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Showing posts from July, 2021

You’re going to be asked to prove your vaccination status. Here’s how to do it.

There’s no be-all-end-all way to carry proof of vaccination on your phone. We make sense of how different options approach your privacy, ensure your security and try to spot counterfeits. https://wapo.st/3C3DX2u

Russian thruster misfire led to a ‘tug of war’ at the International Space Station as crew sought to regain control

An unusual occurrence at the International Space Station sparked by the newly-docked Russian Nauka aircraft caused Boeing and NASA to reschedule Starliner's relaunch. https://wapo.st/3feSwGT

Elon Musk just sided against Apple in one of the biggest tech showdowns of the year

The Tesla chief executive weighed in on the Epic Games lawsuit in a tweet Friday morning. https://wapo.st/3j8zzXo

China built the world’s largest facial recognition system. Now, it’s getting camera-shy.

Authorities are putting the freewheeling industry on notice, amid a broad crackdown on Big Tech. https://wapo.st/2WGadJb

Boeing’s engineering prowess faces a test: Its Starliner do-over launch

Boeing’s first Starliner flight mission in 2019 was a flop. Friday's re-do is a make-or-break chance to show Boeing can still be a major participant in the U.S. commercial crew program. https://wapo.st/3xg5kCW

White House has spoken to Israeli officials about spyware concerns following Pegasus Project revelations

The talks follow reporting by The Washington Post and other news organizations into how the NSO Group’s phone-hacking tool was used to surveil human rights activists and journalists around the world. https://wapo.st/2VlhgWY

New bill would update decades-old law governing children’s privacy online, add protection for teens

Rep. Kathy Castor plans to introduce the bill as lawmakers increasingly call for greater protection for kids online. https://wapo.st/3BW2NSe

Google to require on-campus workers get vaccinated and delays return to the office until mid-October

https://wapo.st/3xaP3z6

Explosive Activision Blizzard lawsuit could set California labor law precedent, lawyers say

The case could have a major impact on California's Equal Pay Act. https://wapo.st/3BTMNQk

Blizzard employees plan walkout over company’s handling of discrimination, sexual harassment suit

Multiple current employees of Blizzard Entertainment said over 50 workers plan to halt work Wednesday. https://wapo.st/3zJDSPC

Athletes offer behind-the-scenes look at the Olympic Village on TikTok, from cardboard beds to deep-fried Camembert

Olympic athletes have been posting about all facets of the Games, offering glimpses into their daily routines, small rivalries and the village where they’re all residing. https://wapo.st/3iROXaL

Toyota’s basketball robot stuns at the Tokyo Olympics with its flick of the wrist

CUE, Toyota's AI basketball robot, showed off at the Tokyo Olympics. https://wapo.st/3BLDCSg

Activision Blizzard staff rebuke ‘insulting’ leadership response to discrimination lawsuit

“Categorizing the claims that have been made as ‘distorted, and in many cases false’ creates a company atmosphere that disbelieves victims," reads the letter. https://wapo.st/3729zaB

The robot will see you now: Health-care chatbots boom, but still can’t replace doctors

Health-care chatbots have been used for years, but exploded in popularity over the past year as the system became overwhelmed with covid-related questions and treatment. https://wapo.st/3kXRUJy

If you had trouble getting products fixed under warranty, the FTC wants to hear your horror story

https://wapo.st/3zEZkFl

First came the ransomware attacks, now come the lawsuits

https://wapo.st/3BCEhoQ

Tokyo Olympics get a taste of esports, sort of

Video games had their place at the Tokyo Olympics this year, even if it was virtual, laggy and held before the Opening Ceremonies even began. https://wapo.st/2TActjS

The music for the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremonies? It comes from video games.

Nations walked out to obscure tracks from "Final Fantasy," "Monster Hunter." https://wapo.st/36W7f4T

Amazon pledges to investigate discrimination after internal petition wins backing of hundreds of employees

Amazon's new chief executive agrees to probe after workers complain in a petition about "an underlying culture of systemic discrimination, harassment, bullying and bias." https://wapo.st/2V5lMc3

Blizzard president Brack allowed toxicity to fester, according to lawsuit

The suit claims that J. Allen Brack was personally aware of multiple instances of sexism and workplace toxicity. https://wapo.st/2WaMQHk

New Portal tool promises Battlefield community epic customization options for ‘Battlefield 2042’

https://wapo.st/3zq5TMa

Self-driving cars confront a daunting new challenge: New York City streets

The pursuit of self-driving cars drives Intel's Mobileye to New York City. https://wapo.st/2V527IW

With its changes, ‘Zelda: Skyward Sword HD’ reminds us what ‘Breath of the Wild’ lacked

A once-heartbroken Zelda fan comes to terms with how wrong he was. https://wapo.st/3kJAPD0

‘Last Stop’ is an entertaining boxset of interactive stories

Walking sim meets visual novel in a trio of sharply directed supernatural tales. https://wapo.st/3iAogqF

So, uhh, about Jeff Bezos’s cowboy hat …

Some people called him a space cowboy. Most did not. https://wapo.st/3BqgckT

New ‘Streets of Rage 4’ update turns fighters into gods, making a great game even better

A new rogue-like progression system gives it new life. https://wapo.st/36TAqFC

The scene as Jeff Bezos rides Blue Origin rocket to the edge of space and returns to Earth

Jeff Bezos and three others successfully take the first crewed flight of Blue Origin's reusable New Shepard craft. https://wapo.st/3eAESO8

False warnings about solar storms have gone viral. Here’s what the flares actually do to Earth.

Solar weather is a common phenomenon, but the strongest events can have serious consequences for Earth. https://wapo.st/3hS0fMY

‘Psychonauts 2’ developers discuss mental health, video game industry crunch

It keeps the witty charm of the original cult favorite, but with the help of Xbox funding, adds polish, accessibility and a focus on mental health. https://wapo.st/2UUCVVB

How Washington power brokers gained from NSO’s spyware ambitions

The Israeli surveillance giant NSO Group failed to build a big business in the U.S. But an influential network of consultants, lawyers and lobbyists, including from the Trump and Biden administrations, still earned money from the company along the way. https://wapo.st/3ijDLTK

NSO Group vows to investigate potential spyware abuse following Pegasus Project investigation

Human rights activists, political dissidents, technology executives and others around the world expressed outrage at a widespread hacking and surveillance campaign revealed in an investigation Sunday by The Washington Post and 16 media partners. https://wapo.st/3hLjqrB

Quiet and secretive Blue Origin hopes to start new chapter with Jeff Bezos’ space flight

Jeff Bezos has said Blue Origin is "the most important work I am doing." Tuesday, he'll launch to space on the company's New Shepard rocket. https://wapo.st/3inri1t

Q&A: A guide to ‘spyware’

How vulnerable are you to such spyware? Are there steps you can take to keep your phone safe? Here are some answers. https://wapo.st/2UmWmqd

Inside ‘reality shifting,’ the trend where TikTokers claim they can enter the world of Harry Potter

Some on TikTok say it's just a matter of shifting their consciousness. Others are skeptical. https://wapo.st/3ijqFpG

I never expected to like ‘Ghost of Tsushima.’ Now, I love it.

A year after the game's release, I'm still riveted. https://wapo.st/2UTjZXr

‘Skyward Sword HD’ is a chore to revisit after the bounty of ‘Breath of the Wild’

It’s all squeeze, very little juice. https://wapo.st/3eo1Oji

A private Israeli firm has helped governments hack journalists and human rights advocates

The firm has targeted more than 100 victims across the globe, according to Microsoft and Citizen Lab reports. https://wapo.st/3igD1yY

Candace Parker becomes first woman featured on cover of NBA 2K

“Representation matters," said the 35-year-old WNBA star, "so this is a special moment of progress for the sport and the series." https://wapo.st/3B6OhXf

WhatsApp adds a highly requested feature: Messaging from multiple devices

The Facebook-owned messaging service will let users access their contacts, conversations and message histories across multiple PCs and smart displays, even when their phones are off or disconnected from mobile networks. https://wapo.st/3eiAMdl

‘Skyward Sword HD’ wasn’t made for handheld Switch players

It's a little better using motion controls. https://wapo.st/3xGbDRo

Facebook seeks recusal of FTC Chair Lina Khan amid high-profile antitrust case

The social media company argues in a new petition that Khan ‘already reached legal conclusions’ about the company. https://wapo.st/3yXlDG9

Speedrunning’s starting line: An intro guide to gaming’s seemingly intimidating subculture

Answers to frequently asked questions, with tidbits from top runners like Keizaron and CovertMuffin. https://wapo.st/3edTJxH

How Internet and TV providers get away with jacking up your bill

Service providers use their lock on neighborhoods — and a lack of rules — to take advantage of us. Here’s how to spot their tricks. https://wapo.st/3yQPYWP

5 tricks to lower your Internet bill

You can threaten to drop service — or cut some non-essential parts of your bill — if switching isn’t a real option https://wapo.st/3r4JpgN

European Union’s top antitrust enforcer calls for greater global alignment on tech regulation

Margrethe Vestager has emerged as one of the world’s most influential tech regulators at a time when countries are increasingly considering regulating the business practices of Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon. https://wapo.st/3rc1ycr

The ugly side of 5G: New cell towers spoil the scenery and crowd people’s homes

Property owners and local governments mount a surge of objections to the telecom industry’s rush to install new technology. https://wapo.st/3e52tpB

Richard Branson reaches space, as Virgin Galactic gets closer to flying paying customers

https://wapo.st/3wBUve6

Live updates: Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space flight delayed 90 minutes

If all goes well, and SpaceShipTwo Unity achieves the 50-mile altitude that the Federal Aviation Administration recognizes as the edge of space, it will be the fourth time the craft has reached that goal, but the first time with all six seats occupied. https://wapo.st/3k77Rwg

Richard Branson prepares to take his daredevil act to space with Virgin Galactic ... and beat Jeff Bezos

Over the years, the brash, British billionaire has embarked on all sorts of wild adventures, from the dangerously ill-conceived to the merely zany. Sunday's planned flight to the edge of space may be the most audacious. https://wapo.st/3xvoGVI

Bitcoin miners break new ground in Texas, a state hailed as the new cryptocurrency capital

The Lone Star State is at the center of global attention to produce bitcoin, thanks largely to the way it treats large electricity consumers. https://wapo.st/3qYPDhT