Geek News

Congress is starting to ask hard questions about the fallout from the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities. Today, Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) sent a letter to Intel, AMD, and ARM asking new questions about the vulnerabilities’ impact on consumers. Embedded below, the letter indicates a newfound interest from lawmakers in the industry’s response to the bugs, and a potentially ominous sign if lawmakers aren’t satisfied with the companies’ answers. The two vulnerabilities are “glaring warning signs that we must take cybersecurity more seriously,” McNerney argues in the letter. “Should the vulnerabilities be exploited, the effects on consumers’ privacy and our nation’s economy and security would be absolutely devastating.” Privately... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2EKPa9V"

Lamborghini's Urus is more than just an absurdly overpowered SUV, it's packed with technology both on the entertainment and safety sides too. That means along with its 650 horsepower twin-turbo aluminum 4.0 liter V8 ( whew ) you also have the option for a pair of Android Auto tablets mounted to the back of the driver and passenger seats. Oh, and there's a digital instrument cluster as well, which will either make keeping it under the 305 KMH (189.5 MPH) top speed easier or harder, depending on your driving style. The driver and front-seat passenger aren't left out in terms of tech either. Urus also features Lamborghini's third-generation infotainment system which appears on two screens. Navigation, phone interfaces (both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported) and car status data are presented on the center console display. The lower-mounted screen offers a keyboard and a handwriting-capable screen for adjusting climate control and the ride's heated s...

Comcast is rolling out some new gaming options for its X1 set-top box users. Multichannel News reports that Jackbox Games has begun to show up on X1 this month with two gaming packages being offered. Jackbox Party Packs 3 and 4 are available for $25 each and include games like Quiplash , Trivia Murder Party , Fibbage and Monster Seeking Monster . To purchase the multiplayer game packages, look for the Jackbox Games app on your X1 or say "Jackbox Games" into your Voice Remote. Once you buy the package, instructions will pop up telling you how to access it. Though new to X1, Jackbox's games have been available on a number of other platforms including PS4, Xbox One, Steam, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, PCs and others. Gaming packages will show up on customers' Comcast cable bills and users should note that playing the games on X1 will count towards their monthly internet data usage and Jackbox Games purchased on other platforms cannot b...

In an attempt to curtail spammy content, WhatsApp seems to be testing out notifications that alert users if they receive a message that has been forwarded many times, or if they are about to forward one of these messages themselves, as reported by TechCrunch . Several WhatsApp sites have provided screen caps of these messages , which don’t directly say the message is spam or fake news, but notify you that the content has been frequently shared. If you receive one of these messages, you’ll see “Forwarded Many Times” under the sender’s name, and if you’re about to send along one of these messages, you’ll see at the top of the forward screen “A message you are forwarding has been forwarded many times.” A WhatsApp spokesperson declined to... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2DhHJuJ"

Fat Month While you're just sitting around causing fatbergs. We've all seen the fatbergs that result from improper grease disposal. What happens when waste is disposed of properly? The possibilities are limitless. via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2DfZrP3"

If you get excited by cool vinyl video game soundtracks like we do, you're in luck. Mondo, the company behind the amazing Contra vinyl and that fantastic The Last of Us box set, has just partnered with Ubisoft on Far Cry 5 . Starting today, January 16th, you can pre-order the " Far Cry 5 x Mondo Edition" of the game for $100. The special edition is set to release alongside the title itself on March 27th of this year for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. There are only 4,000 of these units available worldwide, so if you're interested, you'll probably want to jump on it. You'll get the title itself in an attractive, durable SteelBook case designed by the creative director of Mondo, Jay Shaw, a vinyl record with the original Far Cry 5 soundtrack, a code for the digital version and a nice little box to hold it all in with an illustration of the game's main villain Joseph Seed. You'll also receive special in-game cosmetic and consumable items in the Doomsday Pr...

Apple is still struggling to improve working conditions at its suppliers . Both China Labor Watch and Bloomberg report that Catcher, a key supplier for iPhone and MacBook casings, makes workers endure harsh safety conditions and unfair work terms in a factory in Suqian. According to observers and discussions with workers, the machines are not only loud, but spray fluid and metallic particles that frequently hit workers' faces (only some of which have access to safety goggles and gloves). Workers suffer health issues such as vision problems, irritation and discoloration. Beyond this, the facility reportedly pumps out wastewater that violates local safety levels, and workers return to cold dorms with no hot water or built-in showers. CLW adds that the work requirements run afoul of local laws. Factory staff are legally supposed to work 40-hour weeks, but they're actually made to work 10 hours a day for 6 days each week. The scheduling approach also conveniently lets Catcher ...

Gadgets The nine best items of the year. IMO. I try out—and buy—products like it's my job. It, in fact, is my job, and has been for exactly one year. Here are the nine items that I had zero regrets purchasing this… via Popular Science "http://ift.tt/2mL6QeR"

Sony has released two new versions of the PS4 Pro that will be available exclusively at GameStop this month. The consoles are the Limited Edition Monster Hunter PS4 Pro Bundle for $450, available starting January 26th (when the game launches), and the Glacier White PS4 Pro for $400, sometime around the end of the month. If you're in Canada, look for the Glacier White edition at EB Games for $500 CAD. The bundle features a Monster Hunter: World PS4 Pro console, a red matching DualShock 4 wireless controller, and the Blu-ray disc of the game plus digital content. The Glacier White PS4 Pro includes just the console and matching controller. The white console was previously available as part of the Destiny 2 bundle . Sony has made it clear that both of these consoles will have very limited availability, so if you're interested in snagging one, it's best to move fast. Source: Sony via Engadget RSS Feed "http://ift.tt/2FKhrie"

If your internet connection has been going down, your Google Home and Chromecast devices could be to blame. The issue initially seemed to be relegated only to those who owned the Google Home Max speaker and TP-Link Archer C7 router. New issues have been reported involving other devices by both companies, and with routers from other brands , like Asus, Linksys, Netgear, and Synology. The issue, according to TP-Link , stemmed from the line of Google Cast products. The Cast feature normally sends packets of information at regular intervals to keep a live connection with products like Google Home. However, if the device is awakened from a “sleep” mode, it will sometimes send a burst of information at once, which can overwhelm a router. The... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2mKzjS9"

InnerSpace is Now Available on Steam! InnerSpace is an exploration flying game set in the Inverse, a world of inside-out planets with no horizons. Soar through ancient skies and abandoned oceans to discover the lost history of this fading realm, where gods still wander. Your greatest journey is within. via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2DDP4RX"

All that's old is new again in the world of gaming. Over the last couple years we've seen both the NES and Super NES receive reboots with their respective Classic editions and that trend could soon extend to iconic software titles as well. According to a report from ESPN , announcer Tim Kitzrow -- you know, the guy who coined "he's on fire!" -- is involved in a project to remake the two-on-two baller classic, NBA Jam , ahead of the game's 25th anniversary. "I can't speak anything to the specifics, but I can tell you there is movement in the works to get it done for the 25th year," he told ESPN . "So I'm hoping that we get a remake that does justice to the original." That's a tall order given the depth and breadth of the game's impact on pop culture. Released in 1993, NBA Jam became an instant hit. Kids across the country practically poured quarters into the arcade cabinet for the chance to play as the NBA's marquee...

Save 50% on Little Nightmares during this week's Midweek Madness*! Immerse yourself in a dark whimsical tale that will confront you with your childhood fears! Help Six escape The Maw – a vast, mysterious vessel inhabited by corrupted souls looking for their next meal. As you progress on your journey, explore the most disturbing dollhouse offering a prison to escape from and a playground full of secrets to discover. Reconnect with your inner child to unleash your imagination and find the way out! *Offer ends Friday at 10 AM Pacific Time via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2mK8Wfg"

Save 50% on Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun during this week's Midweek Madness*! *Offer ends Friday at 10 AM Pacific Time via Steam RSS News Feed "http://ift.tt/2r9e7tS"

Amazon is trying to make the Fire TV work better for watching live programming — but it’s starting in a very small way. Over the past few weeks, Amazon has rolled out channel guides and an accompanying feature called On Now, which shows what’s currently playing on supported networks. And as of today, Amazon is also adding the ability to pull up live channels through Alexa. Unfortunately, at launch, the list of supported networks is really small: just channels from HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax. And even if you have access to them, you might not be able to use these features, because you have to subscribe to those services through Amazon Channels — a service hidden within Prime Video that lets you subscribe to cable channels through... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "http://ift.tt/2DCGp2l"

This weekend, reports began to surface that some people who had made purchases on OnePlus' website were seeing unauthorized transactions pop up on their credit cards . OnePlus released a statement on its website saying that it was looking into the issue and today in an update, the company said it's shutting down credit card payments on its site. "This is a serious issue and we are investigating around the clock. As a precaution, we are temporarily disabling credit card payments at oneplus.net," it said. "PayPal is still available, and we are exploring alternative secure payment options with our service providers." So for now, if you want to buy something on OnePlus' website, you're currently limited to paying through PayPal. And if you've made any recent purchases on the site with your credit card directly, you might want to keep an eye on your transaction history. OnePlus says it's doing a complete audit of its system. Via: Gizmodo S...