Spotify adds mystery and crime to its podcast arsenal with Parcast acquisition
Spotify continues to add to its growing collection of podcasting assets, this time with the acquisition of Parcast, an L.A.-based podcast studio known for its lurid, true-crime and mystery titles, that have garnered a significant audience since the company began in 2017.
Man pleads guilty to scamming Facebook and Google out of more than $100M
One of the men behind an elaborate fraud that saw Facebook and Google each hand over tens of millions of dollars has admitted to his part in the scheme. Lithuanian Evaldas Rimasauskas, who was extradited to the United States in 2017, faces up to 30 years behind bars when he’s sentenced in July.
PlayStation does the smart thing, stops selling digital codes at physical stores
Sony will no longer offer PlayStation full-game digital downloads at retail stores. The games will now only be available directly from the PlayStation Network's own digital store. Currency cards containing the amount you need to buy a particular digital game will still be available.
Nokia phones are being investigated for allegedly sending data to China
Nokia could be in some hot water when it comes to privacy. According to recent reports, Nokia 7 models may be secretly sending data to China without the user knowing about it. Nokia says that the issue was a software bug and that it has been fixed, but Finnish privacy watchdogs will still investigate.
Tipping point? Streaming subscribers outnumbered cable in 2018 for first time
2018 was a very good year for the entertainment business as a whole, but it was especially good for streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon. Their total subscriptions eclipsed those of cable companies for the first time, on a global basis, according to a new MPAA report.
Epic Games is offering $100 million to game developers with no catch
Epic Games launched a new grant program called Epic MegaGrants. The program will dish out $100 million in funds to developers working in the 3D graphics community, even if they don't use Unreal Engine. Those making games, movies, programs for enterprise, or tools or add-ons are all encouraged to apply.
Waymo boosts robo-taxi plans with new service center in Arizona
Waymo has announced plans for a facility in Phoenix, Arizona, that will help to service, maintain, and grow its fleet of autonomous Waymo One cars. The vehicles operate as part of the company's robo-taxi ridesharing service that launched in the area toward the end of 2018.
Patreon is having another go at changing the way it charges creators
Patreon messed up pretty badly the last time it tried to change its payment system, with the subsequent backlash forcing the company to abandon the rollout. Now it's having another go, and this time the changes mainly affect future sign-ups rather than its current community of creators.
Disney’s Deadpool? Netflix worries? What Disney’s billion-dollar Fox deal means
Now that Walt Disney Company has closed its $71.3 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox's movie and television assets, what does this future hold for franchises like X-Men, the Fantastic Four, The Simpsons, Avatar, Alien, Planet of the Apes, and the rest?
British Airways’ new Club Suite for business class comes with a door
British Airways is going after a bigger slice of the business class market with the imminent launch of the Club Suite. The plush seating offers a more private space and does away with the 2-4-2 configuration that left high-paying passengers having to clamber over each other to reach the aisle.
4 women innovators who are using tech to help others live better lives
Meet four female leaders who are not only at the forefront of technology today, but who are also using tech to help others. From robotics and medicine to food and undergarments, see how these four women are using technology to help make the world a better place.
Why premium is the most overused, and least understood, word in tech
Everyone has heard the word premium, and many of us will have purchased a premium product; but what does premium actually mean, and why is it used so much in tech? There's not one correct answer here, but it's helpful to understand why company's invest so much in advertising using the word premium.
Can electric cars be S3XY? Tesla says yes with the new Model Y crossover
Tesla introduced a new crossover named Model Y at its design studio in Los Angeles. It's a more spacious alternative to the Model 3, and a smaller sibling to the Model X. All-electric, the Model Y is on-sale now through a reservation system, and the first deliveries are tentatively scheduled for 2020.
First Apex Legends esports scholarship takes you from filthy casual to pro
Massachusetts-based Becker College is the first college in the nation to offer a scholarship for Apex Legends. The path-to-pro program gives players $5,000 upon admittance to the school. A combine event will be held in April and current students are also eligible to try out.
U.S. hops on Boeing ban bandwagon, grounds 737 Max planes until further notice
The U.S. government issued instructions that Boeing must ground all 737 Max aircraft operating inside the United States. The ban comes days after a deadly crash of an Ethiopian airliner killed 157 people, prompting countries around the globe to issue their own orders until the cause of the crash can be determined.
Google may cancel future laptops, tablets as it makes cuts to hardware team
Google has seen plenty of success with Chromebooks and recently launched the Pixel Slate, but the release of future hardware could now be in question. According to a report from Business Insider, the company is reassigning dozens of employees in its laptop and tablet division as part of "roadmap cutbacks."
What is 5G E? Explaining AT&T’s misleading network on smartphones
AT&T is rebranding potentially millions of 4G smartphones to make it appear as though they are on 5G networks, explaining that technologies deeply linked to faster 5G networks already exist on 4G. Competitors argue this is false advertising -- and Sprint plans to fight it in court.
Singapore’s stunning airport complex could be a tourist destination in itself
Singapore’s Changi Airport could be the first airport in the world where you might actually want to go to hang out. Why? Because it’s about to open the Jewel, a beautifully designed shopping, dining, entertainment, and accommodation complex that also features an abundance of greenery.
Smart home technology may help senior citizens remain independent
Smart home technology has offered a wide variety of benefits to homeowners from security to child care to entertainment but a new survey from the Consumer Technology Association finds that elderly citizens may be more willing to adopt the technology in order to remain independent.
Airbnb buys HotelTonight to accommodate last-minute travelers
If you've ever left it late to book a room on Airbnb and couldn't find anything, the company's acquisition of last-minute booking app HotelTonight looks like good news. HotelTonight launched in 2010 and currently offers hotel rooms in more than 1,700 cities in around 35 countries.
Waymo wants to sell lidar sensors, but not to self-driving car companies
Waymo wants to make deals for its Laser Bear Honeycomb lidar sensor. The self-driving car unit of Google's parent Alphabet aims to partner with companies that have non-automotive applications for the 3D perimeter sensor. Waymo hopes to scale its self-driving technology in applications such as robotics and security.
Google Images gets shoppable ads to help you spend even more money online
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Instagram and Pinterest, Google is now testing shoppable ads within image search results. It means retailers can add tags that show the price and brand name of the displayed product, or of multiple products shown in a single image.
All of Amazon’s U.S. pop-up stores are about to pop off
Amazon has confirmed that it's closing all 87 of its pop-up stores in the U.S. as part of an overhaul of its retail strategy. Despite the closures, the company retains a strong interest in brick-and-mortar retail, with bookstores, 4-star stores, Amazon Go, and Whole Foods all part of its growing empire.
Apple’s latest purchase suggests it’s making moves in the home security sector
Apple purchased the patent portfolio of the now-defunct startup Lighthouse in late 2018. The patents include 3D-sensing technology that suggests Apple may have its eye on the home security market, an arena where its competitors Google and Amazon already have a strong foothold.
Bitcoin mining profits are on the rise. But don’t buy your own hardware just yet
Gross margins for Bitcoin miners are on the rise again after a year of continual downfalls. While this doesn't guarantee it will remain profitable forever, it seems as if the downturn may have been reversed for now, while trades in the cryptocurrency continue to grow from month to month.
Subaru’s latest Viziv concept car is pumped full of adrenaline
The Subaru VIZIV Adrenaline is the seventh member of the Japanese automaker's family of VIZIV concept cars. It debuts at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, with design features that will influence future Subaru models. Subaru is transitioning to a new design language dubbed simply "Bolder."
Thanks to Motif, food startups don’t need a lab to make lab-grown meat and dairy
The Beyond Meat burger tastes a lot like real meat, but they had to spend a lot of money to do that. Motif Ingredients hopes to make that possible for companies large and small by becoming the nascent industry's ingredients supplier.
Amazon discounts TurboTax, H&R Block, and Quickbooks tax software
Do you dread doing your taxes? Luckily for you, there are plenty of tax software options available to guide you through and simplify the process. And guess what? Some of them are even on sale today! Check out deals from TurboTax, H&R Block, and more.
5G at MWC 2019: All the major announcements from U.S. carriers
Mobile World Congress 2019 may have been the home of a number of smartphone announcements, but it's also where carriers gave updates on the rollout of their cutting-edge 5G networks. Here are all the big announcements from U.S. carriers at Mobile World Congress 2019.
Amazon reportedly planning an all-new grocery chain separate from Whole Foods
Amazon may be about to bolster its retail presence even further, with a new report suggesting it’s planning to launch a new grocery chain separate from its Whole Foods business. The new store would offer a broader range of items at cheaper prices, and could open its first site before year-end.
Microsoft Band: Users of the defunct fitness tracker offered a refund
Three years after it stopped making the device, Microsoft is finally ending support for its Band fitness tracker. The good news is that current users, if there are any still out there, can obtain a partial refund. Owner of the original band can get a useful $80, while those with a Band 2 can receive $175.
Sony officially ends PlayStation Vita production after 7 years of struggle
Sony has officially ended production of the PlayStation Vita, which was a commercial failure despite being an upgrade to the successful PlayStation Portable. The handheld console bids goodbye seven years after its North American launch, though this is not a surprise as there have been signs of its demise.
Thailand’s ambitious new solar plants will float on dams and reservoirs
Thailand has some big plans for solar energy. The country's state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is planning to build floating solar power stations at eight dams. The first one could start construction as early as next month. Here's what you need to know.
Tubi TV inks deal to add 400 films and TV shows from NBC
Ad-supported video streaming service Tubi TV is getting a massive influx of titles courtesy of a new deal with NBCUniversal, which will offer nearly 400 of its titles to Tubi TV's impressive catalog, including classic shows like Xena: Warrior Princess and the original version of Battlestar Galactica.