Back in June, authorities in Massachusetts announced they were charging six former eBay employees in connection with the strange harassment campaign of a couple who ran an e-commerce newsletter. The six had sent the couple, Ina and David Steiner, online threats and abuse, and mailed a bizarre collection of items […]
PSA: Google Meet to limit meetings to 60 minutes on free plans September 30th
Google said in April it would allow unlimited-length meetings in its Google Meet video chat platform for all users until September 30th, and it looks like the company is sticking with that timeline. After September 30th, free versions of Meet will be limited to meetings no longer than 60 minutes. […]
US tightens trade restrictions on Chinese chipmaker SMIC
The US Commerce Department has added China’s largest chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), to its entity list, after it determined there an “unacceptable risk” that equipment SMIC received could be used for military purposes, Reuters reported. The move blocks US computer chip companies from exporting technology to SMIC without […]
The coronavirus pandemic by the numbers
I’m dwelling on numbers because this week, the US officially counted 200,000 COVID-19 deaths. Words like “grim milestone” just don’t seem adequate in the face of that toll. Numbers are valuable. Case counts help scientists track the infection’s spread. Death tolls help policy makers figure out where things are going […]
How Duolingo designed the new characters for its Project World
Language app Duolingo is unveiling a new cast of characters that it hopes will help users better learn new languages, even during the toughest lessons. The characters will act as guides within the app, cheering you on if you get an answer correct, or reacting in a disappointed (or sassy) […]
The Polestar Precept, an electric sedan powered by Android, is going into production
In February, Chinese electric vehicle company Polestar revealed a gorgeous sedan concept called the Precept that featured a stunning design along with an interior chock-full of sustainable material. But as with most concepts, it wasn’t clear whether the Precept would ever be a real car. Today, Polestar sweeps away that […]
Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds are $35 off at Woot
Samsung’s fantastic Galaxy Buds Live, lovingly referred to as “Galaxy Beans” due to their shape, are $35 off at Woot if you’re an Amazon Prime member. This brings the cost from $170 down to $135 (just make sure you’re signed in with your Prime account on Woot). If you aren’t […]
Justice Department opposes TikTok’s request for injunction in new filing
The Justice Department filed its opposition Friday to TikTok’s request for an injunction against the Trump administration’s looming ban of the app, and the agency pulled no punches. The DOJ says blocking the the ban would “infringe on the President’s authority to block business-to-business economic transactions with a foreign entity […]
Amazon is also warning Xbox Series X preorder customers that their consoles might show up late
Last week, Amazon informed customers who had pre-ordered the PS5 that they might not actually get their consoles on launch day, and now, Amazon has started to tell people that pre-ordered the Xbox Series X that they might not get that console right when it’s out, either, according to reports […]
Microsoft had a secret Windows XP theme that made it look like a Mac
Microsoft created a secret Windows XP theme that made the operating system look more like a Mac. A recent Windows XP source code leak has revealed Microsoft’s early work on the operating system and some unreleased themes the company created during its early XP development back in 2000. One is […]