Geek News

DIY Dear digital diary... You can journal any time, any place, by recording your daily thoughts with your phone. These five journaling apps let you jot your entries on the go. via Popular Science "https://ift.tt/2HebE8h"

Android phones are infamously slow to get updates — as of Google’s last update in February , only 1.1 percent of Android users have access to the latest version of the software — but apparently, the problems with Android’s software updates go deeper than that. Research firm Security Research Labs is claiming that numerous Android manufacturers are lying to users about missed security patches, according to a report from Wired . SRL researchers Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell spent two years analyzing Android devices, checking to see if the phones actually had installed the security patches that the software said it had. The pair found that many devices had what they call a “patch gap,” where the phone’s software would claim it was up to date... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2JEm8fn"

Today is the debut of ESPN+, a $4.99 direct-to-consumer subscription video service that offers a little bit of MLB and NHL action with a lot of stuff that you don’t typically see on ESPN when channel surfing. There’s no separate app to download; ESPN+ is part of the redesigned, improved ESPN app that’s also available today on Android, iOS, and connected TV devices. A 7-day free trial is available, and if you sign up by April 18th, that test period will be extended to 30 days. ESPN+ is overseen by Disney’s BAMTech division, the streaming powerhouse that’s behind video apps for other companies including HBO and WWE. BAMTech will also power Disney’s own family-oriented standalone video service when it launches sometime in 2019. Those two... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2JC7N2W"

Enterprises are moving to the cloud at a breathtaking pace, and they’re taking valuable data with them. Hackers are right behind them, hot on the trail of as much data as they can steal. The cloud upends traditional notions of networks and hosts, and it topples security practices that use them as a proxy to protect data access. In public clouds, networks and hosts are no longer the most adequate control options available for resources and data. Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3 buckets are the destination for much of the data moving to the cloud. Given how important this sensitive data is, one would expect enterprises to pay close attention to their S3 security posture. Unfortunately, many news stories highlight how many S3 buckets have been mistakenly misconfigured and left open to public access. It’s one of the most common security weaknesses in the great migration to the cloud, leaving gigabytes of data for hackers to grab. When investigating why cloud teams were making what seemed t...

It’s peak ThinkPad Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2JG870E"

Health The lone star state isn’t alone Texas is, in fact, a cautionary tale, just not in the way we all thought. It’s been collecting data poorly for years now, and they’re not alone—maternal mortality rates… via Popular Science "https://ift.tt/2vaRaIC"

We mentioned in March that Anker’s new PowerWave wireless charger geared towards iPhone users would probably be discounted pretty soon. Less than a month later Anker has fulfilled that prediction by offering Verge readers an exclusive 25 percent Amazon discount code on the latest addition to its line of wireless charging stands. The PowerWave wireless charging stand is advertised as a 7.5W charger, the wattage required for iPhone fast charging, though it goes up to 10W for faster Samsung devices like the Galaxy S9. Unlike Anker’s previous model of wireless charger, the PowerPort, PowerWave chargers come with an 18W wall charger. Originally retailing for $49.99, Verge readers can pick it up for $37.99 at Amazon with promo code VERGEAA1 .... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2IM5wRA"

Google revealed yesterday that it’s planning to launch a new Gmail design in the coming weeks. The refreshed design will appear for Gmail users on the web, bringing it closer to the company’s tweaks for Gmail on mobile devices. The Verge has obtained screenshots of the new Gmail design, currently being tested inside Google and with trusted partners. The new design includes some subtle elements of Google’s Material Design, and a number of new features that were originally introduced for Google’s Inbox overhaul of Gmail. Google is implementing smart replies for Gmail on the web, the same feature from mobile Gmail that provides suggestions to quickly reply to emails. A new snooze feature also lets you temporarily remove emails from your... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2HlTP70"

Apple will start warning Mac users this week that 32-bit app support in macOS is coming to an end. Ars Technica notes that Mac users running macOS 10.13.4 will receive a one-time alert tomorrow that will trigger once a 32-bit app is opened. The alert simply reveals that an app is “not optimized” for a Mac, but the app will continue working for now. Apple has not yet revealed exactly when it will fully cease supporting 32-bit apps on macOS, but the company has previously warned developers about the change and noted that High Sierra would be the last version to support 32-bit apps “without compromise.” Apple has been making the transition to 64-bit hardware and software for more than 10 years, and the company already stopped accepting... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2vcUKCe"

Having appointed a new CEO at the end of last year , LG is keen to signal a better direction for its mobile business and has today opened the doors to a new Software Upgrade Center . This facility is part of LG’s new research and development center in western Seoul, and it’s set up with the express goal of speeding up Android software updates for LG phone owners around the world. As new CEO Jo Seong-jin says in a statement accompanying the news, “Stable and consistent upgrades will demonstrate to our customers that LG smartphones have long and reliable lifespans.” Many people will be wondering why it took LG nearly a decade of making Android phones before it realized the importance of updating those devices in a reliable and timely manner.... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2GVp0Tm"

Throughout the history of mankind, civilizations have risen and fallen due to a variety of factors. For the most part, the collapse of a civilization wasn’t sudden, but a gradual decline brought on by multiple causes like changing culture, climate or even the introduction of a new culture (such as when Europeans came to the “new world”). The interconnectivity and globalization of our modern society make it less likely for a civilization to collapse due to traditional factors. But the same factors that make a traditional decline less likely also mean a collapse is apt to look quite different. To start, it would be more sudden and less localized – going across multiple regions and perhaps the entire globe. What could cause such a collapse? There are three main threats to our modern civilization that could cause humanity to go the way of the ancient Mayans. Climate Change Human life requires a very specific set of environmental circumstances to survive. And while we can withstand som...

Animals They found some nanoscale clues on the hues. Researchers examined more than 500 butterfly specimens, ultimately selecting six that were well preserved enough to reveal their secrets. The specimens date to the… via Popular Science "https://ift.tt/2IMa9uX"

Motorola has just released a new Moto Mod stereo speaker and it’s the cheapest speaker mod yet at $59.99. Still, it has most of the features of the more expensive Moto Mod speaker, with a built-in kickstand and dual 28mm stereo speakers inside the mod. Since the Moto Mod connects to Moto Z phones, it relies on the phone as a source of power and doesn’t have a separate charging method. The new Moto Mod speaker marks Motorola’s increasing focus on mass market mods that will be popular among many, instead of more niche mods it’s worked on before, like gamepad mods. That focus might make it easier to build cheaper gadgets at economies of scale, even as Motorola’s engineering team allegedly suffered layoffs last month. The Moto Mod comes in... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2HvGwOY"

Soylent may have been a polarizing powdered drink when it first went on sale four years ago, but it’s clearly developed a following outside of the startup world as a drink that’s said to be a substitute for a meal . And it may have truly hit the mainstream market now that it’s available at Walmart. Its maker, Rosa Foods, announced Wednesday it has signed a deal to get Soylent in 450 of the big box stores across the US. Soylent CEO Bryan Crowley says the move is, “a significant step in providing more ways for consumers to get access to our brand.” Walmart locations will stock the ready-to-drink bottles in “Cacao,” “Vanilla Latte,” and “Coffiest” flavors. Whatever you think of the taste or concept, Soylent says it’s been popular enough to... Continue reading… via The Verge - Tech Posts "https://ift.tt/2qpjZMI"

Technology Here's how the space agency gathers data when planes (purposely) hit the ground hard. At NASA’s Langley Research Center, engineers subject aircraft to what they call “severe but survivable” crashes. Here's how that works. via Popular Science "https://ift.tt/2IIkdoT"