Friday, April 19, 2019

Everyone's a Winner in Apple-Qualcomm Settlement

Apple and Qualcomm unexpectedly announced a settlement as their case entered the second day of a hearing in the U.S. District Court in San Diego. In related news, Intel announced it was getting out of the 5G smartphone chip business. The Apple-Qualcomm settlement provides an unspecified one-time payment from Apple to Qualcomm, a six-year licensing arrangement, and Apple's agreement to pay royalties to Qualcomm. The settlement will free Apple to enter the 5G smartphone competition, where it has been outstripped by Android device manufacturers.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Apple to Focus on Productivity With Next macOS, iOS Releases

The ramp-up to Apple's WWDC this June has begun, with reports circulating about the goodies the company will include in the next generation of its desktop and mobile operating systems. The latest revelations include macOS support for the iPad as an auxiliary display, and iOS support for multiple windows within apps. There are a number of third-party products on the market to add an iPad as a second display for a Mac, but the feature reportedly will become native to Apple's desktops and laptops with the next version of macOS, version 10.15.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

'Why I write fake online reviews'

Two people explain why they post made-up reviews, while psychologists deconstruct the power of the review.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Epilepsy charity calls for social media seizure warnings

People with epilepsy are being exposed to flashing images, some deliberately, says a charity.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Withings Move Smartwatch Review: A Few Steps From Greatness

Don’t want a computer buzzing your wrist all day? Withings has an affordable fitness tracker for you.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Gadget Lab Podcast: What Happens to Uber After Its IPO?

WIRED Transportation reporter Aarian Marshall joins the Gadget Lab podcast to talk about what Uber’s IPO means for the future of ride-sharing ... and everything else Uber does.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Google Presents a Cornucopia of Cloud Goodies

Google announced a host of new services, features and partners at Google Cloud Next '19 Day 2 in San Francisco. The new unveilings followed its announcement of Anthos, an open source platform powered by Kubernetes, on Day 1. Anthos is "a single platform for developers and operations; it is for on-premise and multicloud installations," Urs Hölzle, Google's senior vice president, technical infrastructure, told the audience Wednesday. "With Anthos we're making hybrid and multicloud the new normal." Holzle announced a slew of new tools.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Report: Apple Is Gearing Up to Debut Mini-LED Display Tech

Apple plans to introduce a number of new products in the next two years that will sport a new display technology, according to master Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities. Based on Kuo's predictions, which were reported widely on Tuesday, Apple will use new "mini LED" technology in three new products: a 31.6-inch monitor, launching in the second or third quarter; a new iPad with a 10- or 12-inch screen in late 2020 or 2021; and a new MacBook with a 15- or 17-inch screen in the first half of 2021.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Amazon Kindle Review (2019): A Cheaper Way to Read at Night

Amazon’s new entry-level Kindle ebook reader is just like the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite, but $40 cheaper.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Monday, April 8, 2019

Websites to be fined over 'online harms' under new proposals

Apps and websites that do not protect their users may be fined or blocked under new proposals.

Sunday, April 7, 2019

‘Change My View’ Reddit Community Launches Its Own Website

Changeaview.com, the new home for the 700,000-member discussion group, adds custom features that go beyond Reddit's capabilities.

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Gadget Lab Podcast: Reporting From Syria

Two passports, three voice recorders, one gas mask: How journalist Kenneth R. Rosen reports his stories from conflict zones in the Middle East.

Friday, April 5, 2019

Following Protests, Google Cuts Temps, Vendors, Contractors a Fairer Deal

Google has unveiled new minimum standards for temps, vendors and contractors in the United States, in response to demands from an employee coalition that included full-time Google staffers as well as temporary workers and contractors. "Yesterday, we shared an update on some new initiatives to support our extended U.S. workforce -- including comprehensive healthcare, 12 weeks parental leave, $15 an hour minimum wage, and $5,000 a year in tuition reimbursement," Google spokesperson Jenn Kaiser said Wednesday.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Apple's Path to Destruction

One of the things I mention very infrequently is that I was groomed to be a CEO from a very early age. On top of my three management degrees and CMA certificate, I participated in two IBM programs that provided access to a massive amount of resources that detailed both the success and failure of companies at the time, giving me a unique view of what kills a company. One of the big company killers -- and Chrysler before Lee Iacocca is a leading example -- is excess product breadth. That is what we just saw from Apple last week.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

UK gaming market worth record £5.7bn

Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds contribute to another record-breaking year for UK gaming.

Monday, April 1, 2019

PewDiePie loses YouTube crown to T-Series

The Swedish gamer battled the Indian channel to remain the YouTuber with the most subscribers.

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Friday, March 29, 2019

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Apple Wants Its Credit Card in Your Digital Wallet

Apple is getting into the credit card business. The company has announced a virtual payment card built into the wallet app on iPhones. Apple Card sports a number of features aimed at helping consumers lead a healthier financial life. "With our hardware, software and services, we think that Apple is uniquely positioned to make the most significant change in the credit card experience in 50 years," Apple CEO Tim Cook told the audience at an event held Monday at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Monday, March 25, 2019

10 years of Grindr: A rocky relationship

A look back at the highs and lows from the first 10 years of dating app Grindr.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Phishers Bait Hooks for Netflix, Amex Users

Cybersecurity experts at Microsoft's Windows Defender Security Intelligence Team this week reported their discovery of two new email-based phishing campaigns. One targets American Express users while the other targets Netflix customers. Both campaigns reportedly are very well-crafted, featuring legitimate logos and even fill-in forms that closely mimic those on the respective company's own websites. It isn't clear if these campaigns are being orchestrated by the same group, but each was launched last weekend, and each cast a wide net.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

19 Best Tech Deals on PC Gaming, Camping Gear, and More

We found a handful of great tech and outdoor discounts to peruse if you didn't already order the new iPad or Kindle.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Apple AirPods 2019: Price, Specs, Release Date

The new AirPods have better battery life, come with a wireless charging option, and ship next week for $159.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Apple Boosts Performance in New iPad Air and Mini

Apple has announced a new 10.5-inch iPad and a refresh of the iPad mini. The 10.5-inch iPad Air, which will sell for $499, provides 64 gigabytes of solid state storage and WiFi support. It has Apple's latest mobile processor, the A12 Bionic chip, and supports Apple Pencil and the company's smart keyboard. "The Bionic A12 is a cut above the processors used in all other tablets on the market," Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. The new 7.9-inch iPad mini, which will sell at a base price of $399 with WiFi support also has an A12 chip.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Best iPads (2019): Which New iPad Should You Actually Buy?

Choosing an iPad is more complicated than it needs to be, but we're here to help with our complete guide to Apple's new and old models.

Monday, March 18, 2019

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Corporations Are Co-Opting Right-to-Repair

Opinion: Manufacturers are offering more repair options than ever before. But they still aren’t giving people the true freedom to fix what they want when they want.

Saturday, March 16, 2019

AR in Harry Potter Game Is Next Best Thing to Real Magic

Niantic last week offered a few members of the gaming press a chance to take in the magic of its upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite augmented reality game. The game, which is being developed as part of a joint effort with WB Games San Francisco under the Portkey Games label, promises to build on Niantic's hugely popular Pokémon Go mobile phone game. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, first announced in 2017, will use a mobile phone to blend augmented reality with the real world, much like Pokémon Go.

Friday, March 15, 2019

Thursday, March 14, 2019

How to Use Twitter's New In-App Camera Feature

Starting today, users will be able to take photos straight from the native Twitter app.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

The Best Samsung Galaxy S10 Deals (and Which Model to Choose)

So you want a new Galaxy. Do you get the S10, S10 Plus, or S10e? Here's the WIRED guide to choosing—and finding the best deal.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

The Strange Tech Wars of 2019

The tech market is defined by its battles: Microsoft vs. IBM; Apple vs. Microsoft; Netscape vs. Microsoft; Google vs. Microsoft. If Microsoft were a person, it likely would have PTSD. Then there was Apple vs. Google, and now the big one is Apple vs. Qualcomm. The screwy thing for me is that Huawei represents a far greater threat to both companies than they represent to each other. In fact, I'm really starting to wonder if Qualcomm isn't a proxy for Google in this fight, with Apple changing dramatically what its own real goal is.

Monday, March 11, 2019

Structural Shifts in Semiconductor Industry Spawn New Trends

Long-term trends in the technology segment are often the result of structural change. One such change in the semiconductor space was the shift to outsourcing specialized functions, including technology development in the form of intellectual property, chip design, fabrication, and packaging and test. That change, along with the move to more specialized workloads and the need for original equipment manufacturers and service providers to differentiate, has sparked another trend, toward customized processors and System on Chip solutions.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Elizabeth Warren vows to break up tech giants if elected in 2020

The US Democratic presidential hopeful tells a rally she is "sick of freeloading billionaires".

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Gadget Lab Podcast: Former Googler Jessica Powell On How to Quit Your Tech Job

Former Google communications exec Jessica Powell joins this week’s Gadget Lab podcast to talk about Facebook’s manifestos, quitting Google, and why she absolutely refuses to get a brand-new phone.

Friday, March 8, 2019

End of the Line for Windows 7: Open Road for Hackers

Microsoft has been urging customers to upgrade from its Windows 7 operating system, while attempting to ease the transition with several options for extended support. It will stop providing routine fixes and security patches effective January 2020. Regular support for Windows Server 2008 also is scheduled to end at that time. Windows 7 enterprise customers can subscribe to Extended Security Updates to receive security fixes for uncovered or reported vulnerabilities in the OS -- those rated "Critical" or "Important" by Microsoft.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Fitbit Versa Lite and Fitbit Inspire: Price, Specs, Release Date

Instead of competing with Cupertino on features, Fitbit competes on price with a new $160 smartwatch and several new wearable trackers under $100.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Uber 'not liable' for self-driving death

Prosecutors say Uber is not criminally liable for a crash involving one of its self-driving cars.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Apex Legends v Fortnite: The battle for battle royale

Battle Royale game Apex Legends reaches 50 million downloads in its first month - will it be a threat?

Monday, March 4, 2019

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Dragon capsule heads for space station

The demonstration flight of America’s new astronaut capsule will see it dock with the lab.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Gadget Lab Podcast: A Deep Dive into Microsoft’s HoloLens 2

Microsoft's second-generation mixed reality headset has made a significant leap. Microsoft's Alex Kipman goes into details on the Gadget Lab podcast.

Friday, March 1, 2019

LG OLED TV Deal: LG's B8 Drops to the Lowest Price Ever

If you're looking for a killer TV deal, one of our favorite LG 4K televisions is $1,100 right now