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 2013 hack of Yahoo (and how to deal with it) to Amazon’s very first drone delivery, it’s all here.
Yahoo was hacked in 2013, and more than 1 billion accounts were compromised
Yahoo is already dealing with some customer distrust issues thanks to a hack that took place in September, and now new information about another hack has emerged and could really be the final nail in the long overdue Yahoo coffin. The company has disclosed a hack that took place way back in August 2013, in which hackers obtained data from a stunning 1 billion accounts. Yahoo claims this information could include names, email address, phone numbers, dates of birth, encrypted passwords, and more.
Update: Ever had a Yahoo account? Take these steps now to protect yourself
First, take a breath. If nothing horrible has happened to your email or other password protected accounts so far, chances are you’re actually OK, for the moment anyway. But just because nothing has happened yet, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Sometimes hackers themselves or people who buy hacked account info hoard the data for years before taking action. So, if you had a Yahoo account anytime before the beginning of 2015, there are several steps you should take to be prudent, whether or not you use your Yahoo account now.
This French startup just raised $15M to make food out of mealworms
French startup Ynsect wants you to eat bugs — eventually. For now, it’s focusing on creating insect protein to feed farmed animals a healthier, more eco-conscious diet. After raising just over $15 million in investment funding, Ynsect to expand its production capacity to produce 20,000 metric tons of insect protein each year. That’s a lot of bugs. Ynsect’s process starts by growing and farming mealworm larvae and turning it into a de-fatted protein meal to be used in animal feed and pet food.
‘Star Trek: Discovery’ 2017 CBS TV series: Everything we know so far
CBS unveiled the first teaser for its new Star Trek series in early 2016, and the show’s official title was revealed to be Star Trek: Discovery during Comic-Con International in San Diego. With the latest movie (Star Trek Beyond) in theaters this past summer, many Star Trek fans are wondering exactly how the television series from executive producer Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) and showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies) will fit into the framework of the sci-fi franchise as it exists now.
Apple’s long-awaited wireless AirPods are now available to order
Alongside the reveal of the iPhone 7 earlier this year, Apple also unveiled a new pair of wireless in-ears, dubbed the AirPods. These were originally set to ship in October, but just before the end of the month, the company delayed the launch, saying it needed a little more time. Now, it has apparently had enough time, as the Apple AirPods are now available to order online for $159. Shipment is currently slated for December 21. You can read our review here.
‘Emoji Translator’ is now a real, paying job
In response to the growing popularity of emojis in our daily online communications, a London-based translation firm has launched a search for its first-ever – and surely the world’s first – “Emoji Translator.” So, consider yourself fluent in emoji? Then read on. The company says in the job listing that it’s “looking for the right person to help us meet the translation challenges posed by the world’s fastest-growing language.”
One of Uber’s self-driving cars just ran a red light in San Francisco
We understand that driverless car engineers want their vehicles to navigate roads as naturally as humans, but running the occasional red light is surely taking things a little far. Just hours after Uber’s self-driving cars hit the streets of San Francisco for the very first time, one of them was spotted apparently running a red light. The incident was recorded by a dash cam in one of the city’s Luxor Cabs and uploaded to YouTube a short time later. Uber says it’s investigating.
A holographic virtual girl lives inside Japan’s answer to the Amazon Echo
Alexa, the voice inside your Amazon Echo or Dot, is very helpful and always accommodating. So are Siri, Cortana, and the various other artificially intelligent assistants available today. But none can seemingly compare with the experience provided by Azuma Hikari, the holographic character who lives inside the Gatebox, Japan’s sort-of-but-not-really answer to the Amazon Echo.
Glasses USA’s Snapchat Spectacles prescription lenses are priced low
Prescription lenses for Snapchat Spectacles are now available from another lens manufacturer, this time in the form of Glasses USA. Better still, the company is offering the most competitive pricing on the market, with single-vision lenses starting from just $29, including free shipping. A variety of Spectacles lenses can be ordered online from the Glasses USA website, all of which can be further customized. However, the prices do start to increase if, for example, you require progressive ($139), or bifocal ($99) lenses.
Watch Amazon make its first real drone delivery
Most of us are familiar with the process of seeing a movie advertised, thinking “I’ll wait for the rental,” and waiting for what seems like forever until it’s available to watch at home. Apple is reportedly in talks with a number of Hollywood studios that are looking to change that by offering rentals for movies that are still in theaters, according to a report by Bloomberg.
