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Showing posts from May, 2020

YouTuber Jake Paul defends being among crowd of looters as critics call him ‘epitome of white male privilege’

Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul was accused of taking advantage of nationwide protests to gain attention — yet again. https://wapo.st/36MbMWR

Elon Musk and SpaceX pull off another feat few thought possible

https://wapo.st/2TUvESd

SpaceX launch is just the beginning of Crew Dragon’s journey

It will take the Crew Dragon capsule 19 hours to reach the International Space Station, where, if all goes well, it will dock after a carefully choreographed and dangerous dance. https://wapo.st/3euogEY

Behind the scenes as FAA prepares for Space X launch

From a command center in Warrenton, Va., a special team of experts from the Federal Aviation Administration are gathering data as part of a program that will help incorporate commercial space operations into the current national airspace system. https://wapo.st/2BhMF2t

Trump’s growing feud with Twitter fuels free-speech concerns

President Trump has threatened to shut down Twitter, regulate social media and expand the government's power to oversee the Web, part of an all-out assault against Silicon Valley tech giants that he has long accused of trying to undermine his reelection. https://wapo.st/3dgUaF3

Welcome to T-Pain’s Animal Crossing island

We rolled with the Grammy-winner back to the crib and he showed us how he lives. He did not, however, buy us a drank. https://wapo.st/2zxUrEZ

European government officials call for tech companies to loosen grip on contact tracing tech

Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal are joining a growing chorus of leaders and experts who would like to see technology companies give them more freedom to develop technologies to fight the coronavirus. https://wapo.st/2yKGHpP

Calls grow for European regulators to investigate Apple, accused of bullying smaller rivals

The U.S. maker of Bluetooth tags for tracking lost items says Apple wields its power unfairly, snuffing out competition. https://wapo.st/3gylH6F

Student developers aim to create a game for children on autism spectrum

A question about accessibility from a group of Montreal-based game developers launched an ambitious student project. https://wapo.st/2XDfyOb

Wearable tech can spot coronavirus symptoms before you even realize you’re sick

Researchers say the constant stream of data from Oura rings, Fitbits and Apple Watches could eventually be used as a coronavirus early-warning system. https://wapo.st/2Xa73uV

Trump expected to sign executive order that could threaten punishment against Facebook, Google and Twitter over allegations of political bias

The move comes two days after Twitter took the rare step of labeling one of the president’s tweets and linking viewers to news articles that fact-checked his claims. https://wapo.st/2X7cKJX

SpaceX launch live updates: Fueling of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket begins as Trump, Pence observe from Kennedy Space Center

NASA and SpaceX prepare to send two veteran astronauts into a spacecraft that will mark not only the first human launch to orbit from U.S. soil in nearly a decade but also the first time a private company has performed the feat. https://wapo.st/3gwMMXV

Trump lashes out at social media companies after Twitter labels tweets with fact checks

Trump lashed out at social media companies Wednesday in response to Twitter labeling two of his tweets. https://wapo.st/2BbbZat

Whistleblowers say Facebook has not warned investors about illegal activity, in new SEC complaint

The whistleblower’s complaint claims the social media giant is aware of illegal activity on its platform, such as the sale of opioids, and has failed to properly police it. https://wapo.st/36zuJvD

Flying astronauts has always been risky. No wonder NASA and SpaceX are on edge.

Forecasters at Patrick Air Force Base are predicting a 40 percent chance that weather would force a postponement of Wednesday’s launch, an improvement from Monday’s 60 percent, but still casting doubt on the schedule. https://wapo.st/2M3QuKw

Popular streamers Summit1G, Dakotaz and JoshOG re-sign with Twitch

The news solidifies Twitch's lead against rivals YouTube, Facebook Gaming, and Microsoft’s Mixer. https://wapo.st/3goM7YG

Charli D’Amelio is TikTok’s biggest star. She has no idea why.

She's amassed more than 56 million followers, danced with J Lo and helped out Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine — all while finishing sophomore year of high school. https://wapo.st/2TFTroV

Meet Bob and Doug, the NASA astronauts about to make history. They’re hilarious (and kinda goofy).

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are about to fly together in one of the most important launches NASA has attempted in years. Their lives have been running down parallel tracks for years. https://wapo.st/2yvePG6

‘Trials of Mana’ is a perfect little escapist fantasy with simple rules and immediate rewards

There's no better way to get into the genre than through one of its classics. https://wapo.st/36sfaG8

Death counts become the rhythm of the pandemic in the absence of national mourning

Daily reckonings with the covid-19 death counts have become proxies for images of flag-draped coffins that have become the standard symbol for America’s tragedies. https://wapo.st/2A8oMcR

For Trump and NASA, the stakes are enormous for upcoming flight with crew

Wednesday's scheduled launch of a crewed spacecraft by SpaceX is a make or break moment for the Trump administration. https://wapo.st/3ebA1jG

NASA and SpaceX are go for historic launch

The exhaustive review took nearly two days as teams of engineers from NASA and SpaceX reviewed every aspect of the upcoming launch. https://wapo.st/3cZflet

New mobile games aim to help medical professionals treat coronavirus

Guidelines for patient care are changing day to day. These mobile games aim to help those on the frontlines. https://wapo.st/36nV9jX

The Technology 202: The tech industry’s shift to remote work will forever change Silicon Valley

Coronavirus could send tech jobs to other parts of the country as executives seek to reduce costs. https://wapo.st/2LNCHbb

‘Ghost of Tsushima’ creative director discusses map size, origins of wind mechanic

Creative director Jason Connell provides insights into why the game uses wind instead of waypoints, story details and more. https://wapo.st/3eaPHno

‘Valorant,’ Riot Games’s new shooter, launches June 2

The closed Beta ends on May 28. https://wapo.st/3e254OE

The Technology 202: Apple and Google’s coronavirus alert tools arrive amid doubts about their efficacy

Three states have publicly confirmed that they’ll use the software. https://wapo.st/2AJPjh2

Welcome to Danny Trejo’s Animal Crossing island

"When I said I was going to play it went viral on Facespace or whatever," Trejo says. "More people watch this than watched ‘Heat.’” https://wapo.st/3bObCPp

The great video chat faceoff: Six apps. Dozens of heads. One came out on top.

Our first and hopefully last pandemic Chatty Awards compares Facebook Rooms, FaceTime, Google Meet, Houseparty, Skype and Zoom — and crowns some surprising winners https://wapo.st/2zfuU35

The Technology 202: Elon Musk’s re-opening win could have long-term consequences for the company’s reputation

The tech executive risks alienating liberal customers with his brash tactics and alignment with Trump https://wapo.st/2zfuTMz

NASA’s human spaceflight chief resigns a week before the first launch of astronauts in a decade

The staff shakeup comes after NASA awarded contracts for lunar lander spacecraft. https://wapo.st/2XcIpbU

Raidel ‘Joke’ Brito wins Madden Bowl title ... with Tress Way at QB?

The Redskins' punter and a dominant defense helped lead Brito's team to the championship. https://wapo.st/3e1ZYlH

The Call of Duty League takes a first step into ‘Warzone’

The league is looking to capitalize on the battle royale's soaring popularity. https://wapo.st/2zc8qQx

Two esports companies received upward of $2.1 million in PPP loans. Should they have?

The loans highlight flaws in the government’s administration of the loan program and raise questions about the stability of the esports sector. https://wapo.st/2WL2d74

Uber lays off 3,000 more staffers, shutters dozens of offices

It was Uber's second round of layoffs this month. https://wapo.st/2TeHWo7

The Technology 202: Coronavirus crisis has not stopped antitrust crackdown in Washington

It’s a signal the tech industry’s halo effect is already fading. https://wapo.st/3cLkI0E

Big Tech was first to send workers home. Now it’s in no rush to bring them back.

Many big tech companies have told employees that most of them will work from home at least until next year. https://wapo.st/2LGS3Ok

As it prepares to fly humans, Elon Musk’s SpaceX faces the biggest challenge in its history

Later this month, it is scheduled to fly a pair of NASA astronauts in a mission with no room for error. https://wapo.st/2Zbsyge

Apple and Google are building a virus-tracking system. Health officials say it will be practically useless.

As states and national governments make efforts to use technology to augment their contact tracing efforts, Apple and Google's monopoly in the smartphone market has proved an obstacle. https://wapo.st/3bzLN5F

In extraordinary times, Ramadan finds a place in Animal Crossing

One video game developer is hosting guests for Suhoor and Iftar in Nintendo's life simulator. https://wapo.st/3fUDLry

The Technology 202: Democrats introduce bill to protect data collected in coronavirus pandemic

Longstanding partisan divisions on privacy could complicate the push for restrictions. https://wapo.st/2Lyhemd

More pajamas, please: Online comfort shopping sales spike

People are increasingly shopping online for the pandemic staples: pajamas and groceries. https://wapo.st/3fSASav

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla details: Character customization, new stealth mechanics and ... viking rap battles

The 12th mainline Assassin's Creed brings you to the Viking Age. Creative director Ashraf Ismail gives new gameplay details. https://wapo.st/3dPfPEb

The limits of smartphone data are on display as the country seeks to reopen

Where people travel and how long they stay away from home can be measured with smartphone location data. But the increasingly popular movement maps derived from this data don’t reveal how well people maintained social distancing once they reached their destinations https://wapo.st/2WtwdEg

Welcome to Lauren Lapkus’s Animal Crossing island

Stars — they’re just like us! Stuck at home, and playing way too much Animal Crossing, that is. https://wapo.st/2ArvQld

The Technology 202: Remote work could be here to stay for some tech workers

Twitter’s announcement that some employees can continue working forever has prompted questions about who will return to the office after the pandemic https://wapo.st/2WR4755

To save their neighborhood small businesses, people are rebelling against delivery apps

In Silicon Valley, where many delivery apps are headquartered, residents are trying to help struggling local businesses by skipping the apps and buying from them directly. https://wapo.st/3fOGlPU

Twitter employees don’t ever have to go back to the office (unless they want to)

Twitter is the first tech company to make working from home a permanent option for its workforce after testing the option during the coronavirus pandemic. https://wapo.st/2YXYip9

The Technology 202: Elon Musk is becoming the face of re-opening society in the tech industry

Meanwhile, most tech executives are announcing work-from-home policies that would extend far beyond stay-at-home orders https://wapo.st/2y0NZFK

Tesla’s Elon Musk reopens factory, defying county orders and daring officials to arrest him

Tesla’s factory reopened Monday, escalating a battle between Musk and the county where Tesla's main production line is located. https://wapo.st/3cqF6Ej