Tuesday 19 November 2019

Tech News Flash

Tech News Flash: Tuesday -- November 19, 2019

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

Headline Scan
Apple to Conduct 3 Medical Studies Using Research App
Banishing Bias From the Leadership Selection Process
The Thorny Problem of 5G Security
ALT Linux: Worthy Linux Alternatives, With a Catch
Disney+ Launches New Era of Streaming, With a Few Hiccups

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Today's Story Highlights

Apple to Conduct 3 Medical Studies Using Research App

Apple is getting into the medical research field with its recent
announcement of three studies to be conducted through its Research app.
Apple Watch and iPhone users in the United States can use the app to
enroll in the Apple Women's Health Study, the Apple Heart & Movement
Study, and the Apple Hearing Study. Participants can use their Apple
devices to contribute data to the studies.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86364.html

Banishing Bias From the Leadership Selection Process

I'm spending a lot of time these days looking at the evolving market for
artificial intelligence and the problem of bias. I think the problem in
part is due to confirmation bias -- the need to look only at the
information that agrees with a position already set. Another
contributing factor is the lack of a set of metrics that we can apply
consistently. AI systems will face similar problems.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86360.html

The Thorny Problem of 5G Security

A few years ago, putting the words "mobile telecoms security" in the
title of an article would be a license to write whatever you wanted
below, because no one was likely to read any of the words after the
title. Sprinkling the magic ingredient 5G has changed this, and "5G
security" is a hot topic now. What has changed? There is a geopolitical
aspect to 5G security, but it is not the full story.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86362.html

ALT Linux: Worthy Linux Alternatives, With a Catch

ALT Linux offers a buffet of Linux distributions that meet a variety of
specialized needs. Its inviting selections could be a good source of
alternative Linux OS solutions if you take the time to sort out the
menus. You might find navigating the poorly designed website a tedious
chore. Still, persevering could get you a few tasty options to satisfy
your computing appetite.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86361.html

Disney+ Launches New Era of Streaming, With a Few Hiccups

The much-anticipated Disney+ streaming service has arrived. In the first
24 hours, the app was downloaded 3.2 million times. Demand for the new
over-the-top streaming service prompted the company to announced that it
had exceeded its highest expectations -- but with problematic results.
Many users were unable to launch the app on its huge opening day.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86358.html

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Valve announced a new 'Half-Life' game

Engadget Email Newsletter

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It's Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

This morning we’re ready to talk about Half-Life: Alyx as well as the reality of Google Stadia and cloud gaming. Samsung’s Kylo Ren-themed Galaxy Note 10+ is stylish but expensive, and you can save some cash on Google gear next week. We’ll explain.

(View in browser.)

There’s a but.

Valve has finally confirmed a new ‘Half-Life’ game

On Thursday, we’ll meet the first new Half-Life title that Valve has released in a dozen years. The one thing we know so far about Half-Life: Alyx is it’s the company’s first ‘flagship VR game.’ Now Valve has its own Index virtual reality headset to offer, it makes sense that the company would use one of its most beloved titles to push the technology, but we’ll know more about what’s required when the game launches on November 21st.

It’s impressive, but the game selection is expensive and underwhelming.

Google Stadia has landed

Google promised a lot with its streaming game service, and it delivered on most of it. With Stadia, you can stream and play AAA titles like Destiny 2, Red Dead Redemption 2 and, well, 20 other games. We’ve been playing the new service for a week, and while it all hinges on how fast your home internet works, these games work. Jessica Conditt explains all.

You can also score a Nest Hub for $79.

Google details its Black Friday discounts, including Pixel 4s for $200 off

If you’ve been thinking about picking up some Google hardware, it might make sense to wait. The company has several discounts planned, including a Pixel 4/4 XL offer that cuts $200 so they start at $599, which will be available on November 24th. Deals starting on the 28th include $20 off the usual $49 price for a Nest Mini and a Pixel 3a/3a XL for $100 off.

This $375 Soleil blow dryer is just $65 today

The batteries are bigger, but you won't be able to fix it on your own.

iFixit’s 16-inch MacBook Pro teardown reveals only a few changes

We already got a closer look at the new, bigger MacBook Pro’s keyboard, but what about the rest? Well, there’s less to report beside a new thermal management system and bigger battery cells. If you were hoping for more repairability, like Microsoft’s latest machines, then we’ve got bad news. You’d probably still need some expertise to do any work inside the machine. But hey, at least the keyboard is less likely to jam up.

Why not a baby (redacted)?

Samsung made a 'Star Wars' Galaxy Note 10+ for Kylo Ren fans

This Galaxy Note 10+ Star Wars Special Edition will mark the release of The Rise of Skywalker. The phone touts a black-and-red color scheme (plus custom graphics and sounds) to match Kylo Ren's embrace of the dark side, and you'll also get a matching Kylo Ren case, Galaxy Buds and a metal collector's badge. In the US, it'll be available on December 13th in unlocked form for $1,300 at Amazon, Samsung and some Best Buy and Microsoft stores.

We’re not the market for this.

Sony's baffling wearable speaker heads to the US

Want the convenience of portable tunes but hate headphones and earbuds? Sony has a solution for you in its Immersive Wearable Speaker (SRS-WS1), which is perhaps the company's most aptly named piece of audio kit. The speaker launched in Japan back in 2017 (we caught a glimpse of an earlier version during SXSW 2016), and now it's finally making its way to the US in December. It'll be available for an introductory price of $250 if you pre-order by December 1st, and $300 afterwards. The only tricky part is finding someone who will wear this thing.

Looks like a DualShock 4.

Sony’s new controller patent reaffirms a familiar-looking controller for the PS5

An early report from Wired said the prototype of Sony's new PlayStation 5 controller looked "an awful lot like the PS4's DualShock 4," and a filing at Japan’s patent office backs that up. It’s really not much different at all -- although it appears the new accessory won't include a light bar, and there are larger trigger buttons that will reportedly feature adaptive triggers to represent in-game forces and tension. For now, however, this is just a dotted-line diagram. Sony could still shake up the design.

But wait, there's more...

1. John Legere is stepping down as T-Mobile CEO next April

2. Watch the first trailer for HBO's 'Avenue 5' sci-fi space comedy

3. Weber embraces modern grilling with a WiFi-enabled pellet model

4. Nintendo's snap-on Switch Lite case arrives in the US on December 8th

5. BMW's i4 electric sedan will boast a 373-mile range

6. What's on TV this week: 'Shenmue III'

7. Nintendo is adding subscriptions to 'Animal Crossing' on mobile this week

8. Tech companies won't become banks, but they'll pretend to

9. The apps and gear you need to get fit without breaking the bank

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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Monday 18 November 2019

E-Commerce Minute

E-Commerce Minute: Monday -- November 18, 2019

The E-Commerce Times -- E-Business Means Business
https://www.ecommercetimes.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
The Rise of D2C
Google to Offer 'Smart' Checking Accounts
Salesforce and Microsoft in Another Deal
The Information Utility, Continued
Google to Shame Slow-Loading Websites

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Today's Story Highlights

The Rise of D2C

Direct-to-consumer commerce, or D2C, is on the rise. Increasingly,
consumers are expecting to interact directly with the companies that
market and manufacture products. "Direct-to-consumer commerce has been
enhanced by the explosion of the Internet. E-commerce provides a more
convenient and frictionless buying experience," said Peter Edlund, chief
solutions evangelist at DiCentral.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86365.html

Google to Offer 'Smart' Checking Accounts

Google plans to launch checking accounts next year. "We're exploring how
we can partner with banks and credit unions in the United States to
offer smart checking accounts through Google Pay, helping their
customers benefit from useful insights and budgeting tools," a
spokesperson said. "Our lead partners today are Citibank and the
Stanford Federal Credit Union."
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86356.html

Salesforce and Microsoft in Another Deal

With Dreamforce approaching, it's no surprise that Salesforce is making
a flurry of announcements. What is surprising are two big ones involving
partnering with other vendors, mostly on infrastructure -- announcements
that I believe make the idea of an information utility more real with
each passing day. I see evidence of an information utility forming.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86359.html

The Information Utility, Continued

I've been sharing my theory on the formation of an information utility
for some time now. Various big vendors have announced alliances with
that kind of aim. For instance, Oracle and Microsoft announced an effort
to make their cloud databases interoperate, and Microsoft and others
have announced common data model projects. Now Salesforce, AWS and
Genesys have teamed up with The Linux Foundation.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86357.html

Google to Shame Slow-Loading Websites

Google plans to use performance badges to warn users of slow-loading
websites ahead. It will consider historical load latencies first, and
later may expand to signal the likelihood that a page will load slowly
based on the user's device and network conditions. The criteria will
become increasingly stringent over time. The long-term goal is to use
badging to rate qualities beyond speed.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86354.html

News Alerts From ECT News Network
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to your inbox as stories break. Sign up today -- it's free!
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How to Advertise in This Newsletter
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please call our sales department toll-free at (877) 328-5500, or view
our online media kit at
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You are receiving this newsletter in response to your request on
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here: Newsletter Management Wizard

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