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Weekly Rewind: Your home tap system, pizza on Messenger, and the return of the black cab

top tech stories 02 03 2017 wr 04
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A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh 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 how to get your pizza fix on Super Bowl Sunday to an at-home tap system — it’s all here.

Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, Domino’s bot now offers full-menu ordering

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It may just be the easiest food around, and now, it’s also the easiest food to order. Last summer, Domino’s officially launched its Facebook Messenger chatbot that lets you order a pie with just one word: “PIZZA.” Because really, why complicate something so … uncomplicated? And now, just days before the Super Bowl (during which pizza is a strong contender for the national meal), Domino’s has updated its bot to allow customers to place entire order.

Read the full story here.

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

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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 since filled us with a sense of wonder. Fortunately, some of the most sophisticated imaging technology is currently faring the infinite void, transmitting breathtaking images of the final frontier back to earth. Here are 30 photos of space to help you put this Pale Blue Dot in perspective.

Read the full story here.

Researchers build flu detector that can diagnose at a breath, no doctor required

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The influenza virus is a sneaky little bugger. In most cases, you have no idea you’re infected with it until you start to show symptoms. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was some sort of early-detection device that could tell us who is secretly harboring a virus before it spreads around the entire office? That is precisely what researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have created with a prototype breathalyzer-style device, capable of detecting flu in its early stages.

Read the full story here.

Want a new turntable for your old vinyl records? Check out LOVE

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Vinyl is making a comeback, and you know what that means — the return of the turntable. After all, what good is a record without a record player? And while we may be harking back to disc formats of old, that doesn’t mean we can’t give those familiar turntables a 21st-century makeover. Meet LOVE, branded as the world’s first intelligent turntable, which has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring its technology to the masses.

Read the full story here.

HTTPS use has finally reached its ‘moment of critical mass’

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HTTPS has reached a “moment of critical mass.” That’s according to cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt this week after he published statistics that showed HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) usage had grown so substantially that it was becoming the “norm” now rather than the exception. HTTPS is a more secure version of the HTTP protocol. It encrypts the data sent between your browser and the sites you are visiting, which ensures that your data is protected while browsing.

Read the full story here.

How the London Taxi Company is bringing the black cab into the 21st century

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Once a common sight in the British capital, the emblematic Hackney carriage — colloquially known as the black cab — has seen its market share erode significantly over the past decade. The London Taxi Company (LTC) is preparing to introduce a brand-new model in a bid to reclaim its spot as the poster child of England’s taxi industry. LTC is owned by Geely, a large China-based automaker whose portfolio of brands also includes Sweden’s Volvo.

Read the full story here.

Latest Windows 10 Insider Build will get you ready for the February Bug Bash

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Microsoft rolled out a new Windows Insider build to users on the Fast Ring on Wednesday, and while this latest version doesn’t bring any blockbuster new features, it does include a ton of bug fixes and a few ease-of-access improvements. The source of many of those bug fixes is also getting a bit of an update — the feedback hub itself will feature some new functionality based on community feedback. Have a look at what you Fast Ring users can look forward to in this update.

Read the full story here.

Wasted renewable energy a thing of the past as Tesla unveils energy storage center

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In less than six months, Tesla’s ambitious new Mira Loma energy station went from the idea stage to broken ground to up and running. Located roughly 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in Ontario, California, the project was developed and built with the help of utility giant Southern California Edison, as well as Ontario’s local government. A blistering pace in terms of conception-to-operation, perhaps Mira Loma’s greatest native feature is the fact its humming energy storage facility boasts the capability to powering roughly 15,000 homes.

Read the full story here.

‘Pokémon Go’ sprints to $1 billion milestone ahead of generation 2 update

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Pokémon Go has grossed $1 billion since its release in July, according to data collected by Sensor Tower, making it the first mobile game to reach that milestone so quickly. Sensor Tower said that while Supercell’s megapopular Clash Royale is currently closing in on $1 billion itself, it only generated $550 million in its first seven months, which means Pokémon Go brought in cash at nearly twice the rate as Clash Royale.

Read the full story here.

Enjoy beer the way it was meant to be with Growler Chill, the at-home tap system

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Why go to a bar when you can just pour a perfect pint at home? You can sure be the host with the most with the Growler Chill, a neat kitchen addition that does exactly what you think it does: Keep your growlers of beer cold and fresh (and ready for the party). The household counter tap allows beer enthusiasts everywhere to recreate their favorite craft beer scene in the comfort of their kitchen.

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…
The best Fitbit devices in 2023: 6 best watches and trackers
The Fitbit Sense 2 in moss.

If you’ve been thinking of buying a new fitness tracker, you have a wide selection of options to choose from. Fitbit is a name you're bound to have heard of, as it's one of the top brands in the fitness industry, with more than a dozen varieties of fitness trackers and smartwatches to suit different needs.

With that number of devices to choose from, it's not hard to see why people might become overwhelmed when choosing between them. Thankfully, there are definitely Fitbits that excel in certain areas, and as such, it's not too hard to narrow down your choice to find the best Fitbit for you. We've done a bit of the work for you here by gathering some of the best Fitbit options around, breaking them down, and pointing out what makes them so special.

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These Sennheiser All-Day OTC self-fitting hearing aids are $500 off
A man wears the Sennheiser All-Day Clear OTC hearing aid while on a hike.

A less-considered piece of tech that can go a long way toward helping the hard of hearing better interact with the world is a hearing aid. Right now you can save big at Best Buy on the Sennheiser All-Day Clear over-the-counter hearing aids. They would regularly cost $1,500 for a pair, but this deal sees them marked down to $1,000, which makes for $500 in savings. Free next-day shipping is available, and you can even pick the hearing aids up at your nearest Best Buy within one hour in many areas.

Why you should buy the Sennheiser All-Day Clear OTC hearing aid
Sennheiser is one of the more sought after brand names in consumer audio, and it’s almost always in consideration to be one of the best speaker brands. With the All-Day Clear hearing aids Sennheiser has taken all of that audio know-how and produced its first over-the-counter hearing aids. They’re made for those with mild to moderate hearing loss who are looking for a better hearing experience. They come ready to wear and combine clear, vibrant hearing performance with seamless connectivity. The All-Day Clear hearing aids have advanced sound processing technologies for better hearing and a range of customizable settings for a personalized experience.

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Is the Facebook algorithm bypass a scam? Or is it a hack?
The viral Facebook algorithm bypass post is nonsense.

Here we go again, folks. It's not uncommon — especially at this time of year for some reason — to start seeing all kinds of people posting the same thing on Facebook. Something about somehow "bypassing the Facebook system" or about how you hereby disallow Facebook from doing something that you absolutely allowed it to do by using Facebook in the first place.

No, it's not a Facebook hack. No, you're not telling Facebook to do anything. Or not to do anything. And, no, someone who posts this sort of stuff isn't deserving of mockery. In fact, this isn't new at all. Meta (nee Facebook) itself addressed it as far back as 2019.

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