Last minute geek

1. Console gaming is at a crossroads
(English/engadget)

Sony and Microsoft have been walking the same path for nearly 20 years, when it comes to gaming hardware. Instead of leaves, shiny silver game discs dangle from the trees, while black and white boxes of ...

2. Facebook slashes price of its creepy Portal home surveillance telescreen
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... of you and your loved ones. Now, you too can own Facebook’s poorly timed foray into social hardware for the low, low price of $99. That’s a pretty big price drop considering that the Portal, introduced ...

3. A machine-learning wishlist for hardware designers
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

Pete Warden (previously) is one of my favorite commentators on machine learning and computer science; yesterday he gave a keynote at the IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, on the ways that hardware ...

4. Someone is targeting "critical infrastructure" safety systems in networked attacks
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... use software and hardware to prevent power plants, refineries, and other large installations from exploding, venting toxic material, catching fire, etc. The second example reveals that Triton attacks ...

5. Mixcder E9 headphones review
(English/the-gadgeteer)

... headphones feature an over-the-ear headset and exceptionally long playing time. What’s in the box? Headphones Hardshell case Instruction manual 3.5mm aux cord Charger Airplane adapter Hardware specs ...

6. Bragi sells off its in-ear headphone business as it focuses on software
(English/engadget)

... to TechCrunch that it sold its hardware business to... Read all  ...

7. Google users can sign into Firefox and Edge with a security key
(English/engadget)

... Web Authentication standard for hardware-based sign-ins,... Read all  ...

8. Valve's 'Index' VR headset is coming in May
(English/engadget)

While Valve worked closely for years with HTC on Vive VR hardware, it's about to introduce a virtual reality headset of its own. A teaser page on the Steam website shows off this image of the Index, ...

9. Razer says software, not hardware, is holding back mobile gaming
(English/engadget)

In between launching a range of outlandish pink products and affordable accessories so far this year, Razer made the surprising move of abandoning its online game store and mobile team. The latter, in ...

10. Man stole $122m from Facebook and Google by sending them random bills, which the companies dutifully paid
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... hardware manufacturer Quanta Computer Inc, and had registered a company in Latvia with the same name. He's agreed to forfeit about $50m. It's not clear what's happened to the other $73m, but Rimasauskas ...

11. Intel is ending development of its Compute Cards
(English/engadget)

Intel is halting development on its line of Compute Cards, according to a report from Tom's Hardware. The company will continue to sell its existing line of Compute Cards for the time being and will ...

12. Breakthrough programmable computer made from DNA running chemical software
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... of computer science at Maynooth University near Dublin, Ireland, and one of two lead authors of the study. "The ability to run any type of software program without having to change the hardware is what ...

13. Philadelphia city council candidate says his secret AI has discovered disqualifying fraud in the nominations of 30 out of 33 candidates
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... that they post a $1,000,000 insurance bond first ("due to the sensitivity of the software no person(s) will be allowed to physically touch the software/hardware without a one million dollar insurance bond"). Cade ...

14. The Oculus Rift S is impressive but unnecessary
(English/engadget)

VR technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past few years with optics and capabilities steadily improving even as hardware prices continue to decrease. Leading this revolution is the newly ...

15. The Morning After: Apple's new AirPods look very familiar
(English/engadget)

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Apple's slow reveal of refreshed hardware continued yesterday with the new AirPods many people have been waiting for. There's also a flood of news coming ...

16. Apple's new AirPods offer longer battery life and wireless charging case
(English/engadget)

Apple's hardware trojan horse continues to gallop a week ahead of its "show time" event next Monday. We've seen two new iPads and an iMac update, and now its increasingly ubiquitous ...

17. Google built a controller for its Stadia gaming service
(English/engadget)

Google is backing up its new Stadia game streaming service with some honest-to-goodness hardware -- but not a box. The internet giant has unveiled a gamepad built with Stadia in mind, and it borrows a ...

18. SGeek goes nuts for Audeze Mobius headphones
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... an internet forum at this exact moment in time. The Audeze Mobius have all the hardware built-in to the set of headphones! You do not need to spend 1-2x more on components than you already did on headphones. ...

19. A glowing, 3D printed rose that "blooms" when you touch its petals
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... the petals -- 3D printed and then shaped over a hot chandelier bulb -- to splay open or fold closed. The build log reveals a lively open-source hardware/free software collaboration that is a miniature, ...

20. HTC resurfaces with info on Android Pie for U11, U11+ and U12+
(English/engadget)

After selling some of its operations to Google, HTC isn't quite the player in the phone business that we remember, but it still has some impressive hardware that could use a software update. Back ...

21. Google shows how it could make a cloud-savvy game controller
(English/engadget)

If Google ever makes hardware to go along with its rumored game streaming service, you might have an idea as to how it will work. Yanko Design has spotted a recently published Google patent application ...

22. Here’s what our readers think of the Google Pixel 3 and 3XL
(English/engadget)

With last year's release of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL Google answered the call of competing smartphones by adding some significant software upgrades, and subtle hardware changes, to its flagship line-up. ...

23. Thanks to audiobooks, reading's popularity still strong in America
(English/BoingBoing ibag)

... wants, de-listing hardware players, or revoking access or features. And since DRM is protected by EU and US law that can subject security researchers to criminal and civil liability for revealing defects ...

24. Share your opinions about the Nintendo Switch!
(English/engadget)

... Wii U's offerings with streamlined hardware, unique Joy-Con co... Read all  ...

25. Best Outdoor Ceiling Fan [Buyer’s Guide for 2019]
(English/Gadgetreview)

... to brace the outdoor elements. Outdoor ceiling fans have become very durable – they can withstand moisture, have durable hardware, and […] The post Best Outdoor Ceiling Fan [Buyer’s Guide ...