Amazon takes on the grocery store with Prime Pantry
Rather than a flat rate, Amazon is turning Prime Pantry into yet another monthly service subscription. If you want to take advantage of Prime Pantry, you'll pay $5 each month for unlimited deliveries and free shipping on orders over $40. If you don't hit that $40 minimum, you'll have to pay $2 extra.
One British baby’s first word was ‘Alexa,’ and he’s certainly not alone
Amazon's smart assistant is so integrated into our lives that she's now become the first word of a new generation. That's right, friends. When you say Alexa's name more than you say your own, you're likely teaching the newest members of your family who's really boss. One baby's first word was "Alexa."
Microsoft coughs up a lot of cash to acquire software developer Github
Microsoft has agreed to purchase software development platform GitHub for $7.5 billion. Although the move will need to be approved by regulators and will take several months to finalize, both companies are expecting negotiations to conclude before the end of the year. GitHub will remain independent, though Microsoft will appoint a new CEO.
Mark your calendars — more than 150 new emojis are coming on June 5
Come Tuesday, June 5, we'll be blessed with the arrival of more than 150 new emojis, which will come as part of Unicode Version 11.0. These new emojis will help you express yourself via text in new ways, and will feature a wide range of new faces, as well as animals, objects, and symbols.Â
Apple has finally allowed a Telegram update to go through, CEO says
Ever since the Russia-wide ban on Telegram, Apple has allegedly blocked the app from making updates to its services. Until now. Apparently, Apple has finally given in and allowed the app to push through updates that make it compliant with the new GDPR privacy laws. Telegram's CEO thanked Apple in a tweet.
How much of your data is Apple collecting? Not much, and here’s how to see it
A New York Times journalist took a look at just how much Facebook knew about him, and was horrified by the answer. How much do other popular tech companies know about their users? Jefferson Graham of USA Today looked into how much data Apple collected from him. You can do the same with new Apple tools.
Nectar’s adjustable bed frame comes with a NASA-inspired Zero Gravity setting
Who says you have to be horizontal to sleep? Certainly not Nectar. But it's not just about the mattress for this bed in a box brand -- rather, the company is taking a holistic look at your entire sleeping experience, and to that end, the company has unveiled the new adjustable bed frame.
Smarterware ensures your fridge never reeks of spoiled food again
Your food may not be smart (yet), but that doesn't mean that your containers can't be. In the continuing quest to ensure that every aspect of our home is somehow connected, we've now been introduced to Smarterware, a new food storage line from Ovie that claims to be the world's first smart food container.
Boost your iPhone’s security just by tapping it against this gadget
YubiKey is set to bring peace of mind to Apple smartphone users. The formerly USB-exclusive security key now works with iPhones with NFC chips embedded (7s and newer) that are running iOS 11. The device is currently only compatible with LastPass, but more apps are likely to be added in the near future.
Nokia sells back the digital health business it bought two years ago
The Finnish gear company Nokia began "a strategic review of its digital health business" a couple months ago, which includes recently acquired Withings. Now, the Finnish gear company has made things official, and has complete the sale of its health tech business back to whence it came.Â
The Amazon Echo Dot is the single best-selling smart speaker of them all
A new report now suggests that the best-selling smart speaker remains within the Amazon Echo ecosystem. The less-than-$50 Echo Dot is definitively the most popular smart home speaker around. The report comes from Thinknum, who tracked "sales raking data since 2016 at Best Buy for the category."
“OK, Google, activate gun” may be the most terrifying command ever
Your friendly living room smart speaker may not be quite as innocent as it seems. At least, not if there's a malevolent owner pulling the strings. That's now been proven by Alexander Reben, who created a system that causes a Google Home to command a separate device to fire a gun.
Look out, Alexa and Google Assistant — Watson Assistant is coming for you
Watson, the supercomputer who has won Jeopardy!, helped Marchesa design a dress, and analyzed tennis matches at the U.S. Open, is now coming to your home.
Qualcomm joins Facebook’s Terragraph Project to bring fast Wi-Fi to U.S. cities
Facebook and Qualcomm are teaming up to bring fast Wi-Fi to cities around the U.S. For at least two years, the social media giant has been attempting to create a multinode wireless system focused on bringing high-speed internet connectivity to dense urban areas. It's called the Terragraph Project.
With the new Dinner 2 Lunch from HelloFresh, you’ll get two meals in one
Introduced as part of HelloFresh's response to customer feedback, 20-minute meals promise minimal prep and cleanup time. And now, the company has introduced Dinner 2 Lunch, a new offering that lets you cook once but eat twice, with as little work in the kitchen as possible.
Move over, Amazon Echo. Google Home now sits upon the smart speaker throne
Google Home has been coming for Amazon Echo's crown ever since it launched the competitive smart speaker in 2016, and now, it looks like we have a new champ. As per a new report from Canalys, Google beat Amazon for the first time in terms of smart speaker shipments, sending 3.2 million units in Q1 2018.
Need a house cleaner or plumber? Find one on Facebook.
Sketched out by Craigslist? Overwhelmed by eBay? Try Facebook Marketplace instead for your ecommerce, automobile, and now, even home services needs. You can hire a plumber, a cleaner, an electrician, or anything else you need for home improvement straight from the social network.Â
Having trouble keeping up with your meetings? Amazon Alexa can help
Who needs a calendar when you have Alexa? The personal assistant is not only the smartest member of your household, but she's also now the most organized, too. Beginning this week, if you say, "Alexa, rearrange my meeting," she'll ask which event you need edited, and what new time slot you'd like to occupy.Â
Twitter kills some TV apps, but updates Windows and other support
Twitter seems to be in the midst of an evolution which involves both some deaths and rebirths. Beginning May 24, the social media company will no longer support its TV apps on Roku, Android TV, or Xbox. But if you're a Twitter Lite or Twitter for Windows user, you're in for some snazzy new updates.
Mobileye tries to show off self-driving car, runs a red light instead
Mobileye recently announced debuted a new fleet of prototype vehicles that would be able to make their way through cities and across streets without using lasers or radars. Unfortunately, at a press event in Jerusalem meant to show off the capabilities, a test car drove straight through a red light.
Google and ‘Google, You Owe Us’ begin $4.3 billion court battle
In a landmark case for the British courts, a campaign group is pushing forward with a lawsuit against Google's data gathering in 2011/2. And now, this privacy case has ballooned, and threatens to cost Google a whopping $4.3 billion should the tech firm lose. The privacy group and Google met in court this week.
Augmented reality’s latest trick? Simplifying directions on Google Maps
At Google I/O, the company gave us a sneak peek at what's yet to come from Google Maps, and no matter how nonexistent your sense of direction might be, Google can help. Plus, there are a slew of new features for discovering new local restaurants, as well as party planning tools newly at your disposal.
Google eliminated that ‘don’t be evil’ motto
Google is no longer telling its employees not to be evil. In a rather surprising move (or perhaps a sign that the world's most seemingly perk-filled, laid-back workplace is going corporate), Google has removed its unofficial motto from its code of conduct. The change happened sometime in the last month.
Ossic X 3D headphones won’t ship, as company shuts its doors
The Ossic X were touted as the world’s first 3D headphones, and its crowdfunding campaigns raised more than $5 million. Unfortunately, this proved to be entirely insufficient, as Ossic has now shuttered, and will be unable to deliver tens of thousands of headphones it promised to early backers.
Google Duo should let you share your screen, but it doesn’t work right now
Android users have been looking forward to the possibility of screen sharing with Google Duo for several months now, and while the feature has rolled out, it hasn't been quite what users were hoping for. In fact, it's totally broken. Theoretically, the functionality should be quite straightforward.
Sony’s smaller version of its E Ink tablet available for pre-order in the U.S.
If you're in the market for a tablet, Sony has another offering that may catch your eye. The Japanese electronics company recently released its new DPT-CP1 "Digital Paper" tablet, an E Ink tablet that is really meant for folks who still want to pretend that they're writing on actual paper.
The Fairy drone is an aerial photographer with nearly magical powers
It's been years since you believed in the tooth fairy, your fairy godmother, or the best known fairy of all -- Tinkerbell. But that doesn't mean fairies don't exist. In fact, the Fairy drone is very real indeed. It's a pocket-sized drone that is able to fly and take photos just about anywhere.
Wherever the road takes you, the Pivt app will make you feel at home
Home may be where the heart is, but a new app can make it such that home is where you are. Meet Pivt, intended specifically for expats, travelers, and other folks abroad just looking for a community to call their own -- even if only for a short while. It's available on both Android and iOS.
Snapchat has undone its controversial redesign for a majority of iOS users
Snapchat is listening to users and making changes in response to complaints on the new design. Snapchat was previously testing moving friends' Stories into the Discover tab, but still separated from subscriptions and suggested Stories. Now, that test has become more permanent for a majority of iOS users.
The Google Play store hosted malware meant to steal from North Korean defectors
McAfee researchers have discovered that hackers with links to the North Korean regime managed to make Google complicit in stealing information. As per a recently published blog post, the Google Play store has apparently been playing host to at least three apps designed to collect data from certain people.
Samsung and Apple’s lawsuit may finally be drawing to a close
The gigantic Apple vs. Samsung legal lawsuit is still ongoing, and although Samsung has been found liable for damages, it's still refusing to back down. With potentially $1 billion on the line, Samsung is now arguing that it should only pay damages for components, not the phones themselves.
Autopsy confirms exploding vape pen caused Florida man’s death
An autopsy has confirmed that a vape pen was to blame in the tragic death of a Florida man. This incident marks the first confirmed case in which an e-cigarette explosion resulted in a fatality. The 38-year-old was killed when his vape pen exploded, which sent projectiles into his head and started a fire.
Oval 2.0 transforms your house into a smart home, one object at a time
The new Oval 2.0 is an all-in-one smart sensor that monitors light, temperature, and humidity, and send its users instant alerts if anything feels out of place. If you want to turn an object or an area smart, OVAL can help. It's currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, where early bird pricing is $99.
Virginia, North Carolina could be tech hub as Amazon, Apple consider campuses
Apple and Amazon are both said to be considering new facilities in North Virginia to expand their operations. Amazon's second headquarters would house some 50,000 employees, while Apple's would house 20,000. However, Apple is also considering North Carolina, especially if tax incentives are right.
For $25K, you can have this Indominus rex head replica from ‘Jurassic World’
The Prop Shop comes from Fandango's existing Fanshop store, and it's already fully-stocked with some ... interesting paraphernalia. And perhaps the most eye-catching is the merchandise related to the Jurassic World franchise -- namely, a giant Indominus Rex replica for $25,000.
Apple expands autonomous car fleet as major Chinese player comes to town
Apple now has the second-largest fleet of self-driving cars on the streets of California. It's just added 10 more, so it's now licensed to test 55 of its high-tech vehicles in the state. The news comes as Chinese ridesharing giant Didi Chuxing received a license to start testing its own autonomous cars in California.