Archive for May 2015

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Accessories (14)

• GoPro unveils a 360-degree camera array for VR videos

  Now that Google has announced Jump, a new VR technology platform that lets you create and share 3D content, you're probably wondering how you can do exactly that. Well, Google has partnered with GoPro to come up with a solution: a 360-degree camera array built out of 16 GoPros. The circular rig boasts camera syncing, multi-camera control and a super-long battery life so it can stand out there to capture as much crazy 3D footage as you can conjure up. From there, you can just hand over the video to Google's Jump software and it'll process it for you. And, if you like, you can share it with the world so that anyone with a VR headset -- Cardboard or not -- will be able to see it. We're hearing from Google that the 360-degree camera will be seeded out to a few select YouTubers at least initially, but it'll eventually be up for purchase to any and all wannabe VR content creators. Meanwhile, you should check out the video below to see an interactive (use your keyboard or mouse to look all around you) 3D video shot with the GoPro 360-degree camera array.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Lenovo unveils a $49 Chromecast competitor

  Lenovo has unveiled its own media sharing device to keep up with the Chromecasts and Roku Streaming Sticks of the world. But the Lenovo Cast differs considerably from Google's similarly named device, and not just because it looks like a puck instead of a stick. You start by plugging it into the HDMI port of your TV or monitor (it supports HDMI 1.3) and sync up with your WiFi network, like similar products. But from there, it taps into your DNLA or Miracast-enabled smartphone, tablet or laptop, to output up to 1080P video to your big screen. That's unlike the Chromecast, which uses its proprietary (though ubiquitous) Chrome browser environment.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Artist adds poop emoji to selfie sticks to remind us of mortality

  As depressing as it may be, selfie sticks are inescapable despite how many places ban them. It's a sad truth of the future we live in. But! An enterprising artist by the name of Pablo Garcia has figured out a way to "reduce vainglory and self-importance" by adding pixely emoji to the reviled smartphone accessory. It's a bit more difficult than it looks, though. Garcia says he employed elements of anamorphosis, a technique to distort an image so that it's only visible from a specific angle, to make sure the smiling pile of poop, thumbs up and party horn appear correctly when shot from the smartphone's extended perspective. Is there some bigger message or implication here? "Perhaps it's a sober reminder of your mortality in the midst of your vainglory, or simply a pile of poop with eyes," Garcia writes. There you have it folks: sometimes a rose really is just a (smelly) rose.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Razer's latest gaming mouse mat is a light-up wonderland

  Think your mouse pad is a little lifeless? Razer thinks it can spruce things up. Its new Firefly gaming mat is ringed with customizable lighting that can glow and pulse in 16.8 million colors. It'll even sync with Razer's Chroma-badged peripherals, if you're bent on putting on a coordinated show. The Firefly will undoubtedly be one of the most expensive mouse pads you could buy when it ships in June for $60, but you could easily justify the expense if you already have a flashy PC case sitting under your desk.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Xiaomi opens its online accessory shop in the US and Europe

  We knew that Xiaomi was beta-launching its online accessory store in the UK this week, but now it's become clear that other regions are also being supported. The Mi Store will be available at two separate time slots: 7PM PT/ 10PM ET (May 18th) for customers in the US, followed by 1PM CET (May 19th) for people in the UK, France and Germany. As we reported before, this is a limited launch that will allow the Chinese phone maker to tentatively test consumer demand in these markets. Only four products will be sold -- a pair of headphones, a couple of portable batteries and its Mi Band fitness tracker -- and they'll be available in limited quantities. So if you're interested in being an early Xiaomi adopter, it's best to get in as early as possible. If the store is successful, who knows, we might not have to wait too long before its smartphones and tablets are also available in the West.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Xiaomi starts small with a UK online accessory store

  Xiaomi is about to enter the UK market, but it won't be selling the Android phones and tablets it's best known for. Mimicking its plans for the US, the company is starting with an online accessory store for its Mi-branded headphones, battery packs and fitness trackers. Xiaomi will be taking orders from midday on May 19th, but be warned, as the store has been firmly branded with the "beta" label. As Android Authority reports, this means that all of the accessories will be available in limited quantities -- so once Xiaomi has sold through its pre-determined amounts, that'll be it. Game over. Products will ship directly from Xiaomi's warehouses in China, so be aware that you might have to pay some import duties. Clearly, Xiaomi is using this limited launch to test the UK's waters, but who knows, if it's successful maybe we'll see a full-time store selling its flagship Mi Note in the future.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Marshall's Kilburn speaker packs even more guitar amp aesthetics

  If you like your portable audio gear to match your guitar rig, Marshall's new Bluetooth speaker fits the bill. The Kilburn not only handles music-playing duties via the aforementioned wireless connection, but its design resembles one of the company's guitar amps. From the speaker grill to the outer shell, gold-accented controls and guitar strap handle, the device looks just like a miniature version of what you'd see on stage. Sure, Marshall's been selling speakers for a while now, but this is its first portable option. Inside, a 4-inch woofer, a pair of 0.75-inch tweeters and three amps (two 5W and one 15W) handle those playlists for up to 20 hours before needing a charge. It won't arrive until next month, but when it does, the Kilburn will set you back $300.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Sonos update will improve sound and setup of the Play:1

  Keeping its word to tweak its line of audio gear as needed to improve performance, Sonos' upcoming software update takes aim the Play:1. When version 5.4 arrives, audio clarity for the compact speaker will get a boost, making vocals sound better. What's more, the Play:1's bass tones were dialed in to better pair with the Sub in more robust setups. Speaking of those, the company nixed the required hub for connecting multiple speakers last year, and now it's offering the same wireless configuration for living rooms. Should you choose to employ a couple Play:1s as part of your home theater system, you'll no longer need that Bridge, Boost or physical connection to a Soundbar in order to connect them. New features are coming to the Sonos app to expand those services you've added -- things like recommendations for the perfect track at a certain time of day. And that list of supported third-party services is said to grow, too. If you can't wait for the update to officially arrive this summer, you can give the beta a go right now on desktop and Android controller apps.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Sennheiser pulls Momentum Wireless headphones after Bluetooth issues

  Sennheiser's Momentum headphones have been a staff favorite here at Engadget for a while. When the company announced a wireless version at CES, I was eager to get my hands on a pair for review. Unfortunately, when listening to music with the Bluetooth headphones and using an Apple Magic Mouse with my MacBook Air, I noticed regular music drop outs -- almost every time I moved my mouse. As it turns out, I wasn't the only one. After what Sennheisers says is a "small number" of customer complaints, it stopped production and shipment of the Momentum Wireless until the issue is fixed. Of course, stopping production tells me there's a big problem, but the company maintains the cases are "limited." In addition to interruptions when playing tunes, users experienced issues trying to make calls, too. Sennheiser explained the culprit could be a number of factors that prey on wireless connections, which could include anything from interference to signal strength that can't handle high-traffic areas.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• For $19, this USB stick turns almost anything into a button

  Makey Makey Go is a super-cheap invention kit. For $19, you get a USB stick and an alligator clip; use the two in tandem and you can turn (almost) anything into a keyboard or mouse button. Examples of potential uses include a Slip'N Slide that takes a photo as you zoom past, a donut spacebar, a dog bed that initiates a Skype call and a foil sword game that counts the number of times you hit an opponent. If you have an idea that requires more than one button, you just plug in another stick.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Logitech remotes can turn down Hue lights before movie night

  Logitech's Harmony remote just got considerably more useful when you're setting the mood for a movie. A recent hub firmware update (available through the Android and iOS apps) for its Smart Control and Ultimate remotes lets you adjust Philips' Hue lights at the start or end of an activity. You can set a colorful backdrop before kicking off a house party, for instance. Frankly, this makes Logitech's Hue integration considerably more useful -- you can now light up a dark room and turn on your TV before you even reach the couch.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• This speaker lights on fire (and it's supposed to)

  Your Sonos setup is pretty handy, what with its wireless audio and all that, but you know what it's missing? A mothereffin' open flame that bounces along to your music's beat, that's what. Because seriously, a jammin' stereo is basically useless if it doesn't run the risk of burning down the your house. And before you ask, no The Sound Torch wasn't concocted by The Talking Heads' David Byrne. However! Its Danish designers say that it's perfect for either your next DJ set or family picnic. For the latter you could probably even skip using one of those grody public grills with these feats of pyrotechnics. What's more, the flame pattern and height apparently changes based on the beat and style of music you're playing.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Mophie's latest iPhone battery case is waterproof, too

  Mophie's cases are a popular choice for adding some extra minutes to your mobile device's battery life. While the company already had both charging and storage options for the iPhone 6, it how offers protection from water damage, too. The H2PRO accessory not only packs in an additional 2,750 mAh battery, but it's waterproof as well. An IP-68 rated Otterbox-esque design also protects the handset from dirt and drops with easy access to those side-mounted controls and a mute switch. Worried about Touch ID? Mophie's scratch-resistant membrane that covers the screen will still allow you to leverage that feature. What's more, priority-charging tech makes sure your phone charges before the case when plugging in is unavoidable. If you're itchin' to snag one, the Mophie H2PRO is available for pre-order now for $130 and it's schedule to ship later this month. Unfortunately, there's no word on an iPhone 6 Plus option just yet.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Nikola Labs' case uses stray radio waves to charge your iPhone

  To hear Nikola Labs co-founder Dr. Rob Lee tell the tale, some 97 percent of the energy a smartphone expends to forge data and voice connections using radio frequencies is lost to the ether. Rather than let it all go to waste, this Ohio-based startup claims to have cooked up a way to harness that power and redirect it using a a humble-looking, $99 iPhone case. Unlike more involved solutions like the ultrasound power transmission system that uBeam has raised over $13 million to help build, there aren't any transmitters you need to stand in range of. The end result? A case that silently, slowly captures your iPhone's wasted power and uses it for recharging.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

AI (8)

• Cooking with Watson: Swiss-Thai asparagus quiche

  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. Another week, another quiche. I can't say I went into this one with high hopes after last week's funky salmon number. But, at least there is no fish here. Instead you've got a dash of Southeast Asian flavors, some asparagus and a buttery, flaky crust. This is pretty much a variation on the formula that produced Watson's biggest success, the turmeric paella -- combine the flavors of one region, with the presentation of another, and voilà! The Swiss-Thai asparagus quiche puts the flavors of Thailand (and a hint of Greece) in an open-top custard pastry often associated with French cuisine. And once again, IBM's cognitive computing efforts succeed in pushing its human chef interpreters to make something unique.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Cooking with Watson: Scandinavian salmon quiche

  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. Sometimes, the ingredient lists for these Watson recipes read like a Chopped contestant's worst nightmare. Inside the basket you will find: tart shells, gruyere, sour cream and salmon filets. Almost any time you mix cheese and fish, you know you're in trouble. (Update: I acknowledge that both tuna melts, and bagels with cream cheese and lox are rare exceptions to this rule.) But, if anyone is capable of taming the culinary cruelty of Watson it would be the brilliant minds at the Institute of Culinary Education, like Florian Pinel and Michael Laiskonis. So, even though the idea of a Scandinavian salmon quiche is a little off-putting, I put my faith in the human interpreters to steer me and my captive taste testers in the right direction.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• I trusted my gut to IBM's Watson and it gave me a fowl old-fashioned

  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. Before taking the helm at Vogue, where she laid the groundwork for the Devil to wear Prada, Diana Vreeland wrote a series of columns for Harper's Bazaar called "Why Don't You?" In a sort of goop for the 20th century, she would goad the super rich into ridiculous feats of capitalism. "Why don't you rinse your blond child's hair in dead champagne to keep it gold, as they do in France?" she'd ask. Or, "Have your bed made in China -- the most beautiful bed imaginable, the head board and spread of yellow satin embroidered in butterflies, alighting and flying, in every size and in exquisite colors?" Watson seemed to be channeling Ms. Vreeland in Cognitive Cooking, a collaboration between IBM's supercomputer and a group of humans at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE). "Why don't you make an old-fashioned with a splash of chicken broth and a slice of grilled chicken for garnish?" it inquired. And in the spirit of excess we did just that.

  By Christopher Trout Read More

• Wolfram's new website can identify objects in your photos

  Wolfram Research can already do some pretty cool things, like answer Twitter questions and spot overhead flights. Now, the maker of the Mathematica programming language and Alpha knowledge engine can perform another trick: figuring out what's in a photo. The Wolfram Language Image Identification Project can make out about 10,000 common things, including animal species, gadgets and household objects. It uses a database of around ten million images to perform the trick, which Stephen Wolfram figures "is comparable to the number of distinct views of objects that humans get in their first couple of years of life."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Cooking with Watson: Italian grilled lobster

  '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. I've got to say I am pretty against the idea of wrapping lobster in bacon. While, yes, bacon does tend to make everything better, I'm also a bit of a purist. I don't like butter or onions in my hamburgers, or mignonette on my oysters. These are foods meant to be enjoyed as they are. And I feel the same about lobster. It is meant to be steamed and devoured as is (or with some drawn butter and lemon if you really must). But, I have a job, and right now that job is to cook whatever Watson tell me to. So it's time to defile one of the most delicious (and expensive) sea creatures with bacon and a lot of citrus.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Students design a facial recognition cane for blind people

  Facial recognition technology has many use cases, but none nearly as significant as this next one might be. A group of students at Birmingham City University are developing a smart cane, dubbed XploR, which uses a combination of hardware and software to help the visually impaired easily identity family and friends. The device is powered by a smartphone's face recognition features, GPS and Bluetooth, allowing blind people who use it to detect faces up to roughly 33ft away. If the cane does recognize someone, it then sends a vibrating signal to the person and guides them via an ear piece -- for reference, the images of loved ones can be stored on an SD card.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• IBM's big bet on Watson is paying off with more apps and DNA analysis

  IBM's cognitive computer Watson is on a roll. After spinning it out as a $1 billion division last year, IBM went on to give Watson a flashy new home in Manhattan, made it a more tool for doctors with Watson Health Cloud, and it even proved its culinary chops with a new cookbook. Today IBM showed off several more examples of the supercomputer's growing ecosystem, including new Watson-powered apps that can do things like find you the ideal therapist, or help hotel staff better help guests. It's also partnered with more than a dozen cancer institutes who will use Watson to analyze DNA and offer personalized treatment profiles for patients. It may have started out somewhat gimmicky as a Jeopardy contestant, but IBM is also steadily showing how Watson could also be a truly useful tool for all of us.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Cooking with Watson: Indian turmeric paella

  '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. So, here's a question: Is it still a paella if it doesn't involve olive oil or saffron, and doesn't generally represent the flavors of Spain? At what point does it become a pilaf or, since this particular recipe is brimming with spices from the Indian subcontinent, a biryani? Really the only discernible quality that this Indian turmeric paella has that screams "paella" is the presence of socarrat -- the toasty, browned rice that sits at the bottom of the pan. Oh, and the presentation. And so, here we go again, Watson and his human interpreters from the Institute for Culinary education take a seemingly familiar dish and, with a little computer-generated nudge, create something wholly unfamiliar.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

Amazon (11)

• Amazon Prime same-day delivery is now free in 14 cities

  Amazon can get you a package in an hour, but if you "only" need it the same day, delivery is now free in 14 metropolitan areas. To get the service, you'll need to place an order of $35 or more and be an Amazon Prime subscriber at $99 per year. You'll also need to be in specific urban centers, including San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle/Tacoma (check your zip code here). The move is yet another carrot for Prime subscribers and probably a blow to brick-and-mortar stores, who now rely a lot on impatient shoppers.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Amazon finally starts paying proper taxes in European countries

  For many years, Amazon has sent a huge percentage of its European revenues over to Luxembourg. The tiny country levies a much smaller rate of tax than most of the countries in which the retailer operates, allowing it to keep a larger share of sales. With the European Commission breathing down its neck over claims it had agreed an illegal tax deal with Luxembourg, Amazon has quietly begun booking sales in some of its biggest European markets. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company began paying direct taxes on sales in the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain from May 1st.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Amazon's 'Handmade' section takes aim at Etsy

  There's a lot to love about Etsy -- it's one of the best places on the internet to find all sorts of stuff like minimalist Captain America prints or laser-cut Deathly Hallows earrings, but shipping windows are kind of a crapshoot. That could change because Amazon is apparently emailing some of the hand-crafted goods emporium's sellers and offering them to peddle their wares, according to The Wall Street Journal. The forthcoming section on Bezo's ecommerce behemoth is called Handmade, and invites lead to a survey asking about what categories the wares would fall under (11 total, including baby, apparel, pet supplies) but there isn't any word about when the section will go live.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Amazon's one-hour delivery service now features local stores

  When it's not busy sending its delivery personnel on the New York subway, Amazon has quietly been working to expand its one-hour delivery service. From today, customers in Manhattan, the company's first Prime Now location, can shop at a number of local businesses and have fresh food delivered within 60 minutes. D'Agostino, Gourmet Garage and Billy's Bakery are the first companies on board, offering groceries, cooked meals and freshly baked cupcakes respectively alongside Amazon's own range of goods. The online retailer is starting small but plans to add more stores across Manhattan over time, with Italian food market Eataly and Westside Market already waiting in the wings. As before, Prime Now's one-hour deliveries cost $7.99, so be sure to factor that in before impulse buying those delicious treats.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Amazon's Fire TV Stick drops to £25 in the UK

  If you're looking to buy a cheap streaming dongle, now might be a good time to reconsider Amazon's Fire TV Stick. Today, the company dropped the price of its Chromecast and Roku Streaming Stick competitor to £25 in the UK, which is £10 less than before. As we noted in our original review, there's a lot to like about Amazon's HDMI dongle. Unlike Google's Chromecast, it comes with a dedicated remote and a fleshed-out TV interface, which should appeal to homeowners looking for a traditional set-top box experience. It also comes with a 30-day Prime trial, which is just enough time to binge-watch the best movies and TV shows on Prime Instant Video. It's not clear yet if this is a temporary or permanent price-cut, so if you're interested, best order now just in case Amazon jacks it up again.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Amazon's riding the New York subway to speed up deliveries

  Despite its incredible reach, Amazon has always had to play catch-up with brick and mortar retailers when it comes to getting products in customers' hands. If you're in a pinch, you can normally visit a local store and walk out with exactly what you need. Amazon has taken steps to cut waiting times with same-day deliveries in some cities and then one-hour shipments via Prime Now. The only problem with promising such a short delivery period in some of the world's busiest cities is that traffic can be a nightmare. So to get orders to customers in Manhattan, the Financial Times reports that the company has begun loading small pushcarts with packages and taking them on a more efficient means of transport: the New York subway.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Amazon drops the price of the Fire Phone to £99, again

  Remember Amazon's Fire Phone? It hasn't even celebrated its first birthday yet but you'd be forgiven for never giving the retailer's first smartphone a second thought. In a bid to rectify the device's original sky-high pricing, the company took a hit and dropped the cost of the Fire Phone to £99 back in January. Now it's back. For the next week, you'll be able to pick up the 32GB model for under a ton, with the 64GB version setting you back £179. For some reason, the 64GB model is actually £30 more than it was during Amazon's previous Fire sale, but you're still making a £200 saving on either O2-locked device.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• At last, Amazon's voice-guided speaker buys things for you

  You'd think that an internet shopping giant like Amazon would have baked purchasing into its voice-controlled Echo speaker at the very start, but nope -- the best you could do until now was add items to a shopping list. At long last, though, that hands-free shopping feature is here. So long as you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can tell the Echo to re-order items you've purchased in the past. You can't buy whatever you like as a result, but the speaker will offer an alternative (or at worst, put something on your shopping list) if it doesn't find what you were looking for. Suffice it to say that this could save you a lot of clicks if Amazon is your one-stop supply shop.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Amazon's Echo wireless speaker gets voice-controlled Prime Stations

  Amazon has added Prime Stations to Echo, its wireless speaker-slash-personal assistant, perhaps in hopes that it would get more people to press the "Request an invitation" button. Prime Stations are the company's ad-free radio feeds -- basically playlists that bundle Prime Music's offerings based on artists and genres. The feature's been available for iOS and Android devices for a month or so, but since Echo is a voice-activated assistant, it comes with a bunch of spoken commands. You can, for instance, play a specific station by saying "Alexa (that's Echo's voice assistant name), play the Bruno Mars Prime Station."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Amazon is bringing Prime videos and music to JetBlue's fleet

  Amazon has spent an exorbitant amount of cash to grow its Prime Instant Video service. Still, the company knows there's more it can do to make the offering better for subscribers. As such, Amazon is teaming up with JetBlue to bring Prime's on-demand video and music content to the skies, though only in the US. The new feature, which will be powered by JetBlue's super-speedy Fly-Fi internet, will be included as part of any existing Prime membership -- it's free in-flight entertainment, and that's a gesture people are likely to appreciate. Unfortunately, it won't be available until later this year, but at least that gives you some time to start building out your Watchlist.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Amazon's voice-guided speaker juggles your IFTTT tasks

  You can tell Amazon's Echo speaker to directly control certain apps and services, but what if you want it to send information to other apps that you use more often? That's where IFTTT's new Alexa channel might save the day. Give the Echo a command and IFTTT will relay certain tasks to key apps. You can deliver your to-do list to Gmail when you ask the speaker about your itinerary, for example, or add your grocery items to Evernote without touching your phone. Frankly, this makes the Echo a lot more useful in daily life -- you no longer have to change some of your app habits to make the most out of Amazon's audio cylinder.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Apple (32)

• Apple I worth $200,000 gets tossed out for recycling

  You're about to get a textbook lesson in why you should always, always check vintage gadgets before you toss them out. A woman discarding her late husband's electronics inadvertently gave a Milpitas recycling firm an ultra-rare Apple I computer that ultimately sold for $200,000. While the recycler's policy is to share half the revenue from these sales, the woman refused to offer her name or get a receipt -- she's missing out on a $100,000 check for trading in a piece of computing history. The company would recognize her on sight, but its only chance of rewarding the mystery donor right now is to get the word out and hope she returns. [Image credit: Emmanuel Dunand /AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple offers a quick workaround for nasty iOS messaging bug

  We already know Apple is working on a fix for a recently discovered texting bug that can render your Messages app useless (and in some cases even reboot your phone), but now there's a faster solution for anyone affected. You just need to use Siri to read your unread messages and send a dictated reply, according to a support document Apple posted yesterday. After that, you'll be able to open the Messages app once again and delete the malicious thread. The messaging bug was originally uncovered by Reddit users, and it involves sending a note with a series of Unicode characters through any iPhone messaging app. Of course, this workaround is only a fix for people who already received one of the tainted messages -- you'll have to turn off notification previews for apps if you want to stay completely safe. It's unclear when Apple will deliver an update to solve the issue, but given how easy the bug is to exploit, we figure it's coming soon.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Apple's latest purchase is an augmented reality company

  Out of all the major technology companies, Apple is yet to reveal its plans for augmented or virtual reality. But still, chances are the Cupertino firm's working on a project (or two) behind closed doors, as signaled by multiple patents that have surfaced over the past few years. To make matters more interesting, Apple has bought Metaio, a startup from Germany that's been focusing on AR since it launched in 2003. "Pioneers in Augmented Reality and Computer Vision," reads a message displayed in large font on Metaio's website.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Apple Watch charges faster with secret port, but not by much

  Apple doesn't want you hacking around its Watch, so it was kind of a deal when an accessory maker discovered a diagnostic port that would enable just that. The company, Reserve Strap, now has a video (below) that proves direct charging via the port is about 5 percent faster than the standard inductive way. While that might not sound like a lot, it confirms that it'll be relatively easy to build straps that add battery life and other functionality. In fact, Reserve Strap pivoted on its own design ($250 on preorder) after making the discovery, as shown below. If that's too rich for your blood, we imagine other accessory makers will now follow suit.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Apple Store app offers same-day delivery in select locations

  The Apple Store app now offers same-day delivery service through Postmates, the same company bringing Big Macs to New York City homes and Starbucks coffee to households and offices in several US cities. To be clear, the two companies have been working together long before this, and you can actually order Apple products from Postmates' iOS app if you live in one of the many locations where the company operates. This new on-demand delivery option, however, is available only to San Francisco Bay Area residents willing to pay a fee to get their items ASAP.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Apple is fixing a bug that crashes your iPhone with a text message

  Beware if you have any jokester friends with iOS devices -- they might just have a way to ruin your day if you have any iOS gadgets of your own. Apple has confirmed that it's fixing a recently discovered bug that crashes iPhones and other iOS 8 hardware the moment you get a carefully crafted set of Unicode characters in Messages and other communication apps with notification previews. It's not clear when that fix will be available, but the only existing safeguard is to turn off those previews. Otherwise, you may have to bend over backwards to make sure that those rogue messages don't cause further chaos. While this isn't the biggest iOS glitch we've seen lately, it's definitely the most annoying.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple is reportedly working on its answer to Google Now

  Apple has made some efforts to give you relevant info when you need it (such as iOS' Today screen), but it hasn't really had a response to Google Now, which brings you everything from timely directions to cheap flights. According to 9to5Mac's sources, however, that's going to change soon. The crew at 1 Infinite Loop is reportedly working on Proactive, an effort to unite Siri, contacts, schedules and apps in a way that surfaces info at just the right time. A revamped Spotlight search screen in iOS will automatically fill with content based on your schedule and habits. If you're going on a trip, for example, it'll pop up your Passbook ticket when it's time to go; if you always check Facebook in the morning, you'll get an app shortcut. There are also promises of restaurant suggestions showing up at meal time.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Fire breaks out at Apple facility in Arizona

  An Apple building in Arizona is on fire, and a live stream from local news station ABC 15 shows crews on site, as well as a burning roof full of scorched solar panels. Based on the location, it appears to be the facility Apple purchased from sapphire maker GT Advanced, with an eye towards turning it into a command center for the company's worldwide data networks. There's no information yet about any possible injuries, and it does not appear to be affecting the status of Apple's services -- GT Advanced maintained control of the building through the end of the year and it seems doubtful any major services have been set up there yet. The situation brings to mind images of Samsung's burning data center last spring, which knocked out services around the world for some of its TVs and phones for a few hours. According to the Superstition Fire and Medical District (yes, it's real) right now it appears that solar panels caught fire on the roof. Update: The fire is out, and there are still no reported injuries. The Arizona Republic reports 40 to 50 people were evacuated from the warehouse, but the fire was mostly confined to the roof where it started.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Here's how Apple's Force Touch might work on the next iPhone

  We've been hearing for months that Apple's upcoming iPhone models will be force-sensitive, just like the Apple Watch and its newer MacBook trackpads. Now we have an idea of how the company's "Force Touch" technology -- which enables pressure sensitivity and haptic feedback -- could work on future iPhones, courtesy of 9to5Mac. Sources say that it could be used to replace instances where you typically hold down your finger on the screen, for example, to highlight or paste text. Force Touch on iPhones will also resemble the way the technology is used on new MacBooks: You can press down on the display to drop new location pins in Apple Maps, or use pressure-sensitive scrolling in media players. Not surprisingly, 9to5Mac notes that Apple has built in support for iPhone Force Touch on iOS 9, and it's also working with developers to integrate it into their apps. The technology could also make its way into Apple's next round of iPads, based on references in iOS 9.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Jony Ive becomes Apple's first Chief Design Officer

  There's no question that Jony Ive is more important than ever to Apple's design process given his heavy influence on everything from the look of iOS to the philosophy behind the Apple Watch, and the Cupertino crew just gave him a promotion to reflect that fact. The Telegraph has revealed that Ive was recently promoted from Senior VP to become Apple's first-ever Chief Design Officer. He'll still oversee the company's broader design efforts, but there will be leaders dedicated to user interfaces (Alan Dye) and industrial design (Richard Howarth) as of July 1st.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Re/code: Apple wants local stations on its web TV service

  Earlier this week, folks in the know claimed that Apple's HDTV project had been junked after more than a decade of development. Now, however, Re/code is reporting that the company is still working on an online TV service for its devices, but wants to beat its rivals by being the first to offer live video from local broadcasters. Naturally, a push for regional content means having to deal with the hundreds of affiliates that operate across the country. So, instead of just shaking hands on a contract with ABC, Apple's got to get lawyers out to every station from Arizona's KNXV-TV to Wyoming's WAOW.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Apple Transit maps could be coming to iOS 9

  9to5Mac, citing unnamed sources, reports that Apple is potentially gearing up to release its updated Transit service -- the same one it nixed immediately before last year's WWDC event -- with iOS 9. Transit acts as an add-on layer to Apple's existing Maps program providing accurate navigation instructions for public transportation systems. This functionality hasn't been available as a part of the official built-in app ever since Apple switched to its own service instead of using Google's.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Apple finally has a dock for your iPhone 6 (updated)

  When Apple switched the iPhone to the smaller, simpler Lightning connector back in 2012, it also ditched one of the iPhone's most appreciated accessories: the dock. Yes, for the past three years you've usually had to either buy a third-party cradle or accept that your smartphone would lay flat on its back. At long last, though, you have an official option. Apple has quietly released the iPhone Lightning Dock, a simple perch that keeps any Lightning-equipped iPhone standing while it's charging or playing tunes through the dock's built-in audio jack. At $39, it's certainly not the cheapest dock you can get. If you insist on first-party gear, though, you can order this peripheral today. Update: There were in fact Lightning-equipped docks before, but they were specific to the 5c and 5s (and the 5 by extension). This dock works with all Lightning-based iPhones, and it'll probably be a good fit for your iPod touch, too. You might not want to try it with an iPad given that tiny base, though.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple adds Force Touch to 15-inch MacBook Pro, cuts 5K iMac prices

  Now that the people are used to the pressure-sensitive trackpads in the new MacBook and smaller MacBook Pro, it's high time that the 15-inch model joined the party. That's why Apple has revealed that it's bringing Force Touch to the larger of its pro laptops. It's not just the user interface that's been tweaked, since there's faster flash storage, a further hour of battery life and AMD's new discrete graphics hardware tucked inside. At the same time, the company has managed to get the base price for its 27-inch Retina Display iMac down to $1,999 by sacrificing the Fusion Drive. Even better, however, is that the top-line 5K iMac with a 3.5GHz chip will now set you back $2,299, at least before you pick some build-to-order options, obviously. Both devices are available from today at the company's online and retail stores, as well as authorized resellers.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• WSJ: Apple shelved its HDTV plans last year

  Ever wondered what happened to that Apple HDTV we've been hearing rumors about for years ? According to The Wall Street Journal, those rumors weren't baseless speculation, as the company did work on a television set for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, you won't be seeing one anytime soon: the project's reportedly been shelved since last year, because Cupertino couldn't come up with anything to make its television different enough from competitors'. Apple apparently toyed with the ideas of 4K TVs, using a transparent laser-powered display and even adding sensor-equipped cameras that can move to capture the speaker's face during FaceTime calls. In the end, none of those seemed "compelling enough" for the company's bigwigs.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Apple bought a company focused on super-accurate GPS

  Apple has snapped up more than a few companies that know how to deal with your location data, but it now appears to be focused on improving the accuracy of that data from the get-go. MacRumors has discovered evidence that Apple recently acquired Coherent Navigation, a company specializing in very accurate GPS. It combined the usual GPS positioning with information from Iridium's low-orbit communication satellites to pinpoint your whereabouts within inches, rather than feet.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple wants to stop RadioShack from selling your data

  When RadioShack went bankrupt, it put shoppers' data up for sale alongside its brand name and stores. Well, Apple isn't happy with that data scattering to the four winds -- it's joining AT&T and other objectors by filing a motion to block attempts to sell customers' information. The Cupertino crew argues that the info isn't part of RadioShack's bankruptcy estate, and that selling off this content would breach both Apple's privacy policy as well as a reseller deal. There's no question that the motion is as much about protecting Apple's hide as it is yours (the company doesn't want to lose data to competitors), but it could mean a lot if it prevents a shady marketing firm from annoying you down the road. [Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple could be delaying HomeKit by a couple months (Update: Nope)

  Citing sources close to the project, Fortune reports that Apple plans to delay the release of its much anticipated HomeKit platform. While the company has never actually provided a firm release date, it's been widely speculated that HomeKit would hit sometime mid-summer, around June or July. Now it would appear that users will have to wait until August or September to begin smartening up their homes. Fortune's sources blame rapidly bloating code for the delay. Apparently, the current programming iteration demands far too much memory from smaller IoT devices and Apple figures it will need an extra month or so to trim the code down to more functional specs.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Your Apple Watch can be reset pretty easily (update)

  Apple's Activation Lock made the iPhone less desirable to thieves, since they'd also need your Apple password to use it. The Watch is supposed to be similarly unhackable, but the built-in security apparently doesn't work very well, according to a site called iDownloadBlog. It demonstrated that the passcode protection that's supposed to kick in when you take the watch off can easily be bypassed by "force touching" the power-off option, as shown in the video below. That will erase everything sans passcode, letting thieves pair your Watch with another iPhone and make it their own. Since the Watch is currently desirable and hard to get, Apple had better jump on the problem, stat. Update: The bypass is documented as a feature on Apple's support site, as a way in if you've forgotten the passcode, and don't have the paired iPhone around. While some sort of activation lock seems like a good idea in case of theft, Apple clearly knows this workaround exists, and has opted on the edge of convenience over additional theft protection for now. [Thanks, Glenn Fleishman!]

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Apple close to settling with EV battery-maker over poaching lawsuit

  If Apple still keeps a "hands-off" list of companies it promised never to poach employees from, (probably not, though) then EV battery-maker A123 is likely not included. The two companies are close to reaching a settlement, after A123 filed a lawsuit against the iDevice manufacturer in February. If you recall, it accused Apple of poaching the company's top-level engineers in the process of forming its own battery division. That reportedly forced the battery maker to cancel its main projects. Apple tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, but according to Reuters, A123 has recently filed court docs saying the two are just working out the final details of their settlement. Seeing as the case might still be moved to California and how secretive Apple is, though, we'll have to wait a bit more to know if Cupertino's truly developing an electric car.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Apple music service will give artists control over what they share

  Apple's oft-rumored, Beats-based streaming music service may have more to offer artists than a big wad of cash. Tipsters for 9to5Mac claim that the service (reportedly called just "Apple Music") will give artists the freedom to share things beyond their latest songs -- they could post music videos, concert details, photos and track samples, even if the content is from other performers. Think of it as an amped-up SoundCloud page, or a take on Apple's defunct Ping network that people might actually use. Artist activity is reportedly big enough that it'll be a "core feature," and you'd see it in the Android, iOS and desktop versions. Apple isn't confirming any of these details, as you might imagine, but previous rumors of a WWDC debut suggest that you'll hear more about this musician-friendly platform in early June. [Image credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images for Apple]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple's new environmental initiative focuses on China's forests

  Apple's been vocal about trying to get its global operations running entirely on renewable energy, but the company is now looking to reduce its impact on paper, wood and similar fibers too. Outlining several environmental initiatives for China, the company announced a multi-year project with the World Wildlife Fund to increase responsibly managed forests. The program will cover up to 1 million acres of forest that provides materials for paper and wood products -- including Apple's own packaging materials. According to the press release, it wants to achieve a "net-zero impact on the world's supply of sustainable virgin fiber".

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Recode: Apple to offer free music with its upcoming streaming service

  It's no secret that Apple plans on revealing a new streaming music service -- thanks to its Beats Music acquisition -- some time this year, supposedly at its annual developer conference in June. What has so far been a secret, however, is whether or not that service will be free or paid. While it's been widely reported that Apple plans on charging $8 a month for a subscription, it now appears that the folks in Cupertino could be planning on integrating a free option or two as well. According to ReCode's industry sources, those options include a free trial period of one to three months, a SoundCloud-type service where artists could upload free tunes for non-subscribers, and a new version of iTunes Radio that would feature human-curated playlists similar to, of course, Beats Music.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Apple is crawling the web to help your Siri and Spotlight searches

  Apple doesn't have to rely solely on outside web providers like Google or Microsoft to fuel your iOS and Mac searches. The company has confirmed the rumored existence of Applebot, a web crawler that collects site information for the sake of Siri and Spotlight queries. It behaves much like Google's crawler, looking for the familiar "robots.txt" file that tells it what results to exclude on a given site; it'll follow typical Google instructions if there isn't any Apple-specific rule set. It's not clear how long Cupertino has been running its bot, or whether there's anything more in the works. However, it's evident that Apple wants its online searches to work no matter what its partnerships look like in the future.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple reportedly wants to help test your DNA

  Now that Apple has launched a platform for medical research, it's apparently ready to expand what that platform can do. MIT's sources understand that the Cupertino crew is working with academics on ResearchKit apps that let iPhone users get DNA tests. Apple wouldn't directly scoop up DNA, as you might imagine -- rather, it would make it easier for you to collect genes and share them with scholars. You could see some findings within the app, too, so you might know whether or not a condition is genetic.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple may be under FTC investigation for Beats deals

  The hushed whispers surrounding the Federal Trade Commission's supposed investigation into Apple's Beats Music service relaunch have gotten a little louder. From the sounds of it, Cupertino's approached record labels and over a dozen of artists, throwing its weight around as the largest seller of music to snag "limited exclusive" rights and partnerships to pad out a new version of the formerly-owned-by Dr. Dre music service. Bloomberg's sources say that the FTC's still pretty early in the process, but the inquiry revolves around how Apple's dominance in the music sales space, coupled with exclusive deals, could put the likes of Spotify at a disadvantage. It's something other streaming outfits like Tidal don't exactly have to worry about because they don't have iTunes attached to them.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Video on demand firm sues Apple over streaming patents

  Remember OpenTV, the video on demand software developer that sued Netflix for allegedly violating its streaming patents? It's back. The company is suing Apple in the belief that virtually everything Apple makes (such as the Apple TV and iTunes) is infringing on five streaming-related patents, including ones for interactive TV and copy protection. Supposedly, you're borrowing OpenTV technology when you download or rent a movie through Apple's software. The folks at 1 Infinite Loop haven't issued a formal response to the suit, although there's definitely pressure to offer compensation. OpenTV's parent company, the Kudelski Group, brags that it already has licensing deals (Netflix settled earlier this year) with the likes of Disney and Google -- Apple didn't necessarily use OpenTV's ideas, but it'll go against the grain if it fights back.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple launches program for third-party Watch strap makers

  There's already a number of Apple-made and third-party Watch bands out there, but Cupertino wants more -- and it wants products that follow its exact specifications. The company has launched a "Made for Apple Watch" program, which gives makers a list of design requirements to follow, similar to its "Made for iPhone" program for accessory creators. Apple's Watch straps are interchangeable, since they're attached to "lugs" that easily slide out from the watchface with the press of a button. The tech juggernaut will provide those lugs to the program's participants, though they can also create their own, so long as they use Apple-approved materials.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NYT: New Apple TV will get a bigger remote

  Tired of losing your Apple TV's slim remote in the couch cushions? The New York Times reports that an updated version of the device will finally get a redesigned remote. The new control is described as being thicker, while also adding a touchpad for scrolling around, adding up to a size that's similar to the remote Amazon ships with its Echo wireless speaker. The Apple TV remote achieves the goal of stripping out everything it can for a minimalist design -- that's a launch unit from 2007 pictured above, you can take a peek at the current model after the break -- but with the number of apps and options available, it could probably use another button or two. Rumors have indicated the new model will arrive during Apple's WWDC event packing an app store and internet TV subscription packages, which probably also plays into any design changes.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Apple Watch diagnostic port: a goldmine for accessory makers

  Long before it officially existed, there were rumors that the Apple Watch had disappointing battery life. It wasn't long afterward that we started to hear companies were preparing to build external power packs to compensate. Thankfully, the folks over at Reserve Strap have discovered that you don't have to sacrifice style in favor of usefulness, thanks to the six-pin "diagnostic" port found on the bottom of the watch case. It turns out that the feature doesn't just transmit data, but can receive power at far faster rates than the magnetic inductive charging panel on the underside.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Recommended Reading: Can Apple avoid a fate similar to IBM?

  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. Apple Won't Always Rule. Just Look at IBM. by Jeff Sommer The New York Times Apple's growth is staggering. It's also unsustainable... just ask IBM. The folks in Cupertino may still have room to expand the company's reach, but there are some signs that the ceiling may be approaching. Of course, IBM, a company that was once on top, is doing great work, but its market cap is estimated to be less than a quarter of Apple's.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Apple confirms tattoos can mess with the Watch's heart sensor

  After the Internet was awash with reports that tattoos can negatively affect the Apple Watch's heart rate sensor, Apple has confirmed the issue on its website. In a page dedicated to explaining how the Watch captures your vitals, the company notes: "Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance," adding that "the ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings."

  By Matt Brian Read More

Apps (71)

• Turn Instagram food posts into meals with recipe app Handpick

  Handpick, a recipe app that helps users craft meals using ingredients they have on-hand, now scours the filtered seas of Instagram for delicious-looking dishes and their accompanying recipes. This means the next time you're searching (or drooling) through "#food" on Instagram, you might be able to actually whip up whatever catches your eye. Handpick uses a mix of algorithm and human curation to find matching food posts and recipes, CEO Payman Nejati says (via TheNextWeb): "Instagram is effectively a database of over 1 billion food posts. We started analyzing that data through the public API and using computer vision, we know whether a post is about food. We then look at the caption and use that information to match recipes to social media posts."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• A fight is brewing over ads in the 'open-source Photoshop'

  Far from just being that character in Pulp Fiction, GIMP is also an open-source alternative to Photoshop that's given away freely for all to use. Unfortunately, there's been a kerfuffle between the project's creators and SourceForge, one of the places that the software is available to download. The latter stands accused of adding for-profit adware to its version of GIMP, which is a big no-no amongst the free and open-source software community. In a posting to Google+, SourceForce is alleged to have frozen out GIMP for Windows rep Jernej Simon?i? and subsequently injecting malicious code into the build to trap unwitting users.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Uber's driver app now serves the hearing impaired

  More often than not, most features released by Uber are designed for its customers, not drivers. Today, though, the ridesharing firm is making some changes to help a specific group of people behind the wheel: those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These updates, planned in tandem with the National Association of the Deaf, lets drivers access an Uber Partner app that offers tools created particularly for the hearing impaired. For example, contractors are now able to modify their app to have the flashlight turn on when a trip's being requested, along with the existing audio notification. They can also set it so that riders receive a message directly on the Uber app, prompting them to enter a destination or to provide special instructions for a pick-up.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Google Play makes it easier to find kid-friendly apps

  Finding kid-friendly content in the clutter of inappropriate digital entertainment is one of the hardest tasks for parents. Google Play will now include a discovery tool that makes it easier for families to find apps, movies, shows and books that are best-suited for kids. One-third of the Android users in the US are parents with kids aged 12 and under. If you're one of those parents, and you're looking for an app that keeps your toddler occupied or a tween-fiction book to encourage a reading habit, you will be able to tap the Family button on the home page to browse content by age and interests. You can also personalize the search based on characters -- so Elsa, SpongeBob and Peppa Pig all get their own character badges.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Google's Inbox email app is now open to (almost) everyone

  You no longer have to cajole your friends into giving you an invite to Google's smarter, task-oriented Inbox app. As of today, it's available to everyone with a standard Gmail account -- you just have to grab the Android or iOS app, and you're off to the races. There are a few new features coming along for the ride, too. Inbox now bundles all your trip-related email in one place, and will both show your Google Keep reminders and suggest adding them if someone sends you a to-do list. You also get options to take back outgoing emails, add custom signatures and open reservations directly in apps like Eat24 or HotelTonight. Workers who need Google Apps support won't get to use the normal Inbox app just yet, but Google is opening the early adopter program to anyone who wants to get in.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Runtastic's latest workout app puts more junk in your trunk

  Runtastic already offers dedicated apps for ab and bun workouts, and now the company takes aim at your lower half. Leg Trainer delivers over 50 exercise videos that'll allow you to select activity based on goals and fitness level. There are pre-selected routines -- like the 7-Minute Workout or Junk in the Trunk (yes, seriously) -- or you can choose individual exercises to build your own. Get ready to squat, lunge and kick your way to toned legs. Similar to the Six Pack and Butt Trainer apps, a 3D avatar guides you through the process so you know exactly what you should be doing. The Leg Trainer app also works with the Apple Watch, so you can follow the virtual trainer there or keep tabs on progress and workout stats. It also leverages the wearable to let you know when to start/stop a set and when the rest time between sets is over on tops of tracking heart rate. Perhaps the real question is what you gon' do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?

  By Billy Steele Read More

• The new Shazam identifies boxed items, books and magazines

  It's true: Shazam's adding more useful features to its application, as was reported by Reuters back in March. Now, the famed discovery software can identify more than music, movies, TV shows and commercials, which has been the core functionality to date. With this new version, introduced today, Shazam is capable of recognizing packaged goods (like a Blu-ray or themed toys), books and magazines, as well as other merchandise that's typically available at physical retail stores. To use it, the only thing you have to do is open the app on your iPhone/Android smartphone, fire up the camera and, lastly, point it toward a compatible item's Shazam-printed logo or QR code.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Pixelmator's photo-editing app is coming to the iPhone

  After testing the waters on Mac and iPad successfully, Pixelmator is now bringing its highly rated image editor to Apple's iPhone. Finally. Most notably, the application will feature new editing elements to assist while you're on the go, including a distort tool that lets you warp a photo to your liking and see the changes in real-time. The soon-to-be universal iOS app is going to be available for $5 starting tomorrow, or as a free update to people who already own the iPad version. Oddly enough, the Pixelmator app seems to have disappeared from the App Store in recent hours, but we're sure it'll be back there in time for tomorrow's scheduled launch.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Android Pay's arrival means a new direction for Google Wallet

  As we suspected, you'll be hearing more about the new Android Pay setup -- announced a couple of months ago during Mobile World Congress -- during the Google I/O event this week. According to a New York Times report, Android Pay will let retailers take payments from inside their mobile apps, use it at brick-and-mortar retail locations, and automatically update the customer's status in store loyalty programs. Like Google, retailers are interested in using those loyalty programs to track trends among their customers, and the report goes on to claim that Apple Pay will add a similar tie-in within the next month or so. So what will become of Google Wallet? Apparently, it will be reintroduced with a focus on sending money directly between two people to go along with being preinstalled on carrier phones. The mobile payment wars are just beginning, and potential competitors like Facebook and Samsung have their own plans too -- expect more details from all sides soon. [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Office Lens for Android is ready to scan your documents

  Need to quickly capture that taxi receipt, or the notes from a meeting? You can now pull out your Android phone to do it. After several weeks of testing, Microsoft has released the finished version of Office Lens for Google-powered devices. As a recap, Office Lens' party trick is its ability to scan all kinds of documents (even at less-than-ideal angles) and translate them into usable files on OneDrive and OneNote -- it'll even make text searchable. The complete Lens app should work on a wide range of devices, so you'll definitely want to swing by Google Play if you're eager to give this scanner a spin.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Creepy Chrome extension shows where FB messages come from

  Even though Facebook's mobile Messenger specifically tells you that it tracks your location data the first time you install the app (and every time you start a new conversation), most folks don't realize how often and how accurately it actually does so. In fact, the app pings your location each time you send a text. And with this new Chrome extension, you'll be able to see exactly where your contacts have been messaging you from -- without their knowledge or consent.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Transform parts of your screen into Mario levels with Screentendo

  You know what's a good cure for office boredom? A Mac app that changes parts of your screen into a playable level straight out of Super Mario Bros. Thanks to Aaron Randall's Screentendo desktop add-on, a similar process to that of taking a screenshot can have you playing a unique Mario level in seconds. In this case, game building is a two-step process that first determines the underlying structure of the image before generating those bricks on top. Randall admits that the app isn't without flaws, and that it's more of a proof-of-concept than anything else. For example, the image rendering works best on images with high contrast -- like the Google logo captured in the video after the break.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Movie of the Day app hopes you'll impulse buy $7 'X-Men' via iPhone

  Fox and Apple are trying a new twist on digital movie sales starting today, pushing a Movie of the Day app on iOS. For now, it's only for Apple devices and Fox movies (a Google Play version should arrive eventually), but as you can guess from the name it just does the one thing. "Daily Flash Sales" offer a single movie, heavily discounted (up to 70 percent off, somewhere between $5 and $10), for purchase for 24 hours, with the app highlighting which one and pointing users to it. It's launching in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and France today and the first flick for sale is a $7 copy (in HD or SD, and you could just grab it via iTunes) of X-Men: First Class. Movies like Alien, Die Hard, Ice Age, Planet of the Apes, Rio, and The Sound of Music will float through its library, so if you're interested in filling up your Apple-connected digital shelf it could be worthwhile.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Korg brings its classic M1 synthesizer to the iPad

  If you're fond making classic synth sounds with your iPad, Korg offers quite the library of apps that'll do just that. As of this week, there's a new addition: the M1 digital synthesizer and music workstation. The "complete reproduction" of the instrument is available for Apple slates as the iM1 app, and thanks to detailed circuit analysis by its engineers, Korg says the software carries the sound of the original and then some. These are sounds you've likely heard from Depeche Mode, The Cure and others. The included effects were bumped from two up to 18 and there's a Kaoss pad for adjusting audio with swipe -- both of which are new items absent on the original M1. If you're familiar with synthesizers, the Kaoss feature mimics that touch-friendly surface for tweaking sounds found other other synths like the Moog Voyager XL.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Twitter finally launches Periscope for Android

  Periscope for Android is here. Twitter's new streaming app contains many of the same features found in the iOS version, but with a few Android exclusives. In addition to more granular notification controls than found in the iPhone version, there's a new "return to broadcast" feature that helps get viewers back to a stream after being interrupted by a phone call, text or other pesky distraction.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Opera Max for Android starts saving data when you're on WiFi

  Opera's data compression was originally meant to get the most out of thimble-sized cellular plans, but you'd probably agree that WiFi matters, too. After all, you've likely had that moment when you were struggling to visit websites on a lousy public hotspot. Mercifully, relief is in sight: an updated version of Opera Max for Android now squeezes app data even when you're on WiFi, helping you save bandwidth no matter what connection you're using. You can manage cellular and WiFi data separately, and there's an equally new blocking option if you need to put a particularly greedy app on ice for a while. Snag the upgrade today if you find that fast, unfettered internet access is sometimes hard to come by.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Chromecast app update gives a clearer look at your streaming devices

  If you're fortunate enough to have more than one Chromecast device at home, you should now have an easier time making sense of your streaming options. Updates to both the Android and iOS Chromecast apps give you a reworked hardware view that gives each device its own card, complete with its current backdrop and casting status. You won't be as likely to hijack the kids' TV by accident, in other words. On top of this, you can browse through your backdrop history and change how quickly those pictures cycle. Swing by the App Store or Google Play if you've been itching for better control over your TV streaming.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Android's stand-alone Photos app will give you more creative control

  Wondering what will happen when Android's Photos app finally makes a clean break from Google+? You should now have a pretty good idea. Android Police has peeked at a leaked copy of a reworked Photos app, and it's clear that Google is using the service split as an incentive to shake things up. The highlight may be Assistant (below), an effective substitute for Auto Awesome that gives you more creative power -- you can produce more content yourself (such as Stories) instead of waiting for it to show up. The interface should also be more intuitive across the board, with more options for viewing your photos, a better editing interface, privacy-minded sharing and pinch-to-zoom gestures for opening pictures. There's a chance these features could change or disappear before they're official, but it won't be surprising if you see this Photos redesign on the Google I/O stage this week.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Firefox browser for iOS is almost ready for testing

  It's been a long time coming, but Firefox for iOS is nearly here... in a manner of speaking. Mozilla has revealed that it's about to conduct a "limited" beta test of the web browser, and has already posted source code for early testers. The organization would like to have an open beta that gives everyone an early peek (à la Android), but that's not really possible with Apple's current testing mechanism. Still, a public release is likely close behind -- if you're not a fan of your iPhone's existing web surfing options, you'll have another major alternative before long.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Skully debuts AR helmet app while navigating delays

  Skully CEO Marcus Weller stood in front of an crowd of customers that shelled out $1,500 to be one of the first recipients of the company's helmet with a heads up display and rear-facing camera to answer their questions. A few weeks ago Weller sent those backers a video message explaining that their helmets would be delayed until the fall. Now he was about to talk to those people face to face to address their concerns and show off the helmet's companion app for the first time. It's a talk he's prepared to give in multiple cities around the world.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Google makes a Hangouts Mac app you'll want to use

  Listen up, OSX users: with the new Hangouts update from Google you might actually want to use the official app rather than Adium. It consolidates your contacts on the left side of one window and puts your chats on the right as you'll see below. It's pretty simple and intuitive and is rocking Mountain View's Material Design style, and frankly the simplification feels a bit overdue. Google's Mayur Kamat writes that you can take advantage of the new features on Chrome OS, Linux and Windows too but you'll have to disable "transparent mode" first.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• SFW 'Playboy Now' app is only here for the articles

  19 million people visit Playboy.com every month, 80 percent of which reportedly coming via mobile devices. In response to that demand, Playboy magazine has released a new mobile-centric app that gives its rabid fanbase exactly what they want: Buzzfeed-style listicles and light reading. Wait, what?

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Firefox will look at your history to show Suggested Tile ads

  Starting next week, Firefox beta users will start seeing "Suggested" tiles whenever they open a new tab. These are ad tiles clearly marked as such (see bottom left above), which are a separate entity from the Directory tiles Mozilla launched in 2014. See, Directory tiles are randomly selected ads that appear in your new tab if you've just installed or reinstalled the Firefox browser. Suggested tiles, on the other hand, are based on your browser history. Yep, the program will look at what you've been visiting online to deliver relevant ads -- in these codes that TechCrunch found, for instance, you'll see that visiting Engadget tells Firefox that you're interested in technology.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Adobe says goodbye to its Photoshop Touch app, hello to Project Rigel

  Adobe's been keen on new mobile apps as of late, but today it announced the end of the road for one of its more popular pieces of software. As of next week, Photoshop Touch will no longer be available in iTunes, Google Play and other app libraries and the creative software company will not push new updates. Photoshop Touch was a bit of a tough sell at $10, especially when the new round of apps began rolling out for free. The last major update to Touch came in late 2012, and and in the time since, Adobe announced Photoshop Mix alongside its Ink and Slide drawing accessories. And there's a mobile version of Lightroom now, too. With its big mobile push, the company has focused on a stable of apps dedicated to specific tasks, rather than an all-in-one solution like Photoshop Touch.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Sling TV brings its cord-cutter app to Android TV devices

  So far, Dish has done an exceptional job of launching its internet television service, Sling TV, on most major mobile and stationary platforms. And now Android TV is the latest to offer support for the cord-cutter app, joining others like iOS, Roku, Xbox One and, of course, Android in doing so. At the moment, Sling TV on Android TV really just means being available for the Nexus Player, although there are many devices launching soon with Google's newly minted ecosystem on board. Sling TV also announced ESPN Deportes (the Spanish version of ESPN) has been added to its channel lineup, which it will be including as part of the Latino-tailored, $5-per-month Deportes Extra pack.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Google Maps gets even more detailed traffic features

  Google has updated Maps with more specific traffic alerts just in time to help you dodge Memorial Day traffic nightmares. The app can already route you around closures and other problems using crowdsourced traffic data, but now it'll give you an explanation for why a detour is recommended with a dismiss-able card. For instance, it'll let you know whether it's recommending a route because it's the fastest option, or because it helps you avoid an incident. Moreover, it'll now give you a heads up on traffic conditions as soon as you enter your destination, telling you if its smooth sailing ahead or a cluster-you-know-what.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Viber's calling and messaging app launches on Chromebooks

  In order for Chrome OS to succeed, Google needs all the support it can get from developers. Hardware companies are certainly doing their part, namely by offering Chromebooks to people at affordable prices. That's why it's important when a popular service such as Viber launches on the platform, like today. Now users can start using the app to communicate with friends or family directly from their Chromebook, just as they would on iOS, Android or Windows Phone. Not only can you send text and picture messages, but also make phone and video calls to your contacts. It's free too, which comes in handy if you're trying talk to people across different countries.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Spotify automatically selects tunes to match the pace of your run

  The addition of video and podcasts is great, but Spotify is looking to enhance workouts, too. Selecting the perfect tracks to match your run will be quite easy, now that the app now measures your pace and picks tunes in a matter of seconds. What's more, the Spotify Running feature will play nice with fitness apps like Nike+ and RunKeeper later this year, so you can keep tabs on progress while easily soundtracking that 5K. If you prefer to peruse options the old fashioned way, there's a collection of curated playlists built for a range of speeds. The streaming service already teamed up with Adidas to bring a similar feature to the shoe maker's Go app, so it makes sense that the tool would eventually end up in the primary streaming software, too. Spotify Running is part of a massive update that's available in the US, UK, Germany and Sweden starting today.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Adblock Plus gets its own Android browser

  Whatever your views are on online advertising, it's here to stay. But that doesn't mean that companies aren't doing all they can to strip the web of ads on your behalf. Perhaps the most notable is Adblock Plus, which has made a name for itself by delivering browser extensions so efficient that Google and Microsoft have paid to be whitelisted. After briefly enjoying a period on the Play Store before it was pulled by the search giant in 2013, Adblock Plus today makes a return to Google's marketplace in the form of a browser.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Chrome adds MIDI support for browser-based music composition

  Let's say you went all out for Rock Band 3 and bought a MIDI drum kit and the game's keyboard peripheral, haven't used them since, but hate to put that stuff on Craigslist. With the new Chrome update you can use 'em to make beautiful music in your web browser with the Web MIDI API. As VentureBeat notes, this means that websites can access digital instruments and you'll be able to compose tunes without needing any special software. Most (possibly all) of the musical browser experiments we've seen thus far rely on your computer's keyboard to create audio -- like Typedrummer, for instance -- so this should make things pretty easy for folks more accustomed to traditional instruments. Oh, and as previously reported, support to bring legacy websites into the HTTPS fold are in place as well. [Image credit: stshank/Flickr]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Samsung's cross-device sharing app arrives on Google Play

  Last November, Samsung introduced Flow, which lets users seamlessly share activities between devices. (Yes, much like Apple does with Continuity.) And while the software still isn't fully baked, the South Korean company is now letting people give it a try -- so long as they have compatible Android hardware. The beta application, available on Google Play, offers a taste of what Flow can do, like allowing you to start reading an article on your smartphone, pause it and pick up where you left off on, say, a tablet. Flow Beta is only available to some Galaxy devices at the moment, and Samsung's encouraging developers to make their apps compatible with its new feature as soon as possible.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Chrome add-on shares your web links through sound bursts

  If Google has its way, the days of sharing web links through copying text (or bumping devices) will soon be over. The internet giant has released Google Tone, an "experimental" Chrome extension that shares your browser's current web address to other computers through specially crafted sound bursts. So long as the recipients are within microphone range and use Tone, they don't have to lift a finger -- their machines will pick up the audio cue and start surfing. There are a lot of variables that could sour your experience (don't try this in a noisy room, folks), but this could still be ideal if you just have to send cat videos to everyone within earshot.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Instagram's Layout collage app comes to Android

  You no longer have to use an iPhone to get creative with Layout, Instagram's collage app -- it's now available for Android. As before, the software lets you cram up to nine photos into a single image, with options to shuffle and flip pictures if you're aiming for a particular effect. It'll automatically detect faces to help you find your friends, and you don't need an Instagram account to sign up or share pictures. You will get an extra perk if you do use Facebook's square photo app, though. Android-based Instagram users (iOS is coming soon) are getting Structure, an editing tool that emphasizes details and textures in your shots. However artistic you are, you'll definitely want to swing by Google Play.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• MixRadio's music-streaming app heads to iOS and Android

  After a long exclusive spell on Windows Phone, MixRadio is finally expanding outside of Redmond's mobile platform. The music-streaming service, which Microsoft sold to messaging company Line last year, announced today that its app will be available on iOS and Android starting today. MixRadio's main feature is serving up personalized playlists to listeners for free, across hundreds of genre- and artist-based channels, slightly similar to what Pandora does. Interestingly enough, the service has also revealed a partnership with HTC; what this means is you'll start seeing MixRadio curate stories for BlinkFeed, the smartphone maker's customizable news stream.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• RealNetworks' next app makes sense of your photos and videos

  The company that gave us RealPlayer is now targeting something else entirely: All of the media that we take that never sees the light of day. RealTimes, the next flagship app from RealNetworks, automatically backs up your photos and videos into the cloud and sorts them into easily shareable montages. Because if you're like most, you probably end up shooting plenty more media than you know what to do with. That's especially the case with parents, a demographic that RealNetworks is determined to crack. The app, which is available for iOS, Android, Windows PCs, Roku devices and Chromecast, automatically chooses the best photos and video selections for its montages. Your montages can also feature soundtracks based on built-in tracks or your own tunes. You can store up to 2GB of media and create 30 second montages for free, or pay $5 a month for 25GB more storage and longer montages, or $10 a month for completely unlimited storage.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Zepp upgrades its tennis game with a beefed-up app

  Just in time for the French Open, sports-tracking firm Zepp is launching a big update to its tennis app. The simply named Tennis 2.0 app works with the company's multisport sensor -- a bright, little widget that attaches to golf clubs, baseball bats and tennis rackets. We've taken a few swings with the sensor in batting cages and on tennis courts in the past, and while we praised its ease of use and the fact that it worked with most any bat/racket, we thought the accompanying tennis app lacked the depth of competing options like Babolat's Play series or Sony's Smart Tennis Sensor. Now, Zepp's significantly beefed-up app looks to address many of those concerns.

  By Philip Palermo Read More

• Automatic launches an app store for cars

  Two years ago, Automatic released a $100 Bluetooth-enabled car adapter along with an accompanying smartphone app to give you all kinds of insight about your vehicle. You could use it to track your trips, figure out your fuel consumption, locate your parking spot and even find out what that Check Engine light really means. Today, Automatic is taking that whole smart driving assistant thing one step further: It's opening an app store so that third-party apps can harness some of that same metadata too. And since Automatic's adapter works with any car with an OBD-II (Onboard Diagnostics) port -- that's all vehicles built and sold in the US since 1996 -- that means this store will be compatible with a great majority of vehicles out there. Likely one you already own.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• This app reminds you to drunkenly buy stuff at 2 am

  The best kind of Amazon deliveries are often the ones you were too drunk to remember ordering. And with the help of the Drunk Shopping app, you'll never miss another opportunity to do so...just as long as that opportunity occurs at 2am on a Saturday night. Developed by the same guy that brought us Troll The NSA and Unbaby.me, Drunk Shopping isn't an app in the traditional sense; it's really more of a service.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• 'Zombies, Run!' marks latest update by going free-to-play

  Zombies, Run! celebrated the release of version 4.0 earlier this week with some major modifications. The popular gamified exercise app, which used to retail for a flat $4 at the Google Play Store, has switched over to a free-to-play subscription model. The app and gameplay themselves haven't changed much. Users are challenged to run (literally) a series of 200-plus missions while avoiding the gnashing teeth of an Undead swarm, all within the context of a post-apocalyptic audio drama. Six to Start, the app's developer, has already released four "seasons" of added content since its debut and will likely continue to do so. However, users will now have to pay $3 per month (or $20 per year) to keep getting these regular updates.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Swipe into your new home with the Knocker real estate app

  A new app, billed as the "Tinder of Real Estate", is allowing homebuyers in the UK to shop for a new home the same way they shop for new partners: by swiping. It's called Knocker and was recently created by a pair of programmers at the Ignite100 accelerator in Newcastle. The app runs atop the British property website Zoopla, allowing users to easily browse the site's enormous database of available homes. And, like Tinder, potential matches are served up based on the user's location. Swiping left cycles through nearby properties while swiping right contacts the listing agent to arrange a viewing. The app is currently free for iOS users, though there's no word yet on when (or whether) it will be coming to Android.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Panasonic debuts first Firefox-powered Smart TVs in Europe

  Panasonic lost some mystique when it stopped making those amazing plasma sets, but its new Firefox OS-powered 4K Smart TVs are showing a return to form. First revealed at CES this year, those sets are now available in Europe and will be rolling out to the US and elsewhere in the coming months. The Smart TV space has become crowded with players including Google's Android TV platform, Samsung's Tizen and Roku, to name just a few. However, Mozilla touts several unique advantages to its own platform, like plenty of HTML5 web apps including Netflix and Hulu, along with the ability to share content from any device with a Firefox browser.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Sunrise calendar app tweaks your keyboard for easy scheduling

  If you're as big a fan of the Sunrise calendar app as the folks at Microsoft, scheduling meetings just got a lot easier. There's a new feature called Meet that adds a tab to your device's keyboard offering quick and easy access to your availability. Not only can you immediately see what time slots you have free without navigating elsewhere, but you can select a handful of options to send to your colleagues, friends and family. Once they decide what works best, Sunrise automatically schedules the event for you. And it even works for folks who aren't using the app. All of that means that you'll save a significant amount of time inputting dates and swiping through multiple apps. Itchin' to give it a go? Both the Android and iOS versions have been updated with the new tool, so you can start thinking about what you'll do with all of that extra time.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Microsoft's super-stable video recording arrives on PCs and phones

  Microsoft's Hyperlapse is now more than just a clever idea in a research lab -- the folks in Redmond have released apps that help you record and produce super-stabilized videos on Android (in preview form), Windows and Windows Phone. Much like Instagram's software, the algorithmic tools whittle down your shaky footage into high-speed, smooth clips that your friends are more likely to watch. The big differences are in the amount of control you get. You can zip beyond Instagram's 6x speed limit, for example, and the desktop app (Hyperlapse Pro) uses 3D modelling to steady the footage from GoPros and other common action cameras.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Meerkat for Android is out of beta on Google Play

  Meerkat has not only beaten its Twitter-owned rival Periscope to Android devices, it's also shed its Beta phase according to a Tweet published Wednesday. The Meerkat for Android live streaming video apps operates just as its iOS counterpart does, allowing users to share real-time feeds with their Twitter followers. Conversely, Periscope's Android debut is still coming "soon! We're working on it," per a post on the app's blog published April 1st.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Chrome extensions are now only available from the Web Store

  To combat the spread of malicious code and malware through un-vetted websites, Google implemented a new rule for Windows users last year: Chrome extensions can only be hosted on the Chrome Web Store. Today, Google announced that it will expand that rule to users on all Windows channels with Mac channels following suit in July. The move comes after a staggering 75 percent drop in the number of customer support help requests to uninstall unwanted extensions, according to the Chromium Blog.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Skype's live translation feature is open for anyone to use

  Today Microsoft removed the sign up process required to beta test its Skype Translator app. Now if you want to use the almost real-time translation service, you can just download it without filling out a form. The service closes the communication gap between individuals speaking different languages by transcribing what a person just said or typed for the other party. The app is available for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 preview. If you're interested in chatting folks that speak a language different than your own, the service supports four voice languages -- English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin -- and 50 languages via IM. So go ahead, make new friends in China and India and start chatting.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Firefox can finally stream Netflix videos without a plugin

  Due to ?Hollywood's insistence on DRM to stream its movies on Netflix, Firefox users who wanted to watch flicks on the service had to download the Silverlight plugin. That's because until now, Mozilla's staunch open-source philosophy prevented the browser from being loaded with the DRM tech -- dubbed the Adobe Content Decryption Module (CDM) -- necessary to stream those shows on regular ol' HTML 5 (Chrome and Safari, on the other hand, have no such scruples). Not so with the latest version of Firefox, however, which is ready to help you watch your favorite Netflix show just by itself, no plugin required. If you're strictly anti-DRM though, no worries; Mozilla is pushing a non-CDM version of the browser for your principled pleasure that only downloads the DRM module when you visit a page that needs it. It might seem a little antithetical for Mozilla to offer a browser with DRM support, but we can understand why one might want to bend the rules to watch the wonder that is Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Google delivers news headlines to your Apple Watch

  If you were gutsy enough to buy an Apple Watch on launch, you've likely been asking a common question: where are the Watch-savvy Google apps? Well, one of them is finally here... although it's probably not the one you want. The search firm has updated Google News & Weather with support for Apple's wearable, so you now have a quick way to scan major headlines from your wrist. It's definitely convenient, although these tidbits take a while to load and don't include the "weather" part of the iOS app. However, the real question is when the Google apps that you're likely to use will show up. It'd be great to dictate Hangouts messages or triage an overflowing Gmail inbox.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• BitTorrent's messaging service goes wide, adds ephemeral options

  Last we heard of BitTorrent's chat client, Bleep, it was just debuting. Today the news is that the secure messaging client is moving from open alpha to a release aimed at the general Android and iOS owning public. With it comes peer-to-peer messaging with the ability to communicate -- even sending messages to friends who are offline -- no servers required, which theoretically means no threat of hacking. Perhaps the biggest new feature is an ephemeral option called "whispers" for evaporating messages. Unlike Snapchat, though, you can choose on a message by message basis which texts or photos you send will evaporate after 25 seconds. It isn't an all or nothing affair here. And to further distance itself from the ghostly messaging service, you can even send these from a computer. BitTorrent says with whispers you can swap back and forth between them and normal messages seamlessly without breaking the flow of conversation too.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Virgin TiVo boxes can now access media stored in the cloud

  Virgin Media customers might be at least vaguely familiar with "Cloud," the company's thoughtfully named cloud storage service. Anyone on Branson's books gets 5GB free, with up to nine other members of the household getting the same amount of space to upload files and back-up mobile devices to. It's just one of those handy customer perks, with paid tiers for those who want more storage. Today, however, it becomes that much more useful with the launch of the Cloud app for Virgin Media TiVo boxes. Using the set-top box app, you can access all the pictures, videos and music you have stored in the ether on your living room TV, with just a few clicks of the remote. Might be time to take them up on that 5GB of free space, eh?

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Giphy has come to Gmail and lo, it is glorious

  The best thing to happen to your email client since spam filters just did! Giphy, the ubiquitous search and discovery site for animated gifs, has released a Chrome extension that allows you to easily insert moving pictures directly into your electronic mails. After installing the extension, users will find Giphy's rainbow icon in their edit bar; click that to bring up a search bar and a few trending animations which can then be inserted inline. And with an internet's-worth of animation at your fingertips, who needs emoji?

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• NYT Now news app goes free, ending a subscription experiment

  Say goodbye to the $8 a month curated news app NYT Now, and say hello to the free, ad-supported news app of the same name. More than a year after launching NYT Now, which was basically a way for the New York Times to test out an inexpensive subscription offering, the paper is changing course. The basic gist of the app is the same: It serves up a hand-picked selection of NYT stories, which are continuously refreshed throughout the day. The paper's editors are also highlighting even more stories from around the web, which makes NYT Now feel more like a social news app like Feedly or Flipboard. The revamped app is yet another sign that the NYT is trying to be nimble in a time where major newspapers are struggling to hold onto subscribers and stay relevant.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• London's 'Boris bikes' get an app for paying and planning rides

  Using one of London's "Boris bikes" isn't as simple as, say, taking the Underground or catching a bus. You have to find a docking station with an available bike, work out your journey time and how much you'll be charged, and then find another drop-off point that's close to your destination and not already full. To make the process a little simpler, Santander and Transport for London (TfL) are launching an app for iOS and Android. You can use it to find your nearest docking station, check how many bikes are available and pay for your next ride. Once you've selected a 24-hour or annual pass, a unique release code will be sent to your phone, which can then be used to unlock a two-wheeler.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Google adds pre-registration and alerts for Android apps

  Starting with Glu's Terminator Genisys: Revolution mobile game, you can now pre-register for apps from the Play store. Now if a developer wants to drum up some interest before an app release, they can stick a placeholder page in the store where users can sign up and receive an alert on their phone when the app is actually released. This is obviously handy for users, but it can also help devs gauge interest in their apps before they're released.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• 'Photofucket' devs arrested for selling their pic-stealing app

  Years before stolen pictures of celebs hit the internet in a massive bundle, news that Reddit posters were searching for private photos popped up under the term "fusking." As detailed by Buzzfeed in August of 2012, Reddit channels were dedicated to using a security flaw in Photobucket.com to search for pictures posted in private folders. If anyone on the internet knew (or could guess) a private photo's direct URL it was visible, and guessing the default filename of digital photos isn't very difficult. Today the US Department of Justice is announcing the arrest of two men for selling "Photofucket" software that it says stole guest passwords for protected albums and sought out those private pictures.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Square's 'cashtags' get more specific for sending quick payments

  Square's let you securely wire money via its (cringe-inducingly named) $Cashtags for a bit now, but the feature's gotten a little more streamlined as of late. Now, you can specify a dollar amount for payments by appending the 'tags with a number. For example: cash.me/$RED/5 is a $5 donation toward AIDS research, as the payment company cleverly pointed out in its announcement tweet. Whether or not your pursuits are as noble are entirely up to you.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Oculus program makes it possible for novices to animate VR characters

  A 3D animation studio called Masters of Pie has developed a prototype program called Geppetto that makes it easy to animate virtual reality characters. And yes, it's "easy" even for those who've had zero training in animation. Geppetto runs on Oculus Rift and is named after Pinocchio's creator, because its creators describe what it does as "digital puppetry." That term's right on the money: with the use of a Razer Hydra game controller, you can pick any part of the character and move it however you want to.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Flickr builds powerful photo search engine in major redesign

  Flickr unveiled an impressive new search function today that aims to make digging through the site's 10 billion or so photos far less of a chore. The unified search results page now includes sections for your own photostream as well as those of people you follow and the rest of the community. A slick new thumbnail view let's you quickly scan through all those results. Users can also filter results by color, size or orientation as well as by specific holidays or events, like graduations or Thanksgiving. The engine itself has also received an upgrade. Its improved search algorithms can reportedly suss out contextual intent from your query. That way, a recent Flickr Blog post explains, "Search for 'London Eye' and you'll no longer get photos of eyes in England, but find the giant Ferris wheel." Even more impressive, the site now offers an auto-tagging option that utilizes the company's image recognition software. Seems the only thing the new search functions can't do is make you a better photographer.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Chrome add-on helps you see the web if you're color-blind

  The web isn't always a great a place to visit if you're color-blind -- in fact, you may not properly see the Chrome logo above. Thankfully, Google may have a way to fill in some of that missing picture. It recently released a Chrome extension, Color Enhancer, that tweaks the browser's colors to help overcome partial color blindness. All you do is walk through a basic calibration process, and the add-on does the rest. This isn't the most complicated addition in the world, but it could make a big difference if it helps you spot web objects that would otherwise go unnoticed. [Image credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Woman uses Pizza Hut's mobile app to escape a hostage crisis

  It's sometimes too dangerous to call 911, but one Florida woman just found a potentially life-saving alternative: a food delivery app. When Cheryl Treadway's boyfriend threatened to hurt her and her family if they left home, she used Pizza Hut's mobile app to send a request for help under the pretext of ordering food. Thankfully, staff caught the message and sent police to Treadway's home, getting the hostages out safely. This kind of stealthy, app-based plea won't be as necessary once text-to-911 rolls out in earnest, but it's good to know that it's an option in dire circumstances. [Image credit: AP Photo/Alan Diaz]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google Maps for Android lists your events, flights and reservations

  Google Maps' Play listing doesn't quite elaborate on what's new with the latest version, but the update's definitely more than just a bunch of bug fixes. Android Police has discovered that the app can now mine your Gmail account for info whenever you search for these particular key phrases: my events, my flights, my reservations and my hotels. "My events" will list your Calendar entries, while the others are pretty self-explanatory. Unfortunately, these key phrases only work for the Android version of Maps at the moment -- the good news is that they're not exclusive to Mountain View's navigation service. You can actually type those key phrases or use them as voice commands on Google search or on Google Now. So long as you're logged into your account on a browser or a relevant app, they'll work perfectly whatever your device or platform is.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The clone that won't disappear: 'Threes' vs. '2048' on Google Play

  Google removed the quirky puzzle game Threes from the Play store on Tuesday. Its removal was unceremonious and sudden, but that's not exactly why Threes creator Asher Vollmer found the situation frustrating. That came down to two reasons: A robot informed Vollmer that his game was removed from Google Play in a cold, automated message. Threes was removed from Google Play because it used "2048" as a keyword -- and 2048 is a blatant, known clone of Threes. Google -- probably a human there, not a robot -- reinstated Threes after just a few hours offline and following a stream of articles and Twitter activity around its removal. Of course, 2048 remained live on Google Play the entire time, alongside a bunch of other Threes clones. This string of events highlights one of the biggest differences between Google and Apple, and how they approach their app stores. "Apple's policies are preventative and Google's policies are retroactive," Vollmer says. "You can probably figure out which one I prefer."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Android developers will get to experiment with app prices

  When you make a mobile app, you usually have to find out the hard way what will sell. You can't fiddle with pricing for just a few people, for instance. All that could change very shortly in the Android world, however. Sources for The Information claim that Google is introducing a feature that lets Android developers try different versions of the same Google Play Store page. You could not only see different previews of the app, but different pricing -- the creator could charge you $2 for that hot new game, but ask $3 from others to see if they'll accept higher pricing.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Dropbox for iOS will create Microsoft Office files from scratch

  If you've ever wanted to start a report on your iPhone and save it straight to Dropbox, you're in luck. The cloud storage outfit is rolling out an iOS update in the next few weeks that allows you to create Microsoft Office documents and save them online, not just edit them. The upgrade will also let you comment on files from the iOS app. And if you just can't wait to try something new, the latest version packs a redesigned home view that focuses on your recently opened files. There's no mention yet of corresponding Android releases, but those are undoubtedly in the pipeline.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Under Armour's MyFitnessPal goes premium for fitness fanatics

  Roughly three months ago, Under Armour snatched up Endomondo and MyFitnessPal for about half a billion bucks. Now, the sports apparel company is looking for a return on its investment by rolling out the first paid-for premium version of MyFitnessPal. This is no casual tracking service, to be clear -- this is meant for serious fitness buffs. For either $10 a month or $50 a year, users can build custom nutrition reports and dig through the minutia of their health data without being bothered by ads.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Sharing app Droplr wants to woo you back with a 'free' tier

  In case you dropped Droplr when the sharing app went from free to paid-only the company has a plan to potentially woo you back. How's that? It's going freemium starting tomorrow. Links and files you spread around with the free plan will have a week-long lifespan before evaporating. Should you want any long-term storage or whatnot, TechCrunch reports that you'll have to shell out basically double the price from before for Droplr Pro: $9.99 per month now versus the previous $4.99 action. Refreshed iOS and Mac apps are en route as well and the outfit has a few promotions going on to help take the sting out of the increased monthly price.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Microsoft Office 2016 Public Preview is now available

  Office 2016 may still be getting the finish touches in Redmond, but Microsoft is opening up its productivity suite for public preview. If you'll recall, some apps were included in previous releases of the Windows 10 Technical Preview and made available for both IT folks and devs. As of today, though, regular folks can get an early look and offer feedback on all the new stuff -- including those redesigned universal apps. This means that you'll gain access to OneDrive attachments in Outlook, real-time co-authoring and retooled applications that learn how you work to lend a hand. Specifically in Excel, there are updated charts and graphs alongside one-click forecasting and more data analyzing tools. Looking to take it for a spin before the official release this fall? Even if you're not an Office 365 subscriber, you can nab a trial version right here.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Pinterest wants to turn your pinned dreams into app realities

  You may have carefully crafted a Pinterest board to plan your dream vacation, but how are you going to make that trip a reality? Pinterest thinks it can help. The social site has launched an app developer platform that lets you take action based on your boards and individual pins. You could book an itinerary in a travel app based on your pinned destinations, for instance, or create a dinner board based on recipes in a cooking app. The platform is in a US-only beta phase at the moment, so it could be a while before you're using Pinterest-savvy apps. However, it could be worth the wait if you've spent more time yearning for pinned goods than getting them.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Schwing! 'SNL' app adds AirPlay and Android support

  Since it launched in February I've been a pretty big fan of the Saturday Night Live app, and the latest update should make it quite a bit better. Now there's native iPad support (hooray!) in addition to it being available on Android devices. NBC's also gone back and remastered some of the old sketches, added around 400 more (including some of the late Phil Hartman's "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer" bits) and tossed AirPlay support in so you can watch the clips via an Apple TV. Curiously, Chromecast beaming is still missing in action, but at least now you can text the new Church Lady emoji to let a pal know they're speeeecial.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Warby Parker wants you to use your phone for eye exams (update)

  Warby Parker, the eyewear company that sends you frames to try on before you make a purchase, has some lofty goals for the near future. In addition to plans that'll almost double its current retail footprint, the start-up has tech in the works that will save you a trip to the optometrist for an eye exam. "We think that would increase access to eye exams," co-founder Dave Gilboa told The Wall Street Journal. "It's early in the process but we are excited about the potential." Of course, besides the convenience, it'll also provide an avenue for folks who really need their eyes looked at to get some help at home.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Finally, a Meerkat app for Android you'll actually want to use

  The temptation to write off Meerkat -- the live-streaming app that sort of blew up at SXSW -- is tough to resist. After all, Twitter wasted no time releasing a competitor (with a cleaner interface, no less) that slowly seems to be eating Meerkat's lunch. For now though, Meerkat's got one leg up on its bitter new rival: The team released an Android version of the app that actually works the way it's supposed to. You see, Meerkat technically beat Periscope to Android by launching a closed beta app in mid-March, but you could only watch live streams, not start your own. In other words, it was almost completely pointless. Not so anymore!

  By Chris Velazco Read More

Big Tech (24)

• Xiaomi officially launches its US and European stores in early June

  After a brief dry run, Xiaomi is just about ready to officially launch its online store in both the US and Europe. The Chinese tech firm has announced that the Mi Store will be available in the US on June 1st, and will reach France, Germany and the UK on June 2nd. As before, you're not about to score phones like the Mi Note Pro or Mi4 through this shop -- it's all about mobile-oriented accessories, such as the Mi Band activity tracker, Mi Headphones and Mi Power Bank. If you're only interested in scoring a deal on a wearable or power pack, though, you won't have long to wait.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Comcast says Charter/TWC deal 'makes all the sense in the world'

  If Comcast had any bitter feelings about the collapse of its Time Warner Cable merger, following today's announcement of a $55 billion Charter/Time Warner deal, it's not making them public. "This deal makes all the sense in the world," Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said in a statement this morning. "I would like to congratulate all the parties." On the face of it, the statement seems surprisingly gracious, especially after Comcast spent more than a year fighting for regulatory approval in its attempt at gobbling up Time Warner Cable. But it's not hard to imagine Roberts making nice through gritted teeth. Comcast's merger was enormously unpopular by regulators and the public alike, primarily because it would have severely reduce competition by combining America's No. 1 and No. 2 cable providers. As the fourth largest cable player in the U.S., Charter has a much higher chance of its deal going through without raising monopoly alarms.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Oculus founder sued for using confidential information

  Palmer Luckey and his company, Oculus VR Inc, are being sued yet again. Total Recall Technologies, a company in Hawaii, is accusing Luckey of violating a confidentiality agreement that he signed as a former employee of the company. According to the lawsuit, he was hired about four years ago for the precise purpose of developing a head-mounted display. As such, they claim he was privy to information and feedback that he later used for the Kickstarter campaign to introduce his own version of a head-mounted display, Oculus Rift.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• eBay's testing Amazon Prime-like shipping service in Germany

  Amazon Prime offers many benefits to its subscribers, starting with super-fast shipping on web purchases. Not surprisingly, retail competitor eBay must try to match this. Over in Germany, the company has started trialling a program slightly similar to Prime, reportedly called eBay +, which will be launching in the second half of this year. Buyers there are said to have to pay between €15 and €20 (roughly $17 and $22) per year, an amount that would be reasonable considering the service's main purpose: free, fast shipping and other undisclosed exclusive benefits.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Lenovo sold 60 million PCs in a year, but probably won't again

  Lenovo's basement full of accountants has released the company's financial report for the last 12 months, and it's all smiles and dollar signs. After all, it increased the cash coming in through the front door, spent big to buy buy Motorola and IBM's server business and still made a $100 million quarterly profit. Even better, the outfit has now been the world's largest PC maker for two straight years, selling 60 million computers in the last 12 months alone.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• '90s web portal Lycos returns to sell its patents

  Long before Google and eons ahead of Bing, Lycos was the Internet's search engine. In fact, the company was one of the first to implement spidered web indexing. And while Lycos hasn't made many headlines lately, the company still maintains an impressive portfolio of technology patents. Its patents are wide-ranging enough that Google already got into trouble over old Lycos tech back in 2012 before winning its case on an appeal last year. On Wednesday, the company announced that it will be offering a selection of that collection for sale as Lycos prepares to roll out a number of physical products in the coming weeks.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• The French are coming... for Time Warner Cable

  Ever since Comcast was scared off buying Time Warner Cable, a slew of other firms have been eyeing up the business for a purchase. The latest to throw a beret into the ring is French telecoms firm Altice (us neither), which Reuters and the Wall Street Journal claim has eyes on America's No. 2. The outfit is already attempting to make it big here after announcing that it's purchasing Suddenlink, a regional cable company operating in a handful of states, including West Virginia, Texas and Louisiana, at a cost of $9.1 billion.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• PayPal will refund $15 million to customers if the CFPB has its way

  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleges that PayPal engaged in unfair, abusive and deceptive practices in the marketing and management of its PayPal Credit service, formerly known as Bill Me Later. To rectify the (many) outlined abuses, the CFPB filed a complaint and proposed consent order that directs PayPal to refund $15 million to affected consumers, plus pay a $10 million fine to the CFPB's Civil Penalty Fund. The proposed consent order isn't an official ruling just yet -- a judge with the US District Court for the District of Maryland must approve the order for it to be enforced.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Apple and Google push Obama to prevent encryption backdoors

  Apple, Google and other major tech companies have urged President Obama not to give the FBI backdoor access to smartphone data, according to the Washington Post. The publication obtained a letter signed by no less than 140 major tech players, security specialists and privacy groups stating that "strong encryption is the cornerstone of the modern information economy's security." All of the players feel that it's impossible to build a backdoor for governments in email, cellphone encryption and other communications without creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers or hostile nations. Obama previously said that while he's in favor of stronger encryption, "the only concern is our law enforcement is expected to stop every (terrorist) plot."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Alibaba hopes visual codes will fight counterfeit goods

  As you may have heard, Alibaba has a problem with counterfeit goods among its merchants -- you may not know if that Gucci bag is fake until it's too late. The Chinese online shopping giant may have a way to fight these bogus wares, though. It's implementing Visualead's Dotless Visual Code to help you verify your purchases as soon as you get them home. All you do is scan the QR-like symbol using Alibaba's Taobao app, and it'll tell you if you bought the real deal. These codes only work once and require specially developed scanning software, so scammers can't simply rehash codes or write apps that claim their products are legit.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple's $930 million legal win over Samsung gets partially reversed

  The Great Apple/Samsung Legal Throwdown of 2012 ultimately resulted in the Korean company having to pay a whopping $930 million in damages for violating Apple intellectual property... or it did, until this morning. A Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled earlier today that while Samsung did indeed violate Apple's design patents, it didn't do the with same Apple's trade dress — broader elements of design and aesthetic that dictate the presentation of Apple's gadgets. With that bombshell dropped, the court has asked for an update on the damages to be awarded sans the trade dress stuff, which should work out to a roughly $382 million discount for Samsung.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Luxury brands sue Chinese online shopping giant for allowing fakes

  It's no secret that luxury designers see Chinese online stores as a haven for fake goods, but they're now taking concerted action to shut down these less-than-official outlets. Kering, the parent company behind brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, is suing shopping giant Alibaba for allegedly letting counterfeiters sell their wares in the US and elsewhere. The company did nothing to shut these operations down even when told what was going on, according to the complaint. Kering had tried suing Alibaba last July, but it dropped the case in hopes of hashing out a deal -- clearly, those negotiations didn't get very far.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Etsy's counterfeit problem is getting worse

  News of Etsy's battle against sellers pedaling knockoff goods on its site isn't a recent revelation, but an analyst report this week details the extent of the problem. Investment firm Wedbush says that up to 2 million items listed on the marketplace may be counterfeit or infringe on either a copyright or trademark -- items like these. That's around 5 percent of all goods promoted there. It's not just fashion and jewelery brands, either: products with pro sports, cartoon and comic book artwork abound on Etsy as well. The company recently went public, and as you might expect, its stock fell in response to the report. What's more, a class action lawsuit was filed against the site for making "false and misleading statements" about the counterfeit issue. Etsy took aim at questionable merchandise in the past, banning the sale of Washington Redskins items back in September. However, if it wants to continue being the go-to place for handmade goods, it'll need to do some spring cleaning. [Image credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Walmart is developing a $50 Amazon Prime-like service

  Walmart's apparently gearing up to challenge Amazon on its turf and has conjured up a Prime competitor that will begin testing as soon as this summer. According to sources, the company's unlimited two-to-three-day shipping service for online purchases will cost $50, almost half of what Prime costs ($99). Amazon's version comes with add-ons, though, such as free video and music streaming, which Walmart won't be able to offer for now. However, The Information says Walmart is considering adding features to its codename "Tahoe" service. They may include something that involves Vudu, a video streaming service the company owns, as well as same-day grocery delivery, which it already does in five markets. The chain might also partner with other companies for perks meant to entice customers to sign up.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Verizon is buying Engadget, not its editorial

  Verizon is buying Aol, and so Engadget's going to be owned by Big Red, too. What's that mean for you, our readers? Well, nothing, really. In the time that I have been editor-in-chief, the Engadget team has done some incredible work to deliver on the editorial mission I laid out just over a year ago. And things are going according to plan. Engadget's audience is larger than it's ever been (thanks!), and we continue to grow thanks to the strength of our reporting. We will continue to tell the stories that give you the full picture of how technology is changing our world and affecting our lives. And yes, that includes coverage of some of Verizon's not-so-favorite topics, like the Patriot Act, net neutrality and online privacy. Verizon, for its part, has made its contempt for the FCC's recent rulemaking efforts to ensure an open internet well-known, and it has a recent track record of not respecting users' privacy. The company has also publicly opposed the Patriot Act's mass surveillance practices it was forced to comply with. Regardless of the actions or views of our new corporate parent, Engadget's mission will always be to impartially report the news with wit and insight. Of course, I understand the questions about Engadget's ability to maintain its editorial integrity in the wake of this acquisition. After all, Verizon has done nothing to earn us any benefit of the doubt -- quite the opposite, actually. But it doesn't matter who pays our salaries; we're not in the business of censorship. Engadget's editorial isn't for sale. It never has been, and it never will be. Not as long as I and Executive Editor Christopher Trout are running things. Actions speak louder than words, however, and it's time to get back to work. Stick around, I promise you won't want to miss what's next.

  By Michael Gorman Read More

• WSJ: Regulators will likely approve AT&T/DirecTV merger

  AT&T's $48.5 billion DirecTV acquisition likely won't go the way of Comcast's similarly-sized play for Time Warner Cable, which saw plenty of regulator pushback. The FCC and Justice Department are nearing the end of their review of the deal, and at this point it looks like they won't be blocking it, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. Regulators might still end up placing conditions on the deal, however. It's not hard to see why the FCC and DOJ find the AT&T/DirecTV union more palatable than the Comcast deal. While the combined company will be a major media player, it won't monopolize services in any meaningful way. AT&T has also committed to bringing broadband to more rural areas as part of the deal, which likely made the feds warm up to the offer. The WSJ notes that final regulatory approval for the deal could be "weeks away" -- expect things to wrap up quickly once that happens. [Photo credit:AP]

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Verizon is buying AOL for $4.4 billion

  AOL, Engadget's parent company, has just been acquired by Verizon for $4.4 billion, or around $50 a share. The carrier believes that a tie-in between the two businesses will boost Big Red's online video and content strategy. AOL itself, far from just being the name on all those discarded dial-up internet CDs, is also a player in the online ad business -- and has developed several behind-the-scenes products for marketers.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Alibaba tipped to invest in one of India's top phone makers

  Alibaba's sitting on the better part of $20 billion, and it's using some of that cash to buy small, yet notable, pieces of the tech industry. So far, it's thrown money at Ouya, Meizu and Snapchat, but now Reuters believes that the Chinese e-commerce firm is going to buy a stake in Micromax. It's believed that the firm is looking to pick up a 20 percent stake in the Indian smartphone maker, with the deal reportedly worth around $1.2 billion. The idea, according to Reuters secret sources, is that Alibaba would use Micromax as a trojan horse, through which it could get its online sales business into the country.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• NYT: Uber bids $3 billion for Nokia's Here maps

  Uber wants to buy another mapping technology: Nokia's Here, and it's bid $3 billion for it according to The New York Times. Who else wants in on the action? Apparently a handful of German car manufacturers including Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz, and Chinese search engine Baidu's lending some cash to the move as well. While Google Maps is probably the most popular service here in the States, that isn't exactly the case abroad. NYT says that globally the Finnish electronics company's navigation system commands an 80 percent market share for in-car GPS.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Tesla's Powerwall is already sold out through middle of 2016

  On Tesla's quarterly earnings call, CEO Elon Musk announced "crazy off the hook" demand for its just-announced Powerwall battery product. He said over 38,000 reservations have been received, which should take up the expected production through mid-2016, and demand is high enough to account for all of the Gigafactory's production if they devoted it just to stationary batteries. That includes some 2,500 companies that are interested in the commercial-ready Powerpack (with orders averaging around 10 units each), and Musk said he estimates that commercial interest in Tesla Energy will account for 5-10 more megawatt hours than residential. To clear up one question about the Powerwall, he mentioned that while it doesn't have a DC-to-AC inverter included, it does have a DC-to-DC unit built in. Update: It wasn't mentioned on the call, but Tesla also confirmed its first acquisition today, snatching up Michigan-based part manufacturer Riviera Tool.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Comcast burned $336 million trying to buy Time Warner Cable

  Comcast's failed bid for Time Warner Cable didn't just leave egg on the company's face -- it was also horrendously expensive. The cable giant's latest earnings suggest that it chewed through a total of $336 million in "transaction-related costs" for the would-be merger, $99 million of which was spent in the last quarter alone. And, as Ars Technica notes, this only accounts for directly related costs like legal fees, hired contractors and immediately relevant lobbying efforts. Not that TWC emerged unscathed, either: It paid $200 million.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: Tesla's Powerwall and the 2015 Milan Expo

  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 capped the week off with the announcement everyone's been waiting for -- its new $3,500 10kWh Powerwall home battery is coming soon. All eyes were on Elon Musk this past week as he took the stage to show off the stylish new battery that could help take your home off the grid. The internal combustion engine has been around for more than 150 years, and for most of that time it has run on petroleum, which isn't exactly a friend of the environment. But what if we removed gas from the equation and replaced it with something more harmless? Audi recently invented a synthetic "e-diesel," which is made with water, CO2 and electricity derived from renewable energy sources. The new fuel could revolutionize the car industry and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Alibaba posts job for 'open minded Lolita' encouragement specialist

  Sometimes companies post stuff then react to the backlash with a "just kidding." Chinese internet company Alibaba says it was just kidding after it posted, then pulled an incredibly sexist job opportunity for a "Programmer Encouragement Specialist." The ideal candidate (translated from Chinese by Quartz) would, "effectively encourage teams of developers, bring them closer together, inspire excellent and lasting work." Then it gets bad: "recognizably good looks," and being "an open-minded Lolita like Sora Aoi" are requirements. Aoi is a Japanese porn star. After experiencing backlash from the Chinese media, Alibaba pulled the more salacious aspects of the posting and issued an apology. The new ad -- which has also been pulled -- stated that the job is now open to both men and women.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Tesla wants its Powerwall to save the grid and your bank account

  Our lust for electricity is insatiable. At night we connect a hydra of wires to our phones, computers, smartwatches and tablets. They sip at the electrons being pumped into our homes, filling their batteries to be ready for another day without being tethered to a wall. Tesla wants your house to be ready. Ready for power outages and heat waves. The company says its Powerwall home battery system can untether your home from the power grid for a few hours, which might not sound like much, but could have huge implications for the way we power our lives.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

Buying Guides (10)

• 14 ingenious hacks for problems you didn't know you had

  People can be crazy, yo. But where there's a will, there's a way that can lead to all sorts of fantastic oddities in the gadget world. Today's community of hackers, makers and DIY fanatics oftentimes work together to find solutions to problems we didn't know we had. They develop innovative products (without all that Kickstarter/Indiegogo hoopla) and often provide open-source instructions for anyone with more can-do attitude than cash. In honor of these ambitious gadget hackers, we've highlighted a few of the more interesting projects from over the years, ranging from the practical to the party starter. [Image: Ruiz Brothers via Adafruit]

  By Jon Turi Read More

• The top 15 gaming products you can buy

  The approach of summer might mean it's time to unfurl the Slip N Slide, but there's only so much gaming you can do while flopping around in the water. Yes, you should get outside while the weather's nice, but there are also worlds to explore back in the air-conditioned confines of your home. If that system needs a refresh, or you're still in the process of cobbling together the ideal setup, we've got a list of some must-have gaming consoles, computers and accessories. Items like Astro's A50 wireless headset help keep you in touch with your raiding party, while Antec's Bias Lighting can improve your display's aesthetics. We'll have even more gaming gadgets for our buyer's guide in coming months, but for now you can scroll through the gallery below or head to the full gaming section to see what you're missing.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Dear Veronica: Your guide to 21st century living

  #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-113329{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-113329, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-113329{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-113329").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Dear Veronica is a new tech etiquette show starring Veronica Belmont, debuting on Engadget Wednesday, June 10th, 2015. Like many of you, I have a curious mind. We're interested in technology, sure; but there's so much more to our culture these days than just gadgets and OS updates. Technology intersects with nearly every part of our lives: from medicine to art, etiquette and sports, food and love. When the team at Engadget asked me to come create a new show with them, it was this idea that was stuck in my mind. I wanted to make a series that helps us navigate this uncharted terrain. Technology is evolving so quickly that we (humans, most of us) may not be adapting fast enough. We haven't figured out the social mores. The rulebooks haven't been rewritten yet. We're kind of just figuring it out as we go. Like, what's the deal with the poop emoji, anyway? You know, the important stuff.

  By Veronica Belmont Read More

• The best accessories to upgrade your action camera

  "Have action cam, will travel." That's probably what was going through your mind as you pecked your credit card details in when buying your first GoPro, Drift, Sony or what have you. We promise, it won't be long before you're looking to kit it out with some accessories. In fact, more than any other gadget, the humble action cam craves to be accessorized and adapted for a seemingly unlimited number of applications. It's lucky then, that there's a truckload to choose from. If you're thinking it's all just poles and helmet mounts, you're in for a surprise (though that's definitely a good place to start). We've rounded up a bunch of the best that should cover everyone from the weekend warrior to pro film crews. This is your action camera, upgraded. (Psst: Check the galleries for more info on each product).

  By James Trew Read More

• The top 12 tablets you can buy right now

  It's true, we don't review quite as many tablets around here as we used to, but that doesn't mean slates have gone the way of the dodo. Microsoft's new Surface 3 is as much a budget PC as it is an iPad competitor, while Dell's sleek Venue 8 7000 reminds us that there's still a place for high-end tablets. Whether you're looking to update your own slate or pass one on to someone behind the curve, you'll find a summary of our top picks in the gallery below or you can head to our complete buyers guide for a full rundown.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• The top 14 smartphones you can buy right now

  It's been a while since we took time out to list our favorite smartphones, which means we've had to make more than a few updates to our buyer's guide. Big players like LG, HTC, Samsung and Motorola have unleashed a flurry of updates to their previous lines, and in most cases, the devices are better for it. The G Flex2 has restored our confidence in LG's curvacious form factor, piling on strong internals and improved specs. Samsung stepped up its game with the gorgeous Galaxy S6, while HTC built on the success of its One line to bring us the M9. Motorola added LTE to the Moto E for 2015 and partnered with Google to launch the super-sized Nexus 6. There are plenty of options for all budgets and power requirements, so cruise through the gallery or head over to our buyer's guide for help picking out your next daily driver.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• No car, no problem: 17 of the slickest electric rides

  All kinds of personal-sized, eco-minded rides have been popping up on the market ready to propel us through the streets. Whether it's for a quick commute or a casual cruise, these electric rideables help save time and fossil fuels. Not only do they get you from point A to point B quickly, but they're also fun to ride... and you won't sweat up a storm along the way. But which one is right for you? Below, we take a look at all the bikes, scooters, skateboards and everything else in between to serve up some useful personal transport suggestions. You never know, there might be a pair of RocketSkates in your future.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• The top 15 laptops you can buy right now

  Between the new MacBook, the Chromebook Pixel and the Spectre x360 (HP's newest laptop, which it designed with Microsoft), we've been testing a lot of notebooks over the past few months. That means we've had to make a bunch of new additions to our buyer's guide, and in the process, rethink which models we'd actually recommend to our family and friends. Now that we've added some models and crossed a couple others off the list, we're left with 15 notebooks we can heartily recommend. The good news, too, is that because Intel's dual-core Broadwell processors just came out a few months ago, most of these are in no danger of getting refreshed again any time soon. That said, you might wanna hold off on buying any of the more performance-driven models on the list -- Intel's quad-core Broadwell processors are expected to land sometime this summer.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Motorola's holding a two-day sale for its top devices in the UK

  If the latest flagships from Samsung and HTC haven't impressed you, now might be a good time to reconsider a Motorola phone. Starting at midnight on May 18th, the company is holding a 48-hour sale in the UK with hefty discounts on the Moto X, Nexus 6 and Moto 360 smartwatch. The Moto X is being cut by £96, pushing the 16GB model down to £299 and the 32GB version to £339. The gargantuan Nexus 6, meanwhile, is being dropped to £449 (32GB) and £519 (64GB), which is just £30 less than the current asking price.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Engadget's new buyer's guide picks: the GS6, Spectre x360 and more!

  Another month, another handful of reviews. Which means another round of new additions to Engadget's various buyer's guides. For the fifth month of the year, we've got five new products to induct, including Samsung's excellent Galaxy S6 and the HP Spectre x360, one of our new favorite laptops. As you'd expect, our other recommendations are solid too, but they each fall squarely in the "not for everybody" category. That includes the Apple Watch, currently the best smartwatch on the market, along with the low-powered Surface 3 and the 12-inch, mostly port-less MacBook. Whatever your tastes, chances are we've got something that makes sense for you. Check out the full guide here, and stay tuned for even more picks -- because who knows what we'll be buzzing about next month?

  By Dana Wollman Read More

Computing (10)

• ARM makes another stab at boosting the Internet of Things

  ARM's been championing the Internet of Things for several years now, and for good reason: it's poised to win big as more devices tap its low-power chips. Last year it unveiled an Internet of Things platform, now at Computex it's targeting device makers and its chip building partners by announcing an IoT subsystem for its Cortex-M processors. Basically, that means it'll be easier for semiconductor companies to take ARM's designs and build chips that are ideal for connected devices, while also integrating ARM's mbed IoT platform. The company also announced its new "Cordio" low-power radio, which runs below 1 volt and packs in Bluetooth 4.2. Dipesh Patel, ARM's EVP of technical operations, noted that Cordio will be ideal for extremely low-power connected devices like beacons. All of this may seem a tad dull, but if ARM wants the whole Internet of Things ecosystem to take off, it's essential for ARM to make it as easy as possible to build for it.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• NVIDIA starts selling its Android TV-powered Shield media hub

  Been jonesing for a very high-powered, Android TV-based media hub? You now have a chance to do something about that craving, as NVIDIA has started selling its Shield set-top box in North America. Pay $199 and you'll get the regular Shield, whose tiny 16GB of storage makes it clear that you'll be streaming a lot of 4K Netflix videos and playing games in the cloud through NVIDIA's GRID service. You'll need to pony up for the $299 Shield Pro to get loads of built-in storage (500GB) for local content, although you'll also get a copy of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel in the bargain. And don't worry about buying content to get started -- both Shields come with a $30 Google Play gift card and three months of Google Play Music, so you'll have something to do as soon as you've pulled off the shrink wrap.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Oculus Rift and a VR-ready PC will cost $1,500, CEO says

  The Oculus Rift is prepared to melt your perceived reality in early 2016 -- if you have the proper PC. If not, a new, Rift-ready PC plus the headset itself should cost around $1,500, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe said today at the Re/code conference. "We are looking at an all-in price, if you have to go out and actually need to buy a new computer and you're going to buy the Rift... at most you should be in that $1,500 range," he said (via Re/code). He didn't provide a standalone price for the Rift, but Oculus has already divulged its recommended PC specs and they're fairly hefty.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a BeyondCloud NAS courtesy of Synology!

  The Cloud doesn't have to be a nebulous space in the stratosphere, you can have one in your own home. Sure, there's usually a steep initial price tag and configuration learning curve for most people, but Synology's BeyondCloud lineup helps bypass that. Hosting your own network-attached storage (NAS) is now more approachable and affordable with the BeyondCloud's pre-packaged and -configured drives. You'll have secure access to your files from anywhere with a data connection, so you can store, stream and share your digital stuff without having to pay Cloud storage fees again. Sizes range from single-bay 2TB models to two-bays of 3TB mirrored drives with RAID protection in case one ever fails. And that's what's on the giveaway floor today: one Synology BeyondCloud Mirror (BC214se 2300) will go to a lucky Engadget this week, so they can take control of all their data. Just head on down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning this next generation of streamlined NAS systems from Synology. Winner: congratulations Eddie D. of Minneapolis, MN.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• The internet risks hitting peak capacity soon, but it can be saved

  The internet has more than one capacity problem to worry about, apparently. Researchers met in London this week to tackle growing concerns that fiber optic cables, which represent the internet's backbone, are hitting their physical limits. An Alcatel-Lucent representative warned that we could hit this barrier, about 100 terabits per second, in five years -- not good news when 8K video and other data-hungry technologies are just over the horizon. The only conventional solution would be to add more cables, which isn't always practical.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The old Raspberry Pi gets an overdue price cut

  If you've ever toyed with the idea of starting a DIY-computing project, chances are you will have considered (or bought) the Raspberry Pi. You're not alone: more than five million of the boards have now been sold. It's prompted companies like Intel and Imagination to try to match their features, while devices like the $9 CHIP are hoping to outdo them on price. With so many competitors snapping at its heels, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has decided to take action. It announced today that it's cutting the cost of its former flagship board by reducing the Model B+ to $25/£16.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• The US runs out of old-school internet addresses this summer

  The conventional internet address is about to go the way of the dodo... at least, in the US and Canada. According to estimates, North America will run out of IPv4 addresses (the familiar 1.2.3.4 format) this summer. While some companies might stall this by letting go of IPv4 numbers they don't use, many others will have little choice but to move to IPv6 (hexadecimals) if they want to add new addresses on their networks. The newer standard is already in widespread use, so don't worry about an imminent meltdown. Facebook wouldn't even be functioning unless it had already migrated a lot of servers to IPv6, for instance.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Imagination shrinks down its 'Raspberry Pi on steroids'

  It was just under a year ago that Imagination Technologies launched its "Raspberry Pi on steroids," the MIPS Creator CI20. Now that Maker Faire is upon us, the company has taken the opportunity to present its second-generation hardware, the, uh, new MIPS Creator CI20. The most obvious change is skin-deep, since the v2.0 board now comes with a smaller, squarer body that's designed to improve wireless performance.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• CHIP is a $9 Raspberry Pi killer

  The Raspberry Pi was definitely a game changer when it hit shelves at only $35. But CHIP is hoping to make the Pi look positively pricey by comparison. The Kickstarter campaign has already blown way past its $50,000 goal. In fact, at the time of this writing its approaching $500,000. Like the Pi, CHIP is a fully functional computer. The tiny board is home to a 1GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage, all of which power a full-fledged (if light-weight) Linux desktop. Even more impressive is that there's both WiFi and Bluetooth on board. It's mostly aimed at tinkerers and DIYers, hence the I/O pins waiting for your attention, but you could certainly use it as an inexpensive general purpose computer... so long as you're not particularly demanding.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Former Pixar developer builds a plug-and-play hobbyist board

  You won't know Erin Tomson by name, but she's one of the minds that helped build the tools that Pixar uses to make its movies. Now, the developer has left the studio to found Modulo Labs, a startup that wants to take the intimidation factor out of maker projects. Modulo is, in essence, a set of pre-made circuit boards that work with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, letting you build devices to your whims without a lot of messy soldering.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

Cybersecurity (50)

• The US will protect Japan against cyberattacks

  The US knows that it's not enough to protect its own networks against cyberattacks -- its allies have to be safe, too. Appropriately, it's agreeing to shield Japan from digital assaults against its military and critical systems. The move gives the island nation a big security boost (its online defense unit has a mere 90 people) and hopefully reduces the chances that less-than-sympathetic neighbors China and North Korea will compromise a strategically vital country. While it's doubtful that the pact will deter many hacking attempts, it could make any local cyberwarfare campaigns that much tougher. [Image credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Ross Ulbricht verdict dismisses the idea of Silk Road as a safe place

  Ross Ulbricht is going away for life. The prosecution urged judge Katherine Forrest to send a strong message to anyone who might be tempted to go the Silk Road way, and she did. In addition to maximum time, the judge ordered $183 million, the estimated total sales from Silk Road, to be paid as restitution. When the 31-year-old mastermind was convicted on seven charges (including distributing narcotics over the internet, money laundering, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and conspiracies related to those crimes) earlier this year, it was clear that he would spend a significant chunk of his life in prison. But over the past few weeks, his parents rallied support on social media and the defense made every attempt to highlight a different side of the drug market and its creator. They claimed Silk Road actually reduced harm, and that users were safer buying drugs through the site than on the streets.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Reuters: US launched a failed Stuxnet-like attack on North Korea

  Iran wasn't the only country that had its nuclear ambitions targeted by a sneaky US cyberattack. It turns out the American government also tried to take down North Korea's nuclear programs with the Stuxnet worm five years ago, Reuters reports. But there was one major difference: That attack ultimately flamed out. While the US managed to get Stuxnet into Iran's nuclear facilities (reportedly by hacking suppliers), which ultimately led to the destruction of more than a thousand uranium enriching centrifuges, it never managed to get it into North Korea's core systems. It turns out having an extremely isolated network worked in North Korea's favor. That's particularly ironic since Stuxnet quickly made its way out of Iran and wreaked havoc across the web.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht sentenced to life in prison

  Despite Ross Ulbricht's emotional plea for leniency in court today, Judge Katherine Forrest has sentenced him to life in prison. He was facing a minimum of 20 years up to the maximum life sentence after he was found guilty of money laundering, narcotics trafficking and computer hacking. Under the pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts," Ulbricht was the czar of Silk Road, an online drug marketplace that netted him an $18 million fortune. It was anonymized by the Tor network and used Bitcoins to hide transactions.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Weaponizing code: America's quest to control the exploit market

  When the US Bureau of Industry and Security published how it plans to implement the sections on hacking technologies in a global weapons trade pact called the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) last week, it ignited an online firestorm of meltdowns, freakouts, and vicious infighting within the most respected circles of hacking and computer security. That's because the new rules change the classification of intrusion software and Internet Protocol (IP) network communications surveillance -- setting in motion a legal machine that might see penetration-testing tools, exploits and zero-days criminalized. Some suggest the new classifications also seem designed to give the US a market advantage over the buying, selling, import and export of certain tools used in cyberwar -- a currently black market, in which the US government is already the biggest player.

  By Violet Blue Read More

• IRS blames Russia for '$50 million' hack

  Remember when the IRS website was hacked and around 100,000 people had their tax data stolen? Officials are now pointing accusatory fingers in the direction of Russia, at least according to CNN. The revelation was made by Illinois Representative Peter Roskam, who is believed to have gotten the information straight from IRS chief John Koskinen. Roskam added that criminal gangs used the information to file around $50 million worth of fraudulent tax refund requests, although it's not clear if any money was handed over. It's the latest in a series of high-profile digital encounters between the US and Russia, after the latter was found to have hacked the White House and accessed the President's unclassified emails. That metallic clanking sound you can hear in the background, by the way, is that of sabers being rattled.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• UK ISPs ordered to block e-book piracy sites

  In a major victory for book publishers, the UK's High Court has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block several sites offering pirated e-books. The decision means that BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and EE now have 10 days to comply and ensure their customers can't access the following link depositories: AvaxHome, Ebookee, Freebookspot, Freshwap, Libgen, Bookfi and Bookre. The Publishers Association (PA), which sought the blocks under the UK's Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988, claims the sites collectively hold around 10 million e-books, and that at least 80 percent of them are infringing copyright. It's been described as the "first action of its kind brought by UK book publishers," following similar ISP blocks levied against sites hosting music, movies and TV shows.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Silk Road creator could spend decades behind bars

  Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht aka Dread Pirate Roberts will be an old man by the time he gets out of prison. The 31-year-old is already expected to serve a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty on seven charges, including money laundering and narcotics trafficking. But the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, is aiming to get an even lengthier sentence, one "substantially above the mandatory minimum." In a letter for New York Judge Katherine B. Forrest, Bharara's office wrote (emphasis ours):

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Thieves steal tax data for 100,000 from an IRS website

  You might need to keep a closer eye than usual on your tax-related info. The Internal Revenue Service is warning that intruders stole tax data for 100,000 people between February and May by taking advantage of a flaw in the agency's transcript website. The evildoers successfully circumvented a security check that asks for static info like your Social Security number and tax filing status. The IRS is temporarily shutting down transcripts and says that its main servers are safe, but this could lead to the culprits filing for bogus tax refunds and getting victims in trouble.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The NSA wants to identify phone users by their finger swipes

  For the National Security Agency, the fingerprint reader on your smartphone just isn't secure enough. Lockheed Martin has confirmed to Nextgov that the intelligence outfit is testing Mandrake, an identification system that verifies who you are based on the way you swipe your finger across the screen. The technology measures not only the shape of your movements, but the acceleration and speed. It can tell whether you draw in broad, fast strokes or tend to be cautious. Lockheed doesn't know whether or not the NSA is deploying Mandrake in the field, but it wouldn't be shocking. Given that it's possible to fake fingerprints, gesture-based authentication may the best way of proving that the right person really is present.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google finds that security questions aren't really secure

  If you've ever thought that "what was your first pet's name?" is a lousy way to keep intruders from resetting your password, you now have some evidence to back up your suspicions. Google has published research showing that security questions aren't that secure at all. In many cases, your answers are straightforward enough that attackers stand a decent chance of getting them right in 10 guesses or less. And you probably don't want to use bogus answers to throw people off the scent, either. Many of those who try this strategy use common words and make it easier for someone to get in.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• DOJ lays down some privacy rules for feds flying drones

  The Justice Department promises to keep a closer eye on how its agencies are using drones from now on -- after all, they can be useful in nabbing suspects, but they can also be used as a tool to abuse power. In its new five-page policy guidance, the department has listed when its agencies can and can't use drones, with a focus on people's right to privacy. For instance, they can't be deployed to monitor activities protected by the First Amendment, such as peaceful protests. Authorities will also have to secure warrants to use the machines in places where the subject of investigation has "reasonable expectation of privacy." Obviously, the drones can only be used for authorized investigations and never for engaging in discriminatory acts.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Senate blocks NSA reform bill and Patriot Act extensions

  The USA Freedom Act aimed at addressing the NSA's bulk collecting of phone call metadata was approved by the House of Representatives ten days ago, but blocked by the Senate tonight (live video stream here). The Section 215 provisions of the Patriot Act used to enact the program are set to expire June 1st, and it could go away if a compromise isn't reached to extend it. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky filibustered to push the vote to this late hour, while Sen. Mitch McConnell pushed for a series of extensions to the program, claiming the security of the country could be at risk. The Senate is taking a weeklong Memorial Day break, but will come back on May 31st for more discussion and probably more voting. The voting is done for tonight, but we expect much more discussion over the next week.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Researchers find Android factory reset faulty and reversible

  Android's factory reset function isn't as effective as we'd all like it to be, according to a team of Cambridge University researchers. The group estimates that as many as 500 to 630 million Android devices might not be capable of completely wiping the data saved in their internal disks and SD cards. They came to that conclusion after testing 21 devices running Android 2.3 to 4.3 from five different manufacturers that already went through factory reset. During their tests, they were able to recover at least part of the data stored in each sample device -- even if it was protected with full-disk encryption.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Lizard Squad member pleads guilty to harassing women gamers

  The co-called Lizard Squad have established that they're pretty terrible people, but one of the members has hit a sad new low. A 17-year old Canadian has pleaded guilty to 23 separate offenses against mostly young, female gamers, including extortion and criminal harassment, according to the Tri-City News. The teenager (who can't be named because of his age) outed victims' financial information online, placed false orders for services and repeatedly swatted victims, among other crimes. He reportedly targeted most of his victims on Twitter and while playing League of Legends.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The NSA tried to use app stores to send malware to targets

  It shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that the NSA worked on iOS and Android malware meant to capture information from a target's phone, but actually getting the software onto phones? That's tricky. To help solve that problem, the NSA (and the rest of the Five Eyes intelligence community) attempted to hijack data being sent to and from app stores like those run by Samsung and Google. According to a document leaked by Edward Snowden, obtained by The Intercept and published by the CBC, it was mostly in search of a way to implant secret surveillance payloads into those data connections in hopes of identifying an Arab Spring in action in other countries.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• The US Navy wants to protect its drones against hacks

  Cyberwarfare is bad enough by itself, but it's especially dangerous when military drones are involved. The last thing you want is a hijacked UAV that can give away your position or, worse, fire on your own troops. To that end, the US Navy is asking private companies for help with developing technology that protects drones, missiles and other airborne weapons against hacks. Whoever has the best proposal will (hopefully) craft systems that not only prevent enemies from getting in, but bounce back quickly if the worst happens.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Teen arrested for breaking an entire school district's internet

  A teenager from Idaho has landed themselves in hot water after arranging a takedown of their school district's internet access. KTVB News reports that the 17-year-old student paid a third party to conduct a distributed denial of service attack that forced the entire West Ada school district offline. The act disrupted more than 50 schools, bringing everything from payroll to standardized tests grinding to a halt. Unfortunate students undertaking the Idaho Standard Achievement test were required to go through the process multiple times because the system kept losing their work and results.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• 'Logjam' browser vulnerability fix will block thousands of websites

  Researchers have discovered a new browser and website encryption vulnerability called Logjam, and there's good news and bad news. On the plus side, the vulnerability has largely been patched thanks to consultation with tech companies like Google, and updates are available now or coming soon for Chrome, Firefox and other browsers. The bad news is that the fix rendered many sites unreachable, including the main website at the University of Michigan, which is home to many of the researchers that found the security hole. Ironically, that site (which has since been patched) and other government and educational sites are supposed to be secure -- so what went wrong?

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The internet's biggest TV pirate calls it quits after scam

  If you enjoy getting the latest TV shows from EZTV, you may want to stop that now, and not just because it's illegal. It's also more risky, because the hugely popular torrent site is now in the hands of potentially bad actors, according to TorrentFreak. Former staffers said that EZTV's founder "NovaKing" was the victim of a hostile takeover by a for-profit group, following a series of wacky (and ironic) events. The problems started when Italy's .IT registry suspended the original site's domain name, and what followed was something out of a high-tech Kafka novel.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Two Asian bank websites held ransom for bitcoin

  One of the problems with virtual currency is that when it's robbed from a bank, it's going to take an awful lot of work to make it look exciting in a movie. So I feel for future filmmakers who have to dramatize something like the recent Chinese cyber heists where the culprits demanded bitcoins from the Bank of China and Bank of East Asia in exchange for not launching attacks on their websites. Regional publication The Standard reports that the each of the financial institutions' websites were hacked last Saturday, with emails sent stating that to avoid another distributed denial of service attack, bitcoin payments would be necessary. Authorities say that the intrusions came from multiple countries and that no bank or customer data had been affected. Eat your heart out, Michael Mann. Oh, wait.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• FBI: Security researcher claimed to hack, control plane in flight

  Remember the security researcher who was pulled from a United flight and had his equipment taken (before its frequent flier miles-paying bug hunt) for tweeting about hacking into the plane via its entertainment system? In an application for a search warrant, FBI agents said he previously told them he's gone further than that. APTN National News obtained the document, which contains claims that Chris Roberts told them he connected his laptop to a plane via an Ethernet cable, hacked into a thrust management computer and briefly controlled one of the engines, causing the plane to change course. As reported previously by Wired, he has warned of vulnerabilities in planes for years -- manufacturers deny they exist -- and the conversations were apparently intended to get these problems fixed.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Penn State says it was the victim of a China-based cyberattack

  Cyberattacks are in the news seemingly every day, and today's announcement comes from a university here in the States. Penn State announced that its College of Engineering was targeted in a pair of "sophisticated cyberattacks," and investigators discovered that one of the breaches originated in China. The FBI notified the university of the attack back in November, but security experts investigating the matter determined that the hackers could've first accessed the system as early as 2012 using "advanced malware." The good news is no sensitive personal info (social security numbers, etc.) or research data was taken, as only usernames and passwords were compromised. Penn State took the College of Engineering's systems off the internet while security measures are bolstered, remedying a breach that's said to affect 18,000 people. [Image credit: Moment Editorial/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• FBI says police can disclose Stingray use, but not what they can do

  Look, none of us should be surprised that police departments across the country use things like Stingrays -- sophisticated surveillance devices that suck up cell phone communications -- in their investigations. Still, more than a few of those PDs have insisted in court on trying to keep that specialized gear out of the limelight. Consider cases like this one in Baltimore last year, where a police officer was nearly held in contempt for withholding information about cell phone tracking practices; they often hinge on the fact that law enforcement officials entered into non-disclosure agreements with the FBI to keep usage under wraps. Turns out, that's not exactly the full story. According to a statement released by the FBI earlier this morning (and obtained in full by Ars Technica), there really aren't any legal stipulations meant to keep law enforcement from admitting stingrays have been used.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Shutting down piracy sites is like playing Whac-A-Mole, says EU

  The European Commission (EC) has finally confirmed what we've all known for years: if you shut down one online piracy site, another will simply take its place. A report published by the EC's Joint Research Center found that the closure of Kino.to, a popular unlicensed streaming site in Germany, had little impact on national online piracy. The team analysed the web activity of 5,000 German citizens, and found that while there was a sharp decline in June 2011, when the site was pulled offline by officials, average piracy levels quickly returned to normal. In addition, researchers concluded that Kino.to's demise did little to encourage licensed alternatives. Instead, a group of new illegal streaming sites rose to prominence -- kinox.to, mega-stream.to, video2k.tv and streams.to, among others.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Find a security flaw and United Airlines will pay you in... miles

  In the world of digital security, bug hunting is the practice of finding holes in a corporation's security and selling it back so the problem can be quietly fixed. Companies such as Microsoft know that it's far cheaper to pay researchers up to $100,000 up-front, rather than facing a massive public security breach shortly afterward. United Airlines has just started one of its own bug hunting programs, but the airline treats security experts much like it does its disgruntled passengers. Rather than just pay fees out in cold, hard, useful cash, the Joffrey Baratheon of airlines has decided to offer united air miles as a bounty.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• A few 'GTA V' mods are installing malware on PCs

  While you've been busy enjoying guns that fire cars, piloting flying saucers or swimming 'round a flooded Los Santos thanks to mods for the PC version of GTA V something darker's lurked beneath the surface. GTAForums user aboutseven noticed that a C# compiler was running in the background on his or her computer and traced it back to a file dubbed "Fade.exe." Upon further inspection she or he spotted that it was using internet access. Turns out it was a keylogger. Process of elimination deduced that "Noclip," which allows you to examine the insides of objects freely, and "Angry Planes," which spawns incredibly, well, angry, planes that attack you with kamikaze-like fury, were the culprits behind the malware infection.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Hackers are stealing money through the Starbucks app (update)

  If you use the Starbucks app with a linked credit card to pay for java with your phone, now would be a good time to change your account password. The Seattle-based coffee company confirmed Wednesday that some of its customers had funds withdrawn from the credit card linked to the app without their knowledge. However, Starbucks says that the hack does not expose any personal data nor does it affect payments with the Apple Watch. The company has yet to issue a patch for the vulnerability, instead deflecting blame towards its customers (and their poor password choices) for instigating the issue. As such, app users would do well to unlink their credit card, then change the account password before relinking it. Or maybe just pay with cash next time. Update (5/18): As laid out in the statement from Starbucks, and explained by security researcher Brian Krebs, it does not appear that the Starbucks app or system has been hacked. The problem mostly stems with reusing passwords, and that one's Starbucks account is linked directly to their payment card. The coffee company claims that as long as your card is registered, the account balance is protected and you should contact the company. As always -- unique passwords are your friend.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• House approves NSA reform

  The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the USA Freedom Act on Wednesday in a sweeping 338-88 vote, moving forward legislation that would curtail the NSA's bulk collection of data. The bill now moves to the Senate, which must approve it or find a compromise by June 1 -- this is when the provision of the Patriot Act that allows the NSA to collect metadata expires. The Senate is expected to vote by May 22. The White House supports the USA Freedom Act, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) opposes it and wishes to extend Section 215 of the Patriot Act, allowing the NSA to continue collecting bulk data. Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and other major tech companies have been campaigning in support of the USA Freedom Act as part of the Reform Government Surveillance coalition since late 2014. Early in May, a federal court ruled that the NSA's collection of metadata was illegal. Read all about Section 215 here. [Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• A virtual server bug is said to be worse than Heartbleed

  In case you were napping, Heartbleed struck web servers' OpenSSL security last year, opening up the servers' memory to intruders. There's a new so-called zero-day vulnerability, only this time the researchers who discovered it say it's much worse, impacting millions of datacenter machines. The flaw is called Venom, which stands for Virtualized Environment Neglected Operations Manipulation. What does that mean? With the common practice of putting multiple customers into virtual servers, datacenters are setup to share some key tools, but sensitive information remains separated. Thanks to Venom, though, a hacker can gain access to a datacenters' entire storage network, leaving all of the customers on it vulnerable. As you might expect, the issue resides in an often ignored virtual floppy disk controller, but when it's exploited, it's like opening up a vault of stored info. As ZDNet reports, many modern virtual systems contain the bug -- platforms like Oracle's VirtualBox, KVM and Xen. The good news is Oracle says it already remedied the issue, and will nix it completely in forthcoming update. [Image credit: Marvel via Getty images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Verizon vulnerability made it painfully easy to access customer info

  On the off chance you've experienced some sketchiness with your Verizon home internet account over the past few weeks, we might just know why now. As first reported by BuzzFeed, a vulnerability in Verizon's customer service systems meant that attackers could have duped their way into the accounts of any of the 9 million households that pay the telecom for internet access. And the worst part? The process was absolutely dead simple. Verizon, for what it's worth, said the issue (now fixed) came about because of a code error in a recent software update, and that they have "no reason to believe that any customers were impacted by this." Now, here's how it worked.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Washington state police now need warrants to spy on cellphones

  The US government might have only started taking a serious look at the civil liberty implications for stingrays and other cellphone surveillance devices, but Washington state isn't willing to wait. Governor Jay Inslee has just signed a bill into law requiring that police obtain warrants before using stingrays to simulate cell sites and intercept communications. They have to explicitly state their intention to use these gadgets (the FBI sometimes encourages departments to keep stingray use a secret), and they must toss out any information from people who aren't targets in a given investigation.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apple Watch hack puts a tiny browser on your wrist

  Still trying to find a use for your Apple Watch? Noted jailbreaker Comex has an idea: browse the internet an inch-and-a-half at a time. In a short video, he shows off the Google search bar, which, due to the display's minuscule size, only fits on-screen a portion at a time. From there you can see iOS' "copy/define" dialog boxes and that's about it, really. Apologies if you were expecting something a bit crazier, but possible jailbreaks apparently aren't all that exciting in the embryonic stages. Watch doesn't have a native browser, of course, and 9to5Mac notes that Comex hasn't mentioned anything about releasing the hack to the public either, so if or when you'll get to try it out for yourself is anyone's guess at this point.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Cybersecurity firm accused of staging data breaches to extort clients

  Have you ever heard of a cybersecurity firm called Tiversa? No? Well, you'll likely be hearing about it a lot in the coming weeks, because an ex-employee is accusing it of fraud. Richard Wallace, one of its former investigators, has recently testified against the firm in a Washington DC courtroom. During the proceeding, he claimed Tiversa's employees would hack potential clients to force them to pay for the firm's services. The CEO, Bob Boback, would apparently even order them to look for IPs of known identity thieves using Tiversa's close ties to law enforcement agencies. They'd then tell the companies they were targeting that those IPs are breaking into their computers as an additional scare tactic.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• AZ town hides license plate readers in dozens of fake cacti

  City officials from Paradise Valley, Arizona have reportedly set up an array of license plate readers, hidden within fake cacti no less, throughout the wealthy Phoenix suburb. Problem is, officials can't seem to explain if the devices are currently in use or why they even need the privacy-invading technology ion the first place. Fox 10 News broke the story earlier this week after residents began noticing that many of the town's cell-phone towers (disguised as cacti to blend into the surrounding scenery) were suddenly sporting the new plate readers. These readers scan the license plates of passing vehicles and compare them against a database of stolen and missing vehicles. If the plate matches an entry in the database, the device alerts authorities who then investigate.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Russia and China promise not to hack each other

  Russia and China have further solidified their growing friendship this week by making a cybersecurity pact. According to The Wall Street Journal, the two countries have sworn not to launch cyberattacks against each other. They've also agreed to an exchange not only of technologies, but also of information (such as data about cyber threats) between their law enforcement agencies. In addition, the two heads of states promised to have each other's backs and thwart any technology that might "destabilize the internal political and socio-economic atmosphere," "disturb public order" or "interfere with the internal affairs of the state" together.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• US SKYNET program marks Al Jazeera journalist as Al Qaeda

  The US government has marked Ahmad Zaidan, an influential journalist and Al Jazeera's longtime Islamabad bureau chief, as a member of Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood, according to NSA documents unearthed by whistleblower Edward Snowden (via The Intercept). Zaidan has been embedded in Afghanistan and Pakistan throughout his career, and he's had unique access to top Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership, including Osama bin Laden. In 2011, Zaidan and Al Jazeera released a documentary about bin Laden, including interviews with Taliban fighters, government workers and journalists who knew him. Zaidan has, in the course of his job, regularly traveled across the Middle East and communicated with Al Qaeda officials -- which is why the US government's SKYNET program marked him as a member of Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Snowden: Court ruling against NSA surveillance is 'encouraging'

  Surprising no one, NSA whisteblower Edward Snowden is mighty pleased by yesterday's court decision, which deemed the agency's widespread surveillance program illegal. Speaking via livestream at the Nordic Media Festival, Snowden noted that the importance of the decision "can't be overstated," Forbes reports. "This decision will not affect only the phone metadata program," he said. "It will affect every other mass surveillance program in the U.S. going forward." The ruling was, after all, exactly what Snowden was going for when he leaked details about the NSA's data collection methods to the press. While the courts didn't call for the NSA to stop its surveillance programs, it's certainly a step in the right direction.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Wordpress vulnerability leaves millions of sites open to attack

  If you've got a Wordpress site, pay attention: A recently discovered vulnerability within the blogging platform leaves your site open to attack, according to the security firm Sucuri. So far, it affects the TwentyFifteen theme (installed by default) and the JetPack plugin, which has over a million installations. At issue is the the "genericons" Wordpress package, something that both of those Wordpress add-ons use, which comes with an insecure file that leaves sites open to a cross-site scripting vulnerability. If a hacker can trick you into clicking a malicious link, they can get full control of your Wordpress site. Thankfully, the fix is pretty simple: Just remove the "example.html" file from any instance of genericons in your Wordpress installation. Sucuri has also warned several hosting providers about the vulnerability, including Godaddy, Dreamhost and WPEngine who've already patched against the issue. [Photo credit: Armando Torrealba/Flickr]

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Federal court rules NSA's data collection program is illegal

  The US court of appeals has ruled that the NSA's bulk phone data collection wasn't authorized under law. The metadata surveillance program has been scrutinized ever since Edward Snowden made its existence public almost two years ago. But no ruling has deemed it unlawful until now. NSA's program "exceeds the scope of what Congress has authorized," wrote one of the three judges on the panel on the 2nd circuit court of appeals.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Canada passes anti-terror bill that's bad news for online privacy

  An anti-terrorism bill with huge ramifications for online privacy has won over the Canadian House of Commons, despite all the protests held against it across the country. If it becomes a law, C-51, or the Anti-Terrorism Act, will give spy agencies the power to gather more information from its citizens than before. It'll even allow the government to monitor passport applications, since it also broadens authorities' rights to place names on the no-fly list. Further, it will allow sharing of its citizens' information across government agencies, departments and institutions -- and there are many, ranging from the Revenue Agency and the Armed Forces to Food Inspection and Public Health.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The French Parliament approves controversial surveillance bill

  In an attempt to prevent terrorist attacks, the French Parliament has approved a new surveillance law that gives unprecedented access to intelligence agencies. According to the BBC, the new bill was drafted three days after the Charlie Hebdo killings. While the government insists that the intelligence-gathering systems will monitor suspicious activities, defenders of civil liberties believe it allows the state to carry out mass surveillance without distinction. Despite the debate, the decision to pass the bill was almost unanimous. Both the ruling Socialists and opposition voted in favor of it.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Snowden documents reveal how the NSA searches voice calls

  The Intercept has released a new document from Edward Snowden's cache of government files describing how the NSA has been converting voice calls to searchable text documents for nearly a decade. The NSA has long monitored signals intelligence (SIGNIT) around the world (as is its primary function), especially in active combat zones like Afghanistan and Iraq as well as in Latin America. Traditionally, this sort of data gathering required that a live operator listen in on calls and translate them in real-time. However, the NSA has reportedly developed what it calls "Google for Voice"; an automated system that provides a rough but keyword searchable transcription. According to the documents, the NSA has also developed analytical programs and sophisticated algorithms to flag conversations for human review.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Government scales back plans for license plate-tracking program

  To say that there's been some concern about the Department of Homeland Security's on-again, off-again license plate-tracking initiative is something of an understatement. Despite fresh resistance from the ACLU, the agency is persisting with the project, but has revealed that it will walk back on some of its more far-reaching requirements. The original idea was to implement a nationwide system of license plate scanners that could track a suspect's movements, making it easier for the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency to follow and apprehend criminals. Now, however, the folks at Nextgov have uncovered a document, dated February 18th, that scales the scope of the setup to a minimum of 25 states.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• The super-secure 'Case' will fit bitcoins in your pocket this summer

  There's no such thing as being too crazy about security, especially when it comes to hoarding mountains and mountains of invisible, digital, volatile money. If that description hits a little too close to home, you might just have a new friend in the $199 Case, a physical bitcoin wallet the size of a credit card that secures your nebulous funds and lets you sign off on transactions with just a touch of a finger. There's a good chance you've heard the name before -- the team behind it, led by Melanie Shapiro -- has been plugging away on the thing for over a year a now, but it's finally going to ship to bitcoin magnates this summer.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• The US opens up on its use of phone surveillance hardware

  It seems as if we're not alone in thinking that America's spies may have trodden on a few too many civil liberties of late. That's why senior officials at the Justice Department are calling for a wide-ranging review of electronic surveillance practices and will open up a little bit about why, and when, this technology is used. A report by the Wall Street Journal reveals that there's a big push for greater transparency, but no-one's quite sure on how many beans they should spill in order to restore public trust but not give helpful hints to criminals.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Your free Android apps talk to thousands of ad sites

  If you've used ad-sponsored Android apps, you've probably wondered where those ads are coming from, and whether or not there's anything to be worried about. According to French researchers, you have a reason to be cautious. They've found a way to automatically scan Android apps for connections to advertising and user tracking sites, and some of those programs are more than a little dodgy. A selection of 2,000 free Google Play apps connected to a whopping 250,000 sites spread over 2,000 domains. Most of them talk to only a handful of sites (Google's ad services dominate the top 10), but 10 percent connect to 500 or more -- one egregious offender links to over 2,000 sites. Only 30 percent of the apps talked to user tracking sites, but some of those were communicating with 800 or more addresses.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Germany investigates claims that it helped the US spy on Europe

  Germany is more than a little nervous about US surveillance these days, and it's now anxious enough that it might just file charges. Federal prosecutors say they will investigate claims that the country's foreign intelligence outfit broke the law by helping the US' National Security Agency spy on European companies and governments for over a decade. Among other concerns, the NSA reportedly gave German spies 40,000 surveillance targets (such as internet addresses and phone numbers), several thousand of which were illegal.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• FBI dumps 5,000 redacted pages on its cellphone-tracking device

  It's no secret that local law enforcement offices around the US are using a tool called Stingray to track cellphone locations without the approval of a judge. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request from MuckRock's Alex Richardson, the FBI released thousands of pages of heavily-redacted documents, emails and more concerning the project, including one titled "Cellphone Tracking for Dummies." The super secret Stingray device is provided to local authorities by the FBI, creating fake cell towers that force nearby handsets to connect to it -- even those belonging to folks other than a suspect. And as you might expect, in addition to tracking, it also reveals the identity of the phone's owner. Included in the collection is loads of correspondence between the Bureau, Boeing, the Harris Corporation and local law enforcement. Those two middle companies, by the way, are manufacturers of the tech.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Mozilla: All new web features should require secure HTTP

  A number of internet organizations and even the government want websites to use encryption by default in the future, and from the sound of it, Mozilla shares their view. The non-profit has announced that it plans to limit the capabilities of "the non-secure web" (aka websites that don't use HTTPS), in order to encourage a more widespread use of encryption. Mozilla has a two-element approach in place, one of which is making all new features of the Firefox browser and its other products available only to secure websites when we reach a certain date. The org will consult its users -- just like it did before it ultimately decided it wants to stop supporting unencrypted sites in the long run -- not only to pinpoint that date, but also to decide what features are considered "new" by that time.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

Entertainment (11)

• Enrique Iglesias learns first-hand that drones and concerts don't mix

  Does the notion of flying a drone around a crowded, hectic concert sound a tad too risky to you? We're sure Enrique Iglesias is having second thoughts. The singer sliced his hand at a Tijuana performance this weekend after he tried to grab a camera drone and give fans a "point of view" shot -- while that stunt worked in the past, the musician clearly caught the wrong end this time around. It's not certain how badly Iglesias was hurt, although it wasn't bad enough to prevent the bleeding artist from soldiering on for another half-hour (see above if you need proof). Here's hoping he recovers quickly. In the meantime, we suspect that regulators might want to spend more time looking at the indoor hazards from drones, not just what could happen outside. [Image credit: Francis Ramsden via AP]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Wax Woz is coming to Madame Tussauds in San Francisco

  Step inside the Madame Tussauds in San Francisco and you'll find waxworks of Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg and other American icons. Steve Jobs is also present, but for many Apple fans there's something amiss about his model. The problem? There's no Steve Wozniak standing alongside him. Following a public competition to decide the next "tech innovator" waxwork, Madame Tussauds has agreed to immortalize the Apple cofounder next to his friend and fellow tech visionary. Woz now needs to visit the museum and conduct a two to three hour sitting, during which 250 measurements will be taken to ensure his model is accurate. Sculpting should take three to four months, and when the finished article is unveiled in the fall, Woz will be there for a quick side-by-side comparison. "I can't wait to see my figure next to Jobs – it'll be just like old times," he says.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Marvel's universe gets a dedicated search engine for comic queries

  Since Marvel opened up its API to developers, creative types are able to leverage the company's massive comic library for apps and the like. One dev, Filix Mogilevsky, took it upon himself to create a search engine for the collection of characters and issues. iMarvel serves up character and comic book descriptions based on what you input with auto-complete suggestions to boot. For example, inputting "Thanos" provides a short bio with links to different sections of Marvel's site for more detailed info. Search for a specific title like The Avengers & the Infinity Gaunlet and you'll be privy to a brief synopsis, characters, a few images and a list of creators. Sure, it's more of a quick reference tool than anything else -- and yes, it's piping in content from Marvel's own site -- but I'll admit to spending more than a few minutes pecking around. Give a go for yourself via the source link below. [Image credit: PatLoika/Flickr]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Robotic news writers are faster, but not necessarily better

  Robotic news editors promise to save the trouble of picking and writing news stories (and might put people like me out of work), but are they really ready to replace human writers? Yes and no, if you ask NPR. The outlet held a showdown between Automated Insights' WordSmith news generator and a seasoned reporter to see which of the two could not only finish an earnings story the quickest, but produce something you'd want to read. The results? WordSmith was much faster, producing its piece in two minutes versus seven, but the writing was more than a little stiff -- it lacked the colorful expressions that made NPR's version easy to digest. With that said, newsies might not want to relax just yet. It's technically possible for software to adapt to a given style, so flesh-and-bone writers may still want to update their resumés... y'know, just in case. [Image credit: Justin Cook, NPR]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hulu will have every episode of 'Seinfeld' on June 24th

  After paying big bucks to lock up the show about nothing, Hulu has announced when we can expect to see Seinfeld: June 24th. Since it's a heavily syndicated show (and previously available in smaller portions on services like Crackle) you probably weren't lacking in ways to see Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, George and the rest but now you can skip your way through its 180-episode run at your leisure. Also, Hulu is figuring that if you're willing to subscribe and stop by to check out that show, you might hang around for some of the other TV hits and original content it's stuffing the service with. Yes, it's all still ad-interrupted, but on a positive note, Hulu recently added Chromecast autoplay support (like Netflix) to make your binge watching even easier.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Watch a boss battle from 'God of War III Remastered' for PS4

  I knew you would be back, Spartan. Did you miss me?

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• The Big Picture: Laser art show puts you inside a virtual flood

  What do lasers have to do with an 1651 oil painting? Quite a lot, as it turns out: a new project called Water Light celebrates a Dutch museum's acquisition of The Breach of St. Anthony's Dike by making you feel like you're inside the painting. Using the latest LED technology, creator Studio Roosegaarde says the spectacle gives viewers "the experience and perception... of a virtual flood." While that sounds unpleasant, the images from the exhibition are stunning, with the light seeming to curve like water around Amsterdam's Museum Square. If you're lucky enough to be there, you can catch the show tonight after 10 pm, or lose yourself in the video below.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Nintendo rides are coming to Universal's theme parks

  Over the years, Nintendo has crafted a diverse roster of beloved video game characters. They're colorful and instantly recognisable, so inevitably some fans have wondered whether a Disney-style theme park could be built around them. Well, wonder no more. Nintendo announced today that it's teaming up with Universal to build new rides in some of its theme parks. It's staying tight-lipped on the details, but says to expect "spectacular, dedicated experiences" based on Nintendo games, characters and worlds.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Explore Vincent van Gogh's painterly world in this VR project

  We've seen modern ASCII art in virtual reality before, but until now nothing approaching the works of the masters. With "The Night Cafe" that changes. Strap a mobile VR headset on and you can take a gander through Vincent Van Gogh's Le Café nuit as he might've seen it while at the easel. Waves of light circle out from hanging fixtures and unsurprisingly everything very much has a painterly vibe to it, from the way shading alters the color of the walls to the eerie look in Van Gogh's cold, dead eyes. Wait, what? Well, as Killscreen notes, the project features a number of Easter eggs strewn about from various other Van Gogh works and that includes his self portrait. The brief video below doesn't show if Starry Night made the cut, but artist Mac Cauley says he's still adding to the experience that originated as an entry in this year's Mobile VR Jam.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Kraftwerk's 3D concerts return to North America in September

  Good news if you missed out on Kraftwerk's 3D concerts the last time the band was in North America: you're about to get a second chance. The electronic music pioneers have announced a slew of American and Canadian dates that will let you see their immersive visual landscapes first-hand. This stint kicks off in Edmonton on September 16th, and reaches the US with a September 19th gig in Portland; you'll also get to see these 3D performances in cities like Austin, Boston and Miami. The tickets are likely to sell out quickly when they go on sale May 8th, so you'll want to act quickly if you just have to witness a spectacle like "The Robots" in person. [Image credit: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google+ opens a Twitter account

  Yeah, we don't really get it either.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

EVs and Transportation (49)

• Volvo's On Call app can control your car from a smartwatch

  Sure, you drive a Volvo and not an Aston Martin, but that doesn't mean you can't pretend to be a charming spy who controls his car with a high-tech watch. Volvo will soon release its On Call app for Android Wear devices and the Apple Watch, after all, and it comes with all the features its predecessors for tablets and smartphones have. That means you can poke around your arm candy to remotely lock or unlock the car's doors, switch on the heater or air conditioner and check fuel and mileage. You can also ask it for help if your Volvo's lost in a sea of cars in a parking lot. And just like the older apps, it quickly connects you to an operator, who then tracks your location through GPS, if your airbags get deployed. Volvo wrapped the smartwatch apps in a new design based on the Sensus connected interface, but you'll have to wait until the end of June before you can give them a spin.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Tesla loses its shot at direct car sales in Texas

  If you want to buy a Model S in Texas, you're going to have to jump through some hoops for at least the next couple of years. Bills that would let Tesla sell cars directly to customers aren't going to get a vote before the state's legislative session wraps up on June 1st, leaving the electric vehicle maker high and dry until the next session kicks off in 2017. This doesn't mean that you're completely out of luck if you want Tesla-made transportation in Austin (see above for proof), but you can't simply pick one up.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: Self-driving Audis and free solar panels

  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. California is giving away free solar panels to its poorest residents. Between now and 2016, the state will donate 1,600 free photovoltaic systems -- and each array will save a household $22,800 in energy costs over 30 years. Meanwhile in Southern California, director James Cameron gifted his wife a field of solar sunflowers to power her sustainable school. In other energy news, Tesla's battery-producing Gigafactory is starting to take shape in Nevada -- and this week we took a first look at the gigantic building thanks to an aerial drone.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Uber will let drivers track your location, but only if you agree (update)

  Uber has rewritten its privacy policy to make it easier to grok and added some very important changes. According to the updated guidelines, the ride-sharing app will soon give drivers the power to track your location if you allow it to, so long as it remains running in the background. This, Uber claims, will allow them to pick you up a lot faster than just dropping a pin to signal where you're waiting. Drivers will be able to meet you on the way, for instance, or right out the door you used to exit a large building. Also, the app will start asking for permission to access your contact list, so the service can send promotional materials to your friends and family.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google's solar plane crashed earlier this month in New Mexico

  According to Bloomberg Business, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an incident wherein Google's solar-powered Solara 50 plane reportedly crashed shortly after takeoff. The event occurred on May 1st at a private airfield outside of Albuquerque and no injuries were reported. Recent Google acquisition Titan Aerospace built the 50-meter-wide (164 ft) drone as part of an ambitious Google plan to deliver global internet connectivity via stratospheric drones.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Hyperloop might be 'free to play'

  We're all expecting to pay through the nose to travel between LA and SF in just 30 minutes, but the minds behind Hyperloop may have a surprise up their sleeve. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies' Dirk Ahlborn has told CNBC that he's considering a business model that apes what we see in free-to-play mobile games. The CEO is kicking around the idea that the travel itself would either be free or dirt cheap, with passengers charged for a series of as-yet undisclosed upgrades. Of course, since we're still a decade or more away from a commercial version of the system, there's plenty of time for him to change his mind.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Ford joins Tesla in opening up its electric car patents

  One of the biggest issues in the automotive industry is that when car makers come up with an innovative new technology, it can take years for others to catch up. Tesla made a positive change when it opened its patents to further the adoption of electric cars, and now Ford is getting in on the act too. The company announced today that it will make at least 650 patents "dedicated to electrified vehicle technologies" available to other car makers, but unlike Tesla, is asking for an undisclosed fee. Ford already has six hybrid or all-electric models available to buy, but seems intent on increasing that number with a little help from its new facility located near Henry Ford's original labs in Dearborn. It intends to hire another 200 electrified vehicle engineers at Ford Engineering Laboratories this year, allowing it to "solve bigger challenges and help improve the industry." Now all we need is for Toyota and co. to follow suit.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Castrol EDGE makes a driver burn rubber while wearing a VR headset

  You'd think that blinding a professional driver with a custom Oculus Rift headset as they drift around a live track would be a crazy way to promote anything. And you'd be right. But, well, Castrol EDGE really wants you to know about its new Titanium Strong motor oil. So much so that it strapped a VR headset on racer Matt Powers and turned a Roush Stage 3 Mustang into a VR controller for its Virtual Drift Trial. From his perspective he's navigating through an apocalyptic VR landscape with crumbling roads and tidal waves of volcanic rock. From ours, it's as if he's got a death wish like an extra from Mad Max: Fury Road.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Chevrolet's 2016 models support both CarPlay and Android Auto

  Apple's and Google's in-car efforts aren't mainstream just yet, but manufacturers have given us a glimpse at how these features will work going forward. Soon enough, most automakers are expected to support CarPlay or Android Auto, even though others like Toyota won't be playing along anytime soon. Chevrolet, meanwhile, announced today that 14 of its 2016 models, including cars, trucks and crossovers, will be compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy for people to enjoy either platform based on which smartphone they own. What this means is that buyers don't have to worry about choosing one over the other; instead, Chevy's MyLink infotainment system is compatible with both simultaneously.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Ford's GoDrive brings app-based car hire to London

  London is home to a number of car-sharing services, but over the past few months car makers have also been getting in on the action. BMW brought pay-as-you-go vehicles to the capital late last year, with Ford piloting a new service called City Driving On-Demand just a month later. For Ford, it appears those tests were successful, because the American car giant today announced the launch of GoDrive, an expansion of its existing service that will offer 50 cars in 20 locations across the city.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Taking a spin in the first car with Android Auto

  Get ready for Android Auto to hit the masses. Until now, the only way to get the Google-powered car interface was to install an aftermarket unit from Pioneer, and even those have only been around since March (Parrot is also citing support for Android Auto in its head units, but its availability has not been announced). But that changes today, as Android Auto is now finally available in actual cars that you can buy. That is, if you want to buy a Hyundai. The Korean automaker is the first car company to have Android Auto integrated in its production vehicles, starting with the 2015 Sonata with Navigation models. I recently spent a week with a 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T, and while I think Android Auto still has some growing up to do, I was overall very pleased.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Chevy still has 6,000 unsold last-gen Volt hybrids

  The 2016 Chevy Volt promises to be a much better hybrid than its predecessor, with a lower price and better performance... and unfortunately for GM, that improvement might be hurting sales of the outgoing model. The Detroit Free Press reports that there were roughly 6,000 unsold 2015 Volts as of April, or more than twice the 2,779 that sold in the first four months of the year. Sales are down 46 percent versus the same period a year ago, and dealers appear willing to make some serious concessions to clinch a deal. While the 2015 Volt officially carries a $34,345 sticker price before tax credits, the TrueCar price guide shows that buyers are typically paying $30,607 -- quite the discount if you're looking for an extra-efficient ride.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Audi's R8 e-tron electric supercar can now drive itself

  Slowly but surely, Audi is getting closer to realizing Will Smith's wildly futuristic motor from I, Robot. At CES Asia, the company has revealed an updated version of its R8 e-tron electric supercar with self-driving capabilities. A bevy of sensors have been rigged up inside, including a laser scanner, video cameras, ultrasonic and radar sensors. All of the environmental data is then fed through Audi's "zFAS" driver assistance system, which ultimately dictates how the concept car behaves on the road. It's not the first time Audi has experimented with autonomous and electric vehicles, but it's still hard to ignore this beautiful combination of the two. If you need a reminder, Audi's R8 e-tron wields two 170 kW electric motors capable of pushing it from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. With a top speed of 250 km/h and a two-hour charging time, it's certainly no Nissan Leaf.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Daimler and Qualcomm team up on connected car tech

  Car companies aren't usually good at wireless tech, and wireless companies aren't great with cars -- if you want to make wireless-savvy vehicles, you'll probably need some teamwork. Accordingly, Daimler and Qualcomm have forged a partnership that should improve connected cars. The first phase of this collaboration will focus on bringing cellular data and wireless electric car charging to your ride. They're not saying when they expect to bring their combined efforts to market, or what comes next. With that said, it won't be shocking if you're one day driving an electric Mercedes that's always online and never needs to plug in.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• You won't need waves with this $20,000 electric surfboard

  If you want to surf, but are too lazy to paddle or look for waves, the Wakejet Cruise from Swedish outfit Radinn is for you! The company says it "marries the agility and speed of wakeboarding with the freedom of surfing," but that doesn't mean you can take the electric-powered craft lightly. It cruises along at a rather insane 28mph for a full half-hour on a single charge -- or up to an hour if you're willing to go slower. That's about the same speed as a water skier, meaning that unlike seated watercraft, it'll require your full attention, along with some skill and athleticism.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Uber's experimental cars are driving around Pittsburgh

  It looks like Uber's robotics lab is now up and running -- the Pittsburgh Business Times has just spotted one of its test cars marked "Uber Advanced Technologies Center" driving around the city. If you recall, the ridesharing company teamed up with Carnegie Mellon scientists in 2014 reportedly to develop self-driving taxis, among other technologies, in the new lab. Uber believes that operating driverless vehicles will allow it to offer cheaper, more competitive rates. Its CEO, Travis Kalanick, once even said that "the cost of taking an Uber anywhere becomes cheaper than owning a vehicle," when you remove drivers from the picture.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The speed record for poo-powered buses is 77mph, apparently

  Britain has several players in the fledgeling poop-bus industry, including one that literally shows people pooing, but a gauntlet has just been thrown by the town of Reading. Its very own cow manure-powered model, dubbed "Bus Hound," ran the track at nearly 77mph -- shattering the previous world mark of zero mph, because poo-bus records were never actually a thing. The UK Timing Association confirmed the attempt, such as it is, describing the bus' presence on the Millbrook Proving Ground as "quite a sight."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Uber poached Carnegie Mellon's robotics lab to make self-driving cars (updated)

  Remember how Uber forged a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University to get its ambitions for self-driving cars off the ground? It turns out this deal wasn't exactly balanced. The Verge understands that Uber poached much of the autonomous vehicle team from Carnegie Mellon's robotics lab, including top staff who'd been there for more than a decade. There's a transition period that keeps these researchers around to finish existing work, but the rash of departures is reportedly creating a vacuum at the school -- and it's not clear if those soon-to-depart people are working on academic projects or Uber technology.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Uber clashes with London mayor over cap on minicab numbers

  While the city's black cab drivers wait for the High Court to decide whether Uber's operation in London is legal, they may soon be given a helping hand by mayor Boris Johnson. The Financial Times reports that the recently-elected MP has backed proposals limit the number of minicabs operating in the capital, effectively blocking Uber's expansion plans. The private taxi company isn't prepared to take it lying down, though, and has already sought to meet with the mayor to discuss the issue. In a letter seen by the newspaper, Uber UK head Jo Bertram argued that action would result in "higher prices" and negatively affect Londoners' ability to move around the capital.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Toyota wishes the Prius was a 'Final Fantasy' chocobo

  In Japan, Toyota has a history of tapping classic Japanese role-playing games to sell its latest vehicles. The company has previously used the music from Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter in its TV ads, and now it's leveraging Final Fantasy to promote the petite Aqua Urban-X (known as the Prius C in the US). As Kotaku reports, the unique commercial shows three yellow cars tearing around the countryside, while the Chocobo Theme plays jubilantly in the background. For fans of the franchise, it's a clever nod to the beloved flightless bird, which often feature in the games as mythical modes of transport. But how many Final Fantasy fans are in the market to buy a new car? Probably not many -- Toyota is presumably banking on the idea that such an iconic Japanese franchise will be recognisable to even the most casual of video game enthusiasts. It's certainly more effective than this terrifying Mercedes-Benz ad featuring Nintendo's popular plumber.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Uber will give you a driver who speaks Spanish

  Would you rather say "¡hola!" to your Uber driver instead of "hello?" You've got it. The ridesharing firm has formally launched UberEspañol in six US areas (Chicago, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego and Tucson), giving you the choice of a Spanish-speaking UberX driver when you need a lift. This sadly leaves out posher ride options, but it's a big deal if you're more comfortable with the language or have a passenger whose English isn't that great. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Amtrak installs automatic train controls before service resumes

  Following the deadly accident last week near Philadelphia, Amtrak installed a braking system on the section of track that could've prevented the derailment. The automatic train control system (ATC) keeps tabs on a train's speed as it heads toward curves, automatically adjusting it if the conductor fails to do so. ATC was already used for southbound trains in this spot, but not for those headed northbound like the one that derailed last Tuesday. In addition to the ATC, Amtrak is working to equip trains with a Positive Train Control system (PTC) which uses the ATC to further automate trains while avoiding collisions, maintaining safe speeds and providing safer conditions for work crews. Amtrak plans to have the PTC in place by the end of the year. The Federal Rail Administration announced today that Amtrak had completed all of its requirements to resume service along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC and Boston, and that the train company would continue to evaluate other curves along the route. [Image credit: Mark Makela/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• The US wants cars to 'talk' to each other, sooner rather than later

  The Department of Transportation wants America's cars to talk to each other, and it wants that to happen pretty soon. That's why Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced that legislation to make vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication a mandatory feature of new cars will be brought forward. At a speech in Silicon Valley, the official added that he's greasing the wheels of government to make it easier for the program to begin. For instance, he's working with the FCC to ensure that the 5.9GHz spectrum is properly tested and ready for use when this technology eventually reaches consumers in the next few decades.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Follow the world's mass transit on this live map

  Sure, it's not hard to learn when your bus is likely to show up, but have you wondered where everyone else's bus is at any given moment? You now have an easy way to find out. GeOps and the University of Freiburg have rolled out TRAVIC (Transit Visualization Client), a map that shows the real-time positions of buses and trains from more than 200 public transportation systems around the globe. Some of this info is based on schedule estimates, but it's still quite hypnotic -- you can see when subway cars pass by Times Square (hint: often), or how long it takes a bus to arrive at Barcelona's beach. While this tool probably won't be very useful for planning your own trips, it'll definitely remind you just how much effort goes into getting you across the urban landscape.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The US' drone pilots aren't getting enough training

  The US is increasingly relying on drones for recon and air support, but you almost wouldn't know it from how little training those drones' pilots get. A Government Accountability Office report has revealed that both Air Force and Army crews frequently have a tough time getting enough flight hours to stay current. Many Army pilots find themselves being assigned menial tasks that keep them from their main role, ranging from guard duty to mowing the lawn. Air Force operators on the front lines have no problems getting experience at the controls, but they're often limited to whatever combat missions they can fly. The USAF only has about 85 percent of the qualified pilots it needs to be truly effective, according to the report.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: folding cars and an R2-D2 van

  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's on a roll lately -- it's planning to reveal a $35,000 electric car next year, and it just unveiled a home battery that could take your house off the grid. But if you're hoping to get in on the paradigm-shifting technology, you might have to wait -- the Powerwall home battery is sold out through 2016. The enormous level of interest in the batteries has translated to $800 million worth of reservations, begging the question: Can Tesla's battery hit $1 billion in sales faster than the iPhone? On the topic of the iPhone, Apple is seriously greening up its act. Back in 2011, Greenpeace named Apple the least clean tech company. Now, just four years later, Apple rates as the greenest tech company of all. Part of the reason for that improved rating could come from Apple's partnership with World Wildlife Fund in China to create sustainable forests.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Recommended Reading: The making of a self-driving semitruck

  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 Daimler Built the World's First Self-driving Semi by Alex Davies Wired In case you missed it, Daimler built a self-driving big rig, and it just recently got the OK to hit the road in Nevada. The Freightliner truck, known as Inspiration, took a team of around 60 engineers six months to build. Wired's Alex Davies offers a behind-the-scenes look at the project, detailing some of the tech that's onboard.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Google's unique self-driving cars will hit public streets this summer

  Almost a year after it unveiled its first self-driving bubble car prototype, Google is finally ready to take it off the test track and let it loose on California's public roads. In fact, the search giant says it has a "few" models ready to embark on the next phase of testing, which will see vehicles with removable steering wheels, accelerator and brake pedals undergo the same testing that its modified self-driving Lexus RX450h SUVs went through.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Uber and Live Nation handle your concert transportation this summer

  Summer music festivals are just around the corner, and the warmer temperatures offer a good chance to catch an outdoor show at your local venue. Uber's well aware that many music fans plan on doing one of the two, so it's teaming up with Live Nation to make the drive one less thing you have to worry about. The ride-hailing app will help you plan transportation to festivals like Sasquatch! and EDC Las Vegas so you don't miss the artists you want to see most. When the concert you're attending is put on by Live Nation, not only is hailing a ride is easy, but the driver will automatically receive the venue's address from the ticketing app. As you might expect, not every festival, concert hall and amphitheater is in on the offer, so you'll want to consult the full list via the source link below. [Image credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Tokyo bans UAVs from its public parks

  Citing concerns over visitor safety, officials in Tokyo have temporarily banned the use of UAVs in 81 public parks throughout the city. An announcement released Tuesday explains that violators could face fines up to ¥50,000 ($8,000) for violating the ordinance. This policy change follows a recent incident wherein a man protesting the country's nuclear police successfully landed a quadcopter carrying a cup of mildly irradiated water on the roof of Prime Minister Abe's office. According the The Japan Times, officials stated that the the metropolitan government doesn't plan to impose the stiff penalty but is asking that residents comply with the ban nonetheless. [Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Tesla thinks turn signals will solve liability in semi-autonomous cars

  In vehicles with self-driving features, who takes the blame for a crash? Tesla may have an answer. The Wall Street Journal understands that the turn signal activation of the Model S' car-passing autopilot is largely about liability. When you flick the signal stalk, you're conveying your intent -- if the vehicle smacks into someone else as a consequence, you're likely at fault. This is unfortunate if it leaves you on the hook for an accident that was out of your hands, but it could also save you from requiring special registration to get your semi-autonomous machine on the road.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sidecar is starting a weed delivery service in San Francisco

  Your next Sidecar ride could be carrying more than passengers and parcels. The ride-sharing company announced that it is teaming with local cannabis service Meadow to bring same-day weed deliveries to medical marijuana patients in San Francisco. The new service will reportedly fulfill orders through the Apothecarium dispensary. Package deliveries already constitute about 10 percent of Sidecar's ride volume in San Francisco. However, carrying cannabis poses a number of unique challenges -- such as ensuring that the person taking delivery is the same person that placed the order.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Victory brings an e-bike to the world's best-known motorcycle race

  Victory Motorcycles is better known for its burly cruiser bikes than racing, but it's about to challenge that reputation in a big, big way. The company has revealed that it will run a prototype electric motorcycle at the Isle of Man TT, arguably the world's most famous two-wheeled race. The machine will compete in 'just' a one-lap electric class competition on June 10th, but that still amounts to jumping in with both feet. The Isle of Man's 37.7-mile circuit is one of the most dangerous and grueling you can race -- there are many moments where you're seemingly a hair's breadth away from colliding with someone's house.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• FTC airs support for Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales

  The FTC did what it could to convince New Jersey and Missouri to repeal their ban against Tesla's direct-to-consumer sales approach back in 2014. Now the commission has published another strongly worded letter backing Tesla, targeting Michigan, in particular. In it, the FTC makes its point clear: it believes that "states should allow consumers to choose not only the cars they buy, but also how they buy them." If you recall, Michigan's governor signed a bill into law last year that specifically banned Tesla from selling to consumers directly. All automakers have always been prohibited from doing so, but the law was still signed to eliminate any room for confusion.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Uber and other app-hailing services become legal in the Philippines

  Uber has finally caught a break in the Philippines. It's no secret that the company's dealing with a bunch of issues, from sexual assault complaints to resistance by local taxi businesses and permit problems with governments across the globe. But in the Asian archipelago, the ride-sharing service is now completely legal, after operating without formal regulations for almost a year. In fact, the Philippine transportation department has created a whole new classification for Uber called Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS). That category recognizes all app-based transportation services, which means rivals like Lyft can launch in the country with zero issues.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Uber will take cash for rides in one Indian city

  Part of the point of Uber is paying for a car ride without reaching for your wallet, but the company is willing to make exceptions if it means getting your business. As of May 12th, you can get a lift in Hyderabad, India using old-fashioned cash -- important in a country where online credit card payments are relatively rare. It's just an "experiment" at the moment, but the ridesharing outfit tells the Financial Times that it's considering expanding the option to other developing areas if it takes off. You probably won't be paying for American trips with hard currency, then. Still, the extra choice could mean a lot if the rupees in your pocket are all you have to get to the airport on time. [Image credit: AP Photo/Saurabh Das]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Self-driving cars involved minor accidents, but don't blame the tech

  Since California began issuing permits for self-driving car tests on public roads last fall, four out of nearly 50 vehicles had minor accidents. According to an Associated Press report, three of the four were Google's Lexus SUVs outfitted with Delphi's autonomous technology. The fourth was a test vehicle owned by Delphi. In half of the fender benders, the cars were in control when the accident occurred, and all of them happened at speeds of under 10 MPH. Most importantly, all four cases resulted in minor damage and no injuries. Due to the state's privacy laws, the report doesn't indicate any further details -- like if they happened while backing out of a parking space, for example.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• AeroMobil's flying car prototype crashes mid-test

  AeroMobil may have its work cut out for it if it's going to deliver a practical flying car within two years. Unfortunately, inventor Stefan Klein crashed a prototype in Slovakia this weekend after it entered an unrecoverable tailspin during a test flight. While the pilot thankfully managed to activate his vehicle's parachute in time and avoid any serious injuries, the machine wasn't so lucky -- as you can see above, it wasn't about to drive away. The company is optimistic about the accident in a statement, arguing that it's a "natural part" of testing that will help refine the design. It'll no doubt be a learning experience, but something tells us that the official roadmap doesn't include wrecking an aircraft. This is going to be a setback, even if it's relatively minor. [Image credit: MH, SME.sk]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Los Angeles is hiring an advisor for ridesharing and robotic cars

  Los Angeles might be opening up to next-generation transportation between its loosening stance on ridesharing and its deal with Waze, but it's still looking for someone who can shed more light on the subject. Mayor Eric Garcetti has revealed that the city is hiring an advisor who'll create a transportation strategy that factors in newer technology, including ridesharing services and self-driving cars. The hope is that this will modernize both road safety and traffic flow in a metropolis that's notorious for its dependence on cars. The catch? This is a year-long fellowship, not a permanent position. LA may set off in the right direction, but it's not certain that the local government will be prepared if future tech introduces new problems.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Tesla's first acquisition is a Michigan auto parts maker

  Tesla's just made its first acquisition: a tool and die shop based in Grand Rapids, Michigan (roughy 150 miles west of Detroit) that makes automotive stamping parts. As The Detroit Free Press reports, the current Riviera Tool will eventually become Tesla Tool and Die and will retain its current employees, possibly hiring more in the future. It gives the electric vehicle company a stake in the original motor capitol of the world, and is a sign of Elon Musk's ground-based baby working to alleviate supply chain issues. Ironically enough, the State Shaped Like A Hand doesn't allow Tesla to sell its cars locally. Update: A Tesla spokesperson has confirmed the purchase to Engadget.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Toyota's hydrogen car to sell on just eight lots come October

  Toyota's new hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle (FCV), dubbed the Mirai, will be hitting dealer lots this October...all eight of them. The car company announced today that only select lots throughout California will actually be taking stock based on their previous advanced technology vehicle sales as well as the relative development of hydrogen infrastructure in their areas. The Mirai starts at $57,500, though with state and federal tax credits you're looking closer to $45,000 (plus free hydrogen for "up to three years"). You can check one out in person at San Francisco Toyota, Roseville Toyota, Stevens Creek Toyota, Toyota of Sunnyvale, Longo Toyota, Toyota Santa Monica, Toyota of Orange and Tustin Toyota. The company plans to produce just 200 units to start though it hopes to sell as many as 3,000 Mirai by the end of 2017.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• FAA gets help from CNN for its new commercial drone-testing program

  As part of its effort to work with companies on advancing drone use here in the States, the Federal Aviation Administration announced two initiatives today that'll do just that. First, a testing program called Pathfinder will encompass CNN's existing exploration of the UAVs for news coverage with the expertise of two other companies. Rounding out the trio, PrecisionHawk will focus on surveying rural areas and BNSF Railway will use drones to inspect its tracks. As it turns out, those companies contacted the FAA directly, and Pathfinder will continue so long as the partners are willing. The FAA already gave Amazon the OK to conduct tests for its delivery drones and gave AIG permission to use UAVs for insurance inspection purposes. It also approved a commercial crop-dusting drone for agricultural use. Even though those companies have to submit reports to the FAA, the aforementioned threesome is working directly with the government as part of the newly announced project.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• The first self-driving big rig licensed to operate in the US

  A Daimler-built autonomous truck can now legally operate on the highways of Nevada. Gov. Brian Sandoval has officially granted the "Freightliner Inspiration Truck" a license for road use in the state, making it the first of its kind to navigate public roads in the US. The Inspiration's "Highway Pilot system" is loaded with cameras, radars, other sensors and computer hardware like most autonomous vehicles. However, it's not completely self-driving -- it still needs a human driver behind the wheel.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Uber quits Kansas after a bill makes its ridesharing 'impossible'

  If you rely on Uber to get around Kansas, you'll have to find an alternative in short order. The ridesharing firm has ended service in the state after legislators overturned the Governor's veto on SB 117, a bill that tightens restrictions on Uber and similar app-based transportation networks. The stricter insurance requirements in the bill supposedly make it "impossible" for the company to do business. To no one's surprise, Uber is hopping mad -- it insist that the move hurts the availability of safe rides, denies job opportunities and makes Kansas regulation look "backward."

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Chevy's 2016 Volt costs just $25,000 if you live in California

  Chevy's Volt hybrid was once considered pricey even after government tax credits, but the 2016 model may well be within your reach... if you live in the right state, at least. The automaker has revealed that its latest eco-friendly sedan will cost $33,995 at full price (down $1,200 from last year), but it'll drop to a more palpable $26,495 if you qualify for a full federal tax credit. And if you live in California, it'll sit just under the magic $25,000 mark -- not bad for a full-size car that can stay on electric power during a typical commute. You can certainly find cheaper hybrids if you look around, but this is a testament to how quickly Chevy's once-exotic technology has become accessible.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Tesla starts selling used electric cars on the web

  Tesla is a big fan of selling electric cars directly to the public (much to dealers' chagrin), and it's now doing the same for used vehicles. The automaker has opened an online pre-owned store where you can buy someone's former Model S at a relative discount. You're limited to shopping in a handful of cities in the US and Canada, but the cars come with a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty to assuage fears that you've bought a lemon. No, the move doesn't make the company's luxury EVs much more attainable -- the best offer we've seen so far is for a $59,000 'entry' model. Even so, this beats having to scrounge through third-party websites and indie dealers in hopes of finding a rare bargain in eco-friendly transportation.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• These are the coolest cars you'll never drive

  Our ability to drive innovation through creative visualization has helped us explore the reaches of space, put powerful computers into our pockets and design some bad-ass car concepts. There's always been a seed of futurism in automobiles: Manufacturers and hobbyists alike have been crafting unique vehicles for decades, sometimes to test out fresh, new tech and other times to indulge in space-age fantasies. Below, we explore some of the more notable concept cars that have been created over the years, from the utilitarian to the fantastic.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• New FAA system can track twice as many flights at once

  Whoever said "it's the journey, not the destination" obviously lived in a time before air travel. But maybe, just maybe, the Department of Transportation's implementation of the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), the "backbone" of the NextGen air-traffic system, could change how we feel about getting on a flight. There are a few things making up ERAM: performance based navigation, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and data comm.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• To keep a Boeing Dreamliner flying, reboot once every 248 days

  The 787 Dreamliner has been plagued with battery woes since its early days, to the point where the Federal Aviation Administration kept it from flying the skies in the past. And while those technical difficulties are apparently taken care of, Boeing's flagship airliner could be on the way to more trouble soon. According to the FAA, there's a software bug in the 787 Dreamliner that can cause its electrical system to fail and, as a result, lead to "loss of control" of the plane. But why? The FAA says this is triggered by the aircraft's electrical generators, which could give out if they have been powered on continuously for over eight months.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

Gaming (65)

• Highly anticipated horror game 'SOMA' hits PC and PS4 in September

  Acclaimed developer Frictional Games has fully taken the wraps off SOMA, it's super-hyped new sci-fi horror title. The company, which built it reputation on terrifying first-person games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Penumbra, that focus on atmosphere, exploration and hiding (a lot of hiding). And you can expect more of the same from SOMA apparently. In the first extensive gameplay trailer released an unnamed protagonist wanders around what appears to be an abandoned factory, talking to a robot that thinks its a person, redirecting power through the crumbing facility and generally avoiding a frightening robot that's not terribly unlike the Big Daddies from the Bio Shock series. We won't spoil all the fun though. You can watch the full video after the break and pick up the game on September 22nd for PC and PS4.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• 'FIFA 16' will feature women soccer players for the first time

  If you're entitled to play a sport in real life, then it's only fair that you can do so from the comfort of your couch. That's why it's good to see EA Sports announce that FIFA 16 will feature women's soccer teams for the first time. Now, users will be able to play as one of 12 international teams that include the USA, England, Brazil and France. It's a big step, too, since while you can get a licensed WNBA title from 2K Games, this is the first time EA has included a women's roster in one of its team-based games. In fact, the only woman we remember appearing in one of these games up to this point is Ronda Rousey in the UFC spin-off title.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Lego appears to be building a 'Minecraft' competitor

  Lego's new Amiibo-like Dimensions figures haven't even hit stores yet, but already the company appears to be taking on another gaming phenomenon: Minecraft. The world's biggest toy brand has begun including small flyers inside some of its sets advertising a new game called Lego Worlds, inviting players to "Explore. Discover. Create." Sounds exactly like the premise of Mojang's popular sandbox game, doesn't it? Lego may have gotten a little ahead of itself as the dedicated website for Worlds has yet to go live, but something tells us we might learn more about this mysterious title when E3 comes around next month.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Twitch: please don't broadcast Adults Only games on our service

  Twitch is asking that its legion of video game broadcasters think twice before they share video of a game with gratuitous sex or violence. In an update to the streaming outfit's rules of conduct, users are asked not to publish their exploits if the title has been rated Adults Only by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. That's not to say that titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas are instantly banned, however, since the Mature-rated version of that same game is still allowed to run.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• 'Evolve' simplifies the hunt with free deathmatch arena mode

  Evolve isn't a typical multiplayer shooter. The game pits four hunters against a quickly mutating monster, with the first task usually being to find and trap the player-controlled goliath. The experience can be a little bewildering for newcomers, so developer Turtle Rock Studios is throwing in a free Arena Mode that keeps everything simple. In a best-of-three match, the hunters and monster are dropped in a small, pre-determined dome with only one goal; take down your opponent(s). The monster starts at stage two with 50 percent armour, reducing the need to devour local wildlife, and when a hunter dies they're out until the next round. It's a bare-bones take on the Evolve formula, stripping away some of what makes the game unique. Still, if you're interested in shorter rounds where you can easily hone your combat skills, Arena Mode could be a welcome change on planet Shear.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Oculus VR bought a firm that reconstructs 3D scenes in real time

  I'm willing to bet that one of the best things about having Facebook in your back pocket is that your pocketbook is likely bottomless. How's that? Well, Oculus has acquired yet another company on its path to a retail model. This time it's Surreal Vision, a firm focused on "3D scene reconstruction" according to a recent post on the VR outfit's blog. "Great scene reconstruction will enable a new level of presence and telepresence, allowing you to move around the real world and interact with real-world objects from within VR," the post reads. So! This acquisition should help out quite a bit when it comes to building out the social spaces and experiences Oculus has been crowing about since Zuckerberg and Co. made their $2 billion purchase.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Mad Max' the game has crazy cars, murder and a story

  The "Savage Road" story trailer suggests that there's a deeper tale behind all of the desert-drenched road rage and creative killing in the Mad Max video game. Apparently, that story is about a dude looking for a car, finding a car, kissing a lady and then destroying all of the evil men he can reach on four wheels. It's a slightly different narrative than the one in this year's film, Mad Max: Fury Road, and plot isn't the only way these two products diverge. We played a portion of Mad Max last week and found it to be fun as a car game but lacking in intrigue as a brawler: "In its translation to an open-world video game, Mad Max: Fury Road's unique charm's been traded in for monotony." Still, a video full of rampaging, spiky vehicles and bloodthirsty desert overlords gets our blood pumping every time. Watch the story trailer below. Mad Max is due on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on September 1st, with pre-orders open now.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• PlayStation Plus gets an answer to Xbox Live's subscriber-only sales

  Sony has long been willing to discount certain PlayStation games if you're a Plus subscriber, but it hasn't offered the certainty of Xbox Live's Deals With Gold. You don't know that you're going to get a steady stream of bargains, especially not for newer titles. That doubt should disappear after today, though. Sony has launched PlayStation Plus Specials, a sale program that gives you a break on games and add-ons that are still relatively fresh. How fresh? To start, you're getting 20 percent off Bloodborne in the US -- a sweet deal for a big PS4 hack-and-slash that's only a couple of months old. It's too soon to tell whether these offers will be as tempting down the line, but it's also hard to object to getting more savings for your money.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The US Air Force hopes to recruit you with a virtual reality game

  The US Air Force has an interesting dilemma: how do you convey the thrill of flying a fighter jet to potential recruits without taking them on a very expensive trip? Virtual reality, apparently. The military branch is teaming up with Reel FX on Air Force Performance Lab, a recruiting "experience" whose centerpiece is an Oculus Rift-based VR game that has you flying an F-35 through an obstacle course. It's more of an arcade game than a simulator, but the use of real throttle-and-stick controls and a rumbling seat could make it feel convincing enough.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hot Pockets imagines its greasy place in the VR gaming future

  Hot Pockets are the official food of those who have declared: "I've given up caring about my health and I just want radiated bread, cheese and 'meat.'" But you can't deny how easy it is to pop one in the microwave when you're just the right amount of hungry, desperate and need something you can consume with one hand. Now the company is marketing Hot Pocket Snack Bites for those moments when you need to keep both hands free for important tasks like gaming while wearing a VR headset. The commercial doesn't remind future gamers that it'll probably be a good idea to take the face computer off before eating. Hot Pockets might not be the best food (or even "food"), but at least its better than accidentally putting whatever is lying on your coffee table in your mouth.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• 'Shenmue' and 'Streets of Rage' tunes are headed to vinyl

  When it comes to classic Sega games, they don't get much bigger (or better) than Shenmue and Streets of Rage. They were released more than eight years apart and on completely different consoles, but they share an important trait: incredible sound. Now, as Polygon reports, a London-based record label called Data Discs is planning to release both soundtracks on vinyl later this year. They'll be priced at £19.99 (roughly $31) and pressed on 180 gram vinyl, complete with lithographic artwork prints. The company is also working with Streets of Rage composer Yuzo Koshiro to remaster the tunes from the side-scrolling beat 'em up, ensuring fans get the best experience possible on their turntables. Pre-orders start on May 30th and there are "exclusive editions" for those who spend their cash early, however the first wave of records isn't expected to leave the warehouse until September.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• 'Need for Speed' reboot rolls out this fall

  When EA's quarterly report dropped earlier in May, it included a few tasty game-related tidbits, including a "holiday 2015" launch window for a new Need for Speed. EA today confirmed that Need for Speed will launch on PS4, Xbox One and PC this fall -- and it's a full-on reboot of the series. "With more than 20 years of history in its rear view mirror, we're bringing Need for Speed back with a reboot that delivers on what Need for Speed stands for -- rich customization, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative," EA Community Manager Ben Walke writes. The first teaser for the game is fairly gorgeous and EA says that all of its footage was captured in-game. Watch the video below, and keep your eyes here on June 15th for the first gameplay trailer and official announcement direct from E3 2015.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Streams: going Jurassic with 'theHunter: Primal'

  How long would you last on an island full of dinosaurs when you've nothing but a rusty machete and the clothes on your back? That's the question theHunter: Primal poses. It's also my absolute childhood fantasy. You start the game with essentially nothing and need to find your way around a paradisical atoll full of thunderlizards that'd rather eat you than sing songs about the alphabet. We'll be joined by folks from Avalanche Studios (Just Cause, Mad Max) so they can help guide me around the island and hopefully aid in uncovering the secrets of raptor-whispering. Oh! and we'll be giving away download codes for the PC game as well; get your haikus ready.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• TS Eliot and a tragic childhood in 'Home is Where One Starts'

  You stand on the edge of a strip of asphalt, in the middle of a breezy, weedy, Southern forest. It's nearly sunset and the day's final rays sprawl over hay rolls and a small pond across the road. Behind you, a long trailer home sits in a clearing, piles of old and discarded possessions heaped haphazardly around it. More hazy structures dot the horizon, and at your feet there's a small, elephant-shaped backpack. You pick it up and turn it around. A woman's voice calmly says, "I remember missing the school bus that morning." True enough, the bus never comes and you're free to roam around the immediate area, exploring the forest, trash, houses and cemetery around you, learning more about yourself and your past. This is Home is Where One Starts..., a short exploration game inspired by TS Eliot's The Four Quartets and created by indie developer David Wehle. I spoke with Wehle about the poetic influences behind his game and the wider state of exploration-based games.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Pro gaming doesn't need balls to be considered a 'sport'

  The hockey game on the flat-screen behind the bar had served as a pleasant background visual as I ate dinner. But with my plate cleared, the action on-screen drew my full attention. I took a sip of beer as players converged on the puck, white jerseys sliding into red and sticks slapping intently over a small, swift black dot. More furious movement and some of the athletes fell back as others rushed forward chasing their objective: Control the puck. I took another sip. Two men, one from each team, flew toward the black dot as it slid across the bottom wall of the rink and the rest of the players settled into position behind them, constantly moving, pushing for dominance of their immediate areas. Each person on the ice clearly had a specific role. And then halfway through my second beer, it clicked. "It's like they're playing League of Legends in real-life," I thought, frozen in mid-sip. "Holy shit. I think I understand hockey now."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Rockstar owner sues the BBC over upcoming GTA drama

  When the BBC announced it was making a docudrama about Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto franchise, we assumed it had the blessing of the games' creators. Not so. As IGN reports, Rockstar Games, via its parent company Take-Two Interactive, has filed a lawsuit against the broadcaster over trademark infringement. In a statement, the company says Rockstar Games "has had no involvement" with the project and that it's attempted "multiple times" to resolve the matter with the BBC. The show is being developed under the working title "Game Changer," and it's safe to assume Rockstar, its pivotal employees and the franchise itself will be named in the show. Daniel Radcliffe has already been cast as Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser, alongside Bill Paxton as Jack Thompson, a former attorney that famously campaigned against the game franchise. If the one-off TV drama is to go ahead as planned, it's vital that the BBC settles this legal dispute quickly.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Gaming cooperatively makes you more sociable, say scientists

  Gaming has well known dark sides, but it can also improve spatial skills, reduce stress and even bring families together. Two new studies may further confuse you about the benefits, with one concluding that gaming makes you friendlier in the real world, and another implying it could ruin your brain. First the plus side: Texas Tech researchers think that cooperative gameplay, whether in violent or non-violent games, makes people nicer. "We found that playing with a helpful partner increases the expectation of others to reciprocate that pro-social behavior," said author John Velez. He added that teaming up even makes you "nicer to the other team... that just tried to beat you."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• A video for Konami fans who need a laugh, courtesy of Mega64

  Konami has made some major, mysterious changes this year. It canceled Silent Hills, a horror game from Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima and filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, even after the exceptionally warm reception to its PlayStation 4 teaser, PT. Kojima himself is, in all likelihood, going to leave Konami after production wraps on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Plus, Konami delisted itself from the New York Stock Exchange and wants to aggressively pursue mobile game development. Put all of that together and you get a PT spoof from nerdy-comedy video crew Mega64. Watch the video below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Epic Games challenges VR devs to make sense of big data

  We've seen a handful of neat ways to visualize big data and make it useful, and the folks behind Unreal Engine, Epic Games, think virtual reality is the next step for that. Currently a half-dozen international teams are taking part in the Big Data VR Challenge, and hope their expertise with games and VR will help 'em "find new ways to manipulate and interrogate" the massive amounts of info generated by science studies. As of now, projects include putting together a digital edition of one of medical history's largest collections of patient consultations (some 80,000 participants) from the 16th and 17th century and a cohort study of kids born between 1991 and 1992.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Future 'Lego Dimensions' packs will work with the originals

  Lego has something up its sleeve to lure you away from Skylanders and Disney Infinity: future-proofing its toys-to-life-game, Lego Dimensions. Along with the announcement that a handful of new figures will be sold in "Team" and "Fun" packs, the press release wasn't afraid to get passive aggressive about what separates it from the competition: "Future expansion pack purchases will continue to work with the LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack, even in the fall of next year. No compatibility chart necessary." That last portion refers to the aforementioned games' need to point out what does and doesn't work between different expansions and figurines in each game. Cheeky, yeah? That means the Joker and Harley Quinn minifig/vehicle Team Pack, and Superman and Bane minifig/vehicle Fun Packs won't have any trouble getting along with anything released in the future, it sounds like. Nor will a certain Timelord when he meets the likes of Doc Brown of Back to the Future fame and some more Ninjago characters.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• YouTube gamers are getting their own 'Minecraft'-inspired figures

  If you head down to your local toy store today, you'll likely find that the shelves are dominated by video game packs and figurines. Franchises like Minecraft, Disney Infinity and Skylanders mostly dominate proceedings, but their popularity also encourages rivals to cash in on the latest craze. One such toy maker believes that fusing YouTube and Minecraft could be the answer, so it's created a new range of "Tube Heroes" toys that immortalize some of the video service's most popular gamers as Minecraft-like figures and plushies.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Curtain lifts on first 'Rock Band 4' songs

  Not to be outdone by Guitar Hero Live, the folks over in the Rock Band 4 camp unveiled the first handful of tracks for this fall's face-melting simulator. And they're pretty diverse! As noted on IGN, the half-dozen ranges from Avenged Sevenfold to The Who. Developer Harmonix is debuting gameplay on Twitch with the IGN folks as well. Sadly there's no word of Deftones, High on Fire, Katy Perry, Mastodon, or Taylor Swift yet, but we still have a long ways before this new tour kicks off. There's that whole song request form in case there are any dream songs you'd want included, too. Prep your air guitar and jump past the break for the full list.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Seven times Kanye West dressed like a 'Final Fantasy' character

  Apparently the Kanye West role-playing game, Kanye Quest 3030, contains an eerie hidden area involving a butterfly and a New Age cult called Ascensionism. We know, it's hard to believe that Kanye has a video game. Anyway, this secret game-within-a-game is weird, but it's certainly not surprising considering that, for years now, Kanye has been dressing like characters from one of the most nonsensical video game franchises of all time, Final Fantasy. We've collected a few of Kanye's standout cosplay attempts in the gallery below. Happy Friday, folks.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• See the 'Batman: Arkham Knight' Dual Play mode in action

  And we do mean action. Dual Play in Batman: Arkham Knight allows one player to swap between Batman and a trusty sidekick during fights. For example, if you're battling a room full of nasty baddies as Batman, the AI will be in control of Nightwing -- until you switch characters, at which point the AI takes over Batman and you become Nightwing. There's also a special called the "super-combo takedown" that builds up as you fight and instantly KOs enemies in a Batman-sidekick one-two punch. "If you're building your combo with Batman and you see that there's an enemy over by Nightwing you want to take out, you can switch to Nightwing, you keep your combo, and if you've got your special charged up you can instantly use your super-combo takedown on that foe," Lead AI Programmer Tim Hanagan says in the Dual Play demo video embedded below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• New VR game lets you be the bullet

  Remember Superhot? It let you dodge bullets by controlling time à la The Matrix, but a new VR game takes that premise even farther by making you the bullet. Drift is a game for Samsung's Gear VR, developed by a pair of programmers during the course of Oculus' Mobile VR Jam. The idea is pretty simple: after a bullet is fired from a gun, your viewpoint changes to its trajectory. Time is considerably slowed down and you can alter the bullet's path by looking left or right. You move around the bizarre orange environment past the crash test dummy-like characters until you spot your target: the green guy.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• 'Divinity: Original Sin' casts its classic RPG spell on consoles

  Lots of people thought that Diablo 3 wouldn't have been possible on consoles and it proved the best version of the title. Now it's time to see if the same holds true of last year's breakout role-playing game Divinity: Original Sin in the form of an Enhanced Edition. The decidedly old-school RPG's getting a revamped interface, split-screen couch co-op and full-on voice work throughout for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The tweaks don't stop there either, as it's also getting some new quests among others along with tweaks to the combat system (likely to accommodate gamepads) and story.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Xbox One pulls off an unlikely sales victory over the PS4

  Well, this is kind of surprising: the Xbox One lead console sales last month. I say it's surprising because there wasn't an exclusive game that launched for the system, nor was there a new bundle deal going at the time, either. Regardless, it's good news and something that Redmond hasn't seen in an awfully long time. The company says that domestic sales of the console increased some 63 percent compared to last April while active Xbox Live users on a global scale grew by 24 percent in the same window. Of course, we still don't have hard numbers in terms of sales about the Xbox One, and until the console breaks 20 million sold you can bet that we almost assuredly won't.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Rainbow Six Siege' raids PC, PS4 and Xbox One on October 13th

  While The Division might not be launching in 2015 (it was pushed back to early 2016), you'll have at least one way to get your Tom Clancy gaming fix this year. Ubisoft has announced that Rainbow Six Siege will ship worldwide on October 13th. The counter-terrorist raid shooter will be available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, and players who pre-order will have guaranteed access to a closed beta test. It's hard to say if this title will do justice to the original Rainbow Six games it's trying to follow, but you'll know for sure in about five months.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• JXE Streams: Roll7 explains the guns and bunnies in 'Not a Hero'

  Just over a month ago, Roll7 stopped by JXE Streams to laugh at us as we repeatedly wiped out grinding rails in skateboarding game OlliOlli 2. Now the studio is coming back on the show to mock us for lacking an entirely different set of skills. We're just not that good at jumping through windows and shooting thugs under the orders of a maniacal bunny man from the future who happens to be running for mayor. Yes, that is really what Not a Hero is about and we'll be playing it with the game's creators starting at 3:30PM ET.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Twitch's live game video streaming arrives on Roku players

  You now have an easy way to follow your favorite Twitch game streamers on a big screen without splurging on a console or Fire TV. The live video service has just launched a channel for Roku players, helping you keep up with tournaments and "let's play" sessions on a cheap and cheerful media hub. The interface will seem familiar if you've used Twitch's other apps, but that's not exactly a major gripe. Give it a spin today if you'd rather watch a DOTA 2 match than Don Draper.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Driveclub' lets you race Rimac's ultra-rare electric hypercar

  For most of us, ultra-realistic racing games like Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport are as close as we'll ever get to driving the world's most luxurious motors. We've drooled over Rimac Automobili's Concept_One electric hypercar for years, but given that only eight have ever been made, our chances of getting behind the wheel seem pretty slim. Now, the EV has been added to Driveclub, giving you the chance to thrash the high performance racer around Norway, Scotland, Chile and more. If you need a reminder, the $980,000 car boasts a carbon fibre body and 1088 horsepower, which can take you from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Its green credentials might be irrelevant on a virtual racetrack, but hopefully you can appreciate them all the same in Evolution Studios' (no longer broken) racer.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Virtual reality game asks you to fight blind

  Virtual reality gaming isn't just about immersing yourself in visuals... it can be about sound, too. If you need proof, you only need to look at (or rather, hear) Scott Leaman's experimental Gear VR game Blind Swordsman. The title has you fending off a trio of killers using only the directional audio cues in your headphones. You have to listen carefully, face your enemy and swing before it's too late. The concept is simple on the surface, but it's reportedly very involving -- and it takes advantage of technology that wasn't viable until recently, such as cordless VR and positional sound software. Blind Swordsman isn't as superficially impressive as other virtual experiences, but it does serve as a friendly reminder that VR opens up creative possibilities beyond graphics.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Ubisoft will release virtual reality games in 2016

  There isn't much of a market for virtual reality games at the moment, but Ubisoft thinks it can help create one. Company chief Yves Guillemot tells investors that Ubi is developing a "certain number" of titles that will take advantage of VR devices once they start reaching stores in 2016. He's not specific about which franchises will get the treatment, but he says that the company is "very bullish about the potential." Supposedly, VR will lead to more immersive gameplay that could "bring more players" to gaming. The big challenge, according to Guillemot, is building games that suit the virtual environment -- it's hard to play a long time with a display strapped to your head.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Angry Birds VR' puts the infamous fowl on your face

  In case you felt T-shirts, the silver screen, lunch buckets, go-karts or your smart device weren't enough places to ogle Angry Birds, now there's one more: virtual reality. A demo for the ubiquitous game about an avian-fueled, porcine genocide made its way to Samsung's Gear VR recently, but from the sounds of it the formula's changed quite a bit. Because the series-typical 2D side-scrolling affair likely wouldn't translate well to a head-mounted display, the perspective's shifted to behind the birds. What's more, based on the screenshot above it looks like you're coasting through rings rather than destroying fortresses. As Road to VR suggests, one might guide the crestfallen fowl through these loops by moving your head. Seems plausible. There are still a number of questions remaining, but perhaps the biggest is how do the pigs feel about possibly getting spared this time out?

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• The first bands in 'Guitar Hero Live' include Alt-J, Pantera, Skrillex

  The star of Guitar Hero Live is its new controller, a guitar with six buttons instead of the classic five. The additional button allows developers to include more genres of music in the game, including Skrillex's "Bangarang," Fall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" and The Lumineers' "Ho Hey." These artists and 10 others were announced alongside Guitar Hero Live, but now Activision and FreeStyleGames have revealed their specific songs, plus 11 new artists and tracks. The new list includes Pantera's "Cowboys from Hell," Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law," Sleigh Bells' "Bitter Rivals" and Alt-J's "Left Hand Free." When we spoke to Guitar Hero Live Senior Producer Tim Dunn last week, he noted that the new six-button guitar expands the franchise's musical reach. "The new button layout helped us get more gameplay out of different genres of music," he said. See the current track lineup below, as provided by Activision.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• NVIDIA's GRID cloud gaming service gets 1080p 60 FPS streaming

  NVIDIA just flipped on a major upgrade for its GRID cloud gaming service: Full 1080p support at a blistering 60 frames per second. That's the same resolution and frame rate as many games running on the Xbox One and PS4, and it's pretty much the gold standard for PC gamers. And most importantly for NVIDIA, the update makes it the first company to offer game streaming at such a high resolution over the internet. To take advantage of the new streaming feature, you'll need to grab one of the company's SHIELD gaming devices (either the original handheld console or its gaming tablet), sign up for the SHIELD Hub beta group and have at least a 30 Mbps internet connection. We'd imagine it'll likely be a compelling draw for the company's upcoming SHIELD Android set-top box.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• 'Assassin's Creed Syndicate' brings stealth action to Victorian London

  Ubisoft's last Assassin's Creed title didn't exactly get a warm reception, but the game developer is apparently bent on making amends: meet Assassin's Creed Syndicate, the next installment in Ubi's historical stealth action series. The new game moves the setting forward to Victorian London, where the industrial revolution and social inequality are the hot-button issues of the day. However, the real centerpiece is the franchise's first use of multiple main characters. You can take control of either Jacob Frye (a "brash and rebellious" character) or his sister Evie (a "master of stealth") when you're in open-world situations. You're locked to playing one or the other in key story missions, but the move should otherwise add some variety to gameplay that has gradually become formulaic.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• If 'Rock Band' is Coachella, 'Loud on Planet X' is CBGB

  Loud on Planet X is the ultimate independent artist's dream: It's an indie game all about indie bands. The actual gameplay is a blend of two familiar mechanics, a Plants vs. Zombies-style tower-defense system and a rhythm game reminiscent of Patapon that has players making sweet, sweet music while they fend off streams of hostile, blobby aliens. The coolest part for music fans is that Loud lets you play as the indie bands that it features, including Tegan and Sara, Metric, Lights, METZ, Fucked Up, July Talk, Austra and Cadence Weapon. Loud is still a work in progress, but all of the bands have been great to work with so far, Pop Sandbox studio head Alex Jansen says: "The musicians we're working with have been really incredible and genuinely excited to be involved. A lot of them are big gamers too, especially someone like Lights."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• VR game 'SMS Racing' trivializes texting while driving

  Texting while driving is against the law and it can put you and other people on the road in serious danger. That can't be understated. However, when it's your main objective when playing a virtual reality racing game, it can also be seriously good fun. That's the premise of SMS Racing, a diminutive game from Turbo Button that pits you against other racers as you drive, text and ultimately smash your way to victory.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Experience dysentery on an Arduino-powered 'Gameboy'

  The handheld gaming world has been on the retreat since smartphones replaced the Gameboys in our pockets. But, when you mix nostalgia, an Arduino and a low price point, you get the credit-card sized Arduboy. The 8-bit gaming rig fits in your pocket, sports a black-and-white 1.3-inch OLED screen, two piezo speakers, and an eight-hour battery life. Created by Kevin Bates, his first version that he posted on YouTube garnered enough interest that Bates quit his job and started working on Arduboy full time and now you can preorder one of these full little devices.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Seven Sega Saturn oddities you never played

  It was 20 years ago today that Sega released the Sega Saturn, the US video game industry's first and only surprise console release. Tom Kalinske, Sega of America's CEO at the time, walked out onstage at E3 and announced to a theater full of game publishers, journalists and store owners that its new console was available right now for a whopping $400. If that seems like an insane business plan, it was; Saturn was so rushed to market that its scant few games didn't even have titles printed on their case's spines. Expensive and difficult to developer for, it was quickly buried by the popularity of Sony's PlayStation. The sad truth is that while the Saturn wasn't a hit here in the US, it actually enjoyed a healthy following in Japan thanks to an abundance of excellent games that only made it out in that region. Here are seven curios for Sega's maligned machine that make it a must for fans of the obscure.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Castlevania' creator just funded a 'Symphony' successor

  In case that two-hour commentary video featuring Castlevania: Symphony of the Night from over the weekend stoked a new fire in you for another side-scrolling dungeon romp, boy have I got some good news. Co-designer Koji Igarashi's taken to Kickstarter for help funding his new game Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, that, by all appearances, looks like the Symphony sequel we've been waiting for for 18 years. You play as a girl exploring gothic castle and uncovering its secrets while a curse changes your skin from flesh to crystal. Gameplay focuses on exploration with role-playing and crafting elements sprinkled in for good measure. Sounds pretty familiar, yeah? Unsurprisingly it's proving wildly popular so far. The funding goal is $500,000 and as of this writing it's already hit $510,032.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Hunt dinosaurs and craft tools while stranded naked on 'ARK' island

  ARK: Survival Evolved begins with a simple premise: You're stranded on an island, naked, cold and hungry, and you must survive. Also, there are dinosaurs. And other survivors. And... dragons? (Maybe it's not so simple after all). ARK is an open-world, first-person survival game, where players roam around an island occupied by dinosaurs and other legendary creatures, building tools out of natural resources, growing crops, researching technology and hunting for food -- or for sport. Every creature in the game is able to be "tamed" and the first screenshots show people riding around on the backs of dinosaurs. Awesome. Once it launches, play with friends in the same room or with hundreds of people online on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 (with full Morpheus VR support!) or Steam -- ARK goes live on Steam Early Access on June 2. Check out the game's announcement trailer below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• A game that explores the effects of Alzheimer's Disease

  You're standing in a living room. It might be your living room. Something's not quite right -- for every object you recognize, there's another you don't. Normally, if you get this feeling while playing a video game, you're in the middle of a horror, awaiting the inevitable jump scare. In Forget-Me-Knot, however, you aren't evading an enemy, but instead trying to piece together memories of a life that, thanks to Alzheimer's Disease, you barely remember.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• 'Lego Dimensions' will include 'Portal', Doctor Who and Homer Simpson

  If the combined might of Batman and Gandalf wasn't enough to intrigue you, how about throwing in a Timelord (with a Scottish accent)? More details of the Skylanders-baiting Lego Dimensions game have been gleaned from a building instruction sheet for its Back To The Future set, with a catalog of level packs (read: figures and accessories) we're going to see alongside the game itself. As well as Doctor Who, expect to see a Portal 2 pack, as well as Jurassic World, The Simpsons and Scooby-Doo. You can also expect multiple figures from Lego's own brick-based franchises like Ninjago as well more characters from Lord of the Rings -- these will be part of "fun packs", likely to cost less than the aforementioned full-blown level add-ons. And if it sounds like a lot, remember: we haven't even seen the DC comics sets yet.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• The Void wants to offer fully immersive virtual reality games

  Ken Bretschneider dreams of a virtual reality experience that will have you literally running, jumping around and chasing digital villains. That's why this fall, he'll start building The Void: a virtual reality gaming center with 60 x 60 foot rooms where people can physically play while immersed in another world. Those rooms will be covered in foam and look dull to the naked eye, but the place's VR headset can transform each of them into mountains where dragons dwell, rooms where monsters lurk or the skies filled with enemy pilots. As The Washington Post says, it's like "laser tag on steroids," with each experience lasting around 30 minutes.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• 'Castlevania' designer explains what made 'Symphony' so special

  There's plenty I could say about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night but in the interest of time I'll keep it short and sweet: it's one of the most influential games ever made. Don't believe me? Eighteen years later, its core design conceit (read: explore a gigantic environment at will, uncovering hidden-in-plain-sight secrets in previously traversed areas thanks to a cascading set of power-ups that grant new abilities) is still being used today. So with that in mind, watching co-designer Koji "IGA' Igarashi offer commentary while Double Fine Productions' senior gameplay programmer Anna Kipnis plays through over two hours of the game in the latest Devs Play episode is an incredible treat. Oh, and there's blood-red wine involved because of course there is.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• The dark side of competitive archery hits 'TowerFall' in May

  TowerFall Ascension is a glorious little game. It shines as a local, competitive platformer, with players bounding around levels, shooting explosive arrows at each other, dodging and grabbing power-ups such as wings and shields. The first major expansion for TowerFall is called Dark World and it's due to hit PlayStation 4, Vita, PC, Mac and Linux on May 12 for $10, developer Matt Thorson announced today. This is a hefty expansion, adding four new level sets for versus mode, four-player co-op with four original boss fights and a new Legendary difficulty setting, 10 new playable archers, and two new arrow power-ups, Trigger Arrows and Prism Arrows. The fourth and final new level set is procedurally generated, meaning it will be different every time you play. "I have to thank TowerFall players for your patience and support while developing this expansion," Thorson writes. "It took a bit longer than we were expecting but we're thrilled with the result, and we can't wait to hear your feedback."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Watch the story of how 'Hotline Miami' came to be

  Hotline Miami is one of the most memorable indie games of the decade. It was made by just two people: Dennis Wedin and Jonatan Söderström, collectively known as Dennaton Games. A new documentary from Complex explores how the ultra-violent game took the world by storm, coming from seemingly nowhere to gain critical acclaim, sell over half a million copies and spawn a successful sequel. Featuring footage of early prototypes alongside candid interviews with the developers, artists, musicians and publisher Devolver Digital, it's a fascinating look into the minds behind a truly unique experience.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• The Rockstar Editor is coming to 'GTA V' on consoles after all

  Apparently "exclusive" doesn't mean what it used to anymore. Rockstar Games recently revealed that its eponymous video editing toolset is coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Grand Theft Auto V in a recent question and answer session pulled from its mailbag. Given the extra horsepower it requires, the Rockstar Editor won't surface on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but the team hopes to release it for new-gen systems this summer or "as soon as it is ready." So, maybe don't hold your breath for too long, but you never know.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• JXE Streams: Klei indoctrinates us into 'Invisible, Inc.'

  Klei Entertainment has been building up its bonafides since 2010, pumping out a steady stream of deeply cool two-dimensional games. Shank had the old-fashioned action, Mark of the Ninja blended that action with stealth and Don't Starve took the world by storm with its Edward Gorey-an survival strategy. Invisible, Inc., its brand new game out on May 12th, blends all of those elements into a turn-based spy game with a patina of sci-fi style on the surface. How does it work? Designer James Lantz will join us on today's stream to walk us through Invisible, Inc.'s world.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Snake Rewind' modernizes the Nokia game for touchscreen devices

  Snake -- that addictive, reflex-testing mobile game on old Nokia brick phones -- is attempting a comeback. A version for modern smartphones and tablets called Snake Rewind will be released on May 14th by game developer Rumilus Design and Taneli Armanto. The latter's the Nokia engineer who preloaded it on the 6110 back in 1997 and the one you can blame for all those wasted hours and bouts of Snake-induced rage. For the young'uns who have no idea what it's about: the game gives you control of a slithering serpent during feeding time. You'd have to get its mouth in the same line as its pixel food, often by twisting and contorting its continuously elongating body using the keyboard. It might sound lame described like that, but over a decade ago, it occupied the throne Candy Crush is sitting on.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• 'Grim Fandango Remastered' comes to Android and iOS

  The classic point-and-click adventure Grim Fandango has made its way to iOS and Android. Originally released by LucasArts, Grim Fandango was remastered by creator Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions for PlayStation 4, Vita, PC, Mac and Linux earlier this year. Unlike many mobile ports of traditional games, Grim Fandango's point-and-click gameplay should lend itself to extended plays on iPad and Android tablets quite nicely, although playing on smaller phones may prove problematic. The mobile version of the critically acclaimed game includes the re-release's improved graphics and audio along with additional features like an optional director's commentary.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• 'Portal' turning into a game of hyperdimensional pinball

  Developer Valve legendarily has a hard time counting to "3" but that doesn't mean getting your hands on some new Portal action is too far out of reach. It just might not be in a place you'd expect. The long-running Zen Pinball series is taking a Newell-blessed trip to the test chambers with the "Aperture Science Heuristic Portal Pinball Device" table. As you might expect, there are plenty of nods to the series, with GLaDOS passive aggressively taunting while Chell jumps through the eponymous ingresses and co-op robots ATLAS and P-Body handling multi-ball duties. It's $2.99 for consoles, Mac and PC and $1.99 on mobile come May 25th.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• 'Star Wars' teams up with 'Disney Infinity 3.0' in the fall

  Disney Infinity 3.0 is the latest edition of Disney's Skylanders-style video game series, and it's scheduled to hit stores in the fall, complete with figurines from the Star Wars universe. That's a relief, since we were worried there wouldn't be enough Star Wars stuff to go around this year. There will be three Star Wars Play Sets for Disney Infinity 3.0: Twilight of the Republic (featuring Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Darth Maul figurines), Rise Against the Empire (with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Darth Vader) and a third based on December's film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That play set will launch in the winter, probably alongside the movie.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• The 'Mirror's Edge' sequel is due to launch in early 2016

  The sequel to the beloved 2008 parkour game Mirror's Edge is scheduled to release in early 2016 for consoles and PC, EA's quarterly financial presentation reveals (PDF). EA announced a new Mirror's Edge during E3 2014, but didn't provide any information about the release window, platforms or gameplay details, so this is the best we have so far. EA's financial presentation suggests the game will launch on consoles and PC within the same window, from January 1st to March 31st next year. Keep the Faith, folks.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• JXE Streams: Blasting robot dogs in 'Wolfenstein: The Old Blood'

  One year ago, Machine Games did an unbelievable thing: it made Wolfenstein relevant again. id Software's 1992 original is still fondly remembered; it was, after all, the only game in town where you could eat a bowl of dog food before blowing up Robo Hitler. The series had grown stale over the decades, though, a relic rather than an enduring institution. Wolfenstein: The New Order was a monumentally impressive resurrection with solid action on PS4 and Xbox One alongside a surprisingly moving, if simple, story. Now Machine Games is back with Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and we're playing it for your viewing pleasure on today's stream.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' returns this year and adds... projectiles?

  Get ready to Ride again. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 is heading to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 later this year, with Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions slated to launch shortly afterward, Game Informer's June cover story confirms. The game is published by Activision and it's in development at Robomodo, the studio behind 2009's Tony Hawk: Ride, 2010's Tony Hawk: Shred and 2012's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 may bear the series' classic numerical name, but it has a few fresh additions, including power-ups and "the ability to shoot projectiles for specific missions," the site says. Players will be able to create and share skate parks, and the game features online co-op and competitive play. We learned in 2014 that Activision was back in the Tony Hawk game, though details remained vague until today. Considering those details included "projectiles," the veil of mystery makes sense.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a gaming headset and sound bar courtesy of Polk!

  This week's giveaway goes out to all the Xbox One owners out there (and even future adopters). Polk Audio collaborated with Microsoft to fine tune some of its gaming-centric gear and we've got a set of prize packages for a few lucky Engadget readers. First off, we have the Striker ZX headset, which offers wireless connectivity for Xbox owners and an omni-directional boom mic for in-game chats or phone calls. Also, when the coast is clear, you'll be able to fire up Polk's N1 Gaming SurroundBar for open-air audio immersion. The company worked alongside designers from Halo and Forza to provide optimized sound experiences for the games in addition to its Music and Cinema settings. You can also connect to the sound bar with your Bluetooth devices and aptX support is on the menu. It has its own Sub Bass tech, but if you're a glutton for punishment, you can add your own subwoofer to the mix, too. It's a trifecta this week, with three pairs of speakers and headsets ready to ship out to a trio of lucky winners. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning!

  By Jon Turi Read More

• 'Goat Simulator' is getting a ridiculous zombie survival add-on

  Goat Simulator's offbeat, endearingly glitchy gameplay is about to invade yet another genre: zombie survival. Meet GoatZ, a not-so-subtle jab at DayZ and other titles where you spend as much time scrounging for supplies as you do fighting off the undead. Coffee Stain Studios' add-on is just as nuts as you'd expect (pink crossbows, anyone?), and is almost too on-point with its send-ups. It has "as many bugs" as other survival titles, and there's a "completely realistic" mode where you eat every few minutes -- because that's what you do in these sorts of games, isn't it? If that sounds at once hilarious and all too familiar, you'll be glad to hear that GoatZ will be available for $5 on Steam as of May 7th, with mobile versions also on the way.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Watch Jason Voorhees hack up rivals in 'Mortal Kombat X'

  If you thought that the Friday the 13th movies' legendary Jason Voorhees would make for a great Mortal Kombat fighter... well, you're right. NetherRealm has released a trailer showing how Jason will play when he arrives in Mortal Kombat X on May 5th, and he's every bit as ruthless as you'd expect for a mass murderer who's been killed many times over. You may not be sure whether you should wince or laugh -- without spoiling things, it's safe to say that Jason is especially good at carving his foes into pieces. You'll have to wait until May 12th to buy Jason by himself, but he could be worth it if you got a kick out of playing Freddy Krueger the last time around.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'League of Legends' doc chronicles America's eSports underdogs

  Patrick Creadon wants to tell you about what he thinks is competitive gaming's Miracle on Ice moment. And to do so, he's employing the tool he knows best: a movie camera. Whereas before, the film director has focused on the national debt with I.O.U.S.A. or the (sometimes famous) people who love crossword puzzles in Wordplay, his latest project, All Work All Play, tackles the world of eSports. Specifically, League of Legends and two American dark horse teams quite literally going up against the rest of the world in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans packed into, ironically enough, hockey arenas. "eSports teams don't have the respect that they so badly crave," he says. "These North American teams are not unlike the 1980 United States hockey team going up against Russia [in the Olympics]. Our movie really captures a similar story."

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• New game from 'Banjo-Kazooie' team fully funded in 40 minutes

  All that the team at Playtonic Games had to say was, "It's a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie," and their project probably would have reached its £175,000 funding goal on Kickstarter. But Playtonic -- a studio composed of former Rare developers -- instead revealed gameplay videos, pretty 3D screenshots, a colorful world and a few songs from their new game, and then they promised it was a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. That said, Yooka-Laylee blasted past its Kickstarter goal in less than 40 minutes and the numbers just keep on climbing. Andy Robinson, Playtonic's writer and only non-Rare veteran, calls the quick success "incredible."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• A tearful tech demo from the studio behind 'Final Fantasy'

  Square Enix, the studio responsible for the famously pretty Final Fantasy series, routinely creates tech demos for the latest and greatest gaming systems, and this week it added one more to that repertoire. During Microsoft's BUILD dev conference, Square Enix showed off a real-time DirectX 12 tech demo called WITCH: Chapter 0 [cry]. True to its name, this demo includes a crying woman -- Agni from previous Square Enix tech demos -- and all of the wonky facial animations that come with such an activity. WITCH features 63 million polygons per scene, "six to 12 times more" than what was possible with DirectX 11, Microsoft says. Check out the real-time demo below and note that while the animations certainly are pretty, there isn't much going on in these scenes in terms of AI or NPC population.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• 'Street Fighter' pros hardly even look at their character

  Do something enough and it becomes second nature: muscle memory and instinct kicks in. But does that hold for the high-twitch dynamics of pro gaming-level Street Fighter 4? Japanese gaming site 4Gamer rigged up a gaming PC with SteelSeries' Sentry Gaming Eye Tracker, watching the gaze of Street Fighter pro-gamer Sako as he indulged in a few rounds. Rather than focus on his own player, or the opponent, his view typically rests somewhere between the two; the pro-gamer likely trying to gauge incoming attacks and connect distance for their own. As the Japanese site notes, it wasn't exactly a high stakes bout, but the video suggests, at least, that it's not where your character is, but where it's going that's important. Which is also this editor's life philosophy, coincidentally. See where the pros are looking, right after the break.

  By Mat Smith Read More

Google (54)

• Google Calendar won't send you text alerts after June 27th

  We hope you didn't lean too heavily on Google Calendar's text message alerts in order to keep your life organized. Google is warning that Calendar's SMS notifications will vanish for regular users (education, government and work are safe) after June 27th. The search firm argues that they're no longer needed in an era when smartphones give you a "richer, more reliable" heads-up. It's true that modern mobile devices render SMS a bit redundant. With that in mind, this isn't good news if you can't justify a smartphone on your budget, or prefer to keep most notifications off -- you may remain blissfully unaware of an event change until you reach a computer. [Thanks, Kristy]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• A farewell tour of Google I/O 2015

  After two furious days of news -- both expected and not -- Google I/O has finally come to a close. We're still summing up our thoughts about the show and what Google's new future looks like, but we wanted to take you on one last stroll through Moscone West as I/O wound down to see what it's like being in a playground for some of the smartest, craziest people in the world. Join us, won't you?

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Google's Cardboard Design Lab teaches VR with (what else) VR

  Google debuted its larger and more robust Cardboard VR headset at I/O yesterday, now it needs some apps that actually run on it. However, designing a program in a virtual 3D environment is quite different than designing one to run on a 2D touchscreen. That's why Google has also released the Cardboard Design Lab, an app that teaches you the basics of VR design from within a VR environment. The program runs through 10 fundamental design aspects -- from "Using a Reticle" and "Keeping the User Grounded" to "Guiding with Light" and "Gaze Cues" -- all from within the confines of the Cardboard headset. It won't transform you into an VR hacking wizard overnight (as it's not designed to) but CDL will give neophyte coders a solid overview of what they're getting themselves into. And while the lessons learned here can just as easily be applied to designing for the Rift as Cardboard, the app is currently only available on Android.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• With Android Pay, Google gets mobile payments right

  Even though Google started the whole mobile payment thing years ago with Google Wallet, it never really took off with the masses. Google's newly announced Android Pay, however, might. Just like Google Wallet, Android Pay lets you simply tap your phone on an NFC terminal to make a purchase, but with a little less hassle -- there's no need to enter in a PIN to enable payments. In addition, Google is also allowing Android Pay to be integrated in apps like Lyft, Grubhub and Wish, so users can easily use that to pay for things. I just used Android Pay here at Google I/O, and I can say this: If it's as easy to use in real life, then I suspect mobile payments are about to be a lot more ubiquitous.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Google's Project Loon improves launch and range to expand its reach

  Google's Project Loon internet balloons have been airborne for quite some time, and now the company is planning to take the next step with the initiative. The next phase has two parts: a 50-foot-tall launcher and sharing internet signals amongst balloons. The first piece is a so-called Autolauncher, a massive rolling apparatus referred internally as the Bird House, and its canvas sides allow a crew of four to block up to 15 MPH winds in order to launch successfully. Take-offs are now partially automated too, and the time needed to do so was cut from 45 minutes down to just 15.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Google's Project Vault secures your devices with a microSD card

  Hackers are getting more brazen and passwords are becoming huge of a pain as we keep signing up for services. Password managers help ease the pain of dealing with security over multiple sites and services, but for the most part, our computing lives are open to anyone with even marginal hacking skills. Google thinks it can fix that with Project Vault, a secure device that plugs into any system both desktop or mobile that supports microSD. The device runs its own ultra-secure operating system that's partitioned from the rest of the host device with 4GB of storage for your most sensitive data.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Google and Qualcomm squeezed Project Tango tech into a smartphone

  It seems like a decent of chunk of Google's big news today deals with its partnerships. The search giant is already teaming up with Levi's to explore the realm of smart Jacquard clothes, and now Google has confirmed that it's been working with Qualcomm to build its Project Tango world-sensing cameras into the chipmaker's reference phone designs. Those Tango-phones will be seeded developers and devices makers for now, and thanks to the arcane decisions that ultimately define a company's device-making strategy, we might not ever actually see a consumer-ready Tango phone. Still, Google's long-term ambitions are pretty clear: It'd like to get these Tango devices into our pockets en masse, and a closer relationship with one of the world's biggest mobile chipmakers is a great way to do it.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Google's Project Soli to bring gesture control to wearables

  Gesture-based system are usually attached to video game consoles like the Microsoft Kinect or your computer like the Leap Motion. Google's ATAP team figured that the smaller form factor of the smartwatch segment needed its own finger-waving way to control the devices without having to reply on the smartphone. It's Project Soli replaces the physical controls of smartwatches with your hands using radar to capture your movements.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Google's first partner for smart, sensor-laden clothes is Levi's

  Remember when we said yesterday that Google's Project Jacquard would lead to the advent of touch-friendly pants? Well, we were more right than we thought: During the Google ATAP address here at Google I/O 2015, Technical Program Lead Ivan Poupyrev confirmed that the search giant is teaming up with Levi's to help bridge the gap between Jacquard's technically complex fabrics and the seemingly arcane world of fashion. "We think about Jacquard as a raw material that will make computation a part of the language which apparel designers and textile designers and fashion designers speak," he said. "We want digital to be just the same thing as quality of yarn or colors used," referring to how fundamental these sorts of connected considerations should be.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Google's Project Jacquard wants to put a trackpad on your pants

  The ATAP division of Google is known for some the most innovative ideas to come out of Silicon Valley. It's the home of the Project Ara modular phone and Project Tango. So it's no surprise to find that Project Jacquard has a large single piece of fabric with conductive yarn woven in that works like a trackpad. The Jacquard team said that more information about its technology would be revealed at tomorrow's ATAP session, but it already looks promising.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Google Photos cuts out Plus to make the app we really wanted

  The most striking part of the just released (on the web, iOS and Android) Google Photos is how familiar it feels if you've already been using Photos in Google+, or before that, Picasa. The biggest change I noticed early on is that by separating Photos from its attempt to launch yet another social network, Google is starting focus on stuff that both benefits its users, and that it does well: cloud storage and using information to narrow down searches. Now, it's a perfect fit for how most people use cameras everyday, from the ones in their phones to point-and-shoots (but maybe not your DSLR). With unlimited storage and machine learning that can link photos by the people in them or where they were taken it's ready to make sense of your massive image library.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Google wants more Chromecast multiplayer games and autoplaying apps

  Google has sold 17 million Chromecasts thus far, but it obviously wants to sell more and make the media player more valuable to current users at the same time. The company is releasing a bunch of new APIs that will allow developers to create even better apps, games and experiences. To start with, Mountain View is making it easier for them to tailor second-screen experiences for both iOS and Android. That could lead to more games that use phones as controllers (see above), as well as other types of apps like photo editors that place editing tools on smartphone displays.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google wants you to buy Big Macs with your face

  Google may have been the first big tech company to push NFC payments, but it was Apple Pay that got the public excited about buying things with your smartphone. At a Google I/O session for Android Pay, the search giant announced that it was partnering with McDonalds and Papa John's Pizza to launch Hands Free, a payment system that looks suspiciously like the Pay with Square app (later called Square Wallet and discontinued). Customers walk in a store and say, "I'd like to pay with Google," and the cashier will see a photo of the customer and their name on their point-of-sale system. The service is initially launching in San Francisco in the coming months and those interested can sign up for the beta here. Details about the geofencing payment service are sparse, but it should use cards stored in the upcoming Android Pay.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Google I/O 2015: the numbers you need to know

  Didn't fancy sitting through the whole liveblog from this year's Google I/O keynote? We understand. Sometimes you just want to catch the key plays via the post-game show. And that's kinda why Engadget exists, after all. As always with Google's big developer event, there was a lot of ground covered in a relatively short space of time. Fear not, below are the things we think you most need to know.

  By James Trew Read More

• Android TV will display video apps as traditional channels

  For Android TV, 2015 could turn out to be a breakout year -- at least that's what Google hopes. But how does the search giant plan to reach those heights? One way is by expanding its home entertainment platform's support for live TV programming, with a new feature called Android Channels. What this lets users to do is view video-streaming apps on the same program guide as traditional channels, including those from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and other broadcast networks. If you're familiar with the Xbox One, you'd know that Microsoft's console offers similar functionality.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Android app makers can experiment with Play Store listings

  Those rumors of Google letting Android app developers experiment with what you see in the Play Store? Yes, they're true. Creators can now conduct tests to see what pricing works best, or whether one icon color is more alluring than others -- you'll only view one of each while the test is ongoing. Also, app makers are getting Developer Pages (shown above) that showcase all of their apps, so you'll have a one-stop shop for everything from your preferred brand. If all goes well, you'll find more Android apps with prices you're willing to pay, and you won't have to scrounge quite so much to get every app you need. Don't miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google intros new Jump VR platform and improved Cardboard

  Google brought virtual reality to the masses cheaply with Cardboard, a DIY headset announced at last year's I/O conference. Now, the search giant's building upon its 1 million VR viewers with an improved Cardboard headset that fits smartphone screens up to 6 inches. It also incorporates a new top-mounted button that replaces the finicky magnetic ring so that Cardboard works with any phone. And, in what's probably the most consumer-friendly move Google's made with the new and improved Cardboard, it takes just three steps to assemble. Clay Bavor, VP of Product, told I/O attendees that they'd be receiving these new DIY VR kits immediately after the keynote. And for interested VR developers, it's important to note the Cardboard SDK now works with iOS in addition to Android.

  By Joseph Volpe Read More

• Google's Cloud Messaging now sends notifications to iOS devices

  Google's Cloud Messaging is no longer just for sending alerts to Android devices or your web browser. The internet giant has announced that the service now pushes notifications to iOS devices as well -- your favorite app can deliver updates to all your gadgets using a single system. The Cloud Messaging update also introduces topics, so an app can ask you about getting only the notifications you care about. A news app can send you notifications about tech and world news, for instance, while skipping entertainment. These features will take a while to filter down to the software you use, but they promise to both keep your hardware in harmony and cut back on some noise. Don't miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google Maps delivers destination info, voice directions while offline

  Sometimes you still need navigation and destination info when you're offline. Google is delivering just that with offline Maps. Even when you're not connected (or in airplane mode), the app will still provide information on places in your searches. This means that you can browse hours, reviews and other important details for places like museums and restaurants. What's more, voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation is included as well for maps that you've saved for offline use. Unfortunately, there's no word on when the new tools will arrive other than a vague "later this year." Don't miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Google Photos offers unlimited storage for mobile and web

  Google today launched a standalone, unlimited photo and video service called Google Photos. Google Photos is a free -- and, again, unlimited -- storage, sharing and editing service, and it should be available today on Android, iOS and the web. However, do note that the unlimited storage only counts if you're okay with a little compression -- your photos will be downsized to 16-megapixels and your videos will have to be 1080p or worse. You can certainly upload original resolution photos and videos too, but they'll count against your Google Drive storage limits. Update: The Photos app is out, and we've given it a test run, check out our impressions right here.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Google reveals Now on Tap, its canny new Android M concierge

  Google's trying to make Now even more subservient to your needs with its next version for Android M called Now on Tap. The new digital assistant listens in on your activities and gives you supplemental info like store hours or movie reviews right inside an app or web page. For instance, if a friend texts you with a dinner invite at a new restaurant, you can ask Now on Tap for reviews, hours and other info mid-conversation. It'll also create reminders on the fly about previous email or text discussions and incorporate detailed Knowledge Graph information.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Project Brillo is Google's platform for the Internet of Things

  Google wants to be everywhere in your home, not just hiding inside your thermostats and smoke alarms. That's why, as rumored, it's just announced Project Brillo, a super-slim operating system that's designed specifically for devices collectively known as the Internet of Things. If you're feeling a sense of deja vu, don't -- the company has already dipped a toe or two into this market before, with 2011's quietly abandoned Android@Home project. As expected, Project Brillo is based on Android, but pared down enough to operate on a wide variety of day-to-day (and traditionally dumb) objects -- doorbells, baby cameras, ovens and so on that speak to each other via Bluetooth and WiFi.

  By James Trew Read More

• Google standardizing fingerprint IDs across Android devices

  At its I/O conference, Google's just revealed that it will standardize fingerprint ID security across Android M devices, so that manufacturers like Samsung don't need to build their own. That means developers will be able to use an open system that lets you unlock your device, buy with Google Pay, pay at Google's Play store and perform other common functions with your digits. The system will also be bundled in its API to help developers integrate it into third-party apps. In other words, it'll work much like Apple's fingerprint system already does. Don't miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Google debuts Android M, which is all about 'polish and quality'

  Like clockwork, Google lifted the veil on Android M at its I/O developer conference today, an event that's traditionally served as the company's launchpad for its mobile OS updates. No, we don't yet know what the "M" stands for (we'd love to see Android Marzipan), but, as usual, that's not stopping Google from divulging details. After the bold redesign that was Android Lollipop, M is more focused on refining the entire Android experience. "For [Android] M, we've gone back to the basics," said Google SVP Sundar Pichai. "We've really focused on polish and quality; we've literally solved thousands of bugs." While there's still no firm release date for Android M, developers can give it a spin today with a special preview release for the Nexus 5, 6, 9 and Player set-top box.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Live from Google's 2015 I/O keynote!

  The stage is set, the Moscone Center is tricked out with leopard print Androids, and Google I/O is just about to start. You know the drill here: The first order of business is an hours-long keynote address that'll show us exactly what Google's been working on behind closed doors these past few months and what we can expect to play with in the future. Android M? More insight into Android Pay? VR announcements? It seems like this year's show is really going to have it all. We've got a little more time before the keynote kicks off, so hang tight, thumb through our I/O preview for as a quick refresher, and stay tuned for more shortly. May 28, 2015 12:30:00 PM EDT Don't miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Watch the Google I/O keynote right here

  Technology is pretty awesome. Google is prepared to take the stage in San Francisco for the I/O Conference keynote presentation, with executives ready to talk about the company's latest wares -- and you can watch it all from the comfort of your own screen. Even if you're in San Francisco, we suggest beating the traffic and watching the presentation without moving an inch (except to grab your coffee, of course). The keynote begins at 12:30PM ET / 9:30AM PT, and you can watch it via the live stream below.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Google's experimental 3D-scanning tablet goes on public sale for $512

  If you're fascinated (or baffled) by Google's spatially aware, three-dimensionally scanning Project Tango tablet, you can now buy and try one yourself. The in-development tablet is now (still?) $512, invite-free at the Google Store. While the device is no longer a conceptual toy, it's still expressly aimed at developers, as Google looks to them to add functionality -- and ideas as to what to do with those spatial sensors built inside. Perhaps the most unusual part is that this wider retail release was dropped a mere day before Google I/O kicks off. Don't get too aggrieved if Project Tango 2 suddenly appears.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Google's URL shortener deep links directly to iOS and Android apps

  You know those goo.gl shortcuts you regularly come across on Twitter or Facebook and other places online? They now open the exact pages they link to either on the website's official app or on your browsers. For instance, if you click on a shortcut that links to a Google Maps page showing how to go from San Francisco to LA by land, it will automatically launch the navigation app if it's installed and load those step-by-step directions. If you haven't downloaded the app to your device, it will launch a browser instead. This change affects both new and old goo.gl shortcuts, so long as the website or app developer took steps to set up App Indexing for Android and iOS. Yup, that means the new feature works on both iOS and Android devices, and you can try it out for yourself right here: https://goo.gl/BpMdqp

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google is adding a 'buy' button to its shopping ads

  That rumor of Google adding a "buy" button to shopping ads? It's true. The company's Omid Kordestani has confirmed to Recode that this super-quick purchasing option is "imminent." He didn't describe how it would work in detail, but the leak described "Shop on Google" search ads that take you to a product page the moment you give in to that consumerist impulse. The real mystery may be who's onboard with the program. Google reportedly went the extra mile to court retailers worried that they'd be cut out of the loop, but there's no certainty that you'll see a lot of big-name stores signing on right away. [Image credit: Shutterstock]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google search displays results for iOS apps, too

  Google's search tools on Android started digging up results from Android apps a while back. Now, the search app on iOS does the same. When you enter a query into the main Search app or the Chrome browser on an Apple device, the list of results will include the appropriate links to iOS apps. Of course, the company/developer will have to be part of Google's app index, and so far, handy software like Yelp, Foursquare, Expedia and several others are included on the list. If you're not seeing the new feature yet, sit tight: the folks in Mountain View are rolling it out to everyone over the next few days. There's no word on when, or if, Google will begin to pull info from apps on your iPhone -- or even those you've yet to download. Our bet is if a similar function arrives for iOS, Siri will handle those duties.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Google to create 'universal access for people with disabilities'

  One billion people worldwide live with a physical or developmental disability. And for those in developing nations, many of these disabilities dictate a life of social and economic marginalization. But Google's doing something about it. The company announced Tuesday that it is funding a $20 million grant for its latest Impact Challenge, one aimed at making the world more accessible for those with disabilities.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• What's on tap for Google at I/O 2015

  We're coming down to the wire now: Google I/O 2015 is just a few days away, and we'll be liveblogging and reporting from the ground as soon as the festivities begin. Don't let its reputation as a developer bonanza fool you, though. There's going to be no shortage of workshops and code review sessions, but I/O is also where Google takes time to update its vision of the future for the people who will ultimately help build it. Of course, it's not all starry-eyed speeches and technical breakdowns -- this is, after all, the sort of show that featured a live streaming Google Hangout with four dudes who jumped out of a zeppelin. We can't account for whatever crazy, spectacular bits the folks in Mountain View might be working on, but we do have a taste of what to expect when the show starts in earnest this Thursday.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Google patents creepy smart toys that interact with kids

  Nexus Ruxpin? Google's mad science X division is, er, toying with the idea of smart teddy bears in one of its strangest patents yet. In response to junior's voice or movements, "the anthropomorphic device may aim its gaze at the source of the social cue," then "interpret the command (via its servers) and map it to a media control device," according to the document. From there, it could "express curiosity, (it) may tilt its head, furrow its brow, and/or scratch its head with an arm." It added that the device should be "cute" so that "young children may find (it) attractive."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Google heads list of 16 companies trying to kill passwords

  People don't put enough thought into passwords because it's a pain, but that creates security problems for the whole internet. Google, Microsoft and others in the FIDO Alliance want to replace passwords with fingerprint scanning and other techniques, and just unveiled 31 products from 16 companies that conform to the new standard. The most recognizable of those is Google's login service, which implemented USB key locks that eliminate mobile phones in 2-step identification late last year. Others on the list include Samsung's PayPal authorizing fingerprint system, and Nok Nok, which allows Apple's Touch ID fingerprint scanner to work with third-party apps.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Google Maps: offensive search results came from 'online discussions'

  Google is constantly scraping the internet to fill out its search results, but apparently using crowdsourced information can have its drawbacks. Over the last couple of days word spread that searching for certain racial slurs (guess) showed the White House as the top result, and now Google is offering an explanation why. Unlike the MapMaker-inserted Android/Apple logo prank, Google says the results popped up "because people had used the offensive term in online discussions of the place." Other than blaming the internet, the team is updating its algorithm to fix the issue and is updating its ranking system to address "the majority" of those searches. Marketing Land found a few entries that led to the White House, none of which worked when we tried them today. It looks like certain offensive terms are now being blocked from showing results at all, although creative minds may be able to poke holes in the filter.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Google reportedly building an OS for the Internet of Things

  The Information reports that Google is working on a new Android-based operating system to run specifically on the emerging class of low-power devices, aka the Internet of Things. This new OS, dubbed "Brillo", is supposedly quite petite and may require as little as 32 or 64 megabytes of RAM to run. This marks a significant departure for Google considering its latest Android build demanded at least 512MB of RAM. However there's a lot to be gained by being the OS that drives out smart bulbs, thermostats and locks. Not only does it free OEMs from having to design their own IoT communications schemes, it should also strongly position the Mountain View-based company as the invisible backbone of tomorrow's smart home. If this rumor is indeed true, Google will likely announce it at next week's I/O developers conference. Stay tuned.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Google launches Hispanic coding initiative in eight US cities

  The Hispanic Heritage Foundation's (HHF) president, Jose Antonio Tijerino, thinks that "seeing a latino programmer shouldn't be akin to seeing a unicorn," so his group is trying to do something about it. Together with Google, it launched Code as a Second Language (CSL) courses in eight cities, including New York, Las Angeles and Miami. The idea is to introduce students to coding through 1-2 hour sessions, then steer them to the LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track) network for ongoing online instruction. Students who complete that training could later be granted internships and possibly full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Google Editions cases come with live wallpapers and a shortcut button

  Before you dismiss this as a slow-day news post, hear us out: these aren't your run-of-the-mill phone cases. These are the first products Google has released under its new Editions project, a series of collaborations with artists to develop limited edition "live cases" for select Android phones. For this batch, Mountain View worked with electronic dance music producer/DJ Skrillex, who designed an outer space-inspired set. Now, here's the cool part: in keeping with the space theme, the products come with live wallpapers showing images of the Earth from the stratosphere during the day and constellations visible from your location at night. The tech giant actually launched a high-altitude balloon named after Skrillex's dog Nanou to capture images of our planet and didn't just take images from NASA.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google plans to play nice with Facebook and Twitter on photos

  According to Bloomberg Business, Google could soon be separating its web based photo sharing and storage service from the existing Google+ platform and offering it as a standalone. Bloomberg cites Googlers close to the project who say that the announcement could come during the upcoming Google I/O developers conference later this month. Reportedly photos stored with the new service can be posted to both Twitter and Facebook with a fraction of the hassle it takes to do so currently. These rumors have been a long time coming. Bloomberg reported a similar plan early last year and Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai was quoted in March stating that photos and social would be operated separately.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Mobile Google searches now show real-time tweets

  Google and Twitter announced a new service today that will allow US mobile users to receive live Tweets -- now that the social network's firehose is connected once again -- in their web searches. For example if you search for Golden State Warriors, Danger 5 or Game of Thrones on your cell phone, their most recent tweets pop up at the top of your search results. Users can also search specifically for, say, "NASA Twitter" to find everything that the space agency has recently tweeted. According to the official Twitter Blog, this feature will be landing on the desktop soon as well as expanding to other countries.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Google researchers create amazing timelapses from public photos

  There are a zillion digital photos in the public domain and scientists have just figured out something very cool to do with them. A team from Google and the University of Washington have developed a fully automated way to create time-lapse videos of popular tourists landmarks using images from Flickr, Picasa and other sites. Here's how it works: first, the researchers sorted some 86 million photos by geographic location, looking for widely snapped landmarks. Next, the photos were ordered by date and warped so that all had a matching viewpoint. Lastly, each photo was color-corrected to have a similar appearance, resulting in uniform time-lapse videos (below).

  By Steve Dent Read More

• WSJ: Google will add buy buttons to search results on mobile

  Google's getting ready to face Amazon and eBay, according to The Wall Street Journal, and will be adding buy buttons directly to its search results. You'll see those buttons accompanying sponsored results under a "Shop on Google" heading -- they won't be used for non-sponsored links returned by the algorithm -- when you search for products on mobile devices. Upon clicking one, a separate product page will load where you can pick sizes, colors and ultimately complete your purchase. Any product you buy will still come straight from retailers, the WSJ says, so it doesn't sound like Google's stocking up warehouses with goods like Amazon does.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google got some 'right to be forgotten' decisions wrong, says UK

  It's been almost a year since the European Union ruled in favour of the "right to be forgotten," giving anyone permission to request that specific links be removed from Google's search results. Since then, the company has dealt with over 250,000 applications from the public (and rejected 59 percent of them). Now, the BBC reports that the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is talking to Google about 48 cases it believes were ruled incorrectly. It's a small number, but one that highlights the difficulties that Google faces with interpreting the EU's ruling and judging individual requests.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Google tosses 59 percent of Europe's 'right to be forgotten' requests

  How is the European Union's "right to be forgotten" faring a year after it kicked in? If you ask Google, it's more than a little messy. The internet firm has published an updated Transparency Report which reveals that the company rejected about 59 percent of the search result takedown requests received to date. While it doesn't break down exactly why it's tossing those requests, its examples typically include criminals trying to hide their unpleasant pasts and professionals embarrassed by their earlier work. And to no one's surprise, the top sites under the crosshairs are typically social services like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google Fit finally estimates how many calories you've burned

  No, you're not wrong: Google's activity tracking app, Fit, didn't have a means to estimate burned calories -- or kilojoules -- before today. As Mountain View tells it, all you need to do to activate it is add in your height and gender (weight monitoring already existed) and Fit'll project calories shed and distance traveled in addition to time spent active. How it displays activity history's gotten a bit of a refresh too in addition to a new widget for Android Wear and Android itself that keeps any fitness goal close at hand. The numbers still give a complete picture since heart rate isn't involved, but at least we know Google hasn't forgotten about the app, right?

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Google's making high-res video on Chrome suck less

  Trying to make YouTube's new super-high-res 4K 60fps video work? Good luck with that! Not only does such video require very fast internet, but also a super-charged computer. Google's new VP9 video codec helps with the connection speed part, but to make 4K60p, regular 4K or 1080p60 videos play with fewer hiccups, it's built a new video rendering algorithm for Chrome. To try it out, you'll need to set a flag in the latest experimental Chromium build, as detailed in Googler Francois Beaufort's post. That said, an Intel Celeron-equipped PC from 2007 probably still won't cut it. To put your own machine to the test, try the UltraHD 60fps video below and let us know how that goes. Update: Doh! While the video we originally embedded was recorded at 4K and 60fps, Youtube wouldn't actually play it that way. Check out this playlist (now embedded after the break) for a few videos that will punish your rig with high resolution and high frame rate.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Google's Android-for-all program comes to Europe

  Google's bid to democratize Android just reached Europe. The internet giant has announced that Turkey will get its first Android One smartphone, the General Mobile 4G, on May 15th. The device is strictly middling given its 5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front cam, but it will be the first Android One device to offer LTE. It's fairly affordable, too, at about $263 contract-free. There's no mention of where Google's initiative will go next, but the company hints that Turkey might not be the last European nation to get an Android One phone -- you may eventually find one sitting in a shop near you.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google suspends Map Maker service after digital vandalism

  Google is suspending Map Maker, the service that allows anyone to contribute to Google Maps, following a prank submission that showed the Android mascot urinating on an Apple logo. When the mapping mischief was first discovered, most of us had a good chuckle and wondered who was responsible. Inevitably, Google took it down and later confirmed that it was a user-created edit, which raised questions about Map Maker's review policies.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Google executives talk Snowden and NSA backdoors during AMA

  Senior members of Google's public policy team took to Reddit today to discuss the company's stance on government surveillance reform and the pending expiration of Section 215 of the Patriot Act that allows for the bulk collection of phone records. Google's director for law enforcement and information security, Richard Salgado and David Lieber, its senior privacy policy counsel took part in the discussion. Judging by the responses, the AMA didn't start as smoothly as they probably hoped. The very first answer about Google being hacked by individuals in China in 2009 seemed extremely canned and prompted the reply, "that is a non-answer. Did the PR team type it up for you?" After that, the answers got a bit more genuine.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Bloomberg: Google improving controls for Android app permissions soon

  It's always a little concerning when a battery management app needs access to your location and contacts. According to Bloomberg, Google's poised to ease that anxiety by improving control over what apps can access in Android. According to its sources, an update to the operating system -- possibly coming ant Google's I/O event this month -- would allow users to switch off access to things individually, similar to how app management in Facebook works. Features like those described were discovered in Android, hidden, as far back as 2013. If you're using one of Android's most famous forks, you've had them since 2011. Google eventually removed the hidden controls, perhaps to prevent incomplete tools from interfering with apps not primed for the change, but now it seems they're ready for prime time. How will your torch cope without knowing all your friends' names, and where you are? We'll just have to wait and see.

  By James Trew Read More

• Google finds a way to make ordering delivery food even lazier

  You know the delivery drill. When you're feeling peckish, the first thing you do is search for open restaurants in your area, but then you have to close search, open a separate food delivery app, find the restaurant again there, and finally place your order. That's a lot of work just to order a pizza (but clearly still not enough to make you pick up the phone). Google, however, has announced an easier, more integrated means of ordering your next meal. According to the official Google Blog, the search engine now recognizes when you're looking for something to eat and will offer a "Place an order" option within the search results. Click on that and Google Search will prompt you to select one of six applicable delivery apps -- Seamless, Grubhub, Eat24, Delivery.com, BeyondMenu and MyPizza.com -- which immediately launches and loads the restaurant's menu for your perusal. Sure, you'll still have to wait 45 minutes for your food to actually get there, but at least this new system saves a couple of clicks.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Google will spend $150 million this year to diversify its workforce

  Last year, Google released internal data revealing that almost all of its workforce was male, and nearly all of them were from either white or Asian backgrounds. In an attempt to make itself more diverse, the company is putting $150 million into programs to help increase the number of female, Black and Hispanic employees. In the run up to having this year's figures released, Google's Nancy Lee sat down with USA Today to talk about what the search engine is aiming for.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Google's cellular service makes you ditch key Voice features

  Are you a long-time Google Voice user? You might not want to sign up for Google's Project Fi service, then. Early adopters who've received an invitation report that you're required to give up important Voice features, including calls, texting and voicemail from within Google Talk, Google Voice and Obihai devices. You'll still get those options in Hangouts (if you turned on support) as well as call forwarding and voicemail transcripts, but you'll otherwise end up with a pale shadow of the phone services you knew before. That could be a worthwhile tradeoff if you like Project Fi's multi-network coverage and simple pricing -- just be sure that you're aware of the consequences.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google buys a firm that organizes your calendar around your life

  Google has been striving for smarter apps that are built around the way you really live, and it's reinforcing that today by acquiring Timeful. The startup built a system that organizes your calendar around both your schedule and your priorities. You can tell it how often you'd like to hit the gym, for example, and it will slot in those workouts based on when you're actually going to be free. Google expects the technology to find its way into Calendar, Inbox "and beyond," so don't be surprised if these apps do a better job of adapting to your daily patterns in the near future.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Laptops (2)

• Lenovo launches depth-sensing laptop and Surface 3 rival

  If you're in the market for a mid-range laptop, Lenovo has revealed an interesting option at its Tech World event in Beijing. The 15-inch Z51 laptop has an Intel RealSense 3D camera that can be used for scanning, gaming or gesture control. If you're not into that gimmick, the Z51 and 14-inch Z41 have pretty decent bang for the buck, however, with 1080p displays, optional discreet AMD graphics, 16GB max memory and up to a Core i7 CPU. Both will arrive next month starting at $499, but on the off-chance you want a depth camera, you'll pay an extra $100 for the 15-inch model.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Lenovo's super-light LaVie Z laptop is now available

  If you've been jonesing for a featherweight laptop but feel that Apple's MacBook rubs you the wrong way, you're in luck: as promised, Lenovo is now selling the LaVie Z and LaVie Z 360 in the US. Both 13-inch systems largely resemble what you saw in January, and strike a careful balance between brisk performance and a light design that won't strain your shoulder when it's in your bag. They share Quad HD screens, fifth-generation Core i7 processors, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive. The only big difference is the 360's namesake convertible touchscreen, which turns your PC into a makeshift tablet.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Meta (14)

• Facebook tests critic reviews in your restaurant searches

  Ever had a Facebook friend rave about a restaurant, only to find out that it leaves your own tastebuds underwhelmed? Facebook might just come to your rescue. It's experimenting with a feature that adds critic reviews to certain restaurant pages in New York and San Francisco, so you'll know whether or not that burger joint is really as good as your aunt says. This is ultimately a response to Google's Zagat ratings, but you probably won't mind if it saves you from taking some bad dinner advice -- here's hoping that the feature expands quickly.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Oculus' next big move is to make VR a social experience

  VR turned me into a movie character -- a tiny, bright yellow firefly. But here's the best part: I got to experience it with someone next to me, both literally and virtually, in a dark room with headsets strapped to our heads. For Oculus Story Studio, arguably the Pixar of virtual reality, this is the first step in making the medium more social. And it's using its short film Lost, introduced earlier this year at Sundance, as a test bed. Still, whether we're talking about a cute movie or a fun game, most VR activities so far have one thing in common: They're solitary experiences. Oculus wants to change that.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Oculus VR figures out how avatars can mimic your facial expressions

  Imagine a VR game where your avatar can laugh, smile or frown as you do while interacting with other players -- sounds fun, right? Well apparently, that kind of face-tracking tech already exists. Facebook's Oculus division has teamed up with University of Southern California researchers to develop a way to track your facial expressions while wearing a chunky VR headset. What they did was insert strain gauges within the the Rift's foam padding to monitor the movements of the upper part of your face. To monitor the lower part not covered by the headset, they attached a 3D camera to a short boom clipped to the center of the Rift. As you can see in the video below the fold, a virtual avatar successfully mimicked the expressions of their testers with that setup.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Oculus names VR Jam finalists, and here are some of them

  Oculus VR's apps and games contest for the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition is in full swing. The 2015 Mobile VR Jam contest received quite a number of interesting submissions, including a game that puts you in the POV of a bullet, one that wants you to fight blind, and another that lets you text and drive without putting real people in danger. Alas, the company has no choice but to narrow the entries down to 61 finalists for the competition, 37 of which are games and 24 are apps or experiences for the virtual reality headset. Before any of them wins part of the $1 million prize pool, though, a panel of ten judges will examine them further in the next few days until they come up with a list of winners for June 3rd. You can browse through a select few of the finalists below (in addition to the ones we listed above, all of which made the cut), but you can also look at the full list on the contest website.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Facebook wants to put games in Messenger after all

  Contrary to previous reports, it appears Facebook is still toying with the idea of featuring games in Messenger. According to The Information, the social network plans to strengthen its instant messaging platform by adding games, as it looks to find a fresh, more lucrative source of revenue. Facebook's already said to be working with developers to roll this out; Ilya Sukhar, an executive leading the project, confirmed the talks to the news outlet, though he didn't specify when we could see the changes take place. While you wait for that to happen, keep enjoying your GIFs, emojis and all the other tidbits Facebook's chat ecosystem has to offer at the moment.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Belgium tells Facebook to reign in user tracking

  Belgium's Privacy Commission thinks that "Facebook tramples on European and Belgian privacy laws," and said it would take legal action if its latest recommendations aren't obeyed. A new report follows previous accusations from the nation that Facebook illegally tracks users with numerous cookies, even if they don't have an account. It said that because the social network is one of the few sites that can link internet activities to real identities, it merits deeper scrutiny than the average third party tracker. As such, the commission has demanded that Facebook seek explicit consent from users before tracking them in order to comply with EU laws.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Facebook's free internet service expands to Malawi

  As good a cause as it is, Internet.org recently came under pressure for allegedly violating India's net neutrality laws -- something Facebook was quick to address. Still, that's not stopping the social network from spreading its initiative, which brings free basic web access to underdeveloped countries, across more places. Today Internet.org, backed also by companies like Nokia, Samsung and Qualcomm, is launching in Malawi, an African country with a population of 16 million-plus. Mark Zuckerberg let it be known in a Facebook post that, with this expansion, Internet.org is now available to over 1 billion people around the globe.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Facebook 'Instant Articles' plug in content from NYT and Buzzfeed

  Facebook wants to do for news content what it's done with native video, and the first bit of self-hosted editorial content ("Instant Articles") could go live tomorrow. It's starting with The New York Times and will include Buzzfeed, NBC News and National Geographic if unnamed sources speaking to New York Magazine are to be believed. Apparently NYT's business side is why a deal that surfaced in late March is only coming to fruition now, with CEO Mark Thompson's push for "the most favorable" terms causing delays.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Facebook is using your Instagram feed to suggest new friends

  Notice some familiar faces popping up in Facebook's "People You May Know" section? Well, there's a reason for that. Zuckerberg & Co. recently began serving up suggestions for prospective connections based on your Instagram feed. It's no surprise that Facebook would pull data from the filter-driven app, especially from folks who've linked the two -- it does own the photo software after all. And as we've heard a few times before, Facebook likes its apps to share info. Of course, if you're like me, you use the two social networks for entirely different reasons (food pics and keeping up with old pals, natch). Facebook confirmed that it "recently" began pulling data from Instagram based on who you follow, but wasn't too keen on elaborating further.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Facebook: If your feed is an echo chamber, you need more friends

  Facebook wants you to know that you've only got yourself to blame for the lack of diversity in views on your News Feed. The social network has recently conducted a study to find out why people mostly see posts that mirror their own beliefs and to find out if a "filter bubble" is to blame. "Filter bubble" is what you call the situation wherein a website's algorithm shows only posts based on what you clicked (or Liked) and commented on. For this particular study, the company used anonymous data from 10.1 million Facebook users who list their political affiliations on their profiles. Researchers monitored "hard news" links posted on the website and looked at whether they were posted by conservatives, liberals or moderates.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Facebook taps Nokia for its mapping know-how

  If Facebook's maps for mobile have suddenly gotten a whole lot more (or less) accurate, there's a reason. The social network is now sourcing its location data from Here, Nokia's soon-to-be-sold mapping division. According to TechCrunch's sources, only the mobile web version is using the new information, but Facebook is currently testing whether to roll Here's Maps out to all of its standalone apps like Messenger and Instagram. It's hoped that, with more accurate geolocation data, the company can offer advertisers even more minute control over who gets what product thrown in their face. Of course, Facebook is also one of the companies that is believed to be considering buying Here outright. Given this news, however, we'd imagine it being a lot less likely -- after all, why buy the cow if you're getting the milk for free?

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Facebook opens up Internet.org in wake of net neutrality concerns

  Led by Facebook but with backing from a number of other prominent tech companies, Internet.org has made slow but steady progress in a bid to connect underserved countries around the globe. However, despite its altruistic approach, the project has come under fire in India for allegedly violating net neutrality rules by favoring certain carriers, sites and services. Zuckerberg and co. certainly don't want those criticisms hanging over their head, so today the Facebook CEO confirmed that the company will open up the Internet.org platform to developers, allowing them to create their own mobile-centric tools for millions of (often) first-time internet users.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• WSJ: Facebook to start hosting other sites' content this May

  Facebook might start natively hosting full Buzzfeed, National Geographic and The New York Times articles and videos as soon as this month, according to The Wall Street Journal. This new feature is called "Instant Articles," and the social network has been working on it since March, at the very least. Facebook is reportedly offering news organizations special ad models that maximize their earning potential to entice them to sign up. One of the models it's proposing will even allow publishers to keep 100 percent of what they earn from ads they themselves sell, as well as 70 percent of the revenues from ads Facebook sells for them.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Facebook lets you choose what to share with 3rd party apps

  For ages, whenever you've wanted to use your Facebook credentials to log into a third party app like Foursquare or Candy Crush, you've had to give the app access to any and all data that FB has on you. There's simply been no way of choosing what information you can share--until now. Facebook announced last year that it would be implementing a new API this spring which allows the user, not the developer, to decide what sorts of private information each app is privy to. Well, that year is up and now whenever you "Log In Using Facebook," you'll be redirected to a landing page where you can select which individual data sets you want to share. Only want to tell Groupme your birthday and location? Done. Don't want to give Untappd access to your contacts? Easy.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Microsoft (31)

• Dolby Digital Plus surround sound plugs into Microsoft's Edge

  Windows 10 won't have Media Center included but this week Microsoft revealed that it will have support for surround sound in some new ways, and it could make Netflix streaming even better. Beyond supporting Dolby Digital Plus in the Windows 10 OS -- similar to Windows 8 -- its Edge browser (formerly known as Project Spartan) will be the first one with built-in support for the surround sound audio codec. Microsoft and Dolby are explaining to developers how they can not only create 5.1 audio mixes for content, but also include the code to make it fall back to stereo on other we browsers.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Lenovo's Windows 10 devices will get unique Cortana features

  Microsoft's chatty Cortana is one of the more well-liked parts of Windows Phone, and Lenovo is making it more versatile on its own PCs with ReachIt. It exploits the voice assistant to find your own photos, documents and email across multiple Lenovo Windows 10 PCs, tablets, and even cloud services like OneDrive or Dropbox. The app is personalized with a user-specific Lenovo ID, letting you search for content on, say, your Lenovo laptop remotely from a ThinkPad tablet. It also uses location services, helping you locate a file by making a vague request like "Cortana, find the picture I worked on at Starbucks last week," according to Lenovo.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Microsoft's imaging technology can automatically caption photos

  Microsoft's already demonstrated how its computer vision technology can recognize objects even better than humans, now it's onto the next frontier: Interpreting elements of a photo and automatically generating captions. That may not exactly sound exciting, but being able to accurately explain an image could be essential for artificial intelligence. It's also yet another sign of the power of neural networks, or computer models that try to mimic the way the human brain works. Microsoft's technology starts by identifying everything in an image, then it generates sentences around how those objects interact. For example, in the image above it came up with "A purple camera with a woman"; "A woman holding a camera in a crowd"; and "A woman holding a cat." Two of those sentences don't make much sense -- it somehow identifies a bundle of hair as a cat -- so it eventually settled on "A woman holding a camera in a crowd" as the best way to describe the scene.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft's new Windows Store policy will combat junk apps

  It's no secret that Windows Store has serious issues not just with scammy apps, but also with spammy ones. Now, Microsoft is finally addressing that problem by introducing a stricter certification policy for new and existing apps that could clean its catalog enough to make browsing the store less painful. The new policy has four main points starting with eliminating apps with almost identical names and icons, those whose titles don't match up with their content, and those that aren't very useful or unique. Microsoft will also prune away applications considerably more expensive than similar ones in its category.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Microsoft's age detection shows up in your Bing image searches

  Microsoft's face-based age detection is still a little wonky (I'm thankfully younger than what you see above), but the company is clearly enamored with it -- you'll now find it in Bing image searches. All you have to do is look for a person and, in most cases, roll over the picture to find a #HowOldRobot that will guess how many birthdays the subject has seen. The feature is available in at least North America, so give it a shot... if for no other reason than to giggle at its occasionally harsh appraisals of your looks. Update: Microsoft says the tool is rolling out in Bing over the next week or so.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft's apps will ship with Android tablets from LG and Sony

  If you thought Microsoft's app deal with Samsung was surprising... well, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The Windows maker has reached agreements to bundle its apps and services on Android tablets from 20 companies. Most of these firms are small regional brands, but there are a few global powerhouses that include LG (which will include Microsoft on an unnamed future device) and Sony (starting with the Xperia Z4 Tablet). Yes, this probably means getting the Office suite and other apps you might not use much, if at all. However, it's evident that Microsoft doesn't mind -- it'd rather make its services as ubiquitous as possible than send you straight into Google's arms.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft unveils Cortana voice assistant for Android and iPhone

  Yes, it's official: Microsoft is bringing Windows' Cortana voice assistant to Android and iPhone. Both platforms will get a dedicated app that, much like you see on Windows Phone today, will let you dictate reminders, track flights and otherwise keep your life organized. Cortana's Notebook, which remembers what you like, will also sync across all your platforms. This won't be a one-for-one recreation of what you get right now, though -- since Microsoft can't tap directly into the operating system like it can on Windows devices, you won't get hands-free activation through "hey Cortana" or options to launch apps or settings. Still, it'll be worth seeing what this Halo-inspired helper can do when it reaches Android in late June, and iPhones sometime later this year -- and we'd add that it's not the only treat Microsoft has in store for your smartphone, either.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft replaces broken Nokia phone after it saved a life (updated)

  There are plenty of tales on how Nokia phones -- now under Microsoft -- have saved people's lives, with the latest one coming from China, where a man managed to survive a collapsed wall courtesy of his Lumia 920 earlier this month. As recalled by the lucky survivor himself, Mr. Geng Ming instinctively covered his head with his trusty Windows Phone device, which managed to soften the blow from the heavy wall. Microsoft China caught wind of this story and was kind enough to replace Geng's old flagship phone with a new model. Nope, not a Lumia 930, but a brand spanking new Lumia 640 XL. We don't blame Geng for looking so emotionless here.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Microsoft tests cloud-based clipboard app that syncs across platforms

  This turned out to be quite the week for unannounced Microsoft apps. News of a "light-weight" email solution broke cover a few days ago, and today another pair of productivity apps were tipped. Thanks to @h0x0d on Twitter -- the source of the Flow email news -- we now know Microsoft is testing a cloud-based (thanks to OneDrive) clipboard tool that syncs across devices and platforms. The app is called OneClip, and though it's reportedly in internal beta. While it's available for download in the Windows Store, it'll only work for employees with the proper accounts. This means that you can copy a phone number on the desktop and have it immediately available on your Windows, iOS or Android phone.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Microsoft brings Clutter's inbox organization to Outlook.com

  The folks in Redmond are hard at work putting the finishing touches on Windows 10, and in the process Microsoft is retooling individual apps, too. Today, the company announced that key productivity features in the Office 365 Outlook app would be available on Outlook.com as well -- with a key addition being Clutter. If you're in need of a refresher, that's the feature that keeps high priority messages front and center while tucking distractions away for later. Over time, it learns from your habits what's junk and what's important, and just like the full app, you can toggle it on/off it you'd like. Of course, Pins and Flags are here too, as other means of keeping your workload as organized as possible.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Microsoft is reportedly making a 'light-weight' mobile email app

  Hey, Google: you might not be the only tech giant that can rethink email apps. Twitter user WalkingCat claims to have discovered a download page for Microsoft's "Flow by Outlook," an iPhone email app that's all about "rapid" and "light-weight" conversations. Reportedly, the software tosses out the usual trappings, such as subject lines and signatures -- you're supposed to use Flow almost like a chat client, and it only includes threads that started within the app. There's no mention of when Flow would arrive (or spread to other platforms), and Microsoft isn't commenting on the leak. If the scoop is accurate, though, you'll probably get a chance to try this client at some point in the relatively near future.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft reveals Office preview for Android smartphones

  Microsoft has been enthusiastically rolling out touch-friendly Android (and iOS) versions of Office, even before it launches on its own OS. It just outed a preview version for Android smartphones, although this time, Windows did get it first. As with the tablet version, Microsoft said the apps marry the "familiar look, feel and quality of Office" apps -- including Word, Excel and PowerPoint -- to a touch-friendly smartphone experience. You'll be able to open documents not only from Redmond's OneDrive, but also via Google Drive, Dropbox, and a few other cloud services.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Microsoft marks 25 years of Solitaire with a tournament

  Microsoft Solitaire, aka Windows' biggest productivity killer, is turning 25 this year -- and the team in Redmond is going to mark the occasion in style. The company is starting with an internal tournament this month that will determine who rules the roost within its own ranks. You'll get to participate in June, when the company releases the tournament's challenges to the public through its Solitaire Collection. If you've spent years mastering the art of ordering cards, your finely-honed (if not exactly practical) skills are about to pay off.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft Outlook will clean up your email by default

  If you saw Microsoft's Clutter feature and dreamed of a day when your email inbox was always under control, you're about to get your wish. The folks in Redmond have revealed that Outlook (both on the web and in the Office 2016 Preview) will turn on Clutter by default for new and existing mailboxes in June. Once it's activated, you'll only have to see high-priority messages in your inbox until you're ready to dive into a folder containing everything else.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft wants to keep your online data secure while you're using it

  There are plenty of security measures to keep your online files safe, but they frequently diminish or disappear when you're actually using those files. What if someone tries to swipe your data while you're working on it? Microsoft thinks it can help. It just unveiled VC3 (Verifiable Confidential Cloud Computing), a system that keeps your info secure at virtually every step. Whenever you open content, it's sent to a locked down device which limits access to you and you alone -- theoretically, this prevents even insiders (such as coworkers, cloud providers or government spies) from intercepting your secrets.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Mass Effect' director Casey Hudson joins Microsoft's HoloLens team

  Casey Hudson, the producer largely responsible for EA and BioWare's Mass Effect trilogy, is now Creative Director at Microsoft Studios, where he's working on HoloLens and Xbox games. Microsoft appears to be all-in on HoloLens development -- Hudson now works alongside former Lionhead Studios boss John Needham and he reports directly to CVP of Next Gen Experiences Kudo Tsunoda, who previously led Microsoft's Kinect Games initiative. Hudson relocated from Edmonton, Canada, to Redmond, Washington, for his new role.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Microsoft study shows that tech is shortening your attention span

  Think the abundance of technology in your life is making it harder to concentrate for long periods? Microsoft might just have some evidence to support your theory. It recently published a study (conducted using both surveys and EEG scans) suggesting that the average attention span has fallen precipitously since the start of the century. While people could focus on a task for 12 seconds back in 2000, that figure dropped to 8 seconds in 2013 -- about one second less than a goldfish. Reportedly, a lot of that reduction stems from a combination of smartphones and an avalanche of content. Many younger people find themselves compulsively checking their phones, and the glut of things to do on the web (such as social networking) makes it all too easy to find diversions.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Pirated Windows 10 installations will rock a desktop watermark

  You dirty Windows pirates will have to live with a constant reminder of your crimes come Windows 10. Pirated versions of the new operating system will be stuck with a desktop watermark reminding users of their non-genuine status, Microsoft EVP of operating systems Terry Myerson said in a blog post today. The announcement comes after Myerson confused the tech world a few months ago by declaring that pirated versions of Windows could partake in Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 10. It turns out that's not exactly true: The company later said that non-genuine installations would have to go through the Windows Store to upgrade to Windows 10, which was a strong hint that it would make pirates pay. Myerson notes today that Microsoft and its partners will offer "very attractive" genuine upgrade options for pirates.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft ban for 'Gears of Wars' leakers only knocks them offline

  Remember that Xbox One Gears of War remaster leak from a few weeks back? Well, the folks who gave word about it and then proceeded to upload video of the game in action have apparently had their Xbox Live accounts "permanently disabled" and supposedly "all of their Xbox One privileges" have been blocked according to an email from the game's testing agency that was obtained by Kotaku. As Microsoft tells us, that isn't quite the case; it's more of a soft ban that means the affected accounts can't go online: "To be clear, if a console is suspended from Xbox Live for a violation of the Terms of Use, it can still be used offline. Microsoft enforcement action does not result in a console becoming unusable. Suspensions for both consoles and accounts are determined by looking at a number of factors. To avoid enforcement action including suspension from the service, users should follow the Xbox Live Terms of Use and Code of Conduct."

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Microsoft will push mobile-friendly websites in its search results

  Google isn't the only big internet company that will promote mobile-friendly websites in its search results -- Microsoft says it will soon give higher rankings to mobile-optimized sites in Bing. While the company won't push these sites at all costs (it's still interested in giving you the most relevant links), it expects these tuned pages to float closer to the top. To help things along, it's planning to release a tool that tells site operators whether or not their content is ready for smaller screens. Microsoft doesn't expect to roll out this updated search code for another few months, but it shouldn't be too long before the days of constant zooming and scrolling are over.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Nokia's stores are turning into Microsoft resellers

  It's been a long time coming, but some of the last vestiges of Nokia's phone business are going away. Microsoft has started converting Nokia's stores and service centers into "Microsoft Resellers" (catchy, we know), complete with the colorful branding that you'd expect from a regular Microsoft store. It won't have the sheer variety of hardware, so you shouldn't expect to pick up a laptop while you're getting your phone fixed. However, the transition is still a big deal if you live outside of North America -- this may be the first time you'll visit a Microsoft shop, and your first chance at trying certain devices. As sad as it may be to see Nokia's name disappear from street corners, this is good news if you feel like you've been missing out on Microsoft's latest tech.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft details the many different versions of Windows 10

  A new Windows release wouldn't be the same without many different versions of the OS to confuse the heck out of you. Microsoft finally gave us the skinny on Windows 10's upcoming versions today -- and they're all pretty familiar to Windows fans. There's the usual "Home" version for mainstream consumers and the "Pro" version for business users. The latter is different from Windows 10 Enterprise, which is meant for bigger organizations with support for large-deployments. There's also a version of Windows 10 targeted specifically at schools, which is likely part of Microsoft's plan to take on Google's Chromebooks. On the phone front, Windows 10 Mobile is what you'll see on most consumer devices, but there's also a "Mobile Enterprise" version for businesses.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft's age-guessing tech highlights effects of homelessness

  Microsoft's how-old.net isn't the most reliable age detecting software. The company set it up as a demo site and never expected it to go viral (two million shares on Facebook). While thousands of users checked in to see how old an algorithm thinks they are, Toronto's Covenant House used the social tool as a catalyst for a pressing cause. They created a web ad that shows Cale, a 22-year-old homeless man, stamped as a 43-year-old on how-old.net. "The message was simple: living on the streets robs kids of their youth," Josie do Rego, Director of Development and Communications, told Engadget. "We wanted to remind people that the streets are no place for young people."

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Microsoft pours money into undersea data cables

  For many internet giants, undersea fiber optic cables are a lifeline. In some cases, it's the difference between delivering fast services overseas and watching people give up in frustration. Microsoft knows this all too well, it seems, as it just poured money into three subsea fiber projects (Aqua Comms, Hibernia and New Cross Pacific Cable Network) that should speed up connections to Asia-Pacific and Europe. The Redmond crew sees this as a small investment that could pay off big in the future. As it explains, online products like the Azure computing platform and Office 365 are booming -- it only makes sense to have those moneymakers running as smoothly as possible. This isn't really an altruistic gesture, then, but it could go a long way toward improving your internet access as a whole. [Image credit: US Pacific Fleet, Flickr]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• EU court finds Skype's name too similar to Sky broadcaster's

  Microsoft has lost another legal battle against British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), after a European court found Skype's name to be too similar to the latter's. The judges also ruled that the service's cloud-like logo "would further increase the likelihood of the element 'Sky' being recognized within the word element 'Skype.'" Redmond lost a similar case to the same broadcaster in court years ago, prompting the company to completely change the name of its cloud service from SkyDrive to OneDrive. Fortunately for Microsoft, it doesn't have to change Skype's name this time around -- it merely can't file a trademark registration for the product's name and logo.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Microsoft will give you cash to ditch your old Surface for a new one

  Haven't had much luck offloading your older Surface to help pay for a Surface 3? Microsoft thinks it can help. Similar to its Surface Pro-oriented effort from a few months ago, it's launching a US trade-in program that will give you up to $150 toward a Surface 3 if you turn in a Surface RT or Surface 2. The discount likely won't compare to what you'll get if you drive a hard bargain on Craigslist or eBay, but it's guaranteed cash -- if you're only concerned with upgrading to the latest tablet as painlessly as possible, it might do the trick. Just be sure to decide quickly, since you have to give up your old device by May 31st.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• You can build Microsoft's Kinect-powered holodeck at home

  Got a Kinect, a projector and a knack for code? If so, you can create a Star Trek-like holodeck in your living room. Microsoft has released the RoomAlive Toolkit, a software framework that lets you string together Kinect motion trackers to create interactive projection maps. You can use it to build anything from extra-immersive games through to art displays. This isn't exactly a trivial undertaking (Microsoft is promising lots of tutorials), but it means that you won't have to wait for someone else to bring your augmented reality dreams to life.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft: Media Center Edition won't make it into Windows 10

  Rumors Microsoft would dump its Media Center feature have plagued the project for years -- in 2007 we worried if it still had a future, after it was largely pushed aside in Windows Vista -- and the company confirmed to ZDNet this week that with the launch of Windows 10, it's actually happening. While Media Center came to Windows 8 as an add-on and unchanged from previous versions, apparently "infinitesimal" usage statistics are the reason Microsoft is finally pulling the plug. Nearly ten years ago, the launch of the Xbox 360 suggested Media Center Edition had a bright future and a place in the living room. While the console went on to sell millions, HTPCs became an ignored and restricted niche for Microsoft, a missed opportunity after its hyped 2004 launch with Bill Gates and Queen Latifah.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Build 2015: With Windows 10, Microsoft is no longer a follower

  Referencing former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's infamous "developers!" chant is practically a cliché nowadays, but it felt like the silent refrain throughout the company's entire Build conference this week. In the run-up to Windows 10, Microsoft wants developers. It needs developers. And it will do whatever it takes to get them -- even going so far as to allow devs to recompile their Android and iOS apps without much fuss. None of this seemed possible from Microsoft years ago, when simply owning the dominant desktop platform was enough. But now with mobile devices and the cloud in play, Microsoft needs to evolve. And by doing so, it's also making Windows 10 a far more exciting upgrade than Windows 8 ever hoped to be.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Microsoft snaps up the technology behind the Surface Pro 3's pen

  In love with the Surface pen? You're not the only one. Microsoft confirmed on its Surface blog this morning that it acquired the pen-sensing technology that helps power the Surface Pro 3 from the company that created it, Israeli tech outfit N-trig. If you're the type who pays attention to Israeli business newspapers, this whole thing might not come as a shock - Calcalist reported earlier this year that Microsoft was eyeing N-trig for a full-on acquisition that would see the company's 190 employees folded into the Microsoft mothership at some point. That's not the case anymore, though: We've been able to confirm the folks in Redmond just bought the technology, and not the whole company.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Microsoft bought 'Minecraft' because it's perfect for HoloLens

  Microsoft surprised many when it announced it had acquired Mojang, maker of the hit game Minecraft for $2.5 billion. What could a company specializing in operating systems, business software and consoles do with an already popular sandbox game primarily enjoyed by children? The game's creator, Markus "Notch" Persson, certainly helped expedite the sale, but Microsoft had something else in its arsenal that was also perfectly suited to the game: HoloLens.

  By Matt Brian Read More

Mobile (28)

• Feds to overhaul program that delivers broadband to the poor

  While 95 percent of American households earning six figures annually have access to broadband internet, just 48 percent of homes making under $25,000 enjoy the same benefit. Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission announced plans to reduce that internet inequality gap by subsidizing the broadband access for America's poorest families. Specifically, the FCC is looking to revamp its existing Lifeline program, which already provides both phone and prepaid wireless service, to now include broadband as well.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Android Pay will arrive with Android M, handle payments via NFC

  Google SVP Sundar Pichai may have tipped the company's hand on mobile payments back in Barcelona, but he offered little detail on how the system would work. At I/O 2015, though, the folks in Mountain View served up a wealth of details on the matter, including the announcement that Android Pay would be part of the Android M release. Just like Apple Pay, transactions are sorted via NFC and your actual card number isn't shared with merchants. Instead, it'll use "a virtual account number" to handle payments. When it arrives, the system will be employed by over 700,000 retailers (sounds familiar) like Macy's, Whole Foods, Walgreen's and many more. It'll also be used for in-app purchases, so if you're ordering food from Chipotle or paying for an Uber ride, you'll be able to use Android Pay there as well. And yes, web sellers can leverage the system, too.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Ofcom plans to auction more 4G spectrum later this year

  Ofcom is planning a fresh spectrum auction that will improve 4G coverage later this year. The regulator has 190 MHz to allocate to the major mobile networks, and today it's launched a consultation with possible auction formats. The concern is that some of the biggest carriers are undergoing mergers -- BT is buying EE, while the owner of Three UK is trying to acquire O2. if Ofcom awards all of the spectrum now, the balance of power could change unexpectedly if the deals don't proceed as planned. However, it could be six months before they're approved, and even longer before the transactions are completed, and the regulator doesn't want to waste any time putting the spectrum to good use.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Charter is reportedly close to buying Time Warner Cable

  Charter's interest in buying Time Warner Cable appears to be more than just a passing fancy. Bloomberg sources claim that the cable company is on the cusp of reaching a deal to buy TWC for $195 per share. The finer details of the buyout aren't available, but Charter would fold both its new acquisition and Bright House into a single mega-entity. Reportedly, Charter could announce the purchase as early as Tuesday -- if so, it's not wasting much time following Comcast's failed TWC deal.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Verizon's old phone network will stick around for connected devices

  It's no secret that Verizon wants to drop its legacy phone service like so much dead weight. But is the underlying CDMA network going to go away, too? Not for a long while, the carrier's Fran Shammo says. He explains that CDMA will hang around for "internet of things" devices (think appliances, cars and machinery), which need only "small bursts" of data to communicate. The newer LTE network is still top priority -- eventually, all of Verizon's cellphones will depend on it -- but it won't completely replace the older technology for quite some time. [Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Vodafone to make its return to broadband 'in the coming weeks'

  With BT snapping up EE and Three UK's owner buying O2, Vodafone must be feeling a little left out of the industry shake-up that's currently underway. But Vodafone's got more important things to focus on in the immediate future, namely its return to being a broadband provider. In its year-end earnings released today, Vodafone mentioned its new fibre broadband service is set to launch "in the coming weeks," a little over three years since its unsuccessful "Vodafone at Home" offerings were scrapped. The company announced last year it was preparing to give broadband another crack, penning a spring 2015 launch window its more or less on track to meet (the intrigued can register their interest for "Vodafone Connect" here). What's more, Vodafone's also confirmed today it'll follow broadband with the launch of a TV service later this year.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Sprint activates free data roaming in six more countries

  Sprint has expanded its free international roaming plan to six more countries: Colombia, Denmark, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Paraguay and Sweden. That makes the new total 22, including the original 16 locations the company named when it launched the free data and unlimited text messaging in April. Obviously, it still can't compare to T-Mobile's similar service that works in 120 countries, but it's still good news for the carrier's subscribers. That said, it doesn't sound like the plan's 64kbps max speed -- yes, that's the maximum -- has gone up since launch. So if customers need something a little less, um, glacial, they might have no other choice than to pay up. [Image credit: JeepersMedia/Flickr]

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• European carriers could block internet ads for their own benefit

  While advertising has become a necessary evil, some companies have become specialists in helping you rid yourself of it. If you live in Europe, you could soon find help from an unlikely ally, after a Financial Times report noted that some operators are ready to block ads from Google, Microsoft and Yahoo on your smartphone. According to the newspaper, one European carrier has already installed ad-blocking software in its data centers, with the intention of deploying it before the end of the year. Other providers have reportedly indicated that they may do the same and would ask customers to opt-in to the service.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Qualcomm brings Bluetooth support to AllPlay audio streaming

  Qualcomm just announced additional ways to input audio into its AllPlay WiFi streaming platform. The feature now supports Bluetooth and analog audio input on supported devices. Once the Bluetooth-streamed audio hits the "master" device, the audio is then distributed via WiFi to satellite speakers that don't necessarily have to be from the same manufacturers. Bluetooth has become the de facto method of wirelessly streaming music to speakers and it makes sense for Qualcomm to start supporting the protocol. Analog inputs expand the reach of AllPlay to devices like turntables and home stereo systems without wireless support.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• EE's 10 million 4G customers are great news for BT

  EE was the first mobile network to offer 4G in the UK, and now, more than two and a half years later, it's still easily the most popular. The company has accumulated 10 million 4G customers, beating the numbers last reported by Three, O2 and Vodafone. It's a huge lead and one that will please BT, which is in the midst of buying EE's business. BT wants to strengthen its quad play offering and EE, provided the deal goes through, will give it a substantial network and subscriber base to work with. The company already offers mobile contracts -- using EE's network, unsurprisingly -- and Sky has confirmed it'll launch an O2-powered network in 2016. Three UK's owner, meanwhile, is acquiring O2 in order to leapfrog EE and become the UK's biggest carrier. While they sort out the details, BT has some time to fortify its position -- after all, EE's base of 4G subscribers will only continue to grow, benefitting the provider when its £12.5 billion buyout is finally approved.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Free mobile plans are coming to the UK in July

  Sure, mobile plans are getting cheaper by the day, but what if you could enjoy voice, texts and mobile data without having to pay a penny? That's what mobile carrier FreedomPop will offer when it launches in the UK in July. After finding success in the US and announcing its plans to expand almost a year ago, the company has set its sights on this side of the pond, noting that it will provide 200 minutes, 200 texts and 200MB of data free on its very first SIM-only plan. Basic, but perfect for someone who uses their phone sparingly. To further discourage the competition, FreedomPop will also offer free international calling to over 60 countries and allow free calls and texts to anyone on one of its plans.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Sprint and Verizon to pay $158 million over bogus texting charges

  No, Sprint and Verizon* aren't going to escape the FCC's bid to punish carriers for letting shady text message services bill their customers. The two providers are respectively paying $68 million and $90 million to settle FCC claims that they not only turned a blind eye to this bill cramming, but frequently denied refunds when subscribers complained. About $120 million of this total payout will compensate victims, while the rest will go to both state governments and the US Treasury.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• LA's newer cell towers will keep working after earthquakes

  Cellular networks are only trustworthy if they continue running in emergencies, and Los Angeles knows it. The city's council has voted for legislation that requires all new cell towers to be tough enough to remain functional after a major earthquake -- not just standing, like they need to do today. Officials believe that this will involve only a "marginal" hike in costs, but should make a huge difference the next time a big quake rocks LA and leaves residents scrambling for help. This hardening process won't be truly comprehensive until carriers start replacing existing towers, which could take years. However, patience could be a virtue if it keeps families and rescue teams in touch when a disaster strikes. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Two more AT&T prepaid plans will offer data rollover

  Looks like AT&T is the latest carrier to hop onto the "data rollover" bandwagon. The company recently announced that customers subscribing to its prepaid GoPhone $45 and $60 plans will be able to apply their unused data allowance -- 1.5 GB and 4 GB, respectively -- to the next month but only until the next month. That is, any spare data you have in January will roll over to February but disappears come the Ides of March. And be warned, if you manage to burn through your total data allotment, that internet connection's going to get squeezed down to just 128kbps for the remainder of the billing cycle. AT&T's plan isn't as good as the full year of rollovers that T-Mobile is offering but certainly better than what it was giving you before. Previously, only subscribers to the Mobile Share Value program were allowed such a rollover. The newly expanded program takes effect on Friday, May 15th. [Image Credit: Getty Images]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Carphone Warehouse's 'iD' mobile network launches tomorrow

  Carphone Warehouse is launching its "iD" mobile network tomorrow, and in preparation it's revealed new details about its contracts and how they differ from the competition. For starters, they'll be separated into four tiers: Shockproof, TakeAway, Go To and SIM Only. The Shockproof tier starts from £7.50 per month and is designed to help you avoid expensive bills. To do this, iD will cap your usage automatically, while offering a customisable "buffer" just in case you find yourself craving a few extra GB. TakeAway, meanwhile, will offer plans from £25.50 per month with free roaming in 22 countries -- that's more than Three's "Feel at Home" initiative, if you're keeping score.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Court tosses lawsuit seeking gadget ban during takeoff and landing

  Next time you absolutely need to be on the phone while your plane's landing or taking off, make sure to give a silent thanks to the United States Court of Appeals. A Washington DC appeal court has thrown out a lawsuit challenging the FAA's 2013 decision to allow passengers to use gadgets during all phases of flight. That lawsuit was filed in 2014 by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which accused the FAA of failing to follow standard procedure before issuing its ruling. The union complained that passengers now barely pay attention to pre-flight safety demos, because they're glued to their gadgets. It also argued that electronic devices could become projectiles during turbulence.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• MetroPCS shuts off its old phone network on June 21st

  You'd better move quickly if you're holding on to an older MetroPCS cellphone. The T-Mobile-owned carrier has posted a Frequently Asked Questions warning that its outgoing CDMA network will effectively shut off on June 21st. Any legacy phones are "not guaranteed" to work after that, the contract-free network says. It's no secret that the end was nigh given that MetroPCS began winding down CDMA last year. However, we won't blame you if this early transition is catching you off-guard. T-Mobile only said it was turning off MetroPCS' old network sometime in the second half of the year -- it's clearly eager to conduct some spring cleaning, even if it means asking people to upgrade sooner than expected. [Image credit: Jim Carroll, Flickr]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Bright House Networks and Charter deal looking less likely

  According to Reuters Bright House Networks may look to kill its impeding merger with Charter Communications. After pressure from regulators put an end to Comcast's effort to purchase Time Warner Cable, rumors started circulating that Charter wanted to resurrect its bid for the beleaguered company. Comcast backing out of the TWC deal triggered a clause in the Bright House / Charter agreement that would allow the two to renegotiate the terms of their merger. The 30 day window for the renewed contract talks ends in roughly two weeks, and sources have suggested that Bright House may want to put the kibosh on the acquisition. According to the Reuters report, Bright House appears to have decided that its in the company's best interest to remain independent. Part of that decision is likely fueled by an existing agreement with Time Warner, where the larger provider negotiates programing rates for Bright House and shares its technology with it. A merger with Charter would kill the existing arrangement and weaken its negotiating position.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Tesco's now looking to offload its mobile business

  With a £6 billion loss hanging over its head, Tesco has taken steps to help plug its financial leaks. This involved the sale of its Blinkbox streaming properties, including Movies, Music and Books, but it appeared that one of its more successful businesses, Tesco Mobile, would survive the cull. According to the Financial Times, even the MVNO is now on the chopping block, after the supermarket giant began talks with bankers about putting the carrier up for sale.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Straight Talk gives customers who bring their own phones more data

  Straight Talk has a nice weekend surprise for both old and new Bring Your Own Phone customers. The prepaid carrier has just upped its $45-per-month plan's data allowance from 3GB to 5GB for anyone who didn't purchase their phone straight from the company. New customers only need to register a compatible device and order a SIM to take advantage of the promo, while old faithfuls won't have to do anything at all: they'll get access to 5GB their next refill. Hopefully, the virtual network operator has cleaned up its act since the FTC fined it for throttling customers' connections too much, so people can actually enjoy the higher data cap. [Image credit: Mike Mozart]

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Lyft's deal with Verizon gives drivers a break on phone service

  Lyft isn't going to let Uber's partnership with AT&T go unanswered. The ridesharing outlet has unveiled a team-up with Verizon that not only pre-loads Lyft's app on some of Verizon's Android phones, but gives Lyft drivers a discount on their cellphone bills through the Accelerate perks program. Suffice it to say that this last part is a big deal for drivers whose very livelihood depends on a phone with a good data plan. Yes, the agreement means that you'll have to put up with more carrier bloatware, but the inconvenience might be somewhat justified if it gets more Lyft drivers on the road and gives you more choices in app-based transportation.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• AT&T won't always throttle your unlimited LTE data

  While AT&T has limited its throttling for unlimited 3G data to clogged-up networks, it hasn't been so kind to the LTE crowd. Go past 5GB of usage in a month and your high-speed connection would always slow down, no matter how empty the cell towers might be. The carrier is finally taking a softer stance, however. It recently updated its policy statements to say that it now throttles unlimited LTE data past the 5GB mark only if you're on a congested network. AT&T tells us that it had revealed plans to do this last year -- it just flicked the switch on the policy this week.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• NVIDIA is getting rid of its cellular chip business

  Alas, NVIDIA's one-time dream of hitting it big in the cellular chip world is not to be. The company is planning to "wind down" its Icera modem business in the second fiscal quarter of the year (that is, no later than July), which could include selling it off. Simply put, NVIDIA's priorities have changed -- it's focused on those areas where its signature graphics and mobile processors tend to thrive, including cars, gaming and the cloud. It's an understandable move given the lack of traction for Icera's parts (Qualcomm virtually dominates the modem landscape), but it's unfortunate for the roughly 500 staffers who may find themselves out of work in a few months. [Image credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Vodafone pushes value with its latest own-brand 4G phone and tablet

  'Tis the season of own-brand device launches, it seems. A couple of weeks ago, EE announced its new range of in-house products, including two smartphones, and today it's Vodafone's turn to show what low-cost hardware it's been cooking up of late. Joining last year's Smart 4 power/turbo handsets and the more recent Smart 4 max is the new middle child: the Smart prime 6. With a 5-inch, 720p display, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410, 1GB of RAM, 8 gigs of storage and 8-/2-megapixel cameras, it's not the most exciting of devices. That said, it's 4G-ready, loaded with Android 5.0 Lollipop and comes in at £79 on pay-as-you-go, or free on contracts from £17 per month.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• T-Mobile's 'Never Settle Trial' takes aim at Verizon

  T-Mobile's latest Un-carrier offering is going straight for Verizon's jugular. It's called the "Never Settle Trial," and as you might have guessed, it specifically mocks Big Red's #NeverSettle ad campaign. The trial, exclusively available to Verizon subscribers, will give you free access to a T-Mobile phone with an Un-carrier plan for two full weeks. You can even port your Verizon number without cutting your old line. If you decide to sign up for a Big Magenta Simple Choice plan by the end of the 14-day period, Legere and co. promise to shoulder any Early Termination Fee you incur worth up to $650. Actually, the company swears to pay for any service costs incurred due to the trial, even if you decide to stick with Verizon.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• US telecoms try to kill net neutrality by blocking key rules

  The big US telecoms are trying every trick in the book to kill net neutrality, and that includes some very specific tactics. AT&T, CenturyLink and multiple industry groups have sent filings to the FCC asking it to block specific procedures, not the neutrality rules themselves. They want to stop the Commission from both reclassifying the internet as a utility and implementing a standard that prevents providers from "unreasonably interfering" with your internet access. Purportedly, these moves would require "crushing" costs and might chill investments in network upgrades -- arguments we've definitely heard before.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• AT&T buys Nextel Mexico to create 'North American Mobile Service area'

  AT&T has acquired another Mexican carrier in what seems to be an effort to conquer the continent... well, two of its countries anyway. Ma Bell has snapped up Nextel Mexico for $1.875 billion, shortly after its Iusacell (also a Mexican carrier) acquisition was approved by the country's telecom regulator, Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT). This time around, the IFT quickly approved the sale and transfer of Nextel's spectrum licenses, network assets, retail outlets and subscribers to AT&T, so the carrier can execute its plans ASAP. According to the company's official announcement, it will merge Iusacell and Nextel into a single company for wider coverage and as part of its plan to create "the first-ever North American Mobile Service area." Despite its name, that area only encompasses the US and Mexico, but it will cover over 400 million consumers in both countries once the merged company's up and running. [Image credit: JeepersMedia/Flickr]

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• By teaming up with Three, Huawei's Honor brand goes mainstream

  Chinese firm Huawei is no stranger to the UK. Unbeknownst to many, it's an important provider of cellular infrastructure, and just a couple of weeks ago, it held its new flagship smartphone launch in London. Over the years, some of Huawei's top handsets have been ranged by major UK carriers, but these days you're more likely to see its name attached to low-cost, pay-as-you-go devices. Towards the end of last year, Huawei debuted its Honor smartphone brand in the UK and Europe, hoping this range of reasonably priced devices would find success in these parts. Perhaps to its detriment, Huawei went to great lengths to mask its ownership of Honor, instead introducing the brand as a new, pro-consumer smartphone manufacturer. Employing an online-only sales model, however, meant the name slid quickly into obscurity, but that changes in the UK today with Honor's first carrier partnership since the brand launched just over six months ago.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

News (77)

• GoPro is working on a spherical camera rig for VR, and a drone

  In case you were wondering what the next move is for GoPro as it keeps its action cameras one step ahead of cellphones and DSLRs, we have answers: virtual reality and drones. CEO Nick Woodman announced both projects tonight during an interview at the Code Conference. GoPro showed off a spherical camera rig after it acquired Kolor last month, a company that specializes in stiching together the resulting footage so it can be experience in VR. The Six-camera Spherical Array should arrive later this year, and a GoPro-branded quadcopter is planned for next year. There's fewer details available about that, but rumors late last year pointed to a model priced between $500 and $1,000.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• US wants future first responders to be more high-tech

  The folks that might one day save your ass still rely on '50s-era radio technology (with some exceptions), and the US Commerce Department wants that to change. Its National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) division has just created a roadmap for how first responders can exploit technology over the next 20 years. The prime target is indoor location tech, which would help emergency crews find bad guys and victims alike in complex structures. There's no standard for indoor GPS, however, so NIST would like to get some kind of industry consensus on it and incorporate 3D visualization, enhanced precision and other features.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Hot Topic is buying ThinkGeek

  High school is teenage tribalism, which is why the Lip Service kids aren't going to hang with the Forever 21 set in the lunch hall. Now, however, Hot Topic has realized that it's got plenty in common with ThinkGeek, and has decided to swallow the niche retailer in a deal worth $122 million. Hot Topic CEO Lisa Harper believes that it's a good fit, since both companies share a strategy of "delivering great products for avid fans of various licensed properties." Or, in non business-school buzzkill speak, selling y'all t-shirts with Marvel characters on them will make the company even more bank if it owns one of its rivals.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Argos opens its first 'digital stores' inside Sainsbury's supermarkets

  What better way to maximise footfall to your store than to set-up shop inside places people visit daily for tomorrow's bread and milk? Undoubtedly that's the thinking behind Argos' new batch of "digital stores," where tablets replace order slips and pocketable pens to replicate an online shopping experience, now popping up within various Sainsbury's locations. The surprising tie-up was announced in January, but today sees the first Argos digital stores opening at Sainsbury's supermarkets in North Cheam, Surrey and Nantwich, Chesire. These smaller-than-normal outlets will offer up to 20,000 items for instant purchase or later collection, with everything else in the catalogue available for home delivery. A further eight locations (check the source link) will also open their doors at some point this summer. It's yet another one of Argos' modernisation schemes that include its partnership with eBay, click-and-collect stores and online 3D-printed jewelry service. And as far as this particular alliance with Sainsbury's is concerned, Argos might well be getting the sweeter end of the deal.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• 70,000 pictures make up this panorama of Mont Blanc

  This is a photo of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the European Union. But it's not just any photo: it's actually just a small part of a panorama comprised of 70,000 pictures and 365 gigapixels. In 2014, a team of photographers led by Filippo Blengini spent 35 hours overall within two weeks -- in temperatures averaging 14F at an altitude of 11,500 feet -- taking as many pictures as they could of the mountain. They used a Canon 70D DSLR with a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 II IS lens and an extender, all attached to a robotic mount. It then took them two more months to stitch all 46 terabytes of pictures together to create a panorama, which they claim is the world's largest photo.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Wake up to the smell of money, not farts

  If we were rich, we'd pay gourmet baker Richard Bertinet to rouse us every day with the scent of his freshly baked bread. Unfortunately, we're not, which is why SensorWake's smell-based alarm clock is such an exciting prospect. Rather than waking users up with the traffic report, the device uses a cartridge of odors to get you out of bed in the morning, from coffee and croissants all the way through to the smell of US dollars.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• WTF, 'Clickbait' and 'Emoji' are now officially words?

  As the English language continues to evolve in response the internet's cultural onslaught, Merriam-Webster has announced that it's adding a host of new net-centric terms to its pages. In fact, the dictionary company has recently added a total of 1,700 terms to its word repository. Among them: net neutrality, click fraud, meme, photobomb, NSFW and a host of other words your kids have already been using for years. Numerous other, non-technical words made their way into Merriam-Webster Unabridged as well including jegging, crema, and colossal squid.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Charter and Time Warner Cable agree on $55 billion merger

  Time Warner Cable (TWC) has leaped into the arms of Charter Communications in a merger valued at $55 billion, confirming previous rumors. That's considerably more than the $45 billion Comcast proposed to pay for TWC in a controversial deal that was eventually called off. Charter said that the merger will "create a leading broadband services and technology company serving 23.9 million customers in 41 states." Time Warner Cable rejected a similar offer back in 2014, but Charter sweetened it considerably this time around with an offer that values it at $75.7 billion.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• All of Logitech's hub-based Harmony remotes now control your home

  You no longer have to be quite so picky about which of Logitech's Harmony remotes you use to control your smart home. The company is trotting out an update this month that gives the Harmony Ultimate Hub the same home automation support as the Home Hub. Once you've upgraded, you can use the Harmony Ultimate, Smart Control or Smart Keyboard to flick on the lights or change the temperature without leaving the couch. You'll need to own all those connected devices for this software to make a difference -- it's not a free update in the strictest sense, then -- but it's nice to know that your home theater remote is suddenly that much more powerful.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'Ultra Street Fighter IV', 'Halt and Catch Fire'

  Winter may be coming in Westeros, but it is long gone from our TV viewing schedules. The NBA and NHL conference finals are wrapping up this week, while summer TV shows start to pop up on the schedule. That means reality dreck like The Island, The Briefcase and I Can Do That, but NBC is also bringing a new scripted series called Aquarius starring David Duchovny. This season of Louie wraps up on FX, and if you haven't already bought his recent comedy special online it will air immediately after, and the Halt and Catch Fire starts on AMC. Gamers can check out expansions for Game of Thrones, The Evil Within and Dragon Age,while PS4 has a next-gen exclusive on Ultra Street Fighter IV. 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

• 'A Beautiful Mind': mathematician John Nash dies aged 86

  Dr. John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician whose work included noncooperative game theory, has died aged 86. Known as Nash equilibrium, the theory is used in a broad range of fields, including economics, other social sciences, evolutionary biology as well as influencing computing and artificial intelligence. His work and life were turned into the film A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe, which won an Oscar for Best Picture in 2001, also putting focus on the stigma of mental illness. Nash's famed work in math and other fields extended beyond the game theory work that won him the Nobel Prize.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• CIA shuts down program using spy satellites to track climate change

  For most of the past two decades, a handful of climate change scientists have had the CIA's MEDEA (Measurement of Earth Data for Environmental Analysis) program as an ace in the hole: they could draw on classified info from spy satellites and subs to study global warming in extreme detail. However, they'll now have to make do with alternatives. The agency has shut down MEDEA, saying that its projects to study the security implications of climate change "have been completed." While the CIA says it'll still "engage external experts" on the subject, it won't be providing consistent access to its extremely accurate and rare data.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• State Dept. releases some of Hillary Clinton's emails

  Worried that your own inbox isn't keeping you busy enough? Following a judge's request to release emails from Hillary Clinton's private account on a rolling basis, the State Department posted some 296 of them to its Freedom of Information Act website. The emails are from Clinton's time as Secretary of State between 2009 and 2013, and have come under scrutiny because she used a private email server for correspondence instead of her official email address. An investigation into attacks in Benhazi, Libya and Clinton's run for President in 2016 have made the emails (and her decision to selectively turn over archives to the State Department before wiping the email server) an issue. You can read through them here, or enjoy a long holiday weekend -- we wonder if that's a coincidence? [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Escort website operator is going to prison for 13 months

  Eric Omuro, the operator of RedBook, has been sentenced to 13 months behind bars. RedBook or MyRedBook.com was a popular website that hosted ads for Bay Area sex workers, as well as forums where both clients and escorts can review each other. A lot of other websites (including Craigslist) also cater to prostitutes, but authorities targeted this particular one last year for an unknown reason, taking down the domain to be replaced by a notice from the FBI:

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Philips turns LEDs into an indoor GPS for supermarkets

  Philips believes that the days of endlessly roaming around a store looking for the right kind of balsamic vinegar may soon be at an end. The company's lighting division has developed an indoor navigation system that enables your smartphone to direct you straight towards the Oils & Vinegars (Specialist) section. In addition, the technology helps to light everything up nice and bright, and save a bucketload of cash in the process.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Propose to your beloved with this bitcoin engagement ring

  Much like the idea that Santa Claus wears red, the notion that you should spend a fortune on a diamond engagement ring is the invention of advertisers. So, since the act is already about ostentatious displays of wealth, why not invest your money in something more useful than a big rock -- like bitcoin? That's the idea behind the bitcoin ring, a 3D-printed piece of jewelry with a QR code that lets anyone with the corresponding app see how much cash you've really got.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Gyrocopter pilot who landed at US Capitol faces a decade behind bars

  The government worker who accidentally landed a drone on White House grounds reportedly got off easy, but Douglas Hughes isn't so lucky -- he could be locked up for nine-and-a-half years. You might remember Hughes for flying a gyrocopter from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and landing at the US Capitol in April. He was fully aware that he breached restricted airspace, but he did it to protest the influence of big money in politics, carrying one letter for each Congress member. He's now facing several charges, including flying without a certification, violating national defense airspace and operating a vehicle masquerading as a postal carrier: the tail of his gyrocopter carries a Postal Service logo, since Hughes used to work for the agency. This incident (along with the White House drone crash) exposed gaps in the government's security, even leading to a Congressional hearing about airspace safety in DC. [Image credit: Wikipedia]

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Britain now prefers cashless payments to notes and coins

  It's taken a while, but the UK is now primarily cashless. No, it's not all-digital, but for the first time, consumers and businesses are making more payments with cards, smartphones and online banking than standard notes and coins. That's according to the Payments Council, which found that 52 percent were completed without physical currency, with debit cards accounting for almost a quarter (24 percent) of all payments.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Hey ladies, this German billboard wants to sell you a beer

  Here in America, women are far more likely to be featured in a beer commercial than actually targeted by one. However in Germany, Astra brand beer is focusing specifically on female drinkers with an unusual and automated billboard that speaks only to them. Developed by the Philipp und Keuntje ad agency and starring German comic star Uke Bosse, these billboards will only activate when women pass by. Each electronic sign is outfitted with a small camera and loaded with cutting-edge "gender detection" software that not only differentiates between the sexes, it also accurately judges their age. Once a lady does pass Bosse's gaze, the ad will activate and automatically play one of 70 pre-recorded snippets. However, when a man walks by, he's told to keep on steppin'. Check out the billboard in action below.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Sweden's 'dream home' crowdsourced from 200 million web searches

  If you adore box-like, red houses with open kitchens and around 1,200 square feet of space, guess what! You're an average Swede, apparently. Real estate site Hemnet and architects Tham & Videgård came up with the design by crowdsourcing preferences for size, number of rooms and floors, using 200 million clicks on 86,000 properties. "The result is partly a mathematical translation of the statistical 1.5 floors within a cubic volume," according to the team. The home makes the open kitchen the focal point of the house, highlighting its social importance to Swedes.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The British Library is fighting to save endangered sounds

  For most of us, thinking about museums and archives will conjure up images of physical relics; faded books, paintings and trinkets discovered beneath the soil. But now, the British Library is fighting to preserve something more elusive: sound. With £9.5 million in fresh Lottery funding, it hopes to digitise and release 500,000 rare and at-risk recordings over the next five years. The challenge is that some audio snippets are currently held on old formats, such as wax cylinders and magnetic tape. They're slowly decaying to a point of irreparability, and the equipment required to play them is becoming harder to source. The British Library estimates that 1 million UK sound collections could be lost in the next 15 years, so in January it started a "Save our Sounds" campaign to preserve them.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• MasterCard Send is a new way to distribute funds quickly

  Let's face it: checks aren't convenient. If you're using them to pay for something, there's all the extra writing and mailing. If you're receiving them, there's a whole process for getting them into your account. Well, MasterCard says it solved the convenience issue with Send: a new system that allows businesses and individuals to securely exchange funds in minutes. This means that you'll no longer have to wait for a check to clear or for the transfer to go through. While businesses looking to send refunds, claims payments and rebates are a key focus, MasterCard is letting regular folks leverage the system to send money to friends and family, too. What's more, you don't have to be one of its customers to opt in, and you can use Send to pay for goods at participating retailers.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• KFC's Tray Typer keeps you clicking even with greasy fingers

  Horror of horrors, you've just downed a plate of Colonel Sander's famous fried chicken only to have that text you've been waiting for suddenly ping your phone. What do you do? Clearly the answer isn't to reach for the napkins. No, instead you do what every red-blooded poultry eater should: pair the keyboard mat on your serving tray to your phone and you answer that all-important text, greasy fingers be damned.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• LG's super-thin OLED screen sticks to your wall using magnets

  Forget buying a clunky wall mount for your TV... what if you could stick it up like a fridge magnet? LG Display is hoping you'll do just that. The company has unveiled a 55-inch OLED screen that's so thin and light (0.04 inches and 4.2 pounds) that you can put it on your wall using a magnetic mat. The design doesn't exactly leave room for much else -- you'd probably need a breakout box for TV functions -- but it raises the possibility of big-screen sets that easily blend into your living room's decor. Unfortunately, LG isn't saying if or when this panel will translate into a real product. You'll most likely have to settle for the company's more conventional OLED TVs in the short term, including a giant 99-incher due this year.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Apogee's tiny USB headphone amp is now available for $295

  When it was announced back in January, Apogee promised to deliver its Groove USB headphone amp and digital-to-analong converter (DAC) this spring. Well, the company kept its word as the audio accessory is now available for $295. What does a few hundred dollars buy you? Groove touts up to 24 bit/192kHz audio thanks to a Quad Sum DAC that puts four converters on each channel to keep the audio sounding top notch. There's also a feature called Constant Current Drive that adapts to the frequencies of your headphones to make them sound better. On the front of the aluminum frame, volume controls and LEDs easily handle level changes and muting. What's more, the add-on is USB powered, so you won't have to futz with another cable or batteries -- just think of it a set of super-sized (and super powerful) in-line controls. The folks at Apogee have a knack for building stellar audio gear, so we're anxious to see how this gadget stacks up.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Hillary Clinton's emails won't be released until January 2016 (update)

  The emails that Hillary Clinton sent as Secretary of State from a private account will eventually be released to the public, but not as quickly as some had hoped. Government lawyers reportedly revealed in new court papers, filed in relation to a Vice News Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, that the correspondence won't be published until January 15th, 2016. That's a long wait, especially as Clinton has already launched her 2016 presidential campaign in the US. Her privately-controlled email address, first revealed by the New York Times, is an issue because she used it for all of her work-related correspondence. Under federal law, emails sent and received by officials are supposed to be archived so that oversight committees, historians and the press can examine them. Update: Another update from Vice notes that a judge has ordered the State Department to release emails on a rolling basis.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• New York Stock Exchange begins monitoring bitcoin value

  Bitcoin's march toward legitimacy just took a hop, skip and jump with the news that the New York Stock Exchange is going to start monitoring its value. The NYSE Bitcoin Index (NYBXT) will keep a beady eye on how much the cryptocurrency is worth, relative to the US dollar, with the data being pulled from Coinbase. That way, investment types can get a quick read on how bitcoin is doing at any one time, with the value being updated at 11:00 AM ET each day.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Tom Cruise once helped NASA redesign its website

  In the early 2000s, Tom Cruise was working on movies like Mission Impossible II, Minority Report and The Last Samurai. However, when he wasn't busy playing a lead role, he also had a penchant for telling the world's biggest space agency how it could make its website better. That's according to former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, who was told to update the agency's 2002 site because it took visitors "three clicks to oblivion."

  By Matt Brian Read More

• White House launches the Police Data Initiative

  Following the police-shooting death of Michael Brown and subsequent riots in Ferguson, MO, the Obama administration assembled a task force charged with somehow easing the adversarial relationship between law enforcement and the citizenry. The White House released those findings this morning and also announced that it is launching the Police Data Initiative, a 21-city pilot program designed to fast track solutions to the task force's suggestions.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Airbnb is floating a liveable house down the River Thames

  If you happen to be in London this week, we recommend keeping one eye locked on the Thames. Airbnb is sailing a bright blue house down the iconic river to celebrate the passing of the Deregulation Act, which gives London residents permission to "share" their property for up to 90 days each year. Best of all, you can actually live in Airbnb's unusual floating home -- it comes with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a living room, as well as a small garden complete with lawn, trees and a dog kennel. Of course, this is just a publicity stunt, but it's a creative one that could brighten up London's iconic landmark. Airbnb is also letting a lucky few spend the night in the house this Friday, with just a few important house rules; no swimming in the Thames, no floating house parties and "no floating away." I wonder if that last one includes tying hundreds of colourful balloons to the roof?

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Edward Snowden helped embroider a Wikipedia page, for art

  Magna Carta is regarded as one of the foundation documents of western democracy, and its 800th birthday is coming up next month. That's what prompted prize-winning artist Cornelia Parker to recruit some famous names, including Edward Snowden, to celebrate the creation of the document in a very unique way. Rather than re-create the original document, Parker decided to go off in a slightly different direction, by hand-stitching a version of the Wikipedia page on the topic. Sorry, what?

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Nikon's doggy camera mount snaps when Rover gets excited

  Dogs, it's fair to say, are easily excited. Walks, treats, sniffing other dogs' butts -- for man's best friend, life is a non-stop thrill ride. Now, to help you capture these moments of canine euphoria, Nikon has developed a camera mount that reacts to their heart rate. So when your favorite pooch spots something particularly awesome, the shutter will fire automatically, giving you an SD card full of the highlights. Nikon's "Heartography" setup consists of two parts -- an elastic heart-monitoring band and a "SmartCase" for the camera. Heart rate data is transmitted over Bluetooth and shown on the mount's OLED display, where you can also tweak the minimum threshold for each new snap. Unfortunately, this appears to be just a kooky R&D project though, rather than a serious consumer product. In the meantime, you'll have to make do with something like GoPro's Fetch mount -- it's lighter and more flexible, but you'll have to scrub through the footage to find the good bits.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Fujifilm outs the X-T10, an $800 interchangeable lens camera

  If you've been holding out for a cheaper model of Fujifilm's X-Series flagship, the X-T1, today is your lucky day. The company has just revealed the X-T10 interchangeable lens camera, featuring a 16.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor (with built-in phase detection autofocus), an EXR Processor II and compatibility with Fujinon lenses -- that's great news for people who are already invested in the ecosystem. It will also pack the revamped AF system Fujifilm announced last week, which is said to be speedier and more accurate overall, particularly in low-light conditions and when trying to capture moving subjects. Most importantly, perhaps, Fujifilm is pricing its X-T10 at a reasonable $800 (body-only), or you can shell out an extra $100 for the XC16-50mm kit.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Technology and immigrant tales collide at Ellis Island

  The story of humanity's migration across the world, starting with the people who first ventured out of Africa roughly 60,000 years ago, is well-documented. Since then, our lifestyle has evolved tremendously, with technological advancements in key areas such as transportation playing a large role in that. To put things into perspective, a one-way trip from China to San Francisco would have taken 45 days on a ship 150 years ago, now it is a mere 16-hour flight. And that's the story being told at NYC's Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• FOMO in the digital age

  We've all been there. You sit slack-jawed swiping and swiping past dozens of movies you've seen/want to see/added to your queue all in the hopes of selecting one to watch. But that doesn't happen. Your friend is late to meet you at the bar, so you swipe and swipe and swipe down your Twitter and Facebook feeds to refresh and stop to open a new video link every now and then, pausing only to look up and remember which world's the real one. You're on line at Walgreens and people ahead of you are taking their sweet time and talking over their purchases and you don't even care because Amy Schumer just released a new video and the only thing that matters is that you've watched it all before it's your turn at the checkout. And it's nighttime and you're in bed, but you can't sleep because the FOMO is real and what if something's happened and people are talking about it. So you take out your phone from under your pillow and its cool glow illuminates the dark of your room and now everything's okay because you're swiping. You're swiping and watching. This boy is you.

  By Joseph Volpe Read More

• BT under pressure to sort out super-slow broadband installations

  We all want super-fast internet in our homes, but for many people that's borderline impossible, because there's no fibre optic infrastructure in their area. When they're told that a connection is finally available, it can also feel like forever before engineers set up the line. If you've ever been in a similar situation, then you might be interested in Ofcom's latest proposals. The regulator is considering new rules that would force Openreach, a BT-owned division that manages UK broadband connections, to react faster to new "leased line" orders from business customers (which includes internet service providers).

  By Nick Summers Read More

• ADT partners with LG and Nest to pair home automation with security

  ADT already dipped its toe in the home automation waters, but the company plans to make an even bigger splash in the months to come. It announced today that it'll leverage tech from LG and Nest to add to its connected home tool set. First, ADT and LG are working on a so-called all-in-one "Smart Security" device (pictured above) that'll offer not only video monitoring, but it will act as a hub for connecting other gadgets as well. As you might expect, this means you'll be able to control the whole lot from ADT's app; however, the device isn't schedule to launch until this fall.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• We're having reader meetups tonight in NYC and San Francisco!

  You know us, we like to hang out with you, the readers, every chance we get. So let's make that happen tonight in New York City, at the Barcade in Manhattan's East Village, and in San Francisco at the Public House. All you need to do is bring cash for drinks, food and any arcade games you'd like to play. Oh, and we'll have plenty of time for ugly-selfie contests, because why not. You'll find the necessary the details below -- or you could RSVP via Facebook pages for each event (San Francisco and New York).

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Movie producers call for an end to the 'Six Strikes' rule

  It may sound like the fictional government department that Patricia Arquette works for in CSI: Cyber, but that's not what the Internet Security Task Force is for. In fact, the ITSF is a group of independent film companies that have banded together to call for immediate reform on how internet piracy is handled. In a statement, entitled "Six Strikes and You're (Not Even Close To) Out," this gang of "small business owners" express dismay at America's Copyright Alert System.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a 4K Action Cam courtesy of Sony!

  There's so much power packed into tiny action cams today, that it's easier than ever to embed them in your everyday life, often with wild results. Heck, a daily commute in New York is rife with enough craziness worth capturing. Whatever your adventure, Sony's new Action Cam is up to the task pulling in 4K footage at 100mbps for smooth results. It packs the necessary splash-proofing and Steady Shot Image Stabilization to handle rough rides, offers 170-degree ultra-wide angle views and includes GPS data so you can trace the journey. Film makers have been testing the boundaries of its performance at Sony's Never Before Seen page if you're curious, but one lucky Engadget reader this week will soon be able add their own story to the mix. Sony has given us one of its 4K Action Cams along with a 64GB microSDXC card to store all that new footage. As always, just head on down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winner: congratulations to Frank D. of Ocala, FL!

  By Jon Turi Read More

• TiVo wants to become the legal version of Aereo

  Turns out TiVo snapped up Aereo's trademarks and customer lists for a reason: it's planning to make its own version that won't have broadcasters lining up to sue. According to Multichannel, the company wants to offer their customers low-cost bundle subscriptions to streaming services and specific channels. In an interview in Chicago, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said he believes the answer to make that happen is the "Aereo model, done legally and better." Unfortunately, Rogers didn't discuss how his company will create a legal version of Aereo's technology, and if it entails paying fees to broadcasters. A spokesperson told Multichannel, though, that TiVo will hold an event in July to officially unveil the new service.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• The RadioShack brand lives to see another day

  RadioShack's brand will live on. According to The Wall Street Journal, the retailer's label assets have been purchased by Standard General LP, a hedge fund, for $26.2 million. Along with the trademark, other undisclosed intellectual property was also included in the bankruptcy auction, which took place Monday in New York. But what exactly is Standard General LP's vision? It plans to rebuild and rebrand. The firm is reportedly looking to overhaul RadioShack's brand around a "streamlined array of necessities," that are going to be sold alongside wireless products from Sprint. The carrier, of course, has kept close tabs on the electronics chain's Chapter 11 woes. Just last month, it opened its own stores inside existing RadioShack locations, which would otherwise now be defunct.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• The Nikonos Project shares classic cameras and stunning photos

  Brandon Jennings has a deep affection for Nikonos, the renowned film camera series born from Jacques Cousteau's famous Calypso underwater camera. The Nikonos Project is the vessel through which Jennings shares his passion with the world. It's a simple idea: He owns hundreds of underwater cameras, and anyone can borrow one, free of charge. You just have to share the pictures you take.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Ring's video doorbell now works like an old fashioned bell

  The great thing about a smartphone-connected doorbell is that you're able to see and talk to the people standing on your porch. Never again will you miss the UPS courier because they've turned up just as you've settled down in the restroom. The downside, of course, is that only people whose mobile device is in their pocket will be alerted to the visitor. That's why the folks at Ring have cooked up a remote speaker that'll compensate for your lack of a doorbell in your hallway. Called the, uh, Ring Chime, the hardware plugs into a standard wall outlet, connects to your home network and away you go. Priced at $19.95, pre-orders for the gear will begin on June 1st, with shipping expected to kick off at some point afterward.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• New York's getting 500 solar-powered food carts this summer

  Street food is an celebrated (and inescapable) facet of New York City culture but many of those gas-fired mobile food stalls aren't exactly environmentally friendly. "I breathe it in, I get the fumes, I get the smell of the food," Don Ward, a Manhattan shoe shiner who works next to a cart, told the Wall Street Journal. "I get home and my clothing smells like gas." So to help combat air and noise pollution this summer, Queens-based MOVE Systems plans to distribute 500 "green" vendor carts. They'll be outfitted with solar panels and rechargeable batteries in addition to sinks, refrigerators and grills. The carts, dubbed MRV100 Hybrids, measure roughly 5 feet wide by 10 feet long and reportedly can be adapted to serve a wide variety of cuisine.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win an Xbox One, Chromecast and more courtesy of Plex!

  You may have done the spring clean around the house, but have you organized your digital media, too? Installing the Plex Media Server software can help centralize all your scattered music, movie and photo files into one place and serve them up wherever you go. You can access that content using the Plex app, which is available for mobile, smart TVs, set top boxes, streaming devices and game consoles, and it's easy to share with friends, too. To help one lucky Engadget reader enjoy the full Plex experience this week, the company has provided an Xbox One and a Chromecast, along with a Lifetime Plex Pass for total access and premium features. There's also a $100 Amazon music gift card in the prize bundle to celebrate the recent update of Plex Music. Gracenote and Vevo are onboard to help build automatic playlists, provide mood-based soundtracks, match your collection with over 140,000 music videos and deliver extra helpings of metadata. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to two chances at winning this powerful multi-media package. Winner: congratulations to Brian W. of Mammoth Lakes, CA!

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Illinois police will use drones, won't say 'drones'

  The Illinois State Police will be able to use unmanned aircrafts to assess traffic-halting crashes and crime scenes for the next two years. Despite the recent FAA approval, the department is careful not to use the word "drones" because of the connotations attached to them. According to the Chicago Tribune, their statement says "it carries the perception of pre-programmed or automatic flight patterns and random, indiscriminate collection of images and information."

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Miito can heat tea directly in your cup

  Miito's Kickstarter page says it was designed to prevent people from wasting water and energy, which happens when heating liquids in kettles. But we'll bet it's the lazy tea drinkers who'll truly have a place for it in their homes. The device heats not just water, but also milk, soups and other liquids placed in any container without iron content. Just switch the platform on, place the bowl or glass on it, drop the heating rod in, and the liquid will be heated via induction energy. It's like a fancy version of those off-brand immersion heaters you'll likely find in many dorms, except a lot less portable.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• 'No Pineapple Left Behind' and the politics of American education

  Seth Alter was a teacher for all of six months before quitting his job and going indie to make video games full-time. No Pineapple Left Behind, his second PC title, is more or less the story of why he left his students at a Boston charter school. As a special education math teacher, his sixth graders were expected to meet the same behavioral standards and educational expectations as their mainstreamed counterparts thanks to 2001's controversial No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which ties school funding to standardized test scores. Alter says that teacher evaluations are drawn from those scores as well. And because most charter schools are non-union, they can fire teachers for almost any reason, including low test scores from special-needs students who should have been held to modified standards in the first place. It doesn't take a genius to realize just how flawed that logic is: It's a system built to fail.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Fujifilm's X-T1 camera is getting a revamped autofocus system

  A notable firmware update is coming to the X-T1 and X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition in June, Fujifilm has announced. With this new version, 4.0, both sleek cameras will welcome a vastly enhanced autofocus system and other under-the-hood upgrades -- all of which are expected to improve performance by a long shot. The new Zone and Wide Tracking modes, for one, are said to make it easier to capture moving subjects, while the AF's accuracy has been tuned to focus faster in low-light conditions and on low-contrast items.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• FCC shoots down petitions to delay open internet rules

  Remember when a wolfpack of cable companies and telecoms -- including AT&T, CenturyLink, the American Cable Association, USTelecom and more -- filed motions to delay the FCC from enacting parts of its open internet order? Well, the Commission was having none of that. Late in the day this past Friday, Wireless Competition Bureau chief Julie Veach and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau chief Roger Sherman handed down an order dismissing those petitions, pointing out that additional protection for the internet as we know it is crucial and that the petitioners' cases aren't as strong as they think.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Some Canon Rebel T6s and T6i cameras have defective sensors

  Canon has acknowledged that a number of Rebel T6s and T6i DSLRs, which were introduced in February, are being affected by a major issue with the sensor. This matter came to light a few days ago, when LensRentals, a site focused on lending gear for cash, found some of its rental units had what appeared to be dusty or oily sensors. As it turns out, though, a more meticulous inspection by the firm revealed a much bigger problem. The sensors couldn't be cleaned because these microscopic spots (pictured below) couldn't be removed with a simple, traditional cleaning -- they're underneath a layer of glass, making them virtually permanent.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Drone owner gets a Royal telling off for flying near Windsor Castle

  If you're a drone enthusiast living in the UK, heed this advice: Don't fly anywhere near land owned by the British Monarchy. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are already banned from Royal Parks and now, a pilot has been told off for flying within 50 metres of Windsor Castle. The Queen was visiting the royal residence when a tourist flew his drone nearby, breaking rules set out by the Civil Aviation Authority. Police officers quickly stepped in and explained the legislation to the pilot -- the Metropolitan Police Service says "no further action" was necessary, but reports suggest he was also asked to delete his footage. As consumer drones become more prevalent, we suspect incidents like this will happen more often -- if you want to make sure you're never caught out, be sure to read our guide first.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• This $8.6 million mansion is actually a giant Faraday cage

  If you've ever wanted to live in a fancy Faraday cage, here's your chance. An $8.6 million condo for sale in San Francisco has walls thickly covered in semiconductive graphite paint, floors connected to the walls with wire tape, and walls connected to the ceilings with wire strips. Oh, and its windows are coated with EMF-blocking polymer. All these are courtesy of the people who snapped up the condo, which was then a fixer-upper, back in 2007. They basically wrapped the whole place in aluminum foil-like substance in order to keep out any EMF radiation emitted by phones, GPS devices, WiFi routers and other electronics.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Daily Roundup: LG G4 review, Nintendo makes money again and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup you'll find our review of the new LG G4, read all about how Nintendo is making money again and get a sneak peek at the new controller for Guitar Hero Live. Get the details on these stories and more past the break.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Keurig revives refillable K-Cups following disappointing sales

  Following its first disappointing holiday sales numbers since its coffee machines hit shelves, Keurig will bring back refillable K-Cups. So far, the Keurig 2.0 machines haven't taken off like the company thought they would, partially because new brewers don't allow users to add their own beans with a so-called My K-Cup filter. The machine -- capable of brewing more than one cup at a time -- also costs $200 while other Keurig options have price tags around $100. In an attempt to revive interest, a version of the My K-Cup for the pricier new brewers is in the works. CEO Brian Kelley said on an investor call this week that Keurig "underestimated the passion" customers had for the DIY option. What about the unpopular DRM requirement that nixed some third-party pre-filled pods? It's staying. The company wants to convert all unlicensed cup to official products, adding to the 500 varieties of coffee, tea and hot chocolate from 70 brands.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Arms control and free speech go to court over 3D-printed guns

  Cody Wilson fundamentally altered the way we produce and distribute firearms in 2013 when his company, Defense Distributed (DD), first published the plans for a 3D-printed pistol, dubbed The Liberator, on its website. The State Department didn't take too kindly to this revelation and sent DD a letter demanding the instructions be removed as they violated a number of US Arms Export control laws. Now, two years later, Defense Distributed and the State Department are going to court over the matter in a lawsuit that potentially holds far-reaching implications for both the First and Second Amendments.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Daily Roundup: Oculus Rift release date (sort of), Patriot Act renewal and more!

  Get the details on all of today's stories right here. The Oculus Rift will go on sale at the beginning of 2016, the fight over whether or not to renew section 215 of the Patriot Act heats up and the Samsung sources camera components for the Galaxy S6 from a variety of sources. Head past the break for more info on these stories and more in today's Daily Roundup.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• EU aims to remove regional restrictions on digital goods by 2017

  Being an EU citizen means you can grab your passport, head to the airport and travel freely among the 28 EU member states. When you arrive at your final destination, however, and fire up Netflix in your hotel room, you'll find a local content catalog that may not include your favorite show. The same level of localization is true for many digital goods and services, which is why the European Commission wants to create a "Digital Single Market" to rid the EU of geo-blocking and encourage a more connected Europe online. The Commission gave a vague outline of its Digital Single Market strategy back in March, but today its released a detailed proposal of what it intends to do by the end of next year to make it happen.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Racing to June 1: The fight to control the Patriot Act

  If Defcon is the cultural Comic-Con of security conferences, then RSA is more like the business-focused Game Developers Conference (GDC), though largely packed with government-corporate attendees. At the midpoint of a long day during last month's RSA San Francisco 2015, the largest security conference in the United States (with a record-breaking 33,000 in attendance), Congressman Mike Rogers took the stage to debate in favor of renewing the Patriot Act's Section 215, sometimes called the "library records" provision. "Renewing the Patriot Act" at RSA was about one of our nation's most pivotal public pain points in recent history -- Section 215′s facilitation of bulk telephone record collection. Despite the high-profile nature of this debate and its critical timing, it was a bizarrely toothless, kind of clueless, softball argument that somehow managed to completely avoid discussing why the renewal of this section of the Patriot Act, right now, is such a big deal.

  By Violet Blue Read More

• Comcast's 4K set-top box is coming later this year

  Comcast is going 4K in a big way this year. The much-hated cable giant just announced that it'll be rolling out a new version of its Xfinity X1 set top box later this year that will bring 4K programming to even more of its customers. So far, Comcast has only made its Xfinity 4K offering available to Samsung 4K TVs. Comcast is calling its new set-top box the Xi4, and while we don't have any pictures of it yet, it will likely resemble the company's existing X1 box (above). Come 2016, Comcast also plans to launch another version of the box that supports high dynamic range video, which should deliver some much needed contrast and color improvements. You can expect "hundreds" of 4K titles on Comcast's UHD service later this year, including nature programming like Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia, as well as full seasons of shows from SyFy, USA and Starz like Defiance and Outlander. [Photo credit: Steve Garfield/Flickr]

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Cox continues rolling out its gigabit internet to US cities

  Last May, Cox Communications announced that it would join Google and AT&T in offering residential customers gigabit-fast wired internet service to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Omaha. Today the service, dubbed "G1GABLAST", has finally arrived in Omaha and Las Vegas as well as parts of Orange County, California. "We started in Phoenix last fall, but we have not stopped there," Cox President Pat Esser said in a statement. "We are excited to have the choice of gigabit speeds available to more customers today, and we're adding new building projects every month." To that end, Cox has already increased the speeds of its High Speed Internet (HSI) Essential and HSI Starter plans over the past few months and intends to similarly boost its HSI Ultimate package later this year. The company also announced that communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Oklahoma and Virginia will be offered gigabit speeds by this summer with Cox's entire user base receiving the option by the end of 2016.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Daily Roundup: Steam Early Access, Microsoft Surface trade-in and more!

  In today's Daily Roundup, you can read all about how developers have embraced Steam's Early Access program, learn about Microsoft's new trade-in program for its old Surface tablets and find out how much money Comcast wasted trying to purchase Time Warner Cable. Find out all the details about these stories and more past the break.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• Comcast's Xfinity Home works with automation tech you already own

  Comcast's Xfinity Home has been automating living spaces for a while, but now the company is opening up the cloud-based system to more gadgets. Starting this summer, customers can add devices from August, Automatic, Cuff, Leeo, Lutron, Rachio, SkyBell and Whistle to the kit that already wrangles motion sensors, connected outlets, cameras and more. We're talking about things like August's smart locks, Automatic's car tracker and Cuff's smart jewelery. What's more, Comcast is teaming up with Nest as part of the Works with Nest effort to bring that smart thermostat into the fold, too. In addition to those new partners, Comcast will open up an SDK later this year alongside a Works with Xfinity Home certification program to make sure approved devices can be used with minimal headaches.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• BT's new home phone is as smart as your Android mobile

  Now that smartphones have become personal companions, landline usage has understandably dropped. BT launched an Android-powered home phone, complete with smart call-blocking features and apps, in an attempt to lure people back, but because it only offered downloads via Opera's app store, choice was severely limited. With the BT Home SmartPhone S II, it appears the company has learned from its mistakes. It's partnered with Google to offer access to the Play Store, while Facebook, Twitter and BT Sport apps are already bundled. It means that you'll be able to watch Premier League football if the main TV is out of action, but also download your favourite apps and games -- as long as you're connected to WiFi. At £169.99, BT's Home SmartPhone S II is a little more expensive than Motorola's current-generation Moto G, meaning you really must be intent on making the most of your landline for this handset to make any fiscal sense.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Someone's built a bitcoin-like system for real gold

  There's no short, elegant way to describe bitcoin, but if you put a gun to our heads, we'd say that it was digital gold. That's because the cryptocurrency is based on a limited quantity of a resource that is then used as a method of exchange. Unfortunately, bitcoin's popularity within the high-minded financial sector has grown to such an extent that honest-to-goodness real gold is getting in on the act. BitGold (yup) is the brainchild of Toronto-based Roy Sebag, who has cooked up a digital payments platform that connects real-world vaults with online customers.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Daily Roundup: Building Windows 10, killing net neutrality and more.

  Get caught up on all the stories you might've missed this weekend in today's edition of the Daily Roundup. Today, we look at how Microsoft is making Windows 10 an exciting upgrade. Meanwhile, US telecoms are still trying to kill net neutrality through some dirty tricks and Microsoft will start making high end Windows phones again. Get the scoop on these stories and more past the break.

  By Dave Schumaker Read More

• GE announces HomeKit enabled lights that'll help you sleep

  Turns out it's not just our addiction to smartphones that messes with our sleep patterns, it's also the lighting in our homes that keeps us up at night. To alleviate all that tossing and turning, GE announced an Intelligent LED lighting system that not only works with HomeKit, Apple's slow-to-rollout home automation system, but also features GE Align to set the color of the lights to the "body's natural sleep circadian rhythm." The Philips Hue line currently does the same thing via "recipes" and is also integrated with HomeKit. GE's lighting system, on the other hand, won't be out until later this year. Of course being first to integrate with Apple's home automation system is a bit of a moot point since it currently doesn't have an official launch date.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• FCC chairman on why lawsuits won't beat net neutrality this time

  Companies have been gunning for the FCC's open internet rules since the very moment news crossed the wires, and their latest move involved pushing for a stay -- a sort of legal "not so fast!" -- on the classification of the internet as a public utility. While visiting TechCrunch Disrupt in New York this morning, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler reaffirmed his belief in a victory for the internet, saying he was "pretty confident" in the outcome of the cases and that his plan for now was simply "not to lose."

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• McDonald's will deliver your Big Mac, if you're in New York City

  What's that? You want a Big Mac combo for lunch but don't have time to venture out? Well, if you happen to be in New York City, McDonald's will soon bring that double-decker burger to you. The company announced today that it will test a 24-hour delivery service in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan as part of a partnership with Postmates. If you'll recall, that startup powers similar delivery options for Starbucks and Chipotle. This news comes as part of CEO Steve Easterbrook's plan to turnaround the fast food chain's business by focusing on better food and acting on customer feedback -- all-day breakfast, sirloin burgers and "artisan" chicken were mentioned. It's going to be an uphill climb for the Golden Arches too, as the franchise will close 700 total stores this year. Looking to try the new service? You'll be able to do just that starting today from NYC's 88 participating locations. Don't expect ice cream, though, and you'll want to order $10 worth of food to avoid a delivery fee. [Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• NYC commits $70 million toward universal broadband

  In an ambitious effort to close New York City's digital divide, the De Blasio administration has announced that it's going to spend $70 million bringing high-speed internet access to the city's residents. An estimated 22 percent of New Yorkers overall lack a home internet connection (with that number jumping to 36 percent for the poorest residents), which significantly impacts their social mobility, according to the mayor's office.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Court tosses United Airlines lawsuit over a cheap ticket website

  United Airlines can't sue Skiplagged for exposing a loophole in ticket prices... at least, for now. A Chicago court has tossed out United's lawsuit because the airfare website doesn't operate in that jurisdiction. The move lets site owner Aktarer Zaman breathe a little, although he may only get a temporary reprieve. While United hasn't said whether or not it will sue again, it notes that the dismissal was based purely on "procedural grounds." The company still believes that Skiplagged's "hidden city" ticket shopping (where you stop at connecting cities, not the final destination) is verboten -- don't be surprised if it finds another way to take legal action. [Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Nordstrom tests curbside pickups for online orders

  Store pickups give you the luxury of shopping online without waiting days for deliveries, but there's still one big hassle involved: you have to, y'know, enter the store. That won't be a problem if Nordstrom's latest experiment pans out. Several of the retail chain's locations (including its Seattle flagship) are testing an option that lets you pick up an internet order while staying in your car. All you do is call or text when you're near the shop, and a staffer will wait for you outside. There's no word on whether or not Nordstrom will expand the streetside option, but here's hoping that it does. This would not only save you time picking up a new wardrobe when you're in a rush, but spare you from hunting for that elusive downtown parking spot. [Image credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• WikiLeaks opens its doors to whistleblowers (again)

  After almost five years of internal turmoil and allegations, WikiLeaks is back in secret-sharing business. The site has re-launched a beta version that is accepting anonymous files starting today. Even though Julian Assange, the editor-in-chief of the site, continues to live in asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, the online submission system intends to regain its reputation as a secure site for people looking to share information of political and historical significance.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Graffiti artist sloppily vandalizes massive billboard via drone

  Drones, yeah, are now like, so cheap, you know, that you can just, like, use them to do vandalism that's also an artistic statement, right? That's what graffiti artist, hacker and, er, vandal Katsu does with a modified drone that's capable of carrying and using a can of spray paint. The anonymous figure's latest stunt was to attack the new Calvin Klein billboard in New York City, a six-story installation featuring Kendall Jenner. Unfortunately, Katsu's control of the drone wasn't strong enough to do any actual drawing, so the artist had to settle for haphazardly spraying some red lines. But, guys, you have to understand, okay, that it's a statement, right? A statement.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Obama to provide 10,000 free e-books through your library

  President Barack Obama announced a new program on Thursday aimed at delivering access for more than 10,000 e-books to financially strapped schoolchildren throughout the United States. The $250 million program will feature titles from numerous publishers including Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins and Hachette, selected by volunteers from Digital Public Library of America. The New York Public Library has signed on to develop the free app. "It's very different than from our generation," Cecilia Muñoz, Obama's domestic policy adviser, told Reuters. "More and more, you're going to be seeing kids using devices, and what we're doing is making sure that there's more books available on those devices." As the president's top economic advisor Jeff Zients pointed out to Reuters, research shows that some 80 percent of low-income children are behind the rest of their grade in terms of reading skills. Few of them have books at home. That's why Obama's program will also work with local libraries, boosting their enrollment of local kids in order to provide them with hardware necessary to enjoy these books. Each age-appropriate title will be made available from the publishers' online libraries, though there's no word on whether the e-title will be given away or simply checked out as traditionally lent books are. Still, any excuse to get kids into the library is a good one. [Image credit: Getty]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Russia launches its third 'world's quietest' submarine

  Russian defense contractor Admiralty Shipyards launched the latest of its ultra-modern Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric submarines earlier this week. Dubbed the Krasnodar, this sub is the third of six its class. These vessels are primarily designed to hunt surface ships and other subs in littoral waters. They can't dive as deep or stay submerged as long as either modern nuclear subs or the Kilo-class submarines they're meant to replace. However, the Varshavyankas are armed to the gills with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air Club missiles, according to reports from Russia Today. What's more, when running silent, the Krasnodar and its ilk are nearly impossible to detect acoustically, hence their NATO callsign "Black Hole." The first two Varshavyanka-class submarines, the Novorossiysk and the Rostov-on-Don, are currently undergoing deep-water testing and are expected to begin service to the Black Sea Fleet by the end of the year. There are currently no public estimates as to when the Krasnodar will join them. [Image credit: Admiralty Shipyards]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Nintendo (12)

• The producer of 'Splatoon' on how to make a Nintendo original

  If you're a fan of Nintendo, chances are you're also a fan of Splatoon producer Hisashi Nogami, although you may not know it. Nogami joined the famed Japanese video game giant in 1994 and has been an essential member of EAD, the first-party development studio responsible for some of Nintendo's most beloved games, ever since. Early in his career, Nogami worked primarily as an artist at Nintendo, designing some of the iconic imagery in games like Yoshi's Island and Super Mario 64.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• JXE Streams: Join us for some 'Affordable Space Adventures'

  KnapNok Games gets what Richard Branson doesn't. Of course people want to hang out in space, but they definitely don't want to pay top dollar to do it! So rather than drop $200,000 on a Virgin Galactic reservation, why not fire up your Wii U for some Affordable Space Adventures? The game simulates the existential nightmare of getting trapped on a foreign planet as well as makes novel use of the console's unique tablet controller. It's win-win! Join us at 3:30PM ET today for a live tour of the game on JXE Streams.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Nintendo asks you to pay what you want for indie games

  Nintendo's been going through some serious growing pains on its path to the modern era of console gaming but with this latest step it's actually beating Microsoft and Sony to the punch for once. The Japanese gaming company is running a Humble Bundle. Not a Nintendo homegrown version of a Humble Bundle, but a real McCoy on Humble's website. Pretty crazy right? Especially considering these are all indies. Up for grabs are digital codes for games on the 3DS handheld and Wii U alike, including Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition for the latter and Whoah Dave! for the former.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• JXE Streams: 'Splatoon' seduces us with squids and squirt guns

  I couldn't resist Nintendo's Splatoon when I saw it for the first time at E3 2014. Squids with squirt guns locked in a summery battle to cover skate parks in neon ink? With a premise so weird and wonderful all on its own, I probably would have loved it even if those early demoes weren't fun as hell. Splatoon will finally be available to purchase this week but JXE Streams is going to give you one last early look at its single and multiplayer modes as well as its wee amiibo on today's show at 3:30PM ET.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Mad Max' meets 'Mario Kart' in this rad mash-up

  Mad Max: Fury Road is already one of the year's best movies, but you know what was missing in all of director George Miller's gear grinding under the desert sun? Mario Kart's banana peels and green shells. Check out the video below for a quick look at the mashup that'll almost positively never, ever happen: Chomp chains destroying dune-buggies, Bob-ombs attached to the kamikaze-like warboys' staffs and so, so, so much more mayhem than Nintendo would likely ever allow. We're just going to have to close our eyes (for a different reason this time) and imagine sucking dairy dust from our teeth in Cheese Land in a Mercedes is the same thing.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Nintendo kills off the basic Wii U in Japan

  Nintendo is about to halt production of its 8GB Wii U Basic in Japan, according to a notice on its product site. The white-clad product has been around since 2012, but was never super popular since the 32GB version is typically only $50 more. In fact, the rumor mill had it being killed off two years ago after it went out of stock at GameStop and Best Buy, though Nintendo later called that a "misperception." Somehow the model has hung on until now, but has gradually become harder to find.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Silver Mario Amiibo will drive collectors insane this month

  Nintendo has already released a gold version of its Mario Amiibo, so guess what's coming next? A silver version, of course. We suspected as much after both figurines leaked back in February, but today the console maker has made it official. The special statue -- which is identical to the Amiibo figure from Mario Party 10, albeit painted silver -- will arrive in stores on May 29th for $12.99. When the gold version debuted, it was available exclusively in Walmart stores across the US. That made it something of a collector's item, riling fans that were desperately trying to maintain a complete set. This time around, it seems Nintendo has opted for a more conventional release. The company is still struggling to keep up with the demand for Amiibos however, so if you're interested, act fast on May 29th.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Nintendo World Championships are back for E3 2015

  The Nintendo World Championships, a gaming competition last held in 1990, return this year for E3 in June. Nintendo fans can compete for a spot in the Championships on May 30 at select Best Buy stores around the country, and the winners will join competitors selected by Nintendo at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, June 14th, for a multi-round gaming competition. It's just like the old days. The Championships will be streamed live online and fans in LA will have the opportunity to attend the final event in-person. Nintendo promises more details in the coming weeks.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Nintendo's first of many mobile games is coming this year

  Nintendo has revealed some new details about its plan to develop mobile games. Most notably, its first smartphone title will come out later this year, and it's hoping to release four more before March 2017. That might sound fairly conservative -- five apps in just under two years isn't a particularly aggressive strategy. But Nintendo believes it's paramount that it takes a considered approach. "When we aim to make each title a hit, and because we want to thoroughly operate every one of them for a significant amount of time after their releases, this is not a small number at all," Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata said.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Nintendo is finally making money again

  Nintendo recorded its first annual profit since 2011 today. Its final results for 2014 (technically April 1st 2014 to March 31st 2015) reveal a $207 million operating profit on $4.6 billion in revenue. That's nothing to write home about, and way lower than initially expected, but still represents a dramatic improvement from previous years' consecutive losses. The past three months have actually seen a pretty heavy negative swing for Nintendo, with the international launch of new-and-improved 3DS models failing to make much of an impact, and the Wii U continuing to languish in 3rd place behind the PS4 and the Xbox One.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• The Nintendo studio behind 'Kirby' talks its new game 'BOXBOY!'

  BOXBOY! did not hit the 3DS with the fanfare it deserved this spring. It's a brand-new game, with brand-new characters and it's published by Nintendo. Which is precisely the sort of thing the company's greatest detractors claim it's missing. Then again, even though the funny, little puzzle game is ingenious and addictive, it's also as quiet and unassuming as the studio that made it: HAL Laboratory. Much like BOXBOY!, HAL does not have the reputation it should. For 35 years, the first-party Nintendo studio's pumped out games that are deeply traditional while remaining deeply experimental. The Kirby franchise, HAL's signature work, has been both a major sales success with more than 30 million games sold and a hotbed for creativity (as in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse) and old-school style (a la Kirby: Triple Deluxe.) That little pink puff Kirby tends to dominate HAL's output, which is what makes an original like BOXBOY! so exciting. So to get some deeper insight into the creation of this new Nintendo IP, I interviewed Yasuhiro Mukae, the director of HAL's first original in five years, via a translator through email. We discussed HAL's creative process, the secret to making expressive characters and what it's like making games at one of gaming's most consistent, if underappreciated, studios.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Gaming legend Sid Meier auctions his SNES kit for charity (update: not him)

  Want a rare piece of video gaming history? We hope you're a quick-draw bidder. Legendary game developer Sid Meier is holding a charity auction for a Super NES developer kit (which is hard to find by itself) used during his MicroProse days. Yes, there's a real chance that you could be using a system that helped build an early console version of Civilization. Don't think that you can just take on some credit card debt to get that nostalgia kick, though. Meier is only selling the kit to trustworthy eBay users with verified PayPal accounts, and bidding starts at $5,999 -- it's worthwhile if you want to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, but you're paying for a lot more than someone's second-hand console. Update 5/7: 2K tells us that it's not Meier selling this system. That doesn't mean this is bogus gear, but it certainly loses some of its luster.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

PC Gaming (14)

• NVIDIA's GTX 980 Ti has enough power for solid 4K gaming

  Who needs a $650 video card? Pretty much anyone who wants to play games in 4K at decent frame rates. That's the basic pitch for NVIDIA's new $650 GTX 980 Ti, its latest high-end video card, which, naturally, packs in even more power than last year's GTX 980. The new card sports 2,816 parallel processing CUDA cores and 176 texture units, around 38 percent more than the GTX 980, as well as two additional gigabytes of RAM giving it 6GB. It's also based on NVIDIA's new GM200 GPU, which is at the heart of the company's absurdly expensive $1,000 Titan X card. Basically, that means in the instances where its former heavyweight card slows down in 4K -- for example, by running Grand Theft Auto V -- the 980 Ti should shine. NVIDIA says the new card gets around 60 FPS in GTA V, while many benchmarks of that game with the 980 see between 35 and 45 FPS. The 980 Ti is also good news for anyone waiting for a good deal on the 980, since NVIDIA is also dropping the retail price of that card from $550 to $500.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• 'Pillar' is a personality test and much more in video game form

  "When people think you're dying, they really, really listen to you instead of just -- " "Instead of just waiting for their turn to speak." This scene from Fight Club encapsulates one of the driving ideas behind Pillar, a video game starring a series of characters with disparate personalities and quirks, each given mysterious puzzles to solve. Indie developer Michael Hicks is interested in how people communicate and the unique way every human perceives the world. Pillar distills these broad observations into just a few characters running around a wintry town, searching for a secret artifact. Each character is different, but their goal is the same -- it's a lot like real life. Hicks wants his game to inspire conversations; he isn't looking to start arguments or incite rants. He'd love for people to truly connect with each other and Pillar might make that happen.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• All of your feline fantasies come true in 'Catlateral Damage'

  In this first-person cat simulator you are a kitty locked up in a house full of annoying human things, your goal is to knock down as many objects as possible, including books, lamps, groceries, toys and plants.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Time-traveling detective game 'D4' hits PC on June 5th

  D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is a wonderfully strange detective game with a twist: There's a bullet lodged in your skull that allows you to touch certain objects and travel back in their timelines, to places and events pivotal to their existence. As a hardened Boston investigator, you're searching for the people who brutally killed your wife a few years ago, and along the way you run into a foul, potentially supernatural criminal organization. When D4 launched in 2014, it was exclusive to Xbox One and was a surprisingly successful Kinect game, using voice and motion controls in fun and immersive ways. Now, it's heading to PC on June 5th, priced at $15 on Steam, GOG, Playism and the Humble Store.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Help these 30-year-old Intellivision games live again on PC

  One of the biggest problems facing video games as an artistic medium is one of preservation. Thanks to HD remasters, digital distribution and the Internet Archive that's becoming less of an issue. But we still need to do more to keep a record and constant catalog of gaming's past moments. That's the idea behind the awkwardly named "Intellivision Gen2 Video Games for PC & Mac" on Kickstarter. As you might imagine, it's modernized versions of Intellivision titles. Astrosmash, Nightstalker and Shark! Shark! will get the new pixel art, expanded levels and scope should the project reach its $100,000 goal.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Oculus pauses Mac and Linux development, offers PC specs

  The retail version of the Oculus Rift finally has a confirmed release window of early 2016, meaning virtual reality fans have just less than a year to create their ideal gaming environments. A crucial part of any VR setup is the rig powering the headset, and Oculus today released its recommended, minimum PC specs, including an NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD 290 video card, an Intel i5-4590 processor, 8GB RAM and Windows 7. Check out the full PC recommendations below. Meanwhile, Oculus has "paused" development for OS X and Linux systems "in order to focus on delivering a high-quality consumer-level VR experience at launch across hardware, software and content on Windows," Chief Architect Atman Binstock writes. Oculus doesn't have a timeline for jumping back into Mac and Linux development.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Candy Crush Saga to jeopardize productivity of Windows 10 users

  Know what game's coming to all versions of Windows 10 aside from the usual ones like Solitaire and Minesweeper? Candy Crush. Yes, the same sugar-filled time-sink that's already taken over a lot of people's souls through iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The game's coming later this year, presumably around the same time the new OS arrives. It will even come pre-installed with the platform for anyone who upgrades for a limited time following its launch. According to Microsoft, the game will feature cross-play options for Android and iOS devices, ensuring that you can't escape from its sticky, sweet grasp wherever you go.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• JXE Streams: A real bodyman tackles 'Car Mechanic Simulator 2015'

  True story: our very own Tim Seppala worked as a car mechanic for 12 years. He was a bodyman, or an auto collision tech if you want to get fancy. The short version is that the man knows how to tear apart your busted '89 Toyota Cellica after a wreck, get it looking pretty and make sure all the machine parts are working. Does that mean he'll be able to dive right into RedDot's Car Mechanic Simulator 2015, the game that is precisely what it sounds like? We'll find out when he streams it live today at 3:30PM ET.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• JXE Training Day: Picking the right 'League of Legends' Champion

  We covered League of Legends basics in Training Day Episode 1, and in Episode 2 we took a long look at how to actually play through your first match. Today Loc Tran, he of San Jose State University's rising League team, will be teaching us how to select the right Champion. What's a Champion, you ask? That's precisely what Training Day is here to answer! Join us as we take an in-depth look at the many different characters and roles they can play in League of Legends.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• 'Guild Wars 2' cheater faces public humiliation before ban

  Most cheaters in online role-playing games face an ignominious end. The developers ban them, and that's all she wrote. Not one particularly egregious Guild Wars 2 offender, however. When game developer ArenaNet finally took action against a hacker who had been terrorizing player-versus-player battles for weeks, the security team decided that some public humiliation was in order. It stripped one of the player's characters naked, jumped this persona off a ledge, and proceeded to delete every character linked to the account -- all recorded for posterity on video, as you can see below.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Using 'Dark Souls 2' mods on PC? That's a dealbreaker

  The Dark Souls series' relationship with PC gamers has been contentious at best. The vanilla versions of the first two games weren't unplayable per se, but if it weren't for the enterprising community of modders around the franchise it'd look and run kind of, well, crappy. This apparently extends to the recently released Scholar of the First Sin as well. But there's a twist this time: Players installing the popular "DS2fix" softmod that addresses weapons durability glitches and save corruptions have found that they aren't able to easily summon other players into their game for help or adversarial combat. As Kotaku reports, the players aren't hacking in a nefarious way, they're just using a patch that makes the game work better on their platform of choice. Instead of pulling "undead" (how the series refers to its protagonists) from a general population, it's grabbing them from a comparatively smaller pool of other players that've been deemed cheaters for using DS2fix.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Rockets, flirting and bruised egos on Steam Early Access

  Steam launched its Early Access program in 2013, allowing developers to publish and sell incomplete, in-progress builds of their games on the internet's largest digital distribution hub. And publish they did -- by May 2014, more games had launched on Steam that year than in all of 2013, partially thanks to Early Access. This contributed to the gaming industry's ongoing digital revolution, where publishers shifted away from shipping physical products, indies were on the rise and Kickstarter changed how everyday players interacted with game creators. The revolution continues to simmer today and developers, especially independent ones, are still figuring out what to do with all of these new tools -- including Early Access.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• GOG's Galaxy platform is one step closer to taking on Steam

  It seems like just yesterday Good Old Games was giving away copies of Aliens vs. Predator to get folks to try its (optional) PC gaming service, Galaxy. Times have changed and leading into The Witcher 3: WIld Hunt's release -- the first major title debuting on the storefront -- the platform is moving from closed alpha testing into an open beta. The constant that's carrying over from the alpha is that you aren't required to participate in anything within the software. Not into automatic updates that might fix some of your favorite glitches in a game? That's totally cool; you can opt out and still keep playing. Steam and Origin aren't quite as keen on that.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Control the 'GTA V' cellphone with an iPhone, Arduino and a hack

  Grand Theft Auto V has a few mobile apps of its own, but one enterprising modder has taken the idea to its natural conclusion: an application that lets you control the in-game cellphone with an iPhone. With the application you can scroll through text messages on-screen, peep your current list of objectives and, among other things, even control the in-game phone's camera. The YouTube video's description (spotted by former Joystiq'r Dave Hinkle) does't offer much by way of details other than it's running on an Arduino Leonardo with an Ethernet shield connected to a PC, sadly.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

PlayStation (7)

• Sony promises 'Ultra Street Fighter IV' PS4 patch next week

  The launch of Ultra Street Fighter IV on the PlayStation 4 hasn't exactly gone as planned, with gamers complaining of input lag, shoddy netcode, glitches, a start screen that refers to a button on the controller that doesn't exist and other issues. Tonight Sony announced that a patch is "expected to land next week," but did not provide any other details on exactly what it's addressing. While some reported the issues waned after the game was fully installed, others still report problems. The PS4 was slotted as the system of choice for the Evo 2015 event in July, but event co-founder Joey Cuellar tweeted that it is "evaluating" what system to use.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• 'Ultra Street Fighter IV' for PlayStation 4 has big issues

  Turns out the PS4 port of Street Fighter IV isn't all that Ultra. Sony secured a next-gen exclusive for the fighting game and its sequel, but its release has been marred by complaints. The internet is awash with reports of severe slowdown in menus, moves not working as they're supposed to, sound glitches and bizarre visual bugs. Although we haven't noticed some of the more egregious issues, the game does appear to have some input lag, which is a massive problem for a title that is all about timing. The entire thing feels like you're playing online with a weak connection right now.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• PlayStation is recruiting for a VR-exclusive studio in the UK

  It's getting real for Sony's Project Morpheus. The electronics giant has posted job listings (eight, all told) for veteran animators, level designers and a few others to fill out a studio dedicated entirely to making virtual reality games. "Based in the North West of England, we aim to build a small but highly experienced team who want to build great games to showcase this exciting new immersive technology," the postings say. As Eurogamer reports, the Morpheus-exclusive studio should wind up in Manchester, and staff that formerly worked at Driveclub's Evolution Studios are involved here. Perhaps that's why the available positions are somewhat limited in number. Regardless, if you were questioning how serious Sony's push into VR was, this might sate your curiosity a bit.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Sony told off for unfair 20th Anniversary PS4 competition

  To celebrate 20 years of PlayStation, Sony created 12,300 limited edition PS4 consoles and offered them to gamers all over the world. In the US, they were sold to whoever could click the buy button fast enough, but in the UK, the company took a more convoluted approach. First was the PlayStation '94 Shop in London, where 94 consoles were put aside for the low price of £19.94 (with all proceeds going to gaming charity GamesAid). Then came a partnership with GAME, which required gamers to solve riddles, click iconic PlayStation characters and enter a competition before anyone else.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Sony's sold two million PS4s in the UK

  Although Sony's other businesses aren't faring too well, its entertainment division is helping keep the company's head above water. This is thanks, in part, to the success of the PlayStation 4, which continues to outstrip sales of the Xbox One and further compound Microsoft's console misery. With 22.3 million worldwide sales now in the bag, Sony has provided an update on how well the PlayStation 4 is getting on in the UK, announcing that it's now shifted more than two million units. According to Sony, the console reached the milestone over the past weekend, keeping it ahead of the super successful PlayStation 2. Those sales have also helped make it the best-selling domestic games console for 2015 so far. While it took 42 weeks for the PS4 to reach one million sales, it only took a further 35 weeks for Sony to double that tally. Something tells us that the console price wars are definitely influencing buyers, but exclusive games like Bloodbourne are doing their bit too.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• PlayStation Now's game streaming subscription hits PS3

  It was easy to scoff at Sony when the electronics giant said it had a 10 year plan for the PlayStation 3, but here we are almost a decade later and it's still supporting the console. Case in point: the firm's announced that it's bringing subscriptions for the PlayStation Now game-streaming service to Blu-ray's trojan horse. It all starts on May 12th, and beyond that a handful of new games are hitting the service too. They include F1 2014 , Farming Simulator and the ever-so-charming Fat Princess (that's an awful lot of "F" games now that I think about it), bringing total number of streaming titles to around 100.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Sony kills its head-mounted video display to go all-in on VR

  For those with long-ish memories, Sony's HMZ series of head-mounted displays were a very rudimentary way to catch movies on a "750-inch screen." Of course, strapping one to your face wasn't a very social way to spend an evening, so you can understand that the device's appeal was a bit limited. So limited, in fact, that the company is now sending the project down the Shinano river on a longboat piled high with firewood. According to Japanese news outfit AV Watch, Sony bosses have decided to devote all of its resources to improving Morpheus, the PlayStation-branded virtual reality headset, as well as the company's take on Google Glass.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

Reviews (34)

• Which portable hard drives are worth buying?

  With all our computers, phones and cameras, we create a lot of data. And while there are plenty of cloud-based options for storing all the information you generate, many people prefer something they can physically touch. A portable hard drive can give you plenty of control, while still making it possible to carry your data around in your bag. But which drives make it easy to transfer files to them in the first place? And which ones will survive the trips you take them on? We've taken a look at some of the better portable drives available now to find out which ones have the right stuff.

  By Kris Naudus Read More

• Intel Compute Stick review: nothing more than a prototype for now

  Intel's new Compute Stick isn't that hard to grasp: It's a computer... on a stick! Using one of its Atom processors, Intel managed to cram everything a fully functional PC needs in something the size of a few packs of gum for just $150. All you need to get going is to plug it into a display with an HDMI port, connect it to power and attach your accessories. It heralds a new era of computing, one where you can turn any display into a pseudo-desktop in a few minutes. It could change the way IT workers manage computer labs, kiosks and digital signage forever. And it's something you should avoid buying at all costs. While the Compute Stick gives us a glimpse at a tantalizing future, it's basically a beta product. It's only meant for the brave and geeky -- not most consumers.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Panasonic's Lumix G7 is a small camera with serious 4K chops

  Panasonic has been a huge proponent of 4K-ready cameras, starting with the Lumix GH4 and LX100. A few days ago, the Lumix G7 joined that group. The recently introduced Micro Four Thirds camera features a 16-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, an ISO range of up to 25,600 and a quad-core CPU for speedy image processing. But here's the one thing it does best: 4K. More specifically, I'm talking about Panasonic's 4K Photo feature, which lets you extract high-resolution pictures from 4K, 30 fps videos and save them at an 8-megapixel equivalent. This is particularly useful when you shoot moving subjects, as you're able to record a 4K video (roughly up to 30 minutes), choose whatever frame you want from it and save that to the camera's SD card. Is it cheating? Perhaps, but it works perfectly.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• A look at two alternatives to those $200 Beats headphones

  Thanks to Beats, there's no shortage of $200 headphones on the market. But what about cans coming from folks known for their speakers rather than their rhymes? Given their heritage in the audio space, I had high hopes for both the Klipsch Reference On-Ear Premium headphones as well as Polk's Hinge Wireless Bluetooth cans. At first glance, they're pretty comparable: Both are foldable on-ear models with plush carrying bags and tight iOS/OS X integration. As it turns out, the similarities fell away quickly once I actually put them on my skull.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Google's Now on Tap makes Android M smartphones so much smarter

  In no particular order, Google's invading our living rooms, our extremities, our skies, and — curiously — our Android phones. No, really! By announcing Google Now on Tap during today's I/O keynote, the company's going all-in on the idea that a Google smartphone isn't complete without the full power of the Knowledge Graph baked into it. And you know what? I think they're right. Even after just a few moments messing around with it, I don't ever want to use an Android device that can't do what Now on Tap can.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• iPhones can be Google VR viewers, too

  As we walked out of today's Google I/O keynote, we -- and all other keynote attendees -- were handed the second-generation version of Cardboard, Google's low-tech effort at a VR headset. As was announced at the keynote itself, the new Cardboard is designed to fit phones that are 6-inches or larger, which makes sense given the size of Google's own Nexus 6. It's also now much easier to set up; in just three easy steps. Another improvement is that it no longer has the magnetic ring trigger of the original, which apparently didn't work with all phones. Now it has a simple top button that when pressed, activates a lever coated in capacitive tape -- think of it as a cardboard finger touching the phone's screen. This, of course, makes the Cardboard viewer compatible with a lot more phones -- including, yes, the iPhone.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• A taste of something great: five days with NVIDIA's Shield Android TV

  I wanted to watch The West Wing, so I asked for it. I wanted to play Asphalt 8 on my TV, so I downloaded it. I wanted people to see me playing a copy of Street Fighter X Tekken I didn't (strictly speaking) own, so I broadcasted it. All of these little interactions -- some mundane, some seemingly strange -- are what make using NVIDIA's Shield Android TV box such a tantalizing experience. At its very core, it's not all that different from the Nexus Player we saw last year, with an added veneer of NVIDIA gamer-friendliness. It's that extra dose of ambition, though, that makes the Shield the most interesting Android TV box you'll find out there right now. I've had the thing hooked up to my TV for five days and haven't completely put it through its paces yet, but read on for a taste of what it's like having a Shield-powered living room.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• 'Batman: Arkham Knight' is a fun distraction, but it's not Batman

  Neon green and red lights flash as Batman maneuvers the Batmobile through loop de loops in a gaudy underground racetrack. On the streets of Gotham, giant, bulbous tanks strafe around each other shooting at the speeding Bat-vehicle as it tries to escape. Onscreen, a computer-animated Alfred appears and gets snippy with master Bruce. This is a description of the things I did in a demo of Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Knight, due out this June on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. And if any of the above sounds a whole hell of a lot like the camp film Batman & Robin, well, that's because it's eerily similar. If you were a fan of that Joel Schumacher-directed 1997 nipple fest or the open-world distractions of the 2011 video game Arkham City, then that gameplay might sound pretty awesome. But for a fan of Batman: Arkham Asylum like myself, however, this sample of Arkham Knight was disconcerting.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• The Awair helps you breathe easier by tracking air quality

  If you have allergies, you know that air quality can mean the difference between having a productive day and being a congested, sneezing pile of sadness. The Awair from Bitfinder analyzes the indoor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, fine dust particles and volatile organic compounds in the air and uses that information to provide individual recommendations via a companion app and trigger IoT devices help reduce the chances of spending the day leaking snot.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Pebble Time review: an underdog among smartwatches

  For two years, Pebble was the smartwatch company to beat. In 2012, it raised over $10 million on Kickstarter for its simple, monochrome e-paper wristwatch, putting itself and the crowdfunding site on the map. But things move quickly in the technology world. Google has since come out with Android Wear, prompting a slew of smartphone companies to suddenly turn into watchmakers. Not to be outdone, Apple joined the fray as well, positing its own wearable as a timepiece premium enough for high-end boutiques. So when Pebble debuted the Time, its second-generation $199 smartwatch, on Kickstarter three months ago, it was facing much stiffer competition. Surprisingly, that too made crowdfunding history, raising more than $20 million in just over a month. Did 78,471 backers make the right decision? I attempt to find out.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• 'Mad Max' the game lacks the charm and detail of 'Fury Road'

  Like any Mad Max fan thrilled by the film Fury Road, I approached Avalanche Studios' new video game translation hoping to find echoes of the film's anarchic spirit. And while the full game may deliver -- we won't know until review time -- the current demo feels more like a mundane snapshot of Max's offscreen life in that post-apocalyptic world than an adrenaline shot from Fury Road. Mad Max, due out this fall for PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One, just doesn't have the same level of enervating detail.

  By Anthony John Agnello Read More

• Samsung's new wireless headphones are a worthy contender

  Last summer, I spent some time getting to know the first four entries in Samsung's "Level" audio line. There's a new item this year, though: a wireless version of the original Level On headphones. In case you missed the first roundup, this model is an on-ear option, and it ended up being my favorite of the bunch. But with the bulk of the features being the same, is the extra $80 worth it to go wireless?

  By Billy Steele Read More

• EE Harrier and Harrier Mini review

  EE's Kestrel was its first own-brand 4G smartphone, meant for those wanting breakneck mobile data speeds without breaking the bank. One year on, the Kestrel is coming to the end of its life, and when remaining stock is depleted, it'll disappear from the network's handset roster. The market for affordable 4G smartphones isn't vanishing anytime soon, however, which is why EE's readied a replacement for the Kestrel prior to its retirement. Actually, make that two: the new EE Harrier and Harrier Mini.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• ASUS VivoWatch review: a fitness watch with style and shortcomings

  My wife often says I'm fat, but that's hardly a motivation for me to resume my exercise routine. Then the ASUS VivoWatch landed on my desk, so I had no choice but to get back on the treadmill for your amusement. To keep things short, it turns out that this fitness-centric smartwatch does have a couple of compelling features that made me interested in getting fit again -- more so than the other basic (as in no heart rate monitoring) fitness trackers that I've long left in the drawer. Also, the VivoWatch can pair with both iOS plus Android, and costs just under $150 in Taiwan, meaning it'll be going head to head with the similarly priced Fitbit Charge HR around the world. So is ASUS' first fitness device worth trying? Or should you stick to some more mature offerings? Let's take a look.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Fove headset uses eye-tracking to make VR more real

  If you've shoved one VR headset on your face, you've pretty much shoved them all on your face. They all immerse you in a 3D world with a device that tracks your head movement so you can look around. The Fove, on the other hand, does more than just track your noggin; it also tracks your eyes and recreates how you see the real world while reducing strain on the system running the simulation. The company's slick Kickstarter video promises an impressive experience and even in its early stage, it delivers.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• '#Notifications' is a weak attempt at simulating online abuse

  Spend enough time on social media and you're bound to make a mistake that'll piss a few people off. It's pretty much inevitable. That's what the free indie "game" #notifications is all about. It begins the way many of us start our day: lying in bed, checking Twitter ("Twiddler" in this case) on a smartphone. There's a single eponymous notification for you at this point: a favorite on a tweet from the night before reading, "Tomorrow's going to be good, I can feel it!" That was incredibly short-lived.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Panasonic's Lumix G7 camera is all about 4K video and photos

  Well, Fujifilm isn't the only camera maker with an announcement today. Now it's Panasonic's turn. The Lumix series manufacturer is introducing the G7, a Micro Four Thirds body with a 16-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, ISO range of up to 25,600 and a Venus Engine image chip that packs a quad-core CPU for high-speed signal processing. That said, Panasonic is placing significant emphasis on the mirrorless shooter's 4K attributes, like its ability to capture video at 24 and 30 fps at 3,840 x 2,160 resolution (QFHD) -- there's the option for 1080p too, naturally. The company is also touting the Lumix G7's 4K Photo feature, which was revealed last year and is available on the LX100 as well. What this mode lets you do is extract high-resolution photos from 4K, 30 fps videos, with the results being saved at an 8-megapixel equivalent. You'll be able to pick up a kit in mid-June for $800, and that includes a 14-42mm lens to help you get started.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• LG Watch Urbane review: a premium watch that falls short of greatness

  There are only a few companies out there with as much experience making Android Wear watches as LG. After all, the platform's only been part of the public consciousness for a year and yet this Korean giant has already made three of them. Its first sequel -- the G Watch R -- was a marked improvement over its dull, plastic predecessor, but the progress isn't quite as clear with the new Watch Urbane. Sure, it's running a fresh version of the Wear operating system, with some neat new features that haven't yet trickled down to the rest of Google's wearable ecosystem. Hell, it's even got a look that's meant to rival the Patek Philippes in your collection. All that said, after over a week of testing, I still couldn't help but want more out of the Urbane, and you probably will too.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• HTC's Butterfly 3 makes you wonder why the M9 exists

  Here's yet another case of "Japan gets all the nice things." Earlier today, local carrier au by KDDI announced its smartphone lineup for the summer, and the one that caught our attention was the new HTC J Butterfly (HTV31), which will no doubt be entering other markets as the Butterfly 3. With the centered 13-megapixel selfie camera and subtle front-side BoomSound stereo speakers, this new phone shares a similar face with the Desire Eye and the Desire 826; except its 5.2-inch screen has a much sharper Quad HD resolution. The familiar Duo Camera feature on the back (for bokeh plus filter effects) is here to stay, though for some bizarre reason, the secondary camera is placed below its 20.2-megapixel counterpart instead of above it, meaning you'll have to be more careful with where you place your index finger while holding the phone.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• I regret buying an Apple Watch (and I knew I would)

  I bought an Apple Watch. I didn't preorder it, because at first I didn't even want one. I warned people who asked me about the company's first wearable: These things (Apple things) always get much better on the second attempt. Apple's product history, perhaps even more so than other tech companies, is peppered with examples: the substantially thinner second iPad, the next iPhone that had 3G data, the MacBook Air sequel that had decent battery life and a slimmer design. Despite knowing that, something changed for me. I became an early adopter.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Jawbone Up3 review: a feature-packed disappointment

  Is there room for a $180 health band today that doesn't have a built-in display and is totally reliant on your smartphone? Jawbone's pitch for the Up3, its latest wrist-worn health tracker, is pretty much the same as its last few models. It's artfully crafted from the genius design mind of Yves Béhar, the company's chief creative officer. And it's packed full of sensors to track your every movement (this time it can even detect your heart rate!). But it's the middle of 2015 -- the Apple Watch is out; Android Wear is getting steadily better; and there are a slew of other fitness trackers on the market. Jawbone is also coming off of a lengthy delay that squashed what little momentum it had after the Up3's announcement. So, is the Up3 worth the hefty cost, even when it's facing much stiffer competition than ever before? Probably not -- especially after Jawbone just announced the $99 Up2, which has most of the features and design elements from the Up3 that really matter.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Here's what our readers think of the BlackBerry Passport

  Though BlackBerry has been trying its hand at touchscreen devices like the Z30 and the recently reviewed Leap, it hasn't left keyboard devotees behind just yet. Released last fall, the BlackBerry Passport combines a square screen with a three-row keyboard. Our review noted that the oddly shaped screen provides "a good viewing experience" and the keyboard is "an impressive feat of engineering." However, though the keyboard is "a powerful tool," the unusual dimensions make one-handed use awkward and the app ecosystem is still rather small. Most damning is the fact that the device's signature feature, the keyboard, "isn't among BlackBerry's best." But that's from the perspective of someone who had to type out a review entirely on the keyboard. Plenty of our readers have chimed in about their own Passport experiences to let us know how it fares in the hands of the common office worker and beyond.

  By Kris Naudus Read More

• How I nearly became hooked on a $335 laptop bag

  When I was first approached about checking out the WaterField Designs $335 Rough Rider messenger bag, it occurred to me that I've never written about something as decidedly non-technical before. Let's face it: When I plop down my case and begin unloading my work stuff, my focus has always been on the contents, not the vessel. But once the bag arrived, I realized this San Francisco outfit doesn't just peddle any old type of gear; its handmade leather goods (crafted in the US, to boot) are something truly special. Still, coming from a world of ultra-padded messengers, I was worried if it would be quite good enough to do the job. So I broke up with my cushy day-to-day bag and switched to this all-leather interloper to see how I'd fare.

  By Sean Cooper Read More

• BlackBerry Leap review: an old phone with a fresh face

  Two years ago, BlackBerry finally broke free of the monotonous cycle it had entrenched itself in by launching its first all-touchscreen device, the Z10. Despite it being a costly flop, the company formerly known as RIM has continued to explore touchscreen territory with the help of its poke-friendly BB10 OS. BlackBerry is no longer a stranger to the form factor: It quickly followed up the Z10 with the Z30, and now the new BlackBerry Leap. There's little that separates BlackBerry's three main touchscreen devices as far as internals are concerned, and therein lies the main problem with the Leap. Instead of trying something different, BlackBerry has kept well within its comfort zone and pushed out another mid-range, touchscreen handset that's marginally divergent from its predecessors. Don't get me wrong: If a Leap lands on your desk to replace an old work phone, you'll no doubt get on with it just fine. But, if your own money is on the table, you're probably going to want to take it elsewhere.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Rhino Slider Evo is a modular camera motion tool

  We don't cover a ton of pro-level camera gear here at Engadget (though it's far from unheard of). But, a cool gadget is a cool gadget whatever it's for -- and this new motorized slider system from Rhino is one of them. For the uninitiated, sliders are what allow videographers and photographers to get those smooth, gliding shots. As for Rhino, they came to my attention through their GoPro accessories -- in particular the 360 swivel mount which is about the most fun way to wear your action camera. While camera gear can get pretty expensive (and complex) very quickly, my experience with Rhino's GoPro kit has been that is sits right in the "prosumer" sweet spot, so when I heard the company was making a motorized slider, I was particularly keen to try it out. The Rhino Slider Evo is currently launching on Kickstarter (it's fully funded already), but I managed to get some time with a pre-production unit to test it out.

  By James Trew Read More

• Recommended Reading: Wearing Google Glass every day for two years

  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. Two Years Through the Looking Glass by Allen Firstenberg I'm pretty sure there's nothing I've done every day for the last two years. Maybe I've taken a vitamin, but I'm sure I missed a day here or there. Allen Firstenberg is way more dedicated to habit than I am, though. He's been wearing Google Glass since he received the headset two years ago and has a load of observations about the past, present and future of the tech.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi review: thinner than air, but at what cost?

  When ASUS formally unveiled the Transformer Book Chi T300, it did so in the cheekiest way possible: with a cleverly worded swipe at Apple. "Our Chi is thinner than Air," the company proclaimed -- a clear shot at the MacBook Air. ("Chi" means "air" in Mandarin Chinese, by the way, in case the dig wasn't obvious enough.) Indeed, ASUS' newest laptop/tablet hybrid measures a scant 0.3 inch for the tablet (or 0.65 inch when docked), making it slightly thinner than the Air, which comes in at 0.68 inch at its thickest point. The Chi is also more affordable than the Air (not to mention most other thin-and-light laptops), with a starting price of $699. On paper, it's a relatively affordable way to get your hands on a super-skinny machine. In practice, though, you're probably better off spending a little more on something else. Here's why.

  By Dana Wollman Read More

• A close look at the new, yet familiar guitar in 'Guitar Hero Live'

  Tim Dunn and Nate Coppard are on a mission to rewire your brain. They're respectively the senior producer and senior designer behind Guitar Hero Live's new six-button guitar, and while neurological change is not their direct goal, it's a side effect they seem to relish. The new guitar has two rows of three buttons each, stacked on top of each other at the end of the neck -- this not only adds an extra button to the series, but it allows for fresh challenges. "It's not something people will be familiar with," Dunn says, glancing down at the Guitar Hero Live guitar in his hands. He taps some of the buttons. "It's a new thing." Seated next to Dunn, Coopard adds, "We've had a lot of people saying they can feel their brains kind of adjusting and kind of rewiring to the new way of playing it as they play through the songs, and then gradually getting to grips with how the difficulty ramps up as you jump around between the two layers."

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• LG G4 review: refined, but not game-changing

  When LG cooked up last year's G3, we (and many of our contemporaries) fell in love with it. At last, a well-designed phone with a killer Quad HD screen and a custom interface that didn't make us want to wrap a USB cord around our necks! Building a beloved smartphone is no small feat, but it's still not as hard as crafting a sequel that will be just as well-received. When it came time for LG to design the new G4, the company latched onto a handful of areas it thought people really cared about. It rebuilt its 16-megapixel camera from the ground up. That Quad HD screen? LG tried to make it more "accurate." Now the question is: How'd LG do? Did it figure out how to excite people for another year? The answer -- in case you've got somewhere else to be -- is "almost."

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Do you need a $249 'smart' water filter?

  There seem to be three mindsets when it comes to the water we drink. You can care a lot about it and buy bottled; care a lot about it and have a water filter; or you just drink from the tap. Maybe it's because I fit into the third category that water filters don't really seem like a growth market to me. A casual survey of my colleagues tells me there are lots of people that do care, though. Cove is built for them. The pitch is simple: Our natural water is full of crap. Harmful chemicals, heavy metals, pathogens. You name it; it's in there. Most filters do a good job at removing chlorine and other elements, but according to some studies, many introduce bacteria into your water. Cove's new filtration system apparently solves that issue, and, this being 2015, it's wrapped up in a "smart" housing that talks to your phone.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Which keyboards are worth buying?

  When you consider how much time we spend in front of our computers, how we interact with them should be a key concern. That said, unless you're a gamer or programmer, you probably haven't done much shopping around. Last month, we took a look at some of the best gaming keyboards that have come out recently. Now, we turn our gaze to some newer models designed for uses other than playing your favorite PC games -- including ones for work, controlling your home theater and portable units you can carry around in your bag for typing on the go.

  By Kris Naudus Read More

• LG's Watch Urbane bucks the trend of hard-to-fix wearables

  Think that smartwatches are tough to fix by their very nature? LG is seemingly determined to prove otherwise. The repair-it-yourself team at iFixit has finished tearing down the Watch Urbane, and it turns out that this Android Wear timepiece is surprisingly easy to maintain. You'll have to unstick the glued back, but it's usually a cakewalk after that -- there's little stopping you from pulling out the motherboard or the battery. The biggest challenge is replacing the display, which is fused to the glass. No, you probably won't need to pry apart your Urbane any time soon, but it's good to know that the wearable won't be reduced to a ritzy-looking paperweight if it breaks when you're out of warranty.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Microsoft helped me build a HoloLens app, and it was pretty easy

  If you had told me years ago that Microsoft would come out with a futuristic augmented reality headset, I'd have said you were nuts. And yet, a few months ago, it did exactly that. The headset is called HoloLens, which, when worn, allows you to interact with holographic objects set in the real world. It's pretty crazy, sci-fi-level stuff -- as we saw earlier this week at Build, you could have Windows apps floating around you as you sit in your living room or walk around a projected image of a human skeleton. Yesterday, in a 90-minute presentation, I not only had the chance to get my hands on a much more polished version of the hardware, but also tried my hand at creating my very own holographic app.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Can Canary's smart home camera keep your home secure?

  Canary is a 6-inch-tall black plastic cylinder that's designed to be a one-stop shop for securing your home. Essentially, it's a $249 infrared security camera that alerts your phone or tablet when it senses motion. Then, all you have to do is open the app to see a live video feed to determine if you need to call the cops. I've been testing the device out over the last month to see if it's enough for me to leave my home's security system off forever.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

Robotics (31)

• US military tests a Tinker Bell-sized drone

  There's no standard set for the shape or form of drones, and the Army plans to use that to its advantage. Here's where the Black Hornet Nano comes in. This micro drone, designed by Norway-based firm Prox Dynamics, is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, measuring in at a mere 4 x 1 inches and weighing only around 0.04 lbs. What's more, the PD-100 UAV features regular as well as thermal cameras and has a range of roughly 0.6 miles -- in other words, it's perfect for those missions that require stealth surveillance.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Oh no: MIT's Cheetah robot can jump over hurdles while running

  MIT's scientists spent years making the Cheetah robot a more efficient runner. Now that's done, its creators probably thought it was time to give it a major upgrade: the metal quadruped can now autonomously jump over hurdles like a trained horse. Yes, it can automatically detect and leap over multiple objects while it runs -- even without a tether. The scientists claim it's the "first four-legged robot" to be able to do so, and we'll bet they'll train it further to leap over much higher walls, as well as give future machines the same ability. Now where can we hide?

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• This foldable drone origamis itself and dissolves when done

  MIT recently unveiled -- or rather, unfurled -- an unusual drone specimen. The tiny robot weighs a third of a gram and is just 1.7 cm long. It starts its existence as a flat, paper or polystyrene wafer. When activated with a small heat source, the drone folds itself up into the complex shape you see above and can begin moving (or swimming!) at a rate of 3 cm/sec.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Seattle Symphony uses Kinect to conduct robotic instruments

  Microsoft might have scaled back its ambitions for Kinect, but creative modders and developers are still finding ways to put the peripheral to good use. Conductor Ludovic Morlot used the device to control three "kinetic" instruments -- a robotic grand piano, 24-reedhorn sculpture and custom concert chimes -- as part of an intimate Seattle Symphony performance on May 1st. During the 22-minute composition, Morlot could start, stop and control the volume of the instruments with gestures. Making a fist in different places let him select the unusual instruments, while waving the other hand up and down would change the amplification. The system was devised by Trimpin, a kinectic sculptor, sound artist and musician, and will remain in the Benaroya Hall so that visitors can try it for themselves. Microsoft seems to have given up on its second-gen Kinect, but mods like this one are a reminder of its untapped potential. Between this concert, a weird musical sandbox and a Nine Inch Nails festival tour, it seems to have a small future in the music industry.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Watch this little robot learn to walk after taking damage

  Robots are getting pretty good at carrying on after taking a knock, but what if they lose a limb? Scientists from the US and France have given a six-legged 'bot the smarts to keep going even if two of its legs are disabled by, say, a Sarah Connor shotgun blast. The team created and then rated a number of simulations for how its robot could keep moving forward despite losing a leg or two. Once that information was programmed into the robot, it was able to rapidly evaluate the options and use the one that worked best in the real world.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Disney wants to make robots of your favorite animated characters

  Folks working as Disneyland mascots may want to start looking into possible employment opportunities for the future. The company's crazed scientist branch, Disney Research, is developing a biped robot that can walk like an animated character. See, Disney's goal is to bring its CGI characters "to life in the real world" -- sure, mascots can mimic their looks, but this project could lead to robots that move like they do in their movies. In the researcher's paper, they wrote that robots like the one they're developing are in demand "in the entertainment industry because [they] would allow people to physically interact with characters that they have only seen in films or TV."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Neato robot vacuums get better brushes for your filthy floor

  Having a robotic vacuum scoot around your home sucking up filth isn't all that novel. But if your current rolling dust buster just isn't cutting it, Neato just updated its D-series line. The Botvac D75, D80 and D85 all sport the new spiral blade brush that Neato says offers the same cleaning power but much quieter than previous models. The vacuums still use a laser-guided system to clean floors without wandering around in a circle and squared edge helps it get into corners. Thanks to a new design, the guidance system disk no longer looks like a a Play-Doh lid. The Botvac D75 starts $499 while the D80 and D85 with quieter brushes and high performance filters will set you back $549 and $599 respectively.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Motion-sensing 'PomPom Mirror' recreates your likeness in fur

  If you're tired of your ugly mug staring back from across the bathroom sink every morning, just install this furry silhouetting mirror from New York-based artist Daniel Rozin. He built it for the Descent With Modification exhibit at NYC's bitforms gallery. The "PomPom Mirror," as it's called, leverages a Kinect motion capture device to control 464 servos that, in turn, flip 928 black and white faux fur pom poms back and forth to match your movements in real-time.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Robot learns skills through trial and error, like you do

  As a rule, robots have to learn through explicit instruction, whether it's through new programming, watching videos or holding their hands. UC Berkeley's BRETT (Berkeley Robot for the Elimination of Tedious Tasks) isn't nearly that dependent, however. The machine uses neural network-based deep learning algorithms to master tasks through trial and error, much like humans do. Ask it to assemble a toy and it'll keep trying until it understands what works. In theory, you'd rarely need to give the robot new code -- you'd just make requests and give the automaton enough time to figure things out.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Unorthodox Sprite drone tolerates abuse and actually flies

  When you picture a consumer drone, something bulky with four or six props à la DJI probably pops to mind. But the folks behind a new model on Kickstarter think that such UAVs have two big problems -- namely, they're hard to carry and break easily if you mess up. They built The Sprite to overcome those limitations with a cylindrical, waterproof body and retractable blades. The design makes it easy to throw it into a pack, and when landing, the rotors halt in a half a second and fold into a retracted position. From there, the craft can safely alight on rocks, a bush or even a swamp without issues.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Watch how the Navy plans to deploy its tiny Cicada drones

  Cicada, the Navy's palm-sized, sensor-laden drone, has no propeller or engine. In fact, it looks like a child's plaything. So, how will they get to their destination? Well, the Navy plans to drop them from either a balloon or a bigger drone -- in this case, its testers used both. During a 2011 demo and test flight in Yuma, Arizona, the Navy attached Cicadas to the wings of bigger drones, which were, in turn, attached to balloons. Once the balloons reached 57,000 feet, they let go of the big drones, which flew until they were within 15 feet of the Cicadas' landing locations. The tiny drones then dropped and glided to their landing spot, thanks to their preprogrammed GPS coordinates. In all, the Navy did eight rounds of testing that day in Yuma, and you can watch one of the drops in action below the fold.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Brain implants control robot arm well enough to grab a beer

  A paralyzed man named Erik Sorto has finally been able to drink beer on his own after 13 years, and it's all thanks to a robotic arm controlled solely by his mind. If you've been following our robotics coverage, you'll know it isn't the first mind-controlled robo limb -- a DARPA-funded project once allowed a woman to feed herself chocolate, while the one developed by the Braingate2 consortium helped another woman drink coffee on her own. This particular technology, however, works quite differently from the others. Its creators, a team of researchers from various institutes led by Caltech, implanted the neural chips needed to control the arm into a part of the brain called "posterior parietal cortex" or PPC.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Prosthetic foot only needs 'mind control' for movement

  During a press conference in Copenhagen on Wednesday, prosthetics manufacturer Ossur announced the release of an implantable sensor that allows users to mentally control a mechanical limb. The technology, known as an Implanted MyoElectric Sensor (IMES) will allow users to move the company's motorized Proprio Foot just like they do the real thing.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Hydrogen-powered drone will fly for hours at a time

  Even the nicer drones you can buy typically last for just minutes in the air, which isn't much help if you're delivering packages or shooting movies. Horizon Unmanned Systems (HUS) thinks it has a solution, however: hydrogen power. Its recently unveiled Hycopter drone runs on a lightweight hydrogen fuel cell that should deliver up to 4 hours of flight time unloaded, and 2.5 hours when it's carrying 2.2 pounds of cargo. That still may not sound like much, but it makes long-distance flights practical -- it's the difference between flying across the city and staying within the neighborhood. HUS won't even fly the Hycopter's prototype until later this year, but patience could well pay off if you're tired of piloting robotic aircraft in half-hour bursts.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Tiny palm-top UAV folds itself up like an origami quadcopter

  Tiny quadcopters that fit in the palm of your hand have been around for a few years now, but very few of those drones can also fit in your pocket; what with their easily snapped rotor spars. However, a pair of researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology recently unveiled a clever and unique mini-UAV design that keeps the rotors safely tucked away until it's ready to fly.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• US Navy's cheap and tiny Cicada drones can listen in on the enemy

  The Navy's Cicada drone has reemerged looking smaller than ever. Navy scientists have been developing the tiny smart glider since 2006 and even performed a flight test back in 2011. This newest iteration, which has been presented at the Department of Defense's "Lab Day" last week, is the smallest one yet and can fit in the palm of your hand. The US Navy has always envisioned the Cicada drone, formally named Covert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft -- a completely different project from the Navy's LOCUST drones -- to be tiny, low-cost and ultimately disposable. Like the insect, it was designed to fly in swarms and do its job until it (or, technically, its battery) dies. Despite looking like an innocuous paper/plastic plane, it's loaded with sensors -- Agence France-Presse even calls it a "phone with wings."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• European powers team up to build homegrown drones

  Drones are sufficiently commonplace now that if you aren't building your own, you get a serious dose of FOMO. That's why Germany, France and Italy have agreed to bankroll a joint drone project, separate to Europe's, that'll build aerial surveillance hardware for the three countries. As Reuters reports, these nations currently American or Israeli gear, sparking fears that they're too reliant on military hardware from other countries.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• US Navy fighter jets will carry an autonomous anti-ship missile

  The US Navy may have a robotic ace in the hole when it fights enemy warships in the future. It's planning to put Lockheed Martin's autonomous LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) on the F/A-18 Super Hornet by 2019, giving jet fighters a weapon that tracks and wipes out targets mostly or entirely on its own. Most of the missile's details are secret, but it's smart enough to dodge obstacles on the way to vessels as far as 200 nautical miles out -- and that's the unclassified range, which suggests that it's more capable in practice. There are also versions of LRASM in the works that will launch from ships, submarines and other aircraft, so this intelligent projectile could soon be a mainstay of the US military.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Combination locks are no match for this Arduino-powered cracker

  If you need a reminder not to put your complete trust in standard combination locks, here it is. Samy Kamkar, who once also engineered software that can hijack drones, created a motorized lock-cracking device called "Combo Breaker." We don't exactly know what he's going to use it for, but it's capable of going through each combination in less than two seconds and can crack a lock open in no time. Kamkar created two versions of the device: one is smaller and slightly less powerful than the other, but both are equally effective, in part thanks to their Arduino microprocessors. Before you head out in search of a better lock, though, watch Kamkar explain how he built the machines after the break.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Watch Atlas go through a push test before DARPA's Robotics Challenge

  The DARPA Robotics Challenge finals is scheduled for June 5th to 6th, and we'll bet the finalists are now pulling all-nighters finishing up their entries. Team IHMC Robotics from the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola, for instance, is working to further improve its Atlas-based machine called Running Man. In the video below the fold, you'll see the team demonstrate its fall avoidance and push recovery technique. If you recall, DARPA's contest is specifically looking for humanoid machines for disaster relief and search-and-rescue operations. We've got a feeling those types of robots won't be operating under the best conditions, so the ability to withstand outside forces will surely come in handy.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Humanoids, showoffs and other machines ready to do our dirty work

  If you've developed a not-so-irrational fear of losing work opportunities to robots, you'd probably mistake RoboUniverse as a job fair. And you wouldn't be too far off. It's the first year for the three-day expo, which wraps up the New York portion of its tour today. The event was organized as a buyer/seller conference to show off progressive technology in the service robotics industry. We're a sucker for any event advertising "robots," so we decided to swing by to see what was bubbling up from industry, capturing a few photos along the way.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• This drone follows you down the trail after you toss it up in the air

  Aerial footage is a nice way to capture those action sports endeavors, and it's even better if you can fit the gear in your backpack. Lily ticks those boxes, and all you have to do to launch it is toss it up in the air. Once airborne, the camera UAV will follow you down the slopes or along the trail thanks to a tracking device that you wear on your wrist (or stuff in a pocket, we'd surmise). It's a similar setup to the Airdog we saw on Kickstarter last year. On board, the drone packs a camera capable of 12-megapixel stills, 1080p footage at 60 frames per second and 720p video at 120 fps. Those optics offer a 94-degree filed of view and the settings can be dialed in with a smartphone app. You can take the thing out on the water too, as the drone is waterproof and floats -- should it land in the rapids.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Brain-like circuit performs human tasks for the first time

  There are already computer chips with brain-like functions, but having them perform brain-like tasks? That's another challenge altogether. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara aren't daunted, however -- they've used a basic, 100-synapse neural circuit to perform the typical human task of image classification for the first time. The memristor-based technology (which, by its nature, behaves like an 'analog' brain) managed to identify letters despite visual noise that complicated the task, much as you would spot a friend on a crowded street. Conventional computers can do this, but they'd need a much larger, more power-hungry chip to replicate the same pseudo-organic behavior.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Bots and booze: The automated bar of the 'future'

  Hard manual labor isn't the only task mankind's assigned to robots; they've also been known to make a drink on occasion. Since the '50s, we've had machines of one type or another that were ready to pour us a cold one, and as the technology developed, so have their skills behind the bar. Nimble, intelligent drink-mixing robots, however, are far from cheap and the trajectory of anthropomorphic models has been erratic. To figure out where our future lies, we take a look back at some of the mechanical mixologists that have served us over the years.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: Concept kitchens and Google's crabots

  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. Hardly a week passes when Tesla doesn't make the news, and this past week the company had two big announcements that are getting people all riled up. First, Tesla is planning to debut a $35,000 electric car in March 2016 that will begin production in 2017. CEO Elon Musk also just announced that barely a week after the Powerwall home battery was unveiled, they're already sold out through 2016, and the company will have to expand its factory capabilities to meet the insane demand for batteries.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Japanese bankers get exosuits to help move stacks of cash

  Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation announced Friday that it will provide Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) exosuits to select senior employees as part of a pilot program aimed at reducing the strain of moving currency. "There have been many cases when a physical burden was placed on senior employees carrying heavy parcels of banknotes and coins. By adopting Cyberdyne's robotic suits, we can help reduce that burden," Tomoyuki Narita, a spokesman at SMBC, told the Wall Street Journal. About 16 percent of Sumitomo's employees (and 25 percent of the nation) are over the age of 65. The HAL is designed to augment its user's strength, reducing the perceived weight of an item by 40 percent so that a 10-pound weight only "feels" like it weighs 6 pounds. Should the pilot program prove effective, Sumitomo could expand it to more branches throughout Japan. [Image credit: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• MIT gave exploring robots a way to plan underwater missions

  Forget those teensy deep-sea submersibles cradling crews of brave scientists -- the future of underwater exploration might be led by robots that can do their own thing. MIT engineers, led by professor Brian Williams, cooked up a system that lets autonomous underwater drones figure out and act on the nitty-gritty details of their missions without the need for meticulously laid-out plans.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Oregon State University's ATRIAS robot takes a walk in the park

  We've seen Oregon State University's ATRIAS robot prove its mettle in a controlled environment, sure, but what changes when it goes for a stroll in the great outdoors? Perhaps unsurprisingly, not a whole lot. The biped doesn't have a problem going uphill, downhill, maintaining balance when dodgeballs hit it and even handles variations in terrain with aplomb. It doesn't seem to have any issues changing speed, either. Basically, this proves that the ATRIAS doesn't need perfect conditions to operate, which is important because let's face it: the real world is far from perfect.The upside to all of this is that unlike humans, robots don't quite get stage-fright so replicating these actions in front of a crowd at the DARPA Robotics Challenge come June likely won't be an issue.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Google will use robot-crane hybrids to build new Mountain View HQ

  "Crabots" will help build Google's sprawling Mountain View campus. According to Architects Journal's latest report, these robot-crane hybrids will play a specific role in the construction of the Bjarke Ingels and Thomas Heatherwick designed structure. The UK publication is privy to detailed planning documents that the tech giant submitted to the City of Mountain View Council in Silicon Valley. The papers include mock-ups of the machines that will lift and shift the block-like "pre-fabricated" components inside the structure. The objective, according the report, is "to create a solution that can be assembled efficiently and economically within pre-erected canopy structures by means of small, easily manoeuvrable cranes."

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Creator of the Roomba robotic cleaner is making a drone

  Over the next few years, the market for consumer-facing drones is going to continue growing. And, as they say, the more the merrier. Enter CyPhy LVL 1, a sleek drone brought to you by the co-designer of the Roomba, iRobot's renowned robotic vacuum cleaner, Helen Greiner. She's now the CEO of CyPhy Works, which is a company that focuses on creating aerial robots -- albeit not for hobbyists. But that's about to change soon with its CyPhy LVL 1. Launched via Kickstarter, it is said to be the first drone for everyone, from young kids to old people, featuring a smartphone-based, swipe-to-fly remote interface, instant sharing of captured footage to social networks and geo-fencing.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Unmanned cargo chopper shows off its search-and-rescue talents

  For three years between 2011 and 2014, the unmanned Kamen K-Max 1200 helicopter delivered more than 4.5 million tons of supplies to the most dangerous and far-flung US Forward Operating Bases throughout Afghanistan. It followed that feat up in 2014 by demonstrating its ability to coordinate with other UAVs in forest fire suppression operations. And in March of this year, the semi-autonomous helicopter once again proved that it can integrate operations with land-based drones to locate, identify and evacuate people stranded in desolate areas -- all without putting more lives at risk.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Samsung (4)

• Samsung patented a laptop-smartphone dock with dual OSes

  Combination laptop-tablet not enough? Want even more gadget overlap? Then try ASUS' still incoming Windows laptop/Android phone hybrid. We (half) joke, because Samsung's patented something along those very lines. In the Korean manufacturer's case, a docking area between the keyboard and the display would be where your phablet would call home. The laptop dock itself would be pretty much only that: all the processing and thinking would be done on the phone, which would run Android until it docks, where Windows would burst onto the bigger screen. Your phone, while charging, could also double up as the touchpad while in laptop mode.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Samsung's Wallet service folds shut on June 30th

  Now that Samsung Pay is nearly here, the company is riding its two-year-old Wallet service into the sunset. Samsung is now telling users that Wallet will stop taking purchases on June 30th. Any reservations and tickets you score before then will still be valid, but you'll otherwise be left out of the loop. The move isn't all that surprising given how much more advanced Samsung Pay should be, but it's a blunt reminder of just how quickly the mobile payment world is evolving -- technology that was promising in 2013 is already old hat.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Samsung's Artik platform aims to jump-start the Internet of Things

  We've been hearing plenty about the "Internet of Things" (IoT) lately, but despite all the hype there's still a sore lack of compelling connected gadgetry for you to buy. Now Samsung hopes to change that with Artik, its new platform meant to make it easier for developers to build IoT solutions. To kick things off, Samsung is debuting three new IoT modules: Artik 1, a tiny 12mm device with Bluetooth and a nine-axis movement sensor; Artik 5, which runs a faster 1 gigahertz dual-core processor and on-board storage; and Artik 10, which is powered by an octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The latter also includes Wi-Fi and Zigbee connectivity, which means it should play nicely with plenty of existing IoT equipment. All of the Artik hardware includes a secure-element, which should help lock things down better than software encryption, and Samsung's also providing an IoT software stack so developers can get up and running quickly. And while the Artik platform is technically open, Samsung's also pushing its cloud services heavily to developers.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Samsung and Samsonite are working on smart luggage

  There have been more than a few efforts at smart luggage, but this is one you're likely going to notice. Samsung and Samsonite (appropriately enough) are teaming up to develop smart bags that will likely be easier to buy and more accessible. They should include include loads of location and mobile notification features, such as GPS tracking, anti-tampering alerts and warnings when you wander away. However, that's just the start. Samsonite is working with airlines on baggage that checks itself in -- drop them off and they'd tell the airport about your airline, the weight and your destination. Also, Samsung is experimenting with self-propelled luggage that follows you around the airport. That last technology is still too cumbersome to be practical (the engine takes up a third of the size), but the days of having to lug (and worry about) your belongings across the airport may soon be over.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

Science (57)

• DARPA to develop best practices for 3D printing

  Just as steel's physical properties change depending on how it's produced, so too do 3D printed materials. However, unlike steel, we don't yet fully understand how different these newfound techniques affect the resulting printed item. Sometimes a printed item -- even if it's made from something common like aluminum -- ends up having a very different microstructure had it been created with traditional, subtractive methods. You can see an example of that below. Heck, even using the same material on different printer models can result items with wildly divergent properties. But DARPA is looking to change that. The DoD's advanced research agency announced Friday that it is launching an Open Manufacturing program to create comprehensive reference documentation for 3D printing and usher in an era of productive predictability.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• University of Miami's hurricane tank simulates storms for scientists

  Researchers from the University of Miami have started looking more closely into category five hurricanes this month. No, not by chasing them around -- they're thankfully quite rare -- but by simulating their effects inside a huge indoor tank. Oceanographers from the institute built the 66 x 20 foot tank officially called SUSTAIN or Surge-Structure-Atmosphere Interaction Facility on an island off the coast of Florida. The scientists merely have to flip a switch for the paddles inside to start churning the waters and for fans to begin mimicking howling winds -- in just few minutes, it all turns into a small-scale storm.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Solar Impulse begins its sun-powered flight across the Pacific (update: bad weather)

  Solar Impulse has already shown the potential for sun-based aviation in its attempt to fly around the world, but it just embarked on its most ambitious trip yet. Pilot Andre Borschberg has taken off from Nanjing, China on a cross-Pacific flight whose first leg ends in Kalaeloa, Hawaii -- 5,061 miles away. That's about 120 hours in the air, and should set records for both the longest single-seat flight ever as well as the first transpacific flight by a solar-powered aircraft. And did we mention that this leg is even more dangerous than previous parts of the journey? After a certain point, Borschberg's only choice in an emergency will be to bail over the Pacific and hope that his rescue goes smoothly.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• These seven climate science projects could save the world

  The human race is doomed, and it's all our own fault. With the quantity of carbon in our atmosphere now well beyond the safe limit, it's almost certain the planet's temperature will continue to rise. Climate change is causing natural disasters of biblical proportions; a situation that's only going to get worse as time progresses. We all need to work harder to improve this situation by using less energy and behaving more responsibly. But since some people will never be convinced the Earth's rapidly approaching the end of its humanity-hospitable era, we're now in dire need of alternative options to save us from ourselves. To help get the word out, we've compiled a list of some of the most exciting scientific projects we've seen of late that could, if successful, undo some or all of the damage we've caused. [Image: Lisa Werner / Alamy]

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• 'Amnesiac' mice made to remember what they forgot with blue light

  Mice with amnesia were able to recover training memories with assistance from blue light, in research that suggests that memories lost in brain trauma could still exist (and perhaps even be recalled) from the human brain. It marks the first time scientists were able to suppress a memory and then bring it back. The research focused on retrograde amnesia, which affects the ability to form memories after a brain injury, or recall what happened before the accident. The group trained two mice teams to remember that one room would deliver a mild electric shock when entered into. Afterwards, placing the mice in the room would cause this reaction without even delivering the shock. Researchers then identified which neurons were active in mice brains when they froze at being in the shock room. labelling those cells with a protein sensitive to blue light, and using a virus to get it where they wanted it. When blue light hit these "memory engram cells" the mouses experienced the same shock — and froze up.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• '3D printing' used to test a 'cure' for type-1 diabetes

  Researchers are one step closer to reducing the effects of type-1 diabetes after developing a way to implant insulin-generating cells into the pancreas. According to publisher IOP, this method was previously unsuccessful, but has begun to work now that scientists can "3D-print" a structure to protect the cells. Previous attempts to implant these cells, called islets of Langerhans, have been unsuccessful because the body's immune system would attack them as soon as they were injected.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• DARPA wants you to help with its terrifying schemes... by gaming

  If you like playing online games, then you too can help birth some (possibly sinister) software from DARPA. The US Army's slightly insane research division launched its Verigames web portal in late 2013 with five free online games designed to crowdsource coding. How? Like a similar effort that folded AIDS proteins, the games "translate players' actions into program annotations," to kill numerous bugs in systems code, according to DARPA. The first experiment was a success and "produced hundreds of thousands of (code) annotations," so the agency plans to expand the program with five new games.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• 'Nano-paper' chips end up in compost heaps, not landfills

  Today's cast-off gadgets are far more likely to end up in a landfill than they are being responsibly disposed of. In fact, 41.8 million tons of e-waste were scrapped last year alone. To combat this, a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has invented a radically new kind of ecologically-friendly semiconductor chip made from wood. No, seriously.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Researchers use an app to predict GPA based on smartphone use

  What a person does on their phone call tell you a lot about them -- including their GPA. Researchers from Dartmouth College and the University of Texas at Austin have developed an app that tracks smartphone activity to compute a grade point average that's within 0.17 of a point. The software is called smartGPA and using it alongside "periodic self reports" keeps tabs on how hard a student is studying and partying -- on top of physical activity, sleep, attendance and social interactions. Members of the research team were also responsible for the StudentLife app that kept up with mental health and its effect on grades, and this goes a step further by taking into account a broader picture of daily life. "We show that there are a number of important behavioral factors automatically inferred from smartphones that significantly correlate with term and cumulative GPA," the study explains. Installing the app, which is built with cloud and machine learning algorithms, monitored a group of undergrads 24 hours a day for 10 weeks.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Super-efficient solar cells can power homes in unforgiving areas

  Scientists have long talked about black silicon (that is, silicon with nano-sized structures) having the potential to trump conventional solar power, and there's now some proof that this is happening. Aalto University researchers have developed black silicon solar cells that achieve a record 22.1 percent efficiency when turning the Sun's rays into usable energy. That's a 4 percent absolute boost over the previous best in black silicon, and good enough that the technology could finally be ready to reach the market and replace existing solar panels. Black silicon is far better suited to collecting sunlight at low angles, which is common in northern regions -- you wouldn't have to live in a sunny, forgiving part of the world to get the most out of clean energy. It should be cheaper, too. So long as these black cells translate well to mass production, you may have an easier time ditching the conventional power grid.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Inhabitat's Week in Green: rain lamps and solar-powered pod homes

  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. Everything about Tesla is groundbreaking, including its direct-sales model. Laws in New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Michigan have sought to prevent the electric carmaker from bypassing third-party dealerships and selling cars directly to customers. Last week, Tesla scored a big win in Maryland, when the state's governor signed a bill allowing the company to operate its own dealerships in the state. In other green transportation news, a 28-year-old woman is preparing to row all the way from Japan to San Francisco in a rowboat, with no support vessel. Airplane manufacturers have yet to unlock the potential of 3D-printing airplane parts, but the engineers at GE Aviation recently conducted a test, offering a possible glimpse of the future. The team created a mini jet engine that can roar up to 33,000 RPM, and it comes right out of a 3D printer.

  By Inhabitat Read More

• Human gene sequencing gets an official yardstick

  Gene sequencing, once a rare feat, is pretty common these days... but how do you know that your DNA data is up to snuff? As of now, there's an easy way to find out. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released reference genetic material that serves as a "measuring stick" for human gene sequencing. Researchers have tested this sample genome so thoroughly that it'll tell labs whether or not they're making typical mistakes, and ensure that their results are trustworthy. The hope is that you'll see bulletproof sequencing devices that take the anxiety out of pinpointing genetic conditions or understanding your ancestry. [Image credit: Gerald Barber, Virginia Tech University (with permission of the National Science Foundation)]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Navy AR goggles turn a golf course into a battleground

  Marines on a sunny golf course in Quantico, Virginia, this week demonstrated a pair of augmented reality glasses that simulate combat scenarios. The Office of Naval Research recently completed development of the goggles and this week hooked them up to a larger training system known as the Augmented Immersive Team Trainer for the first time. Representatives from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps showed up at Marine Corps Base Quantico to see the AITT in action. The AR glasses themselves have a wider field of view than similar products on the commercial market, and the full AITT experience incorporates real-life weapons props, binoculars and other physical equipment necessary in a potential combat zone. "For Marines, this system increases their situational awareness, whether for training or operations, giving them a wider aperture for information to help make better decisions," ONR action officer Le Nolan said.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Bionic eye implant promises a lifetime of perfect vision

  An optometrist in British Columbia claims to have invented an easily implantable device that provides its wearer with vision "three times better than 20/20" for life. Dubbed the Ocumetics Bionic Lens by its inventor Dr. Garth Webb, this device appears to be very similar in structure to the conventional artificial lenses employed in cataract surgery. The eight-minute installation procedure is reportedly painless. It involves injecting the folded lense into your eye where it unfurls to replace your natural lense and correct your vision. There's also an added benefit in that with these artificial lenses in place, you'll never develop cataracts.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• 'Ballistic Wallpaper' bombproofs US combat shelters

  At a recent DoD Lab Day, the US Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) unveiled a unique defensive product. Dubbed "ballistic wallpaper," this amalgamation of kevlar fiber threading and flexible polymer film is designed to protect American soldiers when they take shelter in an urban warzone.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Americans are using more energy, but green tech is softening the blow

  It may be tough to satisfy the US' seemingly never-ending thirst for energy, but clean power sources are at least helping to soften the impact. Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have determined that Americans' energy use climbed 1 percent year-over-year in 2014, but its carbon emissions hardly budged at all. In fact, they were down significantly for coal and petroleum-based power. While some of that decline is due to industry using less-than-clean natural gas, it's also helped by big jumps in solar and wind energy, which respectively grew by 33 and 8 percent.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 3D printing your own clothes just became (kinda) a reality

  Unless the technology, somehow, proves to be drastically limited, 3D printing is likely to the genesis of a manufacturing revolution. Now, a team in San Francisco believes that it has taken another leap towards our utopian future by building a "3D printer" for our clothes. The team behind Electroloom hope that, a few years down the line, instead of trips to H&M, you'll be ducking into your basement with a set of drawings the next time you need a new outfit.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• The brain's unique reaction to words could sign people into devices

  Here's one type of biometric authentication you might not have heard of before: using your brain's response to words as your personal identification. Blair Armstrong and his team of researchers from the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language in Spain observed the brain signals of 45 subjects while they read a list of 45 acronyms, such as FBI and DVD. According to New Scientist, they found that the volunteers' brains reacted differently to each one, enough for the system to pinpoint their identities with 94 percent accuracy.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Researchers discover a 'partial workaround' for blindness

  When your eyes' photoreceptors (the so-called rods and cones) fail due to either illness or injury, so too does your vision. And until very recently, few options to correct the condition existed -- typically in the form of a bulky and intrusive wearable. But now, a long-researched gene therapy is finally ready for human trials and could pave the way for at least partial restoration of a patient's sense of sight.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Scientists close to brewing morphine (or heroin) from sugar

  Sugar is basically ubiquitous and it looks like it could be used to make morphine, which is a refined form of heroin. Recent research shows that a genetically modified strain of yeast, when exposed to sugar, could be used to ferment the opioid. Yes, essentially, you could homebrew your own scag. I know what you're thinking: "This sounds like madness." But there's some proof behind it. Researchers from the University of California Berkeley and Concordia University in Canada presented an almost complete means to turn glucose to morphine, while scientists from the University of Calgary supplied the missing piece that completes the process. The idea wasn't to flood the streets with home-made heroin. No, the plan is much more noble than that: to produce "cheaper, less addictive, safer and more-effective" painkillers, according to Nature.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Ricoh invents super-efficient power-producing rubber

  No, this is not an image of a delicious Fruit Roll-Up, it's actually a unique new flexible material from Ricoh that can create electricity from pressure and vibration. Dubbed "Energy-Generating Rubber," this piezoelectric mat combines the best features of existing ceramic and polymeric materials; high energy output and flexibility, respectively. In fact, this new rubber produces just as much power as ceramic does while surpassing the flexibility of polymeric materials, according to Ricoh. What's more, it is more easily produced than either existing form of piezoelectric.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• L'Oreal is 3D printing its own human skin to test cosmetics

  The L'Oreal Group hasn't tested its products on animals worldwide since 2013, instead relying on a predictive model that utilizes a "Reconstructed Human Epidermis" -- basically bits of skin grown in a lab -- to ensure that its products are safe. Now the French cosmetics giant is teaming up with 3D bioprinting company Organovo to create the real thing...or at least as real as human skin that comes out of an ink jet nozzle can be.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Some e-cigarette flavors may have toxic effects on lung cells

  E-cigarettes may be a popular alternative to the traditional smoke sticks, despite contrasting opinions on how safe they are. Adding to the list of harmful effects, the American Thoracic Society published research at its annual conference that certain flavors used in vaping liquid may alter cells in lung tissue. During the study, researchers exposed human airway epithelial cells to doses of 13 e-cig flavors for periods of 30 minutes and 24 hours. 5 of the 13 displayed "adverse effects to cells in a dose-dependent manner." Of those five, three flavors -- Hot Cinnamon Candies, Banana Pudding (Southern Style), and Menthol Tobacco -- were toxic to lung cells at higher doses in the 30-minute test. What's more, when cells were exposed for 24 hours, the same trio of flavors stunted cell growth as the dosage increased. Also of note: the flavorings' negative effects didn't occur with nicotine or the e-liquid vehicle on its own (propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin).

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Fingerprints will soon tell cops if suspects are on cocaine

  A research team from the University of Surrey in the UK has reportedly developed a new, noninvasive drug test for cocaine that accurately detects its presence in your system through your fingerprints. Specifically, it looks for two common cocaine metabolites: benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine. These can be found in blood, sweat, and urine using a mass spectrometry technique known as Desorption Electrospray Ionisation (DESI). And since the metabolites dissipate from our sweat more quickly than in urine or blood (in which it can persist for up to a week), law enforcement will one day be able tell if a suspect is currently high as opposed to having been high a few nights before. What's more, "we can distinguish between cocaine having been touched," Melanie Bailey, the study's lead author, told Motherboard, "and cocaine having been ingested." Plus since the sweat sample is tied to your fingerprint, it'll be nearly impossible for someone to swap it out for a clean batch.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Wounded turtle can return to the ocean thanks to a 3D-printed beak

  Look, we know this sea turtle's prosthetic beak has a tragic backstory, but it sure makes the reptile look like it has a future as a badass pizza-loving mutant. According to 3D Printing Industry, Turkish animal rescuers found it almost lifeless at sea, after a boat propeller shaved off a huge part of its snout. It escaped the clutches of death thanks to those kind folks, but a turtle that has to be hand-fed can never survive back in the wild. That's why the organization contacted 3D printing service provider BTech Innovation, which took the turtle's CT scans to create a beak that would fit it perfectly.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Enjoy this LSD trip from the comfort of your web browser

  It's time to stop what you're doing an enjoying some soothing visuals brought to you by physics. Created by George Corney, the browser-based GPU fluid simulation reacts when you click and drag your mouse. The resulting psychedelic dreamscape is a mesmerizing swirl of magic that's sure to destroy your productivity. A retractable controller in the top right corner adjusts the quality of the simulation and can reset the particles when you're ready to start over. You can check out Corney's GitHub page if you're interested in contributing to the project or just checking out his code. Or you can just keep watching the swirls. All the pretty swirls.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• He made Tom Cruise 'forget the mouse.' Now it's our turn.

  In a way, John Underkoffler's like Hollywood's own Wizard of Oz. He's the man behind the curtain responsible for infusing blockbuster fantasy with real-world tech. He created the futuristic UI in Minority Report, worked on the timeline for Hulk's transformation and found a Soviet fusion reactor to blow up Stark Industries in Iron Man. He also recently received the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for his work as an interface designer both in films and in the real world.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• 2001 DARPA movie predicts the state of today's technology

  Does DARPA employ psychics or something? I mean they must, or how else can you explain this precognitive glimpse at the modern world? The advanced research agency produced it more than a decade ago! Admittedly, many of the ideas featured were already rolling out, in development or pulled from sci-fi, but you can see the futuristic vision (and ugly UIs everywhere) in this DARPA film, Strategic Cyber Defense. Included are a number of modern technologies such as ubiquitous touchscreens, voice activated computer interfaces (a la "Ok Google"), advanced behavioral analysis, real-time translation and automated cyber-defenses. Watch the video below to see how many of today's future technologies you can spot -- and how many are better off left as concepts that didn't pan out.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Octopus-inspired surgical tool will dig deep into your guts

  Telecommuting surgeons are becomingly increasingly adept at working on humans but there are still limits on what they can do using the stiff metal manipulators of a robotic stand-in like the DaVinci. This new omnidirectional grasping appendage, however, could one day wind its way into the most remote corners of your body cavity and gently cradle your guts with the same dexterity as an octopus' tentacle.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Prosthetic electrodes will return amputees' sense of touch

  For all the functionality and freedom that modern prosthetics provide, they still cannot give their users a sense of what they're touching. That may soon change thanks to an innovative electrode capable of connecting a prosthetic arm's robotic sense of touch to the human nervous system that it's attached to. The device is part of a three year, $1.9 billion DARPA project and is being developed by Daniel Moran and his team at Washington University in St. Louis. The electrode, technically called a macro-sieve peripheral nerve interface, is comprised of a thin contact lens-like material less than 20 percent the diameter of a dime. It reportedly allows its users to feel heat, cold and pressure by stimulating the ulnar and median nerves of the upper arm.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Powerful magnetic shield will test the limits of physics

  The Standard Model of physics, as good as it is, has gaps: it can't really explain dark matter, gravity or the imbalance between matter and antimatter. Thankfully, German researchers have a new tool that could plug some of those holes. They've developed a magnetic shield whose several layers of nickel-iron alloy are 10 times more effective than the previous best, creating a magnetic field so low and consistent that it actually beats the average ambient field in space. That will let scientists measure particles with such a high level of precision that they could detect previously unknown physics behavior, and set the groundwork for finding new particles. Think of it as a complement to accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider -- rather than smash particles together, it'll help find subtle deviations from the norm.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Doctors find a way to deliver drugs straight to your brain

  The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a marvelous piece of evolutionary engineering designed to keep the inside of your skull pristinely clean by segregating the nervous and circulatory systems. The downside to this nearly impermeable membrane is that it is as adept at blocking therapeutic molecules as it is against harmful chemicals and microbes. However, a team from Canada's National Research Council (NRC) believe they've finally found the key that unlocks the body's Fort Knox. They're called "single domain antibodies" (SDA) -- molecular fragments capable of binding to larger molecules -- and they reportedly trick the BBB into thinking that most any molecule they're attached to is copacetic. So instead of having to wrap disease fighting medicines in carrier molecules like microscopic Trojan Horses, as has been the preferred method for the past two decades, these single domain antibodies act more like molecular security badges instead.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• New coloring technique creates perfect spots on 3D-printed cat

  Hydrographic printing looks like a magic trick. You print a pattern on a see-through film, place that sheet on a tub of water and spray it with a chemical potion. When you immerse a bland 3D object in the tub, it bonds with the film and comes back out covered in chosen colors. This technique is hugely popular for transferring patterns on simple surfaces. But, the system lacks precision. Complex textures that are now common with 3D printers, stretch the film, and sometimes even tear it. The final pattern is often distorted. According to Wired, a group of researchers from Zheijiang University and Columbia University have devised a quirky dip-kit that adds computational capabilities to conventional hydrographics.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Scientists create chickens with dinosaur snouts to study evolution

  How do scientists study the evolutionary transformation from snouts to beaks as those winged dinosaurs became birds? By putting dinosaur snouts on chickens, of course. A team of researchers at Yale were able to modify the chickens' genetic make up in a way that would make then grow a snout like their ancestors (similar to the Anchiornis model above) rather than the beaks we're all familiar with. The modification allows scientists to study the molecular foundations of the evolution. More specifically, they can examine the difference in bone structure and the genetic pattern birds exhibit that reptiles and mammals don't -- the one that causes a beak to form. Despite how awesome it would be, the research had nothing to do with building a real-life Jurrasic Park. [Image credit: Lou-Foto/Alamy]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• A digital globe and 200,000 years of human migration

  The Ellis Island Immigration Museum suffered the devastation of Hurricane Sandy firsthand. Now, more than two years after the storm struck New York City (and many other places), the building is celebrating its comeback with a new name: Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Under this rejuvenated image, the museum will tell the story of humans moving across the entire world, rather than focusing just on those that passed through its iconic halls. Three new exhibits are going to be inaugurated on May 20th, all delivering content based on the pre- and post-Ellis Island days. One of them is the World Migration Globe, a custom-made sphere that's powered by two HD projectors and delivers a nine-minute video presentation about the 200,000 years of human migration.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Watch gravity waves ripple through Earth's atmosphere

  You might think of gravity as an invisible force here on Earth, but that's not entirely true... if you have the right computer simulation, that is. Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research have developed a climate model that shows the gravity waves in the upper atmosphere, where their amplitude is strong enough to create huge ripples. The trick is a higher-resolution model that replicates the waves at their source, and follows them on their way up. As you can see here, the results are dramatic -- gravity is virtually invisible near the surface, but it's impossible to miss when you're 60 miles up.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• MIT can fix pictures taken through your window... kinda

  Take a picture through a window and you'll often find you've captured more of your own reflection than the scene outside. You can solve the problem with a black cloth and a polarizing filter, but that's not ideal for the majority of smartphone snappers out there. That's why researchers at MIT are about to present a new software-based solution that, they believe, can "fix" the problem, but only if the window that you're shooting through is double-glazed.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• The first solar bike path is producing more energy than expected

  Back in November, SolaRoad launched a test bike path that generates energy through solar cells embedded in the concrete. It sounds like an outlandish idea, but it's apparently paying off very quickly. The company has revealed that its road has generated much more energy than expected -- it produced 3,000kWh of electricity in the space of just six months, or enough to power a single person's home for a year. That doesn't sound like much, but SolaRoad notes that its path only covers a 230-foot stretch in a Dutch village. You'd get a lot more energy from longer, wider roads.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Researchers show you can be uniquely identified by your bacteria

  The bacteria on and inside of your body, also known as your microbiome, could be another sort of fingerprint to identify you, according to new research out of Harvard. Researchers found that your bacterial buddies have enough unique features to be traced right back to you -- at least, when compared to hundreds of other people. Using data from the Human Microbiome Project, they applied an algorithm that identified the distinguishing features of microbiomes, and they were subsequently able to identify who they came from based on followup visits. The bacterial fingerprints were stable in people for over a year, and testing of gut microbiomes managed to accurately identify people 80 percent of the time. There's still plenty of testing to be done, naturally, but the findings show that researchers might want to be extra careful when dealing with microbiome data moving forward. Otherwise someone participating in a gut bacteria test could, for example, be outed as having a particularly embarrassing STD.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• We're one step closer to navigable 3D pictures of real places

  If you've experienced a VR representation of a real place, chances are that you've just been looking around a static, 360-degree panorama of a room. OTOY believes that the days of the fixed-camera 3D picture are now done thanks to light-field technology, the same image refocusing tech you'll find in a Lytro. In short, a pair of DSLRs on a prototype rig spin around to capture pictures of a space with light field lenses. When that data is pulled into a computer, it creates a virtual version of that picture with unprecedented fidelity. The best thing, however, is that the company believes that users can then move about the image as they see fit.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Annoying song stuck in your head? Chew gum

  Catchy songs are infectious, so you shouldn't feel bad if you've spent the last six months muttering about being all about that bass. Treatments for this persistent condition normally include either playing the track on a loop until you're bored of it, listening to anything else or forcing yourself to put it out of your mind. They all work to some degree, but it looks as if researchers at the University of Reading have found a far more successful solution: to chew gum. According to the findings, the best and easiest way to eliminate an earworm is to crack open a pack of Wrigley's.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• MIT Study suggests current solar power tech is good enough

  The standard line about solar power is that while good in theory, the technology just isn't there to keep our lights on and our Netflix streaming. But a new study from MIT (PDF) suggests that's not the case. According to the massive report (an epic 356 pages) current crystalline silicon photovoltaic technology is capable of delivering terawatt-scale power by 2050. That would be many times larger than Topaz facility California that generates 550 megawatts. While there is certainly room for improvement in efficiency, the MIT study says that the biggest hurdle isn't tech, it's investment. The authors called out the lack of funding for research and development, but focused more on poor governmental policies. Subsidies generally go to other energy sources, like oil and natural gas, and trade policies set by the federal government have driven up prices by restricting imports of cheaper solar parts in order to boost domestic production.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Harvard engineering class tries to make the best BBQ smoker

  As part of a 14-week-long assignment, 16 Harvard engineering students were given the task to create the perfect brisket. But what did they need to do that? A really, really good BBQ smoker. To build one, Engineering Sciences professor Kevin Parker landed his class a big-name client willing to fund the project: kitchen goods retailer Williams-Sonoma. The catch? It had to outdo the Big Green Egg -- a charcoal-powered kamado-styled ceramic smoker considered to be the best in the business. And, after months of working on it, the result was The Harvard Smoker, which is designed to consistently produce the best possible brisket. The contraption's hourglass shape is meant to spread heat evenly throughout the meat, while a slew of heat sensors send temperature readings to a smartphone -- and this becomes extremely important in what's typically a cooking process that takes 12 to 15 hours.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Anti-graffiti device nabs taggers by sniffing their fumes

  Australian taxpayers spent a whopping $34 million last year to remove graffiti from Sydney's commuter trains. To combat this urban blight, the Australian Department of Transport is rolling out an electronic "nose" that alerts authorities in real-time. This device, dubbed "the mousetrap", activates when it detects paint marker and spray-can aerosols. It then immediately engages a closed circuit recording of the crime before alerting the police, who pick up the perp at the next stop. The program has already undergone viability testing and, according to CBC News, has caught 30 vandals red-handed. Sydney Trains, the government-owned rail company that operates the region's commuter lines, hasn't disclosed how many of the devices will be deployed, only that they'll be swapped between service lines at random intervals. [Image credit: New South Wales Police Force/Australia Broadcasting Corporation]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Scientists are using powerful X-rays to make better chocolate

  Have you ever unwrapped a piece of chocolate only to discover that it looked a little old? That white substance that appears on the delicious confection is known as a fat bloom. As the fats in the chocolate crystallize, they form the rather unattractive white stuff. Fret not, though, a group of scientists from Nestlé, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) and the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) are using extremely powerful X-rays to examine exactly what causes the process. And, of course, searching for a method of avoiding the "defects." With DESY's PETRA III, which happens to be the brightest storage ring X-ray in the world, the team can examine the blooming process as it happens zoomed in to just a few nanometers. This means watching liquid fats (like cocoa butter) migrate to the surface of the chocolate. A number of factors could prevent the unsightly bloom, from storing chocolate below a certain temperature (around 65 degrees) to adjusting how porous the product is so that those migration routes are slowed. While some permanent solutions are still in the works, if you happen to come across of piece of bloom-covered candy, don't worry: it's safe to eat. [Image credit: EverJean/Flickr]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Electronic mini-city comments on the dangers of surveillance

  Nervous about the rise of a surveillance culture, where both companies and governments seem hell-bent on knowing everything they possibly can about you? So is British artist Stanza, who found a clever way of expressing that anxiety about always-watching electronics. His Nemesis Machine project connects a legion of climate and motion sensors in London to a miniature electronic city in Bruges. If the temperature climbs in Britain, for instance, a corresponding mini-building lights up in Belgium. There are even cameras that turn footage of viewers into tiny, Blade Runner-style video walls. The artwork both recreates the frenzied activity of a city and throws modern society's constant monitoring back in your face -- you know what those beeps, buzzes and flashes really mean.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Earth's ozone improves while CO2 levels worsen

  Good news: the hole in the ozone layer is shrinking. Bad news: worldwide levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide has reached another terrifying milestone. First up, NASA's Goddard Space Center is promoting a scientific paper from December that claims that Earth's ozone layer is gently beginning to repair itself. With data from the agency's AURA satellite, scientists believe that the hole in the ozone, which currently measures 12 million square miles, will drop below that figure by around 2040.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Scientists turn an iPhone into a blood parasite detector

  Seeing a hematologist is a luxury that few people can afford in the poorest parts of Africa. That's why a team at UC Berkeley has adapted its iPhone microscope project to identify blood parasites in under three minutes. CellScope Loa is, essentially, a 3D-printed box that a smartphone can sit on top of, taking five-second videos of blood samples. The companion app then looks for signs of movement from the microscopic worms that, when left untreated, cause river blindness and elephantiasis.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• The Large Hadron Collider is smashing protons together again

  It's been a long wait, but finally CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is back doing what it does best: smashing protons together. The machine was effectively shut down for two years while engineers in Switzerland carried out important upgrades. Scientists started firing proton beams again back in April, but avoided any collisions while they checked the new components were working properly. Now, CERN has announced that it's carrying out proton-proton collisions again. The beams are being fired at a lower energy of 450 gigaelectronvolts (GeV), however, so that CERN can check its particle detection systems are firing correctly. The plan is to ramp up the LHC so it can handle dual proton beams at 6.5 TeV - almost double what it was operating at before the shutdown -- for 13 TeV collisions later this summer. The Higgs boson was discovered last time, so we're hoping something equally remarkable is uncovered during its sophomore season.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Researchers find new 'most distant' galaxy in the universe

  Peering through the voids of space is a lot like time travelling: the deeper we gaze into a seemingly endless Universe, the further back in time we can see. Now, a team of researchers led by astronomers from Yale University and UC Santa Cruz have announced that they've discovered the most distant galaxy to date. In fact, the galaxy, known a EGS-zs8-1, is so ludicrously far from Earth that light just now reaching us from it is about 13 billion years old. To put that in perspective, the Universe itself is 13.8 billion years. That means this galaxy began forming stars when the Universe was only 5 percent of its current age -- barely 670 million years after big banging into existence.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Nanotube-soaked spiders spin super-strong silk

  Orb spider silk, already among the toughest and strongest materials found in nature, could soon get a super-strong nanoscale upgrade. A research team from the University of Trento, Italy recently sprayed 15 Orb-weaving spiders, members of the Pholcidae family, with carbon nanotube or graphene particle solutions. They found that doing so caused some of the spiders to spin even stronger silk than what they normally do. The team administered five spiders with a graphene-water solution and another 10 with a carbon-water mix. While some spiders subsequently spun sub-par silk (and four of them died outright), a few of the carbon-dosed arachnids actually produced strands 3.5 times stronger than the most resilient natural silk we know about.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Telesurgery tests highlight the limits of the Internet

  Telesurgery has the potential to bring surgeons in contact with patients anywhere, any time. In a remote robotic-assisted surgery, a doctor would be able to guide a mechanical device at a far away location to perform the procedure. The use of robotics in surgeries has been successful, as long as the operator and the device are in the same OR. But putting distance between the two has been problematic. The whole process relies on a strong network or Internet for connectivity, which invariably results in some amount of latency. Even the slightest lag can have serious implications. With a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Florida Hospital Nicholson Center has completed a series of tests that reveal improvements in bandwidth technology are making telesurgery safer.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• NIH bans funding for genetic engineering of human embryos

  Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China made headlines late last month upon announcing that they had successfully edited the genes of a human embryo. This revelation set off a firestorm of controversy as the scientific community took sides in the ethical debate of genetic manipulation. Now, the National Institute of Health has weighed in on the issue and is denying funding to research that involves meddling with the human germline.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• New military goggles combine nightvision and thermal imaging

  Nightvision and thermal imaging play similar -- but very distinct -- roles on the modern battlefield. Soldiers utilize night vision to illuminate their darkened surroundings while thermal imaging is employed to illuminate darkened targets. But until now, soldiers have had to carry separate imaging systems for each, which negatively impacts how quickly they can switch optics and acquire their targets. BAE Systems, however, announced Monday a new kind of optic that packs the functionality of both into a single unit.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Taking walks with this leg brace can power an artificial heart

  Someday, folks with artificial hearts might have to take long, daily walks to stay alive -- not because exercise is good for their health, but because those walks literally power their synthetic organ. A team of students from Rice University called "Farmers" are developing a device that can generate energy and feed it back into the body to be used by an artificial heart. Their creation? A modified medical leg brace with a motor attached right on the joint, so it can produce energy every time the user bends his knee. An earlier prototype for the same project -- it's a multi-year endeavor, and the current model is the brainchild of the third batch of students -- could also generate power by walking. However, that wasn't a brace, but a shoe with a pedal attached to the sole.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Scientists look at flower cells in 3D without wrecking them

  Plants are delicate things, which makes them a pain to study under an electron microscope -- you'll probably damage the very cells you're trying to look at. You'll get a much better look if the University of Florida's new imaging technique catches on, though. Their approach leans on both a compound fluorescence light microscope and a camera to capture several layers of cells, creating a detailed 3D snapshot of the cellular structure of something as fragile as a flower petal. The resulting pictures may not be shocking (surprise: there are lots of globs), but they should be a big deal for biologists. Researchers would have a better sense of how animal and plant tissues work when they're untouched by humans, which could go a long way toward fighting diseases and learning about new species. [Image credit: Jacob B. Landis]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Vertical farms, smart ceilings and national pride at the world fair

  Expo Milano is a makeshift city studded with spectacular pavilions. In an attempt to outshine each other at the world fair, which opens today, 143 countries brought in their A-list teams of architects, innovators and culinary experts to design their temporary buildings. The UK built a beehive structure that's straight out of a sci-fi movie. China has an elaborate floating roof. Italy used air-purifying cement for its palazzo. And while the US pavilion isn't an architectural extravaganza, it's a didactic display with a giant automated vertical farm that's the first of its kind and size.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

Smartphones (35)

• What sweet treat will the 'M' in 'Android M' stand for?

  In no surprise to anyone, Google announced that its next version of Android will be called "M," the natural followup to Lollipop and its other edible mobile operating systems. We won't know for some time what the "M" will stand for and are really hoping it's not something lame like "Mobile." Our team came up with a few suggestions of what the sweet treat might be and invite you to guess which one you think will get the honors. If we got it wrong and you have another idea, tweet it to us (we're @engadget, natch).

  By John Colucci Read More

• Where to buy LG's G4 in the UK

  If we were to ask what your current smartphone is lacking above all, you'd probably cite a shortage of leather, right? OK, so maybe not, but with the launch of the LG G4 in the UK, a leather-backed handset is now well within your grasp. LG's latest flagship, which is also available in vegetarian flavours with metallic effect rear shells, isn't a huge evolution from last year's G3. That said, it's still crammed full of top-tier components, particularly in the display and camera departments, with excellent battery life to keep you tapping your way through those long days. Now, let's say you're interested, but aren't sure of the best way to go about acquiring one. Well, then, let us walk you through your options.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Lenovo's projector phone beams a touchscreen onto any surface

  Smartphones with built-in projectors -- well, just the two from Samsung, really -- haven't exactly been a huge hit so far, but Lenovo thinks it's finally got the right use case for this combination: beaming a touchscreen or virtual keyboard onto your desk. Announced at the Lenovo Tech World conference today is the Smart Cast, the world's first smartphone with an integrated focus-free laser projector, as opposed to the DLP tech on existing pico projectors. In addition to the usual wall projection mode, there's a "surface mode" that requires twisting the projector cap at the top (to enable reflection), propping up the phone with its kickstand, and then you'll have a projected touchscreen -- be it a virtual piano, a virtual keyboard or even Fruit Ninja -- right in front of you. Alas, that's all the info we've got so far. Until we get to see the real thing, you can check out the demo video after the break to stay entertained.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• LG's G4 arrives at T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and US Cellular next week (update: AT&T, too)

  Have you been eyeing LG's latest flagship handset since it was announced last month? Well, it's set to arrive in the US next week. T-Mobile began selling the G4 online today, for $0 down and $25/month for two years or $599.76 if you're looking to part with a lump sum. The pink-hued carrier is looking to lure early adopters with an extra that'll make good use of that microSD card slot. If you opt in "while supplies last," you can expect a free 128GB card for free. And T-Mobile's the spot to grab that dapper brown leather rear cover. The LG G4 won't go on sale in stores until June 3rd, so nabbing one now means yours will ship before the phone hits retail. Not a fan of T-Mobile? Fret not.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• LG and Huawei are reportedly making Google's Nexus phones this year

  If you were disappointed that your only choice for a new, official Google phone last year was the gargantuan Nexus 6, you'll be glad to hear that 2015 could be very different. Android Police sources have elaborated on previous rumors with word that both LG and Huawei are working on Nexus handsets this year. The LG device, nicknamed Angler, would have a 5.2-inch screen and might borrow the G4's six-core Snapdragon 808 processor -- effectively, it'd be a modernized Nexus 5. Huawei's phone, Bullhead, would pack a bigger 5.7-inch display and could step up to a Snapdragon 810 chip. Think of it as a not-so-ungainly Nexus 6.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sony's Xperia Z3+ is a familiar flagship

  Sony announced the Xperia Z4 for Japan last month, but this isn't it. Well it is, but internationally Sony wants it to be known as the Xperia Z3+. Truth be told, that's a more appropriate name for the phone, given the incremental upgrade it represents over last year's model. The Z3+ may look virtually identical to its predecessor, but internally it has almost everything you'd expect from a 2015 flagship.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Samsung's Iron Man edition Galaxy S6 Edge lacks J.A.R.V.I.S.

  With Samsung being an active promoter of Marvel's latest Avengers movie, it's no surprise to see the tech giant releasing some sort of special edition product to sweeten the deal. Why yes, it's an Iron Man limited edition Galaxy S6 Edge with matching red-and-gold color theme -- something that HTC should have done a while back. This curved 64GB device is quite a looker, and the special package even comes with an "arc reactor" wireless charger plus a clear cover, but you'll have to make do with Google Now instead of the snarky J.A.R.V.I.S. Here's the real bad news, though: right now Samsung is only releasing this phone in South Korea on May 27th, followed by China and Hong Kong in June. So while you're searching for the earliest flights to Asia, feel free to keep yourselves entertained with the official unboxing video after the break.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• The next Firefox OS devices will focus on quality, not cost

  Outside of one or two exceptions, most Firefox OS devices have been aimed squarely at the budget crowd -- at folks who would otherwise have to entirely forego smartphoness or tablets. However, Mozilla is ready to switch things up. The organization has unveiled a new strategy, Ignite, that should lead to Firefox OS gadgets you want to buy "because of the experience" rather than the price tag, according to CEO Chris Beard. Just what that entails isn't clear, but there's little doubt that this means a shift toward higher-end (though not necessarily flagship-class) hardware.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Android M might have its own fingerprint login system

  Android is getting a TouchID-style system of its own with Android M, according to Buzzfeed's sources. Apparently it'll act a lot like the iOS tool too, bypassing passwords for associated apps in favor of reading your fingerprint. Given that I/O is practically right around the corner (next week!) it shouldn't be long before this all gets confirmed -- Google hasn't responded to our request for comment just yet. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Oppo's R7 Plus squeezes a big battery into a slim body

  Nope, these aren't the near-bezel-less phones that Oppo teased us with back in March, but they are still very compelling. Following the super slim R5, the Chinese company has shifted its focus back to specs with two new models: the 5-inch R7 and the 6-inch R7 Plus. For us, it's really all about the bigger phone: its 7.75mm-thick aluminum unibody manages to pack a generous 4,100 mAh battery, which goes very well with Oppo's renowned VOOC rapid charging -- a feature that's proven to be faster than most of its competitors'. Not to mention that the device also comes with a single-touch fingerprint sensor on the back, along with an 8-megapixel f/2.4 front imager plus a 13-megapixel f/2.2 main camera with an RGBW sensor (Sony's IMX278) for better sensitivity in the dark, as well as laser auto-focus and dual-tone LED flash.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• LG busts out budget and Note-style versions of the G4

  LG's leather-clad flagship hits stores this week, but no blockbuster device can come to the party without its squad in tow. That's why, in addition to the G4, the company is outing the Galaxy Note-troubling G4 Stylus and the budget-level G4c. Much like its immediate rival, the G4 Stylus comes with a 5.7-inch display and that famous Rubberdium(TM) pencil for scribbling. You may, however, be upset to spot that the device comes with a few downgrades on its relative, with the 13-megapixel camera a small downgrade on the 16-megapixel lens on the original. Oh, and if you're looking to pick one up in North America or Korea, you'll have to ask the assistant for a G Stylo, because someone in a marketing department was paid too much money.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• YotaPhone 2's American crowdfunding campaign kicks off

  Have you been jonesing to get the YotaPhone 2 in North America? It's time to put your money where your mouth is. As promised, Yota has kicked off an Indiegogo campaign to help fund its unique smartphone's summer launches in the US and Canada. Make at least a $500 pledge (that's $100 off the eventual release price) and you'll get both the Android handset as well as a bumper case and a 3-month subscription to Yota's BookMate service. You can also spring for a $50 portable wireless power pack if you're averse to cables. The crowdfunding effort will end in 60 days, but it has a fairly modest $50,000 goal -- there's a good chance that you'll have a YotaPhone 2 in your hands before the weather gets cold.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Russia is making its own smartphone platform, sort of

  When Russia said it was reducing its dependence on Western technology, it wasn't kidding around. Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov recently met with Finland's Jolla to talk about developing an "independent" Russian mobile operating system based on Sailfish OS. He's concerned that 95 percent of phones in the country use foreign software like Android or iOS, and wants to foster a domestic platform that both boosts the economy and is less susceptible to mass surveillance. Yes, Sailfish technically comes from another country, but its open source nature would allow for customized software where there shouldn't be any secrets.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• HTC doesn't see a future in 'mini' smartphones (update: it might)

  We hope you weren't pinning your hopes on a downsized version of HTC's One M9 smartphone, as you probably won't get it... or anything like it in the future, for that matter. HTC's Jack Tong says that the company is ditching the One mini phone range because the "industry is moving" to phones with 5-inch and larger screens. Why build a cut-down version of a handset when most of your customers want something big? The move makes sense given that the One mini doesn't really drive sales like its full-size sibling. Still, this is bad news if you like smaller smartphones -- while there are certainly alternatives on the market, it's good to have more options. Update: HTC tells us that this was a misquote. As it explains to Phone Scoop, Tong did say that 5-inch and larger phones were the future, but he didn't say the mini line was finished. This isn't to say that you'll see a One M9 mini -- just that phones like it are still a possibility at some point.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• ASUS' lovely, low-cost ZenFone 2 hits North America tomorrow

  ASUS' ZenFone 2 isn't exactly an unknown quantity -- we first saw it at CES earlier this year, and since then, the thing's been trickling onto store shelves around the world. Still, after a surreal, slightly awkward/slightly cool dance number, Chairman Jonney Shih made an appearance in New York to talk about bringing the company's newest flagship(s) to the US. Long story short, we're getting two models around these parts, one that'll cost $199 off-contract and another that'll run you $299. Read on for a better sense of that your hard-earned scratch will get you.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• LG's leather-clad G4 flagship goes on sale this week

  LG is super-excited about the leather used in making its G4 (judging by the video below), and hopes you are too as it goes on sale this week. We certainly liked the new flagship, especially the screen, f/1.8 camera and battery life, though we found the style on the non-leather model a bit dull. It ticks the spec boxes too, with expandable memory, a 5.5-inch quad HD "quantum" display and a 64-bit Snapdragon 808 six-core CPU. Unfortunately for US denizens, the G4 begins its rollout in Hong Kong, then hits Turkey, Russia and Singapore before arriving stateside. LG still hasn't confirmed the price, but it's rumored to be around $600 -- about the same as Samsung's non-curvy Galaxy S6.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• LG's first Windows phone in ages is a budget model for Verizon

  LG hasn't really done much to support Windows Phone as of late (despite promises to the contrary), but it's making amends for that today. Verizon has announced the previously leaked LG Lancet, a Windows Phone 8.1 device (LG's first, in fact) for the budget crowd. The hardware won't blow you away between the 4.5-inch display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 8-megapixel rear camera, 0.3-megapixel front camera and 8GB of expandable storage. However, it does have a few aces up its sleeve.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Windows 10 phone preview tests out universal Office, Xbox apps

  Microsoft's latest preview version of Windows 10 for phones is here and whether you prefer work or play -- or non-Lumia Windows phones -- it has something new to offer. This is the first one ready to test out the new Universal Office apps (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote) that are built to run across PCs, phones and tablets alike. Control them via touch, pen, keyboard -- whatever you have they're ready to do business. This access arrives because build 10080 is also the first with a beta version of the new Windows Store. It's a universal app too (notice a theme here?) with a new look, but there are some known issues and the old Store app is still there in case you need to fall back on it. Microsoft announced that it would bring carrier billing for all with the new app and while that's still on the way, it's not enabled yet.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Samsung Galaxy S6 Active breaks cover with an expectedly rugged look

  If you're looking for a phone with great specs that can be tossed around and survive a swim, Samsung's Galaxy S6 Active appears to be on the way. Both GSM Arena and trusted leaker @evleaks offered a glimpse of the forthcoming handset today, one that features an outer shell similar to last year's version. Like previous Active models, a trio of hardware buttons reside on the front, so don't expect the same fingerprint scanner found on both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. They do have to be waterproof, after all. Other than a look at both sides, details remain scarce besides save for word that the S6 Active packs a 3,500 mAh battery. If history is any indication, you can expect similar specs to the flagship while being both shock resistant and dustproof, as this handset will be built to withstand a bit more stress.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Japanese smartphone gets iris-scanning for mobile payments

  The common objection to using your phone for purchases is that any sufficiently-motivated criminal could lop off your thumb and go on a spending spree. That's one of the reasons why Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo and Fujitsu have teamed up to unveil the Arrows NX F-04G. The pair say that it's the world's first smartphone with iris recognition technology that can be used to both unlock a device and certify mobile wallet payments.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• YotaPhone 2 gets whiter, cheaper and Lollipopier

  The YotaPhone 2, with AMOLED on the front and E Ink on the back, is already quite a striking handset thanks to its dual-screen design. Though not striking enough, apparently, or at least not as openly eccentric as the new, white version of the device launching today. And a different color scheme isn't the only thing Yota Devices has to announce this morning. The price of the YotaPhone 2 is also dropping significantly in Europe from today, regardless of what model you're eyeing up, and all current owners will be pleased to hear that an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop has begun rolling out. In addition to Google's improvements, the new version also includes a bunch of YotaPhone-specific tweaks that let you do more with the E Ink display.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Yes, 10-core smartphones will be a thing in 2016

  When MediaTek first launched an octa-core mobile processor back in late 2013, many folks -- including Qualcomm -- called it a gimmick, but said feature has since become quite popular amongst device manufacturers, to the point where Qualcomm eventually had to come up with its very own octa-core offerings. Just to stay one step ahead of others, MediaTek is now prepping the launch of a deca-core aka 10-core chip dubbed the Helio X20, which will succeed the octa-core Helio X10 (MT6795) that's already powering HTC's Asia-only One M9+ plus several upcoming Chinese flagship phones. MediaTek is sampling its new chip in Q3, and the first commercial devices to use it will arrive as early as end of this year.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• China's smartphone market is big, but it isn't getting bigger

  China's such a big country that there'll always be an insatiable demand for smartphones, right? Not according to research firm IDC, which believes that the nation's phone market has contracted by four percent in the last year. The outfit's merry band of spreadsheet-wranglers believes that the majority of Chinese people now own a mobile device, and as such, will only buy a phone when they want to upgrade.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Mozilla launches Firefox OS phones in Morocco and Senegal

  Firefox OS might be in a distant fourth place (or further?) here domestically, but Mozilla sees plenty of value for it in emerging countries. Specifically? Senegal and Madagascar in Africa, where it recently partnered with French telecom Orange to launch the KLIF. And no, you aren't wrong, it's neither a flip-phone or a slider. Nor is it transparent. A Mozilla blog post says that the main idea with this 3G smartphone is to get more people online in places where they previously couldn't. It's the web outfit following through on a promise it made back at Mobile World Congress in Spain, and the Middle East is where we'll see the initiative pop up next.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• LG is making a smaller, stripped-down version of its G4 phone

  You didn't think that LG would reserve its latest design language just for the G4, did you? Sure enough, WinFuture claims to have leaked details of the G4c, a 5-inch budget counterpart to the G4 flagship. In many ways, it appears to be a straight-up refresh of the G3 Beat (G3 S). You'd get a slightly faster Snapdragon 410 processor and a higher-resolution 5-megapixel front shooter, but you'd also wind up with the Beat's familiar 720p display, 8MP rear camera, 8GB of expandable storage and 2,540mAh battery. In fact, it might take a step backward -- we're not seeing signs of laser autofocus, a color sensor or other special camera tricks. If all you're looking for is that "Metallic Craft" back in a lower-cost package, though, you'll be happy to hear that the G4c is rumored to ship in early June.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Nubia's near bezel-less phone also has a grip-sensitive frame

  Oppo may have already shown off its near bezel-less prototype phone back in March, but local rival Nubia has actually released a handset featuring the same optical trickery on the edges (and let's not forget that Sharp did it first). Dubbed the Z9, this dual-Nano SIM flagship device packs a 5.2-inch 1080p Sharp-made display, a Snapdragon 810 chipset and either 32GB of storage with 3GB RAM (black "Classic Edition") or 64GB of storage with 4GB RAM (gold-colored "Elite Edition"). But never mind these boring figures, because the real treat here is the "Frame interactive Technology" or "FiT" in short, which enables grip and gesture-based control on the aluminum mid-frame. It seems rather handy, if you'll pardon the pun.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Giant phones are finally a big deal in the US

  Extra-large phones have been hot stuff in some countries for a long while, but not so much in the US. The country must have had a change of heart in the past few months, however. Kantar Worldpanel estimates that gigantic devices jumped from 6 percent of American smartphone sales in the first quarter of last year to 21 percent in early 2015. Why? If you ask Kantar, the launch of the iPhone 6 Plus was partly responsible -- it racked up 44 percent of all supersized phone sales despite being just a few months old. The analyst group isn't saying much in public how other brands were doing, although it's safe to say that category pioneer Samsung grabbed a large slice of the pie thanks to high-powered behemoths like the Galaxy Note 4.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Samsung's Galaxy S6 uses 'several' different camera sensors

  When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S6, you might have noticed that the company stopped touting its in-house ISOCELL camera tech. Was it relying on someone else's sensor instead? As it turns out, the answer is yes... sort of. The Korean firm has confirmed owners' discoveries that the rear sensor is alternately made by Samsung or Sony. There are "several different vendors" making S6 cameras, a spokesperson says, although there's no mention of how Samsung distributes those components. Not that you'll need to be worried, apparently. The company insists that they all meet "strict global quality and performance standards," and SamMobile has conducted tests showing that the practical differences are slight. In short, you'll likely get quality photos regardless of whose imaging hardware is under the hood.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Google searching from your desktop is officially old skool

  That people might favor a connected mobile device over a clunky old desktop isn't news. Even in nations where a big boxy computer has long been a thing (unlike, say, in developing nations). Perhaps inevitably, then, Jerry Dischler -- VP of Product Management, Google -- just revealed that "as of today" more searches are originating from smartphones than PCs in at least 10 countries -- and the US is one of 'em. This is more significant given that Google likely doesn't include tablets, either (so it's just phones). Google stopped short of breaking that sign-of-the-times tidbit down any further, but did mention that the trend includes Canada and Japan, too. Is this all that surprising, given we knew that the number of connected phones in people's hands was swelling? Perhaps not, but it does shed light on why search's number one player recently shuffled up its hallowed algorithms to favor mobile friendly sites. And, when Google changes the inner working of search, the internet tends to follow.

  By James Trew Read More

• Hugo Barra on why Xiaomi is against microSD cards in phones

  If you were to compare iOS and Android, the latter's storage expansion option via microSD -- up to a whopping 200GB these days -- is often regarded as an advantage, though not all devices come with such offer. For instance, while HTC and LG have made the microSD slot a standard feature on their recent flagship devices, Samsung oddly decided to remove it from its Galaxy S6 series (ironically, the company has just announced new microSD cards). Xiaomi, on the other hand, seems to be on the fence: its flagship line has long ditched the microSD slot after its first-gen device, yet its affordable Redmi line uses said feature as a selling point. It's as if Xiaomi is contradicting itself, but Hugo Barra, the company's Vice President of International, gave us a more definitive answer after launching the Mi 4i in Hong Kong.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Android Lollipop is gaining more users as new flagships come out

  It took a while for Android Lollipop to even get its own slice on the OS pie chart Google releases regularly, but it now seems to be steadily gaining popularity. According to the latest Android stats collected from April 28th to May 4th, nine percent of devices are now running Lollipop. While that's still quite small, it's almost double last month's percentage (five percent). KitKat's stat slid down to 39.8 percent from last month's 41.4 percent, so a number of stragglers might have finally upgraded. However, we're sure the new flagships that recently started shipping with Lollipop out of the box (such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge) helped boost the version's usage. All the older versions' percentage are slightly down from last month's, as well, but Froyo's impressively still hanging on at 0.3 percent.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Microsoft is reportedly making high-end Windows phones again

  One of the biggest gripes among Windows phone devotees is a lack of high-powered devices as of late. How are you supposed to be a hardcore fan when most of the lineup is downright basic? At last, though, Microsoft appears to be catering to that need for speed. Both Unleash the Phones and The Verge understand that the Redmond crew is working on two range-topping Windows 10 phones, nicknamed Cityman and Talkman in a nod to Nokia's early handsets. They'd both be powerhouses with Quad HD screens, 3GB of RAM, 20-megapixel rear cameras, 5-megapixel front shooters and 32GB of expandable storage. It'd really boil down to your preference of screen size. The Talkman would be the mid-size model with a 5.2-inch display and a six-core processor (likely the LG G4's Snapdragon 808), while the Cityman would up the ante with a 5.7-inch screen and an eight-core (possibly Snapdragon 810) chip.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• HTC's largely plastic M9+ variant will be a compelling flagship

  HTC's all about its One M9 in the West, but we know many of our readers would rather have the slightly bigger and more powerful M9+. While chances of the latter device escaping Asia are slim, a seemingly plastic variant dubbed "M9e" brings us new hope, courtesy of China's TENAA certification database. With the exception of the missing Duo Camera, this model shares the same face plus specs with the M9+: 5.2-inch Quad HD display, 2.2GHz octa-core processor (likely MediaTek's), 3GB of RAM, 20-megapixel main camera (with dual-tone flash), UltraPixel front imager, microSD card expansion and fingerprint reader. What's uncertain is whether the IR blaster is still present at the top, but regardless, it's safe to assume that HTC will be offering this mysterious device with a more affordable price -- probably one that's not far off from the even bigger E9+.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• Sony makes it easier to put new operating systems on its phones

  Sony's Android smartphones haven't been tinkerer-friendly to date -- since you couldn't boot from a recovery partition, you couldn't install CyanogenMod and other unofficial operating systems without jumping through hoops. It should be much easier to mess with your software from now on, though. Sony is quietly releasing bootloaders that let you boot from that recovery space, which opens the door to installing both custom Android ROMs as well as very different platforms, like Firefox OS or Ubuntu Touch. The catch? Right now, the only devices that support these bootloaders are lower-end models you probably don't use, like the Xperia E3, M2, T2 Ultra and T3. You won't be modifying the heck out of your Xperia Z3 just yet, then, but that's no longer a far-fetched idea.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The HTC One M9 can finally capture uncompressed images

  Look, sometimes it takes a little while for things to reach their full potential. Or does it? In our review of the HTC One M9, we talked about how lackluster the smartphone's camera is, especially when compared to rival flagships like the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6. That said, HTC has released an update to its standalone camera app that will make quite a few people happy. Available now on Google Play, this version of the HTC Camera is finally getting RAW support, which will let those of you with an M9 start capturing uncompressed image files -- unfortunately, that's the only device compatible with the new feature. You can grab the refreshed app right now -- and once you've taken it for a spin, be sure to share your thoughts with us.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

Social Media (36)

• Path's social apps get sold to the company behind KakaoTalk

  Remember Path, the social network for keeping in touch with your closest friends and family? Unless you live in Indonesia, probably not. And that's part of the reason why it ended selling its social networking apps to Daum Kakao, the Korean parent company of the messaging app KakaoTalk. Path was founded five years ago with a more intimate and well-designed take on social networking, and it snagged 10 million users in that time. But aside from some initial pickup in tech centers like San Francisco and New York City, most of its growth ended up being in Latin America and Southeast Asia (more than half of its users are based in Indonesia). Specifically, Daum Kakao is picking up the core Path app and Path Talk, a standalone chat app it launched last year. Path the company will live on with its animated GIF app Kong, and it likely has some other projects in the works too.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Facebook now supports GIFs, so go knock yourself out

  It's hard to believe, but that bastion of instant gratification, Facebook, has never supported GIFs (except via a kludge). But that appears to be fixed and you can now express your joy or add some comedy to posts on the social network. You just need to add a GIF link from Giphy, Imgur and other sites to your status updates, and it'll play inline like magic (uploads won't work, however, as TNW spotted). We're not sure when Zuckerberg and Co. turned the feature on, though it doesn't seem to work yet on mobile apps and may take some time to roll out to your neck of the woods. Meanwhile, here's a little inspiration.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Skeegle is like Meerkat or Periscope, but for private groups

  Broadcasting live video from your smartphone has quickly become all the rage. The most popular enablers of this craze are Meerkat and Periscope, both of which aim to create a global community of streamers and voyeurs that find each other's feeds through open social networks. New player Skeegle, however, wants to do things a little differently, by making mobile live-streaming a more private affair. The premise is simple: you choose exactly who you want to broadcast to. Once you've downloaded the app, logged in with a Facebook account and associated your phone number with it (WhatsApp-style), you can start building groups from your phone's contact list (think "friends," "family," etcetera). When you stumble upon something worth streaming, you simply select the groups you'd like to be notified of your activity, start broadcasting, and that's it.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• Website writes up notes for you using Instagram font

  Kidnappers who send out ransom notes made of magazine cutouts are so old school. Any self-respecting, tech-savvy abductor who finds ordinary fonts boring would use Type To Design's Instagram font generator instead. It's pretty easy to use, too. You just go its website, type in your sinister warning or whatever, and it will scour Type To Design's curated collection of letters and numbers taken from the photo-sharing network. Unhappy with how a particular figure looks? Refresh, and it will find alternatives for you. After that, save the note as a PDF to print it out or screenshot it like we did above.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Third-party Twitter apps will display quoted tweets properly soon

  It's been six weeks or so since Twitter revamped its "quoted tweet" function, saving users valuable characters and generally improving the experience for everyone using the site or the official apps. Now, it's updating its API to support the changes, which will allow third-parties to properly display the quotes in their apps. To be clear, that's all the update will allow for: displaying quotes correctly. Actually quoting tweets, according to Tweetium for Windows, is not supported by the API change, and it's unsure if or when that'll happen.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• British Museum to give live tours over Periscope

  Live-streaming apps may have become a new way for social types to show their vanity, but they're also great tools for delivering slices of world culture to people's mobile phones. That's exactly what the British Museum hopes to do with its popular exhibit Defining beauty: the body in ancient Greek art, which will be the focus of a live tour over Twitter's Periscope app. The museum has British historian and broadcaster Dan Snow on hand to lead a 30 minute journey through the exhibition's white marble statues, terracotta works, bronzes and ornate vases. There'll also be the chance to post questions using the iOS and Android app.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Facebook Messenger's pay-your-friends feature reaches New York City

  Facebook has been cautious about rolling out Messenger payments in the US so far, but it just opened them up in a big way. The feature now works for anyone in New York City and the surrounding areas, so you can cover your share of that SoHo pizza when a chat buddy brings it up. The software itself is a little more helpful, too -- it'll automatically link dollar amounts to help you pay them faster, and you can pay individual friends within group discussions. It'll be a while before you can sling cash to any Facebook user you like, but that day is at least getting closer.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Facebook tests a new Security Checkup to keep your account safe

  Over the last few years Facebook has made a number of tweaks to make it easier to protect your account from hackers, but that doesn't mean individual users are keeping up. Since there's no point to security features if people don't use them, and hacked accounts are annoying for everyone (why are they always selling sunglasses? Who wants cheap Oakleys that much?) it's testing a new Security Checkup feature. The idea is that it's a simple and straightforward walkthrough for some of the things everyone should keep an eye on in regards to their account -- update the password, double check connected apps and devices, activate login alerts -- and if the response is good, more people will see the prompt soon. If you (or your friend/relative with the account that's constantly pushing spam) aren't seeing it yet, a visit to the Privacy Basics page is another way to make sure things are locked down.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Instagram wants to reel you back in with emailed photo highlights

  Instagram's photographic social feed isn't as novel as it once was, and you may be tempted to stop using it if you're overwhelmed by that never-ending stream of square pictures. How is the company supposed to keep you coming back for more? Though regular email blasts, apparently. TechCrunch has confirmed that Instagram is now sending "Highlights," email digests that showcase some of the better photos from those you follow. While this see-what-you're-missing strategy isn't new (Facebook and Twitter have done this for a while), it acknowledges that only some of Instagram's 300 million users are active shutterbugs -- this could help you remember the service and catch photos that would otherwise slip under the radar. Yes, the highlights are ultimately meant to get you viewing more ads, but they may be useful if you'd rather not spend every day wading through an image stream.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Meat your match with this Tinder-swiping steak

  Dating apps are often characterized as 21st century "meat markets" and, thanks to this Dutch art installation, Tinder's getting uncomfortably close the real thing. The piece, appropriately called Tender, was built by four students at Leiden University in the Netherland. It's scheduled to debut at the Habitat art exhibition at Radion Amsterdam next weekend. But don't worry about getting hooked up with cold cuts, the app is actually a Tinder knockoff called 6Tin and that's an instant dealbreaker. [Image Credit: The Ministry of Gifs]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Mapping project catalogs Instagram sunrises from around the world

  Have you noticed the wealth of sunrise and sunset photos on Instagram? Michelle Chandra certainly has, and her project offers a look at the sun's activity around the world in real time. "All Our Suns" gathers snapshots upload with either the #sunrise or #sunset hashtag, using the posts to populate a set of data-driven maps. Two of the crowdsourced cartography pieces catalog every image that's uploaded during the course of a 24-hour period -- one for sunrises and one for sunsets based on a user's location. What's more, you can click on a location marker to view the photo. A third map notes times when two people are posting at the same time, with one updating the beginning and the other observing the end of a day. The whole thing is a study on how our lives literally revolve around the sun and how social networks illustrate time as a never-ending loop.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Tinder sneaks ads for albums into your dating profiles

  There comes a point in every zeitgeisty app's life when it wonders if it should stop eating nothing but Doritos and having those drunken one-night stands and become a mature, serious business. We've already seen Snapchat evolve from a way to distribute pictures of your genitals to a news broadcast system, and now Tinder is seriously considering becoming a music promoter. The dating app has just signed a deal with Interscope Records to promote the new album from Russian DJ Zedd.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Facebook launches 'caller ID' for new Messenger conversations

  Next time someone contacts you on Facebook Messenger for the first time, you'll see a calling card of sorts showing his photo, other public info and how you two are connected. Facebook's Vice President of Messaging, David Marcus, calls it "enhanced caller ID for messaging," and it shows up even if you're not Friends with the other person. It lists helpful clues to jog your memory in case you can't remember who's trying to contact you, including his job, school and if he lives in your location, which are the same pieces of information shown by Facebook's Hello caller ID app for Android. This "Messenger caller ID" feature, however, is rolling out to both iOS and Android devices, but only in the US, the UK, India and France for now. Hopefully, it can save you time from clicking through to a weirdo's profile and prevent you from dismissing important messages sent by potential employers or old friends.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Your photos are more popular when you use filters, according to Yahoo

  Whether or not you think photo filters represent creative assets or the death of photography as we know it, one thing's becoming increasingly clear: they're your ticket to popularity. Yahoo and Georgia Tech researchers have learned that filtered photos (at least, on Flickr) are 21 percent more likely to get views, and 45 percent more likely to receive comments. This doesn't mean that you can throw on any effect you like, mind you. Warmer-looking filters usually get the best results, while colder examples have less of an impact. In short, feel free to tweak your Instagram shots if you feel they lack a certain oomph that will draw in the crowds -- just don't try to be overly dark and edgy.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Trolls are using Twitter ads to push hate speech

  As much as Twitter is doing to fight harassment lately, it's clear that ill-willed users are still slipping past the social network's defenses -- and sometimes, in very conspicuous ways. Users have spotted trolls using Twitter's promoted tweet ads to spread racist and anti-transgender messages, guaranteeing a wide audience for their hate. The company tells The Guardian that it's pulling these ads and suspending the offending accounts, but it's not offering an explanation for why these tweets got through despite policies that explicitly ban hateful language. The failures suggest that Twitter's ad approvals are relatively hands-off, and that it needs to keep a much closer eye on things so that its ads remain friendly. [Image credit: Señor Nejo, Flickr]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Facebook Messenger's video calling lands in (almost) every country

  Facebook Messenger's video calling feature is now available in more locations -- almost everywhere, according to David Marcus, "with the exception of a few countries." Marcus, the social network's Vice President of Messaging Products, announced the development as a status update. He didn't exactly list the newly supported countries, but he revealed in the comments that the company "would love to offer the service in UAE, but operators are blocking it." We can say for sure that video calling hasn't arrived in the Philippines yet, and according to commenters on Marcus' page, it's also still not available in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Folks in countries included in this update can take advantage of the feature on both iOS and Android, as well on messenger.com.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• President Obama gets his own Twitter account: @POTUS

  The President of the United States of America is one of the most powerful people in the world. Now, whoever holds that office also has a Twitter account to match. The White House announced today that @POTUS is the official handle for the commander in chief. As you're probably well aware, President Barack Obama already has a Twitter account that's quite active, however his campaign manages that feed. With this new username, updates will come directly from the president himself as he continues working to make "his Administration the most open and participatory in history." The new account goes nicely with @FLOTUS and @VP, and all three will get new owners in 2017 as the next election cycle approaches.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Reddit defines 'harassment' in an effort to curb it

  Reddit has had it up to here with the trolls in its forums and is finally doing something about it. In fact, Reddit's doing a lot of somethings. In a post to the company's official blog this morning, Reddit admins explained that while a vast majority of the site's 9,000 or so boards are generally civil. However, too many users are being dissuaded from participating on account of the abuse and harassment they receive from the site's trolls. In fact, a recent survey of 15,000 Reddit users shows that "the number one reason Redditors do not recommend the site—even though they use it themselves—is because they want to avoid exposing friends to hate and offensive content." That's a major indictment and a big problem for Reddit as a company (not to mention its bottom line).

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Browsing Twitter and Instagram in VR? Yup, it's a thing

  I know, you bought yourself a VR rig and never want to take it off. It's the future, that's natural! And with something like the Gear VR's passthrough camera you don't even need to remove the headset to do menial "real-world" chores like going to the bathroom, grabbing another Mountain Dew out of the fridge or some Doritos out of the cupboard. But what if you wanted to check your Twitter feed or see how many new likes that Instagram photo of hitting your activity goal on your Apple Watch got while avoiding meatspace? Have no fear folks, because with a new app called Swerve you'll be able to do that without removing your Android VR system. The app puts Twitter into a 3D space and as VR Focus notes, you can peruse searches, mentions and hashtags too -- apparently all in a cloud-filled skybox. Perfect.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Tumblr encourages users to speak up about mental health issues

  A lot of people turn to social media to vent and say how they really feel when they can't do so in real life. That's the reason Facebook has suicide prevention tools and why Tumblr has launched a new initiative called "Post It Forward." The project encourages users to share their personal stories on bullying, self-harm, depression and other similar issues, as well as to post messages of kindness and encouragement in video, written text or even GIF formats. According to the Tumblr Communications Manager Leah Linder, the initiative aims to "remove the stigma around mental and emotional health" and to raise awareness of organizations that help people overcome their problems. Anyone can participate by tagging their entries #PostItForward, and those who need to connect with others going through the same thing can browse all entries on the project's official account.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• What Instagram did for brunch, MassRoots hopes to do for weed

  Cannabis or "weed" is, in practical terms, going mainstream. It's no longer exclusively sold from basements and back alleys; in 23 states and Washington D.C., it's sold from licensed and bonded shops. The cannabis movement has done a lot of growing up over the past couple of years as its public acceptance has skyrocketed across the US. Cannabis itself has gone from a black market "gateway" drug that funded the atrocities of Mexican cartels to a potential super-medicine drawing the attention of Wall Street's most powerful investors and all seemingly overnight.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Tweet a pizza emoji and Domino's will send you a real one

  Ordering your go-to Domino's pizza just got a little easier -- yes, even more so than using your XBox One or Pebble smartwatch. The restaurant chain announced Tuesday that its customers will soon be able to order their preferred pie with nary more than a tweet and an emoji. No, seriously. First you'll need to have an online Domino's Pizza Profile and designate an "Easy Order" pizza. Next, add your Twitter handle to your account and simply tweet #EasyOrder to @Dominos. Or, if that's too many keystrokes for you liking, simply insert the pizza emoji into your tweet instead. Either way, you'll soon get a direct message confirming the order and a piping-hot pizza shortly thereafter. You can give #EasyOrder a whirl today, though unfortunately the emoji method won't to be available until next Wednesday, May 20th.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Makers are getting their own social network

  Maker Media founder Dale Dougherty speaks with such an infectious exuberance about creating and building that after speaking to him you want to go home and resurrect that project that's been sitting in your garage or bedroom. From a magazine, to a series of faires and camps for children, Doughterty's Maker Media reach - and enthusiasm - spans the globe and beginning today, it's launching a beta of its new MakerSpace social network.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Facebook wants to help you share that must-read story

  Picture the scene: you're browsing on your phone when, suddenly, you find a list of the Top 10 celebrity pets that have killed people. Now, you just have to show this to your friends on Facebook, but that means finding the share link, holding it down until it copies, opening the app and pasting it in, which could take several seconds. Naturally, that's an intolerable situation for Mark Zuckerberg, which is why the social network is testing a way to search and add these links from within the Facebook app itself. That way, all you'd have to do is click the Add Link button, type "10 celebrity pets that have kil..." and the link should pop up all by itself.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Periscope no longer requires Twitter for sign ups

  Periscope used to require Twitter integration, because the livestreaming app's kinda, sorta owned by the social network. Yes, we did mean to say "used to," because its latest version gives you the power to choose between a Twitter account and a phone number to sign up. You'll still get user recommendations based on your Follow list if you register via Twitter, but that's pretty much the only difference between the two. The new Periscope also allows you to swap profile pictures with snapshots in your Camera Roll and makes replying to comments during broadcast a one-tap affair. Finally, if you install the refreshed app from iTunes, know that every strike of your banhammer will be announced on the comments section. Periscope says that adds an "important layer of transparency and accountability" and could even make those with God complex think twice before hitting block.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Snapchat is getting a Sofia Vergara video series

  If you ask Fusion, Snapchat's Discover portal isn't just for keeping up with daily events -- it's also about following the lives of the Hollywood elite. The media company is launching a six-episode Snapchat series this summer that covers Modern Family star Sofia Vergara's career from the viewpoint of her son Manolo. Vergaraland, as it's called, will shoot vertically to match Snapchat's signature format. You might not necessarily be enthralled by the idea, but it shows that Discover is big enough that TV celebs and bigger video outlets are taking notice. [Image credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'SimCity' creator Will Wright launches social networking app

  Will Wright, creator of the incredibly popular SimCity, Sims and the slightly less popular Spore franchises, is back with something new and completely different, a social networking app. The Thred app for iOS is a slideshow builder with options to add stickers, filters, words and even external links to images. The finished "threds" can be shared in-app and to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. If you're in need of additional images, you can search for images in-app to add to your visual story.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Facebook test allows users to curate their own News Feed

  Facebook is testing a revolutionary feature that gives you the power to choose which friends you'd like to see prominently displayed on your News Feed. As you likely know, the social network has a mind of its own, an algorithm that decides what you see based on your interactions. This test feature, which has recently started popping up for some mobile users as a prompt, promises to let you "See more of what you love," as shown below the fold. That prompt lists your friends and Pages you Liked -- posts of users you end up picking will override the algorithm and always appear on your feed. Like every other Facebook test feature, though, this might take years to assess and might never even make it to public release. So if you've ever shouted "Give me freedom from the oppressive News Feed algorithm!!!" then cross all your fingers and hope you're lucky enough to be one of the testers.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Reddit creates a team devoted to original videos

  Reddit is about to host a lot more than links and comments. The social site is launching a dedicated team that will produce original video content. It'll initially focus on bringing the spirit of Ask Me Anything sessions to video, but it'll eventually look at covering stories from subreddits and individual users -- if you've seen the "Explain Like I'm Five" adaptation, that's a hint at where Reddit is going. It's hard to tell if this will click with a community that's more about impromptu discussions than slick presentations, but Reddit is clearly willing to find out whether or not there's money to be made in moving pictures.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Snapchat adds sharing tools to its news discovery portal

  Snapchat's curated selection of news stories called Discover is reportedly in trouble, with traffic dropping significantly since its debut back in January. That's probably why the company has introduced a new function that lets you share articles and videos straight from the portal to your friends. Whenever you find something worth showing to other people, just press the screen and wait for the new tools to pop out. You can type a caption and/or write on the snapshot of the page with a digital marker, then you can send it out to pals you choose as you would any other "snap." In addition to Discover's new sharing function, you can now also take zoomed in videos by dragging your finger across the screen while recording. We took Discover's new tools for a spin and embedded some samples below the fold, but you can try them out yourself after downloading the latest app refresh from iTunes or Google Play.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Periscope will find live video streams near you

  Sure, Twitter's Periscope app will tell you which of your friends are streaming, but what if you want to find out who's broadcasting the local baseball game? You won't have that problem for much longer. Periscope chief Kayvon Beykpour has revealed that the app will soon get a way to find streams in a given area. It won't be so precise that you can creep on others, but it could be helpful for following protests and other unfolding events without having to get a link from someone else. Beykpour suggests that the map-based browsing is coming soon, so you shouldn't have to wait long before Periscope is as good at helping you discover streams as it is for watching them.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Get ready for your Facebook friends to tell you they voted

  The UK's General Election is this Thursday, and if marking a cross next to your preferred MP fills you with pride, Facebook will soon make it easier to tell your friends and family. The company is introducing a special "I'm a Voter" button at the top of Brits' News Feeds, prompting you to write a status update that explains you've been to the polling station. The feature has been used for the last three US elections and the Scottish referendum -- not only does it publicise your own vote, but it could also nudge other people that have forgotten the date or been debating whether to vote at all. Channel 4, meanwhile, has already pledged to suspend its regular programming on E4 in order to encourage young people to vote. Neither company can force you to take part, but it's hoped these sorts of initiatives will improve voter turnout and create a more representative election.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Foursquare is bringing mayorships back for Swarm

  When Foursquare split its app into two separate services, Swarm and Foursquare, some users were unhappy that their favorite gamification elements had been nuked. If you were checking in with Swarm, for instance, it was no longer possible to unlock badges and compete for mayorships with the entire community. Well, it seems Dennis Crowley's startup is finally relenting and giving the people what they want. The company says global mayorships with be added to Swarm "soon" and that henceforth, all check-ins will count towards them. While badges are still noticeably absent, Foursquare is rolling out 100 new stickers which users can add to their check-ins, photos and messages. Will it be enough to win back those that checked out after the Swarm-Foursquare split? Maybe not, but at least the company has recognised what made Foursquare such a hit in the first place.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Google+ launches Collections, a Pinterest-style sharing board

  The new Collections tab on Google+ offers a way to organize and share your interests with other people on the network, a la the mother of all cutesy-sharing sites, Pinterest. You're able to create a customized Collection about anything that you like (suggestions: Hello Kitty accessories, Harry Potter spells, summer books, League of Legends champions), complete with photos, videos, links and commentary. Fellow Google+ users are able to follow any Collection set to "public," or you can start a private Collection and keep all of those adorable Hello Kitty backpacks and phone cases to yourself. The Collections feature is live for many users right now, and you should be able to find it in the dropdown tab on the left side of your very own Google+ page.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Meerkat breaks up with Twitter, jumps into bed with Facebook instead

  If your social media startup uses Twitter as a link to the people, then you run the risk of getting your lifeline cut off should you get too popular. After all, Twitter tried to crowd Instagram out with Twitter Video, Picture Sharing and Vine, and the social network is now trying to supplant Meerkat with Periscope. It's one of the reasons that, in its most recent update, Meerkat has broken its close association with the site, making a Twitter account entirely optional.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Instagram takes a serious look at how people use emojis

  Emojis are starting to flood Instagram, and the website's engineers are on a quest to sort out how people are using the yellow-faced emoticons. Apparently, their popularity skyrocketed after Apple released the iOS emoji keyboard and Android got native support. In just a single month after the iOS emojis came out, their usage on the website increased by 10 percent. Now, nearly 50 percent of all captions and comments have an emoji or two. Instagram's research has also revealed that folks in Finland insert emojis most frequently, with 63 percent of all text posted from the country containing at least one graphic. The US (38 percent) takes the ninth place in that list, after France (50 percent), UK (48 percent), Germany (47 percent), Italy (45 percent), Russia (45 percent), Spain (40 percent) and Japan (39 percent).

  By Mariella Moon Read More

Space (39)

• LightSail solar spacecraft gets back in touch with its ground crew

  If you were on pins and needles wondering whether or not the LightSail solar ship would resume contact with the crew back on Earth, you can relax. The Planetary Society reports that the Carl Sagan-inspired spacecraft rebooted as predicted, and the ground team is once again in touch. There's already a software fix waiting in the wings, and there will be a decision on when to deploy it "very soon" -- if all goes according to plan, the Society will deploy the vehicle's namesake sails soon afterward. You'll know more in the next two days, but for now it appears that this years-long project is back on track.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Asteroid mining might compromise telecom and defense satellites

  Asteroid mining might provide a lot of jobs and new sources of gold, titanium, platinum and other metals, as well as hydrogen and ammonia in the future. But it could also spell disaster for telecom satellites orbiting the Earth if it's not managed properly. You see, some companies planning to mine the celestial objects are looking for ways to ferry them closer to home. Remember how NASA aims to take a chunk from an asteroid and drag it to the moon's orbit using a spacecraft? Something like that, but likely on a much bigger scale. Unfortunately, asteroids have weak gravity and could yield huge amounts of debris, which might end up polluting the geosynchronous orbit. That's where most telecom and defense satellites are stationed.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Boeing is NASA's first pick for manned ISS flights

  NASA is on track to bring human spaceflight back to the US. The agency has ordered its first "crew rotation" mission from Boeing, which will involve ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA says it expects to make a similar order with Elon Musk's SpaceX later this year -- afterwards, it will decide which of the two companies to green-light for the first mission in late 2017. However, the date for this milestone moment in US spaceflight could shift. For one, Boeing and SpaceX still need to complete NASA's certification process before they can undertake any missions. For another, NASA's Commercial Crew Program is dependent on adequate funding through 2016 and beyond. If it comes up short, the agency says it "will have to delay future milestones for both partners proportionally and extend sole reliance on Russia." We're keeping our fingers crossed.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• NASA's InSight lander goes through rigorous tests for Mars mission

  Within the next seven months, NASA will subject the InSight lander to a series of tests to ensure it can survive a grueling trip to the red planet. Before it lifts off in March 2016, it will have to undergo two thermal vacuum tests, which will expose it to extreme temperatures and atmospheric pressures that it will experience on Mars. For the first one, it will be in "cruise configuration" -- wherein the lander is tucked inside an aeroshell capsule -- a form it will assume during its six-month trip to its destination. The lander will also be tested for electronic interference between its various parts, as well as for its ability to endure vibrations that simulate a rocket launch.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Hawaii's Thirty Meter Telescope could force others to close

  For one to rise, others must fall. Hawaii's governor David Ige has given his blessing to the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) that scientists want to build on the Mauna Kea mountain. But there's a catch -- in return, he wants "at least 25 percent" of the existing telescopes to be torn down. At the moment, there are 13 telescopes on the mountainside and only one is scheduled to be dismantled. Under Ige's new proposals, one facility would need to enter the decommissioning process this year, and the remainder in his 25 percent quota would need to be gone before the TMT is operational in the mid-2020s.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• This telescope is really just 10 Canon lenses strapped together

  Hunting for extremely dim galaxies is especially difficult with single-lens telescopes. That's because, no matter how technologically advanced, the device's design cannot fully eliminate detail-obscuring scattered light from the resulting images. The University of Toronto's Dragonfly Telephoto Array, however, deftly avoids that issue. This array -- one of the smallest multi-lens astronomy telescopes in use today -- is comprised of 10 Canon 400mm f/2.8 L IS II USM telephoto lenses, each costing $10,000. What's more, each lens is coated in a unique subwavelength nanomaterial that drastically reduces light reflection within the optic. And, like its insect inspiration, the Dragonfly's ten eyes can work in concert with one another to further reduce unwanted illumination in the resulting image, bringing out otherwise unseen detail in cosmic structures. According to the University of Toronto spokesman Roberto Abraham, this $100,000 system is ten times as accurate as its nearest rival. [Image Credit: U of Toronto]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Carl Sagan's solar-powered spacecraft is in trouble (update: it's alive!)

  The test flight of Carl Sagan's LightSail craft is in jeopardy after a computer problem left it unable to communicate with its mission controllers. According to the Planetary Society, the hardware was launched into space with an older version of its Linux-based operating system, which shipped with a serious glitch. As the vehicle circuits the planet, it's meant to send back a packet of data, but over the first two days, this file grew too big for the system to handle. As such, it crashed, although we mean that in the software sense, rather than the coming-back-to-Earth-with-a-bump sense.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Air Force certifies SpaceX to bid for military space missions

  Making peace with US Air Force and dropping charges against the agency has paid off for SpaceX. Its Falcon 9 rocket has finally been certified, giving the company the right to compete for national security launches. Elon Musk's space corp has passed every requirement set by the Air Force, after a couple of years (and a few months of delay), lots of paperwork and tests. According to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, this certification allows more than one provider to compete for military launches, which is expected to cost the branch $70 billion until 2030, for the first time in around a decade. "Ultimately, leverage of the commercial space market drives down cost to the American taxpayer and improves our military's resiliency," she said in a statement.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NASA picks the scientific tools it'll use to study Europa

  NASA is convinced that Jupiter's moon Europa is worth visiting, and for good reason: its icy surface could be hiding a giant ocean friendly to life. The agency is going to need the right equipment if it's going to verify its theories, however, which is why it just chose nine instruments that will go aboard a Europa mission in 2020. The tools will use a mix of imaging, magnetometry, radar and spectrometry to study the frozen world's chemical composition and learn more about what's lurking out of view. While these gadgets won't completely eliminate the need for underwater probes and other landers, they could save scientists a lot of trouble (and expense) as they search for signs of organic material.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Russia's deputy PM blames space failures on 'moral decay'

  Russia's Roscosmos space program doesn't have a lot of cash to waste after its budget was cut by 35 percent in March. But an internal audit found that it flushed $1.8 billion down the toilet anyway, according to the Moscow Times. The nation's deputy prime minister said many of the losses were caused by "acts of fraud, abuse of authority and forgery of documents." Referring to two recent setbacks, including the loss of an ISS cargo ship, he added that "with such a level of moral decay, one should not be surprised at the high accident rate."

  By Steve Dent Read More

• The Big Picture: NASA images typhoon eye in stunning detail

  NASA's CloudSat has imaged the eye of a category 4 typhoon, a feat the space agency likened to a "golfer hitting a hole in one." Its cloud-penetrating radar has a field of view of just .5 square miles, making it a challenge to zone in on such a tiny, fast-moving target. The pass produced an accurate cross-section of the eye, as shown in the lower part of the image above. Researchers from Colorado State University also combined the data with Japan's MTSTAT infrared satellite to create a full 3D cross-section (below). CloudSat provides valuable wind data to forecasters, and is also helping scientists build more accurate climate models to better predict the effects of global warming.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• NASA finds distant galaxy shining as bright as 300 trillion suns

  Ever tried looking at the sun with your bare eyes? Too bright, right? Now imagine looking at something with the brightness of 300 trillion suns. That's how intense "the most luminous galaxy found to date" is, so much so that NASA has created a new classification for it and the 19 other similar galaxies it has discovered: extremely luminous infrared galaxies, or ELIRGs. Scientists have recently spotted the ELIRGs in infrared images of the sky taken by the agency's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope in 2010. This particular one is located 12.5 billion light years away, which means it started forming soon after the universe was born 13.8 billion years ago. As for why it's so incredibly brilliant, NASA JPL scientist Chao-Wei Tsai says it "may be from the main growth spurt of the galaxy's black hole."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NASA patched Curiosity rover's autofocus problem over the air

  Pardon me while I say something that might not be entirely popular: Software updates are pretty awesome. Maybe not so much for game consoles, but, I digress because the Curiosity rover recently received a patch that improved the autofocus of its "ChemCam" telescope. Over the air. On Mars. Before the update, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory would take nine pictures of a subject (each at a different focus) to get one usable close-up image of any of the Red Planet's rocks and soils, and send them back home. Same goes for any sample analyses the laser was doing. The problem is that for those analyses to be anywhere remotely useful, the telescope projecting said laser needs to be in focus and the workaround in place wasn't very efficient.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• The Big Picture: Say hello to NASA's 'nastiest' star

  NASA's "Nasty 1" isn't like other stars. Bigger than our Sun but barely older than humanity itself, this unusual celestial body sits just about 3,000 light years away from Earth. And while it's certainly similar to other Wolf-Rayet stars, which are identifiable by their lack of an outer hydrogen-rich sheath and exposed superheated helium core, those have never been observed in the Milky Way with an accretion disc like Nasty's. (See that thing above? That's an accretion disc.)

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• NASA wants to explore other planets with breadbox-sized satellites

  Most CubeSats sent out to space by scientists and students end up orbiting the Earth -- that's pretty much their final destination. NASA, however, wants to use the diminutive satellites for missions that'll take them way beyond low-Earth orbit and right into another planet's atmosphere. Goddard technologist Jaime Esper is developing a concept called CubeSat Application for Planetary Entry Missions (CAPE) that's comprised of two modules and weighs around 11 pounds. One of the CubeSats will serve as the service module in charge of propelling the spacecraft to its destination, and the other will serve as an entry probe.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Should this be the flag for planet Earth?

  What's going to happen when astronauts finally land on Mars? In all likelihood, the expedition will be a joint effort between multiple nations and space agencies. So when a perilous explorer steps out onto the red planet, we might need a new flag. One that represents Earth. Such a mission is unlikely to happen any time soon, but already one designer has drawn up a potential flag design. It features a blue background and seven interlocking rings, which creator Oskar Pernefeldt says forms a flower. It was made for a graduation project, so there's nothing to suggest it'll be adopted, and oddly NASA is listed among the project's contributors. Do you think it does the job? Let us know below. Update: NASA has confirmed it wasn't involved in the creation of the flag design. "When we go to Mars, we will carry an American flag," a spokesperson told Engadget.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• UK to put space seeds in the hands of schoolkids

  If we're ever to inhabit other planets in our solar system, we must first make sure that we can grow our own food in order to survive. While space scientists have been experimenting with this for decades, the UK Space Agency, with help from the Royal Horticultural Society, is calling on Britain's kids to help it understand more about growing food on different worlds. Rocket Science, as it's known, will involve sending two kilograms of rocket seeds to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of British astronaut Tim Peake's six-month Principa mission.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• SpaceX gets the all-clear to launch most NASA science missions

  After three long years, SpaceX finally has approval to launch most of the US' scientific missions. NASA tells Spaceflight Now that it recently greenlit the use of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket for "medium-risk" payloads, which covers all but the most valuable cargo. That rules it out of launching missions destined for places like Mars, but it also opens the door to more opportunities for Elon Musk and crew. Although they already have government contracts, they should have a much easier time getting that all-important space agency business. The company won't have to wait long to prove its chops, either. A Falcon 9 will carry Jason 3, a satellite meant to measure ocean roughness, in late July. [Image credit: SpaceX/Steve Jurvetson, Flickr]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• NASA competition pays you to design a 3D-printed habitat

  If NASA is going to put humans on Mars and other distant worlds, it's going to need a place for explorers to stay -- and it wants your help building those extraterrestrial homes. The agency has launched the 3D Printed Habitat Challenge, a competition to develop the best artificial housing for space exploration. The first phase of the challenge will award a $50,000 prize based on pure architectural merits, while a second will hand out two $1.1 million prizes for those who figure out how to manufacture individual components and whole shelters from "indigenous materials," such as rocky soil. NASA hopes that the winning ideas will make it possible to settle alien terrain without bringing mountains of Earth-made construction supplies. That would not only let crews pack light, but fix their own abodes if something goes wrong millions of miles from Earth. [Image credit: ESA/Foster + Partners]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Russia grounds Proton-M rockets following an accident

  Russia's space program just can't catch a break, it seems. A spokesperson tells RIA that the country has suspended all Proton-M rocket launches following an accident that destroyed one model carrying a Mexican satellite. Officials reportedly want to know why this vehicle failed before they let any others take off -- all they've determined so far is that the third stage's engine booster suffered a glitch. The move is understandable (both Russia and private launch services lean heavily on the Proton-M), but it also suggests that the nation's rocket problems are boiling to a head. Unless it finds a permanent solution, there may well be more incidents in the future. [Image credit: Roscosmos via AP]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• SpaceX's Mars travel posters make us want to explore the red planet

  SpaceX has released a few Mars travel posters in the same vein as NASA's vintage exoplanet ones, and they're making us sad we were born too early for space exploration. Valles Marineris the "land of Martian chasms and craters," as the poster says, is an enormous series of canyons. Olympus Mons is tallest peak and biggest volcano we've seen in the solar system, thus far, at thrice the height of Mt. Everest. Finally, Phobos and Deimos are the planet's two moons, though we've explored the former more between the two. Elon Musk announced earlier this year that he doesn't only plan to go to Mars, he also wants to establish a city on the red planet. We might all be too old -- or you know, too dead -- to live there or visit when the time comes, but maybe these posters can help you imagine how it would be for our children's children (sniffs). [Image credit: SpaceX/Flickr]

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NASA probe snaps Pluto's smallest moons for the first time

  Getting kicked out of the major planet club always seemed a bit unfair to Pluto, considering that it has four more moons than Earth. On the other hand, two of those, Styx and Kerberos, are so small that we only found out about them a few years ago. NASA's New Horizons probe has just taken its first snapshots of those new satellites, something of a miracle considering it was 55 million miles away and Styx is only 4 to 13 miles across. It required 10 second exposures from the probe's sensitive Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) and copious image processing to reduce background glare, resulting in the animation above.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Venus airplane concept could be a working prototype in a few years

  Northrop Grumman has been toying with the idea of sending an inflatable aircraft to Venus since at least 2013 (PDF). Now the company feels it's ready to turn its concept into a real vessel. According to SpaceNews, Northrop Grumman is planning to enter its Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform (VAMP) aircraft into NASA's New Frontiers competition slated to begin on October 1st. The aerospace corp envisions VAMP as a large but light plane, with a 151-foot wingspan and the ability to cruise Venus' skies for up to a full year at an altitude of 34 to 43 miles. It will be able to carry between 44 and 440 pounds of of payload, particularly instruments to gather data from the planet's atmosphere.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NASA conference will discuss how to manage drone traffic

  Someday, commercial drones might become so prevalent, it would be impossible to look up without seeing at least one in the sky. NASA and a number of drone enthusiasts believe that in order to keep those UAVs, well, orderly and away from restricted locations (here's a tip: don't fly near the White House), a traffic management system has to be in place. That's why the space agency and the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) are hosting a convention on July 28th to 30th where they can all discuss the topic. Both NASA and FAA execs will be in attendance, along with UAV users in film, agriculture, academia and other industries.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Bill Nye goes to Kickstarter to fund Sagan's solar-powered spacecraft

  The LightSail is blasting off to space (along with the X37B drone) for a test flight on May 20th, but the project still needs a lot more money for its first major mission in 2016. To be precise, Bill Nye and The Planetary Society still need a hefty $1.2 million, part of which they're now trying to raise via Kickstarter. The team set a more realistic $200,000 goal, but they do have stretch goals up until $1 million, which will cover the construction, testing and deployment of the final version, as well as LightSail's operations in space for a few months. Obviously, you can't get one of solar-powered spacecraft as a reward for backing the project, so you'll have to make do with posters, jackets and signed paraphernalia.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Jupiter's moon Europa might be coated in irradiated sea salt

  Astronomers have spent more than a decade trying to identify the dark substance erupting from geological features on the surface of Europa. Now, a team of researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab believe they've identified the mystery material as sea salt. You know, from the ocean that NASA suspects is hiding under Europa's icy surface. The team, led by planetary scientist Kevin Hand, began its investigation by building a testing device that recreates the extreme conditions found on the gas giant's moon. "We call it our 'Europa in a can,'" Hand said in a statement. "The spectra of these materials can then be compared to those collected by spacecraft and telescopes."

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Radio telescope array could unlock the secrets of the early universe

  To capture the night sky and better understand the formative years of our universe, astronomers are using something a tad more powerful than a traditional telescope. The Owens Valley Long Wavelength Array (OV-LWA) leverages 250 radio antennas, spread over a desert area equivalent to 450 football fields, to detect slender radio signals produced by distant pulsars, solar flares and auroras. Together, this army of antennas can capture the entire sky simultaneously and feed the resulting data back to the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. With over 25 terabytes flowing in every day, astronomers can study space weather, such as auroras, which occur when stars release magnetic energy.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• What you need to know about the laws of space

  Neil deGrasse Tyson has said he loses "sleep at night wondering whether we are intelligent enough to figure out the universe." It's a valid concern. We've put a man on the moon, landed on a comet and roved around on Mars, but it's really only the tip of the iceberg. There's so much that we haven't seen and don't know, it seems almost impossible to fully understand the universe. It's not for lack of effort, though. People and spacecraft keep going up into space investigating the unknown, hoping to glean something new, or finding the Holy Grail -- a place that can sustain life. And as human beings become a more frequent presence in the cosmos we've had to establish rules to ensure that places like the International Space Station don't deteriorate into complete bedlam and that we're not fighting wars over uninhabitable swaths of Martian desert. The international community has actually come together and written regulatory guidelines for space exploration and laws that keep the final frontier from turning into the Wild West.

  By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez Read More

• NASA thinks a robotic eel might be the key to exploring Europa

  We've seen the submarine that NASA wants to explore Saturn's moon Titan with, but compared to what the aeronautics outfit's looking at for icy climes like Jupiter's Europa it's downright pedestrian. The wormy-looking contraption up above is actually considered a type of amphibious rover and it's pretty different from the Deep-SCINI we've seen previously. Because there aren't exactly electrical outlets anywhere aside from Earth and relying on solar power might not always be feasible, it has to use alternative means for energy. In this case, NASA says antenna on the soft robot's back would draw energy from "locally changing magnetic fields."

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Russia's broken ISS supply vessel burns up in the atmosphere

  An out-of-control Russian spacecraft has finally met its demise after re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. Progress M-27M was supposed to perform a resupply mission with the ISS, but ground control quickly lost contact after its launch on April 28th. Since then, the craft has been orbiting and slowly descending towards the Earth due to natural atmospheric drag and the planet's gravitational pull. Now, Russia's Roscosmos space agency has confirmed that Progress M-27M broke through over the central Pacific Ocean on Friday morning (May 8th). Most of the craft is expected to have burnt up during re-entry, but there's a chance some debris survived. Engineers are still trying to work out why they lost control in the first place -- it occurred after separation with the Soyuz 2-1A rocket, although reports suggest the rocket, rather than Progress, was to blame. Thankfully, no-one was hurt and the ISS is in no immediate danger, given the crew still has plenty of supplies.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Carl Sagan's solar-powered spacecraft is getting its first test flight

  Legendary astronomer Carl Sagan once envisioned a solar sailer, a spaceship that uses sunlight radiation to push itself through the solar system much like a boat relies on the wind. Decades later, his project is about to become a practical reality. The Planetary Society (which was co-founded by Sagan) has scheduled the first test flight for just such a solar vehicle, the LightSail, on May 20th. This initial run will see if the craft can successfully deploy its four Mylar sails. It won't be in a high-enough orbit to harvest the Sun's energy, but the experiment should pave the way for an honest-to-goodness sailing test in April 2016.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Secretive drone will test materials for future spacecraft

  While the Boeing-built X37B drone's nature remains mysterious, we at least know that it's a test-bed for futuristic space tech. When it launches on May 20th, it won't only be testing a new type of Hall effect thruster for the Air Force, it will also be carrying a collection of 100 different materials that can potentially be used for future spacecraft, rovers, rockets and other space hardware. The project is called Materials Exposure and Technology Innovation in Space (METIS), and it was designed to build on the data gathered from previous testing onboard the ISS. Any material meant to be used in space has to undergo rigorous testing first before it's incorporated into billion-dollar machines and vehicles.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Larry Page's asteroid-mining firm launches its first satellite in July

  Planetary Resources hasn't had much success getting its asteroid-mining business off the ground, in a very literal sense -- it lost its first satellite, Arkyd-3, in the Antares rocket explosion last year. It's about to get a second try, though. The Larry Page-backed company has announced that its craft's follow-up, Arkyd 3 Reflight (aka Arkyd 3R), is scheduled to launch from the International Space Station in July. While the vehicle will spend just 90 days sending self-diagnostic info before it falls to Earth, it'll serve as a useful test run before the more ambitious Arkyd 6 starts wielding its scientific instruments in December. No, this isn't the long-promised space telescope, but it's an important early step.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• NASA tech helps find Nepal earthquake survivors

  A new search-and-rescue tech by NASA JPL and Homeland Security found living survivors buried underneath 10 feet of debris in Nepal, proving that it works in real-life situations. The briefcase-like device called Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response (FINDER) can listen for the heartbeats and breathing of survivors trapped beneath up to 30 feet of rubble, behind 20 feet of solid concrete or within 100 feet in open spaces. It uses microwave-radar technology to look for signs of life, after which one of its components can pinpoint the person's location within five feet. That "locator" was added after a round of tests back in 2013.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Watch SpaceX's Dragon capsule perform its launch abort test

  If you were still hitting snooze when SpaceX launched its Dragon capsule this morning, fret not: you can relive the action now. Elon Musk & Co. successfully launched the unmanned spacecraft at Cape Canaveral, Florida around 9AM ET and it splashed down in the Atlantic in under two minutes. The main goal for today's flight was to get a feel for how the vehicle would respond if it (and the crew) needed to separate from the eight SuperDraco engines in a hurry. Measuring trajectory and observing what the impact of an abort would be on the crew are two of the items today's launch aimed to solve. A video of the flight resides after the break (skip to the 16-minute mark) alongside a graphic that outlines the various stages in the test. Fair warning: you'll want to turn the volume down at launch. Update: SpaceX just uploaded its edit of the video, for a better angle on the whole process -- from launch to landing -- watch it here or embedded after the break.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• SpaceX's manned Dragon capsule gets its first real test on May 6th

  You won't have to wait much longer to see what SpaceX's manned Dragon capsule is like in action. SpaceX now expects to conduct its promised Crew Dragon launch pad abort test (the craft's first major test) on May 6th, with things kicking off as early as 7AM Eastern. The point of the system is to make sure the crew and spacecraft have a way to escape if there's a problem with the rocket, and according to SpaceX, is an option from launch all the way up to orbit. This might not be as dramatic as some of the company's other tests, but it will give you a sense of what would happen if the vehicle had to abandon its host rocket in a hurry. One thing's for sure: with NASA streaming the whole thing live, it won't take long to find out whether or not SpaceX's orbital courier is on the right track.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hungry, hungry black holes gobble up huge gas and dust donuts

  According to a new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, there's a breed of supermassive black holes out there a lot more ravenous than usual. Supermassive black holes are found in the middle of galaxies, measuring millions to billions of times the mass of our Sun. Some of them actively consume gas and dust, which form a "disc" around the mass -- as matter from that disc fall into the black hole, a jet of particles stream out, appearing as cloudy streaks. These are called quasar black holes, and they usually shine more brightly than the galaxy itself, since that disc radiates huge amounts of energy. The ones discovered by Bin Luo and his team of astronomers, however, "[dine] at enormous rates, at least five to ten times faster than typical quasars."

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• NASA's 10-engine electric UAV now flies as well as it hovers

  NASA's ten-engine UAV, dubbed the Greased Lightning (GL-10), recently showed off a slick new trick in the skies over Hampton, Virginia. The drone, which is under development by a team at the Langley Research Center, had already passed its initial hovering tests last August; but that was the easy part. As the long and miserable development of the V-22 Osprey has shown, the real challenge is switching over from hover mode to conventional forward flight without the vehicle falling out of the sky. But on Thursday, NASA's battery-powered tilt-rotor aircraft successfully did just that.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• NASA's next rocket will sniff the remnants of a supernova

  There's been a lot of space stories this week, including rockets going up, satellites coming down and supply craft doing both, but not in the right order. Not to be deterred, NASA is talking up its next big experiment which will send a probe to examine the contents of the Cygnus Loop, a remnant of a supernova that exploded 20,000 years ago. The mission will involve a sounding rocket, which will sniff the x-rays that are still being emitted from the stellar event, which scientists hope will help them understand what it's made up of.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

Sports (1)

• NHL team projects Nintendo-esque 'Bolts of Steel' game on ice

  We've seen 3D projections on basketball courts and arena floors before, but the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning just took the game up a notch. Before the team's Eastern Conference Finals game on Tuesday, it used the playing surface to project a "Bolts of Steel" (get it, lightning bolts) game simulation inspired by the Nintendo classic Blades of Steel. We surmise they opted for another name not just for copyright purposes, but because the franchise didn't exist until 1992. While the video you'll see after the break is a render/demo, a Deadspin reader caught the thing on tape during the pregame festivities, so you can have a look at was it was like for those in attendance. Perhaps if the Bolts advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, they'll let a couple of fans duke it out for some nachos.

  By Billy Steele Read More

Streaming (57)

• Spotify is my new running mate, even if it doesn't know me well

  Apparently, after all these years, Spotify still doesn't really get me. I've used the service since 2010. Technically I was a subscriber since before it hit US shores. And yet, Spotify clearly has no idea what kind of music I like. I say this because I recently traded in my carefully curated running playlist for Spotify's dynamically generated ones and, not to spoil the rest of the story, it really failed. But let's start at the beginning.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• YouTube montage celebrates 10 years of wasting your time

  From screaming goats to Russian meteorites, YouTube has been making us unproductive since 2005. What better way to celebrate than with an artsy montage (below) featuring categories like "fails," "memes," and "animals" from YouTube's own Spotlight channel? It's set to Alpha Aerobics by Blackalicious, and will take you back to the day with Nyan Cat, Charlie the Unicorn and -- who could forget -- Kicked in the Head by a Train. Best of all, there's a full list of all 76 videos, which by my reckoning should let you blow a whole other day.

  By Steve Dent Read More

• Sign into Netflix straight from your Google account

  You've been able to sign into third-party websites with your Google credentials for years, but now the company is broadening out the places that info can take you. On its Developer Blog, the outfit is talking up its new Identity Platform, a suite of developer tools that let others build "frictionless" entry to name-brand sites via the Smart Lock password manager. The biggest name on the list of early partners is Netflix, which will now let viewers keep watching on their Android devices without having to re-enter their subscription details.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• BBC iPlayer comes to the Wii U with GamePad viewing

  These days, it's pretty hard to find anything electronic that doesn't have access to BBC iPlayer already. Nintendo's Wii U is one of the most notable exceptions, but if you've been quietly jonesing for an iPlayer client to hit the quirky console, then jones no more. With zero fanfare marking its launch, BBC iPlayer is now available to download in the Nintendo eShop. The Wii U's GamePad is fully supported, too, so you're not tied to the TV screen if, you know, your tablet's run out of battery.

  By Jamie Rigg Read More

• HBO Now is coming to Android and Chromecast this summer

  That Apple-exclusive streaming window is ending -- Google exec Sundar Pichai just announced that HBO Now is coming to Android too. Whether you use Android, iOS or a web browser, Google Cast support is coming too -- for the 17 million or so Chromecasts out there -- although there weren't exact details on when. HBO says it's coming "this summer," and Pichai mentioned it will be in time for the upcoming True Detective season, which premieres June 21st. There weren't any details on how, but it sounds like Google Play will offer subscriptions in the same way Apple (and Cablevision) have so far. Finally, whether you have cable or are a cord-cutter, HBO confirmed that HBO Now and HBO Go are both coming to Android TV soon. HBO VP Bernadette Aulestia says, "We have seen through social media that there is great demand for the service among Android and Chromecast users and we're excited to deliver HBO Now to them," so it looks like someone has been reading your posts. Don't miss out on all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2015. Follow along at our events page.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Canada's response to Netflix is available nationwide this summer

  Canadian cable firms Rogers and Shaw have hogged the Shomi video service all to themselves during its testing phase, but they're loosening up now that they're nearly ready for prime time. The two have revealed that their answer to Netflix will be available to all Canadians this summer, not just the companies' internet and TV subscribers. As during the beta, you'll plunk down $9 CAD ($7 US) per month to get a mix of shows and (mostly older) movies, including Transparent and other series that are Amazon exclusives in the US. The service already works through Android, Apple TV, Chromecast and iOS devices, so you won't be hurting for places to watch.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• The DJs of Silicon Valley who are changing music

  Before Silicon Valley had an app for everything, and before the halcyon years preceding the dot-com bubble, Richard Quitevis and Ritche Desuasido were teaming up and making waves in the DJ industry. Disrupting, even. As DJs QBert and Yogafrog, respectively, both came up in the Bay Area mobile DJ scene of the early '80s. In 1996, they formed their own company, Thud Rumble, to help drive their craft forward with affordable gear created by and for DJs. From the early days launching cutting-edge records, to designing mixers for some of the biggest names in music and teaming up with Intel to create low-cost, low-latency instruments, Thud Rumble has had a huge impact on the technology used in the DJ world, all while living in the shadow of larger Silicon Valley companies.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Cox is bringing VOD to select TiVo boxes in July

  Cox and TiVo have been making noise about joining forces and making the cable provider's extensive Video-On-Demand catalog available on retail TiVo set-tops for nearly five years now. Following a recent post by ZatzNotFunny, however, Cox confirmed earlier today that the integration will finally be taking place in "early July." But don't get excited just yet -- the initial rollout will only be available to specific IP-connected customers in Orange County, California.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Roku brings smarter search features to UK set-top boxes

  Roku faces growing competition in the UK, but for now its streaming set-top boxes are still some of the best on the market. To help it fend off Apple, Amazon, Google and others, the company is introducing new software features and an upgraded Roku 2 player. The biggest addition is Roku Search, which lets you quickly see which streaming services have a particular movie or TV show in their library. Only Netflix, Snagfilms and Popcornflix support the feature at the moment, but Roku says it hopes to integrate more in the future. In addition, you can now search for actors and directors, as well as streaming services available in the Roku Channel Store. Finally, the new Roku Feed gives you updates about upcoming movies and when they'll be available to watch via on-demand services.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• TiVo said to be launching Cox video on demand

  You're forgiven if you forgot that TiVo and Cox were once best buddies. They formed a partnership years ago, but that alliance quietly fell by the wayside. However, there are signs that it could come roaring back. Tipsters tell Zatz Not Funny (which has a good record with such leaks) that TiVo is close to launching Cox On Demand services. It's not clear whether this will simply rehash the DVR maker's Comcast technology or try something new. If the rumor is true, though, this could be heartening news -- you could spring for one of TiVo's nicer video recorders without having to sacrifice all the on-demand content that comes with your Cox TV package.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• HBO Now survey points to possible subscription discounts

  Paying $15 a month for HBO Now is a pretty good deal, especially if you're a cord cutter who yearns for your weekly fix of Game of Thrones. But what if even that price is a little too rich for your blood? Well, HBO could be considering prepaid discounts that would lower that subscription cost by a significant amount. The folks over at Cut Cable Today discovered through a HBO survey that the premium cable network is asking some survey participants if they would consider three-month, six-month and one-year subscriptions for $29.99, $59.99 and $99.99 each. If you went for that annual $99.99 option, for example, you would only pay somewhere around $8.33 a month, which is a savings of around $80 a year. Of course, these options only appeared in a survey, so who knows if HBO will actually implement this. But wouldn't it be great if it did?

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• DirecTV launches a kid-friendly video app

  DirecTV saw what YouTube and Netflix were doing with their kid-focused apps, and decided that it, too, wanted a piece of that action. After many months of toil, the company has busted out DirecTV Kids, an iOS app that lets your rugrats consume content from your cable package at no extra cost. Designed for 5-10 year-olds, the offering lets your kids watch shows anywhere, and can be used on up to five devices at once. It's available for free from the App Store, and is likely to be a bit safer than YouTube's rival, at least as far as parental groups are concerned.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• It's now easier to buy stuff from YouTube video ads, huzzah?

  A good 99.999 percent of the time, the adverts that run before your dogs sitting on cats video are irrelevant. But every once in a while, an ad hits and you want to know more. Beginning today, Google is making that discovery process way easier. According to the official AdWords blog, the new system is called TrueView. It allows users to not only find out more about pre-roll products but also purchase them directly through the ad. And you thought drunk-buying stuff over the internet was easy enough already.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• 'Vidity' 4K movies you can download are coming later this year

  At CES the long-brewing alliance to push Hollywood movies you can legally download, store and play across different devices finally surfaced, and now its system has a brand name: Vidity. As we learned in January, this is the doing of the Secure Content Storage Association -- a team up behind movie studios (Fox, Warner Bros.) and storage manufacturers (Western Digital, Sandisk) to create a system where users can download movies in the highest possible quality like 4K Ultra HD and HDR. Samsung was the first to announce its Ultra HD TVs with the M-Go app will use the spec, but other big names like Vudu, Kaleidescape, LG, Universal, Comcast and Sprint are on board too. So far 4K movies have generally been all about streaming, but now between Ultra HD Blu-ray and Vidity there are a couple of new options coming.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• YouTube now supports 60 fps live streaming

  YouTube blew more than a few minds last October when it rolled out 60 frame-per-second video playback on the site. Gamers especially flocked to the frame rate as it allowed for jutter-free playback of fast-paced titles like Call of Duty or Titanfall. Today, YouTube announced a new feature that is sure to make gamers even happier: 60 fps live streaming which will allow people to broadcast their online exploits in real-time. The new frame rate is still an early preview, mind you, and will only be available on HTML5-compatible browsers. However, YouTube will encode these streams in both 720p60 and 1080p60 formats as well as automatically knock it down to 30FPS for devices that can't handle full speed.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Sky's new Kids section is a direct shot at Netflix

  When the little ones are having a temper tantrum, kids TV is often your best line of defence. In the UK, that used to mean switching on CBBC or CITV, but in the internet age Netflix and YouTube rule supreme. After all, it means you can find the exact show or movie that's likely to put a smile back on the little tikes' faces. That could spell trouble for Sky, so the broadcaster is revamping its child-centric on-demand offerings. A software update rolling out to all Sky+HD boxes this week will put a new "Kids" tile on the homepage, providing instant access to on-demand shows and movies, kids TV recordings and live channels such as Cbeebies and Nick Jr. In addition, Sky is expanding its library of on-demand episodes from 700 to 4,000 over the coming months. It'll include new morsels of SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and Ben 10, as well as cult favourite Adventure Time. YouTube appeals because it's (mostly) free, but if you've been stressed out before trying to find a decent clip online, you might want to try grabbing your Sky remote next time.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Netflix's slicker web interface launches worldwide in June

  Netflix on the web is about to get the sleeker, more polished design you're used to in its native apps. In the wake of a report that some viewers were already seeing a redesigned interface, the streaming service has confirmed to Engadget that it's officially launching its new front end worldwide in June. Teased as far back as January, the design scraps the old, store-like concept in favor of a more visual layout that helps you learn more about videos without diving deep. While it's not as densely packed as before, it should be easier to browse -- and it's arguably overdue when the web interface has remained largely untouched since 2011, which is practically a lifetime in the tech world.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Twitch brings on-demand video streaming to its mobile apps

  Missed out on a live game tournament stream when you were at home, but want to catch up when you're on the road? As of now, you can. Twitch is pushing out updated Android and iOS apps that include video on demand, giving you highlights and past broadcasts when you're stuck on the bus. Both releases are available today, although it's important to note that you can't simply update the Android version -- a security fix requires that you install a brand new app, and the old one will stop working as of today.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Comcast unlocks HBO and Showtime streaming to Amazon Fire TV

  Streaming services that use a cable TV subscription have an annoying wrinkle, where sometimes the provider can block them from working in places for apparently no reason at all. For Comcast customers that was the case for HBO Go and Showtime on Amazon's Fire TV and Fire TV stick, but starting today that changes. Like the agreement it reached a few months ago with Roku, Comcast is suddenly playing nice with Amazon's streaming hardware. Unfortunately, that courtesy still does not extend to Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, but according to Comcast it supports over 90 networks across 18 devices and expects that number to grow, so maybe there is hope.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• With podcasts and video, Spotify becomes an all-in-one streaming service

  At an event in New York City this morning, Spotify revealed more tools to enhance that daily listening experience. To keep all of the things you enjoy hearing in one place, the streaming service added podcasts to its feature set. If you'll recall, the addition was hinted at back in November, thanks to a bit of code in a test version of Spotify's app. That's not all, though, the company is tacking on video as well. This means that content providers can leverage audio and visuals to beam episodes and short clips to listeners on the service. Don't expect full-length episodes, as the bulk of the content will be short videos lasting around ten minutes. If you're commuting and can't watch, you can opt for an audio-only version of the selected item -- safety first, folks. Of course, the addition of video isn't a complete surprise either, as rumors of Spotify's plans circulated earlier this month.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Spotify will play music, podcasts and video based on your mood

  Spotify has been chipping away at the problem of choice for years now. When you have instant access to so many millions of albums at some point you cross over from being a perk, to being a hindrance. Its latest effort to expose people to new music and find the things they want involves building automatic playlists based on the time of day and mood, not unlike Google and Rdio. But, unlike those services, Spotify isn't limiting itself to music. The company also announced that it would be adding podcasts and video content to its platform.

  By Terrence O'Brien Read More

• Popcorn Time-like pirate movie streaming comes to the web (update: poof)

  Popcorn Time's less-than-legit movie streaming has been available on lots of devices, but the web? Not so much. However, some enterprising developers have seen fit to make that happen in an unofficial capacity. Meet Popcorn in Your Browser, a simple torrent-based video service you can use in any web browser. As with above-board subscription services like Netflix, all you do is search for the title you want and start watching.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• 'Game of Thrones' pirated 3.5 million times despite HBO Now

  HBO seemed certain that offering customers the option to watch without a cable subscription through its $15/month "HBO Now" app would help curb the rampant piracy afflicting its most popular shows. Nope! Variety reports that the latest episode of HBO's megahit "Game of Thrones" has been illegally downloaded 3.5 million times, in a single 24-hour period. That's a new record. Per Danish piracy tracking site Excipio, this season's episode six edged out last week's record-setting 3.22 million downloads. And given that Excipio only really covers P2P piracy, not direct download websites, those numbers are probably a little light. This, of course, comes after the first four episodes of the season were leaked online a full day before the HBO premiere in April. It's enough to make one to just up and start murdering popular lead characters. [Image Credit: Getty]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Spotify's deal with Sony reveals the high costs of streaming music

  Labels and streaming music services have spent ages bickering over payments for streaming music, but it's never really been clear who was getting the short end of the stick... besides the artists, that is. We may have a better sense of things now that The Verge has leaked details of Sony Music Entertainment's 2011 contract with Spotify, however. The two-year licensing deal asked Spotify to pay Sony a total of $42.5 million in yearly advances, and a "Most Favored Nation" clause meant that Sony would always get advance rates as good as any competing label. None of this cash is likely to have reached the musicians themselves, though -- sources say that advances typically go straight to the record company.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Pandora buys analytics company to get more out of your streaming data

  In order to serve up its song suggestions, Pandora collects listener data based on those thumbs up and thumbs down votes you tap in. The music streaming option announced today that it acquired Next Big Sound: an analytics company that will help turn that data into valuable marketing (read: ad) fuel. Next Big Sound offers the tools to properly break all of that user info down -- especially in regards to social media chatter -- for artists, labels and others. You may not have heard of Next Big Sound, but you may have seen its work: the company provides the stats for Billboard's charts, including the Social 50. Pandora already had its own tools for artists to examine user data, and now it joins the likes of Spotify and Apple by bringing in outside help to make its stockpile of info more useful. If you'll recall, Spotify swiped Echo Nest last year, a company that uses music analysis to power radio options for Rdio and others -- similar to Pandora's Music Genome Project.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Hoopla lets you digitally borrow almost anything from your library

  Today the Hoopla service and apps added e-books and comic to its media library of audiobooks, movies, TV shows and albums. While the app has always synced with local libraries, it wasn't until today that the app was meant for reading. The new offerings will be from IDW Publishing, RosettaBooks, Chicago Review Press and others with more publishers being announced in the coming months. The reading feature includes options similar to Amazon's Whispersync with the ability to read a book across multiple devices and the options to adjust fonts, line spacing, columns and background. For comic book fans, a feature called "Action View" enlarges individual panels with a double tap for easier reading on mobile devices. "One of our main objectives for libraries is to be mobile centric," said owner and founder Jeff Jankowski.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Deezer adds podcasts to its music streaming service

  It's become increasingly difficult for music streaming services to differentiate from one another. They all offer huge music libraries, mobile apps and the ability to store specific tracks, albums and playlists offline. Aside from dropping their subscription prices, how can a company like Deezer persuade people to switch? With podcasts, it hopes. That's right, the company is now pitching its service as a home for all of your favortie audio. So whether you're catching up on Serial or looking for some tunes to keep you company on the bus, there's only one app you should have to keep on your home screen now.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Using Netflix on your hotel TV sounds pretty painless

  Surprise! Netflix built into hotel-room TVs doesn't seem awful. When Mariott announced that it'd add streaming apps including the House of Cards outfit, Crackle, Hulu Plus, and YouTube into its in-room entertainment options, there was reason for concern. Would it require any separate fees? What about account security? As Cord Cutters News reports, you need to use your personal logins for 'flix and Hulu and you can either clear your credentials manually, or the hotel will do it for you automatically at the time of check out. The apps apparently run without a hitch and are the most up to date versions like you'd use on Amazon's Fire TV and the Roku 3. Oh, and the remotes have built-in Netflix buttons like you'd find at home and abroad. Now I'm curious when RIchard Branson will implement something similar into his Virgin Hotels. [Image credit: Manybits/Flickr]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Starbucks picks Spotify for radio, and baristas are the DJs

  Starbucks and Spotify are teaming up to to build a music ecosystem across retail stores. By joining forces with the popular streaming service, the giant coffee chain hopes to create an experience that will benefit loyal customers, particularly those who are part of the My Starbucks Rewards program. If you're one of them, you'll have the chance to earn Stars as Currency points for subscribing to Spotify Premium, which offers access to millions of songs that can be played offline, ad-free and without any skip limitations. In addition to this, Starbucks will be curating a set of playlists for all Spotify users to enjoy, featuring tunes that have been popular at its coffeehouses in the past 20 years. The new partnership is set to kick off in the US later this fall, with Canada and the United Kingdom expected to follow suit soon thereafter.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Plex brings photos, music and video streaming to TiVo June 8th

  After a number of leaks and hints, this week Plex and TiVo announced their products will start working together soon. Plex media server gives users a way to easily stream photos, music or video files to devices like Roku and Chromecast, and pulls content from local hard drive or the cloud all the same. Mixing up its abilities with TiVo gives people who like traditional TV and their own media libraries an easy way to enjoy both (on an unrelated note -- the HDHomeRun DVR Kickstarter added Plex support as its $250,000 stretch goal).

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Judge rules Pandora has to increase royalty payouts to BMI

  Pandora's propensity for litigation is pretty storied by this point, but it seems like the internet-radio outfit's luck has run out. A New York judge has ruled that Pandora must raise its payout rates to Taylor Swift's music publishing house BMI, from 1.75 percent of its revenue to 2.5 percent, according to The New York Times. The full ruling is still being kept under wraps at the moment, but naturally, Pandora says it's going to appeal the decision. Given that an appeals judge recently ruled in the outfit's favor to keep royalty payout rates from rising, it isn't clear what could happen in this instance. For artists' sakes, let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself here. [Image credit: Getty Images for TS]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Hulu pulls a Netflix, rescues 'The Mindy Project' from cancellation

  Were you bummed when Fox announced it cancelled The Mindy Project after three seasons? Fret not, Hulu announced today that it's picking up the series, starting with a 26-episode fourth season. The show, named for star Mindy Kaling, already streams on the TV subscription service as one of several Fox series available there, so the news isn't too surprising. There's no word on a premiere date just yet, but when it arrives, it'll be one of the many Hulu original series. Cancelled broadcast shows are getting revived online regularly these days, as Yahoo nabbed Community and Netflix is no stranger to picking up discarded series. [Image credit: John Fleenor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Netflix in talks to offer its streaming library in China

  President Underwood is already popular in China, but it looks like Netflix is prepping to offer more of its streaming library in that locale. The Wall Street Journal reports that Reed Hastings & Co. are in talks with online broadcasters BesTV and Wasu to expand its reach outside of the US. Negotiations are said to be in the early stages as issues like objectionable subject matter and restrictions on foreign content are details to be ironed out. And by objectionable, we mean sex, violence and political content -- like the House of Cards plot that chronicled the corruption of a Chinese businessman. Wasu hopes to stream to phones and other devices, and Netflix revealed a desire to send "original and other globally-licensed content" by "operating a small service" in China earlier this year. Back in February, Netflix announced plans to launch in Japan this fall, so the global expansion seems to be progressing nicely for the streaming service. [Image credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• CBS All Access app gets Chromecast support (Update: Fox and FXNow, too)

  CBS All Access was already available for folks who fancy Roku devices, and now the television streaming app plays nice with Chromecast. The network updated both the Android and iOS versions to beam shows like Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife and NCIS to your TV via Google's $35 dongle. If you'll recall, the CBS subscription service offers on-demand streaming for $6 a month, and users in select locales (like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia -- to name a few) can access live TV, too. And that list of local affiliates is expanding on the regular. Prefer to log in from your computer? Using Chrome and Google Cast browser extension, you can send the show you're watching to Chromecast from there as well. As far as the mobile software goes, you'll want to be sure to grab the latest versions from iTunes and Google Play in order to make it work with the living room accessory.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• AT&T will sell Hulu subscriptions, but not to watch on your TV

  Hulu's push to put its content in front of cable TV customers has a new partner: AT&T. The streaming service already teamed up with Cablevision, and also announced it's working with several smaller cable providers to put Hulu on their customer's TiVo DVRs. While we're still not sure how the Cablevision deal will work, the situation with AT&T (which tried to buy Hulu) is clear: this isn't plugging into U-Verse TV boxes, and you will need a $7.99 subscription to make it work. As shown in the picture above, the two already have a partnership to put some of Hulu's free shows on the AT&T site, so this will expand that to include stuff people will need to pay extra for. While the two are "exploring a possibility" of bringing a Hulu app to TV, when they launch later this year AT&T customers will be able to browse the catalog via a mobile app or on the web.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Rdio Select is a $4 monthly music streaming service (with limitations)

  When the competition from Spotify, Apple and new contenders doesn't let up, it's time to try something different. That's what Rdio is doing, with a new $3.99 subscription service, Select, which will let users stream from radio stations (sans ads) with unlimited skips as well as daily (offline) access to a maximum of 25 songs. According to Rdio CEO Anthony Bay, this number is "more than most users download in a day, so we feel it's enough" -- but will the offer be enough to attract new users away from the rivals?

  By Mat Smith Read More

• Is Netflix seriously going to revive 'Top Gear' as 'House of Cars?'

  Ever since Jeremy Clarkson punched a producer in a row over steak, the future of Top Gear has been completely up in the air. The BBC appears to have distanced itself completely, leaving Clarkson and his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond to speak to other broadcasters about creating a brand new motoring show. Over the past few weeks, it's been suggested that streaming giant Netflix is the favourite to pick up the trio, and today The Mirror has added more fuel to the fire after it reported that the new show already has a name: House of Cars.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• WWE Network bodyslams onto UK Apple TVs

  Streaming Wrestlemania matches just got a little easier in the UK, now that the WWE's standalone streaming service is available on Apple TV. WWE Network was supposed to arrive on the set-top box last November, but those plans were shelved after the service missed its initial release date (it eventually launched in January). Well, support is better late than never. With the Apple TV channel, you can watch pay-per-view events live or catch up with 3,000 hours of on-demand video, should you happen to miss your favourite star in the ring. A subscription costs £9.99 per month (or €12.99 in Ireland) but if you're a lapsed fan or just curious to see what an RKO looks like, it's free this month for new subscribers.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• BBC shuts down iPlayer service for subscribers outside the UK

  The BBC has offered subscriptions to an international version of its iPlayer streaming service since 2011, but in the next month or so it will close its doors. In case you're wondering why you've never heard of the iPlayer Global service, that's because despite being offered in 16 countries (including Canada), the service never came to the US and stopped expanding back in 2013. Our best (legit) option for the public broadcaster's shows is still its cousin BBC America, which has closed the gap on airing new episodes of shows like Doctor Who from days to hours, and even has the occasional simulcast.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Masterclass offers online lessons with the super famous

  If you wanted, say, acting lessons from Dustin Hoffman, you'd probably have to write a check that's bigger than the Empire State Building to make it happen. That's why Masterclass has such an appealing idea, a video-based tutorial site where, unlike those videos on YouTube, the teachers are the best in their field. In addition to acting classes taken by Hoffman, users can opt for tennis coaching from Serena Williams or photography lessons from Annie Leibovitz.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Break me off a piece of that YouTube bar

  Remember when Google teamed up with Nestle and went and named a flavor of Android after a four-fingered chocolate bar? Turns out it wasn't the last we'd see from this unlikely partnership. To celebrate 80 years since the KitKat went on sale, the two companies announced today that 600,000 "limited edition" packs will feature the name "YouTube Break" instead of the familiar KitKat logo in the UK. According to Nestle, it'll form just one of 72 different "breaks" that will feature on more than 400 wrapper designs. The plan is to produce 100 million packs, with the search giant only playing a small role. That said, YouTube will get involved, allowing smartphone owners to watch the day's top trending videos with a "OK Google, YouTube my break" voice search. If you didn't think things could get more sickly sweet, Google and Nestle just proved you wrong.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Warner Music made more money from streaming than it did downloads

  So it seems that while streaming services don't offer much of a payout for artists, at least one label is apparently doing pretty well off of them. Warner Music Group announced today that for the first time ever it made more money off of streams than it did selling downloads. With income from Spotify and YouTube, the outfit raked in some 33 percent more money in its second quarter while digital music sales only increased by a paltry seven percent. The Deftones' label says that it'll keep working with streaming partners to keep this sort of thing happening and to "ensure artists and songwriters receive appropriate value for their work." Hopefully that means a re-appraisal of streaming royalties for the people who, you know, actually make the music that's being streamed. [Image credit: Getty Images]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Charlie Brooker's 'Black Mirror' could become a Netflix exclusive

  Only seven episodes of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror have been made, but their dark and unsettling depictions of the future have garnered a sizeable cult following. Now, Radio Times is reporting that the show has attracted the attention of Netflix, and that the streaming service is keen to pull the show away from British broadcaster Channel 4. The show debuted in the UK in 2011, but it wasn't until last December that it landed on Netflix in the US. The last six months will have exposed the series to a massive audience -- at the same time, the streaming service is looking for popular shows to add to its growing "Originals" initiative. Charlie Brooker has previously confirmed that a third series is in the works, but so far we've only been treated to a Christmas special. If Netflix can persuade Brooker to switch allegiances, it would be another critically acclaimed show to slip in between seasons of Daredevil, Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Tidal will stream Prince's 'Rally 4 Peace' concert for free

  You won't need a ticket to Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore to see Prince perform this Sunday. Heck, you won't even need to be on the Eastern seaboard. Tidal, Jay Z's much maligned streaming music service, announced today that it will broadcast the artist's full 60-minute Rally 4 Peace set completely free of charge. What's more the show will be "pre-paywall," meaning that users won't need a Tidal subscription to access it. Additionally, the streaming service will "match funds" of any donation made through its official website with proceeds going to local youth charities and the Baltimore Justice Fund. Prince is reportedly planning this impromptu concert to bring Baltimore communities together after the death of Freddie Grey in police custody. [Image Credit: Getty]

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• 'Matrix' directors' Netflix show 'Sense8' looks like a crazy head trip

  If you're all out of Daredevil, there's another geeky show coming to Netflix soon: Sense8, a new sci-fi series from the Wachowskis and Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski. We've been excited about the project since it was announced, but now we've finally got a clear idea of what it's about with a new trailer. And boy, does it look crazy. The series centers on eight strangers from all around the world who become mentally and emotionally linked. Basically, they're all able to experience what the others are feeling -- and yes, that leads to plenty of drama. The trailer shows off some Matrix-like action, but this being a Wachowski joint, we also expect it to explore plenty of metaphysical questions as well. Netflix is debuting all 12 episodes of the show on June 5 as a part of its packed summer release schedule, so start clearing out your weekends already.

  By Devindra Hardawar Read More

• Spotify wants to get into online video

  Spotify is virtually synonymous with streaming music, but it may be poised to shake things up in the near future. Wall Street Journal sources claim that the company is planning to launch a web video service. It's not certain exactly what the focus would be, although Spotify is reportedly reaching out to both YouTube-focused creators as well as old-fashioned media outlets in the hopes of licensing content and creating original programming. You likely won't need a paid subscription to watch, and the offering might even tap your music habits to suggest content -- you'd see different videos if you listen to downtempo music instead of dance tracks.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Hulu is reportedly making a TV series based on 'Myst'

  It's a good day for point-and-click fans. After the news that you can now play Grim Fandango Remastered on your morning commute, it seems like the '90s classic Myst is getting its own TV series. According to Deadline, a drama series that explores the origin of the game's eponymous island is coming to streaming service Hulu. For those that don't know, Myst was a huge hit in its day; its innovative storytelling methods and stunning graphics made it the best-selling PC game of the decade.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Sharp will start making HDTVs with Roku built-in

  Until now, the only names that had signed up to be part of Roku's integrated smart TV club were TCL, Hisense and Insignia. If none of those brands floated your boat, however, then you may be relieved to hear that Sharp has now signed to bake the streaming company's hardware into a new range of TVs as well. The company is pledging to knock out both a 42 and a 50-inch 1080p set built from Roku's reference designs. Price-wise, the former is priced at $379.99, while the latter will wind up setting you back $499.99 -- with both available exclusively through Best Buy.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Mysterious group relaunches Grooveshark (Update: not really)

  Quasi-legal music streaming service Grooveshark shutdown earlier this month as part of a settlement agreement with major labels. But the internet wouldn't let it die. A mysterious team has resurrected the service. One of the team, an individual who calls himself Shark, told BGR, "well, I started backing up all the content on the website when I started suspecting that Grooveshark's demise is close and my suspicion was confirmed a few days later when they closed." The relaunched music-stealing site is a shadow of its former self, but Shark's team hopes to recreate the defunct site's entire UI experience including playlists and favorites. It's unclear if the team is affiliated in any way with the former Grooveshark. Whoever they are, the team behind this zombie version of the site should expect the same type of copyright lawsuits from record labels. Update: As pointed out by commenters, this "resurrected" Grooveshark site is nothing more than a re-skin of music piracy site MP3juices. The privacy policy, copyright and search results are identical on both sites. So someone stole Grooveshark's identity sort like its users were stealing music.

  By Roberto Baldwin Read More

• Apple TV channel lineup expands with CBS Sports and USA Now

  All signs point to a completely revamped Apple TV being in the works. For now, however, the growth of the platform doesn't appear to be slowing down -- even as new hardware and software loom on the horizon. Today, CBS Sports and USA Now launched their on-demand streaming channels on Apple TV, bringing even more entertainment content to owners of the $69 set-top box. While neither channel offers access to live shows, there's still plenty to watch from both networks, including full episodes and a robust set of shorter length videos. If you're in the US, you should see these on your Apple TV's home screen now -- otherwise they will be showing up soon.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'Project Cars', 'Grace and Frankie'

  The NBA and NHL playoffs have moved on to round two, and Formula E is racing in Monaco. Of course, if you prefer virtual racing, this week PC gamers will finally get to experience the release of Project Cars (consoles wait until next week). Netflix debuts its new series Grace and Frankie that reunites stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, as HBO premieres a new Kurt Cobain documentary tonight. On Blu-ray, the acclaimed movie Selma is joined by several old-but-goodies, with new editions of Mad Max, Duel, Ladyhawke, Goodfellas and The Terminator. 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

• Comcast app lets Xfinity customers share live streams on TV

  It's no secret that people love live-streaming content to anyone who's willing to watch, whatever it may be. So, with this in mind, Comcast is introducing an app that will let its X1 subscribers record and push video streams from their mobile device to a TV in real-time. But there's more to it. The Xfinity Share application, available for iOS and Android, will also allow users to do the same with photos and videos from the camera roll. Better yet, you can share those (plus the livestreams) with other Comcast customers, so long as both the sender and receiver have a DVR-ready X1 set-top box and are subscribed to the Xfinity Triple Play package.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• HBO switches to streaming-only review policy starting right now

  HBO is trying super hard to dislodge Game of Thrones' crown as the "most pirated TV show" of modern times. It recently launched HBO Now, a non-cable-based streaming service, and today the company announced it would stop providing reviewers with DVDs containing episodes of its shows prior to their air dates. Instead, HBO will give reviewers early access to these episodes via a secure streaming service. The streaming policy starts this week with three new episodes of Veep, but it was spurred by a recent Thronesian leak: In April, four unaired Game of Thrones episodes found their way online, all of them reportedly linked to a review DVD. "Amazingly enough, it wasn't until just recently that a DVD was leaked online," HBO EVP of Corporate Communications Quentin Schaffer said in an email to reviewers.

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Sling TV targets Latino viewers with latest channel bundles

  The content programming spree for Sling TV continues today. Now, the company has announced two $5 bundles intended for the Spanish-speaking community in the US. Deportes Extra is one of them, featuring beIN Sports en Español, beIN Sports (English), Univision, Univision Deportes and UniMas. The other, Peliculas & Novelas Extra, comes with channels like Az Corazon, Cinelatino, De Pelicula, Pasiones and a pair that carry over from the sports-focused bundle: Univision and UniMas. Both packages are perfect for people who like watching football (soccer) and Latin American soap operas, better known as novelas.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Amazon Instant Video's iOS users can stream in HD and use mobile data

  Amazon has given its Instant Videos app for iOS a huge boost, and just in time for the weekend. First up: you can now finally watch movies and shows in HD on your devices. No more putting up with standard definition if crisp, clear visuals are essential to your enjoyment. You'll likely still find yourself switching to lower resolution every now and then, though, especially if you're using cellular data. Yep, that's the other big upgrade -- you can watch your shows even in the absence of WiFi, so long as you have decent mobile connection. Thankfully, that feature comes with new settings that let you choose the quality of the stream, and hence the amount of data you'll use. The update's now live on iTunes if you want to take advantage of the new features... or to give the app another shot.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• 'Star Wars' streaming finally comes to the UK on May 4th

  When the Star Wars saga finally became available to buy on digital storefronts like iTunes and Google Play, we hoped it would only be a matter of time until Disney and Fox made them available to stream. Thankfully, that's now about to happen, after Sky announced today that it's struck a deal with the two companies to bring all six movies to Sky Movies and Now TV from May 4th. That day obviously holds a special significance with fans, so Sky will kick things off with "UK TV's first ever 48 hour Star Wars marathon" on that date, showing the movies in "episodic order, as well as release order on both days." They'll also be offered to non-Sky subscribers through its separate streaming service. So, if you're already signed up to the Now TV movie bundle and ownership doesn't mean that much to you, you can skip the £64.99 Digital Movie Collection and get your geek on for the cost of your monthly subscription.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• Grooveshark's illegal music streaming service is extinct

  Death's icy grip hit more than just Secret this week; Grooveshark is shutting down too. Last year, judges found the music streaming service guilty of mass copyright infringement for hosting illegal uploads of songs from Jay-Z, Madonna and others. As Recode notes, however, something a little more recent was the reason behind the actual closure. Escape Media (Grooveshark's owner) had a few options in court with Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group last week: either pay a possible maximum of $736 million in fines or accept a settlement with record labels to hand over its website, apps and patents.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

Tablets (5)

• ASUS to unveil stylish ZenPad at Computex next week

  It's Computex next week, which means we'll be busy fiddling with a whole bunch of new ASUS devices. According to Ausdroid, some of these will be contributed by a new Android tablet line dubbed ZenPad, which will allegedly come in 7-inch 1,024 x 600 and 8-inch 2,048 x 1,536 flavors -- with the latter having a 4:3 screen ratio, as featured on the iPads, the Nexus 9 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A. Given the sweet romance between ASUS and Intel, it's no surprise to see the latter's chips powering the ZenPad line. Judging by the leaked press render obtained by Ausdroid, the larger model packs front-facing stereo speakers, and the backside somewhat resembles the sleeve design applied onto the latest MeMO Pad 7. Little else is known about these new tablets, but we'll find out more in a week's time.

  By Richard Lai Read More

• 9to5Mac: Apple's working on iOS tweaks for 12-inch iPad

  Still holding out for a larger iPad? Well, you're certainly not alone. Thanks to new details from 9to5Mac, it looks like Apple's prepping for a reveal as well. The site has a solid track record when it comes to rumors, and it reports that both hardware and software tweaks are in the works for the 12.9-inch slate. Two models, code-named J98 and J99, are reportedly in the testing phase alongside tweaks to Apple's mobile OS to outfit the extra screen real estate. As you might expect, the difference between the two is one is WiFi-only and the other carries both WiFi and cellular connectivity. Among the changes to iOS is a split-screen feature that could be announced for current iPad models as early as WWDC in a few weeks.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Shipments of 'white box' tablets overtake iPads

  The hottest-selling tablets aren't likely to be iPads or Galaxy Tabs these days -- if anything, they're the cut-rate slabs you see in the back of the drug store. Strategy Analytics estimates that shipments of generic "white box" tablets (which typically run Android) overtook iPads in the first quarter of this year, claiming 28.4 percent of the market versus Apple's 24.3. The analysts largely chalk this up to consistently tepid iPad sales, but they also suggest that small, budget-minded tablet makers are having a field day. That's not totally surprising. Low-cost Android gear also dominates the smartphone market, and a lot of these tiny outfits operate in China, where price is more of a concern. You don't need a $500 slate just to watch video in bed, after all.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• AT&T's first self-branded tablet is built for the budget crowd

  Hey, Verizon: you're not the only US carrier that can play the in-house tablet game. AT&T has unveiled the Trek HD, the network's first self-branded slate. The 8-inch Android design isn't exactly flagship-class, but it might hit the spot if you want LTE data on the cheap. You're getting a modest 1.6GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 5-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front cameras, 16GB of expandable storage and an 8-hour battery. It does ship with Lollipop out of the box, though, and the price is certainly right -- you're looking at $50 on contract, or $200 over a 20-month installment plan. If all you want is a way to check Facebook when you're on vacation, you'll probably be fine.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• At £199, Google's Nexus 9 finally makes sense

  Ever since Google launched the Nexus 10, I've craved a decent full-size Android tablet. Sony's Xperia slates are nice enough, but I've always missed the purified software experience that comes with Nexus devices. When the Nexus 9 was announced, I thought a worthy upgrade had arrived, but it quickly became clear that the hardware wasn't up to HTC's usual standards. The plastic back creaked and the display suffered from light leaks, while the price, which originally started at $399/£319, felt a little on the high side.

  By Nick Summers Read More

Technology (1)

• Nintendo hired a guy named Bowser as its new VP of sales

  You could say he's been a company man all his life.

  By Billy Steele Read More

Tomorrow (8)

• This pizza box doubles as a movie projector

  Movie-and-pizza night usually means having to retreat to the TV in the living room, but not if you live in Hong Kong. Ad firm Ogilvy & Mather HK has built the Pizza Hut Blockbuster Box, a pizza box that turns into a projector at the drop of a hat. All you do is pluck a lens out of the protective stand, mount it in the side of the box and use your smartphone (conveniently perched on the stand) as the video source -- any video that plays on your phone suddenly becomes room-sized. There's no mention of whether or not this cardboard theater will reach other countries, but it's hard to imagine this concept being limited to one city for very long.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Adult Themes: Digital sex just isn't 'sexy'

  The attic room is sparsely furnished, with just a bed, a side table and a bookcase made from cheap plywood, shelves sagging from overuse. It's sufficiently cold in here that clouds of vapor peel from my lips, but the location, at least, offers the privacy I need. After balancing my laptop on some books, with the webcam strategically pointed above waist-height, I slide my trousers down and pull out the ominous, black cylinder from a bag. It's a Kiiroo Onyx, a $249 teledildonic device that, the company promises, will enable me to have sex with my significant other (or anyone else) through the internet.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Virtual reality's roller coaster ride to the mainstream

  In the early '90s, four odd-looking arcade games appeared at a rented-out store in my local mall. For about seven dollars, anyone could play three minutes of a new virtual reality game called Dactyl Nightmare. I paid up, put on the massive helmet and... the game was over before I'd even figured out what I was doing in the blocky, chessboard-like environment. The whole experience left a lot to be desired and I never went back. It certainly wasn't the first VR experience (or the most advanced) made available for public consumption, but it sums up how many felt about the ill-fated, first wave of consumer-facing VR projects: all hype and not enough substance. The times and technology have changed, though, and it's finally time for round two. VR systems are being developed and promoted at a rate that outstrips the previous era, with better graphics and games (and far less queasiness) than ever before. VR, it seems, is just about ready for prime time. So to commemorate its second coming, let's take a look at virtual reality's bumpy road to mainstream recognition.

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Ecocapsules are pint-sized solar and wind-powered micro homes

  Ecocapsule is a small, egg-shaped abode that could be the perfect home for someone who wants to let it all go like Elsa and live off the grid. Its roof is decked with 600W solar cells and a built-in 750W wind turbine that store the energy they harness into a high-power battery. The structure's shape also allows its inhabitant to collect rainwater by placing containers around it. Since it measures just 14.6 feet long by 7.4 feet wide by 8.4 feet tall, anyone who isn't into tiny houses (and we do mean tiny houses) might feel more than a bit claustrophobic inside. Its designers, Nice Architects from Slovakia, made good use of every inch of interior space, though, fitting in a folding bed, a small kitchen, a dining area, a shower and flushable toilet, and even some storage space.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Guy hoverboards across a Canadian lake and into history

  No, this isn't some guerilla marketing campaign for Back to the Future's upcoming pseudo-anniversary. It's a world record-setting flight by Canadian inventor Catalin Alexandru Duru aboard a homebrew hoverboard. He recently piloted this prototype nearly 1000 feet across a Quebec lake to set the record. "The prototype can be used anywhere," Duru explains in the video below. "But is usually tested over water because of how dangerously high it can fly (which is ironic considering that the movie joked that it can't)." There aren't many details about the device available though it would appear he controls it by shifting his bodyweight back and forth like a geeky Green Goblin. There's also no word on when (or if) the device will ever make it to market -- no matter how hard you wish for it.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Here's what it's like to fly over Dubai with a jetpack

  Dubai already seems pretty futuristic on the ground, but what's it like in the air? As you'll soon see, it's almost like another planet. Yves Rossy (aka Jetman) and "protégé" Vince Reffet recently flew over the extravagant city in jetpacks, and their view was every bit as strange as you'd expect. The Burj Khalifa tower (above) resembles a sci-fi super weapon, while the artificial Palm Jumeirah archipelago sticks out from the coastline like a sore thumb. Will this airborne sightseeing trip get you booking a flight to the United Arab Emirates? Probably not, but it's worth a look if you're wondering what a ton of oil money will do to a desert landscape.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Genie transforms food pods into meals in 30 seconds

  If you've seen an episode of Star Trek, you're likely familiar with the Replicator device on board the USS Enterprise that synthesized meals and beverages on demand. Well, a company in Israel created the modern-day equivalent to that appliance with Genie. The counter-top gadget uses food pods to create the recipe you desire, and claims it's like having a personal chef around all the time. What's more, it does the cooking in under a minute. The company doesn't disclose the "patented technology" that makes this possible, but once a food pod is chosen and placed inside the Genie, 30 seconds is all the device needs to create "a freshly baked dish."

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Solar-powered grill cooks your food no matter the weather

  However much you may like grilling food on a warm day, you probably don't like dealing with gas tanks or other typical grill hassles... and most solar cookers won't help much if it's overcast outside. The upcoming GoSun Grill might be a smarter way to handle those backyard shindigs, however. It can bake, boil and roast meals for eight people using a sunlight-powered thermal battery that will keep cooking no matter how gloomy it gets outside. Yes, you can have some grilled chicken at the beach even if it starts raining. The reflector-based system also doesn't require you to flip your food, and it shouldn't dry out your moister meats and veggies.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

TV & Movies (21)

• Recommended Reading: The new and improved 'Halt and Catch Fire'

  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. Hard Reboot: The Excellent Season 2 Makeover of 'Halt and Catch Fire' by Andy Greenwald Grantland Despite an interesting premise, AMC's Halt and Catch Fire never really took off during its first season. The show that chronicles the effort to reverse engineer an IBM PC in a Texas garage got a full revamp for season two, though, and Grantland's Andy Greenwald explains how the changes have drastically improved the series for version 2.0.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Adult Swim makes virtual reality even weirder

  Virtual reality's notion of strapping a display to your head is already a bit weird by itself, but Adult Swim just took that strangeness to a new level. The network's Virtual Brainload app for Android invites you to grab a Google Cardboard viewer and experience the "backside of reality" -- in short, it's going to be a kaleidoscopic mind trip. Whether or not you're up for the audiovisual assault, you can expect more VR content from Adult Swim's parent, Turner, in the future. The broadcaster says that it's working on "deeper, custom-created" virtual content that will arrive as soon as this year, so you can expect these VR side projects to become increasingly important in the near future.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Some of Hollywood's best animatronics are going to auction

  If you're a movie buff who can't get enough of Hollywood's monsters, you might want to brace your wallet for impact. Famed special effects guru Rick Baker is auctioning over 400 items from his collection, including animatronics that were key to livening up aliens, apes and other creatures in big movies ranging from Gremlins 2 to the Men in Black series. The amount of technology involved might surprise you -- in many cases, what you saw on screen was just a small part of what was going on. The bidding doesn't start until the 29th, but we've rounded up some of the highlights in the gallery below if you can't wait to see what's up for grabs.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Recommended Reading: Why do we hate CGI so much?

  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. Why VFX Is Being Vilified by Raqi Syed & Sonya Teich Motherboard By now, you've heard someone complain about the prevalence of visual effects in movies. Perhaps you've groaned about it yourself. Sure, there are varying degrees of execution, and some of the results that made the final cut have been downright awful. Take Avengers: Age of Ultron for example. The film was a massive success at the box office, but critics griped about the role visual effects played in the bulk of the action. Is all the post-production to blame for ruining movies?

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Silk Road Survival: In conversation with 'Deep Web' director Alex Winter

  An unassuming, Mormon family man. A brilliant physics and engineering student with a goofy smile. Five years ago, neither of these men knew each other, let alone suspected that they'd be drawn into a web suffused with libertarian dogma, hard drugs and the sort of rhetorical dedication that allegedly drove that student -- Ross Ulbricht -- to order a hit on that family man. That's the weighty world that digital documentarian Alex Winter set out to explore in his new film, Deep Web. By his own admission, the documentary -- which first appeared at SXSW in March and hits Epix on May 31st -- can't tell the whole story of the Silk Road, an anonymous bazaar of hallucinogens, hitmen and, really, whatever you were looking for. Ulbricht is still behind bars after being found guilty of all seven charges leveled at him earlier this year, which included narcotics trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering. One even crowned him a "kingpin," and stuck him with the punishment attached to the title. While he and the rest of us wait to see what his sentencing holds, though, Deep Web acts as an important crash course in the events that led to all this. We spoke to director Winter to understand how and why he put the story together on film.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• UK government torn over plans to censor 'extremist' TV shows

  The Home Secretary Theresa May wants to give Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, the ability to block shows with extremist content before they're shown on TV. The Queen's Speech will detail some of the Conservative government's legislative plans next week, and it's already been confirmed that Ofcom will be given "a strengthened role" to tackle broadcasters perceived to be showing extremist content. The new powers will be part of a new Counter-Extremism Bill which includes immigration restrictions for extremists and the power to close premises where extremists are thought to be influencing others.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• James Cameron backs a contest to build better movie drones

  You can already record some decent footage with a drone if you're so inclined, but "decent" isn't good enough for director James Cameron. He's lending support to C-Prize, a New Zealand competition meant to improve drone technology for the movie and TV producers. The challenge will reward those who develop tech that makes drones quieter, more stable and better at tracking moving subjects -- all important when you're shooting your magnum opus with a robotic camera. You'll have to pitch your idea by July 5th, but the mad scramble could be worth it if it earns the gratitude of Cameron and other filmmakers hoping to spice up their aerial shots. [Image credit: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images]

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'House of Wolves', 'Late Show' finale

  Summer doesn't officially begin for another month, but most of our favorite TV shows are ready to go on vacation now. Shows wrapping up their seasons this week include The Following, The Flash, Battle Creek and a few others. Of course, following Mad Men's finale last night is an even bigger, as David Letterman turns out the lights at The Late Show for the last time Wednesday night before Stephen Colbert takes over in September. Bungie is releasing a second Destiny expansion with House of Wolves, adding the Prison of Elders, Trials of Osiris and a few other wrinkles to its online shooter. 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

• The first trailer for 'Steve Jobs' is here

  Ready for another movie based on Apple's cofounder? Well, this one appears to have a bit more gravitas behind it, and a little less Kutcher: Based on the biography by Walter Isaacson, the screenplay's been written by Aaron Sorkin, and directed by Danny Boyle. The film has already had a difficult time nailing down the actor to play Jobs himself. Michael Fassbender is still playing the titular Apple founder, with Seth Rogen playing Woz and Kate Winslet playing former marketing chief Joanna Hoffman. Break out the emergency black turtleneck and watch how it's shaping up right after the break.

  By Mat Smith Read More

• The 'Ratchet & Clank' Movie comes out April 29th, 2016

  If you were wondering when Sony would pull its finger out and announce the release date for the Ratchet & Clank movie, then today is a good day for you. The company has revealed that the flick will arrive in theaters on April 29th, 2016, with the video game cast of James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye in the starring roles. For some reason, the studio felt compelled to upgrade the rest of the acting roster, so don't be surprised when Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, John Goodman and Sylvester Stallone pop up in the closing credits.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Every ridiculous vehicle in 'Mad Max: Fury Road' is drivable

  Practical effects have gotten incredibly scarce in big-budget summer blockbusters, so it's pretty refreshing to learn that every ride in Mad Max: Fury Road's apocalyptic menagerie isn't CGI -- they're all functional and drivable. Production designer Colin GIbson had strict marching orders from the movie's director ("make it cool or I'll kill you," according to Jalopnik) so he and his team scoured Australian scrapyards for donor vehicles. The 88 nightmarish results of that quest speak for themselves whether it's the Mopar-on-tank-treads "Peacemaker" or 600+ cubic-inch, dual V8 monstrosity with two '59 Cadillac Coupe de Ville bodies mounted on top of its chassis dubbed "Interceptor." The production team built some 150 vehicles and then beat the ever-living hell out of them. When all was said and done, "over half" were destroyed. How'd that happen? Catch the flick when it opens this weekend and find out.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Ultra HD Blu-ray is bringing high-res movies home soon

  After Blu-ray and HD DVD ushered in the age of HD and 1080p movies for the masses, discs were beaten to 4K by streaming services like Netflix, YouTube and Amazon. While the internet is still doing most of the heavy lifting for 4K, the Ultra HD Blu-ray specification is finally complete which means we should see movies and players arriving later this year. Besides being compatible with the 10,000~ Blu-ray discs already out, Ultra HD Blu-ray players will be ready for high-res 3,840 x 2,160 video, "next generation object-based sound formats" (think DTS: X and Dolby Atmos), more colors, high dynamic range (HDR) and even high frame rate video. That's a lot of buzzwords to say movies will have the capability to look and sound better at your home than they ever have before. The BDA also made vague reference to a "digital bridge" setup for extending your movie purchased on a disc to other devices like phones and tablets, but didn't say exactly how that will work, or if it's going to be any better than Ultraviolet.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Discovery is filming virtual reality 'Mythbusters' and other shows

  The Mythbusters team is already shooting in virtual reality for the next season, Discovery told AdWeek. We're not exactly sure what that means at the moment -- they could be filming Jamie and Adam in VR format using stereoscopic cameras, but the company might also be talking about downloadable tie-in content. Either way, we're sure we're not the only ones excited at the prospect of going "inside the show," seeing explosions and mythbusting in an immersive virtual environment. It's not just Mythbusters that's getting the VR treatment, though: the company's online arm has launched a whole new division called Discovery Virtual. It's now working on several other VR programs in addition to Mythbusters, but you'd likely have to have access to an Oculus Rift or another similar headset to be able to enjoy any of them.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Someone just bought this 'Tron' lightcycle for $77,000

  As movie vehicles go, not many rank as high on the cool scale as a Tron lightcycle. So when father and son collectors Paul and Chris Andrews decided to offer up their full-scale replica of the two-wheeler from Tron: Legacy for auction at Sotheby's, we suspected it might sell for a little more than its $25,000 - $40,000 valuation. Turns out that was a bit of an understatement. On May 2nd, the ride, with its 96 volt electric motor with lithium batteries and a computer controlled throttle, fetched a tasty $77,000, almost doubling its projected sale value. The new owner gets a lightcycle that's only been driven around the Andrews museum a few times to ensure it's in full working order. All else that is needed is the Daft Punk soundtrack and they'll be pulling 90-degree corners in style.

  By Matt Brian Read More

• What's on your HDTV: 'Mad Men' finale, 'Battlestar Galactica'

  After seven seasons (the last one stretched out as far as it will go), AMC's flagship series Mad Men is coming to an end this weekend. While some will say goodbye to Don Draper and the rest of the crew (Google Play put together a "fan experience" to help you look back), there's a slew of other finales hitting this week. Castle, Arrow, CSI: Cyber (well...), Elementary, Scandal and a number of others are wrapping up their seasons, so it's a good time to binge and catch up. The NBA and NHL playoffs are also cranking up the intensity, so sports fans will want to see which series go the full seven games. On Blu-ray, Wet Hot American Summer is arriving along with the original Battlestar Galactica series, while gamers can start playing Project Cars on consoles too. 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

• 'The X-Files' six-episode series premieres January 24th

  Back in March, Fox confirmed that FBI agents Mulder and Scully would return to television, and now we know when. The network announced that The X-Files six-episode run will begin on January 24th at 10 PM ET, following the NFL's NFC Championship Game. There's sure to be a load of interested viewers already marking down the date, but Fox is looking to rope in a few more by debuting the miniseries right after a big playoff game. The show's premiere is a two-night event with the second episode following on Monday, January 25th at 8 PM ET in what will be the regular time slot. If you'll recall, show creator Chris Carter will handle director and executive producer duties while David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles as the Bureau's paranormal investigating duo. [Image credit: Moviestore collection Ltd / Alamy]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Fox officially plans 'Minority Report' TV show for this fall

  It's official: Fox will bring back Minority Report later this year. Steven Spielberg directed the 2002 movie, and his company Amblin TV is behind the new TV series, set 10 years after the end of "pre-crime" in Washington D.C. The plot details available tell us it will pair up a now-released pre-cog (Stark Sands) trying to figure out his future before teaming up with a detective (Meagan Good) who helps him find a purpose for his ability to see the future. Of course, Minority Report was notable for technological visions of the future that went well beyond just pre-cognition, and we'll have to see how much of that sticks around on a TV budget -- Almost Human's armor-clad Ford Fusions didn't quite scream "future" to us and Fox is famous for its quick trigger finger on cancelling sci-fi shows, so there's always some risk.

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• HDHomeRun Kickstarter wants to build the perfect DVR for you

  Now that Microsoft has announced it's through with Windows Media Center, what options do you have left to build your own machine for recording, organizing and watching TV? A new one ready to enter the scene is SiliconDust's HDHomeRun DVR, which recently launched on Kickstarter and is scheduled to arrive this fall. SiliconDust made a name for itself among home theater PC builders by bringing the devices they need to plug in cable or antenna TV, and with the DVR it's making the software too. Diving into the crowdfunding effort now will get you early access to software that promises TV how and where you want, all without needing to build a computer to run it. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• 'Avengers: Infinity War' will be filmed with IMAX cameras only

  The final planned Avengers films, Avengers: Infinity War - Parts 1 & 2, will be the first movies ever to be shot exclusively with IMAX cameras, Variety reports. First, directors Anthony and Joe Russo will try out a new, lighter 2D digital camera from IMAX and Arri to shoot 15 minutes of Captain America: Civil War. Then, they'll plan the Infinity War movies around the IMAX camera. The first Infinity War film is due on May 4, 2018, while part two is scheduled to hit theaters on May 3, 2019. "The Russos are going to spend the next 15 months or so designing the making of the Avengers films with these cameras in mind," IMAX Entertainment CEO Greg Foster said. "They're not looking at this a week before they start filming or only focusing on an important section of the film. This is something that's never happened before." Image credit: Marvel

  By Jessica Conditt Read More

• Sony's original series 'Powers' renewed for a second season

  Sony has announced it is bringing Powers back for a second season. And, all things considered, it's easy to see why. As an entertainment platform, the future of PlayStation's original programming depends heavily on the success of Powers, a series based on the comic book story from Brian Michael Bendis. Thankfully for Sony, after premiering back in March, Powers quickly became a favorite for viewers and rose to the top of the charts on PlayStation Network. The company says season two is scheduled to debut in the US next year, although it didn't provide a specific time frame. In a statement, President of Programming and Development at Sony Pictures Television, Jamie Erlicht, said the new chapter will "broaden the Powers universe and bring even more of the fan-favorite characters and storylines to life."

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Channel 5 steals Football League highlights away from the BBC

  If you support a football team that's in the Championship, League One or League Two, watching match highlights in the UK is a real pain. The BBC's Football League Show starts at 11:55pm, which means staying up past midnight just to see 5 seconds of your favourite striker missing an open goal. Well, that's about to change. Channel 5 has stolen the rights to Football League highlights from the BBC, and next season it'll be launching a new 90-minute show on Saturdays at 9pm. That means it'll finish just in time for Match of the Day -- the perfect appetiser while you wait for Lineker and friends to recap the Premier League. Channel 5 is hardly known for its stellar sports coverage, but now that it's got Football League TV rights for three years, hopefully it'll learn to do a better job than the BBC.

  By Nick Summers Read More

Wearables (30)

• Apple says the Watch's irregular heart rate tracking is intentional

  When Apple trotted out its first update for the Watch, fitness mavens were alarmed at the suddenly inconsistent heart rate tracking. Did Cupertino break one of its wearable's signature features? Well, not quite. Apple has posted an updated support page that indicates the change in heart tracking was intentional. Instead of getting your beats per minute every 10 minutes regardless of what you're doing, its new default behavior is to check only when you're staying still. You can still make the Watch check on the move by using the heart rate Glance (above) or starting an activity in the Workout app, but the change risks creating gaps when you're strolling down the street.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Canadian man gets fined for using his Apple Watch while driving

  Now that electronics manufacturers are releasing more and more smartwatch models, you might be wondering what the authorities' stance is on using one while driving. Well, this clears things up a bit for our Canadian readers: a man named Jeffrey Macesin was recently pulled over and fined $120 for using his Apple Watch behind the wheel. Macesin told CTV News Montreal that the watch was inside a bag, and that he was only changing songs on it at that moment, since it was plugged into the car radio. He thought the cop only wanted him to get out of the way when he turned the cruiser's lights on, but the officer obviously thought the device was a cause of distraction.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Acer outs three new models of its Liquid Leap wearable

  Last month, Acer teased a trio of new wearables in New York City. Today it's making them official. Enter the Liquid Leap Active, Leap Curve and Leap Fit, all designed with fitness, activity tracking and removable bands in mind. The Fit and Curve both come with a heart rate sensor, while the Active focuses on offering features such as sleep pattern-monitoring. Acer's staying mum on pricing and availability right now, but the company did say we'll learn those details at Computex 2015 next week. In the meantime, at least there's some eye candy to hold you over until then.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Google Cardboard now works on iOS

  At the I/O developers conference this morning, Google announced that its low-cost VR headset, dubbed Cardboard, is now available for (official) use with the Apple operating system. The system has only been available for the Android OS since its debut at last year's I/O conference. Its associated app, however, has been downloaded more than a million times since then.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Lenovo's 'Magic View' smartwatch concept hides a private display

  Smartwatches, you know the drill: a touchscreen display, and it feeds you notifications and stuff. Pretty boring, right? Lenovo agrees, so has cooked up a "Magic View" concept to show things don't need to be this way. The problem Magic View solves is simple: the small displays inherent in watches. The answer? A small, second screen in the strap that initially appears cosmetic, until you hold it to your eye. Once you do, you'll see an image the company claims is 20 times larger than the watch's main display. Lenovo says it's using "optical reflection" to achieve this, and that the second display can be used for viewing maps, looking "around" images (using the accelerometer in the watch we gather) and even viewing videos -- should you be ok with holding your wrist to your eye to do so.

  By James Trew Read More

• Pebble Time's regular pre-orders start on June 22nd

  If you missed out on Pebble Time's crowdfunding campaign and won't get one of the early units shipping today, you now have a date to mark on your calendar: Pebble has revealed that it's going to start regular pre-orders for the color smartwatch on June 22nd. That'll leave you waiting quite a while before you can even buy the $199 wearable, but you'll at least get a more polished device for your trouble. Pebble is promising an update that lets iPhone users dictate replies to Gmail messages, so you'll have one less reason to pull your handset out of your pocket.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Jawbone sues Fitbit for 'plundering' product information

  Jawbone is suing its archrival, Fitbit, for "systematically plundering" confidential information. According to the complaint, Fitbit recruiters attempted to poach almost one-third of Jawbone's staff. Some of those employees left the company, but not before downloading "critical trade secrets" including business plans and product details. The accusation comes right on the heels of Fitbit's decision to go public. The company, which sold 10.9 million wearable devices last year, filed for an IPO of up to $100 million earlier this month.

  By Mona Lalwani Read More

• Engadget giveaway: win a pair of smart glasses courtesy of Augmented World Expo!

  There's no denying that virtual and augmented reality are on a roll lately. Oculus, HTC and a host of others have committed to producing quality VR experiences and Microsoft's Hololens put the buzz back into augmented concepts. That's just the tip of the iceberg, though. If you want to find out what's really going on in those circles, as well as IoT and wearable tech, you may want to head to Silicon Valley next month for the 2015 Augmented World Expo (AWE). The event includes more than 20 workshops, 200 interactive demos and over 100 talks by some of the best in the business. The folks at AWE have been nice enough to offer $19 Expo-only tickets for our readers (code: ENGADGET19), but for one lucky soul, the pot is quite a bit sweeter. We have a pair of Epson Moverio BT-200 smart glasses, along with two all-access VIP tickets to the expo for the winner this week. Just head on down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning Epson's latest augmented tech and unfettered access to the Augmented World Expo at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California, June 8-10th. Winner: congratulations to Ron S. of Bernalillo, NM!

  By Jon Turi Read More

• Clip-on adds gesture control to Pebble Time and Android Wear watches

  Aria is a small add-on that clips underneath a smartwatch band and lets you control the device with finger gestures. It's an accessory for an accessory, which sounds kind of ridiculous, but it's not like you have a lot of choices when it comes to adding gesture control to your gadget anyway. The remote control-like clip-on can access any feature you'd usually access through the touch screen or the watch dial, completely freeing up your other hand for tasks like eating, drinking or talking on the phone. Possible gestures include tapping, flicking your fingers, and closing and opening your hand -- you can configure it all through its companion app.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Apple Watch support is coming to IBM's enterprise apps

  For the past year or so, Apple and IBM have collaborated on the MobileFirst for iOS project, a series of 22 enterprise-specific apps for iOS. These apps are designed to help service professionals better perform their duties but for some, constantly fishing out a phone or tablet to access those apps actually hindered their efforts. That's why Apple announced through its website today that three of these apps -- Hospital RN, Field Connect and Incident Aware -- will now work on the Apple Watch.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• DrumPants 2.0 is open source, still turns your pants into drums

  That crazy DrumPants wearable tech we first saw in '07 -- the same one that raised 75 grand on KickStarter and was featured on Shark Tank in 2014 -- is back. Its creators have now turned to Indiegogo to fund the mass production of DrumPants version 2.0, which they claim is faster and stronger than its predecessor. Plus, it's now open source. The wearable, for those who've only just heard of it, isn't actually a pair of pants with drums (sorry to disappoint). It's a set of accessories comprised of two elongated drum pads and two foot pedals you can use to play different kinds of instruments, along with a knob that lets you choose between samples and musical scales. You can wear them over your clothes, or under, like the jamming dude in the GIF above.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• This smartwatch doubles as a wearable wireless storage

  ReVault looks just like any ordinary smartwatch, but its main feature's quite different from others in the category: it has wireless local storage you can access like a private cloud. According to its Indiegogo page, the storage is accessible from your phones, tablets or laptops using an app (like Dropbox and other cloud services) that works on Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows and even Linux. You can even program a trusted device to auto-sync every time you save new images or download files -- anything you store will be encrypted, and you can also set up a password and two-factor authentication for added security. The watch connects to those devices via WiFi and Bluetooth, and since it can make its own WiFi network, you can upload files even without internet connection.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Android Wear update brings WiFi to select smartwatches

  The latest version of Android Wear that Google promised back in April is finally starting to make its way to devices today. It comes with quite a list of updates, starting with the activation of dormant WiFi chips in the LG Watch Urbane, Moto 360, Sony Smartwatch 3 and the Samsung Gear Live. In addition, apps can now stay visible until you dismiss them, which is the ideal scenario for sports or shopping apps. You can swipe left to access apps and contacts, get notifications even when you're looking at something else on the watch, change your font size and lock your watch screen, as well.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Google Maps app suddenly shows up on an Android Wear watch

  After updating his phone to Google Maps version 9.9, an Android Central writer made a surprising discovery: a near-fully functional Google Maps app had suddenly appeared on his Wear watch as well. The app reportedly works much like the standard mobile phone or tablet version (ie pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate) and even opens with the "Ok Google" voice command. But it's not perfect however. For example, launching the app on your watch apparently causes it to also launch on the phone. Plus the watch app could only be closed by physically pressing the LG Watch Urbane's side button. While it's nice that Android Wear now mirrors the Maps functionality that Apple Watch wearers enjoy, the watch app's overall bugginess is likely enough to make you just keep fishing out your phone for directions.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• The first Apple Watch update arrives with faster app performance

  The Apple Watch arrived on the scene with at least a few rough edges, but the crew at 1 Infinite Loop is trying to smooth at least some of them today. The company has released a 1.0.1 update for the Watch that improves performance across the board, and should be a particular help with third-party apps hosted on your iPhone -- many of which seemingly took forever to load in the original release. The difference isn't dramatic in our experience, but it is there. Your wristwear should also do better jobs with Siri voice recognition and calculating fitness data (such as calories and distance), and the interface supports seven extra languages ranging from Brazilian Portugese to Turkish. This doesn't include any of the big interface-level features hinted at in recent rumors, but it's good to see Apple's first wearable get some much-needed polish.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Basis' fitness tracker now comes in titanium, talks to other health apps

  As useful as the Basis Peak may be for tracking your fitness, your data has largely been trapped so far -- you couldn't see it outside of Basis' own apps. However, you'll be glad to hear that things are loosening up. An app update rolling out to the Peak today will share the wristwear's activity data with either Apple's Health app or Google Fit, so you get a more complete picture of your health. If you only strap on your Peak when you're running, for instance, you can still merge its info with the walking data your phone collects. It'll also open a "Playground" for testing app features (such as an activity map and a Photo Finish selfie recorder) before they're available to everyone elseShould that not be enough, there's a firmware update coming on May 20th that will add a stopwatch and improve heart rate monitoring.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Fetch's shopping app puts a smarter concierge on your wrist

  Talking into a smartwatch still isn't the most socially acceptable thing to do, but a pair of startups is hell-bent on at least making it worthwhile. Fetch and Expect Labs -- a personal shopping service and a purveyor of a voice-driven AI, respectively -- have teamed up to make shopping on your Apple Watch a little less tedious with an improved concierge that works from your wrist.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Another Oculus competitor heads to Kickstarter

  By the end of next year, there'll be so many virtual reality headsets in stores that you'll wonder if you even need a TV anymore. Fove is one such device and, unlike many of its rivals, offers built-in eye tracking that promises better depth of field, more natural movement and line-of-sight targeting in FPS games. The company is also boasting that the headset's ability to work out where you're looking will enable your PC to adjust its rendering resources accordingly. There's also talk that the Fove development kit will seamlessly work with titles published in Unity, Unreal Engine and CryEngine, so it won't be too difficult to adapt big-budget games to work with the hardware.

  By Daniel Cooper Read More

• Mercedes-Benz has an Apple Watch app, too

  Apple Watch apps aren't all about sorting payments and getting notifications. There are plenty that play nice with your car, too. Following the likes of BMW and Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz announced its own software for the wearable that provides walking directions to and from where the car is parked. Using the MB Companion app, Mercedes owners can also search for driving directions from the Apple Watch or and iPhone before they even sit down in the driver's seat. As you might expect, info like fuel level, range, maintenance codes and and odometer readings can be swiped through on your wrist, too. When it arrives this fall, the app will work with Mercedes-Benz C-Class and S-Class vehicles that sport the Command Online tech, and support for other models is said to follow after launch.

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Leak hints at the first round of Apple Watch upgrades

  There hasn't been much talk of software upgrades for the Apple Watch now that it's a real product you can (sort of) buy, but sources for 9to5Mac understand that there are some important tweaks in the pipeline. To start with, you'll reportedly see third-party "complications" (those elements that show calendars, the weather and more) on watch faces. This sadly wouldn't bring true third-party watch faces, but it'd give you a quick way to check information from other apps. You could see if you have any Twitter mentions just by looking at your wrist, for example.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Browse your recent Google Play tunes on your Android Wear watch

  Google Play Music just got a lot more convenient... if you're using a cutting-edge Android wearable, that is. Smartwatches running the new Android Wear 5.1.1 update (such as the LG Watch Urbane) now let you browse your recent Play Music items. If you're bent on finishing an album or can't stop revisiting a favorite playlist, you no longer have to pull your phone out of your pocket. You can also check out All Access radio stations if you're in the mood for some variety. This upgrade won't be much help if you want to sift through your whole collection, but it could save you a lot of time when you're listening on the move.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Sony Smart Tennis Sensor to analyze games in North America and the UK

  Sony's Smart Tennis Sensor has finally arrived in the US, Canada and the UK from Japan, and just in time for the perfect weather to start working on being the next Nadal. It's been a while since we saw it at CES 2014, though, so let's all refresh our memories: the sensor's a small circular device that fits into the bottom of a compatible racket's handle once you remove its logo cap. It can not only detect the swing type you use, but also the shot count, ball impact spot, ball spin and swing and ball speeds. Plus, the accompanying iOS or Android app can record videos and associate data with specific parts, so you'd know what you need to improve on.

  By Mariella Moon Read More

• Samsung reveals a few facts about its round Gear smartwatch

  Samsung hasn't exactly been coy about its new Gear watch having a round screen -- it confirmed as much in an SDK announcement the day the Apple Watch launched -- but we're finally getting a better sense of what it brings to the table. The company released development tools for its new Gear watches to a small pool of early adopters today, and with it came a few details about the so-called "Project Orbis" (or Gear A, if you prefer) watch. Before we go any further, though, it's worth pointing out again that this particular Gear watch isn't going to run Android Wear. It's a Tizen device through and through, and what's been unearthed today corroborates plenty of stuff we've heard before.

  By Chris Velazco Read More

• Garmin's running watch finally tracks your heart rate by itself

  Garmin is more than a little late to heart-tracking watches (even TomTom had one last year), but it's making up for that today. The company's new Forerunner 225 running watch has a built-in, Mio-developed heart monitor that saves you from buying a chest strap just to find out whether or not you're pumping blood at an ideal rate. You'll also get some of the perks of Garmin's nicer wristwear, such as step counting, an accelerometer for tracking indoor runs and data sharing with your smartphone. If you're eager to prep for a marathon with Garmin's help, you can pick up the 225 sometime this quarter (no later than June) for $300.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Looking at the future of mobile gaming with Samsung's new Gear VR

  If you just got yourself a Samsung Galaxy S6 (or its curvier sibling, the S6 Edge) and you happen to be a fan of VR, well good news: the latest Gear VR for the Galaxy S6 is now officially on sale. It's still in limited rollout but it should be in your local Best Buy starting today for around $199, with availability expanding quickly to even more places. Introduced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the new headset is not only designed for Samsung's new phones, but also features a number of improvements over the original Gear VR for the Note 4. We had a chance to take a brief spin with the new hardware a few days ago, tried out a few new made-for-VR games and also talked to Max Cohen, VP of mobile at Oculus, for more on Gear VR's future.

  By Nicole Lee Read More

• Swatch is working on a smartwatch battery that lasts six months

  Smartwatches have yet to solve the riddle of battery life, but Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek says his company is hard at work on a solution. Speaking with the Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung, the chief executive revealed that not only with the watchmaker put out a smartwatch next year, but that it will feature "a revolutionary battery." Belenos, Swatch's research arm, and battery maker Renata are hard at work on the tech. The company announced last year that it would begin packing fitness-tracking tools inside its Touch line of watches, beginning with the Touch Zero for volleyball players earlier this year. What's more, the fruits of the long-lasting battery project will also be used in cars. "Whoever brings a battery for a smartwatch to the market that you don't need to charge for six months has a competitive advantage," Hayek said during the interview. For reference, battery life for both the Apple Watch and Moto 360 hovers around a day. [Image credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images]

  By Billy Steele Read More

• Oculus Rift goes mainstream early 2016

  Quarter one 2016. It's the answer to a question we've asked basically every time we've spoken with Oculus VR since 2012: "When does the consumer version of the Rift come out?" Aside from that revelation, we're also getting our first look at the final design of the headset, but that's it! No word on price or launch games, experiences or Facebook apps, either. Come to think of it, "no" probably fits as an answer to any other question you might have at this point. Oculus teased that it'll have more to share soon, specifically hinting at June's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), but for now we'll just have to make do with these morsels. If Sony hoped to have early 2016 to itself in terms of VR for the masses with Project Morpheus, those dreams have effectively been dashed.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Keep tabs on your Volkswagen with the Apple Watch

  Volkswagen America announced Tuesday that its Car-Net app is coming to the Apple Watch and will allow drivers to remotely interact with their cars using it. The Car-Net platform is VW's driver safety and fuel efficiency suite. It offers features like automatic crash emergency response notifications, remote vehicle access and "health updates" on wearing parts like brake pads -- all delivered through the Car-Net mobile app. Now, instead of fishing for their phones in pockets and purses, drivers of many 2014 and newer VW vehicles worldwide will simply have to look at their wrists to know how their cars are doing.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• White House to announce it's buying 50,000 police body cams

  According to The Hill, President Obama is reportedly set to announce a nationwide body camera program on Monday. This pilot project will purchase 50,000 body-worn police cameras at a cost of $20 million and distribute them to law enforcement agencies in a dozen cities. Over the following two years, that figure will balloon to $75 million as the program expands to additional agencies and police departments.

  By Andrew Tarantola Read More

• Join us for an Apple Watch Q&A on Facebook! (update: it's over!)

  If you're on the fence about getting an Apple Watch (though it's going to be a while before you can strap on one of your own), you probably have some questions that our detailed review might not answer. We've employed our very own Deputy Managing Editor James Trew, who's been playing with one for about a week to answer your questions in a Facebook Q&A. For the next hour, post a question in the thread below and we'll answer them! (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Do you have questions about the Apple Watch? Our own Deputy Managing Editor James Trew is here to answer your questions... Posted by Engadget on Friday, May 1, 2015 Photo: Will Lipman

  By Engadget Read More

Xbox (11)

• 'Halo 3: ODST' is rolling out for Xbox One, check your inbox

  From one bug-ridden console game to another -- Halo: Master Chief Collection owners should check their Xbox One inbox this morning, as redemption codes for the Halo 3: ODST add-on are going out now. Arriving as an apology for problems gamers reported with the massive Halo bundle since it launched months ago, ODST is a simpler update instead of a full rebuild, with all the original bits but running at 1080p and 60fps, and without the co-op Firefight mode. There's also an update for the main bundle that adds Halo 2: Anniversary map "Remnant" to the bundle and makes a few additional tweaks. Halo Senior Communications Manager Rob Semsey confirmed the rollout on Twitter, so if you played the game between November 11th and December 19th last year expect a message (if you didn't, but still want the add-on, it will go on sale soon for $5). The title update is about 2GB plus 8.1GB for ODST so you'll have time to think -- is this reason enough to get back on the Halo bandwagon or are you through trying with Master Chief Collection?

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Microsoft is adding a headset port to Xbox One controllers

  Even though the Xbox One controller has earned many plaudits, one thing universally hated is the lack of a headphone port. So far the best solution has been to buy the $24.99 Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter, but even that's not without its problems. Although it won't be much consolation to gamers that already bought the adapter, Microsoft is going to release a refreshed controller this June with a 3.5mm port built in.

  By Aaron Souppouris Read More

• Xbox for Windows app gets a flurry of features ahead of E3

  If you're an early Windows 10 adopter, you'll soon find a smattering of new features inside the Xbox app. As part of its June update, Microsoft is adding "game hubs" which, similar to the Xbox One, show which friends have played the title and their recent activity. Meanwhile the new 'Game Bar,' which lets you record video clips and screenshots, can now be triggered with custom shortcuts, and the Avatar app will load automatically when you select "customize" from the top header. A few other tweaks include better friend management, the ability to sort cloud-based game clips and turn on/off your Xbox One from inside the app. They're small changes, which is understandable given that E3 is just around the corner. Game streaming is still one of the most anticipated parts of the Xbox app, and it might not be too far away -- Microsoft says testers can now submit anonymous diagnostic information about their PC and network settings to help them refine the feature.

  By Nick Summers Read More

• Windows 10 beta on Xbox One coming 'post-summer'

  Want a taste of Windows 10 on your Xbox One? It's coming sooner than you might've thought. Xbox boss Phil Spencer tweeted today that a beta of the program that ties your console in with your desktop computer is coming "post-summer." Exactly what features it'll entail or a concrete timeframe (game streaming from Xbox to desktop, the Xbox Game DVR and Xbox Live) are anyone's guess at this point. That'll almost positively change come next month's Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, though.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• White 'Halo' Xbox One bundle coming to the US

  It's no secret that people love white gadgets. And in case you missed out on the Xbox One Sunset Overdrive bundle from last year, now's your chance to get one. Microsoft just revealed a kit that's loaded with a white version of the console, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, 500GB of storage and a 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial. The special edition is only available in the US and costs $350, which would save you about $50. But you better hurry if you want it -- as usual, this will only be up for grabs in limited quantities.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• Xbox One Digital TV Tuner hits the US and Canada today

  The Xbox One is already an entertainment powerhouse. But, starting today, those of you in the US and Canada will have the chance to get even more out of it. Microsoft has announced that the official TV tuner for its Xbox One, which lets people watch over-the-air channels directly from the console, is now available in these two countries. As a refresher, this feature first hit Europe last year, so it's taken a decent amount for it to arrive in North America. You can get the Hauppauge Digital TV Tuner for $60, though you'll also need an HDTV antenna for it to work as intended.

  By Edgar Alvarez Read More

• JXE Streams: Slaying monsters with a vengeance in 'The Witcher 3'

  You've likely seen the infamous "sex on a stuffed unicorn" scene by now, but what's the rest of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt really about? That's what I'm hoping to show you today on this latest edition of JXE Streams. The Witcher is kind of an anomaly, really: a long-running PC role-playing series (based upon Polish fantasy novels) with a dedicated fanbase, but when the console port The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings arrived on Xbox 360 back in 2012, not many people paid attention to it. Fast forward three years and its sequel is one of the most highly anticipated games of the month. We're going to dive into some caves, fight some monsters and hopefully avoid any not-safe-for-work shenanigans so you don't get into any trouble if the boss walks by your desk.

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More

• Microsoft's E3 event gives you a chance to play upcoming games

  It's not unheard of for game console makers to invite fans to their media events -- largely to get more cheering than they'd usually get -- but Microsoft is upping the ante for its E3 gathering this year. It's planning to offer 500 tickets that gets you into both the company's June 15th press conference as well as a FanFest (June 14th through the 18th) that lets you play upcoming Xbox games months in advance. You'll also have VIP access to an eSports event and a meet-and-greet with game industry bigwigs. Be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices if you're determined to get in, though. You'll have to be in the Los Angeles area, of course, but you'll also have to line up for those tickets on the 14th. Otherwise, you'll just have to watch the blogs and live streams like everyone else.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Turn on your Xbox One from an app with the latest update

  Ever wanted to turn on your Xbox One before you've even reached the living room? If so, it's time to upgrade your console. Microsoft has released the Xbox One's promised May update, and you now have the option of turning the system on (or off) from the SmartGlass app -- your system will be ready by the time you sit down to play. The refresh also brings voice messages to the One, and it enables dedicated party chat servers (rolling out over the weeks ahead) to make sure a finicky router won't get in the way of your conversations. It's not a gigantic update, but it's a big deal if you're either impatient or hate typing with a gamepad.

  By Jon Fingas Read More

• Xbox One rumor claims DVR is coming to replace Media Center

  Even as Microsoft buries Windows Media Center, there's a rumor that it actually does have a plan for a replacement. According to Paul Thurrott's sources, the Xbox One will gain the ability to record live TV "probably this year." That's the kind of feature Microsoft originally envisioned for its all-in-on game console, but so far does not offer. The live TV tuner that's available in Europe and coming to North America offers some trick play pause/rewind support, but full DVR functionality would be a big shift. The PlayStation 4 has a DVR for subscribers of to the Vue TV service, but that's relatively expensive and only available in a few areas so far. Proper DVR support combined with that antenna (and hopefully, cable TV access for the people who haven't cut the cord yet), could provide a more flexible option. Of course, if anyone has the technology prepared to roll out it should be Microsoft, but we'll have to wait and see when/if it comes to fruition. [Image credit: Stephen Brashear/Invision/AP]

  By Richard Lawler Read More

• Xbox 360 update makes the digital transition easier

  It turns out that support for bigger external hard drives isn't all that the latest Xbox 360 preview's packing. The surprise features aren't huge by any means but they're pretty self explanatory and as of now should make using the console a bit easier, regardless. Let's dig in. First up we have a view for recent purchases followed by a password reset function, network statistics information and the ability to see your Microsoft account balance right from the system dashboard. Like I said, nothing earth-shattering on a piece-by-piece basis, but taken as a whole they offer a pretty clear explanation for why Redmond is updating the console in the first place: making it easier to go from discs to downloadable gaming. As a reminder, Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb says that if you have any other feature suggestions for the almost decade-old console be sure to hit the Xbox feedback website. [Image credit: pabuk/Flickr]

  By Timothy J. Seppala Read More