John Gordon Ross

Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.

Mashable » Starbucks offers free legal advice to immigrant employees affected by Trump ban

Tuesday 7 February 23:30:28 UTC 2017

Starbucks will offer legal advice to its employees and their family members who are immigrants affected by Donald Trump's travel ban. "Our partners (employees) and their families have questions about travel and immigration status, so we wanted to provide them with a newly developed Immigration Advisory Program to meet their needs," said Starbucks spokesperson Reggie Borges in an email. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Slashdot » World of Warcraft Gold Can Now Be Used To Buy Other Blizzard Games

Tuesday 7 February 23:25:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: It has been almost two years now since Blizzard began letting World of Warcraft players pay for their monthly game-time subscriptions using in-game gold rather than real money. Now, Blizzard is expanding that effort by letting players indirectly trade WoW gold for in-game items in other Blizzard games like Hearthstone and … [Link]

Mashable » This audio feedback vest makes music hum and VR come alive

Tuesday 7 February 23:23:32 UTC 2017

The missing link for virtual reality that truly blows me away arrived late last year when I got my hands on the Oculus Touch controllers, which allow you to interact in VR with your hands. Now that we've crossed that truly immersive threshold, the next step is the rest of our senses: haptic feedback.  And while we're still not quite there … [Link]

Mashable » So Drax the Destroyer is standing right behind you in a lunch line …

Tuesday 7 February 23:23:06 UTC 2017

Editor’s note: This is the second in a weeklong series of interviews from an April visit to the set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 … now just three short months away. You're standing in line for the buffet lunch on the shooting set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, queued behind a small corps of fellow shambling movie … [Link]

Mashable » After 11 years, the feud between Chili's and 'The Office's Pam Beesly is now over

Tuesday 7 February 23:10:43 UTC 2017

Forgiveness is a cherished virtue. It's also something that Pam Beesly, former receptionist at Dunder Mifflin from our favorite show The Office, experienced today when restaurant chain Chili's officially forgave her for her uncouth behavior 11 years ago. SEE ALSO: Here's how to make Kevin's famous chili from 'The Office' It all started when Jenna Fischer, the actress who played Pam, … [Link]

Mashable » CNN and Kellyanne Conway face off in spectacularly fiery interview

Tuesday 7 February 23:10:09 UTC 2017

The tension was building so much, it had to happen. CNN and Donald Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway finally went head-to-head to talk about facts, truth and fake news after a few days of feisty Twitter posts.  SEE ALSO: This might be Kellyanne Conway’s most ‘alternative fact’ yet CNN's Jake Tapper was fired up during his conversation with Conway on Tuesday afternoon. … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Brain Creates Technology That Can Zoom In, Enhance Pixelated Images

Tuesday 7 February 22:45:00 UTC 2017

Google Brain has created new software that can create detailed images from tiny, pixelated images. If you've ever tried zooming in on an image, you know that it generally becomes more blurry. You'd just get larger pixels and not a clear image. Google's new software effectively extracts details from a few source pixels to enhance pixelated images. Softpedia reports: For … [Link]

Mashable » Google figured out how to turn pixelated images into high-res ones

Tuesday 7 February 22:32:23 UTC 2017

You see it all the time in movies and TV shows: A security camera records footage of an intruder, but the image is too blurry or pixelated to make out who it is. Some nerdy-looking "hacker" then clacks at his keyboard and — boom — seconds later, pixelated image turns into a crisp one revealing the person's face in glorious detail.  … [Link]

Mashable » One teenager's Super Bowl parade sign shows how absurdly fortunate Boston sports fans are

Tuesday 7 February 22:29:32 UTC 2017

There’s a palpable feeling of dislike toward fans of Boston teams in some parts of the sports world. Why? Well, an undeniable primary reason is pure jealousy.  One kid's sign at the New England Patriots' Super Bowl championship parade on Tuesday captured it all perfectly.  SEE ALSO: Noted Boston guy Mark Wahlberg has handy excuse for leaving Super Bowl early In … [Link]

Mashable » Here's the real data on Trump's Twitter followers (who are a bunch of eggs)

Tuesday 7 February 22:22:25 UTC 2017

According to President Donald Trump, data and Twitter are two powerful tools in the fight against "FAKE NEWS media."  And so: We decided to take a look at the data behind Trump's Twitter following, to find out just how powerful these tools really are for him. I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows … [Link]

Slashdot » Iris Scans and Fingerprints Could Be Your Ticket On British Rail

Tuesday 7 February 22:05:00 UTC 2017

Mickeycaskill quotes a report from Silicon.co.uk: Rail passengers could use fingerprints or iris scans to pay for tickets and pass through gates, under plans announced by the UK rail industry. In its current form, the mobile technology is intended to allow passengers to travel without tickets, instead using Bluetooth and geolocation technology to track a passenger's movements and automatically charge … [Link]

Mashable » Hacked Amazon Dash Button sends $5 to the ACLU whenever life demands it

Tuesday 7 February 22:01:36 UTC 2017

In what feels like the first good use for an Amazon Dash Button, a programmer hacked his button to donate $5 to the ACLU whenever he wishes. In a post published to Medium, Nathan Pryor detailed the process of building a custom charitable Dash Button, from writing a script that sends the money to designing its own official label. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Popular Science » Desk stuff to make your workday more productive, cheerful, and disaster-proof

Tuesday 7 February 22:00:10 UTC 2017

Gadgets Eleven seriously thoughtful picks for your workspace When you start a job, you begin with a blank slate. Let your desk be a reflection of your work and yourself. [Link]

Mashable » How to order a pizza with Amazon Alexa or Google Home

Tuesday 7 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

What a time to be alive! Ordering pizza used to be such an arduous chore. Think about it: You had to pick up a phone, punch in the pizzeria's number, wait for the call to dial through, and then talk to a human being to place your order.  Worse, sometimes you'd have to leave your house (maybe even in the snow … [Link]

Mashable » Obama beat Richard Branson in a kitesurfing face-off

Tuesday 7 February 21:58:13 UTC 2017

Former President Barack Obama went kitesurfing with Virgin billionaire Richard Branson on vacation. He's never coming back. Read more…More about 50 M, Foil Boarding, Real Time Video, Virgin Group, and Politician [Link]

Mashable » The 10 moments Snapchat wishes would disappear from its history

Tuesday 7 February 21:58:00 UTC 2017

Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., had its big day last week. It filed the paperwork for its long-awaited IPO.  The ephemerally friendly social media app is going public in hopes of raising $3 billion. While a valuation for the whole company has yet to be mentioned, Snap's IPO is expected to be one of the biggest in tech history.  SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » The White House mailbox is full of postcards to #PresidentBannon

Tuesday 7 February 21:57:25 UTC 2017

A new letter-writing campaign is in the mail — and the lucky recipient is Donald Trump's senior adviser Steve Bannon. For anyone who wants to share their thoughts about Trump and his policy decisions and plans as president, many are turning instead to Bannon. SEE ALSO: The internet wants Rosie O'Donnell to play Steve Bannon on 'SNL'…and she's into it The … [Link]

Mashable » Someone designed a smart vehicle that acts as your personal assistant

Tuesday 7 February 21:56:36 UTC 2017

Meet 'Gita'. It can carry up to 40 pounds, follow you around and use 3D mapping to navigate through urban spaces. Gita has 8 hours of battery life. Read more…More about Standalone Featured, Real Time Video, Real Time, 3d Mapping, and Groceries [Link]

Mashable » 'Pokémon Go' craze leads to new permit requirements for ARGs

Tuesday 7 February 21:51:24 UTC 2017

The explosive popularity of Pokémon Go got people off their asses in huge numbers, but the increased foot traffic — and mess — that came with them has opened the door to a legal kerfuffle in Milwaukee, Wis. The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance on Feb. 2 that places permit requirements on alternate reality games in public spaces. … [Link]

Mashable » The Met releases tens of thousands of images of art online for free

Tuesday 7 February 21:48:53 UTC 2017

Art lovers from around the world, rejoice: New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is flooding the internet with classic works from its collection.  Overall, it's releasing 375,000 images of public domain art for viewing on the web and unrestricted use in a partnership with Wikimedia.  The @Metmuseum is making 375K images of public art freely available – they’re coming to @wikicommons! … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple's Ultra Accessory Connector Dashes Any Hopes of a USB-C iPhone

Tuesday 7 February 21:25:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Among all the iPhone 8 concepts and daydreams, my favorite scenario has always been to see Apple replacing its proprietary Lightning connector with the USB-C one that's taken over the entire rest of the smartphone world. Apple is already a strong proponent of USB-C, having moved to it aggressively with the … [Link]

Mashable » These 'Stranger Things' baseball jerseys will turn your world upside down

Tuesday 7 February 21:22:46 UTC 2017

Stranger Things dropped its epic trailer during the Super Bowl on Sunday, but fans hungry for more will have to twiddle their thumbs until Season 2's Halloween release date.  Or, they could head to Alabama for a minor league baseball game this summer. SEE ALSO: Sad Atlanta Falcons fan buries team gear as a warning for the future The Montgomery Biscuits, … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Daily API RoundUp: Microsoft Payment Request, Basetrip, Netigate

Tuesday 7 February 21:19:03 UTC 2017

Every day, the ProgrammableWeb team is busy, updating its three primary directories for APIs, clients (language-specific libraries or SDKs for consuming or providing APIs), and source code samples. [Link]

Mashable » Watch Jake Gyllenhaal sing his heart out in Broadway rehearsal footage

Tuesday 7 February 21:18:46 UTC 2017

If you've ever doubted the vocal chops of Jake Gyllenhaal, here is a video to change your mind. In a stirring single-take video from True Detective and Beasts of No Nation's Cary Fukunaga, Gyllenhaal shares a glimpse of his forthcoming performance in the Broadway musical Sunday in the Park With George on Facebook—and damn, he nails it.  SEE ALSO: '1984' is … [Link]

Mashable » Score some social media likes and faves with this new Tom Brady GIF

Tuesday 7 February 21:00:37 UTC 2017

What, you thought Tom Brady was done?  Two days after leading the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history to claim his fifth title ring, the Patriots quarterback gifted the internet a very relatable and useful GIF for expressing feelings of pressure and approval. Truly, what a blessing.  SEE ALSO: Noted Boston guy Mark Wahlberg has handy excuse for leaving Super Bowl … [Link]

Mashable » Grandpa and baby's matching T-shirts will inspire you to practice your math skills

Tuesday 7 February 20:56:22 UTC 2017

Unfortunately, only babies are allowed to celebrate their birthdays every month. But that doesn't mean us olds can't keep track of how many months we've been alive, too. Take this baby and his grandpa, for example. When the tiny human sported a celebratory "9 months" T-shirt earlier this week, Grandpa also made a "684 months" version for himself.  SEE ALSO: Family … [Link]

Mashable » Put your undies back on. New data reveals sexting isn't so great after all.

Tuesday 7 February 20:46:34 UTC 2017

Have you been fooling yourself into thinking that titillating sext you sent to your crush the other day was private? Think again.  SKYN Condoms just released their annual Millennial Sex Survey, and while there are some fun findings in there — masturbation is on the rise! New York is the most sexually active city — they uncovered a pretty disturbing trend: … [Link]

Slashdot » Nintendo's Engineers Have Embraced Unreal Engine

Tuesday 7 February 20:45:00 UTC 2017

Tom Regan, writing for Engadget: If there's one thing that Nintendo has struggled with, it's enticing third-party developers to create games for its consoles. But according to VentureBeat, the company is looking to change that with the advent of the new Switch. At an investor Q&A session, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed that Nintendo engineers have been learning how to use third-party … [Link]

Mashable » Powerful New Orleans tornado damages NASA's Michoud rocket factory

Tuesday 7 February 20:44:36 UTC 2017

A large tornado ripped through New Orleans and the surrounding area Tuesday, leaving a swath of devastation in its wake and damaging NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in the city.  It's unclear how much damage the facility, which is helping to manufacture NASA's next mega-rocket, sustained.  "At 11:25 a.m. CST, a tornado impacted NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. At this … [Link]

Popular Science » This cheap and easy lab-on-a-chip could save lives

Tuesday 7 February 20:43:29 UTC 2017

Technology Diagnosing diseases quickly and easily in poor regions Stanford University researchers design a low-cost lab-on-a chip to tackle preventable deaths in the developing world. [Link]

Mashable » The stroller has been reinvented…and reduced to a unicycle

Tuesday 7 February 20:42:58 UTC 2017

The 'Unirider' has reinvented the stroller…and it's been reduced to a unicycle. Kids might love it, but it probably won't make sense for a long day of walking.  Read more…More about Kids, Real Time Video, Real Time, Unicycle, and Us World [Link]

Mashable » You hate data journalism because you're reading it wrong

Tuesday 7 February 20:20:53 UTC 2017

On Sunday night, the Patriots completed the most improbable comeback in Super Bowl history. Which is to say: It wasn't impossible. Yes, a few pundits predicted the Patriots were done, but they're pundits. People who were crunching the numbers never ruled the Patriots out—even though, to many, it seemed like they did. A look at the dramatic turn in win probability … [Link]

Mashable » Sweet judge forgives a super dumb traffic violation

Tuesday 7 February 20:19:15 UTC 2017

Getting a traffic ticket sucks, having to argue it in court is even worse. Judge Frank Caprio has heard every excuse in the book from law violators on his local show "Caught in Providence," but because he has a giant heart, he sometimes lets them off the hook. In this video, Judge Caprio makes the difficult executive decision to let … [Link]

Mashable » Sean Spicer owns the domain RateTheReporter.com

Tuesday 7 February 20:08:57 UTC 2017

Press Secretary Sean Spicer is having a bad week on the internet. First, the news hit about Spicer's public Venmo account, then Mashable reported that Spicer WHOIS page reveals a whole bunch of public data about him.  Using that data we discovered that Spicer registered the domain RateTheReporter.com in February of 2015, using his personal Yahoo address.  At the time the … [Link]

Mashable » MIT-designed Chrome extension fixes your Twitter filter bubble

Tuesday 7 February 20:08:18 UTC 2017

It’s no secret that our social media feeds are pretty biased toward our own political leanings. And while we've seen a handful of Chrome extensions and other tools that address this issue on Facebook, we haven't yet seen as many tools made for Twitter. Until now. Researchers at MIT have created a new Chrome extension that changes your Twitter feed to … [Link]

Mashable » Sad Atlanta Falcons fan buries team gear as a warning for the future

Tuesday 7 February 20:06:28 UTC 2017

Time capsules are a nice idea. The notion that one day some future generation of human (or alien) will unearth something from our current time and learn a bit about us is pleasing. It makes us feel important, like something worth remembering. However, for one Atlanta Falcons fan, there are definitely things worth forgettingSuper Bowl LI is one of those things. … [Link]

Slashdot » You Can Make Any Number Out of Four 4s Because Math Is Amazing

Tuesday 7 February 20:05:00 UTC 2017

Andrew Moseman, writing for Popular Mechanics: Here's a fun math puzzle to brighten your day. Say you've got four 4s — 4, 4, 4, 4 — and you're allowed to place any normal math symbols around them. How many different numbers can you make? According to the fantastic YouTube channel Numberphile, you can make all of them. Really. You just … [Link]

Mashable » Belgian company offers to make its employees cyborgs with microchip implants

Tuesday 7 February 20:01:43 UTC 2017

In the latest move toward a brave new world, a European company has offered its employees a chance at becoming cyborgs.  NewFusion, a Belgian digital marketing and tech firm, recently took steps to make biohacking a company-wide initiative, Sputnik reports. Instead of old-school ID badges, NewFusion's workers can opt for a microchip implant in their hands to gain access to the … [Link]

Mashable » This TV company was spying on you until it was called out

Tuesday 7 February 20:01:41 UTC 2017

Electronics company Vizio doesn't want its customers to believe it ran a giant spying operation, but the company's surrender to a recent lawsuit suggests otherwise. Vizio agreed to pay $2.2 million on Monday to settle a lawsuit brought against them by the New Jersey government and the Federal Trade Commission. In doing so, they agreed to stop fighting the charge that … [Link]

Mashable » The science behind finding your perfect match

Tuesday 7 February 20:00:35 UTC 2017

In 2017, finding a life partner — one who will stand by you through thick and thin, who shares your core beliefs and whose side-of-the-bed preference is complementary to your own — seems to be more about "love at first swipe" than "love at first sight." With the rise of apps and online dating services, there are more technologically advanced options … [Link]

Popular Science » Watch a squishy robot oh-so-gently catch a fish

Tuesday 7 February 19:53:22 UTC 2017

Technology The design could lead to better surgical tools Soft robot catches a fish, could lead to better surgical tools. [Link]

Mashable » How 3D printing custom mannequins could mean change for the fashion industry

Tuesday 7 February 19:50:56 UTC 2017

Mashable’s Haley Hamblin worked with BodyLabs and VooDoo Manufacturing to create a custom dress form through digital scanning and 3D printing. Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, Manufacturing, Sewing, and Mannequins [Link]

Mashable » Japanese experiment proves that cleaning up space junk is hard

Tuesday 7 February 19:50:55 UTC 2017

Since the dawn of the space age, humans have launched amazing pieces of advanced technology to orbit. In the process, we've also created a whole lot of space junk.  Expendable rocket stages, defunct satellites and random bits of metal traveling at more than 17,000 miles per hour litter the space above Earth, threatening functioning satellites and people living in orbit.  SEE … [Link]

Mashable » Merriam-Webster sticks it to Trump after error-ridden terror attack list

Tuesday 7 February 19:50:30 UTC 2017

The famous Merriam-Webster dictionary is at it again, keeping President Trump in check with some harsh Twitter shade.  SEE ALSO: Merriam-Webster's Twitter is the political shade queen When the White House released a list of dozens of terror attacks it claimed were under-reported by the media, it contained plenty of typos. "Attacker" was spelt "attaker," San Bernardino was missing an "r" … [Link]

Mashable » The well-paying job of the future will be solar-powered

Tuesday 7 February 19:49:42 UTC 2017

The Trump administration may be trying to revive the moribund coal sector in the U.S., but new figures released Tuesday show that it will be hard to catch up to the galloping solar sector.  The annual National Solar Jobs Census, published by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Solar Foundation, found that 1-in-50 new jobs created in the U.S. in 2016 were in the … [Link]

Mashable » Need cash? Let me Slack it to you

Tuesday 7 February 19:47:37 UTC 2017

PayPal just released its first very first bot, and it's going to let you make payments in Slack.  Slack users in the U.S., UK, Canada and Australia will be able to use the feature, the company announced in a blog post this morning. You can download it from the Slack App Directory, and to use it, you'll have to link your … [Link]

Slashdot » A Crack in an Antarctic Ice Shelf Grew 17 Miles in the Last Two Months

Tuesday 7 February 19:25:00 UTC 2017

Jugal K Patel, writing for the NYTimes: A rapidly advancing crack in Antarctica's fourth-largest ice shelf has scientists concerned that it is getting close to a full break. The rift has accelerated this year in an area already vulnerable to warming temperatures. Since December, the crack has grown by the length of about five football fields each day (Editor's note: … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Stoplight Launches Scenarios API Testing and Debugging Tool

Tuesday 7 February 19:17:33 UTC 2017

Stoplight, a startup that graduated from the June 2015 Techstars Austin class, has announced the launch of Scenarios, a tool to test, automate, and debug Web APIs. Developers can use Scenarios to build test suites for Web services and microservices as well as for contract testing. Scenarios is a new tool that is part of the Stoplight API development and … [Link]

Popular Science » 6 DIY gifts for Valentine's Day

Tuesday 7 February 19:07:50 UTC 2017

DIY For all the nerdy sweeties out there 6 DIY projects you can give your loved ones this Valentine's Day… [Link]

Mashable » Sean Spicer's WHOIS data is public for everyone to see

Tuesday 7 February 18:54:20 UTC 2017

After an election where data security became a regularly debated hot topic, you'd think everyone in politics would, for lack of better poetry, have their shit together.  But of course, you'd be wrong. Until very recently, Donald Trump's White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, had his personal website, SeanSpicer.com, listed on his Twitter profile. The site's since been wiped from the … [Link]

Mashable » Make 2017 the year you finally budget for charity

Tuesday 7 February 18:54:06 UTC 2017

If you're an avid reader of the news, or even just a casual internet user, then you know the state of the world isn't exactly great at the moment.  You probably want to help in whatever ways you can, and that often means financially supporting the organizations you care about. But maybe you're not totally sure how to work that into … [Link]

Mashable » Teens who follow the news on social media are more likely to support the First Amendment

Tuesday 7 February 18:48:21 UTC 2017

Teens who follow the news on social media are more likely to strongly support the First Amendment, according to a new survey.  "Students who actively engage with the news on social media — discussing news with others, commenting on news stories, posting links to news stories — are more supportive of First Amendment freedoms," said a report from the Knight Foundation, … [Link]

Mashable » Watch Benedict Cumberbatch get 'incredibly fit' for 'Doctor Strange' fight scenes

Tuesday 7 February 18:46:15 UTC 2017

How does one acquire the ability to manipulate time and space like Doctor Strange? For starters, you hit the gym. In a new behind-the-scenes clip from Doctor Strange, the cast and executive producer Charles Newirth describe the intense physical training Benedict Cumberbatch underwent for his role as a Marvel leading man. SEE ALSO: 'SNL Korea' does a perfectly bizarre 'Dr. … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Debuts Customizable Speech-To-Text Tech, Releases Some Cognitive Services Tools To Developers

Tuesday 7 February 18:45:00 UTC 2017

Microsoft is readying three of its 25 Cognitive Services tools for wider release to developers. From a report on GeekWire: Microsoft's AI and Research Group, a major new engineering and research division formed last year inside the Redmond company, is debuting a new technology that lets developers customize Microsoft's speech-to-text engine for use in their own apps and online services. … [Link]

Mashable » Remembering Dust2: The best moments from the classic 'Counter-Strike' map

Tuesday 7 February 18:35:38 UTC 2017

Whether you love Dust2 or hate it, the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive map produced quite a few memorable moments while it was in competitive rotation. CS:GO map Dust2 was pulled out of the "Active Duty Group" map pool Friday, meaning that it won't be playable at professional tournaments or in competitive mode until it returns (if it ever returns). The map was … [Link]

Popular Science » Your favorite travel mug is bad

Tuesday 7 February 18:33:02 UTC 2017

Gadgets Here's one we actually love America’s darling deserves to die. [Link]

Mashable » 4 small things successful people do to see big results

Tuesday 7 February 18:26:38 UTC 2017

The gap between average people and and the majority of successful people isn’t that significant. While there are some individuals who are born with incredibly high IQs, monetizable skills, or magnetic personalities that allow them to move up in life, and there are some who simply got lucky, most people aren’t that far apart from one another, and the differences are … [Link]

Mashable » Katy Perry will bring her fireworks to the Grammys

Tuesday 7 February 18:25:46 UTC 2017

If you've been feeling like a plastic bag floating in the wind lately, here's some news to cheer you and Hillary Clinton up. Katy Perry will be performing at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, and she rumored to be performing a new single.  SEE ALSO: Watch this stirring pro-Muslim American PSA, produced by Katy Perry CONFIRMED: @katyperry returns to the #GRAMMYs … [Link]

Mashable » Moving ACLU video tells the story of a trans teen who could make history

Tuesday 7 February 18:23:53 UTC 2017

Gavin Grimm just wants to do something most of us do every day without a second thought: use the bathroom that aligns with his gender. But the 17-year-old needs to get approval from the highest court in the country, and it's a fight two years in the making. A stirring new video from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which … [Link]

Mashable » Tesla Model S P100D just hit a ridiculous record in new speed test

Tuesday 7 February 18:21:07 UTC 2017

The Tesla Model S P100D has hit a new acceleration record, according to a recent test by Motor Trend. The test was performed in Tesla's "full-on Ludicrous Easter egg mode," and saw the car hit 60mph in 2.28 seconds. According to Motor Trend, that makes it the first production car to reach 60mph in under 2.3 seconds, beating out the Porsche … [Link]

Mashable » China's big, beautiful, green 'vertical forests' will suck up toxic smog

Tuesday 7 February 18:19:45 UTC 2017

Those aren't just towers—they're enormous, verdant air filters for smog-choked cities. Vertical Forests blanket buildings with trees and plants, to soak up urban air pollution, produce clean oxygen, and boost local biodiversity. Now China—a nation grappling with dangerous smog from coal plants, factories, and vehicles—will get green buildings of its own.  SEE ALSO: Tower in China is turning smog into jewelry … [Link]

Mashable » Melania Trump sues 'Daily Mail' for ruining her, um, chance to make millions

Tuesday 7 February 18:19:33 UTC 2017

While President Trump continues to churn up controversy over his potential business conflicts of interests while in the White House, First Lady Melania Trump's new lawsuit implies that an erroneous news story may have cost her the chance to make millions while serving as First Lady.  SEE ALSO: One of the most popular White House website pages is a petition seeking … [Link]

Mashable » Drake unleashed a passionate rant against Trump during a London tour stop

Tuesday 7 February 18:02:26 UTC 2017

If there were any doubts about Drake's stance on Trump, there isn't anymore.  While on his Boy Meets World tour in London on Sunday night, Drake took some time to address his thoughts on the president and diversity.  SEE ALSO: People are freaking out over a pic of Drake and Jennifer Lopez Luckily, @IamAdademiks was there to capture the whole thing. … [Link]

Mashable » Yup, there's going to be a 'Fast & Furious' global arena tour

Tuesday 7 February 18:00:05 UTC 2017

The Fast & Furious franchise can't be stopped. Starting in January 2018, fans of the global blockbuster series will be able to attend a live show recreating the most iconic stunts and scenes of the films. Fast & Furious Live will be produced in partnership with Brand Events, which created worldwide Top Gear live shows. SEE ALSO: 'Fate of the Furious' … [Link]

Slashdot » Slashdot Asks: Your Favorite Podcasts? And Why?

Tuesday 7 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Are podcasts finally starting to go mainstream? Are they the future of radio? Who knows. Over the weekend, a reader asked us if we listen to podcasts — and if yes, which ones? I started listening to podcasts five years ago, and I try to listen to one podcast every day. Here are some of the podcasts I have subscribed … [Link]

Mashable » This is the battery case every serious iPhone photographer needs

Tuesday 7 February 17:56:31 UTC 2017

Chances are, if you're serious about iPhone photography, you know all about Moment and its high-quality miniature lenses that attach to the camera. Three years after its original Kickstarter success, the company's returning to the crowdfunding site to launch three new products: a slim battery case with a dedicated shutter button and integrated lens-mount system, a barebones wooden case with an … [Link]

Mashable » Apple wants its employees to poop in big iPhones, basically

Tuesday 7 February 17:54:02 UTC 2017

Finally, an iPhone that doesn't require a dongle. When Apple opens its new headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., employees will enjoy squatting over toilets that take a cue from the company's iconic smartphones, Reuters reported Tuesday morning.  SEE ALSO: Apple wants to make this one product in the U.S., but you won't be able to buy it Here's the relevant excerpt—emphasis ours: … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Starlight test shows quantum world has been weird for 600 years

Tuesday 7 February 17:47:00 UTC 2017

Unknown physics that could undermine quantum theory has been ruled out in a measurement guided by starlight emitted at least six centuries ago [Link]

Mashable » Hillary Clinton assures 'the future is female' in inspiring video comeback

Tuesday 7 February 17:28:25 UTC 2017

Hillary Clinton is coming through with an important message for every woman in America. The former presidential candidate released her first video statement following President Trump's inauguration for the 2017 Makers Conference. The conference aims to share "women's stories and celebrate women's vital roles in the past, present, and future of our country," Clinton explained. In the video, the former Secretary … [Link]

Mashable » This wearable Bluetooth device will turn any surface into a keyboard

Tuesday 7 February 17:27:36 UTC 2017

‘Tap’ is the future of keyboards. The sensors can be worn on either hand and turns any surface into a keyboard.  The device comes with an app that introduces users to a game that will help them master this device.  Read more…More about Real Time Video, Real Time, The Future, Tech, and Keyboard [Link]

Slashdot » Movie Industry Wants Irish ISPs To Block Pirate Movie Streaming Portals

Tuesday 7 February 17:20:00 UTC 2017

The Motion Picture Association is trying to have three popular streaming portals blocked by Irish Internet providers. In a new court case, the movie studios describe movie4k.to, primewire.ag and onwatchseries.to as massive copyright infringement hubs, with each offering thousands of infringing movies. From a TorrentFreak report: RTE reports that the MPA's fresh blocking demands are targeting a total of eight … [Link]

Mashable » Apple might want to turn your headphones into convertible party speakers

Tuesday 7 February 17:18:39 UTC 2017

In the future, Apple might give you a way to switch seamlessly between playing music directly into your ears and blasting it out loud for the rest of the world — and not just because your headphone's volume is jacked up way too high.  The company was recently granted a patent for a convertible headphone design that looks to transform normal … [Link]

Mashable » For better or worse, Snapchat changed sexting forever

Tuesday 7 February 17:16:50 UTC 2017

When Stanford University student Reggie Brown told his classmate in 2011 that he wanted photos he'd sent to a girl to disappear, he uttered aloud a thought that had crossed the minds of countless others. But this time, his assertion would lead to the creation of an app that would change the nature of photo messaging and — crucially — sexting, … [Link]

Mashable » Christie Brinkley appears to defy gravity in 'Sports Illustrated' swimsuit issue

Tuesday 7 February 17:15:25 UTC 2017

Here’s a question you probably didn't expect to think about today. Can Christie Brinkley walk on water? The 63-year-old model is appearing in this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue alongside her daughters, Sailor and Alexa. Brinkley posted a photo from her shoot to Instagram on Monday, and the internet had primarily two reactions: 1) Christie Brinkley looks so good and 2) … [Link]

Mashable » Tracy Morgan opens up about how his nearly fatal accident changed his life

Tuesday 7 February 17:03:26 UTC 2017

Almost three years after Tracy Morgan's nearly fatal car accident, the comedian is opening up about how the experience forever altered his life. Sitting down with Ellen DeGeneres on Tuesday, Morgan discussed life after coming out of his medically induced coma, and getting back to doing what he loves: making people laugh. SEE ALSO: Inspirational thread proves you can still find … [Link]

Mashable » Hundreds of people are trolling Sean Spicer on Venmo

Tuesday 7 February 16:51:44 UTC 2017

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer is making quite a mark on Washington in his first weeks as the spokesperson for the Trump administration. After establishing an incredibly antagonistic relationship with the press in his first address, Spicer's prop-based briefings have continued to confound. A hilarious (and effective) Saturday Night Live sketch over the weekend brought even more attention to the … [Link]

Mashable » Apple has a new kind of port that will help get rid of our dongles

Tuesday 7 February 16:46:19 UTC 2017

Relax, Apple's not dumping the Lightning plug for its iOS devices (yet). A report from 9to5Mac stoked fears that Apple might once again switch to a new smaller, 8-pin "Ultra Accessory Port" (UAC) for iPhones and iPads after the company gave a preview of the new plug to accessory manufacturers. SEE ALSO: Why your iPhone battery meter sometimes goes haywire The … [Link]

Mashable » Google Maps adds new shortcuts to anticipate your every need

Tuesday 7 February 16:44:13 UTC 2017

It’s now easier than ever to plan your next move with Google Maps.  A new update to Maps on Android aims to provide all the info you might need at a glance. It'll now provide real-time updates directly on the app's main screen, Google announced in a blog post on Monday.  SEE ALSO: Google Maps will soon get you where you … [Link]

Slashdot » SpaceX Plans to Start Launching Rockets Every Two To Three Weeks

Tuesday 7 February 16:40:00 UTC 2017

Space Exploration Technologies, better known as SpaceX, plans to launch its Falcon 9 rockets every two to three weeks, its fastest rate since starting launches in 2010, once a new launch pad is put into service in Florida next week. From a report: The ambitious plan comes only five months after a SpaceX rocket burst into flames on the launch … [Link]

Mashable » Super Bowl LI was a bad moment for VR

Tuesday 7 February 16:24:57 UTC 2017

A funny thing happened on the way to my futuristic dive into the Super Bowl in virtual reality — it never happened.  Yes, I have my own, fancy Oculus Rift set up along with a pricey high-spec computer to help me immerse myself in the virtual waters of everything from gaming to animation and, I thought, sports events. SEE ALSO: Facebook's … [Link]

Mashable » Pink proudly reveals she hasn't lost any weight since giving birth

Tuesday 7 February 16:17:07 UTC 2017

Don’t missunderstand, she's a super mom. Pink, the singer who provided the soundtrack for your junior high punk days, and husband, Carey Hart, recently welcomed a new baby boy at the end of December.  Tuesday, six weeks later, she bragged on social media about her weight post pregnancy. SEE ALSO: Pink's New 'Try' Video Left Her Mom Speechless Day 1!!!!!!!! Lets … [Link]

Mashable » Matt Damon crashes 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' to fuel their never-ending feud

Tuesday 7 February 16:09:14 UTC 2017

Debbie and Elizabeth. Paris and Nicole. Matt and Jimmy: all classic Hollywood feuds that keep fans guessing and gossip swirling. Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel's mutual hatred burned on after Jimmy unmasked his surprise guest, Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, on his show Monday night, only to find out that his enemy, Matt, was the real fraud behind the helmet Matt … [Link]

Mashable » Netflix's 'Iron Fist' trailer looks worthy of its Marvel brethren

Tuesday 7 February 16:04:19 UTC 2017

The final defender is here — almost. Netflix's Iron Fist will soon join the ranks of Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage — and if the official trailer is any indication, they're in good company. SEE ALSO: 9 shows to get excited about in 2017 The trailer introduces us to Danny Rand (Game of Thrones' Finn Jones), an orphan returning … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Spotlight Launches Scenarios API Testing and Debugging Tool

Tuesday 7 February 16:03:46 UTC 2017

Spotlight, a startup that graduated from the June 2015 Techstars Austin class, has announced the launch of Scenarios, a tool to test, automate, and debug Web APIs. Developers can use Scenarios to build test suites for Web services and microservices as well as for contract testing. Scenarios is a new tool that is part of the Spotlight API development and … [Link]

New Scientist – News » US conservative bill aims to axe EPA – here’s why it won’t work

Tuesday 7 February 16:02:00 UTC 2017

The bill is latest in a series of signals that the US Environmental Protection Agency will be reined in under President Trump, but it might not end it just yet [Link]

Mashable » 'World of Warcraft' markets are going nuts thanks to a change in gold use

Tuesday 7 February 16:00:04 UTC 2017

World of Warcraft's in-game markets are going insane after Blizzard changed how WoW Tokens work. Blizzard bridged the gap between some of its most popular games Monday, allowing players to use World of Warcraft's in-game currency to purchase WoW Tokens, convert them to Battle.net funds, and then purchase Overwatch lootboxes, Hearthstone card packs and other Blizzard game items on the Battle.net … [Link]

Slashdot » If You Owned a PC With a DVD Drive You Might Be Able To Claim $10

Tuesday 7 February 16:00:00 UTC 2017

If you owned a PC with a DVD drive more than 10 years ago, you're probably owed $10. From a report on The Verge: A class-action lawsuit is now accepting claims after Sony, NEC, Panasonic, and Hitachi-LG were accused of inflating the prices of optical drives sold to PC makers like Dell and HP. If you bought a PC with … [Link]

Mashable » The internet wants Rosie O'Donnell to play Steve Bannon on 'SNL'…and she's into it

Tuesday 7 February 15:53:24 UTC 2017

If there's one thing Donald Trump hates, it's Saturday Night Live. If there's a second thing, it's probably Rosie O'Donnell. The two entertainers have feuded publicly and viciously for years, but given POTUS' alleged discomfort with seeing a woman portray one of his staffers, O'Donnell may have a trump card ready (sorry).  Social media wants to see O'Donnell on SNL, and … [Link]

Mashable » Dude sneaks NSFW sign into live TV broadcast

Tuesday 7 February 15:49:06 UTC 2017

A sneaky teen managed to slip a NSFW message into a live segment during NPO News on NOS, a public broadcasting station in the Netherlands. For a split second during an interview, a young man sitting at a computer flips his screen to a text document that said "SEND NUDES" in all caps. SEE ALSO: Donald Trump holding executive orders is … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Printed ‘lab on a chip’ costs a penny and catches disease early

Tuesday 7 February 15:31:00 UTC 2017

The cheap diagnostic kit is made using a regular inkjet printer and could catch signs of malaria, tuberculosis and cancer earlier in the developing world [Link]

Mashable » Teen surprised by giant graffiti penis lurking in senior photo

Tuesday 7 February 15:20:22 UTC 2017

Solidifying your senior year memories with yearbook photos and senior pictures is common for most students. Posing in front of your school is an option. Snapping pictures doing your favorite activity is also something you can do. But, if you're Twitter user, alexis, it means accidentally taking your senior photo in front of a giant graffiti penis. oh so no one … [Link]

Slashdot » 'Fundraising Rounds Are Not Milestones'

Tuesday 7 February 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Michael Seibel, a partner at Y Combinator, writes in a blog post: I'd like to make the point that success isn't the same as raising a round of financing. Quite the opposite: raising a round should be a byproduct of success. Using fundraising itself as a benchmark is dangerous for the entire community because it encourages a culture of optimizing … [Link]

Mashable » Lady Gaga's digital sales soared over 1,000 percent after Super Bowl performance

Tuesday 7 February 15:15:42 UTC 2017

If you've had "Born This Way" stuck in your head since Lady Gaga's Super Bowl half-time show, you're probably not alone.  The nation lauded Lady Gaga for her performance—but not just via tweets and memes.  Nielsen Music reported that sales for the "Bad Romance" singer increased over 1,000 percent on Super Bowl Sunday, according to ABC News. SEE ALSO: No surprise: … [Link]

Mashable » Ikea's futuristic kitchen table is the perfect cooking assistant

Tuesday 7 February 15:12:51 UTC 2017

According to Ikea, in 10 years, the kitchen will become a technology hub that makes cooking more sustainable and personal.  Ikea envisions a multifunctional kitchen table that can assist you in your meal prep from start to finish. Read more…More about Smart Kitchen, Kitchenware, Real Time Video, Tech Innovators, and Tech [Link]

Mashable » 'Jane the Virgin' showrunner promises Jane will 'rise up' after tragic twist

Tuesday 7 February 15:06:56 UTC 2017

Warning: The following post contains spoilers for Jane the Virgin's Feb. 6 episode. Sometimes, knowing that something awful is going to happen beforehand can soften the blow — if only a little. Even so, the sudden death of Michael (Brett Dier) on Jane the Virgin was a major emotional blow, both behind the scenes and in the audience. Knowing how devastating … [Link]

Mashable » Pro tip: How to use smoke grenades for maximum cover in the 'CS:GO' Nuke map

Tuesday 7 February 15:00:00 UTC 2017

Being a professional gamer isn't easy. Top-level competitive games demand hundreds (or thousands) of hours of practice to master. Part of that mastery comes from knowledge and so, each week, we'll share some of the most useful tips and tricks to improve your play in today's most popular esports titles. It's time to get good. The 10th Counter-Strike: Global Offensive … [Link]

Popular Science » This newly discovered gecko can literally squirm right out of its skin

Tuesday 7 February 14:46:17 UTC 2017

Animals Naked mole rat, eat your heart out Fish-scale geckos can tear away their large scales to escape predators… [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Using Docker – $25.49 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Tuesday 7 February 14:45:49 UTC 2017

Get "Using Docker" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-02-08 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Shareholders Urge Company To Replace Mark Zuckerberg With 'Independent' Board Chair

Tuesday 7 February 14:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a VentureBeat report: Facebook is being pressured by a group of shareholders seeking the removal of company chief executive Mark Zuckerberg from the board of the directors. A proposal has been put forward claiming that an independent chairperson would be better able to "oversee the executives of the company, improve corporate governance, and set a more … [Link]

Mashable » Would your spouse demand cash to rescue you? Sadly, maybe yes.

Tuesday 7 February 14:30:00 UTC 2017

Most of us probably assume that if we were attacked by a dog or held at gunpoint the people who love us would attempt a heroic rescue out of the goodness of their hearts. Think again.  A new survey found that while the large majority of people said they’d risk their life to rescue a loved one with no reward involved, … [Link]

Mashable » How six young women invented a life-changing device in less than a day

Tuesday 7 February 14:19:33 UTC 2017

With just a few hours left to build a groundbreaking gadget, things weren't going as smoothly as planned. Six young women, all undergrad engineering students at MIT, had established a lofty goal: to create the first-ever affordable device that immediately translates printed text into Braille. The idea could prove revolutionary for the blind community, transforming how they read while also creating … [Link]

Mashable » Inside Apple Music's plan to take over the Indian market

Tuesday 7 February 14:05:12 UTC 2017

Apple Music made India its 110th launch market about two years ago, and now it's finally getting serious about the "culture and content rich country" as an official put it.  SEE ALSO: Now you can listen to Apple Music, watch Sony LIV movies in your next Ola cab ride After rolling out its student membership program late last year, which allows … [Link]

Mashable » Twitter moves forward on its plan to fight harassment and spam

Tuesday 7 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Twitter’s new plan to tamp down harassment and spam on its platform is finally beginning to take shape. Following last week's slightly underwhelming update that allows users to report tweets that mention them even if they have been blocked, the company unveiled a set of new updates aimed at reducing the spread of harassment of spam and keeping the worst offenders … [Link]

Mashable » YouTube lays down the live video gauntlet to Facebook and Twitter

Tuesday 7 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

If you're not exhausted by all your live video options, just wait. YouTube finally rolled out live streaming from its mobile app Wednesday, but unlike Facebook and Twitter's live offerings, the company is focusing initially on its top creators rather than one-off phenomenons like Chewbacca mom.  SEE ALSO: Apple's fight with big banks is getting even nastier, and it was already … [Link]

Slashdot » Intel's Atom C2000 Chips Are Bricking Products — And It's Not Just Cisco Hit

Tuesday 7 February 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Thomas Claburn, reporting for The Register: Intel's Atom C2000 processor family has a fault that effectively bricks devices, costing the company a significant amount of money to correct. But the semiconductor giant won't disclose precisely how many chips are affected nor which products are at risk. In its Q4 2016 earnings call earlier this month, chief financial officer Robert Swan … [Link]

Mashable » You can get a free pint of beer in London every time it rains

Tuesday 7 February 13:57:16 UTC 2017

It rains a heck of a lot in the United KingdomBut it looks like you might actually reap some benefits from the inclement weather that plagues the nation. Yes, London Pride is offering Twitter followers a free pint of ale each time it rains in London. SEE ALSO: 'Beer yoga' is a thing, now, and it's going international because, well, 'Beer … [Link]

Mashable » Obama and Richard Branson fought over kitesurfing and we're never getting him back

Tuesday 7 February 13:52:24 UTC 2017

Former President Barack Obama looks so happy, y'all. Especially when he is learning how to kitesurf on Richard Branson's private island.  Last week, we had our first post-presidency sighting of Obama, complete with backwards hat and zero f*cks given. He and Michelle were lazily strolling on the beach of Necker Island. But from what Branson released this Tuesday, it turns … [Link]

Mashable » HoloLens magic brings 'Portal' to (augmented) reality

Tuesday 7 February 13:51:35 UTC 2017

Valve's legendary, mind-bending puzzler Portal lets you punch holes in solid surfaces, creating physics-defying tunnels through which you can send objects (and yourself). As fun as the original game was, one couldn't help but wonder how cool it would be if you could create portals in the real world. Well, now you can (sort of).  SEE ALSO: Crazy bike ride … [Link]

Mashable » This stock photo of an 'over-55' woman is confusing the internet

Tuesday 7 February 13:38:51 UTC 2017

LONDON — It's common knowledge that stock photos can be a bit hit and miss. SEE ALSO: 14 Weird Christmas Stock Photos That Make Your Holidays Look Normal Every now and then you'll get one that totally hits the nail on the head, while on other occasions… well, sometimes they don't quite hit the mark. On Monday, journalist Shelagh Fogarty shared … [Link]

Popular Science » E-cigarettes might actually be a safe tool for quitting smoking

Tuesday 7 February 13:30:00 UTC 2017

Health A study suggests that longterm e-cigarette use is safer than traditional smoking The study, which is the first one to directly compare these two groups over a long-term period, suggests that e-cigarettes may be a safe and effective way to quit… [Link]

Slashdot » FBI Will Revert To Using Fax Machines, Snail Mail For FOIA Requests

Tuesday 7 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

blottsie writes: Starting next month, the FBI will no longer accept Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests via email. Instead, the U.S. agency will largely require requests be made via fax machine or the U.S. Postal Service. [The FBI will also accept a small number of requests via an online portal, "provided users agree to a terms-of-service agreement and are … [Link]

Mashable » Bernie Sanders is now a fashion icon and he's not sure what to make of it

Tuesday 7 February 12:51:27 UTC 2017

Bernie Sanders has taken on lots of different roles in his life so far — from filmmaker to U.S. Senator — and now he can add fashion muse to his CV. SEE ALSO: Honorary 6th grader Bernie Sanders put a Trump tweet on a giant poster and brought it to Senate Though Bernie didn't make a physical appearance at Paris Fashion … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Health insurer calls analysed for signs of disease in your voice

Tuesday 7 February 12:43:20 UTC 2017

A US start-up is training algorithms to find signs of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s in your voice, by crunching millions of phone calls to a health insurer [Link]

New Scientist – News » Injection could permanently lower cholesterol by changing DNA

Tuesday 7 February 12:43:18 UTC 2017

Some people have mutations that greatly lower their cholesterol. Tests in mice suggest gene editing could give the rest of us the same protection [Link]

Mashable » Scottish man messages boss asking for day off, gets a hilarious response

Tuesday 7 February 12:41:58 UTC 2017

LONDON — There are probably many, many brilliant exchanges that have taken place between bosses and employees asking for last-minute sick days, but this has to be one of the best. SEE ALSO: WhatsApp is testing a feature that lets you 'revoke' unread messages you sent prematurely On Sunday, Mark McLelland from Glasgow, Scotland, messaged his boss to ask if he … [Link]

Mashable » Trump becomes a mad medieval king in this brilliant Twitter parody

Tuesday 7 February 12:34:43 UTC 2017

There are many great Twitter parodies of Donald Trump, from "Bridget Trump's Diary" to "Trump Draws".  But one in particular stands out for cultural and historical ingenuity, at least from a UK-centric point of view.  SEE ALSO: Bridget Trump's Diary: I went to the Women's March and it was so overrated "Donaeld The Unready" pokes fun at the U.S. president while … [Link]

Popular Science » What animal has the craziest camouflage?

Tuesday 7 February 12:30:00 UTC 2017

Animals Some caterpillars look exactly like poop The animal world is full of trickery and concealment. [Link]

Mashable » The top 20 employee benefits and perks, according to Glassdoor

Tuesday 7 February 12:01:57 UTC 2017

Unlimited vacation and ping-pong tables won't solve every workplace problem, but employee perks and benefits still can help with the mood at an office. SEE ALSO: Facebook Interns Probably Make More Money Than You Jobs site Glassdoor released a list of 20 companies that are offering unique perks. The list — not ranked by quality — was based on the hundreds … [Link]

Mashable » China's largest internet company wants to give free internet to Indians

Tuesday 7 February 11:58:31 UTC 2017

Chinese giant Alibaba could soon join the growing number of entities that are pushing free internet access in India.  SEE ALSO: Trump seems to like at least one thing about China: Alibaba's Jack Ma Alibaba, which owns UCWeb, is in talks with telecom operators and Wi-Fi providers in the country to offer free data to Indians, Jack Huang, President of Overseas … [Link]

Mashable » 'Wolfenstein 3D' mod asks you politely whether you want to shoot Nazis

Tuesday 7 February 11:33:12 UTC 2017

Thanks to a recent incident, in which alt-right leader Richard Spencer got punched in the face on camera, an odd ethics question arose: Is it ever OK to punch a Nazi? Now, a modified Wolfenstein 3D game — the classic game in which you wander around a castle, shooting Nazis — takes that question to its extreme: Is it ever OK … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Looking at a virtual hand reduces the pain in your real hand

Tuesday 7 February 11:26:00 UTC 2017

When a virtual reality headset shows you a hand in the same position as your own, it has an analgesic effect on your own hand, raising your body’s pain threshold [Link]

Mashable » Prince William has a stark warning about the stigma surrounding mental health

Tuesday 7 February 11:22:01 UTC 2017

Prince William has spoken out about his desire to "normalise" the "great taboo" of mental health in a powerful speech. SEE ALSO: Kate Middleton speaks powerfully about the stigma of mental illness At the Guild of Health Writers conference at Chandos House, London, on Monday the Duke of Cambridge said it was vital that mental health should be viewed in the … [Link]

Mashable » This gritty short film is told entirely through Snapchat

Tuesday 7 February 11:13:57 UTC 2017

LONDON — A young woman sits cross-legged on her bed, staring into the jaunty-angled camera lens and moaning about her fruitless hunt for a job. The words "Job search got me like" appear on the screen as she narrows her eyes and presses her fingers to her temples. It looks like any other video you might see popping up on … [Link]

Mashable » Watch the controversial speech slamming Trump in UK Parliament

Tuesday 7 February 11:07:43 UTC 2017

John Bercow, the Speaker of the UK's House of Commons, has caused mixed reactions for saying that President Donald Trump wouldn't be allowed to address Parliament during his state visit.  In an unprecedented rebuke, Bercow said "opposition to racism and sexism" were the main reasons behind his choice.  While the opposition praised him, senior Tory figures said he should be impartial.  … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Gravitational wave detector prepares to peer into bizarre stars

Tuesday 7 February 10:34:00 UTC 2017

It has already made the discovery of the decade – next LIGO aims to model weird events so we can recognise them when they arrive [Link]

Mashable » Oppo is China's top-selling smartphone maker, while Apple sales slow

Tuesday 7 February 10:32:28 UTC 2017

Oppo may be little-known in the West, but the Chinese smartphone company has outsold everyone else across in China over 2016. Analyst firm IDC reports that Oppo more than doubled its shipment volumes over the year prior, to clinch the top spot. It beat other strong Chinese contenders like Xiaomi and Huawei — as well as Apple, which posted its first … [Link]

Mashable » This new feature will change your YouTube life

Tuesday 7 February 10:28:28 UTC 2017

YouTube has released an update to its mobile app that will likely make a lot of users very happy: You can now skip 10 seconds forward or backward in a video by double tapping the right or left edge of your phone's screen.  Perfect for those quick replays or just skipping a boring portion of the video, the feature is in … [Link]

Mashable » For some reason, Justin Bieber is not over that PPAP song yet

Tuesday 7 February 10:03:43 UTC 2017

Remember that Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen guy? Justin Bieber does. The duo are teaming up together for a new Japanese commercial, in what could be the most unlikely bromance of 2017. 【ジャス&#1~ #softbank😱😱&#128561~ pic.twitter.com/D2J6uCMvST — Justin Bieber JAPAN (@bieber_japan) February 5, 2017 SEE ALSO: What's the deal with that wild Pen Pineapple Apple Pen video? The actual commercial, for Japanese telecommunications company SoftBank, has … [Link]

Mashable » You might have to prove your identity before topping up your phone credit in India

Tuesday 7 February 10:01:46 UTC 2017

In India, people may soon be asked to prove their identity before topping credit to their pay as you go phone. SEE ALSO: Indians upset over calendar featuring PM Narendra Modi on the cover In a move to fight digital fraud, the country’s Supreme Court has asked the government to make it mandatory for prepaid mobile phone subscribers to disclose their … [Link]

Slashdot » Scientists Have Invented Paper That You Can Print With Light, Erase With Heat, and Reuse 80 Times

Tuesday 7 February 10:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Quartz: Nearly 1% of carbon emissions annually can be attributed to paper production, even though we recycle much of the paper we produce. Yadong Yin has a solution. He and his colleagues at the University of California at Riverside have invented a type of paper that can be printed on using just light, … [Link]

Mashable » Man and his adult son maintain 7 sex dolls that they care for like family

Tuesday 7 February 9:47:31 UTC 2017

A man and his 18-year-old son's story is going viral in China after they were featured with their rather unorthodox "family" — seven silicone sex dolls that the two care for. SEE ALSO: Would you let this super creepy mini Einstein robot into your home? 58-year-old Li Chen (not his real name) and his son, Yangyang, live in Guizhou, southwest China. … [Link]

Mashable » Nobel Prize stolen from social activist Kailash Satyarthi's house

Tuesday 7 February 9:28:19 UTC 2017

It’s history repeating for India. And not in a good way. In an unfortunate turn of events, Indian Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi's house in Delhi was burgled and his coveted Nobel Prize citation stolen.  Back in 2004, India's first (also Asia's first) Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's prized citation was stolen from a museum in his famed abode of Shantiniketan, 102 miles … [Link]

Mashable » Bollywood film trailer starring a friendly ghost goes viral, gets 10 million views in a day

Tuesday 7 February 8:27:14 UTC 2017

A Bollywood movie trailer dropped last afternoon. It features a friendly ghost, a young man forced into marriage rituals, a bittersweet love story, and some rustic Indian music.  Within a day, the trailer crossed 10 million views on Facebook and YouTube combined. And Indians can't stop raving about it. SEE ALSO: Crowdfunded LGBTQ film from India is hoping for a Cannes … [Link]

Mashable » Porn site posts rape joke on Facebook, and people are enraged

Tuesday 7 February 8:05:28 UTC 2017

A Filipino porn site has left netizens enraged after it posted an offensive "joke" on Facebook saying "it wouldn't be rape if you enjoy it." The site, RBreezy, posted the picture, which received over 1.4k likes, on its Facebook page on Saturday. The photo caption says LOLImage: End rape culture ph/facebookIt also said "LOL" in its photo caption and to "tag … [Link]

Slashdot » Dozens of Popular iOS Apps Vulnerable To Intercept of TLS-Protected Data

Tuesday 7 February 7:00:00 UTC 2017

Researchers at Sudo Security Group Inc. discovered seventy-six popular applications in Apple's iOS App Store that had implemented encrypted communications with their back-end services in such a way that user information could be intercepted by a man-in-the-middle attack. According to Ars Technica, the applications could be fooled by a forged certificate sent back by a proxy, allowing their Transport Layer … [Link]

Mashable » This 'GOT' star teamed up with Google to capture Greenland's melting ice

Tuesday 7 February 7:00:00 UTC 2017

Google Maps won't help you much if you're trekking across Greenland's icy terrain. But for the curious and desk-bound, Google's Street View now offers compelling, panoramic vistas of the region's imperiled ice. To capture the scenery, which went online Tuesday, Google teamed up with Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, aka the one-handed Jaime Lannister. SEE ALSO: The Arctic is reeling … [Link]

Mashable » How GPS keeps up with the continent that's in constant motion

Tuesday 7 February 5:51:09 UTC 2017

Nothing on the Earth's solid surface is static because all land is moving very slowly due to continental drift. This very slow movement affects everything around you in the same way so you can’t tell it is happening, unless you are able to very accurately measure where on the Earth’s surface you are. The Australian continent, perched on the planet’s fastest … [Link]

Mashable » Mandy Moore and that dude from 'A Walk To Remember' just reunited on Instagram

Tuesday 7 February 5:14:32 UTC 2017

While it's true A Walk To Remember wasn't exactly good, the 2002 film about a young woman with leukemia (Mandy Moore) and her whirlwind relationship with the love of her life (Shane West), stills holds a very special place in people's hearts. So it's no surprise that a mini-reunion of the romantic yet death-obsessed film's cast and crew has got Instagram … [Link]

Mashable » Granddad, believed to be the world's oldest aquarium fish, dies in its 90s

Tuesday 7 February 4:49:08 UTC 2017

Granddad, an Australian lungfish who was believed to be the oldest living fish in captivity, died after 80 years at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. The fish is estimated to be more than 90 years old, but was euthanised on Sunday after it started showing signs of organ failure and had stopped eating. SEE ALSO: Curious kestrel videobombs a traffic camera for some … [Link]

Mashable » At New York Fashion Week, supporting Planned Parenthood will be in style

Tuesday 7 February 4:00:24 UTC 2017

Planned Parenthood is going to New York Fashion Week. SEE ALSO: Requests for IUDs are up 900% at Planned Parenthood The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced Monday that it will hand out pins in support of Planned Parenthood during Fashion Week, which starts Thursday.   The pink pins, which read "Fashion Stands With Planned Parenthood," are part of … [Link]

Mashable » Sweet short film about a couple is actually a hearing test in disguise

Tuesday 7 February 3:42:37 UTC 2017

Hearing loss affects many of us, but less people talk about it. A short film, Does Love Last Forever, wants to open up that conversation. The film has two very different outcomes, that depend entirely on the viewer's hearing ability.  SEE ALSO: Woman turns babies' medical helmets into adorable works of art The film follows a young couple, growing older together. … [Link]

Slashdot » Scientists Discover Evidence of a 'Lost Continent' Under the Indian Ocean

Tuesday 7 February 3:30:00 UTC 2017

Scientists at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa say they've discovered evidence of a "lost continent" beneath the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. According to EarthSky, the evidence of the "lost continent" may be leftover from the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, which started to break up around 200 million years ago. The evidence itself "takes the … [Link]

Mashable » Could we have another anchor meltdown over matching tops on our hands? Twitter's on the case.

Tuesday 7 February 2:48:17 UTC 2017

Hey, so remember the leaked footage of TV presenter Amber Sherlock getting just a little bit cross last month because one of her co-workers happened to be wearing the same colour top? Well, strap yourself in because Twitter thinks it could have happened again. SEE ALSO: TVs are getting so thin, it's like they're disappearing Last Monday, one-tone Sherlock appeared on … [Link]

Mashable » New 'world's longest flight' travellers endure 16 hours of just sitting there

Tuesday 7 February 2:20:31 UTC 2017

Long-distance travel is an ordeal at the best of times, so you can imagine the world's longest commercial non-stop flight ain't for the faint-hearted. Qatar Airways has completed its first non-stop flight from Qatar's Doha to New Zealand's Auckland, with its Boeing 777-200LR touching down early Monday, after 16 hours and 20 minutes in the air. Aware that the trip was … [Link]

Mashable » The truth behind Airbnb's Super Bowl ad

Tuesday 7 February 2:18:18 UTC 2017

Airbnb’s moving Super Bowl ad is winning the company a wave of good press for its willingness to take a stand for diversity. The home-rental company has tried to milk the story further by pushing a narrative in which it rushed to make the commercial in one night. Stories in the New York Times and other outlets (including Mashable) reflected that … [Link]

Mashable » D.C. police demand Facebook hand over data on Trump protesters

Tuesday 7 February 2:17:08 UTC 2017

Police in Washington, D.C. want Facebook to hand over data on protesters. The D.C. police department subpoenaed Facebook for information regarding several protesters arrested while demonstrating against the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20.  SEE ALSO: A Facebook Live video of torture stayed up for 30 minutes. Why? A document obtained on Monday by CityLab shows the U.S. Attorney’s … [Link]

Mashable » Thanks to the Pats Super Bowl win, we can finally stop talking about Deflategate

Tuesday 7 February 2:00:51 UTC 2017

In the world of sports, there has been perhaps no handshake as hyped, speculated and anticipated as this.  That's because Roger Goodell's handshake with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday meant so much more than just a simple congratulations. After New England pulled off one of the most epic comebacks in Super Bowl history, the NFL commissioner found Brady among the … [Link]

Mashable » NBA star J.R. Smith shares moving photo after baby daughter's preterm birth

Tuesday 7 February 1:49:39 UTC 2017

J.R. Smith is known as something of a lovable knucklehead among NBA fans, and for pretty good reason. But no one was laughing when Smith and his wife, Jewel Harris, shared some sad news last month.  SEE ALSO: Noted Boston guy Mark Wahlberg has handy excuse for leaving Super Bowl early Smith and Harris, who were married just last summer, after … [Link]

Mashable » This was the most political Super Bowl ever

Tuesday 7 February 1:31:57 UTC 2017

These are turbulent times in America, and even the Super Bowl can't escape the political drama.  SEE ALSO: Some longtime Super Bowl advertisers will take part from the sidelines this year The historically — and intentionally — non-offensive event (Exhibit A: Super Bowl XXIII's halftime show featuring the magician Elvis Presto) hit a political high Sunday.  Remember the brouhaha caused by … [Link]

Mashable » Apple's fight with big banks is getting even nastier, and it was already nasty

Tuesday 7 February 1:28:52 UTC 2017

Apple is not happy, not happy at all. In its latest submission to Australia's competition watchdog, the company accused some of Australia's largest banks of conspiring to delay the entry of Apple Pay into Australia.  Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank and Westpac applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in July 2016 … [Link]

Slashdot » French Politician Uses Hologram To Hold Meetings In Two Cities At the Same Time

Tuesday 7 February 1:25:00 UTC 2017

neutrino38 writes: The French presidential election is approaching fast. One of the candidates, Jean-Luc Melenchon, used a hologram to hold two public meetings at once. With a political program that is mostly socialist and very left leaning, some people pointed out that he used private innovation to stand out from the crowd. Reuters notes that this is "not the first … [Link]

Mashable » Woman begs senator to vote against DeVos with pizza delivery

Tuesday 7 February 1:18:14 UTC 2017

The opposition to Trump's education pick Betsy DeVos — a billionaire who's rallied against the public school system in favor of privatized charter schools — has been pretty fierce. Backlash has come from Democratic senators, teachers' unions, and a number of everyday Americans. But one woman took disapproval to the next level — with a "suspicious pizza," as security officials would … [Link]

Mashable » These 36 beaches should be avoided (again) because of all the human poo

Tuesday 7 February 0:57:11 UTC 2017

If there's one thing guaranteed to ruin your day at the beach every single time, it's poo water. Particularly human poo water.  So imagine the disgust felt by beachgoers in Melbourne, Australia, when they were warned (for the second time in just over a month) to avoid all 36 beaches in the Port Phillip bay region Tuesday, due to a post-heavy … [Link]

Mashable » Sophie Turner from 'Game of Thrones' goes full Sansa on Donald Trump

Tuesday 7 February 0:56:22 UTC 2017

You may have already had an inkling, but in case there was any doubt: Sophie Turner is a savage.  The Game of Thrones star has long been known for being funny and chill as hell, but recently, her best Twitter burns have been reserved for one man. Donald Trump, obviously.  SEE ALSO: Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner just took friendship goals … [Link]

Mashable » CNN and Kellyanne Conway's Twitter feud just escalated hilariously

Tuesday 7 February 0:46:59 UTC 2017

Kellyanne Conway's bad month got even worse Monday after the Trump advisor found herself passive aggressively arguing with CNN on Twitter. Trump's queen of "alternative facts" had a very public dispute with the cable news network in an exchange that displayed to everyone how hard she's trying to spin her latest blunder. SEE ALSO: Alternativefacts.com exists and it's been redirected to … [Link]

Slashdot » DC Inauguration Protestors Are Being Hit With Facebook Data Searches

Tuesday 7 February 0:45:00 UTC 2017

During the protests over the inauguration of Donald Trump, more than 230 protestors were arrested — many of which were charged with rioting and had their phones seized by Washington, D.C., police. One of the individuals who was arrested received an email from Facebook's "Law Enforcement Response Team," which raises the question: Did D.C. police ask Facebook to reveal information … [Link]

Mashable » Forget lessons, these smart skis are loaded with artificial intelligence

Tuesday 7 February 0:38:47 UTC 2017

Can artificial intelligence make you a better skier? Rossignol thinks it can.  The ski manufacturer teamed up with sports tech company PIQ to put an AI-powered computer — complete with an LED display — right on a pair of skis. SEE ALSO: Dude skis right off a cliff and captures the whole thing on his helmet cam Called the Rossingol Hero … [Link]

Slashdot » US House Passes Bill Requiring Warrants To Search Old Emails

Tuesday 7 February 0:25:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Monday to require law enforcement authorities to obtain a search warrant before seeking old emails from technology companies, a win for privacy advocates fearful the Trump administration may work to expand government surveillance powers. The House passed the measure by a voice vote. But the … [Link]

Slashdot » Western Digital Unveils First-Ever 512Gb 64-Layer 3D NAND Chip

Tuesday 7 February 0:05:00 UTC 2017

BrianFagioli quotes a report from BetaNews: As great as these solid state drives are now, they are only getting better. For example, SATA-based SSDs were once viewed as miraculous, but they are now looked at as slow — PCIe-based NVMe drives are all the rage. To highlight the steady evolution of flash storage, Western Digital today unveiled the first-ever 512 … [Link]

Mashable » The evidence that Trump does, in fact, own a bathrobe

Tuesday 7 February 0:04:23 UTC 2017

There were plenty of embarrassing details in the New York Times piece about the fumbles of the current Trump administration.  But White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer seemed especially bothered by the assertion that the president "watch[es] television in his bathrobe." SEE ALSO: Melissa McCarthy makes a better Sean Spicer than Sean Spicer on 'SNL' That can't be true, Spicer told … [Link]

Archive

26 Apr 2024  25 Apr 2024  24 Apr 2024  23 Apr 2024  22 Apr 2024  21 Apr 2024  20 Apr 2024  19 Apr 2024  18 Apr 2024  17 Apr 2024  16 Apr 2024  15 Apr 2024  14 Apr 2024  13 Apr 2024  12 Apr 2024  11 Apr 2024  10 Apr 2024  09 Apr 2024  08 Apr 2024  07 Apr 2024  06 Apr 2024  05 Apr 2024  04 Apr 2024  03 Apr 2024  02 Apr 2024  01 Apr 2024  31 Mar 2024  30 Mar 2024  29 Mar 2024  28 Mar 2024  27 Mar 2024  26 Mar 2024