MacOS update may include external display support for iPads
Apple’s upcoming MacOS may include a native external display support feature. This feature is expected to roll out with MacOS 10.15 and may support the use of iPads as an external display. If true, the new feature may be available this fall when the new MacOS is likely to be released.
Federal jury convicts malware creators of hijacking 400,000 computers
A federal jury has convicted two men from Romania of using malware to commit a laundry list of cyber crimes which resulted in the loss of millions of dollars and the hijacking of 400,000 computers. The men were convicted for a total of 21 criminal charges related to their long-running scheme.
Internet Explorer zero-day exploit makes files vulnerable to hacks on Windows PCs
There’s a Internet Explorer zero-day exploit capable of letting hackers steal your Windows PC’s files. A security researcher has published evidence of the zero-day exploit online and claims that Microsoft was aware of the vulnerability but opted not to patch it when notified by the researcher.
House votes to restore net neutrality rules, but effort faces long odds
The restoration of net neutrality gained a slim chance of moving forward when the Save the Internet Act received House approval this week. The net neutrality bill is an effort to restore protections established by the Obama administration’s Open Internet Order of 2015. It faces major hurdles in the Senate.
With no plans for merging operating systems, Apple opts to combine apps instead
Apple may not be planning on merging its operating systems any time soon, but it is working on combining all of its apps by 2021. In an effort to encourage developers to create new apps for its products, Apple is working on allowing developers to submit only one version of their apps.
Get this 5K retina display iMac with a 1TB Fusion Drive from B&H for $300 off
You can now get a 2017 5K Retina Display iMac for less than $2,000. B&H is selling a $300 discount on Apple’s two year old all-in-one desktop computer. This deal gets you a 2017 iMac with a 27-inch display and 1TB of storage. B&H is also offering an SSD version of the same iMac at a $200 discount.
The U.S. government plans to drop $500M on a ridiculously powerful supercomputer
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced plans to build a $500 million exascale supercomputer by 2021. The supercomputer is expected to be built by Intel at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago. The new supercomputer should help further research efforts in fields like public health.
Microsoft’s Chromium Edge browser killer feature? 4K Netflix streaming
Microsoft’s upcoming Chromium-based Edge browser may support 4K Netflix streaming. A Reddit user recently spotted a flag for a DRM necessary for 4K streaming within the preview version of the browser. If the feature is kept, Edge may be the only Chromium browser with 4K streaming support.
Nvidia’s smart paintbrush tool turns simple doodles into works of art
Nvidia has announced the development of GauGAN, a smart drawing app that helps artists create photorealistic images from simple doodles and sketches. GauGAN uses deep learning and generative adversarial networks (GANs) to fill in realistic details and create original and vivid works of art.
Share encrypted files via Mozilla’s Firefox Send, a free file-sharing service
Mozilla has released a new and free encrypted file-transfer service called Firefox Send. The new file-sharing service offers a number of security features such as expiring file links and a preset, limited number of downloads. Firefox Send is also expected to let users send large files.
Microsoft rolls out new dark mode feature for its Windows 10 Mail app
Microsoft is releasing a new dark mode feature update for its native Mail app. The new dark mode feature will allow Mail app users to darken the Mail app’s interface with a black background. Mail app users will still have the option to toggle between light and dark modes while viewing emails.
Microsoft addresses Surface Pen accuracy with latest patent application
Microsoft recently filed a patent that proposed a method for increasing the accuracy of its Surface Pens without slowing their speed. The method uses a motion vector to predict the future locations of its stylus rather than increasing the time needed to sense the stylus’ current location.
Microsoft applies for smart fabric patent for use in Surface laptops, wearables
Microsoft has recently filed a patent for the development and future use of a touch-sensitive smart fabric technology. The smart fabric would mostly likely be used with the technology company’s existing product lines such as its Surface laptops and tablet computers and its HoloLens headset.
Gmail blocks 100 million spam messages daily with its A.I., Google says
A machine learning-based A.I. platform called TensorFlow has allowed Google to block an additional 100 million spam messages daily from entering Gmail users’ inboxes. The platform allows Google to detect more of those harder-to-find spam messages; like emails with hidden embedded content.
HP’s high-resolution VR headset provides comfort and Windows Mixed Reality
HP reportedly has a new VR headset on the horizon with a design that prioritizes comfort and enhances clarity with ergonomic upgrades and an exceptionally high resolution. Here’s a look at a few of its features. The new headset is also supposed to run on the Windows Mixed Reality platform.
Samsung files a VR patent featuring a curved OLED display
Curves aren’t just for televisions anymore. And they just might enhance your next VR experience. Samsung recently filed a patent featuring a new VR headset that has a curved OLED display. The existence of the patent could indicate that the new curved design could join Samsung’s collection of VR headsets.
Here’s how to watch the Nvidia CES 2019 press conference
The graphics card company Nvidia is slated to host its CES 2019 press conference on Sunday, January 6. Recently, Nvidia has developed other products besides its well-known graphics cards. This year’s CES announcement is expected to reveal new innovations from the company. Here’s how to watch it.
Malware attack delays newspaper deliveries across the country
Last weekend’s newspaper deliveries were late across the country because of a malware attack affecting the Los Angeles Times and other news outlets. The attack infected news production and publishing systems and made it difficult for a number of newspapers to submit their pages to be printed on time.
Smelling is believing: Feelreal’s odor vision may be coming to VR headsets
VR headset users may soon be able to smell their favorite VR videos and games. A new VR mask from Feelreal offers its own version of Smell-O-Vision, allowing users to experience certain scents while using their headsets. Users can choose from 255 different scents to accompany their VR experiences.
Close your tabs: Chrome for Android may launch a new sneak peek feature
A new browsing feature may soon let Chrome for Android users browse the internet without having to open a ton of tabs. The new feature, currently being tested out on Google Chrome Canary and Dev, allows users to view the content of another webpage as an overlay within a currently open tab.