Skip to main content

Weekly rewind: Nintendo Switch incoming, incredible space photos, Vegas' self-driving buses

top tech stories 01 13 2017 wr feat
NASA/JPL
In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. So much news goes on that it’s almost impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from the best of CES 2017 to how we’re saving ourselves from AI — it’s all here.

Here’s where you can pre-order the Nintendo Switch

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nintendo’s next console, the Switch, will launch March 3. After a holiday season where Nintendo consoles — namely the NES Classic Edition and 3DS — were nearly impossible to find, Nintendo fans might be wise to pre-order the console if they’re positive they want to buy it on day one. Here’s how you can currently secure a Nintendo Switch prior to the console’s forthcoming launch.

Read the full story here.

Apple may debut its own original TV shows by the end of 2017

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple is well aware that a good deal of the money in the tech world is made with content. That’s why it’s looking to get in on the original programming scene that Amazon and Netflix have been having such success with. By the end of 2017, Apple will have its own scripted, original content, and there’s even a suggestion it could start making movies in the future.

Read the full story here.

Self-driving buses are now shuttling folks around downtown Las Vegas

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Visitors to Vegas scuttling between the city’s many attractions can now hop inside an autonomous shuttle bus to take them to their next stop. It’s touted as the “first completely autonomous, fully electric shuttle ever to be deployed on a public roadway in the U.S.,” a claim that appears to overlook Uber’s Pittsburgh-based efforts.

Read the full story here.

VW pleads guilty in diesel scandal, will pay $4.3B in fines, 6 execs indicted

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Volkswagen has agreed to plead guilty to three criminal counts related to its use of “defeat device” software in diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests, the Justice Department announced. VW agreed to pay a $2.8 billion criminal penalty, as well as $1.5 billion in civil penalties for environmental, customs, and financial claims.

Read the full story here.

New $27 million fund aims to save humanity from destructive AI

Image used with permission by copyright holder

A group of entrepreneurs and nonprofits have just pledged $27 million to protect humanity from destructive artificial intelligence. Backed by the likes of LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, eBay founder Pierre Omidayar, and the Knight Foundation, the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Fund will aim to bring together experts from multiple disciplines to turn an analytical eye on the development of AI.

Read the full story here.

Fossil’s fashion-first smartwatches are doing what tech companies never could

Image used with permission by copyright holder

When Fossil Group said its brands would launch 100 wearables in 2016, everyone thought the company was completely nuts. But Fossil is a fashion company, not a tech company. Fossil thinks about design first and last with every wearable it makes. That’s why it releases new analog smartwatches and Android Wear smartwatches every season. So what if the tech hasn’t changed between seasons? The styles and fashions have.

Read the full story here.

‘Netflix Infinite Runner’ is the ‘Stranger Things’ game we never wanted

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Netflix targets video game fans this week with the launch of Netflix Infinite Runner, an autoscrolling platformer featuring characters from the original series Narcos, Marco Polo, Orange is the New Black, and Stranger Things. The first of a presumed series of “Netflix Original Games,” Netflix Infinite Runner harks back to the glory days of amateur Newgrounds flash animations, offering poorly drawn visuals paired with insipid gameplay.

Read the full story here.

Illumina’s new machine may bring the cost of genome sequencing to under $100

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The cost to sequence your genome might soon be cheaper than a night out in New York City. Illumina — a DNA sequencing company — unveiled a machine called the NovaSeq at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference this week, reports TechCrunch, and with it the company hopes to bring the price of sequencing down to less than $100. To put that into perspective, it cost about $2.7 billion and took 13 years to sequence the first full human genome back in 2003.

Read the full story here.

Ski or climb in 1 pair of boots with Arc’teryx’s hybrid, carbon fiber Procline

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Arc’teryx, the Canadian outdoor apparel and gear company that was founded by climbers, has an ethos that revolves around advanced technical standards and seamless applications. With a minimalist aesthetic and well-thought-out designs, the company has set the bar quite high with its outerwear, harnessess and bags. Its recent debut in the footwear sector is no exception.

Read the full story here.

Get your Sagan on with these 30 awe-inspiring photos of the final frontier

NASA/JPL
From the early, grainy images of the Martian surface taken by Mariner 4 to humanity’s first up-close look at Charon, photographs of our celestial neighbors and those light years away have long filled us with a sense of wonder. Fortunately, some of the most sophisticated imaging technology is currently traversing the infinite void, transmitting breathtaking images of the final frontier back to for our gawking pleasure.

Read the full story here.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
One of the biggest Oura Ring competitors just did something huge
The Ultrahuman Ring Air and the Oura Ring, resting on a table.

Ultrahuman, the maker of the Ultrahuman Ring Air, is making its way to U.S. production grounds. The company is setting up a production facility in Indiana, which will mark the first time a smart ring from Ultrahuman will be assembled from scratch on U.S. soil.

“The UltraFactory will offer an end-to-end production capability and is based on the company’s first operational model of such a facility in India,” the company says.

Read more
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more
Verizon logo on a smartphone screen in a dark room and a finger touching it.

If you’re in the market for one of the best phones, or any new phone for that matter, you’re going to need a good carrier. Verizon has long been one of the most popular options, as it boasts one of the most reliable networks in the United States. It offers some of the best cell phone plans out there, and for new customers Verizon also offers some pretty impressive discounts on new phones. In many cases this means you can brand new, recently released phones entirely for free when signing up with Verizon. And that’s the case right now, as we’re currently seeing some of the best Verizon new customer deals we’ve seen. You can pretty easily land a new iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Google Pixel for free, and we’ve got all of the details on how to do so. If that sounds enticing, read onward and start shopping the best Verizon new customer deals available right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.

Read more
AirTags range: here’s how far the tracker can reach
An AirTag attached on a keyring

Apple AirTags are a helpful tool for tracking valuable possessions like wallets, keys, luggage, and backpacks. These tags employ various technologies that allow you to track your items from short and long distances using your compatible Apple device, such as an iPhone 15 Plus. You might wonder how far you can track your items with AirTags. It's time to find out.
AirTags range, explained

The range of AirTags varies depending on the method you use to locate them. A Bluetooth connection will work when your AirTags are close to your supported Apple device. Otherwise, Apple's Find My network is utilized. Luckily, you don't have to choose the method because it's selected behind the scenes automatically.

Read more