Microsoft uses fish cams to monitor undersea Project Natick data center
Microsoft added two new undersea cameras to help it track and monitor the environmental conditions near its Project Natick data center. The results could help Microsoft evaluate plans to locate more data centers along the seafloor. For now, internet users can enjoy the calming fish imagery.
Google Chrome now shows browser notifications in Windows 10 Action Center
With the latest Chrome 68 update, Windows 10 users who rely on Google's Chrome browser will begin to see a change on how Chrome displays notification. Google will be switching away from its custom notification engine and instead display browser notifications in Windows 10's Action Center.
Microsoft finishes turning File Explorer dark in latest Windows update
Microsoft has a new Build 17733 of Windows 10 for members of the Windows Insider program. Insiders who download the latest release will get to experience Microsoft's completed work on bringing a dark theme to File Explorer. There are a number of improvements, but the update also introduces some known bugs.
Tesla gives its self-driving cars a performance boost with custom chips
Tesla is moving away from Nvidia's chips for autonomous vehicles in favor of its own custom processors next year. The new Tesla car computer, called Hardware 3, is described to be an order of magnitude more powerful than the hardware it replaces, and existing owners will also be able to upgrade to the new chips.
Apple patents a trio of ideas to fix its MacBook keyboard
Apple is dipping its toes in the dual-screen laptop category with a new keyboard patent that essentially replaces the keyboard with a giant second touchscreen offering configurable software keys, haptics feedback, and sliders and dials. Other ideas include a physical keyboard overlay and a membrane cover.
Google will warn businesses if state-sponsored hackers target G Suite users
If you've received a phishing email in your company's G Suite inbox that could be the work of a state-sponsored hack, Google will notify your employers. The new warning and alert system will help give organizations that use G Suite more insight into state-sponsored attacks on their users.
Chromebook users may soon get the Pixel phone’s best feature: Its camera app
Google may be giving Chrome OS users the best feature from its Pixel phones. Long heralded for its computational photography capabilities, the Google Camera app from the Pixel phone may be making its way to Chrome OS devices, but there's a catch: Your Chromebook must be able to run Android apps.
Windows 10 update adds support for continuity functions via Your Phone app
Microsoft is rolling out the Your Phone app with its latest Windows Insider Preview build, making it easy for PC users to view photos captured on their smartphones from their desktops. This update doesn't come with all the features Microsoft promised when the app initially debuted earlier this year.
Apple’s new MacBook Air with Intel’s 8th-gen processors expected this year
Apple is expected to launch its most powerful MacBook Air ever created with Intel's eighth-generation Kaby Lake Refresh processors. This means that the new MacBook Air, which is expected in the second half of this year, could top out with quad-core processors and come with a new Retina display.
Google Docs’ A.I. grammar checker will fix your poor writing habits
Google is taking on Grammarly by launching its own grammar checker in Google Docs. The grammar suggestions are powered by artificial intelligence to identify problems with spelling and grammar as you type, and works in a similar way to Google Translate by "translating" bad English to proper English.
If you own a 2018 MacBook Pro, you will want to maintain data backups
Due to a new logic board design on the 2018 MacBook Pro, Apple's existing tools to recover data stored on the computer's solid-state drive won't work. Owners of the 2018 MacBook Pro will want to be vigilant about maintaining backups of their system to prevent unrecoverable data in the event of logic board failure.
Facebook suspends data firm claiming access to 1 trillion conversations
Though Facebook found no wrongdoing, the social network is proactively suspending data analytics firm Crimson Hexagon's access to data on its network. Facebook wants to know if data collected by the firm, which counts the US and Russian governments as clients, was used for surveillance.
Microsoft stops a Russian attempt at hacking 2018 midterm elections
Less than a week after the United States indicted 12 Russian military officers for their involvement in hacking the 2016 election, Microsoft discovered that the same state intelligence agency tried to use the same phishing tactics to target at least three candidates in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections in the U.S.
Millions of health records may be at stake in ransomware attack
LabCorp reported that it may have been a victim of a data breach, and the FBI confirmed that it was notified of the ransomware attack on one of the nation's largest medical labs. LabCorps sees more than 115 million patients annually, potentially leaving a lot of patients vulnerable if the breach was successfully.
Apple quietly confirms 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard ships with anti-debris design
Apple quietly fixed the MacBook Pro's sticky key problem when it announced the quieter keys on the new 2018 models. The new keyboard, which comes with a membrane underneath each key to dampen noise and keep debris away, is exclusive to the 2018 MacBook Pro, and owners of older laptops are left out in the cold.
Intel’s 9th-generation processor could launch next month with 8 cores
Intel may be launching its new processor on August 1. The ninth-generation CPU, code-named Coffee Lake, will bring an eight-core architecture to the mainstream in a bid to compete against rival AMD's second-generation Ryzen chips. Still, it may take some time before we see products with Intel’s newest chips.
Your next virtual reality headset will require just one USB-C cable to connect
VirtualLink wants to simplify the virtual reality experience by replacing all the cables -- USB, HDMI, and power -- needed to connect a VR headset to a PC today with a single USB-C cable. This will help reduce friction in VR adoption and could speed up setup times for those looking to get started with a new headset.
Apple repair program won’t upgrade older MacBook Pros to new keyboard
If you own a MacBook Pro model prior to last week's refresh and suffer from the widely documented keyboard problems, don't expect Apple to give you a free keyboard upgrade when you take your notebook in for repair. Apple said that the quieter third-generation keyboard is an exclusive feature for its 2018 notebooks.
FCC proposal could help Google Fiber roll out to more cities
The FCC is considering a change on how utility poles are managed. Instead of requiring new service providers consult with existing utilities on a pole to make changes, the new proposal shifts the work burden to new providers, like Google Fiber. This change could help accelerate the deployment of gigabit internet.
Microsoft calls for Congress to regulate use of facial-recognition tech
Microsoft's president and chief legal officer argues that the use of facial-recognition technology needs regulation. This will help put the public at ease and ensure that the technology is only used for its intended purpose. Microsoft urges Congress to assemble a commission of experts to help.
Apple’s newest MacBook Pro is now $150 off if you’re a student
Apple only launched its refreshed MacBook Pro this week, but deals are already starting to pop up for the powerful Mac notebook. Students can now score a discount of $150 through Best Buy, bringing the starting cost for a Touch Bar-equipped model with an 8th-generation Intel processor down to $1,649.
Microsoft’s pressure-sensitive software keyboard is ripe for dual-screen laptops
Microsoft is working on a new virtual keyboard that recognizes pressure to make it easier to type on glass. The keyboard may be useful on tablets, phones, and a new crop of dual-screen devices that will show up this year. It will be a great fit on Andromeda, if Microsoft ever decides to launch that device.
Apple’s sticky key problem isn’t going away on the 2018 MacBook Pro
Apple introduced a new third-generation keyboard when it launched the 2018 MacBook Pro, but it didn't address a major user pain point that caused the keys on last year's model to become sticky and unresponsive. There's no engineering fix, and Apple is instead promoting a quieter typing experience this year.
Need the FCC to handle a problem? A formal complaint will cost you $225
The FCC voted on a new rule intended to streamline informal and formal complaints. The change sees informal complaints referred back to the original company and formal complaints costing $225. Critics argue that the agency is simply trying to skirt its obligations to protect consumers.
Mac Mini could make a comeback this year with a rumored refresh
After more than three years, Apple may breathe new life into the Mac Mini this year. Along with a rumored refresh across its Mac computer family, the Mac Mini is speculated to be get an update that brings a new processor, delivering better performance. A refresh is also planned for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac.
Money-laundering ‘Bitcoin Maven’ receives one-year prison sentence
Theresa Tetley of Los Angeles, also known as the Bitcoin Maven, gets sentenced to one year in prison. The prison term is down from the 30 months that she faced for running an unlicensed money transmission business and, in at least one instance, exchanging Bitcoin for cash that came from illegal means.
Congress demands answers over Gmail fiasco, data collection on phones
Congress is now demanding answers from Apple and Google regarding data collection on iOS and Android devices. Both Apple CEO Tim Cook and Alphabet CEO Larry Page received letters from the Energy and Commerce Committee seeking explanations about how these devices use recorded audio and more.
Timehop data breach may have compromised 21 million email addresses
Timehop revealed that it experienced a cyberattack that occurred on July 4 after the company discovered suspicious activity on its servers. The attacker was able to breach Timehop's network by obtaining an administrative login credential that was not secured by multi-factor authentication.
Fans petition Microsoft to save the Surface Phone from cancellation
Fans of the Surface Phone are hoping that a new petition will deter Microsoft from canceling the device. The Surface Phone was rumored to launch later this year with a pocketable and innovative dual-screen design. It was said to be canceled because Microsoft did not see a compelling reason to bring it to market.
Your body heat can help attackers steal your password in new attack
Hackers have a new way to steal your login by looking at heat traces left behind on each key using a $400 FLIR infrared camera. Touch typists are less susceptible to this type of attack than those who hunt and peck at each key, but those who type with acrylic nails are virtually immune to this type of password theft.
EU decides to save Wikipedia and internet memes, for now
Members of European Parliament voted against a controversial copyright law that was designed to protect content owners and publishers, but could also make it difficult to share memes and internet news. If passed, the law could also shut down Wikipedia. Parliament will revisit the vote in September after more debate.
Microsoft’s Surface Tablet clears final hurdle before launch
Microsoft may be close to launching the Surface Tablet. The device, which is known by Model 1824, has just recently been cleared by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, indicating that a launch could be happening soon. The FCC filing suggests that Microsoft may rely on Intel chips to power its low-cost slate.