Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin step back from top roles

Larry Page and Sergey Brin are stepping back from the day-to-day running of Google's parent company.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Tapping AI for a Future of Better, Faster, Cheaper Gift Shopping

If you are like me, every Christmas you dread shopping because figuring out what everyone wants is a bit of a nightmare. You don't know what folks want in your price range. If you find out, there is no easy way to be sure they haven't bought it themselves, or that someone else didn't get it for them. Choosing sizes and colors adds to the nightmare. These problems aren't limited to Christmas, as the same gift-selection issues exist for other occasions. Maintaining multiple gift lists and keeping them current is just not something we do well.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Sunday, December 1, 2019

30 Best Outdoor and Fitness Deals

From Patagonia outerwear to the Fitbit Versa Lite, we've got Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to keep you moving, outside, and happy.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

A Glimpse of Our Wireless Future

Last week I attended a Qualcomm event that took me through the coming wave of both 5G and WiFi 6 products, touched on the millimeter wave, and at least spoke to 6G. From this I think I can begin to picture the world as it will exist by the middle of the next decade, and it is kind of fascinating. Qualcomm has spent nearly $50B -- yes billion -- advancing its wireless initiatives. Its current leading efforts are 5G, WiFi 6, and Millimeter Wave. If you are in the U.S., you'll likely have access to all three technologies.

Friday, November 29, 2019

How the Quantum Tech Race Puts the World's Data at Risk

The technology one-upmanship between the United States and China is fast becoming the new space race. There's been a lot of talk in the press about the competition to reach 5G, but little traction outside of the tech community about something more momentous: the dangers of computing in a post-quantum world. The recent news from Google about its quantum capabilities is exciting. However, the prospect of supercomputing on this level raises several concerns about data integrity and the overall security threat.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Huawei: Trouble overseas but boom time in China

While Huawei tech is blocked in the US, it is helping build one of the world biggest 5G networks at home.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Uber loses licence to operate in London

The firm says it will appeal against the decision and can continue to operate during that process.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

TCL 6-Series TV Review: Our Favorite TV of 2019

With top-tier tech and an affordable price tag, TCL's latest 6-Series is the best TV for most people.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Friday, November 22, 2019

Disney+ Is a Wonderful World for Tykes and Geeks

Disney+ has made its official debut, and after a few minor hiccups the service is up and running. It is widely available via a plethora of devices, offers a breadth of content, and serves quick and seamless downloads to mobile devices. However, with a heavy focus on Disney animated films, Marvel superhero movies and Star Wars, this service might not be quite the Netflix killer that the Walt Disney Company claims it is. Simply put, it is a great service for families with children, and it's great for sci-fi fans.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

BA passengers face delays after 'technical issue'

The airline is booking passengers into hotels after some were stuck for up to 10 hours.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Election debate: Conservatives criticised for renaming Twitter profile 'factcheckUK'

Twitter said the stunt was misleading to the public and would not be tolerated in future - but did not take any direct action.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Thorny Problem of 5G Security

A few years ago, putting the words "mobile telecoms security" in the title of an article would be a license to write whatever you wanted below, because no one was likely to read any of the words after the title. Sprinkling the magic ingredient 5G has changed this, and "5G security" is a hot topic now. What has changed? There is obviously a geopolitical aspect to 5G security, but it is not the full story by any means. Fundamentally, security for 5G is important now because 5G is going to become essential to many more parts of our lives.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

6 Best Gaming Laptops for Every Kind of Player (2019)

We tested the latest and greatest gaming laptops to sort the god-rolls from the vendor fodder.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Friday, November 15, 2019

Thursday, November 14, 2019

'Nightingale Project' to Turn Over Millions of Medical Records to Google

A venture between Google and Ascension, one of the largest healthcare providers in the United States, will give the tech giant access to the sensitive medical information of as many as 50 million patients in 21 states. Its venture with Google, called "The Nightingale Project," would enable it to improve the experience of patients, consumers, providers and associates, Ascension said, as well as advance its mission of providing compassionate, personalized care to all, especially people living in poverty and those most vulnerable.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

New YouTube Terms of Service Create Stir

Google has published changes to YouTube's Terms of Service Agreement that have stoked fears among some users. "YouTube may terminate your access, or your Google account's access to all or part of the Service if YouTube believes, in its sole discretion, that provision of the Service to you is no longer commercially viable," the new ToSA states. Many creators are deeply concerned over the prospect of YouTube changing its practices. "A lot of people on the service make a living on it," noted Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Microsoft Surface Pro X Review: Expensive, Unreliable, Untenable

The slim, light, 2-in-1 computer has a new chip that hobbles the machine’s ability to achieve the dreams that Microsoft had for it.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Apple's 'sexist' credit card investigated by US regulator

Goldman Sachs, which operates Apple Card, discriminates between men and women, it is claimed.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

UPS Chalks Up Another Drone Delivery First

UPS has announced the first two revenue-generating residential deliveries of prescribed medicines to consumers. Its drone delivered the prescription medications from a CVS pharmacy in Cary, North Carolina, to a consumer's home, and to a customer in a retirement community. The drone flew autonomously but was monitored by a remote operator who could intervene if needed. In each case, it hovered about 20 feet above the delivery destination and lowered its package to the ground using a winch and cable.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Friday, November 8, 2019

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The 8 Best Robot Vacuums for Every Home and Budget (2019)

We've tested dozens of robot vacuums. Whether you're up against pet hair, carpet, or hardwood floors, we have a pick for you.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Truth vs. Censorship Trap

There recently has been a lot of rumbling about Twitter deciding not to take political ads, and Facebook deciding that it would run political ads even if untrue. I'm becoming convinced that Zuckerberg is trying to put Facebook out of business. There are some real differences between the firms. Facebook does far more political advertising than Twitter, so it would have been more painful to cut the ads. Still, effectively admitting that it intends to support voter manipulation at a national scale isn't going to sit well with regulators.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Evidence of War Crimes Vanishing From Social Media

A controversy has erupted over YouTube's practice of taking down graphically violent videos that may be evidence of recent war crimes. YouTube's policy -- similar to other social media platforms -- has been to remove content that contains hate speech, disinformation or disturbing images. In the past, Facebook and other services have been called out for failing to do enough to stop the live streaming of criminal and violent acts. Many user-generated content services have stepped up efforts to remove problematic videos as quickly as possible.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Saturday, November 2, 2019

13 Great Tech Deals on TVs, Games, Apple Watch and more

Whether you need a smartwatch or an air fryer, these are the best things worth buying this weekend.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Twitter to ban all political advertising

CEO Jack Dorsey says the reach of political messages "should be earned, not bought".

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Active Noise Cancellation a Big Draw in New Apple AirPods

Active Noise Cancellation is just one of the hot new features in the latest generation of Apple's AirPods. The new AirPods Pro, which go on sale Wednesday for $249, combine earbud microphones with software to remove background noise and improve a user's listening experience. An outward-facing mic on the bud collects environmental sound for analysis. That analysis allows the bud to create a sound that can cancel out noise before it reaches a listener's ear. Meanwhile, an inward-facing mic listens toward the ear.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Monday, October 28, 2019

Why do gay apps struggle to stop catfish?

Gay dating app Hornet says it will use algorithms to tackle fake profiles and fraudsters.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

EA Rewards Battlefield V Fans With Expansive Pacific Chapter

There's a new trailer for Battlefield V, the World War II first-person shooter Electronic Arts released last year, highlighting the game's Chapter 5: War in the Pacific. The trailer previews team-based gameplay in settings ranging from Europe to the South Pacific. War in the Pacific is a free download that will be available on Oct. 31. New maps will include familiar stomping grounds such as Wake Island and Iwo Jima, and add American and Japanese factions to the game, along with a slew of new weapons and vehicles.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

10 Best Cheap Headphones & Earbuds for $100 or Less (2019)

We’ve picked the best affordable in-ear, over-ear, on-ear, wireless, and corded headphones in every price bracket.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Mobile giants unveil plan to end rural 'not-spots'

The proposed deal with the government aims to get 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by 2025.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Amazon Echo Dot Deal: It's on Sale for Just $9

This is a ridiculously good price for Amazon's popular 3rd-Generation Echo Dot—but there is one tiny caveat.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

GoPro Max 360 Wins Reviewers' Plaudits

GoPro has begun taking preorders for its $500 360-degree camera, the Max 360. It has two 180-degree lenses that can capture 360-degree stills at 16.6 megapixels, single lens shots with a 4:3 aspect ratio at 5.5 megapixels, and arresting 270-degree "PowerPanos" at 6.2 megapixels. For video, it can capture 1440p at 60 frames-per-second with a single lens and 5.6k spherical clips at 30 fps. There are microphones on all sides of the camera, save one, and it supports all current GoPro accessories.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

3 Coming Tech Advances That Could Boost Our Safety and Smarts

I was moved by the recent news about a woman being shot in her home by a police officer. Once again, I found it frustrating that people immediately jumped to apply blame before all the facts were in. Three mistakes contributed to the incident. The first was by the neighbor, who should have called the homeowner before calling the police. The second was by the police, who should have called the woman before going to the front door. Finally, the woman made the final mistake by picking up a gun without being ready to use it.

Monday, October 21, 2019

How to Pick the Best Roku: A Guide to Each Model (2019)

There are 7 Rokus for sale, and the differences between them are confusing. We break down exactly which Roku is best for your TV.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Masterbuilt 330G Propane Smoker Review: As Good as Wood

Some pit masters may look down on smoking with propane, but this smoker could convert them.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Adopt a Maintenance Mindset: Protect IT

As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the National Cyber Security Alliance is advising all computer users to "Protect IT" by taking precautions such as updating to the latest security software, Web browser and operating system. The nonprofit public-private partnership, which works with DHS as well as private sector sponsors, advised computer users on ways to protect their personal data and how to use WiFi safely. Protect IT is the third pillar of the NCSA's overarching message around this month's awareness program.

Friday, October 18, 2019

4 College Admissions Essay Editing Services Reviewed: Scribendi, Wordvice, Elite Editing, Scribbr

College applicants seeking an edge can turn to online services which, for as little as $14, will spruce up their admissions essays.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Vatican launches new 'eRosary' bracelet

The gadget aims to help young Catholics pray for world peace and contemplate the gospel.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Germany will not bar Huawei from its 5G networks

The ruling is welcomed by the Chinese company, which warned against "politicising security".