Today’s best tech deals: Apple’s M1 Mac Mini, Xbox controllers, and more by Ars Staff on 2021-01-29 15:59 (#5DG76) Dealmaster also has discounts on noise-cancelling headphones and gaming mice.
Rocket Report: FAA grounds Starship, Biden’s big rocket dilemma by Eric Berger on 2021-01-29 12:00 (#5DFW0) "The launch vehicle shall deliver a minimum 6,065 kg Europa Clipper spacecraft."
WallStreetBets craze pushes dogecoin up 5x in 24 hours by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-01-29 02:10 (#5DFCT) The social media mob that pumped up GameStop is now dabbling in cryptocurrency.
Coronavirus variants: What they do and how worried you should be by Beth Mole on 2021-01-29 00:00 (#5DFA6) The Ars guide to the coronavirus variants
Every crazy thing that happened in Apple and Facebook’s privacy feud today by Samuel Axon on 2021-01-28 23:35 (#5DF81) Apple CEO Tim Cook claims Facebook’s model leads to polarization and violence.
New Biden executive order makes science, evidence central to policy by John Timmer on 2021-01-28 22:39 (#5DF62) Agencies will perform evidence-based evaluations of their own performance.
Rocky Linux gets a new sponsor—Gregory Kurtzer’s startup, Ctrl IQ by Jim Salter on 2021-01-28 20:59 (#5DF3F) Money can't buy you love—but it can sponsor a new Linux distro.
GM says no more tailpipe emissions by 2035, carbon neutrality by 2040 by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2021-01-28 20:25 (#5DF0D) GM says that 40 percent of US models will be battery electric vehicles by 2025.
Intel’s first discrete GPU in 20+ years is only for OEMs, integrators by Jim Salter on 2021-01-28 20:00 (#5DF0E) The DG1 only works in special motherboards—no support for the enthusiast market.
Biden’s approach to climate: Calling it a crisis and treating it that way by John Timmer on 2021-01-28 19:55 (#5DEXZ) From diplomacy to infrastructure, a deep re-evaluation of the role of government.
That’s a wrap—No Starship launch attempt on Thursday afternoon [Updated] by Eric Berger on 2021-01-28 18:50 (#5D9PX) It has only been about six weeks since SN8 flew.
State reps try to ban Comcast data cap and price hikes until pandemic is over by Jon Brodkin on 2021-01-28 18:36 (#5DETD) Massachusetts bill would halt data caps, price hikes, new fees, and ISP shutoffs.
Facebook “Supreme Court” overrules company in 4 of its first 5 decisions by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-01-28 18:21 (#5DETE) Rulings deal with everything from bare breasts to the war in Azerbaijan.
GoT alums among announced cast for Netflix Sandman adaptation by Jennifer Ouellette on 2021-01-28 18:10 (#5DETF) Gwendoline Christie and Charles Dance join Tom Sturridge as Morpheus.
From first to sixth: Huawei’s phone business tanks thanks to US sanctions by Ron Amadeo on 2021-01-28 16:45 (#5DEKE) Huawei was the #1 phone vendor earlier this year, but the export ban is killing it.
Samsung says auto chip shortage could hit smartphones by Financial Times on 2021-01-28 15:07 (#5DEG5) Warning comes as car companies lobby governments for help.
Discord bans WallStreetBets as subreddit briefly goes private [Updated] by Kyle Orland on 2021-01-28 14:37 (#5DDR4) Robinhood app restricts stock purchasing as regulators express worry.
Tesla Model S to get comprehensive refresh, 200mph “Plaid” version by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2021-01-28 14:25 (#5DECN) There are new batteries and motors, and a yoke instead of a steering wheel.
Apple reports double-digit sales booms for every product category in Q1 2021 by Samuel Axon on 2021-01-28 00:07 (#5DDMA) There are now more than one billion iPhones in the wild.
Tesla reports its first annual profit by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-01-27 22:55 (#5DDJ8) Tesla made a $721 million profit thanks to $1.58 billion in regulatory credits.
Sidewalk-robot startup celebrates 1 million deliveries by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-01-27 21:20 (#5DDD9) Low speeds enabled Starship to launch its service safely and quickly.
Unstable helium adds a limit on the ongoing saga of the proton’s size by John Timmer on 2021-01-27 20:11 (#5DDA7) Putting a muon in orbit around a helium nucleus gives us measurements that make sense.
“Warp speed,” “Prime Directive” predate Star Trek, per new reference tool by Jennifer Ouellette on 2021-01-27 19:54 (#5DD73) Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction is a new, and free, online reference tool.
Microsoft earnings: Xbox hardware sales shot up 86% with Series X/S by Samuel Axon on 2021-01-27 19:40 (#5DD74) As usual, Microsoft's cloud business helped drive revenue to new highs.
Samsung’s reportedly ready to supply foldable displays to rival companies by Ron Amadeo on 2021-01-27 19:22 (#5DD75) Samsung's foldable panel exclusivity is ending, with Chinese phones due in 2H 2021.
The complete moron’s guide to GameStop’s stock roller coaster by Kyle Orland on 2021-01-27 19:10 (#5DD76) How does this epic rally end? And can it be repeated?
AT&T eats a $15.5 billion impairment charge as DirecTV debacle continues by Jon Brodkin on 2021-01-27 18:26 (#5DD3W) AT&T lost 617,000 Premium TV customers in Q4 and 3 million in the calendar year.
84% of Mexican hand sanitizers toxic or flawed; FDA issues drastic alert by Beth Mole on 2021-01-27 16:31 (#5DCX5) The regulatory agency has issued alerts for over 200 products.
Vehicle recalls cluster because OEMs wait for rivals to move first by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2021-01-27 16:25 (#5DCX6) Fears of falling stock prices may be responsible for the phenomenon.
The Trump administration left Biden with a rocket dilemma by Eric Berger on 2021-01-27 14:36 (#5DCP7) "NASA needs to go back and look at what the options are to go to the Moon."
Basic pandemic safety limits spread in schools by John Timmer on 2021-01-27 11:45 (#5DCE0) Infections spread in a school system were far lower than in its surrounding towns.
Warrior princess fights to save humanity in Raya and the Last Dragon trailer by Jennifer Ouellette on 2021-01-26 23:36 (#5DBWH) "I wish to join this fellowship of butt-kickery."
Plex adds game-streaming as paid add-on, completely botches the landing by Sam Machkovech on 2021-01-26 22:57 (#5DBTG) $4.99/mo service needs to straighten many issues before meriting the cost.
Sony adds HDMI to last year’s Android phone, charges $2,500 by Ron Amadeo on 2021-01-26 22:14 (#5DBTH) It's not a foldable. It's not plated in gold. It just has an HDMI port.
SpaceX adds laser links to Starlink satellites to serve Earth’s polar areas by Jon Brodkin on 2021-01-26 20:35 (#5DBNS) Laser links connect Starlink satellites, reducing need for ground stations.
iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 hit supported devices today by Samuel Axon on 2021-01-26 20:03 (#5DBM1) Apple also released tvOS 14.4 and watchOS 7.3.
Sony’s best noise-cancelling headphones are down to their lowest price today by Ars Staff on 2021-01-26 18:46 (#5DBGR) Dealmaster also has discounts on LG OLED TVs, Apple's M1 Mac Mini, and more.
Google Play bans video app for standard “.ass” subtitle support by Ron Amadeo on 2021-01-26 17:59 (#5DBD2) "Advanced Sub Station alpha" files, or a naughty word for a butt? Who knows!
Apple’s long-time hardware lead steps down to work on mysterious “new project” by Samuel Axon on 2021-01-26 17:49 (#5DBD3) It's unusual for the leader of department to shift focus to just one product.
Biden vows to electrify the federal government’s 600,000-vehicle fleet by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-01-26 16:54 (#5DB9X) Fewer than 0.5 percent of federal vehicles were battery electric in 2019.
“We’re failing”: Ex-Warp Speed leader proud, deflects blame on vaccines by Beth Mole on 2021-01-26 16:20 (#5DB54) Slaoui defends his team, says criticism is a “huge misunderstanding.”
North Korea hackers use social media to target security researchers by Financial Times on 2021-01-26 16:04 (#5DB55) Google finds use of bogus Twitter, LinkedIn profiles to identify vulnerabilities.
Why Red Hat killed CentOS—a CentOS board member speaks by Jim Salter on 2021-01-26 15:39 (#5DB2X) "The CentOS Board doesn't get to decide what Red Hat engineering teams do."
How to shut off a quasar by John Timmer on 2021-01-26 15:32 (#5DB2Y) Galaxy collisions may both activate and power down black-hole powered galaxies.
New RISC-V hardware designs from 5G startup EdgeQ by Jim Salter on 2021-01-26 13:00 (#5DAWC) Extending an open RISC-V CPU design is easier than building standalone ASICs.
Not just MagSafe: Apple reminds users not to hold iPhones near pacemakers by Samuel Axon on 2021-01-25 23:09 (#5DA61) In response to iPhone 12 fears, Apple updates support hub with revised guidance.
Deactivation of Flash may have crippled Chinese railroad for a day [Updated] by Timothy B. Lee on 2021-01-25 22:49 (#5DA4A) Railroad officials were blindsided by the long-scheduled deactivation of Flash.
AT&T may keep majority ownership of DirecTV as it closes in on final deal by Jon Brodkin on 2021-01-25 20:26 (#5D9ZF) It's unclear whether AT&T will maintain operational control of DirecTV.
Bad news for land-speed record fans as Bloodhound goes up for sale by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2021-01-25 20:15 (#5D9ZG) After testing to 628mph in 2019, the car now needs its rocket engine integrated.
How Final Fantasy VII Remake legitimizes sexuality and gender identity by Ars Staff on 2021-01-25 19:53 (#5D9WK) Over 20 years later, "Cloud in a dress" isn't just treated as a joke.