Wednesday 6 March 2019

The Morning After: Grown-ups are the only ones falling for the Momo hoax

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Wednesday, March 06, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Morning, there! Microsoft might have an all-digital Xbox One ready in the next few months. Also we explain how that dumb Momo hoax embarrasses us all and how Samsung's Galaxy Fold will just be the start of a generation of folding phones.

There’s a reason for that.

Adults are the only ones who fell for the Momo hoax

The Momo Challenge, as it's called, reportedly encourages children and teens to commit increasingly brazen acts of self-harm and criminality. It's also a complete and utter, laughably obvious hoax. Andrew Tarantola spoke to Professor Chris Ferguson who explains, “It's ridiculous if you think about if for 30 seconds, but, nonetheless, this is an appealing sort of narrative.”

Downloads only.

Microsoft's All-Digital Xbox One could launch in May

Windows Central sources claim the disc-free console will be named the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition (a very Microsoft-like name if we've ever heard one) and would ship worldwide in early May, with pre-orders starting in mid-April. The tipsters didn't mention pricing or design changes, but Thurrott previously heard that axing the Blu-ray drive could slash the price by up to $100.

Is this the next Crosstrek?

Subaru unveils its outdoorsy Viziv Adrenaline hybrid concept

Subaru didn't say whether the vehicle will enter production, but based on the gnarly looks and potential of a plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of driving extended distances on just electricity, we certainly hope so.

Get a lifetime of in-depth Microsoft Excel training for $39

If you live in Europe.

Honda will open pre-orders for its tiny e Prototype this year

The retro-styled and rear-wheel-drive e Prototype (aka the Honda Urban EV Concept) has a range of 124 miles and can charge from dead to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.

Love is strange.

What we're watching: 'You' and 'The Lobster'

Associate News Editor Mariella Moon dives into Netflix's stalker series You while Senior News Editor Richard Lawler offers up an almost anti-romantic comedy with The Lobster.

Could this be a preview of the OnePlus 7?

Oppo's F11 Pro features 48-megapixel and pop-up selfie cameras

The F11 Pro is the latest smartphone to feature a 48-megapixel primary camera. As for the front-facing lens, Oppo tapped another emerging trend and equipped the device with a pop-up camera even as it includes old-school items like a micro USB port and headphone jack.

From ‘Cuphead’ to ‘Witcher 3’ and everything in between.

The best games for Xbox One

With the Xbox One X having a clear advantage over Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro when it comes to gaming on a 4K TV, there's never been a better time to jump in. While not all the games on this list are Xbox exclusives, every game is at least better looking if you're playing on a One X.

Motorola better hurry up with that RAZR Fold.

Samsung's Galaxy Fold could lead to two more folding phones soon

Bloomberg cites unnamed sources saying that Samsung is already working on a pair of Galaxy Fold follow-ups, with one shaped like a clamshell (folding vertically so that the top meets the bottom) and another that folds away just like Huawei's impressive Mate X. Also, its source suggests that the best solution for a visible seam, which they claim starts appearing after 10,000 bends or so, could be free screen replacements.

But wait, there's more...

1. Meizu says its port-free Zero phone was a failed marketing stunt

2. Polestar wants you to buy and unlock your car with your phone

3. US government could soon end the mass phone-surveillance program exposed by Snowden

4. Corning is working on Gorilla Glass that folds

5. A new Alexa skill lets you control your Roku devices

6. Alphabet's Chronicle -- like Google Photos but for network security

7. August's new battery-powered smart doorbell has a 1440p camera

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't subscribe.

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Tuesday 5 March 2019

Editor's Pick: Breaches: Fix the Issue, Not the Blame

Breaches: Fix the Issue, Not the Blame

Ed Moyle
Mar 5, 2019 12:24 PM PT

Following a natural disaster that causes property damage to businesses and homes -- say a hurricane, fire or flood -- how often do you hear suggestions that the victims were at fault for their misfortune, or that they could have done something to prevent the event from occurring in the first place? Not often, right? We all know that events like that are possible. We plan around those possibilities, and we don't blame the victims. [More...]

More Picks:

Facebook's 2FA 'Security' Practices Violate User Privacy
Facebook has undermined privacy on its network by exposing mobile phone numbers provided to secure user accounts through two-factor authentication. That's because anyone can use the numbers to look up a user's account. One doesn't even have to be a Facebook member to do so. Moreover, there's no way to opt out of the setting, although it can be limited to "friends" only. [More...]

EasyOS Teaches an Old Dog New Tricks
EasyOS is an experimental Linux distribution that either will renew your passion for using something different or leave you disappointed in its oddball approach to computing. EasyOS is a blend of the best ideas from Puppy Linux and the now discontinued Quirky Linux. I have used several of the popular Puppy Linux variants over the years. I adopted Quirky Linux a few years ago as my go-to Linux distro on a USB stick. [More...]

Learning Online: Getting Down to Business
Online learning platforms have made it easier than ever to offer workshops, courses and educational content of all kinds. In addition to the growth of online learning in traditional educational spheres, there's been growth in the business world. Companies increasingly have been using online learning platforms both to train employees and to educate customers. [More...]

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Tech News Flash

Tech News Flash: Tuesday -- March 5, 2019

TechNewsWorld -- All Tech - All The Time
https://www.TechNewsWorld.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
Facebook's 2FA 'Security' Practices Violate User Privacy
EasyOS Teaches an Old Dog New Tricks
Michael Cohen and the Creation of a Deep Learning AI Lie Detector
Why Children Should Learn to Code
Google Taps ML to Boost Wind Farm Output

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Today's Story Highlights

Facebook's 2FA 'Security' Practices Violate User Privacy

Facebook has undermined privacy on its network by exposing mobile phone
numbers provided to secure user accounts through two-factor
authentication. That's because anyone can use the numbers to look up a
user's account. One doesn't even have to be a Facebook member to do so.
Moreover, there's no way to opt out of the setting, although it can be
limited to "friends" only.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85878.html

EasyOS Teaches an Old Dog New Tricks

EasyOS is an experimental Linux distribution that either will renew your
passion for using something different or leave you disappointed in its
oddball approach to computing. EasyOS is a blend of the best ideas from
Puppy Linux and the now discontinued Quirky Linux. I have used several
of the popular Puppy Linux variants over the years. I adopted Quirky
Linux a few years ago as my go-to Linux distro on a USB stick.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85875.html

Michael Cohen and the Creation of a Deep Learning AI Lie Detector

Like many of you I was fascinated by the Michael Cohen testimony last
week in what was more performance art than fact-finding. It tends to be
fascinating to watch disgruntled ex-employees testify, but they often
aren't the most reliable witnesses. The personal nature of their
termination tends to push them toward exaggeration, and many were fired
for legitimate reasons.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85876.html

Why Children Should Learn to Code

Learning to code, regardless of the path a child chooses to take, is
crucial today. Research shows us that this knowledge will be important
in any career. As both a female leader in technology and a mother of a
10-year old boy, I am acutely aware of its critical importance in both
my professional and personal life. Coding is a necessary literacy in
this technological age.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85874.html

Google Taps ML to Boost Wind Farm Output

Predicting the power output of wind farms has been challenging, but it's
becoming less so with the use of machine learning. Google and British AI
company DeepMind have been using ML algorithms to improve predictions of
the wind power output at Google's wind farms in the Midwest. The farms
use the algorithms to predict wind power output 36 hours ahead of
generation.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85871.html

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The Morning After: The best games on PS4 and Galaxy S10+ reviewed

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Tuesday, March 05, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Good morning! Geneva’s Motor Show has kicked off in style (as always), so we’ve got a preview report and, well, things that have already broken cover. We also have our definitive verdict on the new Galaxy S10+, but don’t expect many surprises -- it’s another great phone.

You might see a few surprises, though, in our list of the best games you can play on the PS4, the first of our best-games guides for your gaming device of choice. Yes, it’s an internet powder keg, but it’s not a list set in stone either. The Engadget team will be updating the list regularly, so your comments and Twitter rage suggestions are welcome.

Bigger, smarter and lasts longer than before.

Samsung Galaxy S10+ review

The S10+ is a winning mix of powerful performance, long-lasting battery, stunning display and capable cameras. There’s also a welcome software overhaul and the ability to wirelessly charge compatible devices, making this a rather useful phone. For negatives, its design is pretty basic -- beyond the controversial hole punch front camera -- and some of Samsung’s software choices, like Bixby, are behind the competition.

And the E-Tron Sportback made a camo-clad appearance.

Audi’s E-Tron line gets a bit more crowded with the Q4 crossover concept

The new Q4 E-Tron Concept takes the formula of the automaker's electric EV and shrinks it down a bit. The vehicle has an expected range of 280 miles and will probably compete with the Tesla Model Y more than the Model X. Once it goes into production around the end of 2020, this crossover will be the first Audi where owners can customize their headlight startup signature.

Don’t get pwned.

The web just got an official password-free login standard

The World Wide Web Consortium and the FIDO Alliance have finalized the Web Authentication (WebAuthn) format, making it the go-to option for logging into accounts with potentially greater security and convenience than typing in your credentials. If a site supports it, you can get in using biometrics (such as fingerprints or facial recognition), USB security keys or nearby mobile devices like phones and smartwatches.

Send a crescent moon emoji to enable it.

Messenger is the first Facebook app to get dark mode

"Messenger's dark mode provides lower brightness while maintaining contrast and vibrancy," Facebook writes in its blog post. "Dark mode cuts down the glare from your phone for use in low-light situations, so you can use the Messenger features you love no matter when or where you are."

40Gbps is the new baseline.

USB4 will support Thunderbolt and double the speed of USB 3.2

At an event in Taipei, Intel revealed that the next-gen USB4 spec will once again utilize dual channels to achieve 40Gbps speeds, even on existing 40Gbps-certified USB-C cables. Better yet, thanks to Intel finally offering Thunderbolt 3 to manufacturers with open licensing, USB4 will be integrating this tech and thus effectively becoming the "new" Thunderbolt 3. It's still early days for USB4, though, and the USB Promoter Group won't be sharing detailed specs until around mid-2019.

That’s just one more thing you can make in an Instant Pot.

Instant Pot's creator is merging with the company behind Pyrex

Corelle Brands, the company behind kitchen brands like CorningWare and Pyrex, has unveiled plans to merge with Instant Pot's creators Instant Brands. The two hope to create a "world-class" housewares company that covers food prep head-to-toe, whether it's the actual cooking or storing leftovers.

Get caught up.

What to expect from the Geneva Motor Show 2019

From Audi to Volkswagen, the halls of the Palexpo will be filled the future of passenger transportation.

Or just visit the comments to tell us why we’re wrong.

The best games for PlayStation 4

There are over 1,500 titles available for Sony’s flagship game system, and if you’re having trouble picking one then try this list of our ten favorites. Expect similar lists for the Xbox, Switch, PC and mobile, later this week.