Technology news

• Microsoft responds to the PS4 Pro's absent 4K Blu-ray drive

  24-09-2016 23:35
  
  Microsoft respondsIt's going to be a busy couple of years for console launches. After months of speculation, Sony has finally unveiled the PS4 Pro, a souped up version of its existing PS4 console, which is also receiving a more traditional slim-down of its own. Not to be outdone, Microsoft also has a pair of new consoles. The Xbox One S came out just last month, and next year the company plans to launch what it's currently calling Project Scorpio, its own more powerful version of its current gen
  
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• Here's how much Snapchat's glasses will cost

  24-09-2016 22:02
  
  After months of rumors, we now know the Snapchat glasses are real.  The company has officially introduced Spectacles, its Snapchat-connected wearable, that is set to go on sale later this year. The good news for Snapchat fans, though, is that the glasses will be surprisingly affordable. SEE ALSO: Snapchat is just 'Snap' now Snap Inc., the Snapchat-maker's new name, hasn't said exactly when Spectacles will go on sale but we know they will be priced at $129.99.  While that's still a dece
  
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• Snapchat to offer camera-equipped sunglasses in first hardware push

  24-09-2016 22:00
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Snap Inc, the newly renamed parent company of messaging app Snapchat, plans to start selling camera-equipped sunglasses starting this fall, Chief Executive Evan Spiegel told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. The sunglasses, dubbed Spectacles, will be sold via limited distribution for about $130, said Spiegel, who described the device as a toy. The first hardware to be sold by Snap, the sunglasses will record video from the user's perspective in 10-second increments th
  
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• 'The Simpsons' pays tribute to 'Adventure Time' in couch gag - CNET

  24-09-2016 21:18 via cnet.com
  
  Bart, Homer, Lisa, Maggie, Mr. Burns and even Santa's Little Helper are reimagined as "Adventure Time" characters in the Season 28 premiere of "The Simpsons."
  
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• This just in: The CD format isn't dead - CNET

  24-09-2016 20:17 via cnet.com
  
  It's starting to look like the CD will be cherished as the last physical digital music format.
  
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• iPhone 7 Plus 'portrait' mode does background blur better - CNET

  24-09-2016 20:13 via cnet.com
  
  The public beta of iOS 10.1 brings the iPhone 7 Plus depth-of-field effect -- and a perfect excuse for us to post pretty pictures of passersby.
  
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• Jays breaks the sound barrier with this outstanding $119 on-ear headphone - CNET

  24-09-2016 18:47 via cnet.com
  
  Jays' headphones deserve wider recognition, says the Audiophiliac.
  
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• The Nintendo NX may have entered production at last

  24-09-2016 17:59
  
  It's been a long, long wait for the Nintendo NX to arrive, with March 2017 still the official launch month. New reports from Asia this weekend suggest manufacturer Foxconn is now carrying out test manufacturing runs for the console.According to DigiTimes' sources, up to 10 million units are being readied for next years launch, and the Sony PS4 Pro is starting to roll off the production lines too.Of course this little nugget of a rumour doesn't give us any more idea of what the Nintendo gaming ma
  
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• Connecticut becoming a hub for new bioscience companies

  24-09-2016 16:56
  
  Connecticut hasn't become the Silicon Valley of bioscience quite yet, but five years after lawmakers made a massive investment to support the development of that industry, there is a thriving hub in Farmington. ...
  
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• Motorola's cable-free earbuds fall short of the great wireless promise

  24-09-2016 16:30
  
  What a time to be alive! Hot on the heels of Apple banishing the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, wireless headphones and earbuds are sure to garner a lot of attention.  For the past two weeks, I’ve been using the $250 Motorola VerveOnes+ wireless earbuds. There’s no cord to be found on the two orange buds. To be clear, the VerveOnes+ aren’t from the Lenovo owned Motorola. They are from the other Motorola that makes stuff like baby monitors and, through a licen
  
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• Apple said to be considering its first retail store in Seoul, right next to Samsung's HQ

  24-09-2016 16:25
  
  The iPhone maker is planning to up the smartphone rivalry, a new report claims.
  
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• Logitech Bluetooth Music Receiver review - CNET

  24-09-2016 16:00 via cnet.com
  
  The Logitech Bluetooth Music Receiver is an easy, inexpensive way to add wireless audio streaming to a powered speaker or component audio system.
  
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• Which smart bulbs should you use with Alexa? - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  Amazon's voice-activated virtual assistant can control a growing number of smart lights. If you're wondering which ones are the best fit for your home, we're here to help.
  
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• Trim your wireless bill -- skip that phone upgrade - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon explains why wireless customers should resist the temptation to get a new phone every two years.
  
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• Motorola Moto Z Play review - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  Look at the Motorola Moto Z Play for its extra-long-lasting battery as much as its swappable snap-on accessories and affordable price.
  
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• LG's modern dishwasher has a few old-school touches - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  The LG LDS5040ST packs a disposal into your dishwasher to help you do away with pieces of food waste.
  
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• LG LDS5040ST Semi-Integrated Dishwasher review - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  The $700 LG LDS5040ST makes a mess with bulky foods and falls flat on features.
  
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• Facebook or Twitter for the presidential debate? You want to agree or argue? - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  The debates will be the same on both social networks, but the comments? Not so much.
  
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• Downloads: Download of the day: Panda Free Antivirus

  24-09-2016 14:00
  
  Download of the day: Panda Free AntivirusSecurity suites are notorious for being bloated programs that slow your PC to a crawl. Panda Free Antivirus is different – it does all its heavy processing in the cloud, so you'll barely notice it's there.Its virus detection rates are superb as well; in independent tests by virus lab AV-TEST it achieved near-perfect scores against known threats and zero-day attacks.Best of all, because it's cloud-based, Panda Free Antivirus doesn't require daily dat
  
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• Acer Aspire Switch Alpha 12 review - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  Acer's Aspire Switch Alpha 12 serves equally well as a laptop and a tablet -- at a reasonable price to boot.
  
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• Acer Aspire Switch Alpha 12 does tablet and laptop equally well - CNET

  24-09-2016 14:00 via cnet.com
  
  With a flexible-angle kickstand, excellent keyboard cover and a smart design, the Switch Alpha 12 feels surprisingly premium for its affordable price.
  
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• This LG dishwasher is definitely not amazing video - CNET

  24-09-2016 13:52 via cnet.com
  
  The $700 LG LDS5040ST is quite boring, actually. Though it is still competent, it doesn't have much else going for it.
  
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• The biggest hack in history, and users want more Note 7s video - CNET

  24-09-2016 13:50 via cnet.com
  
  In this week's news wrap: Yahoo says a state-sponsored attack led to at least 500 million accounts being compromised; Samsung announces its US recall is going well; And Google heavily suggests its introducing a phone on October 4.
  
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• In Depth: 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio - which do you really need?

  24-09-2016 13:30
  
  4K,HDR,DolbyAtmos,Hi-ResAudioThe world of AV has had a serious upgrade over the past eighteen months, but just how big an impact will it have on your home entertainment habits? Is the time finally right to upgrade to Ultra HD? Is 3D audio the next big thing in your home cinema? Or should you save your cash for beer and skittles?Time to weigh up the promise and potential of the latest home entertainment advances…4K Ultra HDYou know the drill: 4K TV screens offer four times the pixel densit
  
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• In depth: Do we really need expandable memory on our phones any more?

  24-09-2016 13:01
  
  Everyone wants more storage on their phone, but the cost seems too high. Apple is constantly lambasted for not having expandable memory ports in its iPhones – but now that we have a 256GB iPhone, and access to reams of cloud storage, do we really need it?For some the extra space is a safety net; for others it's a media storage centre that enables them to hold masses of music, movies and photos. You can only consume so much media though – and with streaming so widely available, do you
  
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• Take a mind-bending virtual tour of Bengal's Kalimpong, the 'home of the Yeti'

  24-09-2016 13:00
  
  By: Amelia HeathmanContinue reading...
  
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• Can I upgrade my TV to HDR? - CNET

  24-09-2016 13:00 via cnet.com
  
  Is it possible to convert or update your TV to be HDR compatible? Unless there's an official patch, probably not. Here's why.
  
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• Updated: 40 common Windows 10 problems and how to solve them

  24-09-2016 12:45
  
  IntroductionNote: Our common Windows 10 problems feature has been fully updated. This article was first published in July 2015.Windows 10 is now running on over 350 million PCs, tablets and smartphones, making it one of the most popular operating systems in the world. The successor to Windows 8.1 has been available for a little over a year now, which has given users plenty of time to get to know the OS.Many of the initial quirks, bugs, and other annoyances that Windows 10 launched with have been
  
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• Snapchat's new sunglasses will make sure nothing is left unrecorded

  24-09-2016 12:28
  
  “Spectacles” will be available before the end of the year.
  
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• Pippa Middleton iCloud hack claims investigated by police

  24-09-2016 12:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Police investigate claims an iCloud account reportedly belonging to the Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton has been hacked and private photographs stolen.
  
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• UPS have started trialling drone deliveries

  24-09-2016 11:20
  
  The company has partnered with robot-maker CyPhy Works.
  
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• The Watch Dogs 2 story trailer sends you into the world of hackers

  24-09-2016 11:20
  Welcome to DedSec.
  
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• In depth: Can an uploaded brain live forever?

  24-09-2016 11:00
  
  Willweeverbeabletomapthebrain?As speedy as today's supercomputers are, they're still nowhere near the complexity and power of the brains sitting inside of our heads. But the rapid rise of computing technology and artificial intelligence poses a very interesting question: will we one day be able to upload our minds to the cloud?Imagine mapping all of the information inside your head to a stack of servers; your mind living forever in a carefully cooled data center. It sounds like the start of a Ho
  
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• Allo and Duo could be teaming up in the near future

  24-09-2016 10:49
  
  Have you downloaded Duo and Allo yet? Google's most recent apps are designed to take on FaceTime (for video calls) and iMessage (for all your messaging needs) respectively, but there's been a hint that they'll be working more closely together in the future."Absolutely" responded Allo co-lead Justin Uberti to a tweet requesting links to Duo for video and audio calls launched in Allo. If anyone knows what's coming down the line for Allo, it should be Uberti.That's hardly confirmation that closer l
  
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• How to improve your password security with LastPass

  24-09-2016 10:00
  
  Lock down your passwordsSecurity experts often offer words of wisdom, such as: "Use a different password for every site" or "Make sure you don't use any dictionary words". But then they'll say contradictory things like: "a string of dictionary words is more secure than a random jumble of characters". Those security experts don't want us to have an easy life, that much is clear. Seriously, though, your online security is important. Share passwords between sites and, if one of them happens to lose
  
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• Online services want your birthdate _ creating security risk

  24-09-2016 09:02
  
  Of all the personal information people tend to give out willy-nilly on the internet, birthdate is perhaps the most ubiquitous. It's not just Yahoo and Facebook seeking that information. Websites, newsletters, ...
  
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• Here are the Snapchat 'Spectacles' that put a Snap camera in your sunglasses

  24-09-2016 06:39
  
  Your future Snapchat photos and video could be captured completely hands-free, as the social media company announced Speculates today.Speculates is Snapchat's first foray into hardware, and to no one's surprise, it's a camera. It records up to 10 seconds of video that can then be beamed to your phone, according to the Wall Street Journal.There appear to be circular cameras near the right and left hinges of the sunglasses frames, and Snapchat says it uses wide 115-degree-angle lenses and, uniquel
  
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• Oculus founder Palmer Luckey's role in Clinton smear group remains murky - CNET

  24-09-2016 05:43 via cnet.com
  
  VR's boy genius funneled money towards a shady pro-Trump charity. But he disagrees with The Daily Beast about what he did -- or didn't -- say.
  
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• Snapchat Spectacles, glasses with a camera, coming this fall - CNET

  24-09-2016 05:36 via cnet.com
  
  Snapchat gets a new name, Snap Inc., and will soon release camera-equipped glasses that shoot first-person video.
  
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• Oculus founder Palmer Luckey admits to funding Clinton smear group - CNET

  24-09-2016 04:50 via cnet.com
  
  Did Oculus VR's boy genius funnel money toward a shady pro-Trump charity? He says yes -- but that the mysterious "NimbleRichMan" was not him.
  
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• Possible Snapchat glasses with camera emerge in leaked video - CNET

  24-09-2016 04:45 via cnet.com
  
  Snapchat was recruiting hardware experts earlier this year. Could they be at work on the camera-equipped glasses shown in this leaked footage?
  
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• Leaked video appears to show Snapchat's long-rumored smart sunglasses

  24-09-2016 03:13
  
  Snapchat may be moving closer to launching its long-rumored wearable. A video of what appears to be a commercial for the device — apparently called "Spectacles" — has surfaced, suggesting that the company may be getting ready for a launch. The video was first spotted by Business Insider's Biz Carson, who managed to capture the video before Snapchat had it removed from YouTube. The 30-second spot is light on details but clearly shows the glasses capturing videos, which are then shared
  
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• Possible Snapchat glasses surface in leaked video - CNET

  24-09-2016 02:57 via cnet.com
  
  Earlier this year, Snapchat was recruiting hardware experts. Could they be at work on the camera-equipped glasses shown in this leaked footage?
  
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• Can GoPro win over normals with its new cameras and drone?

  24-09-2016 02:07
  
  GoPro kicked off the week with a huge event in Squaw Valley, Calif., to announces its new Hero 5 Black and Hero 5 Black action cameras, and its Karma drone, and they all look suh-weet. On this week's MashTalk, Mashable Chief Correspondent Lance Ulanoff, Deputy Tech Editor Damon Beres and I chat about the new GoPro toys, the Yahoo accounts breach and the arrival of macOS Sierra. SEE ALSO: Hands-on with GoPro's new voice-controlled Hero 5 action cameras On the day of recording, Yahoo confirmed 500
  
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• Yahoo already hit with lawsuits over hack - CNET

  24-09-2016 01:43 via cnet.com
  
  Yahoo users are fighting back after what's being called the biggest data breach in history.
  
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• Facebook can't run away the realities of video advertising anymore

  24-09-2016 01:43
  
  Count down three seconds in your head. It goes fast, right?  I bet you did it the "one-hippopotamus way." That's actually considerably more than 3 seconds. Ask Siri to set a 3-second timer and then try to read something on the web. Exactly, it's barely enough time for a sentence, including this one. A couple of years ago, Facebook apparently set 3 seconds or less as the benchmark for actual video ad engagement. A choice that, on its face, seems rational, even preferable for media planners a
  
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• Note 7 recall, chips, and Samsung's China conundrum

  24-09-2016 01:30 via zdnet.com
  
  China as a market, China as a competitor, and rising US-China tensions will all remain the South Korean tech giant's biggest challenge yet in the coming years.
  
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