Eric Brackett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Netflix shows off trailer for “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”
Riverdale fans are in for a treat, as Netflix has announced that it'll be home to the upcoming series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The series will be based on the current Archie Comics series, and focus on Sabrina's struggles as a young witch. Netflix recently released the first trailer for the series
Voice commands could be coming to Facebook Messenger
Facebook is in the midst of testing a new feature for Messenger. The social media giant has confirmed that it is in the process of conducting internal tests for using voice commands within the company's Messenger app. The company did not give any confirmation that the feature would make it to the live app.
Bose’s latest hearing aid has its own app
The Food and Drug Administration has granted Bose approval to sell an intuitive new hearing aid. The device, which is the first to be approved for marketing and sale by the FDA, is aimed at those with mild to moderate hearing loss and can be controlled and programmed via a mobile app.
Ikea issues recall of popular Calypso ceiling lamp due to safety hazard
Ikea has issued a recall of their popular Calypso lamp due to a possible safety hazard. There have been several reports which indicate that the lamp's glass shade can come loose from its frame and fall. So far there have been 19 reports of this occurring, three with minor injuries.
Facebook warns that third-party apps could have been affected by recent breach
It may not just be your Facebook account at risk. The social media giant has warned that third-party apps which allow users to log in via their Facebook accounts may also have been affected by the recent security breach, though the company has yet to confirm these fears are now a reality.
Will U.S. government force Facebook to decrypt Messenger?
The Department of Justice and Facebook are embroiled in a legal dispute over the future of Messenger's privacy policies. The government is demanding it decrypt Messenger to allow for wiretapping of criminal suspects. Facebook is refusing to do so citing fears that such a move could be easily abused.
Facebook accidentally blocks stories regarding security breach
Facebook's algorithms and A.I. are far from perfect, and an incident yesterday involving stories discussing the company's recent security breach provide a prime example. The company's spam filters accidentally stopped users from posting certain stories related to the recent breach.
MoviePass tries to force lapsed subscribers back into the fold
MoviePass has had rough several months. This time last year, the subscription service seemed too good to be true -- and it turns out it was. The service is bleeding cash and in an attempt to make ends meet, it is now trying to force old subscribers to come back for at least another month.
3D-printed gun advocate extradited to Texas to face sex-assault charges
The founder of Defense Distributed, Cody Wilson, has been arrested in Taiwan. Current reports indicate that Wilson will be extradited to the United States where he faces charges of sexual assault involving a minor. Wilson was arrested on Friday after being spotted at a Taipei hotel.
Porsche brings diesel car production to a screeching halt
Porsche has become the first German automaker to abandon diesel fuels. In a press release, the company said that it was no longer going to be producing diesel-powered cars. It cited the fact that consumers are moving towards other alternatives such as hybrids and electric vehicles for its decision.
New mask-mounted head-up display gives Navy combat divers tactical advantage
The Navy has developed a new head-up display (HUD), called Shadow Nav, that will make it easier for divers to navigate low-light conditions. The Shadow Nav will provide a diver's depth, compass directions, and other information in an HUD display that can last more than 20 hours between charges.
How T-Mobile plans to use 5G to challenge traditional ISPs
In a recent filing statement released to the FCC, T-Mobile outlined its plans to use its new 5G service to provide an alternative to traditional ISPs such as Comcast and Charter. The company promised that it would offer higher speeds at lower rates than its competitors especially in rural areas.
Apple hates sex, drugs, and violence — on Apple TV, anyway
Apple is making a major push into the entertainment industry by developing original content. But its self-imposed restrictions regarding violence, nudity, and drugs have led to several delays. The company is fearful of offending customers, so it is working to project a family-friendly image.
Amazon to crack down on employees who sell confidential info to merchants
Amazon's marketplace has grown by leaps and bounds in the decades since its founding. But this growth has created a shadow economy of its own -- one that deals in the sale of in insider data and positive reviews. Now, Amazon is working to root out that corruption, but it has a long way to go.
Is California going to launch its own satellite to monitor climate change?
California is looking to take on climate change in a big way. Governor Jerry Brown has announced that he has plans for the state to launch its own satellite in order to help monitor, track, and combat climate change. No firm date has been given for the launch, which is several years off.
5G may spur the return of smartphones locked to specific carriers
5G will likely bring plenty of benefits to our smartphones and tablets. Unfortunately, that increased speed will come with what some might see as a dealbreaker: Carrier-locked phones. The first generation of 5G phones may be locked to the carrier they are purchased from, so choose wisely.
Google’s improvements to Sound Search will help it recognize songs better
Google is rolling out some major changes to Sound Search, the company's server-side music-recognition system. The company is hoping these changes will make Sound Search faster and more accurate than Now Playing and allow Google to expand its database of songs in order to continuously improve the system.
Casting call for role of Ciri gives more hints about Witcher TV series
The Witcher TV series is rumored to premiere sometime next year on Netflix. However, we do have some more information regarding the series. A recent casting call gives clues regarding Ciri's role in the plot, as well as some more information about who she will be interacting with throughout the series.
Apple makes push into feature films with ‘Elephant Queen’ and ‘Wolfwakers’
Apple is continuing its push into the world of television and movies with two new acquisitions. The tech giant has recently acquired the nature documentary The Elephant Queen and Tomm Moore's animated movie The Wolfwakers. Both works come from celebrated creators of documentaries and animated films.
First responders to qualify for discounts under new AT&T policy
AT&T has announced that it will be offering discounts for first responders. These discounts will give qualified individuals 25 percent off certain mobile plans which offer unlimited data and entertainment services. The company is also offering discounts on DirectTV and home internet service.
Apple announces new policies to aid law enforcement worldwide
Apple has announced a new initiative that will make it easier for law enforcement agencies to submit and track information requests. In addition to this online portal, the company is also working on improving its online training programs to make it easier to reach smaller law enforcement agencies.
Microsoft ends the Surface Plus lease program
After roughly a year since its launch, Microsoft has decided to end the Surface Plus program. This plan allowed customers to lease a Surface device for 24 months at 0 percent interest with an option to upgrade the device after 18 months. The company gave no details as to why it decided to end the program.
It’s no joke: Alexa is now installed on more than 20,000 devices worldwide
Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is one of the most popular digital assistants on the market and IFA Berlin served as a prime opportunity for the company to showcase that growth. The software is now available on more than 20,000 devices, with more expected to hit the market soon.
YouTube expands unskippable ads to more creators
More ads, or at least ads you can't avoid, are coming to YouTube. The company has announced that it is now offering unskippable ads to all content creators who are currently eligible for video monetization. This will likely mean that you'll be seeing more unskippable adds soon.
