Новости за 29.11.2018

The question of whether or not it’s necessary to say “please” and “thank you” to smart assistants is one that divides users, but it’s clear tech companies think it should at least be an option. Following Amazon’s decision to reward children when they’re polite to Alexa, Google is introducing similar functionality to the Google Assistant named Pretty Please. It’s part of a raft of new updates out today, including better list-taking functionality and more family-orientated games and stories.

How much do you love your smartphone? Chances are, the answer is too much, right? We all want to spend less time looking at screens, and more time having real-life experiences. The data is pretty clear: we are all way too obsessed with our phones. One in three people around the world has trouble unplugging, even when they’re aware that it’s way healthier to put down their phone.

Plex users can now stream Tidal music directly from the Plex app. Moreover, subscribers can save up to $60 a year on the price of both Tidal and Plex Pass subscriptions.

What is a tablet? What is a tablet supposed to be and do? Nine years ago, these questions were foremost in debates about new technology, as Apple was preparing to introduce its first iPad and rival companies were rushing to beat it to the punch. CES 2010 gave us one answer in the form of the 8.9-inch HP Slate, a Windows 7 PC running on an Intel Atom processor. A few weeks later, Apple’s iPad made its debut with a 9.7-inch screen and mobile chips and software. And then a year after that, Google... Читать дальше...

A new Nex phone from Vivo featuring a dual-screen design, a trio of rear cameras, and a weird LED ring appears to be on its way according to a series of leaked images and a semi-unboxing. The Vivo Nex 2, rumored for release in December, would be the successor to the Nex S phone which popularized the pop-up selfie camera.

The foldable phones are coming, and it seems Chinese handset maker Oppo is the latest to join the fray. On a tour of the company’s headquarters, Oppo told multiple news sites it would have more to share on this topic at Mobile World Congress next February.

I had a great day in Washington, DC, taking meetings with Congressional staffers, tech platforms, and colleagues. I also had working Wi-Fi and a working newsletter provider. So thank you for your understanding these past two days, and please enjoy an early newsletter this time around.

Internal Facebook documents seized by British lawmakers suggest that the social media giant once considered selling access to user data, according to extracts obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Back in April, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told congress unequivocally that, “We do not sell data.” But these documents suggest that it was something that the company internally considered doing between 2012 and 2014, while the company struggled to generate revenue after its IPO.

Internal Facebook documents seized by British lawmakers suggest that the social media giant once considered selling access to user data, according to extracts obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Back in April, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told congress unequivocally that, “We do not sell data.” But these documents suggest that it was something that the company internally considered doing between 2012 and 2014, while the company struggled to generate revenue after its IPO.

The foldable phones are coming, and Chinese handset maker Oppo is the latest to join the fray. A product manager for the company confirmed to Dutch tech site Tweakers that Oppo would be bringing a foldable smartphone to Mobile World Congress next February.

Nintendo is lifting some of its heavy restrictions over how YouTube creators can monetize gameplay and livestream content with a new set of guidelines for creators announced on Wednesday evening.

Just two months after the debut of its first electric car, the E-Tron SUV, Audi has announced a new EV called the E-Tron GT Concept. It’s a sleek sedan that gets its electric power from the same drivetrain and battery platform that will be in Porsche’s first EV, the Taycan.

The US Army has awarded Microsoft a $480 million contract to supply the military branch with as many as 100,000 HoloLens augmented reality headsets for training and combat purposes, according to Bloomberg.

The US Army has awarded Microsoft a $480 million contract to supply the military branch with as many as 100,000 HoloLens augmented reality headsets for training and combat purposes, according to Bloomberg.

High-end portable media player company Astell & Kern has announced two new sets of headphones — an over-ear closed back model in partnership with Beyerdynamic, and an in-ear model in partnership with Jerry Harvey Audio.

A new smart clothing line promises to help you get your yoga moves right when you’re at home and without an instructor. It’s called Pivot Yoga and it claims to give feedback through small sensors on the clothes that can tell you whether you’re in the right position.

Apple vice president of product marketing Greg Joswiak has commented in an interview with CNET that the iPhone XR has “been our most popular iPhone each and every day since the day it became available,” seemingly in an attempt to downplay analyst reports earlier this week that the iPhone XR was performing worse than Apple had intended.

Google’s wireless carrier, Fi, is celebrating its rebranding today (coincidentally, in the middle of Cyber Week) with an attractive deal for those looking for a new phone. Available to both new and existing Fi users, you can earn up to $999 in travel gift cards from the likes of Airbnb, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and Hotels.com. But, as you might have anticipated, the promotion does come with a few terms.

Google’s wireless carrier, Fi, is celebrating its rebranding today (coincidentally, in the middle of Cyber Week) with an attractive deal for those looking for a new phone. Available to both new and existing Fi users, you can earn up to $999 in travel gift cards from the likes of Airbnb, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and Hotels.com. But, as you might have anticipated, the promotion does come with a few terms.

Earlier this year, T-Mobile and Sprint announced that they would merge. If approved, their combination would shrink the number of major wireless carriers in the United States from four to three. Now, 14 different organizations have penned a letter to Democratic House leaders requesting a hearing on the proposed merger.

I’m the father of a five-year-old, and, like many parents, my wife and I have recently had to grapple with an age-old question: when is it appropriate to introduce your kid to Star Wars? Today, Disney made this question a lot easier to answer by announcing that it will launch a new series of kid-friendly animated shorts called Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures that will re-create classic moments from the film franchise. The first six shorts will launch on November 30th on a new website and YouTube channel dubbed Star Wars Kids. Читать дальше...