Tech Soha

Now that it's November, we've reached the release date of Apple's streaming video service, Apple TV+. MacRumors points out an Instagram story post for one of its shows, The Morning Show, with an embedded countdown set for 1PM ET/10 AM PT. That's Apple's favorite time to push out software updates, so it's not surprising they'd pick the same time to launch their original TV efforts. Oddly, while the story for See is also marked for 1PM ET, other shows like For All Mankind and Dickinson have a countdown set for 3 PM. We'll see if they all launch at once or are just staggered, but some people are already able to access the service on their Apple devices. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2oziduA

Facebook wants to brings down cybersquatting domains that may be used to scam and phish people. The social network has filed a lawsuit against domain name registrar OnlineNIC and its privacy/proxy service ID Shield for registering addresses that were clearly created to appear as if they're affiliated with Facebook. Among the 20 URLs mentioned in the lawsuit are facebook-pass.com, facebook-pw.com, www-facebook-login.com, www-facebook-pages.com, iiinstagram.com, m-facebook-login.com. As you can see, those domains could easily be used for phishing schemes, fooling users who aren't as vigilant in checking links sent to them via email before clicking them. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2NywzUJ

iOS 13.2 can be pretty aggravating to use when you have to multitask across several apps, according to various user anecdotes. Even worse, that seems to be the case even if you have an iPhone 11 Pro or an iPad Pro. MacRumors has collected a bunch of user complaints from various sources, talking about the mobile platform's aggressive RAM management system. Apparently, iOS 13.2 tends to reload apps every time you access them from the background even though not a lot of time has passed. As a result, you lose whatever it is you're doing or watching, making multitasking a lot more difficult. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2WwzwJc

Apple TV+ is just hours from debuting and Disney+ will be here in a couple of weeks, giving Hulu less time to catch up with the pack in terms of streaming features. The video service finally added the ability to download shows for offline viewing earlier this month, but until now it only worked on iOS devices. If you use Android or Amazon's FireOS instead of an iPhone or iPad, then we have good news, now you can download shows and movies too -- perhaps something Halloween themed like Castle Rock season two. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/320oOvH

Facing increasing scrutiny from international and domestic regulators, the Altria Group has decided to write down its investment into the e-cigarette company JUUL by $4.5 billion. JUUL, which has become synonymous with the vaping phenomenon that has swept the U.S., was once hailed as being at the forefront of a wave of companies that were making smoking obsolete and nicotine consumption safer for consumers. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2C2yXxo

Paidy, a Japanese financial tech startup that provides instant credit to consumers in Japan, announced today that it has raised a total of $143 million in new financing. This includes a $83 million Series C extension from investors including PayPal Ventures and debt financing of $60 million. The funding will be used to advance Paidy’s goals of signing large-scale merchants, offering new financial services and growing its user base to 11 million accounts by the end of 2020. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2JDKF5U

Earlier this month Google announced that its new Incognito feature for Maps had started to roll out, and now it should be here on your Android devices. Android Police points out a post on the support page from yesterday indicating that the rollout has begun in earnest. While it could take a few days to reach everyone (iOS support is still "coming soon"), if it's available for you, then enabling it only requires a few steps: from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/36ji6Vf

Apple's AirPods Pro might sound better, but they're just as non-repairable as the regular AirPods. A teardown of the new buds performed by iFixit confirms that trying to repair them is "both impractical and uneconomical." from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/331hrWc

How robot lawnmowers may change the landscaping industry Swedish company Husqvarna believes that robotic mowing is the future.

The internet and search engines like Google have made the world our oyster when it comes to sourcing information, but when it comes to business, there remains a persistent need for more targeted market intelligence, a way to get reliable data quickly to get on with your work. Crunchbase -- a directory and database of company-related information that originally got its start as a part of TechCrunch before being spun off into a separate business several years ago -- has raised $30 million, a Series C that it plans to use to continue expanding its base of paid subscribers and expanding its product to include more predictive, personalised information for its users by way more machine learning and other AI-based technology. CEO Jager McConnell, who has long viewed Crunchbase as the "LinkedIn for company profiles," said that of the 55 million people who visit the site each year currently, the company currently has "tens of thousands" of subscribers -- subscriptions are pr...

Ever had a brilliant idea for an app, only to watch someone else create it? Tough break. Maybe next time you can take your app idea from conception all the way to creation with the help of this Complete iOS 13 & SwiftUI Developer Bundle. With the recent launch of iOS 13, there’s never been... from Technology News & Reviews | New York Post https://ift.tt/2BXTH9N

Facebook may be thinking of expanding Secret Conversations' capabilities. According to Jane Manchun Wong, who takes apart applications to discover unreleased features, the social network is testing audio and video calls over Secret Conversations. A screenshot of the experimental capability says the calls will be "end-to-end encrypted across all your active mobile devices." from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2NvxNjd

Earlier this year, Fisker revealed that it's planning to release a relatively affordable electric SUV in 2021. Now, the automaker has revealed that the vehicle will be called the "Fisker Ocean." Fisker will forego building a showcar and will debut what it says is "a fully running production intent prototype sitting on the actual, completely engineered platform" on January 4th, 2020. It will be private event, but the company promises to put a livestream up that everyone can watch. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2qbFvad

Smartphone sales have been stagnating for the last two years as people tire of constantly upgrading their devices and make an effort to hold onto them for longer. The upgrade cycle continues eventually, however, and a new report by data analysis company Strategy Analytics shows that global smartphone shipments grew by 2 percent this quarter compared to last year. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2JRAIlF

Hundreds of people who have taken the driver’s license test in Dehradun, the capital of Indian state Uttarakhand near the Himalayan foothills, in recent weeks haven’t had to sit next to an instructor. Instead, their cars were affixed with a smartphone that was running HAMS, an AI project developed by Microsoft Research team. HAMS uses a smartphone’s front and rear cameras and other sensors to monitor the driver (their gaze), and the road ahead of them. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2NtmjNq

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Happy Halloween! LG put a dual-screen costume on its latest flagship phone, and the Nintendo Switch is battling the ghost of the SNES -- we'll explain. Also, we have everything you need to know about the TeamTrees project and a review of the new Amazon Echo. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/334DfAe

Attackers have breached Web.com and two top domain name registrars that it owns, NetworkSolutions.com and Register.com, according to Krebs on Security. Web.com issued a security notice advising customers that they will be forced to reset their passwords the next time they log on. Such breaches are particularly worrying, because domain name registrar customers are website owners, and around 8.7 million of them are registered with those companies, according to Krebs. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2Nlwtzm

Nintendo sold 4.8 million Switch consoles last quarter, bringing lifetime sales to 41.67 million. That's a 50 percent increase on the 3.19 million Switch consoles that were sold during the same period last year. Nintendo's hybrid console surpassed the N64's lifetime sales in April and now stands a good chance of eclipsing the SNES over the holidays. To be precise, the Switch needs 7.43 million sales to pass the iconic 16-bit console next quarter -- and last year it managed 9.41 million sales over the Christmas period. With two quarters down, Nintendo is also 11 million away from its fiscal year target (which ends in March 2020) of 18 million Switch sales. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/36j5Js5

The hackers who infiltrated Uber's and LinkedIn-owned Lynda.com's Amazon web servers have pleaded guilty in California federal court to charges of computer hacking and extortion conspiracy. Canadian national Vasile Mereacre and Florida resident Brandon Glover were indicted in 2018 for stealing information from LinkedIn training site Lynda.com in a breach that affected 55,000 accounts. It was later revealed that they were also behind a 2016 Uber breach that compromised 57 million users. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2N14C8F

Aside from revealing that its wearables and services businesses keep on growing, Apple has also discussed its mobile payment app's success and its partnership with the US Census Bureau during its earnings call. Tim Cook, the tech giant's chief, said users completed 3 billion Apple Pay transactions within the fourth quarter of 2019. He added that Apple Pay had a bigger transaction volume than PayPal and is growing 4 times as fast, because the mobile app's transactions and revenue more than doubled year-over-year. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2C3Jpoh

New Zealand bans 'abhorrent' video game seemingly based on Christchurch mass shooting New Zealand has banned an "abhorrent"  video game that the country’s chief censor said glorifies the mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch that killed 51 worshipers last March, according to a report.

With CcHub's acquisition of iHub in September, Nigerian Bosun Tijani is at the helm of (arguably) the largest tech network in Africa. One could conclude Tijani has become one of the most powerful figures in African tech with the CcHub iHub merger. Several sources speaking on background over the last year have indicated iHub was experiencing financial difficulties. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2WrOssa

Just shy of a decade after Wal-mart bought Vudu, The Information reports that the retail giant is "considering" selling its digital video on-demand store. There's no word on how far along in the process any potential deal is, or if will actually happen, but anyone can see that the service made more sense a few years ago, when it was one of the best ways to access DVD digital copies linked to an Ultraviolet locker. That went right along with in-store disc sales, and enabled a business selling digital copies to people who wanted an easier way to watch movies they'd already purchased on discs. Now, Ultraviolet is dead and Disney's Movies Anywhere setup has largely taken over that space. While it also connects to Vudu, it's not exactly what Wal-mart had in mind back in 2010. Increasingly, video watching hours are devoted to subscription streaming services, which are using inflated budgets to swallow up exclusive content. There was a rumored plan to try and do the ...

DeepMind's StarCraft II AI can already hang with human players, but now it's ready to handle the best of the best. The team has revealed that its AlphaStar AI can play one-on-one matches in the real-time strategy game at a Grandmaster level for all three factions (Terran, Protoss, Zerg). The AI is better than 99.8 percent of human players on Battle.net, according to DeepMind. It's also governed by real-world restrictions, such as using the same virtual camera views, limited map info and even the number of actions per minute. The trick was to mimic the training of pro StarCraft players using a modified version of the usual reinforcement learning system. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2N1QTyM

Relax, HomePod owners -- it's now safe to update your speaker again. Apple has re-released the HomePod's multi-user update (now 13.2.1) to fix the problem that bricked some users' speakers, particularly after they tried to solve the issue by rebooting their device. You're still asked to contact Apple Support if your speaker is dead in the water, but everyone else should have personalized responses, audio handoffs with iPhones, relaxing ambient sounds and support for music in HomeKit scenes. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/324Pzz3

Apple shares rose Wednesday after the company delivered a strong fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report despite cooling demand for the iPhone, its flagship product. The tech giant said it enjoyed a 1.8% rise in revenue, to $64 billion, for the quarter ended in September — driven in part by rising sales of wearables and services, such... from Technology News & Reviews | New York Post https://ift.tt/326ammd

Cognizant, a Facebook content moderation vendor, is reportedly quitting the business The professional services firm Cognizant will exit the content moderation business in the wake of investigations into poor working conditions at sites dedicated to Facebook, the company confirmed to The Verge.

Lyft has implemented a new set of safety guidelines and protocols that current and former employees worry will allow unsafe drivers to return to the platform, according to The Washington Post. In June, Lyft created a new Safety Policy and Community Compliance (SPCC) team that currently makes any final decisions related to the removal of a driver from the platform using a "decision matrix." At the same time, the company effectively demoted its Trust and Safety team, which was previously responsible for banning drivers. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2PvNkCj

Hackers hijacked DC’s surveillance cameras just before Trump’s inauguration: report Days before Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, a pair of hackers managed to seize control of Washington, DC's surveillance cameras.

Writers Laura Wagner, Kelsey McKinney, Tom Ley, Lauren Theisen, Patrick Redford, Albert Burneko and Chris Thompson all tweeted today that they have resigned from Deadspin, the sports-focused site owned by G/O Media. A quick refresher: G/O Media was formerly known as Gizmodo Media Group, and before that as Gawker Media. It took on its current name and current leadership earlier this year when Univision sold the unit to private equity firm Great Hill Partners, who appointed former Forbes.com CEO Jim Spanfeller as its new chief executive. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2N240Qk

How to tell if someone read your text As the way we use our phones has changed, our cell plan requirements have changed too. Odds are, you’re paying more than you need to. Tap or click here for a comparison of the best low-cost plans for seniors from the four major carriers.

Samsung's foldable display tech won't just be limited to book-like phones akin to the Galaxy Fold. The company used its annual Developer Conference to preview a vertically folding, clamshell-style form factor. The company only said it was "exploring" the concept as part of its overall work on foldable devices, but it clearly put some thought into the technology. A short demo showed a user recording video in full screen at one moment, and creating a split view with more extensive controls when folding the phone 90 degrees. This might be ideal for recording your hands-free TikTok clips -- you'd have a built-in stand. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/32ZORV8

A former Juul executive is accusing the controversial company of shipping a million contaminated e-cigarette pods earlier this year and not issuing a recall, according to BuzzFeed News. The executive, Juul's former senior vice president of global finance Siddharth Breja, has filed a lawsuit against the e-cigarette maker. Breja claims the company retaliated against him for raising concerns about the contaminated shipment and that he was fired just a week after doing so. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2MYLvMD

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By BY J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/36jKOVE

Other than the news that NBA Live will take the 19/20 season off, EA's quarterly earnings call reported revenue is up from last year, thanks largely to the games it's published as "live services." Those are the ones where it's continually rolling out updates to keep people playing longer, and paying for additional cosmetic content or expansions. While that includes the disappointment that was Anthem -- only mentioned once in prepared remarks (PDF) -- the company has found success with hits like Apex Legends, which announced it now has over 70 million players, as well as Ultimate Team features on its Madden, FIFA and NHL games. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/31ZsXQL

An amateur radio rig exposed to the internet and discovered by a security researcher was collecting real-time of medical data and health information broadcast by hospitals and ambulances across U.K. towns and cities. The rig, operated out of a house in North London, was picking up radio waves from over the air and translating them into readable text. The hobbyist's computer display was filling up with messages about real-time medical emergencies from across the region. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2N0Ao62

Sony's PlayStation 4 has become the second best-selling console of all time, surpassing the original PlayStation, which sold 102.5 million units. Sony said that it sold 2.8 million PS4s this quarter (including the PS4 Pro), on top of the 100 million mark it hit last quarter. That's down considerably (1.1 million units) from last year, but was enough to push it to 102.8 million, just above the original PS. It's not likely to catch the PS2, however, which sold 155 million units. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2q09wtQ

NordVPN is taking steps to ensure customers that it can stay true to its promise of providing "secure and private access to the internet" after admitting that an attacker breached one of its servers. To start with, its in-house team of penetration testers will now be working with cybersecurity firm VerSprite to conduct comprehensive penetration testing, intrusion handling and source code analysis. The firm will also help NordVPN form an independent cybersecurity advisory committee as part of their long-term partnership. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/31WOBVC

A lawsuit filed a by former Juul executive alleges that the company knew a batch of contaminated e-liquid had been used in about one million pods shipped to retailers earlier this year, but did not inform customers. The lawsuit, first reported by BuzzFeed, was brought by Siddharth Breja, former senior vice president of global finance at Juul from May 2018 to March 2019, who alleges he was fired after complaining about the contaminated pods. News of the lawsuit comes the same day as Juul’s announcement it will lay off about 500 people, or 10% to 15% of its workforce, and the departure of four executives, including chief financial officer Tim Danaher. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/31ZFZgU

SACRAMENTO (AP) Some of the country's largest ride-sharing companies proposed a California law on Tuesday that would let them continue to treat drivers as independent contractors while also guaranteeing them a minimum wage and money for health insurance. The state Legislature enacted legislation this year requiring ride-sharing companies to treat drivers as employees, which would let them form a union and entitle them to benefits like a minimum wage and workers compensation. Kincade Fire Continues to Spread as Dry, Gusty Winds Return But the law proposed Tuesday would exempt ride-sharing companies. The proposal must be approved by voters, not the state Legislature. If passed, it would supersede the Legislature's action and any similar ordinances passed by local governments. It also prevents lawmakers from passing another law to block it. The proposal will only get on the ballot in November 2020 if supporters can gather roughly 660,000 signatures from registered voters....

Facebook has filed a lawsuit against the NSO Group, accusing the Israeli cybersurveillance firm of using WhatsApp to spread spyware to 1,400 mobile devices in 20 countries from April through May. While the tech giant didn't say who it believes NSO's client was, the attacks focused on devices located in Mexico, Bahrain and the UAE. WhatsApp did reveal, however, that the victims included 100 journalists, some prominent female leaders, human rights activists and political dissidents. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2qRhkOJ

One again, EA's NBA franchise is skipping a season, as the company announced during today's earnings call that NBA Live 20 has been cancelled. Three months ago the project was simply delayed with plans for a "different approach," but that won't be enough. In a prepared statement read at the beginning of the call, CEO Andrew Wilson said the company was working on something timed for release around All-Star Weekend, "an experience designed around new ways for players to engage, connect and create through basketball." from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2JuFPI4

The post Minecraft now more autism friendly with accessibility features appeared first on Stories . from Stories https://ift.tt/2pZAe5Q

The post Minecraft now more autism friendly with accessibility features appeared first on Stories . from Stories https://ift.tt/2pZAe5Q

Audio from Apple's Siri to be reviewed by humans again with iPhone update Apple has resumed the controversial practice of allowing humans to review Siri commands and dictation with the latest iPhone software update.

Slack created a new solution for workplace communication, one copied by many, even Microsoft. Quill, a startup led by Ludwig Pettersson, Stripe’s former creative director and design aficionado, claims to offer “meaningful conversations, without disturbing your team.” The company has raised a $2 million seed round led by Sam Altman with participation from General Catalyst, followed by a $12.5 million Series A at a $62.5 million valuation led by Index Ventures partner and former Slack board observer Sarah Cannon, TechCrunch has learned. Quill and Cannon declined to comment. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2q0CVE6

To close out its big HBO Max presentation -- the service will launch in May 2020 with a $14.99 per month price -- execs revealed that the flagship HBO show Game of Thrones will get a new spin-off. House of the Dragon is a spin-off produced by author George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, which is set 300 years prior to the events of the first show. Miguel Sapochnik, who directed the "Battle of the Bastards" episode will serve as co-showrunner, as well as directing the pilot and additional episodes. Developing... from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2q6K4m9

AT&T and WarnerMedia just announced the pricing of their HBO Max streaming service, along with sharing more details about the timing and content lineup. The service will cost $14.99 per month — the same price as HBO Now. WarnerMedia also says it will be free for HBO Now subscribers and for viewers who subscribe to HBO via AT&T. And it will launch in May of next year. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2BUqIU5

After two hours of listing content for the new HBO Max service and showing how its apps work, execs revealed the price when it launches in May next year will be $14.99 per month. If you're an AT&T customer with HBO, then it will be included for free, while TV, mobile and internet bundle customers will also get free access. You'll sign in with the same AT&T credentials used for your other accounts, and it will preload the app on AT&T Android phones. Developing... from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/34bWjN3

MX Player, a popular video app that offers both local playback and streaming services, said on Wednesday that it has raised $110.8 million in a new financing round led by Chinese internet giant Tencent as the video app looks to expand its business in India and other international markets. Times Internet, which acquired a majority stake in MX Player in late 2017 for $140 million, also participated in the Series A financing round. The post-money valuation of MX Player was $500 million, a person familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2NoZPNj

The post Surface reveals new holiday lineup and introduces a new category of dual-screen devices built for mobile productivity appeared first on Stories . from Stories https://ift.tt/36hhhvV

The post Surface reveals new holiday lineup and introduces a new category of dual-screen devices built for mobile productivity appeared first on Stories . from Stories https://ift.tt/36hhhvV

I pull up, and a gentleman hands me a slip: 11.287 seconds. That's how quickly I covered a quarter mile at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, from a dead stop, in the 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500. I whisper "dammit" under my breath because this 760-horsepower machine will do that run in 10.7 seconds. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2MXvUNn

By BY KAREN WEISE from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2BRV0XF

Earlier this month, Adobe announced it would ban Venezuelan users from its products due to U.S. Executive Order 13884. Now, the company says it has received a license which allows it to keep providing its services in the country. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/32TlvrG

As Microsoft prepares for a "global celebration of everything Xbox" X019 event scheduled to take place in London next month, it's including a limited edition treat for those who like to combine fashion and gaming. This special edition gamepad sports an Aquabrush camouflage print made by DPM Studio, which is a division of the London streetwear brand Maharishi. Usually their exclusive drops come in the form of sneakers or jackets, but the DPM X019 Exclusive controller gets the nod for a 1,000 units-and-then-they're-gone run, on sale for $100 US. The design is said to include references to iconic local landmarks and celebrate the rich culture of the UK. from Yahoo Tech https://ift.tt/2BT6NF0