On this podcast, we talk about: Expectations for the Mobile World Congress show, which starts next week. Samsung is planning to reveal its newest flagship phone there. Also ahead of MWC, what’s next for 5G. The latest on cryptocurrencies. Steven Seagal backs a new coin, and CNET chats with “Free Money” guy Matthew Lesko about the crypto bubble. …
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Amazon Prime credit card now offers 5 percent back at Whole Foods
Amazon is rewarding some of its most loyal Prime customers with a new perk. Starting Tuesday, Prime member will get 5 percent back at Whole Foods when using their Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature credit cards. The card’s 5 percent benefit was already available at Amazon.com. The new benefit is the latest move from Amazon to create more connections to …
Read More »Google is cracking down on annoying online ads (The 3:59, Ep. 357)
On this podcast, we talk about: Google Chrome’s new ad-blocking tools. The annoyance of using bitcoin as digital cash for buying goods and services. Now playing: Watch this: Google is cracking down on annoying online ads (The 3:59,… 4:30 The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by the CNET …
Read More »Facebook and YouTube want to have more QT with you (The 3:59, Ep. 355)
In this podcast, we discuss: Facebook’s work to go back to its roots as a place for friends and families to share daily routines. YouTube’s push to fix some of its problems too. The use of blockchain to improve food safety. Now playing: Watch this: Facebook wants to have more QT with you (The 3:59, Ep…. 4:20 The 3:59 gives …
Read More »Amazon’s new delivery program not expected to hurt FedEx, UPS
Amazon looks to be moving deeper into the shipping world. The online retailer plans to launch a program called “Shipping with Amazon” in Los Angeles in a few weeks, in which the company will pick up and ship packages to customers, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The service, which will expand to more cities as soon …
Read More »eBay introduces Always Open, a program to help mom
Brick-and-mortar retailers have been struggling to stay open. eBay thinks it can help them. The online retailer on Thursday unveiled a new initiative called Always Open, a program that offers a handful of benefits to mom-and-pop eBay sellers in the US who also have physical storefronts. The program — which is free but requires an eBay Stores subscription — includes …
Read More »How charging your iPhone wirelessly will get better (The 3:59 Ep. 352)
On this podcast, we talk about: Recent advancements in wireless charging and over-the-air charging. The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch. The latest on the Waymo v. Uber trial. The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by the CNET News team in New York and producer Bryan VanGelder. Now playing: …
Read More »How Intel creates its dazzling Shooting Star drone light shows
After the lights went dark in the Monte Carlo resort’s Park Theater, a buzzing army of 110 small drones with flickering red lights started to float up to the ceiling from offstage. While Kygo’s dreamy pop song “Stargazing” played, the drones pulled together into pulsing, swirling clouds that reached into the audience, at times forming rotating stars or shimmering sheets …
Read More »Apple adding health records section with spring iOS update
Medical records tend to be kept in a variety of doctor’s offices, both digitally and on paper. It can be a mess. Apple thinks it has a solution, saying Wednesday it will introduce a new Health Records feature in its next iOS update this spring. Health Records, which will be available to patients at a dozen medical providers to start, …
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Plex, the streaming media app, has created a new virtual reality experience for users of Google’s Daydream. The new feature, which Plex touted on Wednesday, will let friends watch shows together in a VR environment and watch shows on a giant VR screen. Users will need an Android phone, a Daydream headset and the Plex VR app. The Plex app …
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