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Amazon increases its minimum wage to $15
Amazon has announced that it will increase its minimum wage to $15 for all of its employees, starting November 1st. The company says that the move will benefit 250,000 staffers, as well as up to 100,000 part-time, temporary and agency workers hired during busy periods. Wage increases will also be implemented at Amazon's subsidiary businesses, including Whole Foods and Zappos. Other, stock-based compensations are being withdrawn to offset the changes, but 401k matching and healthcare benefits are unchanged.
Netflix might make a choose-your-own-adventure 'Black Mirror'
Apparently, Netflix isn't content with just being a leader in traditional entertainment. According to Bloomberg, the streaming service is exploring choose-your-own-ending style interactive content. While multiple projects are reportedly in development, the first adult programming that viewers will see is an episode of Black Mirror. Viewers will be able to choose the ending to an episode, which is appropriate for a series that explores the effects and implications of technology. The company has apparently been exploring this tech for some time now.
LG V40 unveiled with all five of its cameras
We'll get our hands on the LG V40 ThinQ October 3rd, but in Korea the company has partially lifted the curtain on its latest V-series phone. While the line has grown more conventional since the release of the V10 a few years ago, this one separates itself from the pack by bringing the previously-rumored five cameras -- three in the back and two up front.
Sony finally gives in to ‘Fortnite’ PS4 cross-play demands
PlayStation gamers have been frustrated by the lack of cross-platform support for the popular game Fortnite. But now Sony has some good news. Today, the company announced an open beta that will allow for Fortnite cross-platform play between the PlayStation 4 and iOS, Android, the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Mac.
Instagram founders resign from Facebook
Just about six years after Facebook closed its $1 billion purchase of Instagram, both of the company's founders are resigning, according to a report from The New York Times and confirmed by a post on the company's blog. Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger served as the company's CEO and CTO, respectively, after pivoting the app from a Foursquare-style check-in service called Burbn to focus on photography in 2010. Less than two years after launching an Instagram iOS app, Facebook announced plans to purchase the company. At the time it had around 30 million users and has since grown to over 800 million. Their departure brings to mind the path taken by the founders of (fellow Facebook acquisition) Whatsapp, Jan Koum and Brian Acton. Acton left a year ago and later tweeted "#deleteFacebook" during revelations over the company's privacy issues, while Jan Koum announced his departure earlier this year, reportedly due to clashes over how to handle user data. Update: The news has been confirmed in a blog post written by Systrom. There was no indication of any issues as he said that the two are "now ready for our next chapter."
macOS Mojave is out today. Here’s what to expect.
While Apple didn't talk much about Macs at its big iPhone event two weeks ago, we did learn that macOS Mojave would be released on September 24th. Well, here we are. I've been testing a final build of Mojave for the past week or so, and while it's not radically different from what we detailed in our extensive preview three months ago, it's worth highlighting what you can expect when you update your computer today.
PlayStation Classic jumps on the retro trend December 3rd for $100
With "Classic" game systems occasionally outselling modern ones, Sony is bringing back its own old school system. The PlayStation Classic will launch in December, loaded with 20 "generation-defining" games in their original format for $100 (€99.99 RRP). It's 45 percent smaller than the original system and uses a virtual memory card for saves. It will arrive with two PS1-era replica controllers from the time before analog sticks for local multiplayer and connect to modern TVs via HDMI-out, but you'll have to bring your own USB power adapter.
The world's first hydrogen train is now in service
The world's first (and second) hydrogen-powered trains have entered service in northern Germany, marking the start of a new era for sustainable travel. Two Coradia iLint trains, made by Alstom, have begun working the line between Cuxhaven and Buxtehude just west of Hamburg. Until now, the nearly 100km-long line has been serviced by diesel trains, but will now play host to near-silent engines.
Tesla is ending its lifetime free Supercharging offer
Tesla's offer of free, unlimited Supercharger access was supposed to have ended in early 2017, but it's been on a form of life support since then. Unless you were buying a regular Model 3, you could get the no-cost charging by ordering your EV with a referral code from an existing owner. Now, however, even that exception appears to be coming to an end. Elon Musk has pointed out that the referral program is about to end. After September 16th, owners will only get to hand out $100 in Supercharging credit to Model S, Model X and Model 3 Performance buyers -- just enough for a few top-ups.
The biggest announcements from Apple's iPhone Xs event
As we all wake from the haze that follows an Apple event, we've collected together all the major announcements, new products and conspicuously absent devices that came from 2018's big iPhone briefing.
A project to remove 88,000 tons of plastic from the Pacific has begun
An ambitious project to clean up the 88,000 tons of plastic floating in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" has begun. On Sunday, the Ocean Cleanup Project started towing its "Ocean Cleanup System 001" from San Francisco to a trial site some 240 nautical miles (260 miles) away. Once it arrives, the wind and waves will push System 001 into a U-shape and it will slowly drift along on its own. A 10-foot long skirt hanging below will collect pieces of plastic as small as a millimeter in size, and smaller boats will later scoop them up and take them to shore for recycling.
OnePlus 6T will include an in-display fingerprint reader
OnePlus' next phone, likely to be called the OnePlus 6T, will have an in-display fingerprint reader, CNET reports. OnePlus confirmed the feature, dubbed Screen Lock, saying it had initially planned for the fingerprint reader to be included in the OnePlus 5T, but that the technology wasn't quite ready for public release at the time. "We unlock our phones multiple times a day, and Screen Unlock reduces the number of steps to complete the action," OnePlus told CNET. "By adding this feature as an addition to other display unlocking options such as Face Unlock, users will have options to unlock the display in a way that is most efficient for them."
There’s finally a Roomba that can empty itself
Since 2002, iRobot's Roomba has been something of a status symbol: a robot vacuum that can clean your floors while you sit back and relax. It's steadily become better and more efficient at cleaning since it debuted -- the last flagship model, the Roomba 980, added floor mapping three years ago. But once your Roomba finishes up, you still have to unload the dustbin manually. It's a stark reminder that we haven't reached the automated cleaning utopia of The Jetsons. That changes with the $949 Roomba i7+ -- it's smarter than ever before, and it can unload up to 30 dirty bins on its own without any help. Rosie the Robot, here we come.
Russians say ISS air leak could be a result of sabotage
Last Thursday, NASA informed the public that there was an air pressure leak aboard the International Space Station. It was extremely small and posed no immediate danger to astronauts. Flight controllers worked with the astronauts to determine that there was what appeared to be a drill hole aboard an attached Soyuz capsule that the astronauts attempted to patch. Now, the Russians are investigating sabotage as a possibility.
Samsung's foldable smartphone teased for November reveal
Samsung's foldable smartphone has been in the works for years, but now it looks like we're finally going to get a sneak peek of the technology within the next couple of months. Speaking to CNBC at the IFA electronics show in Berlin last week, Samsung Mobile's CEO DJ Koh said it's "time to deliver" on the long-promised device, and that it could be unveiled at the Samsung Developer Conference in November. Strong emphasis on the could, though -- Samsung does have a history of bigging up its plans.
Apple acquires a startup that's developing AR lenses
A Bloomberg report from 2017 once claimed that Apple is developing AR glasses slated to start shipping in 2020. The tech giant didn't confirm or deny the report, but based on its latest acquisition, all signs point to yes. Apple has snapped up Akonia Holographics, a Longmont, Colorado-based startup focusing on the development of lenses for augmented reality glasses. The company has confirmed the purchase to Reuters, but refused to elaborate any further: "Apple buys smaller companies from time to time," a spokesperson told the publication, "and we generally don't discuss our purpose or plans."
Google's Wear OS no longer feels like Android on a smartwatch
Google is ready to unveil a shiny new version of Wear OS at last. This is the third major release of the platform (the first since rebranding to Wear OS), and Google finally shows an understanding that what people want from a smartwatch is not a phone replacement. They want a reliable daily assistant and coach that is fast and unobtrusive. The new system doesn't have obvious battery life enhancements, though, which is still a major pain that the industry has yet to solve. It may be up to Google's partners to figure that out for themselves.
Stream all of your favorite Nickelodeon classics for $6 per month
Streaming service VRV is now home to a slew of Nickelodeon throwbacks. With a new streaming channel called NickSplat, VRV is offering users access to shows like All That, Doug, Rocko's Modern Life, CatDog, Clarissa Explains It All, Kenan & Kel, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Salute Your Shorts, Are You Afraid of the Dark? and The Wild Thornberrys. In all, there are 21 titles available at launch with more on the way.
Microsoft launches Xbox All Access with two-year console financing
The rumors are true: Today, Microsoft announced an all-inclusive service called Xbox All Access. For $22 per month over two years, Microsoft will provide you with an Xbox One S console, access to over 100 games thanks to Xbox Game Pass and an Xbox Live Gold subscription. If you want an Xbox One X, then you'll shell out $35 per month. This offer is only available in Microsoft stores.
It's official: Playing as Oddjob in 'GoldenEye' was cheating
I thought this secret would go to the grave with me, but alas, my hand has been forced -- I have a confession to make. Back in gaming's early glory days, when Rare's seminal Nintendo 64 first-person shooter GoldenEye was the only game that really mattered, I would always play as Oddjob against my younger (clueless) sister. I told her the only reason she couldn't hit me was because her aim was rubbish and I was just better than her, but I knew it my heart this was a lie. Now the game's creators have ratted me out.
