Earlier today, we learned that Sony is buying Returnal developer Housemarque. That’s big enough news on its own, but it turns out that Housemarque may not be the only studio Sony is looking to absorb. Around the time the Housemarque announcement went live this morning, PlayStation Japan accidentally leaked what appears to be another major acquisition for Sony. Apparently, Sony … Continue reading
Boston Dynamics’ robots can boogie. We’ve seen Spot and Atlas strut their stuff many times, with some videos of them in action becoming viral hits. A collaboration with K-pop phenomenon BTS should be like catnip for the internet. But while the two videos are kind of fun, they’re ever-so-slightly underwhelming.
Hyundai closed its deal for a majority stake in Boston Dynamics last week. It brought in Hyundai brand ambassadors BTS to celebrate the occasion and dance with the robots. Spot cuts a rug with the group in one of the clips, but only briefly. They dance together for around 20 seconds altogether. In the other video, seven Spot robot dogs, one for each member of BTS, perform a choreographed routine to the band’s “Ioniq: I’m On It” — an ode dedicated to Hyundai’s EV sub-brand.
The clip that BTS appear in only racked up a couple of million views within a day or so on YouTube. The video for the group’s latest single “Butter,” however, was viewed 113 million times on the platform within 24 hours, setting a new record. It seems dancing robots, just like pretty much everything else on the planet right now, aren’t quite as popular as BTS.
Big Tech’s bid to gain access into people’s homes through smart tech like speakers and surveillance cams naturally spooks some people. To help you overcome those doubts, Google revealed a list of precautions back in 2019 when it rebranded its Home products as Nest. Several of the privacy commitments revolved around on-device data storage and the disabling of camera and recording features. Today, Google is updating those pledges with specific references to multi-device setups, account security, vulnerability research and future software releases. It’s also making them easier to find by bundling them together in Nest’s new Safety Center.
As part of the updates, Google says that all Nest devices released since 2019 are validated using third-party, industry-recognized security standards, including those developed by the Internet of Secure Things Alliance. It’s also added a bit about its Nest bug bounty program that compensates security researchers who unearth vulnerabilities in its tech.
In addition, the revised precautions now mention how it keeps your Google Account secure with tools like two-step verification. While it promises future safeguards through a pledge to provide at least five years of security updates for Nest devices after launch. Plus, there are explicit references to its verified boot feature that checks a device is running the right software each time it restarts. Finally, Google also directs you to the device activity page that shows all the gadgets your Google Account is signed into.
Back when Google first made the commitments, it seemed as though the privacy hoopla over smart home tech was at a fever pitch. A damaging Bloomberg report had just detailed how Amazon hired contractors to transcribe Alexa recordings. Facebook — which was still reeling from the Cambridge Analytica scandal — had launched its latest Portal display to mixed reviews, including valid questions over its place in the home. While Google had faced its own backlash for putting a mic in its Nest security hub and not telling anyone about it.
More recently, Amazon’s internet-sharing Sidewalk feature for Echo and Ring devices have kept data-sharing concerns in the spotlight. Therefore, you can’t blame Google for promoting its privacy commitments in this sensitive environment. Especially, If it makes the difference between people choosing to buy its products over its rivals.
Two more bodies were recovered from the rubble Monday, 5 days after the 12-story building’s sudden structural failure.
“It was just a big quick (gulp), gone,” said Patrick Brady, an astrophysicist at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
She told Chelsea Handler this week that her therapist, Harry, has helped her and Shepard “love each other again.”
Between TPMs, CPUs, and UEFIs, the system requirements for upgrading to Windows 11 haven’t been the easiest to figure out. Microsoft changed them only hours after pushing out the first Insider Preview Build for early adopters. If you’re wondering exactly what you’ll need to run Windows 11, we’re here to make some…
Insulin is expensive. Really expensive. Like hundreds-of-dollars per vial expensive. Expensive enough that some diabetes patients can’t afford their monthly dose. And now Walmart, of all companies, is stepping in to make the drug a bit more affordable.
Senator Ron Wyden has released a list of hundreds of secretive, foreign-owned companies that are buying up Americans’ data. Some of the customers include companies based in states that are ostensibly “unfriendly” to the U.S., like Russia and China.
With a lot of folks working at home because of the pandemic and looking to keep that going as we move into post-pandemic times, there’s an increased demand for accessories like webcams and microphones. Today, Dell announced a new 4K webcam that offers many solid features for those working from home. However, while the Dell Ultrasharp Webcam – as it’s … Continue reading
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