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Showing posts from April, 2020

This AMD Ryzen mini PC has a unique, exciting feature no other computer has

A brand we’ve never heard of before has come up with a product we’ve never seen before. Maxtang from Aliexpress sells a mini PC that runs on an embedded AMD Ryzen chip - the V1605B - with four, yes four, DisplayPort connectors. We don’t know any other PC that offers this, let alone something that doesn’t require a separate display card or as small as this box. This Maxtang thin client costs as little as $410.92 from Aliexpress after a $3 coupon . That price is for the barebone model and note that this device ships without any operating system or Wi-Fi module. Other RAM/Storage bundles are available. Please check the website. Here's our list of the best thin clients on the market Check out our list of the best business computers of 2020 We've built a list of the best workstations available Exact prices after the discount in other territories will vary depending on the day’s exchange rate. Aliexpress ships to most territories worldwide via expedited shipping although yo...

Which States Are Reopening, Which Remain on Lockdown, and Why

There's not a national plan to restart US businesses. That's led to inconsistencies among governors' orders, and some confusion among residents. from Wired https://ift.tt/2KN0K9z

'Microplastic Hot Spots' Are Tainting Deep-Sea Ecosystems

Scientists found 2 million microplastic particles in a square meter of sediment, as currents drag debris into seafloor versions of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. from Wired https://ift.tt/3d68xvp

Early Remdesivir Data for Covid-19 Is Finally Here

Preliminary findings from a major clinical trial of the antiviral drug indicates it speeds recovery time for some patients. But much more testing lies ahead. from Wired https://ift.tt/2SnMQ1U

The Dire Diplomacy of the Global 'Race for a Vaccine'

Stopping this pandemic will depend on scientists' ability to form  partnerships across borders. President Trump has only made us weaker at this game. from Wired https://ift.tt/3f53A7Q

AMC Theatres Splits With Universal After 'Trolls World Tour' VOD Release

Meanwhile, Netflix is making a short about social distancing.  from Wired https://ift.tt/3aX7Vqw

Jaguar Envisions Car Design for a Post-Pandemic World

Julian Thomson, the automaker's director of design, shares his predictions for what drivers can look forward to. from Wired https://ift.tt/2VOSLir

An Online Exhibition Celebrates Photography's Rising Stars

The Circulation(s) Festival, which showcases the field's most promising up-and-comers, is staging an exhibition entirely on social media. from Wired https://ift.tt/2VOYu7U

The Weird Partisan Math of Vote-By-Mail 

Research says that expanding mail-in voting doesn’t help Democrats. So why are Republicans so afraid of it?   from Wired https://ift.tt/3bSqrl0

HTC has launched a free VR rival to Zoom and Teams

Businesses around the world have turned to video conferencing software such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams as a means to hold meetings during the coronavirus outbreak but interacting with coworkers does prove somewhat difficult when behind a webcam. This is why HTC has announced that the beta version of its remote collaboration and meeting platform for VR, VIVE Sync will be available free of charge for businesses and remote employees during the pandemic. VIVE Sync, from first-party developer 2 Bears Studio and HTC, supports up to 30 attendees simultaneously and features full body tracking so that participant's personally created avatars can communicate using their actual body language.  HTC VIVE reveals new VR headset bundles for enterprises How VR and eye-tracking can help you understand your customers VR is the future of remote working The platform also supports Tobii eye tracking, which is embedded in headsets such as the VIVE Pro Eye , for more natural lifelike interactio...

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2: everything we know so far

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If you've finished Final Fantasy 7 Remake , you may be wondering when Part 2 of the game will be releasing. Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a re-imagining of classic '90s JRPG Final Fantasy 7. But, rather than releasing the remake as one single title, developer Square Enix has opted to release the remake as a series of games instead - with the first part releasing in April, 2020. While Square Enix announced in November 2019 that development on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 has started, the company hasn't confirmed a release date for the second part of the game; and, unfortunately, we're expecting a wait of at least a few years. While we wait, we've rounded up everything we know about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 so far, including news, rumors and what we're hoping to see in the second game. Cut to the chase What is it? The second part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake When can I play it? TBC What can I play it on? TBC but likely PS4 and PS5 How many parts wi...

Forget the Techlash. The Lawlash Is Long Overdue

If we look closer, we may realize it’s not really the “tech” we’re upset about. from Wired https://ift.tt/3f2CrlP

Naked and Unafraid to Exercise in Virtual Reality

Get over yourself and try VR workouts already. It’s private, liberating, and doesn’t require gym shorts. from Wired https://ift.tt/3ffhFzI

Motorola Edge Plus Review: 2-Day Battery (And Some Quirks)

Motorola's first flagship in years is fantastic in many ways, but has a lot of quirks for a $1,000 phone. from Wired https://ift.tt/2W8jyFw

Covid Is Pushing Startups to Execute Long-Term Plans ASAP

WIRED editor in chief Nicholas Thompson talks to DoorDash CEO Tony Xu about how delivery services are adapting their operations over a matter of weeks—even days. from Wired https://ift.tt/2y3OrmI

Moxie Is the Robot Pal You Dreamed of as a Kid

Four years ago, Paolo Pirjanian set out to “reinvent” companion robots. Now he’s ready for the world to meet his creation. from Wired https://ift.tt/3aSdINT

The Kids of 'Teenager Therapy' Just Want You to #Feel

In the desert of ignored teen emotions, five high school podcasters have become a go-to resource on everything from dating to depression. from Wired https://ift.tt/3bRfgZD

Trek Checkpoint SL 7: The Next High-Tech Gravel Racer

An advanced frame design and a wireless drivetrain put this bike at the top of the list for any cyclist who loves adventure riding or racing. from Wired https://ift.tt/2Si9PeE

3 Things to Consider Before Signing Up for a Free Trial

Companies are blasting us with free trial offers while we’re stuck at home. That’s a good thing—until the bills show up. from Wired https://ift.tt/3fbbFIj

The Cubicle Is Back. Blame (or Thank) the Coronavirus

As businesses reopen, social distancing rules will lead to new partitions between workspaces, reminiscent of the fabric-clad dividers of the 1980s. from Wired https://ift.tt/2VTDhtT

27 Days in Tokyo Bay: What Happened on the Diamond Princess

The cruise ship captivated the world as it docked in Yokohama, harboring Covid-19—and 3,711 people who became subjects in a life-and-death quarantine experiment. from Wired https://ift.tt/2YqxD3I

This tiny touchscreen Windows laptop is surprisingly cheap

Convertible laptops tend to carry a significant premium over their traditional siblings. A new laptop however bucks that trend; the Nanote will only be sold in Japan for 19,800 yen (that’s about US$185, £149 or AU$285). Its unique selling point is its unbelievably tiny price tag that’s matched by an equally small screen - a 7-inch touchscreen display - and its 360-degree hinge. The Nanote resembles the Chuwi Minibook we reviewed last year but is even smaller (181 x 114 x 19.6mm and a weight of 520g) and has the same physical constraints. Here's our list of the best business laptops of 2020 Check out our list of the best business tablets available We've put together a list of the best rugged tablets on the market There’s no trackpad - only an optical touch sensor - and the keyboard is cramped. The rest of the specification makes it painfully obvious that corners had to be cut to keep the price down; there’s a 5-year old Intel Atom x5-Z8350 paired with 4GB of RAM and 6...

Tesla Posts Another Profit as Musk Slams Virus Restrictions

The CEO has criticized shelter-in-place orders, which have forced the closure of the company's California assembly plant. from Wired https://ift.tt/3aO7fDM

Ad Dollars Keep Flowing Into Google and Facebook—for Now

The two online ad giants say business fell sharply amid the Covid-19 lockdowns in March, but has stabilized in April.  from Wired https://ift.tt/2KNpCy1

Party Royale, Travis Scott, and Fortnite's 'Third Place'

As the online game is proving with Travis Scott and Party Royale, digital communities are every bit as legitimate as their analog counterparts. from Wired https://ift.tt/2VOZrNO

Imgflip's AI Meme Generator Gives Us the Absurdist Art We All Need

Social media’s new favorite distraction feels as disjointed and surrealist as the current moment. Fire it up. from Wired https://ift.tt/2YhEk8d

A New Chatbot Tries a Little Artificial Empathy

A bot created by Facebook aims to make conversation with people more natural, though it also could enable better fakes. from Wired https://ift.tt/3cXzr8v

6 Best Board Games You Can Play With Friends Over Zoom (Video Chat)

Don't let the Covid-19 quarantine turn you into a hermit. Video chat with some friends and play a game together. from Wired https://ift.tt/2KHYrEy

What Great Zombie Movies Say About This 'Zombie' 'Apocalypse'

Together, they teach us one crucial thing: You are not a zombie—yet. from Wired https://ift.tt/2yVurCw

What Singapore Can Tell the World About Personal Liberty

In a state of emergency, more than a few of us will find ourselves cutting deals with god, the devil, or the government alike. from Wired https://ift.tt/3bPLswu

Amazon Smart Oven Review: Don’t Let It Anywhere Near Your Kitchen

Connected kitchen gadgets are supposed to streamline cooking, but this one just gave me a headache. from Wired https://ift.tt/2KP1drD

The US Supreme Court Rules That Laws Can’t Be Paywalled

The ruling over Georgia's official law code sets an important precedent that will help secure the right to publish other legally significant public documents. from Wired https://ift.tt/2SfAUPt

Best Bar Accessories (2020): Shakers, Strainers, Juicers, and More

Crafting a good cocktail is a game of milliliters (and great technique). It helps to have the right bar equipment to make a winner. from Wired https://ift.tt/3f7SW0f

Physicists Clear the Air With a Sweet Frickin' Laser Beam

Fast laser pulses produce a shock wave in air that pushes water vapor aside. That clears channels in clouds for transmitting optical data from satellites. from Wired https://ift.tt/3eUWwKO

Planes Are Still Flying, but Covid-19 Recovery Will Be Tough

Air travel is down more than 90 percent from last year, and analysts say the rebound will be slower than following 9/11 or the financial crisis. from Wired https://ift.tt/2KI8BoP

Stewart Brand Is 81—and He Doesn’t Want to Go on a Ventilator

The legendary thinker and founder of the *Whole Earth Catalog* raised a public conversation about end-of-life care during the Covid-19 pandemic. from Wired https://ift.tt/2KIm8gj

Microbe Mappers Are Tracking Covid-19's Invisible Traces

Armies of microbiologists are swabbing subways, ATMs, and hospitals in search of the novel coronavirus. Their data could help cities reopen responsibly. from Wired https://ift.tt/2YfUMGb

The best Microsoft Surface Go alternative right now is great for remote working

Chuwi’s UBook Pro is probably the best alternative to the Surface Go that Microsoft seems to have retired. All stocks of the diminutive tablet are currently out of stock and have been so for a while. You can still get it from third parties, often at a much higher price. Gearbest sells the Chuwi UBook Pro for $399.99 (or £340/AU$670) when you use the coupon code GBCHUWI123. Exact prices after the discount in other territories will vary depending on the day’s exchange rate. Gearbest ships to most territories worldwide via expedited shipping although you may be levied additional charges and fees by customs. Here's our list of the best business tablets on the market Check out our list of the best business laptops of 2020 We've built a list of the best rugged tablets available Add the capacitive stylus pen and the original keyboard cover and the price creeps up to just under $470, which is still far lower than the 128GB version of the Surface Go (that comes without acces...

Does It Matter That the DOD Released Those UFO Videos?

The Department of Defense isn't admitting that aliens exist. But apparently they don’t mind if you check out their sweet rides. from Wired https://ift.tt/2YfAe0D

Best Google Smart Speaker Deals (April 2020): Nest Mini, Hub Max, and More

From the Nest Mini to the Hub Max, you can save money if you're looking to build a smarter home.  from Wired https://ift.tt/3f2e0F1

5 Big Mistakes We Can Make Fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic

Staying at home is a big sacrifice. But lifting shelter-in-place orders too soon is one of the many mistakes that will make the crisis even more brutal. from Wired https://ift.tt/2VIqD0y

How Spies Snuck Malware Into the Google Play Store—Again and Again

Malicious Android apps from the so-called PhantomLance campaign targeted hundreds of users, and at least two slipped past Google's defenses. from Wired https://ift.tt/2y79uog

The Covid-19 Pandemic Reveals Ransomware's Long Game

Hackers laid the groundwork months ago for attacks. Now they're flipping the switch. from Wired https://ift.tt/2yTa3Sw

Could Staring Into a Stranger’s Eyes Cure Zoom Fatigue?

Human Online still requires a screen, but in place of the agony of work meetings or happy hours, you spend 60 seconds with a single person—no speaking. from Wired https://ift.tt/3f2O9x4

During the Pandemic, the FCC Must Provide Internet for All

Broadband access is more crucial than ever, particularly for low-income Americans. The Trump administration must stop withholding it. from Wired https://ift.tt/2ShDLYl

Now Is the Time for Main Street Shops to Go Digital

WIRED editor in chief Nicholas Thompson talks to branding expert Amanda Brinkman about how America’s small businesses are coping with coronavirus from Wired https://ift.tt/3bJf0vO

Covid-19 Was Here Earlier Than Most Americans Thought. Now What?

Epidemiologists aren't surprised that virus was spreading in the US in early February. But those early days offer lessons for how to catch the next wave. from Wired https://ift.tt/35b3U0l

Leadership in times of crisis: three ways to build resilience

There is no leadership manual for dealing with a once-in-a-century global health emergency—no script to guide what you should say to team members, customers, and stakeholders in your business.  Right now, everyone’s leadership skills are being tested in ways we could have barely imagined a month ago. It’s not just a question of how resilient our organisations are and how quickly they can adapt to lockdowns and restrictions on travel. It’s a challenge to our resilience as human beings.  When Stewart Butterfield, the founder of Slack, tweeted the story in recent days of how his business was responding to the Covid-19 emergency, he prefaced his comments with a simple introductory note: “I’m a human. I worry about my family and am deeply concerned about the millions whose jobs and health are at risk.” It was the right starting note. Here's our list of the best video conferencing tools on the market Working from home: the mouse, monitor, keyboard and router you need Her...

Tech Is a Double-Edged Lifeline for Domestic Violence Victims

As Covid-19 forces some to shelter place with their abusers, dedicated hotlines, apps, and text messages can provide support. But using them is also risk. from Wired https://ift.tt/3bMyXlk

Delivery Robots Aren't Ready—When They Could Be Needed Most

Sheltering in place has driven up demand for deliveries, but machines still have trouble confronting the unpredictability of the real world. from Wired https://ift.tt/2xjLBtk

10 Best Fitness Trackers (and Fitness Watches) for 2020

Do you need an activity tracker for skiing, or for counting your steps around the backyard? We've found the best fitness watches and trackers for everybody. from Wired https://ift.tt/2GK7hBq

'Valorant' Is Cutthroat, Punishing, and Addictive as Hell

The Riot Games follow-up to *League of Legends* is worth the wait. from Wired https://ift.tt/2xiI26E

Here's What Disinfectants and UV Light *Really* Do to Your Body

There’s a reason why cleaners for external surfaces are not meant for your innards. They’re indiscriminate killers, not medicine. from Wired https://ift.tt/2KFqFQn

Today's Cartoon: Unfinished Business

A message from the beyond. from Wired https://ift.tt/3cOPW6O

The Pandemic Creates New Challenges for Crisis Counselors 

Therapists and hotline workers who work with abuse victims now must take calls from home, increasing their risk for isolation and emotional burnout. from Wired https://ift.tt/2zxAfT6

The best value 15-inch laptop out there has a surprising design that will split the room

15.6-inch laptops are slowly falling out of favour, pushed to the sidelines by the smaller 13.3-inch and 14-inch models, seen by many as being more portable. That form factor though has its advantages, especially if you’re after a business laptop . A big screen means that you have more real estate for your keyboard and most 15.6-inch laptops will have a dedicated numeric keypad, a boon for bean counters, spreadsheet aficionado and those that rely on ASCII codes. At just under $350 excluding shipping and tax, the Teclast F15 is almost certainly the best value 15.6-inch laptop on the market right now, for a number of reasons. This one has an all metal body with a large touchpad and a backlit keyboard. Check out our list of the best mobile workstations of 2020 Here's our list of the best laptop docking stations available We've built a list of the best laptops for programming on the market The quad-core Intel Celeron N4100 CPU is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4 memory and a 2...

DJI Mavic Air 2: Specs, Price, Release Date

The latest quadcopter from the drone leader goes on sale next month for $799, and it's packed with automated flying and photo improvements. from Wired https://ift.tt/2WhVb8D

Xiaomi just patented a phone with a very weird way to avoid a notch

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Smartphone manufacturers have spent the last few years coming up with new ways to get rid of the notch, but Xiaomi just patented potentially the most over-the-top solution yet; a display that splits in two and twists backward. This weird smartphone design was spotted by 91mobiles from a patent filed with the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). It was filed directly by Xiaomi, and it may be used for a future product. The sketches show a tall phone with no notch, and when you need a selfie camera the top portion of the phone, including the display, horizontally twists backwards in a way that the primary array of cameras now face the user. These are the very best Xiaomi phones Our Xiaomi Mi Note 10 review What we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 This means that the same set of cameras can be used for the front and the back. The contents on the display, along with the interface, are expected to adjust to the new screen size when you've flipped t...

DJI Mavic Air 2: release date, news and features

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Launching a drone during a global lockdown might not sound like a great idea, but the DJI Mavic Air 2 is preparing for lift-off – and despite the seemingly inauspicious timing, it could well turn out to be DJI's most popular drone yet. A mid-range follow-up to the DJI Mavic Air from 2018, it's shaping up to be an affordable 4K drone with all the beginner-friendly flying smarts we've come to expect from DJI, plus a few bonus extras. An official DJI launch event has been scheduled for April 27 at 9.30pm EDT / 2.30am BST / 11.30am AEST. And given the DJI Mavic Air 2's packaging and controller seem to have leaked, it's fair to assume this will be for the announcement of the new drone. If you're not familiar with DJI's drone range, the Mavic Air has traditionally been the Chinese company's mid-range model. The original version was designed for beginners and hobbyists who wanted a small, travel-friendly drone that was a bit more powerful than the more rece...

Mobile industry and tech channel moves for April 2020

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Got some good news to share with us about your moves? Send the details to desire.athow@futurenet.com with a photo if possible. Former PayPal CMO to lead marketing at HMD Global HMD Global, the firm that manufactures Nokia devices under licence, has named Stephen Taylor as Chief Marketing Officer. Taylor has more nearly three decades of experience in sales and marketing having previously held positions at PayPal and Samsung. Severina Pascu is Virgin Media's new CFO and Deputy CEO Virgin Media has appointed  Severina Pascu as CFO and Deputy CEO. Pascu was previously at sister company UPC Switzerland. In addition to finance, she will also take on responsibility for customer service and field operations as well as logistics and supply chain, reporting to Virgin Media CEO Lutz Schüler. Arqiva appoints Paul Donovan as CEO Arqiva has appointed Paul Donovan as CEO with immediate effect. Donovan is currently sits as a non-executive director on the company's board and h...