March, 2017

• 3 March

  A better battery? Some guy in Texas may have just invented it

  

  Meet your 94-year-old new best friend. His name is John Goodenough and not only is he a professor at the University of Texas, Austin, but he also helped invent the lithium-ion battery that powers all our iPhones, Androids, Macs, Surfaces and Nintendo Switches. He also has the most amazing name for an inventor. But he’s …

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• 3 March

  These were the most popular headphones on CNET last month (February 2017)

  

  Now playing: Watch this: Apple’s BeatsX headphones are just the right fit 2:32 Headphones are a popular product category on CNET, and sometimes people ask me for a simple list of the most popular models. I can’t tell you what people are actually buying — that’s up to folks like NPD Group, which tracks online and brick-and-mortar sales everywhere, not …

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• 2 March

  Headphone deal: Bose SoundTrue Around

  

  More and more people are turning to wireless headphones, but some people aren’t ready to let go of the headphone cable yet. If you’re in the market for a comfortable, good-sounding full-size wired headphone, Amazon has Bose’s SoundTrue Around-ear II headphone on sale for $100. Its list price is $180, but we’ve seen it discounted frequently, though rarely by this …

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• 2 March

  Over 450 million Indians will be online by June

  

  India’s tech growth has been advancing quickly, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop. The number of internet users in the country is expected to cross 450 million by midyear, according to The Economic Times, citing a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). That’s an increase of about 30 million people in six months, …

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• 2 March

  China’s bike

  

  There are a few companies working to make bike-sharing as ubiquitous as ride-hailing, and one Chinese company just got a step closer. Bike-sharing app Ofo raised $450 million in its latest round of funding, reports Bloomberg. That raises its valuation to over $1 billion. The service, targeting those tired of congested roads and public transport, allows users to locate a …

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• 2 March

  Sling TV channels: NBC Regional Sports Networks coming April 2

  

  Sling TV is ready for baseball season. The internet TV service on Thursday said it will be adding NBC Regional Sports Networks to the streaming service in select markets. Sports fans in California, Chicago and Mid-Atlantic markets will soon have access to CSN California, CSN Bay Area, CSN Chicago, or CSN Mid-Atlantic networks. The channels will be available for free …

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• 2 March

  FCC puts robocalls, prison phones at the top of its agenda

  

  The man who would ” dismantle net neutrality with a smile” has another target in his cross hair for March. On Thursday, newly minted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai released the agency’s agenda for the month, with six items it will discuss and vote on March 23. At the top of the list is killing robocalls — those automated …

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• 2 March

  Starting today, more Android users can get help from Google Assistant

  

  Now playing: Watch this: Google Assistant rolling out to Android devices now 1:05 Check your phone: Today, Google Assistant is available to more devices running Android 7.0 Nougat and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The rollout was announced last week, but Google just released a video ad (see it above), signaling that today’s the day more people can start using Google’s helper. …

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• 2 March

  MWC 2017: Everything you missed from the world’s biggest phone show

  

  Now playing: Watch this: Hottest phones unveiled at MWC 2017 2:50 That’s a wrap for another Mobile World Congress. With the exhibit halls in Barcelona cleared out and the press conferences long done, it’s time to look back on the week that was — and what it means for the future of the wireless industry in 2017 and beyond. 1. …

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• 2 March

  Snapchat gets snapped up on Wall Street (The 3:59, Ep. 188)

  

  Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., has become the newest hot tech stock to hit the market. The company’s shares started trading publicly Thursday, marking the biggest and splashiest initial public offering for a US-listed tech stock since Alibaba in 2014. Also on today’s podcast, we hit on the power of 5G and some of the early demonstrations of the wireless …

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