August, 2020

• 4 August

  Apple may be interested buying TikTok too, report says

  

  Apple may have expressed interest in possibly buying TikTok, according to a report, the latest in a swirl of speculation about takeover interest in the virally popular social media app.  Apple is one of several parties that has expressed interest in TikTok, according to a report Tuesday from Axios, citing multiple unnamed sources; the report disclosed …

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• 4 August

  Gamers will be able to stream Microsoft’s Xbox Games Pass titles starting Sept. 15

  

  Microsoft plans to make its Project xCloud streaming service for its Xbox Games Pass subscription service available to the public starting Sept. 15, following nearly a year of public testing. The company said the service, which allows people to play games over the internet in a similar way we stream Netflix movies today, will be included in its $14.99 per …

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• 4 August

  Soundbar sale: The Polk Command Bar with Alexa is back down to $199

  

  Broken-record time: A good soundbar will elevate your TV- and movie-watching experience like few other accessories. Ah, but which one? Here’s a good option at a particularly good price. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Amazon once again has the Polk Audio Command Bar for $199, a savings of $100. There are cheaper soundbars, to be sure, but this …

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• 4 August

  WhatsApp adds search feature to fact

  

  WhatsApp has released a new feature to make fact-checking a message a little easier. The Facebook-owned app added on Monday a magnifying-glass button to the chat that allows you to search the web for answers on questionable forwarded information. By tapping the magnifying glass button, the forwarded message is uploaded to your browser, where you can see if the information …

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• 4 August

  Head back to school with this $250 Chromebook from Staples

  

  School openings are already causing controversy and stress for students, parents and teachers, with many districts opting for distance learning as classes start this fall. But no matter the location, students need the right gear to maximize their studies. CNET has a full back-to-school guide with some of our favorite student-friendly products, and we’re constantly monitoring new sales and offers …

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• 4 August

  Google’s Fitbit acquisition now faces a full

  

  Google’s bid to enter the fitness tracker market through its acquisition of Fitbit has just hit a major roadblock. The EU’s Competition Commission announced on Tuesday that it’s opening a full-scale investigation into the purchase. In a press release, the Commission said it’s concerned Google’s purchase of Fitbit would further entrench its market position in the online advertising markets by …

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• 4 August

  Phil Schiller steps into smaller role at Apple

  

  Phil Schiller, Apple’s longtime head of marketing, is stepping into a new role that will keep him involved in the company but allow him to “make some time in the years ahead for my family, friends, and a few personal projects I care deeply about,” he said in a statement. Apple announced the change in a blog post Tuesday and …

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• 4 August

  UK agrees to redesign ‘racist’ algorithm that decides visa applications

  

  The UK government said Tuesday that it’ll stop grading visa applications with an algorithm critics have called racist. From Friday of this week, a temporary system will be put in place to grade applications while the algorithm undergoes a redesign before being reintroduced by the end of October. “We have been reviewing how the visa application streaming tool operates and will be …

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• 4 August

  Samsung Unpacked is today: Galaxy Z Fold 2 rumors, cameras, preorder dates and more

  

  The photo leaks just keep coming as we prepare for today’s Samsung Unpacked event. One late-July leak appeared to confirm that Samsung’s follow-up to the Galaxy Fold will indeed be called the Galaxy Z Fold 2, as previously speculated. Samsung is expected to reveal not only the Galaxy Z Fold 2 but also two new Galaxy Note devices (presumed to …

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• 4 August

  Trump rescinds renomination of Republican FCC Commissioner

  

  President Trump on Monday withdrew his nomination of Michael O’Rielly to serve another term as a commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission.  O’Rielly, a Republican, has served on the FCC since 2013. He was first nominated by President Barack Obama and was sworn in for a second term in 2015. This would have been his third term on the FCC. …

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