Geek News

One of the more exciting events of 2017 was the total solar eclipse that was viewable across the US. And if you enjoyed it as much as I did , I have some good news for you. While the US won't be getting another look at a total solar eclipse until 2024, parts of the US will get to see another rare eclipse in 2018 and they'll get to check it out this month. On January 31st, there will be a total lunar eclipse. What makes this one so special is that it's happening during a Blue Moon, or the second full moon of the month (depending on which definition you go by). These two events haven't coincided since 1866, making this one the first in over 150 years. The next one won't be until 2028. As Space.com reports, not everyone in the US will get to see it in full. Central and eastern Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand and parts of Australia will have a good view of the event. Alaska, Hawaii and northwest Canada will see the whole thing as well, but more eastern parts of Nort...

Creating a smart home can be a complicated affair, with a ton of options available to add voice-control and automation to your lights , window coverings, thermostats and more. GE wants to simplify your options (with its own branded products, of course), and its bringing some new smart ceiling fixtures, wall switches, and lamps to market in 2018. The C by GE series of connected lighting now includes what the company calls the industry's first voice-integrated ceiling fixtures that hide all the smarts in a flush mount or recessed can option. There's a smart wall switch, too, which can provide voice-control to your connected lights, turning them on or off, dimming them, or changing the temperature of the light. No separate GE hub is needed, either, and there's a built-in antenna to make sure you can access it, even if someone accidentally flips the switch manually. If Amazon Alexa devices are your thing, you can now use it with GE's Sol lamp extensions. You can sync...

Samsung's Chromebooks haven't always been smashing successes , but it's clearly willing to shake up its formula when necessary. In a follow-up to hints from November, Chrome Unboxed has discovered code references confirming the existence of "Nautlius," a Samsung-made detachable Chrome OS tablet. And from initial appearances, it might not just be a Google-powered Galaxy Book . While Nautlius appears to use a 7th-generation Intel Core chip like its Windows counterpart, the code points to the presence of the Sony IMX258 camera used in the LG G6 . Given that many Chromebooks have a 720p cam at best, this might be the first Chrome OS device with a camera you'd genuinely enjoy using. There aren't many other clues, although the detachable design suggests this will likely be relatively compact with a 12-inch or smaller screen. To us, the bigger questions are the launch details. You might see Samsung unveil Nautlius at CES later in January, but we wouldn...

Already binged your way through the new Black Mirror episodes? This weekend we'll have new episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and Falling Water, while Fox is ready to bring back The X-Files , again. Showtime is ready to premiere Lena Waithes' new series The Chi while Netflix has episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee , The End of the F**king World , its new anime series Devilman Crybaby and Rotten, another documentary about the food industry. The Breakfast Club is getting a Criterion Blu-ray release, while Outbreak: The New Nightmare comes to Xbox One along with The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III , which is free this month with Xbox Live Gold. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed). Blu-ray & Games & Streaming The Breakfast Club (Criterion) American Made (4K) Cadillac Man Hell Night Snow Dogs Brad's Status Battle of the Sexes The Adventure...

Were you disappointed that the OnePlus 5T launched with Android Nougat despite Oreo having launched weeks earlier? You can rectify that today, if you're willing to experiment. OnePlus has posted an open OxygenOS beta that brings Oreo's features to the 5T. You now have Android 8.0 staples like picture-in-picture viewing and autofill text. The launcher also has a few tweaks, including the merger of app shortcuts and icon options as well as the option of uploading brag-worthy photos to Shot on OnePlus. As with the OnePlus 5 Face Unlock beta , you won't want to install this if you absolutely depend on a glitch-free phone. And be sure to back up your info if you decide to revert back, since you'll have to wipe the slate clean. So long as you can live with those caveats, though, you won't have to look on with envy as your Pixel-toting friends enjoy Oreo's perks. Via: 9to5Google Source: OnePlus via Engadget RSS Feed "http://ift.tt/2lxXAdI"

A US government source told The Diplomat this week that China has conducted flight tests of a missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). Two tests of the HGV, a model known as the DF-17, took place in November and China is understood to have conducted a number of other tests of experimental HGVs throughout 2014 and 2016. The DF-17 is thought to have a range of between 1,800 and 2,500 kilometers and represents a new kind of weapon system, one that the US and Russia are also developing. HGVs are similar to traditional ballistic missile systems in that they can deliver a payload, be it conventional or nuclear, to a distant target. But HGVs fly at lower altitudes than typical ballistic missiles, meaning existing missile defense systems might initially miss them since those defense systems typically scan higher altitudes. There's a functional tradeoff, however, because when HGVs start to descend, they fly much slower than traditional ballistic missiles. Some defense s...

Technology allows you to experience art in a direct way by physically becoming part of the exhibition, and TeamLab is on the forefront of that movement. The Japanese art collective is at it again with a new exhibition at Melbourne's NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) Triennial called Moving Creates Vortices and Vortices Create Movement . It's a hypnotic melange of art, interactivity and spectacle that shows how humans impact their environment and vice-versa. The technology is similar to what we've seen with Microsoft's RoomAlive and from companies like Theoriz , using sensors and projectors, and crunching everything with a powerful computer. However, TeamLab's execution is particularly effective and poetic. When you move within the large space at the NGV (made larger by mirrors on the walls), the sensors track your location and send a signal to the computer. A computer generates a stream of particles that follow you via a projection on the floor. "The fas...

Gadgets Save some sweat equity with these pedal-assisted electric bikes. Save some sweat equity with these pedal-assisted electric bikes. The best options for cruising, the trail, and commuting. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2qdCdmw"

By Lesley Stockton This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter , reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here . After spending 20 hours researching two dozen personal blenders and testing 10 models with an expert in our test kitchen, we think the NutriBullet Pro 900 Series offers the best balance of power, simplicity, convenience, and price for most people. We pureed almost 25 pounds of frozen fruit, hearty kale, fibrous ginger, gooey peanut butter, and sticky dates into thick smoothies to come to this conclusion. Who should buy a personal blender A personal blender is a convenience item for the dedicated smoothie lover who's short on time in the morning. If you want to quickly make a morning smoothie and run out the door without having to wash a blender pitcher and lid, a personal blender is for you. Personal blenders ar...

Weighing yourself after the holidays can be an emotionally trying process, especially if you've gone heavy on the turkey sandwiches. Oftentimes, the bad news sends you reaching for the comfort of the leftover chips and candy to get you through the cold winter months. However, Shapa, the new scale from behavioral scientist Dan Ariely , is designed to keep you ignorant and possibly thinner. By removing the drip-drip of data in the micro, the idea is that you can focus on the macro and avoid getting demoralized by your body's shifting weight. Instead, all you'll get is a color, depending on if you're underweight, about right or overweight, but nothing more specific. Ariely is a professor of behavioral economics at Duke University, but is probably more famous for his books and TED Talks. His work looks into how humans make decisions, and how rational -- or irrational -- we are on a daily basis. It should be no surprise that the bulk of the Shapa app is dedicated to tra...

The Steam Winter Sale continues today, through January 4th!* Save big on thousands of games for Windows, Mac and Linux! Be sure to vote in The Steam Awards! Come back every day through January 2nd to vote for each award, and find out the winners on January 3rd. Voting continues today with The "Best Soundtrack" Award. Here are the finalists: Crypt of the Necrodancer Cuphead NieR: Automata Transistor Undertale Remember to check back every day to see the new category and cast your vote! *Discounts end January 4th at 10pm Pacific, unless otherwise indicated. via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2EtrUhx"

Starting today, Germany will fine social networks up to to €50 million (roughly $58 million) should they fail to remove posts containing hate speech within 24 hours, or seven days for "complex cases" . The law, known as the Network Enforcement Act (or NetzDG), went into effect in October , but provided a grace period through the end of 2017. Although it was met with criticism and concerns over free speech, the law was nevertheless passed in Germany , which has some of the world's toughest laws against defamation and hate crimes. In June, German police raided the homes of 36 people accused of hate speech or other illegal content. Prior to the removal of the safety net, it's not been clear if social networks have complied with the law, nor if any of them have fallen afoul of it. Germany isn't alone in asking tech companies to take down hate speech posts -- the EU has made a similar request . 2018 is only just beginning, and given the trouble Facebook and Twi...

LG is pushing TV displays to ever-greater sizes and resolutions (and, most likely, prices) for the upcoming CES 2018. Engadget writes that the company will be showing off a new 88-inch OLED television with an 8K display, promising the biggest and highest-resolution OLED on the market. (You can get non-OLED 8K displays in much larger sizes.) It’s an upgrade over LG’s existing 77-inch panel with 4K resolution, and although there’s no price for this new display, the 77-inch screen costs $20,000 right now. Samsung has an 88-inch TV based its competing QLED technology — also for $20,000 — but that’s also “only” 4K, and QLED’s quality is debatable . 4K OLED screens are getting more affordable , and 4K content is getting more common. But it’s... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2CBhzPG"

The new replay tools offered in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds are so much more than standard video-capture technology. In fact, it isn't video capture at all -- it's data capture. The 3D replay tools allow players to zoom around the map after a match, tracking their own character, following enemies' movements, slowing down time and setting up cinematic shots of their favorite kills, all within a 1-kilometer radius of their avatar. It's filled with statistics, fresh perspectives and infinite data points to dissect. This isn't just a visual replay; it's a slice of the actual game, perfectly preserved, inviting combatants to play God. The toolset comes from South Korean company Minkonet, which just opened a second office in Los Angeles. PUBG is its first big client, and last month's rollout marks the first real mainstream implementation of this data-capture technology. It definitely won't be the last. According to Chief Operating Officer and Chi...

Health Apply the power of habit to your annual goals. Breaking New Year’s resolutions is so time-honored a tradition that companies can actually stake their business model on it. Prove them wrong this year. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2DGDYe4"

Smart lock company Otto is suspending operations after a failed acquisition agreement. In a blog post late last year, CEO and founder Sam Jadallah says the company made an acquisition deal that limited its ability to fundraise, but the buyer pulled out at the last minute, leaving Otto with no remaining cash. The first locks were supposed to ship within the next few weeks, but “Otto will not ship next month and it may never ship,” says Jadallah. The company will “evaluate [its] options” for moving forward in the coming weeks. The Otto Lock was pitched as a tiny and stylish , but very expensive, smart lock. It sold for $699, and was intended for wealthy homeowners. Despite this limited niche, Jadallah told TechCrunch that Otto didn’t... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2Ckp4Oe"

Some Galaxy Note 8 owners have been reporting that they couldn't charge or turn on their handsets after the batteries ran dry -- a problem that plagues other phones as well. While Samsung reps have been trying to address individual issues, a company spokesperson told Engadget that it has received "a very limited number of reports which could be associated with the power management circuit." This issue does appear to be confined to a relatively small number of users, and thankfully doesn't appear to be safety-related . It seems more likely to do with power management -- specifically that a small amount of energy needs to remain in the phone to help kickstart charging control . It's an issue that plagues some other phones as well. Samsung reps have been advising affected users to get warranty replacements for their Note 8s, but those who don't want to hand over their phones or aren't covered by warranty can try something called stack charging. By pl...

Complaints about automated telemarketing calls jumped steeply last year, and have quintupled since 2009, according to a recent FTC report . The report says that in fiscal year 2017, the agency received over 375,000 complaints per month about automated robocalls, up from only 63,000 per month in 2009. That’s a total of 4.5 million robocall complaints, plus an additional 2.5 million complaints about live telemarketing calls. For comparison, there were 3.4 million robocalls and 1.8 million live calls in 2016. (The FCC also regulates robocalls, but has received far fewer complaints — only 185,000 since August of 2016.) The report says that robocalls are steadily increasing because of cheap access to internet calling services and autodialing,... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2EtDHMA"