Places and Things

Google TV is back, and it runs on Android TV A year after it launched the original Chromecast, Google debuted Android TV with the Nexus Player in 2014. Since then, the OS has found its way onto devices by a dozen companies like Sony, TCL, Xiaomi, NVIDIA, Philips and Sharp, and offers a library of 6,500 apps. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/google-tv-launch-android-tv-os-180529431.html

Adobe Lightroom is getting cinema-style color grading Adobe is adding a new advanced color grading feature to Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Camera Raw, bringing a tool more commonly associated with cinema editing to its pro photography apps. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/29/21493045/adobe-lightroom-advanced-color-grading-announced

Amazon's superhero show 'The Boys' is getting a college spinoff In the war of the streaming services, killer content is the best ammunition. Amazon’s original series The Boys is so popular that not only was a third season ordered before the second season even aired, but a spinoff is also in the works. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/amazon-the-boys-spin-off-142159743.html

Man dies after eating bag of licorice every day for a few weeks A Massachusetts construction worker’s love of black licorice wound up costing him his life. Eating a bag and a half every day for a few weeks threw his nutrients out of whack and caused the 54-year-old man’s heart to stop, doctors reported. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/24/man-licorice-dies-massachusetts#Echobox=1600953579

Ring’s latest security camera is a drone that flies around inside your house Ring latest home security camera is taking flight, literally. The new Always Home Cam is an autonomous drone that can fly around inside your home to give you a perspective of any room you want when you’re not home. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21453709/ring-always-home-cam-indoor-drone-security-camera-price-specs-features-amazon

California will ban new combustion-engine vehicles starting in 2035 California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an ambitious executive order Wednesday that would ban the sale of new combustion-engine vehicles in the state starting in 2035, the Desert Sun reports. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/23/21452825/california-ban-combustion-gas-vehicles-cars-2035

Google Maps adds an overlay of COVID-19 case trends Google Maps will soon include information on COVID-19 spread in states, counties, and some cities. Toggling on the “COVID” layer in the app will show the seven-day average number of confirmed cases in each area per 100,000 people. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/23/21452661/google-maps-overlay-covid-transmission-risk-trends

Black Widow delayed to 2021, pushing back The Eternals and other Marvel movies In a predictable fashion, Disney is delaying Black Widow to 2021 as the company continues to navigate the current theatrical landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic. This marks the first time since 2009 that a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie hasn’t been released in a calendar year. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/23/21437889/black-widow-delayed-release-date-marvel-cinematic-universe-disney-streaming-mulan

What COVID-19 Reinfection Means for Vaccines This strengthens earlier reports that have surfaced periodically throughout the pandemic. Most were in China and South Korea, and some in the U.S. None of these were ever verified in laboratory, leaving open the possibility that false positives or negatives had simply confounded test results. Continue Reading . . . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-covid-19-reinfection-means-for-vaccines/

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier delayed until 2021 Marvel Studios’ first big Disney Plus project, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is being moved back to 2021, making a rough year for Marvel fans a little bit rougher. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/21/21449314/falcon-winter-soldier-delay-premiere-date-marvel-disney-plus-wandavision-loki

Xbox remote play is open to everyone on Android devices Microsoft has rolled out a new Android Xbox app, which will allow all Xbox One owners (and Series X/S players in the future) to stream games from their console to their phone or tablet. Until now, only Xbox Insiders had access to the feature. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/xbox-console-streaming-wireless-controller-share-button-161800983.html

Photoshop’s sky replacement tool makes it easier to fake a perfect sunset Adobe is preparing to add an AI-powered sky replacement tool to Photoshop that makes it easier to swap out the sky in any picture with just a few clicks. The company previewed the tool on YouTube ahead of its Adobe Max conference, scheduled for October 20th–22nd. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/21/21449124/photoshop-sky-replacement-tool-ai-machine-learning

Judge blocks US ban on WeChat that was set to go into effect today A judge in California has blocked the Commerce Department’s ban on new downloads of China-based messaging app WeChat, Reuters reported Sunday. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/20/21447540/judge-blocks-ban-wechat-tiktok-trump

Microsoft releases a final preview for Windows 10's October update The Windows 10 20H2 update will arrive next month with a few new features, like a visually refreshed Start menu, improved notifications, preinstalled Chromium Edge browser and the ability to Alt+Tab through Edge tabs. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/windows-10-20h2-preview-105304110.html

Roku and Comcast reach agreement to carry Peacock on Roku Comcast and Roku have come to an agreement months after NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service launched. Peacock will be available to stream on Roku in the coming weeks. The decision comes after Comcast and Roku got into a public argument over the status of dozens of NBCUniversal apps. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/18/21445982/peacock-roku-streaming-comcast-nbcuniversal-negotiations-apps

Procreate 5X adds new filters and a handy reference companion view Procreate’s next big update, Procreate 5X, adds new filters and adjustments that’ll be really helpful for those who are trying to do more in Procreate and less in Photoshop. The update will be available starting September 21st. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/18/21445944/procreate-5x-update-ipad-released-filters-reference-companion

Mophie's latest portable battery pack has a flip-out Apple Watch charger Mophie has unveiled its latest slate of wireless charging devices, which are primarily designed for Apple products. The $140 portable Powerstation all-in-one could come in handy while you’re on the move. It has an 8,000mAh battery that can charge four devices at once. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/mophie-wireless-charging-apple-powerstation-183041163.html

Disney Plus won its first Emmy awards last night, thanks to The Mandalorian The Mandalorian was one of the first shows to premiere on Disney’s streaming service when it launched in November 2019, and now it’s the reason Disney Plus won its first Emmy awards. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/17/21441375/disney-plus-emmy-awards-creative-visual-audio-effects-streaming

Google Drive will start automatically deleting Trash files after 30 days Beginning on October 13th, Google Drive is changing its Trash policies. After 30 days, files that you’ve trashed will be automatically deleted. Until now, those files have been stored indefinitely, unless you manually and permanently deleted them from Trash. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/google-drive-deleting-trash-files-143410045.html

What the future of Venus exploration could look like following major discovery With the recent discovery of a possible sign of life on Venus, it’s possible we could see a new surge of missions headed to the cloudy world in the future. Those next-generation robotic explorers may need to take extra precautions than Venusian explorers of the past. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/21438514/venus-future-exploration-spacecraft-flagship-missions-nasa-phosphine-detection

The Apple Watch Series 6: first impressions of a very good smartwatch I’ve had just under 24 hours with the new Apple Watch Series 6, which is just enough time to gather a handful of impressions. My main impression is this: it’s an iterative update over the Series 5, for sure. The upgrades are real, but they’re also subtle. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/17/21440604/apple-watch-series-6-impressions-photos-video-blood-oxygen

Confirmed: The PS5 is the biggest game console in modern history When internet detectives revealed the PlayStation 5 was going to be huge, we were extremely amused — but even their fancy Photoshops couldn’t completely prepare us for how enormous the PS5 truly is. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/16/21438782/sony-ps5-size-specs-dimensions-console-huge-large-big

The next God of War will come to the PS5 in 2021 At the end of today’s PlayStation 5 event (in which Sony finally announced pricing and a release date for its next console), there was a big tease of a surprise at the very end. The next God of War game will arrive sometime in 2021. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/god-of-war-sequel-ps5-2021-205234977.html

iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 are ready to download As promised, Apple just dropped iOS 14. It’s now available on iPhone 6s and above, and it brings a whole bunch of new features. Those include home screen widgets, an App Library, Apple Clips, picture-in-picture mode and pretty significant changes to Siri and Messages. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/apple-ios-14-ipados-14-watchos-7-200539310.html

Microsoft Outlook can now be set as default mail app on iOS 14 Apple has released iOS 14 today, and Microsoft is one of the first to support the new default mail app in Apple’s latest update. Apple is introducing the ability to switch default apps for both mail and the browser, and Outlook has been updated today to include the support. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/16/21440252/microsoft-outlook-ios-14-default-mail-app-update-release

AppleCare+ now covers two incidents of accidental damage per year Amid all the Watch and iPad news Apple just dropped, it quietly updated its AppleCare+ policies to make them more generous. The service will now cover two incidents of accidental damage every 12 months, instead of two incidents every 24 months. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/apple-applecare-accidental-damage-145629722.html

Federal prison officers are worried drones could one day be used to airlift inmates to freedom Drones have been a problem for prisons for years now, where they’re often used to smuggle contraband behind bars. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/16/21439372/drones-prisons-doj-bop-report-smuggling-contraband

Apple has sold more than 500 million iPads over the last decade Apple revealed that it has sold more than 500 million iPads over the last 10 years. The announcement was made by CEO Tim Cook during Apple’s “Time Flies” live stream event, in which the company revealed a pair of new Apple Watch devices and an updated base model iPad and new iPad Air. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/15/21438305/apple-ipad-sales-500-million-units-10-year-anniversary

Apple confirms Apple One subscription bundle, bringing together Music, TV Plus, Arcade, and more The long-rumored bundle bringing together Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple News Plus, and iCloud storage is here. Apple will give customers different options to combine its streaming services in a new Apple One bundle. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/15/21433205/apple-one-subscription-bundle-price-music-tv-plus-arcade-icloud

Apple announces Apple Watch Series 6 with ability to measure blood oxygen levels Apple has announced the Apple Watch Series 6, the latest in its line of popular smartwatches. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/15/21431365/apple-watch-series-6-price-features-specs-release-date

Baby Yoda is back in The Mandalorian season 2 trailer Disney has debuted the first look at The Mandalorian’s second season just days after announcing the show will return on October 30th. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/15/21378084/mandalorian-season-2-trailer-baby-yoda-premiere-date-october

Bill and Melinda Gates say ‘shocking’ US pandemic response is due to ‘terrible leadership’ America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been “shocking” and “unbelievable,” with matters made much worse by “terrible leadership,” said Bill and Melinda Gates in a series of interviews this week. The couple condemned the United States for bungling its pandemic response. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/15/21437585/bill-melinda-gates-slam-us-pandemic-response-goalkeepers-2020-report-vaccination

iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 arrive Sept. 16. Do this to your iPhone and iPad today Apple not only announced the Apple Watch Series 6 and the more affordable Apple Watch SE, a new iPad Air, and an updated eighth generation iPad on Tuesday. Continue Reading . . . https://www.cnet.com/how-to/ios-14-ipados-14-arrives-sept-16-do-this-prepare-iphone-ipad-today/

Microsoft’s underwater server experiment resurfaces after two years Back in 2018, Microsoft sunk an entire data center to the bottom of the Scottish sea, plunging 864 servers and 27.6 petabytes of storage 117 feet deep in the ocean. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21436746/microsoft-project-natick-data-center-server-underwater-cooling-reliability

How to set Chrome or Edge as your default browser on the iOS 14 beta iOS 14 brings one of the most long-awaited features to Apple’s operating system in years: the ability to change the default browser from Apple’s Safari to a third-party option like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21436640/ios-14-default-browser-google-chrome-microsoft-edge-safari-how-to-change-switch

Watch this animated short introducing the story of Star Wars: Squadrons If you just can’t wait for the release of Star Wars: Squadrons next month, EA has something to ease the pain. Today, the publisher released a new 7-minute animated short, which serves as a standalone story introducing one of the main characters from Squadrons’ single-player campaign. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/21436021/star-wars-squadrons-animated-short-trailer-watch

25 Years Ago We Got Genre's Most Unapologetic Heroine Inevitably a cool lady appears on screen with a sweet outfit, a wry smile, and this sense that she is not to be fucked with wrapped around her like a cloak. Continue Reading . . . https://io9.gizmodo.com/25-years-ago-we-got-genres-most-unapologetic-heroine-1845029153

Earth Hasn’t Warmed This Fast in Tens of Millions of Years Scientists just completed one of the most comprehensive investigations of Earth’s climate history—and the findings aren’t favorable. They found that the planet could eventually warm to levels it hasn’t reached in at least 34 million years. Continue Reading . . . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-hasnt-warmed-this-fast-in-tens-of-millions-of-years/

Tesla Supercharger flaw lets rival EVs top up for free in Europe Tesla’s Supercharger stations normally aren’t very welcoming places to competing electric cars, but European chargers may be another story — for now. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/tesla-v3-superchargers-allow-free-charges-for-rival-evs-194629138.html

Hitting the books: How China uses AI to influence its 1.4 billion citizens The battle for international hegemony didn’t stop with the fall of the Reichstag in 1945, or of the Soviet Union in 1991 — it has simply moved online. Today, states and their actors are waging a digital cold war with artificial intelligence systems at the heart of the fight. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/hitting-the-books-t-minus-ai-michael-kanaan-benbella-books-153007408.html

See Highlights From Our #DiscoverWithAlpha Challenge! For the past several months photographers around the world have shown us what they’ve discovered with their Sony cameras as part of the #DiscoverWithAlpha Global Photo Challenge. Continue Reading . . . https://alphauniverse.com/stories/see-highlights-from-our-discoverwithalpha-challenge/

Russian, Chinese, and Iranian hackers are targeting the US election, says Microsoft Hackers from Russia, China, and Iran are targeting individuals and organizations involved in both Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s presidential campaigns, according to a new security report from Microsoft. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/11/21431990/russian-chinese-iranian-hackers-target-us-2020-elections-trump-biden-campaigns

Raised by Wolves is every kind of sci-fi movie in one big dreary show Raised by Wolves takes place in a distant future where the earth has been consumed by a war between atheists and believers. It’s a premise so insufferable you can almost feel it walking to your bookshelf to judge your taste. Thankfully, that’s kind of besides the point — at least for a while. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/21431337/raised-by-wolves-review-ridley-scott-hbo-max

Go read this Motherboard report on what some people did with the ‘Chinese Mystery Seeds’ To say 2020 is a wild year is an understatement — aside from the obvious thing that’s defined 2020, in July, some people across the US received an unsolicited parcel from China containing seeds. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/10/21431606/go-read-this-motherboard-report-chinese-mystery-seeds

Walmart begins testing drone deliveries for household goods and groceries Walmart has started making its first deliveries by drone, launching a small pilot program this week in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The retailer will be delivering “select grocery and household essential items” using automated drones operated by Israeli startup Flytrex. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/10/21430280/walmart-drone-delivery-pilot-program-north-carolina-flytrex

Xbox Game Pass for PC will soon double in price All good things must come to an end. Microsoft has confirmed that the PC version of Game Pass will soon cost $9.99 per month, rather than $4.99 per month. We knew this price hike was coming: Game Pass for PC is technically in beta at the moment, and the Xbox website has long stated that $4. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/xbox-game-pass-pc-price-increase-september-17-082218831.html

8 Steps to Better Milky Way Editing in Lightroom Editing pictures of the Milky Way is difficult to get right. Which white balance do you use? How bright should the scene be? How do you remove excessive noise without stars disappearing? Well, follow these eight steps for image editing success on the galactic scale with Lightroom Classic. Continue Reading . . . https://fstoppers.com/astrophotography/8-steps-better-milky-way-editing-lightroom-515949

White House reportedly moves to eliminate COVID-19 security theater at airports International travelers arriving in the United States will reportedly no longer go through enhanced health screenings at the airport. The planned change in policy, first reported by Yahoo News, is expected to go into effect on September 14th. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/9/21429462/white-house-trump-covid-airport-screening-security-temperature-check

The first Dune trailer worms its way online Dune is one of the greatest science fiction books ever written, and the first trailer for the latest adaptation has finally arrived, giving fans a first glimpse at director Denis Villeneuve’s take on Frank Herbert’s iconic novel. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/9/21075594/dune-movie-trailer-denis-villeneuve-paul-atreides-timotee-chalamet-spice-sandworm-rebecca-ferguson

Xbox Series X officially arrives November 10th for $499 Microsoft has finally given us launch details on the Xbox Series X: It’s arriving on November 10th for $499, just like the leaks earlier this week predicted. It’ll also be available via Xbox All Access, a bundle which includes the system GamePass Ultimate, for $34.99 a month over 24 months. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/xbox-series-x-499-price-launch-date-131122201.html