Monday 30 March 2020

Tech News Flash

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Tech News Flash

March 30, 2020

Living in the COVID-19 World: TV Hosts Struggle at Home

While stuck at home, many of us are burning through online content very rapidly. One of the things that's become painfully apparent is that TV shows that typically have live audiences suddenly have become almost unwatchable.

3D Printers Join Arsenal of COVID-19 Weapons

The worldwide 3D printing community is stepping up to alleviate the shortage of medical equipment needed to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are offering free 3D printer files for download and use. Others are designing equipment.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Instagram Combats COVID-19 Misinformation, Social Isolation

Instagram has announced a slew of new capabilities to combat misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, along with a co-watching feature that helps users feel less isolated while sheltering at home.

AryaLinux Provides the Building Blocks for a Unique Linux Experience

Not all potential users want or need to turn Arya into their own Linux build. However, if you like tinkering or actually can benefit from creating your own computing platform, you can. The end result is a fine-tuned computing platform.

TRENDING ON TECHNEWSWORLD

Computer Security: Shoring Up Systems for Remote Workers

There are a number of precautions that employees working from home should consider to ensure that sensitive data isn't compromised by cybercriminals taking advantage of the health crisis.

Read more
www.technewsworld.com

Crowdsourcing App Takes Aim at COVID-19

By installing the Folding@home software program, anyone with a computer, gaming console, or even some phones and some compute cycles to spare can contribute to the work of coronavirus researchers around the world.

Read more
www.technewsworld.com

FEATURED RESOURCES

Webinar: Unlocking the Potential of Password Vault Alternatives

Understanding the differing Privileged Access Management solutions can be a challenge, especially for Linux or UNIX environments. Learn how to create a more comprehensive security approach by examining the different approaches of password vaults and privilege management during this webinar.

AIOps for Dummies

Learn how AIOps can transform your IT operations. Download this free eBook.

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technewsworld.tradepub.com

5 Ways to Modernize Your Business with Mobile Technology

Free eBook: A Specialty Retailer's Guide to Migrating to Android.

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technewsworld.tradepub.com

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FDA clears five-minute lab-in-a-box COVID-19 test

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It's Monday, March 30, 2020.

Hey, good morning!

It’s been a long seven days of lockdown for some of us, and it looks like the situation won’t change for a while. The US Food and Drug Administration is rushing to get a handle on testing people for the coronavirus, and events venues are being turned into field hospitals. It’s one hell of a year, and it’s only the end of March.

-Mat

It’s been cleared for use during the pandemic.

FDA approves lab-in-a-box test that can detect COVID-19 in 5 minutes

The FDA has scrambled to allow numerous COVID-19 tests in a bid to control the pandemic, but one of the latest may represent a big step forward in technology fighting the disease. Abbott has received emergency use authorization for its toaster-sized ID NOW lab-in-a-box, which can provide positive results in five minutes, and all-clear results in 13 minutes.

Abbott is ramping up production and expects to deliver 50,000 tests per day in the US as of next week. However, one of its greatest advantages may be its existing footprint. The ID NOW platform is apparently the "largest" molecular testing presence in the US.

Please state the nature of your upscaling emergency.

'Star Trek: Voyager' gets an unofficial 4K remaster thanks to AI

As with Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager is unlikely to ever get an official high-resolution remaster. The effects were shot on video rather than added to film after the fact, making it much harder to upgrade the quality than it was for The Next Generation, which launched on Blu-ray with recomposed special effects. However, an unofficial project is tackling the issue. Series fan Billy Reichard has started processing Voyager with a machine learning program that upgrades that '90s era image quality as much as possible. It won’t fix the old-school aspect ratio, but it produces something a little more watchable.

The software needed to do it is both expensive and tricky to work with. Worse still, Voyager had variable frame rates that make audio sync a pain. It’s still an unofficial work-in-progress.

It offers 5G capability and a physical keyboard.

Planet Computers' Astro Slide is a smartphone and PDA in one

If you long for a return to the world of PDAs, pocketable keyboards and landscape-oriented business efficiency, say hello to the Astro Slide. You can use it either as a standard 6.53-inch touchscreen smartphone or as a PDA, thanks to the sliding hinge mechanism.

The screen can slide off the keyboard then flip up so you can use it like a mini-laptop, with a full (but tiny) physical QWERTY keyboard. The Astro Slide launched today on Indiegogo for an early-bird starting price of $491, with shipping estimated for March 2021.

Work at home in peace with these Audio-Technica headphones

The automotive showcase won't return until June 2021.

2020 Detroit Auto Show canceled as venue becomes a field hospital

Yet another major 2020 auto show has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; although, now it's less about timing and more about supporting the current fight. Organizers have canceled the Detroit Auto Show (officially the North American International Auto Show) as its venue, the TCF Center, is to become a field hospital for coronavirus patients. The next show now won't take place until June 2021 -- more than two and a half years after the last event.

But wait, there's more...

1. Wirecutter: The best bike phone mount

2. 'Kind Words' is the rare social network where everyone is nice

3. US officials use mobile ad location data to study how COVID-19 spreads

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