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Twitter's stricter approach to verification isn't just taking checkmarks away from the leaders of racist groups. The social network has pulled the verified badge from conspiracy peddler Liz Conkin after Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend reacted to Conkin's unsupported claims that the two were trafficking their child in a Washington, DC pedophile ring. As Teigen explained, it didn't make sense that Twitter would verify someone who was accusing her of horrific acts, especially not when this person has nearly 50,000 followers. Legend helped elaborate on the concerns. He noted to one of Conkin's supporters that the bogus Pizzagate scandal "almost got someone killed" -- the concern is that a Conkin devotee would believe the unsubstantiated claims at face value and threaten the couple. Legend vowed to sue Conkin if she kept making her claims. The conspiracist deleted her posts and backtracked in a bid to avoid a lawsuit, claiming that Teigen an...

OnePlus really didn't waste any time fulfilling its promise of bringing the 5T's Face Unlock feature to the original 5 . The smartphone maker has rolled out an OxygenOS beta that lets OnePlus 5 owners sign in with a quick glimpse at their phone, just like those with newer handsets. This isn't a stable release, so you probably don't want to install this if you can't afford to deal with glitches, but it beats waiting weeks into 2018 to give the feature a try. As before, Face Unlock isn't strictly secure -- it's not using depth sensors , iris scanning or other methods that reduce the chances of someone fooling the system. This is about convenience more than anything else. OnePlus doesn't pretend otherwise, though, and it's good to see a tentpole feature coming to a not-so-current device. Via: Android Police Source: OnePlus via Engadget RSS Feed "http://ift.tt/2lxqIB1"

Using "acoustic shock waves" to promote healing isn't just for Overwatch , as Sanuwave has obtained FDA approval for its Dermapace System (Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression = PACE). Its approval is specifically to help heal foot ulcers in diabetic patients, where damage to blood vessels and nerves can lead to reduced circulation, infection and sometimes amputation. The Dermapace mechanically stimulates the wound, which Sanuwave says promotes healing. Like several other "first" FDA approvals we've seen recently, this device went through the de novo review process designed specifically to get new technology on the market. After two double-blind studies , the results showed an increase in wound healing at 24 weeks with a 44 percent wound closure rate with the real Dermapace device, vs. a 30 percent closure rate for patients treated with a fake system. Now that this device has been approved, it also opens the door for similar technology, if it can show t...

Intermedia Labs' live trivia game HQ has launched a little earlier than expected -- and just in time to mark the end of the year, too. Anyone willing and able to download an early access app can see whether or not the formerly iOS-only title lives up to its reputation. You won't have long to wait before you can give it a shot. HQ is holding a special New Year's Eve game at 11PM Eastern, and there's a chance to win as much as $18,000 if your knowledge is up to snuff. There's no mention of when a polished version of HQ will reach Android, although Intermedia has been scrambling to fix bugs to get the app ready ahead of its public test. HQ is ultimately a simple game at its heart: it's an elimination-based challenge where progressively harder questions whittle down the contestant pool from hundreds of thousands to just a handful. The allure is the live, schedule-based nature of gameplay. Instead of interacting with faceless software by yourself, you're par...

The new year is proving to be a headache for some car makers in China. As of January 1st, the country has suspended production of 553 car models that didn't meet its fuel efficiency standards. Some of these come from partnerships with foreign heavyweights, including Beijing Benz Automotive, Chery and FAW-Volkswagen. It's not certain how soon those companies might restart production lines, although that likely involves finding powertrains that meet fuel consumption targets. There were signs that this crackdown was coming. Regulators had said earlier in December that they would gradually impose stricter emissions standards on new cars, and they recently extended EV tax credits through 2020. Moreover, China hasn't been shy about wanting to eventually ban all fossil fuel cars . Automakers know they can't continue the status quo if they want to continue doing business in China, and that means more efficient engines, hybrids and ultimately pure electric cars. The produc...

Telegram has been busy parrying government attempts to collect user data over the past year, but it hasn't forgotten its users. It's ushering in 2018 with a handful of offerings you'll likely find helpful if it's your chat app of choice, starting with the ability to support multiple accounts on Android. The latest version of Telegram for the platform supports up to three accounts with different phone numbers. You can quickly switch between them on the side menu, but you'll get notifications for all of them regardless of which one's active. While the iOS app remains a step behind its Android sibling and still can't support multiple accounts, the company has something for Apple users, as well. Telegram is finally giving you a way to change what your app looks like under the new Appearance setting. The iOS version now has several themes to choose from, including two dark "night time" themes and a "day" theme with colors you can tweak. T...

The UK still isn't convinced that internet giants are doing enough to curb online extremism , and it's now considering hitting those companies where it really hurts: their bank accounts. In an interview with the Sunday Times , security minister Ben Wallace said the country should use taxes to either incentivize stronger anti-extremist efforts or compensate for "inaction." While Wallace didn't go into detail as to what he'd like, the Times suggested it would be a windfall-based tax that targeted companies' large profits. Wallace certainly doesn't think very highly of internet companies -- he called them "ruthless profiteers" who put "profit before public safety." They'll sell info to loan sharks and "soft-porn companies," he claimed, but won't give it to the UK's elected government. The companies in question object to the claims. Facebook's Simon Milner said Wallace was "wrong" that the soci...

By Lauren Dragan 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 testing 136 sets of headphones and considering an additional 90, we are yet again convinced that the JLab Epic2 is the best pair of wireless workout headphones for most people, because they sound good, fit comfortably, and stay out of your way during rigorous workouts. Our testing showed that these earbuds should withstand abuse, sweat, and moisture when used properly, plus they're backed by a one-year warranty and responsive customer service. Who should get this Wireless workout headphones are for people who want to block out external distractions and don't need to hear their surroundings during a workout. You'll need to charge them from time to time, and they're not meant for swimming. If either...

It's a busy weekend for oppressive governments trying to suppress digital communication . Iran has blocked mobile access to at least Telegram and Instagram as it tries to thwart protests that started over economic concerns (particularly inflation), but have extended into broader resistance to the government and clerical rule. Officials claim the censorship is meant to "maintain peace," but the argument doesn't hold water. Telegram founder Pavel Durov noted that his company refused to shut down "peacefully protesting channels," and Instagram is primarily being used to document protests -- Iran clearly doesn't want to reveal the extent of the demonstrations. There are also numerous reports of Iran blocking mobile internet access in several cities, although the full extent isn't clear. The Iran Student News Agency noted that desktop access to Telegram was working, so this appears to be more of an attempt to disrupt on-the-ground protest coordi...

Can the Ben Heck Show team recreate the fabled 5.51 world record with micro-controller hardware? In an effort to find out, the team invites world record holder Todd Rogers into the workshop to help train the simulation. Can Ben's hardware beat the fastest-ever time? Find out, and let us know what you think over on the element14 Community . via Engadget RSS Feed "http://ift.tt/2DE6qNo"