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Weekly Rewind: Jason Bourne, virgin DNA, drone collisions, and more

top tech stories 04 24 2016 0001
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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 the top 10 tech stories from this week. Everything from the untimely passing of rockstar Prince to a new cancer treatment, it’s all here.

Stories: 1-5

The end of the purple reign: Prince dead at 57

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Police in the Minneapolis area are currently investigating a death at Prince’s famed Paisley Park compound, according to recent reports on local news. Since reports of a death at the compound were first confirmed on Thursday morning, multiple sources emerged confirming that the iconic singer is the one who was found dead, and his publicist has confirmed to the Associated Press that the singer has passed away.

Read the full story here.

HBO unveils 9 more captivating photos from Game of Thrones season 6

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So close, yet so far away — that’s how we feel about the Game of Thrones season 6 premiere. With only days to go until the first new episode, The Red Woman, airs, HBO has released nine photos to whet our already-voracious appetites. Anyone who hasn’t seen season 5 yet should avert their eyes, because there are spoilers ahead.

Read the full story here.

College students have a new career starter app with LinkedIn Student

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LinkedIn Student launched yesterday, and focuses on American college students who are just starting to build their resumes and starting their career searches. Information provided to students will be based on major, graduation date, and the students’ own activity and choices on the site, according to a report on VentureBeat.

Read the full story here.

You can now play podcasts from within Google search results on Android

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Want a simple way to keep up on the latest This American Life, Hardcore History, or Fresh Air, but can’t be bothered to download a podcast app? Not to worry — starting today, Google’s got you covered. The search company’s introducing a new feature for the Google app on Android that lets you find and listen to podcast episodes from directly within search results.

Read the full story here.

Want to hone your app-building skills? Check out Apple’s revamped developer site

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Interested in building on your app development skills? Apple has revamped the App Store developer site, offering tools, articles, and videos on how to better engage users and grow a business through apps. The App Store developer website is great tool for developers and perhaps one of the reasons that the App Store has become such a huge success — not only can developers build apps for iOS users, but they can also learn how to promote those apps and engage the customers using the apps.

Read the full story here.

Stories: 6-10

Matt Damon leaps, punches and rides back into action in first Jason Bourne trailer

Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for Jason Bourne, the upcoming sequel that brings Matt Damon back to the role he originated in 2002’s franchise-starting film The Bourne Identity. Although it’s been more than a decade since Jason Bourne’s last adventure and the events of the new film, the trailer makes it clear that the former CIA black ops agent won’t have any trouble leaping back into action.

Read the full story here.

A drone may have collided with a major airliner for the first time

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Though drones are restricted from flying anywhere near airports, it is in human nature to disobey the rules, even when the ramifications could be deadly. On Sunday, a British Airways Airbus A320 reportedly collided with a drone as it made its landing, according to CNN. The plane was making its final approach at London’s Heathrow airport, coming from Geneva, Switzerland. Michael Johnson of British Airways said that the aircraft was carrying 132 passengers and five crew members.

Read the full story here.

Your DNA may hold clues to when you’ll lose your virginity, researchers say

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DNA research has tons of great uses, from telling us who our ancestors were to unlocking new ways of detecting serious diseases far more quickly than traditional methods. But did you know it might also hold the key to when you’ll first have sex? As weird as it sounds, Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England found that certain genetic traits predispose you to have sex earlier or later in life.

Read the full story here.

Wild new cancer treatment attacks tumors with drug-filled, magnetically-guided bubbles

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A new method of delivering anticancer drugs may help bypass some of the damaging effects of chemotherapy. Using magnetic micro-bubbles and ultrasonic vibrations, scientists have been able to transport and deploy drugs deep into tumor cells. The scientists developed magnetic micro-bubbles, which were covered with magnetic nanoparticles, which were embedded with anti-cancer drugs.

Read the full story here.

UberEats Instant Delivery nixed in NYC only a month after standalone app launch

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Well, it had a good run. Oh wait — no it didn’t. Only one month after launching the standalone UberEats app in New York City, Uber has decided to shut the “instant” option down so that it can “narrow its focus.”

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 best budget phones just got even better
Google Pixel 7a in Snow showing home screen.

Phone deals feel extra sweet when they involve a discount on an already great value phone. That’s the case with the Google Pixel 7a which is currently on sale at Amazon for just $349. Usually priced at $499, it’s even better value while it’s $150 off. It’s unlikely to stay this price for too long and it’s already proving popular, so if you want to get in on the action, do so now. If you’re not certain, take a look at what we have to say about it below.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel 7a
The Google Pixel 7a is a big upgrade from its predecessor and while our review pointed out that its increased price was an issue, that’s no longer something to worry about while it’s on sale. One of the best cheap phones, it offers a lot of great features. One immediate thing to notice is its 6.1-inch OLED display. It’s a full HD screen with a 1080 x 2400 resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for durability. It also has a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate so you get smoother scrolling and a generally better experience when watching videos or playing a game.

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Samsung Galaxy Ring: news, rumored price, release date, and more
Three sizes of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, sitting on top of a white display case.

The smart ring market has been dominated by the Oura Ring so far, but that is about to change with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The ring was teased at Samsung's Unpacked event in January and then again at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February.

The Galaxy Ring is expected to come with various health sensors to help you track your physical fitness and daily activities — all with the backing of Samsung Health. It's one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year, and this is everything we know about it (so far).
Samsung Galaxy Ring: release date

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Motorola just announced three new phones, and I need them right now
Renders of the Motorola Edge 50 Pro and Edge 50 Ultra smartphones.

We're barely four months into the year, and Motorola has already had a busy 2024. After launching multiple new Moto G phones this year, the company has now announced its new Motorola Edge 50 series.

There are three phones in total, and they look like formidable alternatives to some of the best Android phones available today — including the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series. Here's what you need to know.
Motorola Edge 50 Ultra

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