will be able to take advantage of the same Windows Store platform -- that means updates are delivered the same way, and developers can also enable in-app purchases, as they would in any other Windows Store download.

  By Dana Wollman Read More

• American Airlines flights delayed because of iPad app glitch

  A couple of years ago, American Airlines swapped out its pilots' "flight bag" for iPads loaded with the terminal charts and other reference materials they're required to carry. Losing the 35 lbs of materials for a tablet (some 8,000 of them) was a good tradeoff, but tonight an apparent glitch is grounding some of the airline's flights. American Airlines confirmed the issue in a statement to Engadget, saying "Some flights are experiencing an issue with a software application on pilot iPads", and that some of the flights had to return to the gate for a WiFi connection to fix the issue. According to the Dallas Morning News several dozen flights are affected, although it's not clear what caused the glitch.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Apple doesn't want you making Watch apps that only tell the time

  The Apple Watch may come with gobs of customizable watch faces out of the box, but that doesn't mean that you can install any face you like. Apple has updated its App Store developer guidelines to expressly forbid Watch apps that are primarily designed to tell the time -- it can be a feature, but shouldn't be the focus. You'll have to make do with the existing choices for now.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google Now pulls info from 70 more Android apps

  Google Now started pulling details from third-party Android apps back in January, but today the folks in Mountain View added support for a truckload more. As expected, in addition to the collection of nearly 40 integrations announced a few months back, Google displays info from 70 more inside the card-based repository. This means that you'll be able to easily keep track of items like your Zipcar reservation return time and quickly snag directions back to the drop-off spot. We won't run down the full list of new additions, but you can peruse the currently supported lineup right here -- just know that Spotify, ABC News, RunKeeper, Jawbone and OpenTable all made the cut. To leverage the new functionality, make sure you're device is properly equipped with the latest version of the Google app.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Dropbox comments help you explain your shared files

  Sure, it's comparatively trivial to share your files with others on Dropbox. But how do people know why you've shared a file, or what they'll get when they open it? That's what the company's newly introduced comment system aims to solve. You can now start a conversation around any shared file, so your friends will know the context behind that photo upload without having to ask. You can also invite anyone into the fray with a Twitter-like @ mention (whether or not they use Dropbox), and you'll get automatic notifications that let you know when an office pal has an idea for that group presentation. Comments are only available on the web right now, but they should be accessible from mobile apps "soon."

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• A Chrome extension taught me to love the internet again

  The internet hasn't been the happiest place for me lately. Over the past three years or so I've watched friends, colleagues and loved ones battle trolls; I've learned of tragedies, both personal and public; and I continue to deal with some extremely creepy people on a daily basis. I probably spend more time talking about and sharing things that make me angry than happy. But it can't be all bad, can it? There must be a reason, aside from work, that I spend so much time here. Something must make me happy. Enter Smile Suggest, a Chrome extension that helps you catalog the things on the internet that make you happy, and ignore the things that don't. Let's see what, if anything, can help me fall back in love with the internet.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• SwiftKey's new keyboard corrects whole phrases

  SwiftKey has a new Android keyboard that will autocorrect entire phrases. Named Clarity Keyboard Beta, it aims to constantly scan the last few words typed in order to offer better corrections than rival apps. Like other SwiftKey keyboards, it'll also learn from your typing style, picking up on your most-used words and phrases.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Eurovision's official app is your guide to (not) enjoying Eurovision

  For some of us, the Eurovision Song Contest means cringing at over-the-top performances and chuckling at Graham Norton's dry, subtly cynical commentary. For others, however, the annual karaoke competition is genuinely enjoyable, and if you fall into that camp, you simply can't be doing without the official 2015 Eurovision app. Created in collaboration with Microsoft, the companion app is your first port of call for the latest Eurovision news, pics and videos. Also, this year's official Eurovision album and karaoke-friendly versions of each song, as well as other merchandise, can be bought through the app. That's not all it's for, though, with new features going live in May when the competition actually kicks off.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Samsung app helps Alzheimer's patients remember their families

  If you've seen Still Alice, you know how important a smartphone can be for an Alzheimer's patient -- it helps jog memories that might otherwise be lost. Samsung is clearly aware of this, as it just released a dedicated Backup Memory app to stimulate the memories of early-onset patients. The Android tool uses Bluetooth to detect when friends and family running the app are nearby. If they are, it'll both identify the person and show user-uploaded photos and videos that recall past events. The app is currently very simple (Samsung still wants to add GPS locations, for instance), but it's reportedly promising enough in early tests that it's slowing down the effects of Alzheimer's and making life just a little bit easier.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Creep your friends out with this online GIF tool

  GIFs are usually a source of delight and wonder. Artist Vince McKelvie, however, has taken that wonder and warped it beyond recognition. In his new site, click drag click, you can create animated terrors by plugging in a URL of a photo or GIF. Then, just select and drag the image around to start the insanity. When you're done defying the laws of nature, your creation is uploaded to the site's stream of equally creepy images manipulated by people just like you. From there you can share it to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr to give all your friends nightmares.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• An Android is urinating on the Apple logo in Google Maps (update)

  Google and Apple have always had their differences, but a new Easter egg inside Google Maps has just taken their rivalry to a whole new level. As spotted by Team Android, if you head to these coordinates with the regular Map view enabled, you'll see Google's iconic Android mascot taking a leak on the Apple logo. At the moment, it's unclear who created this little piece of mischief and whether Google is taking action. But if this hidden message is any indication, it was snuck through by a member of the public using Google's Map Maker service, rather than a Google employee. Regardless, it's a crazy (and pretty hilarious) addition that's sure to rile some of the employees in Cupertino. Shots fired!

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Misfit's Apple Watch app is a tiny, fast-paced fitness coach

  If you can get a decent workout in just a few minutes, you've got no excuse to be a lazy bum. That's the thinking behind Misfit Minute, a new Apple Watch app launching today from the fitness wearable company Misfit. The app basically takes the place of a fitness coach, leading you through a series of exercises in one, four or seven minute intervals. Every session targets different parts of your body, and the app also keeps track of your progress to keep you extra motivated. It doesn't send your workouts to Misfit's mobile health apps yet, which power its many wearables, but the company says that's coming soon. Sure, it's not as fully featured as a full-fledged fitness app, but Misfit Minute is a good example of the focused experiences we can expect from other Apple Watch apps.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Uber co-founder's new app wants to be your personal shopper

  Shopping these days is easy peasy. You can either buy online if you want to stay in your pajamas or go to a store if you need a sales rep's help. One startup believes it can combine both experiences, though, through a fledgling concierge service called the Operator. The service has been (quietly) in development for the past two years, a brainchild of Uber co-founder Garrett Camp and former Zynga executive Robin Chan, who serves as its CEO. The app's homepage clearly states what it can do with the tag line "Looking for something? Make a request and we'll find it for you." And based on what the startup showed TechCrunch, that's exactly how the service works. You fire up the app and send out a text through it detailing the item you're looking for.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Diabetes app shares your blood sugar levels with strangers

  Living with diabetes means tracking your meals and insulin level. The new One Drop app for iOS (an Android version is planned) aims to not only make that monitoring easier, but also use the logged information to help the larger diabetic community. The brainchild of Razorfish co-founder and diabetic Jeff Dachis, the app tracks food intake, insulin levels, medication and exercise. Users can then share that information (either publicly or anonymously) with other One Drop users to help the community learn from one another. They can also encourage each other via likes and stickers and use the gathered data to help inform their own regimen. The app is currently free, but Dachis told TechCrunch a monthly subscription is coming later in the year that would include a stylish bluetooth-enabled glucose meter and test strips.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Blink: an on-demand, smartphone-powered service for eye exams

  Yes, smartphones can be fun, no doubt about it (Flappy Bird, anyone?). But there's more to them than that. Take EyeNetra, for example: this young startup has come up with a smartphone-based service that offers on-demand vision tests. With Blink, people don't have to pay a visit to the optometrist to get a routine eye exam -- it comes to them. The newly launched service isn't meant to replace any optic emergencies that may arise, however; instead, it simply provides a test to determine if someone needs prescription eyeglasses.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Adobe Lightroom quickly makes HDR and panoramas from multiple photos

  Since the switch to Creative Cloud, Adobe has been rolling out major updates to its core software regularly. Today, Lightroom is the recipient, gaining a handful of tools that will speed up workflows on the desktop and across mobile devices. First, HDR and Panorama Merge create a single image from multiple RAW shots in a matter of seconds. As you might expect, there are a number of options for fine-tuning what Lightroom builds, but the new tools will save time spent manually creating a wide view or high dynamic range visual. There's also a video slideshow option that can employ a combination of snapshots, video and music to lend a hand with a presentation or scrapbook file. To keep things organized, facial recognition helps find and sort the folks in your photos. Adobe says the software performs better too, claiming that it'll handle edits up to 10 times faster than before.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• BBC Sport widget delivers the news without annoying you

  If you're a serious ports fan, keeping up with the latest results, injuries and transfers can feel like a full-time job. Plenty of apps offer all of this information in one place, but then you're often left with two options: continuously open the app, or set up push notifications and face an onslaught of vibrations in your pocket. Now, the BBC is trying to tackle the problem with a new "Top Stories" widget for its Sports app. On iOS, that means you can read the most popular headlines from the Notification Centre and jump through to the app if one grabs your interest. They work well enough, although some of the headlines are a little too short and ambiguous. On Android, however, the new home screen widget lets you choose from different sizes and sports. Neither addition is particularly earth-shattering, but they could prove useful if your smartphone is becoming a notification nightmare.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• YouTube app will stop working on older smart TVs and iOS devices

  If you own a smart TV or an iOS device that's getting a bit long in the tooth, you may need to do some upgrading this week if you want to continue using the YouTube app. Due to certain changes in the app's API, it'll no longer work on a number of models released in 2012 or earlier, including second-generation Apple TVs, Panasonic TVs, Sony TVs and Blu-ray players, as well as devices running Google TV versions 1 or 2. You'll know you're affected if a video showing the notice above plays upon firing up the app, though most models released in 2013 or later are safe.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Chrome's push notifications reach your Android phone

  Chrome's website push notifications are no longer confined to your desktop -- they now surface on your phone, too. Grab Chrome 42 for Android and you can opt into alerts from websites that show up no matter what you're doing. You won't have to worry about missing out on breaking news, even if your favorite sites don't have dedicated apps. You'll also have an easier time adding home screen shortcuts for those sites if you always want them close at hand. It'll be a while before many of the sites you frequent can deliver notifications (eBay, Facebook and Pinterest are some of the early adopters), but it's worth upgrading now to get ready.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Chrome OS gets a new launcher and more Material Design

  Early adopters have had access to a redesigned Chrome OS launcher since last month. Now, Google is making that feature available to all users of its web-based operating system. Today's fresh, stable update to Chrome OS also comes packed with a number of Material Design elements, bringing a new look to the Files app and the default typeface. Just as well, there's an updated calculator app, support for password-protected zip files -- plus, of course, the customary bug fixes and security revisions. So expect to see changes the next time you boot up your Chrome OS machine, some visible, others not so much. Either way, rest assured they are for the better, especially the Google Now-equipped Chrome Launcher 2.0.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Windows 10 phone preview will get Office universal apps by month's end

  We've already seen Microsoft's Universal Office apps hit tablets, laptops and desktops as part of the Windows 10 Technical Preview, now the company has announced they'll be headed to phones by the end of the month. The Universal Office apps, which so far include Word, Excel and PowerPoint, are meant to show off a new touch friendly version of Microsoft's long-running productivity suite. But they're also an example of how developers can build one app that easily runs across a variety of Windows 10 devices. On phones, the Office Universal apps highlight the content of your documents, with typical commands and controls at the bottom of the screen. Microsoft says that should help with editing documents one-handed. On tablets, the Office apps look more like the full-fledged Office 2016 desktop apps, but with a interface tweaks to make them easier to navigate with your fingers.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Amazon's Android appstore loses one of its best features

  Free. It's a price we love. Ironically, free usually comes at a price. Today, that price, is the loss of Amazon's try-before-you-buy TestDrive service for Android apps. It turns out, with more and more apps being free (at least to download), there was less demand for a service that let you test 'em out in the browser/virtual machine. Makes sense. Accordingly, Amazon has pulled the TestDrive feature from the appstore -- this has no effect on any apps that used it, just the feature is gone. The downside being there's no longer a way to (easily) check out apps that don't use the free-to-play/freemium model on Amazon's store any more. But, coming full circle... that's the price you pay for having more free apps, right?

  By James Trew Read More

• Google Chrome for iOS gets easier to use with one hand

  Don't like that Chrome makes you use two hands to comfortably surf the web on your iPhone 6? Your life just got a bit easier. Google has updated Chrome for iOS so that you can pull down to not only refresh web pages, but open and close tabs. At this rate, you might only have to reach up when you want to type in a site address. There's also a Today View launcher widget that includes voice search, suggested answers for common searches and support for password managers like 1Password and LastPass. All told, you should spend more time browsing and less time stretching your fingers -- that's a worthwhile upgrade in our books.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Warhol-inspired mystery app reveals clues in real-life events

  Absolut's as famous for its vodka as its marketing campaigns. The Swedish company often ties up with some of the biggest names for its iconic bottles and artsy events. This year, in time for their limited edition Andy Warhol bottle, they brought Punchdrunk (a British theatre company) on board for an experimental game app called Silverpoint. While the theatre specialists are known for creating unconventional shows like Sleep No More -- an interactive adaptation of Macbeth that opened its doors in New York five years ago -- this is their first digital creation. It celebrates Warhol's legacy with visual elements that take after his rarely seen "silverpoint" sketches, instead of his instantly recognizable pop art images.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Yahoo wants to take on Meerkat, Skype and Snapchat all at once

  Yahoo may have a way to restore some of its former glory in the messaging world. Tipsters for The Information claim that the company is building a mobile app that includes text messaging, Snapchat-style recorded video and elements of live video apps like Meerkat and Skype -- think of it as a hedge that covers all the hot trends at the same time. While you would only broadcast streams to your contacts at first, live streaming would eventually extend to communities like your fantasy sports league.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Ferrari's AR showroom app delves inside your next supercar

  Ferrari probably doesn't have a problem selling its line of supercars. But when you're one of the premier automakers in the world, you want to make sure your customers have a magical experience when they enter the showroom. The new Augmented Reality Showroom app developed by Zspace brings that technological sorcery to the buying experience by giving would-be clientele the ability to preview the color and accessories of their next Ferrari. Using Metaio's edge-tracking technology to identify a vehicle, the app presents customers with a seven-step walk around of five Ferrari models. In addition to showcasing the exterior of the cars, the app also delves into the vehicle's innards with exploded views of the braking system and a working model of the drivetrain. The AR experience will initially be available in Australia and Japan with a US launch at the InsideAR event in mid-May.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Pocket enhances its web interface with new design and features

  Do you remember the time when Pocket was called Read It Later? Apparently, it's been three years since the name change, and Pocket wants to celebrate it (and the $7 million it's just raised from investors, including Mr. Lenovo, Ashton Kutcher) by giving its web interface an overhaul. The company has rebuilt its web UI to scale fit all screen sizes, from phones and phablets to laptops and big-screen desktop PCs. Pocket has also added a progress bar and a title at the top of the interface, as well as tweaked its dark mode to turn the whole UI background black. You'll also find a fixed menu on the left-hand margin of the interface for quick access to Favorites, Tags and Inbox, as well as a Bulk Edit icon on the top left corner. These changes will arrive soon, if they haven't yet, and could make the web interface your go-to option if the apps aren't doing it for you.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Blizzard's 'Hearthstone' card game lands on your smartphone

  There goes your hope of staying productive at work. Blizzard has updated Hearthstone for Android and iOS to support smartphones, so you can indulge in its Warcraft-themed free-to-play card gaming while you're stuck in your cubicle. You shouldn't lose any content in the translation, but there's an "all-new" interface designed for smaller screens. Just be sure to exercise some restraint -- it could be tempting to squeeze in one more round before that big meeting.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google Chrome's push notifications are now available to everyone

  You no longer have to grab a test version of Chrome to try push notifications for yourself. Google has released the finished version of Chrome 42, which lets websites send you alerts (with your permission, of course) whether or not the browser is open. You can get breaking news, for example, or find out when someone outbid you in that antique auction. The feature will be more than a little familiar to Safari users, but this is platform-independent -- you should see it in Linux and Windows, too. There aren't any other conspicuous improvements to Chrome, but Google is promising lots of under-the-hood performance and security improvements that should make your update worthwhile.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google launches family-friendly app program for developers

  In case you're worried about your kid getting a hold of the upcoming copy of Mortal Kombat X for Android, well, don't be. That's because Google is finally launching a family-friendly version of its Play Store in a few weeks. To fill the upcoming section, it's inviting developers to join its Designed for Families program and submit apps designed to meet its idea of "family-focused experiences." Rules for the new section include: apps need to be rated ESRB Everyone or Everyone 10+, in-app adds need to comply with laws concerning advertising to children and no violent content for kids under 13. Google's pretty serious about making this a safe haven for kids which means some current apps geared towards children will have to be retooled before being accepted to the program.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• easyJet's iOS app is now your personal guide to Gatwick

  easyJet already has a mobile app that many airline peers would do well to take inspiration from. Beyond storing electronic boarding passes, the app lets you manage bookings, track flights and even check in using a photo of your passport. The low-cost, tech-savvy airline has made its app that much better today, though, with new features that'll guide you through every step of a journey from London's Gatwick airport. Prior to departure, the app will prompt you to check in and remind you of your baggage allowance, but the so-called "Mobile Host" really kicks in when you get to Gatwick. Once it sees you've arrived, a push notification will tell you where to dump your bag, and direct you there using indoor maps courtesy of Google. If you're just taking carry-on, then it'll point you towards the departures area instead, and once through security, you needn't keep your eyes glued to information screens, since it'll let you know when your gate opens and how to get there.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Opera Mini finally behaves like a native Android web browser

  If you're an Opera fan on Android, you no longer have to choose between Opera Mini's super-efficient web browsing and the native interface of its full-size sibling. The company has overhauled Mini to finally give it the Android-friendly look and core features of the regular browser, including redesigned Speed Dial shortcuts, a private browsing mode and a customizable design that scales nicely to tablet sizes. There's also a much-needed, Mini-specific data gauge so that you know how many megabytes you're saving. Give it a spin if you're trying to squeeze the most you can out of a capped cellular plan.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Bing's mobile homepage for iOS and Android gets a new look

  So, you like Bing but don't like it enough to download its app on your phone. Expect to see a new interface when you load the website on an Android or iOS browser, then, along with a number of new options when you swipe up the translucent card at the bottom. That includes a "Popular Now" section, which is essentially the mobile version of the desktop's news carousel. It lists trending stories around the web, some of which might be relevant to you and your location. There's also a new "Image of the day (IOTD) card" that displays info about the mobile and desktop website's daily background. Finally, you can use the "earn and explore" option to earn Bing Reward credits, which you might someday (if you're loyal and persistent) be able to redeem for gift cards.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• BitTorrent's secure web browser one step closer to release

  Last we heard of BitTorrent's Project Maelstrom it was going into alpha. Well, the peer-to-peer outfit's browser has made its way to the next logical step: beta. New additions include stability improvements, support for auto-updates and, for the first time, tools for its some 10,000 web developers to "leverage the efficiency of BitTorrent technology in their content and interactive experiences." For a peek at exactly what that means, the open beta for Windows users is available at the links below.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Windows 10 will offer a one-stop shop for apps, music and video

  If you're a Windows user who's tired of flipping back and forth between the Xbox Music and Video stores to get your media fix, then you'll be pleased to know that will all change with the next version of Windows. Microsoft has revealed that, at long last, it plans on combining music, video and apps in a single unified store in Windows 10. You can start to see the change already if you're signed up for the Windows 10 Technical Preview -- indeed, Microsoft has just started rolling out the Movies & TV page in the Store beta. With the recent release of preview versions of the Music and Videos apps, you can go ahead and browse, search and view rented or purchased media in those two apps, just like you could with their Xbox equivalents. Of course, this is all still very much in beta at the moment, but it's a good sneak peek at how Microsoft plans to unify its store experience across all of its products.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• SoundCloud will start tracking what songs you remix

  SoundCloud has partnered with rights management company Zefr to identify music owned by major labels uploaded to the streaming service. The partnership announcement is pretty vague, but Zefr co-founder Rich Raddon told Engadget that the deal is currently about sharing data and insights with SoundCloud with a focus on the remixes. Raddon said that these uploaded songs are "highly engaging" and that it's great for the fans, the platform and the media-rights holders. "We started referring to services like SoundCloud as social networks because of the very social act of uploading content," Raddon added. So instead of issuing copyright takedown orders because you sampled Iggy Azalea's Fancy, Zefr will share that information with SoundCloud. Of course in the future the data could result in On SoundCloud ads being placed in or around those audio files. But for now, the two companies seem more interested in giving you a place to upload your remixed versions of Pharrell's Happy than pushing ads.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Snapseed 2 delivers new tools and non-destructive photo edits

  It's been a while since Google nabbed Snapseed developer Nik Software, and after a handful of updates, the second version of the photo-editing app is rolling out. There are a load of new features for both iOS and Android, including non-destructive editing. Thanks to Stacks, you can undo and re-edit any image, in addition to copying tweaks from one photo to another -- a feature we've seen in Adobe's iOS software. As far as added tools are concerned, Lens Blur, Tonal Contrast, Perspective Transform, and Spot Healing bring handy desktop editing to mobile. There's a new Brush tool too, allowing edits to be applied to only a certain part of an image. Last but certainly not least, a redesigned UI provides a major aesthetic upgrade over previous versions. If your trusty device hasn't alerted you to the update yet, or you're looking to try it for the first time, the latest version of the free app is available at Google Play and iTunes.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Dropbox and Microsoft just made it easier to edit files in the cloud

  Look, it's no secret that Microsoft and Dropbox have been getting cozy with each other. Why, just last November the two companies cooked up a way to launch the correct Office apps to edit documents lounging in your Dropbox locker. Now, thanks to a new update from that unlikely duo, you don't even need to have Office installed to edit your Word, Powerpoint and Excel files -- hitting that Open button while you're previewing a document within a web browser gives you the ability to tweak everything from inside Microsoft's Office Online. Naturally, the integration runs both ways too, so Office Online users can pull up files straight from their Dropbox accounts without so much as firing up a new tab.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Vertical videos are here to stay thanks to apps like Snapchat

  If you despise vertical or portrait video as much as some of us do, bad news: according to recent comments from ad agencies and media executives, you'll be seeing a lot more of them. The awkward format has been in our crosshairs since the iPhone 4 came out in 2010 and we felt the need to explain how to fix it. It's used by cellphone-wielders who are either too lazy to turn their phone 90 degrees or are just unaware that they should. The result is video that's okay on smartphones but horrible on computer screens or TVs due to unsightly vertical bars. In addition, Snapchat and new livestreaming apps like Periscope and Meerkat will soon make the format seem normal for many users.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Popcorn Time's movie piracy app works on iOS without tricks, for now

  Popcorn Time's piracy-centric streaming video service just got a little too easy to access on the go. The outfit has released an installer that lets you use the peer-to-peer app on iOS devices without jailbreaking (that is, loosening restrictions though unofficial code). All you do is run an app on your Windows PC (a Mac version is due soon) and start watching. Does this sound like something Apple wouldn't approve? You're probably right. Popcorn Time tells The Next Web that it fully expects the folks in Cupertino to block the software, and that its installer team is "ready for any obstacle" -- the crew went so far as to post a 1-year anniversary video (below) that thumbs its nose at, well, everyone. Something tells us that this confidence won't stop Apple from trying, though, so don't be surprised if the app stops working before long.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• I regrettably designed my own glasses on a smartphone app

  JINS is a glasses maker on a mission: to make glasses worth talking about again. That usually entails a dash of technology thrown in; a few years ago, for instance, the company dotted spectacle-selling vending machines across Tokyo. Yes, it's a Japanese company. Yes, they're also dabbling in smartglasses. But I'm not talking about any of that this time. No, I took a whole 10 minutes designing my own pair of glasses on the company's "Paint" app, and then a week later, I was wearing them. It's not nearly as elaborate as, say, 3D printing, but it does offer a relatively cheap way of making yourself a one-of-a-kind pair of glasses. And mine probably would have looked better, if I had even a single creative bone in my body.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Oyster hopes you'll buy the books its subscription doesn't cover

  Oyster's all-you-can-read subscription service includes a lot of books, but it doesn't cover everything that piques your curiosity. In many cases, you still have to buy those titles that slip through the cracks. The company may have a way to cover all the bases, though. It just launched a store that offers books from all five major publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster) plus "thousands" more, so you shouldn't have to head elsewhere to get that hot new novel. It's also useful to safeguard the titles you want to keep. You can buy a permanent copy of that Harry Potter collection if you're tired of subscribing, for example. It's too soon to say how well this two-pronged strategy will work for Oyster, but we wouldn't mind seeing it elsewhere -- wouldn't it be nice to buy movies from Netflix when they're not available in your plan?

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Madonna continues her app tour with a video premiere on Meerkat

  Madonna is still determined to hold on to the spotlight by premiering music videos in the internet services du jour. Her next stop? Meerkat. Swing by the livestreaming service at 1PM Eastern and you'll see the Material Girl's video for "Ghosttown" before it makes its way elsewhere. The stunt is undoubtedly going to get some attention, but it also suggests that Madonna is a bit behind the curve -- many of the cool kids have already moved on to Periscope. And what happened to all the juicy exclusives that are destined for Tidal, where the singer is a partner? As unique as this debut may be, it's not the first place we'd go to get some buzz from the younger crowd. [Image credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Parents groups take concerns about YouTube Kids to the FTC

  There are plenty of rules about what you can and can't do on kids' tv, but not a lot of those rules automatically carry over to the internet. That's why a posse of advocacy groups is asking the FTC to investigate if YouTube's kids-only service is breaking laws on unfair and deceptive marketing. According to a report by the San Jose Mercury, these groups believe that YouTube Kids also contravenes FCC rules about advertising to young children that have been in place since the '70s.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Chrome extension adds 'Animal Crossing' music to every website

  In Animal Crossing, life isn't supposed to be stressful. Whether you're catching bugs, rearranging furniture or simply chatting with your fellow townsfolk, each game has always offered relaxing and utterly charming moments of escapism. The soundtracks complement the laid-back gameplay perfectly, and now you can listen to them through Google's Chrome browser too. As Polygon reports, a fan-made extension adds a tiny K.K. Slider to the toolbar which, once activated, plays tunes that correspond with the time of day.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Vine remembers it has a Windows Phone app, finally updates it

  When Vine revealed its newfound HD ambitions last week, your author wondered out loud whether the company's long-in-the-tooth Windows Phone app was ever going to get an update again. Well, the answer is a pretty definitive yes: Vine pushed out the update earlier today, and with it comes a new look, support for Vine messaging and the ability to import videos straight from your camera. (Oh, and for those keeping count, the last time Vine updated the app was over a year ago. Seriously.)

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Periscope update keeps viewers from showing up at your house

  Twitter's video-streaming app Periscope may have buried Meerkat's hopes of being the go-to way to show the world your office refrigerator. But until today, it had a rather scary privacy issue. When a broadcaster shared their location, instead of that location being a neighborhood or city, viewers could zoom all the way into the broadcaster's whereabouts. An update to the app has fixed that awesome feature for stalkers.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Skype for Android finally works like the iOS version

  Skype released an update for its Android app. Version 5.3 adds a host of new features and functions -- many of which have been available to iOS and desktop users for a while now. These include a revamped UI boasting chat bubbles and more emoji options. Plus, when you message with only emoticons, the app will automatically enlarge and animate the icon. You're of course still free to shout "Enhance!" at your phone when it does so. The new version also does away with auto-scrolling so that you'll be able to pick up a conversation precisely where you left it off instead of having to scan backwards through unread messages. You'll also finally be able view and modify your group chat avatar. Juggling multiple accounts is getting easier too: Every time you sign out, the system will automatically prompt you to re-enter your login credentials.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Office Lens for Android and iOS turns your phone into a scanner

  You no longer have to carry a Windows Phone if you want to quickly copy receipts and meeting agendas for the sake of your notes. Microsoft has just released Office Lens in both finished form for iOS and a preview for Android, letting you use your device of choice to turn photos into usable documents. The experience is familiar if you've tried the app before -- all you have to do is get a good snapshot, and the app will convert the output into OneNote-friendly text and image formats. Both Office Lens releases are free, so don't hesitate to give them a spin if you'd rather take pictures than jot down memos.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Adobe's new iPad app helps with presentations, newsletters and more

  Squarespace offers folks who are less web savvy the ability to create a decent-looking website in minutes. Adobe is looking to do something similar for reports, newsletters and other web content with Slate. The new iPad app offers preset layouts with a library of fonts, colors and animations that allow students, teachers and business folks the tools needed to easily develop a polished presentation. As you might expect, you're able to pull in images to complete the project, overlaying titles and captions as needed. The pre-built themes are designed to look good on the desktop and mobile devices, with buttons that'll let eager readers do things like donate or register. Published work ends up as a sharable web link, text message, email or embedded on a blog or website.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Airbnb arrives in Cuba with US-only listings

  Airbnb has joined Netflix and other American companies doing business in Cuba. The move marks the most significant US business expansion to the Caribbean island since the Obama administration began normalizing relations with the nation, according to the Associated Press. The private rental outfit has high hopes for the region, saying "we believe that Cuba could become one of Airbnb's biggest markets in Latin America." Over 1,000 listings are now up on the site, with 40 percent of those in Havana and the rest in nearby tourist spots on the Southern coast.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Waze knows how long you'll be stuck in traffic

  It happens: you get caught in a traffic jam, because you either ignore Waze's warnings or have no other choice. Thankfully, an update for both iOS and Android versions of the app adds a feature that should make the delay (at least a little) less excruciating. The Traffic Bar shows your progress along a road with heavy traffic, plus how much time it estimates you'll spend stuck in the jam. This Waze refresh also makes it easier to retrieve an old account on a new phone and adds a voice prompt ("Let's go via [insert road here]") that tells you the best routes to take. Finally, both apps were tweaked to run faster, which is always a welcome upgrade for something you're supposed to use in a moving vehicle.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• TweetDeck for Mac finally gets features the web version already has

  Over the past few months, Twitter has added a load of useful features to TweetDeck on the web, leaving the desktop app to age. Well, the Mac version of the 140-character social network software is finally getting some of those tools. With an update today, TweetDeck for Mac handles the newfangled shared account option for groups and allows for DMs (and using them to share tweets) with more than one person. You can also add up to four images per tweet and both GIFs and video footage plays in-line from any column. All of these features have been live on the web already, but it's nice to see the folks at Twitter giving some overdue attention to the desktop software. If you haven't already been alerted to the new version, nab it from the Mac App Store right here.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Twitch's mobile update makes multitasking easier

  We get it, you're a busy person. Game-broadcasting outfit Twitch understands too, which is why it's brought some new features to its mobile apps. In a move that benefits everyone (assuming that "everyone" means Android and iOS users, exclusively), the application's getting a persistent player window. That means you can fire up a stream, have it play and look for another that might suit your fancy more all at once. Not a fan of what's playing? One swipe and it's gone. Yup, it's a lot like how YouTube's mobile apps work. And speaking of Google, fans of its mobile OS with newer devices have a feature to call their own (for now): audio only mode. This allows you to listen to just the commentary from your favorite broadcasters while the app runs in the background or if your screen is locked, controlling everything via system notifications -- no foolin'.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Todoist redesigns its iOS app to save you time, increase productivity

  There are plenty of to-do list options out there, ready to equip your phone with software to help you meet deadlines. Todoist is one of those, and the iOS version of the app just got a massive redesign. First, instead of typing in an item, and then having to tap a few more menus to assign a due date or tack onto a project, composing all of that info in the text box will automatically complete the necessary tags. The app inputs the date and makes sure that the item appears in the correct project. Not only is it handy, but it'll surely save you some time. There's also a button at the bottom right of each project screen for quickly adding new tasks. Need that reminder in a specific spot? Pull two existing items apart and you'll be able to add it right where you need it.

  By Billy Steele Read More

Big Tech (27)

• Uber's panic button can let cops in India know where you are

  Earlier this year, Uber launched an in-app panic button for people in India, which lets any user easily alert local police in case of an emergency. And now this safety feature is getting improved. The ride-sharing service announced today that the real-time SOS alert can start being accessed by law enforcement officials, allowing them to track the exact location of a passenger who may require assistance during a trip. Previously, the panic button would only connect Uber users with the cops over a phone call, so this is designed to save time for potential victims -- and that could turn out to be life-saving.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Cyanogen and OnePlus are never ever getting back together

  It's always sad when a couple that looked so good together decides to part company, but that's what's happening with OnePlus and Cyanogen. The cracks in their relationship started to show back in November, when Cyanogen backed one of OnePlus' rivals when it launched in India. After a few testy exchanges while out at parties, Cyanogen's Steve Kondik has told PC World that the partnership is now over, but no-one's holding a grudge. OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei agreed, telling the same publication that the team-up had been "mutually beneficial," but that the two companies would take different paths in the future. For its part, OnePlus is now working on its own proprietary Android skin, OxygenOS, while Cyanogen is working with Microsoft and other manufacturers to get its operating system in more places. [Image Credit: Getty]

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• GoPro acquired a virtual reality company

  GoPro is expanding its horizons... in a very literal sense. The action camera maker has just acquired Kolor, a French outfit that specializes in videos for virtual reality and 360-degree viewers. It doesn't take much divination to figure out what GoPro wants to do with its new team, as you might imagine. The company hopes to develop new ways for "capturing, creating and sharing" spherical media -- it may not take as much effort to cobble together a 360-degree GoPro clip as it does today. As an example of what's possible, GoPro has posted an interactive video (below) showing how multiple cameras can immerse you in sports footage.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• ESPN sues Verizon over customizable FiOS TV plan

  We knew ESPN wasn't happy with Verizon's recently announced flexible TV plans, and now it is ready to take legal action on the matter. According to CNBC, The Worldwide Leader in Sports is suing Verizon over the FiOS Custom TV package, only days after letting it be known that it objected to it. ESPN isn't alone, either: last week, Fox Sports and NBC also came out against Verizon's offering, which lets subscribers pick channels based on their viewing preferences. In a statement, ESPN said, "We simply ask that Verizon abide by the terms of our contracts." Verizon, meanwhile, has said that FiOS Custom TV does not violate any contract agreements with the TV networks.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Tesla's home batteries may be leased, rather than sold

  Tesla's not-so-secret plan to fill the world's homes with giant batteries could involve leasing them, according to a report from The Guardian. The batteries have apparently already been leased to customers of SolarCity, a renewable energy firm chaired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as part of a small pilot program. Customers were asked to finance a $1,500 down payment followed by $15 monthly payments for 10 years. That puts the overall cost of a 10-year lease at $3,300, or $27.50 per month. According to the report, the cost is further reduced by subsidies from energy companies, which support the idea as it reduces the load on their networks during peak hours.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Facebook and Google help find Nepal earthquake survivors

  The Nepal earthquake has caused an immeasurable amount of tragedy this weekend, but some internet services are offering tools that might provide comfort if you have friends or family in the area. Facebook has rolled out its recently introduced Safety Check feature to tell you if contacts in the area are okay -- survivors only have to report in to ease your mind. Google, meanwhile, has revived its longstanding Person Finder to assist you in both locating loved ones and sharing news with others. You'll want to get in direct contact or reach out an embassy if you're still concerned about affected locals, but these internet tools could spare you from a lot of uncertainty. [Image credit: Prakash Mathema/AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• From garage to campus: A look at the digs of tech's Big Five

  Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon: These juggernauts are at the forefront of the tech industry. And with that success comes an ever-expanding workforce, and the need for a place to put them. To keep pace with growth, these companies have been making the requisite real-estate deals in order to build physical spaces to match their forward-thinking business approach. Fortunately, their designs are also more environmentally conscious than ever before. With the eyes of the world upon them, they've taken the well-being of the Earth, as well as their employees, into account, building innovative work spaces in an attempt to harmonize with the world around them. Below, we take a look at some of the steps these giants of industry have made over the years as they've moved from garage operations to vast campuses. [Image: NBBJ]

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Comcast officially gives up on Time Warner Cable merger

  The rather unpopular, $45 billion merger attempt between Comcast and Time Warner Cable has been officially called off. In a very brief statement, Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts said that he would have liked to pair the two companies together, but governmental pressure has killed the deal. The biggest objection to the deal was that the combination would control the majority of high-speed internet connections in the US, raising the ire of both the FCC and Justice Department. Unlike the failed AT&T - T-Mobile deal a few years back, it doesn't appear as if either party has to pay a severance fee to the other, which should make walking away a little easier. Update: In a statement, Attorney General Eric Holder said the decision is a victory for "providers of content and streaming services who work to bring innovative products to consumers across America and around the world." Check after the break for other statements from around the industry, including Time Warner Cable and some of the consumer groups that opposed the deal. [Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Comcast will reportedly drop its bid for Time Warner Cable

  That heavily-criticized $45 billion Comcast and Time Warner Cable merger? Well, it looks like it's not going to happen after all. Bloomberg reports that the former company is dropping its bid to acquire the latter, with an official announcement expected as soon as tomorrow. Just yesterday, reports surfaced that the Federal Communications Commission proposed a hearing, serving as the latest sign that the merger could be doomed. It appears that now, despite efforts to lobby support and offer concessions, Comcast will finally give up on bringing over 30 million cable customers under one roof. Much of the criticism has been that deal wouldn't be good for consumers in terms of competition, controlling well over half of US broadband service. In order to be legally blocked by the government, there will need to be a formal hearing, but it looks like both the FCC and Justice Department are ready to do just that. The last time the FCC sent a similar proposal to court was the doomed AT&T/T-Mobile merger a few years back. [Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Developer makes Amazon's Echo control Wink and Nest devices

  After Amazon gave select developers access to an SDK for its Echo wireless speaker last month, we now have a few examples of what you can do with it. Developer Jeffrey Bachand has built apps allowing Echo to control his smart lights, which are connected to Quirky's Wink hub, as well as his Nest smart thermostat. In the video below, you can see the apps in action. Unfortunately, there's still no way for developers to publish apps to the Echo platform, but you can be sure Amazon will fix that soon once there are more apps lined up. Bachand also notes that the NDA for SDK testers has just ended, which means you can expect to see more Echo apps soon. Amazon added support for Belkin WeMo and Philips Hue devices to the Echo earlier this month, but the addition of third-party developers should dramatically increase the amount of devices it works with.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Europe's looking into tighter controls for America's tech titans

  Almost all of the world's biggest tech companies are American, a fact that's got the European Union slightly worried. So worried, in fact, that the EU has started looking into forming a regulatory body with the power to monitor companies like Google and Facebook, ensuring that they don't abuse their dominant market position. A research document, prepared for digital commissioner Günther Oettinger and leaked to the Wall Street Journal, shows that officials are worried about these businesses threatening Europe's entire economy.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• It looks like the government will stop the Comcast/TWC merger

  That seemingly ever-looming union between Comcast and Time-Warner Cable looks like it hit another roadblock. The Federal Communications Commission wants to put the $45 billion merger in front of an administrative law judge and issue a "hearing administration order," which The Wall Street Journal says is a pretty strong message from the government that the deal could die. Why's that? Because it's essentially Uncle Sam saying that the business move isn't good for consumers; that whole Netflix situation's still pretty fresh on everyone's mind, it'd seem. WSJ's sources say that Comcast and Time Warner could still make a case for themselves, but it may be too late.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Tesla will reveal a battery for your home at its April event

  You don't have to wonder any longer as to what Tesla will unveil at its April 30th event -- the company just spoiled things in advance. In an email to investors, the company states that its shindig will reveal both a previously-teased battery for your home and a "very large," utility-oriented battery. Details aren't forthcoming (those are for the big show!), but there's a good chance that the hardware will build on the concepts behind existing home batteries, which are often used to store excess solar power and provide backups during outages. The real questions are whether or not Tesla can improve on personal powerplants like it did electric cars, and how much you'll pay versus the competition. You'll likely get the answers to both riddles in just over a week.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Intel's success in China hinges on budget phones and tablets

  "China is the number one market with connected products." That was how Intel's Senior Vice President Kirk Skaugen kicked off his keynote at IDF in Shenzhen, citing China's staggering 30 percent share of worldwide connected-device purchases in 2014. The country gobbled up 40 percent of the 46 million Intel-powered tablets shipped globally. Not bad, but 46 million is hardly anything compared to the 420.7 million smartphones shipped in China alone in the same year -- only a tiny percentage of which packed an Intel chip. Most others relied on Qualcomm, MediaTek and Samsung. Intel's smartphone market share is so small that it never dared to share the stats; it could be as low as 2.81 percent in the Android space, according to benchmark specialist AnTuTu.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Comcast and TWC will negotiate with officials to save their merger

  The merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable is no longer as certain to get approval as it once was, and the two cable giants know it. Wall Street Journal sources understand that the companies will meet with Department of Justice officials this week (the first time they've met since the announcement) in hopes of negotiating concessions and saving the deal. It's not clear what more they'll propose beyond existing offers, although history suggests that they could give up more customers or promise more efforts to expand low-cost internet access.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sony's super-thin 4K TV arrives this summer

  A year after Sony's 4K TV launch, the company is detailing the US launch of a revamped collection with HDR-compatible sets. You can now pre-order six models in Sony's new Ultra HD lineup, with deliveries arriving in May. The line starts off with a 43-inch TV that costs $1,300, and goes up to a 75-inch behemoth at $8,000. Sony isn't talking about pricing for the X900C, reportedly the thinnest LED TV in the world, but it's poised to arrive this summer. It could be worth the wait -- at 5.08mm, it's thinner than your smartphone (unless you're using Oppo's 4.8mm R5). It also has a "Vanishing Edge" technology that makes the picture fill the entire screen.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• ESPN objects to Verizon's flexible FiOS TV plans

  You may like Verizon's more flexible FiOS TV packages, but ESPN sure doesn't. The Disney-owned sports network claims that these offerings break contracts which prevent carriers from putting ESPN and ESPN2 into a separate sports package -- typically, they have to be included with other Disney channels. The company isn't directly accusing Verizon of going rogue, but a Recode source claims that the telecom didn't ask for permission. While Verizon tells the Wall Street Journal that it crafted the packages to avoid trouble, the insider says that the provider believed its existing deals would let it test these smaller bundles without a conflict. Clearly, ESPN would beg to differ.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Justice Department may try to block the Comcast / TWC merger

  It's been more than a year since Comcast announced its plan to buy fellow cable giant Time Warner Cable in a $45 billion deal, but it still hasn't received the blessings of various regulators. Now, word is leaking out from unnamed sources to Bloomberg and the New York Times that suggests Justice Department lawyers will recommend blocking the merger. Many consumer groups, politicians and executives from other companies have raised concerns over the last year that the combination would put too many customers, and too much of the nation's internet under one banner, despite a promise by Comcast to divest itself of some 3 million customers. Facing so much negative attention, Comcast is trying to improve customer service and reassure skeptics that it will be a friendly giant telecommunications company, but hasn't had much success convincing anyone that its plan will make cable TV better.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Verizon's new 'Custom' FiOS TV plans are a little more flexible

  Every time we talk about a new TV service, from Sling TV to PlayStation Vue to whatever Apple might be working on, there's inevitably disappointment when it's lacking a la carte channel selection. That's still the case for the new FiOS Custom TV packages Verizon tells us it will start offering on Sunday, but they do give customers a little more choice on what channels to pay for, or leave out. The way it works, is there's a 35-channel base package (CNN, AMC, HGTV, locals networks, etc.) combined with internet service. For $65, customers get that, plus any two add-on channel packages. The add-on packs are bundled by genre in a manner similar to Sling TV, with Sports (where ESPN lives), News & Info, Pop Culture, Entertainment, Kids, Lifestyle, and Sports Plus (regional sports networks, NFL Network and so on).

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Segway is now a Chinese company thanks to Ninebot and Xiaomi

  Can't say we saw this coming, but Segway has just been fully acquired by a Chinese company called Ninebot, which also specializes in self-balancing human transporters. The irony here is that Segway actually accused its then competitor of IP infringement just a little over six months ago, according to Bloomberg. Unsurprisingly, as a three-year-old startup, Ninebot needed a little help from others with this purchase: the same event announced that Ninebot received an $80 million investment from Xiaomi -- who's got plenty of cash to play with -- plus three venture capital firms, but there was no mention of how much of that went towards said acquisition. What's also unclear is the future of the Segway brand, but it'll no doubt provide Xiaomi another gateway into the US market.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Daily Roundup: Apple announces WWDC, the expensive (to make) Galaxy S6 Edge and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, learn about Apple's World Wide Developer Conference kicking off in June, find out how expensive the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is to make and watch SpaceX attempt to land a rocket on its drone barge. Read all about these stories and more below.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Intel can't sell chips to China because the US is afraid of nukes

  The US and China are like two neighbors who annoy each other with loud music after 11pm, but can't bring themselves to discuss the problem properly. The latest passive-aggressive broadside between the pair sees the US blocking Intel from being able to sell its Xeon Phi chips to China to upgrade the latter's Tianhe-2 supercomputer. BBC News is reporting that the US Department of Commerce shot down the move because of a concern that the hardware would be used to conduct "nuclear explosive activities."

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• LinkedIn's latest acquisition will train you for your dream job

  LinkedIn has always been helpful if you're seeking a job, but now it can train you for one too, thanks to a $1.5 billion deal to acquire Lynda.com. That site offers nearly 3,500 courses by subscription on subjects ranging from web design to leadership body language, all taught by industry experts. Citing the obvious synergy between the companies, LinkedIn said that the deal would help job-seekers "know what skills are need for available jobs in a desired city... and then be prompted to take the relevant and accredited courses to acquire this skill."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Nikon legitimizes the selfie stick once and for all

  Like 'em or loathe 'em, selfie sticks have probably done enough to ensure that they won't be a passing fad. "Proper" camera makers have pretended that they don't exist, but Nikon has broken ranks to announce the N-MP001. This particular wand of narcissus has been designed to work with the company's latest Coolpix point-and-shoots, comfortably carrying cameras weighting up to 14 ounces. Unfortunately, top level engineering and Nikon branding comes at a price, specifically $59.95, a far cry from the $7 selfie sticks you can grab on Amazon. Just remember that, no matter how luxurious the stick, the number of locations where you can safely use them gets shorter by the hour.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Uber hires Facebook and eBay alum as first security chief

  Uber has named its first ever chief security officer -- a position the ride-sharing firm needed to fill yesterday, based on recent events. The company snatched the new hire, Joe Sullivan, from Facebook, where he held the same job title for five years. He also worked in a similar capacity for eBay before that. Starting in late April, he'll be in charge of tightening Uber's digital and physical security to keep not just the company, but also its customers and drivers safe. That likely includes ensuring the app can't be easily hacked for the sake of its passengers' sensitive data, as well as enforcing stricter measures in screening drivers, among other things.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Sony buys what's left of OnLive, service shuts down April 30th

  Sony Computer Entertainment is buying the remaining patents and assets belonging to OnLive, the cloud-computing service that some might say was ahead of its time. OnLive as a service will shut down on April 30th and the company won't collect any more subscription fees. On April 30th, all OnLive player data will be deleted, though any Steam games purchased through the service will continue to reside on Steam. "It is with great sadness that we must bring the OnLive Game Service to a close," OnLive writes. "Sony is acquiring important parts of OnLive, and their plans don't include a continuation of the game service in its current form."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Sony sells a chunk of its Olympus stake for a fast buck

  Kaz Hirai's plans to save Sony have run from integrating its many disparate business units through to just selling off everything, even the stuff that's nailed down. Now, the company is getting rid of half of its stake in Olympus in the hope of raising some extra cash for "growth investments." Sony took a $645 million stake in the one-time rival back in 2012 as an attempt to get in on Olympus' lucrative medical imaging business -- which was spun off into a joint venture. Sony may no longer be Olympus' biggest shareholder, but the pair will still collaborate on healthcare and imaging devices. Someone should tell Hirai that he'd better spend this money wisely -- he's running out of things to sell. [Image Credit: Koji Sasahara/Associated Press]

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

Buying Guides (7)

• Four of the best 'Star Wars' games just landed on Steam

  You've had the option of playing X-Wing and TIE Fighter (aka some of the finest Star Wars games ever) on modern PCs for a while, but let's face it: you've been waiting to buy them on Steam, haven't you? If so, you now have your chance. X-Wing, TIE Fighter, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance have reached Valve's store, complete with their expansion packs. In the case of the first two spaceflight titles, you even have your choice of playing the DOS-based originals or their Windows re-releases. They normally cost $10 each ($30 as part of a bundle), but a promo will knock 10 percent off the price if you pick any of them up by May 7th.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Want the best Apple Watch display? Get a Sport model

  Splurging on a gold or steel Apple Watch might get you a fancier timepiece, but there's one thing you won't get: the best possible display. DisplayMate has taken a close look at the OLED screen in the smartwatch, and it notes that sapphire carries its share of drawbacks over the toughened glass in the Watch Sport. While you're still getting colorful, sharp visuals, the higher-end Watch's sapphire reflects almost twice as much light and washes out the picture in very bright conditions. And no, Apple can't use an anti-glare coating to fix this -- that would scratch easily, which misses the whole point of sapphire. There will eventually be improved sapphire screens that are both scratch- and glare-resistant, but you're currently best off with the Sport (and any other smartwatch with glass, really) if you're an outdoorsy type.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Which gaming keyboards are worth buying?

  The act of building a great gaming rig isn't just about finding the most powerful processor, a capable graphics card or massive amounts of RAM. It's also about what you use to interact with the machine itself -- the peripherals you bring to the table. A few months ago, we told you about the best gaming mice available. Now we take a look at some recent gaming keyboards to see which ones have the most to offer in terms of lighting, macros and, of course, how good they feel to type on.

  By Kris Naudus Read More

• Daily Roundup: Abandoned games, the best juicer and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, read all about how publishers are fighting to keep your favorite abandoned games dead, get all the details on the best juicer from our friends at The Sweethome and learn how Microsoft intends to create a single unified store for Windows 10 apps, music and video. These stories and more can be found below.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Daily Roundup: New Engadget buyer's guide, iOS 8.3 arrives and more!

  In the market for a new laptop or smartphone? Check out our picks in the updated buyer's guide. Meanwhile, iOS 8.3 arrives and brings a number of fixes and Dell will sell a 10-inch version of its Venue tablet. Get the details on all these stories and many more in today's Daily Roundup.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Engadget's new buyer's guide picks: the MacBook Pro, Moto E and more!

  It's been one busy month for reviews: Engadget has published seven in the past four weeks alone. That means we've got quite a few additions to our various buyer's guides. First up: the HTC One M9. No, we don't like the camera quite as much as the UltraPixel shooter on last year's M8, but on the whole, the M9 is still among the best Android handsets you can buy right now. We've also made a nod to the new and improved Moto E, which remains one of the best budget phones on the market. Meanwhile, we have not one, but several new favorite laptops. This includes the refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro (even despite its slightly less comfortable trackpad) and the much-improved Chromebook Pixel. Also, we'll soon be adding the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HP Spectre x360, both of which were still being testing as we were putting this latest guide together. Check back soon to find those listed, and stay tuned to see what else we might add -- we can tell you now we already have some more big reviews in the works.

  By Dana Wollman Read More

• The most beautiful cars at the New York Auto Show

  There are a lot of vehicles at the New York International Auto Show, naturally. This year, though, the prominent theme for carmakers, both from the US and abroad, seemed to be bright colors and concept projects. And that is, after all, what auto shows are essentially about. From the new Honda Civic to the Audi A8-esque Lincoln Continental, there's no doubt that manufacturers aren't afraid to push the envelope and, in the case of the latter, even borrow some design elements from top-tier competitors. One thing is for sure, however: Many of the rides at the event don't need Xzibit to show up and make them stand out. So, with that in mind, here are some of the best and most impressive cars from the 2015 New York Auto Show.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

Computing (16)

• Windows 10 'on track' for summer on PCs, other platforms come later

  We still don't have an official release date for Windows 10, but Microsoft maintains it's on track for release this summer. That's according to Joe Belfiore, its corporate vice president of operating systems, who spoke to media earlier today. You'll have to wait a bit longer to get Windows 10 on your phone and Xbox, though. Belfiore noted that bringing the new OS to PCs is Microsoft's main focus at the moment, but we'll likely see it hit those other platforms in the fall. He also included HoloLens among his list of other Windows 10 platforms, which could be a hint that we'll actually see it this fall. Or maybe that's just very wishful thinking.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Get your Windows 10 preview for Raspberry Pi 2 while it's hot

  Day one of Microsoft's Build 2015 conference is in the books, but that doesn't mean the news has stopped. The Windows 10 IoT Core Insider developer preview (phew!) has launched for small devices including the Raspberry Pi 2. Redmond admits that it's still pretty rough around the edges, but it's hoping that the maker community can provide feedback for how the platform's turning out along the road to a full release. What's more, the software giant is partnering with Arduino for a series of "Arduino Certified" products to bring the ubiquitous DIY boards into the Windows family and take advantage of all that the software has to offer. For example, cloud computing, a familiar user interface, image processing and a ton more. It follows the theme of bringing everything under one roof that Nadella and Co. have been so vocal about lately, and should hopefully help tinkerers develop some pretty powerful stuff in their garage.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Selfie typewriter hammers out ASCII portraits

  Dimitry Morozov, better known as vtol, is a Russian musician, engineer and artist who decided that selfies were far too modern for his liking. Instead, he wanted people to wait for their gratification, and so hooked up an iSight camera to an Arduino-controlled Brother sx-4000 typewriter. Once a person sticks their face in front of the machine, named i/o, the typewriter painstakingly hammers out a portrait in ASCII art. The hardware was shown off at the 101 festival in Smolny, St. Petersburg in Russia, which ended earlier this month - but you can still see the device in action if you watch the video.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Latest Ubuntu hits the web with mostly minor refinements

  Today's release of Ubuntu 15.04 is yet another installment in the slow and steady march forward from Canonical. The company knows that not every OS release needs to be accompanied by fanfare and dramatic changes to your desktop. And this edition of the popular Linux distro perfectly epitomizes that philosophy. There are basically zero user-facing interface changes, except for the ability to set application menus to always show, instead of only popping up when you mouse over them. Otherwise most of the changes are under the hood. The OS should be faster and more stable, thanks to updates to updates to the underlying system, like the Unity desktop and Linux kernel. The default apps also got some minor version bumps, including Firefox and LibreOffice.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• The Palette brings multiple colors to your 3D printer

  3D printers are great for homemade toys. But most affordable desktop machines can only print monochrome models. Mosaic Manufacturing, a Montreal-based startup, has created The Palette, a filament feeding system that turns a single-extruder 3D printer into a multicolor printing machine. It acts like a bridge between your current printer and ever-evolving filament options. You can feed it up to four colors or play around with wood, steel or conductive varieties. It works in tandem with your machine, so it calculates and cuts the filaments needed for each element in a design before fusing them into one continuous string for your printer.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• The law that predicts computing power turns 50

  Today represents a historic milestone in technology: It's the 50th anniversary of Moore's Law, the observation that the complexity of computer chips tends to double at a regular rate. On April 19th, 1965, Fairchild's Gordon Moore (later to co-found Intel) published an article noting that the number of components in integrated circuits had not only doubled every year up to that point, but also would continue at that pace for at least a decade. He would later revise that guideline to every two years, but the concept of an unofficial law of progress stuck. It not only foresaw the rapid expansion of computing power, but also frequently served as a target -- effectively, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Red's latest 'Weapon' is an 8K full-frame camera

  Red launched the first mainstream 4K camera when 1080p seemed like overkill, and now that this whole 4K thing might work out, it's got an 8K RAW model. The Weapon 'Vista Vision' features a mind-boggling 8,192 x 4,320, 35-megapixel sensor that can do up to 75 fps, widescreen 8K. The chip is also 40.96 x 21.6mm or Vista Vision-sized, considerably larger than the full-frame sensor on a camera like the Nikon D810. Video can be recorded in RAW and scaled-down ProRes formats simultaneously, just as with the company's 6K Weapon models.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The PC market is shrinking again as companies stop upgrading

  It's not a good time to be a PC maker... especially if you cater to the corporate crowd. Both Gartner and IDC estimate that the computer market shrank between 5.2 to 6.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015, in part because many companies stopped upgrading from Windows XP. Simply put, many of the businesses that wanted to modernize already have -- they're not propping up the market like they were for a good chunk of 2014. IDC goes so far as to claim that this was the lowest volume of PC shipments since the start of 2009, which is no mean feat given that the world was still reeling from an economic collapse at the time.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Relive the history of computing at 'The Interface Experience'

  At a time when devices are faster and slimmer than ever, a collection of bulky old computers can be amusing yet surprisingly evocative. The Interface Experience, an exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center's Focus Gallery in New York, brings on a rush of nostalgia with a ton of vintage machines. Kimon Keramidas, curator and director of the digital media lab, hopes that an interaction with aging technology will make people think critically about their current devices. Unlike the objects that are off-limits behind a glass wall in a museum, the machines at the exhibit are open and quite alive. They've been overhauled with custom programs to initiate a three-way exchange with the user, the software and the hardware.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Next year's big Windows 10 update is codenamed 'Redstone'

  You know the drill: Microsoft releases a new OS and, roughly a year later, a hefty service pack arrives with a raft of fixes and added features. Neowin is reporting that the company will put out two updates in June and October of next year, both under the codename Redstone. There'll still be the regular patches and updates, but according to ZDNet, Redstone is believed to bring support for "new classes of devices that aren't already part of Windows 10." Naturally, Microsoft has already issued a standard no comment, not that it'd be too eager to distract attention away from this summer's launch. Oh, and before you ask, Redstone is a Minecraft reference in the same way that Windows 10's codename, Threshold, was a nod to Halo. Microsoft is nothing but loyal to its first-party franchises.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Intel's latest Atom chips are meant for all of your connected devices

  Intel's latest Atom processors aren't just for phones and tablets -- they're going to show up in many of the other devices you own before long. The chip maker has unveiled a new version of its Atom x3 (aka SoFIA) that's designed to run Internet of Things gadgets, such as smart appliances and outdoor sensors. They have built-in 3G or LTE data to stay online, and they're tough enough to survive extreme temperatures that would faze regular silicon. Unsurprisingly, these processors are made with Linux and Android in mind. There's no word from Intel as to which companies are using the new x3, but you'll definitely have to be patient. The developer kits don't start shipping until the second half of the year, so you probably won't see a truly wide range of Atom-powered gear until 2016.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Small Lego case hides a grown-up computer inside

  Let's imagine you've always found Lego computers cool and woke up today wanting to make one of your own. In that case, congratulations: Mike Schropp from Total Geekdom just published a design for a small (but powerful) PC that's perfect for you. Schropp went for the smallest design that could still house the latest Intel i3, i5, and i7 processors, USB 3.0, various ports (HDMI, LAN, audio, display, mic), multiple SSD drives, up to 16GB of RAM and even a CD/DVD or Blu-ray drive. He went through three iterations, before he managed to build a size (7.5 x7.5 x 5.5 inches) that he felt was perfect for this project (and didn't need too much Lego), equipped with a top-down cooling system.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Intel's PC on a stick is now available for pre-order

  Like the idea of Intel's Compute Stick turning your TV into a full-fledged Linux or Windows PC? You can finally plunk down some cash to get one. Online stores (including Amazon and Newegg) have started taking pre-orders for the HDMI dongle, which is now expected to ship by late April rather than the originally planned March release. Be careful about jumping in with both feet, though. While Newegg is selling the Windows 8.1 version of the Compute Stick for the expected $150, some retailers are charging over $100 for the Linux model instead of the official $89 -- you'll want to do some comparison shopping first.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Reinvigorate your inner nerd at this retro-computing exhibit

  Modern computer interfaces are swiftly being reduced to glossy touchscreen slabs, distancing us from the inner workings of devices we use every day. Kimon Keramidas, director of the Digital Media Lab at the Bard Graduate Center in New York, is offering a refresher on how we got here by "bringing the clunk back." From the pleasing clack of mechanical keyboards to blister-inducing Atari joysticks, he curated a collection of computing history and put it on display at the school's Focus Gallery in an exhibit called "The Interface Experience: Forty Years of Personal Computing."

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Pack your Raspberry Pi into an underpowered laptop for $100

  The Raspberry Pi has already found its way into a number of unusual applications from DIY cell phones to Gif-capturing cameras. Now, a recently launched IndieGoGo campaign aims to put it somewhere more familiar: your lap. The PiKasa is essentially a laptop shell. It doesn't sport a 3D-printed chasis like the Pi-Top but does feature a 7-inch LCD display over a ruggedized keyboard, a smattering of connectivity ports and charging cables -- basically, everything you'd need except the actual computer bits and power supply.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Acer's Chrome OS all-in-one is the first with a touchscreen

  Intrigued by the idea of an all-in-one Chrome OS computer, but were hoping for something a little more exciting than the likes of LG's Chromebase? You've got it: Acer has just unveiled its own Chromebase. The system has a 21.5-inch 1080p display like its LG rival, but it's the first to include a touchscreen for those times you want to share input (or just can't be bothered to reach for the mouse). It's also running on NVIDIA's Tegra K1 chip rather than the speedier Intel Celeron of its competitor, although that's not necessarily a bad thing if you're looking for a quiet, low-powered PC. Whether or not it has the lower cost to match is up in the air, however. Acer ships its Chromebase to Asia and North America in the second quarter of the year, but it hasn't divulged pricing just yet.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Cybersecurity (52)

• Chrome add-on stops scammers from getting your Google password

  No matter how diligent you are about watching for scam sites trying to swipe your password, there's always the chance that a very convincing page will trick you into handing over the goods. Thankfully, Google just gave you a safety net: its new Password Alert extension for Chrome will warn you if you've reused your Google password on another site. You can ignore the warning if you're not worried, but you'll also have an option of resetting your password right away if you realize that you've made a mistake. It's a small add-on, but it might save you in a moment of weakness... or at least, remind you to spice up your password choices now and then.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Judge denies mistrial in case against Silk Road's founder (again)

  If you were hoping that Ross Ulbricht (Dread Pirate Roberts of Silk Road fame) was going to get a retrial, you might wanna walk those expectations back a bit. Okay; a lot. Despite the two former federal agents involved in the investigation purportedly stealing bitcoins and committing wire fraud during the investigation, the presiding judge Katherine Forrest has denied a motion for a new trial. Albrecht's defense protested, saying that the warrantless attempts to identify the Silk Road server violated his privacy rights and that the corruption charges demanded another look to see if the case had been tainted, as Wired tells it. None of that changed her mind though. She says that the evidence of Ulbricht's guilt was "overwhelming" and that there was little chance that conceding to any of those defenses would alter the outcome of the trial at all.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Thirty Meter Telescope's website was hacked to protest its construction

  A lot of people are obviously still unhappy that the Thirty Meter Telescope's (TMT) construction was greenlit, because the project's website was reportedly hacked on Sunday. A group called Operation Green Rights, which is associated with Anonymous, claims to be the brains behind the DDoS attack that took down the the TMT portal for a few hours. A post on its website says: "Nothing will ever justify the destruction of ecosystems; filthy money can never replace them. Stand with the Hawaiian natives against #TMT." The group also claims to be behind another DDoS attack on Hawaii's local website.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Your Tor-based email isn't as secure as you think

  A recent security breach just provided a painful reminder that Tor's anonymity network isn't completely foolproof against truly determined intruders. The email service SIGAINT is warning users that someone recently launched a sustained attempt to break into its servers and snoop on messages. While that direct attack wasn't successful, the culprit also tried setting up malicious exit nodes (where data reaches the normal internet) in hopes of spying on messages the moment they left Tor. The chances of actually connecting to one of these rogue routers was slim (about 2.7 percent), but you clearly wouldn't have enjoyed winning this lottery.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hackers deface Tesla's website and Twitter accounts

  It's all too common to see ne'er-do-wells compromising a website or a social network account, but Tesla just got hit with a triple whammy. At least one group has hijacked not just the electric car maker's website and its Twitter account, but also founder Elon Musk's account. Both social services were quickly back in running order, but the site is going up and down as of this writing. The attackers appear to be attention-seeking pranksters (they offered a "free Tesla" to anyone calling a PC repair shop, for example) rather than sinister agents. Still, something tells us that the company isn't quite so amused -- we've reached out for its take on the situation, and we'll let you know if it has more to add.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The CIA couldn't properly use a mass surveillance program for years

  Whatever you think about the morality of using mass surveillance to catch evildoers, the technology only works if people can use it -- just ask the CIA. The New York Times has obtained a declassified report revealing that that the agency was largely kept in the dark about the President's Surveillance Program (aka Stellarwind), which allows for bulk data collection, until at least 2009. Only the highest-ranking officials could use PSP as a general rule, and those few agents that did have access often didn't know enough to use it properly, faced "competing priorities" or had other tools at their disposal. To boot, there wasn't documentation showing how effective the program was in fighting terrorism.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Russian hackers scooped up the President's unclassified email

  Russian hackers may have had more success in breaching the White House network than first thought. New York Times sources understand that intruders who got into the White House's unclassified system managed to collect some of President Obama's email. They didn't compromise the account itself, and they didn't snap up the classified messages passing through the President's BlackBerry. However, these messages likely included some "highly sensitive" material, like policy discussions, schedules and staff changes -- the data could have been abused in the worst circumstances.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Department of Defense creates new cyberunit in Silicon Valley

  In order to better combat cyberthreats to national security, the US Department of Defense is setting up shop in Silicon Valley. At a lecture today at Stanford University, Defense Secretary Ash Carter outlined the department's new focus on cyberdefense, including tapping into the ecosystem of Silicon Valley to drive innovation against cyber attacks against "US interests." Carter announced that he's setting up the Defense Innovation Unit X (X stands for Experimental) inside the DOD, staffed by active-duty and military personnel alongside reservists. "They'll strengthen existing relationships and build new ones; help scout for new technologies; and help function as a local interface for the department," Carter explained. "Down the road, they could help startups find new work to do with DOD."

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Google and Facebook come out against government spying

  The Department of Homeland Security is setting up shop in Silicon Valley, with the agency's head Jeh Johnson pushing for easier access to our private data. Naturally, both Google and Facebook have started to openly resist this call to create backdoors for state surveillance. At the RSA security conference, Google's Keith Enright told MIT Technology Review that any attempt to breach his company's encryption would harm civil liberties.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• House passes bill allowing corporations to share your data

  If you wanted to explain the dilemma of privacy versus security to a curious relative, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act would be a good place to start. The bill has just been passed by the House of representatives (voting 307-116 in favor), and is designed to prevent future cyber attacks by allowing corporations to share information with each other and the government. Civil liberties groups claim the bill tramples on the privacy of the customers, and opens the door for agencies like the NSA to access their data (not that it needs much help, it seems).

  By James Trew Read More

• New bill would extend Patriot Act surveillance until 2020

  In case you haven't heard, the Patriot Act's Section 215 is set to expire June 1st. That's the provision that National Security Agency uses to justify its bulk data collection practices. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is working to make sure the current rules remain in place. McConnell introduced a bill earlier this week that would extend the Patriot Act's justification of post-9/11 surveillance until 2020. What's more, the senator already put the bill on the Senate calendar using a rule that allows him to bypass the usual committee process.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Germany rules that using ad-blocking software is legal

  The ability to silence the constant braying of advertising is great, unless you're a publisher who relies upon the cash that it generates to keep running. This tension between media outlets and ad-blocking agencies has finally spilled over into a courtroom punch-up after some German newspapers took AdBlock Plus to court. The outlets, which include Die Zeit and Handelsblatt, claim that the browser plugin was an anti-competitive product that threatened their businesses. Judges in Hamburg, however, ruled in favor of the company, saying that software that saves you from watching that awful Kate Upton advert for the thousandth damn time this week is perfectly legal.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Researchers find another terrifying iOS flaw

  It can't have escaped your attention that security experts have declared open season on Apple products over the last few weeks. At San Francisco's RSA conference, an even more terrifying exploit has been revealed that has the power to send your iPhone or iPad into a perpetual restart loop. Mobile security firm Skycure has discovered that iOS 8 has an innate vulnerability to SSL certificates that, when combined with another WiFi exploit, gives malicious types the ability to create "no iOS zones" that can render your smartphones and tablets unusable. Before you read on, grab a roll of tinfoil and start making a new case for your iPhone.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• BlackBerry wants to lock down security for the Internet of Things

  Say what you will about BlackBerry's current state of affairs, but in its heyday it was a workplace no-brainer because of its then-unparalleled security systems. Well, the Canadian company has plans to make that work in its favor with an encryption certificate based on subsidiary Certicom's elliptic-curved cryptography. As Reuters reports, this could secure numerous devices ranging from connected car systems to smart meters -- ease of security and authentication are the name of the game here. In fact, the outfit's already netted some support from across the pond with a contract that'll cover some 104 million household energy management gizmos and smart meters in Britain. BlackBerry also wants to beef up its research and development that could improve on computer data security. So in case you were wondering what the company formerly known as Research in Motion's been up to, now you know. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Feds ask airlines to look for theoretical WiFi hacks

  The FBI and TSA have begun telling airlines to watch out for passengers attempting to access their planes' internal navigation networks, despite lacking evidence that anybody's ever actually tried to do so. The Feds are warning aircrews to look for people attempting to access these networks via the public-facing WiFi, through the In-Flight Entertainment systems or by physically connecting to the network ports that everybody now knows are located under their seats.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• 1,500 iOS apps are vulnerable to an HTTPS-crippling bug

  According to analytics service SourceDNA, nearly 1,500 iPhone and iPad apps currently available in the App Store include a bug that breaks HTTPS. This could leave users' sensitive personal information exposed to hackers. Analysts have identified an out-of-date version of open-source code library AFNetworking as the source of the vulnerability. The library itself has already been patched, however, many apps are still using the older, insecure version. "We tested the app on a real device and, unexpectedly, we found that all the SSL traffic could be regularly intercepted through a proxy like Burp without any intervention," researchers Simone Bovi and Mauro Gentile wrote in March.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Researcher says Apple hasn't fixed major OS X security flaw

  Earlier this month, Apple released an update that was supposed to patch a serious flaw in OS X, albeit only for Yosemite users. But, according to a recent finding by an independent researcher, the company from Cupertino failed to fix the problem. Objective-See, a website that provides tools to prevent OS X malware, reports that the backdoor security flaw, known as "RootPipe," can still be exploited. The root access vulnerability is a major one too, as it could give anyone with bad intentions a way to take over a user's machine and, if they want, inject malware into the operating system. We've reached out to Apple for comment and will be updating this story if and when it gets back to us.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• The Darknet-shopping robot has been released by Swiss police

  After spending a couple months in Swiss robot prison, the Random Darknet Shopper (RDS) is once again free to purchase random goods from the deepest corners of the Internet. The robot, originally designed as an art installation, was built to navigate the Darknet and autonomously purchase goods using Bitcoin currency. During its three-month run at Kunst Halle St Gallen art gallery in St. Gallen, Switzerland, the Shopper made a variety of purchases, most of which were completely legal. It did, however, also purchase 10 tabs of ecstasy from online retailer Agora, which is what instigated the authorities to step in. The cops confiscated the machine and the Molly. They also threatened the RDS' creators with legal action. However, a panel of judges ruled in favor of the artists, known as the Mediengruppe Bitnik.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Wink smart home hubs knocked out by security certificate (update)

  Now for the downside of a house loaded up with "smart" devices to allow remote control and monitoring: turning your home into a computer means computer-like problems. Today's example comes from the Wink Hub, a $50 device sold at Home Depot that's supposed to simplify things by working across standards and link common home appliances (lights, thermostat, garage door, etc.) to your phone. That was the plan until yesterday when Wink sent out a software update that went wrong somehow, and now a number of users have a box "so secure that it is unable to connect to the Wink servers" (Wink's words, not ours). The problem knocked all Wink hubs offline from 12:40PM to 11PM ET yesterday, and while the company says a "majority" of hubs were able to recover and reconnect, those that weren't will need to be sent back. Update: We've confirmed what several Wink users have reported -- it appears that an expired certificate is at the root of the problem. The update pushed out was an attempt to fix the issue, and judging by responses on the Facebook group it did work for some owners. Stay tuned though, we're expecting more information on the issue shortly. [Thanks, Paul!] Update 2: There's a way to fix the problem! Quirky founder Ben Kaufman tells us that Wink is currently testing it with a small group of users but plans to email directions out soon. Click here for more details, and keep an eye out for that email. [Thanks Larry, Steve & John]

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Russians are using undiscovered exploits to hack governments

  If you've been wondering how Russian cyberattackers could compromise the White House and other high-profile political targets, the security researchers at FireEye have an answer. They've determined that APT28, a politically-motivated Russian hacking group, used unpatched exploits in Flash Player and Windows in a series of assaults against a "specific foreign government organization" on April 13th. Patches for both flaws are either ready or on the way, but the vulnerabilities reinforce beliefs that APT28 is very skilled -- less experienced groups would use off-the-shelf code.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Most of the government's anonymous tiplines aren't secure

  When it comes to whistleblowing, privacy is paramount -- just ask Edward Snowden. It's also why news from an American Civil Liberties Association report (PDF) about anonymous government tiplines not using HTTPS encryption is all the more alarming. In a letter to Tony Scott -- not the late filmmaker, the United States chief information officer -- the ACLU's Michael W. Macleod-Ball and Christopher Soghoian implore the government to fast-track efforts to swap the some 29 websites that are required by law to protect the anonymity of tipsters over to HTTPS. If that can't happen immediately (Scott has a two-year plan to encrypt all government websites) then the ACLU suggests allowing people to use the Tor browser for alerting the authorities about fraud or waste in the interim. Currently, the anonymity-minded browser is blocked by certain federal agency websites.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• WikiLeaks lets you search Sony's hacked emails (updated)

  When a group calling itself the Guardians of Peace hacked Sony Pictures in late 2014, thousands of private emails and information about top executives, actors and Hollywood hotshots hit the 'net. The messages revealed pay discrepancies between male and female stars, and contained copies of films that hadn't yet seen release. Some of these emails contained racist and derogatory comments from Sony Pictures staff, including co-chair Amy Pascal, who consequently left the company in February. Now, all of these emails are available in searchable form on WikiLeaks. Anyone interested in digging through Sony Pictures' email archives can now search by specific term, sender, recipient, attached filename or email ID.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The DEA's using powerful spyware for surveillance too

  The war on drugs has a surprising soldier amongst its ranks: Italian spying software. As Motherboard's sources tell it, the Drug Enforcement Administration's dropped $2.4 million on surveillance tools that are capable of intercepting phone calls, texts, social media messages, and can even take hold of someone's webcam and microphone. Oh, Remote Control System (as its officially called) can grab passwords, too. Almost sounds like a video game, right? The Hacking Team-developed software (the outfit behind Ethiopian cyberattacks on US journalists), can be installed on the sly and grants access to data that may very well be encrypted or otherwise inaccessible by other means. It comes hot on the heels of news that the DEA's been collecting phonecall metadata for an awfully lot longer than the NSA, too. Naturally, no one on either side of the story has been eager to open up to Motherboard, and presumably journalists in general.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Cops gave a malware-laden drive to a lawyer for whistleblowers

  Arkansas' Fort Smith Police Department may be responsible for some particularly sinister digital tricks, if you ask one lawyer. An attorney representing whistleblowers in a police corruption scandal says that the Department sent him a hard drive laden with trojans when he requested documents. Given that the rogue files were found in a folder specific to the court order (that is, they were added after the court order was issued), it looks as if someone in the FSPD wanted to hijack the lawyer's computer and sabotage his case. And that's not the only suspicious behavior, either -- the city reportedly deleted email accounts and messages that it knew it was supposed to keep.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Verizon says the security threats to your phone are 'overblown'

  It may seem like mobile viruses are everywhere, but Verizon would beg to differ. The carrier has issued a report on data breaches which finds that the security threats to your phone are generally "overblown." The total number of security holes that have been used for exploits, regardless of platform, is "negligible" -- whatever device you use, you probably aren't at risk as long as you use common sense.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Data breaches exposed 29 million US health records in 4 years

  If there are any doubts left that health care data breaches are a major problem, the medical industry just put them to rest. Researchers have published a study showing that a whopping 29.1 million American health records were compromised between 2010 and 2013. Most of them (58 percent) were exposed through theft, but the rest were revealed through a mix of hacks and carelessness, including workers who gave unauthorized access or didn't properly get rid of info they no longer needed.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hackers take down Google's Malaysian homepage

  What if, one day, you woke up your computer only to find that Google wasn't there? It's the nightmare that greeted some Malaysians after hackers managed to redirect users toward a malicious page. In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, company reps said that they were aware that some users were having trouble connecting to the site, and are working to resolve the problem.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Kaspersky releases decryption tool that unlocks ransomware

  You never should have clicked on the email attachment from that Nairobian prince. Now ransomware's got you locked out of your own computer and is demanding money before you can use it again. But before you reach for you wallet, take a look at this decryption key generator that Kaspersky has built. The Netherland's National High Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) recently got its hands on a CoinVault command-and-control server (a type of ransomware that has been infecting Windows systems since last November) and, upon examining it, discovered a large database of decryption keys. The NHTCU shared this information with Kaspersky which used it to build the Noransomware decryption tool. Granted, the program isn't 100 percent effective yet -- it's not like the NHTCU got all of the potential keys off of that one server or anything -- but as police forces around the world continue to investigate the CoinVault ransom campaign, Kaspersky expects to grow the key database and further improve the tool's functionality. Plus, it's still better than paying some schmuck hacker to give you back your digital dominion.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Frenemies US and China join forces to fight cyber crime

  The US and China are going to try to work together to take on cyber criminals. The Department of Homeland Security says that the US and China "intend to establish cyber discussions" on the path to reestablishing full government-to-government cyber security discussions. The DHS and China's Ministry of Public Sector agreed to focus on cross border cyber-enabled crimes like money laundering and online child sexual exploitation. The renewed interest in cooperation is the result of DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson's visit to Beijing.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Revenge porn is now a specific crime in the UK

  Posting revenge porn has always been a bad idea, but the UK is about to make examples of those heartless enough to share nude photos of their exes. As of Monday, the country's Criminal Justice and Court Act treats revenge porn as a specific crime. Publicize racy private images with the "intent to cause distress" and you'll face up to two years in prison. While the law could technically punish this behavior before, the Act is meant to discourage those who otherwise wouldn't get the hint.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• NSA thinks it can keep spying without compromising your security

  American police and spies love the idea of back door access to encrypted data that lets them snoop on suspicious types, but many will tell you that they're wildly optimistic. Even if you don't mind the implication that the government has a right to spy on anyone, this could easily introduce a flaw that any attacker can use. National Security Agency chief Michael Rogers thinks there's a happy medium, however. At a recent speech, he called for a "front door" encryption key that would provide access, but would be broken into pieces that prevents any one agency or person from getting in. This theoretically prevents thieves (and less than scrupulous authorities) from grabbing your data, but still lets officials look around when they have permission.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• China's 'Great Cannon' shoots down websites it doesn't like

  According to a new report from Citizen Lab, China has not only built itself a "Great Cannon" but has already fired it as well. This potent online weapon seems to be capable of intercepting internet traffic at the national level then directing it at specific networks to knock them offline. China's already widely suspected of being behind the recent attack against Github, which was overloaded for nearly a week via "an ongoing and evolving large DDOS attack." Now it appears that Github's attackers used the Cannon to redirect that traffic from Chinese search engine giant Baidu to cripple the website. All reportedly because the San Francisco-based website hosted a pair of pages that link to content banned in China.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Spying case against UK government heads to Europe's highest court

  While it's public knowledge that the UK government has secretly monitored the communications of the British public, questions over the legality of these practices still remain. After an independent UK court first ruled that security agencies, including GCHQ, had partly infringed on human rights laws, only to be overruled by a Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) report a month later, privacy groups campaigning for clarity are taking their fight to Europe.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• LG screen software left Windows PCs open to malware

  Taking a shortcut to make your software work properly is a bit like walking across a frozen lake: it saves plenty of time until the ice starts to crack. LG's currently suffering from a similar sort of oh shit moment as it learns that one of its display utilities may have exposed countless PCs to malware. In a piece for Developers Couch, Christopher Bachner has alleged that the Screen Split utility that ships with LG's ultra wide monitors breaks your computer's most basic security provisions.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Pro-ISIS hackers take French TV station off the air

  A French-language TV station broadcast around the world, was reportedly hacked by ISIS, halting broadcasts for about three hours. TV5Monde's Facebook page and website were also hijacked, and network director Yves Bigot said operations were "severely damaged." The station's programming and Facebook page are back up, but its website remains "en maintenance." As in a recent US hack, the jihadist group used the site to issue threats against French soldiers and reveal the identities of their relatives. France provides air support for anti-ISIS ground forces that recently liberated the Iraqi city of Tikrit, and declared that ISIS must be "wiped out" after the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Cops are routinely using this secret cell phone tracking tool

  Big federal agencies with ominous-sounding three-letter acronyms aren't the only ones that spy on your activities -- your local police might be doing it, too. Take for instance, the police department of Erie County, New York, which was recently caught using stingray devices in at least 47 instances between May 1, 2010 and October 3, 2014. According to the details published by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the department asked the court for permission to use stingray only once between that time frame. The cops didn't even ask for a warrant; they only asked for a court order and described stingrays as "pen registers," which is only partially accurate.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• FCC fines AT&T $25 million for data breach affecting 280,000 customers

  After employees at its call centers swiped personal info of nearly 280,000 customers, AT&T has to pay $25 million to settle with the FCC. The fine is a result of the carrier's "consumer privacy violations" at call centers in Mexico, Colombia and the Philippines, where employees nabbed names, social security numbers and account info without proper authorization. Stolen data was used to request unlock codes, which were then provided to a third party dealing in stolen and "secondary market" handsets. "As today's action demonstrates, the Commission will exercise its full authority against companies that fail to safeguard the personal information of their customers," said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. In addition to the hefty fine, AT&T must notify all affected customers, in addition to providing credit monitoring services for those included in breaches in both Colombia and the Philippines. It must also appoint a senior compliance manager to keep an eye on things and file regular security reports with the FCC. [Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• The US Navy is taking cyber warfare to the enemy

  The US Navy will soon operate as a cyber warfighting platform, ready to attack rogue nations when ordered by the White House. A top military commander tipped the initiative at a defense conference, saying "you don't win a knife fight without swinging a knife." US intelligence services already launch limited cyber strikes, as they did against North Korea following the Sony hacking incident. But assigning such attacks to a military arm is a signal that the US wants a stronger deterrent against hacking aggression from China, Russia and other nations. There's no word on whether the Navy's new role is part of the new US Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center initiative.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The DEA collected call metadata way before the NSA did

  Apparently, the NSA's massive surveillance program wasn't a first: it was modeled after a precursor that ran from 1992 until 2013. According to USA Today, that program was called USTO, because it monitored almost every American's calls from the US to other countries. It was a joint initiative by the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which began as a way to keep tabs on Colombian drug cartels and their supply routes. Since then, it grew in scope (thanks in part to a powerful computer provided by the Pentagon) to cover all international calls made to around 116 countries worldwide, including Canada, Mexico, parts of Asia and Europe, and most of Central and Southern America. The group was only dissolved after Edward Snowden went public with the NSA's secrets in 2013.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Some Anonabox routers recalled for lack of basic security

  The story of the Anonabox internet privacy router has a new ridiculous chapter. The initial production batch of the device has a major security flaw and Anonabox's overlords, Sochule have informed customers that it will replace those routers for free. It turns out the routers in question shipped without Wi-Fi password protection. Yup, the Anonabox "cloaking device" didn't have the simplest form of router security, a network password. Sure users could anonymously surf the Internet via Tor, but they couldn't stop anyone from within Wi-Fi range from hopping on their network and potentially hacking their devices. It was also determined that the root password of the affected devices is the incredibly easy to guess "Admin." According to a Wired report, 300 of the approximately 1,500 routers sold were about as secure as a screen door.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Russia might have hacked the White House

  Russia's military overtures haven't been limited to its recent arctic war games. Cyber operatives reportedly working for Russia have already compromised an unsecured State Department computer system. Now US officials have admitted that the White House's network has been hit as well. While the affected White House's computers were part of an non-classified network serving the executive office, the attackers were still able to access sensitive information like the president's real-time daily schedule. Even more disturbing, a CNN report suggests that the hackers used an account on the State Department network to phish their way into the White House.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Automated test-taking monitor records your every move

  Taking a college course online usually means you're attending class in your underwear while eating a third bowl of cereal. But some Rutgers students were surprised to find out they'd have to put on some pants to take their midterms, since their every move would be recorded via webcam. Plus, the system monitoring them would flag seemingly arbitrary infractions for review.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• High-tech TV: How realistic is the hacking in prime-time shows?

  A group of five impeccably dressed high school girls are almost murdered dozens of times by the same, mysterious stalker and the police in their idyllic small town are either corrupt or too incompetent to care. How do the girls fight back? Hacking, of course. At least, that's one way they do it on Pretty Little Liars. "Hacking" is the deus ex machina in plenty of scenarios on Pretty Little Liars and other mainstream programs, allowing people to easily track, harass, defend and stalk each other 30 to 60 minutes at a time. But how real is it? To determine the feasibility of the hacks presented on shows like Pretty Little Liars, Sherlock, Scandal, Arrow, CSI: Cyber and Agents of SHIELD, I spoke to Patrick Nielsen, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Snowden shows John Oliver how the NSA can see your dick pics

  In a surprise interview with Edward Snowden, John Oliver made NSA spying revelations more relatable to the American public through the topic of dick pics. The HBO comedian, who gives his satire a sharp bite via exhaustive research, traveled to Moscow for a sit-down with the infamous whistleblower. Oliver wasn't joking around at first when he called a Snowden leak that put al-Qaida intelligence at risk "a fuck up." He added, "You have to own that. ... You're giving documents with information you know could be harmful." After an awkward pause, Snowden said, "In journalism, we have to accept that some mistakes will be made."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Dyre Wolf attack swipes $1 million in wire transfers

  Hackers continue their brazen attacks on organizations and are even having their victims call them on the phone to hustle them out of their company's money. That's what IBM's Security Intelligence division has discovered while researching a malware-based attack they have dubbed The Dyre Wolf that's responsible for stealing more than $1 million. The coordinated campaign uses targeted spear phishing emails, malware and good ol' chatting-on-the-phone social engineering to go after organizations that use wire transfers.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Revenge porn site operator sentenced to 18 years in prison

  If you think that posting nude pictures of your ex is somehow an acceptable response to your breakup, take a lesson from Kevin Bollaert. He's been sentenced to 18 years behind bars (he could be eligible for parole after 10) for operating 'yougotposted.com,' a revenge porn site that hosted more than 10,000 sexually explicit images of women posted without their knowledge or consent.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• DHS seeks bids for access to license-plate tracking systems

  The Department of Homeland Security wants access to data about when and where suspects have traveled, and it could get that information from a license-plate tracking system. According to The Washington Post, the DHS first sought a private company that gathers location data in February last year. But it soon pulled back because of the backlash from advocates of privacy and civil liberties who pointed out that access to a commercial tracking system would allow field officers to pinpoint the location of millions of citizens who commute everyday. Now, a year later, the DHS is back with a new solicitation – that this time it says can both meet its goal and protect citizen privacy.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Venmo finally gets more secure with two-factor authentication

  If you're the type who uses Venmo to pay your buddies back for artisanal cupcakes, congratulations: You're a little bit safer now. Venmo announced the other day that it was rolling out a new two-factor identification feature -- when the service detects a login from a new device, it'll send you an email and a 6-digit pin to your phone so you can prove everything's on the up and up. That might sound like a no-brainer for a financial services company that's (thanks to back-to-back acquisitions) part of eBay's payments empire, and you know what? It absolutely is. The only thing more shocking than Venmo not having something like this in the first place is how long its taken to implement.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Laptop destroyed over Snowden leaks is now an art exhibit

  Remember how, after the initial Snowden revelations, the Guardian newspaper was forced to destroy all of its computers that held the whistleblower's leaked documents? It was a strange moment; a small group of editors, under the watchful eye of two GCHQ officials, laying waste to hard drives and other internal components with industrial angle grinders and drills. Now, some of the remains -- a busted MacBook Air and a Western Digital hard drive, to be precise -- are on display at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London. It forms part of a new exhibition called "All of This Belongs to You," which runs from now until July 19th. The hardware itself isn't particularly old or unusual, but its role in cybersecurity journalism and the Snowden leaks should make it a provocative exhibit nonetheless.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Security conference effectively bans booth babes from its show floor

  The issue of booth babes -- scantily clad people attempting to lure unsuspecting buyers towards second-rate products -- has once again reared its head within the industry. This time out, cryptography and information security gathering RSA has effectively banned them, mandating that all attendees will wear clothing that's appropriate for a professional environment. According to a statement released to TechTarget, people will be unable to display "excessive cleavage," and won't be able to wear tank tops, tube tops, miniskirts or minidresses. RSA go on to say that any scantily dressed people found on the show floor would be asked to put on a sweater or leave.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• President's order lets the US sanction foreign cyberattackers

  US authorities can't officially punish hackers in many countries, but they now have a way to hit those digital criminals where it hurts the most: their bank accounts. President Obama has signed an executive order that lets the Secretary of the Treasury impose sanctions on both foreign cyberattackers and those that knowingly support their activities, whether they're individuals or groups. If the Attorney General and Secretary of State deem these intruders to be major economic or security threats, the Treasury can freeze their assets and make it tougher to carry out (or profit from) their operations.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Verizon finally offers a way to avoid its 'supercookie' tracker

  Hey there Verizon subscribers, remember that whole "supercookie" ordeal from not too long ago? Well, it looks like it's time to put that mess behind us because the ability to wholly opt out of said tracking system is finally available, according to The New York Times. That's right, the undeletable, unique identifier header is basically a thing of the past once you either opt out on Big Red's website or call 1-866-211-0874. Seems pretty good, right? It is, but it's a half-measure -- this sort of thing should be opt-in, not the other way around. Privacy advocates like the Electronic Frontier Foundation are pushing Verizon to reverse that, or, hopefully, discontinue the supercookie program altogether. Given how big our digital footprints can get, having an automatic way to shrink them even just a little would probably come as welcome news for practically anyone. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

Entertainment (6)

• Marilyn Manson released his latest album on early PlayStation CDs

  The '90s are back in style, in more ways than one. Kill Screen has revealed that Marilyn Manson released his latest album (The Pale Emperor) on the black CDs used for original PlayStation games, made in the same Sony plant. No, they're not meant to rekindle two of your fondest teenage memories. Manson's art directors chose these discs because they help underscore the album's themes of darkness and light. They start out pitch black, but a newly-added thermal layer turns them white when you play them -- clever, isn't it? With that said, you'll probably have a hard time appreciating this thematic trick. While you might still be a Marilyn Manson fan, the odds are that you ditched CD-based music a while ago. [Image credit: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Recommended Reading: The problem with Record Store Day

  Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Record Store Day and the Ambivalent Branding of Independence by Eric Harvey Pitchfork Record Store Day celebrates the culture of independent record shops each spring. Today marks the eighth annual holiday for vinyl collectors and music lovers, but the event is becoming packed with more big names each year. Whether it's Jack White's world record or releases from Metallica or Foo Fighters, celebrities are now just as much a part of the festivities, and distributors seem to be favoring bigger shops over smaller, local spots.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• How I tried and failed to be social at Coachella

  I arrived in Palm Springs, California, with the best of intentions. I was to document -- painstakingly document -- the entire Coachella experience with all of the available mobile social tools at my disposal. I would Meerkat and Periscope and Instagram and Snapchat and tweet from Engadget's official accounts and the folks peering through from the other side of the digital window would watch, fave, like, retweet and comment live. I would use the festival's official app to plan my day and navigate the crowds. I would use an app dedicated to setting up reservations at (and paying for) pop-up dining experiences at the festival. I would Uber to and from the festival with abandon. With technology as my crutch, I would hack my Coachella experience. I would live through this festival as the ultimate millennial. Except I failed miserably at it.

  By Joseph Volpe Read More

• Vinyl is back, and now it has its own UK top 40

  Vinyl is making a comeback. Album sales in the UK climbed to 1.29 million last year -- the first time the 1 million mark has been surpassed since 1996. The format is still just a fraction of the total UK albums market (1.5 percent, to be precise) but now its success is being recognised in the charts. The UK's Official Charts Company is launching two vinyl-specific top 40s today -- one for albums and another for 7-inch and 12-inch singles -- for the first time in Britain. The renewed interest in vinyl doesn't appear to be slowing either, with album sales in the first quarter of 2015 up 69 percent from the same period last year. Is the growth from audiophiles, collectors, DJs, or a mixture of all three? It's not clear, but in the age of streaming, it's nice to see that analog still has a place with music lovers.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Indiegogo plan needs $500k to put holographic Selena on tour

  Selena Quintanilla-Pérez could soon be going back on tour despite having been dead for more than two decades. Like Tupac and Michael Jackson before her, the Latin American icon will return to the stage -- in hologram form -- as early as 2018. All that needs to happen first is the funding of a $500,000 Indiegogo campaign (which launches on April 16th). Not only will "Selena The One," as her digital version will be known, go on tour but there are reportedly plans afoot to "release new songs and videos ... and collaborate with current hit artists." Obviously, she won't be writing new material but if Selena's unpublished catalog is anywhere near as large as either Michael's or Tupac's, her fans will have years of entertainment to look forward to.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• ?Selfie sticks are banned at Coachella and Lollapalooza

  If you're heading to either music festival this year, you can leave that selfie stick behind. Both April's Coachella and Lollapalooza in July have added the rods to their prohibited item lists. At Lollapalooza, the rules stipulate no "GoPro attachments like sticks, selfie sticks & monopods." Coachella said that "Selfie sticks / narsisstics" won't be allowed in, showing a healthy lack of self(ie)-awareness... and spelling skill.

  By Mat Smith Read More

EVs and Transportation (50)

• Ford explains why Sync 3 supports Apple and Google car apps

  With both Apple and Google wrangling to become the infotainment center of your next new car, Ford will be choosing neither. Or both, depending on how you look at it. During an interview with Re/code, Ford CEO Mark Fields provided some details on how his company will be leveraging its in-house designed Sync system to act as middleman between smart devices and vehicles.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Where to watch Tesla's 'The Missing Piece' livestream

  Tesla is known for its amazingly quick electric vehicles, but if the chatter around today's event is true, the Elon Musk-led company will be introducing a home battery solution this evening. The livestream will be viewable on the car company's site beginning at 11 PM ET. So put on your pajamas and snuggle up with your computer to see if you'll be adding a battery to your home in the not-so-distant future. Update: The video stream is finally live (showing screens that say "Powerwall: Tesla Home Battery"), and we're told Elon Musk should be hitting the stage...any minute now, so expect more info soon. Update 2: There you go, he's just announced the new Tesla Powerwall battery, and you can get all the details right here.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Department of Energy 3D prints an all-electric Shelby Cobra

  Carroll Shelby's iconic Cobra roadster has been making jaws drop for half a century now. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cobra's debut the US Department of Energy built one of its own. The new Cobra's entire chassis and bodywork--from the passenger monocoque to the grille and headrests--were 3D printed from carbon fiber reinforced ABS using the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. And while the exterior of the new Cobra is nearly indistinguishable from its predecessor, they look nothing alike under the hood. The DoE's Cobra is, in fact, completely electric.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Flywheel wants you to skip the wait for app-friendly taxis

  As convenient as ridesharing and app-based taxi services can be, you still have to wait for your lift to show up. Wouldn't it be nice to hop into the first available taxi and then pay through an app? Flywheel is trying just that. Its new Pay by Flywheel service lets you hail a taxi and pay after you're on your way -- the app uses your phone's motion sensors to tell when you're in mid-ride. It's theoretically just as speedy as flagging down a conventional taxi, but saves you the hassle of fumbling with your wallet at the very end. The option is available today in every Flywheel area, including the just-added city of Portland.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Watch Tesla's souped-up Model S beat the world's fastest sedan

  Tesla's Model S P85D is quick. Or is it fast? Can it be both? Ever since Elon Musk unveiled the company's speediest car ever, it's become the fashionable thing to take the P85D to a drag strip and pit it against some old-school gas-powered muscle. Motor Trend did the same, choosing the all-American Dodge Charger Hellcat (the world's fastest sedan) as the Model S' opponent. Now, it's not the first time that these cars have gone head-to-head over a quarter mile, but when they first met, the 707-horsepower Hellcat had such a dismal run that it needed an official rematch with a better driver behind the wheel. There's a handy explanation on the difference between being fast and being quick at the beginning of the video, but if you just want the action, simply hit the play button below. As for the outcome... well, that'd be spoiling it, but let's just say that things could have been different if the strip was longer.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Land Rover fails in its bid to block Chinese copycats

  China is famous for many things, but a deeply-held respect for the concept of intellectual property isn't one of them. It's a problem that Land Rover has just run into head-first after its claims that the Land Wind X7 was a shameless copy of its Range Rover Evoque fell upon deaf ears. Autocar is reporting that, not only did authorities dismiss the complaint, but the Chinese company has been given permission to start manufacturing the vehicle.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Uber's about to get into the delivery business

  Uber's already got a taxi and a courier business, so it makes perfect sense that it'd want to muscle in on UPS' turf. TechCrunch has uncovered documents revealing that the outfit is currently testing a system where high-end retailers can use Uber vehicles to make same-day deliveries to impatient customers. According to the site's sources, Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany's are all in discussions to sign up when the program launches. It looks as if the eventual goal is that all Uber drivers will be able to take both human passengers and commercial cargo, with all of the information routed through the same mobile app.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Europe is making in-car emergency calling standard by 2018

  More than 25,700 people died driving on european highways last year. In an effort to reduce these incidents, the European Parliament has voted to outfit every new passenger car and light truck in the EU with an auto-dialing system that rings 112 (Europe's 911) in the event of a major accident. Known as eCall, it will be "a public service, free of charge for all citizens, irrespective of the type of vehicle or its purchase price," MEP Olga Sehnalova explained in a statement. They'll also be standard options for all new vehicles sold after March 31st, 2018.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Uber's food delivery service launches in four cities

  Uber's experiments with food delivery in California and Spain must've been a resounding success, as the ridesharing outfit is making that on-demand dining a permanent option. UberEats has officially launched in four cities, including the Barcelona and Los Angeles trial areas as well as two new burgs, Chicago and New York City. As before, the service really just substitutes pickups for meals -- you choose from curated restaurant menus, and an Uber driver will show up with your selections in a matter of minutes. This will seem very familiar if you've tried a restaurant delivery service before, but it'll undoubtedly be handy if you already use Uber and find yourself craving sandwiches or salads.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Swedish armored vehicles get F1-inspired active suspension

  BAE Systems recently announced that it has adapted the active damping suspension originally made for F1 cars to a Swedish Combat Vehicle, the CV90. This is reportedly the first system of its kind for a tracked vehicle, although BAE has been working on it for a few years. Unlike conventional, passive suspensions that simply absorb the shock of a bump or divot in the road as it occurs, active suspensions calculate vehicle speed against upcoming terrain to selectively tighten the suspension and keep the vehicle level. This eliminates both body roll and pitch acceleration as well as translates into a higher top speed since all four wheels (or in this case, both tracks) stay in firm contact with the ground. It works well enough for the CV90 to set a speed record on a "rough terrain course", and for F1 to have banned the tech in 1993, although it may make a comeback.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Audi makes eco-friendly diesel from carbon dioxide and water

  In an ideal, pollution-free world, everyone would be driving electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars. Audi knows society isn't quite there yet, however, so it has a stopgap if you still get around using conventional vehicles. The automaker recently produced its first batch of "e-diesel," a synthetic diesel based solely on carbon dioxide and water -- readily available chemicals that are far nicer than sulfur and other typical diesel elements. It's even relatively eco-friendly to make, as you use electrolysis to break down the water and merge it with the CO2 in a high-efficiency synthesis process.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Supersonic air keeps train tracks clear when weather sucks

  Unlike forest fires, you personally can't do much to stop trainwrecks. With that in mind, the folks over at General Electric took a break from tracking your brain on BBQ and devised a way to keep one of the oldest forms of powered-transport on track in adverse weather conditions. You see, the Ardennes Forest in Belgium is legendary for its inhospitable conditions and to sidestep them and the mountains, trains were taking a longer, flatter and more expensive route. That wasn't too economical. So, GE implemented what it calls the Advanced Rail Cleaner for trains on the route. Essentially, the ARC is a module that sits at a precise spot ahead of the front axle and uses high-pressure air (rather than lasers) moving at supersonic speeds to clear away any moisture and debris.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Car headlights of the future won't blind other drivers

  Carnegie Mellon's work on headlights has made an appearance here before, where it's near-future smart headlights would parse raindrops and 'cancel' them out, projecting light around the rain drops, substantially improving visibility. But that's just one of many tricks that the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute's smart headlights are now capable of. The newest iteration's feedback system continuously looks at what your headlights are doing, processing and thinking about how to shine better. To start, the system detects vehicles headed towards the car and disables the range of light that's directed at the oncoming driver, even on high-beam settings.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• NASCAR's first hydrogen-powered pace car hits the track

  NASCAR may be dominated by gas-guzzling racers, but its pace car this weekend is decidedly kinder to the environment. The motorsport league's Sprint Cup race in Richmond on the 26th (delayed from the 25th due to rain) has Toyota's hydrogen-powered Mirai as its pace car -- the first time a fuel cell car has had that distinction at a NASCAR event. This is largely a publicity stunt to build up hype for the Mirai's Californian launch later this year, but it shows that hydrogen cars have the performance needed to keep up with stock cars during yellow flags. The real challenge will be getting the actual competitors to go green. While there have been hydrogen-fueled race cars before, the odds are that NASCAR and its fans aren't eager to abandon roaring V8s any time soon.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: Chevy's concept car, LED bulbs and solar lanterns

  Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Tesla made headlines again this week with the official (sort of) announcement that it will be unveiling a battery that can power your entire home at the end of the month. In autonomous vehicle news, some of the biggest automakers are starting to roll out self-driving concept cars. Just a few weeks after Mercedes-Benz revealed a self-driving concept, Chevrolet has now rolled out the FNR, a futuristic autonomous concept car of its own, at the Shanghai Motor Show. In other automotive news, automakers from around the world are continuing to roll out more efficient electric vehicles and hybrids. Volvo has announced plans to release hybrid versions of its entire lineup, beginning with the 2016 Volvo XC90 SUV, which is slated to hit the road with a new plug-in hybrid powertrain.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Portland unbans UberX

  Citing violations of its hired transportation rules, the city of Portland, OR sued Uber last December and temporarily halted the ridesharing company's operations within city limits. Now, after months of haggling with civic and community leaders, Uber has relaunched a "safer and more reliable" version of its UberX service in the Rose City. Under the agreement, Uber X drivers will have to pass background and driving history checks while their cars must pass a vehicle safety inspections conducted by a certified mechanic. Each UberX fare will now include a $1 Safe Rides Fee but should remain pretty reasonable if the table below is accurate.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Chinese automaker shows off country's first EV sports car

  It shouldn't be a surprise that China is looking to zero-emission vehicles to help tackle its air-quality issues. Beijing-based CH-Auto is looking to take advantage of that push with the country's first all-electric sports car dubbed the Event. The company used the recent Beijing Auto Show to show off its sleek two-seater EV. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Event packs a 48kWh battery and can sprint to 100KPH (62MPH) in less than five seconds. As for range, WSJ says we can expect about 155 miles on a charge, while recharging takes around six hours using a 220-volt source.

  By Philip Palermo Read More

• UMaine's clean snowmobile runs on (a lot of) natural gas

  Take a look at what these mechanical engineering students from the University of Maine say is the only natural gas-powered snowmobile in the US. Why make all these changes to what used to be a stock Arctic Cat XF1100? To compete in the Society of Automotive Engineers Clean Snowmobile Challenge, which was founded to create machines capable of running in Yellowstone Natural Park where rules about noise and emissions keep gas snowmobiles out. Changing the fuel source from gasoline to natural gas not only meant swapping out the gas tank, but also the injectors inside the motor. As you can see in the video after the break, last year's team got the beast running, but this year students are working on improving the handling and tuning.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• You'll need a leather jacket for this retro e-bike

  If you're worried that the future will make us lose our sense of style, you should check out what the e-bike industry has been up to. In order to accommodate the electric motors and batteries, designers have thrown off the shackles of minimalist design to make retro-styled vehicles that ooze '50s B-movie chic. Vintage Electric's new Cruz is one such offering, boasting a 1900's motorcycle design and a top speed of 36 miles per hour.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Los Angeles partners with Waze to head off traffic gridlocks

  Los Angeles' traffic problems are legendary, which is probably why the City of Angels is following Boston's lead and partnering with Waze for real-time traffic alerts. The LA mayor's office Periscoped the announcement (as you do, I suppose), and tweeted that the partnership could lead to better understanding of how traffic moves in TInseltown and hopefully improve commutes. How's that? Well, the data inherently goes both ways. Specifically, Google's traffic app should tip off drivers to natural road hazards, car crashes and amber alerts while simultaneously informing the county about where backups and other issues are occurring. No word if it'll extend to pointing out where paparazzi are hiding, though.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Uber complies with German taxi rules to end court ordered ban

  Uber has announced operational changes in response to German courts banning its service twice in less than a year. According to a Reuters report, Uber will amend its UberPOP program (the European version of UberX) to charge 35 cents per kilometer. This matches what local taxi services charge in both Frankfurt and Munich. The company had already implemented that pricing scheme in Berlin, Duesseldorf and Hamburg. Uber bemoaned the court's ruling, calling it "a defeat for all those who want more choice for their personal mobility," but complied with the order to avoid a $266,000 fine. The company will continue to operate licensed limos and taxis throughout Germany while it reportedly works on a legal ridesharing alternative that complies with the country's laws.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• The Big Picture: Chevy's self-driving concept car is straight out of sci-fi

  Thought that Mercedes' F 015 self-driving car was futuristic? It looks old hat next to GM's autonomous electric concept, the Chevrolet-FNR. The pod-like design appears ripped straight from a sci-fi flick, complete with crystal laser lights, "dragonfly" swinging doors and sensors (including radar) that aren't as conspicuous as they are on other robotic vehicles. And that's just the outside -- inside, it's touting magnetic hubless wheel electric motors, wireless charging, swiveling front seats and eye recognition to verify the owner. As with most out-there concepts, the chances of driving what you see here are slim to none. However, it won't be at all shocking if the technology in the FNR eventually trickles down to more practical (if far less adventurous) cars.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• BMW's 7 Series lets you park by remote control

  If you're looking at a BMW's deluxe 7 Series, the 2016 model will awe your yacht club pals with some Bond-worthy gadgets. The remote control parking appears to be a first for a production vehicle, even though we've seen it demo'd by Volvo, Audi and BMW before. When you use the touchscreen-equipped BMW Display Key, it'll squeeze itself into (and out of) a parking space in a fully automatic process. Self-parking is already available on BMW's i3 electric vehicle and many others, but the 7 Series is the first to let you park when you're not even in the driver's seat.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: cheaper EVs, synthetic leaves and clay-pot speakers

  Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. For more than three years, the Western United States -- especially California -- has been gripped by the worst drought on record. With no end in sight, San Diego County announced plans to build a massive $1 billion desalination plant. The plant will produce drinking water for 300,000 people in Southern California, but opponents have raised concerns about its high energy use, and that it will likely harm marine life. Researchers also discovered what may be causing the drought -- a massive "blob" of warm water in the Pacific Ocean measuring a thousand miles wide is wreaking havoc on weather patterns and local marine life.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Japanese maglev train breaks its own world speed record

  The Central Japan Railway company reports that its magnetic levitation bullet train topped 366 miles per hour on Thursday during a test run along a length of test track in the Yamanashi prefecture. This was enough to break its own 12-year-old, 361 mph world record set back in 2003. The train reportedly carried 29 engineers during its run. Unfortunately, the record is only expected to last until next Tuesday when JR Central hopes to spur the magnetically-propelled commuter train past 372 mph (600 kph).

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Uber launches in Newcastle, its sixth UK city

  Uber is slowly but surely making inroads in Britain. Today, the company is launching its low-cost UberX service in Newcastle, allowing passengers to request a Toyota Prius (or a similarly specced vehicle) to get around town. It's the sixth UK city for Uber, following London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Wakefield. Only a week ago the company launched its premium UberExec service in Manchester and Leeds, but we wouldn't be surprised if a similar expansion was already being prepared for "the Toon." Where will Uber strike next? If its online job listings are anything to go by, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Now that the company has a foothold in England, it seems Scotland is next on its hit-list.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Car safety system monitors your body language to prevent accidents

  Many collision avoidance systems watch out for other cars or pedestrians to keep you safe. But this new one called Brains4Cars being developed by Cornell and Stanford University researchers adds a camera that monitors you (or the driver's, if it's someone else) body language, as well. The computer that's watching you on cam can detect your face and head movements to find cues on whether you're turning or changing lanes. With data from a radar and another camera keeping an eye on the environment, the system can warn you if it's too dangerous to turn.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Maaxi lets you share a taxi across London with up to five strangers

  Uber is still pushing for world domination, but in London regular black cabs are still one of the most popular ways to get around town. Ride-sharing is also on the rise, but Uber is yet to launch either UberPool or UberPop in Britain. Spotting a gap in the market, newcomer Maaxi is launching a similar offering with the aid of regular black cabs. The app lets you book individual seats, which means you can share your journey with up to five people in order to cut down your fare. Maaxi says, at least to begin with, it'll be focusing on journeys that follow public transport routes. Drivers will deviate for specific pick-ups and drop-offs, but the idea is to focus on the areas of London with the highest demand from passengers. After all, this kind of service will likely thrive or die based on the number of people using it -- if you find yourself travelling solo for most journeys, the app's key selling point is moot.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Volkswagen's latest 'Gran Turismo' concept is a 500HP hatchback

  For those who think Volkswagen's Golf GTI and Golf R hot hatches just aren't "hot" enough, the carmaker's latest virtual concept for Gran Turismo 6 (PlayStation 3) may be up your alley. The GTI Supersport Vision Gran Turismo offers up more than 500 horsepower in a hunkered-down, all-wheel-drive, two-door hatch that's slightly faster than its real-world inspiration. In fact, the carmaker says this virtual concept can hit 62MPH (100KPH) in about 3.6 seconds.

  By Philip Palermo Read More

• The Faraday Porteur e-bike can finally be yours for $3,500

  Our very own editor-in-chief took a ride on Faraday's dapper Porteur e-bike back in 2012, and now, you can nab one of your own. The company is taking orders for its $3,500 electric bicycle that began as an award-winning concept before Kickstarter backers turned it into a real product. If you'll recall, those tubes house lithium-ion batteries powering an electric motor capable of up to 20 miles before needing a charge. The Porteur comes in your choice of British Racing Green or Classic White with small, medium and large sizes (depending on your height). If you're looking for some accessories to help with light loads, a front rack will set you back an additional $225 and the rear rack is priced at $125. Ready to commit? You can do just that right here, or if you're in the San Francisco area, you may want to schedule a test ride first.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Daimler is using EVs and ridesharing to teach teen drivers

  The days of learning to drive in your family's ancient sedan might soon be over. Daimler is running a pilot program that teaches German teens to get around using electric versions of the Mercedes B-Class and Smart Fortwo. According to the company, an EV's smooth automatic transmission lets students focus on the traffic around them, not the basics of getting from A to B. They only move on to gas-powered cars when they're ready to master stick shifting.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Nissan and AT&T are connecting more cars, new or old

  The New York Auto Show wraps up this weekend, where using technology to keep cars (and the people in them) both safer and more connected is receiving much of the attention. The 2016 Nissan Maxima is launching with new SiriusXM-powered NissanConnect Services that link your car to the network by satellite, paired cellphone or its built-in cellphone connection. In 2013 Nissan announced it's working with AT&T on the package, and AT&T is independently launching a new Car Connection 2.0 plug-in that will put some similar features into anyone's car. It's the same link that keeps Tesla's Model S connected to the cloud and downloading performance-enhancing OTA updates, but now it's coming to more vehicles. Read on to find out exactly what's included, plus a drones-eye view of the NYIAS floor.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Self-driving vehicles will make more people car sick

  When you get your first self-driving car, don't forget to put a few barf bags in it... just in case. A duo from the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute explains that you'll likely be more susceptible to motion sickness in self-driving cars due to a couple of reasons. First, since you don't directly control it, you can't always anticipate every turn, swerve, stop, change in speed, etc. This disconnect between what you see and how the car moves affects balance, which is why drivers don't suffer from the condition as often as passengers do. Second, people are bound to do activities that amplify its symptoms.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Aston Martin is developing a plug-in hybrid and an electric vehicle

  If you've ever wanted to feel like a more eco-friendly Bond behind the wheel, then Aston Martin is about to make your dreams come true. The automaker has revealed at the New York Auto Show that it's working on both a plug-in and an electric vehicle. That plug-in is none other than the DBX crossover vehicle (pictured above) that we saw in early March as a full electric car. Unlike the concept showcased in Geneva, it will have four doors instead of two; plus, the automaker's still adjusting its overall dimensions to make it roomier inside. While it will debut as a plug-in, CEO Andy Palmer says that if the company proves electric works, then it "would be a nice place to go."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Uber now offers fancier cars for trips in Manchester and Leeds

  Sometimes you really want to make a good impression. Uber already offers two luxury transport options in London, UberExec and UberLux, and now the former is available in Manchester and Leeds too. Before now, these cities had access to just two Uber services: Uber X and Uber XL. Both are designed to be as affordable as possible, with Uber X offering a Toyota Prius (or similar) and Uber XL supplying minivans. UberExec, meanwhile, is a premium option that lets you hail a Mercedes E-class, or an alternative but equally stylish vehicle for your next meeting. Uber is currently available in four UK cities -- London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham -- but a host of others are mentioned in its online job listings, so we suspect it won't be long before the company expands once more.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Uber's breathalyzer kiosk gets you a ride home if you're drunk

  Uber sees its ridesharing service as an ideal way to get you home safely when you're drunk, and it's trying out some relatively unique technology to prove its point. The company recently set up an Uber Safe kiosk in Toronto that gave sloshed Canadians a free ride if they blew into a breathalyzer -- much safer than stumbling on foot or struggling to hail a cab, if you ask us. The Toronto device was largely a promotional stunt, but Uber tells us that it's "thrilled" with the early response and to "stay tuned" for the possibility of more kiosks going forward. We can't imagine that Uber would continue to offer the Safe service free of charge if it catches on, but it's easy to see systems like this popping up in bar-heavy neighborhoods.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Tesla's entry-level Model S delivers a lot more bang for a little extra buck

  Electric cars are an important step on the road to saving the planet, but they're sufficiently expensive that they're still the province of "yuppies." The problem with Tesla's entry-level Model S 60 is that its shorter range was sure to deter some who could just about make the switch, but couldn't afford an 85D. The company clearly realized that it wasn't doing enough to coax prospective customers, which is why it's now revealed a new entry level Model S in the form of the 70D. If there's a catch, it's that the 70D is $5,000 more expensive than the S 60 it was designed to replace, but that extra cash buys you a lot more car than it could a few days ago.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Peugeot's transforming food truck is a mobile French bistro for 30

  The French know a thing or two about good food, so it makes sense that they'd weigh in on the mobile culinary trend, too. Peugeot's Design Lab created the "Le Bistrot du Lion:" a transforming vehicle that offers cafe-style seating for up to 30 people. The van's entire side panel opens to reveal a fully-equipped kitchen/prep area, with a raised roof to offer the extra head room. That side panel also houses a 46-inch display where hungry observers can watch the chef's routine. Continuing with the modular construction, a counter slides out the back and the rear door handles storage. There's a trailer too, and it packs in a n espresso machine for a fresh brewed cup and a DJ booth provides tunes while folks dine. Such a luxurious workspace needs talent to make it worth the trouble, so Peugeot enlisted Paris-based chef Sven Chartier for the vehicle's stops at Milan Design Week and the World's Fair Expo Milano. If you can't travel to Italy for a closer look, peruse the gallery below for some detail shots.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Cars of the future will be safer and more connected

  Are self-driving cars the future? They very well could be. Still, you shouldn't expect to see Mercedes' F 015 and other similar prototypes on public roads anytime soon. To learn more about this and the future of the car industry, we took to the New York Auto Show to speak to representatives of some of the largest manufacturers in the world -- Ford, Nissan, Honda, Jaguar and Chevrolet. While most of these companies already have autonomous projects in the works, they all agree that vehicles won't look terribly different over the next five to 10 years. In the near-term future, the focus is to keep drivers safe and make it easier for them to stay connected to the outside world. The plan is to bring more digital safety features to cars, and for smartphones to work better with infotainment systems. Simply put, it's all about efficiency -- for now, anyway.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Futuristic 'SuperTruck' doubles the MPG of other semis

  The EPA estimates that motor vehicles contribute about half of America's smog-forming volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide emissions every year. And given that the average fuel efficiency of your average 18-wheeler only hits about 6 miles per gallon, these big rigs can be big polluters too. But this new prototype from Daimler Trucks North America, built as part of the US Department of Transportation's SuperTruck Challenge, sips just half as much gas.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Elon Musk hires an F1 expert to revolutionize Tesla's pit stops

  Elon Musk's new battery swap stations can already refresh a Tesla Model S and put it back on the road in under three minutes, but now he has help in cutting that time to something even shorter. Today the CEO announced Tesla has hired from Formula 1 chief mechanic Kenny Handkammer to "revolutionize servicing mainstream cars." Handkammer won championships with both Michael Shumacher and Sebastian Vettel during his 25 years in racing, and was the chief mechanic of the Red Bull F1 team when it set a world record in 2013 with a pit stop that took just 1.9 seconds -- check after the break for a slow-mo look at a relatively leisurely 2.05 second stop.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• The Solarbike is a very real thing

  Here's an electric bike that doesn't need plugging in.. or swapping out batteries. As the name suggests, the Solarbike has solar cells built into both sides of the party typical bicycle wheels, using cells (and a design) that's apparently "shadow optimized": The inventor is based in Copenhagen, so it's certainly an issue that needed tackling. Power drawn in from the solar cells when the bike isn't moving is stored inside an on-board battery, then when you're in transit, power comes both from the Thermos-shaped attached to the bike frame and what ever trickles in from the solar cells. As Treehugger puts it, improvements solar cell tech improvements in last decade has made this design at least tenable -- because the wheels are facing out sideways, not getting solar rays head-on, it makes the task of absorbing light a little bit more difficult.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• The dream of an arrow-shaped road car still lives

  Don't give up hope for the arrow-like car of your childhood fantasies just because Nissan has shelved its BladeGlider EV -- you may get your wish after all. DeltaWing (which is backed by motorsports giant Don Panoz) has filed for two patents on two "street car" designs that would bring that sci-fi wedge shape to a road near you. The first (above) is effectively a civilian version of DeltaWing's race car that would undoubtedly be eye-catching, if not exactly practical for backing out of a parking space. Another (below) is much more viable, with relatively subtler looks and such radical concepts as rear windows.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Recommended Reading: The record-breaking all-electric '68 Mustang

  Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Dark Horse by Michael Zelenko The Verge Converting one of the most beloved American muscle cars to an all-electric machine sounds crazy enough, but Mitch Medford wanted much more than that. After putting 800 horsepower's worth of batteries, converters and motors in a 1968 Mustang, he eyed the record for that model: the 170MPH mark set by Carroll Shelby himself -- a man that's synonymous with these classic cars in the States. In fact, some models of Ford's iconic two-door still bear his name. The Verge chronicles the story of the Zombie 222's (as it's called) origins and Medford's quest for history at the Texas Mile.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Tesla's best sales come in time for its first quarterly report

  Tesla Motors doesn't release monthly car sales data like most other automakers, but today it released its first quarterly sales report showing 10,030 cars delivered (to end customers worldwide) in Q1. The EV builder says it will keep the information coming in the future, three days after the end of every quarter. This time around, that sales figure represents a new company record for a quarter, and a 55 percent jump from the same period last year -- even if it overestimated Tesla demand in China. The only real problem with the stats? It doesn't break out how many shockingly fast -- and soon self-driving -- AWD P85Ds that included, and I don't see any one of those 10k in my driveway right now.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• NHS vehicles trial tech that turns traffic lights green on command

  Traffic lights are a pet peeve for many city-dwelling drivers. You'll be running late for a meeting, but all of your attempts to make up the time are thwarted by successive red lights. Bad luck on the road can be particularly problematic for ambulances in the UK -- when they're rushing to the scene of an accident, every second counts. To help out, Newcastle University is spearheading a new project that gives NHS vehicles priority at the lights.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Georgia wants EV owners to pay for saving the planet

  Climate change is still a real, looming threat, so you'd think that getting people using electric cars would be a vital project to safeguard the future. Unfortunately, the state of Georgia is so broke that it's not only pulling its electric vehicle subsidies, it's going to kick would-be planet savers while they're down. Vice News details how the state is about to axe its $5,000 tax credit and, even better, add a $200 a year electric vehicle tax to recoup the drop in gasoline tax revenues.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Megawatt electric race car chases prestigious motorsport title

  Think Tesla's top-of-the-line, dual-motor-equipped P85D electric car is fast? Think again. Drive eO, an electric and hybrid car specialist in Latvia, is developing a one megawatt electric race car to take on the prestigious Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June. The all-wheel drive "eO PP03" runs on a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and six YASA-400 electric motors, capable of producing 1020 kW (1368 horsepower) and speeds of up to 260 kmh (162 mph). Drive eO says it'll be the "first one megawatt all-electric race car," and while we're not sure that claim is strictly accurate, it still sounds like a beast on paper.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• BMW will make plug-in versions of all new models

  BMW only promised to build plug-in options for its core models back in December, but it looks like the company's expanding that initiative to include future releases, as well. "With the introduction of every new model, there will be a plug-in hybrid version of that, too," BMW North America CEO Ludwig Willisch told Autoblog in an interview. Makes sense, considering the company mentioned before that its plug-in tech can fit into any of its vehicles.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• BMW can't build its $135,000 plug-in hybrid fast enough

  Gas may be cheap right now, but even the well-to-do prefer not to burn it. BMW is doubling the production pace of its 357 horsepower i8 plug-in hybrid car -- which runs 23 miles or so on electricity alone -- to around 20 vehicles per day. The automaker is bumping the numbers to meet demand and cut the four-month waiting list in half. As our sister site Autoblog pointed out, that's a mere .04 percent of an F-150's production, but then again the i8 costs around four times as much.

  By Steve Dent Read More

Gaming (56)

• Turn your home into a haunted house with AR game 'Night Terrors'

  You're home alone. It's the dead of night and all of the lights are off; you creep down the hallway with one hand dragging along the wall, your phone serving as a makeshift flashlight. You hear a young girl's voice whisper from the bedroom in front of you and the hair on the back of your neck stands up straight. You pause. Your heart pounds. A dull ringing assaults your ears. You creep forward, holding the phone higher, when suddenly -- a high-pitched shriek as your phone's light starts rapidly flashing and a deformed, undead monster barrels down the hallway directly toward you. You drop your phone. Game over.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Streams: Acid Nerve teaches us how to topple 'Titan Souls'

  Welcome to the new masochism! For a decade now, games have held our hands and walked us patiently through their soft hallways. Playing BioShock Infinite? Try easy mode, darling. Rollicking your way through New Super Mario Bros. U? Fail too many times and the game will play itself. No more! The new breed of punishers like Bloodborne have brought out the gleeful self-flagellator in everyone. Acid Nerve's Titan Souls is another banner carrier for the new masochism. Don't let its old-school adventure, Zelda-meets-Shadow of the Colossus facade fool you; this is one tough cookie. That's why we're having Acid Nerve, its creators, come on to JXE Streams to teach us how to play.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• These surrealist games melt more than clocks

  Some say surrealism was the most influential art movement of the past century and, perhaps unsurprisingly, it's had an effect on video game developers too. The games you'll find below weren't made by Salvador Dalí or M.C. Escher, but the influence those mind-bending artists had is unmistakable. And it's not just limited to endless staircases or clocks melting off the side of a ledge (although those make appearances) in indie games, either. Dream-like visuals and landscapes have dotted the world of blockbuster games too -- not even God of War 3 was immune when it released in 2010. Let's take a mind-bending trip together in the gallery below, shall we?

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Math explains why beating 'Tetris' is basically impossible

  You're never going to beat Tetris. Sorry. You might be asking why I'm so pessimistic and even though that's perfectly natural, PBS' Game/Show will back me up here. While the seven multicolored falling bricks (officially called "tetrominoes") all fit together pretty nicely, they only occupy a space that's eight tiles wide when fully combined. Coupled with the size of the playing space -- the "well," as it's called, is ten tiles wide -- there's always going to be room for screw-ups that are out of your control. There's a ton of math, studies of probability and statistics to explain it all, too. As host Jamin Warren tells it (citing a research paper from 1996), failure is due in no small part to how the "bag" randomly generates pieces that're dropping.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Unreal game engine will support HTC's virtual reality headset

  The crew at Epic Games has made a point of welcoming virtual reality with open arms, and it's not about to shy away any time soon. The studio recently updated its roadmap with indications that Unreal Engine 4 will support Steam VR (and by extension, the HTC Vive headset) no later than May. Also, Epic isn't wasting much time getting up to speed with Sony's newer Project Morpheus gear -- there's promises of silky-smooth 120Hz visuals, among other things. This wider support won't matter until you can buy both the VR hardware and titles based on UE4, but it suggests that there won't be a shortage of immersive gaming when everything lines up.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• There's an easy way to bet on competitive video games

  Competitive gaming is big enough now in the US that it's catching ESPN's attention, so it stands to reason that you'd want a way to bet on those virtual matches, doesn't it? Ex-Microsoft manager (and Engadget Expand panelist) Rahul Sood thinks so. He just launched Unikrn, a site that makes it easy to wager on eSports. If you live in a country where the company will accept bets (currently Australia), you can plunk down real cash and win jackpots, much like you would with conventional sports betting. You could make a tidy profit betting that a low-ranked League of Legends team will defy the odds, for instance. Even if you live in the US and other nations where real bets are illegal, you can still sign up and win prizes.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The curious case of 'SpyParty' and self-funded indie games

  Game developer Chris Hecker attended Parsons School of Design in the late 1980s -- his admissions counselor was a fashionable man named Tim Gunn, who accepted Hecker's portfolio complete with a four-foot oil painting of Freddy Krueger, the canvas slashed as if it had been attacked by the subject's own bladed fingers. Hecker eventually dropped out of Parsons and studied computers, picking up jobs at Microsoft and, finally, EA Maxis, building Spore. Now, he's an independent developer and his current project, SpyParty, has been in the works for eight years. Hecker is experienced. He's a veteran developer. He's a relic of gaming's lost AA industry. Or, as Hecker puts it, he's "old and decrepit." "I'm 44 years old, which is old as hell in development," he says.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Mighty No. 9' release blasted back to September

  Mighty No. 9, the new, Kickstarted game from Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune, is now due out on September 15 in the US, delayed from a spring 2015 launch window. Inafune's team, Comcept, announced the delay in a Kickstarter update, along with another nugget of news: Deep Silver -- the publisher behind Saints Row, Homefront and Dead Island -- will publish Mighty No. 9. Comcept promises that the delay will allow the team to add Japanese and French voiceovers, extra subtitle languages, and an extra level, boss and playable character.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Horror sequel 'Five Nights at Freddy's 4' is happening on Halloween

  Five Nights at Freddy's is a terrifying game series about gruesome murders, dead children and haunted animatronic creatures a la Chuck-E-Cheese meets Poltergeist. Yep, it's everything awful about your childhood nightmares, sprinkled with a dash of dehydrated parmesan. Good news, disturbed youth: Five Nights at Freddy's 4: The Final Chapter is happening and it's due out on Halloween. Five Nights at Freddy's has seen rapid success since its debut in August 2014, thanks in large part to YouTube's gaming stars, who are always up for a good scare. The series, created by Scott Cawthon, has done so well that Warner Bros. recently picked up the film rights and is working on a movie. Fingers crossed for a feel-good rom-com.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Minecraft' finally has a free girl character

  Lots of girls play Minecraft, but you wouldn't know it from the default character options. Unless you've been willing to pay up or install a mod, your only real choice so far has been Steve, the game's male mascot. At last, though, things are opening up -- Mojang is giving builders the choice of a free girl character, Alex. She's been around before as a randomly assigned character in the computer version, but the move will help female players on all platforms sculpt their dream worlds using a character they can identify with. PlayStation and Xbox gamers will get Alex as of April 29th, while mobile users playing the Pocket Edition should see her this summer.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Kojima and del Toro's 'Silent Hills' is not going to happen

  Silent Hills, at least as it was originally conceived, is no more. The next chapter of the once-popular horror series had built considerable hype off the back of a fantastic playable teaser, P.T., which was released last summer. When solved the teaser offered up a trailer for a new Silent Hill game, revealing that Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus were all on board. According to both del Toro and Reedus, that is no longer the case. At the San Francisco International Film Festival, del Toro was quoted as saying that his collaboration with Kojima is "not gonna happen." Norman Reedus later tweeted an article reporting the game is canceled, adding he's "super bummed" about the news, and Konami has confirmed to Eurogamer that its contract period with the actor has "expired."

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Interactive exhibit honors women in game development

  There's a new interactive video game exhibit at The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) in California, and it's not showing off just any game-related material. No, it's putting a spotlight on the accomplishments female game developers -- eight women who worked on influential titles, in particular. Those include Roberta Williams (King's Quest), Yoko Shimomura (Street Fighter III) and Kim Swift (Portal). According to the museum's announcement, the exhibit aims to raise awareness about women's contributions to the industry, as they can be easy to overlook in a male-dominated field. "Women are not some oddity in the video game industry," MADE founder Alex Handy told Kill Screen. "We hope this exhibit helps to highlight that fact for the next generation of game developers." The exhibit has been open since the 12th and will run throughout the summer.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3' is fast, frantic and adds a co-op campaign

  Developer Treyarch has a good record of keeping things fresh in Call of Duty. The company started working on the franchise back in 2005. With World at War it added zombies; Black Ops went to Vietnam; Black Ops 2 traversed time and added branching narratives. For its next installment, Treyarch is, once again, trying something new. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (set to arrive November 6th on PC, Xbox One and PS4) brings campaign co-op back to the franchise. The entire campaign will be playable co-operatively by up to four players online (or two players locally). The addition of up to three campaign players meant building bigger combat arenas, better AI and adding social features for showing off medals and achievements.

  By Xav de Matos Read More

• Only selfies can kill the bad guys in this game

  Okay, "bad guys" is a bit of an exaggeration: The green boxes you have to kill in Selfie Assault don't really do anything but stay perfectly still. You'd have to eliminate them all to conquer the game, though -- as its tag line says: "Only cameras can see them. Only selfies can kill them. No filter. No mercy." In Selfie Assault, developed by mint for the Ludum Dare 32 game jam, you go around in a white room, finding enemy green boxes through a virtual phone screen. To make them go away, you'd have to take a selfie with them in the picture. The photo's angle and your position in the selfies don't matter, so you can think up of crazy poses and be creative.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The new 'Call of Duty Black Ops 3' trailer looks... familiar

  The latest teaser trailer for Call of Duty Black Ops 3 -- this year's installment from Black Ops creator Treyarch -- depicts a future ruptured by the onset of technologically enhanced and weaponized humans. There are riots in the streets and ominous news reports on the screens, plus a whistleblower who claims that the government is turning humans into death machines. Black Ops generally deals with futuristic combat, but the new transhumanist angle is oddly reminiscent of another AAA franchise, Deus Ex. And that's not just us saying so: The official Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Twitter account responded to the Black Ops 3 trailer with a picture of a confused (and adorable) cat, and Deus Ex executive art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletete jokingly welcomed Treyarch to the bandwagon. "We lied guyz. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided actually takes place on the Eastern Front during World War 2. We felt inspired," he tweeted. Watch the teaser below and judge our technological future for yourself.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Marvel and Telltale team up for a brand-new game

  Telltale, the studio behind Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead adventure games, has partnered with Marvel for a game series due out in 2017. Telltale announced the collaboration in a brief blog post, and details from an event in San Francisco note that it's a PC and console game (via GameSpot). Other than that, we have the above image and our imaginations.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Video games can drive social change, if they grow up first

  Games for Change president Asi Burak has noticed an odd trend in the gaming industry. Gaming is growing rapidly as a form of entertainment and it's entering a space of serious artistic critique, where people from other fields of entertainment recognize its potential to influence real-world events. Here's the odd part: Opposition to sophisticated critique of video games tends to come from within the gaming industry itself, Burak says. He runs through a few potential reasons for this phenomenon: It's the nature of gaming to be edgy and anti-establishment. It's a young industry. It saw rapid commercial success and now doesn't want to derail its prosperous ways. It's historically an underground kind of field, not used to a spotlight that could reveal flaws alongside beauty. "For all those reasons, social responsibility and real-world issues are not the core of the gaming industry," Burak says. "And I think it's interesting because when you look at other media, it's always the case [that they're socially aware]."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Why video game bodies look nothing like real people

  Have you wondered why video game characters bear precious little resemblance to the people you see on the street? PBS has. Its latest Game/Show episode dives into the reasons why bodies in games are so exaggerated, and finds that it's largely about the psychological associations you make with geometry. Circular shapes tend to communicate liveliness, innocence and stereotypical femininity, while squares and triangles often suggest balance, hardness and (historically masculine) strength. They're meant as a shorthand that conveys what a character is about before you even start playing, such as a tough-as-nails Gears of War soldier or a friendly mascot like Mario.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'GameLoading' documentary charts the rise of indie gaming stars

  The indie game community has exploded in the last few years, especially as development tools and digital distribution channels have become more accessible. StudioBento filmmakers Lester Francois and Anna Brady wanted to document the movement and, in 2013, raised almost $58,000 on Kickstarter to make a new movie. Now, almost two years later (and a second Kickstarter) GameLoading: Rise of the Indies has finally arrived. It was filmed over three years and features prolific developers such as Davey Wreden (The Stanley Parable), Rami Ismail (Vlambeer) and Zoe Quinn (Depression Quest). You can grab it now through the GameLoading site, as well as iTunes, Steam, PSN and Xbox Video.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• 'Adventure Time' may finally be getting the game it deserves

  The Adventure Time TV show has been a huge success, but the accompanying video games rarely offer the same level of quality. Developer Vicious Cycle is hoping to change that with Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations, a new 3D puzzler featuring the 12-year-old boy and magical dog. The game is being pitched as an "action-oriented twist" on the graphic adventure genre, which has been enjoying somewhat of a renaissance recently thanks to titles like Broken Age. In the new game, friends Finn and Jake are professional investigators, unravelling disappearances and other strange events in the crazy Land of Ooo. It's the most visually impressive Adventure Time game to date (which isn't saying much), and promises a healthy mix of puzzles and combat. If you're interested, it'll be landing on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS and PC this November.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• The 'Journey' game soundtrack will be available on vinyl

  Sony and Thatgamecompany are proud that Journey's soundtrack was good enough to make it the first game nominated for a Grammy -- so proud, in fact, that they're releasing the score on vinyl. Spend $35 and you'll get a double LP of Austin Wintory's original score for the music-driven adventure, complete with art on each side of both discs. You'll have to wait until August to start listening, although you can get a $60 limited edition print of the album art this June. Is this overkill for a game that you can easily finish in an afternoon? Quite possibly, but it's a testament to how soundtracks like this are increasingly finding relevance beyond your console.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Rock Band 4' will be co-published by hardware company Mad Catz

  Rock Band creator Harmonix is bringing a roadie along for this year's release of Rock Band 4 -- Mad Catz, the peripheral manufacturer, will co-publish the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Mad Catz is in charge of making all of the wireless instruments in Rock Band 4, but as a co-publisher the company will also lead global sales, promotions and distribution, Global PR Director Alex Verrey says. Harmonix and Mad Catz intend to release Rock Band 4 simultaneously in the US and European territories, Harmonix PR Lead Nick Chester tweeted to a curious fan today.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Kerbal Space Program' finally launches on April 27th

  Squad's Kerbal Space Program has often seemed like a never-ending experiment. The first public version of the spacecraft building game was released in 2011, and it's been in a rough state ever since. At last, though, it's officially ready for action -- the developer has revealed that KSP 1.0 will be available on April 27th. This polished version will be very familiar if you've tried pre-release code on your Mac or Windows PC, although that's not a bad thing. As before, your only real goal is to explore the Kerbals' solar system using the best rockets, landers and probes that you know how to make, with (mostly) realistic physics teaching you about the challenges of reaching orbit and touching down on distant planets. The game is close enough to the real thing that the likes of NASA and SpaceX's Elon Musk approve, so it's worth a look if you want to imagine what a Mars landing would be like years before it happens.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• GameStop's going retro with classic consoles and games

  GameStop is trying a new tactic as it faces increased competition from the likes of Gamefly, Amazon and other online retailers: It's going old school. IGN reports that beginning April 24th, the company will once again begin accepting classic consoles for trade-in and sale in 250 of its brick-and-mortar locations around NYC and Birmingham, Alabama. Technically, sellers will be able to offload their old consoles in an actual store but buyers will only be able to purchase these units online. Most every console from the 8-bit era on up to PS2's will reportedly be offered. And because the used consoles are first inspected and certified by GameStop before being put back up for sale, they're expected to come with warranties on par with those offered by the original manufacturers. GameStop hopes to roll the service out nationwide by the end of the year.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• The slow, unsettling burn of Owl Cave's indie horror

  Owl Cave popped onto the indie scene in 2013 with a macabre, witty point-and-click adventure called Richard & Alice, which received a slew of rave reviews. Studio co-founder Nina White specializes in crafting vaguely horrific stories packed with tension, and her latest creation, The Charnel House Trilogy, is no exception. It's a subdued brand of horror: no jump scares, no boogeymen under the bed, no demonic children with long, limp hair crawling out of the TV. Charnel House takes place on a train and tells the stories of three passengers over the course of a single night. "For me, horror's all about the creeping dread, the slow, unsettling burn," White says. "It's this sense of unease and discomfort that I really like playing around with when crafting horror stories."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The first look at 'Star Wars Battlefront,' a familiar multiplayer feast

  With a new film on the horizon, there's a wave of excitement attached to the Star Wars franchise that hasn't been felt since the months leading up to the release of Episode I. Part of Disney's new plan for the $4 billion series includes a slate of new video game experiences over the course of a 10-year partnership with Electronic Arts.

  By Xav de Matos Read More

• 'Project Cars' will finally come out on May 6th, we hope

  Remember Project Cars, the beautiful sim racer from the team behind Need for Speed: Shift? Well, it's finally coming out, and relatively soon. Or at least that's what developer Slightly Mad Studios is promising, anyway. After three embarrassing delays, we've got a new release date for your calendar: May 6th. The game will be available first on PC (via Steam) in the US before a staggered international release on PS4 and Xbox One: it'll arrive in Europe and Australasia on May 7th, followed by the UK on May 8th and North America on May 12th. There's no word on the Wii U version though, which is a little worrying.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Channel 4 creates its own video game publishing arm

  Channel 4 is gearing up to launch its own video game publisher. The UK broadcaster has commissioned mobile games before, but they've often been specific projects that relate to its most popular programming. Now, it wants to offer additional support to the indie developer community. Channel 4 will continue to fund a smattering of games, but its new "All 4 Games" brand will offer broader games development, marketing and promotional support. So even if Channel 4 isn't funding the title, the idea is that its guidance and experience will justify a small cut of developers' revenues. That includes publishing games on all of the major app stores, as well as promoting them through its new All 4 video streaming service. What's not clear, however, is the exact cut Channel 4 will be taking from the games. The mobile space is brutal, especially now that the free-to-play model is so prevalent, so the broadcaster will need to prove its services represent good value.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• 'Halo' hits iOS, but not in the way that you'd expect

  Remember that crappy, top-down Halo game that came out a few years ago, Spartan Assault? Well, it got a sequel that's available on Steam, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and as weird as it sounds, even iOS. Anyhow, Halo: Spartan Strike will run you $5.99 or, if you're using one of Apple's mobile gizmos or a PC, you can grab the first game and the new one in a bundle for $9.99. Spartan Strike's story is a simulation (much like the last one was) set during the events of Halo 2 -- but there's a twist. Remember the cool new enemies from Halo 4, the Prometheans? They're in this game too, which raises more than a few questions regarding its fiction and timeline.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• The mystery of 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture' lifts a little more

  Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is a new game from The Chinese Room, the studio behind beautiful exploration experience Dear Esther and horror game Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. It's exclusive to PlayStation 4 and takes place in a gorgeous, abandoned 3D world. In-game, players embark on a mission to discover where everyone in this quaint village went -- how and why they all seemingly, suddenly popped out of existence. Time plays a "fairly central role" in the game and it involves mysterious beams of golden light. The Chinese Room revealed Everybody's Gone to the Rapture at Sony's Gamescom presentation in 2013 with an eerie trailer hinting at a retro, post-apocalyptic environment, and the latest video expands on these themes. It's similarly vague but offers a look at another environment, this time an empty children's classroom that appears to have been ransacked by ... something. Along with the new video, The Chinese Room offers a taste of the game's music with a haunting, orchestral track.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Streams: Double Fine walks us through their 'Broken Age'

  More than a year has passed since the first half of Double Fine's Broken Age came out, leaving fans of classic adventure video games as flummoxed and desperate for resolution as the game's young heroes. Later this month Tim Schafer's point and click fantasy will finally continue when Broken Age: Episode 2 hits PC, PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. We here at Engadget feel that there's no time like the present to revisit the first chapter. Composer Peter McConnell and artist Nathan Stapley will be joining us to give some insight into the game's strange world of technological prisons and human sacrifice-loving beast gods.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• The beautiful cyberpunk game that turned two brothers into developers

  Tim and Adrien Soret, brothers from Paris, were quietly developing a Studio Ghibli-inspired dark fantasy game when the Cyberpunk Jam digitally rolled into town in early 2014. They took a break from their existing development schedule to build a completely new experience, a pixelated, neon-infused, sci-fi homage to some of their favorite childhood titles -- Another World, Flashback and Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. They were new to game development and unknown on the indie scene, but in six days they coded, animated and designed their entry, The Last Night, and then threw it online for voting. They didn't expect much. "When we discovered that we won out of 265 games, we were totally stunned," older brother Tim Soret says.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Quit playin' 'Candy Crush' or you'll hurt yourself

  Humans are bred to lie, and while police officers probably receive the bulk of our untruths, doctors get a fair share as well. Like, when someone walks into a clinic complaining of a busted tendon in their hand, it's only natural that they'd say that they were, uh, playing Candy Crush too hard than tell the truth. It's the story that the San Diego Union Tribune is running with after an orthopedic surgeon revealed that a patient ruptured the tendons in their thumb while playing the addictive mobile game on their smartphone. Joking aside, Dr. Dori Cage has advised the public against the dangers of "texting thumb," a repetitive stress injury caused by the prevalence of smartphones. So, if you start to feel a soreness in your fingers or thumbs after an extended session, just put your device down for a little while, okay? [Image Credit: Bloomberg / Getty Images]

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• EA won't make money in the new Humble Origin Bundle

  Humble Bundle regularly offers groups of games for the low price of "whatever you want to pay," with the option to send your money to the developers, Humble itself or to charity. Since launching in 2010, Humble has raised more than $50 million for charity -- and its latest bundle looks to add to that total. For the next two weeks, the Humble Origin Bundle 2 benefits only charity and Humble Bundle, since EA has opted out of making any money from this particular sale. The bundle supports Girls Who Code, which encourages young women to pursue computer science degrees, The V Foundation for Cancer Research and buildOn, a group that aims to improve conditions in the developing world by emphasizing women's education. Who knew supporting charity could be so fun?

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Streams: 'Mortal Kombat X' pits Engadget against College Humor

  Mortal Kombat is funny. NetherRealm's decades-old fighting series has never been Old Boy by way of Hostel. Its brand of dumb, outsized action is Shogun Assassin crossed with Evil Dead 2. When you pull off fatalities in Mortal Kombat 2, people explode and multiple ribcages fall from the sky. Where did the extra ribcage come from? Who cares! To celebrate the arrival of Mortal Kombat X's abject silliness, we have decided to indulge in a little friendly competition with College Humor on today's stream. Don't worry; everyone's ribcage will likely be fine.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Mortal Kombat X' and the comedy of violence

  Mortal Kombat is synonymous with violence -- hell, it's baked into the franchise's name. But despite how increasingly gruesome the series has become with each successive release throughout its 23-year history, it hasn't lost sight of keeping the tone light as a counterbalance. Whether that's a head popping up saying, "Toasty!" in falsetto after a particularly brutal uppercut, or turning an opponent into a crying baby that slips on a puddle of frozen urine at the end of a match, humor is just as intrinsic to the game as its bloodshed. What the series delivers is cartoony, over-the-top violence akin to the B-movie horror of something like Peter Jackson's Dead Alive. Fatalities, Mortal Kombat's signature, end-of-match moves, are shockingly gory, for sure, but somehow developer NetherRealm keeps the game from feeling like torture porn. "We're not out trying to make Saw or a horror film," says NetherRealm Lead Designer John Edwards. "We don't take ourselves too seriously."

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Resurrecting 'Guitar Hero' through live rock and robots

  Guitar Hero Live is trying to pull off one of the most difficult acts in rock and roll: the return to relevance. Not just a reunion tour feeding off nostalgic fans looking to recapture the good, old days of 2005, but a bona fide resurrection. After a five-year hiatus for the series, FreeStyleGames has taken over. It hopes to bring the rock star simulator back to the prominence that made Guitar Hero 3 the first game to break $1 billion in sales. Its first step: redesigning the iconic guitar, trading its five primary-colored buttons for six black and white keys that mimic actual chord fingerings, but that's not its primary gambit. Chasing the rock star fantasy that the old games sold even further, this fall's Guitar Hero Live places you on a real stage with a real band and audience, all filmed from a first-person perspective.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• The second 'Destiny' expansion lands on May 19th (updated)

  "House of Wolves," the second batch of downloadable content for open-world shooter Destiny, will hit on Tuesday, May 19th. House of Wolves should offer a slew of fixes to Destiny's shared economy, making the climb to level 32 easier and offering more incentives for players to customize their gear with unique upgrades. Destiny's first expansion, "The Dark Below," landed on December 9th, bringing a new cooperative Strike mission, a six-player Raid and loot that allowed players to reach level 32. Some information about both expansions leaked back in September, when players discovered an in-game glitch listing the packs' names and some mission details. Check out the trailer for House of Wolves below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'No Pineapple Left Behind' skewers the American education system

  As Rockstar Games' Bully proved, grade school makes for a pretty interesting (if painfully underused) setting for video games, which is why I'm intrigued by No PIneapple Left Behind. In it, you're a principal lording over pineapples, making sure they do amazingly well on standardized tests because that's what begets more funding for your school. Problem is, a number of factors run the risk of turning your pineapples back into children -- and you can't have that because pineapples excel at taking tests and things like rote memorization rather than actually learning.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Publishers are fighting to keep abandoned games dead

  The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit group that defends civil liberties in the digital world, is facing off against the Entertainment Software Association, the organization that represents most major video game publishers in the US. The EFF wants to allow players to put abandoned games back online and has asked the US Copyright Office for an exemption from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This would allow players to legally modify the code of online games that are no longer supported by publishers, in the hope of reconnecting these titles to new, third-party servers. This includes games like Battlefield 1942, Star Wars: Battlefront, SOCOM 4, Resistance: Fall of Man and Mario Kart Wii. Many modern games rely on servers to function; if Activision pulled the plug on Destiny, for example, even its single-player campaign would disappear, since the entire game needs an online connection.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Buckle up for 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3'

  This year's Call of Duty is likely to be Black Ops 3, as hinted at in a fresh teaser trailer titled "#backinblack." Well, either it hints at Black Ops 3 or Activision is trying really, really hard to throw the entire world off its scent. Treyarch, the studio that created the Black Ops franchise within Call of Duty, is in charge of the 2015 game, so it was already likely that we'd see a third this year. Activision plans to reveal the new Call of Duty on April 26, and you bet we'll have all of the juicy details then. Watch the new teaser below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The man who left behind $78 million to revamp a classic space shooter

  Eric Peterson has dedicated 20 years of his life to the video game industry, handling development and production in startups and large studios alike. He has a passion for space games, and in April 2012, he helped found Cloud Imperium Games, the studio building Chris Roberts' massive interstellar simulator Star Citizen. Cloud Imperium has since raised $78.6 million from nearly 900,000 dedicated fans, with more adding to the pot every day; it's the largest and most ridiculous crowdfunding campaign in gaming history. Late last year, Peterson walked away from Cloud Imperium, Star Citizen and that pile of cash. Not because he wasn't into the game anymore; he just didn't want to leave his home in Austin, Texas. "I loved working on the project; I just didn't want to move to Los Angeles," Peterson says. "They're my friends. Look, I built that company with them. ... It's just that, I've made sacrifices before in this industry for games that almost cost me personally with my family. So I'm just not willing to do that anymore. The priorities for me are family first."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Streams: Grinding rails with 'OlliOlli 2' developer Roll7

  One of the most commonly and inappropriately used words employed to describe video games is "visceral." As combinations of vowels and consonants go it's a humdinger, but it's impact disappears when you're talking about a game where a happy plumber jumps on turtles. Viscera is not affected. OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood, Roll7's aggressively stylish skateboarding game, is actually visceral. The first time you wipe out on a staircase and watch your wee skater violently obey the laws of gravity, you can feel it in your very own guts and it is brutal. The satisfaction of starting again and nailing that same grind? Hits you in the same place. Today we're hanging out with the creators of OlliOlli 2 while playing the game on PS4.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Lego's answer to 'Skylanders' and Amiibo arrives this September

  Activision's Skylanders franchise has been a huge success, combining colorful toys with a video game platform that players can easily manipulate with their personal collection. Disney and Nintendo have followed with slightly different takes on the toys-to-life concept, and now Lego is jumping into the fray too. The company is partnering with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Traveller's Tales, the publisher and studio responsible for most of the existing Lego games, to create a new series called Lego Dimensions.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Zynga's new CEO was also its first

  Zynga's attempt to restore its former glory by hiring an Xbox executive as its leader hasn't exactly panned out. The game developer has announced that CEO Don Mattrick is leaving, effective immediately, with founder Mark Pincus once again taking the reins. It's not clear what prompted the sudden exit, but Pincus swears to the New York Times that Mattrick isn't getting the boot. Reportedly, the two agreed that it was a time for the changing of the guard.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Blizzard blocks 'World of Warcraft' and 'Diablo 3' in Crimea

  Players in Crimea can no longer access Battle.net, the service that houses Blizzard games World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Hearthstone and others, The Moscow Times reports. Blizzard blocked its games in response to US sanctions against Crimea -- Google, Apple, PayPal and Valve have also suspended service to the region, the site says. The Moscow Times pulled its Blizzard report from Russian site Geektimes.ru, which published an email sent to Crimean Battle.net users. "In accordance with current trade regulations relating to the region of Crimea, we are legally required to suspend access to your Battle.net account," a translation reads.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Deus Ex: Mankind Divided' pre-orders live now

  Pre-orders for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are live today via the game's official site, open to pure humans and transhumans alike. (The site is down at the moment, but it should be "back soon"). Mankind Divided is in development for PS4, Xbox One and PC, and it doesn't have an official release date. Yes, you can pre-order a game that was revealed, without many details, just minutes ago and that doesn't yet have a release date. Welcome to the future.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Two popular 3DS games get sequels on smartphones and tablets

  New games in two acclaimed 3DS franchises, Professor Layton and Fantasy Life, are heading exclusively to iOS and Android. During an event today, Japanese developer Level-5 announced it will bring Professor Layton and Fantasy Life to smartphones and tablets in Japan only (for now). Siliconera reports the next Professor Layton game is called Layton 7 and it seems to be a departure from the series' puzzle-solving roots, offering a card game with fortune-telling aspects where players attempt to figure out who the "Vampire" is. The new Fantasy Life game, Fantasy Life 2: Two Moons and the Village of God, sticks closely to the franchise's role-playing script but offers more city-building options, Siliconera says.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Deus Ex: Mankind Divided' betrayed by leaked screenshots (update)

  The next game in Square Enix's futuristic action franchise, Deus Ex, is called Mankind Divided, and it's in development for PC, Xbox One and PS4. A slew of photos and information today found its way to a Russian site and, of course, NeoGAF, depicting new Deus Ex environments and series star Adam Jensen. Game Informer revealed Mankind Divided as its May cover story shortly after the leak. This week, Square Enix has been teasing a new game on Twitch and other social media platforms using the moniker "Can't Kill Progress," and it had planned to reveal the new game on April 9th. Update: The latest tweet invites us to tune in tomorrow at noon (ET) to see "the future of Deus Ex."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Inside the UK's first dedicated eSports arena

  The sound of gunfire echoes across the room, followed by an approving roar from the crowd. A five-man team called "Ninjas in Pyjamas" has taken the lead and fans can hardly contain their excitement. Another counter-terrorist suddenly drops to the floor and the noise from the crowd rises again, as two suit-clad presenters babble feverishly into headsets about the tactics at play. There's no time for celebration though. The players remain fixated on their PC monitors, fingers dancing across keyboards and mice as they guide their virtual characters around an abandoned warehouse complex.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Pong, Pac-Man and Space Invaders meet in mega mashup

  We may have reached peak video game nostalgia. Mega-hybrid game Pacapong takes Pong, Pac-Man, and Space Invaders and crams them into a two-player mish-mash extravaganza. Players launch Pac-Man from Pong paddles through his maze hoping that he makes it to the other side without running into a ghost. If a player does launch the gobbling hero into a ghost, the other player gets to serve. Meanwhile, the players are also battling Space Invaders with the same paddles. It sounds confusing, but after few minutes, you'll be wondering when someone will build a mashup of Galaga, Joust, and Dig Dug.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• JXE Streams: Life gets weirder in 'Life is Strange Episode 2'

  Last time we played Life is Strange here on JXE Streams, Jess Conditt learned some hard lessons about being a teenager. First off, it isn't easy to reconnect with old friends after a long silence. Second, bullies come in all shapes and sizes in the Pacific Northwest. Finally, discovering the ability to travel through time is awesome, stressful and seems to entail horrible visions of your hometown getting destroyed by inclement weather. A little older and a little wiser, we're ready to dive back into the adventure and puzzle solving of Dontnod's so-called life. Join us for Life is Strange Episode 2: Out of Time on today's stream and you might get a free Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or PC game out of it.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Binding of Isaac: Rebirth' reborn on 3DS, Wii U and Xbox One (updated)

  Prepare your consoles for ritual sacrifice. An edited version of The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, the adorably disturbing roguelike from Super Meat Boy co-creator Edmund McMillen, is on its way to 3DS, Wii U and Xbox One. This is really happening, despite a few years of uncertainty about the game's fate on Nintendo consoles. Back in 2012, McMillen said that Nintendo had nixed The Binding of Isaac (the version before the Rebirth expansion) on 3DS because of the game's "questionable religious content." It is a game about God compelling a mother to murder her own child, after all. However, Rebirth has since launched on PlayStation 4, Vita and Steam, and McMillen has remained optimistic about working with Nintendo. In July 2014, he noted that a 3DS version was still on the table.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The maker of 'Eve' is betting big on VR and it might pay off

  It's been a very rough 18 months for the makers of Eve Online, CCP. The company has lost money, canceled the long-delayed World of Darkness MMO, laid off well over 100 employees and said goodbye to two high-profile execs. It also hasn't released any financial statements or subscriber figures since revealing a drop in revenues in June 2014 -- in this case, no news is unlikely to be good news. But there's a plan to turn things around at CCP. It's making substantial changes to Eve Online in an attempt to attract new players, and has poured money into research and development with a big focus on virtual reality. Now, it's gearing up to release Eve Valkyrie, a AAA, competitive multiplayer shooter for Oculus Rift and Sony's Morpheus PS4 headset. The stakes are high, but this big bet on VR might just pay off.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Shoot retro space bullets at friends' phones in real time with 'Dual'

  Dual is more than a retro-styled space shooter. It's even more than a mobile game, and if developer Sebastian Gosztyla has his way, it's more than a video game, period. He wants Dual to be a catalyst for physical interaction. Dual is a two-player, cross-platform competition designed to get players moving in the real world, even as they sling reams of geometrical bullets from their mobile screens and onto friends' in real time. "It requires people to be aware of both screens in order to get a full picture of everything," Gosztyla says. "This makes the players' bodies become part of the experience. They become aware of their proximity and movements to each other, and create rules about how to play. I have seen people hide screens, get a little physical, use their height as an advantage or just turn around and ignore the other screen altogether."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Latest 'Tropes' video highlights strong female game characters

  Earlier this year culture critic Anita Sarkeesian outlined her plan for the coming months, and those included new episodes of her YouTube series Tropes vs. Women in Games. Some would take a different approach, though, including a look at positive depictions of women in interactive media. The first of those videos went live today and it's all about Superbrothers Sword and Sworcery's protagonist, The Scythian. It's a thoughtful look at one of the most stylish games in recent memory, exploring exactly what makes her such a strong character. It's a direct response to the common refrain from her most vocal detractors that all she does is highlight the bad in games, and as per usual it's a pretty great video overall; check it out just below.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

Google (35)

• Gmail ditches a web view built to highlight ads

  Gmail on the web is getting a little more drab... and arguably, that's a good thing. Google has confirmed to Marketing Land that it's no longer testing a grid view in Gmail's promotions tab that showed you images rather than plain old text. It was meant to help email advertisers showcase their offerings in a more alluring way, but people clearly didn't bite -- they preferred the old-school subject lines. Visit now and you should see the same text view that you'd get for the primary and social tabs that you're much more likely to use. The 'new' layout won't be nearly as colorful, but it should help you clear out spam that much faster.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google will tell you who your local General Election candidates are

  The manifestos are out and party leaders are busy touring the country. Even tech companies are doing what they can to help you choose a side ahead of next month's General Election. Twitter rolled out its political emoji, lovingly referred to as "hashflags", earlier this month, but Google's just launched a valuable resource that tells you all of the election candidates in your area. If you pull up a Google search and enter the words "who is on the uk ballot," the search giant will ask you to enter your postcode or constituency before displaying an alphabetic list of all the candidates gunning for your vote. As expected, the 2015 Election campaign has been the most web-friendly yet -- it's just a shame online voting won't happen any time soon.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Google makes nice with European news publishers

  European publishers have long chastised Google for allegedly hurting their bottom line, but the internet giant is now trying to meet them half way. It's launching a partnership with eight news outlets (including the UK's Financial Times and Guardian) that will develop publisher-friendly products and create a €150 million ($163 million) "innovation fund." The hope is that the collaboration will keep journalism viable in an era where you can sometimes get the gist of a story through a simple web search.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google wants first refusal on the patents you want to sell

  When a business is finished with a patent or just needs some cash, it often winds up selling its intellectual property to a patent troll. With it, these "non-practicing entities" can then fire courtroom broadsides at outfits like Microsoft and Google in the hope of raising a quick buck. It's become so much of a problem that Google is hoping to tackle it simply by buying those patents before the trolls can get their hands on 'em.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Send directions to your Android phone with a Google search (update: and notes)

  Sending Google Maps directions to an Android phone hasn't been that hard for a while, but it's now downright easy. Google has introduced a web feature that delivers instructions through a simple search. As long as your phone is properly linked to your Google account, you only have to search for "send directions" to get the ball rolling -- choose the route, hit send and your device will be ready to navigate. Only some people appear to have access to this option as of this writing, but there's a good chance that you'll get to check it out before too long. Update: Google is also giving you the option of sending notes to your phone just by searching for "send a note."

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google eyes the bigger picture while missing Wall Street's expectations

  It's earnings time once more, and Google's gone and done it again. Despite taking in $17.3 billion in revenue over the past three months (that's a 12 percent lift over how much it made this time last year), the search giant still managed to whiff slightly when it came to pleasing Wall Street's persnickety analysts. If you've been paying attention the these earnings releases (dry though they may be), none of this will be news to you. Google's track record over the past few years is filled with more Wall Street misses than hits, and this'll be the company's sixth consecutive whiff. But does Google care? Yeah, no.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• A cheat sheet to Project Fi, Google's mobile phone service

  Rumors of Google breaking into the wireless carrier game have been fodder for scoops, breathless reports and thinkpieces for years now, and for the longest time it looked like the search giant just couldn't make it happen. Yesterday Google put all that to rest. Project Fi is finally here (if invite-only and fully compatible with one phone) -- here's what you absolutely need to know about it.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Google's Project Fi is great, but the UK doesn't need it

  For years, there have been rumblings that Google was looking to get into the carrier business, but it took until yesterday for the search giant to finally reveal what it's been working on. It's called Project Fi, and it's a unique new service that bears little resemblance to the traditional operator model. To provide mobile coverage, Google will be piggybacking on the networks of T-Mobile and Sprint -- two of America's largest carriers -- and using millions of pre-vetted WiFi hotspots. Throw in unlimited free international texting, WiFi tethering and data coverage in over 120 countries, and you've got something genuinely exciting -- if you live in the US and own a Nexus 6, at least. You see, if you hail from the UK, what Google's offering just isn't that innovative. Perks that may make waves over the pond are pretty commonplace here, and are fast becoming standard competitive procedure.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Google's mobile search prioritizes sites optimized for phones

  Google announced in February that it would start highlighting mobile-friendly sites on phone searches -- today, that update is finally here. Now, when you search Google on your phone, you're more likely to see results that are optimized for smaller screens, rather than desktop sites that require a lot of tapping and zooming. Basically, it's a kick in the pants to lazy web developers who haven't yet catered to the growing number of mobile internet users. The update only applies to phones -- not tablets -- and Google notes that it affects individual pages, not entire sites. It also won't stop desktop sites from showing up in mobile searches if they rank highly enough. You can test the mobile friendliness of your site with this test, or by running the Google's Mobile Usability Report on your site. Naturally, if you don't spruce up your site, you can expect a drop in mobile traffic from Google.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Google's letting armchair monster hunters explore Loch Ness

  For decades, people have searched for signs of "Nessie" in the murky depths of Loch Ness. Photos and videos have emerged over the years alongside supposed sightings, but they've ultimately failed to prove the mythical beast's existence. Is Nessie fact or fiction? Regardless of where you stand, Google is making it simpler to explore the freshwater loch yourself. The company has captured the giant lake with 360-degree panoramas and uploaded them all to Google Maps Street View. It's a beautiful place, and while you're unlikely to find Nessie lurking in the shallows, there's no harm in looking, right?

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Google wants you to download your web search history

  Wondering what you were searching for online a few years ago? You now have a (relatively) easy way to find out. Google has quietly trotted out an option to download your entire search history. So long as you searched using your Google account, you'll have a permanent record. Of course, this is something of a mixed blessing given how pervasive Google is at this stage. While the archive may help you dig up a keyword you're struggling to remember, something tells us that it'd be all too easy to dredge up embarrassing memories -- we hope you didn't Google your classroom crush.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Elon Musk nearly sold Tesla to Google in 2013

  Tesla frequently comes across as a fiercely independent automaker, but that wasn't always the case... at least, if you ask Bloomberg. Its sources claim that Elon Musk almost secured a deal for Google to buy Tesla in early 2013, when vehicle sales were tanking so badly that Tesla closed its factory. Reportedly, the deal would have kept Musk in charge of his company for eight years, or until Tesla's mainstream electric car (the Model 3) was on the road. It fell apart simply because Tesla became successful -- a last-ditch effort to close Model S sales paid off during the negotiation period, eliminating that need for a lifeline.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Your Google Wallet funds are now insured

  The money in your bank account is typically covered by federal insurance, but your internet payment services typically aren't. If PayPal or Venmo went belly-up, you'd probably lose your existing balance. That won't be a problem if you're using Google Wallet, though. Google is now holding your Wallet funds in banks with FDIC insurance, so your digital credit is now that much safer. This isn't to say that rivals leave you completely vulnerable -- PayPal has fraud protection, for instance. However, the Wallet move means that you won't have to go to court to get your cash back if Google goes bankrupt, no matter how unlikely that is.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google's 'balloon-powered internet for all' is almost ready

  In case you wanted another behind-the-scenes look at how Google's internet-by-balloon service is doing, now is your chance. The Project Loon team posted a new video showing everything from how it manages its balloon fleet, the balloon creation process, their partnership with local LTE network providers abroad and a few other aspects of the initiative as well. For example, the team is keeping the airborne-internet vessels afloat for up to 100 days at a time now, can build balloons in hours instead of days, and can launch many dozens of balloon every day instead of just a single one. Nearly two years after the project's launch, it's gone from "will it work?" to being presented as something that will work. With thousands of balloons aloft, it can push signal into areas that can't easily get internet service in other ways. As is typical with these status updates, it's slickly produced and has a handful of whimsical animations and music to boot -- check it out after the break.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Google to support Chrome for Windows XP until the end of 2015

  If you have no choice but to use an XP computer (workplace or school just can't let go, huh?), at least load it with a third-party browser, like Chrome. Why? Google has decided to continue supporting Chrome for XP until the end of 2015, so you can keep the machine safe from browser-based attacks a bit longer. And yes, that means you're getting all upcoming features and security patches. Mountain View was originally going to abandon the browser this month but changed its mind -- the company didn't explain why, though it's most likely because the antiquated OS refuses to die despite Microsoft cutting off its updates a year ago. Now, in case you find yourself still using an XP computer by 2016, you can either switch to Firefox (which doesn't have plans to end XP support) or convince the boss/dean that it's high time for an upgrade.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google's 'Works with Cardboard' program is all about VR compatibility

  Google wants all apps developed for its Cardboard VR headset to work properly with, well, any version of its device. That's tougher than it sounds, since the headset's open-source, and a lot of companies and individual users are tweaking it to their heart's content. To make it happen, Mountain View has launched the "Works with Google Cardboard" project, which gives headset makers the power to ensure their design plays nicely with apps made for the device. It doesn't matter if they use metal or plastic, cut the materials out using any dimension or adjust the optic, so long as they input all those details into the Cardboard website to get a QR code to attach to their creation.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google's Android search now pulls content from apps you haven't installed

  Thanks to Google search on your Android phone, you can not only bring up search results from the web, but also content from apps that are installed on your phone. Soon, however, that capability will be extended to apps you haven't downloaded at all. Google has announced today that thanks to its app indexing efforts, you may now start to see Play Store suggestions in your search results that'll lead to relevant content. So, for example, say you're searching for "Michelin star restaurants" on your phone. You'll not only get the usual search results for that, but also see suggestions for apps like OpenTable or Yelp if you don't already have them installed. If you do install them, the first thing you see when you launch them is a list of, yep, Michelin star restaurants in your area.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Google Drive for Android shares files as soon as they're ready

  Can't wait to share a photo as soon as it hits the internet? Google has your back. The company has updated Drive for Android so that you can start sharing files from the notification that your upload is done -- you don't even have to launch the app to get things going. The update also adds support for 23 more languages, including local Chinese and French dialects. Just be ready to wait a while for this no-waiting feature, as Google says the update will be rolling out over the next week.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google search 'Find My Phone' to locate your missing Android

  Google's making it even easier to track down your misplaced mobile device. While Android Device Manager already exists to help find lost phones and tablets, just getting to your account's ADM menu often requires a search of its own. But Find My Phone is as simple as a web query. In fact, that's literally what you're doing. Simply open a Google omnibox and type "find my phone" to display a map that reveals the phone's current resting place. If the device is nearby, you can also opt to ring your cell. Unfortunately, Find My Phone does not allow you to lock or erase your device should it be stolen or, say, left at the local pub -- you will still need Android Device Manager to do that.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Google's interactive tour lets you go 'Inside Abbey Road'

  Abbey Road Studios is one of the most famous recording venues in the world, where artists such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson produced some of their most influential tracks and albums. Despite its heritage, the studio isn't open to the public, which means few outside of the music industry have seen what it actually looks like inside. Today, Google is answering the call with a Street View-style online exhibit called "Inside Abbey Road." One hundred and fifty panoramic images have been stitched together to recreate the three main recording studios and mastering suite. The space is littered with photos, videos and other historical tidbits, as well as guided audio tours and interactive mini-games based on classic recording equipment. Unless you're a world-class musician, this is probably as close as you'll ever get to stepping inside Abbey Road Studios yourself.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Europe accuses Google of abusing its monopoly in mobile and search

  It's been coming for what seems like an eternity, but today's the day that Europe finally hits Google with an official investigation into its business practices. The European Commission has announced that it'll open an antitrust probe into Android, and has laid out its objections following a similar probe into Google Shopping. In essence, regulators believe that the search giant has "abused its dominant position," or playing favorites with its own products and crowding competitor's products out of the market.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• EU expected to file antitrust suit against Google

  The Wall Street Journal reports that after a half decade-long investigation, the EU's chief antitrust regulator will be moving forward with a case against Google for reported violations of European law. The official declaration is expected to take place tomorrow when EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager meets with rest of the European commissioners. The complaint stems from a number of continental shopping and travel sites which assert that Google manipulated search results in order to better promote its own brands at their expense. The search behemoth has attempted to settle the case repeatedly since it began in 2010 but to no avail. Should Google be found guilty of the charges, it could theoretically face fines totalling more than $6 billion dollars.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Google's phone service reportedly has you paying by the gigabyte

  Google said it would launch the "Nexus" of phone networks in the near future, and we may now have a good idea of what that means. Android Police has unearthed Nexus 6 firmware with an app for Project Fi, which appears to be the in-progress name for Google's wireless service. The code suggests a very different approach to mobile data than you're probably used to, even compared to a pay-for-what-you-use offering like Ting. You'd pay only for the gigabytes you expect to use, and you'd get credit back if you don't use as much as planned. There are no mentions of overage fees (you'd just pay the usual per-gigabyte rate), and Google would be unusual among virtual network operators in its willingness to support multiple lines and data-only devices like tablets.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• WSJ: Google's X lab is working on batteries that last longer

  Google's X lab is developing better batteries that last longer, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company hasn't confirmed anything yet, but seeing as most of its products require batteries to work (phones, wearables, self-driving cars, etc), the report isn't hard to believe. This particular initiative apparently began back in 2012, when Dr. Ramesh Bhardwaj started testing Google devices' power sources. Now, his four-man team is hard at work within the company's semi-secret facility, trying to advance lithium-ion technology. They're also attempting to conjure up solid-state battery tech that's financially feasible to mass produce for consumer products.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google app update lets Android users add nicknames for contacts

  If you've got someone in your contacts list who's a real jerk, Google now lets you call them by saying just that. Thanks to an update to the Google app on Android, you can give those folks nicknames. The feature was already live for some, but it seems to be available for everyone now (just showed up for me). This means when you say "Call Jerk Face," or use something other term of endearment, your phone will dial them automatically. Upon further examination of the APK, the folks at Android Police discovered Mountain View is progressing towards the Trusted Voice feature that surfaced a few versions ago. That Smart Lock tool will seemingly allow you to unlock a device with a spoken phrase. There's also mention of something called Seamless Hotword, but for now, the name is about the only detail we've seen. If you're not sporting the latest version yet, it's available for download over at Google Play. The more adventurous can snag the APK right here.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Google slashes price of Project Tango 3D-mapping tablet

  Google's 3D spatial mapping tablet Project Tango is currently only available for purchase by invitation. Today some of those lucky individuals received an email informing them that the price of the tablet was being slashed by 50 percent from $1024 to $512. The email forwarded to Android Police also mentions that Google is "opening sales more broadly," and that this was the last chance for the individual to purchase the device reserved for them. Before you assume "more broadly" means you'll be able to buy one of those tablets in the near future, it seems like it's going to be a developer-only device for at least a little while longer. A Google spokesperson told Engadget, "we are opening sales more broadly because we want to broaden the reach to encourage more developers to join us on this journey." Google might be a tad bit gun shy about opening up devices like Project Tango to the general public after what happened with Google Glass.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Google Art Project adds hundreds of 3D sculptures and animal skulls

  The Google Art Project already archived thousands of murals, paintings and more for viewing on the web. Not all artifacts are flat, though, but the folks in Mountain View added nearly 300 3D scans so you can examine detailed animal skulls and ornate sculptures from the comfort of your sofa. Flip through new collections from six museums before rotating a skull with your mouse or touchpad to see features from every angle -- like the Helmeted hornbill above from the California Academy of Sciences. If you're not into animal bones, don't fret: There's art, too. Thanks to places like the Dallas Museum of Art and Museo d'Arte Orientale, you can ogle sculptures, masks and other ancient artifacts as well. And all without having to get in the car.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Order a donut from your phone faster than ever with Google Wallet

  Mobile payment system Google Wallet now works with the Dunkin' Donuts and Seamless apps, once again shortening the amount of time in the day that your mouth isn't filled with delicious, fried dough. The Dunkin' Donuts app allows customers to order and pay before entering an actual store, and Seamless is a local food-delivery service available in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Houston and a few other cities. Google Wallet gets rid of the credit card entry process for these apps, and it already works with a slew of other services, including Panda Express, Papa John's, Domino's, Hotel Tonight and Newegg. It's so nice when major corporations make it even easier for us to order a plate of fried noodles, dessert, a hotel room and a brand new Bluetooth speaker system. You know, the essentials.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Hillary Clinton recruits a Google exec as her chief tech officer

  Hillary Clinton may not have even formally announced that she's running for President yet, but that isn't stopping her from gearing up for what should be a very tech-heavy election. Both the Washington Post and Reuters claim that the former Secretary of State has hired Google executive Stephanie Hannon as her campaign's chief technology officer. The higher-up will reportedly watch over a team building apps, websites and other tools to help enchant voters.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google open-sources its Santa Tracker a few months late

  Google might want to improve its timing a bit. You see, the search giant has released the source code for its Santa Tracker apps... in April. In other words, right when the snow has finished melting in many corners of the world. That's a little too late (or alternately, too soon) to help create holiday apps, Google. As you might gather, though, the festive theme is beside the point. The open source content is really meant to show how the folks in Mountain View make a lively website that works on everything from phones to desktops, not to mention a host of Android games and smartwatch faces. Hopefully, you'll see at least a few apps and sites in the near future that have an extra amount of polish, whether or not Kris Kringle is involved.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google wants no-cost international roaming for its phone service

  Google may not have grand ambitions for its upcoming cellular network, but the company could still have a few clever tricks up its sleeve. The Telegraph claims that Google is talking to wireless giant Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of Three (and soon O2), about letting American customers roam at no extra cost on the foreign carrier's networks. In other words, you could go on Instagram photo tours of places like Hong Kong or the UK without facing an outrageous phone bill when you get home. Neither of the companies are commenting, but Hutchison Whampoa would be a very logical partner. It already lets its customers roam in other countries (including the US) as if they were at home -- in a way, a Google deal would simply be returning the favor.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google's Android security scans over 200 million devices a day

  Google has released a white paper detailing what the Android security team's been working on in the last year. Of course, this is the company reporting on itself, but it at least offers an insight into the degree of security threats the company has to deal with. In 2014, the company noted 79 vulnerabilities, with 41 of them moderate. There's also high and critical severity levels, but nothing reached red alert status last year. 73 of these issues have already been delivered to Android's open source project, with six left to be added. (Phone makers and carriers get access to the vulnerability issues so they can patch before the issue is made public.) The paper goes on to detail how security's been beefed up on Google's mobile OS; Read on for more.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Google intros a way to run Android apps on desktop platforms

  A handful of Android apps made their way to Chrome OS last year, thanks to Google's native client called App Runtime for Chrome (ARC). Now, Google is giving all Android developers access to ARC and not just well-known ones like the creators of Evernote and Vine (two of the apps ported in 2014). To be exact, Mountain View has released an app/browser extension called ARC Welder that packages Android APKs into applications for Chrome OS and other desktop platforms. Yes, these converted apps could work even on Mac, Windows and Linux computers loaded with the Chrome browser.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google's about to blacklist thousands of Chinese websites

  China's relationship with America's tech firms is barely friendly, but things are about to get that little bit rougher. Google has announced that it'll stop trusting the security certificates provided by CNNIC, China's Internet Network Information Center. The dust-up between the two is pretty dry, but all you need to know right now is that if you visit a website that begins with https:// and ends with .cn, Chrome's about to bombard you with warning messages.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• WSJ: EU is gearing up to file antitrust lawsuit against Google

  Google might have avoided going to court over antitrust charges in the US, but it could still face a lawsuit in Europe. According to the Wall Street Journal, the European Commission has started asking companies that filed complaints against Google's practices for permission to publish the details in those documents. A Brussels lawyer representing one of Mountain View's competitors said: "The fact that the commission has been seeking fuller [information] from complainants, against short deadlines [of] a couple of days, shows it is in the final stages of getting a statement of objections together. It's part of the choreography you always see."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

Laptops (5)

• 'Lucid Sleep' keeps your Chromebook connected during naps

  Getting back to work after waking your Chromebook Pixel from its digital slumber is about to get a bit easier. Google announced that its new (still experimental) Lucid Sleep feature is now available. This setting maintains limited Wi-Fi connectivity when the machine is powered down so that it can stay better synced with the rest of your devices and data. It will, for example, allow your Pixel to temporarily rouse itself and connect to a new wireless hotspot if you move locations. It can also update push notifications and app data so that everything is up to date and ready to go as soon as you flip open the screen. You can turn on this feature and try it for yourself by selecting "Keep WiFi on during sleep" in the Privacy settings menu.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Dell has a Linux version of its sleek XPS 13 laptop

  The nearly bezel-less Dell XPS 13 is one of our highest rated laptops, thanks namely to its compact size, attractive design and fast performance. But if Windows just isn't your preferred operating system, now there's another option to choose from: Linux. As part of its commitment to the platform, which took off with the introduction of Project Sputnik, Dell's announced a Ubuntu-based developer edition of its sleek 13-inch laptop. Naturally, you'll have a myriad of configurations to choose from, with prices ranging from $949 all the way to $1,849, depending on how specced out you want your Linux machine to be.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• HP's Omen Pro is a slim laptop meant for serious work

  Tempted by HP's svelte Omen gaming laptop, but need even more horsepower? Say hello to the Omen Pro. It shares the same aluminum 0.78-inch, 4.68-pound frame as its gaming sibling, but it packs in faster Core i7 processors and an NVIDIA Quadro K1100M graphics card. It also shares the original Omen's unibody aluminum case and 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen, and it sits right alongside HP's ZBook workstations, except it balances style and hardware prowess. The Omen Pro is available today, but at $2,199, it's clearly targeted at the graphics-hungry professionals actually making games, and not just people looking for their latest Far Cry fix.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Google's £799 Chromebook Pixel 2 arrives in the UK on April 21st

  Google's original Chromebook Pixel was a gorgeous laptop, but the high price-tag and limitations of Chrome OS made it a niche proposition. For its successor, the company wisely kept the design (if it ain't broke, don't fix it) while updating the internals and making it less expensive. It's still a tough sell, but if you want the best hardware for Chrome OS, you'll soon be able to buy one in the UK. Two configurations will be available in the Google Play Store and Dixons shops from April 21st. The standard £799 model features an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD. More than enough to run Chrome and an assortment of Android apps, but if you're pining for some extra power, there will also be a £999 version boasting a beefier Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 courtesy of AMIDuOS!

  Microsoft's found its stride with the Surface Pro 3, offering a portable yet powerful PC experience in a tablet form factor. Our readers even voted it the best overall gadget of 2014. Developers for the Windows platform, though, seem to be in short supply, leaving many popular apps out of reach (or out of date) for Microsoft fans. American Megatrends Inc. (AMI) has come up with a solution to the problem with its AMIDuOS software. If you've converted from Android to Windows, you can use the software to access your existing apps without an additional purchase. You'll also have access the latest versions without waiting for them to hit Microsoft's ecosystem. AMIDuOS works with PCs and tablets running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 (32/64-bit) and offers instant switching -- you can even pin Android apps to the Start menu. To help one Engadget reader escape ecosystem isolation, the company has provided a 64GB Surface Pro 3 along with a lifetime license for AMIDuOS. Feeling lucky? Just head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winner: congratulations to Taylor J. of Leawood, KS!

  By Jon Turi Read More

Meta (3)

• Facebook continues to make most of its money from mobile

  Facebook's bet on mobile continues to pay off in absolute spades. The first quarterly earnings report of the year from Zuckerberg and crew lay testament to that, showing that a whopping 73 percent of its $3.32 billion in ad revenue now comes from mobile alone (Total revenue for the quarter was $3.54 billion). Its number of mobile users is also on the rise -- out of Facebook's 1.44 billion monthly active users,1.25 billion are on mobile, which is up 24 percent from this time last year. Perhaps more impressive is that the number of daily users -- ie. its most engaged audience -- has gone up as well; 936 million people visit Facebook everyday, with 798 million of them logging in from their phones.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Indian firms back out of Facebook's free internet program

  Facebook's Internet.org effort is supposed to democratize the internet by providing free access to key websites, but some Indian companies don't think it's quite so altruistic -- and they want out. Cleartrip, NewsHunt, NDTV and the Times Group have all announced that they're withdrawing some or all of their sites from Internet.org because they believe it violates net neutrality. They argue that Facebook's program unfairly favors certain sites over others -- why should it cost you to use some sites, and not others? As the Times Group explains, a site shouldn't be punished for taking a "principled stand."

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Facebook's web tracking could violate European privacy law

  If Facebook thought it had a lot of privacy-related legal trouble on its plate, it hasn't seen anything yet. Researchers commissioned by Belgium's data protection agency have determined that Facebook's latest web tracking policy violates European Union privacy law. Reportedly, the social network uses cookies to track web visitors without permission, whether or not they log in or take advantage of the EU's proposed opt-out rules. Cookies are only supposed to be used when you're signed in, and only for things you've agreed to. The kicker? The opt-out system that Facebook uses appears to put another tracking cookie on your system if you're in the EU, so you never completely escape.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Microsoft (24)

• Our first close look at Microsoft's HoloLens

  It's only been a few months since Microsoft introduced the augmented reality HoloLens headset, and now we've finally got a close look at the unit to show you. We don't have much to show other than these pictures at the moment -- we couldn't take pictures of the early dev unit we tried on back in January -- but check back for more details shortly. Nicole Lee contributed to this report

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Microsoft thinks it can guess your age using facial recognition

  Since we're right smack in the middle of Microsoft's BUILD dev conference, the company's showing off one of it's Azure APIs with a site you can put to the test. How-Old.net allows you to upload a picture before the site recognizes faces and analyzes them to determine their age. No, I'm not 41... I'm 31, and that picture is from over two years ago. Other folks here at Engadget received results closer to their real age, but it made us wonder: why not use a web cam to snap a picture under current conditions. You know, after I've had a chance to apply my daily dose of wrinkle remover. Perhaps that option on the way.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Windows 10 design lead explains what's changed (and what hasn't)

  Albert Shum, the design team lead for Microsoft's OS team, has outlined through some of the decisions made in its new OS. He reiterates that - especially now Windows 10 is out in the open - the work here isn't yet done, with the blog post focusing on where the team's received the most.. "feedback", including the new menu options found on mobile iterations.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• New Windows 10 preview comes with Aero Glass and an upgraded Cortana

  In addition to showing off holographic apps and revealing the name of its post-IE browser, Microsoft has also released its latest Windows 10 preview build for PCs today. The build (now called "Insider Preview" instead of "Technical Preview") introduces quite a lengthy list of new and experimental features, including Windows 7's Aero Glass design. Apparently, a lot of preview users asked Redmond to bring Aero Glass black, since company dropped the feature from Windows 8. To test it out, half of those installing the new build will see their Start menu and taskbar in normal transparency, while half will see theirs with a frosted glass effect.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Microsoft shows off Windows Holographic running Windows 10 apps

  When Microsoft debuted its Windows Holographic software and HoloLens headset a few months back, Windows 10 apps were mentioned as a possibility. Well, at Build 2015 today, the folks in Redmond offered a look at Windows 10 Universal apps in holographic action. During the onstage demo, apps could be placed on walls or set to float in space, and resized based on the user's needs -- something we'd only seen in videos up to this point. Of course, this means that users in different locations can collaborate on 3D models without having to be in the same room. Any Windows 10 app can be used as a hologram with the headset, so getting work done at a place other than your desk will soon be a possibility.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Windows 10's web browser is called Microsoft Edge

  After months of waiting, Microsoft finally has a proper name for Windows 10's brand-new web browser: Forget Project Spartan, and meet Microsoft Edge. It still has the same flat, minimalist look you saw at the start of the year, as well as clever features like Cortana voice commands and annotation for websites. You'll also get a new tab page that shows both other websites as well as handy info like weather, and Microsoft is now making it easier for developers to port extensions from other browsers (such as Chrome). Yes, the folks in Redmond are largely using the Edge name to distance their latest browser from Internet Explorer's less-than-stellar reputation, but you have to admit that the new branding is decidedly catchier.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Any site can be a Windows app

  At today's Microsoft Build conference, Vice President of Operating Systems Terry Myerson announced that websites can now be placed inside a Windows 10 universal framework. In other words, developers can make a Windows 10 app out of their site. The site-based apps can be listed inside the Windows Store and support Cortana notifications and in-app purchases. Building these apps is pretty simple according to Myerson. Couple this with news that the company is helping iOS and Android developers port their apps to Windows 10 and the inclusion of .NET and Win32 apps in the marketplace and it's pretty clear Microsoft really, really wants you to start using the Windows Store.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Microsoft invites Android and iOS apps to join Windows 10

  Microsoft's Terry Myerson confirmed onstage at Build what many of us suspected in the hours leading up to the event -- the company's going to make it easier for developers to bring Android apps into the Windows Store. To make this possible, Myers said, Windows phones "will include an Android subsystem" meant to play nice with the Java and C++ code developers have already crafted to run on a rival's operating system. Turns out, that's not the only dev-friendly coup we're seeing today: iOS developers can compile their Objective C code right from Microsoft's Visual Studio, and turn it into a full-fledged Windows 10 app. This, frankly, is huge. With one announcement, drawn out of the course of a few minutes, Microsoft may have just changed its mobile trajectory completely.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Microsoft expands Office integration with third-party apps

  So far, Microsoft's Build 2015 keynote has mostly been focused on the tools available for developers. But the company just made an announcement that's beneficial to its core consumer base. Rob Lefferts, GM of the Office Extensibility, took the stage to reveal that the Office productivity suite will be further integrated with third-party applications and services. With Uber in Outlook, for example, you can click on a button and quickly catch a ride to your next appointment, all without having to manually enter a destination address -- it does this automatically by grabbing data from your email accounts.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• We're live at Microsoft's Build 2015 keynote

  We're ready and waiting in San Francisco for Microsoft to kick off its next Build developer conference. There will likely be some surprises, especially around HoloLens, but mostly we're expecting Microsoft to delve deeper into Windows 10 and what it means for developers. Word on the street is that Windows 10 might hit this summer, so don't be surprised if we see a firm release date today. Not surprisingly, this conference will likely be used to court as many developers as possible to the Windows 10 app ecosystem. Expect plenty of announcements around Microsoft's universal app platform, which lets devs write apps once and run them across multiple devices. We may even see Microsoft open up Windows to Android apps, according to journalist Paul Thurrott. That's been rumored for a while now, and this conference is the perfect chance for Microsoft to prove to developers that it's a lot more flexible. Join us here at 11:30 AM ET/8:30 AM PT when the festivities are scheduled to begin.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft's Surface sales are on the upswing once again

  After a very slow start, Microsoft's Surface finally seems to be hitting its stride. The company made $713 million from Surface sales last quarter, a 44 percent jump over last year, according to its latest earnings report. And yes, it's attributing much of that to the Surface Pro 3, which also saw strong sales during the previous quarter. While any bump is good, it's easy for Microsoft to report revenue growth when it's starting from a low point. Apple sold around $9 billion worth of iPads during the last quarter, for comparison. It's also worth noting that the company's third quarter doesn't include sales of the new Surface 3, which doesn't ship until next month. It'll be interesting to see if that model ends up helping its Pro sibling come next quarter. Before the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft's Surface sales weren't exactly pretty -- at one point it had to write off nearly $900 million in unsold units.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft offers schools a discount on Surface 3 and a cheaper model

  Microsoft is sweetening the pot for schools looking to adopt its new hybrid tablet by giving them a 10 percent discount on the Surface 3, Type Cover and stylus. Normally, they cost $500, $130 and $50, respectively. On top of that, it's also offering a slightly cheaper Surface 3 model with just 32GB of memory and 2GB of RAM (the base Surface 3 has 64GB of storage). We don't yet know the price of that cheaper model, but expect it to be well below the $450 for the newly discounted 64GB Surface 3. Educational discounts aren't anything new -- it's already offering them for the Surface Pro 3, and it's something most other computer makers do -- but Microsoft is clearly trying to position the Surface 3 as an alternative to Chromebooks. Those cheaper Google-powered machines have been a huge hit in schools, thanks to their low prices and easy maintenance, but they can't run all of the software a full-fledged Windows machine can.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft's Health app won't need a tracker to get your fitness data

  When Microsoft said its Health platform was open to everyone, it wasn't kidding around. The company has revealed that its mobile Health app will soon get step counts and calorie burns from the sensors built into your phone -- you won't need a Band (or any wearable tracker, for that matter) to put fitness data in Microsoft's cloud. The update is due for Android, iOS and Windows Phone in the "coming weeks." Don't worry if you do like the Band, though, as it has a few upgrades in store as well.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Xbox and HoloLens games now under domain of ex-Lionhead boss

  Former Lionhead Studios boss John Needham is now in charge of internal development for several games and experiences on Microsoft's Xbox and HoloLens platforms, a Microsoft spokesperson told Engadget today. Needham reports directly to Kudo Tsunoda, head of Microsoft Studios' portfolio investments team and former creative director for Kinect Games. Needham took over as the head of Microsoft's Lionhead Studios in 2013 and he's been involved in the corporate gaming world since joining Sony Online Entertainment in 2001. As the leader of Lionhead, the studio behind Fable, Needham reported directly to former Microsoft VP Phil Harrison. Needham relocated to Microsoft's offices in Redmond, Washington, for his new role.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Microsoft and Yahoo can end their search deal after October 1st

  Yahoo's renewed search deal with Microsoft is even more laissez-faire than it looks at first glance. A filing from the internet pioneer reveals that either company can call it quits from October 1st onward -- all they have to do is send a breakup letter and sit tight for four months. There's no sign that the companies are eager to end their pact, but the clause shows that the two tech firms aren't as dependent on each other as they were back when they forged the original deal in 2009. Microsoft has forged a number of other deals to use Bing (such as in Apple's Siri and Spotlight), while Yahoo is confident that it can build up its own ad platform -- and maybe, just maybe, revitalize its own search tech. [Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft's Cortana comes to Android through a hack

  Microsoft is already poised to bring Windows' Cortana voice assistant to other platforms, but the duo behind the OrangeSec team isn't willing to wait that long. They've developed and shown off Portaña, a simple Android adaptation of Cortana that uses a proxy to talk to Microsoft's servers. While it's nowhere near a complete recreation of the official software (you have to speak in Italian, for one thing), it does work -- you can ask a question and expect an answer back. Portaña is sadly likely to remain in a rough state as is, though, so you'll want to tinker the source code if you just have to speak to the Halo-inspired helper before there's an official solution.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Windows 10's phone maps help you find things to do

  To put it mildly, Windows Phone's official mapping options are... basic. However, Microsoft is promising a better experience with the mobile Maps app in Windows 10. Get a recent preview version of Windows 10 and you'll see a map interface that is not only decidedly more modern-looking, but ties in more closely with Bing and rolls in some Here Maps features. You'll get the usual photos, reviews and directions (including Here's in-car navigation), but you'll also have an easier time finding things to do. You can specify that you're looking for something to eat near your hotel, for instance, and book the table reservation on the spot. This upgrade probably won't get you to switch phone platforms, but it's a big deal if you're a Windows phone fan who'd like to get Microsoft's best mapping services in a single app.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Yahoo is still relying on Microsoft's Bing, but now has more flexibility

  Yahoo isn't dumping Microsoft's Bing just yet. The two companies formed a search partnership back in 2009 that made Microsoft's search engine and ad platform an integral part of Yahoo's search, and today they announced the renewal of that partnership. But there are also a few new tweaks that makes the deal even better for Yahoo: It can now "enhance" its search experience on desktop and mobile, as the Bing partnership is now non-exclusive. So don't be surprised if Yahoo ends up taking its search interface in entirely new directions, or if Bing starts powering search on other big sites. Also, the two companies will take full control of their own ad platforms when it comes to search. That gives Yahoo the power to build up its own ad arm, while still getting some revenue from Bing ads that show up on its results. [Photo credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft apps will be bundled on Cyanogen Android devices

  Cyanogen has revealed that it will pre-install Microsoft apps on its modded Android OS later this year, including Bing, Skype, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook and Microsoft Office. The news doesn't come as a huge surprise, since it was rumored that Redmond had purchased a minority stake in Cyanogen with the express intention of bundling its software. As part of the deal, Microsoft will also create "native integrations" on Cyanogen OS, presumably to make all its apps play well together. Microsoft has avoided porting its productivity software over to Android and iOS for quite awhile, but finally made the jump earlier this year.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Microsoft's new browser hits phones in latest Windows 10 preview

  If you've been itchin' to take a look at the mobile version of Microsoft's new browser, now is your chance. The latest Windows 10 Technical Preview is available for phones, delivering Project Spartan and early looks at both its Reading List and Reading View features. As promised, the folks in Redmond also included Outlook Mail and Outlook Calendar apps this time around -- both of which are now the default options for the mobile version of Windows. New Phone and Messaging apps are here as well, as is retooled software for Maps, People (contacts) and an updated App Switcher. Nearly all of the additions sport the redesigned UI that Microsoft has been showing off since Windows 10 was announced back in January.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Start shopping directly from Bing image search

  Microsoft continues to refine Bing in the hopes it can steal some of Google's search-dominance thunder. Today it updated Bing image search results with links to buy the item in the photo you select. The feature is still in beta, but once you select a photo and scroll down, a list of online retailers where the item can be purchased appear. Scrolling down from a selected result also surfaces the new related images, Pinterest collections, pages with the image and more sizes of the selected image. If you're a fan of window shopping on your computer, Bing's updated image search might be worth checking out.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Microsoft's new browser won't enable 'Do Not Track' by default

  Microsoft admits that when it switched on "do not track" by default in Internet Explorer 10 back in 2012, it was "welcomed by many." However, the company now has to switch it off to comply with the latest industry standard. The newest World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) draft for the feature says it "MUST reflect the user's preference," meaning you have to turn it on to activate it, just like on Firefox or Chrome. Redmond explains that it has no choice but to change the default, else advertisers can argue that it doesn't have to honor any DNT signal from Microsoft's browser.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Microsoft isn't selling Kinect for Windows anymore

  Given that Microsoft has consolidated so many other parts of how it operates lately, word that it's discontinuing the new Kinect sensor for Windows shouldn't be much of a surprise. From here on out, Redmond will no longer sell the now redundant desktop-specific version and instead point app developers toward the "functionally identical" Xbox One unit and its necessary adapter cable instead. The Xbox One sensor was apparently pretty popular amongst desktop developers and Microsoft couldn't keep up with demand in some markets, so rather than keep producing two incredibly similar units, it's likely focusing its efforts on producing more of one. Should you already own a Windows Kinect don't fret -- Nadella and Co. promise that support for it isn't going anywhere. For a peek at how we put the console do-all sensor to use with a Windows PC, take a gander at the video just below.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Microsoft previews new Music and Video apps for Windows 10

  Microsoft will be the first to admit its upcoming Music and Video apps for PC -- which both drop the Xbox branding -- aren't polished enough to replace current ones just yet. But, if you're already testing Windows 10 through Technical Preview, you can now take the platform's next-gen media apps for a spin. The Music Preview app can play and browse songs saved on your device and on OneDrive. Despite not having Xbox in its official name anymore, the app can still play any file you added via Xbox Music Pass. Unfortunately, the gallery's still wonky, and Music Pass files are prone to errors. In the near future, though, the tech corporation wants to add right-click menus and the capability to buy from Windows Store Beta, among other features.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

Mobile (29)

• AT&T customers can get unwanted charges refunded only until May 1st

  If you vaguely recall getting a text from AT&T within the past three months about some sort of a refund for unwanted charges, call this toll-free hotline ASAP: 877-819-9692. A rep can tell you if you're eligible for part of the $80 million AT&T handed over to the FTC when the company settled a complaint accusing it of "mobile cramming." That's what you call the practice of sending and charging subscribers for horoscopes, ring tones, etc. without their consent. The carrier reportedly charged customers "hundreds of millions of dollars" for those spammy third-party subscriptions. Once you know you're eligible, file for a refund quickly (either on the phone or online), because you can only do so until Friday, May 1st.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Carrier billing is coming to all Windows devices

  Wish you could put that Windows app purchase on your phone bill rather than rack up a separate charge? Microsoft just made your day. It's bringing carrier billing to all Windows devices, so you only have to make one payment to cover everything. There are 90 providers involved, too, so there's a very good chance that your network of choice is eligible. The move is welcome, if not totally surprising. When Windows 10 focuses heavily on universal apps that run on both phones and PCs, it only makes sense to pay through your carrier on whichever hardware you use.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Yet another Chinese firm launches an Android rival

  If Frank Herbert was around today, the tagline of Dune would probably be "those that control their own operating system, controls the universe." It's an idea that China's tech firms have taken to heart, crafting their own platforms in the hope of toppling Android as the go-to software in charge of everyone's hardware. Tencent is the latest to throw its hat into the ring with a new OS that's, unsurprisingly, able to be used on phones, games consoles, VR devices and smartwatches.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Rubix's wireless battery sticks to your phone with magnets

  When you're spending most part of the day out and about, chances are at some point you'll have to whip out your portable battery to juice up your smartphone. This usually means stacking your phone on top of a cable-wrapped power bank, and then clumsily holding everything together with one hand. Doesn't sound very 2015, does it? It's annoying enough for a startup called Rubix to come up with a solution: slap a magnetized Qi wireless charging case (aka On Case) on your phone, and then let it snap onto a magnetized wireless charging battery (aka On Charger). Look ma, no cable!

  By Richard Lai Read More

• TalkTalk's unlimited everything SIM is £12 per month but laden with fine print

  The UK mobile market is undergoing a serious makeover, with two huge acquisitions on the horizon and new MVNOs popping up left, right and centre. Quad-play provider TalkTalk is already known for its low-cost broadband, TV and mobile deals, but now's a more important time than most to show you can stay relevant and competitive. Hence the company's latest promotion, which sees the launch of a SIM-only mobile tariff that gives you unlimited everything -- that's minutes, texts and 3G data -- for just £12 a month. Better yet, it's being offered on a 30-day rolling contract, meaning you don't need to sign up for a year or more of service to take advantage of the deal. Cheap, easy and tempting, right? Well, yes, but before you go cancelling whatever contract you're on now, know that there's a heap of terms and conditions attached to this otherwise attractive offer.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Carphone Warehouse launching flexible 'iD' mobile network next month

  Does the UK need another carrier? Carphone Warehouse seems to think so. It's been rumoured for months, but finally the company is ready to unveil its own mobile network. "iD" will arrive in May and, as expected, be powered by Three's network infrastructure. What makes it special? Well, the retailer says it's focusing on a few key benefits. The first is "controlled and capped plans," which it claims will be the cheapest on the market. It's also emphasising "flexible" 12-month contracts and 30-day SIM-only plans.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Three's launching Voice over LTE support this autumn

  Three's hellbent on continually improving network reliability and coverage, and as part of that, the carrier has today announced it's gearing up to add Voice over LTE (VoLTE) support to its network this autumn. The provider is currently on track to switch its VoLTE service on in September, facilitated by tagging additional 800MHz spectrum onto its existing 1800MHz network. This new slice of bandwidth is expected to significantly improve coverage in problem areas, particularly inside buildings, where 800MHz airwaves can penetrate more easily than other frequencies. Three expects roughly 1 million of its 8.5 million customers to be reaping the benefits of VoLTE by the end of the year, taking calls in places 2G and 3G signals can't reach. The only catch is you're going to need a VoLTE-compatible handset, such as the iPhone 6 or Galaxy S6. Any relatively new handset should do, though.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Google's Project Fi service turns multiple phone networks into one

  Got a Nexus 6? Itching to dump your traditional wireless service provider for something a bit more ambitious? Google's got you covered. After months of speculation and a not-so-subtle nod from Sundar Pichai at Mobile World Congress, the search giant's new mobile phone service -- Project Fi -- is finally official. The company's plan is both as savvy and as unorthodox as we'd expect: Instead of trying to build out and maintain its own nationwide network of cell towers and repeaters, Google's instead combining Sprint and T-Mobile's coverage footprints with millions of pre-vetted WiFi hotspots to provide users with the fastest, most seamless mobile experience it can in real-time. Well, that's the plan anyway. You're probably just clamoring for the invite link at this point (here you go), but it's important to note that Google created Fi to fill in the gaps that already exist in our more-mobile-by-the-day lives.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• WSJ: Google will roll out its wireless service starting tomorrow

  The Wall Street Journal has just reported that Google plans to launch its very own phone service starting tomorrow. The plan was first announced over a month ago at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but the WSJ has since unearthed more details about it. The service will initially only be available on Nexus 6 handsets and will piggyback on Sprint and T-Mobile networks -- it'll switch between the two depending on which has the strongest signal. Most intriguing, however, is the revelation that the wireless service will let customers pay only for the data they consume per month. What's more, it'll also let you route calls and data through WiFi, which could reduce bills even further. There's not much else we know about Google's first stab at running its own phone service, but if its goal is to shake up the wireless industry, it looks like it certainly will.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• AT&T finally brings its gigabit internet to Chicago's suburbs

  Back in October of last year, we learned about AT&T's plans to launch its 1Gbps fiber network, GigaPower, in cities like Chicago. And today, more than six months after the original announcement, the company's finally flipping the switch in some areas of The Windy City -- including Elgin, Oswego, Plainfield, Skokie, Yorkville and other "surrounding communities." The U-Verse gigabit internet will be available as a standalone service and as a bundle with a cable or phone package, with prices ranging from $90 to $150 per month, depending on your selection. If you're not in any of the aforementioned zones of coverage, fret not -- AT&T says it will be expanding the service across Chicago later this summer. [Image credit: Katy Silberger/Flickr]

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• EE's free portable chargers prove so popular there aren't any left

  Mobile operators very rarely offer something for free, so when they do, you can expect that people will be quick to take advantage. That's exactly what's happened in the case of EE, which has seen over a million of its subscribers sign up for one of its free branded "Power Bars" in just four days. The rush for the 2,600mAh blue and yellow charger helped drive a 300 percent increase in visitors to stores over the weekend, inevitably resulting in a complete wipeout of stock.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Norway will lead the effort to switch off FM radio

  Some countries are already stepping up their transition to digital radio, but Norway thinks it can one up them all. The nation's Ministry of Culture has revealed plans to switch off FM radio across the country in 2017, making it the first country to scrap conventional broadcasts. The staged shutoff (which begins January 11th that year) is focused on improving channel choice and quality, according to the government. While there are just five national stations on FM, there's room for roughly 42 using cleaner-sounding DAB technology. It's about eight times more expensive to use FM, too, and digital radio is more reliable for getting messages across in an emergency.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• FCC vote clears the way for lower-cost mobile data

  Don't look now, but you may soon have more options for mobile internet access beyond the usual wireless carriers. The FCC has voted in favor of rules that not only make a wide 100MHz slice of 3.5GHz spectrum available for mobile data, but makes that data more accessible. Rather than simply parcel out the airwaves to the highest bidders (which are usually telecoms), the FCC has a "General Authorized Access" tier that lets any device use these frequencies, similar to WiFi's license-free scheme. The move would still let conventional carriers bolster their networks, but it also paves the way for cheap or free over-the-air broadband. Companies ranging from Google to Verizon are interested, so you should expect an eclectic mix of services once the devices are ready.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Boost Mobile goes after Cuban-Americans with new prepaid plan

  Now that the political relations between the US and Cuba have taken a turn for the better, American companies are pushing out marketing schemes to fit the bill. Today, Boost Mobile, Sprint's prepaid branch, announced a monthly plan that's geared toward customers who have loved ones in Cuba. The caveat, unfortunately, is that it's only available in Miami right now -- but the strategy makes sense, since it's a city with a dense population of Cuban-Americans. If you're there, $50 a month gets you unlimited text and 15 talk minutes to Cuba at 33 cents per minute -- which the company claims to be the lowest rate among prepaid carriers. Boost's Cuba Monthly Connection deal also includes 5GB of data and all-you-can-have texting and calling within the US, while $10 more monthly doubles your data.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• A motorless flat antenna could solve horrible in-flight WiFi

  The only thing worse than no WiFi on a plane is horrible WiFi on a plane. You cautiously throw down a few bucks hoping you'll be able to surf the internet without seeing a "page not available" message in your browser. According to Kymeta CEO Dr. Nathan Kundtz, the reason your in-flight internet connection is so crappy is bandwidth allocation and antenna design. Kundtz told Wired that the FCC needs to open up more spectrum in the less crowded higher frequencies. While we wait for that to happen, Kymeta introduced a new low-profile antenna to take advantage of the spectrum that's already available and actively track satellites for a speedier connection.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Mobile wallets more popular in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else

  In Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile wallets are a huge deal. While it's been that way for years, the World Bank's latest Global Financial Inclusion database gives us solid details on just how prevalent they are in the region. According to the report, 12 percent of adults (64 million) in the area have mobile wallets or what Africans call "mobile money accounts," which aren't connected to banks. Half of those people have traditional bank accounts, but the half rely solely on their phones for their financial needs. It seems to be especially popular in Kenya, where 58 percent of adults access their money through a mobile device.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Now Android devices can understand your chickenscratch

  Tired of typing on your tablet? Sick of speaking to your phone? Well, if you've got Android 4.0.3 or higher, you are in luck because Google Handwriting Input for Android has just hit the Play Store. This utility app supports both printed and cursive writing styles, understands 82 languages and can even decipher hand-drawn emojis. What's more, it doesn't require you to use a stylus -- though for languages not based on the Roman alphabet (like Japanese, Korean or Hindi), a writing implement definitely helps. I just downloaded this to a Nexus 6 and it understood my scrawlings reasonably well. The only issue of immediate concern is the warning that Google will be saving all of the input text -- including any passwords and credit card numbers -- so take care with what you write.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Nokia just bought Alcatel-Lucent for $16.6 billion

  Nokia could soon be the largest maker of mobile phone network equipment in the world ahead of Ericsson and Huawei. It just acquired French telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent for 15.6 billion euros ($16.6 billion), or more than double the $7 billion Microsoft paid for its Windows Phone handset arm. The Finnish company also acquired Alcatel-Lucent's famous Bell Laboratories (established by Alexander Graham Bell in 1880) along with its numerous patents. With three major labs altogether, Nokia said "the combined company will be in a position to accelerate development of future technologies including 5G... as well as sensors and imaging." The merged businesses will run under the Nokia banner, but Bell Labs will keep the Alcatel-Lucent name.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Carrier alliance sues to stop net neutrality rules

  That didn't take long. The FCC's tougher net neutrality rules have only just been published in the federal register, and the lawsuits are already pouring in. The US Telecom Association has filed a suit claiming that the utility-style regulation of internet access is an "arbitrary and capricious" violation of US law. As you'd expect, the carriers still say they embrace net neutrality -- they just want the previous "light-touch" enforcement that has supposedly worked so far. We're sure that Netflix and other challengers would beg to differ, but that's now a matter for the courts to decide. [Image credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• TWC boosts its internet speeds to counter Google Fiber

  It's amazing what the addition of a little competition into a natural monopoly can do. Google announced in January that it would be bringing high-speed Fiber to Charlotte, North Carolina. It didn't take long for Time Warner Cable, the (only) local cable/internet provider in that city, to increase its own broadband internet speed by up to 600 percent. The program, called "TWC Maxx" will be a 100 percent digital network meaning that every television channel will be in HD. Since each analog channel takes up three to four times as much bandwidth as a digital one, eliminating them will free up a significant amount of space. TWC plans to use that space to increase its broadband internet speeds at no additional charge to its customers.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Sprint will come to your house if you can't make it to a store

  Between Amazon Dash and Netflix, there's almost no reason to leave the house these days. That's why, to save you the agonizing trip to your nearest strip mall, Sprint will bring the retail experience to your house. Next time you're due an upgrade, the company's new Direct 2 You program will send an employee to your door and set up your new device at your kitchen table.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Sprint rolls out free (and slow) international data and messaging

  We're not entirely sure how it's already April, but Sprint's clearly eager to make a name for itself before everyone starts popping off on holidays. To wit: The carrier just rolled out a new international roaming plan that'll net your Sprint phone free unlimited texting and 2G data abroad... as long as you're traipsing through a handful of supported countries, anyway.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Cricket Wireless gives upgraders three more ways to pay

  Cricket Wireless wants you to continue using its prepaid services, even if you can't afford paying up front for the phone you're eyeing. To help, it's offering finance for devices worth $200 or more, including Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S6. There are three plans in total. The first two finance your device (after a standard credit bureau check, that is), with an initial down payment of $20. Tier 1 allows you to pay for your phone within 24 months with zero interest, while tier 2 offers a "six-month deferred interest offer and 29.99% APR for an 18 month term." That means you don't incur interest, but only if you pay within six months

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Vodafone's revamped mobile contracts come with 4G as standard

  Vodafone is introducing a host of new monthly plans today with 4G connectivity as standard. The change affects its range of 12 and 24 month contracts, now called "bundles," and mirrors the stance taken by other networks such as EE and Three. In short, customers want faster speeds, and now that 4G-enabled devices are cheaper and more prevalent, it makes sense for Vodafone to offer its full network capabilities to everyone.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• EE to launch its seamless WiFi calling feature on April 10th

  EE's been talking about adding WiFi calling to its list of customer conveniences since last summer, and though slightly delayed, the feature is now ready for prime time. Well, almost, as WiFi calling will officially launch on April 10th, coinciding with the release of Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. These flagships, alongside Microsoft's Lumia 640, will be the first phones capable of using the feature, though it'll become available to a slew of compatible handsets "in the coming weeks." You may be wondering why so few devices are supported at launch, and the answer lies in how EE has implemented WiFi calling on its network. Where O2 and Three have created smartphone apps that let their customers make calls over WiFi, EE's solution is completely seamless. No intermediary app is needed, meaning you'll be able to make and receive calls and texts over WiFi as you would normally, using your phone's regular dialer and messaging app. Provided you're a pay-monthly customer, that is, since the feature's not available to pay-as-you-goers.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• O2 SIMs will switch to public WiFi if its network can't cope

  O2's public WiFi hotspots can be useful in a pinch, but filling out the obligatory registration forms to gain access has always been a pain. To speed up the process, the network is introducing a new service called O2 WiFi Extra, which automatically connects customers with an O2 SIM card. That means no SMS verification codes, or even looking through your network settings for the correct WiFi hotspot. The catch? Once the feature has been enabled, you'll be connected to them automatically if "the WiFi signal is stronger than O2's 3G or 4G network." It's not clear exactly how the company defines signal strength, and if you don't like the service, O2's only advice seems to be disabling WiFi entirely.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Pew: 7 percent of Americans only use their phone for internet access

  You probably lean heavily on your smartphone for internet access these days, but for some Americans it's not a nice-to-have convenience... it's their only way of getting online. Pew Research Center's latest survey estimates that 7 percent of Americans depend solely on their phone for internet service, and have no practical alternatives. About 10 percent have a smartphone but no home broadband, and 15 percent have just a limited number of options beyond their handsets.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• EE giving all customers portable chargers they can refuel in stores

  Carriers are forever looking at new ways to incentivise customers -- whether it be with a subscription to this, or discounts on that, and so on -- but we can't recall any perk that's quite as practical as the one EE's introducing shortly. (Unless you're running an ancient Nokia, that is.) In the "coming weeks," EE's launching a scheme whereby any customer can walk into a store and pick up a free portable smartphone charger. The EE-branded "Power Bar" hosts a 2,600mAh battery, which'll be roughly enough for one full charge of your phone. What's more, if you find yourself carrying around a dead one, you can walk into any EE shop and switch it out for a fully charged replacement at no cost (you can refuel it yourself at home, of course). Best of all, there's a satisfying amount of small print attached to this offer.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Judge says AT&T can't stop FTC lawsuit over data throttling

  AT&T's attempt to turn the tables on the Federal Trade Commission's mobile data throttling lawsuit hasn't exactly worked out as planned. A federal judge has rejected the carrier's claims that it can't be sued because its status as a common carrier for voice, which exempts it from FTC oversight, also applies to data. This exception only applies to the services that they're meant to cover, according to the court -- while the Federal Communications Commission's upcoming net neutrality rules will factor in mobile data, they aren't in effect right now. The judge also says AT&T misrepresented the whole point of the rule. It's intended to prevent overlap between common carrier regulations, not (as the network suggested) regulations as a whole. In short, AT&T will have to deal with the consequences of limiting its unlimited data customers, whether that's a slap on the wrist or a serious change in policy. [Image credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

News (80)

• Here's what happens when a lithium-ion battery overheats

  Lithium ion batteries are practically ubiquitous; they power everything from laptops and cell phones to cameras and tablets. But before they can start providing the juice for bigger and more demanding applications, research about their failure needs to happen. That's where the fine folks at University College London come in -- they've used 3D-and-thermal imaging to track exactly what happens when the power cells overheat, inside and out. As you can see in the GIF above, the results aren't pretty. After cranking the heat on a pair of the batteries to 250+ degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit) and keeping an eye on them with the aforementioned techniques, researchers witnessed one of the batteries blow its top. Prior to that happening, during what's known as "thermal runaway," the core collapsed.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Roman schoolkids give the pope a drone of his own

  From pizza to Fiats, people love giving gifts to Pope Francis. Most recently, students from a Jesuit school in Rome presented the Holy See with a customized quadcopter painted in the colors of the Vatican flag and replete with the Papal emblem. According to a statement from the school, the UAV symbolizes "the values of technology in the service of man." The school continued, "drones have proved useful to check the condition of structures [in quake-ravaged Nepal] and study paths from bringing relief to people who need this in remote villages." There's no word yet on whether Pope Francis will have the time for flying lessons. There's a chance that he may auction off the UAV to raise money for the poor, as he did back in January with the Fiat and a number of other expensive gifts. Or, like the pizza, he could just be saving it for later. [Image credit: The Associated Press]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Engadget Live is back and headed to Boston, LA and Austin!

  The weather's getting warm, which means here at Engadget HQ, we're already planning our summer getaways. For us, that means we're gearing up for the return of Engadget Live, where we throw a series of events in different cities across the US, allowing you to kick back, meet some of your favorite Engadget editors in the flesh, and try out some hot new gadgets first-hand. It's like a reader meetup, only with more high-tech toys on hand. Oh, and a bunch of giveaways too -- we always come ready to give away some free swag.

  By Dana Wollman Read More

• Daily Roundup: Windows 10 plans, Apple Watch issues and more!

  In today's edition of the Daily Roundup, Microsoft kicked off its annual Build developer conference by showing off some of the tools developers can use to get their Windows 10 apps up and running. We also learned the official name for the company's Project Spartan browser and witnessed some of the HoloLens headset's new tricks. One tidbit we didn't learn, however, was a release date for Windows 10. Of course, Microsoft wasn't the only company making headlines today. Hulu snagged streaming rights for Seinfeld and some Apple Watch users are discovering dark tattoos can mess with the device's heart rate sensor.

  By Philip Palermo Read More

• Hillary Clinton wants all police to wear body cameras

  Police body cameras might just represent a big talking point in next year's US elections. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tells those at a policy forum that she wants "every department" to issue the wearables to their officers. While a White House taskforce has already recommended the technology, Clinton believes that the implementations should "go even further" in certain circumstances. As she argues, there's a pattern of cops abusing their power across the country -- body cameras should encourage accountability and transparency.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• LG sees its future in smartphones and cars

  If you had to summarize LG's financial health in a few seconds, you could just shrug and say "life's good." That's because the Korean company is one of the few in the technology industry right now that's actually making a decent profit from the hardware it sells. In the last three months, the company managed to get 15.4 million smartphones out the door, largely due to the fact that LG phones are getting more popular in the US. It may not be an exciting thing to write about, but the company's white goods arm also brought home a sizeable chunk of cash.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• PayPal's simple One Touch payments reach the web

  PayPal helped fast-track your online shopping when it rolled out One Touch payments on phones last year, and today it's bringing that simpler system to the web. As with mobile apps, you shouldn't have to sign in more than once to use your PayPal balance for purchases on any device with a browser -- it'll remember your details, so you only need to acknowledge that you're draining your account. You should see One Touch today at numerous web-based shops that already take PayPal, and it should reach other countries in the months ahead. [Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Daily Roundup: Hackers read President's email, eSports injuries and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, read how Russian hackers were able to read some unclassified email from President Obama. Meanwhile, one of eSports' biggest stars, Hai Lam, is retiring due to a repetitive strain injury and a Halo gaming tournament is canceled because the game is still broken. Read all these stories and more below.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Wimbledon bans 'nuisance' selfie sticks

  If you're heading to the All England Lawn Tennis Club in June to enjoy some strawberries and cream and perhaps snap the odd selfie while watching the world's best tennis players, we have some bad news: Wimbledon has banned the selfie stick. Laid out in the official ticketholders' guide, the event's organizers write: "In common with many other major sports and entertainment events and cultural attractions, the championships will not allow selfie sticks into the grounds." No wide-angled photo action for you.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• First Utility tempts new energy customers with free smart thermostat

  There's a thin line between a flourishing product category and an oversaturated one. The smart thermostat racket is fast approaching critical mass, and energy providers across the UK have begun offering hi-tech heating controls to their customers through in-house products, rebrands and various partnerships. Today, it's First Utility's turn. The energy merchant will now give anyone signing up to its three-year, fixed-rate tariff a free Cosy smart thermostat plus installation. Born from a successful Kickstarter campaign, Cosy has a familiar feature set, with programmable schedules and remote heating and hot water control via smartphone apps. Obviously the cost of the tariff should be your primary concern, but if it makes sense, a free Cosy might be handy if you haven't already got five smart thermostats at home.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Seattle PD pushes for transparency by hiring a coder/critic

  Remember Tim Clemans, the formerly anonymous programmer who requested basically all of the Seattle Police Department's bodycam footage and emails? His data petitioning ultimately led to the launch of a YouTube channel that puts that on-the-go police video front and center, and now he's getting ready to actually start working for the fuzz. It's only on a trial basis for now -- think three months or so -- and he'll be helping the police automatically redact not just video footage, but documents and police reports in a bid to get them disclosed more readily.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• With Comcast out, Charter eyes Time Warner Cable merger again

  Comcast is out, but that doesn't mean Time Warner Cable is off the market. Charter, which already cast a losing bid for the provider in 2014, is considering trying to acquire TWC again, according to the Washington Post. Charter's continued interest isn't much of a surprise. In February CEO Tom Rutledge said that if the Comcast deal fell through, he might make another offer. Being the fourth largest cable TV provider, it might not be subject to the same level of regulatory scrutiny as Comcast, which is the nation's largest. But, Charter already began moving on a consolation prize last month in Bright House Networks. So getting approval to swallow up the second largest pay-TV provider in the country won't be easy if it does decide to carry through with a bid. There's also no guarantee that Time Warner Cable will accept a bid from Charter, which had its original offer of roughly $130 per share rebuffed in 2013.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• BitTorrent reportedly laid off dozens of employees

  According to Buzzfeed, BitTorrent drastically reduced its US workforce on Thursday. Multiple anonymous sources reportedly confirmed that about 40 of the company's 150 domestic employees were sacked yesterday morning. BitTorrent has struggled to turn a profit over the last couple of years. Despite its ubiquitous name recognition and multiple profit-sharing partnerships with major musical acts, the company never quite shook the "pirated media" stigma with mainstream consumers. It also offered a string of peer-to-peer based products that never really went anywhere. I mean, do you remember Bleep, BitTorrent's P2P messaging app? No, of course you don't. BitTorrent reportedly made the cuts in order to streamline its business and focus on Sync, a cloud storage system based on it's peer-to-peer file sharing system. Update: Bittorrent PR has issued a comment on the reported firings. We've recently realigned resources based on a regular evaluation of the business. Regrettably, this did include some employee departures. The business however, remains healthy, profitable and growing.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Jack White's Third Man Records now has its own synth and amp

  Jack White has been know to go all out for Record Store Day events with his Third Man Records imprint. This year, in addition to transferring Elvis' first recording from acetate to vinyl for release last weekend, White and his label revealed a synthesizer/amplifier combo that offers some stellar retro aesthetics. The pair, which includes the Septavox synth and Terz amp, was designed and built by Brooklyn instrument company Critter & Guitari. If the synthesizer looks familiar, the same outfit also makes a more compact Pocket Piano instrument. For the Third Man version, though, a metal enclosure houses 41 maple keys alongside seven modes and seven tones. That adds up to 49 different sounds, combining electric organ, vibrato and more. There are controls for tweaking parameters, tuning and volume alongside MIDI input/output, too.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Daily Roundup: Comcast rethinks bid for Time Warner, Project Fi and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, read about Comcast reportedly dropping its bid for Time Warner Cable, how Google's Project Fi mobile phone service will work and get the details on an amazing Jedi mode for Star Wars Galaxy that never quite happened. All these stories and more below!

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• A radioactive drone landed on the Japanese Prime Minister's office (update: arrest)

  Japan has a mystery on its hands. A worker has discovered a drone on top of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office that was not only carrying a water bottle, but was marked with a radioactive sign and carried a "miniscule" amount of radiation, according to officials. While the quantity wasn't enough to harm anyone, the landing raised more than a few alarms, as you can see by the giant tarp and swarm of police in the photo here. Who was behind it? And how did they get on to the roof undetected?

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Making beats with Teenage Engineering's pocket-sized synthesizers

  When I first heard about Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators at last year's Moogfest, I was pretty skeptical. A card-sized digital synth in your pocket? Sure, it sounds cool. And yes, the folks at Teenage Engineering certainly have the know-how to make something like that happen, but I needed to get my hands on one to be sure. After spending the last few weeks pushing buttons and turning knobs on the battery-powered loop makers, I can say without a doubt that spending $59 on one of these bad boys is a decision you won't regret -- even for a novice like me.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Zeiss's latest full-frame Sony lenses have OLED screens

  Sony's full-frame Alpha cameras have serious game, and their only weakness -- a lack of lenses -- is quickly becoming a non-issue. Zeiss has just added a couple more full-frame "Batis" AF lenses that have a singular feature: an OLED display. That lets the 25mm f/2 wide angle and 85mm f/1.8 portrait lenses show the lens' focal plane and depth of field, two pieces of info your camera normally can't. That'll be of dubious utility for casual photographers, but could help pros who like to fine-tune shots. The price to be on the bleeding edge of lens tech? $1,199 and $1,299 for the 85mm and 25mm models, respectively, according to Adorama.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Internet forums are good for you

  Internet forums have a positive impact on life satisfaction and lead to increased involvement in communities outside the confines of the online world, according to a study published in Computers In Human Behavior. Redditors might be doing it right. The study approached users on a range of interest, lifestyle and hobby forums. The study split users into two groups: stigmatized subjects (like mental health discussion), and non-stigma related forums (sports, cooking and the rest). They were then polled about their reasons for joining the forum, how they felt about it, their life satisfaction and offline engagement with "issues raised in the forum". Author lead Dr. Louise Pendry of the University of Exeter said that: "As well as finding answers, our study showed users often discover that forums are a source of great support, especially those seeking information about more stigmatizing conditions."

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Daily Roundup: Setting up a 100-inch projector, 'Rock Band 4' news and more!

  Welcome to the Daily Roundup. What is it like to setup a 100-inch projector inside your apartment? Meanwhile, Rock Band 4 will be co-published by a hardware company and a Darknet-shopping bot was finally released after getting caught purchasing drugs. All the stories and more can be found below.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Aereo to pay broadcasters $950,000 for copyright claims

  As if the situation couldn't get worse for Aereo, the defunct TV streaming service is now set to make a payment to the broadcasters responsible for its downfall. And, all things considered, it's getting off quite easy. According to Bloomberg Business, Aereo has agreed to pay CBS and other television networks $950,000 to resolve copyright claims, although the damages are said to total over $99 million. Simply put, Aereo's only expected to compensate for a little less than a penny on the dollar, a deal that was agreed upon by all parties involved.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Dept of Homeland Security is opening a Silicon Valley office

  Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has announced that the Department of Homeland Security will soon open a satellite office in the heart of Silicon Valley. The new location will serve a dual purpose: to solidifying the DHS's relationships with area tech firms, which have been rather strained over the past few years, and as a means of recruiting. "We want to strengthen critical relationships in Silicon Valley and ensure that the government and the private sector benefit from each other's research and development," Johnson told reporters during the RSA Conference on Tuesday. "And we want to convince some of the talented workforce here in Silicon Valley to come to Washington."

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Philips unveils a $5 LED lightbulb for thrifty environmentalists

  Compared to filament bulbs, the up-front cost of LED lighting can put off plenty of people, even if they'd save cash in the longer term. Philips, however, is doing all that it can to trim the price of its energy-saving bulbs and has managed to craft a 60W equivalent that will cost just $4.97. If you head down to Home Depot starting May 1st or go to the website now, that deal gets even sweeter, since the company will sell you two for the price of one for the next 90 days.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Mattel hopes you'll design 3D-printed toys

  Admit it: when you were a kid, you wished that you could design the toys that the stuffy manufacturers refused to build. Well, you're about to get that chance. Mattel and Autodesk are teaming up to let you design and customize 3D-printed toys through a "dedicated online hub" in the second half of the year. It's not clear just what freedom you'll have, although it wouldn't be shocking if you could craft your own Hot Wheels cars or Barbie accessories. They're likely to carry a premium over off-the-shelf toys, but they could be worth it if they encourage kids to create toys, not just play with them -- and hopefully, prevent the disappointment you probably felt when you were growing up. [Image credit: Timm Schamberger/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sony's latest receivers and sound bars pack Google Cast streaming

  LG isn't the only tech giant rolling out Google Cast-friendly devices this month. Sony is launching two AV receivers (the STR-DN860 and STR-DN1060) and two sound bars (the HT-NT3 and the HT-ST9, above) that all take audio from Google Cast-capable mobile and web apps, so you won't have a problem sending music to your TV's speakers. Outside of the NT3, you'll also get alternatives like Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and (on the receivers) Apple's AirPlay.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Wink has a fix ready for its busted smart home hubs

  Over the last day Wink Hub smart home controllers were hit with a long outage that left many users disconnected for good and needing to return their units. Now, the company has worked out a solution that owners can apply themselves. Several people who were affected by the problem -- traced to an expired security certificate -- have already tried the fix on their devices and say it works. Ultimately, what owners will need to do is temporarily reconfigure the DNS setting on their router, which directs the Hub to a specially configured server where it can download an update that fixes the problem. Update: The directions are available now, check out the Wink support site here.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Comcast's gigabit internet hits northern California in June

  Comcast is bringing its twice-as-fast-as-Google-Fiber internet service to northern California. Potential customers will need installation of professional-grade equipment to access it and, you'll have to be near its fiber network -- Fresno, Monterey, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area are among the places on the list -- to qualify. That's not all, either. Statewide, it's rolling out a 250 Mbps "Extreme 250" speed tier for cable internet customers. The telecom giant's also boosting speeds on its existing tiers as well, with lower priced-plans getting jumps from 25 to 45 Mbps depending on the package at no added cost. Perhaps the best news about all this is that you won't have to wait too much longer for it all to take effect. Comcast says it'll start the cable internet upgrades in May with continued rollouts taking place the rest of the year, while the 2Gbps fiber service starts rolling out in June. And just like that, there's another gigabit competitor in Google HQ's vicinity with Fiber nowhere in sight. [Image credit: Shutterstock]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Adaptalux is a modular lighting system for macro photography

  Every now and then, there are projects on Kickstarter designed for a niche group of people. Adaptalux is one of those: it's a modular, flexible and nearly pocket-sized lighting studio for macro photography and videography. The team behind Adaptalux claims that the system is capable of creating an infinite amount of illumination environments, thanks to an interchangeable design that users can customize based on their needs. For example, the Control Pod lets you choose the amount of light sources (up to five) and the color of them, as well as control the beam angle for each. And, much like the familiar gooseneck desk lamps, Adaptalux's lighting arms can be bent and twisted almost any way you want.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• MakerBot lays off one-fifth of its workforce

  MakerBot is perhaps the most well-known consumer 3D printer company on the market, having sold tens of thousands of Replicators since its start in 2009. It's a large part of why Stratasys, an industrial 3D printer and manufacturer, decided to acquire MakerBot in 2013. Two years after that merger, however, things don't seem quite so rosy. Motherboard has learned that MakerBot has apparently laid off roughly 20 percent of its staff -- which is around a hundred people -- as part of a recent consolidation effort by parent company Stratasys. An employee told the outlet that the company is trying to eliminate duplicate positions and streamline operations as a whole.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Frederick's of Hollywood closes stores in shift to web-only sales

  One of the big names in bedroom wear is closing all of its retail stores and moving forward on the web. Frederick's of Hollywood announced this week that it plans to close all of its physical shops and transition to an online-only business. The name might be synonymous with lingerie and other intimates shopping for some, having been around for decades, but Frederick's fell way behind the competition -- like Victoria's Secret and others. Moving from brick-and-mortar locations to just selling goods on the web is a move we've seen before, and it's becoming increasingly more common. However, not being able to benefit from curious foot traffic means a massive shift in marketing, which some experts believe was Frederick's problem in recent years. [Image credit: Steve Rhodes/Flickr]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Ashley Madison IPO proves Adultery is big business

  It may sound like a high-end department store, but Ashley Madison is actually a hookup network for people who want some extra-marital, no-strings attached sex. As much as we pretend that the site caters to a small niche, the truth is that its parent company is struggling to keep up with the demand. That's why it's reportedly preparing to go public in the hope of raising $200 million to fund international expansion.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Etsy's massive IPO puts big money behind small sellers

  Selling handmade stuff on the internet is big business, and Etsy's IPO shows just that. The online marketplace completed its initial public offering today, raising over $270 million towards a total valuation of more than $3.5 billion -- not too shabby for a company that's not yet profitable. If you're not familiar, Etsy offers folks who deal in "handmade goods, vintage items and craft supplies" a place to sell their goods online. Sure, the site takes a cut, and it generates revenue from ads, shipping and payment processing. What's more, it has attracted 1.4 million active sellers and 19.8 million active buyers (as of December) in its 10 years handling those sales. The company was clear about its history of losses when it first announced plans to go public, admitting that it may never turn a profit. However, as the popularity of handmade and unique wares continues to grow, eager sellers are likely to opt for the site's community as a means for promotion as much as its e-commerce tools. It's also poised to make a big splash in mobile, recently hiring one of Pandora's top executives to lead that charge. [Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Light-sensitive clothing takes us back to the 'hypercolor' era

  1991 was a turbulent year -- the internet first arrived to the public, Arnold bid us "Hasta la Vista, baby" and the hypercolor fad swept the nation. Yes, those were the garments that changed hue from body heat, thanks to a combination of so-called leuco dyes and inappropriate touching. Mercifully, the craze died quickly because of insurmountable problems; namely the colors stopped changing after a few trips through the wash and it was just kind of gross. Now a company called The Crated is trying to reincarnate the best part of hypercolor -- the color changing -- with a line of clothing called Photochromia.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Flextronics brings US manufacturing to the startup set

  At the end of the San Francisco Bay, in the center of the town of Milpitas, sits a nondescript office park. The Flextronics' campus is situated in the middle of this sprawl surrounded by rows of parking spaces and strips of manicured grass. It looks like any other set of buildings in any other industrial park in any other metropolitan area in the United States. But its seemingly boring location is what makes this bland row of buildings in the San Jose suburb so intriguing. Flextronics is doing something that was unheard of just a few years ago -- it built a US-based factory that's manufacturing hardware for small companies. One of those companies is Recon.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• IKEA's wireless charging collection heads to the US this spring

  If you're looking to install some wireless charging tech at home, and you fancy IKEA's home furnishing aesthetics, you'll soon be in luck. The Scandinavian company will begin selling its wireless charging collection that's already on shelves in Europe here in the US by "late spring." This means you'll soon be able to purchase nightstands, lamps and standalone pads that can juice up your device just by laying it down -- if it's compatible with the Qi wireless charging standard, of course. If not, IKEA has compatible cases for iPhone (4, 5, 5s, and 6) and Samsung Galaxy (S3, S4 and S5) phones, too. When you stop in to purchase that new lamp, table or pad, be sure to nab the accessory for an additional $15-$25, depending on the model of your phone.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Cuba edges toward a more connected future as the world watches

  It's been less than four months since President Barack Obama renewed diplomatic ties between the US and Cuba, and the slow invasion of American companies is already underway. Netflix swooped in and started offering its catalog of streaming content for $8 USD per month to the country's financially fortunate. Then there's Airbnb -- the home-sharing startup that's apparently valued at $20 billion -- which just opened up more than a thousand of Cuba's casas particulares (private homestays) to would-be American tourists. More US tech companies will start reaching for the country now that relations have defrosted, but let's not forget the seeds needed for a homegrown Cuban tech scene have started to take root too... albeit very slowly. The one big thing holding that fledgling economy down? Infrastructure.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Roland adds modular options to its AIRA synths

  Just over a year ago, Roland unveiled its successor to the iconic 808 and 909 instruments that have a firm grasp on the modern music landscape. That drum machine, the TR-8, was part of a new AIRA line with the System-1 synthesizer, TB-3 bass synth and VT-3 vocal processor. At this year's Musikmesse in Frankfurt, the company revealed the AIRA Modular: a standalone instrument that can be paired with a handful of external effects or other audio gear. What's more, it's designed to be rackmounted or used at your desk, either with all four of the aforementioned add-ons or one or two at the time. While last year's System-1 offer a more traditional keyboard-driven approach, the AIRA Modular's centerpiece is the System-1m. The unit features Control Voltage (CV) and Gate control needed to produce a range of sounds and plug-out ability allows the System-1m to be used with other classics, like the SH-101 and PROMARS. On board, the modular synth packs in tone, crusher, reverb and delay effects alongside MIDI and LED-lit controls and inputs.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• AIAIAI's TMA-2 modular headphone lets you design the perfect pair

  AIAIAI makes headphones (mostly). Historically, the Danish company has struck a good balance between understated cool, and audio quality (for the price of admission). The popular TMA-1 series spawned a few variations aimed at different use cases, such as a DJ model, and a Studio pair (and some special editions). Today, AIAIAI introduces The TMA-2. This isn't a sequel though, it's a rethink: break all the different editions up into parts; let buyers combine the bits they want to create their perfect set.

  By James Trew Read More

• Yup, there's a Sodastream for cocktails

  Our modern consumer age hasn't been kind to SodaStream, since bottles of soda are cheap enough that you don't need to make your own at home. Thankfully, the company has finally worked out that cola-addicted teens aren't its future customers, but drunk adults who want something fancy for cocktail parties. That's why the firm has teamed up with name-brand designer Yves Behar (he's previously designed the SodaStream Source) to develop the SodaStream Mix, which is one part CO2 injector and one part internet of things device. You see, Mix can't be a buzzy new gadget unless it's connected to the cloud (it is), and the company has also baked in Bluetooth and app compatibility as well.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Chess champ's high-tech cheating scheme involved an iPod touch

  Georgian chess champion Gaioz Nigalidze has been kicked out and banned from the Dubai Open Chess Tournament after he was caught cheating. What exactly did he do, you ask? Well, he got help from a chess app running on an iPod touch. His opponent, Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian, grew suspicious as Nigalidze literally ran to the toilet a few times (remember, a match can go on for hours) and visited the same cubicle. Game officials eventually inspected the cubicle and found the device hidden behind the bowl and wrapped in toilet paper, along with a pair of headphones. Nigalidze denied it was his, but upon further inspection, authorities found that its social media apps were logged into the Georgian champ's accounts. They also found his board mirrored on an open chess app.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• San Francisco mayor proposes 120 day caps on Airbnb rentals

  As San Francisco's housing crisis continues to pit long-term residents against the recent influx of affluent tech employees, Airbnb and other short-term rentals have become a source of tension. Today San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Mark Farrell hoped to ease some of that tension by introducing reforms to the city's short-term rental laws that put a 120 day yearly cap on all short-term rentals. The package of amendments also introduced the creation of a new Office of Short-Term Rental Administration and Enforcement for the city staff to "coordinate in the administration and aggressive enforcement of the law."

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• More telecom groups sue to kill the FCC's net neutrality rules

  It's clearer than ever that the US telecom establishment really, really doesn't like the FCC's new net neutrality regulation. AT&T and multiple industry groups (all from cable and phone businesses) have filed lawsuits trying to kill the new utility-like rules, claiming that they violate everything from procedural laws to the Constitution. In some cases, the language is eerily similar to the US Telecom Association suit that kicked things off -- the American Cable Association even rehashes language describing the measures as "arbitrary" and "capricious." However the organizations word things, the FCC is definitely going to find out whether its attempt to protect the open internet is as lawsuit-proof as promised. [Image credit: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• LG's Google Cast speakers are ready to take on Sonos in the US

  We may have gotten a closer look at LG's latest audio gear back at CES, but now the collection of speakers and soundbars is shipping in the States. If you'll recall, the company's Music Flow line of gadgets is equipped with Google Cast -- the same tech that allows you to beam video to a TV via Chromecast. This means that you can send tunes to one of these speakers with your phone and a capable app. Speaking of apps, the current list of supported software includes Google Play Music, Pandora, Rdio, TuneIn and more. But what about Spotify? Well, the devices play nice with Spotify Connect for remote control duties, or there's a Music Flow controller app for Android and iOS. It's clear that LG is hoping you'll choose it over Sonos.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Universal record gives all your music that vinyl sound

  So you've bought a turntable with hopes of hearing that warm vinyl sound, but you don't have a record collection just yet. What to do? If you're Jesse England, you 'cheat' using digital tunes. He recently built the Universal Record, a device that lets any Bluetooth audio source work with a record player by vibrating a vinyl disc. You can leave the needle stationary if you want relatively clean output, but get it moving and you'll hear crackles and pops -- a bit surreal when you're listening to songs from your phone. This is an artistic commentary on the "kinetic spectacle" of turntables, so you sadly can't buy a Universal Record of your own. Still, it's a pretty clever way to bring back that analog feel in a world where MP3s and internet streaming reign supreme.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• $150 laser pointer can stay steady even if your hands can't

  Is there a market for a $150 laser pointer when you can get one anywhere for a few bucks? Maybe, in special cases or, as the creators of SteadyLaser believe, if the user shakes like a leaf when he has to speak in public. SteadyLaser promises to cancel out tremors through a mechanism that separates the laser itself from the device's body. Here's how the startup explains its technology on Kickstarter, where it's attempting to raise $150,000 to begin mass production:

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Daily Roundup: LG leaks the G4, Amazon predictions and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, read all about how LG accidentally leaked the G4, its new flagship phone. In other news, Amazon's web services are getting smart enough to make predictions for you and the PC market is shrinking because customers are no longer upgrading as frequently. Get your fill of these stories and more below.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Sony's new compact cameras put a superzoom lens in your pocket

  We know your smartphone is pretty good at taking pictures. Still, sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where, perhaps, there's the need to snap a subject that isn't exactly nearby. This is where Sony could help. The company has announced the Cyber-shot HX90V and WX500, two small point-and-shoot cameras with 30x optical and 60x digital zoom -- it's a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, to be specific. Both models feature an 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor alongside a Bionz X processor, five-axis image stabilization (Optical SteadyShot), 1080p video recording, NFC, WiFi and a 3-inch (selfie-friendly) LCD. The main difference between them is the built-in, retractable electronic viewfinder on the HX90V, which is similar to the one you'll find on Sony's flagship compact camera, the RX100. The Cyber-shot HX90V and WX500 will be available in June for $430 and $330, respectively.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'Mortal Kombat X', 'Justified', 'Orphan Black'

  Mortal Kombat is back on consoles for its tenth iteration this week, as a slightly less violent companion to the new season of Game of Thrones. We're also saying goodbye to Justified, as one of the Engadget HD Podcast's favorite shows wraps up its run for good. Yahoo Screen is premiering the Paul Feig creation Other Space later this week an, unlike community, the entire season will be ready for bingeing at launch. Fans of Orphan Black can check out the new season on BBC America, while Turn premieres season two tonight on AMC. But the best this week may be on Blu-ray. That's where Jean-Luc Goodard's remarkably strange Goodbye to Language 3D and Australian horror flick The Babadook will finally be available. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• GoPro transmitter puts action cameras on live TV

  Your favorite extreme sports events are about to get a little more interesting... or at least, the camera angles will. As promised, GoPro has launched the HEROCast, a wireless transmitter that sends footage from the company's action cameras to broadcast TV. The relatively tiny add-on hooks on to existing mounts and delivers a 1080p, 60 frames per second live feed with a minimum of lag and bulk -- that death-defying jump will hopefully come across without a hitch. You probably won't be buying one yourself when it costs $7,500 before you factor in the necessary Hero3+ Black or Hero4 camera, but it's nice to know that you don't have to settle for distant, uninvolved shots in the future.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Vizio's latest 4K TVs start at $600

  Vizio has already developed a reputation for offering decent 4K TVs on the cheap, and it's cementing that image now that it's rolling out its 2015 line of Ultra HD screens. The company's new M-Series sets (above) tout full LED backlighting, speedy 802.11ac WiFi and a six-core processor starting at $600 for a 43-inch model -- not bad considering that even stripped-down TVs cost more just a couple of years ago. The M range scales up to an 80-inch set at $4,000, which is still a steal considering that many 4K panels that size will cost you a five-digit sum.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Garmin's latest action cameras track more of your performance

  How is Garmin going to convince you to buy one of its ViRB action cameras instead of a GoPro? By making them work anywhere and talk to anything, apparently. The company's new ViRB X and ViRB XE cams have a brand new design that lets them work underwater without a case, more choices for mounts and easier controls. They're also chock-full of sensors and connections that track your activities with more detail -- they combine the built-in accelerometer, GPS and gyroscope with compatible wireless gear (such as Garmin's heart rate monitor and Fenix sports watches) to gauge your performance. You can even overlay this data when you're working with footage in Garmin's mobile app, so it's easier to brag about your adventures when you post them online.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Blackmagic launching a tiny, drone-friendly RAW cinema camera

  Hollywood needs better quality than a GoPro can deliver for aerial footage, but heavy cinema cameras demand really expensive drones to lift them. Blackmagic Design clearly thought all this through and is about to launch a Micro Cinema Camera with a Micro Four Thirds mount (update: The product page is now live). It should suit high-end producers' needs with a Super 16 sensor (30 percent smaller than a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensor) and RAW video with 13 stops of dynamic range. It also has built-in drone radio control inputs (PWM and S-Bus), a giant nod to its intended usage.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Rambo the octopus snags photography job at New Zealand aquarium

  There's an unusual photographer working for Auckland's Sea Land Aquarium. His name is Rambo, and we doubt he personally manages the $2 per shot he earns taking pictures of tourists. That's because Rambo is an octopus -- a very smart one who learned how to press the shutter after three tries. "That's faster than a dog," said Mark Vette, his trainer. "Actually it's faster than a human in some instances." Rambo uses a Sony TX30 compact camera encased in transparent armor that's attached right outside his tank, clicking the red shutter extender whenever guests pose against the backdrop in front of his display. Sure, this is partly a Sony media stunt (all proceeds go to Sea Life's conservation programs, at least), but how often can you say you got your picture taken by an cephalopod? Unfortunately, we're not familiar with New Zealand's laws, so we can't say if Rambo owns the rights to the pictures he takes.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The history of computing, cars from the New York Auto Show and other stories you might've missed!

  Find out what forty years of personal computing history looks like as we visit The Interface Experience, an exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center's Focus Gallery in New York. Meanwhile, the New York International Auto show was going on this week and there were some very beautiful cars to check out. Catch up on all of these stories and more in the weekly roundup.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Podcasts are safer after the EFF helps gut a patent troll

  Personal Audio has been threatening the podcast world for a while -- the longtime patent troll claims that it invented the concept of podcasting, and has insisted that some bigger productions (such as Adam Carolla's) either cough up licensing money or face lawsuits. You may not have to worry about your favorite series going off the air in the future, though. US patent officials have nixed some of the core claims of Personal Audio's "podcasting patent" after the Electronic Frontier Foundation pointed out podcast-like shows that were running before the patent even existed. Some aspects of episodic online audio are just too obvious to be patentable, according to the finding.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Pentagon plans to buy smarter to keep its tech edge

  The Pentagon thinks the US is losing its technological dominance over adversaries and is changing the way it develops and buys new weapons. It just rolled out a program called "Better Buying Power 3.0" designed to better tap into the latest technology and significantly bolster cybersecurity. Defense under secretary Frank Kendall said that the program is motivated by "a steady erosion of our technological superiority" caused in part by a shrinking modernization budget that's often raided to pay for day-to-day operations.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Nikon is making its high-end DSLRs much better at video

  Nikon's best DSLRs will soon be able to record sharper video, making them much more useful for videographers. The Japanese company says its D4s, D810 and D750 full-frame DSLRs will get "greater support for recording high-definition, uncompressed data" to external recorders via the HDMI port. In addition, you'll be able to send start/stop commands to supported video recorders and edit video more efficiently, presumably via the addition of timecode or other metadata. There's no word on exact video specifications or whether RAW output would be supported, but the company promised to reveal more at NAB tomorrow (the firmware is due this summer). Considering that Nikon was the first to put video on a DSLR, we're glad it's not treating it like the ugly stepchild anymore.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Britain's new electricity 'T-pylons' carry power with style

  Electricity pylons might be a vital part of the UK's power infrastructure, but they sure ain't the prettiest of things, especially when towering over otherwise unspoiled countryside. Their design hasn't changed in nearly a century, but soon you could start seeing a new, much sleeker type of pylon dotting the landscape. Winner of a 2011 competition seeking fresh and more attractive designs, the "T-pylon" is a far cry from our familiar steel lattice structures, with a lone trunk sprouting two arms that support power cables in a diamond arrangement. Ahead of going into formal use, the construction of the first T-pylon test site is now underway at the National Grid's training academy in rural Nottinghamshire. They're not designed to replace what we have already, but will serve as another option in areas where its looks and smaller footprint "can offer real advantages."

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Daily Roundup: Apple's new Macbook, AI that mimics the brain and more!

  Apple's latest attempt to reinvent the laptop is finally here and we go hands on in our review. In other news, researchers at IBM are testing AI software that mimics the human brain and iOS 8.3 appears to break TouchID for App Store purchases. Catch up on these stories and more in the Daily Roundup.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• FAA allows AIG to use drones for insurance inspections

  The Federal Aviation Administration has been rather stingy when it comes to giving companies the OK to test, let alone employ, drones. After getting permission this week, AIG joins State Farm and USAA as insurance providers with exemptions that allow them to use the UAVs to perform tasks that are risky to regular folks -- things like roof inspections after a major storm. In addition to keeping its inspectors safe, the company says drones will speed up the claims process, which means its customers will, in theory, get paid faster. "UAVs can help accelerate surveys of disaster areas with high resolution images for faster claims handling, risk assessment, and payments," the news release explains. "They can also quickly and safely reach areas that could be dangerous or inaccessible for manual inspection, and they provide richer information about properties, structures, and claim events."

  By Billy Steele Read More

• NYC's mayor sets the stage for universal broadband

  New York City mayor BIll de Blasio is making good on his promise to bring fast and affordable broadband throughout the city. Or at least, he's getting there. The de Blasio administration has created two high-level positions to help with the push, and it's also announcing an open call for ideas on how to make the dream of universal broadband happen, BuzzFeed reports. 27 percent of New Yorkers still don't have access to the internet, according to the latest NYC comptroller report, so there's certainly plenty of room for improvement. Former Alcatel-Lucent employee Alphonso Jenkins will fill the new role of deputy commissioner of telecommunications planning at NYC's Department of Information Technology, while Joshua Breitbart, who previously directed field operations at the New America Foundation, will serve as a special advisor for broadband in the mayor's office. They'll work together with the administration's Broadband Task Force to judge the open "Calls for Innovations," which anyone can submit until June 30.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Nevada: Email that's sent in Vegas should stay in Vegas

  It was just a few days ago that Edward Snowden told John Oliver how an email, sent from one New Yorker to another, could bounce across the world before reaching its destination. This decentralization is one of the internet's biggest strengths, but the system has gotten Nevada's politicians very worried about data security. That's why Paul Anderson and Mo Denis are sponsoring a bill that would see all of the state's government internet traffic remain within its own borders.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Kickstarter transparency report shows crowdfunding's copyright woes

  If you've noticed a crowdfunding project that was ripping off someone else's work to make a pitch, you're not alone. Kickstarter has posted its first transparency report, and it notes that there were 282 Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown requests in 2014 -- a notable amount considering that there were 68,668 total projects that year. The company only took action against 44 percent of them, but that still means that it had to scrub content (or in some cases, whole projects) in 123 campaigns.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Canon's C300 Mark II cinema camera will cost you $20,000

  More than three years after launching the C300, Canon is refreshing its line of cinema cameras with the C300 Mark II. On the outside, the C300 Mark II is quite similar to its EOS siblings, although it does come with a slightly tweaked design that features a wider body. But the most important changes are elsewhere. For one, Canon has made the new cinema camera capable of recording 4K internally, via CFast 2.0 cards -- as opposed to the first version, which couldn't handle this type of footage natively. The C300 Mark II sports a pair of DIGIC DV 5 processors, an ISO range of up to 102,400 and a brand new 8.85-megapixel, Super 35mm CMOS sensor, which can shoot video at full HD (1,920 x 1,080), 2K DCI (2,048 X 1,080), 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) and, perhaps most importantly, 4K DCI (4,096 x 2,160).

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Coding marathon will help Cubans skirt internet restrictions

  Cuba's government might be loosening its grip on internet access in the country, but non-profit group Roots of Hope isn't waiting around for that trickle of information to turn into a flood. It's holding a Code for Cuba hackathon to develop tools that help residents get things done while dodging online restrictions. The event, which kicks off April 25th at Facebook's headquarters, will give prizes to those with solutions that are not only effective, but deal with a tough Cuban reality where connections are slow, scarce and heavily censored.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Daily Roundup: Rumored 8K iMacs, cars of the future and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, read all about how LG may have accidentally leaked news of a possible 8K iMac, learn how cars of the future will keep you safer and who is responsible for keeping robots down (hint: you). Read all these stories and more past the break.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Kobo's latest e-reader packs a super-sharp screen for $130

  Want an e-reader with an extra-sharp resolution, but don't relish the thought of dropping $199 on a Kindle Voyage when some tablets cost that much? Kobo thinks it can help. Its just-unveiled Glo HD reader packs a 1,448 x 1,072 front-lit E Ink display for a more reasonable $130 -- that leaves a lot of spare money for, y'know, actual books. It has the same 4GB of built-in storage as its Amazon counterpart, too, so you'll have room for a big library. The Glo HD should reach North America on May 1st, and it'll land in the UK a month later with a £110 price tag.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Daily Roundup: Hacking in television, PlayStation Home and more!

  Catch up on all of today's top stories in the Daily Roundup. Find out if the hacking portrayed in prime-time television is realistic, read about PlayStation Home shutting down and get the details on Intel's PC on a stick. Head past the break to read about these stories and others you might have missed.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• BlackBerry Messenger helps uncover a Brazilian corruption scandal

  Some less-than-ethical businesspeople are learning the hard way that even secure messaging systems aren't all that private. Brazilian authorities have used BlackBerry Messenger records (obtained through warrants and BlackBerry's help) to level corruption charges against over 100 people skimming money from the country's state-owned oil company, Petrobras. The chats not only confirmed relationships between culprits, but indicated when people were arranging cash drop-offs and other suspicious activities. There aren't any convictions just yet, but it may be hard for at least some suspects to deny that they're involved.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Would you pay $0.21 to read this article?

  The New York Times and its contemporaries may have conditioned their readers to pay subscriptions for access to online content, but one Canadian news source is about to mix things up with the introduction of a pay-per-article model. In addition to offering standard subscriptions, The Winnipeg Free Press will charge readers 27 Canadian cents ($0.21) for each article they read. According to NeimanLab, the newspaper (which is the region's largest by circulation) will launch the pay-per-article system later this month. It hopes to tempt readers with the one-two punch of a 30-day free trial and this bizarre Pink Floyd pastiche:

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• UK government plans to block porn sites without age verification

  It's election season in the UK, so get ready for a near-endless stream of new policies, proposals and promises from the major political parties. The latest from the Conservatives is actually an old idea that's been kicking around since last autumn: to force sites containing adult material to introduce proper age checks. It goes beyond the UK government's rather unpopular porn filters, which ISPs are now forced to offer customers as an "unavoidable choice." Simply highlighting the feature was supposed to encourage adoption, particularly from parents, but the latest figures from Ofcom suggest its impact has been limited. Now, the Conservatives want "effective age verification controls" for all online pornography, and plan to block sites which refuse to implement proper checks.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Enjoy a terrifying 10,000 foot GoPro camera freefall

  Got your dramamine and/or hallucinogenics? Either will work for the latest video starring a tough, but not-very-well-attached GoPro camera. Its owner lost it during a skydiving formation gone wrong, and it continued the rest of the 10,000 feet down without him, spinning crazily the whole way. But the camera and video survived and were picked up by a resident of Kristianstad, Sweden, who figured it had been sitting in a meadow "for several years." He posted it on YouTube (below) to find the rightful owner, and the trick worked -- it was claimed by a parachutist from a nearby flying club. Unfortunately, it may also give you some horrific new falling dreams.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Disney is pouring $250 million into a fantasy sports site

  Disney apparently doesn't think it's enough to offer sports coverage through ESPN... it wants to fuel your fantasy leagues, too. Wall Street Journal sources report that the House that Walt Built is investing $250 million into DraftKings, a fantasy sports website that lets you play for real cash. The deal is believed to be all about complementing ESPN's various platforms with ads and services that are both relevant and, of course, profitable. DraftKings is expected to spend $500 million on ESPN ads in the "coming years" -- that's a lot of money to reap from friendly rivalries and office pools. The pact wouldn't completely lock out competitors like the Comcast-backed FanDuel, but they'd undoubtedly be left reeling by losing exposure on one of the largest sports networks. [Image credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Jamstik+ is a backpack-friendly 'smart guitar'

  The first time I encountered Jamstik, a guitar controller for Mac and iOS, was at CES 2013. Zivix -- the team behind the product -- came to our trailer and gave us a demo. That was a prototype, which eventually got crowdfunded and did pretty well as history tells it. Now there's Jamstik+ with a few significant improvements, and once again, the company's looking to you to fund it (spoiler: It's already met its goal). While the original Jamstik won people over, concerns over latency left some users wanting. Has version 2.0 cracked it?

  By James Trew Read More

• Wave goodbye to the Bitcoin Bowl

  Bitcoin's journey on the road to legitimacy has just taken a step backwards with the news that the Bitcoin Bowl is no more. The event was a tie-up between Bitcoin payment processor BitPay and ESPN to re-brand NCAA post-season game the St. Petersburg Bowl as the Bitcoin Bowl. According to CoinDesk, the three-year agreement between the pair was torn up by mutual consent, and no-one's saying anything beyond that. Earlier this year, CoinDesk reported that the reaction to the Bitcoin Bowl by participating retailers was lukewarm, which might have been one of the reasons behind the move. Fortune, meanwhile, believes that the dwindling value of the currency is hurting BitPay and it may not be long for this world.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Daily Roundup: Samsung's S6 and S6 Edge, Megaboom impressions and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, you can find out what we think about the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, get our impressions of the new UE Megaboom Bluetooth speaker and find out about a new art exhibit in London that features a laptop destroyed over Edward Snowden's revelations. Get all the details on these stories and much more past the break.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Comcast's new broadband service is twice as fast as Google Fiber

  Comcast has drawn a new battle line against Google Fiber by launching a 2Gbps fiber broadband service called Gigabit Pro. It arrives next month in Atlanta and will be available in 18 million homes across the US by the end of the year. The package will deliver symmetric uploads and downloads like Fiber does, but at twice its 1Gbps speed. Mountain View had already announced that it would bring Fiber to Atlanta, but Comcast will now beat it to the punch both in timing and data rates.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Nikon's dive into 4K starts with the 1 J5 mirrorless camera

  Nikon's bread-and-butter business may be its entry-level and high-end DSLRs, but the point-and-shoot and mirrorless models are equally as important to the company. This is particularly true now more than ever, as these cheaper cameras begin to lose ground to smartphones with great photography features -- like the iPhone 6 or Galaxy S6. Still, Nikon isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. Today, it is introducing the J5, a compact, yet powerful camera that's part of its 1 series of mirrorless hardware. The J5 comes with a brand-new 20.8-megapixel, VFI CMOS sensor (DC format), an XP5A image processor, ISO range of 1600 to 12,800 and support for NFC and WiFi.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Crashing this 80-megapixel drone camera is a $60K mistake

  Phase One has debuted what it's calling "the world's smallest" 80-megapixel medium format camera. The Phase One iXU 180 weighs just two pounds and its body is barely bigger than the Schneider-Kreuznach lense it's attached to. That means the entire rig is light enough to fit aboard the gyroscopes of most commercially available quadcopters and ultralight UAVs. What's more, the IR-capable iXU 180 can be employed as either a standalone device akin to a GoPro or as part of a multi-camera array.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• littleBits' synth kit plays nice with analog gear and audio software

  littleBits and Korg first teamed up on a kit for aspiring musicians back in 2013, and now the duo is at it again. This time around, the two companies collaborated on MIDI, CV and USB I/O modules, adding to the existing Lego-like DIY audio collection. With the MIDI module, you can control the Synth Kit from a compatible instrument (like Korg's MS-20 mini), or use a littleBits setup to wrangle sounds from gear and software, too. Connecting the USB I/O module adds a way to capture your homemade instrument with recording software (DAW). And as you might expect, it'll allow littleBits controllers, sequencers and effects to tweak any audio coming from a computer.

  By Billy Steele Read More

Nintendo (17)

• JXE Streams: Engadget vs. Upright Citizens Brigade in 'Mario Kart 8'

  Mario Kart 8's brand new 200cc races are fast. Very fast. Indeed, they are so damned speedy that they almost made our own Joseph Volpe throw up while he was having an insanely good time playing. Since we're always up for a bout of stomach churning fun, the JXE Streams posse is diving back into Mario Kart 8 to check out the new 200cc races as well as the new downloadable characters. We're also going to share the love with Mike Still, our very special guest from Upright Citizens Brigade.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Nintendo backs off of bringing Super Nintendo games to Wii U

  Bad news for Super Nintendo fans: your Wii U fix is about to dry up. Nintendo's Virtual Console, the download service offering older games on its consoles and handhelds, has never had the most robust selection. With Nintendo turning its eye towards N64 games, though, SNES releases are being left behind. According to Natsume, a publisher with a plethora of SNES games primed for re-release, Nintendo is done with 16-bit for now.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Wii U 'Splatoon' bundle lands at Best Buy on May 29th

  Nintendo must be really, really confident that you'll want Splatoon. It's launching a Best Buy-exclusive Wii U bundle that includes the ink-drenched, kid-friendly shooter, Nintendoland and a 32GB Deluxe console for $300. That's a good deal, but a bit of a gamble for a brand new game series -- normally, Nintendo thrives on bundling familiar titles that lure you in based on the name alone. If you're new to the Wii U and don't mind trying something genuinely new, though, you can snag this bundle on May 29th.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• JXE Streams: Me, you and Mewtwo in 'Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'

  Nintendo's reticence to make downloadable content has been exasperating this past decade. Is it admirable to focus on making full games, the whole thing complete and defined when it ships on a disc? Of course, but it's also exciting to see games turn into thriving ecosystems of change. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has already been tweaked, balanced and updated multiple times since its release last fall, but it was only this month that it expanded through big DLC. Mewtwo, the formidable Pokémon fighter last seen in Super Smash Bros. Melee, is back and we're checking out his moves with The A.V. Club's own Matt Gerardi on today's stream.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• The magic of Nintendo's new shooter 'Splatoon' is in its multiplayer

  My Nintendo 64 memories have nothing to do with GoldenEye 007, the famed first-person James Bond shooter that helped define the genre. Unlike seemingly every other N64 owner, I never played that game because, quite frankly, shooters aren't my thing. With Splatoon, Nintendo's quirky, new third-person action shooter for the Wii U, ready for release on May 29th, however, it may be time I change my tune.

  By Joseph Volpe Read More

• 'Mario Kart 8' is about to get absurdly fast

  How big of a difference do those extra 50 cubic centimeters in Mario Kart 8 make? Well, Iwata and Co. have a video showing the current fastest/most difficult setting (150cc) side by side with the 200cc level the outfit announced last week. The trip around Piranha Plant Slide starts out slowly enough, but it isn't long before the differences start to show. There's roughly a five second gap between when Mario passes the first eponymous flora on the 200cc speed and 150cc, for instance, and the lead only grows from there. By the end of the lap, the lead is almost 15 seconds. That's quite a bit! Anywho, the video, along with a few others, is just below and the free update hits April 23rd -- see you on Rainbow Road.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Watch the peppy, neon 'Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem' for Wii U trailer

  "Thank you for waiting, everyone." That's how Nintendo capped the new trailer today for Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem, a Wii U game it's developing with Japanese publisher Atlus, announced back in January 2013. While the video is fairly gorgeous and shows off some gameplay, it doesn't offer a release date. We did, however, get the following description: "The role-playing masters at Atlus are developing a truly modern RPG where everyday life exists alongside a secret world of fantasy." Watch the trailer below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The new 'Fire Emblem' game alights on 3DS in 2016

  A brand new Fire Emblem game is on its way to 3DS in 2016, Nintendo announced during its live stream today. This new entry in the acclaimed role-playing series will be the first to star each player's customized character as the main protagonist. "The path you choose ultimately decides your character's fate," Nintendo said. The company announced this fresh Fire Emblem in January 2014. Check out a trailer below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Next 'Animal Crossing' adds characters via amiibo cards, not toys

  Nintendo said it'd offer different ways to handle amiibo shortages and a new Animal Crossing is where at least one of them will debut. With Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer, you'll use cards rather than plastic toys to insert characters into the no-chores, interior design-focused game. Don't fret if you're rocking an NFC-less 3DS either -- the company also announced a separate card reader that'll bring the functionality to older hardware. When's it all happening? Later this spring.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Mario Kart 8' adds 'Animal Crossing' DLC earlier than expected

  The next round of downloadable content for Mario Kart 8, a pack featuring tracks and items from the Animal Crossing series, will hit the Wii U on April 23rd, Nintendo announced today. The DLC pack was originally scheduled to launch in May. Hooray! Also heading to Mario Kart 8 on April 23rd is a free update that adds a 200cc speed class, meaning players who have mastered the existing races get a brand new challenge. That's bananas! The update also adds support for more amiibo, Nintendo's Skylanders-style action figures.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Xenoblade Chronicles 3D' starts its new 3DS chapter on April 10th

  Xenoblade Chronicles, the Japanese role-playing game that launched to great success on the Wii in 2010, is on its way to Nintendo's latest handheld hardware, the new 3DS, on April 10th. Nintendo announced the date during today's Nintendo Direct live stream. Also in the Xenoblade series, Xenoblade Chronicles X is due out for the Wii U in 2015.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Fatal Frame' and its photo-based horror hits Wii U this year

  It isn't a Pokemon Snap sequel, but Nintendo just announced a new Fatal Frame for the Wii U. The camera-based survival horror title hits sometime this year, and, well, that's about all we know for now. Is it a port of the game that was slated for last year in Japan? We aren't sure just yet. But, that'll almost positively change come E3 in June.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Yoshi's Wooly World' snuggles up to a fall release window

  Yoshi's Wooly World races to the Wii U in the fall, Nintendo announced during its live-streamed presentation today. A set of amiibo figures made out of yarn will launch with the game, even though that level of cuteness shouldn't be legal. Yoshi's Wooly World is an adventure game with a two-player co-op mode and an emphasis on exploration and using adorable, yarn-based abilities. It comes from the team behind Kirby's Epic Yarn, another fluffy Nintendo platformer. Nintendo revealed Yoshi's Wooly World in January 2013 -- so we hope no one has been holding their breath.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Amiibo Greatest Bits' offers the best of Nintendo's past

  You know that Amiibo collection of yours? It's about to get a bit more useful. Nintendo's just announced Amiibo Greatest Bits, a series of bite-sized chunks from the company's gaming history that're unlocked via tapping your collectible figures to the Wii U gamepad. As for a release date, Nintendo's Satoru Iwata says it'll be a free download this spring. Each toy contains a random level (basically a demo) and, like Forrest Gump's mom said they're like a box of chocolates and you'll never know what you're going to get.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Splatoon,' Nintendo's quirky Wii U shooter, launches May 29th

  Splatoon, the rapid-fire, multiplayer paintball game for Wii U, launches on May 29, Nintendo revealed today. We got our hands on the game at E3 last year and found it to be simply joyous.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Mario Maker' level-design game launches in September

  Mario Maker is due out for the Wii U in September, Nintendo announced today during its live stream. Mario Maker allows players to design their own Mario levels, featuring styles from across the series' storied history.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Watch today's Nintendo Direct right here!

  Did you know there's a Nintendo Direct today that's all about its upcoming Wii U and 3DS games? Well, if not, now you do! Even better, you can watch it right here by clicking on the video above. The stream starts at 6 pm Eastern / 3 pm Pacific, so check back then for what's sure to be an enlightening chunk of time -- maybe, just maybe, we'll get a solid date for that new Legend of Zelda.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

PC Gaming (19)

• Valve releases a kit for making virtual reality apps

  Eager to build a game or 3D modelling tool that takes advantage of HTC's Vive and other SteamVR-friendly virtual reality headsets? It's time to get cracking. Valve has released a software development kit that lets apps use SteamVR hardware, including Valve's controller and room-scale Lighthouse tracking. On top of that, the platform now works nicely with both the Unity game engine (through a plugin) and Unreal Engine 4. It'll be a long while before you can actually run programs built on this code -- the VR devices have yet to reach many developers, let alone the public -- but this at least gets the ball rolling.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Steam hands developers the power to ban cheaters

  Cheating in multiplayer games isn't big or clever, but people still think they can successfully get away with it. That's a problem for the folks at Valve, who are constantly trying to ensure that Steam is a nice place to play. It's one of the reasons that the company has now revealed that it'll hand the power to police users straight to the developers behind each game on the service. Now, rather than Valve staff racing to deal with each incident, the teams that made the title can rule on what they consider to be fair and unfair practices.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Play classic MS-DOS games without even leaving Twitter

  Although they went live at the very start of the year, it was like all of our Christmases had come at once when Archive.org added 2,400 playable MS-DOS games to its website. Retro titles like Maniac Mansion, Oregon Trail and Doom are all available, with the only downside being that you have to visit each specific game's page to play them. However, the eagle-eyed folk at Wired noticed these have recently started working on Twitter, meaning you can get all of your social networking done while simultaneously saving Sandy Pantz from the evil Dr Fred. Thanks to Twitter's Cards platform, all you have to do is tweet the URL of the game you want to play and it'll take care of the rest. You can even embed the tweet (and thus the game) inside a webpage, exactly like we've done below.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Murder, cat women and time travel hit PC in detective game 'D4'

  D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is a wacky, weird and fairly wonderful point-and-click adventure originally released on Xbox One for Kinect. Fast-forward a few months and, now, it's heading to PC. Creator Hidetaka Suehiro, AKA "Swery," confirmed the PC port on Twitter and in Japanese magazine Famitsu. In the Xbox One version, D4 truly (and surprisingly) shines as a Kinect game, allowing players to control a hardened, time-traveling detective using arm gestures and voice controls. The PC version will feature standard mouse controls: "It's really good I think," Swery tweeted. There's no word on whether the PC version of D4 will be on Steam, but Swery has "noted" fan requests for a Steam launch.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Valve removes option to sell paid 'Skyrim' mods

  After a few days of hearing complaints on the internet, Valve is removing the payment feature from the Skyrim Workshop on Steam. The PC gaming juggernaut explains that it underestimated the differences between the communities built around its own games and those from other studios, and toeing the waters of an established modding scene like one surrounding The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's "was probably not the right place to start" experimenting.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• JXE Training Day: How to play your first 'League of Legends' match

  We covered the League of Legends basics during our very first episode Training Day. Loc Tran, he of San Jose State University's rising League team, gave us the lowdown on just what multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games actually are, what it's like to play them and which ones are right for beginners. This week, we dive into matches against live players. What do you need to know the first time you play League of Legends? What class of character is good for you? We'll answer those questions and more on today's Training Day.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Steam lets modders sell their wares, starting with 'Skyrim'

  Valve's move to start selling community-created mods on its PC-game storefront looks like it could boost that $57 million user payout from earlier this year. And it's starting with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -- one of the most popular moddable games. The process sounds pretty easy as Valve tells it, too. Upload your tweak to the Skyrim Creation Kit, agree to the new Steam Workshop terms, enter payment info and set your creation free. Within the week, it'll go up for sale at a price of your choosing. You can even add revenue splitting if you're working with a team and generally control the whole process from start to finish.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Watch eSports on ESPN2 for the first time ever this weekend

  The final round of the collegiate championship for Heroes of the Storm -- Blizzard's answer to hugely popular MOBA games League of Legends and Dota 2 -- will be broadcast live on ESPN2 on Sunday at 6:30PM PT. That's prime time, baby. This marks the first time that ESPN will air an eSports match on live TV; it hosted the League of Legends finals last year online only, and that stream brought in more viewers than the NBA Finals or the deciding game in the World Series. Also last year, ESPN2 aired a documentary about Dota 2 and ESPN3 hosted an online stream of that game's championships. Professional gaming is a booming business, with the top title, League of Legends, bringing in an estimated $1 billion in 2014 alone.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The amazing 'Star Wars Galaxies' Jedi mode that never was

  "Well, my opinion is Jedi are evil." That's how Raph Koster, creative director of the 2003 MMO Star Wars Galaxies, begins discussing the problems that faced his design team back in the day. Jedi were too powerful, too desirable and too canonically rare to be successfully implemented in Star Wars Galaxies as a standard class -- and this was precisely why so many fans ditched the game when its third major patch added Jedi as a starting character. Before launch, the Star Wars Galaxies creative team obsessed over ways to implement playable Jedi into the game, and one solution stands out to Koster as "the crazy idea I still wish we had done." Inspired by Diablo's Hardcore mode, it was a system "that effectively gave a different way to play the game. A method that kept Jedi rare, powerful, and yet allowed everyone a shot," Koster writes. This solution was, in a word, permadeath.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Solitaire returns to Windows 10: the bouncy cards are back!

  To the dismay of many users, Microsoft decided to remove its Solitaire, Hearts and Minesweeper games from Windows 8. But now, to celebrate the venerated card game's 25th anniversary (it debuted all the way back on Windows 3.0), the company is making things right. Microsoft has announced that a modernized version of Solitaire will return to the Start menu from the Windows Store where it had been relegated. Unfortunately fans of both Hearts and Minesweeper will still have to grab both of those games online and install them individually.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• CyberPower's three-blade gaming PC is built for showing off

  Sure, you can accessorize a gaming PC with curved monitors and glowing lights to make it stand out, but what if you don't think they're eye-catching enough? CyberPower thinks it has an answer: it just started taking orders for the Trinity, an oddball gaming rig that divides the chassis into CPU, Performance (read: graphics) and Storage "blades." According to the company, that three-part design is both pretty and functional. The unusual split prevents the components from heating each other, so a hot-running video card shouldn't cook your processor.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Heroes of the Storm' pits 'StarCraft against 'Warcraft' in June

  More than three years after Blizzard announced it would be making a competitor to League of Legends and Dota 2, that game finally has an official release date. Heroes of the Storm comes out June 2nd, brining with it seven maps for players to face off on using over 30 characters culled from the studio's famous Diablo, StarCraft and Warcraft series. As with other multiplayer online battle arena games, or MOBAs as they're commonly known, like the aforementioned League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm is free to download and start playing. Blizzard makes money on the game by charging for new characters as well as customization options.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• If you want to chat on Steam, spend at least $5

  Earlier this week Valve introduced Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator as a means to keep its users safe from phishing attempts, and now it's taken another step in that direction. From here on out, until you spend a minimum $5 with your account certain features are blocked. What're you going to miss out on? Friend invites, opening group chat, the Steam discussion boards and voting on Greenlight games among other things. But, considering that most people use the service for, you know, buying and playing games, this really should only affect those who're actively using the service for nefarious purposes.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Steam is testing two-factor authentication through its mobile app

  Valve currently offers two-factor authentication on desktop via "Steam Guard," which sends a unique code via email. Now it's offering players the option of receiving that code through the Steam app instead. The feature is called "Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator" and it's live now for a selection of Android beta testers. If you want in, you'll need to join this Steam group and hope Valve takes a fancy to your username. Once selected, you should see the new "Get Steam Guard codes from my phone" option inside the app. Otherwise, you'll just have to hang tight -- Valve can be a tad slow to update its mobile apps, but eventually this security feature should be available to everyone.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Retro-futuristic stealth game 'Invisible, Inc.' hits Steam in May

  Step back in time -- to the future! Invisible, Inc. is a tactical espionage game set in a futuristic, corporate-controlled world where hacking is as cool as 1950s-style fedoras and trench coats. It launches on Steam for PC, Mac and Linux on May 12th, Klei Entertainment announced in a shiny new trailer today. Klei is the studio behind excellently quirky games like Don't Starve and Mark of the Ninja, meaning Invisible, Inc. is on track to be a superb experience. An in-progress version of the game has been available via Steam Early Access since last year, but now the full thing will be up for grabs, no bug reporting required. It's also headed to PlayStation 4, though that release date is still up in the air. Get a taste of Invisible, Inc.'s stylish, stealthy exploits in the new trailer below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Showing off 'Grand Theft Auto V' for PC comes with a high price

  If someone accidentally puts some personal information online, you'd hope that others wouldn't prey on the mistake. Unfortunately, mercy is a rare commodity on the internet, as a few honest (albeit preventable) mistakes have cost some game streamers their copies of Grand Theft Auto V. As Kotaku reports, when the new PC edition of the game launches, the first thing it offers up is a splash screen with your registration key displayed at the bottom. That's a problem for those who unwittingly started the stream a few moments too soon, since the information was quickly screenshotted and the game was promptly stolen. Today's lesson, then, has two parts: People are terrible, and don't stream GTA V until you're sure your desktop is clear.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• The 'Grand Theft Auto V' Rockstar Editor is exclusive to PC

  Anyone who plays Grand Theft Auto V on PC will get a special treat when the game launches tomorrow, April 14. The Rockstar Editor is exclusive to the PC version of GTAV, offering tools that allow players to cut up in-game shots, create unique scenes with hand-selected characters, animals and physics, and basically mess around even more in sunny Los Santos. We're talking about a movie editor here, not a level editor, meaning players will be able to really rev up their creative engines. Imagine re-creating Furious 7, for example -- or maybe even Furious 8 (Now with 150 percent more bald dudes!). Take a look at the sweet editing suite coming to GTAV on PC in the new trailer below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Training Day: What is 'League of Legends?' An expert explains

  Look no further than the world of eSports for a concrete example of how the very idea of popular culture has warped in the past decade. Just because something is popular with an enormous group of people, that doesn't mean that it's truly ubiquitous. When most people see the word "baseball" around the world, they can conjure up the basics. eSports, and all of the many very different games that fall under that banner, still occupy a weird, weird space. Take League of Legends, arguably the most popular eSport in the world. The League of Legends World Championship can net 32 million viewers and all of those viewers can still be called "crazy" by successful, seemingly popular sports reporters while scholarships for League of Legends college players are laughed at. Just because there are millions of fans, that doesn't mean everyone knows what they're fans of. Engadget will be your guide into this world of competition. If you don't know what eSports are, what a MOBA is or what a League of Legends may be, then we have a show for you. JXE Training Day is a regular eSports show for beginners, introducing competitive games and how to look at them. Our first series begins with an extensive, bi-weekly look at League of Legends.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Grand Theft Auto V' at 60 frames per second looks incredible

  I know, I know: The PC version of Grand Theft Auto V seems like it's been delayed at least a dozen times, but maybe the snazzy new 1080p, 60FPS trailer below will help heal those old wounds. Predictably, it looks gorgeous and should give the PC master race something to antagonize console gamers with for just a bit longer -- last fall's current-gen re-releases couldn't hit that silky frame rate or quite that level of detail. The sun reflecting off those slow-mo shell casings is pretty great, right? Come April 14th you'll be able to see that sort of thing first-hand, and then regale us with your tales of glory when we stream it on Twitch the following week.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

PlayStation (7)

• JXE Streams: Playing 'Shovel Knight' PS4 with Yacht Club Games

  Shovel Knight raised a mighty pixelated fist to the sky when it came to Nintendo Wii U, 3DS and PC in 2014. Yacht Club Games created a marvelously assured debut, giving the little blue warrior and his righteous spade an adventure that felt classical in the tradition of Mega Man and Castlevania while also smartly modern. Wandering intricately detailed stages full of enemies and pits to jump over recalled the NES' best but never felt cloying, never retro for retro's sake. Now Shovel Knight's made the leap to PlayStation 4, PS4, and PS Vita so we're checking back in with the game on today's stream with Yacht Club Games.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• How would you change Sony's PlayStation Vita TV?

  It's a PlayStation Vita that you can connect to your TV, but that doesn't mean you should automatically go out and buy one. When we reviewed the hardware last year, we found that the low price and ability to play retro games were great, but the media streaming let the side down. That said, it was a much better crafted piece of hardware than some Android-powered consoles our reviewer could have mentioned. So, what we want to know is do you like your Vita TV and if so, why? Hop over into our forum and share the love, the hatred and everything in between.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• JXE Streams: We conquer our fear of 'Dark Souls 2' on PS4

  It's been just under two weeks since Bloodborne brutalized me on JXE Streams. After years of building up the gumption to actually tackle one of From Software's vicious action role-playing games, I finally braved its rank, monster-filled hallways. Know what? I loved it; the tension, the terror and the challenge are intoxicating. Not content to only explore Bloodborne's Victorian nightmare, I've decided to finally try its swords-and-sorcery predecessor, Dark Souls 2. We streamed Dark Souls 2 when it came out on PC in 2014, but this is the brand new PlayStation 4 version. We'll play it for the first time live, for your pleasure.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Skullgirls' on PS4 gives you the chance to brawl with your PS3 friends

  If you were quick to buy a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you've probably had that horrible moment when you realized that your friends with last-generation systems couldn't join you in online games. You won't have to leave them behind when Skullgirls arrives, however. The fighting game's senior animator, Jonathan Kim, has confirmed that the PS4 version will let you take on PS3 opponents. The notion of a cross-platform strategy isn't completely new, since titles like Guilty Gear Xrd Sign do it. Still, it's helping to establish a welcome trend -- you may not always have to abandon your favorite players to get a new console, or feel pressured to upgrade just to keep up with the Joneses.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Claim your PlayStation Vita settlement credit now

  If you've been anxiously waiting to claim the credit Sony owes you after it settled with the Federal Trade Commission over misleading PlayStation Vita ads, you'll be glad to hear that you can finally take action. The company handling Sony's settlements has launched a website that lets you file a claim so long as you bought a Vita in the US before June 1st, 2012. The options are fairly tempting. You can receive a $25 check or PSN credit if you're only concerned about the bottom line, but you can also choose from one of three bundles with decent (if aging) games like the God of War Collection and Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Be sure to move quickly, whatever you do -- you have to file for compensation by June 29th.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• There's no longer a place like PlayStation Home

  PlayStation Home, Sony's answer to the Second Life question no one asked, was never where the company's heart lived. Maybe its greasy, suppurating id lived in those gleaming neon halls, somewhere between the bowling alley full of dead-eyed polygon people and the virtual shopping mall. You know the PlayStation Home shopping mall I'm talking about. It's the one where you could spend very real money on an entirely fake golden statue of a robot lady with impossibly proportioned breasts.After seven years, the majority of which were spent in beta testing, Sony closed Home's doors this week. The PlayStation heart is secure elsewhere, for sure, but the shuttering of Home does mark the conclusion of an experiment true to the PlayStation soul, as well as the end of the brand's darkest era.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• PlayStation's original programming future depends on 'Powers'

  Powers is the first series to come from Sony PlayStation's original programming push, a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and it's not rated "E" for everyone. With comic books as its source material, the racy superhero cop drama from creator Brian Michael Bendis is a custom fit for the PlayStation user base, especially users that pony up $50/year for Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service. And it's that particular demographic the PlayStation group is keen to pursue with any future projects. "We are a gaming company, so we want to do what's best for gaming and for our gamers," says PlayStation VP of Platform Marketing John Koller. "We're going to make a decision here after we see how Powers does. But whatever we do, it'll be very centered on the gamer and the gaming audience and what caters best to them."

  By Joseph Volpe Read More

Reviews (35)

• Daily Roundup: Apple Watch review, Windows 10 and more!

  Ready to get caught up on some of today's top stories? Find out what we thought about the Apple Watch in our review, learn about what's changed in Windows 10 from Microsoft's design lead and read why Secret is shutting down. Get all the details about these stories and more in the Daily Roundup.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Living with Samsung's Galaxy Note Edge in an S6 world

  I was torn this past winter. I knew the Galaxy S6 was imminent and that there'd likely be a model with a curved screen, but I was dying to see what it was like to live with its bigger precursor, the Galaxy Note Edge. Would I feel a twinge of regret when the shiny new Samsung handset arrived, even if the older phone still had some advantages? There was only one way to find out. I spent a few weeks with the Note Edge to see not just whether I would enjoy that uniquely shaped screen on its own terms, but whether it would still hold its own against the faster, curvier Galaxy S6 Edge.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple Watch review: a status symbol for iOS devotees

  ?Mankind's fascination with watches capable of more than simply telling the time is nothing new. But recently, our collective interest in intelligent timepieces has spiked, and we have more and more powerful wrist-worn computers to choose from than ever -- whether made by startups with record-setting Kickstarter campaigns or the biggest names in consumer electronics. Of course, the biggest name of all, Apple, had yet to release one of its own. Well, the Watch has arrived, and its maker has loftier aspirations for it than the smartwatches preceding it. Apple's Watch isn't some utilitarian gadget -- it's jewelry, an object of lust, not only for what it can do, but also for how it looks. I'm not a watch person. Haven't worn one regularly since high school (I'm 33 years old now), and have never been enamored with the likes of Rolex or Longines. But the Apple Watch is, of course, much more than a mere time teller, and the company expects to sell a lot of these things to people like me -- you don't build a $700 billion company selling niche products, after all. The question is: Why would someone like me want one?

  By Michael Gorman Read More

• Xiaomi's affordable Yi action camera versus the GoPro Hero

  The first thing my Spanish mother-in-law asked me when she saw the Xiaomi Yi was, "Is that a toy camera?" With its lime-and-aqua-marine color scheme, it's not hard to see why she might think that. But no, it is not. In fact, Xiaomi's Yi camera raised a few eyebrows when it was announced recently. Here was yet another action camera that looked suspiciously like a GoPro -- but, at the equivalent of about $65, it was almost half the price of the market-leader's cheapest offering (the $130 Hero edition), with a spec-sheet that bested it on many key features. Importantly (perhaps more so for GoPro), the Yi camera has the backing of Xiaomi, a brand that's gaining traction in China. A market everyone wants a slice of. But does it really best a GoPro?

  By James Trew Read More

• LG G4 preview: Fashion and firepower collide in a flagship

  Between LG and the rest of the leakers running wild these last few weeks, there's not a whole lot we didn't know about the G4 before today. Screen details? Leather? Word of that sweet, sweet f/1.8 camera lens? Common knowledge, dear friends. Now that LG's G4 has crossed the boundary between leak and actual, honest-to-goodness product, though, let's take a quick first look at how those elements -- and quite a few more -- have come together in the company's finest flagship.?

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Wireless glove adds touch to VR video games

  While Oculus, Valve, Samsung and HTC are all looking to captialize on the resurgence of VR, their solutions all focus on what we can see and hear. That's more than enough to immerse you in a virtual world, but what if you want to interact with the objects within them? Some companies have already taken on the challenge, but researchers at RICE University have created a new haptic glove that uses air to inflate bladders underneath your fingers to offer a real sense of touch.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Watch the Apple Watch unbox itself

  #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-844727").style.display="none";}catch(e){} The appointed time has finally arrived. Months after its unveiling, Apple's Watch is finally finding its way onto the public's wrists. Yet, as is often the case with product debuts from the company in Cupertino, demand outstrips supply (for now). Fear not, would-be Watch wearers, even if you haven't gotten your hands on one -- yet -- Engadget can still give you that kid-on-Christmas-morning feeling with our unboxing video. Are you among the fortunate few who got one of Apple's coveted Watches? Well, we want to see your unboxing videos, too. Be it Vine, Instagram or YouTube clip, just send it to us via Twitter using the hashtag #Gadgetsnaps or pop a link to the video in the comments below. We'll be sharing our favorites next week, so show us what you got! And, stay tuned for our full review... Photos by Will Lipman, video produced and edited by Ina Maria

  By Michael Gorman Read More

• Here's the Apple Watch torn apart for your pleasure

  You likely won't be able to repair the Apple Watch on your own -- shocking, we know. The gadget eviscerators over at iFixit put the Apple Watch under the knife today, just as people who've preordered the Watch have begun receiving their shipments. After a complete dissection, iFixit ended up giving the Apple Watch a repairability score of five out of 10 -- making it something you likely wouldn't want to mess with. Removing the screen was "difficult, but not impossible," iFixit said, and once you've dealt with that the battery is "quite easy to remove." But anything beyond the battery, including the Taptic Engine and Apple's S1 chip, is pretty much out of bounds. Basically, if you're getting an Apple Watch, consider an Apple Care plan, or be ready to pay hefty fees in case anything goes wrong.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Pentax's top DSLR uses image stabilization to reduce noise

  Given the moribund DSLR market, Ricoh wasn't about to mess around with the follow-up to its popular Pentax flagship, the K-3. Sure enough, the K-3 II retains the weather-proof body, fast 8.3 fps shooting speed and high-quality 24.4-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor of the last model, while getting some enticing new tweaks. First and foremost is the so-called Pixel Shift feature which uses in-body shake reduction to sample pixels four times, significantly reducing noise at low-light levels. While the feature only works for static subjects, it should be ideal for astrophotography and other applications.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• HP's Pavilion and Envy x360 are a cheaper path to convertible laptops

  Intrigued by HP's luscious new Spectre x360 convertible laptop, but looking for something a bit cheaper? Say hello to the new Pavilion x360 and Envy x360. Starting at $410, the Pavilion x360 is HP's most cost-effective convertible laptop -- meaning its screen can be folded all the way around to its rear to be used like a tablet, or folded tent-like for Netflix binges. The Envy x360, starting at $680, is a step up from the Pavilion with a premium metallic finish and bigger 15.6-inch screen. Both computers are also the first to have Bang & Olufsen's touch; HP's new audio tech partner following Beats' betrothal to Apple. At this point, that just means they've been optimized by B&O's tireless audio engineers, and include some software tweaks to make the best of tiny laptop speakers.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• How I fit a 100-inch projector setup in my NYC apartment

  You could call me a bit of a movie fan. I own hundreds of Blu-rays and DVDs, see an obscene amount of movies in theaters and have been podcasting about my obsessive media habits for the past eight years. Movies aren't just mindless fun for me; they're a way of life, a religion. So it was only a matter of time until my 50-inch plasma HDTV started to feel too small and the siren song of an in-home projector came calling. My only problem? I live in Brooklyn. And while my apartment isn't the shoebox you'd normally associate with NYC, it's still a tough space to visualize fitting a projector and a giant screen. This is the story of how I made that happen.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• The Pax 2 vaporizer makes its predecessor look half-baked

  I immediately fell in love with the original Pax vaporizer when it debuted back in 2012. Its compact and lightweight construction belied a powerful three-stage conduction oven, while the sleek, push-button design made it far more intuitive and user-friendly than other portable vaporizers available at the time. Granted, the OG Pax wasn't perfect -- what with its habit of clogging every few sessions or so. Now, more than two years after the release of the first Pax, PAX Labs is back with a new iteration that's smaller, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. Say hello to the Pax 2.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• OptiShot2 is a fun golf sim that also improves your game

  If you have creeping doubts about your golf game, there's a $500 sim that lets you swing real clubs in your house. Yep, your pets and furniture will need to make way for the OptiShot2, which gives you online play, simulated championship courses and instant practice feedback. You hook it up to a Mac or PC, download the software and swing away. The infrared sensors accurately track your swing while the simulated courses and online competition add a gaming-like fun factor. But $500 is a lot of money for a video game and sensor, so I want more than just fun; I also want to get better. Luckily, the OptiShot delivers both of those things.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Can a head-worn fitness device work? Recon seems to think so

  Long before Google had ever uttered the word glass, Recon Instruments was rising to prominence with a head-worn display designed for snow sports. You'd be forgiven for not knowing the name, since the technology was buried inside expensive sets of ski goggles like Oakley's Airwave. Then, the company announced that a new product for cyclists and runners would arrive, this time branded under its own name. Few outside the running/cycling community paid attention to the Recon Jet, since they were all distracted by Google's rival. Two years later, and Glass has been pulled from the market in the hope that Tony Fadell can turn it into a device people want to buy. As such, the road is clear for Recon's fitness-oriented wearable, but can this small Canadian company succeed where Google failed? Earlier this year, I sat down with the company's Tom Fowler and a nearly finished prototype of the final hardware to find out.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Daily Roundup: Surface 3 and Alcatel OneTouch Watch reviews and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, find out what we think about Microsoft's latest laptop / tablet hybrid, the Surface 3. You can also read our review of the Alcatel OneTouch Watch and see a high definition video of SpaceX's attempt at landing a rocket on its drone barge.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Surface 3 review: Finally, a cheap Surface you'd actually want

  Once again, the third time's the charm for Microsoft's Surface lineup -- for the most part. Last year's Surface Pro 3 was the software giant's most compelling implementation yet of its hybrid laptop/tablet concept. Now we have the Surface 3, the third entry in its cheaper Surface lineup. And while it may look similar to its predecessors, it's actually a completely different beast. It's a $499 Surface tablet that can actually run all of the Windows programs you're used to, not just Windows 8 apps. And to Windows RT, the stripped down version of Microsoft's OS that previously powered the non-Pro Surface tablets, all I have to say is: So long, goodbye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out! By giving up on Windows RT, Microsoft has finally managed to make a decent cheap Surface.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Alcatel OneTouch Watch review: No beginner's luck here

  The Alcatel OneTouch name doesn't exactly conjure up images of premium, fashion-forward devices, but that hasn't stopped the company from dreaming big with its first smartwatch. To add steam to the Alcatel OneTouch Watch hype train, the company's design brass went as far as telling our own Richard Lai that the company's gunning to be the Zara of the wearable world. Not a style guru? Essentially, Alcatel's been trying to cook up a fashion-forward smartwatch without a price tag that'll make your wallet groan. At $150, I'd argue the end result fulfilled the latter half of that equation more than the former, but the bigger question is whether Alcatel's first attempt at a wearable (running its own homebrew software, no less) is actually worth a damn. Well, after having spent a full week with the Watch lashed to my wrist, I'm unconvinced.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Mario Kart 8's super-fast 200cc class almost made me puke

  It could've been the latent heatstroke setting in from the three days I spent tut-tutting millennials under my breath at Coachella, or the five coffees I'd drunk to sustain some form of consciousness. But when I finished playing a demo of the new 200cc level in Mario Kart 8 with some folks from Nintendo on Monday, my eyes felt looser in their sockets and a barely containable feeling of nausea lingered in my gut for about an hour. It was as if I'd come off a roller coaster -- like one of those daring, metallic serpents from Six Flags or Busch Gardens in the '80s that jolted you just a bit too much and gave the impression you'd nearly avoided whiplash. All of which is to say, 200cc is not for the weak. It is stupid fast and stupid good.

  By Joseph Volpe Read More

• 'Guitar Hero' gets born again with a new look and a new controller

  Guitar Hero has no business being relevant in 2015. Ten years is an eternity for video games, especially so for games tied so closely to specific technology like Harmonix's revolutionary PlayStation 2 game was to its inner-rock-star-summoning controller when it came out. A decade on from that original, and five years on from the last release in the series, Guitar Hero is an icon, but it also feels like a relic, a work hopelessly locked in its era. A 10-year anniversary reissue, maybe with some bonus tracks thrown in, seems like the best-case scenario for Guitar Hero coming back to life in 2015, a dignified archive for the nostalgic. FreeStyleGames has done so much more with its new game Guitar Hero Live. The studio has made a game that feels deeply modern, relevant, wholly distinct from Rock Band and somehow still rooted in tradition. It's all thanks to a new controller and a wildly different look for the series' debut on PS4, Xbox One and Wii U.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• A look at Vizio's affordable M-Series 4K TVs

  Earlier today, Vizio introduced its latest 4K TVs, the M-Series. In similar fashion to the P-Series from last year, which started at $1,000, this year's models also come with an affordable price tag. But the M-Series ranges from $600 for a 43-inch model to $4,000 for the largest of the bunch, an 80-incher. Vizio says that with the M-Series, it was all about making refinements and not compromising in order to bring the price down even further. As such, most of the tech found on the P-Series has made its way into the new M-Series, like the LED panel and low-latency HDMI port (a feature loved by gamers, according to the company), among other things. Better yet, these UHD TV sets look great in person; they're relatively thin, sport a solid industrial design and, most importantly, have a picture quality that's not far behind its more expensive competitors. If you like what you see, some online retailers in the US are selling them as we speak.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• How would you change Maingear's Pulse 17?

  When Maingear's Pulse 17 launched, it was famous for being the world's thinnest 17-inch gaming laptop (not that that's a big achievement) and its sports car paintjob. Jam packed with top-of-the-line hardware, the Pulse 17 was an easy device to fall in love with, except for a few minor gripes that knocked some of the sheen of the experience. After all, if you're spending $3,000 on a laptop, you expect a working keyboard, right? Still, now we turn the question over to you, so head over to our forums and talk about what you loved and loathed about this device.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• MacBook review: Apple reinvents the laptop again

  For months, the internet was abuzz with two similar, and somewhat contradictory, Apple rumors. Depending on whom you believed, the famously secretive company was working on either a 12-inch "iPad Pro" or a Retina display MacBook Air. To date, neither of these products has materialized, but there's reason to believe that both rumors were actually pointing toward the new 12-inch MacBook. The laptop, which goes on sale tomorrow, is in many ways a traditional notebook, with an Intel processor, OS X and a unibody aluminum enclosure similar to what you'll find on the MacBook Air and Pro. At the same time, it takes some cues from the iPad, including space gray and gold color options, and a slim, fanless design that makes room for just one miniature USB port. With the lid shut, it looks at once like a tablet with a keyboard attached, as well as the two-pound computer that it actually is. It's the future of laptops, at least as Apple sees it, but it's also not without compromises: To build a machine this compact, the company had to reimagine everything from the keyboard to the trackpad to the components inside. And yes, the port selection, too. All that in the name of building the thinnest and lightest MacBook ever, not to mention the smallest one with a Retina display. In many ways, it's aimed at the same person the original Air was: a loyal Mac user who wants the most portable laptop that money can buy. But are you that person? And even if you are, is it worth the $1,299 asking price?

  By Dana Wollman Read More

• DJI's Phantom 3 brings 4K recording to its most popular drone

  DJI's Phantom series of read-to-fly quadcopters have been instrumental in bringing drones into mainstream consciousness. Particularly the Phantom 2 Vision+, which made silky-smooth aerial video possible for have-a-go pilots right out of the box (most other methods involve a fair amount of assembly). Today, the Phantom family grows again with two new members: the Phantom 3 Professional and the Phantom 3 Advanced. So what's new? And, more importantly, which one do you want?

  By James Trew Read More

• Canon XC10 camcorder shoots 4K and looks damn good doing it

  It's hard to get too excited about camcorders these days, what with most of them looking basically the same -- never mind how useful they may be sometimes. Canon's new XC10, on the other hand, is one that instantly caught our attention, thanks to its distinctive, out-of-the-ordinary design. And that's not even the best part. The XC10 can shoot 4K and 1080p video at up to 30 fps and 60 fps, respectively; on the former, there's support for both Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) and cinematic 4K (4,096 x 2,160), bringing it on par with the newly announced C300 Mark II. What's more, this Canon 4K camcorder features a 1-inch, 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, alongside a Digic DV 5 processor, 10x wide-angle zoom lens and optical image stabilization -- which should make for rather smooth videos.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge is a royal pain to repair

  You're probably aware that you can't easily pry open the Galaxy S6, but what's it like if you do try? It's something of a nightmare, if you ask iFixit. The repair-it-yourself shop has torn down a Galaxy S6 Edge, and it's pretty clear that Samsung didn't design its latest smartphone with fixes in mind. While most of the parts crammed into that thin frame are modular, the glass on both the front and the back makes it hard to get inside without cracking something. And you can probably forget about replacing the battery at home -- it's glued to the back of the display, beneath many of the other components. The S6's design may be sleeker than ever, but you're losing a lot of the accessibility of years past.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• This smart knob upgrades your stove with automatic temperature controls

  From old-fashioned slow cookers to newfangled sous vide machines, there seems to be a never ending array of appliances aimed to take the guesswork out of cooking. But they're often limited in functionality -- you can't really deep fry something in a sous vide machine, for example -- and they take up valuable storage space. The Meld, which launches on Kickstarter today, aims to change that. It's a cooking solution that aims to bring precise cooking controls to a multi-purpose appliance you already have -- your stove.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Engadget Awards, a MacBook Pro review and other stories you might've missed!

  In this edition of the weekend roundup, find out the best products chosen by both the Engadget community and our staff, find out what we think about the new MacBook Pro with retina display, and learn how the maker of Eve is betting big on virtual reality.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Daily Roundup: HP Spectre x360 review, spying games and more!

  Now is your chance to get caught up on all of today's news before you leave the office and turn off the lights. We review the HP Spectre x360, a laptop built with Microsoft's help. Meanwhile, find our what it's like to be an NSA spy with a new mobile game called TouchTone, and get all the details on the best touchscreen gloves that are compatible with your favorite mobile device.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• A Bluetooth 'smart outlet' is cheap and simple, but also limited

  The lights turn on and environment controls go into full swing as you approach. With a simple remote, you're able to bend appliances to your will. It's the ideal Jetsonian smart home and it's no longer the future; you can have it today. By picking up some connected switches and bulbs, it's easy to get your old-fashioned digs into space-age shape. The cost of admission can be a little steep, though, once you factor in the requisite hub required to tie many of these pieces together. Plus, it's not always a one-touch setup. Nyrius Electronics wants to cut out the complexity and high cost from this equation with its series of intelligent Bluetooth-connected devices. The company already offers a colorful smart LED lightbulb and it's expanding the line to include a new Smart Outlet that's currently in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign. This app-controlled outlet fits into standard three-prong sockets, letting you manage the power of plugged-in items with your mobile device. With a price tag of $40 each, it could be a viable solution -- especially if you're on a budget. Keep in mind, though, there are some inherent limitations to this type of design.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• HP Spectre x360 review: What happens when Microsoft helps build a laptop?

  The Spectre x360 is HP's newest flagship notebook. It's also probably the closest you'll get to seeing Microsoft build its own laptop. You see, though the machine has Hewlett-Packard's name on it, HP designed it in close collaboration with engineers from the Windows team, optimizing everything from the fan noise to the screen's color gamut. The result is a well-built laptop with fast performance, long battery life and a nearly bloatware-free version of Windows. And at $900 to start, it undercuts almost all of its rivals. Is there anything not to like?

  By Dana Wollman Read More

• Hacking game 'TouchTone' turned me into an NSA spy, and I liked it

  I didn't think I'd make for a good NSA agent until I played TouchTone. The iOS puzzle game had me looking for enemies of the state by scouring text messages and emails, and it didn't faze me one bit. It's absolutely unlike how I am in real life. I'm not a voyeur in any sense of the word, nor am I nosy. To this day, if my dad asks me to grab his debit card, I just bring him his wallet because I'd rather not snoop through people's stuff. The allure of invading someone's privacy isn't my bag whatsoever. And frankly, how quickly that all fell away once I started TouchTone shocked me.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Does bigger mean better for UE's popular 'Boom' speakers?

  It's taken me years to overcome my vinyl-based anachronistic tendencies. I've been particularly reluctant to buy digital music files; to me it's right up there with e-books -- spending good money on "virtual" products. Still, the accessibility of digital music and being able to stream wirelessly are more compelling than being a Luddite. So I began the search for a quality portable speaker. That ended two years ago after I tried the UE Boom. It quickly won me over with its design, sound quality and 360-degree speaker setup. I stowed it in my backpack's side pouch for long bike rides and could easily hear it over the wind. The speaker never sounded "boxy" either, with its omnidirectional output. This year, Ultimate Ears decided to pump up the specs, size and, inevitably, the price for its newest model, the aptly named Megaboom. I was curious to see how this would compare, since it seemed less portable. So I took the Megaboom (a pair of them, actually) for a spin to see how they stacked up.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Here's what our readers think of the Amazon Echo

  Amazon seems determined to inch its way into every aspect of our lives. The company already has a phone, a set-top box and an entire line of tablets. But what about when you're nowhere near any such devices? Earlier this week Amazon introduced Dash, allowing you to order household products with the touch of a button. However, last year Amazon also released the Echo, a wireless speaker that doubles as a voice-activated personal assistant named Alexa. Need to play music, search the web or -- wait for it -- order products from Amazon? Ask and Alexa will make it happen. If having a virtual servant didn't already make you feel posh, it should be noted that the Amazon Echo ($199, or $99 currently for Prime members) is still an invitation-only product, making units hard to come by. Thus, we turn to our readers to find out if Alexa is your go-to gal, or if this is a waiting list you're better off skipping.

  By Kris Naudus Read More

• Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge review: Samsung's best phones in years

  Samsung found itself in sort of a bind last year: Its flagship Galaxy S5 wasn't the blockbuster the company hoped it would be. That, coupled with the news that Samsung was going to focus on a smaller number of devices in 2015, signaled a pretty dramatic change for a brand that seemed like it was unstoppable. As if to silence the doubters, Samsung has not one, but two flagships on offer -- the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge -- and they're surrounded by questions. Can they restore Samsung to its former glory? Has the company figured out how to build a truly interesting smartphone again? It's too early to make a call on the former, but after a week of testing, the answer to the latter is a clear and definite "yes."

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• The Hue Go puts wireless lighting anywhere in your house

  Philips has just unveiled a mobile addition to its venerable line of programmable LED Hue bulbs. It's called the Hue Go and is basically a salad bowl of light that you can hold in your lap (because people do that apparently?) or use as an accent or serve as a luminescent centerpiece much like the Hue Beyond or Luminaires. But unlike these earlier designs, the Go isn't tethered to a wall socket. Each unit reportedly lasts about three hours on a single charge and can be controlled through the associated mobile app (or the Hue Tap) just like a standard Hue bulb.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Robotics (28)

• DORA offers a realistic telepresence experience through Oculus Rift

  Many commercial telepresence robots are merely screens or iPads on moving platforms. DORA (Dexterous Observational Roving Automaton), however, promises to make users feel like they've been transported to another location when it does become available. The system was created by a team of University of Pennsylvania roboticists who want to provide people a more immersive telepresence experience without draining their bank accounts. Their robot is paired with an Oculus Rift headset, which can track the user's head movements and orientation, whether up/down, left/right or forward/backward. That data is wirelessly transmitted to the robot's Arduino and Intel Edison microcontrollers, prompting its camera-equipped head to follow the user's movements.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Yes, these tiny robots can (autonomously) move a car

  A swarm of small robots developed by a team of European scientists can carefully extract and transport vehicles up to two tons in weight. These tiny machines and their larger deployment unit are collectively called Avert, short for "Autonomous Multi-Robot System for Vehicle Extraction and Transportation." As the name implies, the system needs very little human input: it can scan the area and look for potential obstacles to plan its safest route. The deployment unit will then release the small robots, which attach themselves to the vehicle that needs extraction. As much as we'd love for Avert to rescue us from bad parking situations, though, it was specifically developed for use by law enforcement.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• These tiny gecko-inspired robots can lift over 100x their weight

  Beware the tiny robot uprising, which at this point are taunting us with the equivalent of superhuman strength. Researchers at Stanford have created several tiny bots that can move things more than 100 times their weight, reports New Scientist. They're the latest example of the university's research into mimicking the climbing abilities of geckos. The robots feet contain adhesives that manage to hold onto the wall even when they're carrying heavy loads, and easily detach when they need to move. And as you can see in the video below, the bots' movement is also inspired by nature, going forward one step at a time like an inchworm. One nine gram robot can lift something that weighs a kilogram (in the video it's hoisting Stanford's 2006-era "StickyBot"), while an astonishingly small 20 milligram bot can lift something 500 milligrams (a small paperclip).

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Drones will deliver mail in Switzerland this summer

  You know which organization doesn't want to fall behind Amazon, DHL and Alibaba when it comes to drone deliveries? The Swiss Post. Yes, Switzerland's postal service wants to deliver small packages using small drones. In fact, it will start using quadcopters developed by a company called Matternet to drop off its customers' parcels during a pilot program this summer. Matternet ONE can carry anything up to 2.2 pounds for over 12 miles on a single charge, and the Post will put it to the test delivering small things like medicine or documents.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Toshiba's humanoid retail robot is ready to greet you

  If you happen to be shopping in Japan sometime soon, don't be surprised if the first offer of help comes from a machine. Toshiba has just installed Aiko Chihira, a humanoid greeter robot, at Tokyo's Mitsukoshi department store. The kimono-clad automaton will guide you around the shop while it blinks and smiles -- at once helpful and, as you can see above, a little creepy. It can't respond to questions yet (don't yell at it over a faulty product), but it's capable of handling both spoken and signed languages. No, Aiko isn't as interactive or relentlessly adorable as SoftBank's Pepper, but it'll be a big time-saver if it prevents you from getting lost in the aisles. [Image credit: AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sphero is turning the 'Star Wars' rolling droid into a real toy

  BB-8, the new adorable droid from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has taken the world by storm over the past few days. In particular, people were mostly surprised by the fact that the character was not computer-generated imagery -- this thing is, indeed, real. Now, following earlier reports, Sphero, a company that makes robotic toys for entertainment and educational purposes, is confirming that its technology is behind Disney's now-famed BB-8 droid ball. And be ready, because there's a consumer version in the works. Sphero says it is teaming up with Disney to "deliver an incredible and authentic BB-8 experience." Further details (like pricing or availability) are slim at the moment, but Sphero did set up a landing page for people who want to stay updated on the project.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• It took two days before someone built their own BB-8 ball droid

  The first proper trailer may have stolen the show at Star Wars Celebration, but the revelation that spherical droid BB-8 was a physical prop came a very close second. Like a lot of people, when industrial designer Christian Poulsen saw the adorable sentient ball roll onto stage, he decided he had to build one of his own. Unlike plenty of others, however, the BYU student was able to design and build a working copy the following day. Turns out that you can too, as long as you've got a Sphero and a CNC machine lying around the place.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Hitchbot's poetry-writing sibling will also make its way across Canada

  While Hitchbot was bumming rides across Canada and Germany, its sibling kulturBot remained at home to keep their "parents" company. Now kulturBot is going on an adventure of its own, traveling with musicians, poets and other artistic types aboard the Great Canadian PoeTrain Tour. See, it might be made out of a pasta strainer and a vacuum, but it will fit right in with the other passengers -- after all, the little machine is a wordsmith itself. Its creators, Dr. David Harris and Dr. Frauke Zeller, designed kulturBot to write poetry using words and phrases taken from the diaries of Canadian geographer and fur trader David Thompson.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The X-47B's first aerial refueling test will also be its last

  The Navy's X-47B combat UAV demonstrator successfully paired with an an Omega Air KC-707 airtanker earlier this week. This marks the first time in aviation history for a UAV to demonstrate aerial refueling capabilities. Unfortunately, these tests also likely mark the end of the X-47B program. Despite only completing 20 percent of its potential flight hours, both of the Navy's X-47Bs are destined for museums. Still, the technologies that they've demonstrated -- including those historic autonomous carrier landings in 2013 -- will make their way into future unmanned combat aerial vehicles as part of the Navy's Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Europe's combat UAV takes to the skies over Italy

  After nearly a decade of design and development, the first full-size nEUROn unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator is ready for operational tests. Six European nations have coordinated on the UCAV's development. Defense contractor Dassault is responsible for its construction. The 41-foot wide, 10,000 pound drone has already passed a pair of initial trials since 2012 and is scheduled to undergo flight tests over Sardinia's Perdasdefogu range in the coming weeks. Should it succeed there, the nEUROn will head to Visdel, Sweden for weapons trials. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Northampton's testing magnetic underground delivery 'moles'

  Northampton, England is considering an unusual approach to alleviating traffic congestion and air pollution. The city wants to replace the trucks currently clogging its two major motorways with underground delivery carts. The system from Mole Solutions, dubbed a "Freight Pipeline", will leverage linear induction motors to propel steel carts through dedicated tubes between various stations throughout the city. "Congestion is a global issue and we could take a significant volume of traffic off the roads, not just in the UK but in countries like China and India," Mole Solutions chief Roger Miles told reporters recently. "The bounds of this are limitless." The company asserts that these steel "moles" would be able make deliveries 24 hours a day without disturbing residents. Should the current feasibility and subsequent financial viability studies work out, the Mole system could soon be running under a number of UK city centers. Interestingly, this isn't actually the first time such a scheme has been implemented. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago's business district was undercut by a massive web of subterranean delivery tunnels. New York City (as well as Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and St. Louis) built a number of underground mail tunnels in 1897, though this series of tubes were never actually put to use.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• The Navy sees its future in unmanned fighters

  The US Navy is creating an office to oversee drones and may never order another manned fighter jet. Navy secretary Ray Mabus told a conference that "the F-35 should be, and almost certainly will be, the last manned strike fighter aircraft the Department of the Navy will ever buy or fly." His reasoning was simple -- a person in a fighter cockpit is a fiscal and logistical liability. "With unmanned technology, removing a human from the machine can open up room to experiment with more risk, improve systems faster and get them to the fleet quicker."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Prototype Navy drones swarm like locusts

  The days of enormous, singular UAVs directly controlled by remote pilots may be coming to an end. Over the last few years, there's been a lot work towards developing smaller drones capable of autonomously coordinating their actions, much like insects do. Now, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is taking these lessons and applying them to military uses, such as its new LOCUST (Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology) program. It utilizes a rocket tube launcher filled with lightweight, self-guided Coyote UAVs that team up and overwhelm enemy aircraft like honey bees defending their hive.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Robot arms will cook your meals like a 'MasterChef'

  You could swap hands with the Robot Devil and still not be as good a chef as this prototype from Moley Robotics. The unit consists of two mechanical arms terminating in a pair of highly dexterous biomimetic hands. Designed by 2011 MasterChef winner Tim Anderson, and currently on display at the Hanover Messe industrial robotics show, these arms move just like he does. Namely because that's what they were programmed to do. To "teach" the unit to make crab bisque for the show, Anderson didn't spend countless hours hand coding the unit's behavior and actions. Instead, he constructed a replica kitchen, set up motion capture cameras, then made the dish himself and had his movements digitized for the robot to mimic.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• France's anti-drone drone can spot malicious pilots in under a minute

  Paris has been hit with a spate of anonymously-piloted drones flying over key landmarks, government buildings and even a nuclear power station. It's not been clear if it's a group of amateurs with bad timing or something more coordinated, which has spooked the locals and law enforcement alike. Thankfully, French firm ECA has been quick to respond to the potential threat, building an anti-drone drone that can hunt down drones and identify their pilots.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• 3D Robotics takes on DJI with Solo 'smart drone'

  If you're in the market for a camera drone, things just got real. Last week, DJI updated its ubiquitous Phantom series with a 4K video version. Today, 3D Robotics (makers of both consumer and professional craft) ups the ante with Solo -- a stylish "ready to fly" quadcopter that challenges the Phantom (on the 'copter side of things) in quite a few ways. You'll need to bring your own camera though.

  By James Trew Read More

• iRobot hasn't given up on developing Roomba's lawn mowing sibling

  You know how long it's been since we first heard that iRobot's making a robotic lawn mower? Nine years. After almost a decade of wondering if we'll ever see Roomba's more outdoorsy sibling, iRobot's finally giving us a glimpse of how the device will work through an FCC filing. Other robot lawn mowers require you to prep your lawn by burying wires around the perimeter -- the machines will recognize those wires and won't venture beyond them. iRobot, however, plans to use a wireless beacon system that entails burying four to nine beacons to mark the edges of your lawn. Those beacons will calculate the robots' position within the property and transmit it to the machine.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Police turn to pepper-spraying drones in congested Indian city

  Drones are popping up everywhere. They've been largely unfamiliar in India, but that's changing. The police department in Lucknow, a populous city in the country, is the first to purchase five weaponized drones that can spray pepper on a rioting mob. The concept of aerial robots isn't entirely new to the city, as they've been used for surveillance and imagery during religious festivities in the past, but this new substance-carrying variety is a novelty. Each one costs about $9,600 and can carry a load of 4.4 pounds.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• New technology keeps drones from crashing and burning

  Small drones could easily be blown off course by harsh winds or lose access to GPS while passing through somewhat closed-off locations. Since either scenario could spell disaster for delivery or service drones of the future, a research team from the University of Zurich has devised a system that autonomously sets them upright and finds them a good place to land. This technology requires drones to be equipped with a camera, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a distance sensor and a tiny smartphone chip that processes all the data for them. In order for the system to work, the drone has to look for and identify landmarks through the camera, while it's still flying steadily with a working GPS.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Intel CEO controls a swarm of robot spiders with gestures

  Forget the Apple Watch. Forget the Pebble Time. What you really need is a wristband that gives you the power to control an army of scary-looking drones. At IDF in Shenzhen, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich put on a simple Curie-powered wristband with motion detection, which then let him commandeer four robot spiders. With some simple gestures, Krzanich was able to make them stand up, change the LED colors on the drones, make them do "fist" pumps and eventually go back to idling. Sounds cute, right? Maybe not so much when you actually see this in action -- we have a video right after the break.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• The only thing keeping robots down is you

  The robots are coming. And I don't mean to the factory floor, or your kid's toy box. I mean to your living room, your office and your everyday life. The question is no longer a matter of if, but when. Some might even wonder why we don't already have a robot in every home. Designers will tell you they know how to build a successful home robot. They know the key is the ability to build social, if not emotional relationships. And they have a whole bag of tricks and research they can turn to for help. We haven't seen the level of artificial intelligence needed in consumer products yet, but it certainly seems as if we're getting pretty close in the lab. So if it's not a question of technology or design, what's the holdup?

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• 3D Robotics teases stylish drone with pro features

  While 3D Robotics makes some amazing drones, it's not exactly known for its design flair. It seems that's about to change, according to a tease of a rakish new model, however. The video (below) is light on details, but we can glean a few things: for instance, it looks like it'll have first person view (FPV) flying out of the box, judging by an included phone clip. We'd guess you can also pre-program a flying route, and the dots on the case lid strongly imply follow-me settings. Lastly, it appears that 3DR has a sleek new gimbal design.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• France and the UK want a fleet of minesweeping robot ships

  The biggest threat to America's Navy over the past 60 years hasn't been China's rapidly modernizing military, North Korea's nuclear saber rattling or even Russia's arctic overtures -- it's been underwater mines. They've damaged 15 of our ships since 1950. Sure, you can disarm these explosive hazards manually but that means risking the lives of Navy seamen in an underwater Hurt Locker. Instead, the UK and France are teaming with European defense contractors Thales and BAE to develop a fully automated minesweeping system that keeps sailors out of harm's way.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Filmmakers hack drone to carry 1,000 fps 4K camera

  There are 4K cameras and drones, and then there's the Phantom Flex4K and the Aerigon drone --products that top the bad-assery charts in both categories. Drone cinematography outfit Brain Farm decided to pair them up, resulting in a video exactly as impressive as you'd expect. The company (which has done work for clients like Nike and Mercedes) said it's been dreaming of getting the Flex4K into the air ever since it arrived. The problem is that it weighs in at a bulky 14 pounds without a lens, putting it outside the lifting capacity of most UAVs.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• New software will give drone pilots augmented reality vision

  French drone manufacturer Sy?sveo has announced that it is developing a unique, software-based visualization system for UAVs that will provide pilots an augmented reality view -- specifically, a 3D image -- atop the existing video feed. The pilot simply has to navigate the drone to a specific GPS location for the AR image to appear. "Architects could easily use this for creating a real-time simulation of the building they designed, and see it on the ground," Sysveo CEO Clement Alaguillaume told Motherboard. "And they could take real-time decisions without going back to their office, as they could make as many simulations as they want with the drone."

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• These exoskeleton heels could help stroke victims walk again

  It isn't quite the soft exosuit that DARPA's working on, but scientists have developed a lightweight exoskeleton that'll take some of the work out of walking. Before you get too excited though, this is less Edge of Tomorrow and more along the lines of mechanical engineering. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and North Carolina State University devised a way to use springs and ratchets to fashion a sort of boot that increases walking efficiency by seven percent compared to folks wearing regular shoes. The idea is to make it easier for the disabled, paralyzed or stroke victims to improve their walking ability without expensive motors and battery packs.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Duck-like US Navy drone can fly or swim to hunt submarines

  There are plenty of flying and swimming drones, but you'd ideally have both at once for sub-hunting -- you want something that can poke its head underwater, but move quickly through the air when needed. The US Navy certainly knows this. It's developing a duck-like drone, the Flimmer, that can both fly and swim. In addition to both a rear-facing propeller and wings, its latest incarnation has four fins that adapt to what the robotic craft is doing. In flight, they serve as stabilizers and canard wings; in the sea, they flap to give the machine a speed boost.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Thinking cap' controls prosthetic arm with thoughts, not surgery

  The ability to control prosthetics with only the power of your mind has been around for a while, but it typically requires control electronics implanted directly into the patient. With this new, non-invasive method developed at the University of Houston, however, amputees can command their robotic limbs without surgery. Instead of implants, the UH system uses a wearable "thinking cap" (aka an EEG) that monitors brain activity externally through the scalp. A brain-machine interface (BMI) then interprets these brain waves and converts that intention into mechanical motion. Basically, the patient thinks about picking up an object, the BMI recognizes the intention and then tells an attached prosthetic to do so. Even at this early stage of development, University of Houston researchers have gotten the system to work properly 80 percent of the time.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Samsung (6)

• Samsung outs Level On wireless headphones for untethered listening

  I took Samsung's Level line of "premium" audio gear for a spin last summer, and now the company is adding another wireless model to the set. The Level On Wireless is exactly what the name suggests: a wireless version of the on-ear headphones in the collection. A group of six built-in microphones offer active noise cancellation to keep those loud talkers from killing your vibe. There's also a touch pad on the the outside of one ear cup, handling controls for S Voice, play/pause and skipping tracks so you won't have to pick up your phone. You can also share whatever you're listening to with other Level devices, thanks to the Sound Sharing tool. After spending a few weeks with the initial lineup, the wired Level On cans were my favorite of the bunch, so this new option is a welcome addition. Samsung says you can expect 11 hours of battery life with both Bluetooth and noise cancellation at work here, bumping to 23 hours if you opt for just the wireless connectivity. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing or availability yet.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Samsung's profits are down, but it believes the S6 will change that

  Samsung's latest earnings numbers reveal that the company did better in the first quarter of 2015 than at the end of 2014, but its overall profits are still down while the competition's are rising. The company earned an operating profit* of 6 trillion won ($5.6 billion) for January to March 2015, eclipsing the 5.3 trillion ($5 billion) won it earned last quarter. However, that's not enough to match its performance from the same period last year, when it boasted an $8 billion operating profit. Samsung's mobile division, for one, has shifted dramatically this past year. The company recaptured the top spot from Apple in the list of manufacturers with the biggest smartphone shipments for the first quarter, according to Strategy Analytics. Unfortunately, tablet and feature phone sales decreased, resulting in an overall loss in revenue.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Samsung's next smartwatch will be round

  Samsung's gearing up for the launch of its latest smartwatch by releasing its SDK ahead of the official reveal, which it has never done before. Devs might need some extra time to prep their applications for its release you see, since the newest Galaxy Gear will most likely have a rounded watch face unlike its older siblings' rectangular ones. The press release announcing the SDK, spotted by Android Central, came a with a circle weather watch face graphic, along with a few images of rounded apps (CNN, Yelp and more). Sadly, there were no hints in the PR indicating when the new device will be launched. But if you're really hankering for a rounded smartwatch, there's already a few out on the market, including the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch R.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Samsung fights fears of Galaxy S6 bending with a video

  Sadly, the he-said-she-said disputes over bending smartphones aren't ending any time soon. Samsung has responded to SquareTrade's allegations that the Galaxy S6 Edge is easily bendable by posting a video that shows the official stress tests for both the Edge and the regular S6. As you might expect, both devices hold up in this company-sanctioned clip -- they can withstand up to 79 pounds of force at three different points, which is enough to snap five pencils in half. Supposedly, this is more pressure than you'd put on your phone if it was in your back pocket. The Korean firm also notes that SquareTrade only tested on the front, not the back where tolerance levels are different.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Samsung's 360-degree 'ring' speaker coming this month for $500

  You'll soon be able to get your hands (and ears) on that omnidirectional, Portal-esque wireless Samsung speaker we saw during CES. It's officially dubbed the Radiant 360 R7, and it'll be available later this month for $500. The R7 uses Samsung's new "ring radiator" technology to deliver sound in every direction -- meaning you won't have to worry about where, exactly, you're placing it. At that price, it's not exactly the ideal wireless speaker for everyone, especially when you could invest in a couple Sonos speakers for the same amount. But, at the very least, it gives Samsung a well-designed entry for its own ecosystem of audio gear. The R7 works with the company's new Multiroom App, which lets you share music across several devices. And, of course, it can connect wirelessly to some of Samsung's TVs and soundbars. There's still no word yet on when Samsung's other ring speaker, the more lamp-like WAM6500, will be available.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Samsung's latest flagship 4K TV starts at $6,500

  Samsung's latest and greatest ultra-HD television will cost you big bucks -- but it's also got a healthy selection of affordable options among its latest round of 4K TV sets. The JS9500 SUHD TV (the "S" denotes its premium UHD range), effectively the Korean electronics giants' crown jewel for 2015, will start at $6,500 when it lands later this month. It sports a curved screen with nanocrystal technology (something that appears in all of its SUHD sets), a full array local dimming backlight (which helps with contrast and black levels) and the company's "PurColor" technology, which delivers more vivid colors. You'll be able to snag the JS9500 in 65-inch and 88-inch sizes -- though the company isn't saying just how much the larger version will cost. Most likely, that'll be upwards of $10,000, as that's the price for the 77-inch JS9100 SUHD TV.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

Science (51)

• Obama's 2013 'BRAIN' initiative results in remote-controlled mice

  The first results to stem from President Barack Obama's 2013 "Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies" initiative are in, Reuters reports. As noted in the journal Neuron, scientists were able to manipulate the brain circuitry of lab mice, making them move, stay still, eat or leave their bowls of food behind. This was accomplished through the use of DREADDs, "designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs." The DREADDs system uses genetically engineered brain neurons to create custom receptors that lock into manmade molecules, activating whichever neuron scientists target. The DREADD method is a noninvasive form of behavior control, first introduced about a decade ago as a way to turn neurons on or off -- the newest DREADDs are the first to be able to do both.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Artificial blood vessels can cause your body to regrow the real thing

  A blocked blood vessel can be pretty nasty, and the two most common treatments involve wedging it open or transplanting another vessel from elsewhere in your body. Scientists in Vienna think they may have a slightly more elegant solution to the latter, having developed a method of replacing blocked vessels with artificial ones. The clever part here is that the synthetic polymer that the prostheses are made of encourages the body to grow a real vessel in its place. In one trial on a rat, it took less than six months before the artificial material had broken down and been replaced with a brand new blood vessel.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• 3-atom-thick transistor promises ultrathin electronics

  Researchers from Cornell University announced a breakthrough in transistor technology in the latest issue of the journal, Nature. The team has reportedly developed a novel and highly efficient method of producing an experimental material known as transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD). TMD is an exceedingly thin (but highly conductive) film, which makes it useful in many high-tech applications -- everything from solar cells to flexible, wearable gadgets -- but also makes it a huge pain to produce in appreciable quantities. That is, until now.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Infrared implant brings practical sight to the blind

  You can already get a retinal implant to restore some sight when you're blind, but the quality is usually too poor to be useful for more than avoiding collisions. A better solution is close at hand, however: Pixium Vision has successfully tested an implant that should go beyond basic vision. The tiny chip sits just behind the retina and uses infrared light to both stimulate images in your brain and power the whole device. Tests in rats generate vision equivalent to 20/250. That's still far from flawless, but it'd be superior to the 20/500 you can get now -- good enough that you could read the largest letter on an eye doctor's chart. The eventual system for humans, which will use goggles to send images, should manage 20/120 and put wearers above the US' legal standard for blindness. Trial runs start in 2016, so you may not have to wait much longer if you're eager to give the implant a try.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• DARPA's steerable bullet proves it can hit moving targets

  DARPA announced that its self-steering bullet program, dubbed the Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO), passed another developmental milestone in late February. Per an administration release, and the video below, experienced and novice shooters alike were able to strike moving targets. And, in the case of expert shooters, able to hit actively evading targets as well.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Ultrathin membrane makes plane cabins 100x quieter

  While air travel is quicker and safer than driving, it's also louder. The continuous low-frequency drone of the engines is why some people invest in noise-canceling headphones. To help reduce that non-stop hum, researchers at North Carolina State University and MIT have developed a thin membrane to be inserted into the lightweight honeycomb structure of planes and helicopters. "At low frequencies – sounds below 500 Hertz – the honeycomb panel with the membrane blocks 100 to 1,000 times more sound energy than the panel without a membrane." said Yun Jing, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State University. The 0.25mm-thick membrane would only add an additional six percent to the overall weight of the honeycomb structure of aircraft. While that doesn't seem like much, every ounce counts to airlines trying to maximize flight costs. It'll be on them to decide whether they'd rather save money on fuel or makes cabins a better place for passengers.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• First home HIV test goes on sale in Britain

  Although sexual health has become less of a taboo subject, ensuring that people get tested for STDs remains a big issue. The NHS now offers DIY kits for those worried they might have caught something from a partner and don't want to get tested by a doctor, but home HIV screening has not been possible -- at least until today. Britain's first legally-approved HIV test is now on sale, promising 99.7 percent accuracy from three months after a person suspects they may have been exposed to the infection. It requires a drop of blood and can provide a clear result in around 15 minutes.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Police can spot differences between identical twins by melting DNA

  Believe it or not, police have a real problem with identifying suspects who are identical twins -- unless you're willing to spend a month sequencing genes, DNA samples are all but useless. They may be far more effective in the future, though, as British researchers have developed a technique that melts DNA to identify what few differences exist. The team has determined that heating genes will break hydrogen bonds that form due to a person's environment and habits. Unless the twins live eerily similar lives, those bonds will snap at different temperature points and quickly identify who's who.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Recommended Reading: Designing a roller coaster that'll make you weep

  Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. How to Design a Roller Coaster That'll Make You Beg For Mercy by Jeff Wise Bloomberg Business When it comes to designing a roller coaster, there are any number of tools that can achieve that maximum thrill. At Carowinds, a theme park that borders North and South Carolina, the Fury 325 debuted this spring. The ride packs a 325-foot drop and top speeds of 95MPH. How does something like this come about? Bloomberg's Jeff Wise will take you for a ride to find out.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Chill out with this 'holographic' virtual aquarium

  There's something inexplicably tranquil about gazing at fish in an aquarium as they swim back and forth, darting about rocks or that tacky plastic treasure chest sitting in the corner. But what if you could have one on your desk, without all the water changes, filter cleaning and general maintenance? That's probably a ways off, but Memukhin Oleg's "Fishing Day" explores such a (not entirely virtual) reality. As you'll see in the video below from The Creators Project, he's used a handful of different 3D modeling techniques to bring artificial fishies to life. They react to a handheld submarine, schooling and separating as they might in the real world, flitting through a gaudy shipwreck you'd find at a pet store's aquarium aisle. It's all really, really impressive and there's even a breakdown of how the effects shot came together. The only bad part? The video's a bit on the short side.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Navy researchers make bulletproof glass out of clay

  The US Naval Research Laboratory announced a major breakthrough in materials science on Thursday. After decades of research and development, the NRL has created a transparent, bulletproof material that can be molded into virtually any shape. This material, known as Spinel, is made from a synthetic powdered clay that is heated and pressed under vacuum (aka sintered) into transparent sheets. "Spinel is actually a mineral, it's magnesium aluminate," Dr. Jas Sanghera, who leads the research, said in a statement. "The advantage is it's so much tougher, stronger, harder than glass. It provides better protection in more hostile environments -- so it can withstand sand and rain erosion."

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Formula 1 aerodynamics will make grocery stores more efficient

  No, that's not a typo. It turns out Formula 1 racing technology, specifically aerodynamics, can help rid grocery stores of the so-called "cold aisle" issue. Using aerofoils that are designed to guide the direction of air flow around a race car, Williams F1's engineering department and UK start-up Aerofoil Engery aim to keep the cool temps inside the open refrigerators at the market. The aerofoils attach to each shelf, guiding the cold air so that not only is that section more comfy for shoppers, but energy use is reduced as well. In fact, Sainsbury's, the second largest grocery store chain in the UK, is already testing the tech. "This Formula 1 inspired innovation has already shown it can cut carbon produced by major refrigerators," said John Skelton, the retailer's head of refrigeration. The project is still in the testing phase, so if could be a while before its ready for widespread installation.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Technology turns touchscreen displays into biometric scanners

  A team of researchers from Yahoo Labs has developed a much affordable alternative to fingerprint sensors for phones. It's a biometric system called "Bodyprint," and it only needs devices' capacitive touchscreen displays to authenticate body parts. Since displays have lower input resolution compared to specialized sensors, the system requires you to use larger parts of your body. It can recognize your ear, fist, phalanges, set of five fingers and your palm -- simply press any of them on the screen for access. In addition to serving as your phone's gatekeeper, it has a number of other potential applications, as well.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Berkeley's artificial photosynthesis turns carbon dioxide into future fuel

  Whenever a scientific discovery claims to have solved one of the world's most critical issues, it's hard not to get a little bit excited. Today, our hopes are riding high on the news that Berkeley University might have just worked out how to solve the problem of climate change. Working in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the University of California, researchers have developed a system that captures carbon dioxide and turns it into chemicals that can be used to make plastics, drugs and, even better, biofuel.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• The US Army's testing clip-on ray gun attachments for its rifles

  The energy-blasting G.I. Joe future that we've all been waiting for is steadily getting closer. Not only is the US Army outfitting trucks with increasingly powerful laser systems, it is also looking to provide similar capabilities to its dismounted troops as well. Dubbed "Burke Pulser" attachments after their creator Army Armament Research electronics engineer James E. Burke, these devices utilize a piezoelectric generator and two protruding antennas to generate powerful bursts of electrical. The entire unit fits onto the end of the Army's M4 carbine just as a standard-issue flash suppressor does.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Scientists fully decode a pair of mammoth DNA genomes

  A team of Harvard Medical School geneticists have deciphered the complete genomes of not one but two individual woolly mammoths. The results, recently published in the journal Current Biology, are already providing valuable insights into how the species initially died out.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Butterfly wings are the key to glare-free phone displays

  Butterflies have proven to be a surprising source of inspiration for technology, and that trend isn't about to slow down any time soon. German researchers have discovered that irregular, nanoscopic structures on the glasswing butterfly's namesake transparent wings eliminate most reflections at any angle -- perfect for phones, camera lenses and most any other device where display glare is a problem. The scientists have yet to completely recreate this surface in the lab, but they foresee a future where you're not struggling to read your smartphone outdoors. And the kicker? Prototypes are already self-cleaning and water-repellant, so you wouldn't need extra coatings to keep your screens largely smudge-free. [Image credit: Radwanul Hasan Siddique, KIT]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Futurist Ray Kurzweil: Nanotech is the key to better EV batteries

  Living up to his billing as an inventor/visionary, Ray Kurzweil kicked off an engineering conference in Detroit this week by imagining what might power cars of the future. Sure, he mentioned the self-driving cars his employer Google is working on, but a more interesting response was to a question from our AutoblogGreen colleagues. Pressed on the future possibilities of electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells, Kurzweil first mentioned the "modest" progress batteries have made so far and suggested nanotechnology will provide a solution. He believes that being able to "manipulate energy and matter at a molecular level" will lead to revolutionary applications.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Scientists create first genetically modified human embryo

  For the first time in history, a team of researchers have successfully edited the genes of a human embryo. The researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou reportedly used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to knock a gene called HBB, which causes the fatal blood disorder β-thalassaemia, out of donor embryos. This marks the first time that the CRISPR technique has been employed on an embryonic human genome. The CRISPR/Cas9 method utilizes a complex enzyme (aka a set of "genetic scissors") to snip out and replace faulty gene segments with functional bits of DNA. The technique is well-studied in adult cells, but very little published research has been done using embryonics. And it's the latter application that has bioethicists up in arms.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• This is what the inside of your head looks like when you sing

  There's a lot more that goes into producing human vocalizations than just the dual flaps of your larynx and a gust of air. More than 100 muscles throughout your face and neck coordinate to create the wide range of complex sounds people make. And thanks to a new MRI technique, researchers can watch that muscular symphony at work in real time. As you can see from the video below, the results are simply jaw dropping.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Scientists turn old smartphones into all-seeing eyes

  That clunky old Android phone sitting in a drawer may be more useful than you think. A team from Carnegie Mellon University has created a program called Zensors that uses connected smartphone or surveillance cameras to track your environment, figure out what's going on and give you valuable alerts and statistics. The team showed how a user can point a smartphone outside a window, circle an area of interest, and pose a natural-language question like "how many cars are in the parking lot?" Zensor then proceeds to track cars as they enter and leave, giving a business data about its customers.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Scientists can build an early-warning system for trolls

  Almost every website with comments suffers from trolls, people who like to spout obnoxious and irrational gibberish just to offend others. Since you can't just ask people to behave like human beings, a lot of time and effort is spent monitoring and policing this idiocy. Thankfully, the internet's long national nightmare may now be at an end after researchers from Stanford and Cornell developed an early warning system for trolls. After conducting a study that examined close to 40 million comments, it was found that trolls can be algorithmically identified before they've written 10 posts.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• This box transmits emotions to your hand

  This slightly unwieldy looking machine can apparently deliver emotions to your hand through "mid-air haptics", pinpointing areas on your palm that are attuned to certain emotions, and stimulating them. A study from the University Of Sussex used an Ultrahaptics system to communicate emotions between test groups, with the haptic group stating significantly higher stimulation compared to a test group that was only shown a picture. (Mere optical stimulation? Pssch.) Dr Marianna Obrist, Lecturer at the Department of Informatics, has apparently figured out that stimulating different areas of the hand conveys different things: hot bursts of air to the area around the thumb, index finger and middle part of the palm generate excitement, while sad feelings can be delivered by slow and moderate stimulation on the outer palm and areas around the little finger.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Disney Research makes dubbed movies more believeable

  "This town's like a great big chicken, just waiting to get plucked." That line is one of the more unintentionally funny results of cleaning up 1983's notoriously blue Scarface for cable, and new insight from Disney Research could make awkward redubs like that a relic of the past. By using an automated system that generates alternative dialog while keeping the spoken words in sync with lip movements, Walt's mad science wing thinks it has they key to believeable audio replacement for movies and video games -- perfect for anime and foreign flicks, we'd imagine. For example, Disney says (PDF) that the phrase "clean swatches" is replaceable with "like swats" or "need no pots," thanks to the lines having similar phonemes (the smallest form of speech that differentiates two words, like "bat" and "bad").

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Dark matter is (probably) more complex than you think

  Scientists typically believe that dark matter, for all of its mystery, behaves in a simple way: if one clump encounters another, the two interact solely through gravity. However, researchers using both Hubble and the Very Large Telescope have published findings which suggest that there's more involved. They've noticed dark matter (the blue lines in this picture) lagging behind a galaxy due to friction, hinting that there are factors beyond gravity at work. It's not certain whether the source of this friction is a familiar phenomenon or something entirely undiscovered, but it's definitely not the usual culprit.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Disney Research has a 3D printer that can sew bunnies for you

  3D printing has resulted in solid solutions like cartilages, organ replicas and even tortoise shells. But Disney Research now has a printer that can create soft, bendable objects - think 3D printing stuffed toys. The mechanics of the printer are similar to conventional machines that use plastics or metals, except this one works with fabric to create flexible and functional objects. Most additive 3D printers are designed to deposit materials in a specific spot, but fabric requires an alternative technique that imitates sewing or layering.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Cooking with Watson: Turkish Bruschetta with carrot pearls

  'Cognitive Cooking with Chef Watson' is a collaboration between IBM and the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Once a week, as part of an ongoing series, we'll be preparing one recipe from the book until we've made all of them. Wish us luck. Let's get a couple of things straight: Watson, the IBM supercomputer famous for spanking Ken Jennings on Jeopardy, did not really write these recipes in the purest sense of the word. Rather, IBM trained it by feeding it a giant database of recipes, studies on what flavors and smells people find pleasant and information on the chemical compounds found inside ingredients. Using this, Watson is able to suggest dishes with surprising flavor combinations. From there the computer passes the baton to a human being, in this case James Briscione and Michael Laiskonis from the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), who use the ingredient lists and style suggestions as inspiration for new dishes.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Smell-o-phone creator attaches scents to eBooks and songs

  The Harvard professor that brought us a real life smell-o-phone has announced that he's expanding his olfactory-focused products to include eBooks, songs and clothing. Now clothes that give off a scent isn't that weird, but eBooks and songs? How does that work? Professor David Edwards is calling these unusual digital tomes and music "oBooks" and "oSongs," and they pair up with his company's, Vapor Communications', "oPhone" contraption. That device (see above) contains all the scent chips meant to be mixed until it matches the specific scent indicated by the files. When it was launched last year, it was only good for giving off scents attached to messages indicated by the sender through its accompanying app.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• This video camera is powered by light

  No, you haven't stumbled across an internet video from 1997 -- that's the output of one of the cleverest cameras you'll see in a while. Columbia University researchers have developed a self-powered camera whose pixels both record light and turn it into electricity. The trick is the use of photodiodes (which are common in both cameras and solar panels) that are permanently set to collect energy, not simply conduct it.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• How electrifying the brain wards off Parkinson's disease

  Implanting electrodes in the brain and zapping it helps patients with Parkinson's and other disorders, but doctors have never been sure why, exactly. Now, researchers from UC San Francisco think that the therapy (called deep-brain stimulation, or DBS) works by altering neural timings, in much the same way a defibrillator resets heart rhythms. In a healthy brain, neuron firing is controlled by low frequency rhythms that sync up movement, memory and other functions. But the UC team found that the synchronization is too strong in Parkinson's patients, making it harder for them to move voluntarily.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Holograms replace people in Spanish protests

  Spain's imminent Citizen Safety Law isn't exactly protester-friendly -- you can face stiff fines just for daring to disobey police peacefully, let alone holding a protest without telling the government. The activists of Hologramas por la Libertad have found a clever workaround for that, however. As the name suggests, they're using holographic protesters to challenge the new legal restrictions. People worldwide were invited to record video (or text and voice, if they preferred) that would be converted into holograms marching in front of the Spanish Parliament. If you aren't allowed to protest in person, the movement argues, you can still protest as an optical illusion.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• DARPA creating software that won't need upgrades for a century

  Software upgrades and outdated applications that don't work on new platforms are just a fact of life for people who use computers and other devices. DARPA, however, wants to change that by making software systems that can run for over a century without getting updates from their developers and despite upgrades in hardware. Pentagon's mad science department has recently announced that it has begun a four-year research to figure out what algorithms are necessary to create software that "can dynamically adapt to changes." The agency calls the project "Building Resource Adaptive Software Systems or BRASS," and it knows it won't be easy. In fact, DARPA's expecting to build everything from the ground up. In return, though, we could see a whole new list of programs with longer lifespans that are easier to maintain.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: floating cities, solar bikes and a Dr. Seuss house

  Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. The Volkswagen Camper van is one of the most iconic vehicles of the 20th century, but VW hasn't put out a new model of the hippie standby since 2003. That could all change soon, as a VW board member recently revealed that the carmaker is planning to unveil an electric concept Camper in the near future. In other automotive news, Tesla has launched a new edition of its Model S sedan. The Model S 70D will replace the Model S 60, and it will be powered by Tesla's dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. Most industry observers acknowledge that self-driving cars are the future, but one car company believes they're also the present. Korean automaker Hyundai is set to release a semi-autonomous car later this year. The car won't exactly drive itself, but it will have the ability to stay in a lane on the highway and adjust the car's speed in response to traffic conditions.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Lasers quickly load thousands of cells with nano-sized cargo

  Doctors dream of injecting cells with large nanoscopic cargo to treat or study illnesses. The existing approach to this is extremely slow, however. At one cell per minute, it would take ages to get a meaningful payload. That won't be a problem if UCLA scientists have their way, though -- they've developed a technique that uses lasers to inject legions of cells at a time. The concentrated light heats up the titanium coating on a chip until it boils water surrounding the target cells, creating fissures that let the cargo inside. It only takes 10 seconds for the laser to process an entire chip's worth of cells, and researchers estimate that they could fill a whopping 100,000 cells per minute.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Rat brains are basically wired up like miniature internets

  Drawing on forty years of peer-reviewed research, a team of researchers from the University of Southern California have generated the world's first "wiring diagram" of a rat's central nervous system. And, as it turns out, their brain structures are uncannily similar to the internet's physical architecture. What's more, this could help us better understanding of our own neural organization. "The cerebral cortex is like a mini-Internet," USC professor and corresponding author of the study Larry Swanson said in a statement. "The Internet has countless local area networks that then connect with larger, regional networks and ultimately with the backbone of the Internet. The brain operates in a similar way."

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Play Whac-A-Mole on these weather-predicting smart ceramics

  Most consumer IoT devices we've come across are made out of dull plastic, so excuse us for getting a bit excited over these porcelain smart mugs and vases at IDF in Shenzhen. Yes, porcelain, courtesy of Chinese ODM Thread Technology who's integrated Intel's tiny Edison computer module into these white ware pieces. And thanks to the translucent nature of the ceramic material, the company's able to add a simple 12 x 16-dot LED touchscreen underneath the inner wall. Once turned on, you can scroll through features such as weather forecast, music (either from a phone via Bluetooth or from the 4GB of onboard storage; built-in speaker), WeChat notification (voice playback and reply supported), dice and even a simple Whac-A-Mole game. Both devices have a conductive charging mat as well.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Scientists eye secure communications by slowing down light

  We've already seen what fiber optics can do for internet speeds, and it looks like the medium could be used for quantum communications too. See, as EurekAlert tells it, scientists from the Vienna University of Technology have figured out a way to modify the material so it can be used to control the speed of light. The researchers successfully grafted cesium atoms to the fibers, allowing them to slow light down from its typical 671 million MPH pace to around 112 MPH (180 KPH). The researchers were able to bring the light to a complete stop and then restart it later, too -- something EurekAlert says in a pretty major step toward quantum internet. It'd be much more secure than what we have currently as well, given that professor Arno Rauschenbeutel says that quantum physics at its very core allows for a connection between sender and receiver and anyone tapping in won't go unnoticed. [Image credit: Shutterstock]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Researchers say tiny antennas inside microchips are possible

  Antennas still need to be big: Big enough to work and create the electromagnetic waves needed to communicate. It's one of the physical limitations of electronics that means that anything in connected tech can only be so small. But that could well change in the future. Research published in Physical Review Letters, have led to the theory that electromagnetic waves are generated not only by the acceleration of electronics, but also due to something called "symmetry breaking", where an electric field that's typically symmetrical, well, isn't. When electronic charges aren't in motion, this symmetry holds up, but when it starts moving, this disruption apparently creates electromagnetic waves -- these are what could lead to a new breed of tiny, tiny antennas and possibly a new generation of smartphone design and Internet Of Things... things.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Liquid metal printing puts flexible circuits on 'anything'

  Thanks to top universities and some companies, soft robots and stretchy electronics are already a reality. Now a group of researchers from Purdue claim they've found the right manufacturing process to produce those types of devices en masse. Their method entails printing out circuits using an inkjet printer loaded with liquid metal alloy. "This process... allows us to print flexible and stretchable conductors onto anything, including elastic materials and fabrics," said Rebecca Kramer, one of the researchers. After all, if the circuits are made from liquid metal, they can be stretched, folded, squeezed, and so on and so forth, without breaking.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Smartphone accessory puts HIV diagnosis in doctors' pockets

  People living in far-flung locations, especially in developing nations, could always use affordable tests for various diseases that enable remote diagnosis. Take for instance, this new two-part biosensing platform developed by a team of scientists from Florida Atlantic University, which can detect E. coli, staph and even HIV with just a drop of the patient's blood. We say "two-part," because it's comprised of (1) a cheap, thin, flexible film and (2) a smartphone app. Each film detects a different disease, which it identifies from the patient's blood. If the bacteria or virus being tested for is present, the blood gets dyed a different color by nanoparticles.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Stanford's aluminum battery fully charges in just one minute

  Lithium-ion batteries have been a boon for the modern world -- they've replaced the heavier, single-use alkaline type in everything from wristwatches to jumbo jets. Unfortunately, these rechargeable cells are already struggling to keep up with our ever-increasing energy needs. But a new type of aluminum-ion battery developed at Stanford University is not only less explode-y than lithium, but also can be built at a fraction of the price and recharges completely in just over a minute. Best of all, "Our new battery won't catch fire, even if you drill through it," Stanford chemistry professor Dai Hongjie boasted in a recent release.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• The Large Hadron Collider is back and stronger than ever

  Yes, it's back -- after a two-year upgrade program, CERN's Large Hadron Collider is once again operational. Scientists are only firing collision-free proton beams right now to test the new system, but they'll ramp up over the next few months to the point where they're smashing protons together at 13 teraelectronvolts -- about twice the energy the LHC managed in its first season. The machine will have a relatively short three years to operate before its next shutdown, but the higher output should help researchers explore antimatter, dark matter and other aspects of physics that are relatively untested. Given that the collider appears to have discovered the mysterious Higgs boson during its first run, we're hopeful that its second season has more breakthroughs in store. [Image credit: CERN]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: oil rig oasis, bio-pyramids and Facebook's new home

  Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Tesla, the Silicon Valley-based electric carmaker, is unrivaled when it comes to automotive innovation, and now the company is moving beyond the garage and into the home. Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed earlier this year that the company is developing a house battery that could help homeowners go off the grid. But Musk isn't done: He also announced that Tesla would release a new product -- one that it isn't a car -- at the end of April. Will it be the house battery? We'll just have to wait and see.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Despite its looks, this 3D printed violin (probably) won't kill you

  It might not be a Stradivarius, but the violin you see above is pretty impressive on its own merits. For starters, it's 3D printed and only has two strings. And that's to say nothing of its appearance; this thing looks like it'd be right at home on The Citadel in Mass Effect. The Piezoelectric Violin (as it's officially called), was concepted by a pair of architects who tell BBC that the impetus for its creation was realizing that the challenges of their day jobs aren't all that different from those faced by composers and musicians. It's still playable by "anyone" too, despite its wild looks. One of its designers tells BBC that the difference between how it and a traditional violin sounds is akin to that of a classical guitar versus an electric Gibson Les Paul. That is, similar, but still pretty different.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Optical nanotech sensor can sniff out bad food and explosives

  The days of having to rely on pricey lab sensors (or carefully trained canines) to detect bad food and bombs may soon come to an end. Oregon State University researchers have developed a hybrid optical and nanotechnology sensor that's at once super-sensitive to gas, but won't weigh a ton or cost a fortune. It uses a super-thin, metal-organic film to absorb the gas, and magnifies the telltale chemical signals using low-cost plasmonic nanocrystals that act like miniature optical lenses. It's best-suited to watching out for carbon dioxide (helpful for businesses that want to fight greenhouse gases), but it can detect a "wide range" of materials.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• NASA and Boeing to test eco-friendly technologies for airplanes

  Boeing's new ecoDemonstrator (a 757) is slated to go on a series of flights this spring to try out two of NASA's experimental fuel-saving techniques. One of them's the Active Flow Control Enhanced Vertical Tail Flight Experiment, which entails installing 31 tiny jets on a plane's vertical tail or dorsal fin, as you can see below the fold. These jets can manipulate the flow of air over the tail's surface and generate enough force to stabilize the plane during takeoff and landing, even if the fin's around 17 percent smaller than usual. A smaller tail means a lighter plane and, hence, lower fuel consumption.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Computer keyboards could detect early-stage Parkinson's disease

  It's tough identifying Parkinson's disease in its early stages -- there are no standard lab tests to diagnose it and symptoms are subtle. A group of MIT researchers believe the answer could lie in something a lot of people already use: the computer keyboard. They've recently conducted a study proving that people with conditions affecting motor function have different typing patterns than those who don't. To be exact, the researchers designed plug-in software to measure how long subjects pressed each key before releasing it. Those with impaired motor skills ended up pressing keys for a longer duration.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Create better 3D models by waving your smartphone around

  Sure your smartphone makes for a passable 3D scanner, but it still can't determine the size of an item. Fortunately, Carnegie Mellon researchers are able to discover the scale of an object using a smartphone's camera and its IMU (inertial measurement unit). They just have to make sure to move the phone slow enough that that there's no motion blur during capture. If the feature gets wide adoption, you may soon be able to go shopping for furniture without lugging a measure tape around town.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Basics of quantum teleportation now fit on a single chip

  Until now, quantum teleportation (that is, sending quantum data from one place to another) has required a room-filling machine. That's not going to usher in a brave new era of quantum computing, is it? However, a team of British and Japanese researchers has shrunk things down to a much more reasonable size. They've stuffed the core optical circuits for quantum teleportation into a single silicon chip that's just slightly longer than a penny -- in contrast, an experimental device from 2013 was nearly 14 feet long. While scientists built the chip using "state-of-the-art nano-fabrication," it should be more practical to make than its ancestors, which took months.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Tiny geolocators track birds flying 1,600 miles across the Atlantic

  It's easy to prove that big birds like gulls will cross oceans when they migrate, but tiny birds are another matter -- the trackers you need are usually enormous in comparison. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies wasn't daunted, though. It successfully tested extra-small geolocators on blackpoll warblers, migratory songbirds that are too small and light (0.4oz) to shoulder previous sensors. The newer device weighs just 0.02oz, and is no bigger than a dime. As you can see above, it was more of a minor inconvenience than a heavy burden.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Yale Study: You're not as clever as your Googling suggests

  Having all of human knowledge readily available on the internet has convinced people that they know a lot more than they actually do, according to a recent Yale study. For their recently published report in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, a pair of psychologists conducted multiple 1000-participant experiments. They found that participants who used the internet to research a subject were more likely to think that they also knew about a second, unrelated topic. Basically, if you look up subject A with the internet, you're more likely than offline researchers to think you also know about subject B -- even if you haven't actually looked anything up. In general, internet users believed themselves to be brighter and more clever than the other participants in the study.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Smartphones (37)

• Your Windows 10 phone is a tiny desktop computer with Continuum

  Microsoft just demoed its 2-in-1 Continuum feature on a Windows 10 phone giving the mobile device the ability to become a really tiny desktop computer. Continuum adjusts the UI of Windows 10 on a device from desktop to tablet mode based on what's plugged into it. If you plug a keyboard and mouse into a tablet or phone, it goes into desktop mode. When those are unplugged, a pop-up asks if you want to enter tablet mode with touch input. Desktop mode includes the Start Menu and Taskbar you usually associate with a full-size computer. For anyone that travels who would like to pare down the devices they pack, this is great. Corporate Vice President of the Operating Systems Group Joe Belfiore did note that phones would need a hardware upgrade to fully implement the feature.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• LG unveils the G4 with a super-bright camera and leather backs

  After weeks of quasi-leaks and actual leaks you might feel that you already know everything about the LG G4. The company's mobile chief Juno Cho clearly disagrees, however -- he just took the wraps off the new flagship phone at LG's big event in New York. The G4 is all about visual experiences, whether you're looking at it or taking photos. It centers around a 5.5-inch Quad HD quantum LCD (the first on a phone, LG brags) with higher brightness and contrast, but it's also focused on design, with an ever-so-slight curve and special backs that include ceramic and multiple shades of leather.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• We're live from the LG G4 launch event!

  Earlier this year, almost every smartphone maker revealed a flagship model at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. But not LG. The South-Korea based company has been relatively quiet since its introduction of the G Flex2, which was back at CES 2015. Today, though, LG is ready to announce the G4 in an event that's taking place simultaneously across different parts of the globe. For our part, we're in New York City and we'll be bringing you the action as it happens, so stay tuned -- the keynote's set to begin at 11:00AM ET.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Nokia says it's not going to start making phones again

  We hope you weren't counting on Nokia reviving its phone business. The Finnish firm is now bluntly denying claims that it's planning to return to making phones -- there are "no plans" to make or sell any, Nokia says. That's not surprising given both the company's expansion of its networking efforts and an agreement with Microsoft that it won't make phones until at least 2016. Simply speaking, Nokia wouldn't have the cash or permissions to build these devices in the near future. With that said, the company mentioned this fall that it was considering licensing its storied name to a third party handset maker. If you don't mind buying a Nokia-approved phone, there's still a chance (however small) that you'll get your wish.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Acer's Liquid X2 smartphone is another globetrotter's dream

  Sure, you probably don't need a smartphone with a massive 4,000mAh battery and a trio of SIM card slots, but thanks to Acer, your author can't stop thinking about one. Acer's so-called Liquid X2 is clearly well-equipped to play globetrotter, but (just like the Predator tablet) the company's spokespeople were awfully light on the details. Still, we know it comes with a 5.5-inch screen and a 64-bit octa-core processor thrumming away within its surprisingly sleek frame, along with a pair of 13-megapixel cameras nestled high along its face and back. At last, a device that takes selfies as seriously as HTC's Desire Eye.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• This smartphone is extra-secure and stronger than steel

  How do you stand out if you're a fledgling smartphone maker that can't compete on specs alone? If you're Turing Robotic Industries, you pour your energy into clever design -- both inside and out. The newly unveiled Turing Phone puts an emphasis on security, with its own server-free encrypted communication between owners and a fingerprint reader that encourages you to lock down your device. There's also an Apple-like magnetic charging system, so you won't send your phone flying. However, the real star of the show is the frame. It's built from "liquidmorphium," a metal alloy that's reportedly stronger than steel or titanium. While there's also aluminum, ceramic and plastic on the body, that exotic structure should reduce the chances that you'll wreck your handset through a nasty drop.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• EE adds two own-brand smartphones to its low-cost Android flock

  Besides offering the flagship smartphones from Apple, Samsung and HTC, UK mobile operator EE also offers a range of own-brand 4G devices. The carrier's avian-themed lineup already includes the Kestrel smartphone, Eagle tablet and a number of WiFi dongles, but today it's rolling out two new LTE phones for those with an eye on affordability. First up is the Harrier, a 5.2-inch 1080p handset that features a 1.5 GHz octa-core Snapdragon processor, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2,500mAh battery and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. It'll also join the latest iPhones and Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge in supporting EE's new WiFi Calling service later this summer.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S6 courtesy of iOttie!

  We can't all afford to upgrade our ride with embedded touch-display tech, but you don't really need to. You can add a dashboard mount for the device you likely do use to stay ahead of the curve, letting you banish wires and cup-holder based turn commands from your life. iOttie's new Easy OneTouch Wireless can help you retrofit your setup for easy-to-view navigation, while keeping your battery charged and your eyes on the road where they should be. The mount's telescoping arm gives you plenty of room for adjustment and its OneTouch lock and release system keeps things moving along smoothly. It supports the new Samsung Galaxy S6, too, which is good because we've got one of each for a lucky Engadget reader this week. That 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display will look great mounted on your dash with iOttie's latest Qi-enabled holder, regardless of your whip's make and model. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning a new Galaxy S6 and wireless charging mount from iOttie. Winner: congratulations to Steve L. of Ambler, PA.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Disney's 'acoustruments' can control phones using their own sounds

  Disney Research is apparently developing plastic accessories that can control phones, which might even be more far-out than MIT's thumbnail trackpads. They're called acoustruments, and they can control phones with sounds from their own speakers. How? Well, each acoustrument comes with a U-shaped tube that feeds ultrasonic sound from the phone's speaker to its mic. You can control the phone with that setup by disrupting the sound, say, by blocking holes on the tube like you would on a flute. Its controls don't necessarily have to be holes, either -- they could be buttons, switches, knobs, wheels, sliders and anything else that can alter the sound wave to indicate an action.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Daily Roundup: Nokia making phones again, Sony wants better selfies and more!

  Today, read how Nokia is planning to get back into the phone game, ponder why Sony's added image-stabilization technology to the front of its new flagship phone and get all the details on the best vaporizers around -- because it's that day. All that and more, just after the fold.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• OnePlus finally drops invites, but only until its next flagship launches

  Now that it's been on the market a full year, you can finally buy a OnePlus One without an invitation. Sound familiar? The company has opened up sales on the well-liked, $300 smartphone for brief periods before, but today said that "the One will be available without an invite. Forever." Calling the reviled invitation system a "fascinating, evolving experiment," the company admitted that "feelings toward (it) vary, and we understand that." In the same breath, however, it revealed that its next model, the OnePlus Two "will initially launch with invites."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Recode: Nokia's planning a return to phones next year (updated)

  When Nokia sold its devices and services business to Microsoft, we assumed it was getting out of the hardware game for good. Not so. The company has since launched its N1 tablet in China and now, according to Recode, it's developing a new phone too. Exactly what it'll look like and, perhaps more importantly, the software it'll run is unclear at the moment though. The company has made some strides with its alternative Z Launcher, but its debut Android slate is fairly unremarkable. That's because it was actually designed by Foxconn -- not the old Nokia team that's given us so many bold and beautiful Lumias over the years. If the Finnish company sticks with Android, it's going to need something a little more original to stand out from the competition. (The Nokia brand will only go so far, after all.)

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Sony's new flagship smartphone has an image-stabilizing selfie camera

  Sony's unveiled its new smartphone in Japan, the Xperia Z4, and like you might tell from the press images, it's a mighty familiar-looking one from a company still looking for its next big hit. Yep there's a lot of similarities compared to the Z3 (a phone that we were pretty happy with), including a 5.2-inch screen, metal frame, support for Hi-Res audio and the same wide-angle 25mm lens on the main camera. Upgrades since last year's model include a frame that's both thinner (down to under 7 mm) and lighter, while camera upgrades are focused on the front, which now gets the same wide-angle lens of the primary shooter as well as digital image stabilization to keep your selfie game completely on point.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• LG is building a Windows phone for Verizon

  LG pledged continuing support for Windows phones over a year ago. As you may have noticed, though, its actual support since then has been... less than enthusiastic. That could be changing shortly, as Neowin claims to have an image of a Windows-powered LG phone for Verizon. There's precious little revealed by the picture, but the tile sizes, interface and generic design suggest that it's a mid-size, budget-oriented Windows Phone 8.1 device -- sorry, you'll probably have to keep waiting if you want a giant Windows 10 flagship. If this image is accurate, though, you can probably expect to see this device on shelves before Microsoft's newest operating system arrives later in the year.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Huawei unveils a giant version of its high-end P8 smartphone

  Huawei's isn't content to unveil just its flagship P8 smartphone -- there's an even bigger, beastlier handset in store. The company has revealed the P8max, a 6.8-inch device that literally expands on the slim, next-to-no-bezel design of its smaller sibling. Besides that cavernous (but sadly 1080p) screen, the biggest advantage is a whopping 4,360mAh battery that promises about 2.2 days of typical battery life, or about 15 hours of non-stop web surfing or video playback. You'll also get a custom interface that offers multiple "panels" for multitasking (appropriate at these dimensions), and this is billed as one of the thinnest large smartphones at a scant 6.8mm thick.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Huawei's flagship P8 smartphone is all about the fancy camera

  Huawei's come a long way since it shook its ODM label and started making devices for consumers, too. It's now the fourth biggest smartphone manufacturer in the world, and in the past year, we've seen the company unveil new phones big and small, as well as new wearables including an Android Wear smartwatch. Aside from a few special-edition variants, though, the Ascend P7 has remained Huawei's flagship product for almost a year, so it's high time for a successor to take that mantle. Cue the Huawei P8 -- no "Ascend" this time 'round -- the company's newest feather in its smartphone-shaped cap.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• BlackBerry's £199 Leap smartphone launches first in the UK

  BlackBerry isn't the smartphone powerhouse it used to be. Android and iOS are slowly eroding what's left of its market share, but the company isn't giving up just yet. Its latest effort is the Leap, an all-touch smartphone (sorry, keyboard fans) aimed at "young power professionals." The device is launching in the UK today for £199 on BlackBerry's online store, although it won't actually ship until April 24th. If you want the Leap on contract, you can grab it immediately through Vodafone, otherwise it's also available SIM-free through third-party sellers such as Clove, Unlocked Mobiles and Mobile Phones Direct.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge is ridiculously expensive to make

  It's no secret that Samsung's curvy Galaxy S6 Edge costs a pretty penny, but there's now a good explanation as to why. IHS estimates that the raw price of assembly for a 64GB Verizon model is $290. That's more expensive to make than not just the Galaxy S5 ($256 when new), but also the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus ($263) -- if true, Samsung is giving up a lot of profit to make this exotic hardware affordable. The bendy AMOLED screen is unsurprisingly the costliest element here with an estimated $85 price, although the Exynos 7 processor ($30), 3GB of DDR4 memory ($27) and flash storage ($25) certainly aren't cheap.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Here are the world's first USB Type-C 'Superphones' from China

  Following the Nokia N1, the new Chromebook and the new MacBook, who knew the world's first USB Type-C smartphones would come from a Chinese company? The brand in question is LeTV, who has today unveiled three new Android 5.0 "Superphones" that feature the reversible socket. The flagship aluminum Le Max (pictured above) is all about the absolute top specs: a 6.33-inch Quad HD display, a Snapdragon 810 chip (2GHz, octa-core, 64-bit), 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a whopping 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, a 21-megapixel f/2.0 camera (with Sony's new IMX230 sensor, plus optical stabilization and dual-tone flash) and a bright UltraPixel selfie imager.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Cyanogen OS 12 is here, and the OnePlus One gets it first

  Cyanogen and OnePlus aren't as close as they once were, but the wide open Android variant finally has a release-ready version of Lollipop and it's rolling out to the OnePlus One today. Cyanogen OS 12 has all the improvements Google could pack in to the fifth iteration of Android -- you'll need to wait for 12.1 for the 5.1 tweaks -- plus a couple of special additions with app theming, a built-in Gmail replacement and more. If you're not seeing the rolling update on your device yet, the factory image should be available to download here soon. Of course, OnePlus has its own OxygenOS version of Android to offer owners of the devices, so in the space of nine days, anyone carrying a One has gone from no official avenues for installing Android Lollipop to two. Choose wisely.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Trusted Voice unlock is rolling out to some Android users

  When the latest version of Google's Android app arrived last week, there was a hint that a new method for unlocking a device was on the way. Well, it seems the wait is over... for some. Android Police reports that a handful of folks are seeing the newfangled Trusted Voice feature in the Smart Lock settings menu. The tool allows you to access your device when it recognizes you saying "OK Google," joining Trusted Face, pattern and PIN as options for keeping that trusty handset locked down. Of course, when you select the verbal method, you'll be warned that, like the facial recognition feature, Trusted Voice is less secure than a swipe pattern or numeric PIN. If you're not seeing the option yet, sit tight (no dice on my second-gen Moto X). It appears to be rolling out slowly, so it should hit your device soon enough.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• LG inadvertently reveals its leather-clad G4 phone a little early

  Oops. LG is supposed to be unveiling its range-topping G4 smartphone on April 28th, but well-known leaker Evan Blass has discovered an unannounced product site that reveals a ton about the new Android flagship a couple of weeks in advance. A lot of the text is clearly placeholder material, but there are a few noteworthy revelations here. The G4's back will have several color options (including multiple shades of real leather), and that super-fast f/1.8 camera is helped out by an infrared color accuracy sensor, second-generation image stabilization and a full manual mode.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Pre-orders for a 'reversible' Android phone open April 21st (updated)

  Wondering when you could get your hands on the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3? You know, the Android smartphone that can take calls upside down? Well, it shouldn't be too much longer. Pre-orders start April 21st with a $249 asking price for the 5.5-inch version (pictured above, left). As Android Central notes, that's a $30 break if you lay money down now as opposed to later on down the road. The official launch date is still rather ambiguous, but a press release over on 9to5Google says that the unlocked Lollipop devices start shipping sometime in May. Update: Slight change of plan: Alcatel OneTouch is now doing a "limited time early pre-sale" ahead of the original April 21st pre-order launch. Better yet, the phone will cost just $199.99 during this period, which translates to a $50 discount.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge will be in short supply

  Samsung mobile head J.K. Shin has warned that supply constraints could hamper sales of its Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone. According to Reuters, Shin revealed production yields of the phone's unique curved display are low, meaning that the company may not be able to keep up with demand. Samsung is "working hard to resolve the difficulty in supply," but yields could be low "for a while." The issue will not affect the vanilla Galaxy S6, which has a more conventional flat display.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Your iPhone can make WiFi calls on Sprint

  Using an iPhone on Sprint? Good news: you just got WiFi calling. If you install both the iOS 8.3 update and a matching carrier profile rolling out this week, any iPhone from the 5c on up can make voice calls on Big Yellow using a WiFi hotspot. As on other devices (and T-Mobile, or EE in the UK), this is all about giving you calls in basements, big offices and other places where you might get flaky reception. The upgrade won't help you much if Sprint's coverage is less than stellar in between the access points you use, but at least you won't risk missing an important chat because you're stuck in a cellular dead zone. Photo by Will Lipman.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• EE's WiFi calling service now works on iPhones after iOS update

  Remember the other day when we said EE's seamless WiFi calling feature was launching on April 10th? Well, there's been a slight change of plan, as the service is available right now on compatible iPhones (the 5s, 5c, 6 and 6 Plus). WiFi calling was originally supposed to launch alongside the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge in a couple of days, and we had no concrete details of when Apple devices might be joining the fray. That's changed today with the release of iOS 8.3, however, which adds support for EE's WiFi calling feature, among other things.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• HTC's bigger and better One M9+ launches in China

  HTC clearly gets China's obsession with large-screen phones. Following the plastic 5.5-inch One E9+, the company is back with the metallic M9+ which, as you can tell from the name, is essentially the M9 on steroids. We've already seen most of the specs in an earlier leak, with the most notable changes being the sharper and slightly larger 5.2-inch Quad HD display, the extra Duo Camera as seen on the back of the M8 and the new single-touch fingerprint reader below the screen. The device is otherwise very similar to its smaller sibling, appearance-wise.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Intel's made a tinier, longer-range depth camera for phones

  Intel's been a huge backer of gesture control plus 3D scanning, and so far it's managed to integrate its RealSense technology into select desktops, laptops, tablets and even drones. The missing piece of the puzzle? Smartphones. But that's no longer the case with Intel's latest RealSense camera, as showed off by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at IDF in Shenzhen today. The new module is significantly smaller and slimmer than the previous version, has a lower thermal output, and claims to have a longer detection range as well. As such, Intel's able to fit it into a 6-inch smartphone prototype, though Krzanich, an exec known for taking risks with live demos, didn't turn on said device on stage.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• LG's upcoming G4 lets you take better photos in the dark

  LG's flagship smartphone has improved every year, other than the custom UX apps that we've found to be "unnecessary" and "redundant." A new tease of the G4 and its UX 4.0 software shows more of the same on both fronts. The company has improved its camera with a low-light f/1.8 lens that one-ups Samsung's flagship by a tick, though the G4 will be hard-pressed to better the Galaxy S6's image quality. There's also a new "Quick Shot" capability that lets you snap a photo with the screen locked by double-tapping the back button, along with a manual mode for finer shooting control.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• How would you change Nokia's Lumia 1320?

  Nokia's Lumia 1320 was the underpowered sibling of the 1520, which had the same screen and battery but little else. If you wanted a 6-inch device but couldn't afford the premium edition, then you were stuck with this device, but was that a problem? According to our Brad Molen, it stood in no man's land, not cheap enough to really entice you, and not premium enough to justify buying this over the 1520. We imagine that some of you did splash out, however, so why not head over into our forum and tell us what life has been like with this device?

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Sharp said to be spinning off its smartphone LCD business

  Sharp is still in financial trouble despite shifting more of its attention to mobile displays, and it appears ready to take some drastic action to keep itself afloat. Nikkei, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal all claim that the Japanese firm is planning to spin off its smartphone LCD division. The move will reportedly happen during the company's current fiscal year (by next March), and the WSJ believes that it could be announced before Sharp unveils its restructuring plans in May. The corporation will only say that it's still considering its reorganization options. If the spinoff talk is true, though, this shows just how tough it is to survive in the mobile display business if you aren't a powerhouse like LG or Samsung -- even some of Japan's LCD giants had to form an alliance to stay in the game.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Caltech wants to equip phones with built-in 3D scanners

  Wouldn't it be great if we can use phones to 3D scan every day objects for printing? A research team from Caltech has designed a cheap and tiny camera chip that could make that happen. Even better, the team claims it can take 3D scans so precise, it could lead to "replica[s] accurate to within microns of the original object[s]." The silicon chip called nanophotonic coherent imager (NCI) is less than a millimeter square, so it can fit within actual phones or cameras without the need for extra hardware. It can capture an object's height, depth and width using tiny LIDARs that immerse an object in laser beams. The light that bounces off the object is then analyzed to determine its size and other details.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• OnePlus releases OxygenOS, its custom take on Android

  After a pretty sizable delay, OnePlus has at last released OxygenOS, its in-house version of Android 5.0 Lollipop. As promised back near the start of the year, this Cyanogen replacement is all about a "back to basics" approach that keeps things stock unless the startup thinks a new feature would be genuinely useful. Right now, that's largely limited to features you already had on your One: you can draw Oppo-style gestures to trigger functions when the screen is off, switch between hardware and software navigation keys and customize your quick-access settings. OxygenOS isn't for the faint of heart at this stage, since you'll have to be comfortable with installing ROMs (and likely put up with early bugs), but it's worth a shot if you want to catch a glimpse of OnePlus' software future.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• LG intros new flagship's high-contrast display before the phone itself

  LG must consider the G4's display as one of its main attractions, because the company's launching it weeks before the device's debut. The South Korean electronics maker has announced that it's begun mass producing its next flagship device's 5.5-inch QHD LCD panel. LG says the 1,440 x 2,560 resolution screen has 538 pixels per inch and boasts a 120 percent color gamut, which enables it to display more accurate and richer colors compared to other phones. Most devices, including the iPhone 6 Plus, only offer around 100 percent color gamut. The company says it achieved that percentage by combining a blue LED chip with red and green phosphors instead of yellow like in other LCDs.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• HTC brings the One M9's software tricks to its older devices

  Chances are you haven't even gotten your HTC One M9 yet, but that doesn't mean you can't get a feel for its new bits. HTC just updated its Blinkfeed app with some of the thoughtful software tricks that shipped on its brand new flagship, and gave it a new name for good measure. Say hello to HTC Sense Home.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• UK politician cured his smartphone addiction by buying a BlackBerry

  The UK is gearing up for an election, and one of the two most likely candidates for the top job has thrown some unintentional shade towards BlackBerry. In an interview with Absolute Radio, Ed Miliband has revealed that he ditched his iPhone for a BlackBerry because its harder to be addicted to a device with "limited functionality." Ouch. Miliband has previously taught at Harvard University and his time there made him a big Boston Red Sox fan. As a consequence, the one app that he can't live without is MLB At Bat, although since MLB stopped supporting BlackBerry devices for the 2015 season, Miliband might have to learn how to sideload pretty quick.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• HTC's One M8s revises last year's flagship for Europe

  We may have just peeled the cellophane off HTC's One M9 flagship, but there's still life left in its predecessor. Today, we (well, those in Europe) get to meet the HTC One M8s -- a revised version of last year's top billing handset. What does a lower case "s" (and about £379) get you? Mostly a camera refresh -- the M8's (note the apostrophe) 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera has been updated a conventional 13-megapixel, f/2.0 Duo-affair (the front-facer is the same 5-megapixels as before). There's been a swap-out of processors, too. The original's 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core is now a 1.7GHz 615 octa-core (don't let the number of cores fool you). If you were wondering if this is just another way of branding a "mini" phone. It's not. At least on a technicality -- the HTC One M8s has the same 5-inch 1080p display as the phone it shares a design with.

  By James Trew Read More

Social Media (34)

• Secret's out: The rise and fall of the anonymous social app

  Secret, the app that was practically synonymous with the anonymous-app movement, is shutting down. David Byttow, Secret's co-founder and CEO, explained in a Medium post yesterday that the reason for the shuttering is that the app no longer represents the vision he had when he started it in January last year. And if the lackluster activity in my Secret feed of late is any indication, I'm guessing the severe decline in users is a reason too. Its recent design overhaul probably alienated a lot of folks and the departure of co-founder Chrys Bader can't have helped things either.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Instagram dives into curated content with a dedicated music account

  Instagram uses its official account to promote notable snapshots on the social network, and has been doing so for quite some time. But now, the filter-driven app will serve up a daily look at music "around the globe." Through the @music stream, the folks behind the software will highlight music photographers, designers working on album art, instrument makers and fans in addition to current stars and emerging talent. It'll even offer 15-second lessons from time to time. Musicians are a big part of Instagram's user base, where artists can share updates and connect with fans, so it makes sense that the subject would get its own channel. In fact, BuzzFeed reports that around 25 percent of the app's 300 million accounts belong to those folks.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Twitter has over 300 million users, but is still losing money

  In the fast-moving world of social media, Twitter can be considered something of an old-timer; after all, it just turned nine years old this past March. Yet, in many ways, it's still struggling to find itself. Twitter has just reported its first quarter earnings report -- which was incidentally published early due to an unintentional leak -- and while it shows respectable user growth numbers, the company is still very much under water. The social media firm now boasts 302 million users, which is up 18 percent from this time last year and is a good 14 million increase from the previous quarter. Revenue for Q1 was $436 million, which is a decent 74 percent increase year-over-year, but is still below the $440 million forecast. And yes, the company is still not profitable, recording a net loss of $162 million for the first three months of 2015.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Instagram debuts three new filters and emoji hashtags

  The five new filters that Instagram released back in December have reportedly been such a hit with users, the company has unveiled three more retouching options: Lark, Reyes and Juno. According to Instagram's blog, Lark softens reds in favor of blue and green hues to highlight landscape shots while Reyes washes out the image as a whole to create a weathered and vintage feel. The Juno filter is geared more for portraits. It boosts warm tones and whites while adding a slight green tint to cooler colors.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Facebook brings video calling to Messenger

  Facebook is no stranger to video chat, but it's been keeping a low profile as of late. Well, it's no longer content to sit on the sidelines while Skype and Hangouts steal the show -- the company has just introduced video calling in Messenger. Whether you're using Android or iOS, you only need to tap a single button in an existing conversation to start a face-to-face session. The feature is available today in 18 countries (including the UK and the US), so give it a shot if you're a Facebook fan and would rather not fire up another app just to see who you're talking to.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Snapchat hires a top CNN reporter to oversee its news

  Snapchat just showed how serious it is about turning its mobile video messaging service into your news hub. The company has hired Peter Hamby, one of CNN's best political reporters, to oversee its news efforts. He'll still contribute to the TV network through 2016, but his top priority will be the internet startup. As to what Hamby will actually do in his new job? He's not spilling the beans, but his interest in Snapchat's live stories suggests that you'll see more on-the-ground coverage of unfolding events. You may well find yourself using a single app to both catch up on the day's happenings and share gossip with your friends.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Twitter Highlights serves up the day's best tweets

  Unless you're constantly checking Twitter, there's a very good chance you're going to miss something cool. To help keep you from missing those very important tweets, Twitter introduced Highlights for Android. The feature notifies you up to twice a day about tweets Twitter believes are relevant to your interests. Twitter curates Highlights by looking at the popular accounts and conversations among the people you follow, tweets from people close to you and what's trending nearby. Users can also see the day's important tweets by tapping the new icon above the timeline that resembles two stacked cards. To turn on Highlights, navigate to Settings>Account Handle>Mobile Notifications and check the Highlights box. The feature is Android only for now, but Twitter says it will consider bringing it to other platforms in the future.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Facebook Hello shows who's calling your Android phone

  As helpful as it is, caller ID doesn't really tell you everything about who's ringing your phone or why. Is it an acquaintance? A best friend's birthday? Or a robocaller? Facebook might have a better solution. It's rolling out Hello, the previously leaked Android caller ID app. The software shows all the Facebook information that a caller is willing to share, whether it's public or between friends -- you may know who someone works for even if it's the first time you're speaking together. You can also find out how many times a number has been blocked, automatically block the worst offenders and search for people or places. Facebook is only offering Hello in Brazil, Nigeria and the US right now, but it won't be surprising if the app spreads elsewhere before long.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Make sense of your Instagram followers with SocialRank

  Use a social network like Instagram long enough and you'll inevitably amass a slew of followers -- but what do you actually know about them? If you're relying on mere follower counts, probably not much. That's something the social media analytics company SocialRank is hoping to solve. Following the launch of a free Twitter analytics tool a year ago, the company is today setting its sights on Instagram. After logging in with your Instagram account, SocialRank builds a custom report that lets you do things like sort your followers based on how socially engaged they are, or search their profiles for specific keywords. Not everyone needs to see a statistical breakdown of their followers, but if you're a struggling artist trying to connect with people in your industry, or a parent wondering who exactly is interacting with your kid, SocialRank's tools could be supremely useful.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Vine makes it easier to share videos everywhere at once

  So you've discovered a catchy Vine video that you know your friends will instantly appreciate, but they're scattered across multiple social networks. Will you have to sit there diligently tapping the share button over and over again to make sure everyone sees it? Not after today. Vine has updated its iOS app (Android is coming soon) with a revamped sharing feature that posts those six-second clips on multiple services in one shot. All you have to do to spread the word is mark the social networks you want to include (such as Tumblr, a new addition) and hit the share button. There's still no Instagram option, to no one's surprise, but this could otherwise save you a lot of effort.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Facebook tweaks its News Feed to show you more from your friends

  If you're like me, your News Feed on Facebook is filled with just as much content from brands as it is updates about your classmate's vacation. Based on feedback, the folks in Menlo Park are changing the way it handles updates from your pals. Posts made directly by your friends will now display closer to the top of the News Feed -- things like status updates, pictures, videos and more. Thankfully, you'll also see less of the notifications about a friend liking or commenting on another post, too. Facebook is relaxing the rule that prevented you from seeing multiple items in a row from the same person as well, so if you're after more from people and not companies, you should start seeing an increase in those posts soon. The social network announced an effort to cut down on the number of hoaxes in your feed earlier a couple months ago, so the next round of tweaks can't be far off.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• WhatsApp's voice calls arrive on iOS

  When its calling feature hit Android gadgets a couple weeks ago, WhatsApp founder Brian Acton said the tool would make its way to iOS soon enough. Well, today's the day. WhatsApp calling is rolling out to folks wielding Apple devices, allowing you to chat with friends and family around the world. If you'll recall, the feature uses WiFi rather than a data connection, so you won't have to worry about international rate hikes. While the new version of the app is already available at iTunes, the release notes warn that the calling feature is rolling out slowly, so it may not be available for you immediately.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Twitter's broader abuse powers let it filter hostile tweets

  Twitter knows that it's not enough just to make it easier to report abusive tweets. You have to catch and discourage that abuse as often as possible, too. Appropriately, the social network is rolling out a broader abuse policy alongside tools that help it stop harassment quickly. The new rules now cover all promotions of violence against someone, not just "direct, specific" threats -- Twitter can crack down on more than the most serious attacks. That's particularly important for victims of systematic abuse, who frequently chastise Twitter for being soft on people who clearly wish harm but aren't explicit about it.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• You can get Twitter DMs from anyone (if you want)

  If you're feeling brave, Twitter is (once again) letting you receive direct messages (DMs) from any old person. As before, you'll have to opt-in by ticking a box in the settings -- but once you do, even folks who don't follow you can send you a note. On top of that, you can now reply to anyone who DMs you, even if they're not a follower. That's a big change from the status quo -- previously, you've only been able to receive messages from people you follow, and send them to those who follow you. To drive home the point, Twitter put a Direct Message button front and center on your contact page for its iPhone and Android apps.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Daily Roundup: Social media at Coachella, new 'Star Wars' droid in real life and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, find out what it was like to try and document the Coachella music festival from a variety of social media accounts, see a drone from the new Star Wars movie in real life and get all the details on Microsoft apps getting bundled with Cyanogen on Android devices. Read these stories and more below.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Instagram updates guidelines on nudity and harassment

  If you've been using Instagram to post photos of your butt, it's time to stop. Today the social network updated its Community Guidelines with stronger language concerning harassment and more details on images with nudity. The "don't be rude" section of the guidelines has been completely revamped with more definitive rules that state, "it's never OK to encourage violence or attack anyone based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disabilities, or diseases." On the nudity front, bare buttocks, genitals, "some photos of female nipples" and intercourse are a no-go for posts, but images of breastfeeding and mastectomy scarring are allowed.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Meerkat looks to Android for a chance at beating Periscope

  Can an Android launch save Meerkat? SXSW must seem like a long time ago for the folks behind the livestreaming app that took Austin by storm back in March. It was just a few weeks later that Twitter launched Periscope, which, thanks to the social network's clout and a better user experience, has quickly become the streaming app of choice. Right now both services are iOS only, though, and Meerkat is hoping to hook the hundreds of millions of Android users on its app with a public beta launch.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Charity ads subvert Facebook to highlight the UK's lonely elderly

  If you live in the UK, you've probably seen Facebook's new "Friends" ads on TV or the London Underground. They're refreshingly simple and focus on what the goliath social network was originally designed for -- staying connected with the people that matter most in our lives. However, soon you might see some new billboard ads, featuring a few subtle but incredibly powerful tweaks: namely, the use of the phrase "No Friends." They were designed by the J. Walter Thompson London communications agency for the charity Age UK, and highlight the loneliness experienced by many older citizens. We suspect more than a few passersby will do a double-take after seeing these, and hopefully they'll raise awareness for an important issue and the organisation trying to tackle it.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Twitter is testing a 'You may also like' tweet discovery feature

  From a "Suggested users" list to the MagicRecs push notification feature that recommends accounts and tweets, Twitter is constantly looking for ways for you to follow more people. Now it appears Twitter is adding yet another discovery method to the list. According to Venturebeat, Twitter has been testing a "You may also like" recommendation box along the right-hand rail of individual tweets. It lists as many as five related tweets it thinks you might like and if you hit "View more," it'll list an additional five below that. The feature is still in testing at the moment and there's no word if it'll actually roll out to the public at large.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Tinder lets you judge a person's Instagram skills before swiping right

  If stellar smartphone photo skills are something you look for in a potential significant other, Tinder's redesigned profiles are ready lend a hand. The dating app now pipes in a collection of your Instagram snapshots right on that profile page -- so there's no longer a need to include that username in your profile details. Tinder only displays the last 34 photos, but if someone just can't get enough of your brunch and puppy pics, they can venture out to the app for a look at the full library. The update also shows Common Connections when you're browsing and a full list of Facebook interests, highlighting any matches. If you haven't been alerted to the new version just yet, it's available on both iOS and Android now.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Foursquare builds a new ad business on your check-ins

  Remember that time you battled a random stranger become the "mayor" of your local coffee shop on Foursquare? Don't worry if you don't, because Foursquare remembers and now it's going to use that data as part of Pinpoint, its new advertising solution. The platform will serve you ads across multiple apps, exchanges and publishers based on where you've been. According to Foursquare, "the places you go are the best indicator of who you are." It's like browser cookies but in the real world. It's also a bit like someone is following you around town to serve ads. In addition to where you've been, the company's Place Attribution Report helps brands determine if their ads succeed in sending you to real-world locations. So when launch partner Wild Turkey Bourbon serves you an ad about its booze and you check into a bar a few days later, everyone will be ecstatic that the system works. Well, everyone but you.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• In Russia, posting celebrity memes can land you in court

  Russian meme lovers have to be extra careful who to show their masterpieces to, because the image macros can apparently get them sued. Roskomnadzor, the country's agency responsible for controlling the internet, media and telecommunications, has recently announced that it's illegal to post memes depicting public figures unrelated to their character or identity. Yes, the agency means celebrity memes, including (okay, more like especially) ones featuring Putin. According to The Washington Post, this isn't exactly a new policy: Roskomnadzor merely "updated" its personal data laws, following a lawsuit filed by Russian singer Valeri Syutkin.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Election 'hashflags' are about to invade your Twitter feed

  If you hadn't noticed, the upcoming general election is kind of a hot topic in the UK right now, but discussion and debates don't just play out on Question Time. Social media is the perfect place to broadcast your political ramblings, and because you can never have enough emoji, Twitter has today launched a set of "hashflags" to spice up election-centric tweets. In the same way national flags popped up alongside country-code hashtags during the most recent footy World Cup, most political parties now have little icons associated with their preferred hashtags (though they're not showing up in Twitter's Android app currently). Like most things political, you can spin it one of two ways. Either they'll bring a welcome a dash of iconography to tweets, or make your feed a distracting, emoji-ridden nightmare.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Twitter wants you to share slow-motion video from your iPhone

  Sharing slow-motion videos from your iPhone can be a real challenge when many apps don't know what to do with them, but Twitter just made it a lot easier. The social network now supports posting and embedding iPhone slow-mo clips, so you don't have to jump through hoops to tweet high-speed footage of your pet. It's a simple feature, but it could mean a lot if you want to show off your more dramatic recordings as quickly as possible.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Periscope makes it easier to view live streams from people you know

  Thanks to Periscope's early fame, one of the major downsides to the live streaming app is that the first thing you saw when you launched it was a slew of streams from strangers all over the world -- strangers that you probably don't care that much about. It was difficult to sort through the mess to find broadcasts from the people you do want to follow. With today's Periscope update, however, that changes. Now when you launch the app, you'll see live and recorded broadcasts from people who are in your social graph (ie. the folks you follow) in a Friends list, while the rest of Periscope's global stream is now in a separate Global tab.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Twitter revamps trends to explain why a topic is popular

  Peeking at what's trending on Twitter ensures you don't miss anything, but sometimes a hashtag's meaning isn't obvious. For those strange-looking acronyms, subjects and unfamiliar names, the 140-character social network tweaked the way its Android and iOS apps handle trends. On the top chart, there are descriptions for each item that not only decodes a hashtag, but explains why the subject is a hot topic. The company nixed the Discover and Activity tabs too, and all the details on what's popular now reside in Search. Unfortunately, the new workflow is only available on mobile in the US for now, but it'll arrive in more locales, and on the desktop, "in the future." Revamped trends follows the recent change to quote retweets so that they don't eat up that valuable character allotment -- both of which make Twitter's own software more attractive.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Facebook Messenger brings fragmented communication to desktops

  Wish you could have the Facebook Messenger experience somewhere other than your mobile device? Pine no more because now it's available on the web (it's a platform now, remember?). As Slashgear notes, it's essentially the app experience but living inside your browser. Simply head over to Messenger.com, sign in with your Facebook account and you're good to go. Folks who've been IM'ng from within Facebook proper will probably welcome the change, but if you're using a standalone client the likes of Adium on Mac or Pidgin on Windows you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Sadly, it doesn't look like one of the mobile version's cooler features -- chat heads -- have made the transition just yet.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Instagram tools help you tweak the colors in your photos

  Instagram isn't slowing down in its bid to give you more control over your pictures. The square photo social network has updated its Android app (iOS is due in a few days) with two new tools that let you fine-tune the color of your shots. The Color tool, as the name implies, gives a tint to the highlights or shadows of your shots -- if a sunset doesn't look as good as it does in real life, you might have a chance to fix it. Fade, meanwhile, softens colors to either take the edge off or give a vintage look to your pics. They're small upgrades, but they could mean a lot if you're the sort who wants to get photos just right before you share them with others. And if these adjustments don't matter, you'll also be happy to hear that Instagram now has post notifications that alerts you when favorite users post something new.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Twitter finally quotes tweets without wasting text

  If you've previously tried to quote tweets in the official Twitter app, you know how painful it was -- all it did was throw quotation marks around the post, giving you little space to add your own color commentary. At last, though, it's working the way it should. Twitter has overhauled its "quote tweet" function so that it simply embeds the post you're quoting. You should not only have more room to type your observations, but preserve the context of the original material (such as images) without resorting to a retweet. Only iPhone and web users will see the new trick right away, but it's "coming soon" to Android.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Judge says you can serve divorce papers through Facebook

  How do you end a marriage to someone who's purposefully avoiding your divorce papers? Try Facebook. A Manhattan Supreme Court judge has ruled that a New York woman can serve her divorce summons by messaging her soon to be ex-husband on Facebook. He'll get the notifications once a week on the social network for three weeks, and it's splitsville if he either acknowledges a message or refuses to respond.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Now only you will know who your Snapchat bestie is

  Used to be that anyone with you in their contacts could see who you've sent the most pictures to simply by looking at your "Best Friends" list. For a service that sells itself by promising privacy, this seemed a glaringly public oversight. That's why Snapchat has replaced the BF list with friend emojis that only you can see on incoming snaps. Each of the six new emoji represent different relationship statuses -- a Gold Heart, for example, means "You're #1 Best Friends" while Sunglasses means that you and the sender share a mutual friend. There's even an NBA Jam-esque "Fire" emoji that activates when you and the sender trade snaps on consecutive days and a "Needs Love" notification in case you haven't snapped a selfie to a bestie in a while. It's interesting to see Snapchat employing the same sorts of behavioral triggers that free-to-play games do, what with the streak rewards and apathy alarms to keep users snapping, for an app that doesn't actually charge for its service.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Snapchat transparency report shows cops don't care about your junk

  Snapchat's spent the better part of the last year doing its best to dispel the notion that it's just an insecure way of letting people see your genitals. It's already started to refashion itself as a media platform and a money wire service, but now the company is introducing transparency reports to show that you can trust it. Unlike others in the tech space, Snapchat didn't wait a full six months before revealing how many requests it received, so this first report only covers the four months between November '14 and February '15.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Tinder's first video ad is here and it's all Bud Light's fault

  "There's a lot of synergies between the Tinder audience and the audience we're looking for," said Bud Light's Director of Marketing to Ad Week. And for that reason it's selecting 1,000 swipe-righters -- although you can also enter through Twitter and Facebook -- to party in their fictional town of Whatever, USA, with presumably ample supplies of one of America's most... unassuming libations. The video will appear to those aged 21 and over (presumably there's no upper limit), like a typical profile within Tinder: you'll then be able to play and pause the video, or jump out to the official site if you're really into digital ad campaigns. (WE ARE!) The company has apparently prepped several video lengths for the ad run, which will likely act a barometer for future advertising inside the app -- even if the beer they're trying to sell you is a definite left-swipe.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Facebook Riff has you making videos with your friends' help

  No, Facebook isn't done experimenting with mobile apps yet -- meet Riff, a just-launched app for Android and iOS that has you building collaborative videos. You start by recording a short clip (under 20 seconds) and giving it a topic. After that, your friends can tack on their own videos based around that theme. For example, you can start a "what I do for a living" compilation to find out what all your friends are working on. There's definitely the potential for pranksters to ruin the whole thing, but Facebook lets you either delete individual clips (if you're the creator) or report a whole video if it's going horribly off-track.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Space (36)

• Jeff Bezos' first proper test rocket has successfully launched

  Elon Musk may be the most famous tech billionaire with an interest in spaceflight, but he's certainly not the only one. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also has a company, Blue Origin, which is doing similar research into reusable craft to get us to-and-from the heavens. The normally secretive outfit has just revealed that its first test vehicle, New Shepard, made arguably its most important, partially successful test flight yesterday. In the experiment, the priapic craft took an (empty) crew capsule to a height of 307,000 feet before releasing it to float gently back to earth.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• NASA's Messenger probe will crash into Mercury at 3:30pm ET today (update: it's done)

  It's been a long and hard road for NASA's Messenger Probe as it studied the surface of Mercury for the last four years. That journey, however, will come to an end today, after NASA announced that the craft will crash land into the planet at around 3:30pm ET today. The vehicle was the first that managed to make it to Mercury, and has been in service for more than a decade -- far longer than administrators had ever expected it to last. In fact, the project was only meant to last for a year, but canny fuel-saving measures managed to quadruple its lifespan.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Out-of-control Russian ISS cargo vessel will plummet back to Earth

  The Russian space agency (Roscosmos) has given up trying to regain control of Progress 59 and the 6,000 pounds of food, water, clothes and equipment on board. It reportedly told TASS, the country's news agency, that it's merely waiting for the vessel to plunge and burn as it reenters the atmosphere anytime from May 5th to 7th. The vehicle was supposed to shuttle all those supplies to the ISS, but it ended up tumbling wildly in the wrong orbit soon after it reached outer space. According to TASS, the engine of the Soyuz rocket that launched the vessel might have been "overworked" due to a control system glitch, causing it to burn overtime and to send the cargo craft into an uncontrollable spin.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NASA's shape-shifting plane wings pass initial flight tests

  After six months and 22 flights at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, NASA has announced the successful completion of testing for its morphing airplane wing design. Known as Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) flight control surfaces, they replace a plane's conventional, rigid flaps with a flexible composite material. Not only are they designed to significantly reduce an aircraft's weight (as well as the noise it generates during flight), these flaps could save the industry millions of dollars annually in fuel savings. In tests, the wing's curve remained set anywhere from -2 to 30 degrees but it can be adjusted as needed, even in midflight. Eventually, flexible wings can make for lighter, more fuel-efficient planes as well as quieter takeoffs and landings.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Russia's latest ISS supply ship is spinning out of control

  The International Space Station has yet another problem on its hands. Russia's Progress 59 supply ship (you're looking at Progress 47 above) appears to have suffered a communications breakdown shortly after entering orbit, and it's been spinning out of control ever since. As you can see in the dizzying video below, it's not about to dock with the ISS any time soon. Ground control had originally hoped that it could get things in order for an April 30th rendezvous, but it's scuttling those plans unless it can rein in this wayward spacecraft. It's safe to say that the station crew would like a recovery as soon as possible. When Progress 59 is carrying 6,000 pounds of food, fuel and other essentials, a significant delay could cause more than a few headaches. [Image credit: NASA]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Secretive space drone used to test futuristic propulsion system

  Ask someone in the street what they know about the Air Force's top-secret space plane and you'll probably wind up getting pinched by the NSA. Nobody can claim to know much about the X-37B, beyond the fact that it's the force's long-term space vehicle, capable of staying in orbit for more than a year at a time. In the run up to the craft's next jaunt around the planet, however, someone has let slip the details of an experiment that it'll be carrying out. According to Spaceflight Now, Air Force officials have revealed that the autonomous drone will be used as the test-bed for a new type of Hall effect thruster.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Scientists spot runaway galaxies

  It's well established that runaway stars and planets are a cosmic reality, but runaway galaxies? Yes, amazingly enough, those exist. Scientists have discovered at least 11 galaxies moving so quickly (up to 6 million miles per hour) that they're escaping the gravitational tug of their host clusters. Most likely, these wayward celestial bodies are the result of three-way interactions -- a small elliptical galaxy tied to a larger counterpart will fly off into space when another big galaxy gets close enough. It could take a long time before astronomers have a better sense of how common stray galaxies might be, but it's already apparent that the universe is messy at its grandest scale. [Image credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hubble turns 25: The past, present and future

  Today, 25 years ago, Hubble finally left Earth aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery after decades of planning and development. Its journey was fraught with problems and delays, but it ultimately rose above it all to bring us groundbreaking scientific discoveries and historic photos of planets, galaxies, nebulae, space dust and more. Hubble didn't only outlive its original 10-year lifespan -- it became the Michael Jordan, the Madonna of telescopes. If you're a movie fan, you've likely seen it on screen at least once. If you're a metalhead, you might have seen at least one of the photos it captured on an album cover. Even people with zero interest in space know its name.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The Big Picture: Ultraviolet strands form this celestial tapestry

  Sometimes you just need to grab 18 miles of fluorescent string, coat it in ultraviolet paint and stretch it along an art installation and hit it with black lights. At least that's what artist Julien Salaud did recently with his "Stellar Cave" series. As My Modern Met observes, the threads are wrapped around nails to create images of animals, humans and other stuff in a way that'd evoke "mythology and mysticism." The exhibits were on display at Israel's Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art and you can check out more images at the links below.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Hubble celebrates its 25th anniversary with space fireworks

  To celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope's quarter century of scientific service, both NASA and the European Space Administration (ESA) have published this stunning photograph of Westerlund 2. At just 2 million years old, this 3,000-star cluster contains some of the biggest, hottest and brightest in the galaxy. The ridges and columns you see above are the result of these stars spewing out massive amounts of ultraviolet radiation that etches into the surrounding hydrogen cloud. You can see more of the Hubble's greatest shots over the last 25 years in the video after the break.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• NASA forms a coalition to look for life on other planets

  NASA knows that it can't rely solely on astronomers and robotic rovers to find life on other worlds, so it's recruiting some help. The space agency has formed the Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS), a coalition of scientists who study astrophysics, Earth, other planets and the Sun. The group will use its collective knowledge to search for alien lifeforms using perspectives that NASA wouldn't always have -- how does the loss of atmospheric chemicals affect the chances for life, for example? NASA hopes that the group will not only determine the habitability of planets, but develop technology to study those planets in greater detail. There's no guarantee that NExSS will discover organisms, let alone organisms that you might see within your lifetime, but the odds of success are now a bit higher. [Image credit: NASA]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Here's how the largest galaxies die

  Like it or not, all galaxies will eventually die. But have you wondered just how they meet their grisly ends? Researchers now have a good idea. They've studied 22 very large elliptical galaxies about 10 billion years old, and have discovered that these celestial bodies die from the inside out. The older they get, the more red giants (that is, dead stars) exist at their centers -- stars keep forming at the periphery up until the galaxy's last moments.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Here's the next rocket that will carry US satellites into space

  You may not be familiar with United Launch Alliance, but it's about to handle a large chunk of US space launches -- and that makes the rocket you see above particularly important. That's Vulcan, ULA's newly unveiled launch system for satellites and similar payloads. The two-stage vehicle is designed to be the "most cost-efficient" rocket of its kind, helped in no small part by new recovery tech (Sensible Modular Autonomous Return Technology, or SMART) that captures the booster main engines in mid-air. Vulcan also eliminates an earlier dependence on Russian powerplants by relying on low-cost, reusable liquid natural gas engines from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. You probably won't be happy with this machine if you're rooting for SpaceX, but it'll be a big deal if its affordable design gets more equipment into orbit and beyond.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Messenger spacecraft to crash into Mercury after studying it for years

  The spacecraft that captured the first photos of ice on Mercury is bidding us all farewell on April 30th. NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (Messenger) spacecraft is almost out of propellant after spending over six-and-a-half years traveling to the planet and four orbiting and studying it. The agency sent Messenger to space aboard a Delta II rocket in 2004 in its quest to know more about the first rock from the sun. It ended up providing evidence that there's ice and organic matter hiding in the planet's craters, as well as data showing that all the ice in Mercury's polar regions would be around two miles thick if spread all over Washington.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Scientists want to blast space debris with frickin' lasers

  To combat the increasingly dense layer of dead satellites and miscellaneous space debris that are enshrouding our planet, no idea -- nets, lassos, even ballistic gas clouds -- seems too far-fetched to avoid. Now, an international team of researchers led by Japan's Riken research institute has put forward what may be the most ambitious plan to date. They propose blasting an estimated 3,000 tons of space junk out of orbit with a fiber optic laser mounted on the International Space Station.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• How will NASA find new galaxies? Glitter

  Space telescopes are great, but they're hardly the cheapest things to build, launch and maintain, which means scientists are forced to make compromises. The solution to this problem isn't to build a better rocket with a bigger carrying capacity, but to rely upon a low tech way to make any party fabulous: glitter. Researchers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory believe that the high-tech equivalent of shreds of foil could be used as a cheap and lightweight alternative to the hefty mirrors you'd find in the Hubble Telescope.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• NASA: nobody's going to Mars without our help

  NASA's top priority is still taking humans to Mars, and it says private companies who want to do the same don't stand a chance without its support. Administrator Charles Bolden told a US House budget committee, "our ultimate focus is the journey to Mars and everything comes back to that," adding that the agency still plans to land there by the 2030s. A manned mission to Mars is crucial because the red planet was likely habitable in the past, and scientists must find out what went wrong to prevent a similar disaster on Earth. Bolden went so far as to say that humans need to "get away from being Earth-reliant... (and) Mars is the planet that is the most like Earth."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Dawn spacecraft captures a sunlit Ceres on cam

  The Dawn spacecraft has recently captured the sharpest pictures of Ceres to date, showing the dwarf planet's bright, sunlit north pole. NASA's space probe has been steadily making its way to the celestial body since 2012 after a 14-month stint orbiting the asteroid Vesta. It fired up its ion thrusters in March to slowly approach the Texas-sized proto-planet and settle into orbit, until it reaches an altitude of 233 miles from the surface. Its ultimate goal? To take 3D images and create a high-res map of Ceres, which might harbor some form of water.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Leaked barge video shows SpaceX rocket landing up close

  Another day, another video angle looking at the almost-landing of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. This time, the video is from the barge itself, although there's no word on exactly how it got from there to a post on Reddit. Whatever its provenance (SpaceX has not commented yet) it certainly appears to be legit and gives us the closest view yet of exactly what happened. According to Kanye West biographer CEO Elon Musk, despite the rocket's explosive ending the "droneship" is fine, with no hull breach and in need of only minor repairs. Enjoy this video, since as we mentioned yesterday, SpaceX may make its next rocket landing attempt on land.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Here's video of SpaceX's rocket landing, and the explosion

  Yesterday SpaceX made another unsuccessful try at landing a Falcon 9 first stage on a barge in the ocean, but the fuzzy Vine clip posted cut off right before things got exciting. Today, the company posted a longer, higher res video but quickly pulled it from YouTube. Now, you can see exactly what happens when one of those 200-foot tall rockets misses the mark. Yesterday CEO Elon Musk said the issue "should be easy to fix", and judging by the video it wasn't far off from success. If you need any more reasons to stay optimistic, SpaceX COO told DefenseNews that the company's next landing attempt may come on land instead of at sea, because of the difficulty in keeping a rocket upright on a moving barge -- as we all can now see. Update: The official video is back, and you can watch it after the break.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Comet lander offers fresh insights about planet formation

  The Philae comet lander might be slumbering, but it can still teach you a thing or two about the nature of celestial bodies. European Space Agency researchers have compared Philae's data against the more distant Rosetta probe, and they've discovered that Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko isn't magnetized. If it's representative of other comets, that suggests that magnetic fields aren't nearly as important in planetary formation as scientists thought -- these clumps of dust are forming simply through collisions, and magnetism only factors in when there's enough material for gravity to take over. It could take a long while before there's stronger proof of that theory, but it's already clear that some previously-held beliefs about comets were off the mark.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Startup launches first 3D-printed battery-powered rocket (update)

  Rocket Lab is a Lockheed Martin-funded startup that dreams of taking small satellites to space for an affordable price -- but it wants to do so using technology quite different than usual. See, the company has revealed that its engine called the "Rutherford" is (1) composed mostly of 3D-printed parts, and (2) uses batteries instead of liquid fuel. It will be paired up with the company's Electron launch system, and together they make up the first battery-powered rocket, or so the startup claims. Its batteries power the turbopumps that deliver propellant to the engine.*

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• SpaceX rocket launched successfully, landed 'too hard for survival'

  Today SpaceX successfully launched its latest mission to the International Space Station, but couldn't reach its goal of safely landing the rocket's first stage on a barge. According to CEO Elon Musk, while the ascent was successful, the "Rocket landed on droneship, but too hard for survival." There's no video of the landing attempt yet, but hopefully soon we'll be able to see how close it came. This outcome isn't entirely unexpected, as Musk tweeted yesterday that the chance of a successful landing by the end of the year stands at 80 percent only because the company has so many launches planned. NASA video replaying the launch is embedded after the break. Update 3: The video is here, watch the full landing -- and explosion now.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• NASA demos incredibly agile, remote-controlled EV

  When we talk about the cars of the future, we're normally bandying around names like Google and Tesla. NASA's engineers at the Johnson Space Center might have just trumped those other names after unveiling its new Modular Robotic Vehicle prototype. While it may look like the world's dullest golf cart, the MRV is actually a futuristic EV that could serve as the test bed for future rovers, amongst other things.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Scientists create dark matter 'map' to see invisible space

  We've finally gotten our first glimpse at the mysterious material that supposedly makes up 27 percent of the universe. It's only taken two years of research, the efforts of 300 researchers working for the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and a 570-megapixel camera attached to the Victor Blanco telescope in Chile to do so. Their findings, in the form of a map, are expected to be released at a meeting of the American Physical Society tomorrow. Well, "map" is a bit of a misnomer dark energy can only be observed indirectly, through the lensing effect that it has on stars and galaxies.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• SpaceX's next try at landing a reusable rocket is minutes away (update: take 2)

  In January, Elon Musk's SpaceX came close to a controlled landing of one of its rockets after a quick trip to space, before things took a fiery, explosive turn for the worst. Today, assuming all goes well and those X wing fins remain powered, it will try again. A launch scheduled for 4:33PM ET will send supplies to the International Space Station as a part of the CRS-6 mission, before the Falcon 9's first stage will try to land itself on a barge in the ocean. Creating rockets that can used again could help cut the cost of sending stuff to space, so there's a lot at stake beyond just looking cool in its Grasshopper demos. The launch will be webcast live starting at 4:15PM (the video feed is embedded after the break) although we'll have to wait a bit longer to see if the landing is successful. Update: No launch today due to weather (Elon Musk tweeted it's "due to lighting from an approaching anvil cloud"). The next launch attempt is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:10PM ET. Update (4/14): The next launch attempt is about to take place, with SpaceX calling the weather "60% for a go." As we saw yesterday, lightning and clouds can derail things quickly, but take a peek after the break for the live stream, which is scheduled to begin at 3:50PM ET. Update 2 (4/14 4:27PM): The CRS-6 mission has successfully launched. By now the first stage should have returned to Earth, but there's no live feed from the barge to know if it was successful or not. Once we hear word if it's landed we will update to let you know. Update 3 (4/14 4:45PM): Still no video, but the word is in from Elon Musk -- the rocket landed too hard for survival.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Supernovae suggest the universe is growing slower than expected

  Don't look now, but what you know about the universe's growth might have been turned on its ear. University of Arizona scientists have learned that a certain type of supernova (Ia) isn't the reliable measuring stick for universe expansion that previous data would suggest. By comparing optical and ultraviolet images (such as in the hybrid image you see above), they found that older, farther exploding stars aren't behaving in the same way as newer ones closer to our own star. In other words, the ancient supernovae aren't necessarily as distant as you'd think -- and if they aren't, the universe isn't growing as quickly as textbooks say.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Incredible GoPro footage shows what it's like to spacewalk

  Leaving the cozy confines of Earth's atmosphere for life aboard the ISS is an exceedingly rare experience reserved for just a handful of astronauts. But thanks to NASA and GoPro, now you can share in the breathtaking views/sheer terror that astronaut Terry Virts enjoyed during a recent hour-long spacewalk. In the video below, Virts attaches the action camera to his space suit prior to beginning an EVA (or "Extravehicular Activity" as spacewalks are officially called). Viewers are treated to an unprecedented view of the ISS's underbelly as Virts adapts its docking station for use with a new generation of commercial spacecraft rather than the retired space shuttle.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• New telescope will be a high-resolution window to the universe

  That 3D rendering up there is a new telescope from the National Science Foundation that promises to solve the mysteries of the universe -- or at least take some truly big pictures. Fitted with a 3,200 megapixel camera, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will be the largest digital camera in the world. Once operational, it will scan the entire night sky a few times a week for ten years and is expected to provide scientists unprecedented access to previously inscrutable parts of the cosmos. The camera will literally shed light on dark energy that is believed to accelerate the expansion of the universe, but has long evaded definitive probes. Apart from capturing images of exploding supernovae at an unfathomable distance, it can detect and track asteroids in our planet's vicinity.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• SpaceX's 4K rocket footage is a great excuse for an upgrade

  Not sure if you need a new high-res display? The 4K footage SpaceX just posted of its rocket launches might be enough to push any reasonable person over the line. It's on YouTube, predictably, and even if your connection or hardware is merely HD-ready it's still an incredible experience. It's embedded after the break -- press play, expand to full screen and enjoy.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• The building blocks of life found orbiting another star

  Looks like NASA's Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan may have over-estimated how long it would take to find extraterrestrial organisms. For the first time in the history of astronomy, scientists have discovered two complex organic molecules, which is vital to the formation of life as we know it, outside of our solar system. Researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts actually found three forms of cyanide -- specifically hydrogen cyanide (HCN), methyl cyanide (CH3CN), and cyanoacetylene (HC3N) -- circling a star known as MWC 480. These are the same sorts of chemicals (and in the same concentrations!) that were present in comets orbiting our own solar system back when life here got its start. And while cyanide is super-duper toxic to living organisms, it's absolutely necessary for life's formation. In short, this discovery is a huge deal because it means that the seeds of life aren't confined to Sol alone.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• NASA thinks we'll find signs of extraterrestrial life in 20 years

  The quest to find proof of life beyond Earth hasn't been without its setbacks, but NASA isn't deterred. If anything, it's optimistic -- Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan now claims that there will be "definitive evidence" of extraterrestrial life within the next 10 to 20 years. Given the sheer number of oceans within just our solar system, she argues, it's "not an if, it's a when." The more pressing questions are what kind of life we'll find, and how we'll find it. It'll most likely involve a probe or rover detecting microscopic organisms rather than a close encounter of the third kind, so there probably won't be much drama involved. Still, the very fact that we could find alien species within our lifetimes is exciting. [Image credit: Lynette Cook, NASA]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• NASA needs lightweight spacecraft materials to explore the universe

  While NASA has been able to go where it wants using existing materials for spacecraft, lightweight ones will enable the agency to explore more places in our solar system and beyond. That's why NASA is now investing in the development of ultra-lightweight (ULW) materials that could reduce a spacecraft's mass by up to 40 percent. That will allow the agency to save on fuel and carry more payload -- or people, in the case of manned missions -- if necessary. In its quest to find light but strong materials, NASA has chosen three proposals from American companies listed below the fold.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Jeff Bezos' spaceship is set to lift off later this year

  With the recent completion of its BE-3 engine, the New Shepard space capsule from Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin LLC is almost ready for liftoff, the company's president told reporters on Tuesday. "The engine is ready for flight...and ready for other commercial users," Blue Origins president Rob Meyerson said. The New Shepard is designed to carry three passengers and cargo on suborbital spaceflights. This could include deliveries to the International Space Station or using just the motor itself to launch satellites into orbit.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Arduino-powered turntable plays the phases of the moon

  This device created by student designers Yingjie Bei and Yifan Hu only looks like an artsy turntable, but it can't play your vinyl collection. Here's what it can do, though: show you the right moon phase for any particular day. When you input the date you want through its three knobs, the Arduino board inside it uses a programming language called Processing to do computations and identify the correct phase. After that's done, the Arduino moves the device's motors, which in turn move the flashlight. It then shines light upon a miniature cement moon, which shows the phase for the day from the operator's POV. If you think it sounds like a fun little project for your home planetarium, check out Bei's website, where you can see early sketches and in-progress pictures for more info. [Image credit: Brady Bel]

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• How ion thruster technology will power future NASA missions

  For its crazy 2020 asteroid capture mission and other projects, NASA is developing next-gen "Hall effect thrusters" to corral an asteroid and put it into the moon's orbit. At the same time, the European Space Agency (ESA) is trying to improve its own Hall thrusters to power future missions. If you're wondering what the heck they are, Hall effect motors are a type of ion thruster that produce a tiny 0.7 pounds of force, or the weight of 54 US quarters, according to NASA. However, they're much more efficient than standard rockets, and if run long enough, can power a spaceship to speeds as high as 112,000 mph. So how do they actually work?

  By Steve Dent Read More

Sports (1)

• One of eSports' biggest stars retires with repetitive strain injury

  If you're into eSports, then it's highly likely that you would have heard of Hai Lam. He's best known as the Mid Laner and captain of Cloud9, which is regarded as the best US eSports team for the popular online multiplayer game League of Legends. Nonetheless, just less than a week after his team finished second in the North American Championship Series, Cloud9's shotcaller has announced he's getting out of the game. Like football players are forced to retire when their knees give out, a persistent wrist injury means Lam can no longer mix it with other A-list players on the big stage.

  By Matt Brian Read More

Streaming (57)

• The former head of Intel's internet TV project winds up at Vevo

  Back in the day, there was a hope that OnCue, Intel's long-mooted internet TV service, would be the ultimate cord-cutter product, but a lack of support from both inside and outside the company killed it. It didn't take long after the project's assets were sold to Verizon for its charismatic leader, Erik Huggers, to skip out in search of pastures new. Now, Bloomberg is reporting that the executive is about to become the new head of music video network Vevo. According to sources, the music video outfit is banking on Huggers to turn the business into more than just a subset of YouTube where teens can find Taylor Swift videos.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Netflix and Ellen are making a 'Green Eggs and Ham' TV show

  Hulu picked up Seinfeld, and now Netflix is working on a new show with Ellen DeGeneres -- but it's not a mid-90s sitcom at all. The two will create a 13-episode series based on the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham that's due to arrive in 2018, aimed at kids around the world. According to Deadline, the writer behind the project is Jared Stern, who wrote Wreck-It Ralph, and has been trying to make a show based on the book for years. Also, the report claims this is supposed to be the "most expensive" animated show ever created for television. Ellen seems excited about it in her video announcement (included after the break, but I think if there's a high-budget Game of Thrones-rivaling Dr. Seuss adaptation in the works, then The Butter Battle Book might have been a better choice.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Hulu's the exclusive online home of 'Seinfeld' and 'Fear the Walking Dead'

  It may be a fraction of Netflix's size, but Hulu is no small fry when it comes to the online video business. At an advertising conference in New York, the company has revealed that it has won the exclusive streaming rights to Seinfeld. It's a big deal for the outfit, since Sony had reportedly offered the series to every online media company, including Netflix, but all had balked at a reported cost of between $700,000 and $1 million per episode. If those figures are close to being true, and Hulu is staying tight-lipped, then the site will have paid out anything between $130 and $180 million just for the show about nothing.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Movie streaming service Popcorn Time blocked by UK court

  Popcorn Time has painted a rather large target on its back with its movie-streaming service. Due to its questionable legality, movie studios have sought to block the service, but a shift to Bittorrent-based distribution has allowed it to continue operating while Hollywood scrambles a response. One place the studios have been able to deal a blow, however, is in the UK, where they've managed to restrict access to the original Popcorn Time client.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Hulu reportedly lands 'Seinfeld' streaming rights

  According to a report by Variety, tomorrow Hulu will announce that it has won the bidding war for streaming rights to the Seinfeld series. The deal is said to be worth nearly $1 million per episode (a WSJ rumor puts the figure at about $700k per ep), adding up to some $180 million or so, enough to bring the complete series to a streaming service for the first time. According to the earlier rumors Amazon and Yahoo were also in the running for the series, although streaming giant Netflix had dropped out, apparently deciding to focus on original shows and its deal for the Friends series. The deal should be announced tomorrow during Hulu's "Upfront" presentation -- we'll be watching for more info on its Cablevision deal -- for advertisers and the media, scheduled to start at 8:30AM.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Time Warner Cable's Xbox One app now streams live TV

  Time Warner Cable's Xbox One app, TWC TV, just became much, much more useful. The company has added live streaming for up to 300 channels, so you don't have to miss out on a show when you're at a friend's place or can't hook up cable in your gaming den. There are still 8,000 free and subscription-based on-demand shows, too, so you'll usually have something to watch. Grab the free app today if you're hoping to get a little more mileage out of your TV package.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Cablevision is the first cable company to sell Hulu, but how?

  Cablevision was already the first provider to start pushing HBO Now for its internet subscribers, and today it's announcing a deal with Hulu. The two have reached an agreement to bring Hulu's VOD catalog to Optimum customers, but exactly what that means is unclear. Unlike the HBO announcement, this news isn't specifically targeted at internet customers, and according to reps, details on pricing and availability will come later. We don't know if Hulu's content will be coming to cable boxes, or if the subscription Hulu Plus service will just be available as an add-on bundle for TV and/or internet subscribers. Tim Connoly, SVP of distribution at Hulu said in the press release "Even with the rapid growth in streaming, there is a huge audience that consumes television through their cable provider, and we want to be there for them too."

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• YouTube's making 'TV' series and movies with its most popular creators

  For many people, Netflix, Amazon Prime and those pirates episodes of Game of Thrones have all but replaced TV. YouTube's another big draw for "cord cutting millennials," but since its videos are all user-submitted, it's almost powerless to stop its stars being poached by TV networks and movie studios. For instance, Fred: The Movie was a flop, but YouTube must have been terrified to see one of its biggest stars wander off so easily. That's why the site is now setting up TV-style production deals with some of its most popular creators, as well as entering movie production partnership with AwesomenessTV.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Sainsbury's oft-forgotten streaming service comes to Chromecast

  Supermarkets can now insure your car, offer broadband and mobile services and, on the odd occasion, actually sell you food. In recent years, some of these grocers have expanded into streaming, launching online video, music and book services to supplement their DVD, CD and paperback sales. Not long after Tesco divested itself of all of its Blinkbox services in an attempt to battle back from its £6 billion yearly loss, grocery rival Sainsbury's is doing more to remind people that it too is in the streaming game. Today, the company has announced that its movie and TV streaming apps have gained Chromecast support, finally bringing it in line with bigger rivals like Netflix and Now TV.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Spotify streaming comes to Polk Omni wireless speakers

  Ever since Spotify announced Connect, a feature that lets you easily play music on various compatible devices, manufacturers quickly started taking advantage of it. Now, following in the footsteps of Libratone, Bang & Olufsen, Samsung and many other audio makers, Polk is finally bringing Spotify Connect support to its line of Omni wireless speakers. If you own of these, you'll have to use the companion iOS or Android app to start the jams from your mobile device. Unfortunately, Polk's only letting users stream to a single Play-Fi speaker at the moment, but the company says that multi-room streaming is coming soon to the Omni sets.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• NBC's live sports streaming comes to Apple TV and Roku players

  You have more than a few ways to watch live sports on Apple TV and Roku boxes, but there are still a few gaps. What if you want to catch lots of golf tournaments? If you live in the US, you won't have to worry quite so much. NBC Sports has launched versions of its Live Extra app for both media hubs, making sure that you won't miss out on the Golf Channel, the Olympics, Sunday Night Football and some internet-only events, such as certain Premier League matches. You'll still need a qualifying TV subscription to watch in the first place, but this beats missing out on some big-screen sports simply because you're visiting friends.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Jay Z says his Tidal music service is doing just fine, thank you

  Jay Z re-launched Tidal with a lot of fanfare, but how well is his artist-owned streaming service doing so far? Just fine, if you ask the man himself. As part of a flurry of Twitter posts, Mr. Carter revealed that Tidal has "over 770,000" subscribers to date. He also scoffs at the idea that Tidal is solely about pampering wealthy artists who want a larger cut -- the rapper argues that Tidal's $60 million in equity value pales in comparison to the billions in musical net worth at rivals like iTunes and Spotify. Every artist on Tidal gets a 75 percent royalty rate, Jay Z says, not just those with a direct stake.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'X Files' goes HD on Netflix ahead of new episodes

  Been itching to prep for The X Files' return by binge-watching the series from the beginning? Given that Netflix has just flipped the switch on an HD upgrade of the first season, that's gotten a little easier on the eyes. As Bloody Disgusting reports, the first 13 episodes are streaming in high-res and widescreen and they look good. Whether or not the rest of the show's run will get a similar upgrade is anyone's guess at this point, but there are at least a few people who'd appreciate that sort of thing. It's worth noting that this isn't the first time the show's appeared in HD (Germany's had it for a bit), but nothing of the sort's hit stateside until now.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Cablevision offers 'Cord Cutter' packages with optional HBO Now

  It looks like Cablevision is covering all of its bases. Today the company announced "Cord Cutter" packages that include a free digital antenna and access to its Optimum WiFi network. Additionally, Cablevision is offering the option of adding HBO Now to the service, making it the first ever cable provider to do so. With pay-TV losing customers to streaming services, it makes sense for these companies to offer broadband-only packages. In a statement, CEO Kristin Dolan, said: "Our new 'cord cutter' packages take a modern approach to traditional triple-product bundles and provide real alternatives that fit new consumer lifestyles."

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Hulu's Turner deal gives it Adventure Time, Venture Bros. and more

  Hulu is about to be your go-to destination to catch up on the adventures of the Venture Bros. and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The streaming service announced a deal with Turner Broadcasting that adds Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, TBS and TNT titles to its library on May 1. The animation-heavy agreement brings Adventure Time, Dexter's Laboratory, Robot Chicken, Black Jesus, NTSF:SD:SUV and other shows from Cartoon Network. TNT dramas The Last Ship and Murder in the First will eventually be followed by additional shows from TNT and TBS. Kid-friendly Cartoon Network shows will be available ad-free in the Hulu Kids section. The service recently secured ratings juggernaut CSI and animated series South Park to help it compete against Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Will Tidal's artist exclusives ruin streaming music?

  Tidal, the Jay Z-led music-streaming service, recently relaunched at the end of March with a roster of high-profile celebrity backers, like Madonna, Rihanna and Kanye West. The event was much more than an obvious photo-opp; it was a statement: In addition to a ceremonial pact signing, the group of over a dozen artists pledged to tackle fair compensation and improve the current state of streaming affairs for consumers and musicians. Part of this strategy involves offering content exclusive to Tidal. And while extra content is nice, it becomes worrisome when the exclusive bits take the form of much-anticipated full album releases. That seems to be Tidal's plan to lure and retain subscribers. It's a business plan that could very well kill the streaming-music vibe for everyone, especially when we've become used to an all-you-can-stream listening habit.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• BBC Three's online switch delayed until next year

  BBC Three's transition from a traditional channel to an online-only property, with new media playing a key role in its evolution, ain't happening any time this year. The channel was set to be switched off this autumn, but its execution has now been pushed until "after Christmas" while the BBC Trust considers its position. The regulator effectively has the power to approve or deny the move, with a definitive answer expected in June.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Plusnet's jumping on the YouView bandwagon with its own TV service

  In recent times, many of the UK's biggest broadband and TV providers have sought to head off competition by expanding into new markets. Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Sky are betting on mobile, while others are rushing to augment their offerings by diving into TV. Plusnet, which has made a name for itself as a reliable low-cost ISP, is one of these companies. After first trialling a YouView-powered set-top box with employees, then opening a small customer trial, the provider says it will begin offering a new TV bundle to all of its Unlimited Fibre customers.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Tidal Discovery will allow independent artists to upload directly

  While Tidal didn't have too much to say about independent artists during its relaunch a couple weeks ago, the company is lending a hand now. In an interview with Smashd, Tidal's Chief Information Officer Vania Schlogel discussed the upcoming Discovery feature for the service -- the ability for indie acts to upload music directly. Why is this a big deal? Well, for the likes of Spotify, those musicians have to go through a third-party service like CD Baby or TuneCore to get their music in the apps. Since record labels typically handle licensing deals with subscription services, if you're unsigned, you have to find another middleman. What's more, all artists will have access to Tidal's dashboard, where they can see exactly who's listening to their music and get contact info for each person. That's how Jay Z and Jack White were able to offer those thank-you calls last week.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Netflix wants to own its original shows

  Despite all the "Netflix original" branding plastered over shows like House of Cards, it's not technically Netflix's content. That's a big reason why you've had access to some of it through TV providers, and even Amazon. The streaming giant plans to change that shortly, though. Netflix's Reed Hastings tells Bloomberg that his company will soon be "taking on ownership and production" for original programming. The move will expose Netflix to more risk if there's a flop, but it'll give the service much more control over where its content is available (hint: probably not at Amazon). And if Netflix does license anything, it'll get a proper cut of the action.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Fox Sports and NBC come out against Verizon's custom TV plans

  Not long after ESPN voiced its objection to Verizon's customizable FiOS TV packages, Fox Sports and NBC are following suit. Earlier today, both networks revealed they are also not on board with Verizon's new TV plans, which let customers pick channels based on their viewing preferences, citing a violation of contract agreements by the New York-based service provider. In a statement to Bloomberg Business, Fox Sports stated, "We reject Verizon's view that it can pursue the new packaging scheme it announced yet still comply with our agreements," while NBC claims that the Custom TV package does not meet the current programming terms between the two companies.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• 'Full House' revival is official, will arrive on Netflix in 2016

  Whatever happened to predictability? Well, if you had paid attention to the rumors surrounding Netflix's upcoming roster of shows, you'd have seen this recent news coming from everywhere you look. Yep, that Full House sequel we heard about earlier this month wasn't an April Fool's joke, and yes, it will actually be called Fuller House (No, really). John Stamos AKA Uncle Jesse confirmed the news on Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live, revealing that he's also slated to be the show's producer plus occasional guest star.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Jay Z is calling Tidal users to personally thank them for signing up

  In addition to signing on a roster of big name artists to help lure new subscribers, Jay Z is handling some of the customer service duties as well. Mr. Carter is calling folks who signed up for Tidal's music streaming service to personally thank them. It sounds odd, but the company confirmed to us "that's 1000% true." He's not the only one, though, as Tidal executive Vania Schloge told Business Insider that Jack White and others are calling subscribers, too. Using one of the services' features, artists can log in and see exactly who is listening to their music alongside contact info for those people. It's certainly a personal approach, but one can wonder if that star-packed relaunch didn't provide the boost in new subscriptions the company hoped. The company also announced today that it replaced CEO Andy Chen with Peter Tonstad, who was in charge before Mr. Carter & Co. took ownership. Of course, being a part owner of the project is certainly motivation to get more involved. I just wonder if Jay Z used a video phone. [Image credit: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Spotify ads cater to the mood of your music

  Targeted advertising isn't a new concept, and Spotify is looking to examine your playlist habits before serving up those messages. The streaming service offers a library of curated mixes based on genre and mood, and eager advertisers can now leverage a listener's state of mind to sell their products. Playlist Targeting is the official name of the feature, with collections of tracks for Chill, Party, Workout, Romance, Sleep and more providing the opportunity for brands to woo would-be customers. Spotify says 41 of its top 100 playlists are context related (like the mood options), and users spend an average of nearly 2.5 hours listening a day. That's a lot of time for Trojan ads during the Bedroom Jams playlist.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Tidal offers easy playlist transfers to lure new users

  It's no secret that Tidal has an uphill climb ahead of it before catching up with the likes of Spotify. That's not stopping Jay Z & Co. from doing their best to get you to switch, with the promise of exclusive content and more. Today, Tidal announced yet another attempt to lure you from your current service: easy playlist transfers. Thanks to a partnership with Soundiiz, you can bring over saved playlists from Deezer, Rdio, Spotify, Xbox Music and more. It'll even handle those collections you've built with files you own. It sounds pretty simple, too. Select the services where you've saved the curated lists, and then a drag and drop interface allows you to place them with the new choice. Of course, you'll still have to hand over $10/month for the Premium option or $20/month for the HiFi tier. [Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images For Roc Nation]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• You can now listen to the 'Game of Thrones' audiobooks on Scribd

  At this point, it's almost illegal if you don't describe Scribd as the Netflix of reading, which has just signed a new audiobook deal with Penguin Random House. The agreement gives the service access to 9,000 of the super publisher's library, including blockbuster titles like the Game of Thro... A Song of Ice and Fire series. If your inner goddess prefers something more sensual, however, you can enjoy Fifty Shades of Grey on a train before jumping on transport-based thriller Girl on the Train. The titles are available to everyone who pays the $8.99 monthly fee, but we should warn you that it's not likely that you'll finish all of George R.R. Martin's books before the fifth season of Game of Thrones ends.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Netflix will roll out a new look for its TV apps later this year

  This quarter's Netflix earnings report is especially interesting because it's the first one since HBO's online-only Now service launched, so investors and other looking to see how it responds to direct competition. The streaming company just announced that it not only added nearly five million subscribers in the last three months, but it has a new UI coming for its TV apps in the second half of this year. It's described as bringing video playback "forward" into the browsing experience, but there's not much more detail available and Netflix isn't talking yet. We're wondering if Netflix could start pushing live streaming channels like traditional TV, or just video previews that start playing even before you choose what to watch. At CES in January, director of corporate communications and technology Cliff Edwards told us that it's looking to put internet TV on the same footing as cable, and a new way of using its apps could do a lot to help that. As usual, Netflix will broadcast its earnings call live on YouTube at 6PM ET, and the video is embedded below. If there's any news from there, we'll update the post and let you know.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Netflix is producing a 4K follow-up to 'Planet Earth'

  Couldn't get enough of Planet Earth's wide-ranging exploration of nature? We have good news. Netflix is producing a spiritual sequel, Our Planet, with the help of both Silverback Films (which made the original BBC show) and the World Wildlife Fund. The eight-episode series will reportedly venture into "never-before-filmed" corners of the globe, with everything shot in 4K -- just like Planet Earth, the new production will serve as a good showcase for your TV. You'll have to be patient, however. Our Planet isn't expected to debut until 2019, so you'll want to find some other nature documentaries to tide you over.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Netflix adds descriptive audio tracks after Daredevil snafu

  Netflix hit a nerve last weekend when its new series Daredevil, which follows the sightless crimefighter's early rise, premiered without a descriptive audio track for blind viewers. As The Mary Sue reports, that irony did not sit well with viewers, many of whom took to Twitter or Change.org to voice their displeasure. In response, Netflix has announced that, starting today, Daredevil will feature an additional descriptive track selectable from the language options menu. The timing of the announcement does seem a bit convenient to say the least. Still, the streaming service will also be adding the tracks to other series including House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Marco Polo, which also prominently stars Tom Wu as blind martial arts prodigy "Hundred Eyes", in the coming weeks. At least it didn't require a lawsuit to bring Netflix around this time.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Dish makes it easy to watch Netflix in every room

  Netflix became available on Dish set-top boxes back in December of last year. Now, as a way to make the experience better for subscribers, the satellite provider is improving the integration between its platform and the video-streaming service. As of today, Dish customers who have a Hopper with Sling and Joey receiver in their home can start watching Netflix content across different rooms. So, say you start an episode of the award-winning House of Cards in your living room, you can pause it and continue enjoying it in your bedroom, seamlessly -- so long as there's a Joey device in there. In addition to that, Dish added Vevo, which lets people check out on-demand music videos, to the growing list of Hopper apps.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Navigate YouTube in 15 more languages

  YouTube's developers are doing what they can to welcome as many people as possible using their own language. Google's video-sharing website has always been a polyglot, but now it has added support for 15 more languages, bringing the total to 76. That covers the native tongues of 95 percent of internet users, at least according to YouTube. To be clear, those 76 options are for site navigation only, and choosing any of them translates the website's links, buttons and text -- the videos themselves already have caption support for over 165 languages. You can see the full list below the fold, but here are the 15 new additions: Azerbaijani - Az?rbaycan (az), Armenian - ??????? (hy) , Georgian - ??????? (ka) , Kazakh - ????? ???? (kk) , Khmer - ????? (km), Kirghiz - ???????? (ky), Lao - ??? (lo), Macedonian - ?????????? (mk), Mongolian - ?????? (mn), Myanmar (Burmese) - ??? (my), Nepali - ?????? (ne), Punjabi - ?????? (pa), Sinhala - ????? (si), Albanian - Shqip (sq), Uzbek - O?Zbekcha (uz).

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Musicians and Congress join forces in fight for royalty reform

  Fair artist compensation from internet radio and streaming services is quite the hot topic of late, and now members of Congress are joining the debate. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, and Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, alongside the musicFIRST Coalition, introduced the Fair Play Fair Pay Act today that would end regulations that don't require terrestrial radio stations to pay royalties to artists and labels. As it stands, those AM/FM stations available in your car only pay licensing fees to songwriters and publishers. Organizations like ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) handle those agreements, collecting fees every time a copyrighted song is played on the radio or during a public performance. For its part in managing those agreements, ASCAP brought in over $1 billion last year.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• DirecTV's app is ready to stream 90 channels anywhere you go

  We haven't seen many updates for DirecTV's streaming services in a while, but this week it added a slew of new channels for customers to watch live even when they're away from home. The 22 additions include MTV, TNT, Nickelodeon, BET, Cartoon Network and more ready for viewing on computers, tablets or phones. DirecTV also has the Genie DVRs that can shift recordings to your mobile device, but as the competition with internet TV services heats up the satellite company is finally ready to push a few more updates. All of those features work through the DirecTV apps, but it's worth noting that recently DirecTV has cut deals so its subscribers can use their logins to stream channels (on their own apps) that its app doesn't support yet, like Disney and ABC.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Recommended Reading: The internet can't handle streaming big TV events

  Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. The Internet's Clearly Not Ready to Stream Big TV Events by Brian Barrett Wired Last weekend's NCAA Final Four provided some of the most-watched college basketball matchups in years -- unless, of course, your Sling TV stream didn't work. The newfangled internet TV service buckled under the weight of a wave of new subscribers looking to opt in for the big games. It was just the latest in a line of live-event-related issues web streamers encountered, and it shows that maybe major television events aren't ready to be viewed on the web. So, Sunday's Game of Thrones premiere should be... interesting.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Netflix drops off new trailers for 'OITNB' and 'Grace and Frankie'

  Sure, Netflix's first Marvel superhero series Daredevil premieres in just a few hours, but it has more on the way. Season three of Orange is the New Black is coming up June 12th, as well as a new series Grace and Frankie starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda May 8th -- check the trailers for both after the break. The blessing and the curse that is binge watching means each new series drop may only be satisfying for a couple of days (or just one long night), but the streaming service still has quite a packed lineup.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Comic-Con is going to last all year ... through video-on-demand

  Can't make it down to San Diego for the annual geek Mecca that is Comic-Con? Well, you'll soon be able to get a taste of it on your couch. Comic-Con International announced this morning that it's teaming up with Lionsgate, the studio behind the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, to launch a subscription-based video-on-demand service later this year. As you'd expect, it'll include plenty of archival footage from the convention, "exclusive" short content and movies and shows from Lionsgate. Given that Comic-Con lasts a scant four days (only three of which have major events), it's difficult to imagine how a standalone VOD channel could host enough content to last a year. And it's also unclear what the exclusive content will be for subscribers.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• 8tracks indie music library is a hipster's dream

  If your musical tastes are too obscure for Spotify and Pandora, 8tracks' got you covered. The radio-style app averages eight million active members and about 30 million hours of streaming every month. Today, the company is rolling out a library feature that allows members (or DJs) to access 6.5 million tracks from independent music storehouses like INgrooves, CD Baby, Dim Mak and more. Over the last six years since its inception, 8tracks has become a discovery tool for the indie music loving community. Two-thirds of its streams are from independent labels and musicians. With the new partnerships, it strengthens that position and continues to support artists with exposure and royalties.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• YouTube's ad-free video subscription could arrive before year's end

  Google announced YouTube's Music Key streaming subscription last fall, and an ad-free video service is also said to be on the way. Bloomberg reports the paid plan that nixes those pre-roll advertisements will launch before the end of the year, citing a source familiar with the project. The company sent a letter to YouTube partners today painting the broad strokes, including a mention of the upcoming paid tier and updated terms. "By creating a new paid offering, we'll generate a new source of revenue that will supplement your fast growing advertising service," the letter explains. Details are scarce at the moment, but we'll certainly hear more about things like pricing and offline playback in the weeks to come. The aforementioned Music Key service launched late last year, and there was a pilot program for paid channels in 2013, so the idea of paying for YouTube content isn't new. It also offers a Kids option, and there's likely a ton of folks who'd pay a (small) fee to skip those awful Progressive ads.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• If you said 'take my money HBO', it's ready to collect

  It's here -- HBO without cable or satellite. Since HBO Now is live, the network is taking the logical next step -- tracking down folks that said they'd love to pay for its content and asking them to put their money where their tweets are. Last week it was replying to tweets received years ago, and today the marketing campaign took another step by including Jake Caputo, the founder of takemymoneyHBO.com, and a couple of special guests from The Sopranos. HBO Now has its own limitations (you'll need Apple devices and/or Cablevision internet to sign up), but since it's here and the content is mirrored from HBO Go, are you ready to sign up -- or at least jump on the month-long free trial?

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• HBO will begin streaming on Sling TV by Saturday

  As promised, Sling TV is adding HBO to its lineup in time for the season premiere of Game of Thrones and other shows like Silicon Valley and Veep. The streaming service will let its subscribers get in on the premium network starting before Saturday, but it won't come cheap. HBO is set to cost $15 per month, on top of the $20 people are already paying for Sling TV's basic channel package. Still, this has been the cord-cutter's dream for some time, so we don't expect to see too many complaints about it -- plus, it's not as if anyone expected HBO to be a part of the Sling TV starter pack, to begin with. That said, a Sling TV spokesperson did confirm to Engadget that customers won't get a login for HBO's on-demand service, HBO Go, because they won't have a need for one.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Sonos adds another five music services, including Jay Z's Tidal

  You've got your Sonos setup, and you've gushed about how easy it is to use, but (but!) you're itching to stream some Swift -- alas she's not on Spotify anymore. Not to worry, as the speaker company has recently added full (it was in testing before) support for music service challenger Tidal, as well as 22tracks, Saavn and Deezer Elite (again?). The new sources keep coming, too -- Mixcloud (a popular site for DJ sets) was added in "beta" (again, in testing) just today. As you'd hope, Tidal and Deezer Elite will stream high-quality audio to your earholes, while Saavn will satisfy your Bollywood hit needs. Sonos now has a total of 60 different music services compatible with its hardware and software mix -- so many, you'll likely not have heard of half of them. Its universal search still weeds out the artist you're looking for across music platforms, handy, given certain well-heeled musicians continue to pick and choose which services they back.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Watch Jack White, Drake and others live from Coachella this weekend

  If you prefer to enjoy music festivals with actual bathrooms, a hot shower and no dust, you're in luck. Just like previous years, you'll be able to stream three days of live music from Coachella on YouTube this weekend (April 10-12). Don't expect to see the full lineup of artists, but with three channels of performances and commentary, you'll be able to take in most of the big names. This year's list of acts includes AC/DC, Drake, Florence & The Machine, Interpol, Jack White, Run the Jewels, Vic Mensa and many more. If some of those names don't sound familiar, interactive profiles will bring you up to speed while you watch. There's also a virtual map of the festival that lets you to see photos taken on site, and a schedule feature that automatically updates based on your time zone and the channel you're watching. The stream begins Friday, so fire up your Chromecast or other YouTube-friendly device then, and head over to the Coachella YouTube page. [Image credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• CBS All Access launches on Roku with live streaming and VOD

  CBS All Access streaming service is now available for Roku for $5.99 a month. Roku owners can download the app via the Roku Channel Store and sign up here. In addition to streaming new shows like NCIS, The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife, the service has an extensive back catalog of classic CBS shows like Star Trek, Cheers, Jag and Engadget favorite, Touched by an Angel. Live streaming of CBS affiliates is available in 14 markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia with more on the way. If you're not in one of those metropolitan areas, you'll get access to new episodes the day after broadcast. That's a bummer, but CBS says subscribers will have access to additional content during the Grammys, Country Music Awards and Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. All Access is already available for iOS and Android. But, with today's Roku news, you won't have to MacGyver a casting solution to watch MacGyver on your HDTV.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Amazon Prime Instant Video finally comes to Android tablets

  Android users have been able to stream content from Amazon's Prime Instant Video for a while now, but only to their phones. However, starting today, Prime subscribers in the US, UK and Germany can access Amazon's extensive content archives from their Android tablets as well. Users will also be able to launch the mobile Instant Video webpage and watch shows directly from there. Unfortunately, actually getting Prime onto your tablet is going to be a hassle. You'll have to first install the Amazon Appstore, then turn off the "don't install from unknown sources" option in the tablet's security menu and then launch the Appstore. Once you've done that, congratulations! You're halfway there. Next you'll need to download, install, and launch the separate Prime Instant Video app. Of course, if this all seems like too much hassle, you can always access Instant Video on your (Android-based) Fire tablet.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Netflix's first batch of recommended TVs include LG, Sony and Roku sets

  Among a slew of CES announcements in January, Netflix revealed that it would be recommending specific TVs for its streaming service. Today, the company finally revealed its first round of specially anointed sets, all of which will bear the "Netflix Recommended TV" label. Those include the LG's 4K UHD TVs with webOS 2.0, all of Sony's Android TVs, and Roku's sets from Hisense, Insignia and TCL. So what, exactly does the special label get you? In short, much faster access to Netflix. The company says they'll all launch its app faster than other devices (though we still don't know how much faster), and they'll also get access to new features sooner. In fact, Sony and Roku's TVs will soon have the option to turn on and launch Netflix with a single button. That's all great news for couch potatoes, but bad news for your productivity.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Major League Baseball doesn't want you livestreaming its games (update: it's cool)

  You may want to think twice about livestreaming that baseball game for the sake of your friends back home. Major League Baseball tells the Wall Street Journal that it's reminding teams not to allow services like Meerkat and Periscope in their stadiums, since the live video violates broadcast rights. At least some of the organizations are taking that warning seriously -- the San Francisco Giants will be watching their WiFi network for relevant traffic, and may eventually block it.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• HBO Now is live on Apple devices

  HBO's cable-free streaming service, HBO Now, is available right this very second on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, HBO says in a press release. Interested cable-cutters can see sign-up instructions and access HBO Now on desktops here. The service is exclusive to Apple devices for now -- Cablevision is offering its internet customers subscriptions too -- and costs $15 a month. Remember, the new season of Game of Thrones launches in just five days, so if HBO Now's exclusivity deal with Apple sounds as restrictive as a Dothraki barber shop, that's only because it is. The FAQ says an Android app is "coming soon" (probably outside Apple's 90-day exclusive window), and content-wise it should match what we've seen from HBO Go.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Hulu's GIF library offers visuals for your reaction tweets

  Websites like Giphy and others are useful for supplying a GIF to get your point across. Hulu is looking to help too, so long as your thoughts/feelings/hot takes can be summed up with an image from one of the TV shows streamed there. The company launched it's own repository, which is appropriately housed on Tumblr, allowing you to search for specific shows, actions and reactions to find the perfect moving picture for your needs. Heck, there are even gems like this one from Star Trek: The Original Series.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Here's how YouTube is making it easier to watch 4K video

  It's one thing to find 4K video, but it's another thing to play it -- the bandwidth needed to play high-quality 4K video could easily crush many home internet connections, let alone your mobile service. YouTube isn't taking that challenge lying down, though. As the service explains, it has been encoding many videos in its newer VP9 format in recent months to make 4K more viable and improve the picture you see. The codec uses as little as half the bandwidth as the H.264 standard you see on many parts of the web, even as it bumps up the image quality by prioritizing sharp features and taking into account fast-moving elements in the footage, like water spray.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sling TV is sorry for messing up your Final Four basketball stream

  Dish's Sling TV streaming service got its first big stress test during the NCAA's Final Four games this weekend... and, well, it didn't cope gracefully. The company has apologized after Sling TV buckled during the college basketball semifinals, producing errors and otherwise keeping many people from following the action. Reportedly, a combo of "extreme sign-ups and streaming" triggered the meltdown -- Dish wasn't prepared for the flood of new customers, and had to juggle the load across its networking partners to get things back to normal. That's an auspicious sign for Sling TV's future (there's clearly a lot of demand for live sports online), but let's hope that it's better prepared for the next big wave of cord cutters. [Image credit: Chris Steppig/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Roku upgrades players, adds more ways to discover and search content

  It's been a while since Roku updated its set top streaming boxes. Today its two highest-end models, the Roku 2 and 3, are getting a minor hardware revision, but it's the accompanying software upgrade that's adding some welcome new features. Firstly, the Roku 2 is getting the same processor and other internals as its big brother, while keeping its $70 price. The 3 remains unchanged on the inside, instead its big hardware addition is a microphone on the remote. Why a mic? Well one of the big new features of Roku's software is true voice search. A dedicated search button on the new remote quickly lets you find content by searching for actors, directors, titles and finally by channel. And if the on-screen keyboard isn't quite your speed, you can speak your query. And if you have an older or cheaper model, you can still take advantage of the new voice search through the updated mobile app.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Dish brings over 200 international channels to Sling TV

  As of today, Dish Network's on-demand international service has a new name: Sling International. Formerly known as DishWorld, it consists of more than 200 international channels spanning 18 languages. Packages start at $15, and not surprisingly, you'll be able to access it through the Sling TV apps, or through a new Sling International app. Given the solid launch for Sling TV, Dish's $20 digital TV service, it makes sense for the company to consolidate its on-demand offerings. It also makes Sling TV seem more and more like a traditional subscription TV offering -- which is great for people who demand plenty of choice.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Yahoo Screen supports Chromecast, but only for 'Community'

  If you needed one more way to watch Community now that it's on Yahoo instead of NBC, the Yahoo Screen app on Android (but not iOS) has "basic Chromecast support." You could get the show (already on its fourth streaming episode) to connect with Google's dongle by mirroring it from a laptop or mobile device before, but with a direct connection it should be easier to use and have better quality. Should is the key word -- as some reviews in Google Play noted and we experienced ourselves, there are some bugs present. Update (4/3): Yahoo has pushed an update to the app to fix the restart issue, grab the new version here.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Rumor claims Netflix's next TV revival is 'Fuller House'

  While Netflix has been petitioned and begged to bring back any number of shows, TV Line's Michael Ausiello reports that it's already zeroed in on the next one, and it's Full House. A reboot reportedly named Fuller House (seriously) is "thisclose" to happening, as a continuation of the original show focusing on DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) and her friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber). Of course, these rumors sometimes work out (X-Files), and sometimes don't (Legend of Zelda). The successor to Boy Meets World is currently airing on the Disney channel, and Netflix itself just launched a new version of Inspector Gadget. Since it's the 90s that are back -- Firefly fans will have to settle for this -- and not the 00s, do you have any new requests for rebooting, or would you rather the trend flame out as quickly as it has sprouted.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Sling TV will have HBO before 'Game of Thrones' premieres

  Add another one to the slate of Sling TV options: subscribers to the streaming TV service will be able to get HBO soon. There's no word on an exact launch date, but Sling says it will be in time for the new season of Game of Thrones and Silicon Valley, which launch on April 12th. It's not the (still Apple-exclusive for online providers) HBO Now service, it's just regular HBO, with one live channel and video on-demand access. According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal is the result of negotiations between Sling's owner Dish Network and HBO's owner Time Warner that will also keep channels like TBS, TNT and TruTV on the satellite TV network. Adding the channel to Sling's $20 per month base package with AMC, TNT, ESPN and a few others will cost subscribers an extra $15 once it's available.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Netflix button coming to TV remotes across Europe

  For a large group of people, Netflix has become the primary way to watch TV shows and movies in the living room. Digging into a menu and launching the app every day can be a pain though. The solution? TV remotes that offer a dedicated Netflix button, of course. They've been available in the US for years, but finally they're coming to Europe too. For starters, Netflix is partnering with Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Philips and Vestel to offer the new remotes with several of their smart TVs, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes. The company says the move is part of its larger mission to work more closely with hardware manufacturers and optimize its service for subscribers. If that leads to a reduction in the amount of time spent between switching on the TV and watching Bloodline, count us in.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Tidal's HiFi test rewards audiophiles with half as much free trial (update: now changed)

  Tidal windmilled its way into music streaming relevance this week when it relaunched under the stewardship of its new owner, Jay Z. Apart from strong celebrity endorsement, Tidal's main selling point is a $20 premium tier offering lossless (non compressed) audio/music. To convince you over to that pricier package, Tidal has a test: listen to five songs, switch between the regular and high quality versions, and pick which one you think warrants the extra $10 a month. The prize? Two weeks free trial to Tidal. The problem is... you can get a 30 day trial just by signing up?

  By James Trew Read More

Tablets (7)

• iPad 'test model' swiped in Cupertino kidnapping

  Despite Apple's notorious love for secrecy, it famously lost a prototype device in the past (maybe even two), when one of its employees left it in a bar. Now, the company might have lost another: a 20-year-old man reported that a couple robbed his Cupertino home and took an iPad "test model" with them, along with $7,500, prescription drugs and more electronics. It's unclear at this point what exactly "test model" means, and if it's a prototype for an upcoming version or one for an earlier iteration. Either way, it hasn't been returned yet, even though the couple is already in custody.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google pulls the Nexus 7 tablet from its online store (updated)

  In case you were on the fence about grabbing one of Google's affordable Nexus tablets, you'd better jump off it pretty soon. The Nexus 7's been pulled from the Google Store, as spotted by TalkAndroid, and it almost assuredly isn't coming back -- especially since the Nexus 9 exists. That means if you still want one of the consistently updated 7-inch slates you'll have to hit places like Amazon while supplies last or wallow in regret for all that could've been. Namely, owning a tablet that (to me at least) is more comfortable to hold than the IPad Mini 2 and is essentially just as capable.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Acer's building an Android gaming tablet to go with its Predator PCs

  It's safe to say that Acer's gone a little batty this morning - the company crammed announcement after announcement into a press conference overlooking the New York City skyline, but some of the most interesting stuff didn't get much detail. Case in point: The company's working on an Android-powered Predator tablet to go along with its series of angular, red and black gaming PCs and it's going to launch by the end of 2015.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Samsung's wide Galaxy Tab A arrives in the US on May 1st

  After the better part of a year, Samsung is ready to launch new tablets in the States -- if not quite the high-end models you might be looking for. It's releasing 8- and 9.7-inch versions of the Galaxy Tab A, a low-cost slate whose centerpiece is an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio that gives you more breathing room when you're browsing the web or reading a book. Neither model is especially powerful between the 1.2GHz quad-core chip, 1,024 x 768 screen, 5-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front shooter, but they do carry Samsung's lighter-weight software loadout, including bundled Microsoft apps. You'll also get between 16GB to 32GB of storage, depending on the model. The Tab A will reach American shops on May 1st starting at $230 for the 8-inch model, and $300 for the 9.7-inch version. And don't worry, cost-conscious Galaxy Note fans, Samsung hasn't forgotten about you: a version with a bundled S Pen is due on May 17th for $350.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• LA's school board would like all of that iPad money back now, please

  Look up the word bungled in a dictionary, and you'll find the definition of the word, so if you want to see what it looks like in practice, head to L.A.. The state's problematic program to get iPads into the hands of low-income students has backfired so spectacularly the school district is now looking for a complete refund. According to the L.A. Times, the state's education board has been having secret meetings with lawyers and has already told Apple and Pearson that it won't accept or pay for future deliveries of tablets and software.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• KILSWITCH Android tablet delivers airstrikes in four minutes

  For years, American Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) have been forced to call in their Close Air Support (aka airstrike) requests using radios and paper maps, then wait half an hour or more for help to arrive. During that waiting period, the JTAC would also have to carefully coordinate with and monitor the positions of inbound aircrews in order to avoid friendly fire. However, doing so is far easier said than done when you're in the middle of a firefight. But thanks to a new ruggedized Android tablet from DARPA, our frontline soldiers can call in the air cavalry in less time than it takes to order a pizza. Not have a pizza delivered, order one.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Dell will sell a bigger version of its flagship Android tablet

  You might not think of Dell as a big name in tablets -- not on the level of, say, Apple or Samsung. In fact, though, the once-stodgy PC maker sells one of our favorite Android tabs, the Venue 8 7000, which won a Best of CES award and earned a strong score of 84 in our review. Now, the company is back with a 10-inch edition (the Venue 10), and it's basically a blown-up version of the original, just with some improved ergonomics.

  By Dana Wollman Read More

Tomorrow (8)

• AR comic book spreads awareness about sexual violence in India

  An augmented reality comic book called Priya's Shakti aims to open people's eyes to how badly rape survivors are treated in India. A life-sized version is now coming to the US, and you'll have the chance to see it at the City Lore Gallery in NYC on May 7th. Priya's Shakti tells the tale of rape survivor Priya, who was chosen by Parvati (the Hindu goddess of love, fertility and devotion) to become her envoy in the fight against gender-based violence. The 32-page comic has hidden AR animation and videos in its pages that you can see through the Blippar app for iOS, Android or Windows. Blippar also helped creators Ram Devineni, Vikas K. Menon and Dan Goldman add AR content to the murals painted in several locations around India to promote the project.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Documentarian recreates Trayvon Martin's shooting in VR

  The aim of a jury trial is to recreate a moment of history with sufficient detail to let a people decide what the truth is. But unless there's video footage of the event, it can often be difficult to visualize just what went on. It's a puzzle that documentarian and VR pioneer Nonny De la Peña is hoping to tackle with her new project, One Dark Night, a VR app that recreates a crime scene with as much official evidence as possible. Her first subject matter may be disturbing to many, however, as it concerns the controversial shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Terrafugia's flying car project is still a couple of years away

  Terrafugia's car/plane hybrid has been "coming soon" for nearly a decade and it will stay that way a bit longer. The Transition vehicle has come a long way since those early renders, and in a talk today Terrafugia COO / VP of Engineering Kevin Colburn explained some of the design decisions involved and what else need to happen before pilots/drivers can climb in. The estimated price seems to have climbed a bit from the $279,000 projection, as he said the company is targeting between $300k and $400k. At that price it's not going to replace your (or anyone's) daily driver, but that's not the point. Terrafugia believes that being able to drive the plane from the airport to one's destination is enough to give it an advantage over other small planes or forms of travel.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• IKEA's future kitchen tells you how to cook

  For IKEA, your future kitchen shouldn't just have the occasional smart appliance -- it should be a technology hub. The furniture store's Concept Kitchen 2025 includes tech and other helpful additions meant to save both time and resources, such as a pantry with induction cooling (to preserve food longer) and a disposal system that automatically packs your recyclables. The highlight, however, is the Table For Living. It packs a camera-equipped projector that both shows recipes on its surface and recognizes ingredients, giving you an idea of what to make with what you have on hand. There's an induction cooktop hidden in the table, too, so you wouldn't have to run between counters to get that hot stew ready. This is just a vision rather than something you can actually buy, but all of IKEA's technology is realistic enough that you could find some of it in your home within the next decade.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The world as a work of digital art

  As curious creatures, we attempt to understand the world around us in many ways and nowadays that usually boils down to big data visualization. Whether we're creating models of large-scale systems or breaking down reality into wireframes and exposing the digital bones beneath, the data-rich internet and open-source tools are helping people map and explore the world in new ways. People are leveraging technology to make their voices heard in political realms and using digital expression to bypass physical conflict. Indeed, in this digital age, the lines between life and art are becoming blurred. Don't believe us? Then explore the gallery below for just a few examples.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Tiny trackpad uses your thumbnail to navigate devices

  Several companies are working on eye-tracking tech as a way to navigate devices. A team of MIT researchers, however, have their eyes set on another body part: the thumbnail. Graduate students Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao and Artem Dementyev are developing a tiny trackpad that fits over your thumbnail. They're calling it NailO, and it was inspired by colorful nail stickers popular in Kao's native Taiwan and many other Asian countries. The duo envisions NailO to be used in situations where both your hands are occupied -- for instance, you can use it to scroll down a website page to check recipes while cooking. They also think it could be used to control other wearables, such as smart jewelry.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Virtual reality stole my dance with Bjork

  Maximum Bjorkness! That's what I came in expecting at MoMA PS1, the Museum of Modern Art's Queens-based offshoot, where the famous musician/distressing fashionista's new virtual reality exhibit is on display. "Stonemilker," a lilting, melancholy track from her new album Vulnicura, is the basis for Bjork's foray into VR. Considering the freaky name -- Stone milk? Gross. -- the harrowing emotional subject matter of her new record and the tech, you can understand why I arrived ready to get weird.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Widerun turns your bike into a virtual reality machine

  Some people need extra motivation to exercise, and the creators of this bike trainer called Widerun hope to provide that in the form of virtual reality. Widerun is a system comprised of a steering component and a base station that attaches to ordinary bikes. It works with both Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR -- just plug them in and strap them on to bike through virtual locations, from American cities to the Alps. While that sounds like a recipe for motion sickness, its Kickstarter page says its creators performed a series of tests and found that the system worked well enough to avoid triggering the condition.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

TV & Movies (29)

• Before Mayweather and Pacquiao, it's HBO and Showtime vs. pirate sites

  The upcoming "Fight of the Century" has ridiculously expensive PPV prices, but if you want to watch it live, you might have to let that benjamin go. HBO and Showtime, which paired up for the fight, have already started suing websites planning to illegally livestream the event. The duo and the promoters of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are specifically going after boxinghd.net and sportship.org. Both websites have been advertising free access to the fight for quite a while now, as you can see in the images above and below the fold. Torrentfreak calls it a "unique pre-piracy case," because lawsuits don't usually start flying until the accused has actually pirated something.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• What's on your HDTV: Mayweather/Pacquiao, NFL Draft, 'Powers' finale

  This weekend sports dominates the TV landscape, with the big fight on pay-per-view, the Kentucky Derby and the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, The Last Man on Earth is readying its season finale, along with PlayStation Network's Powers. After a long development period, Broken Age: The Complete Adventure is arriving on various gaming platforms, and Inherent Vice is out on Blu-ray. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Sky's closing its dedicated 3D channel

  Once touted as the next big thing in television and film, 3D has ultimately failed to find an audience. It's been five long years since Sky first introduced 3D programming, starting with a Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea, but after it chose not to schedule any matches in 3D for this past season, its TV future was called into doubt. Following that pretty big warning sign, Sky's latest move appears to have driven the final nail in its coffin: from June, the broadcaster's dedicated 3D channel will close and move on-demand.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• How cheap VR helped a Stanford professor bring his dream to Tribeca

  Last year, the Tribeca Film Festival began highlighting new mediums being used in storytelling, and that trend has translated over to 2015. Virtual reality is, naturally, a big part of this movement, as filmmakers start creating more content for consumer-grade devices like the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard. This is why the current edition of the event is hosting Stanford's Virtual Human Virtual Interaction Lab, a venture started in 2003 by Jeremy Bailenson, who's a professor at the university and has been working on digital human representation since 1999. It features a set of VR experiences that attendees can check out, all with the same goal of transporting you into another reality.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Aziz Ansari is getting his own Netflix comedy series

  Netflix must have liked the response to Aziz Ansari's latest stand-up special, as it's about to give the comedian a lot more screen time. Deadline understands that the streaming service has ordered a 10-episode series co-created by Ansari and Parks and Recreation executive producer Andy Yang. It's not clear what the plot of the show will be (there's hints of a semi-autobiographic theme), but it'll be co-produced by some of Ansari's Parks and Recreation pals and include guests like Homeland's Claire Danes. One thing's for sure: between this and revivals like Fuller House and Wet Hot American Summer, Netflix is betting heavily on funny fare to keep you as a subscriber. [Image credit: Donald Traill/Invision/AP]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• E4 will 'shut down' on election day to encourage young people to vote

  What's the best way to encourage young people to vote? There's no definitive answer, but switching off a TV channel is one of the more unusual ideas we've heard about. For the UK's General Election on May 7th, Channel 4 says it will "shut down" E4 from 7am and instead show a fictional character called Darren. As promotional ads reveal, the idea is that Darren runs E4 behind the scenes, and will be turning off the channel to make sure everyone places their vote. It's not like E4 will actually close down that day, but still, it's brave of the broadcaster to abandon its usual slate of shows, ads and promos. We're interested to see how the public reacts -- it's a little patronising to suggest all of Britain's youth is incapable of voting and watching The Big Bang Theory in a single day.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• 'Daredevil' will return to Netflix for a second season

  Despite the popularity of Netflix's original shows, the streaming giant doesn't actually own most of the content it delivers to customers. It's a situation that the company is working hard to rectify, but in the meantime it has to negotiate with partners to continue serving up shows like House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black and its latest hit, Daredevil. The Marvel series only hit Netflix on April 10th but it's already proved lucrative enough for Reed Hastings and co. to renew the series for a second season.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Daniel Radcliffe confirmed for BBC 'Grand Theft Auto' drama

  The rumors were true. The BBC's new Grand Theft Auto drama will feature two heavyweight stars: Daniel Radcliffe as Rockstar Games co-founder Sam Houser and Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, a former attorney that famously campaigned against the video game franchise. It's being developed under the working title "Game Changer" and will focus on the series' cultural impact, particularly around violence in video games.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'StarTalk', 'Taken 3' and 'Breakin' on Blu-ray

  While the NHL and NBA playoffs roll on, this evening we welcome a new entrant to the late-night arena with Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk on National Geographic Channel. Promising to "collide pop culture with science" its guest for the premiere episode is George Takei, stopping by to discuss the importance of Star Trek's ideals. In other TV news, we have season finales for Fresh Off the Boat, The Americans and Vikings, while Inside Amy Schumer is back for season two. Our favorite entries this week come from Blu-ray and no, it's not because of Taken 3. Several classics are hitting the shelf with dual packs for Breakin' / Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo and Ghoulies I / II, plus Cooley High and Escape from New York. For gamers, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, Shovel Knight and Infinity Runner are the high points. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• HBO is bringing Vimeo's first original series to TV

  If there was any doubt that conventional TV and the internet are blending together, HBO just erased it. The premium channel has picked up the third season of High Maintenance, the pot-fueled show (yes, the 4/20 announcement is convenient) that became Vimeo's first original On Demand series. You'll only see six new episodes in this production, but all of the existing 19 episodes will be available through HBO sometime later this year. Is Vimeo heartbroken? Not at all, if you ask CEO Kerry Trainor -- it'll continue to support the show, and this is an "incredible validation" that proves internet shows can hit the big time. There's no mention of when the new season will air, but it's clear that you'll have more options for chronic-loving TV in the near future than reruns of Bored to Death and Showtime's Weeds.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Virgin Media blames TV rights auction for rising Sky Sports prices

  Virgin Media is still trying to persuade Ofcom to change the way Premier League TV rights are auctioned in the UK. The company filed a complaint with the regulator last September, complaining that the current system -- a limited number of match "bundles" which broadcasters bid for every few years -- is leading to higher prices for the consumer. Ofcom said it would look into the matter, but failed to draw any conclusions before the most recent TV rights auction finished earlier this year. The rivalry between Sky and BT meant that bidding increased to a record £5.1 billion -- £4.2 billion of which was spent by Sky. Now, Virgin Media is telling its TV customers that they'll soon need to pay more for Sky Sports and Sky Movies. From June 1st, these extras will go up by £2 per month and 50p per month respectively, due to increases in the amounts Sky is charging Virgin Media.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Adorable new 'Star Wars' droid proves it's not CGI

  When the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released, the internet lost its collective mind. Not only were people up in arms over the fact that a stormtrooper could be *gasp* black, but also nobody could believe that this incredible rolling droid, dubbed the BB-8, was actually real. It must be CGI, right? Well, during today's Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California, the BB-8 made its first real-life debut by rolling onstage to riotous applause from the crowd. Check out the video below to see the BB-8 and the venerable R2-D2 engage in a beeping, tweeting chirp battle.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Tribeca Film Festival welcomes a tech-driven change in storytelling

  Storytellers are finding new mediums, like mobile apps, virtual reality headsets and web-based products, to convey their narratives. Of course, events like Sundance and Tribeca Film Festival are the perfect place to exhibit any fresh or interesting project, where people can actually experience them firsthand. And they all have one thing in common: The key is to make you part of the story. At Storyscapes, an exhibit at the Tribeca Film Festival that showcases immersive creations, we came across some that caught our eye. For example, a couple use VR to express the director's message, another an app and, in the case of Door Into the Dark, a 6,000-square-foot labyrinth that relies on audio to guide those who try it. Sounds like fun, right? Don't worry: You, too, can check these out if you happen to be in New York City from today, April 16th, through April 19th.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Sky's digital movie and DVD combo store is now open to everyone

  If you want to buy the latest movies digitally, where do you go? There are countless storefronts to consider, including iTunes, Google Play and Blinkbox Movies. But Sky has a simple reason to choose its 'Buy & Keep' service over the others: purchase a movie from us, and we'll throw in the DVD too. Before the offer was only available to Sky TV customers, but now anyone can use Buy & Keep through Sky Store. You can order movies through skystore.com or the Sky Store apps, before watching them on a mobile device, or Roku, YouView, Now TV or Sky+ HD box. Four devices can be registered to a single account and two devices can stream the same movie simultaneously -- useful if you watch a lot of movies on the go. A new "follow me" feature means you can also pause a film on your smartphone or tablet and pick up where you left off on your big-screen TV.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• 'The Simpsons' seasons won't be available on disc from now on

  If you've been diligently building a collection of Simpsons episodes on disc, you're in for a rude surprise. Show runner Al Jean has revealed that Fox is discontinuing disc releases of the long-running cartoon. As sources confirmed to us and The Hollywood Reporter, the studio doesn't believe there's a point to hard copies at this stage -- now that you can watch The Simpsons online, it "made more sense" to focus on internet services. With the show constantly airing around the world and in heavy rotation on FXX, it's a bit more accessible than other series even though DVD and Blu-ray are still big business.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Four 'Game of Thrones' episodes leak, good luck avoiding spoilers

  Just a day before season five premiered on HBO, copies of the next four episodes of Game of Thrones leaked onto the internet. According to TorrentFreak, the leaks are in standard definition and may originate from a review screener given to the press. The Daily Dot points out that their low resolution has fans pausing more than ever before seeking out links and torrents, but the sheer amount of content included in four episodes being out there makes it hard for some to resist. While GoT is typically among the most-pirated shows, HBO has made some changes to make it more accessible to fans who said they want to pay. The premiere will air simultaneously in many countries and, for the first time, HBO is available in the US widely without a cable subscription, whether through HBO Now with Apple and Cablevision, or live and on-demand with Sling TV. We'll be watching in HD through legit means tonight (even if it's just to see if those internet streams can hold up to the strain), but for the most dedicated, staying spoiler-free could mean taking a month-long internet detox.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• 'Ex Machina' shows Turing isn't enough to test AI

  With Ex Machina, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later and Sunshine writer Alex Garland, we can finally put the Turing test to rest. You've likely heard of it -- developed by legendary computer scientist Alan Turing (recently featured in The Imitation Game), it's a test meant to prove artificial intelligence in machines. But, given just how easy it is to trick, as well as the existence of more rigorous alternatives for proving consciousness, passing a test developed in the '50s isn't much of a feat to AI researchers today. Ex Machina isn't the first film to expose the limits of the Turing test, but it's by far one of the most successful. And, like the films 2001 and Primer, it's a work of science fiction that might end up giving you a case of philosophical whiplash.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Learn Klingon from the comfort of your own planet

  Can't figure out how to pronounce Qapla' or properly conjugate majQa'? Not sure what those words even mean? Well buy' ngop because Duolingo is gearing up to teach you. The language learning app has announced that it is working on a new course for a very alien tongue: Klingon. The company just needs to find somebody that actually speaks it first. The Federation-to-Klingon lessons aren't technically part of the core Duolingo framework as, say English-Italian is. Rather, it's being coordinated as part of the crowdsourced Language Incubator program. If you think you've got the linguistic chops to help develop this course (or just want to be notified when it's ready) head over to Duolingo and volunteer.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• '4D' movies bring rain and snow inside the theater

  Most people would consider going to the movies a way to avoid inclement weather, but drop into a 4DX theater and you'll be taking the rain and snow with you. The "4D" cinemas, which only landed on American shores last year, augment the standard big screen and booming sound with smells (like flowers or gunpowder), wind and even fake lightening. At CinemaCon in Las Vegas the company behind 4DX, CJ Group, will be demonstrating new effects, including rainstorm, snow and warm air. Why would you want to be showered with rain, shrouded in fog or buried in snow while you're trying to watch a movie? That's a good question, CJ Group would argue it creates a more immersive experience. Though, it remains to be seen how "immersed" people want to feel in the brutal sand storms of Mad Max.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• 'Battlebots' reboot will air on ABC June 21st

  We knew the Battlebots TV show would crawl out of its early 2000s grave for another six episode run on ABC, and now the network has announced when. Sunday June 21st at 9PM, Battlebots will once again light up screens with robot vs. robot combat, now enhanced with the elimination of weight classes, the addition of onboard cameras and "a greater emphasis on the design and build elements of each robot." The competitions didn't actually stop once Comedy Central turned the TV lights out in 2002, so in a few months we should see how a decade or so of maker culture has advanced the sport -- as long as the producers' desire to add backstory doesn't get in the way. Hey, it can't be worse than Fuller House. [Image credit: nerdabout/Flickr]

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• 'Grand Theft Auto' drama from BBC may star Daniel Radcliffe

  Yer a video game magnate, Harry. BBC Films is working on Grand Theft Auto, a drama about the real-life founder of Rockstar Games, Sam Houser, and his battles over the perception of video game violence with bombastic, disbarred attorney Jack Thompson in the early 2000s. Thompson's role hasn't yet been cast, but Daniel Radcliffe, the actor best known for playing Harry Potter in all eight of those films, is in negotiations to play Houser, THR reports. Owen Harris, a British director responsible for a few episodes of Misfits and the season two premiere of Black Mirror, is on board for Grand Theft Auto. The script was penned by TV writer James Wood, with producer Jim Spencer and executive producer Mark Hedgecoe. It's scheduled to begin shooting on April 20 (no word on if it will be in 60FPS).

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• You can (legally) download the 'Star Wars' movies starting Friday

  While the world waits for the next entries in the Star Wars saga (Episode VII on December 18th, followed by the Rogue One spinoff next year and Episode VIII in 2017), Disney, Fox and Lucasfilm have finally worked it out so you can buy the movies as digital copies. Sure a Blu-ray set came out a few years ago, but if physical media isn't your thing then Friday is the big day (yes, they're still the "special" editions). The movies will be available globally through retailers like Vudu, Xbox, PlayStation, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon and others. If you need a reason to do the digital double-dip, take a peek at the promised new extras, like "Discoveries from Inside" featurettes for each movie, and "Conversations" between key contributors. Vudu is taking pre-orders on the full set for $90 (US) and Google Play shows the individual movies for $20 each -- in case you're wondering, the Blu-ray set is listed on Amazon for the same price.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'Game of Thrones', 'Daredevil', 'Silicon Valley'

  March is over, and in a few hours March Madness will be too. As the NCAA Men's basketball tournament wraps up -- as well as the first season Better Call Saul -- we're eyeing another championship series with intrigue and plenty at stake: HBO's Game of Thrones, now returning for its fifth season. It's accompanied by Silicon Valley, while on FX the season premiere of Louie comes along with The Comedians, starring Josh Gad and Billy Crystal. Last but not least is Netflix, premiering its first team-up with Marvel, Daredevil. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• David Lynch pulls out of 'Twin Peaks' revival over cash issues

  We hope you weren't counting on the Twin Peaks reboot to liven up your TV viewing next year -- you're probably going to be disappointed. Original series director David Lynch is pulling out of Showtime's revival because he feels there's "not enough money" being offered to produce the script the way he "felt it needed to be done." The network isn't declaring the follow-up dead (Lynch says it could still be "very much alive"), but it tells Variety that it's crestfallen. Supposedly, the channel was working on the "few remaining deal points" to keep Lynch on the project. There's no way of knowing just how true that statement is, but we'd suggest that Showtime throw more money in Lynch's direction if it expects to soldier on with Twin Peaks. While the familiar setting and actors might help get viewers' attention, it was Lynch's wonderfully strange production that kept people hooked the first time around.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Twitch hosting Q&A with stars of HBO's 'Silicon Valley'

  Silicon Valley, HBO's comedic take on the often ridiculous world of startups is returning for its second season on April 12. But before we find out what's happening with Pied Piper, series stars Thomas Middleditch, Zach Woods, Martin Starr, and Kumail Nanjiani will be part of a Q&A at Twitch headquarters on April 8. After the Q&A, the actors will play a few video games and then viewers will be able to watch the pilot episode of the series. A first for the streaming service.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Syfy picks up a 'Nerdist News' pilot

  One day, TV will be all nerdy, all the time. Until then, Nerdist News is putting together a 30-minute pilot for Syfy, featuring its own brand of off-beat current events and silly gags. The Nerdist News TV show will air once a week, executive produced by Nerdist Industries CEO and @midnight host Chris Hardwick, alongside Talking Dead executive producer Brandon Monk. Nerdist News host Jessica Chobot announced the new initiative in a video, noting that the online version of the show isn't going anywhere. "We can't tell you too much more right now because there's a lot of dark magic that needs to happen before it can get to your TVs and we have no idea of when it even would," she says. Eagle-eyed observers will spot a familiar face covered by a Project Morpheus headset around 0:47 into the announcement video. (Hi, Joseph!)

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• IMAX to debut laser projection system in the US with 'Furious 7'

  The new IMAX laser projection technology has finally arrived in the US, a few months after it was first installed in a Toronto theatre back in December. Its debut movie? Furious 7, of course. If you want to see super-sharp car chases and every detail of the The Rock's muscles, though, you'll have to make your way to the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. It's the only cinema in the US where you can experience the technology, at least until IMAX installs it in other locations. Similar to budding IMAX competitor Dolby Cinema, this new laser projection system promises sharper, brighter images with more contrast. You'll notice it most when you look at Michelle Rodriguez's dark hair and eyes, black cars and tires, according to The Associated Press.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• 'Ex Machina' director embraces the rise of superintelligent AI

  Alex Garland is no stranger to science fiction. As the writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, he's given us his own unique spin on the zombie apocalypse and a last-ditch effort to save the Earth (by nuking the sun!). Now, with his directorial debut, Ex Machina, Garland is taking on artificial intelligence -- and in the process, he shows the limits of the Turing test, the most common method for determining if something is truly sentient. The film centers on a young programmer who's sent to his genius CEO's isolated compound to test his latest invention: an artificially intelligent robot. Things, as you can imagine, don't go as planned.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Sky+ update makes it easier to manage your TV recordings

  Ready for a new Sky+ update? The broadcaster's HD set-top boxes are getting a minor refresh in the coming months that add a few useful, if not particularly groundbreaking features. The TV guide "Planner" is being spruced up a bit, making room for a new "Scheduled" tab that keeps track of all your planned recordings. Meanwhile, a new "Delete All" option makes it easier to wipe complete series, freeing up vital space on your hard drive before Game of Thrones is back on the telly. We suspect parents will be most interested in the "Family" setting, however, which bundles together Sky's various parental controls. These include hiding adult channels, restricting Sky Store purchases and PIN-protecting playback of 12+ on-demand content before the watershed. None of these features are going to blow your socks off, but they're welcome additions all the same. Sky says the update is rolling out now and should hit all Sky+HD boxes before June.

  By Nick Summers Read More

Wearables (34)

• Microsoft wants third-party apps for its fitness tracker

  Microsoft Band users might get to enjoy a lot more third-party apps in the near future. Redmond has released the full Band SDK, giving developers power to create fully functional apps for the fitness tracker. The company already launched a preview version back in February, which allowed devs to create tiles that send glanceable notifications to the wearable. However, that only gave them access to sensors and other basic features. According to the general manager of Microsoft's personal devices division, Zulfi Alam, the newer SDK lets developers take advantage of all the device's features/functions and comes with the ability to:

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• HoloLens promo video gives a glimpse of early prototypes

  During Microsoft's Build 2015 event earlier today it displayed a "Closer look at the hardware" promo video for its HoloLens AR headset. It's the normal fluff and info we're expecting about augmented reality, but as RoadtoVR points out, there are a few brief glimpses at earlier versions of the headset in there too, plus a look at the current unit blown apart so you can see what's inside. They're similar to the Google Glass prototypes we saw during its run up to the Explorer model, and give us an idea of how hard it is to shove all that hardware into something that might fit on a human face. Of course, it doesn't bring us immediately closer to Windows Holographic experiences in real life, but until we get our hands on one just appreciating the headset's history and technology will have to do.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Your Apple Watch is late because of bad haptic feedback parts

  Wondering why your Apple Watch won't ship for weeks, even though you ordered as soon as humanly possible? The Wall Street Journal might know why. Its sources claim that some Taptic Engines (the haptic feedback unit that vibrates your wrist) broke down in early testing, prompting Cupertino to switch suppliers and create a massive-but-necessary logistical headache. From all indications, Apple is pushing many orders to June simply because it expects to get up to speed by then. That won't be much consolation if you're staring at a bare arm for the next month or more, but you'll at least know why you're missing out. [Image credit: iFixit]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• You can buy your own smell-o-vision VR headset, if you wanna

  Aside from the anguished cries of our loved ones begging us to go to work, there are two things that are left out when we play games in virtual reality: our senses of smell and taste. After all, we can see, hear and sometimes feel the action in the FPS realm, but we won't be truly satisfied unless we're getting artificial blood, sweat and seawater in our faces, too. That's what FeelReal's smell-o-vision headset is all about, which sits beneath a VR headset and pumps air, water and various scents into your face in an attempt to add a little more realism to your gaming.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Now there's a wearable for tracking your farts

  Unless you're Le Pétomane, Terrence, Philip or Leslie Nielsen, you probably don't like the gaseous emissions that leak from your ass every now and again. Farts, you see, are a result of digestion, but unless you're paying attention to your diet, it's hard to work out what causes the most obnoxious of bum gases. That's where CH4 comes in, a wearable that sits in your back pocket or belt loop, keeping count of every air biscuit that you bake. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we're now at the point where we need a crowdfunded gadget to warn us when we've let one rip.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Smart pedals will track your stolen bike for $149

  Back when we saw Connected Cycle's smart bike pedals at CES in January we were pretty impressed by its plan to track activity and location; now you have a chance to get in on the action. The outfit's smart pedals recently hit crowdfunding site IndieGoGo where the campaign has already hit 171 percent of its funding goal. Since we last saw them, the duration limit on included data plans has been lifted for backers and CC is working on design modifications so the pedals accommodate "standardized" foot straps.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• TAG Heuer's Android smartwatch will cost you $1,400

  So much for hopes that TAG Heuer's first smartwatch will cost less than its conventional counterparts. Jean-Claude Biver, the head of TAG's parent company LVMH, says that the Android Wear timepiece will cost about $1,400 when it ships in October or November. That's in the ballpark of lower-end quartz models from the watchmaker's Formula 1 line, but it makes even the $1,000 steel link Apple Watch seem like a relative bargain. That money will get you more than just a luxurious brand name, however. Biver estimates that the TAG Heuer device will last 40 hours on battery, so you won't have to panic if you forget to top it up one day. This is just a friendly reminder that watch prices at this level are dictated more by the design than what's inside -- a nice steel watch won't come cheap. [Image credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Dark tattoos can throw off Apple Watch's heart rate sensor

  Here's one factor to take into account if you're still undecided about getting the Apple Watch: it doesn't seem to play well with tattoos. Several users revealed online that their devices act wonky when worn on a tattooed arm. The heart rate sensor wouldn't read their pulse, and the watch wouldn't detect direct contact with the skin, causing apps to stop working and repeatedly ask for the passcode. To confirm if inked skin really does affect the smartwatch's functions, iMore has decided to perform a series of tests. "[W]e're inclined to agree with those early reports," the publication writes, "if your tattoo happens to be a solid, darker color."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Your Apple Watch can help you tune a guitar

  The Apple Watch is handy for a lot of things, and now you can use the wearable when you tune your axe. Thanks to the folks at IK Multimedia, when you employ the company's UltraTuner app for iOS, note info is beamed to your wrist while tuning that stringed instrument. The software's Stage mode offers a full-screen interface for maximum visibility, and when this setting is selected, a smaller version of the chromatic tuner is displayed on the wearable. IK Multimedia claims that UltraTuner is ten times more accurate than mechanical strobe options -- down to +/- 1/100th of a cent. As you might expect, those figures make it the most accurate tuner available for iOS. If you've already splurged for the $5 app, you'll need to update to the most recent version to pair it with the Apple Watch.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• LG's posh Watch Urbane arrives at Google's store for $349

  You no longer have to wait for AT&T (or go through an importer) to buy LG's ritzy-looking Watch Urbane in the US -- it's available to order today. Google is now carrying the upscale Android Wear timepiece in its store with a $349 price tag, which is pretty reasonable for a gadget crafted from leather and steel. The only catch is the roughly two-week shipping delay as of this writing. But hey, what's a relatively short wait if it means (hopefully) impressing your smartwatch-savvy friends?

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Someone got Android Wear running on Samsung's Gear 2 watch

  Don't despair if you bought Samsung's Gear 2 smartwatch, only to realize that you wanted the Android-powered Gear Live instead -- there might be a solution in the works. XDA tinkerer biktor_gj has successfully loaded Android Wear on the Gear 2 after four months of work. It's in a very rough state, as you might imagine. Only touch and rudimentary Bluetooth support are working right now. Android Wear doesn't have an open source project the way that regular Android does, so any support for audio, the motion sensor and other features will likely be tricky to implement. Biktor is hopeful that he'll get those working, however, and even this crude port is proof that your smartwatch isn't necessarily limited to its original software.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google sends a Glass-like mystery device through the FCC

  Google might have just hinted at the future of its Glass headsets. The company has sent a mystery "smart BLE" (Bluetooth Low Energy) device to the FCC for approval, the A4R-CAP1, and there are a few telltale signs that it's one of Mountain View's wearables. Most notably, the product's digital FCC label (shown below) not only looks a lot like a Glass interface card, but requires that you swipe to see it -- that suggests a touchstrip, as you'd use on Google's eyepiece. Mentions of an Android-like firmware revision and a battery help, too. There's the possibility that this is another gadget that simply happens to use Glass-style navigation, but that seems less than likely. Don't be surprised if you're eventually plunking CAP1 on your head.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple Watch app roundup: It's all on the wrist

  It's Apple Watch day. And whether you received one already, or are stuck waiting a few weeks for it, you'll want apps to make the most out of your new wearable when the time comes. Thankfully, we here at Engadget are always thinking about you, the reader, so we've put together a list of third-party apps that stand out from the 3,000-plus expected to be available at launch. But first, let's talk about some essentials. The Twitter and Instagram Apple Watch apps, for starters, will let you check out tweets and view photos right on your wrist, among other things. Sports fans, meanwhile, have access to apps like ESPN, MLB At Bat and NBA Game Time, which makes it easy to keep up with scores without having to pull out your iPhone.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Luxottica CEO says company is working on Google Glass 2.0

  When Nest CEO Tony Fadell took over Google Glass back in February, he pledged to redesign the headset "from scratch." Well, it looks like that process is well underway. In a company meeting today, Luxottica CEO Massimo Vian said the Italian eyewear company is working with the folks in Mountain View on not one, but two new versions of the device. Luxottica owns brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, and if you'll recall, the company worked with Google on frames for the original version of Glass.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Take notes on your wrist with Google Keep and Android Wear

  Keep, Google's cloud-based note taking app, has always been pretty handy. But having to pull out and unlock your phone, then launch the program, open a new note and finally type in your thought is often enough to make anybody yearn for a pencil and pad of paper. Luckily, Google has a newly updated means of jotting down ideas as easy as talking to the back of your hand -- you just need to shell out a couple hundred bucks for an Android Wear watch to use it. According to the official Google Android Blog, Android users with devices running Ice Cream Sandwich and newer will be able to access the Note app directly from their wristwatch while leaving their phone in their pocket. Users can activate the app with "OK Google, open Keep" or jump directly to dictation with the command "OK Google, take a note." Existing features like swipe-and-tap navigation and adding reminders to existing notes directly from the watch are still supported.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Djay for Apple Watch puts decks on your wrist

  Desktop, laptop, tablet, phone and (now) watch. That's a list of things you can DJ (or rather, djay) on, thanks to a multi-platform update to the eponymous(ish) app from Algoriddim. As Apple Watch (kinda) hits stores this week, you'll be able to update Djay 2 for iOS (the Watch version isn't a standalone app) so that it works with your new timepiece. Of course, features are stripped back, but you can do most things you need to keep the music flowing, such as browse your iTunes library, add and sync tunes to a "deck" or use Force Touch and have the software do it all for you (aka "Automix" mode). It's a tough life for the wearable DJ. If you prefer to mix on the other devices we listed, Algoriddim has updates for you, too.

  By James Trew Read More

• You can pre-order Samsung's new Gear VR for Galaxy S6 on April 24

  If you just snapped up a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, it won't be too long until you can get your hands on Samsung's new Gear VR headset. Samsung just announced that the revamped Gear VR will be available for pre-order on April 24 on Best Buy's website. There's no word on how much it'll cost you, but hopefully it'll be somewhere around the original Gear VR's $200 price. If pre-ordering isn't your thing, you can pick it up from Samsung's online store and Best Buy's site on May 8, as well as its retail stores on May 15. And yes, you'll also be able to try it on at some Best Buy locations. While the Gear VR didn't impress us as much as HTC's Vive virtual reality headset, it's still an improvement over its predecessor, with a lighter frame and higher amount of pixels per inch (due to the S6's slightly sharper screen). It's not exactly a reason to pick up a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge yet, but that could change over the next year as Samsung adds more VR content.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Mini's weird-looking AR goggles are actually useful

  Augmented reality is supposed to be the future, but its current usefulness is pretty fuzzy. Sony's SmartEyeglass is reminiscent of your old monochrome monitors, Microsoft's HoloLens' games look intriguing, but who knows when that's coming out and Google Glass, well, we're not sure what the future holds for Glass. BMW's vision of augmented reality is still a ways off as well, but it's recently partnered with Qualcomm to announce something rather unexpected: a pair of AR glasses meant specifically for, of all things, driving a Mini. It looks and sounds ridiculous. But the thing is: It's actually pretty damn impressive.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• HTC's VR headset is available, but you probably won't get one

  HTC and Valve will be giving out Vive virtual reality headsets for free as reported in March, but only if you're a developer -- a very lucky developer. The duo has just launched a sign-up form for folks who want a shot at getting one of the developer units to be distributed throughout spring and summer. They'll apparently be "distributing dev kits continually" and sending new ones out every couple of weeks. Supplies, however, "may be limited," so you'll have to take writing up that application seriously if you want to convince them to choose you during the selection process. If you're not a dev, you unfortunately can't purchase a kit, no matter how much money you're willing to throw at HTC and Valve. Don't worry, though: they're planning to release the commercial version sometime later this year, provided nothing derails their timeline before then.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Your Android Wear devices will work even when your phone's at home

  There's a new kid on the smartwatch block, which means that Google needs to make sure that its own gear is ready for the challenge. That's why the company is pushing out new features to its Android Wear devices in the coming weeks. The biggest addition is probably WiFi support that'll let you connect to your smartphone even if it isn't in your pocket. Should you, for instance, head out to the coffee shop and leave your phone at home, then you'll still receive notifications as long as both are connected to the internet.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Jawbone's latest health bands: $99 Up2 & Up4 with AmEx payments

  We're still waiting for Jawbone's long-delayed Up3 to start shipping next week, but that's not stopping it from debuting two new health bands today. The $99 Up2 (pictured above) sits between its $50 entry-level Up Move and the $179 Up3, and it includes pretty much all of the features from last year's Up24, just in a more stylish frame. The $199 Up4, on the other hand, is basically the same device as the Up3 with one big difference: NFC payments, courtesy of a partnership with American Express. It makes Jawbone the first company to include mobile payment capabilities inside of a pure fitness wearable. The Apple Watch also supports NFC payments with Apple Pay, but as a smartwatch, it's an entirely different category from the Up4. Jawbone's Up2 is available today at the company's store, Amazon, and Best Buy in black, with more colors to follow, while the Up4 is coming sometime this summer.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Jawbone and AmEx want you to pay for stuff with your fitness band

  If you're looking to get a little more mileage out of that fitness tracker, Jawbone and American Express are about to lend a hand. The duo is teaming up to bring a payment feature to the former company's line of gadgets. Of course, Apple's new wearable sorts payments too, and now a similar function will be on an upcoming Jawbone device. This means that the Up3 that's set to ship next week won't help you pay for a burrito, and neither will it's predecessors. Instead, the collaboration with AmEx will arrive on wearable that we've yet to hear about, so it's unclear if it'll be another band or a smartwatch. If your go-to credit or debit card is Visa or MasterCard, there's no indication if Jawbone's mystery tech will handle payments from those either. However, when it does arrive, it'll wrangle those payments via NFC -- just like the Apple Watch.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Play 'Minecraft' wherever you go with this kid-friendly wearable

  If you're the type to recreate Westeros in Minecraft, the blocky construction game that's practically ubiquitous, keeping it on you at all times might be pretty attractive. The Gameband + Minecraft gives gives you the chance to do just that. The first-gen Nike Fuelband lookalike has Mojang's cash cow built in (you can play directly from the device by plugging its USB 3.0 end into your Linux, Mac or Windows machine), sports a customizable LED display and automatic cloud uploads for your game files. The basic gist is that you can take all of your work with you wherever you go because everything you need to play in Notch's garden is dangling from your wrist. Oh, and it's aimed squarely at kids so if you have a redstone-obsessed youngster in your life, this might be a solid fit for them. The unit prices out at $80 and it's available at Best Buy, GameStop and Target this very instant.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Moto 360 drops to $165 on Google's store

  If you've been toying with getting an Android-powered smartwatch but have been turned off by the $200-plus price tags, now's a good time to dive in. Google's device store is offering the Moto 360 with a leather strap for $165, or $85 off -- not bad for wristwear that's several months old. And should Google run out, you can score the wearable for a slightly higher $180 at Amazon and Best Buy. Motorola is likely just clearing out stock ahead of a sequel, but that's not a bad thing if you're more interested in putting a device on your arm than owning the latest and greatest.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• ASUS' fitness-centric VivoWatch has a 10-day battery

  In our review, we became quite fond of ASUS' rather handsome ZenWatch except, perhaps, for its two-day battery that most Android Wear watches are getting these days. Apparently the company heard us loud and clear, and it's now prepping the launch of its VivoWatch to offer a more compelling 10-day battery life. While details are scarce at the moment, ASUS has so far revealed that its new fitness-centric wearable has a tough stainless steel body, an IP67 rating against dust and water, heart-rate monitoring and sleep tracking. Judging by the above picture, this new device -- which will likely not run on Android Wear -- appears to feature a power-saving black-and-white display, along with some sort of colored light indicator bar below it.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Here's how much you'll pay to protect that Apple Watch

  Scores of you - an obscene number, maybe - have already pre-ordered your Apple Watch. Perhaps you even sauntered into a well-appointed Apple Store-within-a-store for some valuable shopping advice before you took the plunge. Regardless, after you've made up your mind about which fancy wrist-computer will be yours in several weeks, you might want to take a look at how much Apple wants to protect it for you.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• What it's like to shop for an Apple Watch

  The Apple Watch is unlike any product the Cupertino company has released before. To succeed, it needs to appeal as both a useful gadget and a luxury timepiece that people want to wear on their wrists. With this in mind, Apple has chosen to display its debut wearable in more than just the retail meccas where it normally sells its iPhones, iPads, iMacs and MacBooks. It's also built special "shops-within-shops" inside a trio of high-end department stores in Tokyo, London and Paris. We visited the one in England, which resides inside the famous Selfridges department store on Oxford Street.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Jawbone's Up3 finally ships on April 20th, but don't take it swimming

  November 2014 almost seems like a lifetime ago and folks who've been itching for a Jawbone Up3 since it was announced that month would probably agree. There's good news, though: the wearable finally starts shipping come April 20th. So long as you're one of the folks who pre-ordered from the company website, that is. Jawbone vice president Travis Bogard says that the reason behind the Up3's delay has to do with its water resistance. Apparently, not every single unit met the 10-meter claims Jawbone promised and that didn't come out until ramping up production. Now they're "comparable to, and in line with" other sensors. All that to say, you can't swim while you're wearing one but it should be okay if you take it in the shower or are caught in an April rainstorm. If that lets the wind out of your sails, Bogard says that you can cancel your pre-order without penalty.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Mini is making augmented reality goggles for driving

  Mini is rolling out a new product, and no, it's not a car. Announced at the Auto Shanghai show, the Mini Augmented Vision is actually a pair of augmented reality glasses that offers up info about your ride in your field of vision. You can see some of the following details as you're riding around in your Mini vehicle of choice: destination points that you can select pre-ride, the navigation display of your first and last mile, heads up info like speeds and speed limits, navigation arrows plus points of interest on your route, incoming message notifications, an X-ray view of the vehicle, plus a view of the curb from the car's external cameras so you can park easier. And, of course, since it's AR and see-through, you can still see the road in front of you. As you might expect, there's no details about pricing or availability just yet, but we'll be sure to update the post with more when we hear more.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• This jump rope has brains and a built-in HUD

  Do you remember the last time you jumped rope? If you're a fitness junkie, gym regular or kid on the playground, you may still be swinging this classic exercise gear around. For most people, though, this simple, yet effective exercise routine has fallen by the wayside. Some of the team at Tangram's New Jersey office, however, have been jumping rope on the regular and decided to use their UX and design skills to add some technological flourishes to the old-school form factor. They took their "Smart Rope" concept to Kickstarter recently, exceeding their fundraising goal by a wide margin. The product has now moved into active development and is slated to begin shipping pre-orders by September. I had a chance to test Tangram's first prototype to get a feel for how this focused fitness device would play out in the real world.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Google highlights even more Android Wear watch faces, straps

  Itching to make your shiny new Android Wear watch really yours? You're in luck -- Google's curating not only the best watchfaces to throw on your teensy wrist-display, but some of the handsome watchbands you should lash onto it too. Android Wear product manager Jeff Chang pointed out new (and mostly leather, sadly) straps available from E3 Supply Co., Worn & Wound and Clockwork Synergy in a post on the Official Android Blog earlier today. Thing is, you can't actually buy these accessories straight from the Play Store proper -- you'll still have to mosey on over to each retailer's site to lay claim to your next bit of wrist candy so the approach isn't exactly as seamless as we would've hoped.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Victorinox is working on 'something approaching a smartwatch'

  Victorinox, the firm you can just about remember makes the Swiss Army knife when it comes up at pub trivia, is talking up its plans for a smartwatch. In a chat with Reuters, CEO Carl Elsener has revealed that the company will enter the wearable technology space at some point in 2016. This won't be just another Android Wear device, however, but a wearable that Elsener has described as "something approaching a smartwatch."

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• HTC's former lead designer joins Fitbit

  If you've been following the news of HTC's former chief smartphone designer Jonah Becker, we finally have an update regarding his latest whereabouts. As of today, Becker is Fitbit's VP of Industrial Design -- a newly created position at the fitness tracking specialist, interestingly enough. This announcement comes just 11 days after Becker's departure from the Taiwanese mobile giant, who has since appointed Daniel Hundt as his successor, while Claude Zellweger continues to lead design efforts for the company's other connected products. Becker's predecessor, Scott Croyle, is currently VP Product and Design at Nextbit (and we're sensing a trend with company names here).

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Artist: I'll trade a (replica) kidney for that $17k Apple Watch

  Apple's forthcoming luxury smartwatch has already become a topic of division and debate months ahead of its release. While Apple is counting on five to six million orders once it does go on sale, critics of the device have slammed it as the latest status symbol for wealthy douchebags. Now, San Francisco-based artist Qinmin Liu is ratcheting the hyperbole even further by offering to trade one of her kidneys for the $17,000 flagship model. Well, not literally one of her kidneys (this isn't 2011 China, people) but rather a sculpture of one that she's made. What a deal!

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Xbox (12)

• Xbox One to Windows 10 streaming feels just like console gaming

  With the release of Windows 10, Sony won't be the only company to offer game streaming from its consoles. Today we finally got our hands on Windows 10's Xbox One game streaming feature, which lets you bring your entire Xbox gaming experience to any PC running the new OS. And even in its early state, it looks like it will satisfy even the most demanding gamers. Microsoft made a risky bet by demoing the feature with Sunset Overdrive, a fast-paced game where you'd notice the slightest hint of slowdown. And as you can see in the video below, it's virtually indistinguishable from the native Xbox One experience while running on a Surface Pro 3.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• 'Halo' tournament canceled because Xbox One game is still broken

  Halo: Combat Evolved may have been one of the first console shooters to hit the competitive gaming circuit but a recent tournament was derailed because almost six months later, The Master Chief Collection is still broken. The official Halo eSports league, Halo Championship Series, had to cancel the first online cup of the regular season over the weekend due to connectivity issues. Seriously. As Eurogamer reports, games took place on Saturday but went off the rails on Sunday for the competition's conclusion.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Gears of War' looks like the next game to get an Xbox One remaster

  Like it or not, ports of classic games to the latest consoles are still all the rage... and Microsoft appears eager to cash in on the trend. Both Kotaku and Polygon report that Microsoft, Black Tusk Studios and Dirty Bomb's Splash Damage are working on a remastered Xbox One version of at least the first Gears of War game. It's not certain just how far this update to the cover-based shooter will go, but it supposedly includes both improved in-game graphics (such as sharper textures and improved lighting) and "reworked cutscenes" courtesy of animation studio Plastic Wax. This sadly wouldn't be a genuinely new game, then, but it wouldn't be surprising if the leaks are on the mark. Gears of War was one of the big money-makers for the Xbox 360 in the console's heyday, and it'd likely attract plenty of gamers with fond memories of blasting Locust drones.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Xbox revenue dips 24 percent thanks to Xbox One price cut

  In the three months leading up to March 31, 2015, Microsoft reported a 24 percent drop in revenue from its Xbox division compared with last year, attributing much of the decline to sales of an "increased mix of lower price Xbox One" consoles. Microsoft cut the price of the Xbox One from $500 to $400 (and it ditched the Kinect) in June 2014, and it's knocked off another $50 since. The corporate Xbox arm includes both the Xbox One and Xbox 360, and Microsoft did not separate sales of each console in its Q3 2015 financial report. Hardware revenue overall was down just 4 percent, boosted by Surface tablet sales, which were up 44 percent over last year to $713 million.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Xbox One update preview targets the SmartGlass app

  The May Xbox One update preview is all about SmartGlass. First up, users will be able to turn their consoles on or off directly from the Xbox One SmartGlass beta apps on Windows, Windows Phone and Android. Also, the console will support Miracast screen mirroring from Windows PCs, Windows Phone 8 and some Android devices, including the Samsung S5 and Nexus 7. This allows users to display photos and videos from their smaller devices on the Xbox One screen. May also brings some Windows 10 updates: Preview members will have the option to stream live TV from the console to a PC with the Xbox app or directly to the SmartGlass app. To make this magic happen, users in Europe or Australia need an Xbox One Digital TV Tuner, while those in the US and Canada can use the Hauppauge 955Q TV Tuner. This update adds a power-saving option to the Xbox One set-up process, a new feature for US consoles in particular. Read the full preview rundown on Xbox Wire or watch the video below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Halo' on Xbox One gets even more 'Halo' next month

  If you've stuck with Halo: The Master Chief Collection this long you deserve a reward, and folks who played during the game's disastrous launch window last year will soon have theirs. As a 343 Industries rep writes on Halo Waypoint, the promised, free Halo 3: ODST expansion is "on track" to be part of next month's content update. Beyond that, the patch also adds the revamped "Relic" multiplayer map into the fold. Remember -- ODST isn't a total overhaul along the lines of Halo 2, it's just the old game running at 1080p and 60 FPS. "Relic," however is getting the full remaster treatment and even a new name that'll be revealed at a later date. For the rest of this month's patch notes, be sure to hit the links below.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Xbox Live members get the 'Game of Thrones' premiere for free

  If you've resisted piracy's siren call, you now have another way to catch the season premiere of Game of Thrones. Xbox Live members with an Xbox One or 360 can now stream the Season 5 premiere gratis until April 16th, including extra content like trailers, on-set tours and blooper reels. The episode debuted on HBO -- available to many with cable or satellite thanks to a conveniently timed weekend preview event -- and its just-launched $15/month streaming HBO Now service, to largely solid reviews (spoilers at that link). It looks like the extra is only available in the US due to HBO's complex foreign syndication deals, but it's good news if you didn't want to sign up with HBO just for GoT.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Xbox One's official UK price falls to £300

  Plenty of UK retailers are already selling the Xbox One for under £300, but now Microsoft is making this markedly lower price-tag official. Effective immediately, the console will be available from £299.99, or £30 less than before. A spokesperson for Microsoft told Eurogamer that it's a "UK-only retail promotion," which suggests the reduction could only be temporary. However, given how Microsoft handled a similar price-drop in the US, we suspect this'll be a permanent discount before too long, if it's not one already. By making this the official price, Microsoft is also encouraging retailers to drop the cost of their bundles even further. The console has few exclusives prepped for the first half of 2015 (Halo 5: Guardians and Rise of the Tomb Raider will change that this autumn) but if you've been mulling a purchase anyway, now might be a good time to take the plunge.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Xbox One adds 'energy-saving' option to the set-up process

  Anyone who buys a brand new Xbox One will be prompted with a special screen when booting up the console for the first time: A choice between "instant-on" and "energy-saving" power modes. The default in the US is instant-on, which enables updates and content downloads while the console isn't in use, and lets users yell at their Xbox Ones to turn them on. The energy-saving mode consumes less power and can save players an average of $6 to $15 per year in the US, Microsoft says. This isn't a new mode, but the move to offer power choices up front follows a March blog post from the Natural Resources Defense Council that was critical of the Xbox One's always-on default.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Xbox 360's latest update makes it an even better media center

  For a lot of people, now that the Xbox 360 is in its twilight years it's transforming from a gaming device to more of a media center. It makes sense then that the first update going out to the console's preview program members is support for bigger external hard drives. Just how big? Two terabytes. Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb writes that the system won't reserve space on your drives in advance anymore, either -- if you only need 16GB for games, it'll only use 16GB for games. However! If you already have space dedicated to Xbox 360 storage you'll need to clear that before you can take full advantage of all that new room for game-related content. The functionality hits everyone's consoles sometime later this year. [Image credit: Blakkos/Flickr]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• The Xbox One tunes in to free OTA TV in the US and Canada

  Last year Microsoft added a feature to European Xbox Ones that brought broadcast TV directly to the box, and now it's starting to roll out the same thing in the US and Canada. Currently available for users in the Preview Program, it combines with a TV tuner from Hauppauge (BYO antenna -- the tuner retails for $80 but is currently $61 on Amazon) to cut out the cable middleman, and let owners watch the TV signals that are floating about freely. A $60 version of the tuner built specifically for the Xbox One is coming soon. While it doesn't turn the console's hard-drive into a DVR, it does have DVR-like features with the ability to pause live TV for up to 30 minutes, and it can stream TV to a phone or tablet running the SmartGlass app.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Xbox One April update arrives without voice messaging

  We hope you weren't banking on the Xbox One's promised voice messaging feature to set up matches and gloat over victories. Microsoft has released the console's April update, but voice messaging has been yanked from the finished release (it's still available to preview users) due to "feedback" from testers -- in other words, it's just not ready for prime time. Dedicated party chat servers will have to wait, too. While there are still some useful additions, such as detailed achievement notifications, game hub links and wider access to the "What's On" hub, you'll likely have to wait at least a month for the upgrade's former tentpole feature.

  By Jon Fingas Read More