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10 tech stories you missed this week: Lexus hoverboard unveiled, Jon Stewart signs off

10 tech stories you missed this week lexus hoverboard unveiled jon stewart signs off slide hoverpark 9 1500x1000
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In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. Too much, in fact, for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of the top 10 tech stories from this week. From saying goodbye to 16 years of Jon Stewart, to Lexus finally showing off its mag-lev hoverboard in action — it’s all here.

Remembering 16 years of Jon Stewart, as he signs off the Daily Show forever

This week, we said our goodbyes to Jon Stewart, the man who’s been at the helm of the Daily Show for the past 16 years. He called out the news media for absurd coverage, led us through bleak situations with grace, and cheerfully mocked politicians along the way. It’s been a great journey, and Stewart introduced us to many new talented comedians like Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, and John Oliver. Here’s to you, Jon!

Read the full story here.

The future is here: Women can finally charge their iPhones in their jeans

JOE'S® Official Site | #Hello Battery

Joe’s Jeans, an apparel company based out of Los Angeles, has developed a new denim line called #HelloJeans, which let you charge your iPhone on the go. For $190, women can buy a pair of jeans with a special opening for a battery pack that charges their phones. Of course, the battery pack isn’t included with the jeans, so that’s another $50.

Read the full story here.

HBO Now arrives on Chromecast along with Travel Channel, Food Network, and others

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At this year’s Google I/O, it was announced that HBO Now would come to Android and Chromecast this summer. It was just last month Android devices saw HBO Now support, and now it’s available on Chromecast. Fans can catch up on Game of Thrones, True Detective, and watch every season of Girls. Both the Travel Channel and Food Network have added Chromecast to their mobile apps as well.

Read the full story here.

Tesla issues software patch after hackers take control of a Model S

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American researchers have discovered that there are six security flaws with the Tesla Model S that let hackers take control of the vehicle. Kevin Mahaffey, the chief technology offers of cyber security firm Lookout, and March Rogers, the principal security researcher at Cloudflare, say they chose to hack into a Tesla because they wanted to understand software better than most car makers. Tesla has since patched the issue.

Read the full story here.

Spit in a tube to get a personalized health regimen based on your genes

It can be challenging to finding a solution to losing weight, or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There’s a new app that aims to set us on the road to health, and it makes its suggestions based on our actual DNA. You can take the Pathway Fit Test, at the price of $100 through the newly released Pathway Genomics iOS app. All you need to do is request a test kit through the app, provide some saliva in the supplied tube, and send it back. Pathway will then analyze your DNA to come up with the diet, lifestyle, and nutritional needs that will best suit your body.

Read the full story here.

Next page: 5 more tech stories you might have missed this week

Facebook launches live-streaming feature, but for celebs only

Facebook is getting into the live-streaming video trend with a new feature called “Live,” which is only available to celebrities and other public figures that want to create and share videos with their fans from all over the world. Fans can comment on videos and like or share celebrities’ live videos while watching. According to Facebook, celebrities such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Serena Williams, and Ashley Tisdale will the first to use the new Live feature.

Read the full story here.

It’s real! Lexus finally shows off its mag-lev hoverboard in action

Marty McFly told us the hoverboard would be here in 2015, and we’ve seen a few prototypes, but now Lexus finally showed its mag-lev hoverboard in action. The company has no plans to actually sell the board, but it’s pretty amazing to see the thing hovering around the specially built “hoverpark” in Cubelles, Barcelona, in Spain.

Read the full story here.

Twitter’s News tab lets you know what’s going on in the world today

Twitter
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Jack Dorsey said during an earnings briefing in July, that Twitter should be “the first thing everyone in the world checks before they start their day.” Earlier this week, Twitter started to experiment with a “Featured News” tab that highlights trending news items in its iOS and Android applications. It’s under development, but the feature is currently live in Japan.

Read the full story here.

Apple Music surpasses 11 million members, but faces challenges

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While Apple Music may be one of the newest music streaming services, it’s already competing with services like Spotify. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services, told USA Today that the service has reached more than 11 million members in the past five weeks since its debut. Cue said, almost 2 million of those are paying subscribers who’ve opted for the $15 a month family plan.

Read the full story here.

Pentagon hit by cyber attack, sources suspect Russian involvement

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U.S. officials told NBC News that Russia is responsible for launching a “sophisticated cyber attack” against the Pentagon’s Joint Staff unclassified email system. The system has been taken offline for almost two weeks. The “sophisticated cyber attack” took place on or around July 25, and personal information belonging to 4,000 military and civilian workers was stolen.

Read the full story here.

Karen Tumbokon
Karen is a technology, music and entertainment writer. Originally from New Jersey, Karen began her writing career in music…
Best Apple Watch deals: Series 9 and Ultra 2 discounted
Someone wearing an Apple Watch Ultra 2, showing the Modular Ultra watch face.

The Apple Watch has become one of the best smartwatches on the market. And while Apple deals are traditionally somewhat difficult to come by, the Apple Watch has always been a good Apple product to turn to for some savings. That’s certainly the case right now, as some of the best smartwatch deals are on various Apple Watch models, and several models are offering substantial savings. From the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to older Apple Watch models that come in at relatively low prices, we’ve tracked down all of the best Apple Watch deals taking place right now. Read onward and you’ll find plenty of details on how to save, as well as some information on which Apple Watch may best suit your needs.
Best Apple Watch SE deals

The first-generation Apple Watch SE, which was released in 2020, and the second-generation Apple Watch SE, which was rolled out in 2022, are the most affordable ways of getting an Apple Watch. They don't give up too much in order to keep costs low compared to their more expensive peers though. The Apple Watch SE 2, in particular, still provides comprehensive fitness tracking features, a comfortable fit, and excellent software as it can be updated to Apple's latest watchOS 10.

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Best Samsung tablet deals: Discounted tablets as low as $184
Recent apps view on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

Samsung makes a huge lineup of quality yet affordable tablets, many of them in competition to be among the best tablets, and many more often found among the best tablet deals. With a wide set of prices ranging from budget to premium, a Samsung tablet makes a great investment for almost anyone who enjoys the touchscreen form factor. There are quite a few Samsung tablet deals worth shopping right now, and we’ve done the heavy lifting of tracking down the best. Among them you’ll find discounts on the likes of the budget tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite and the high-end tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. So whichever end of the tablet spectrum you fall on, or if you land anywhere in between, read onward for more details on the best Samsung tablet deals available right now.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 -- $184, was $230

If you need a bigger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is another solid budget option. It is 10.5 inches and runs a much better 1920 x 1200 resolution, which also makes it a better option for watching content. It does have a much smaller capacity at 32GB, although you can always expand it with a MicroSD, so it's not a dealbreaker. That said, the 3GB of RAM is very much within the limits of what's going to give you a smoother experience, but it's the sort of compromise you deal with when going for a larger screen at a budget price.

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Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
The Oura Ring Horizon resting on a green succulent plant.

The Oura Ring is a highly sought-after wearable device available in different styles and price ranges. It allows users to track their sleep and recovery, stress levels, illnesses, and fitness routines -- and it even provides features specific to women's health. With so many features,  you might wonder whether the watch is waterproof. Let's find out.
Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
Technically, the Oura Ring is not waterproof. Instead, it's water-resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters). This is the case for most modern gadgets. You'll often find water resistance protection on products, which is good, but it's not exactly the same as being waterproof. But what does that really mean? We explain below.
Can you go swimming with the Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring has a certain level of protection that allows you to wear it while swimming, showering, and snorkeling. However, wearing the Oura Ring during scuba diving or when there is a risk of extended water submersion or extreme pressure is not advisable. Oura recommends avoiding wearing the ring in such scenarios to ensure its longevity and proper functioning.

Oura further explains: "The Oura Ring operating temperature ranges from [-10 to 52 degrees Celsius and 14 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit]. You can safely wear your ring in the shower, hot tubs, saunas, ice baths, and cryotherapy tanks. However, extended exposure to extreme temperatures (below 0°C/32°F or above 35°C/95°F) may lead to battery damage."
How does this compare to other smart rings?
Of Oura's chief competitors, only the Ultrahuman Ring Air provides similar water resistance. By contrast, the Amovan Smart Ring only provides water resistance up to 50 meters. The Oura Ring offers the same level of protection as the Apple Watch Ultra, making it an excellent alternative to smartwatches. However, it surpasses the Apple Watch Series 2 or later and the Google Pixel Watch 2, which can only resist water up to 50 meters.

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