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New Echo Show stand will turn Alexa into Mickey Mouse

Amazon has just announced a new stand for its Echo Show device featuring Disney mascot Mickey Mouse as well as new Hey Disney features.

Everything Amazon Announced at Its Hardware Event—So Far

The retailer takes the wraps off several new smart home gadgets, from a TV-sized Echo Show to an ultra-cheap smart thermostat.

Best PS4 controllers 2021: top gamepads from Scuf, Razer, Nacon and more

Our guide to the best PS4 controllers you can buy right now, from cheap gamepads to feature-filled PS4 accessories.

Amazon Echo Show 15 is an Echo Show you hang on your wall like a picture frame

A smart frame to control your smart home, with all the Amazon Echo Show smarts you're used to.

Battlefield 2042 beta dates seem to have leaked - and there may not be long to wait [updated]

EA Dice has confirmed Battlefield 2042's beta kicks off next week.

Google has a cunning plan to break your ad blocker

Google Chrome's impending move to a new key specification will break many extensions, including popular ad-blockers.

Why ‘Diablo II: Resurrected’ Kept Its Rough Edges

Developers who remastered the legendary RPG say it was important to keep some of the game’s more frustrating aspects intact.

Remember Atlis? Startup debuts prototype XT electric pickup truck- Roadshow

The startup promises up to a 500-mile range and a work truck that will recharge in just 15 minutes.

Amazon's 7-day Samsung sale now live - deals on 4K TVs, Galaxy Buds, and more

Amazon's 7-days of Samsung sale is now live and it's featuring fantastic deals on 4K TVs, earbuds, smart tiles, gaming monitors, and more.

Pokemon Go October 2021: Raids, Zarude, Halloween event and more- CNET

Here are all the biggest events and activities happening in Pokemon Go next month.

Facebook to release internal research on Instagram's impact on teens- CNET

Nick Clegg, the social network's vice president of global affairs, says the research will be made public in "the next few days."

This password manager will now generate a random email address for you as well

1Password users can now generate unique email addresses alongside random passwords.

Technics' new true wireless earphones cut out ambient noise to focus on your voice

Technics says that its latest true wireless earphones are specifically designed to make your voice heard in almost any situation.

Mastercard rolls out new program

Mastercard unveiled on Tuesday a buy now, pay later (BNPL) program that will allow consumers to pay for online and in-store purchases through equal and interest-free installments.The Mastercard Installments program will be available in markets across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, the company said.Mastercard says its Installments program builds on Mastercard’s investments in open banking that help deliver a simple and convenient experience for consumers, merchants and lenders.As an elective option for lenders, with consumer consent, account-level transaction histories can be considered as part of the underwriting process, enabling credit to be safely extended to a greater number of shoppers. Open banking technology also facilitates the consumer’s preferred method of repayment, which may be their checking or savings account, a Mastercard debit card, or another payment product.Key benefits of Mastercard Installments include:Consumers: The Mastercard Installments program enables consumers to choose how and when they pay for items from a brand they can trust. Consumers enjoy a seamless experience before and after checkout through options to access BNPL offers, or secure an offer at the time of checkout, from trusted lenders for use at a variety of merchants interest-free. As consumer protection is paramount at Mastercard, Mastercard Installments[…]

Google Pixel 6 prices, release date and colors leaked

The Pixel 6 might be one of the more affordable flagships of 2021 if this leak is right.

Get 67% off on two Aukey power banks today- CNET

Charge all your tech at once with this Aukey two-pack deal.

Lenovo's nifty Google-powered Smart Clock is now just $35- CNET

This winning bedside companion is back at an attractive price.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Nightmare Before Christmas is only $6 today- CNET

There's a lot more to this version than what you get on Disney Plus.

Tesla makes Full Self-Driving early access testers sign NDAs, report says- Roadshow

These nondisclosure agreements reportedly prohibit testers from giving rides and speaking to the media, and encourage selective sharing on social media.

COVID-19 pill developers aim to top Merck, Pfizer efforts

As Merck and Pfizer prepare to report clinical trial results for experimental COVID-19 antiviral pills, rivals are lining up with what they hope will prove to be more potent and convenient oral treatments of their own.Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Pardes Biosciences, Japan’s Shionogi and Novartis said they have designed antivirals that specifically target the coronavirus while aiming to avoid potential shortcomings such as the need for multiple pills per day or known safety issues.Infectious disease experts stressed that preventing COVID-19 through wide use of vaccines remains the best way to control the pandemic. But they said the disease is here to stay and more convenient treatments are needed.“We need to have oral alternatives for suppression of this virus. We have people who aren’t vaccinated getting sick, people whose vaccine protection is waning, and people who can’t get vaccinated,” said Dr. Robert Schooley, an infectious diseases professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine.Pfizer and Merck, as well as partners Atea Pharmaceuticals and Roche AG have all said they could seek emergency approval for their COVID-19 antiviral pills this year.Rivals are at least a year behind. Pardes began an early-stage trial last month, Shionogi plans to start large-scale clinical trials by year-end, Enanta[…]

Ford bets $11.4B on battery plants, EV factories in biggest-ever investment- Roadshow

The largest single manufacturing outlay in the automaker's near 120-year history will also include two "mega campuses" in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Amazon Fire HD 10 with 64GB is down to $96 (all-time low)- CNET

It's the lowest price we've seen for this powerful tablet with 64GB of storage.

Amazon's 2021 launch event on Sept. 28: What we expect from Ring and Echo devices- CNET

Amazon is holding an invite-only event on Tuesday, and promises news about devices, services and more. Here's what we're hoping to see.

Alibaba apps start offering WeChat Pay option

China’s Alibaba has begun offering payment services from Tencent’s WeChat on a number of its apps, after the government ordered major tech firms to stop blocking each other’s services and links.Local tech blog 36Kr reported on Tuesday that users of Alibaba’s food delivery app Ele.me, luxury goods app Kaola and e-book app Shuqi can now purchase goods via WeChat Pay, one of China’s most popular online payment options.Alibaba’s used-goods marketplace app Xianyu and supermarket app Freshippo have also applied for WeChat Pay integration, the tech blog said.Alibaba confirmed the contents of the report to Reuters. Previously, the main way users could make payments on those apps was via Alipay, from Alibaba’s financial affiliate Ant Group.Earlier this month, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it had asked internet companies to end a long-standing practice of blocking each other’s links and services on their sites. Such practices prevented app users from seamlessly jumping to services between rival companies.Days later, Tencent’s WeChat messaging app started allowing users to access links to rival platforms. Previously, it had not allowed users to click on links sent via chat to, for instance, product listings from Alibaba’s Taobao marketplace.The changes come as authorities continue to[…]

Pure Storage moves upstack with new storage management and data service tools

The new Pure Fusion and Portworx Data Services help advance Pure Storage's vision that "modern data, storage and management should be, at the end of the day, services delivered as code"

Current mortgage rate for Sept. 28, 2021: Rates move up- CNET

Today a handful of major mortgage rates ticked up. If you're in the market for a mortgage, see how that could affect you.

Mortgage refinance rates for Sept. 28, 2021: Rates tick higher- CNET

Several important refinance rates trended upward today.

Humans Can't Be the Sole Keepers of Scientific Knowledge

Communicating scientific results in outdated formats is holding progress back. One alternative: Translate science for machines.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage: What you need to know before watching- CNET

Here's a reminder of what happened to alien symbiote Venom and his human buddy Eddie Brock before the Marvel-inspired sequel hits theaters.

Google defends Android phone maker deals

Google on Tuesday said deals with Android phone makers that landed it a record 4.3-billion-euro ($5 billion) antitrust fine boosted competition and rejected EU charges they were a carrot-and-stick tactic that stifled rivals.Google was addressing the second day of a week-long hearing as it tries to get Europe’s second-highest court to annul the fine and a European Commission order to make it loosen its search engine grip on Android devices.Lawyers for Google and the EU competition executive clashed over the company’s Mobile Application Distribution Agreements (MADAs) that require phone makers (OEMs) to pre-install the Google Search app and Chrome browser app in return for licensing Google Play for free.“This licensing model is what attracted OEMs to the Android platform, and what enabled those OEMs to offer a consistent and high-quality user experience at the lowest possible price,” Google’s lawyer Alfonso Lamadrid told the General Court.“People use Google because they choose to, not because they’re forced to,” he said.Commission lawyer Carlos Urraca Caviedes rejected the argument, calling the deals and other restrictions Google’s carrot-and-stick policy towards phone makers.“These helped Google ensured its competitors would not achieve critical mass to challenge its dominance,” he told the court.He also said such deals were[…]

How to Use the Focus Feature on iOS 15—and Get More Done

This new feature lets you customize which notifications you get and lets you rearrange your home screen depending on which apps you need and when.

What the Military Can Learn From Dune

The story's hero, Paul Atreides, understood how to find a conflict's center of gravity better than most military wonks.

How to Make a Dune Stillsuit

But not really, because actual functioning stillsuits are still impossible.

Spice World: WIRED Traces the Dune Legacy

As the latest take on the novel hits the big screen, WIRED traces the impact of Frank Herbert's complex, prescient masterpiece.

A Computer Weekly buyer’s guide to SIEM and SOAR

Pure launches Fusion cloud control layer for storage

Scalper bots are now targeting graphics card vendors

Concert tickets are no longer the most coveted items on a reseller's list.

WhatsApp to support iPad and at least another iPhone in new update

It’s been a while since the news regarding multi-device support on WhatsApp broke out, but now, a new report shows evidence that this feature is going to look more like what Telegram already does.According to WABetainfo, while WhatsApp already offers the ability to link its account with WhatsApp Web, Desktop, and Portal to some beta testers, it’s still developing an app for the iPad and the ability to link another phone with the same account.WABetainfo says it’s not clear whether this feature will only be available for tablets, but for the time being, there is no evidence that the company will exclude mobile phones.One of the things that people complain about the most about WhatsApp over Telegram is the lack of multi-device support, as you can log in to as many devices as you’d like. WhatsApp, on the other hand, is still restricted to one main device with an active internet connection.The company is also working on another important feature, which is the ability to transfer chat history between iOS and Android devices and vice-versa.There’s no official news regarding when WhatsApp will release multi-device support or multi-device 2.0, but the company is developing them and making progress.

PwC initiative Tech She Can becomes independent charity

Remote working possible for only 11% of Brazil's workforce

Researchers found that socioeconomic background affected the possibility of remote work in Brazil, with a high percentage of remote workers identifying as white women with university-level degrees.

The best 5G home internet: Your broadband options

Fiber internet is the best, but most of us still can't get it. For many, 5G may be the next best option.

How to join the connected world with data and AI

If there was one key fact for data and analytic professionals to learn in the past year, it's that our data and AI foundations weren't as ready for this challenge as they could have been.

How CISO roles will change as customer trust becomes imperative

The trust imperative is the next major shift enterprises will encounter.

Singapore to link up with Malaysia on cross-border payment transfers

Singapore and Malaysia will link their national real-time payment systems PayNow and DuitNow, respectively, to enable cross-border fund transfers via mobile numbers.

Best VPN for streaming: Fire Stick, Netflix & more

One of the most popular uses for VPNs is getting around streaming restrictions. Is this legal? Not so much. But is it heavily promoted? You bet. Do we endorse the practice? No way. We're just here to educate, not endorse the practice of doing it.

Bermuda Triangle mystery resolved?

A Science channel has reported that the mystery surrounding the Bermuda Triangle may have been solved.The region is located near North America and has seen the disappearance of countless aeroplanes and ships.According to a report, a group of scientists from the University of Colorado in the United States observed and studied the weather images, taken via satellite, where they saw unusual clouds over the region.They claimed that the clouds are acting as “air bombs.”It has been further mentioned that the wind speed can go above the 170 miles-per-hour mark and the waves can go over 45 ft. The report added that no ships or planes will be able to survive the wind force.The Bermuda Triangle is unique as the clouds have straight edges.The recent theory has laid the foundation for further investigation and research for solving the abnormalities surrounding the area.Earlier, the wreckage of a coal ship that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle with 32 passengers onboard has been found by underwater explorers after nearly 100 years of its disappearance.The steam-powered bulk carrier, SS Cotopaxi, set off for a journey from Charleston, South Carolina to Havana, Cuba and disappeared near Bermuda in 1925.As usual, no one knew what happened to[…]

Our Favorite Headphones and Earbuds for $100 or Less

You can probably fill Foxconn City with all the cheap headphones out there. We're here to help you pick the right pair.

The social life of a vampire bat

When one thinks of vampire bats, friendship and cooperation may not be among the qualities that come to mind for these blood-feasting creatures of the night. But maybe they should.Scientists have provided a deeper understanding of social relationships among vampire bats, showing how those that have forged bonds akin to “friendships” with others will rendezvous with these buddies while foraging for a meal.Researchers attached small devices to 50 vampire bats to track nighttime foraging in Panama, when these flying mammals drink blood from wounds they inflict upon cattle in pastures. The study involved female bats, known to have stronger social relationships than males.Among the bats were 23 wild-born individuals that had been kept in captivity for about two years during related research into bat social behavior. Social bonds already had been observed among some of them. After being released back into the wild, the bats were found to often join a “friend” during foraging, possibly coordinating the hunt.“Each bat maintains its own network of close cooperative social bonds,” said behavioral ecologist Gerald Carter of the Ohio State University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, who led the research published in the journal PLoS Biology.Social bonds among vampire bats as they[…]

Uber drivers strike over pay issues and unfair dismissal claims

Climate Change Is the New Dot-Com Bubble

The free market has plenty of grandiose ideas about how to fix our broken planet. There's just one problem: We can't afford another bust.

The ‘Forever Virus’ Won't Go Away Until Kids Get Vaccinated

Epidemiologist Larry Brilliant on the Delta surge, chaos at the CDC, and why the under-12s are key to ending the pandemic.

Giant Umbrella contractors suffer salary payment delays following suspected ‘data breach’

Fixing the SME tech crisis

Dubai International Finance Centre’s data protection law to be boosted by new federal regulation

Windows 11 gets an update for the better experience of Android users

Your Phone software by Microsoft, which serves as a bridge between Android devices and Windows 10, is all set to get a makeover for Windows 11.While things do not seem to have changed dramatically like new functionality is on the cards in the short term, we know a bit into the app at Microsoft’s recent Surface event as it still reminds us of its existence.Your Phone app, too, gets a new look as do the other apps updated for Windows 11, with softer set of colors and rounded corners. However, it’s in the interface where the real improvement lies.If you go into the app right now, you’ll see separate sections for Notifications, Messages, Calls. Also, Apps if you own a supported Samsung device or a Surface Duo. With the new version, XDA Developers spotted that notifications now feature along the left-hand side of the app, with can respond directly from your desktop or laptop.Other items to have been relocated are Messages, Photos, Apps and Calls that now appear at the top of the screen. The now little less cluttered look should make the app a bit more accessible to newcomers. Although, it can be a bit confusing to those who[…]

Scotland sees increase in job opportunities in tech

In Russia, Apple and Google Staff Get Muscled Up By the State

When US tech companies opened offices there, it was supposed to mitigate oppression. Instead those workers are now vulnerable to threats from local authorities.

Our Favorite Smart Pens for Writing Digital Notes

These handy tools combine the ease of jotting notes by hand with the power of saving them digitally.

How a plant virus could help stop cancers from reaching the lungs

Using a virus that grows in black-eyed pea plants, nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego developed a new treatment that could keep metastatic cancers at bay from the lungs.The treatment not only slowed tumor growth in the lungs of mice with either metastatic breast cancer or melanoma, it also prevented or drastically minimized the spread of these cancers to the lungs of healthy mice that were challenged with the disease.The research was published Sept. 14 in the journal Advanced Science.Cancer spread to the lungs is one of the most common forms of metastasis in various cancers. Once there, it is extremely deadly and difficult to treat.Researchers at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering developed an experimental treatment that combats this spread. It involves a bodily injection of a plant virus called the cowpea mosaic virus. The virus is harmless to animals and humans, but it still registers as a foreign invader, thus triggering an immune response that could make the body more effective at fighting cancer.The idea is to use the plant virus to help the body’s immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells in the lungs. The virus itself is not infectious in our bodies, but[…]

Here’s how you can upgrade to Windows 11 early

Microsoft will begin rolling out Windows 11 on October 5.  However, the company has finalised the new version and released it to its Release Preview channel.You can switch to the Release Preview in Windows 10 and get the free Windows 11 upgrade early.Here’s how you can get the free Windows 11 upgrade:First you need to see if your PC is compatible with Windows 11 using Microsoft’s PC Health App (download here).If your PC is compatible, you will have to register as a Windows Insider at Microsoft’s site to get the upgrade early.On the existing 10 PC, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider ProgramClick the “Get Started” button and link the Microsoft account you used to sign up to be a Windows InsiderSelect the Release Preview ring when asked to pick your Insider settingsAgree to Microsoft terms and then reboot your computerGo to Settings > Update & Security, and you will see a new banner with the option update to Windows 11Download and install option and follow the prompts to get the new operating system earlyAfter upgrading to Windows 11, you can then go to Settings > Windows Update and select “Stop getting preview builds” to unenroll[…]

How do you help someone with their leg bitten off by a shark?

How do you help someone with their leg bitten off by a shark? Groundbreaking research by an Australian medic-surfer has uncovered a simple way to stop bleeding and save lives.Find the middle point between the hip and the genitals, make a fist and push as hard as you can.Shark attacks are rare but on the increase Down Under, due in large part to more people being in the water.So surfer and Australian National University medical school dean Nicholas Taylor set out to discover how to reduce fatalities in the event of an attack.Many fatal shark bites occur around the legs, leaving the victim to bleed to death despite making it back to shore.In a study published by Emergency Medicine Australasia, Taylor found that a simple technique to compress the femoral artery was much more effective in stopping bleeding than traditionally-used tourniquets.His study showed that by making a fist and pressing down on the artery around 89.7% of blood flow was stopped, versus 43.8% using a surfboard leash as a make-shift tourniquet.The technique worked equally well with the patient wearing a wetsuit and without.“I knew from my background in emergency medicine if people have massive bleeding from their leg, you can[…]

IT systems failure blights UK Border Force electronic passport gates

Battlefield 2042 beta version codes get leaked

The beta version of Battlefield 2042 is slated to be released next month and players reported receiving code right after pre-ordering it.According to a report, multiple Reddit users had claimed that they got the codes after they registered for the beta on Amazon. A series of posts regarding the code leaks were seen on the micro-blogging platform named Twitter as well.The leaks made the players believe as if the video gaming giant have already rolled out the codes ahead of the beta version’s release on October 8.An official gave a clarification on the issue.This was a simple store front error that incorrectly listed the pre-order offer for PS4. It's being updated now and you'll see the correct details shortly.To confirm: there have been no changes to the pre-order incentives for Battlefield 2042. https://t.co/2BYSV35d9i— Freeman (@PartWelsh) September 22, 2021Thanks to those who helped alert it to myself and the gang – it’ll take a short while to update things but it’ll be sorted in good time — Freeman (@PartWelsh) September 22, 2021Just had a quick check before I hit the hay – balance in the universe is indeed restored! pic.twitter.com/sxmQuY0xpm— Freeman (@PartWelsh) September 22, 2021He stated that the company has not[…]

This WhatsApp feature lets users quickly access important messages

The popular instant messaging app WhatsApp offers a feature that allows users to save important messages so they can access them later without any hassle.The feature called “Starred messages” lets users to bookmark messages they want to quickly refer back to later.Here’s how this feature works:Step 1: You first need to open any chat on WhatsApp and long press a message in order to save it.Step 2: There is a star icon on the top of the screen. You need to tap on it to save it as an important message on the app.You can also unstar a message in a similar manner. There is a section on WhatsApp that shows “Starred messages”. It is visible when you tap on the three-dotted button, present near the search bar icon.READ: WHATSAPP TO ALLOW USERS TO CONVERT IMAGES INTO STICKERSThe drop-down menu will show a “Starred messages” option. If you want to unstar a message, you need to long-press on the message and then unstar that message by tapping on the star icon.Users can also remove all the saved messages in one go. A three-dotted icon on the top lets you do that.READ: YOUR WHATSAPP TO SOON LOSE SHORTCUT TO MESSENGER ROOMSThere[…]

Bats with Covid-like viruses found in Laos: study

Scientists have discovered another clue to the origins of the virus that causes Covid-19, with bats living in caves in Laos found to be carrying a similar pathogen that experts suggest could potentially infect humans directly.The virus has killed millions since it emerged in China in late 2019, and controversy continues to swirl around where it came from.Some experts say it is animal-driven but others have pointed to the possibility the pathogen leaked from a lab.Researchers from France’s Pasteur Institute and the National University of Laos said their findings showed that viruses genetically close to the SARS-CoV-2 virus “exist in nature” among bat species in the limestone caves of northern Laos, which neighbours China.Of the viruses they identified among the hundreds of bats tested in Vientiane Province, three were found to closely resemble the virus that causes Covid-19, particularly in the mechanism for latching on to human cells.“The idea was to try to identify the origin of this pandemic,” Marc Eloit, who leads the Pasteur Institute’s pathogen discovery laboratory, told AFP.Eloit, whose team analysed the samples collected, said there were still key differences between the viruses found and SARS-CoV-2.But he said the work was “a major step forward” in identifying[…]