Saturday, 27 July 2019

DOJ approves Sprint / T-Mobile merger

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to your weekend! T-Mobile and Sprint have cleared a major hurdle on the way to completing their merger, but first, we’ll examine just what is so special about Google’s Pixel 3a and go over some other highlight stories from last week. Also, Hideo Kojima dropped a new Death Stranding trailer overnight, and the IRS wants its piece of your cryptocurrency profits.

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The deal isn’t done yet.

Justice Department approves T-Mobile / Sprint merger

The companies will have to sell the prepaid parts of Sprint's business -- Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and Sprint prepaid -- to Dish, while that company will gain a chunk of Sprint's spectrum. T-Mobile and Sprint will have to open up more than 20,000 cell sites and dozens of retail locations to Dish. In addition, T-Mobile has to offer Dish "robust access" to its mobile network for seven years while the latter creates a 5G network of its own.

The Pixel 3a is a reminder there is more to be done with the standard slab-like phone.

It's time to take Google's Pixel phones more seriously

Methods that other "affordable premium" phone makers have tried include marketing directly to consumers instead of splurging on expensive advertising campaigns. Google’s focus on closing potential performance gaps with advanced software makes the Pixel 3a a powerful signal of the company's unique ability to rise above the limits of hardware.

Everybody’s doing it.

Regal Cinemas unveils its unlimited movie subscription service

Regal Unlimited offers three tiers of membership, ranging from $18 to $23.50 per month (plus tax), and you'll have to download the free Regal App to participate. The "gotcha" is that there is a $0.50 convenience fee for every movie you book through the app, and surcharges apply for special features like 4DX, IMAX, 3D and double features.

You can get a lifetime of VPN Unlimited for only $40

Meet Heartman.

Hideo Kojima releases two-minute ‘Death Stranding’ cutscene that premiered at Comic-Con

Kojima's upcoming "cinematic adventure" game for PlayStation 4 is still quite a mystery, but you can learn more from this Death Stranding trailer that debuted at Comic-Con last week. In it, the character "Heartman" -- based on filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn -- explains his connection to the world. His heart stops every 21 minutes, allowing him to spend three minutes exploring "the world of the dead" before he's shocked back to life... for another 21 minutes.

Our most comprehensive set of recommendations ever.

Introducing Engadget's 2019 Back-to-School Guide

As editor-in-chief Dana Wollman explains: “In addition to top picks in 11 categories -- everything from laptops to smartphones to gaming and dorm gear -- we went big on tips and buying advice this year. We didn't just want to tell you what to buy, but we wanted to help you choose wisely, and then make the most out of whatever you chose.”

Instead of Air, Nike is using these beads to battle Adidas Ultraboost.

Nike's Joyride shoes use tiny beads to make your runs more comfortable

Meet Joyride, a responsive cushioning system designed to adapt to individual foot strikes and offer high levels of impact absorption as your feet hit whatever surface you're running on. Nike says the idea is to "make running easy" and give you more personalized comfort, made possible by thousands of tiny, energy-packed beads that form the shoe's midsole. Nike's Joyride Run Flyknit will launch globally on August 15th for $180.

The human ears behind your AI assistant.

Apple contractors frequently hear sensitive info in Siri recordings

The Guardian has learned from a source that Siri quality control contractors regularly hear sensitive info, including medical info, criminal activities and even "sexual encounters" -- much like their counterparts at Amazon and Google. They're only listening to less than one percent of daily Siri activations, and frequently only for a few seconds each, but some of them include request-linked data like app info, contacts and locations.

In a statement, Apple said they're studied in "secure facilities" by people who are bound to "strict confidentiality requirements."

But wait, there's more...

1. Watch an electric Ford F-150 tow over a million pounds

2. Samsung opens up Galaxy Note 10 reservations before official reveal

3. The best GPS running watches for 2019

4. Back to School 2019: All the gear you need to build a game-streaming empire

5. BMW adds an $80 yearly subscription for Apple's CarPlay

6. LightSail 2 is now surfing on sunlight

7. ASUS' ROG Phone II combines high-spec power with accessory spectacle

8. IRS letters go out to remind more than 10,000 people that cryptocurrency is subject to taxes

9. 'WannaCry hero' Marcus Hutchins sentenced to supervised release

10. Origin crammed an Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and gaming PC into one case

11. Original 'Doom' games hit PS4, Xbox One, Switch and mobile

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Friday, 26 July 2019

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter: Friday -- July 26, 2019

ECT News Network -- Where Business Meets Technology
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E-Commerce Times | TechNewsWorld
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This Week's Top News Headlines From the E-Commerce Times

Understanding the IP Policy Changes Coming to Amazon Sellers
(Posted 25-Jul-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86146.html

Square Opens Robotic Photo Studio for SMB Etailers
(Posted 24-Jul-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86140.html

Equifax Data Breach Settlement No Wrist Slap
(Posted 23-Jul-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86139.html

AI in Healthcare: Independent Living for Consumers
(Posted 22-Jul-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86135.html

How Alternative Lending Sources Can Help E-Commerce Companies Grow
(Posted 20-Jul-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86138.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From TechNewsWorld

What the CBS Blackout Means for the Future of Streaming
(Posted 26-Jul-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86149.html

DoJ to Examine Big Tech Competitive Landscape
(Posted 25-Jul-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86144.html

Bug in Facebook Messaging App Exposes Kids to Strangers
(Posted 24-Jul-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86143.html

Microsoft, OpenAI Shoot for the Stars
(Posted 23-Jul-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86141.html

Why We All Need to Learn to Live on Camera
(Posted 22-Jul-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86137.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From CRM Buyer

Salesforce's Road to China
(Posted 25-Jul-19)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/86147.html

Boost Your CRM With IaaS
(Posted 24-Jul-19)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/86142.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From LinuxInsider

Emmabuntüs Is a Hidden Linux Gem
(Posted 26-Jul-19)
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/86145.html

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Google's Pixel sales doubled thanks to the 3a

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Friday, July 26, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

This morning, we’ve got an update on SpaceX’s latest rocket launches and the details on Apple’s billion-dollar acquisition. Also, we’re looking for your impressions on Google’s Nest Hub, and it seems hoverboarding across the English Channel is probably a bad idea.

(View in browser.)

Check out the engine cam video.

SpaceX sends its ‘Starhopper’ on an untethered test flight

After completing zero of two launch attempts on Wednesday, SpaceX went two for two on Thursday. Its Dragon spacecraft is making a third trip to the ISS, while its Starhopper test vehicle took a tiny untethered jump from its test pad in Texas (the picture above is from Wednesday's fiery test that was aborted just as it began). Elon Musk tweeted jokingly afterward that "Water towers *can* fly haha!!," then, more seriously, confirmed that a 200m test is scheduled to occur "in a week or two."

Just in time for 5G.

Apple acquires Intel's smartphone modem business

Apple is buying the "majority" of Intel's smartphone modem business for $1 billion. The deal will see Apple take on 2,200 Intel workers as well as equipment, intellectual property and leases. Apple expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2019 so long as regulators approve the handover.

Shocker.

Pilot crashes into sea trying to hoverboard from France to England

Franky Zapata was trying to become the first person to cross the Channel on a hoverboard, but he crashed into the sea while landing for a refueling stop.

You can get a lifetime of VPN Unlimited for only $40

Alphabet’s Q2 2019 earnings report is in.

Google's hardware division is recovering from slow Pixel 3 sales

While Google didn’t break out individual sales numbers during its parent company’s earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai said it sold twice as many Pixel phones this quarter compared to a year ago. It sounds like the 3a strategy was a success.

Recommendations required.

Is Google’s Nest Hub worth your $129?

Last October's release of the Nest Hub (neé Home Hub) wasn't Google's first foray into smart displays -- the company had already released the Home, Home Max and the Home Mini. They were all solid, if not outstanding, hits with reviewers. Senior Editor Nicole Lee praised its premium feel and slick integration with other Google products, but now we want to hear what you think.

Tell us all about it in a user review on our Google Nest Hub product page and give your fellow readers some advice. Your thoughts and opinions could be featured in an upcoming user review roundup.

We’ll explain how you can find one that fits your learning style.

Back to School Guide 2019: The best note-taking apps for students

There are dozens if not hundreds of note-taking apps to choose from. All of them, unsurprisingly, promise to make you an organization and productivity guru. While it’s impossible to pick a single “best,” we've made some suggestions that are tailored to specific users, devices and learning styles.

Some of the specs can’t surpass its predecessors.

Motorola's $150 Moto E6 is less ambitious than the phones it replaces

Not everyone has $250 (or more) to drop on a new smartphone -- that's where the sixth- generation Moto E comes into play. It's the latest entrant in Motorola's popular low-cost line, and while it doesn't pack many thrills, it might not be a bad choice for smartphone shoppers on a budget.