Technology news

Since the demise of net neutrality, US telecoms have increased the amount of throttling they impose on customers trying to watch mobile video through services like Netflix and YouTube, according to new research from a group of researchers at Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The study, the findings of which were published first by Bloomberg today, reveals the extent to which companies like AT&T and Verizon have taken advantage of lax government regulation

This is Ode To..., a weekly column where we share the stuff we're really into in hopes that you'll be really into it, too.
Oh the good old days, when beans stayed in their designated corner on the microwavable plate.
Times have changed. People's obsession with the legendary legume has gotten darker, stranger, wrong. We now have a subreddit called "Beans in Things" which posts "pictures of beans in things that beans shouldn't be in."
That's it. That's the subreddit. And it's wonderful.
SEE ALSO:

Twitter’s decision to provide Alex Jones with a platform came down from the very top. 
A recent report from the Wall Street Journal details the internal decisions at Twitter that have kept Alex Jones on the app — even as other tech companies, like Apple, Facebook, and YouTube, decided Jones was no longer welcome.
Apparently, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey himself stepped in and overruled staff recommendations to remove Alex Jones from the service.
SEE ALSO: Jack Dorsey says Twitter's '

The internet can be a deeply unsettling place, especially when you stumble upon videos that you probably should've left alone. But, if you were like me in 2011, you sought out the weirdest of websites and the creepiest of pastas, then shared your intel with all your post-emo friends.
By 2016, I was surfing the internet for some quality spooky material during my college years when I stumbled across something called witch house.
SEE ALSO: Meet the man who makes music with vegetables
It was a music

Apttus, a quote-to-cash vendor built on top of the Salesforce platform that looked to be heading toward an IPO in recent years has taken a different tack, instead being acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo today.
The company did not reveal the purchase price, but said it could be ready to share more details about the arrangement after the deal closes, probably next month. “What we can say is that Apttusviews this development positively and believes Thoma Bravo can instill greater op

Jeff Bezos has long been one of the wealthiest people in the world. Now, the company he founded is also one of the world's most valuable.
Amazon became the second U.S company to reach a market cap of $1 trillion today, crossing the milestone when the stock price reached $2,050.27 per share this morning. The stock has been rocky since, closing at a price of $2,039.51 per share.
Amazon had been racing Apple to become the first U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market value through most of the ye

Instagram is working on a new standalone app dedicated to shopping, The Verge has learned. The app — which may be called IG Shopping — will let users browse collections of goods from merchants that they follow and purchase them directly within the app, according to two people familiar with the matter. Instagram declined to comment.
It could not be learned when the app might launch. Its development is still ongoing, and it could be canceled before it is released. But sources familiar

Not having antivirus software in 2018 is like not having a passcode on your phone in 2018 — it's basically begging for you to lose your personal info. Yes, we know no one wants to pay to prevent something that only might happen, but spending the coin now is way better than dealing with the nightmare of a hacked account or friend computer. 
Good news: Antivirus software Bitdefender is 60% off now until Sept. 7, and that's the highest discount we've seen on it — ever. You'll

There is an endless list of tasks that a lot of people would make excuses NOT to do, and the thing that easily tops it is pretty apparent: working out.
You repeatedly tell yourself that you're too busy, too tired, or too self-conscious to drag your butt to the gym, but if you genuinely want to whip yourself into shape, you have to actually do something.
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And okay, let's say you really do have a lot on your plate. The good news is that there's a way to

For years, Amazon customers in Europe have enjoyed the shopping giant’s ability to deliver everything from best-selling books to phone chargers within days, if not hours, at prices that brick-and-mortar retailers often cannot match. Much like in the United States, online sales are eating up physical retail market shares. By 2023, it’s predicted that 21 percent of all non-grocery retail sales in Europe’s biggest economies will be online, up from just 13 percent last year. But,

Skype announced today that call recording is now available in the latest version of the app on most platforms, except Windows 10. This is the first time Skype has offered built-in call recording since it was first released almost 15 years ago.
To record a call in Skype, click the + symbol at the bottom of the screen and then select “start recording.” Once started, a banner will appear letting everyone on the Skype call know that it is being recorded. If you are recording a video cal

Apple maintained its position at the top of the smartwatch sales chart last quarter, selling 4.7 million Apple Watches and capturing 17 percent of the global market, according to a report published today by research firm IDC. Apple now remains just ahead of Xiaomi, which trailed Apple by two percentage points in market share and 500,000 unit shipments in the second quarter of the year.Fitbit, Huawei, and Garmin are far behind, with IDC reporting that higher demand for more fully featured smartw

Law & Order creator Dick Wolf and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit showrunner Warren Leight have successfully pitched a new Law & Order series to NBC. The show, which will be titled Law & Order: Hate Crimes, was picked up for a 13-episode season. 
SEE ALSO: Facebook's role in anti-refugee attacks outlined in shocking study
There's no information on casting or when Law & Order: Hate Crimes will air but...it's real. It's a real title of a show they're going with. On telev

China’s top streaming service iQiyi is turning off view counts on all of its videos. Instead, videos will be evaluated for popularity based on a new system to “underline the company’s commitment to the highest quality content.”
iQiyi is mostly known for its polished productions like the new historical drama Story of Yanxi Palace about back-stabbing concubines and hip-hop dancing reality show Hot-Blood Dance Crew. But the streaming service, which has been likened to Netfl

If, like me, you hold on to your gaming hardware then you've probably got at least one PS2 in your collection. There are many things that can break on these aging systems, but in Japan you may be surprised to find Sony still runs a repair service for its second-generation console. Unfortunately for PS2 owners there, that service is coming to an end.
As Kotaku reports, even though the PS3 was launched in 2006, Sony continued to manufacture the PS2 right up until 2012. Ever since, an aftercare ser

Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee got off to quite a raucous start on Tuesday. There were protests and clashes between Democratic and Republican senators, but it was an odd snub made by Kavanaugh that's getting the most attention. 
SEE ALSO: Brett Kavanaugh's law school roommate says he used to eat pasta with ketchup
As Kavanaugh left his table upon the beginning of a lunch break, a man can be seen approaching Kavanaugh and extending his hand

If you don't have a mentor who you can look to for advice and guidance for shaping your career, it can be intimidating to know where to go for support. Usually, we learn fundamental skills on the fly — whether it's editing your résumé to speak to the job you want, or learning how to effectively network to build your social capital. But usually, the path to learning can be a bit of a bumpy road — and not the most productive way to learn. 
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Usually belly-flopping into a pool is something you'd want to avoid doing, but what if there was a competition dedicated to this ridiculous form of diving? Well this is actually a reality, in Norway at least. 
In the Det Internasjonale Dødseforbundet, which translates to the "World Championship of Death Diving," the main goal of the contest is to see who can do the most impressive belly flop into a pool from a high dive platform. 
From side flops, to full on belly-to-water conta

Apple went all-in on Face ID with the iPhone X last year, excising the company’s long-time Touch ID fingerprint sensor in favor of the new, facial recognition feature. Don’t expect that to change anytime in the future, either, with supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming in his latest research note that Apple won’t be adding in-display Touch ID fingerprint sensors to both this year’s or next year’s iPhone models, via 9to5Mac.According to Kuo, limiting factors in

The leader of the Federal Communications Commission says that major web companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google have offered little transparency into how they work — and it’s time to seriously consider forcing them to tell us.
In a blog post today, FCC chairman Ajit Pai calls out a long list of algorithmic and moderation decisions by web companies (including Twitter choosing not to ban New York Times columnist Sarah Jeong, a former Verge writer) and says that “consumers h

Every year, the shift into cooler weather comes alongside a shift into a cooler box office lineup: fewer billion-dollar blockbusters, fewer on-screen explosions, and a general trend toward less slashing, crashing action and more intense emotional action. The one thing that really heats up at the box office during the fall and winter season is the awards race: the last quarter of the year is a time for Oscar-bait projects and intense awards campaigning. So today, we start The Verge’s four-

BoJack Horseman just can't seem to maintain a positive state of being, and things don't seem to be changing in the Netflix show's fifth season.
The first trailer for BoJack Horseman Season 5 has arrived and everyone's favorite depressive horseperson appears to be trying to get a grip on his drinking problem — something that's been a struggle since the very first season. Despite his successes and the relationships he's built with people, it looks like BoJack will be needing to figure out ho

Microsoft first unveiled a redesign of its Outlook email app last fall, and now that visual overhaul for the software is available publicly starting today. Microsoft is making it available for the Windows app version of Outlook, as well as the web version. Similar to Google’s recent Gmail redesign, Microsoft will let you toggle the redesign on with the press of a button or revert back to the classic look if you aren’t too keen on the changes.The company is stressing control and cust

Garmin makes an activity tracker that's perfect for the golfers out there — and Amazon has it on sale.
The Garmin Approach X40 is currently available through Amazon for $199.99. Normally, this activity tracker goes for $249.99, so you'll save a whole $50 on this device.
SEE ALSO: 8 of the best laptop backpacks, based on customer reviews
The Garmin Approach X40 is a tracker that will (hopefully) improve your golf game a bit. The band uses a GPS receiver to show distances from the green, haz

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate Beyoncé's birthday, but if you're gonna follow in anyone's footsteps on this sacred holiday, you should follow in Blue Ivy Carter's. 
On Monday, Blue decided to celebrate her mom's birthday by pranking her grandmother, Tina Lawson. Lawson shared a hilarious video of Blue's comedic genius on Instagram, and the results will most definitely make you giggle even, if you aren't an official member of the BeyHive. 
SEE ALSO: Warning: The behi

For all the pies Sony has its (metaphorical) fingers in, the quality never seems to dip. Whether you're looking for a new camera or picking up a PS4 Pro, everything lives up to the Sony name. This is especially true when it comes to their 4K TVs, as reflected by the tech specs — and price. 
If you're looking for a big TV to turn a basement into your personal movie theater, Sony and Amazon have just the thing with this enormous, 75-inch model that's on sale.
SEE ALSO: Best 4K TV deals

Amazon is adding a Hindi language option to its site and apps in an attempt to reach the half-billion people in India who speak the language, according to The New York Times.
Until now, Amazon’s website — along with the websites of many top competitors — have only been available in English, but English is only spoken by a tenth of India’s population. Amazon believes that by translating into the dominant local language, the site will be more accessible and appear more tru

The highest compliment I can pay to Marvel's Spider Man is also the simplest: it makes me feel like I'm Spider-Man. Not sitting on my couch playing Spider-Man, I feel like Spider-Man. Everything from the ease of Marvel's Spider Man's controls, to its soundtrack, to the immersive New York environment comes together in the game to create a fully believable Spider-Man story and places players directly in the middle of the action. 
As Spider-Man, I can do whatever Me-Spidey wants. I can spend a

Google is releasing an entire new design for Chrome today with new features and tweaks to the browser’s overall appearance. You can read more about the redesign here, but one of the big new features is an improved password manager. Chrome will now offer to automatically generate a random password when you sign up to websites for the first time. This password will be stored inside a Google Account securely and synced across desktop and mobile versions of Chrome.
This should stop regular Ch

Chrome is getting a new look today, 10 years after Google’s browser first launched. The new design includes rounded shapes and tabs, a fresh color palette, and updated icons. Google is updating the whole of Chrome to include this new user interface, and altering prompts, menus, and URLs in the address bar to match the new design. It’s a big overhaul.
The new rounded tabs are perhaps the most noticeable change, moving Chrome away from the trapezoid-like shaped tabs that have been ava

Google Chrome just turned 10, wrapping up a decade where the browser captured the world by rapidly becoming the browser of choice for people who "knew better." For the anniversary, Google is rolling out a revamped design and a slew of new features, including a more powerful omnibox.
Back in 2008, web browsers were broken. While they served their utilitarian function of enabling us to browse the cornucopia of web content, features like plug-ins, custom software, and enterprise tools were starting

Jake Paul is notorious for YouTube stunts, beef with other creators, and generally making his neighbors’ life hell. But an investigative video from channel Nerd City argues that some of Paul’s videos aren’t just morally questionable or manipulative: “Jake Paul’s content is illegal to broadcast in most countries he could name,” says Nerd City.
In a 43-minute deep dive, Nerd City — which often examines internet and YouTube creator culture — highligh

Eminem surprised the world last week by dropping a new album, and so far, it seems to have gone over well with his fans. But despite the love from his dedicated stans, not everyone's feeling the album, and they've made it known in the best way possible.
In a stroke of genius, a hilarious meme cropped up that completely roasts Eminem by comparing the lyrics on his new album to lyrics from the theme song from Nickelodeon's The Fairly OddParents.
SEE ALSO: Eminem just dropped a surprise album calle

As mobile carriers light up their 5G networks, the race is on for phone makers to launch phones that can support faster data speeds.
While most manufacturers probably won't have 5G phones available until 2019 or 2020, China's Xiaomi   might release one by the end of this year, which would make it the first company to offer a 5G-ready smartphone.
SEE ALSO: Xiaomi is finally stepping out of Apple and Samsung's shadows
Continuing with teases on social media for its upcoming Mi Mix 3, Dono

If you're looking for a new 4K TV for your home or office, there are a number of great deals from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and the Samsung Store. Now is your chance to take the leap and save on that 4K TV you've been eyeing. 
LG Electronics' 43-inch Class 4K HDR Smart LED UHD TV with AI ThinQ is on sale for just $346.99, while RCA's 43-inch Class 4K LED TV is priced at a low $219.99Target has Element's 50-inch 4K UHD 120Hz Smart Android TV on sale for $299.99. This TV from Element runs Andr

Facebook may have contributed to the Bay Area's housing and identity crisis, but at least it's now giving Menlo Park, the rich South Bay neighborhood where Facebook's HQ is located, a new park!
Facebook provided a closer look at its Frank Gehry-designed Menlo Park campus in a blog on Tuesday. Nestled amongst details of its company Redwood grove and five unique dining options was the news that Facebook is working on a two-acre public park.
SEE ALSO: Facebook plans to build its own IRL town with h

Claire Wineland — YouTuber, inspirational speaker, and activist — died at age 21 on Sunday night.
Wineland, who had cystic fibrosis, founded a non-profit organization called Claire’s Place Foundation to support children and families living with the disorder. On Monday, the organization announced her death in a Facebook post.
SEE ALSO: YouTube's women of STEM make learning about science fun
Wineland's death came days after she suffered a severe stroke on August 26, which resulte

Amazon briefly reached a market cap of over $1 trillion earlier today, becoming the second US-based company to cross the mark after Apple, which also hit the 13-digit number back in August, via CNBC.
The company’s stock reached a record high of $2,050.50 per share earlier today, which was enough to propel it past the $2,050.27 threshold it needed to cross the $1 trillion mark, although the price has since dropped back down. Given the volatile nature of the stock exchange and the fact that