Facebook likely knew about Cambridge Analytica much earlier than we thought

Newly-released emails suggest that Facebook knew that Cambridge Analytica was gathering user profile data three months before the press revealed that the firm was using profile data to target voters during the 2016 elections.

News         August 23, 2019

On the fence about buying solar panels? Tesla now offers them for rent

With solar rental Tesla says “customers get the best from solar power — clean, cheap energy to power homes and vehicles — without upfront costs or decades-long agreements. In fact, customers can get solar power with one click, instead of lengthy consultations and piles of paperwork.”

News         August 19, 2019

Bernie Sanders calls for a ban on police use of facial recognition

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling for a complete ban on the use of facial recognition by law enforcement. While other candidates have also expressed concerns about facial recognition software and how it’s been used, Sanders is the first to specifically call for a ban.

News         August 19, 2019

Amazon customers are getting emails with someone else’s order information

Some Amazon customers say they’re receiving emails from Amazon about orders placed by other people. Those emails contain personal information like the person's address and what they purchased on Amazon. One Amazon customer service rep said the problem is common

Trash         August 16, 2019

Lawsuit over Capital One data breach could eventually get you sweet revenge

The Miami-based law firm Colson Hicks Eidson has filed a class-action lawsuit against Capital One Financial Corporation “for negligence in failing to safeguard consumers’ personal information” in the recent data breach that impacted 100 million consumers.

Trash         August 16, 2019

The results are in: Alexa is legitimately dumber than Siri and Google Assistant

If you’ve always thought Alexa was dumber than the other voice assistants in your house or on your phone, a new test performed by Loup Ventures might prove your theory correct. Amazon Alexa scored last in an IQ test against Google Assistant and Siri.

Trash         August 16, 2019

The EU could hit Facebook with billions in fines over privacy violations

The European Union is reportedly nearing the end of its investigations into some of the cases it has opened against Facebook pertaining to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR. The EU currently has 11 open cases against the social network operator.

News         August 12, 2019

Quit hitting refresh: Twitter is testing a subscribe to tweet replies feature

Soon you might be able to get a push notification when a tweet has been replied to as well. Twitter is currently testing a new feature through select iOS and Android users that will allow users to turn on notifications for a particular thread. No more endlessly refreshing your feed to look for new comments.

News         August 12, 2019

Robocall-blocking apps might be sending your private data to third parties

If you get a ton of robocalls, installing an app promising to block them might sound like a good idea. Robocalls are a huge problem, and a blocker seems like a quick and easy solution for improving the situation. Turns out, the apps might be violating your privacy starting from the second you open them.

Mobile         August 10, 2019

Trump’s FCC order could make social media even more of a garbage fire

A new draft executive order from the White House would put the Federal Communications Commission in charge of deciding what social media companies like Twitter and Facebook can remove from their sites. President Donald Trump's potential order could fundamentally change how social media companies operate.

News         August 10, 2019

Apple will pay you $1 million to find a very specific iPhone bug

Apple announced a big changes to its bug-bounty program it launched in 2016. The biggest is a new $1 million reward if you find a very specific exploit. The payout will go to security researchers that are able to carry out a “zero-click full chain kernel execution attack with persistence”

Mobile         August 9, 2019

There’s a hidden environmental cost to renting electric scooters to get around

Electric scooters are touted as an environmentally-friendly way to get around town, but a new study suggests that they might be worse for climate change than the transportation methods they’re replacing. According to the North Carolina State University Study, walking and biking are better options

Car News         August 5, 2019

The U.S. military is using solar-powered balloons to spy on parts of the Midwest

The U.S. military is using balloons to monitor activity in the Midwest. The 25 solar-powered balloons are reportedly being launched from South Dakota and used to monitor portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. They're also capable of tracking multiple individuals or vehicles during the day or night

News         August 2, 2019

Apple contractors will no longer be able to listen to your Siri recordings

Last week, it was revealed that Apple uses human contractors to review Siri recordings, contractors that often end up hearing everything from drug deals to sexual encounters as a result. Now Apple says it has suspended the use of those contractors and is reviewing the program

Mobile         August 2, 2019

Amazon takes another step toward being your home internet provider

Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday to obtain permission to launch 3,236 broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. The goal of the satellites would be to cover the majority of the United States with broadband internet

Emerging Tech         July 30, 2019

Privacy group sues FTC, says $5 billion Facebook fine is chump change

Earlier this week Facebook settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over privacy violations to the tune of $5 billion, the largest fine in the history of the FTC. While certainly huge, one privacy group thinks that the $5 billion fine doesn't go far enough to address consumer concerns.

News         July 30, 2019

Pablo Escobar’s brother pours fuel on the flamethrower feud with Elon Musk

Remember Elon Musk’s “Not a Flamethrower” from last year? Pablo Escobar’s brother Roberto recently launched his own eerily similar product, a device he said looks almost identical because Musk stole the idea from him and then beat him to market.

Trash         July 30, 2019

Amazon warehouse workers plan to strike during Prime Day

While deal-hungry Amazon customers flock to the site to celebrate Prime Day, its warehouse employees in Shakopee, Minnesota will commemorate the sale in a different way — with a strike. The employees plan to strike to protest what they claim are unfair working conditions.

Trash         July 30, 2019

Ford’s Spin plans to roll out new and improved scooters nationwide

Ford announced plans on Thursday to launch a new model of its Spin electric scooters next month. The scooters will support growth and demand in both new and existing markets for the company and are designed to be safer and sturdier than their predecessors. Spin scooters are currently available in 47 U.S. cities.

Car News         July 30, 2019

Scientists created a pair of contacts that zoom in when you blink

Ever wish your eyes came with a zoom lens? Soon they might. Scientists at the University of California San Diego have successfully created a pair of contact lenses measure signals sent by the electrical impulses of eye movement, and can zoom in on something when you blink twice.

News         July 30, 2019

Apple’s next iPhone might up the AR ante with frickin’ laser beams

Forget a better display and faster cellular modem, a new report suggests that the next iPhone will have a laser. That said, that laser might not work quite the way you think. TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the lasers will help determine how far away objects are from the phone.

Mobile         July 29, 2019

EEC filings suggest there might be several new iPads coming soon

Apple recently filed two new iPad model numbers with the EEC, adding to the five model numbers that it has already filed with the commission. The filings indicate that seven versions of the iPad will ship running iOS 13, suggesting that they’ll be launched in the fall.

Mobile         July 28, 2019

Tokyo unveils its 2020 Olympic medals made entirely from recycled electronics

The organizing committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics unveiled its Olympic medal designs this week. On the surface, they look like any other medal but these will be made a little differently: of recycled electronics. Over 47,000 tons of devices including 5 million mobile phones were collected.

Trash         July 28, 2019

SpaceX’s Starhopper test rocket successfully completes its first hop

SpaceX successfully launched a test prototype of its future Starship rocket, called Starhopper, on Thursday. The test version of the rocket was launched from a location in Texas and was able to hover in the air for a few seconds before it returned to the ground and landed.

News         July 26, 2019

German Amazon employees are the latest to protest the company on Prime Day

Thousands of workers at Amazon’s facilities in Germany went on strike Monday, making them the latest to use Prime Day to bring attention to the company’s working conditions. The German workers joined others around the world protesting how Amazon treats its workers

Trash         July 15, 2019

Facebook now allows you to opt out of those ads that target your tastes

Tired of seeing Facebook ads that aren’t relevant to you? Now you can not only opt out of ads from that company, but you can also see why the ad was shown to you in the first place. However, there's still no "opt out of all ads" button quite yet.

News         July 11, 2019