How visual effects helped the Downton Abbey movie turn back the clock
From re-creating an iconic train station to weaving together real-world locations and studio sets, visual effects were a big -- but intentionally invisible -- part of Downton Abbey, the film based on the popular historical drama series from ITV and PBS. Here's what went into creating the film's VFX magic.
A.I. musicians are a growing trend. What does that mean for the music industry?
The most prolific musical artists manage to release one or two studio albums in a year. A.I. company Auxuman plans to put out a new full-length album every single month. Welcome to the world of machine creativity. Here's why Auxuman's founder is so confident he's onto a winner.
From Black Canary to Zsasz: Who’s who in the Birds of Prey trailer
Warner Bros. Pictures' first trailer for Birds of Prey introduces a lot of new DC Comics characters to the live-action DC Extended Universe, from the sonic-screaming vigilante Black Canary to the serial killer Victor Zsasz. Here's who appears with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn in the movie preview.
From AirPods to Surface Earbuds, why are big tech’s earbuds so ugly?
Distinctive, sure. Pretty? Absolutely not. From Apple's AirPods and Google's Pixel Buds to the brand new Microsoft Surface Earbuds, why does it seem like big tech brands are incapable of creating a pair of true wireless earbuds that are both functional and easy on the eyes?
Why is it still so hard to land on the moon?
Two missions from SpaceIL and the Indian Space Research Organization both failed to land craft on the moon this year. Fifty years after Apollo, we spoke to two space experts to understand why are lunar landings still so challenging.
Is Microsoft’s 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 a gaming laptop in disguise?
Microsoft's Surface Laptop 3 15-inch has an AMD Ryzen processor and AMD Vega graphics. Does that mean it's a gaming laptop in disguise? We answer that question by taking a look at the hardware specifications to determine how the Surface Laptop 3 will perform in modern games.
The Walking Dead Season 10 theories: Who lives, who dies, and who returns
Season 10 of The Walking Dead is coming, and there are plenty of theories about who will live, who will die, and exactly what might happen to Michonne, Carol, and the rest of the survivors. As war with Alpha and the Whisperers looms large, here's where we think season 10 of the AMC series is headed.
The numbers game: How analytics have thrown a curveball at the MLB playoffs
Sabermetrics, or the empirical analysis of baseball statistics that measure in-game activity, is nothing new. But data analysis continues to change the way America's pastime is played in significant ways, from an emphasis on hitting home runs to the slow death of small ball.
Holochess, anyone? This AR game system gives tabletop gaming a digital upgrade
Recently launched on Kickstarter, Tilt Five is an amazing augmented reality gaming system that promises to combine tabletop games with video games -- courtesy of some amazing AR tech. Here's why the company's CEO thinks it could revolutionize gaming as we know it today.
HBO’s Succession: Here’s who could (or should) run Waystar Royco
HBO satirical comedy-drama Succession is all about a wealthy media mogul trying to decide who should lead the company when he steps down, but the answer is not quite so simple. Here's who could -- or should -- run Waystar Royco when the company's top chair opens up for one reason or another.
Google’s Jacquard fabric tech now comes in two Levi’s jacket styles, costs less
Google and Levi's have partnered up again to produce two denim jackets with Jacquard technology woven in, allowing you to make gestures to control functions on your phone. The price of the jacket has been lowered, making it more accessible, and the styles offer up more choice.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro vs. Huawei Mate 30 Pro camera shootout: Pro power struggle
The Apple iPhone 11 Pro and the Huawei Mate 30 Pro are two of the latest smartphones, and both boast amazing camera systems. But which one takes our favorite photos? We took the two on a long weekend away, snapping photos using various lenses and settings. Here are the results, and it's a close battle.
What is semantic rendering, and how it improves your iPhone 11’s camera
There's a lot to love about the new iPhones, but the upgrades to the cameras may be the most important. Ultra-wide lenses are great, but the real camera improvements are thanks to machine learning techniques, like semantic rendering, which can enhance human subjects separately from the rest of an image.
How facial recognition is helping astronomers reveal the secrets of dark matter
Could the same A.I. technology that is used to unlock people’s smartphones also help unlock the potential secrets of the universe? It sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what researchers from ETH Zurich in Switzerland are working to achieve. Here's what they have developed.
Why Sony and Marvel sharing Spider-Man could be a win for everybody
Marvel and Sony's new deal, which will see Spider-Man rejoin Marvel for at least one movie, could make the wall-crawler the first character to be part of two different cinematic universes: The MCU and Sony's burgeoning Spider-Verse. Here's why that's a good thing for everybody -- including the fans.
‘Joker’ is a problem, and it’s on all of us
Warner Brothers' Joker is headed to theaters surrounded by controversy, but we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the concerns of the film's critics and the warnings they've offered -- and that goes for the film's director and star, too. There's nothing funny about the danger posed by the Joker.
Earth has a food waste problem. Can giant, solar-powered refrigerators help?
There’s a problem with food waste in developing countries that can’t be fixed by buying a fridge. Farmer Nnaemeka C. Ikegwuonu created ColdHubs, solar-powered rooms that extend the shelf life of produce. With the potential to reduce food waste worldwide, places in Africa are already reaping the benefits.
The $600 OnePlus 7T’s camera has a feature the iPhone 11 lacks
Shutterbug? The OnePlus 7T lets you get super close to your subjects with a new Super Macro mode that utilizes the ultrawide-angle lens. It's a feature that's not necessarily available on other smartphones, even if they have a wide-angle camera, such as the new iPhone 11. It allows for some stunning shots.
Thanks to iris scanning, refugees can get the food they need at a glance
For humanitarian organizations trying to deliver aid to refugees, the lack of identification can be a quagmire. The United Nations' World Food Programme has deployed a technological solution, using iris scanning and Blockchain to help refugees get food quickly and easily.
Android 10 (Go Edition) adds encryption, performance upgrades to low-cost phones
Android Go is an offshoot of the Android OS, and it's meant to run on low-cost phones. The latest version, Android 10 (Go Edition), is now available, and it brings performance improvements in the way of faster app launch times. There is also now disk encryption, allowing everyone to enjoy some measure of security.
Waiting in the wings: How drones are revolutionizing the battle against hunger
How do you use drones to save lives following a disaster? The World Food Programme, the food-assistance branch of the United Nations, is doing its bit to use drone technology to help humanity. Here are some of the ways that it is using unmanned aerial vehicles right now.
Is cell phone radiation actually dangerous? We asked some experts
Is there mounting evidence that the radiation emitted by our cell phones could be causing brain cancer and other medical conditions? Some people in the medical community are concerned, some feel the jury is still out. We asked some experts and reviewed some research in search of an answer.
A year of firsts, diversity, and no host: 5 takeaways from the 2019 Emmys
It was a year of firsts, category upsets, diversity, and no host as the 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards featured several big wins for streaming services and memorable speeches, including a formal send-off for HBO's Game of Thrones and a passionate call for gender equality in TV.
No cable, no problem: How to stream the 2019 Emmy winners
Want to see what all the fuss is about? Here's where you can stream Game of Thrones, Veep, Fleabag, Killing Eve, Russian Doll, Schitt's Creek, and the rest of the Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series winners and nominees from the 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, which aired September 22.
This virtual grocery store puts real food on the table for refugees
The World Food Programme has been experimenting to find new ways that technology can be used to help refugees and other vulnerable families find the best, most affordable food. The Dalili app has been rolled out successfully in Lebanon, and it's enabling new interactions between stores and customers.
I turned off Facebook’s ad trackers, and the ads only got more personalized
Facebook offers a few simple toggles to turn off ad tracking settings -- but those settings are only a portion of what Facebook users to deliver ads. The rest can only be turned off one-by-one and they don't make it easy. So what should privacy-concerned users do about Facebook ad trackers?
No soil? No problem. H2Grow can cultivate crops practically anywhere
Through tailor-made hydroponic systems, H2Grow aims to solve hunger in arid regions and help vulnerable communities become more self-reliant by securing food resources. H2Grow, a project from the United Nations World Food Programme, is helping crops flourish in unexpected places.
Here are the big winners from the 2019 Emmy Awards
With Game Thrones, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Chernobyl leading the pack of nominees, which series and actors actually took home the awards in the biggest categories at the 2019 Emmy Awards? Here's a complete list.
Forget fingerprints. These headphones can scan your ear canal for identification
Move over Face ID! The future of biometric security systems will use earbuds to map your inner ear. It sounds crazy, but the State University of New York at Buffalo's new EarEcho technology could actually turn out to be pretty darn useful. Here's why this wacky new biometric tech is exciting.
We spoke to Sega about designing the Genesis Mini
The Sega Genesis MIni is a wonderful mini console that authentically captures the original feeling of playing classic Genesis games. We spoke with Hiroyuki Miyazaki, the project lead on Sega's first mini console, to learn more about the development process and what went into choosing the 42-game library.
10 popular series that surprisingly never won Primetime Emmy Awards
No love for Star Trek? A snub for The Wire? From compelling dramas and record-breaking series to groundbreaking sci-fi sagas and hilarious sitcoms, these 10 television series have surprisingly never won Primetime Emmy Awards, despite being lauded by critics and audiences.
How a robot vacuum changed my life for the better
What would we do without our robotic vacuum cleaners? Global sales are booming for the self-guided, automated floor-cleaning machines. In addition to the time-saving convenience of automated floor cleaning, you may also find that a robot vacuum adds drama, and possibly even a little suspense, to your life.
Are tiny homes a reasonable solution to homelessness?
There are more than half a million homeless persons in America on any given night, and that's just a guess by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Nonprofits and real estate developers are partnering up to build tiny homes that could take some pressure off the problem.