Places and Things

You can now download and install iOS 12.1. That means you’ll finally be able to use Group FaceTime (LOL), access over 70 new emoji, and get rid of the annoying image blur that caused “Beautygate. from https://gizmodo.com/apple-just-cant-stop-throttling-iphones-1830124291 https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_5YKq7oB--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/hv5shx8o9hzh5o7ruki6.jpg

Google and iRobot have announced they’re working together to improve smart home technology using mapping data collected by iRobot’s robot vacuums. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/31/18041876/google-irobot-smart-home-spatial-data-mapping-collaboration https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61972785/i7_i7__Charcoal_Photo_Imprint_Smart_Map_LivingRoom_Overlay.0.jpg

iOS 11.3 is a pretty major update, and one of its most notable tweaks is in response to one of the bigger PR controversies to hit Apple in recent times. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/7/16984234/how-to-iphone-throttling-ios-11-3 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58605443/IMG_1112.0.0.jpg

Apple just updated its Shortcuts app, adding a weather integration, new measurement conversions, and better iCloud sharing, among other features. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/30/18044136/apple-updates-shortcuts-with-actions-for-weather-alarms-and-timers https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61966345/Screen_Shot_2018_10_30_at_3.37.49_PM.0.png

For years now, Apple has strongly suggested that the iPad represented the company's vision for the future of computing, and for years, that felt like a bit of a stretch. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/30/apple-ipad-pro-2018-hands-on-preview-bigger-better/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?resize=2000%2C2000%2Cshrink&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2018-10%2F9a57ba70-dc5d-11e8-bfdd-e9560bcfbee8&client=a1acac3e1b3290917d92&signature=903ac9edd395bedcc6ffd5810feb9066cb692d1c

President Donald Trump says he plans to sign an executive order that would end the right to citizenship for the children of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born on US soil. from https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/politics/donald-trump-ending-birthright-citizenship/index.html https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/181018212148-trump-gianforte-assault-reporter-exlarge-169.jpg

President Donald Trump’s private schedule reflects that he has an increasing amount of “Executive Time” during which he tweets and watches television, rather than scheduled work time. from https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-spending-less-time-doing-his-job-more-time-tweeting-and-watching-1192540 http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Ok, so that monthly installment for your cell phone bill is now gone. from https://bgr.com/2018/10/29/smartphone-upgrade-cycle-new-data/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

According to a recent report in the New York Times, the Department of Health and Human Services is “considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth. from https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/the-trump-administrations-proposed-redefinition-of-gender-is-scientifically-absurd/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/blogs/cache/file/360F0E7F-30E9-4345-865DB73FAA328C79_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&EE1D5227-FA32-455B-9DB65EA4ADE20299

The notch on the Pixel 3 XL is probably one of the most derided smartphone features in history, or, judging by our comments section, the worst thing to ever happen in the history of the universe. from https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/10/29/hilarious-pixel-3-xl-bug-adds-second-notch-side-screen/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

We’ve seen a similar icon before, back on the fifth beta of iOS 12. That icon showed an iPad with no home button, rounded corners and no notch, but it was a small icon designed to be used in the battery widget. Therefore, it didn’t give us a lot of detail on the form factor of the device. from https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/28/exclusive-icon-found-in-ios-shows-new-ipad-pro-with-no-home-button/ https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/10/ipadpro2018.png?w=1600

One of the centerpiece features of the new Apple Watch Series 4 is its fall detection, the ability it has to know when, say, its wearer has taken a tumble or collapsed for whatever reason. from https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBP0jJV http://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBP0vhl.img?h=169&w=300&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=594&y=482

Brambles Rubus spp. Currants and Gooseberries Ribes spp. from https://www.farmersalmanac.com/20-common-wild-edible-plants-24920 https://www.farmersalmanac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Foraging-Wild-Edibles-Wildcrafting-Tips-i000013634797-600x319.jpg

Sure, WhatsApp has GIFs and emoji, but for some users, those may not be enough to fill the void meant for stickers. Now, messaging app has finally announced that it's adding support for stickers and releasing sticker packs created by its own designers and a handful of other artists. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/26/whatsapp-stickers/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C1000%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1000%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252F19b14d00-d8cf-11e8-b5fe-a1c04efd81ab%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Df5acc930634da58df0d9326ce0485fd0d033df9e&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=047158bb101ffa2e0c80356e36b160893fc26b81

Solar panels might be the energy source of the future, but they also create a problem without an easy solution: what do we do with millions of panels when they stop working? from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18018820/solar-panel-waste-chemicals-energy-environment-recycling https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61904795/solar-panel-green-energy-stock_1020.0.jpg

The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it has approved the first new influenza drug with a novel mechanism of action in nearly 20 years. The drug, Xofluza, is being brought to the U.S. market by Genentech, a division of Roche. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fda-approves-a-fast-acting-flu-drug-that-is-taken-in-a-single-dose/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/FA930C16-CBBA-49C7-BE5F3FC8213D22F6_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&B6983B09-D291-4D8B-9FAF6D91563DD58F

The stresses of everyday life may start taking a toll on the brain in relatively early middle age, new research shows. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ldquo-stress-hormone-rdquo-cortisol-linked-to-early-toll-on-thinking-ability/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/2D0AA0CE-5EF3-4C1C-88578177EAF5515C_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&9A214DA2-71A3-455A-9FDD5EEF15F2FA0F

(Reuters) - Comcast Corp’s (CMCSA.O) quarterly profit and revenue topped Wall Street estimates on Thursday as it attracted more customers to its high-speed internet connections, offsetting a drop in cable TV subscribers that was also less severe than expected. from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-comcast-results/comcast-adds-more-internet-subscribers-beats-profit-forecasts-idUSKCN1MZ1EP http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

A watchdog group called the Italian Authority for Market and Competition just issued South Korean electronics giant Samsung a fine for 5 million euros (~$5.7 million), via SamMobile. The cash penalty is due to the “Samsung slow down,” i.e. from https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-slow-down-fine-2018-917806/ https://cdn57.androidauthority.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-9-Hands-On-21-840x560.jpg

1234567 Expand from http://everydaycarry.com/posts/31294/decided-to-do-a-pocket-dump-using-a-rusted-cart-as-a-surface-that-it-would-go-well-as-an-autumn-color-scheme https://cdn.everydaycarry.com/thumbnails/18-10-15/15bc424670fab9.jpg

Everywhere scientists have looked for them they have found tiny bits of degraded plastic—including, now, in human poop. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastics-have-been-found-in-people-rsquo-s-poop-what-does-it-mean/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/8DA88562-2458-410B-951538DFCF0C1EEB_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&FB81B491-470B-45CC-9EEF9BE365B8A4DF

Japan’s primary financial regulator has formally granted the cryptocurrency industry with a self-regulatory status by allowing an industry body to police domestic exchanges. from https://www.ccn.com/breaking-japan-approves-self-regulation-for-cryptocurrency-industry/ https://248qms3nhmvl15d4ne1i4pxl-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Japan-bitcoin-litecoin-760x400.jpg

Google announced in a blog post today that Google Play customers in the US and Canada will see several upgrades to their movie-watching experience. Any movies you’ve previously purchased in SD or HD that are available in 4K will now be automatically upgraded to stream in 4K. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/18014586/google-play-4k-free-upgrade-movie-purchases https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61878979/Screen_Shot_2018_10_23_at_11.55.18_AM.0.png

When looking for the best pocket knife, make sure you follow these simple yet weird tips or else you might be in for a big shock. Pocket knives can vary greatly in terms of design and, for that reason, you should pick one based on your intended usage. from http://www.knifeup.com/finally-i-found-the-best-pocket-knife-in-the-world/ http://www.knifeup.com/wp-content/themes/KnifeUpResponsive/images/best-pocket-knife.jpg

To create the synthetic wood, scientists took a solution of polymer resin and added a pinch of chitosan, a sugar polymer derived from the shells of shrimp and crabs. They freeze-dried the solution, yielding a structure filled with tiny pores and channels supported by the chitosan. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-create-artificial-wood-that-is-water-and-fire-resistant/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/83077F7E-6884-47C5-93245CB42F29666E_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&D0CBA2FC-949A-4FF4-8B108EA815E71C70

Dyson will build a two-storey factory in Singapore to assemble its highly anticipated electric car. In a letter to company employees, chief executive Jim Rowan said construction would start in December and be completed sometime in 2020. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/23/dyson-electric-car-manufacturing-facility-singapore/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252F705322b0-d6a3-11e8-bbef-2fb800980583%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D3ce1b1c32d974abbd7e3f0899b4c171b43b393e7&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=47b2588f64a1acdd7d62847fd90b9d910431cc06

Amazon’s latest experimental Go convenience store is opening today in San Francisco, adding the Bay Area city as the third after Chicago and Seattle in the company’s ongoing offline retail expansion. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/18010022/amazon-go-cashier-less-store-san-francisco-location-opens https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61868725/nstatt_181019_3042_8781.0.jpg

According to Google Photos, I have 8,536 photos of my two daughters stretching back to the day my eldest was born. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/22/18005724/google-home-hub-digital-photo-frame-review-specs-features-price https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61853287/dseifert_181018_3039_1325.0.jpg

Electric cars typically need larger, denser batteries if they're going to meet the range expectations of people used to gas-powered vehicles, but available space and weight limit the size of that battery. Researchers might have a solution: turn the very body of the car into a battery. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/21/electric-car-carbon-fiber-battery/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C754%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C754%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252F2b3d05c0-d4c7-11e8-b7de-f0fcea9445db%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D7f36dbde1a3cbf79ade5c5bf5aff1f9a8b517280&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=2723238e470942229bd3e6a685e2141a5e0b77bc

Hackers breached a government healthcare system earlier this week, compromising the personal data for 75,000 individuals, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (via TechCrunch). The data was taken through a system used by insurance agents and brokers. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/20/18003322/healthcare-gov-centers-for-medicare-and-medicaid-cybersecurity-breach https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61846283/healthcare1_640.0.jpg

There are always a lot of attendees at big conventions, but at one underway in Japan this week, only some of the participants are human. The city of Tokyo is hosting the World Robot Summit and it's packed with the usual assortment of the practical, the weird, and the entertaining. Lucy Craft reports from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehtXHc8T-yQ http://img.youtube.com/vi/ehtXHc8T-yQ/maxresdefault.jpg

On Windows 10, Your Phone is an app available starting with the October 2018 Update that further integrates your phone with your computer. It's a "window" that gives you quick access to your pictures and notifications, and it allows you to send and receive text messages. from https://www.windowscentral.com/how-fix-common-problems-your-phone-app-windows-10 https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2018/10/windowws-10-airplane-mode.jpg?itok=Nvc8H7kC

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - Attention Spectrum cable customers: your monthly bill is about to go up. The increases are happening in all markets served by Spectrum and come at a time when the cable provider is fighting to stay in New York state. from https://www.wkbw.com/news/spectrum-to-raise-cable-internet-rates-next-month https://sharing.wkbw.com/sharewkbw/photo/2018/03/19/0319%20spectrum%20picture_1521489653908.jpg_81483929_ver1.0_640_480.jpg

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BpHcsR_AWAWhUM2A3L6okoRsMzTqYyM39FA0NY0/

Welcome to the Google Home App, designed to put all your compatible smart home devices at your fingertips. from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXy_zM1fCww http://img.youtube.com/vi/xXy_zM1fCww/maxresdefault.jpg

Get ready for new iPads and Macs.Apple plans to host an event on Oct. 30, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. While the company never actually says what it's announcing, Apple is widely expected to introduce new iPads and Macintosh computers. from https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-will-host-october-30-event-for-ipad-tablets-macbook-computers/ https://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/img/E7gHZXnTAo7jrFUDCT1m921l33Q=/970x0/2018/10/18/1da6c661-8231-4ed9-acbb-3cf6abaa90f9/apple-oct-30.png

Get ready for new iPads and Macs.Apple plans to host an event on Oct. 30, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. While the company never actually says what it's announcing, Apple is widely expected to introduce new iPads and Macintosh computers. from https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-will-host-october-30-event-for-ipad-tablets-macbook-computers/ https://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/img/E7gHZXnTAo7jrFUDCT1m921l33Q=/970x0/2018/10/18/1da6c661-8231-4ed9-acbb-3cf6abaa90f9/apple-oct-30.png

Ticketmaster will soon have another way to fight bogus ticket sales: by hopping on one of the biggest tech bandwagons of 2018. It's acquiring Upgraded, a company that melds blockchain's distributed trust with encrypted barcodes to minimize the fraud you sometimes see with paper-based or PDF tickets. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/18/ticketmaster-buys-blockchain-ticketing-company/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252Fc575fed0-d2dd-11e8-9fcb-e755725bd183%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D4eb0c6ac78df4e41cee4d38fa22d68457ca6d40d&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=995659f47ab3bc93749254d984994a1853279726

Just a month after Sony announced its plans to power its worldwide operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2040, the tech company has brought forward its US goal by a decade, to 2030. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/17/sony-100-percent-renewable-energy-goal-forward-decade-us/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1168%252C720%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C986%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252F2516b7a0-d1e2-11e8-bfff-dfceeb97b67b%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D7ff86922d5246bf53f78bbf18fc59bf91996e8e9&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=9c6fa2c11cc62f25b89711ced74b56c892693cbf

from https://twitter.turbovote.org/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The president of a French gay association has been beaten in what he said was a homophobic attack on the streets of Paris. Guillaume Mélanie, president of Urgence Homophobie, said he was leaving a restaurant in the centre of the city when the attack happened. from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45888656 https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6BC5/production/_103898572_dpqdqi2u8aazq-u.jpg

Being prepared is a big part of having success as a landscape photographer. That preparation can involve scouting locations, understanding the weather and lighting, and having the right gear with you. from https://fabper.com/13-accessories-that-should-be-in-every-landscape-photographers-camera-bag/ https://fabper.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1-2.jpg

from http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Scottish Power has become the first of the UK's "big six" energy companies to completely drop fossil fuels for electricity generation, after selling off its remaining gas plants to power company Drax in a £702 million deal. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/16/major-uk-energy-supplier-100-percent-wind-scottish-power/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1166%252C734%252C0%252C118%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1007%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252F6a6ef760-d131-11e8-aee6-9445e1346744%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dabca5fc5ca3944a04454244383c3f9e222a0e179&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=682fc0781f8d993fd49eb57c8704e05d6d06e4a5

Facebook announced Portal last week, its take on the in-home, voice-activated speaker to rival competitors from Amazon, Google and Apple. from https://www.recode.net/2018/10/16/17966102/facebook-portal-ad-targeting-data-collection https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/C1tAnr3R2gaWhzLJbdu7UkTkuS0=/975x951:5689x4409/1200x800/filters:focal(2869x1710:3927x2768)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61791909/Portal__Light_A.0.jpg

Finding a place to quickly top off your electric car’s battery might get a little bit easier: Google announced today that it’s adding support to Google Maps for EV chargers. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/16/17983986/google-maps-electric-car-charging-tesla-superchargers https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61792543/akrales_160419_1019_A_0257.0.0.png

from https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CXG6C9W/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_YvJXBbJ4WTWKS http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Since the original release of the on October 2, we've seen numerous reports of issues with the new version, including data loss-related problems, bugs in the user interface, and driver compatibility issues. from https://www.windowscentral.com/how-restore-internet-access-apps-after-windows-10-october-2018-update https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2018/10/change-connection-properties-link.jpg?itok=H6ZwTZuq

Sometimes you just want to read a book. Or maybe all the books. That's the promise of the Kindle line. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/16/the-kindle-paperwhite-is-ready-for-the-bath/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2018-10%252F5a6c4e60-d101-11e8-bff7-db0256a51e82%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dd5886c757fdae8e1ea4ec476b124a7c41d8394ce&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=f97f0fba0299386e2f081bdf01703897ee7f6902

Sony announced today that it's jumping on the blockchain bandwagon for digital rights management (DRM), starting with written educational materials under the Sony Global Education arm of the business. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/15/sony-tries-using-blockchain-tech-for-next-gen-drm/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=100&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.zenfs.com%252Fen-US%252Fhomerun%252Fengadget_479%252F772b16c3f940dc1ef838ba13a4b56962%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D0662e8047e3e054c3484ed1a7d7a0522407419dd&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=44f5a0b827b3492193e6ded452d94df8f0f32c44