Places and Things

The Draw is a lengthy quest in Destiny 2: Black Armory. However, the reward is worth all the hassle, as players will earn the famous The Last Word hand cannon for themselves when they finish it. from https://www.polygon.com/destiny-2-guide-walkthrough/2019/1/29/18200925/black-armory-guide-the-draw-last-word-exotic https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62957886/Last_word_4.0.png

The UltraViolet digital locker service is going away, but if you currently have a library of videos and TV shows on the service, there’s no need to panic. As long as your account is linked to at least one retailer, your library should be safe. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/31/18205326/how-to-safeguard-your-ultraviolet-library https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62974084/20130307-625A3175VERGE.0.jpg

Google made the decision to shut down its social network last year after the revelation of a security vulnerability. It even moved up the website's final day after the existence of a data bug exposing 52.5 million users' info came to light. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/31/google-shutdown-timeline/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D3500%252C2173%252C0%252C303%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C994%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-01%252Fd9a213d0-252b-11e9-bfa7-33ddeedd0bf8%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D4d68a94253b1ec288baf6679e4481495973fd33d&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=37bb553b2399121051ce7966ebb00302297f75d9

Ultraviolet, one of the entertainment industry’s first attempts at creating a comprehensive digital locker service, is shutting down on July 31st, as first reported by Variety. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/31/18204943/ultraviolet-locker-shutdown-date https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62972077/20130307-625A3177VERGE.0.jpg

Samsung warned people when it released its earnings projection for the four quarter of 2018 that it's expecting a sharp earnings drop. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/31/samsung-earnings-q4-2018/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D5661%252C3547%252C0%252C101%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1003%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2018-11%252F9d39ea50-f3ec-11e8-a5bf-da5d7be62959%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Db5e23950960411c97fcd2757893d681454a120a5&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=a2675849de6cadfbc4a4634375be2dee338ee0fc

If you were bombarded by spam calls and texts last year, you probably weren’t alone. A new report, spotted by The Wall Street Journal, reveals that Americans received 26.3 billion robocalls last year, up 46 percent from 2017. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/30/18203413/robocalls-spam-text-calls-2018-analysis-hiya https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62965399/DSCF2964.0.jpg

Apple announced its first-quarter earnings results today, and though the company reported that iPhone sales revenue fell 15 percent during the holiday quarter, it hit a new milestone for the number of active devices installed. Apple says there are now 1. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/29/18202736/apple-devices-ios-earnings-q1-2019 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62961707/akrales_190123_3154_0010.0.jpg

Plants are humanity’s greatest ally in the fight against climate change. They soak up carbon dioxide and turn it into leaves and branches. The more trees humans plant, the less heat-trapping carbon pollution in the air. from https://www.popsci.com/artificial-trees-photosynthesis-climate-change-carbon https://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/325_1x_/public/images/2019/01/abstract-asymmetry-botanical-1048033.jpg?itok=XYkFEctA&fc=50,50

Apple updated its App Store guidelines last week to lay out clear rules for how developers should present in-app subscription options to users. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/28/18200932/apple-app-store-subscription-full-cost-transparency-developer-guidelines https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62949447/Screen_Shot_2019_01_28_at_2.16.19_PM.0.png

After getting hands-on with EA's next big game, Anthem, we chat about our initial thoughts about this upcoming action RPG. from https://www.gamespot.com/videos/anthems-future-is-up-in-the-air/2300-6448072/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

If you're a fan of all things Google, you already have a date to mark on your calendar for 2019. Developer Till Kottmann has 'cheated' Google's I/O conference puzzle to reveal that this year's event will take place between May 7th and May 9th at the familiar Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/25/google-io-2019-may-7th/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1599%252C897%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C899%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-01%252Fea832bc0-20c2-11e9-9d75-14f2343fea88%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Df0f0a892e7f8d7157fa499659184304f9e35ae1c&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=16de8caf0e3fd188beb1aed5cc33c0f24bd69bbd

Analysis: The self-described deal-maker president gave up the ransom and the hostage for... a conference committee. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump promised a wall. He got a procedural death trap. from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/there-s-no-art-trump-s-deal-re-open-government-n963006 https://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_04/2730091/190125-donald-trump-ew-503p_e7fb53329874bd7f14ff4958b03309a5.fit-760w.jpg

President Donald Trump has yielded to political pressure to end the longest US government shutdown in history. After 35 days, he backed a deal to fund federal agencies for three weeks, but it includes none of the money he has demanded for a US-Mexico border wall. from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47007081 https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/720x405/p06z4hv7.jpg

Previous Next Now Playing Up Next Most watched Why you can trust BBC News from https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-46976544/how-much-do-us-students-fear-shootings https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/200/cpsprodpb/3583/production/_92599631_p04gw6wx.jpg

The gaming world is excited to play for Anthem, Bioware’s answer to Destiny and other big-budget online shooters — but an exclusive preview weekend for the mech-flying game has struggled to get off the ground. from https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/25/biowares-ambitious-anthem-is-off-to-a-rough-start-as-players-bring-servers-to-their-knees/ https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/anthem-bioware.jpg?w=711

Go in-depth on Anthem and get detailed information about the javelins, customization, and progression. Plus, learn more about the Freelancers and your purpose in the world of Anthem. Subscribe and be the first to see Anthem trailers and gameplay videos: http://bit.ly/2qZN5QV.Discover more: http://x. from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FPfYKphQlk http://img.youtube.com/vi/3FPfYKphQlk/maxresdefault.jpg

Americans’ concerns about climate change have surged to record levels, new polling shows, following a year marked by devastating storms, wildfires and increasingly dire warnings from scientists. from https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/22/climate-change-concern-americans-poll http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Don't look now, but you'll have a lot of updating to do if you live deep in the Apple ecosystem. Apple has released updates that tackle a host of issues for iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS and HomePod. For iPhone and iPad users, iOS 12.1.3 mostly addresses specific but annoying bugs. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/22/apple-fixes-host-of-bugs-ios-watchos-homepod/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D2000%252C1333%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1066%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-01%252Faa467200-1e93-11e9-b36f-b5ed67d9e70b%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Da0148f94291e41c2c4af1121b0c53a83aed41cab&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=0579709e1aa94548c1836133afefc0495c954164

In this month’s Science Agenda column Scientific American’s editors make the case for widespread adoption of midwifery care in the U.S. One major advantage of such a shift would be a reduction in the cost of childbirth. from https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/sa-visual/the-cost-of-giving-birth-in-the-u-s/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/blogs/cache/file/4B8954DA-E182-4B1F-BD391FCBCE6441A7_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&4D501171-5231-4494-AEBEC593734C9300

A new study warns that Greenland’s ice is melting faster than scientists previously thought. But perhaps the biggest surprise is that most of this ice loss is from the land-fast ice sheet itself, not Greenland’s glaciers. from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/01/greeland-ice-melting-four-times-faster-than-thought-raising-sea-level/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Only children always want to get their way, can’t share and are generally selfish—or so the long-held prejudice goes. According to recent research, however, these claims are overstated. So where did these biases come from? from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-only-child-syndrome-real/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/71A0851D-906D-4F5E-AF6F44F5D62FF763_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&6311B9F0-6C0C-4484-8F20955CF86FBEF6

Starz has released a new trailer for its upcoming second season of American Gods, showing off a building confrontation between the old gods and new. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/20/18190401/american-gods-season-2-trailer-ricky-whittle-ian-mcshane-starz-watch http://img.youtube.com/vi/-lnHyVg74aQ/0.jpg

The European Union's new Copyright Directive stands to dramatically change the way we consume news and other online content. from https://www.windowscentral.com/eu-copyright-directive-about-make-internet-worse-almost-everyone http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

For the last couple of years, my wife and I have relied on an ancient Garmin GPS for long road trips, in part because it had a useful feature that Google Maps lacked: speed limits. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/19/18189559/google-maps-speed-limits-android-and-ios-apps https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62874425/DSCF2501.0.jpg

The first — and only — total lunar eclipse of 2019 is happening on Sunday, January 20th, and those who live in North and South America will have a front row seat to the whole bloody show. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/18/18186751/total-lunar-eclipse-super-blood-wolf-moon-january-20 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62867802/912652168.jpg.0.jpg

Google Maps is showing the local speed limit to more users across the US. After debuting in the San Francisco Bay Area and Rio, Brazil, the feature has now been spotted in New York City, Los Angeles, and Minnesota, according to Android Police. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/18/google-maps-speed-limit-us-cities/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4000%252C2670%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1068%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-01%252Fab897a00-1b09-11e9-8fd6-2c177ca609e9%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3De46634cf5edabc031a830a43975ca2eec2f746e1&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=98b1debe03fa9c6c7bc1a8c84940167d4efada69

We've all made the mistake of starting a free trial and forgetting to cancel it before the billing period kicks in. Now, MasterCard will protect against this. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/16/mastercard-free-trial-protection/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D3887%252C2591%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-01%252F26271ce0-19c5-11e9-a3f3-eaaa3b928ab8%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D13843d041ad29534244e30e26c0655b608f6692b&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=5abd3bdb036f6a84b7ac514bba9eb8ff571e3837

Though many were hoping for a release date of Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding at last year's final event with The Game Awards, the game's creator did tease that "big" news was coming early 2019. from https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/01/16/death-stranding-release-date-teased-troy-baker/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

According to a report from Credit Karma, US bitcoin investors who decided to exit the bitcoin market lost $1.7 Billion. Unrealized losses, belonging to those who didn’t sell, account for $5.7 billion. from https://www.ccn.com/us-bitcoin-investors-lost-1-7-billion-in-2018-61-unaware-they-can-claim-a-tax-deduction/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Google’s aptly named AI helper, Google Assistant, is poised to have a great year in 2019. Not only will the digital assistant be spreading to numerous devices old and new, but there are a host of new features coming, too, several of which were shown off at CES 2019 last week. from https://lifehacker.com/how-and-when-you-can-access-the-biggest-upcoming-google-1831792988 https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Bp80x9pW--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/kwp86uyvcl1ivmf6a7t1.jpg

A Fortnite security bug let attackers access user accounts after they clicked a suspicious link that was sent to them. Researchers at Check Point Research found the bug and notified Epic Games in November, which then patched the vulnerability within a few weeks. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/16/18185398/fortnite-player-accounts-hack https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62855771/Fortnite_20181104130356.0.jpg

The greenery you see in the soil above might not look like much, but it represents a big step in space exploration. Cotton seeds brought to the Moon aboard China's Chang'e-4 mission have sprouted, marking the first time plants have grown on the lunar surface. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/15/china-grows-first-plants-on-moon/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C1067%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-01%252Ff01d8b70-1910-11e9-97ff-4f26d47bc56f%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D6debdf02da4d2cd2040254316cf1792f26ae339f&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=ad8f0bc8afddf718edcea3a3efd36116e90b49eb

Microsoft's next big Windows 10 feature update is currently in development, and we have a pretty good idea as to what new features and changes we can expect to see when it starts shipping in the spring. from https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-19h1-top-features http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

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When Apple introduced the Lightning connector in 2012, the reaction was somewhat mixed. from https://bgr.com/2019/01/15/iphone-11-specs-rumor-usb-c-support/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Usually when I write these articles, I do them within a few days or a week of content coming out, either having played with an advance review copy or just binging the stuff for a few days straight since this is my job. from https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2019/01/15/ten-things-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-started-destiny-2-black-armory/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The Internet of Things promises to connect billions of otherwise ordinary devices to the internet, but when each one needs to have its own battery, there’s a limit to how small or cheap they can become. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/15/18183456/wiliot-bluetooth-chip-paper-thin-battery-free-low-cost https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62847956/wiliot.0.gif

As newborns, we enter the world by inhaling. In leaving, we exhale. (In fact, in many languages the word “exhale” is synonymous with “dying. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/proper-breathing-brings-better-health/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/240BF6AB-3FFB-4689-8B4ABD6600B5E388_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&5EBC0931-66BD-4B13-912A49A2DE451EF2

China’s Chang’e-4 lander reached the Von Kármán crater near the moon’s South Pole on Wednesday, marking the first time a human craft has visited the lunar far side. from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/china-lands-first-probe-far-side-moon-180971172/ https://thumbs-prod.si-cdn.com/ScVkgHOhR4CMCXjItycg-KF4oKM=/fit-in/1072x0/https:/public-media.si-cdn.com/filer/0e/99/0e992d57-b704-43bc-a0a3-81da602b94f4/yuta-rover-rolling-1546879144.jpg

Earth's magnetic field is what allows us to exist. It deflects harmful radiation. It keeps our water and atmosphere in place. But now it's acting up — and nobody knows why. Planet Earth is alive. Deep beneath its skin, its life blood — rivers of molten iron — pulse around its core. from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12189330 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/PNRUMzhxfjiPHB0a9KD6eATEdnU=/610x744/smart/filters:quality(70)/media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/2036/NewstalkZB_logo_NZH_140x170.jpg

I remember when I was kid first learning about technology I thought that a terabyte was such a huge, incalculable amount of space that surely no one person would ever need that much storage. Terabyte hard drives were only for, like, space stations. Today, that’s definitely no longer the case. from https://www.geek.com/tech/you-can-finally-buy-a-terabyte-sd-card-thanks-to-lexar-1769463/ https://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SEE_IT_HERE_GEEK-1.jpg

Activision and Bungie made a big announcement today when the companies confirmed they were splitting up, with Bungie getting the Destiny franchise going forward. from https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-blizzard-stock-nosedives-after-bungiede/1100-6464339/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Artificial intelligence is likely to be the defining technology of the century, affecting everything from war to jobs to health care. So, understanding what the general public wants from AI is important. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/10/18176645/ai-robot-survey-america-public-opinion-future-of-humanity-institute https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62822219/acastro_181017_1777_brain_ai_0001.0.jpg

Sure enough, astronomers have discovered even more of those mysterious fast radio bursts from outside the Milky Way galaxy. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/10/astronomers-detect-more-fast-radio-bursts/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D5000%252C3335%252C0%252C1%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-01%252Fded46b00-1446-11e9-ba7f-69bf7deb551b%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D6b0b9a82904bb1c21e5dc425733d1c86d11e1a4c&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=903697ac8ac8637cad5591fc3b97a5afee3a1b18

Google is taking its translation prowess a step further with a new Interpreter Mode for the Assistant in smart displays. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/08/google-assistant-interpreter-mode-hands-on/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?crop=2000%2C1287%2C0%2C0&quality=85&format=jpg&resize=1600%2C1030&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2019-01%2F9e19f670-136f-11e9-bee6-54b8c0a76c86&client=a1acac3e1b3290917d92&signature=0ff1918a21da589e482a40cedda34890dc81d47b

CES and Apple don’t usually go together, but anything goes so far in 2019. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/8/18173637/tv-airplay-2-apple-lg-samsung-sony-vizio-ces-2019 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62808961/Samsung_TV_iTunes_Movies_and_TV_shows.0.jpg

Microsoft is now hard at work on the next feature update for Windows 10, codenamed 19H1 and scheduled for release in April 2019. This update is expected toinclude yet more changes and new features such as Windows Sets, and further UI refinements, and improvements. from https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-19h1-changelog http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. WASHINGTON — America’s carbon dioxide emissions rose by 3.4 percent in 2018, the biggest increase in eight years, according to a preliminary estimate published Tuesday. from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/climate/greenhouse-gas-emissions-increase.html https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/01/09/climate/09CLI-EMISSIONS/merlin_148880730_13266463-0686-424a-bf39-9c58b369efb5-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale

Brilliant, a smart home hub that plugs into existing light-switch ports, already works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, Philips Hue, August smart locks and a whole bunch of other home accessories. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/08/brilliant-smart-home-hub-apple-homekit/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C1014%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1014%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-01%252F3379d090-1330-11e9-9dc7-3f6a021234ed%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D6e3ae10c7ad853065310b37abc08411e4d3c63cb&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=1ccf7ba17021de459ba75f6e1a1921906924cdd8

Samsung Electronics recorded its highest ever profits last quarter, but three months on things aren’t looking so great. The company issued guidance today warning that revenue and profits for the three months ending December 31st 2018 will be sharply down year-on-year. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/8/18173364/samsung-earnings-guidance-q4-2018-warning https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62804646/akrales_180814_2817_0359.0.jpg