Google on Monday announced a major (and long-awaited) update to its Google Voice internet calling service. Google Voice, which hasn’t seen a major update in almost five years, allows users to sign up for a single phone number that can be used across multiple devices to make calls and send text messages. The search giant …
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January, 2017
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23 January
Snapchat cracks down on fake news and clickbait
Snapchat is growing up as a place for news. Snap, the parent company for the popular social network, said Monday it updated its guidelines for publishers, cracking down on images that are misleading or have no editorial value. Snapchat also laid out its policy for dealing with material that violates its guidelines, stressing that it will allow inappropriate material if …
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23 January
Pompeo confirmed as CIA head as Dems raise surveillance concerns
Rep. Mike Pompeo will lead the Central Intelligence Agency, after the US Senate confirmed his nomination Monday evening in a vote of 66 to 32. Pompeo, a graduate of West Point and Harvard Law, currently represents Kansas in the House of Representatives. Casting some of those no votes were senators who raised concerns over Pompeo’s record of supporting increased government …
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23 January
Can’t afford OLED? These four great TVs are cheaper than ever
We love OLED TVs, and we’re betting you do too. We’re also betting that you haven’t bought one yet. OLED is getting less expensive, but it’s a slow process. Right now the 65-inch LG OLED65B6P costs $3,000 and the 55-inch OLED55B5P costs $2,000. If you can afford one, go for it. But those are at least twice as much as …
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23 January
Samsung answers burning Note 7 questions, vows better batteries
Sure, blame the batteries. But it’s not quite that simple. During a press conference Sunday, Samsung said two separate battery defects caused both the original batch of Galaxy Note 7 phones and the replacement units to overheat. The first battery, it said, suffered from a design flaw. The battery’s external casing was too small for the components inside, causing it …
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23 January
AT&T to offer day passes for international travelers
AT&T customers who travel abroad can sign up for a new International Day Pass plan. Rather than paying by usage, the new plan lets you pay a $10-a-day flat free so you can talk and text “all you want” and also access your data plan as though you’re in the states. AT&T said the new plan is available for customers …
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23 January
Headphone deal of the day: Beats EP for $70
I recently reviewed the Beats EP, the on-ear wired headphone that’s affordably priced — by Beats’ standards anyway. It carries a list price of $130 but you’ll find it in stores for $100 and both Best Buy and Amazon currently have it on sale for $70. Amazon UK has it for as low as £59.95 while Australia has it for …
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23 January
Samsung said to plan April launch for Galaxy S8
If you are waiting for Samsung’s newest flagship phone, you may have to wait a little longer this time around. The Galaxy S8, the next-generation follow-up to the Galaxy S7 released last March, will make its debut on April 14 in Korea, according to a report Monday by Forbes. Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The …
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23 January
Samsung’s Galaxy S8 won’t appear at Mobile World Congress
Hankering after a Galaxy S8? Well you’re going to have to wait. Samsung will not unveil its next flagship phone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, the company revealed Sunday. The announcement was made by Samsung’s mobile chief Koh Dong-jin and confirmed in an email to CNET on Monday. “Samsung can confirm the company will not unveil its …
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23 January
The real reason the Galaxy Note 7 crashed and burned (The 3:59, Ep. 166)
Samsung finally answered the burning questions on Sunday. After its investigation into the Galaxy Note 7’s overheated batteries, the South Korean company concluded there were two causes for the phone’s fatal flaws. Before its initial recall, Samsung said, its batteries had an external casing that was too small, causing it to short-circuit and burn up. In Samsung’s second go, the …
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