Places and Things

Sony has sold 10 million PS5 consoles The PlayStation 5 just crossed a significant milestone. Sony has revealed that it has sold 10 million PS5 consoles as of July 18th, eight months after the system's November 12th debut. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/sony-playstation-5-ps5-10-million-sold-144729654.html

Robot arranges 100,000 dominoes into a Super Mario Bros. mural in one day Engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober has created a robot that can make domino murals at lightning speed, and has shown it off with a video of it arranging 100,000 dominoes into a Super Mario Bros.-themed mural in just over 24 hours. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/29/22599111/mark-rober-domino-robot-super-mario-bros-mural-single-day

Google TV for Android gets new discovery features and more streaming services The Android app for Google TV is getting new discovery features and support for a handful of entertainment, news, and live TV apps not previously available, including YouTube TV and FuboTV. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/27/22595046/google-tv-android-rotten-tomatoes-new-features

Lucasfilm hires YouTuber who used deepfake to improve 'The Mandalorian' Luke Skywalker's CGI face in the character's The Mandalorian cameo was met with a lot of criticism, and fans even tried to fix the scene with various tools and programs. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/lucasfilm-hires-shamook-054904077.html

Hubble finds evidence of water vapor on Jupiter's largest moon Scientists have discovered the first evidence of water vapor on Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon. They used new and archival datasets from the Hubble Space Telescope to find the vapor, which forms when ice on the surface sublimates and turns from solid to gas. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/hubble-water-vapor-jupiter-ganymede-nasa-esa-184541367.html

'Blade Runner: Black Lotus' anime trailer reveals a replicant on the run Adult Swim and Crunchyroll has released the first trailer for Blade Runner: Black Lotus, the anime series they're co-producing, at San Diego Comic-Con this year. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/blade-runner-black-lotus-anime-trailer-135442402.html

The Wheel of Time: Rosamund Pike's Moiraine, Amazon Release Date Teased in Poster for Fantasy Adaptation Rosamund Pike’s Moiraine and the incredibly journey ahead of her are teased in the first poster for Amazon Prime’s adaptation of The Wheel of Time. Continue Reading . . . https://tvline.com/2021/07/23/wheel-of-time-adaptation-amazon-poster-november-premiere/

Star Wars: The Mandalorian Poster May Spoil Luke and Grogu's Jedi Training The Mandalorian's Grogu might not yet be big enough to wield a lightsaber, but he just might be adept enough to build one in a new officially licensed wall poster from Shop Trends. And it just might foreshadow what's in store for the character after his most recent appearance in the Disney+ series. Continue Reading . . . https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-mandalorian-baby-yoda-lightsaber-poster/

Fly a drone? The FAA’s new TRUST test is easy — and mandatory If you’ve flown a drone for fun in the USA anytime in the past month, chances are you were breaking the law. That’s because on June 22nd, the FAA finally released a mandatory knowledge test every recreational pilot legally needs to complete. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/22589429/how-to-fly-drone-united-states-usa-trust-faa

Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony included a light display with 1,800 drones There may not have been any fans in the Olympic Stadium, but Japan still found a way to put on a show for the opening of the 2020 Summer Games. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/tokyo-olympics-drone-display-183750593.html

‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ trailer is a treat for ‘Voyager’ fans CBS has shared the first trailer for Prodigy, its first-ever fully computer-animated Star Trek series. The clip introduces us to the show’s cast of disparate characters. They’re stuck on what looks like a mining colony and trying to find a way to escape. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/star-trek-prodigy-trailer-194208735.html

Mercedes-Benz says it will go all-electric in 2030, but with a major caveat Mercedes-Benz says it will go all-electric by 2030, but with conditions. The German automaker says it will only sell electric vehicles “where market conditions allow,” implying that Mercedes may still sell gas-powered vehicles after 2030 in countries that lack consumer demand for EVs. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/22/22588587/mercedes-benz-electric-ev-2030-caveat

PS5 owners can get six months of Apple TV Plus for no charge Apple and Sony have teamed up to offer PS5 owners a great promotion on the Apple TV Plus streaming service. New and existing subscribers can get six months of service for no charge by simply opening the Apple TV Plus app on PS5 (and signing in with your Apple ID, if you aren’t a current user). Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/22/22588577/ps5-sony-apple-tv-plus-six-month-trial-subscription

Dune’s latest trailer introduces its all-star cast (and a sandworm) After months of delays, director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is actually coming out on October 22nd. That means that it’s time for the marketing to start spinning up for the film again, starting with a new trailer — the first in nearly a year — for the upcoming sci-fi epic. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/22/22587655/dune-new-trailer-hbo-max-warner-bros-sandworm

X-Men's Colossus is Finally Returning To Save Mutantkind Colossus has become a sort of pacifist in recent X-Men comics, but his quaint farm life seems to be coming to an end in the upcoming X-Force #24. Continue Reading . . . https://screenrant.com/colossus-xmen-xforce-mikhail-rasputin-brother-beast/

Apple’s AirPods Max are cheaper than ever at Best Buy and Amazon Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval, so if you're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more, this is the place to be. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/good-deals/2021/7/20/22584968/apple-airpods-max-legend-of-zelda-nintendo-switch-amazon-kindle-deals-sale

CNN+ streaming service will offer live and on-demand content in early 2022 The rumors of a CNN streaming service were true. The network has unveiled a CNN+ service that will offer a blend of live and on-demand shows that are "separate and distinct" from existing TV coverage. It will debut sometime in the first quarter of 2022. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/cnn-plus-streaming-service-launch-153702038.html

Ride along with Juno past Ganymede and Jupiter The Juno spacecraft made its most recent flyby of the giant planet Jupiter on June 8, 2021. Shortly before its closest point to Jupiter – the 34th of the mission, or perijove 34 – Juno flew closer to Jupiter’s large moon Ganymede than any spacecraft has in more than two decades. Continue Reading . . . https://earthsky.org/space/ride-along-with-juno-past-ganymede-and-jupiter/

Japan breaks internet speed record with a 319Tbps data transfer The many-gigabit internet speed records of a decade ago now seem downright inadequate. Motherboard reports that scientists at Japan's National institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have smashed the internet transfer record by shuffling data at 319Tbps. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/japan-breaks-internet-speed-record-200136933.html

NASA beams back spectacular images of Jupiter and our solar system's biggest moon, Ganymede NASA's Juno probe has flown closer to Jupiter and its largest moon, Ganymede, than any other spacecraft in more than two decades — and the images it beamed back of the gas giant and its icy orb are breathtaking. Continue Reading . . . https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-images-animation-jupiter-biggest-moon-ganymede/

US Department of Energy will offer instant permits for rooftop solar installations With the US back in the Paris climate accord, President Joe Biden has the lofty goal of decarbonizing the US power grid by 2035. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/us-government-rolling-instant-permits-for-rooftop-solar-installations-100535776.html

Drought Threatens to Close California Hydropower Plant for First Time The Edward Hyatt power plant, an underground facility next to Oroville Dam in Butte County, is expected to close in August or September, said John Yarbrough, California Department of Water Resources assistant deputy director of the State Water Project. Continue Reading . . . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drought-threatens-to-close-california-hydropower-plant-for-first-time/

Apple's AirPods Max hit record low of $449 at Adorama There's a lot to love about Apple's AirPods Max, but their high price tag isn't one of them. At $550, they're more expensive than even competitors from Bose and Sony, but you can get the cans for $100 less right now at Adorama. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/apple-airpods-max-sale-100-off-adorama-184943075.html

Retail stores are packed with unchecked facial recognition, civil rights organizations say More than 35 organizations are demanding top US retailers cease using facial recognition to identify shoppers and employees in their stores, which companies have used to deter theft and identify shoplifters. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/14/22576236/retail-stores-facial-recognition-civil-rights-organizations-ban

Lightning Strike! Photographing lightning can be tricky and dangerous. Pro photographer Gary Hart shares how to photograph lightning successfully—and safely. Continue Reading . . . https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/tips-techniques/nature-landscapes/how-to-photograph-lightning/

Continue Reading . . . https://flipboard.com/video/newyorkpost/3d6fbe75cf

Cryptofarm with thousands of PS4 Pros raided in Ukraine The Security Service of Ukraine or SBU has discovered and raided a cryptocurrency mining farm that allegedly stole electricity from the country's power grid. But instead of findings computers, the agency found racks with thousands of PS4 Pros stacked vertically side-by-side. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/cryptofarm-ps-4-pro-raided-ukraine-045118233.html

A New Era of Designer Babies May Be Based on Overhyped Science For better or worse, genetic testing of embryos offers a potential gateway into a new era of human control over reproduction. Continue Reading . . . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-era-of-designer-babies-may-be-based-on-overhyped-science/

Let's Use the Lessons from COVID to End HIV Much has been written and will continue be written about the victories and failures of America’s battle with COVID-19. Continue Reading . . . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lets-use-the-lessons-from-covid-to-end-hiv/

Amazon hopes to track your sleep habits with radar Google's latest Nest Hub might not be the only device to track your sleep using radar. Bloomberg reports that Amazon has received an FCC waiver to let it use 60GHz radar for sleep tracking. As with Google's tech, you could check for sleep issues without having to wear a device like the Halo band. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/amazon-sleep-tracking-radar-fcc-approval-161031226.html

WhatsApp will let you send images and videos in their ‘best quality’ A future version of WhatsApp will give more control over the amount of compression it applies to sent images and videos. WABetaInfo reports that the two features are currently in development for the Android app, and should eventually present three quality options when sending images and video. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/9/22569744/whatsapp-image-video-compression-quality-updates

Japan Gets Its Chance At Star Wars With Anime Anthology This weekend, Disney announced Star Wars: Visions, an anime anthology of original shorts. Seven anime studios are putting their unique spin on the world of Star Wars, a first for the franchise. Yet, it feels like Star Wars has finally come full circle. Continue Reading . . . https://kotaku.com/japan-gets-its-chance-at-star-wars-with-anime-anthology-1847230370

The honeymoon is over for streaming services: Here's where the major players stand While most Americans are breathing a sigh of relief as they return to normal activities outside the home in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the streaming video industry may not be quite as excited for a return to reality. Continue Reading . . . https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/05/streaming-services-compared-revenue-arpu-for-netflix-disney-more.html

Want to sound smarter? Avoid these 24 overused words and phrases that make you sound ‘pretentious,’ say grammar experts Careful what you say or type at work — because it could backfire. As word and grammar experts, we asked dozens of managers what bothered them the most when they talk to employees and read emails or DMs from them. The most common complaint? All the "junk" words and phrases! Continue Reading . . . https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/05/avoid-saying-these-words-and-phrases-that-make-you-sound-pretentious-say-grammar-experts.html

All Coral Cells Grown in a Dish for the First Time Studying corals usually requires either observing them alive in the ocean or examining their dead tissue in a laboratory. But new research offers a way to keep all coral cell types alive in a lab culture for two weeks or longer, opening novel experimental possibilities. Continue Reading . . . https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/all-coral-cells-grown-in-a-dish-for-the-first-time/

A nanofiber membrane could help solve the drinking water crisis Korean scientists claim a new desalination technique makes sea water fit to drink in minutes. The researchers used a membrane distillation process that resulted in 99.9 percent salt rejection for one month. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/nanofiber-membrane-drinking-water-150039679.html

Astronauts complete China’s first-ever tandem spacewalk On early Sunday morning, two Chinese astronauts completed work outside of their country’s Tiangong space station. The event was the second-ever spacewalk in China’s history. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/china-tianhe-spacewalk-010054326.html

Ticks Suck. Here's A Guide To Identifying Them And Avoiding Bites Ticks aren't known as beach-lovers, so ecologist Dan Salkeld and a colleague were surprised when they found 180 ticks in less than a mile on a coastal trail near Muir Beach in California one day in 2016. Continue Reading . . . https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/07/04/1012643351/tick-bite-disease-safety-tips

‘Lovecraft Country’ Not Returning For Season 2 On HBO EXCLUSIVE: One of the most celebrated — and inventive — new series of 2020, Misha Green’s Lovecraft Country, will not be getting a second installment. “We will not be moving forward with a second season of Lovecraft Country,” HBO said in a statement to Deadline. Continue Reading . . . https://deadline.com/2021/07/lovecraft-country-canceled-no-season-2-hbo-1234785811/

Microsoft warns of Windows ‘PrintNightmare’ vulnerability that’s being actively exploited Microsoft is warning Windows users about an unpatched critical flaw in the Windows Print Spooler service. The vulnerability, dubbed PrintNightmare, was uncovered earlier this week after security researchers accidentally published a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/2/22560435/microsoft-printnightmare-windows-print-spooler-service-vulnerability-exploit-0-day

Microsoft’s Blue Screen of Death is changing to black in Windows 11 Microsoft is changing its famous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) to black in Windows 11. The software giant started testing its new design changes in a Windows 11 preview earlier this week, but the Black Screen of Death isn’t fully enabled yet. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/1/22559852/microsoft-windows-11-black-blue-screen-of-death-bsod-change

EU officially launches digital vaccine passport The European Union’s digital COVID-19 certificate officially launched today. The certificate allows people to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, a recent negative test result, or a past COVID-19 infection. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/1/22558896/eu-covid-vaccine-passport-test-infection

AirCar prototype completes its first inter-city flight The term flying car is a bit of a misnomer. In order to meet regulatory guidelines, many of the vehicles currently in development are more like manned drones or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL). Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/aircar-first-inter-city-flight-092852060.html

The Morning After: A transforming, flying car makes its first inter-city flight Where's our flying-car future? Maybe it's finally a little closer. AirCar, a prototype car-plane-thing from Klein Vision made a trip between Nitra and Bratislava airports in Slovakia. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-a-transforming-flying-car-makes-its-first-inter-city-flight-111507297.html

The first three 'Final Fantasy' pixel remasters arrive on July 28th In three weeks' time, you'll be able to start playing the pixel remaster versions of the first three Final Fantasy games. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/first-three-final-fantasy-pixel-remasters-july-28th-102027025.html

T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon have taken steps to reduce spoofed scam calls All three major US carriers have met the deadline to implement the FCC's new anti-spoofing protocol designed to protect users from scam caller impersonation. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/major-carriers-implemented-fcc-anti-spoofing-spam-calls-090503217.html