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.

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Which Businesses Will Go Away In the Next 10 Years?

Monday 2 October 23:30:00 UTC 2017

AmiMoJo writes: Ten years ago NBC published a list of business types that it predicted would disappear in the following decade. Ten years later and we can see how good their fortune telling was. What businesses do you think will go away by 2027? Who is destined to become the next buggy whip manufacturer, whose demand dried up due to … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook says 10 million people saw Russia's 'divisive' political ads

Monday 2 October 23:12:42 UTC 2017

Facebook is finally making clear just how pervasive Russia-bought political ads were on its platform in the days and weeks before and after the election. Around 10 million Facebook users saw Russia-bought political ads, according to new information released on Monday night by the company. SEE ALSO: U.S. Senate to Mark Zuckerberg: Come in and chat on Russia The disclosure, which … [Link]

Slashdot » Ex-Verizon Lawyer Ajit Pai Confirmed To Second Term As FCC Chair

Monday 2 October 23:10:00 UTC 2017

Congress late Monday approved Ajit Pai for a second term as chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Fast Company reports. "The Senate voted 52-41 (with almost all 'yea' votes coming from Republicans) to give Pai a new five-year term retroactive to July 1, 2017. Without the confirmation, Pai would have had to give up the chair at the end of … [Link]

Mashable » Nissan made this weird, sweat-sensing car seat to detect dehydration

Monday 2 October 22:57:50 UTC 2017

In a peculiar interior design experiment, Nissan covered the car seats and steering wheel on a sporty Nissan Juke vehicle with a material that changes color when it absorbs sweat.  This may seem kind of strange, and perhaps a bit gross. But not to Nissan. The Japanese car company banded with Droog Design to develop the "sweat-sensitive" fabric they call SOAK, … [Link]

Slashdot » General Motors Plans 20 All-Electric Cars By 2023

Monday 2 October 22:50:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: General Motors joined a growing group of automakers promising an emissions-free future for cars by pledging to sell 20 all-electric vehicles by 2023. The largest U.S. automaker, which generates most of its profit with large sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, plans to have a lineup of both battery-powered cars and hydrogen … [Link]

Mashable » Turns out the Equifax hack was even more gigantic

Monday 2 October 22:41:49 UTC 2017

Somehow, the Equifax hack was worse than originally reported.  The company put out a press release on Monday to say the hack exposed the personal information of 145.5 million U.S. consumers, up from the original estimate of 143 million. That comes out to about 45 percent of the U.S. population.  SEE ALSO: Equifax CEO 'retires' after massive data breach Around 8,000 … [Link]

Mashable » New Google Pixel 2 XL leak shows the phone's front display

Monday 2 October 22:34:10 UTC 2017

Google’s big Pixel 2 launch is just a couple days away but the leaks just keep coming. It looks like we can now add the display to the growing list of what we know about the Pixel 2 XL.  SEE ALSO: Leaked pics show Google's new high-end Chromebook 'Pixelbook' and stylus Images of what appear to be both the front-facing displays … [Link]

Mashable » Apple is years ahead of Android competitors with the iPhone X, says analyst

Monday 2 October 22:25:17 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ really do come true.","image":&quot~ iPhone X is here—and we are drooling","sources":~ event,wireless charging,augmented reality,facial recognition,real-time,real-time video,real time,real-time-video,real time video,iphone x,apple event 2017","sec0":null,&q~ event,wireless charging,augmented reality,facial recognition,real-time,real-time video,real time,real-time-video,real time video,iphone x,apple event 2017","videoSeriesName&qu~ More about Apple, Android, Selfie Camera, Tech, and Smartphones [Link]

Mashable » Snapchat is about to launch an augmented reality art project with Jeff Koons

Monday 2 October 22:22:00 UTC 2017

Snapchat has a surprise planned, and per typical Snap fashion, it was shrouded in mystery. The company launched a countdown clock on the site art.snapchat.com Monday afternoon. The only piece of art on the site is a photo of Central Park in New York City with people sitting about in an open lawn.  SEE ALSO: Snapchat's next trick: More dancing hot … [Link]

Slashdot » T-Mobile Won't Stop Claiming Its Network Is Faster Than Verizon's

Monday 2 October 22:10:00 UTC 2017

T-Mobile says it will continue to claim it has the country's fastest LTE network even after the National Advertising Division, a telecom industry watchdog group, "recommended" that it stop doing so in print, TV, and web advertisements. In a statement given to Ars Technica, "NAD previously recognized third-party crowdsourced data as a way to look at network performance, so we … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg creates scholarship to honor late husband

Monday 2 October 22:07:42 UTC 2017

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg found a way to share the generous spirit of her late husband, former SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg, on what would have been his 50th birthday.  The Facebook COO announced in a post today that the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation will partner with KIPP schools, a non-profit network of public charter schools, to offer scholarships … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Shutters Groove Music, Will Move Users To Spotify

Monday 2 October 21:43:53 UTC 2017

Microsoft announced today that it will soon shutter both its Groove Music Pass streaming service and the ability to purchase songs and albums in the Windows Store. The biggest surprise isn't that the service never took off, it's that Microsoft has partnered with Spotify to move all its Groove Music Pass customers over to Spotify. TechCrunch reports: Starting December 31, … [Link]

Mashable » Dating app uses AR to make your search for love even weirder

Monday 2 October 21:29:36 UTC 2017

Augmented reality is changing the way we buy furniture at IKEA, but can it change the way we find love?  That’s what one new dating app is betting onFlirtAR, pronounced “flirter,” launches Monday for iOS. (It’ll be available for Android at the end of this month.) It uses AR to help you find potential matches who are nearby. 🌲🤳🏻Use your phone … [Link]

Slashdot » Supreme Court Won't Hear Kim Dotcom's Civil Forfeiture Case

Monday 2 October 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Kim Dotcom's civil forfeiture case will not be heard before the Supreme Court this term, America's highest court ruled on Monday. The civil forfeiture case was brought 18 months after 2012 American criminal charges related to alleged copyright infringement against Dotcom and his now-shuttered company, Megaupload. In the forfeiture case, prosecutors … [Link]

Mashable » Lines to donate blood in Las Vegas are six hours long

Monday 2 October 21:08:45 UTC 2017

Las Vegas came out in full force to donate blood in the wake of Sunday's tragic concert shooting. Volunteers headed to a city blood center Monday morning and joined the effort to help in the aftermath of 58 dead and hundreds injured in a mass shooting Sunday night at an outdoor concert near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Is Shipping Hundreds of Powerwall Batteries To Puerto Rico

Monday 2 October 20:46:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 quotes a report from Futurism: In a continued streak of goodwill during this year's devastating hurricane season, Tesla has been shipping hundreds of its Powerwall batteries to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Since the hurricane hit on 20 September, much of the U.S. territory has been left without power — about 97 percent, as of 27 … [Link]

Mashable » Is Superman coming back for 'Justice League' in a black suit?

Monday 2 October 20:42:06 UTC 2017

Look, up in the sky! It's a raven! It's a Blackbird SR-71! It's … Superman? That's right, rumor has it that when Superman comes back to life for Justice League — OOPS, SORRY, SPOILER ALERT — he'll have taken the black. This little tidbit coming to you by way of a baseball cap that's for sale over at Superherostuff.com, which posted … [Link]

Mashable » Celebrities and musicians react to Tom Petty's death

Monday 2 October 20:31:18 UTC 2017

UPDATE: Oct. 2, 2017, 9:20 p.m. PT: Tom Petty's manager has confirmed that the singer has died.   News of Tom Petty's death shocked the world Monday as it's still reeling from the deadliest mass shooting in American history during a concert in Las Vegas on Sunday. Petty was 66 years old.  Petty died Monday night at UCLA Medical Center surrounded … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Amazon Updates Alexa API to Support New Smart Home Experiences

Monday 2 October 20:27:46 UTC 2017

Amazon recently announced that it has updated the Alexa Smart Home Skill API to support new experiences it has added to its Alexa devices. [Link]

Mashable » Tom Petty, American rock 'n' roll everyman, dead at 66

Monday 2 October 20:17:26 UTC 2017

9:07 p.m. PT UPDATE: Tom Petty's manager announced that the singer has died.  Tom Petty, the gaunt, unassuming rocker with the sly grin, sleepy demeanor and biting voice whose decades of American rock 'n' roll hitmaking put him among the best-selling music artists of all time, has died, his manager announced Monday night. He was 66. "He suffered cardiac arrest at … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Artificial organs used in operations without approval for humans

Monday 2 October 20:15:00 UTC 2017

Several artificial tissues manufactured at University College London were not produced to accepted quality standards but were transplanted into people [Link]

New Scientist – News » Kids suing nations over climate change wildfire links are right

Monday 2 October 20:13:00 UTC 2017

A group of children is aiming to take 47 nations to court over links between climate change and forest fires. Science is on their side, says Richard Schiffman [Link]

Mashable » General Motors unveils plan to release 20 electric vehicles by 2023

Monday 2 October 20:03:05 UTC 2017

General Motors already rolled out an all-electric car in the past year. By 2023, it plans to sell at least 20 vehicles running on only electric power.  SEE ALSO: Toyota and Mazda join forces to develop electric vehicles The announcement Monday comes after Volvo, Ford, Toyota, Audi, and other companies committed to electric futures as well. And don't forget about early … [Link]

Slashdot » Super Fast NVMe RAID Comes To Threadripper

Monday 2 October 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, writing for ZDNet: A week later than planned, AMD has released a free driver update for the X399 platform to support NVMe RAID. The driver allows X399 motherboards to combine multiple NVMe SSDs together into a RAID 0, 1, or 10 array, which will greatly enhance disk performance or data integrity. Benchmarking carried out by AMD shows that … [Link]

Mashable » Little kid pranks unsuspecting motorists stuck in traffic

Monday 2 October 19:59:08 UTC 2017

What do you do when you're a kid stuck in traffic? Mess with everyone around you, of course. A few weeks ago, these very excitable motorists noticed a little kid in a mask popping up in his seat in an attempt at scaring others stuck in traffic on the M5 near Bristol, England. They may not have been too startled, … [Link]

Mashable » Jolly guy's laugh is so contagious that even chickens had to join in

Monday 2 October 19:53:25 UTC 2017

Imagine having a laugh so infectious, even animals join in on the fun.  Taken at what looks to be a kind of farming expo, this interviewee's laugh is so contagious, it managed to get the chickens going. Per Australia's Nine.com.au, the segment is from RTV Noord's Expeditie Grunnen. Mid-interview, the pair begin to laugh and everything just escalates from there. SEE … [Link]

Mashable » In a crisis, Facebook's far from perfect—but still essential

Monday 2 October 19:51:52 UTC 2017

Las Vegas resident Angela Mendoza woke up to missed calls and texts asking her if she was okay. She responded to her friends and family, then checked the news and social media—which led her to post an offer of transportation for people in need. "I think since we're so tied in on social media now, it's one of the first places … [Link]

Mashable » Tom Petty dies after being hospitalized for cardiac arrest

Monday 2 October 19:41:37 UTC 2017

UPDATED Oct. 2, 2017 at 10 p.m. PT with information about Tom Petty's death provided in an official statement.  Tom Petty, one of the bestselling music artists of the modern age whose recent tour just wrapped up last week in Los Angeles, died Monday night after being hospitalized for cardiac arrest. He was 66. Petty was transported to UCLA Medical Center … [Link]

Mashable » Denzel Washington surprised a 86-year-old woman at her doorstep and it'll melt your heart

Monday 2 October 19:39:51 UTC 2017

Here’s another thing to add on the list of reasons why Denzel Washington is the most down to earth actor around.  Washington surprised 86-year-old Juanita Hubbard at her Chicago home on Saturday after spotting her family on the sidewalk. According to ABC Chicago, Washington was in the area trying to find Leon's BBQ.  SEE ALSO: Aziz Ansari and his Emmy surprised … [Link]

Mashable » 'Super Smash Bros. Melee' is starting to outgrow its controllers

Monday 2 October 19:34:47 UTC 2017

For more than 16 years, the competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee scene has held strong. The GameCube controllers used to play Melee, however, aren't holding up nearly as well as the competitive scene is. In an extensive report published Tuesday, Kotaku outlined the current state of GameCube controllers — as the years drag on, optimal controllers are becoming increasingly rare. With … [Link]

Mashable » This dog can spell her own name

Monday 2 October 19:24:52 UTC 2017

Dogs are capable of learning a lot of different tricks, but this owner took it to another level and taught her dog how to spell her own name.  Seems like treats are always the best motivator.  Read more…More about Dogs, Cute, Dog, Cute Dogs, and Puppy [Link]

Mashable » Jason Aldean and other celebs react to the Las Vegas shooting

Monday 2 October 19:22:37 UTC 2017

The shooting happened while Aldean was performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. The gunman was perched on the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel and was found dead along with 10 rifles. This mass shooting has left at least 58 people dead and more than 500 injured.  Read more…More about Music, Mashable Video, Country, Performance, and Shooting … [Link]

Slashdot » High Sierra's Disk Utility Does Not Recognize Unformatted Disks

Monday 2 October 19:20:00 UTC 2017

macOS 10.13's Disk Utility 17.0 (1626) does not recognize raw drives, reads a blog post, shared by several readers. From the post: Diskutil does recognize the drive. We'll use it to perform a quick, cursory format (e.g., diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ NewDisk GPT disk0) to make the disk appear in Disk Utility, where further modifications can more easily be made. Plugging … [Link]

Mashable » SNES Classic is sold out everywhere, but you still have a chance to score one

Monday 2 October 19:15:19 UTC 2017

One year later and here we are again: There's a pint-sized morsel of gaming nostalgia from Nintendo that everyone wants and no one can buy. Everyone's big shot to score a Super NES Classic came and went on Sept. 29, the day it came out. It's currently selling on eBay for around $130 to $160. That's the same basic range as … [Link]

Mashable » Samsung and ADT partner to launch new smart home security kit

Monday 2 October 19:07:55 UTC 2017

Samsung announced a new partnership with ADT today that will make automated smart homes even more secure. The companies are launching a new self-installed security product powered by Samsung's SmartThings platform and ADT's professional monitoring services.  The new Home Security Starter Kit ($549) from both companies comes with a security hub, two door and window detectors, and small motion detector. The … [Link]

Mashable » Every euphemism people are using instead of calling Stephen Paddock a terrorist

Monday 2 October 19:05:50 UTC 2017

64-year-old Stephen Paddock is responsible for an attack that left at least 58 people dead and more than 500 people injured in Las Vegas last night — but don't worry, officials want you to know, at least he's not a terrorist. Over the past 12 hours, elected officials and select media outlets have been extremely careful about how they've chosen to … [Link]

Mashable » Snapchat gives an unfiltered look at shock and aftermath of Las Vegas shooting

Monday 2 October 18:56:47 UTC 2017

A lone gunman fired into a crowd of people in Las Vegas on Sunday—and the crisis is still reverberating on Snapchat. User-submitted Snaps, curated by Snapchat editors, provided an on-the-ground look at the raw emotions in the midst of the largest mass shooting in U.S. history like no other platform or media outlet.  The story, which could still be viewed as … [Link]

Mashable » Have a pint from this home beer tap that uses sound waves to foam up your drink

Monday 2 October 18:55:21 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. The taste of your beer can change drastically between its initial brew and when it hits your tongue. At least, according to the guys behind the Fizzics Waytap.  When you're at home and looking to crack open a cold one, you deserve to have … [Link]

Mashable » If you're going to DIY your own cosplay for Comic Con, here are some tools to help you get started

Monday 2 October 18:43:32 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. New York Comic Con is this weekend, with Halloween not too far behind. This can only mean one thing: it's cosplay season.  Instead of buying a complete costume online, some people like to make their own. And from personal experience, making a cosplay is … [Link]

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: Why Would Anyone Want To Spend $1,000 on a Smartphone?

Monday 2 October 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the $1,000 sticker price for the base model of iPhone X, the latest flagship smartphone from the company which goes on sale next month, is "a value price for the technology that you're getting." An anonymous reader writes: I simply don't understand why anyone would want to spend such amount on a phone. … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Dropbox API v1 Officially Retired

Monday 2 October 18:30:46 UTC 2017

Dropbox originally deprecated the Dropbox API v1 in June of 2016, with a final cutoff date of June 28th 2017. At the request of developers, Dropbox extended the cutoff date to September 28, 2017. [Link]

Mashable » More daytime images of the Larsen C iceberg have come in, and they're amazing

Monday 2 October 18:28:39 UTC 2017

In July, one of the largest icebergs ever recorded — measuring in at about the size of Delaware and containing a volume of ice twice the size of Lake Erie — broke off the Larsen C Ice Shelf in northwest Antarctica.  The event, which took place during the frigid blackness of the Antarctic winter, was detected using satellite instruments that could … [Link]

Mashable » Leave the tabletop aquariums behind and mount your aquarium on the wall

Monday 2 October 18:17:29 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Fish make great pets. They’re easy to take care of, you never have to walk them, and they’re really good listeners. Best of all though: they get to live in their own self-contained home. However, if you’re bored with the same old tabletop aquarium … [Link]

Mashable » Channel your inner Wolverine with this self-healing backpack

Monday 2 October 18:11:14 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Fabric seems to be evolving faster than humans now that it has its own healing factor. With just a little friction, holes and punctures in these materials can repair themselves in seconds.  SEE ALSO: This next-level jacket for action lovers will keep your phone … [Link]

Mashable » This is the perfect birthday gift for that friend who just won't go digital

Monday 2 October 18:01:08 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. We all know that person who refuses to use a Kindle, still gets physical magazines, and learns about current events from a newspaper instead of Twitter. Whether it's your grandma, your dad or your friend who insists on only listening to vinyl, there's no … [Link]

Slashdot » US Telco Fined $3 Million in Domain Renewal Blunder

Monday 2 October 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Catalin Cimpanu, writing for BleepingComputer: Sorenson Communications, a Utah-based telecommunications provider, received a whopping $3 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last week for failing to renew a crucial domain name used by a part of the local 911 emergency service. The affected service was the Video Relay System (VRS), a video calling service that telecommunication firms must … [Link]

Mashable » Uber offers free rides, Lyft suspends surge pricing in Las Vegas after deadly mass shooting

Monday 2 October 17:56:28 UTC 2017

UPDATED (3:15 p.m. ET) Updated to include additional services offered by Lyft In the chaotic wake of the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, Uber and Lyft have altered their prices in Las Vegas so people could exit the chaos without being charged exorbitant fees. The swift moves come after ride services have been criticized in the past for price … [Link]

Mashable » Malala is off to college and needs your packing advice

Monday 2 October 17:54:34 UTC 2017

Malala Yousafzai is off to college and asked for packing help this weekend.  The 20-year-old activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner will attend Oxford University this year as a freshman studying philosophy, politics, and economics. Yousafzai, a staunch advocate for global education, turned to Twitter on Saturday morning to ask her followers for their best packing advice.  SEE ALSO: Malala wrote … [Link]

Mashable » Order these creepy, color-changing organ lights in time for Halloween

Monday 2 October 17:47:01 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Forget the dangly fake skeleton hanging on your door and decorate your home with the organs it left behind instead.  Image: THINKGEEKThese realistic-looking organ lights are the perfect ornaments for your spooky house set-up. The lights change colors when they’re plugged in, giving them … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Dolphins that work with humans to catch fish have unique accent

Monday 2 October 17:46:00 UTC 2017

Some bottlenose dolphins cooperate with Brazilian fishers, probably for mutual benefit, and these animals don't whistle like others in their group [Link]

New Scientist – News » The mysterious bright spots on Ceres may have a common origin

Monday 2 October 17:45:59 UTC 2017

The dwarf planet Ceres is dappled with mysterious bright splotches. Their make-up varies with location, but they may all come from the same process [Link]

New Scientist – News » Methane burps on young Mars helped it keep its liquid water

Monday 2 October 17:45:58 UTC 2017

The mystery of how water on Mars lasted for millions of years may come down to methane explosions that warmed the planet enough to melt ice and make rivers flow [Link]

New Scientist – News » We’re nearly ready to use CRISPR to target far more diseases

Monday 2 October 17:45:57 UTC 2017

Forget editing embryos. We’re nearly ready to use CRISPR to change DNA inside our own bodies to treat many disorders, from hepatitis B to muscular dystrophy [Link]

Mashable » People are demanding that the Las Vegas attack be labeled as an act of terrorism

Monday 2 October 17:33:25 UTC 2017

How do we distinguish a crime from a terrorist attack? It's a convoluted conversation that appears after every horrific mass shooting in America, and Sunday night's Las Vegas attack—the deadliest in U.S. history—is no exception.  As many on Twitter have pointed out, the president did not use the words "terror" or "terrorist" during his remarks about the shooting, despite his flippant … [Link]

Mashable » Mark Zuckerberg wades into gun control debate with post about the Las Vegas shooting

Monday 2 October 17:29:19 UTC 2017

As the fallout from the horrific shooting in Las Vegas continued to ripple around the country on Monday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a brief statement condemning the shooting and sharing, for him, a strong stance on another hot button political debate: gun control. SEE ALSO: Zuckerberg fires back at Trump over Facebook’s role in the U.S. election On … [Link]

Mashable » This browser extension makes you a more ethical shopper with just one click

Monday 2 October 17:21:56 UTC 2017

Your online shopping habits aren't as ethical as they could be. A new startup called Impakt wants to change that. Based in New York City, Impakt is on a mission to build a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox users, helping you buy products from companies that pay workers fair wages, promote equality, don't harm the environment, and align with your … [Link]

Slashdot » Goldman Sachs Explores a New World: Trading Bitcoin

Monday 2 October 17:15:00 UTC 2017

Several readers share a report: Goldman Sachs is weighing a new trading operation dedicated to bitcoin and other digital currencies, the first blue-chip Wall Street firm preparing to deal directly in this burgeoning yet controversial market (Editor's note: the link from WSJ, which originally reported this development, could be paywalled; alternative source), according to people familiar with the matter. Goldman's … [Link]

Mashable » Every iPhone X sold will bring Samsung a big payday

Monday 2 October 17:14:22 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ really do come true.","image":&quot~ iPhone X is here—and we are drooling","sources":~ event,wireless charging,augmented reality,facial recognition,real-time,real-time video,real time,real-time-video,real time video,iphone x,apple event 2017","sec0":null,&q~ event,wireless charging,augmented reality,facial recognition,real-time,real-time video,real time,real-time-video,real time video,iphone x,apple event 2017","videoSeriesName&qu~ More about Apple, Samsung, Supply Chain, Iphone X, and Tech [Link]

Mashable » Mariah Carey already has her Christmas tree up

Monday 2 October 17:07:13 UTC 2017

It’s officially October and what better way to celebrate Halloween than putting up an enormous Christmas tree two months early.  "All I Want For Christmas Is You" singer, Mariah Carey, was seen on Good Morning Britain for a live interview to promote her UK Christmas tour in December. But the decorated fir tree behind her, just a week and some change … [Link]

Mashable » Learn Arduino by building 15 projects from scratch

Monday 2 October 17:03:22 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. It's no secret that Arduino is the go-to resource for inventors, artists, programmers, and designers alike who want to create a compelling interactive object. Comprised of a user-friendly circuit board and software that can run on your home computer, the open-source platform makes electronics prototyping … [Link]

Mashable » Apple has an iPhone payment plan for people who hate wireless carriers

Monday 2 October 17:01:19 UTC 2017

Anyone who decides to buy the latest iPhone face the same dilemma: Do I buy from Apple or from my wireless carrier? Buying directly from Apple typically means either a big one-time payment or joining the company's iPhone Upgrade Program. That program, introduced in 2015 alongside the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, splits the cost of your phone into 24 … [Link]

Mashable » The biggest test for the new Uber is right now in London

Monday 2 October 16:52:37 UTC 2017

An Uber executive quit this week. That alone is not shocking given the number of employees who had fled the ride-hailing giant over the last year.  But the departure of Jo Bertram is something a bit different. She served as the general manager of Northern Europe over the last four years, and her resignation arrived on the eve of Uber's new … [Link]

Mashable » How Sofia Vergara and her husband 'Netflix and chill'

Monday 2 October 16:46:24 UTC 2017

Actress Sofia Vergara reveals what her and husband Joe Manganiello do for a cozy date night in. The power couple married in 2015. Vergara is well known for her role in Modern Family, while Manganiello has appeared in the Magic Mike films and HBO's True Blood. Read more…More about Entertainment, Tv, Movies, Celebrities, and Celebrity [Link]

Slashdot » We're Not Living in a Computer Simulation, New Research Shows

Monday 2 October 16:31:00 UTC 2017

A reader shares a report: A team of theoretical physicists from Oxford University in the UK has shown that life and reality cannot be merely simulations generated by a massive extraterrestrial computer. The finding — an unexpectedly definite one — arose from the discovery of a novel link between gravitational anomalies and computational complexity. In a paper published in the … [Link]

Mashable » This smart keychain tracks your keys so you don't have to

Monday 2 October 16:29:06 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. If you didn't know better, you might think that your keys have a mind of their own. How else would they wind up sandwiched between your couches' cushions half the time when you swore you left them on the counter? Thankfully, the team over at … [Link]

Mashable » Uber to open super sleek lounges in 33 malls across U.S.

Monday 2 October 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Uber wants its customers to relax, and not just when they're in cars.  Enter the "Uber Lounge," a new initiative in partnership with Westfield to open physical pick-up and drop-off locations that offer Uber riders and drivers—or anyone really—seating as well as ride assistance in some locations. The development is a grand showing of Uber's branding, an advertisement beyond billboards and … [Link]

Slashdot » Navy Returns to Compasses and Pencils To Help Avoid Collisions at Sea

Monday 2 October 15:57:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: Urgent new orders went out earlier this month for United States Navy warships that have been plagued by deadly mishaps this year. More sleep and no more 100-hour workweeks for sailors. Ships steaming in crowded waters like those near Singapore and Tokyo will now broadcast their positions as do other vessels. And ships whose … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook to throw 1,000 more humans at its advertising problem

Monday 2 October 15:55:16 UTC 2017

Facebook may be a technology company, but it's starting to embrace the importance of humans. In the wake of a scandal over its influence on the 2016 election, Facebook announced Monday it's hiring more than 1,000 people to review ads on the social network.  Facebook announced the hiring increase along with new initiatives to improve authenticity and transparency of its advertising, … [Link]

Mashable » The over/under toilet paper debate to be settled one and for all in 'Splatoon 2'

Monday 2 October 15:42:36 UTC 2017

One of the most divisive debates in modern history is taking centerstage in Europe this weekend: Do you let the end of toilet paper hang in front of the roll or behind it? European Splatoon 2 players will be choosing sides in the ongoing battle between over-hangers and under-hangers in this weekend's Splatfest to determine once-and-for-all what the superior method of … [Link]

Mashable » Trump shocks world with measured response to Las Vegas massacre

Monday 2 October 15:37:25 UTC 2017

The morning after a shooter opened fire at a concert in Las Vegas, killing at least 50 and wounding hundreds more, President Donald Trump began to read from a teleprompter.  The president praised law enforcement, saying that "in moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one."  SEE ALSO: Tom Price flies out of Trump’s White House, and everybody’s making … [Link]

Mashable » Celebs are sharing embarrassing puberty throwback pics for a good cause

Monday 2 October 15:31:50 UTC 2017

Stephen Colbert is challenging celebrities to post awkward pre-teen pictures of themselves on Twitter using the hashtag #Puberme. For every photo shared, he's donating $1,000 to Puerto Rico, and Nick Kroll agreed to match that. Read more…More about Celebrities, Mashable Video, Funding, Celebs, and Money [Link]

Mashable » John Oliver calls President Trump's Puerto Rico comments 'horribly racist'

Monday 2 October 15:27:27 UTC 2017

On Sunday's Last Week Tonight John Oliver called out President Trump for his response to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. Trump went on Twitter this weekend to rant about the Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz's poor leadership and how citizens want "everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort."  Oliver coined Trump's … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Simpsons' premiere ended with an appeal for aid in Puerto Rico

Monday 2 October 15:24:39 UTC 2017

The Simpsons got real at the end of its Season 29 premiere on Sunday evening. After more than a week of politically charged chatter around the devastation in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, The Simpsons cut through the bullshit to say something meaningful. Everyone, stop bickering and help these suffering people. SEE ALSO: Hurricane Maria slams Puerto Rico, Caribbean — here's … [Link]

Mashable » Court says the FBI doesn't have to reveal the cost of hacking the San Bernardino iPhone

Monday 2 October 15:21:11 UTC 2017

You know how super-expensive restaurants don't always put prices on their menus? I'm not saying the FBI paid an enormous sum to access a phone used by one of the perpetrators of the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. But I am saying that the FBI just won a court battle for the right not to tell the public how … [Link]

Mashable » President Trump thought dedicating a golf trophy to hurricane victims was a helpful idea

Monday 2 October 15:19:40 UTC 2017

As Puerto Ricans continue struggling for access to food and water, in New Jersey on Sunday, President Trump dedicated the trophy of the President's Cup golf tournament to hurricane victims.  SEE ALSO: Here's where Trump spent the past 10 days as Puerto Rico collapsed While presenting the trophy to U.S. team captain Steve Stricker, Trump, referring to hurricane victims, said, "We’re … [Link]

Mashable » 4 seconds is all it takes to convince you birds are evil

Monday 2 October 15:15:29 UTC 2017

You know all dogs are good dogs, but do you know all birds are evil? A short video posted by reddit user, Toadyfinan, Sunday should be enough to convince you. A woman is shown merely turning her back on the glass, when a Eurasian eagle-owl flies and crashes into a window at her at a local zoo. The owl was coming … [Link]

Slashdot » Google Scraps Controversial Policy That Gave Free Access To Paywalled Articles Through Search

Monday 2 October 15:15:00 UTC 2017

For years, Google has provided a nifty trick to get around subscriptions for newspapers and magazines. But the company is now doing away with it. From a report: Google is ending its controversial First Click Free (FCF) policy that publishers loathed because it required them to allow Google search results access to news articles hidden behind a paywall. The company … [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau had the PERFECT 'Simpsons' cameo

Monday 2 October 15:13:51 UTC 2017

The Simpsons used its Season 29 premiere to pay homage to the cultural phenomenon of Game of Thrones — and they decided to make it extra authentic with a cameo from Jaime Lannister himself, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.  Executive producer Matt Selman told EW that Coster-Waldau would be playing "a character not unlike Jaime," with a "surprising and sexy connection to one of … [Link]

Mashable » This NFL rookie gave away his first paycheck for a good cause

Monday 2 October 14:59:02 UTC 2017

Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt of the NFL Texans are going out of their way to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. Watson gave away his entire pay check, and J.J. Watts raised an impressive amount of money via Twitter. Read more…More about Nfl, Football, Social Good, Houston, and Texas [Link]

Mashable » The $1,000,000 text message that remotely hacks your iPhone

Monday 2 October 14:58:51 UTC 2017

iPhone’s can, in fact, be compromised remotely. Cybersecurity expert Ondrej Krehel explains how powerful zero-day exploits like this are rare and difficult to create, but can also be extremely lucrative. Read more…More about Apple, Iphone, Ios, Cybersecurity, and Hack [Link]

Slashdot » Code is Too Hard To Think About

Monday 2 October 14:35:00 UTC 2017

From a longform piece on The Atlantic: What made programming so difficult was that it required you to think like a computer. The strangeness of it was in some sense more vivid in the early days of computing, when code took the form of literal ones and zeros. Anyone looking over a programmer's shoulder as they pored over line after … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Star Trek: Discovery' episode that changed the universe

Monday 2 October 14:22:43 UTC 2017

Previously, on the drama surrounding Star Trek: Discovery …  CBS decided to air a single episode of a two-part premiere on its network, then insisted anyone who wanted to watch the second half had to sign up for $6-a-month streaming service CBS All Access.  The US audience, including hardcore Trekkies, tore itself apart in angst over whether to pay yet another … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Medicine Nobel for scientists who unpicked our body clocks

Monday 2 October 14:21:00 UTC 2017

Scientists who uncovered how genes build cellular body clocks and keep a 24-hour rhythm have been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine [Link]

Mashable » 'Stranger Things' just ruined all your pumpkin spice dreams

Monday 2 October 14:18:29 UTC 2017

Tis the season for all things pumpkin, including creepy Stranger Things posters. Netflix released a disturbing new teaser for Stranger Things 2 just in time for fall, which features Sheriff Hopper (David Harbour) shining a flashlight on what appears a pumpkin graveyard. SEE ALSO: The Duffers insist we call it 'Stranger Things 2' like it's a movie sequel The pumpkins … [Link]

Mashable » Google offers an olive branch to publishers — but will they want it?

Monday 2 October 13:36:22 UTC 2017

Suddenly, everyone realizes the importance of quality journalism — and has a plan to "help." Google announced Monday that it will be offering its biggest olive branch yet to publishers: new ways to attract subscribers, as well as a change in how paywalled articles can be accessed through search. It's an important shift for Google, which remains a major traffic driver for … [Link]

Mashable » Sony's new PlayStation VR headset is a little nicer than the last one

Monday 2 October 13:30:13 UTC 2017

When it came out in October 2016, the PlayStation VR did not exactly wow us: It looked nice and modern, but its tracking system and Move controllers left a lot to be desired.  Now, Sony has a new version of the headset which improves on the original in several ways, but only fixes one of the bigger issues — and only … [Link]

Mashable » Nobel Prize goes to researchers who uncovered the inner workings of the biological clock

Monday 2 October 13:22:43 UTC 2017

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on Monday morning to Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael Young for their discoveries of the molecular underpinnings of the circadian rhythms that help organisms adapt to our 24-hour days. The scientists “were able to peek inside our biological clock and elucidate its inner workings,” said Thomas Perlmann, Secretary of the … [Link]

Mashable » There's one major way to help the shooting victims if you're near Las Vegas right now

Monday 2 October 13:12:09 UTC 2017

Donate blood. As morning dawns on Las Vegas in the aftermath of Sunday night's horrific mass shooting, which killed at least 50 people and injured more than 400, that's the biggest thing anyone in the area — or even outside the area — can do to help. It's the singular plea echoing across social media again and again in the hours … [Link]

Mashable » Roku's new 4k streaming stick is just $70

Monday 2 October 13:00:00 UTC 2017

The new Apple TV 4K now has even more competition. Roku just unveiled a new lineup of streaming players, including a new 4K and HDR-ready streaming stick that costs just $69.99. SEE ALSO: Comcast is launching a live TV streaming service for cord-cutters The Roku Streaming Stick+ is an updated version of the company's streaming stick that adds 4K and HDR … [Link]

Slashdot » Las Vegas Shooting Leaves at Least 50 Dead, More Than 200 Wounded

Monday 2 October 12:50:19 UTC 2017

Readers share a report: At least 50 people are dead and more than 200 wounded after a shooting late Sunday at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip (Editor's note: the link could be paywalled; alternative source). Police said they were first alerted to reports of an incident at 10:08 p.m. and then determined there was a shooter on … [Link]

Mashable » Google algorithm fail puts 4chan's wrongly named Las Vegas gunman on top of search

Monday 2 October 12:42:52 UTC 2017

In times of crisis, can you trust an algorithm to deliver the most accurate and up-to-date news you're craving to get?  SEE ALSO: A troll explains why he tweeted a fake 'missing dad' picture from the Las Vegas shooting In the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting that left more than 50 dead and 200 injured, the answer seems to be … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Life extension may prove to be a double-edged sword

Monday 2 October 12:35:17 UTC 2017

Today's middle aged people could routinely live to 120 or more. That means we have time to prepare [Link]

Slashdot » How Cisco Fixed An Undocumented SSH Support Tunnel In Umbrella

Monday 2 October 12:30:00 UTC 2017

"Vulnerability due to always-on SSH Tunnel — RESOLVED" reads a Cisco service update. An anonymous reader writes: Described by a recent security blog post, Cisco hid a SSH backdoor in its Cisco Umbrella product, which they were using for support. Affected organizations can install version 2.1.0 of their virtual appliance which has the backdoor removed. Cisco has described Umbrella as … [Link]

Mashable » Poor little boy swallows party horn, honks every time he breathes

Monday 2 October 12:17:16 UTC 2017

Oh dear. This poor little boy got a rather nasty surprise after accidentally inhaling a whistle from a party horn.  A video the 8-year-old unnamed boy from San Miguel de Tucuman in Argentina was posted by his doctor. It shows him honking every time he breaths in.  Doctor Santiago Gomez Zuviría posted the video to raise awareness about toy safety … [Link]

Mashable » Terry Crews wants you to sit in his Egyptian-inspired chair

Monday 2 October 11:46:03 UTC 2017

Terry loves interior design! Known for his role as the muscular but sweet Sergeant Terry Jeffords on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and as the bombastic hyper-masculine face of Old Spice, Terry Crews has now turned his talents from acting to furniture design. SEE ALSO: This Old Spice Ad Will Make You Empathize With Stubble Crews went on The Tonight Show with Jimmy … [Link]

Mashable » Trump tweets 'warmest condolences' in response to Las Vegas shooting

Monday 2 October 11:31:20 UTC 2017

The U.S. is waking up to the terrible news of the Las Vegas shooting at a country music festival, which left at least 50 dead and 200 injured.  SEE ALSO: A troll explains why he tweeted a fake 'missing dad' picture from the Las Vegas shooting President Trump is an early starter and immediately tweeted his 'warmest' condolences:  My warmest condolences … [Link]

Mashable » 'Tonight has been beyond horrific,' says country star who was on stage during Las Vegas shooting

Monday 2 October 11:08:53 UTC 2017

Jason Aldean was playing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival when the mass shooting that left at least 50 people dead and more than 200 injured took place.  SEE ALSO: A troll explains why he tweeted a fake 'missing dad' picture from the Las Vegas shooting The country superstar took to Instagram to express his disbelief over what happened: Tonight has … [Link]

Mashable » Elmo hung out with an 80-year-old tortoise at the Singapore Zoo

Monday 2 October 11:06:54 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ also met an 80-year-old tortoise, and a sleepy sloth.","image":&quo~ day out at Singapore Zoo meant hanging out with a particularly curious python","sources":[{~ street,endangered species,singapore zoo,elmo","sec0":nul~ street,endangered species,singapore zoo,elmo","videoSeriesNam~ More about Animals, Singapore, Sesame Street, Endangered Species, and Singapore Zoo [Link]

Mashable » The Crown Estate didn't give 'Star Wars' permission to film on the Queen's land

Monday 2 October 10:50:25 UTC 2017

Would you be tempted to let Star Wars film in your back garden? Queen Elizabeth II wouldn't. SEE ALSO: Star Wars Halloween costumes for your pet because it's never too early to start planning Her Majesty's estate turned down a request a few years ago to film Star Wars scenes at Windsor Great Park, according to the BBC. While we would … [Link]

Mashable » Bumble launches LinkedIn-style feature so you can network while you swipe

Monday 2 October 10:41:25 UTC 2017

Swiping on Bumble won't just land you with a date. You can also find a new BFF, and now—with the launch of a new feature—a new job.  Bumble has just launched Bumble Bizz, a new business networking mode which lets users professionally network, connect, and mentor as they swipe through the app's 20 million-strong community.  SEE ALSO: I tried to find … [Link]

Mashable » A troll explains why he tweeted a fake 'missing dad' picture from the Las Vegas shooting

Monday 2 October 10:21:55 UTC 2017

It’s a sad state of affairs when it has become routine to see hoaxes and fake news doing the rounds during big breaking news stories. And the latest shooting in Las Vegas is no exception.  SEE ALSO: Never believe any breaking report on Twitter naming this comedian as the attacker One particular type of trolling that has recently rose to prominence … [Link]

Mashable » That moment when Harrison Ford forgets your name… and you're Ryan Gosling

Monday 2 October 9:27:59 UTC 2017

Ever had that moment when you've been working with someone for ages, then you just totally blank on their name? Harrison Ford did, in front of a studio audience. With Ryan Gosling. SEE ALSO: Harrison Ford sips scotch and out-jokes Jimmy Fallon The two went on The Graham Norton Show to talk up their new movie Blade Runner 2049, and … [Link]

Mashable » Margot Robbie tattoos a member of a chat show production team because Harrison Ford said no

Monday 2 October 9:16:06 UTC 2017

A toe tattoo from Harley Quinn? What could go wrong!? SEE ALSO: Harrison Ford talks punching Ryan Gosling on Fallon, regrets very little Turns out Margot Robbie is actually a tattoo artist as well as an actress. She went on The Graham Norton Show on Friday and talked about the time in Suicide Squad when she gave herself and co-star … [Link]

Mashable » Huawei Mate 10 Pro is looking pretty in new leak

Monday 2 October 9:03:23 UTC 2017

Huawei Mate 10, the upcoming flagship from the second-largest smartphone maker in the world, is officially coming out Oct. 16.  Now, thanks to prolific leaker of mobile things, Evan Blass or @evleaks, we have an early look of what the most powerful iteration of that device, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, will look like.  SEE ALSO: Huawei isn't impressed with the … [Link]

Slashdot » Will London Monetize Wifi Tracking Data From Its Tube Passengers?

Monday 2 October 8:34:00 UTC 2017

New questions are arising about how much privacy you'll have on London's underground trains. "For a month at the end of last year, Wi-fi signals were used to track passenger journeys across the network," writes Gizmodo. "The idea is that as we travel across the Tube network, Wi-fi beacons in stations would detect the unique ID — the MAC address … [Link]

Mashable » Man tries to escape hotel bill by crossing a telephone wire over to the next building

Monday 2 October 8:17:58 UTC 2017

If you're afraid of heights, look away. A man in China tried fleeing a hotel bill by escaping through a high-rise window, and climbing onto thin telephone wires to get to another building all the way across the street. Unfortunately, he appears to have underestimated how difficult that would be, and he's seen struggling to keep his balance, even swinging his … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2456: Mark Zuckerberg sings Both Sides Now

Monday 2 October 7:01:32 UTC 2017

To the tune of Joni Mitchell… [Link]

Slashdot » Russian Defense Company Demos A One-Person Flying Car

Monday 2 October 5:34:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes Futurism: Russian defense company Kalashnikov has revealed their single-person flying car… As reported by Popular Mechanics, its body consists of a simple metal frame with a set of eight rotors used to lift it off the ground. A pair of joysticks are used to control the craft, while a set batteries found beneath the rider's seat … [Link]

Mashable » Balenciaga models wore Crocs on a Paris runway, so you can dust yours off and wear them proudly now

Monday 2 October 4:25:48 UTC 2017

Crocs (and closet Crocs) fans, it isn't April Fools'. Fashion house Balenciaga just sent models down the runway in Paris wearing platform Crocs, elevating the polarising squishy foam shoe to new heights — quite literally. SEE ALSO: Ikea is 'deeply flattered' by this $2,145 high fashion homage to their humble tote The new, limited edition Crocs will only be sold at … [Link]

Slashdot » Donate Your Noise To Xiph/Mozilla's Deep-Learning Noise Suppression Project

Monday 2 October 2:19:51 UTC 2017

Mozilla-backed researchers are working on a real-time noise suppression algorithm using a neural network — and they want your noise! Long-time Slashdot reader jmv writes: The Mozilla Research RRNoise project combines classic signal processing with deep learning, but it's small and fast. No expensive GPUs required — it runs easily on a Raspberry Pi. The result is easier to tune … [Link]

New Scientist – News » How a wave of your coffee cup or spoon could switch TV channels

Monday 2 October 2:11:56 UTC 2017

Everyday objects could soon be used to control your television thanks to a new technique that uses a webcam to recognise movements [Link]

Slashdot » Ask Slashdot: What's The Best Open Source Hardware to Tinker With?

Monday 2 October 2:04:00 UTC 2017

This question comes from an anonymous Slashdot reader who just got an Arduino and started tinkering with electronics: I'm quite amazed at the quality of the hardware, software, and the available tutorials and (mostly free) literature. A very exciting and inexpensive way to get a basic understanding of electronics and the art of microcontroller programming. Now that I'm infected with … [Link]

Mashable » Jamie finally gets a shot at fatherhood in 'Outlander' episode 4 and it's heartbreaking

Monday 2 October 1:00:00 UTC 2017

This recap contains spoilers for Outlander Season 3, episode 4, titled "Of Lost Things." Season 3 of Outlander isn't just a story about Claire and Jamie finding their way back together — in many ways, it's also a story of parenthood, and the sacrifices that all of our characters make for the people they love.  While Claire is able to raise … [Link]

Slashdot » Bold Eagles: Angry Birds Are Ripping $80,000 Drones Out of the Sky

Monday 2 October 0:04:00 UTC 2017

schwit1 found this story in the Wall Street Journal: Daniel Parfitt thought he'd found the perfect drone for a two-day mapping job in a remote patch of the Australian Outback. The roughly $80,000 machine had a wingspan of 7 feet and resembled a stealth bomber. There was just one problem. His machine raised the hackles of one prominent local resident: … [Link]

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