Technology news

“The Platform” is not a subtle movie.
That’s true of its approach to horror, with intense, bloody scenes that prompted plenty of screaming and pausing from your hosts at the Original Content podcast. It’s also true of its thematic material — right around the time one of the characters accuses another of being communist, you’ll slap yourself on the forehead and say, “Oh, it’s about capitalism.”
The new Netflixfilm takes place in a mysterious p

Dr. Fauci has spoken.
It might seem pretty dystopian that top U.S. infectious disease experts now recommend Americans wear cloth masks outside, particularly in places like markets. But there's a good reason why. 
As the coronavirus spreads rapidly around the nation, a significant number of infected people may never show any symptoms (perhaps as high as one in four people). What's more, it takes an average of five days after infection for symptoms to develop in those that do eventually have

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There are a few online productivity stocks booming, and a few popular remote-first product companies still announcing funding rounds amid a huge new wave of unicorn layoffs. But what about the previously white-hot software-as-a-service category overall?
Pullbacks in spending are expected in general, obviously, which means higher churn and slower growth for major SaaS

Now that the CDC is recommending we all wear cloth face masks in public, you may be wondering how exactly you can use what you have on hand to get out on public and keep others safe.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, people are uploading helpful videos on YouTube to show everyone how to make their own masks at home. Whether you're showing COVID-19 symptoms or not, you could be infected with the virus and be spreading it to others without knowing. That's where the masks come in. Covering you

Under new guidance issued by the Small Business Administration it seems non-profits and faith-based groups can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program loans designed to keep small business afloat during the COVID-19 epidemic, but most venture-backed companies are still not covered.
Late Friday night, the Treasury Department updated its rules regarding the “affiliation” of private entities to include religious organizations but keep in place the same rules that would deny most start

Eli Cahan ContributorShare on Twitter Eli Cahan is a medical student at NYU on leave to complete a master’s in health policy at Stanford as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. His research addresses the effectiveness, economics, and ethics of (digital) health innovation.More posts by this contributorWhy key performance indicators are crucial amidst a (public health) crisis How the coronavirus outbreak will stress-test startups
The COVID-19 pandemic rages on.
As cases in the United States skyro

Some of the most touted beauty treatments come with an uncomfortable break-in period. The viral foot peel Baby Foot, for instance, works wonders but makes your feet shed horrifying sheets of skin for a few days. Retinoids, which are basically the skincare gold standard in fighting dullness, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, often cause temporary facial dryness, flaking, and irritation before the results kick in.
But if you're practicing social distancing, that period of irritation is no big deal.

A 5G cell tower | Photo by Mikhail Pochuyev\TASS via Getty Images 5G phone masts are being set alight in the UK, after online conspiracy theories have misleadingly linked the cell towers to the coronavirus pandemic. The BBC reports that at least three 5G towers were set alight last week, and police and fire services were called to extinguish the flames.
Rumors and conspiracy theories over a link between the roll out of 5G and the spread of coronavirus have been spread primarily through social m

A 5G cell tower | Photo by Mikhail Pochuyev\TASS via Getty Images 5G phone masts are being set alight in the UK, after online conspiracy theories have misleadingly linked the cell towers to the coronavirus pandemic. The BBC reports that at least three 5G towers were set alight within the last week, and police and fire services were called to extinguish the flames.
“I’m absolutely outraged and disgusted that people would be taking action against the infrastructure we need to tackle t

Last week, we made the case that tech manufacturing was uniquely vulnerable to pandemic problems, from a combination of just-in-time manufacturing practices and a far-flung network of suppliers. But just a week later, the news is even worse.
On Friday morning, analysts at S&P’s Panjiva Research laid out a grim picture, with US sea imports from China (which includes most of the electronics you buy) down more than 50 percent in the first three weeks of March, a result of the countrywide

Don't despair: In just 45 seconds, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrates how to make your own cloth facemask. 
It's lo-tech. You can use a T-shirt, hand towel, or bandana. The only other thing you need is rubber bands.
The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face masks in public places where it's difficult to social distance from others — meaning staying at least six feet away. 
That's because a "significant portion of people" — perhaps as much as one in four peop

This month marks the first anniversary of the image of the environment directly surrounding the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy —captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). In the twelve months since this spectacular achievement, researchers have not rested on their laurels. Several teams have been hard at work imagining and theorizing ways to build a better black hole image. Just this week, as that anniversary approaches, researchers have published a study that promises to

With everyone scrambling to find face masks to wear, DIY tutorials are thriving on YouTube and TikTok.
Many of these videos do more than just teach you how to craft a mask out of stuff you have at home. TikTok creator and model Marc Sebastian primarily uses his Instagram platform for activism, but when he saw young people refusing to social distance, he brought his message to TikTok. In a video that now has more than 450,000 views, he sewed 25 fabric face masks to donate to a local hospital whil

Jason Shen ContributorShare on Twitter Jason Shen is a three-time startup founder and the CEO of Midgame, a gaming technology company backed by Techstars and Betaworks.
It’s no secret that adaptability has become a critical trait for knowledge workers. To stay on top of a rapidly evolving world, we must assess new situations, make intelligent decisions and implement them effectively.
A 2014 research report by Barclays indicated that 60% of employers say adaptability has become more importa

Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the Extra Crunch series that recaps the latest OS news, the applications they support and the money that flows through it all.
The app industry saw a record 204 billion downloads and $120 billion in consumer spending in 2019, according to App Annie’s “State of Mobile” annual report. People are now spending 3 hours and 40 minutes per day using apps, rivaling TV. Apps aren’t just a way to pass idle hours — they’re a b

Some 484 million miles from coronavirus-beleaguered Earth lies the gas giant Jupiter, and its stormy, magnificent atmosphere.
One of the latest images NASA's Juno spacecraft sent back to Earth shows a view of the planet's churning northern region. Juno captured it on Feb. 17, during a "close" swing by Jupiter — which means Juno was some 15,610 miles above these clouds.
Jupiter, wow.Image:NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS /
Image processing by Gerald Eichstädt
SEE ALSO: The space race forged immortal

Welcome to the weekend. The best deals you can currently get on tech are a mix of new offers and ones that we’ve collected during the past week. All of them should hopefully make your self-isolation time a little more enjoyable.
Sling TV is offering a free 14-day trial to Sling Blue, the tier of its television streaming service that includes live channels and others like A&E, Bravo, HGTV, Nick Jr., Discovery, Cartoon Network, Food Network, and USA Network. The last day to sign up to ta

Welcome to Cozy Week, where we'll curl up by the glow of our screens to celebrate all that's soft in entertainment. Pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa and sit by us as we coo over the cutest games, cry over the tenderest movie moments, and drift off to the most comforting shows. Because it can be a cold world out there, and we need something to keep us warm.
In dark times, muggles find all sorts of libations, confectionery, and sweet snackery to cure what ails them, to boost their spirits, and mak

FightCamp review
$1,219.00View Product
The Good
Hundreds of classes available • Punch trackers are a great motivational tool • Easy to use • Compact •but can be stored away
The Bad
Expensive• Subscription fee required • No Android app support
The Bottom Line
FightCamp not only transforms your space into a boxing ring, but its punch tracking technology is a genius way to keep you from giving up during those tough workouts.
⚡ Mashable Score
4.5😎 Cool Fa

Unfortunately, cafés are considered a non-essential business in many states across the country. This means that your go-to coffee shop has likely been ordered to close up shop temporarily, effectively social distancing you from your favorite cup. It sucks, we know.
But we also know that you can become your own barista — all you need is the right coffee maker. To help you turn your kitchen into your new favorite popup café, here are a couple of deals on coffee makers, bre

TL;DR: Keep track of your heart rate, steps, and more with the Striiv Fusion Bio2 fitness watch for just $24.99, a 68% savings. Things are really hard right now. But despite the doom and gloom of the pandemic, there is a slight silver lining: while social distancing, we can dedicate more time to our health and well-being.
In most states, the stay-at-home order still allows you to get outside and go for a run or a bike ride (solo, of course). And even if it doesn't, you can still create a fi

Memory foam mattresses are where it's at now. Metal springs all throughout your bed? No thanks. Hard pass.
If you're currently looking into buying a new mattress, it helps to narrow it down to what kind of mattress you want. Memory foam is a great place to start, but as we said, it's a popular material right now — aka everyone is using it. Thus, finding your dream mattress may not be as breezy as you'd maybe expect. It's pretty daunting, actually.
Don't freak out, though; we're here to hel

TL;DR: Become a pro at editing photos with the Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for Beginner-Designers Bundle for just $39.99, a 97% savings. Since you probably have some extra time on your hands (unless you're out there being an essential worker, and we thank you), now is the perfect time to finally learn the magic that is Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. 
When it comes to editing photos, creating captivating images, and designing intriguing posts to promote your brand, Adobe Lightroom and

TL;DR: Reusable cloth face masks are on sale at Tippit — save 20% with code SPRING20.At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, we were told that only medical professionals need to wear masks, but now that might be changing. The White House is expected to recommend the general population wear non-medical masks and face coverings when leaving the house.
Medical masks are still meant to be reserved for professionals on the frontline of treatment, but cloth masks provide some covering for people

In the glory days of AOL Instant Messenger, back when screen names and away messages were serious literary pursuits, a mysterious chat maverick strode about the dial-up frontier and schooled legions of uncouth adolescents in the art of conversation. Who was this rogue wordsmith, this tireless vexer of pre-teen millennials? Surely no mortal could generate replies with such speed, charm, and unflinching certainty. Turns out it was a bot, an artificial chat companion named SmarterChild, and i

TL;DR: As of April 4, you can grab this online class on piano and music composition for just $34.95, a 95% savings. With the unexpected downtime that comes with self-isolation, each of us has been given a rare opportunity to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby. You could choose to learn TikTok dances, or you could finally use your time wisely and take on something you've always wanted to try, but never had the time. For example: learning to play the piano.
Under normal circumstances, w

These are weird times. And though we're all living apart, the truth is that we're all in this together. One thing we could all use in a time like this is a warm, cozy blanket to soothe our anxieties and get us through the night.
SEE ALSO: Yes, you really do need a weighted blanket — and these ones are the best
From weighted blankets to gigantic temperature-regulating covers, here are 14 cozy options (most of them on sale!) to offer you a calming embrace during these challenging days. After

Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are valuable tools for improving your online security. They help you to stay safe and anonymous online by shielding your personal data from the prying eyes of authorities and hackers. 
These clever services work by hiding your IP address and rerouting your internet traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel. This secures your bank transactions, protects your digital identity, and lets you work safely on public WiFi networks. You don't care about any of this t

Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are valuable tools for improving your online security. They help you to stay safe and anonymous online by shielding your personal data from the prying eyes of authorities and hackers. 
These clever services work by hiding your IP address and rerouting your internet traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel. This secures your bank transactions, protects your digital identity, and lets you work safely on public WiFi networks. You don't care about any of this t