Places and Things

Relax, HomePod owners -- it's now safe to update your speaker again. Apple has re-released the HomePod's multi-user update (now 13.2.1) to fix the problem that bricked some users' speakers, particularly after they tried to solve the issue by rebooting their device. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/apple-re-releases-homepod-13-2-update/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D2000%252C1332%252C0%252C42%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1066%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252F57084e80-fb6d-11e9-bf4e-c396efd67ce1%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dd782d78b01ad48c3494f8e6036eb1046bc1efbb2&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=29dad2a1e3713370fec278818f964166cab8c604

Your Steam game collection is about to look decidedly different. Valve has released a Steam update that brings the redesigned Library to everyone, giving you a smarter (and hopefully easier) view of your catalog. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/steam-library-redesign-available-to-everyone/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C776%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C776%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252F483f3a50-fb66-11e9-86fb-7dfd2038ee2e%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D8e68ab1147d9f8785cea4d40ba0c84ab6323cd24&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=496c474bebf814664642c8824fd125f7b138185d

For the better part of the past four years, Facebook just hasn't been able to keep its name out of the bad news cycle. The latest backlash the company is facing has to do with its political ad policies, which essentially allow politicians to spread misinformation on the site. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/facebook-political-ads-misinformation-mark-zuckerberg-q3-2019-earnings/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D2604%252C1712%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1053%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-05%252Fbf4b6860-75a3-11e9-adfd-85d5c84ded05%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D8e73f2f5ad43537b17382eae4352a0d5a4796b50&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=4f0bf06f7d4accb39e11481347e5500156b3b5b5

Apple today reported its fiscal fourth quarter 2019 earnings, which saw the company earn a record $64 billion in revenue. The news reflects the general trend with Apple over the past year: iPhone sales are down, but service revenue hit an all-time high. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/30/20940562/apple-q4-2019-earnings-iphone-sales-record-revenue-slow-services-income-mac-ipad-tim-cook https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65586686/acastro_180604_1777_apple_wwdc_0004.0.jpg

Twitter is banning all political ads globally, starting November 22nd, according to tweets by the company’s CEO Jack Dorsey on Wednesday. The changes will affect both candidate ads and issue ads, although ads encouraging voter registration will still be allowed, along with other exceptions. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/30/20940587/twitter-political-ad-ban-election-2020-jack-dorsey-facebook https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65586194/acastro_180827_1777_0001.0.jpg

AT&T is shuffling up its phone plans once again, and this time the focus won't surprise anyone. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/att-unlimited-elite-plan-hbo-max/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4016%252C2676%252C0%252C2270%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1066%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252F918c2f40-fb36-11e9-bffc-ed822e9a5643%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dec321bbb5fccc631639cf4d60b0c54b2a2713f60&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=6bbcdbe46ddca66896b98e556d5af51f7271fb61

Flash was impressive back in the day. Games, animations and interactive elements were right there in your browser. But as the internet matured, Flash did not. In fact, it became a nuisance and a security risk. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/google-search--stop-indexing-flash/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252F94746e00-fb29-11e9-8bff-c6a6c737eea0%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D1e63100d82ce0bb280f95bc4793def00191dba19&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=fc92c0bb4693c741089dca5352cf3375028dea5f

Todd Phillips’ supervillain origin story Joker is well on its way to a probable billion-dollar gross at the global box office, which would make it the second-most successful DC Comics film of the post-Christopher Nolan era. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/30/20939593/joker-box-office-billion-todd-phillips-dc-comics-marvel-mcu-watchmen-sandman-christopher-nolan https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65583788/rev_1_JOK_19666_High_Res_JPEG.0.jpeg

Australia has proposed another in a series of zany attempts to control the internet. This time, the government wants to do facial scans to confirm a user's age before they can watch porn or gamble online, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/30/australia-porn-verify-user-age-face-scanning/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4592%252C3056%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1065%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252Ffc7113a0-fae3-11e9-adb7-ccf99321e3c2%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Da09fe87b355e524472c8cf1ba902ef942d4de0e2&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=96605048a8b5b98227ebf7ae89516f30f8a30777

Even the best of us can occasionally misplace an item. Even something like the Apple Watch, which is usually safe on your wrist, can be lost. You come home from a run, pull off your watch and drop it — somewhere in the living room. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/30/20938220/apple-watch-how-to-find-my-app-lost https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65581212/vpavic_180917_2949_0025.0.jpg

HBO has ordered a Game of Thrones spinoff series, House of the Dragon, straight to series. The new prequel is written by Ryan Condal (Colony), with George R.R. Martin set to co-executive produce. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20939230/game-of-thrones-spinofff-series-house-of-the-dragons-ordered-hbo-max https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65579617/drason.0.jpeg

Last year, when I was planning to fly to Japan with my fiancée, we downloaded movies to my iPhone so that we could watch them together on the plane. Shortly before we left, though, we realized we wouldn’t be able to use our AirPods on the same phone. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20938543/ios-13-ashare-audio-irpods-pro-iphone-ipad-beats-powerbeats-solo-beatsx https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65577914/lcimg_55af617f_1286_45f5_bc41_4cf5fcf7aa60__1_.0.jpg

HBO’s first Game of Thrones spinoff reportedly isn’t moving past the pilot stage, according to a report from Deadline. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20938680/hbo-game-of-thrones-got-spinoff-canceled-pilot-george-r-r-martin https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65577482/8c25cdbef5f71ceebb6242d7b654ac6c0ed94cce2ad088337a686dbca480913257b862fe1511330dd9e212e9be8c3cb3.0.jpg

The rumors of Sony ditching PlayStation Vue were true, at least to a degree. The company has announced that it will shut down its streaming TV service on January 30th, 2020. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/29/sony-shuts-down-playstation-vue-january-2020/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D3000%252C1866%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C995%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252F74686910-fa78-11e9-b7e1-2cd9b8d09293%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D1dc66b17ff2d1de3501968564138198a5bb1cf14&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=7d6158bae42dc2c4db415022649f3e8565705371

For days now, a cloud of acrid smoke has settled over the Bay Area, blown down from the Kincade Fire in the north. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from that fire alone, while the lingering effects of a long drought and high winds have turned the region into a tinderbox. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20936979/california-kincade-fire-wild-climate-change-disaster-preparedness https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65575423/1183941748.jpg.0.jpg

Fountain Pen Day is this Friday, November 1st, and to celebrate a little bit in advance, I have a great giveaway for you. During my trip to Dromgoole’s last weekend, I picked up a Sailor 1911 Standard 4 a.m. Fountain Pen with a Zoom nib to give away this week. from https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2019/10/29/happy-fountain-pen-day-sailor-pen-giveaway https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5005c8fc84ae929b37214ebd/1572350961901-35GKJHJWAG8BH93I0OKZ/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kPPQcG8L_MdgP5D57ZQ5lb0UqsxRUqqbr1mOJYKfIPR7LoDQ9mXPOjoJoqy81S2I8N_N4V1vUb5AoIIIbLZhVYy7Mythp_T-mtop-vrsUOmeInPi9iDjx9w8K4ZfjXt2dihO01ZUr1nnttz6uv1yLQRB6kLF6V70oUvCPOZvj8dKP7cJNZlDXbgJNE9ef52e8w/Sailor+1911+Standard+4+a.m.+Fountain+Pen

Artificial intelligence will soon be able to decode your poop. That’s the ultimate goal of a campaign to collect 100,000 fecal photos to build what developers say is the world’s first poop image database. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20937108/poop-database-ai-training-photo-upload-first-mit https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65573649/1041464040.jpg.0.jpg

Amazon is ditching its $14.99 a month Amazon Fresh fee for Prime members, which means Prime subscribers in the 2,000 US cities where the fresh food delivery service is offered can use it for free -- and take advantage of new one- and two-hour delivery windows. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/29/amazon-fresh-deliveries-are-now-free-for-prime-members/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4417%252C2641%252C408%252C2121%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C957%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252F50d3d600-fa3d-11e9-9fab-9c99876ab874%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Ddcf8c6c45b6a6bfaa00feabe609d7881eb588478&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=3d0d4d17972a0f72f565848738562b2f6a565f61

Starting today, Amazon will no longer charge a $14.99 monthly fee for Amazon Fresh on top of your Prime subscription. Now, if you already pay $12.99 a month (or $119 a year) for Prime, you’ll also be able to get Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market grocery deliveries free of charge. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20937862/amazon-fresh-free-delivery-fee-prime-members https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65573312/996189544.jpg.0.jpg

Apple’s iOS 13.2, iPadOS 13.2, and tvOS 13.2 are now available for download, bringing new features like the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s Deep Fusion camera mode as well as compatibility for the upcoming AirPods Pro and Beats Solo Pro. The company also released tvOS 13.2 as well. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/28/20936510/apple-ios-13-2-airpods-pro-compatible https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65568350/airpods_pro_case.0.jpg

Virgin Hyperloop One CEO Jay Walder is “delighted” to attend this year’s Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia this week, just one year after the government had Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi brutally murdered, according to an official statement released Monday. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/28/20936321/virgin-hyperloop-one-future-investment-davos-desert-jamal-khashoggi https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65568670/H1_83451_2018_04_06.0.jpg

Apple has just released iOS 13.2. If you own a new iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro, you'll want to download this update as soon as possible as it includes Apple's new Deep Fusion photography feature. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/28/ios-13-2-deep-fusion-photography-now-available/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-09%252Fe527a160-d90e-11e9-bdef-1019895ad8e9%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Da961b57f297d33f6c49889aa95c6bf96d59acf20&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=34c1b71c112fba28ae00641be37c39eded1bfa90

One week from today, President Trump gets his earliest opportunity to make good on his pledge to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/formal-u-s-withdrawal-from-paris-climate-agreement-looms/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/98B6DC45-06EA-4DB9-824A36EA580DB163_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&24169B42-A52A-4B5D-B2CF892318A517DE

Apple has released iOS 13.2, debuting the ‘Deep Fusion’ computational photography tech that it showed off during the iPhone 11 keynote, and we decided to take it for a quick spin to see what all the fuss is about. from https://petapixel.com/2019/10/28/deep-fusion-demo-trying-out-apples-computational-photography-tech/ https://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2019/10/pre4.jpg

RED’s ambitious Hydrogen phone project is ending after the release of just a single device, the Hydrogen One, according to an announcement from Jim Jannard. The company’s founder says that he is “shutting down the HYDROGEN project” as he retires due to “a few health issues.” from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/24/20931506/red-hydrogen-one-phone-project-canceled-founder-jim-jannard-retires https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65550360/akrales_181025_3026_0102.0.jpg

If your Google Home or Google Home Mini has recently stopped working, good news: Google will likely replace it. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/24/20931201/google-home-mini-bricking-firmware-update-replace-out-of-warranty https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65549484/vpavic_161101_1258_0033.0.0.jpg

For decades, perfumers and scientists have struggled to predict the relationship between a molecule's structure and its scent. While scientists can look at a wavelength of light and identify what color it is, when it comes to scents, scientists can't simply look at a molecule and identify its odor. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/24/google-researchers-train-ai-smells/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D6000%252C3748%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1000%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252F1e49c110-f699-11e9-bb7b-04ecdc43f178%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Daed5fe9f54b87d1f9801719d4003ea6ec92d25ef&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=5656ac71ea51a5dcd0e13bbf51aae68a548bc16c

Disney will offer Disney+ subscribers the ability to download films and TV shows on the streaming service for offline viewing, but if those titles were to leave, so go the downloads. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/24/20930207/disney-plus-downloads-offline-viewing-star-wars-marvel-netflix-bob-iger https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65544626/the_last_jedi_stormtroopers.0.jpg

Apple wants to make Apple TV+ available in as many places as possible. Yes, you have heard us say that before. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/24/apple-tv-app-amazon-fire-tv-stick/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1726%252C1080%252C118%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1001%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252F2f3d8d00-f66a-11e9-b9ff-2e2bcf92432e%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dc8c74e263fd83e844e6a5ea71a31ec2303a9aa3f&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=8958bcc097fe50de5abfb9313ae0ed66fdfd61a4

Google made the unconventional (by 2019 standards) decision to skip the notch on the Pixel 4 in favor of an old-fashioned top bezel in order to fit in all of the advanced face unlock and Soli radar tech. from https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/10/24/20930168/google-pixel-4-xl-teardown-ifixit-soli-radar-screen-repair-motion-sense https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65543592/3EFbfdWGkHWadeLI.0.jpeg

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Get some coffee -- we're talking about quantum computing. If you need something a little lighter, there's also Huawei's folding phone and a quick preview of the content coming to Netflix in November. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/24/the-morning-after/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252F55701330-f647-11e9-bee6-5dd583f1ff3c%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dee86f558eece54894792b6eb0d310a490e149db8&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=5c212f78e6c25119349caf720016c0d3533b1812

For a while, the most popular payment app in the US was... Starbucks. Yes, enough people were buying venti lattes that even dedicated payment services were being left by the wayside. You can't say the same now, though. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/23/apple-pay-overtakes-starbucks-in-us/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D7952%252C5304%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252F75fb6350-f5d1-11e9-8dbf-0806845f5eac%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D679656df65216e0fd7ba11d800d1b47d3b1dc198&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=6cffda00baddb4b0c190b0bd5d4af4d3d9de0ea4

The US Defense Department has finally ended the use of 8-inch floppy disks for coordinating the country’s nuclear forces. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/25/20931800/usa-nuclear-8-inch-floppy-disk-solid-state-transition https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65551329/bxsdaqki.0.0.1464256391.0.png

One of the biggest botched opportunities in all of Silicon Valley in the past few years is Google’s repeated, persistent, tragic-on-a-Greek-scale failure to get its messaging products right. Six (six!) years ago I detailed Google’s massive effort to unify everything under Hangouts. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/25/20931699/android-messaging-ccmi-rcs-mess-isis-google-fiascotastrophe https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65551494/whatsinthewallet.0.png

After spending a good amount of time talking about Tesla Energy during its earnings call earlier this week, the company announced its new Solar Roof tiles. According to CEO Elon Musk, if you need a new roof, installing these tiles will be cheaper than a new roof and separate solar panels. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/25/tesla-solar-roof-tile-unveil/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fresize%3D2000%252C2000%252Cshrink%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252F7514df80-f774-11e9-b7b2-3a6fe2f9f963%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Da291bc2c6a30fb7592c89e139ee399d85d3339a9&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=159d96c9059e503ebc78e2ecf8fd7bc914533ee6

Migrating eagles with tracking beacons that send texts reportedly accrued roaming charges so high that scientists had to take out a loan to pay for them, as well as attempt to raise money from a crowdfunding campaign — because some of the birds made unexpected detours (via BBC). from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/25/20933022/migrating-eagles-scientific-research-major-data-roaming-charges-sms-russia-iran-kazakhstan https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65557492/_f6VOHdZ4ac.0.jpg

Tonight the Washington Post has published audio from a Google all-hands meeting that took place on Thursday, as execs responded to employee questions about a number of issues. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/25/sundar-picha-leak/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1755%252C1134%252C175%252C268%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1034%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-05%252F1561b090-71af-11e9-abdb-a98dbe96f40f%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D80517b1a82061e61c7e672ab5aa0cfb628ae05b4&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=96578d70269461743e3e8e080727140640005777

Nearly 36,600 people died on US roadways last year, a decrease of 2.4 percent from 2017, according to recently released figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled also decreased by 3.4 percent, from 1.17 in 2017 to 1. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/23/20927512/traffic-death-crash-statistics-nhtsa-us-2018 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65538716/1177507763.jpg.0.jpg

Google is announcing that last year’s version of Android, Android 9, accounted for 22.6 percent of the ecosystem as of this past August. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/23/20927371/android-9-pie-google-install-base-percent-vs-iphone-updates-project-treble-mainline https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65538056/akrales180510_2565_0016.0.jpg

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B4EdTJrn-_J_aYAKTVB0vHl2v1TVCDmzc6WPdA0/

Google has officially announced that it’s achieved quantum supremacy in a new article published in the scientific journal Nature. The announcement comes exactly one month after it initially leaked, when Google’s paper was accidentally published early. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/23/20928294/google-quantum-supremacy-sycamore-computer-qubit-milestone https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65535695/Sycamore_Rainbow_cropped.max_1000x1000.0.jpg

Fujifilm has officially unveiled the X-Pro3, the latest in its esoteric X-Pro lineup aimed at street photographers and photojournalists. Teased last month, it has a number of eccentric features, including a 3.5-inch, 1.65-million dot rear display that you can't even see without flipping down. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/23/fujifilm-x-pro3-rangefinder-camera/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?crop=1733%2C1076%2C30%2C96&quality=85&format=jpg&resize=1600%2C993&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fs.yimg.com%2Fos%2Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2F2019-10%2F51a241d0-f514-11e9-912e-23c6490d981a&client=a1acac3e1b3290917d92&signature=f4644d4d11fc904b27eda1f4fe31180e41b41679

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to approve a measure that would shake up the Copyright Office if it were made into law, creating a small claims court where online content creators can go after their infringers. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/22/20927545/copyright-bill-house-congress-hakeem-jeffries-case-act-dmca https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65529803/1073878196.jpg.0.jpg

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

Smart speakers' frequent under-the-radar updates are usually convenient, but they're creating a lot of headaches for some Google device owners. Google has confirmed that it's fixing a problem with firmware updates that have bricked Home and Home Mini speakers. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/22/google-home-firmware-update-bricks-devices/ 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%252F2019-10%252Fc3428830-f510-11e9-be5d-14e2554bfe2b%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D9c598e7f15bd2d3320407ae7ecbd2de082f52bb3&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=c7039b78db0fc5117c856a934f78da7cf7a2650f

Apple isn't cutting corners with its TV+ version of Isaac Asimov's Foundation. The tech giant has cast its first two stars for the show, choosing Chernobyl's Jared Harris (above) to play math genius Hari Seldon and Halt and Catch Fire's Lee Pace as the Emperor of the Galaxy, Brother Day. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/22/apple-casts-asimov-foundation-lead-actors/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D3000%252C2001%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-10%252Fe2db69f0-f506-11e9-b67f-84f7372739bd%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dd8b7b0d7bef947e6ad69e46168ad8e60fd374c11&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=e506a1d16317579e2b9811ff37bba692de99aa4b

Foxconn never does anything in Wisconsin without first announcing, canceling, and then announcing it again. So right on schedule, the company has refiled plans to build a network operations center (NOC) in the shape of a giant glass dome. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/22/20927190/foxconn-glass-dome-wisconsin-plans-refiled-network-operations-center-data https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65526766/5dae0c2786bb7.image.0.jpg

OmniVision is the new holder of the Guinness World Record for the smallest commercially available image sensor. The tiny device (pictured above in a camera module next to a grain of pepper) measures just half a millimetre squared, and will have a significant impact on the medical imaging landscape. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/22/omnivision-wins-guinness-world-record-for-its-tiny-medical-image/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1278%252C730%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C914%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252F99cf84d0-f4b6-11e9-9bf3-c57a04228196%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D7e7584f6f6281b4c3e7ecf846fac1cfe9c879223&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=bf1a60242fc6f7573450af999c6a4aaaf6b44266

The number of millionaires has risen by 1.1 million in 2018, bringing the total amount to 46.8 million. That’s more than twice the number of Bitcoins that can ever be mined. According to Credit Suisse Group AG’s latest global wealth report, 1.1 new millionaires were made last year alone. from https://beincrypto.com/there-is-now-less-half-a-bitcoin-for-each-millionaire/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

We're so reliant on our smartphones that it's probably fair to say they've become an extension of ourselves, so the fact that scientists have now developed an artificial "skin" for our devices -- that has the ability to make them ticklish -- is not a huge surprise. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/22/artificial-skin-makes-your-phone-ticklish/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1368%252C912%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-10%252Fa8afdd70-f4b0-11e9-9fde-c2986c547946%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D67c40bce254774bb00e4b7ca478ea99455d41167&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=9e510fd4522360a18796ddc434d1a9a46f6c5e11