MSI buttons up, launches Summit business laptops with Tiger Lake by Samuel Axon on 2020-09-04 21:10 (#57S0P) We've liked past MSI gaming laptops—business is an interesting new angle.
Could “disordered rock salts” bring order to next-gen lithium batteries? by John Timmer on 2020-09-04 20:40 (#57S0Q) The material has lots of space to store lithium ions without swelling like a balloon.
Ajit Pai touted false broadband data despite clear signs it wasn’t accurate by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-04 17:59 (#57RTF) “The FCC should fine itself”: Pai relied on ISP’s impossible deployment claims.
Acura builds a stiffer chassis and sharper creases into the new TLX by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-09-04 17:41 (#57RTG) The new sedan just started production in Marysville, Ohio.
Amazon’s top UK reviewers appear to profit from fake 5-star posts by Financial Times on 2020-09-04 16:33 (#57RNN) Investigation finds suspicious behavior by 9 of top 10 UK contributors on feedback.
OnePlus 8T reportedly launches in October with 120Hz OLED, Snapdragon 865+ by Ron Amadeo on 2020-09-04 15:52 (#57RNP) It sounds like the OnePlus 8T won't be a huge upgrade.
Rocket Report: Musk updates Super Heavy plan, China to launch spaceplane? by Eric Berger on 2020-09-04 11:00 (#57R6P) “It is a unique structure unparalleled in the world.”
A single text is all it took to unleash code-execution worm in Cisco Jabber by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-04 00:09 (#57QPW) Proof-of-concept exploits demonstrated the severity of bugs Cisco just fixed.
Evidence slowly building for long-term heart problems post-COVID-19 by John Timmer on 2020-09-03 23:11 (#57QNQ) While there are anecdotes aplenty, there's also some solid science behind the worries.
There’s a partisan schism over the timing of a Google antitrust lawsuit by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-03 21:55 (#57QMK) Republicans favor quick action; Democrats want more time to build a solid case.
Facebook’s plan to prevent election misinformation: Allowing it, mostly by Kate Cox on 2020-09-03 21:03 (#57QK2) The election is going to be a hot mess, and Facebook isn't really helping.
New No Time to Die trailer showcases everything you’d expect in a Bond film by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-09-03 20:40 (#57QK3) “We both eradicate people to make the world a better place. I just want to be a little tidy.”
Why experts are overwhelmingly skeptical of online voting by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-03 20:15 (#57QH0) An online voting CEO tried—and failed—to convince me it was a good idea
Facebook complains, Apple responds: iOS 14’s big privacy change gets postponed by Samuel Axon on 2020-09-03 20:13 (#57QH1) The company says the change is still coming, but it hasn't said when.
Now you can get a Land Rover restomod with a Tesla electric powertrain by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-09-03 19:59 (#57QH2) ECD automotive partnered with the UK's Electric Classic Cars on the conversion.
SpaceX hops a full-scale Starship prototype for the second time by Eric Berger on 2020-09-03 19:41 (#57QH3) Next up: More hops, a tank test, and higher flights, most likely.
Pick up The Last of Us Part II for $10 off—or take $30 off a used copy by Ars Staff on 2020-09-03 19:16 (#57QEP) Dealmaster also has deals on microSD cards, AirPods Pro, monitors, and more.
NSA spying exposed by Snowden was illegal and not very useful, court says by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-03 19:08 (#57QEQ) NSA's illegal mass surveillance did not help thwart terror plot, court says.
Facebook halts Oculus Quest sales in Germany amid privacy concerns by Kyle Orland on 2020-09-03 18:53 (#57QER) Headset’s Facebook-login requirement may fall afoul of GDPR’s “coupling ban.”
Three stars, warped rings may show how planets end up moving backward by John Timmer on 2020-09-03 18:38 (#57QES) Not every system is as neat and tidy as our Solar System.
Trump ban on Chinese drone parts risks worsening wildfires by Financial Times on 2020-09-03 15:50 (#57Q7M) Only a quarter of possible controlled burning has been carried out because of order.
Qualcomm is bringing 5G to everyone with cheap 5G Snapdragon chips by Ron Amadeo on 2020-09-03 15:45 (#57Q7N) Dirt-cheap Snapdragon 4-series chips will make nearly every phone a 5G phone.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars brings three high-res ports to Switch by Kyle Orland on 2020-09-03 14:24 (#57Q0Z) 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy to be sold in a “limited production” through March.
SpaceX launches 12th Starlink mission, says users getting 100Mbps downloads by Eric Berger on 2020-09-03 13:37 (#57Q10) Company also says it has successfully tested Inter-Satellite links.
Impressions from Intel’s Tiger Lake laptop CPU launch event by Jim Salter on 2020-09-03 11:47 (#57PV5) Intel wants people to stop thinking “CPU” and start thinking “experience.”
SpaceX targets another Starlink launch Thursday to continue record pace by Eric Berger on 2020-09-03 00:26 (#57P7C) California company appears likely to launch at least two dozen rockets in 2020.
Pre-election vaccination plans by CDC heighten fears of political meddling by Beth Mole on 2020-09-02 22:58 (#57P5V) Vaccine may prove safe, effective by the end of year—but quick distribution is unlikely.
NASA tests a booster that produces 3 million pounds of thrust by Eric Berger on 2020-09-02 22:24 (#57P4G) These solid rocket boosters are a holdover from the space shuttle era.
Feds can’t ask Google for every phone in a 100-meter radius, court says by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-02 21:59 (#57P4H) Google says “geofence” search requests grew 100-fold between 2017 and 2019.
Glacial meltwater lakes have grown by half since the 1990s by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-09-02 21:26 (#57P30) Satellite images track remarkable growth with local consequences.
Amazon deletes anti-union listing, watches workers’ “secret” social groups by Kate Cox on 2020-09-02 20:58 (#57P31) Amazon is keeping a watchful eye on workers, lest they try to become organized.
ZTE announces the world’s first phone with a behind-the-screen camera by Ron Amadeo on 2020-09-02 20:39 (#57P32) No notches and no camera cutouts—it's the holy grail of selfie camera design.
SpaceX seeks FCC broadband funds, must prove it can deliver sub-100ms latency by Jon Brodkin on 2020-09-02 18:42 (#57NYN) Hundreds of ISPs apply for $16 billion in grants to expand in rural areas.
Three new Tiger Lake-powered laptop models are coming from Acer by Jim Salter on 2020-09-02 18:31 (#57NVS) One Swift 3 has a 13.5" 2K display; the Swift 5 and other Swift 3 are 14" 1080p.
Shiva “Inventor of Email” Ayyadurai loses race for GOP Senate nod by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-09-02 18:13 (#57NVT) Ayyadurai has touted vitamins as the solution to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is the day”: Disney+ announces The Mandalorian season 2 premiere date by Samuel Axon on 2020-09-02 17:55 (#57NVV) Season will see the return of several characters, plus (reportedly) Boba Fett.
Hurricane evacuations and electric cars—here’s what we know by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-09-02 17:35 (#57NRQ) EV adoption would have to be above 45% to trouble today's power grid, study finds.
Meet GW190521—a black-hole merger for the record books by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-09-02 16:54 (#57NRR) It's the most massive, distant, and energetic black-hole merger yet.
CDC issues unprecedented order halting evictions to prevent COVID-19 spread by Beth Mole on 2020-09-02 16:00 (#57NN7) COVID-19 has prompted “exceedingly rare actions” by the government.
The finer points of Mario Kart 8 on the Switch, explained by a pro by Lee Hutchinson on 2020-09-02 15:19 (#57NHF) We grabbed Mario Kart 8 players with a... wide range of skills.
Acer Swift 3 with Ryzen 4700U—a budget laptop punching above its class by Jim Salter on 2020-09-02 12:47 (#57NBE) The Swift 3 isn't a status symbol—but it's a solid, budget-friendly workhorse.
The accidental notary: Apple approves notorious malware to run on Macs by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-02 12:17 (#57N8S) New-fangled malware protection gives users a false sense of security, critics say.
Walmart+ takes aim at Amazon Prime, launches September 15 by Jim Salter on 2020-09-02 11:49 (#57N8T) The new service runs $20 cheaper than Prime and includes gas discounts, too.
Hackers are exploiting a critical flaw affecting >350,000 WordPress sites by Dan Goodin on 2020-09-02 01:40 (#57MS0) Flaw is in File Manager, a plugin with more than 700,000 users; 52% are affected.
National Institutes of Health disses FDA on plasma as COVID treatment by John Timmer on 2020-09-02 00:32 (#57MP8) Internal dissent about the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization spills out in public.
EPA issues new rules on coal plant pollution by John Timmer on 2020-09-01 23:13 (#57MMZ) Heavy metal contamination rules are changed to ensure they don't close coal plants.
“Shortsighted” and “Self-defeating”: US rejects global COVID-19 vaccine effort by Beth Mole on 2020-09-01 22:25 (#57MKK) Over 170 countries are involved in the plan, which is like a vaccine insurance plan.
iOS 13.7 launched today with a new system for battling the pandemic by Samuel Axon on 2020-09-01 21:36 (#57MHK) Google has its own version of this exposure tracking and notification, too.
“Stonehenge Lego” scale model reveals the pagan monument’s unique soundscape by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-09-01 21:19 (#57MHM) Stone configuration amplified speech and enhanced music, but only within the circle.
Biden presidential campaign rolls out yard signs in Animal Crossing by Kyle Orland on 2020-09-01 19:17 (#57MCC) Political support squeezed onto 32 x 32 pixel designs.