On this podcast, we talk about Magic Leap One, a headset that overlays interactive digital images on top of the real world. It’s been a figment of Silicon Valley hype for years, but the secretive startup is finally letting the technology roam outside its own compound — with a $2,295 price tag and limited distribution. …
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Google Fiber’s TV service beats Comcast, Spectrum in survey of cable providers
If you can count on anything, it’s people being disgruntled with their cable company. A survey from Consumer Reports, out Wednesday, found that only 38 percent of those with paid TV subscriptions with cable or satellite providers said they were very or completely satisfied with their service. Consumer Reports said most of the larger cable companies — think Comcast, Spectrum …
Read More »Rural carriers accuse Verizon of lying about 4G coverage
A trade group representing rural cellular carriers is accusing Verizon of “grossly” overstating its 4G LTE coverage in government filings, claiming the bad data could prevent rural carriers from obtaining subsidies aimed at bringing broadband to remote areas. The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) alleges the coverage map Verizon submitted to the Federal Communications Commission is “a sham,” and should be …
Read More »Facebook’s Messenger Games are about to make video chat super competitive
Ever wish you could spice up a video chat with flying asteroids? After announcing big plans for augmented reality features on its apps back in May, Facebook is making good on that AR promise with the launch of Messenger Games — games that use your camera to animate your face in real-time during a Messenger video chat. Facebook is launching …
Read More »Brave browser will let you cash in on tweets and Reddit posts
Finally, all your pithy tweets and insightful Reddit posts could pay off. Brave, the ad-blocking browser startup trying to rewrite the rules of online advertising, sends payments today to website publishers, YouTube stars and Twitch videogame streamers. Now it plans to extend that system to people who post on Twitter and Reddit. Brave plans to add Reddit and Twitter support for …
Read More »Holograms in your face: Is Magic Leap our future?
The next stage of computing doesn’t happen on a laptop or a phone. It happens in the space around you, hanging in the air, awaiting a command from a flick of your hand. That company presentation? An animation beamed to the table in front of you. The next hit video game? Blaster fire shot from aliens hiding behind the sofa. …
Read More »Hundreds of US news sites unavailable in Europe two months after GDPR
Many US news sites have yet to comply with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation after more than two months, leaving European visitors blocked. Digital outlets run by Tronc, Lee Enterprises and GateHouse Media are among the hundreds of US news websites that remain unavailable within the EU, according to NiemanLab. The General Data Protection Regulation, also known as GDPR, …
Read More »How to tell if that ‘amazing’ tech product on Facebook is really a good deal
If you’re a Facebook regular, you’ve probably seen your share of ads for some “amazing” tech products, the kind that leave users “totally blown away” and are on sale now for “incredible prices!” More often than not, these ads are accompanied by some pretty compelling videos and a hard-to-bypass “Buy Now” button. My advice: Think before you tap. Not all …
Read More »China beating US in race for 5G wireless, economic gains, says report
China is pulling ahead of the US in the race to build infrastructure for 5G wireless, a report says. The country has outspent the US by $24 billion since 2015 and built ten times more sites to support 5G communications, according to the Deloitte Consulting report, as cited by Reuters. China built 350,000 new cell phone tower sites, while the …
Read More »Free movies and TV shows on Roku are now even easier to find
Do you consider it worth watching a few ads in exchange for streaming some free shows? Do you own a Roku? If you answered “yes” to both, keep reading. Rolling out to Roku devices in the coming weeks is a new menu item, prominently placed right below “Home” and above “My Feed” on Roku’s main left-hand menu: Featured Free. Selecting …
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