Sci-tech / 33

Facebook shuts down entry-level Oculus Go VR headset

July 04, 2020

Oculus is ending sales of its budget Oculus Go virtual reality headset and opening its Quest headset to a wider range of software. The little grey headsets launched a couple of years ago, bridging the gap between the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift.

French-Dutch police bust encrypted criminal communications

July 04, 2020

The devices offered automatic deletion of all messages on a recipient's device as well as the ability to remotely erase all data, according to Europol . The information will be further analysed as a source of unique insight, giving access to unprecedented volumes of new evidence to profoundly tackle organised criminal networks.

Britain wins bidding war for satellite company OneWeb

July 04, 2020

Bharti , through Bharti Airtel , is the third largest mobile operator in the world, with over 425 million customers. 'The deal presents the opportunity to further develop our strong advanced manufacturing base right here in the United Kingdom'.

Worms Rumble Features Real-Time Gameplay and Battle Royale!

July 04, 2020

New Worms games have changed things in the past - like the addition of mechs, or an unfortunate dabbling in three dimensions - but those tweaks have kept the same basic formula. We have introduced a revive mechanic into the squads mode, so that if you ever get downed by a rival, your team members will be able to bring you back into the game.

Animal Crossing's diving update has me hooked all over again

July 04, 2020

Once you're in the ocean, continue to press A to swim around. Please make sure you have the same update version as the person you are playing with. It's our understanding that the design of the wetsuit will change in the shop each day, so if you don't like the one provided you can wait and buy a different one.

Johnson's 'gentle' warning against Israel's illegal annexation of Palestine condemned

July 04, 2020

Israel plans to impose Israeli sovereignty on about 30 per cent of the West Bank, though a formal announcement expected this week could now be weeks or months away, according to New York Times reporting . The resulting annexation plans, driven by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been described by the United Nations and the European Union as a violation of worldwide law.

Reliance Jio launches Zoom rival JioMeet

July 04, 2020

Jio Platforms, which began beta testing JioMeet in May this year, said the video conferencing service offers "enterprise-grade" host controls. The app is one facet of Ambani's rapidly expanding digital empire, which includes India's largest telecom operator with almost 400 million users.

Monthly PlayStation Indies Initiative Kicks Off On July With 9 Games Revealed

July 04, 2020

The program aims to offer itself as a privileged showcase for the presentation of independent productions meant to land on Sony consoles. This new rumor was posted on a Twitter account of Jeff Grubb's infamous Summer Games Mess updates.

IMac 2020: the new Mac generation uses an i9-10910 CPU

July 03, 2020

Given the shared specifications, the Core i9-10910 should slot right in between the Core i9-10900K and Core i9-10910. Zooming in on the specs you can see 10 cores and 20 threads, a 3.6GHz base frequency and 5.2GHz boost frequency. Based on the same architecture as Apple's current A-series chips found in the iPhone and iPad, Apple Silicon in Macs will help the company break completely new ground in offering levels of performance and features that simply haven't been possible in Intel-based ...

Here's Your First Look At The Motorola Moto G 5G

July 03, 2020

The phone features a tall and narrow display with dual punch-hole cutouts with actual space between the two selfie cams, which will likely be masked through software to display a black bar. Motorola is reportedly working to introduce its first 5G-powered smartphone in the G lineup. It is speculated that the phone will pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 SoC, and quad rear cameras.

Dish Acquires Boost Mobile in 1.4 Billion Dollar Deal

July 03, 2020

T-Mobile and Dish today announced that the deal to sell off Sprint's prepaid business to Dish has closed. "This marks an important milestone in DISH's evolution as a connectivity company", Dish CEO and president Erik Carlson said in a statement.

Peloton fitness app now available on Roku too

July 03, 2020

Peloton is now available for streaming on Roku . Peloton was originally slated to go live in the United Kingdom this week, but Roku said the launch date is TBD. Users can take many of them without the need for extra equipment and the app's inclusion on Roku devices , alongside the other TV streaming platforms, means they can keep fit from the safety of their own homes - extra handy during lockdown conditions.

OnePlus Nord first look revealed ahead of launch

July 03, 2020

The new OnePlus phone that is debuting in India and Europe later this month went on limited pre-orders in the United Kingdom and other European markets on Wednesday. Despite being the first product under $500 in recent years for OnePlus , the Nord will have triple rear cameras (with a 64-megapixel primary sensor) and dual selfie cameras along with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC, plus a 6.55-inch Super AMOLED display.

Intel buys 0.39% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 1,894 crore

July 03, 2020

The deals highlight Jio Platforms' potential to become the dominant player in India's digital economy. US-based semiconductor giant Intel Corporation is investing Rs 1,894 crore (about $253.5 million) in Reliance's Jio Platforms through its venture arm Intel Capital .

Theatre company Punchdrunk teams up with Pokemon Go creator for AR project

July 03, 2020

Niantic Labs , the San Francisco-based startup that brought the world Pokémon Go , has hatched a "multifaceted partnership" with United Kingdom -based Punchdrunk, the pioneers behind such iconic immersive theater productions as Sleep No More , to dream up a slew of new and exciting augmented-reality projects that will literally rock your world.

Twitter says it will add the 'edit button' under one condition

July 03, 2020

Microblogging platform Twitter announced on Thursday that it would add the much sought-after "edit" button - but only when everyone began wearing a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic. The online platform reiterated this point with a separate tweet that said, "everyone means EVERYONE". Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said earlier this year that the company would " probably never " introduce the feature as it may cause users to inadvertently spread misinformation.

Google Photos adds mute button for videos

July 03, 2020

The company will begin notifying users of the change on the Google Photos app the next time they open the app. According to an Android Police report , now Google Photos will not be backing up pictures from these popular apps: Facebook , Instagram , Helo, Twitter WhatsApp , Viber, Snapchat , Messenger, Messages , and LINE .

Apple ceases the updates for thousands of Apps in China’s app store

July 03, 2020

The pop-up says an app "would like permission to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies" and gives the app developer several lines below the main text to explain why the permission is sought. A Chingari user can creative with WhatsApp status, Videos, Audio clips, GIF stickers, and photos. Roposo was launched in 2014 and has so far crossed the 5-crore milestone for downloads.

U.S. Supreme Court takes up Germany's appeal in Nazi art dispute

July 03, 2020

In an 8-1 decision , the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that determined that Booking.com is not a generic trademark because the term held meaning with consumers. The company's name informs the consumer of the basic nature of its business and nothing more. According to the Court, such a "sweeping" rule is inconsistent with the principles of trademark law, and "generic.com" marks can be protectable if consumers recognize the mark as an identifier of the source of certain goods ...

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra design leaked

July 03, 2020

This is the big Note 20 - the one that's expected to have the Galaxy S20 Ultra's magnificent 108-megapixel camera, impressive zoom capabilities and a 120Hz LTPO display - and these images arrive to us from Samsung's Russian website. But those were shot down pretty quickly, as we started seeing leaks showing three different Galaxy Note 20 smartphones. Samsung has traditionally announced new devices in August so it's possible that the new Note devices could be officially unveiled soon.

Millions switch to 'local TikToks' after India bans Chinese apps

July 03, 2020

India's government banned TikTok and other 58 Chinese apps over privacy and security concerns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who has a huge social media profile, threw his weight behind the campaign by closing his account on China's Weibo platform on Wednesday.

WhatsApp introduces animated stickers and QR codes

July 03, 2020

All of these features will be coming to the latest version of the App in the next few weeks, so make sure yours is up to speed, and you'll be firing off animated GIFs and cracking open your laptop in the middle of the night to enjoy dark mode before you know it.

TikTok clarifies: Don't intend to take legal course against ban

July 03, 2020

That amount is most likely more than the combined losses for all the other Chinese companies behind the other 58 apps banned in India, the sources said . In early 2019, they temporarily removed it from app stores over concerns it was addictive to teenagers. The consequences of India's latest decision could be more long-lasting, analysts told Caixin.

'Dreams' will get a big PSVR update on July 22nd

July 03, 2020

In Dream Shaping, the "create" section of the game, players can find several new How To tutorials and get to know more about how to create in VR. It's a playground for the mind, and it's now got a VR expansion that brings the experience to a whole new level.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Alleged Renders 'Accidentally' Leaked on Company Site

July 03, 2020

The posters reveal the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with three cameras at the back panel with a laser autofocus system. Furthermore, the design of the phone and arrangement of its rear camera modules aligns with previous fan renders that were created based on leaked schematics.

COVID-19 Prevents Samsung from Participating in Europe's Largest Consumer Electronics Show

July 03, 2020

However, organizers behind IFA vowed last month to press on despite the health risks posed by COVID-19, thanks to an "innovative concept" they're working on to ensure safety guidelines are met. It typically introduces its mobile devices at Unpacked and then uses IFA to talk about its home appliances and give more specifics about its new products.

Google's cheap Pixel 3a is sold out and discontinued

July 03, 2020

It is on Amazon, for now, however. The Pixel 3a was the first cheaper Pixel to crack Google's flagship lineup, and we fell in love immediately when it launched last July. If you've ever wanted to buy a Pixel 3a or Pixel 3a XL, you'd better do it fast, because Google has chose to stop making it. There's a good chance this could be down to the coronavirus pandemic causing chaos to both the supply chain but also the economy.

Companies Using Hong Kong as Asian Headquarters Should Rethink: Commerce Secretary

July 03, 2020

On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his cabinet is "very actively" considering offering Hong Kong citizens safe haven . It has triggered widespread criticism, with the United States also ending Hong Kong's special status under USA law, halting defence exports and restricting the territory's access to high-technology products.

Mumbai residents urged not to move out beyond 2km of home

July 03, 2020

A senior police official stated on Sunday that permission to transcend the radius of two kilometers is just for workplace or medical emergency. As per the data, the police verified 30,072 vehicles across 137 check points in the city on Monday following its appeal to the citizens on Sunday to restrict their outdoor travel for essential activities within a 2-km radius of their homes to curb COVID-19.

Texas Gov. Abbott Mandates Masks Amid Virus Surge

July 03, 2020

Abbott, who had pushed Texas' aggressive reopening of the state economy in May, had previously said the government could not order individuals to wear masks. After an initial warning, those who refuse will face a fine up to $250. In that same interview, however, Abbott said that local governments could require stores and businesses to require masks-a statement that paved the way for San Antonio, Houston, and many other cities in Texas to enforce Abbott's mask order and compel citizens to ...

A New Ransomware Targeting Apple macOS Users Through Pirated Apps

July 03, 2020

Mac users are now uncovered to a new " EvilQuest " ransomware that encrypts files and will cause several concerns to the functioning technique. This is good so far, because it means you won't be automatically infected (at least with this sample).

Apple explains how sleep tracking on Watch will be different from rivals

July 03, 2020

Lynch told The Independent that the people behind the Apple Watch's sleep tracking feature spent a great deal of time working to make the function a reality. There's also a new feature that allows for watch face sharing, so you can create useful watch faces and share them with friends and family over apps like Mail and Messages , or with a broader audience on the web.

Governor orders face mask use

July 03, 2020

While he hasn't been as extreme as some other Republican governors in dismissing the threat of COVID-19 and resisting mitigation strategies, Abbott has until the last few days towed the GOP line that reopening the economy is the top priority.

Google Search Brings Dinosaurs to Life Using Augmented Reality

July 03, 2020

A few weeks ago we offered you a complete list of 3D animals and other figures that you can see in the search engine, so if you are curious and have not yet experimented with this function, be sure to check it out. If you search for one of ten species on Google, you can tap " View in 3D " on your mobile device to open up an augmented reality version of the beasts and have them superimposed - at scale - in your surroundings.

The Steam Summer Sale has started

July 02, 2020

Hopefully, you've been thrifty and planning on the Steam sale to arrive, as it always does, at the tail-end of June; you're about to find yourself considerably lighter in the wallet. Animated avatar borders and stickers are nearer the top at 2 000 points. For the Steam Summer Sale , a special Summer Golden Profile set is up for grabs.

Reddit takes down largest pro-Trump subreddit in hate speech crackdown

July 02, 2020

Reddit has banned the platform's largest pro-Trump subreddit as it "consistently hosted and upvoted more rule-breaking content than average". Twitch said the offending comments aired on the channel included Trump's remarks from 2015 saying that Mexicans coming into the United States were "bringing drugs", "bringing crime" and were "rapists".

Six arrests and £360,000 seized as crime chat network cracked

July 02, 2020

The phones - which have pre-loaded apps for instant messaging, the ability to make VOIP calls and a kill code which wipes them remotely - have no other conventional smart phone functionality and cost around £1,500 for a six-month contract. The operators of EncroChat, which is run from outside the United Kingdom, realized the platform had been penetrated on June 13 and sent a message to its users urging them to throw away their handsets, according to the NCA.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series will not support WQHD+120Hz refresh rate

July 02, 2020

The South Korean tech giant has been rumoured to introduce a version of its foldable smartphone that sells for almost half the price of a regular Galaxy Fold. "At Samsung, our endeavour is to offer unique and exclusive experiences keeping in mind our consumers' ever evolving choices". Samsung is rumored to be making another foldable smartphone called the Galaxy Fold Lite, which, as the name suggests, is going to be a cheaper version of the original Galaxy Fold.

Google’s Nearby Share, an AirDrop Competitor, Confirmed; Now Available in Beta

July 02, 2020

Google has also actively began rolling out a beta test for the same. The Nearby Share feature can be used to share photos, videos, URLs, Tweets, documents and other shareable content among multiple phones simultaneously. Google says it disables any apps removed from the Play Store on any user devices that may have downloaded them, with its Play Protect service notifying affected users of any issues.

Google Stadia controller finally works wirelessly with Android phones

July 02, 2020

Considering the Stadia controller has been lauded by Google for well over a year now, the lack of development with the Assistant button is a bit disappointing - especially as there's little else to distinguish the controller from others. Fortunately, this is another thing which has been fixed. With the new update, players will not have to switch awkwardly between landscape and portrait orientations.

Russia's election chief denies claims of poll violations, Putin consolidates long-term rule

July 02, 2020

Ads for the vote barely mentioned that it would reset term limits for Putin. Millions of Russians went to the polls on Wednesday to cast their vote for or against 206 proposed amendments, which had already been approved by the legislature.

Crime lords arrested after European police crack secret chat service

July 02, 2020

In the Netherlands, police arrested more than 100 suspects, seized about eight tonnes of cocaine and dismantled 19 drugs laboratories. The NCA said they had mitigated 200 threats to life as part of the operation, which has so far led to the arrest of 746 suspects and the seizure of at least £54m in cash alleged to be linked to criminals, along with 77 firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, submachine guns, handguns, four grenades, and over 1,800 rounds of ammunition.

TikTok may mount a legal challenge against ban

July 02, 2020

Many are lauding India's ban on Chinese apps, considering it as an opportunity for homegrown apps, and a massive step towards the PM's war cry of "Vocal for Local". While on the Google Play Store, the app's rating is 4.5 star and has registered more than 5 million downloads. India's Department of Telecommunications ordered telecom networks and other internet service providers earlier this week to block access to those 59 apps "effective immediately".

HP’s Upcoming Reverb G2 is Taking on Both Gaming & Enterprise Industries

July 02, 2020

Created in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft, the HP Reverb G2 boasts about being the world's highest resolution VR headset offered among major venders. "That's why Valve wanted to partner with us to make this product". The new headphones will sit 10mm away from your ears, offering an improved spatial audio experience.

POCO M2 Pro will launch on July 7 in India

July 02, 2020

As per the official tweet, the smartphone launch event will take place on 7 July at 12 pm in India. Although the Chinese company has not revealed its price or specifications, it seems from the teaser that Poco M2 Pro will sport a quad rear camera setup.

Three More States Say Yes to Hands-Free Laws for Drivers

July 02, 2020

Other states with similar laws have reported a decrease of 20% in distracted driving accidents. In looking down to send or read a text while driving, a driver takes his eyes off the road for an average of nearly 5 seconds. Drivers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with their vehicle's hands-free technology and may wish to research aftermarket products that facilitate its use, such as a phone mount, said Huls.

Samsung accidentally leaks the Galaxy Note 20 itself, on their own website

July 02, 2020

Either way, after years of rose gold being featured on tonnes of gadgets, it's nice to see that copper is making a comeback, and if the Note 20 ends up looking anything like it does on these leaked pictures, Samsung could have a real head-turner on its hands.

Xbox Series S has faster CPU than PS5 and supports ray tracing

July 02, 2020

Moreover, Video Games Chronicles has supported these claims, noting that the event is now planned for Thursday, July 23. The games will be up on the Xbox Dashboard for the week, with some potentially getting republished to the Demo channel later.

Why did Dr Disrespect get banned from Twitch? Star speaks out

July 02, 2020

Twitch has permanently banned Guy Beahm , aka Dr Disrespect from their platform. Streamer and former Twitch Staff member "ShannonZKiller" further fueled speculation on social media, when she claimed to know why the star was banned and said it was "serious" in a now-deleted tweet .

Fortnite finally leaves Early Access after three years

July 02, 2020

Given that Epic says not all cosmetics for Fortnite Battle Royale won't be supported in Save the World going forward and that the main story is finished, it seems like this could be the end for the game. In an announcement today, Epic discussed the future of the game's Save the World mode , which has been nearly entirely overshadowed by its battle royale .

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