Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from December, 2020

A journalist had a seizure while playing ‘Cyberpunk 2077.’ Then she helped change the game.

"Cyberpunk 2077" publisher CD Projekt Red, worked with Game Informer's Liana Ruppert to alter certain sequences of the game following the reviewer's seizure. https://wapo.st/3n1OOBl

Section 230: The little law that defined how the Internet works

Often called the law that “created the Internet,” the legal section is under fire again. So what is it? https://wapo.st/34WYbfC

The biggest questions facing the gaming world in 2021

These are the topics we're most curious about in the coming year. https://wapo.st/2X0wz4E

YouTube numbers show we could all use some time to zone out

YouTube now has 30 million paid subscribers, up from 20 million at the beginning of the year. https://wapo.st/2WYtYZf

The most anticipated games of 2021

Hitman 3, Halo Infinite, and so many more. https://wapo.st/38IWcN8

Apple loses copyright battle against security start-up Corellium

Apple lost its copyright lawsuit against Corellium, a small security research company that sells its customers the ability to more easily find bugs in Apple's mobile operating system. The federal judge in the case ruled Corellium's business was protected under the "fair use" provision of copyright law. https://wapo.st/3aSsLL2

Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

New documents show Lens Technology, which makes iPhone glass and is owned by China’s richest woman, received Uighur Muslim laborers transferred from Xinjiang. https://wapo.st/3nYwESx

In 2020, we reached peak Internet. Here’s what worked — and what flopped.

Covid-19 made Zoom, WiFi, virtual school, Instacart, streaming and telemedicine parts of everyday life. What will we keep using when this is all over? https://wapo.st/3pvsHFb

A Tesla Model S erupted ‘like a flamethrower.’ It renewed old safety concerns about the trailblazing sedans.

One firefighter told the driver he was lucky he got out when he did, after the car’s motorized door handles retracted. https://wapo.st/3hkuv0Y

In 2020, we reached peak Internet. Here’s what worked — and what flopped.

Covid put Silicon Valley’s wildest ideas to the test. Not all of them made it. https://wapo.st/3rtc3rH

I’ve owned all 3 next-generation consoles for 2 months. Here’s my review.

I'm not sure I'd recommend the jump to next-gen just yet. https://wapo.st/34ILgOk

The Trump administration wants to take credit for a covid vaccine. Trump supporters are undermining it.

Complicating matters, the president, who has a history of questioning vaccines, has been notably less vocal about vaccine promotion. https://wapo.st/3phrbWY

The PlayStation 5 games you should buy first

You finally got the console. Now what? https://wapo.st/3aNRqAi

Google hired Timnit Gebru to be an outspoken critic of unethical AI. Then she was fired for it.

The abrupt firing of one of the most high-profile Black women in AI shows that Google is pushing back on the kind of scrutiny that it claims to welcome. https://wapo.st/3nLYXU6

How Xbox learned to sell its consoles like smart phones

T-Mobile's past turnaround may inform Xbox's future. https://wapo.st/37JoLKO

The International Space Station can’t stay up there forever. Will privately run, commercial replacements be ready in time?

After hosting a rotating cast of astronauts for more than 20 years straight, the International Space Station is showing its age — it sprung another tiny leak last month — and NASA is shopping for a new place for its astronauts. https://wapo.st/3mJ51vo

Millions of low-income Americans will receive Internet access rebates under new $7 billion broadband stimulus plan

The coronavirus aid package approved by Congress late Monday sets aside $7 billion to help Americans connect to high-speed Internet and pay their bills, marking one of the most substantial one-time broadband investments in U.S. history. https://wapo.st/3pf9wPR

U.S. vs. Facebook: Inside the tech giant’s behind-the-scenes campaign to battle back antitrust lawsuits

The company ramped up its lobbying, hired high-powered lawyers and launched a slew of internal initiatives as the government prepared to sue — and rebuffed its early entreaties to try to ward off the case. https://wapo.st/2WEJLfD

Why revered developers John and Brenda Romero started a game studio in Ireland

The decision to set up shop on the Emerald Island may have been unusual, but the Romeros are hoping to bring good fortune to Irish developers. https://wapo.st/2KLcRHy

This year’s online shopping rush is great for e-commerce and bad for last-minute shoppers

E-commerce has crammed more than two years of growth into a year, causing major growing pains as shipping networks, warehouses and supply chains rush to keep up with demand. https://wapo.st/2WA2RDv

Lockheed Martin to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.4 billion

Aerojet Rocketdyne manufacturers the RS-25 engines to be used on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, which is designed to fly astronauts to the moon. https://wapo.st/2Wzl308

Call of Duty’s merged world has everything a player could want. Except logic.

A good, thoughtful Call of Duty ecosystem could be a reality someday. This isn't it. https://wapo.st/34pRtyh

U.S. bans technology exports to Chinese semiconductor and drone companies, calling them security threats

The Trump administration added China's largest semiconductor maker and dozens of other companies to a trade blacklist, continuing its pressure campaign on Beijing in the final weeks of Trump's presidency. https://wapo.st/3gXbAco

Gideon Gartner, visionary of technology research, dies at 85

His Gartner Group revolutionized an influential and lucrative sector of the technology industry by providing crucial research, analysis and advice for corporate computer executives. https://wapo.st/2WsnVM8

Federal investigators find evidence of previously unknown tactics used to penetrate government networks

The warning Thursday underscores the disastrous reach of Russia’s recent intrusions and described a ‘grave risk’ to governments and critical infrastructure. https://wapo.st/3aluzMw

Nearly 40 states sue Google over search manipulation, marking the third antitrust salvo against the tech giant

The lawsuit finds the tech giant manipulates its search results to give its own products and services greater rankings over rivals -- depriving web users from seeing the best options whenever they query the web for shopping, dining, travel and more. https://wapo.st/37qLhrW

The new normal for concerts could involve mixed-reality holograms

Digitizing musicians may be the next step in a concert-deprived world. https://wapo.st/2KwrBK6

Investors in breached software firm SolarWinds traded $280 million in stock days before hack was revealed

The timing of the trades raises questions about whether major shareholders used inside information to avoid stark losses after the attack. The company’s share price has plunged roughly 22 percent since its role in the breach was revealed. https://wapo.st/3alx3up

The controversies of ‘Cyberpunk 2077′s’ bungled launch, explained

From crunch to disastrous console versions of the game, "Cyberpunk 2077" has faced a controversial release. https://wapo.st/2K6nAMw

People affiliated with French military used Facebook to meddle in Africa

The French network did online combat with Russian actors over the upcoming election in the Central African Republic. https://wapo.st/2ISoCex

Pinterest pays $22.5 million to settle gender discrimination lawsuit by former female executive

It is the largest publicly announced individual settlement for gender discrimination in U.S. history. https://wapo.st/3gMhKMl

California accuses Amazon of hampering warehouse probe

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued the e-commerce giant to compel it to produce data about how hard the coronavirus has hit its facilities in the state, and what steps it's taken to protect workers. https://wapo.st/3oSJRwk

Russian hack was 'classic espionage’ with stealthy, targeted tactics

Even investigators at cybersecurity firm FireEye, itself victimized in the operation, marveled that the meticulous tactics involved “some of the best operational security” its investigators had ever seen. https://wapo.st/3oP2JMA

Huawei worked on several surveillance systems promoted to identify ethnicity, documents show

Facing an international outcry over its testing of a “Uighur alarm” system, Huawei said it is committed to human rights “at the highest level.” But the tech giant has worked with dozens of surveillance contractors over the years to build systems that could aid the Chinese government and police. https://wapo.st/37bYXH6

Robot dog firm Boston Dynamics is getting a new owner: Hyundai

Boston Dynamics is widely recognized for pioneering the field of agile robots that are inspired by animals. Hyundai said acquiring Boston Dynamics will enhance its plan for autonomous vehicles and “smart factories." https://wapo.st/33ZB1or

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ is a thrill ride through an ugly, unexamined world

"Cyberpunk's" biggest failure is never seeing its ideas through to their conclusion. https://wapo.st/3nbOIYW

‘The Last of Us Part II’ wins game of the year at The Game Awards, alongside new ‘Mass Effect’ and ‘Among Us’ reveals

Keep track of the announcements, awards and highlights here. https://wapo.st/3m7qsWz

Hiko, captain of ‘Valorant’ champions 100 Thieves, has some advice for the pros

"Right now, the scene in North America is so top heavy. The top two, three teams are way above everybody else." https://wapo.st/2KdGyAN

Amazon’s new health band is the most invasive tech we’ve ever tested

The Halo Band asks you to strip down and strap on a microphone so that it can make 3-D scans of your body fat and monitor your tone of voice. After all that, it still isn’t very helpful. https://wapo.st/37L8unq

Silicon Valley feared Facebook’s bullying tactics years before they came to the attention of regulators

Facebook hasn’t kept its promises of independence to WhatsApp and Instagram. https://wapo.st/3lXC26w

U.S., states sue Facebook as an illegal monopoly, setting stage for potential breakup

The U.S. government and 48 state attorneys general filed wide-ranging antitrust lawsuits against Facebook on Wednesday, alleging the tech giant relied on illegal, anti-competitive tactics to buy, bully or kill its rivals and become the most powerful social-networking site in the world. https://wapo.st/39ZPDI6

GM’s Cruise putting driverless cars on San Francisco streets for first time

The company said it will test cars without a driver in the Sunset District, a neighborhood on the western edge of the city. https://wapo.st/39WPzcg

State, federal authorities expected to file antitrust lawsuits against Facebook on Wednesday

More than 40 attorneys general and the U.S. government are preparing to file antitrust lawsuits against Facebook, alleging that the tech giant engaged in unlawful, anticompetitive tactics to buy or kill off its rivals and solidify its dominance in social networking. https://wapo.st/3lSnXHy

With 100 billion hours watched on YouTube for gaming, the site prepares for global growth

The site has also seen huge growth in mobile gaming content. https://wapo.st/2VQvVGu

Huawei tested AI software that could recognize Uighur minorities and alert police, report says

An internal report shows how the face-scanning system could trigger a “Uighur alarm” if it detects someone resembling a member of the Uighur minority group, sparking concerns that the software could further fuel China’s brutal government crackdown. https://wapo.st/3lWJWwU

FCC announces billions of dollars in awards to provide rural areas with broadband access

The $9.2 billion in funding will help companies provide broadband Internet service to millions of Americans who now lack access to reliable service. https://wapo.st/3lVqlwY

The best games of 2020

From "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" to "The Last of Us Part II," Launcher's staff offers up the best new games 2020 had to offer. https://wapo.st/3mVdGvo

New smartphone tool to track side effects of the coronavirus vaccine may be vulnerable to manipulation

The text-messaging tool is intended to provide real-time warnings about problems, but experts say it prioritizes ease of use over security. https://wapo.st/3ox17a5

100 Thieves defeats TSM at ‘Valorant’ First Strike, upsetting the region with a two-month old roster

For 100 Thieves, the win proves the strength and viability of a two-month old squad with years of prior esports experience. https://wapo.st/3lQiHnQ

TikTok sale deadline will pass, though regulators will hold off on enforcing divestiture

The Treasury Department has no immediate plans to compel the Chinese owner of the popular video app to sell its U.S. business. https://wapo.st/3lIGl5I