” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/walter-in-winter-1-1152×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/walter-in-winter-1-1280×800.jpg” />Chevrolet probably didn’t predict that an adventurous cat would somehow overshadow its trucks and SUVs, but it knows a feline star when it sees one. Now Walter the cat is back, making a second appearance alongside the 2022 Chevy Silverado to prove that winter weather needn’t be a problem whether you’ve got all-wheel drive or just four paws. The commercial … Continue reading
The tech news cycle has been dominated this weekend by Spotify as it continues to deal with the fallout from its decision to back Joe Rogan. Last week, Neil Young offered the streaming service an ultimatum, saying it either cracked down on COVID-19 misinformation, pumped out by Rogan’s podcast and others, or he’d quit. Spotify decided to back Rogan, which prompted Joni Mitchell to withdraw her music from the platform in solidarity. (Both Mitchell and Young were childhood survivors of polio, and both know the real danger of vaccine misinformation.)
Subsequently, a number of high-profile figures have registered their unease, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Brené Brown. Yesterday, Brown said that she would pause releasing new episodes of her two Spotify-exclusive podcasts “until further notice.” And Spotify’s own COVID-19 guidelines were subsequently leaked, which revealed the (very) wide latitude the company offers to podcasts on its service. (Spotify’s also apparently cool with climate denial, as evidenced by a very recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.)
To try to address the issue, Spotify has announced that it will add a content advisory to any podcast episodes discussing COVID-19. Rogan himself has released a video statement saying that he felt justified in inviting COVID-deniers onto his show, but was sorry for the trouble he had caused Spotify. He also promised to “balance things out” by booking guests with different opinions in future.
Workers with half a dose will be put on unpaid leave.
T-Mobile has confirmed reports that its corporate employees will face termination if they are not vaccinated for COVID-19. The carrier, following in the footsteps of tech giants like Google, is mandating that workers get protected against the pandemic, or face termination. Employees who have had their first jab, meanwhile, will be placed on unpaid leave until they get their second dose. As always, a number of exemptions and caveats apply, but it looks like many companies are done tiptoeing around the issue.
Jack Sweeney’s Twitter bots use public data to track the whereabouts of public figures’ private jets. His most famous is ElonJet which, quelle surprise, tracks the takeoff and landing patterns of Elon Musk’s personal plane, and has more than 203,000 followers. Musk, naturally, wasn’t thrilled at its existence, and offered Sweeney $5,000 to take the bot down. Sweeney, however, was looking for something closer to $50,000 to help him get through college. But you don’t become a billionaire by handing out cash to people, and so Musk reportedly broke off comms with the 19-year-old.
Dr. Laurie Leshin already laid the groundwork for the Artemis program.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Laurie Leshin has accepted the role as head of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, making her the first woman to lead the famous lab. Leshin’s background includes a tour of duty at the Goddard Space Flight Center, and a stint as deputy associate administrator at NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Her work helped lay the groundwork for the Artemis and commercial spaceflight programs, and she helped craft the Mars sample return missions.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has given a thumbs up to the Boston Security Token Exchange (BSTX), a blockchain-based stock exchange. When it launches later next year, you won’t immediately be able to trade crypto stocks with the BSTX, but its backers are hoping to broaden its toolset in future. BSTX says that the benefit of blockchain is to speed up trade settlements between parties, a process that can currently take up to two days at a time.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2156ecf51edc9842f5236b95e066cb31-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2156ecf51edc9842f5236b95e066cb31-1280×720.jpg” />Windows 11 users rejoice: things are about to get a lot more colorful. Nando Costa, one of Microsoft’s designers, shared a LinkedIn post that teases what the team is currently working on. It seems that a much-needed emoji update is on the agenda, finally bringing the existing emoji up-to-snuff with a refreshed 3D design. This may not seem like huge … Continue reading
Gran Turismo 7, finally coming to the PS4 and PS5 on March 4th 2022 after significant delays, will be the focus of Sony’s first State of Play in 2022. The event is set to stream at 5PM ET this Wednesday (February 2) and will feature “just over 30 minutes of new [GT7] PS5 footage and gameplay details,” Sony announced.
In a tweet (above) Sony teased a mix of GT7 gameplay and cinematics showcasing a variety of vehicles, tracks and more. Much as it did with Deathloop last July ahead of its September launch, Sony appears to be dedicating this State of Play mainly to Gran Turismo 7.
Developer Polyphony Digital has only revealed tidbits about the PlayStation exclusive game, saying it would bring back many familiar modes. The game was first unveiled in June of 2020, seven years after series creator Kazunori Yamauchi said “we don’t want to take too long on Gran Turismo 7.”
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022_ford_maverick_01-1-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022_ford_maverick_01-1-1280×720.jpg” />Ford disappointed customers when it revealed it would be suspending orders for its all-new, hybrid Ford Maverick pickup truck. Since its debut, the truck has been such a hit that January 27, 2022 was the last day to order one — at least for now, Fox News reports. Ford unveiled the Maverick in June 2021, a compact pickup truck that … Continue reading
Respawn is continuing to expand Apex Legendsbeyond its battle royale roots. The studio is launching its first big team mode, Control, as a limited-time feature available starting February 8th. The mode will sound familiar if you’ve played Destiny‘s Control or other hold-the-points gameplay formats. Two teams of nine players each vie to capture and keep up to three zones, with infinite respawns for every player. Those zones will confer benefits like they do in other games, but the nature of those benefits is different — there’s a strong incentive to focus on territory rather than wiping out the enemy team.
Every zone your team owns will add points each second, up to a score limit of 1,250. You’ll randomly encounter “Capture Bonuses” that deliver a wealth of points if your team holds a given zone when the bonus timer runs out. Own both the center point and your team’s home point and you can spawn in that middle ground. And if you manage to capture all three points, you’ll start a “Lockout” that guarantees a win if those points are yours when a timer expires. A lopsided match shouldn’t drag on longer than necessary, to put it another way.
Control also introduces a ratings system where players can progress through tiers the more they accomplish for the team in a given life. You’ll earn use of your ultimate ability every time you move up a tier, so there’s plenty of motivation to stay in one piece. Respawn is promising Control-specific badges and challenges for those interested in longer-term goals.
And yes, there’s a new Apex character. The game is introducing Mad Maggie, a seemingly Mad Max-inspired, Australian-sounding warlord who has been sentenced to fight in the Apex games. Much like Caustic, her abilities reflect her willingness to leave morality at the door — Riot Drill forces enemies out of cover by burning them, and Wrecking Ball produces boost pads while also exploding near foes. She can also highlight enemies she shoots, and moves more quickly while using shotguns.
It’s too soon to know if Control will become permanent like Arenas. Respawn’s strategy is clear, however. Modes like this potentially keep Apex fresh for veteran players, and might expand the audience to newcomers who aren’t fans of the original game’s last-one-standing experience.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/airpods-1-1278×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/airpods-1-1280×721.jpg” />It’s been over two years since Apple released the first AirPods Pro in October 2019, and everything now points to an updated version being right around the corner. It’s likely that sometime in 2022, Apple will release the AirPods Pro 2, complete with new specifications, features, and even a new design. What does Apple have in store for the next-generation … Continue reading
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
