LGR’s Clint Basinger plumbs the depths of retro computing—and his YouTube comments by Lee Hutchinson on 2020-09-22 15:15 (#58EQ0) We sat down with the star of one of our favorite channels to go on a journey of discovery.
The story of cheaper batteries, from smartphones to Teslas by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-22 14:06 (#53SKT) The economics of cheaper batteries—and why they're good news for the planet.
All your Xbox Series X and S preorder links in one place by Jeff Dunn on 2020-09-22 13:39 (#58EJ0) New Xbox preorders go live today. Here's what to know and where to get one.
Facebook vows to restrict users if US election descends into chaos by Financial Times on 2020-09-22 13:32 (#58EE2) Head of global affairs says Facebook could take exceptional measures.
Digital equity program in Maryland adds Plume Wi-Fi to its Internet access by Jim Salter on 2020-09-22 13:00 (#58EE3) Raw performance is nice, but direct end-user support is the crucial feature.
A tip from a kid helps detect iOS and Android scam apps’ 2.4 million downloads by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-22 11:15 (#58EA4) Smartphone apps raked in ~$500,000, in part thanks to shilling on TikTok and Instagram.
New Xeon-capable motherboard offers 20 USB 3.2 ports by Jim Salter on 2020-09-22 10:45 (#58EA5) Somewhere, Christopher Walken is deliriously chanting “I gotta have more USB!”
Feds issue emergency order for agencies to patch critical Windows flaw by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-21 22:13 (#58DTN) Agencies that don't update must disconnect all domain controllers from networks.
T-Mobile amassed “unprecedented concentration of spectrum,” AT&T complains by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-21 19:50 (#58DQP) T-Mobile rivals say it has too much spectrum, urge FCC to impose limits.
Everyone loves the new couple on the block in first WandaVision trailer by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-09-21 19:37 (#58DQQ) It's set after Endgame, will tie in with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Everything we know so far about Oracle not actually buying TikTok by Kate Cox on 2020-09-21 19:10 (#58DNX) In which we try to answer questions such as: “What the actual heck is going on?”
Nikola founder abruptly resigns amid fraud allegations by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-21 18:42 (#58DNY) Nikola is reportedly under investigation by the SEC and Department of Justice.
A German rocket startup seeks to disrupt the European launch industry by Eric Berger on 2020-09-21 18:23 (#58DKB) "For our customers, it's a pain to go to Russia, the United States, or India."
This Porsche plug-in SUV is a pricey dayglo antidepressant on wheels by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-09-21 17:11 (#58DGP) We take the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupé Turbo S E-Hybrid to watch a rocket launch.
Proposal would give EU power to boot tech giants out of European market by Financial Times on 2020-09-21 14:34 (#58D7A) Companies could be broken up or forced to sell off European operations.
Microsoft purchases Bethesda Softworks in industry-changing acquisition [Updated] by Kyle Orland on 2020-09-21 13:35 (#58D3M) Doom, Fallout and more will come to other consoles on "case by case basis."
Here’s how DOE’s first crop of risky energy tech has done by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-09-20 14:30 (#58C16) Comparing 2009 ARPA-E winners to peers yields a mixed bag.
Court blocks Trump’s WeChat ban from taking effect today by Kate Cox on 2020-09-20 14:10 (#58C17) The White House is now 0 for 2 on enforcing bans on China-owned apps today.
Turn up the sport, turn down the utility: The 2020 BMW X5 M and X6 M by Jim Resnick on 2020-09-20 14:00 (#58C18) BMW's M-powered SUVs scorch the road and your checking account.
Traders set to don virtual reality headsets in their home offices by Financial Times on 2020-09-20 13:15 (#58BZF) UBS looks at recreating busy trading floors with HoloLens experiment.
The Android 11 interview: Googlers answer our burning questions by Ron Amadeo on 2020-09-20 12:30 (#58BXT) Android engineers Dave Burke and Iliyan Malchev are back for our yearly Q&A.
Companies can track your phone’s movements to target ads by WIRED on 2020-09-20 10:57 (#58BWK) A startup gathers data on when you pick up your phone or go out on a run.
Trump approves Oracle, TikTok deal “in concept” by Kate Cox on 2020-09-19 22:19 (#58BFN) Trump reportedly wanted assurance that the deal would include a payout to the US.
Grab one of our favorite budget gaming headsets for $30 today by Ars Staff on 2020-09-19 20:44 (#58BEB) Dealmaster also has deals on the AirPods Pro, PS4 and Switch games, and more.
A fond farewell to the weird and wonderful Nintendo DS by Kate Cox on 2020-09-19 15:30 (#58B0T) The Nintendo DS has come and gone—and I, at least, will miss both it and its era.
Spelunky 2 game review: Roguelike perfection by Sam Machkovech on 2020-09-19 14:00 (#58AZE) Eight years after its console debut, Spelunky is trickier, more hilarious than ever.
Review: Netflix debuts two solid German offerings with Biohackers and Freaks by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-09-19 13:30 (#58AYC) A biotech thriller and a German take on The X-Men are good—just not as good as Dark.
Netflix’s Away splendidly brings a humans-to-Mars mission to life by Eric Berger on 2020-09-19 13:00 (#58AYD) The show is aspirational. We could all use a little more of that in 2020.
When building an embryo, timing is everything by John Timmer on 2020-09-19 12:30 (#58AX7) Mice take 21 days from egg to animal, humans take nine months. How's that managed?
What’s in wildfire smoke, and how dangerous is it? by WIRED on 2020-09-19 12:00 (#58AX8) Blazes on the West Coast are spewing a haze clear across the country.
Telegram messages are a focus in newly uncovered hack campaign from Iran by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-18 20:36 (#58ADY) Active since 2014, “Rampant Kitten” uses Windows and Android infostealers.
Tesla wins key ruling in legal battle against former employee by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-18 20:27 (#58ADZ) Tesla sued Martin Tripp for stealing secrets—he countersued for defamation.
$100,000 in bribes helped fraudulent Amazon sellers earn $100 million, DOJ says by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-18 19:47 (#58AE0) DOJ: Bribes to Amazon workers also helped sellers get rivals' accounts suspended.
CDC dramatically restores COVID-19 testing advice marred by political meddling by Beth Mole on 2020-09-18 18:26 (#58AA6) If you have no symptoms but have been exposed “you need a test,” CDC says once again.
PS5 retailers have many fewer Digital Edition systems for preorder [Updated] by Kyle Orland on 2020-09-18 18:24 (#58AA7) Only about one-quarter of GameStop stock is the cheaper, disc-drive-free system.
Wayback Machine and Cloudflare team up to archive more of the Web by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-18 17:53 (#58AA8) Cloudflare-enabled sites get automatic archiving through the Wayback Machine.
The Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and 8th-gen iPad hit store shelves by Samuel Axon on 2020-09-18 17:01 (#58A8K) Online orders are backing up, but retail is now an option.
Cop arrests apparently sleeping Tesla driver going 93mph by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-18 16:29 (#58A5R) The vehicle had “both front seats completely reclined,” according to police.
Humans reached Saudi Arabia at least 120,000 years ago by Kiona N. Smith on 2020-09-18 16:09 (#58A5S) The footprints appear alongside tracks from a herd of Pleistocene elephants.
Report: Trump admin looking into Tencent’s US gaming investments by Kyle Orland on 2020-09-18 15:29 (#58A1W) Riot Games, Epic Games reportedly asked for info on data security standards.
After billion-dollar disasters, here’s what the US’s fall weather has in store by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-09-18 15:22 (#58A1X) NOAA’s August summary covers some nasty weather and looks ahead.
Comcast shut off Internet to hundreds, saying they were illegally connected by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-18 14:58 (#58A1Y) Comcast says Denver company resold Comcast service without permission.
Trump admin orders TikTok, WeChat gone from app stores on Sunday by Kate Cox on 2020-09-18 12:48 (#589VG) Turns out the list of “transactions” is “anything that makes the app function.”
A bevy of new features makes iOS 14 the most secure mobile OS ever by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-18 11:48 (#589RZ) Behold: The useful and not-so-useful privacy features you've been waiting for.
iOS 14 on the iPhone 6S and SE: Performance is fine, other stuff is not by Andrew Cunningham on 2020-09-18 11:15 (#589PN) iOS 14 won't ruin older phones, but a second-gen iPhone SE is a tempting upgrade.
Rocket Report: Chinese rocket fails, Starship may make a leap in October by Eric Berger on 2020-09-18 11:00 (#589PP) “JAXA will deal with the LE-9 engine-related problem in an appropriate manner.”
How do music festivals adapt to a pandemic? They Fest in Place, of course by Nathan Mattise on 2020-09-18 10:45 (#589PQ) WWOZ—one of the best US community radio stations—charts a temp path for festivals.
Hoverboarding dentist gets 12 years in prison for fraud, unlawful dental acts by Beth Mole on 2020-09-17 22:53 (#5894D) Hoverboarding was “outrageous, narcissistic you know, and crazy,” former patient said.
Here are the winners of the 2020 Ig Nobel Prizes to make you laugh, then think by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-09-17 22:00 (#5892G) This year's ceremony was held virtually (thanks, coronavirus), but the fun remained.
Sony makes it official: PlayStation 5 won’t natively support PS1, PS2, PS3 by Sam Machkovech on 2020-09-17 21:45 (#5892H) Bad news for old discs; follows August leak from Ubisoft.