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Unlocked versions of Samsung's Galaxy S8 are up for pre-order
Want one of Samsung's lithe new S8 handsets but want to pick your own carrier? Awesome, because pre-orders have opened for unlocked versions of the nigh-bezel-free phone. In our review, mobile editor Chris Velazco proposed that the devices could almost make you forget about Samsung's fiery news from last year.
Hulu Live TV has the potential for greatness, but it's a tough sell
Of all the streaming live TV services to launch over the past few years, Hulu's makes the most sense. After all, it's the company that managed to craft a successful business out of streaming TV and movies, despite plenty of naysayers. Live TV is simply the next logical step. And unlike Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and DirecTV Now, Hulu's live service is bolstered by its significant on-demand library, which also includes critically acclaimed, original shows like The Handmaid's Tale. But while it all sounds great on paper, Hulu still has a lot of kinks to work out before its live TV service is ready for the average couch potato.
Amazon's Echo family can now make calls and send messages
One of the most notable new features introduced alongside Amazon's new Echo Show is the ability to make calls with Alexa, something that's been rumored for a while now. And the good news is that this feature isn't limited to just the Echo Show. When it rolls out later today (via an update to the Alexa iOS and Android apps), you'll be able to use all existing Echo hardware to place voice calls, video calls and send messages. You'll obviously need an Echo Show for video calling, but the support for voice calling and messaging is pretty robust.
Speedrunners have already torn 'Prey' apart
Bethesda's Prey reboot has been out for less than a week and already players are posting some truly insane speedruns. Arguably the best is a 19:34 dash posted by "DraQu" on YouTube. It's a mesmerizing playthrough that uses the GLOO Cannon -- an early weapon that can slow down enemies and create small platforming blocks -- to access areas that would normally take hours to unlock. There's some trickery involved, carefully placing foam boulders to clip through the environment and scale parts of the spaceship developer Arkane Studios never intended people to see. Still, it's all within the confines of the game -- technically DraQu isn't cheating.
Peripheral maker Roccat is developing its own game
My dad always used to say that if you can put your mind to it, you can do anything. It looks like someone at Roccat had an equally encouraging parent, as the gaming peripheral manufacturer has revealed that it's now attempting to develop its very own game. The undertaking in question is Sick City, a real-time tactical combat game that takes inspiration from classic squad-based strategy titles like Commandos and Company of Heroes. While gameplay details are still pretty vague, Roccat promises that Sick City will intertwine 'exciting espionage' with a cast of heroes that wield powerful abilities.
MIT's mechanical actuators bend and 'breathe' as they heat up
Researchers from MIT and other institutions have developed a new type of actuator -- a mechanical component relying on movement -- that works in extremely hot environments. Their newly developed material could be used in, say, maintenance robots working in nuclear reactors. To achieve this temperature pliability, the scientists' new system uses oxide systems like those used in rechargeable batteries: As ions move in and out, they expand and contract. Similarly, the researchers' material bends with the flow of oxygen in and out.
Burger Clan and the weird history of awkward video game promos
Executives at Burger King are convinced playing video games makes people really, really hungry. Like, debilitatingly hungry. So hungry, in fact, that they can't take a few minutes to grab a snack, order a pizza or even look away from the screen. Thankfully for starved players in Madrid, Spain, Burger King and Sony have rolled out a solution to this dining dilemma: Burger Clan.
Lowe's smart home system can call 911 for you
If you own a smart home system, here's the worst case scenario: You're away, something has genuinely gone wrong and you need to contact the emergency services. That involves a frantic phone call and some worrying about how swiftly your phone's notification came through. Lowe's Iris has a different approach -- if you sign up for its premium plan, the system will monitor your home and call emergency responders automatically. You'll be notified through the app, of course, and in some cases be able to cancel or confirm before someone from the police or fire department is sent out.
Marines' online nude photo scandal leads to 21 criminal cases
Feds have filed a total of 21 criminal cases after two months of investigating the nude photo scandal that rocked the US Marine Corps. According to AP, the investigation team called Task Force Purple Harbor scoured 200 websites for nude and semi-nude images of male and female soldiers on their own and with the help of some tools and software. It was a tough task, since perpetrators keep posting, deleting and reposting under different pseudonyms. Plus, some websites are exclusive to members and kick anyone who doesn't contribute.
People actually crowdfunded this smart pillow
The connected home is getting out of hand. These days your mattress can do everything from keep tabs on your cheating spouse to start your coffee each morning. But why let the surface you sleep on have all the smarts when you can pay $300 for a pillow that knows when you're sleeping and when you're awake? Like Santa but from 1984.
New York City plans to track every homeless person in its borders
To assist New York City's efforts to combat homelessness, the mayor's office is planning to deploy a new tool to count every vagrant person within its bounds. In the hands of workers that reach out to the homeless every day, StreetSmart will help them track health, income, demographics and other figures. But unlike the siloed databases currently used by individual departments, the city wants everyone canvassing homeless populations -- civic employee and nonprofit worker alike -- to feed into the tool to create a comprehensive data collection.
Most American households have abandoned their landlines
A US Health Department study has confirmed that most US citizens have completely stopped using landline phones -- shocking no-one. In a report released today, the government revealed that 50.8 percent of American households are now cellphone-only, with just 39.4 percent using both a mobile and a landline. That leaves a measly 6.5 percent of US homes that just use a landline, with the remaining 3.2 percent not owning a phone of any kind. The declining interest in landlines likely has one major culprit: the smartphone.
Reuters: DOJ investigates Uber 'greyballing' scheme
Uber has to tell the feds how Greyball works and where exactly it was deployed now that it's facing a criminal probe over the controversial tool. According to Reuters, the Department of Justice has issued the ride-hailing firm a subpoena from a Northern California grand jury asking for documents that can answer those questions, indicating the beginning of a criminal investigation. The company used Greyball to prevent regulators from grabbing a ride in locations where the service operated without permission. Uber confirmed its existence and its questionable use of the tool after The New York Times exposed it in March.
US may require visa applicants to divulge social media accounts
The State Department has proposed a new requirement for select visa applicants: Their social media handles from the last five years. This would only apply to about 0.5 percent of those applying worldwide and wouldn't target nationals from particular countries (say, those under a travel ban), the government insisted. But should the suggested changes be approved, you'll need to fork over every internet alias you've used or risk jeopardizing your visa.
Google turns Raspberry Pi into a dirt cheap Home competitor
If you've ever wanted to have a conversation with your own tiny home-made computer, then your prayers have just been answered. Raspberry Pi has teamed up with Google, bringing voice integration to the Pi with a clever combination of hardware and software. Packed with the same tech that powers Google Home, the companies have released a kit that transforms a regular Raspberry Pi 3 into your very own virtual assistant. The pack contains a Voice HAT (Hardware Accessory on Top) board with a speaker and a microphone, giving Pi owners everything they need to add-in voice integration. (For the uninitiated, a HAT refers to any physical hardware that needs to be added on top of a Pi.)
Apple pledges $1 billion to support manufacturing jobs in the US
Apple probably won't start building iPhones and iPads in the United States any time soon, but CEO Tim Cook is happy to help other companies keep their manufacturing businesses stateside. Apple will pour $1 billion into a fund aimed at promoting advanced manufacturing jobs in the US, Cook announced on Mad Money today.
Google says Uber created a fake company to steal its secrets
Uber is having a bad year, for sure. In February, Google's parent company Alphabet sued Uber, claiming that it stole proprietary self-driving car technology from Google's Waymo project. The plaintiff's lawyers also claim that the original LLC, Ottomotto, was created as a diversionary tactic and that Uber and Otto executives planned to acquire the company all along. In a court hearing today, Waymo lawyers referenced stock awards, timelines and emails to support their claims. The current details revolve around Anthony Levandowski, the former Waymo executive who founded Otto and is now working at Uber.
Google is helping Germans go solar
Google's Project Sunroof is a way of combining the company's mapping data with information on how much sunlight hits your home. With it, people can work out if their abode gets enough radiation for them to consider investing in solar panels. Until now, the service was limited to the US but, from today, the system is rolling out to Germans similarly curious about adopting renewables.
China increases restrictions on internet news outlets
The Chinese government has been ramping up tighter control of its internet in the past year. The latest set of new restrictions released by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) adds more limitations on what news can be created and distributed by online platforms. But the biggest new rule: Every editorial staff must be approved by the national or local government internet office.
Dubai is the first city to design its own Microsoft font
It's not as flashy as having the world's tallest building, but the city of Dubai can now claim a new achievement -- it's the first to create its own Microsoft font. The Dubai Font, which combines Latin and Arabic texts, can be accessed globally through Microsoft Office 365.
