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Showing posts from June, 2021

Federal judge blocks Florida law that would penalize social media companies

https://wapo.st/3hmDzml

Amazon seeks recusal of FTC Chair Khan, a longtime company critic

The e-commerce giant said in a motion that the agency's new chair can't operate with an "open mind" regarding the company. https://wapo.st/3y9kevD

Throwable military robots sent to assist with Florida condo collapse

Tossable robots aren’t exactly new. The scouting and surveillance tools have been used by law enforcement and military personnel for years. Now, they are in the hands of rescuers responding to the Miami-area building collapse. https://wapo.st/3ymo6K7

Shaq discusses the origin of his esports investments, favorite video game

Hint: It's not "Shaq Fu." https://wapo.st/3jpPJ0v

Online activism is spilling into the streets of Southern California, sparking a post-Trump movement

Researchers say a combination of the pandemic and the election radicalized people and enabled right-leaning groups that were not previously aligned to find one another online — creating a mega-network that was often fueled by outrage and misinformation. https://wapo.st/3jwjOeZ

Google takes down maps made by Thai right-wingers targeting free speech activists

The effort was led by a royalist activist who planned to report everyone on the maps to police for insulting the monarchy. He sees it as 'psychological' warfare against critics of the king. https://wapo.st/3joZADz

Court dismisses FTC antitrust complaint against Facebook, saying FTC hasn’t made case the social media platform is a monopoly

A district court told the Federal Trade Commission it could refile an amended complaint with more details. https://wapo.st/3xg4gQc

‘Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade’ sets a new standard for console generation updates

“Intergrade” very nearly qualifies as a remake of the 2020 remake. https://wapo.st/3quFl9h

Chinese surveillance firm builds influence in Washington, with help from former members of Congress

Three former lawmakers have registered as foreign agents for the U.S. branch of Hikvision, the maker of cameras used to monitor Uyghur Muslims inside China’s detention camps. The firm has been blacklisted in the U.S. due to security and human-rights concerns. https://wapo.st/3wWICRa

All dressed up with nowhere to go: Cosplaying in the pandemic

“I really thought that my career was set,” one cosplayer said. “The pandemic upended my mind-set.” https://wapo.st/3h7DnXY

Windows 11 will change how you use your PC

5 things to know about Windows 11: A relocated Start menu, support for Android apps and more https://wapo.st/3zWKQ4L

Biden administration bars imports of solar panels linked to forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region

The order will have widespread impact on the industry, dominated by Chinese polysilicon makers who source from Hoshine. https://wapo.st/2UvDuF7

After pandemic free-for-all, parents struggle to reinstate screen time rules

Families are figuring out how to bring back limits on YouTube and video games in time for summer. https://wapo.st/35MiCMe

John McAfee found dead in cell after Spanish court approved extradition to U.S.

The antivirus-software developer faced tax-evasion charges in the United States. https://wapo.st/3d7C62a

Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos will fly to space at their own risk. Does that make it right for everyone?

Now that several companies are signing up wealthy people for flights to space, some in Congress say it may be time for the FAA to more closely regulate the commercial space industry. https://wapo.st/3qkga9f

Dating app takes a swipe at pandemic burnout by giving staff a paid week off

The move follows recent efforts by tech companies such as LinkedIn to give workers more time off for their mental health. https://wapo.st/3j4OQdn

How to catch up on Metroid, the classic series shunned by Nintendo

Among Nintendo's major first-party series, Metroid has been its most ignored. https://wapo.st/3xWZOpR

One year in, ‘Valorant’ is changing the game and eyeing new platforms

https://wapo.st/3gQ4Ltl

For years, E3 has been gaming’s biggest event. Is that still true?

The summer event landscape has fractured, producing a sprawling delta of livestreams and competing events. https://wapo.st/3xumYDy

Nintendo president Doug Bowser: Switch is ‘redefining what a console life cycle can look like’

The executive also explained Nintendo's mobile business, and how the company handles licensing issues. https://wapo.st/3vEB18m

Google is totally changing how ads track people around the Internet. Here’s what you need to know.

https://wapo.st/2S9CndB

As China’s space ambitions grow, NASA tells Congress it needs more money to compete

The strategy is to cast China as a competitor racing not only to the moon, but for leadership in space more broadly. https://wapo.st/3zzFf4h

‘Metroid Dread’ revives the series’ prevalent sense of foreboding

Dread has always been a mood for the best Metroid games. https://wapo.st/3zyLQfj

China launches first astronauts to its new space station, as race with U.S. heats up

A trio of Chinese astronauts will spend three months in space testing equipment, conducting experiments and preparing the station for future expansions. https://wapo.st/3gFKkiL

The top highlights and takeaways from E3 2021

With the conclusion of the virtual conference, a look at the highlights and most important things to know. https://wapo.st/3gHlKho

Smart tires are rolling out to predict flats, blowouts

Goodyear is among several tire makers including Continental, Bridgestone and Pirelli to work on smart tires with embedded sensors. https://wapo.st/3iMf7gI

The ultrathin new iMac lost a lot more than size

A half-inch desktop computer shows how Apple’s obsession with thin design can work against us. https://wapo.st/3vxe1rL

Senate confirms Lina Khan to Federal Trade Commission in a 69-28 vote

Khan's nomination highlights the mounting bipartisan support for antitrust action against the tech giants. https://wapo.st/3vsSaBF

Tech giants have to hand over your data when federal investigators ask. Here’s why.

Apple, Microsoft and Google receive tens of thousands of requests each year to provide data about their customers, and often the companies are barred from notifying them. https://wapo.st/3pTsJbt

Bipartisan group of senators introduces $40 billion bill to close the digital divide

The legislation highlights growing support in both political parties to boost federal funding to bring more Americans online. https://wapo.st/3gD7rdK

U.S. not the only country fighting to attract semiconductor factories

Even if a Senate-passed bill providing $52 billion in subsidies for the chip industry is approved by the House and becomes law, the United States will continue facing stiff global competition to attract the factories that make the cutting-edge technology. https://wapo.st/3pT5RZB

Bitcoin FAQ: A detailed guide to how cryptocurrency works

Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, dogecoin and ethereum have risen in popularity in recent years, bringing along new terminology and concepts that can be tough to visualize and troubling to understand. https://wapo.st/3giGUUi

‘Starfield’: Todd Howard discusses Bethesda’s new space-based RPG

The studio’s managing director describes the new space-based RPG as a ‘Han Solo simulator.’ https://wapo.st/2TlyeDv

Can astrology make sense of cryptocurrency? Maren Altman and a million TikTok followers think so.

There’s astrology for relationships, pets, political movements and, yes, bitcoin. https://wapo.st/35h5DBW

A seat to fly with Jeff Bezos to space sells at auction for $28 million

How much would you pay to go to space with Jeff Bezos? For at least one person, the answer is $28 million, an astounding sum that won a live auction Saturday. https://wapo.st/35dx5QW

E3 2021: Live stream, latest news, game reveals and more

Breaking down video gaming's biggest showcase from start to finish. https://wapo.st/3gg0DDR

Bipartisan proposals in House would mean major changes for the way tech giants operate

The rare cooperation between Republicans and Democrats underscores the mounting bipartisan interest in overhauling federal competition laws to address long-running allegations that Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google have engaged in monopoly-style tactics. https://wapo.st/3iBmibw

What we expect to see at E3 2021

Where can I watch E3? What's the schedule? What games should get shown? Launcher answers your questions. https://wapo.st/3pMeS6Q

Tesla is debuting the quickest-ever production car. But the question looms: Can Elon Musk still deliver?

Tesla was set to deliver the world's quickest production car on Thursday, in an event just as notable for what it would not include. https://wapo.st/3wab6X4

‘Chicory: A Colorful Tale’ is already one of the best releases of the year

"What I take from the game is that it’s for anyone, there’s no bar that you have to hit to be creative." https://wapo.st/356v7C7

Amazon launches workplace-safety pledge, acknowledges it ‘has work to do’

The e-commerce giant is contributing $12 million to the National Safety Council to conduct research and develop technology to reduce musculoskeletal disorders, a frequent injury in its warehouses. https://wapo.st/3gcyuNW

Apple settles lawsuit after iPhone techs posted woman’s explicit photos on Facebook, report says

Apple paid a sizeable settlement after iPhone repair techs posted explicit photos of a young Oregon woman, according to legal documents uncovered by the Telegraph. https://wapo.st/3gaF1ss

‘Battlefield 2042’ won’t have a battle royale mode. Exhale. That’s ok.

Not every first-person shooter title needs a battle royale mode. https://wapo.st/3v8Z12Y

Biden revokes Trump’s TikTok and WeChat ban order, but White House says it’ll subject the apps to a security review

https://wapo.st/3g8kp4s

Everything you need to know about going to space

A look at who can fly, what it costs and what sort of training is involved for space tourists. https://wapo.st/3x0Oh8e

You are now free to move about the cosmos … if you can afford it

Forget luxury African safaris or Caribbean cruises on private chartered yachts. https://wapo.st/3g1msHa

Rick Sanchez of ‘Rick and Morty,’ Superman join Fortnite’s latest season

Also, there's a new flying saucer. https://wapo.st/351P2BY

Live updates: Apple previews what’s next at WWDC 2021

Expect software updates for iPhones and iPads and privacy changes at Apple’s all-virtual developer conference https://wapo.st/34WaOah

Amazon is about to share your Internet connection with neighbors. Here’s how to turn it off.

You have no control over what sort of data flows over Amazon’s new Sidewalk wireless network, which has been lying dormant in Echo smart speakers and Ring cameras... until now https://wapo.st/3gjyoTN

Apple’s tightly controlled App Store is teeming with scams

Apple claims its App Store is carefully curated so that only the best apps get through. The truth is, the App Store is littered with scams and "fleeceware," which uses fake user ratings to trick customers into paying for something they don't want. https://wapo.st/3clvBIG