The OnePlus Nord mid-range smartphone is official, at ~$450 by Ron Amadeo on 2020-07-21 14:30 (#55ZK2) The new OnePlus phone looks great, but it’s only launching in Europe and India.
Why some self-driving startups reject Google’s “moonshot” approach by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-07-21 13:24 (#55ZFP) Slow progress is forcing self-driving startups to tighten their belts.
Are we ready to recycle the “rare earths” behind an energy revolution? by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-07-21 11:00 (#55ZAX) New mines are coming, but the potential for recycling is huge.
It’s becoming clear why the US’ response to COVID-19 is terrible by John Timmer on 2020-07-20 23:13 (#55YT3) Multiple reports make it obvious that facts aren't driving pandemic management.
EA’s new $30 online-only game: An uphill slog in a free-to-play world by Sam Machkovech on 2020-07-20 22:53 (#55YRD) As much as we detest the usual F2P model, we wish EA had done this one differently.
Crooks have acquired proprietary Diebold software to “jackpot” ATMs by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-20 21:40 (#55YNW) ATM maker is investigating the use of its software in black boxes used by thieves.
Get your first (low-resolution) look at the Samsung Galaxy Fold2 by Ron Amadeo on 2020-07-20 21:19 (#55YNX) The Fold2 should get a bigger front screen, a hole-punch camera, and a glass cover.
Facebook overrides fact-checks when climate science is “opinion” by Kate Cox on 2020-07-20 20:50 (#55YKV) Social network still has trouble separating “opinion” from disinformation.
How the geometry of ancient habitats may have influenced human brain evolution by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-20 19:29 (#55YHF) Landscapes that are not too dense and not too sparse comprise a “Goldilocks zone.”
SpaceX sets a turnaround record, flying the same rocket in 51 days [Updated] by Eric Berger on 2020-07-20 19:25 (#55YC6) Every booster still undergoes detailed inspections between launches.
“Hope” probe launches Sunday, beginning seven-month journey to Mars by Eric Berger on 2020-07-20 13:30 (#55XZB) “The mission is a catalyst.”
Civil-War-era smallpox vaccines were genetically similar, new study finds by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-20 00:03 (#55XD3) The work could offer helpful clues in developing an effective vaccine against COVID-19.
TrueNAS Core will soon replace FreeNAS—and we test the beta by Jim Salter on 2020-07-19 13:00 (#55WYS) ZFS features—with no command-line management.
There’s a reason your inbox has more malicious spam—Emotet is back by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-18 16:45 (#55WBW) After taking a five-month break, the botnet returns with a short burst of activity.
IndyCar’s Aeroscreen gets first real test, saves lives at Iowa race by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-07-18 16:00 (#55WBX) The mix of ballistic polycarbonate and titanium is a big step in driver protection.
Scientists unlocked the secret of how these ultrablack fish absorb light by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-18 14:00 (#55W94) The fish skin absorbs more than 99.5% of light thanks to pigment-packed granules.
Solar+battery in one device sets new efficiency standard by John Timmer on 2020-07-18 13:00 (#55W80) A combination of standard photovoltaics linked up with flow-battery tech.
NASA chief says he’s “very confident” in a 2021 launch date for SLS, but… by Eric Berger on 2020-07-17 22:20 (#55VQD) The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is flaring up around several NASA centers.
The 2020 Hyundai Ioniq: A connected car service saves the day by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-07-17 20:10 (#55VKF) We really enjoyed this 55mpg hybrid—until it was stolen over a long weekend.
CBP does end run around warrants, simply buys license plate-reader data by Kate Cox on 2020-07-17 19:46 (#55VHQ) How does "unreasonable search" work when any agency can buy data from anywhere?
By the sword: Cursed is an inventive remix of classic Arthurian legend by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-17 18:35 (#55VFV) Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler on bringing a fresh angle to a well-trod mythology.
FCC: Phone carriers that profit from robocalls could have all calls blocked by Jon Brodkin on 2020-07-17 17:43 (#55VCH) Safe harbor lets phone companies block all calls from “bad-actor” telecoms.
Can Xbox One continue on as gaming’s “low-end” console option? by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-17 17:06 (#55VCJ) Support for 2013-era gaming PCs suggests Microsoft’s old console isn’t dead yet.
CDC delays new school-reopening guidance prompted by flak from Trump by Beth Mole on 2020-07-17 15:49 (#55V7D) It’s still unclear what kind of information the documents will even contain.
Apple has finally embraced key-based 2FA. So should you by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-17 12:00 (#55V0F) Hardware keys are more secure—and finally ready for the masses.
Iranian state hackers caught with their pants down in intercepted videos by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-17 11:30 (#55TYG) IBM researchers steal 40GB of data from group targeting presidential campaigns.
Rocket Report: Another Chinese launch failure, Minotaur IV soars by Eric Berger on 2020-07-17 11:00 (#55TYH) “We cannot at this moment precisely quantify the delay.”
Siberia’s hot 2020 “effectively impossible” without global warming by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-07-17 10:45 (#55TWJ) Rapid analysis shows this event is hard to explain without climate change.
Beyond antibodies, the immune response to coronavirus is complicated by John Timmer on 2020-07-16 23:54 (#55TFA) T-cell-based immunity may offer longer protection, but initial results are confusing.
With morgues brimming, Texas and Arizona turn to refrigerator trucks by Beth Mole on 2020-07-16 21:50 (#55TBQ) Every disaster has its symbols, "for COVID-19, it might just be the refrigerator truck."
Webb space telescope launch delayed seven more months to late 2021 by Eric Berger on 2020-07-16 21:36 (#55TBR) "We have high confidence in that date."
Xbox Series X won’t support Kinect hardware, games by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-16 20:59 (#55TBS) Microsoft sends its unique control accessory down the final memory hole.
US-EU Privacy Shield data sharing agreement struck down by court by Kate Cox on 2020-07-16 20:29 (#55T8Y) Much as in 2015, US surveillance practices and EU privacy law don't mesh well.
New Pine64 phones with upgraded hardware begin shipping in August by Jim Salter on 2020-07-16 19:39 (#55T6S) The new "convergence package" offers more RAM and storage as well as a USB-C dock.
Xbox One minus two: Microsoft kills console versions before Series X launch by Sam Machkovech on 2020-07-16 18:59 (#55T6T) Xbox One S will still exist; adds fuel to fire about a possible "Lockhart" launch.
Georgia’s Republican governor orders cities to stop requiring masks by Jon Brodkin on 2020-07-16 18:37 (#55T40) Update: Governor sues Atlanta to stop rule requiring masks during pandemic.
A handful of top Fitbit fitness trackers is on sale today by Ars Staff on 2020-07-16 18:24 (#55T41) Dealmaster also has AMD Ryzen processors, Switch accessories, and more.
Russia-linked hackers accused of targeting COVID-19 vaccine developers by Financial Times on 2020-07-16 17:42 (#55T0K) UK, US, and Canada attribute attacks to group “almost certainly” working for Moscow.
Please insert disc: Microsoft Flight Simulator will spread across ten DVDs by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-16 17:01 (#55T0M) 90GB package is a drop in the bucket compared to the game's cloud-streamed data.
NASA’s inspector general report roasts Lockheed Martin for Orion fees by Eric Berger on 2020-07-16 15:15 (#55SV2) So far NASA has spent $16.7 billion to develop Orion.
The painstaking, hyper-granular process behind Amazon’s artful Undone by Nathan Mattise on 2020-07-16 13:48 (#55SM6) Director/production designer Hisko Hulsing pulls back the mystery on rotoscoping magic.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets free xCloud game streaming in September by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-16 13:30 (#55SM7) Microsoft promises “over 100” of Game Pass’ 200+ titles will be streamable.
Western Digital releases new 18TB, 20TB EAMR drives by Jim Salter on 2020-07-16 10:45 (#55SD1) EAMR offers similar density gains to HAMR and MAMR, with less exotic tech.
Twitter lost control of its internal systems to Bitcoin-scamming hackers by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-16 05:48 (#55S59) Celebrity accountholders weren't the only targets. Late hacker Adrian Lamo was, too.
Musk, Obama, Biden, Bezos, Gates—bitcoin scam hits Twitter in coordinated blitz by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-15 22:27 (#55RWT) The simultaneous hijacking of so many accounts is extraordinary.
Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 13.6, macOS 10.15.6, and watchOS 6.2.8 by Samuel Axon on 2020-07-15 21:45 (#55RTC) A few new features have arrived as we wait for iOS 14.
Here’s Nissan’s next electric crossover, on sale in 2021 for $40,000 by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-07-15 21:17 (#55RTD) There are both front- and all-wheel-drive options, and 63kWh and 87kWh batteries.
Gmail redesign turns it into a one-stop productivity suite [Update: It’s official] by Ron Amadeo on 2020-07-15 20:50 (#55RCG) See how Gmail is merging with most of the other G Suite apps.
Details on SpaceX Starlink beta emerge along with photos of user terminals by Jon Brodkin on 2020-07-15 20:42 (#55RQD) Starlink beta trials will start in Northern US and parts of Canada, new FAQ says.
Trump admin undercuts CDC, seizes control of national COVID-19 data by Kate Cox on 2020-07-15 19:47 (#55RMY) New directive is White House's latest attempt to cut the CDC out of the loop.