October, 2019

• 8 October

  Microsoft says its Surface Duo phone isn’t really a phone

  

  Update, Sept. 22, 2021: Microsoft held its 2021 Surface event on Sept. 22, and unveiled the Surface Duo 2. The new folding phone features a faster processor, better cameras and many other upgrades compared to the Surface Duo.  Microsoft doesn’t want you to think of the newly announced Surface Duo as a phone. And the …

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• 8 October

  People can now type on phones nearly as fast as on computer keyboards

  

  Who says constant texting doesn’t pay off? People can now type almost as fast on their smartphones as they can on their computer keyboards, according to a new study from Aalto University, University of Cambridge and ETH Zürich.  Researchers gave more than 37,000 volunteers an online typing test to assess speed, errors and other factors related to typing on mobile …

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• 8 October

  Apple delays iCloud Drive folder sharing for MacOS Catalina

  

  MacOS Catalina‘s much-anticipated iCloud Drive folder sharing feature has been delayed until spring, according to Apple’s website. The feature will allow users to share folders with a private link so anyone with access can see the contents in iCloud Drive, as well as add new files.  While iCloud Drive folder sharing appeared in early beta versions of iOS 13, it …

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• 8 October

  TCL 8

  

  In August TCL gave us details on its new 2019 TVs, including an upgrade to the superb 2018 TCL 6-Series that adds QLED color and costs $800 for the 65-inch size. Now the Chinese TV maker’s higher-end model, the TCL 8-Series, goes on sale, bringing even better image quality specs and a price to match. It’s available for preorder starting today exclusively …

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• 8 October

  Senate report calls for measures to prevent Russian interference in 2020 election

  

  A bipartisan Senate committee on Tuesday called for new procedures to protect the US from foreign disinformation efforts, recommendations that come as the country readies for the 2020 presidential campaign. In an 85-page report, the Senate Intelligence Committee pushed for new legislation to ensure transparency in political advertising on social media networks, and it urged increased coordination and information sharing …

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• 8 October

  Instagram gets dark mode for iOS 13, Android 10

  

  Late night scroll-athons on Instagram might be getting easier on your eyes now that a much-anticipated feature has arrived. Following recent moves from Gmail, WhatsApp, Twitter and Pinterest, Instagram launched its new dark mode feature Tuesday for iOS 13 and Android 10 devices.  Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said in a tweet Tuesday that dark mode is available for both iOS …

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• 8 October

  Epic Games settles with 14

  

  Epic Games has reached a settlement with a minor who was accused of creating and selling cheats for the video game Fortnite, as reported earlier Tuesday by the BBC. The terms of the settlement, reached Sept. 27, are unknown. Fortnite, one of the all-time most popular free-to-play games on consoles, launched in 2018 and became a cultural phenomenon, raking in $3 …

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• 8 October

  Amazon Echo Loop

  

  Amazon announced a heap of devices last month, including five new Echo smart speakers, more Ring smart home security, new Alexa commands and pair of smart glasses it’s calling Echo Frames. But the new Echo Loop smart ring ($130) is the one making most people scratch heads and wonder what they would do with it. Echo Loop puts Amazon’s digital Alexa assistant on your body in a way that’s different than the …

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• 8 October

  Microsoft’s Surface Duo phone is powered by Google’s Android, and that’s a big deal

  

  When Microsoft announced the Surface Duo last week, offering its first take on smartphones since its $7 billion purchase of Nokia went up in smoke four years ago, some folks may have been shocked. But Microsoft has been building up to this for years. When you first see the Surface Duo, the thing that sets it apart is its dual 5.6-inch screens and its …

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• 8 October

  Windows update lets you answer Android calls on a PC

  

  Microsoft has released a Windows 10 update that comes with the ability to answer calls to your Android phone on your PC. The Calls feature in Windows uses your computer’s speakers, microphone and screen so you can answer incoming calls, make calls and decline calls. The Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18999 (20H1) was launched as an early release Tuesday …

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