Award-winning author and podcaster (Escape Pod, Ditch Diggers) Mur Lafferty has a new space mystery on the way—good news for everyone, but especially fans of her popular 2017 sci-fi thriller Six Wakes. It’s called Station Eternity, and is due out in October—and io9 is thrilled to share the cover and an excerpt from…
What the heck is happening in Ukraine? The answer to that question largely depends on who you ask, what you’re willing to believe, and, probably, what kind of content fills your newsfeed.
OtterBox says it has detected an issue with early units of its OtterSpot system. The company released the wireless charging batteries back in August 2019. It says that units that were manufactured between July and August that year may swell “under multi-stack and higher temperature conditions.”
As yet, no injuries have been reported due to the issue, OtterBox told The Verge. The company is contacting customers it knows bought an affected unit, but if you have any OtterSpot battery packs, it’s worth checking the serial numbers. If the number starts with 229, 250 or 259, the unit could be affected by this issue and it’s worth calling customer service at 1-855-688-7269. OtterBox says it will replace potentially defective batteries at no cost.
The conditions under which affected units could swell may not be rare. One of the key selling points of OtterSpot is that it comprises a base unit and stackable battery packs, which you can use to wirelessly charge devices on the go. Up to three packs can be charged on the base simultaneously. You can juice up a Qi-compatible device at the same time by placing it on top.
The issue might not affect too many units, since OtterBox says it only had a limited quantity at launch. Still, if you have one, it’s worth checking the serial number just in case.
Sigbjørn Eide said he was collecting trash earlier this month along Norway’s coast when he came across the white hard hat buried in seaweed
Nintendo revealed a brand new face for their online store that delivers an all-encompassing physical goods store for all Nintendo-branded products.
If you’re a fan of Stranger Things—and chances are you are—there’s good news and bad news. The show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, have revealed that the fourth season has become so epic that it will be released in two parts, the first beginning in May, and the second half arriving a few weeks later. The bad news is…
The 2021 Formula 1 season ended messily, to put it lightly, and the FIA is hoping technology will prevent a repeat. As part of a string of changes, Formula 1 is implementing a “Virtual Race Control Room” akin to the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) you see in soccer. The “backup” will sit outside the circuit and use a real-time link with the race director to enforce rules using the “most modern technological tools.”
The race director will also be cut off from direct radio communications to reduce pressure. It will still be possible to ask questions, but there will be a strict procedure for this.
The move comes after a controversial end to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2021. Lewis Hamilton was leading the race, with five lapped drivers sitting behind the safety car and preventing rival Max Verstappen from realistically contesting Hamilton’s position. However, race director Michael Masi made the controversial decision to let those trailing drivers “unlap” themselves by passing the safety car, giving Verstappen a much easier time of challenging Hamilton’s lead. With the help of fresh tires, Verstappen passed Hamilton (who was using worn tires) to win the race and, in turn, the Driver’s Championship.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team appealed Masi’s call by pointing to rules requiring all cars to unlap themselves, and for racing to resume the following lap, rather than immediately. The team also claimed Verstappen’s front wing briefly passed Hamilton while behind the safety car. Race stewards rejected the appeal.
There are no guarantees the virtual control room will improve F1 rule enforcement. This and VAR represent a shift in officiating techniques, however. Sports leagues appear less and less content to rely solely on human judgment — technology isn’t replacing race directors or referees, but it might ensure their calls hold up under scrutiny.
Weir and Tara Lipinski nailed the delicate balance of anger and sympathy as the Russian teen failed to medal.
Inside sources suggest that Motorola will continue their streak of creating high-value, low-cost smartphones with a device called Moto G22.
The same soundproofing that helps make cars quiet on the inside also obscures sounds from the outside that could help drivers spot potential hazards. To remedy that, Ford is testing a new system in Europe that pairs automatic hazard detections with in-car sound effects so drivers are aware of hazards before they…
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