After a 2020 that went entirely virtual for many people, once-fantastic concepts like VR headsets and remote chat screens (including Facebook Portal) no longer seem so strange. In many ways, Facebook’s product lineup ended up being prophetic for the times we now live in. Last fall, Facebook launched its impressive Quest 2 VR headset. So, …
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This episode tackles one of our very favorite subjects: TV! But we’re not talking about how to choose a cheap one; that’s something we addressed back in October: No, this time we want to help you improve your viewing experience. That means not only reconsidering your sound options, but also adjusting certain TV settings, adding strategic accessories and more. There’s …
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This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon. CES 2021 is a very different tech show during a very different year. Most of us have had to forgo everything from movie theaters to gyms to bars in favor of streaming services, fitness apps and video chat platforms — giving …
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Amazon, Apple and Google have banned the Parler social networking app from their services and app stores in the wake of Wednesday’s attack on the US Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters. Parler has been rife with violent comments since before the attack on the Capitol, and Apple and Google say they’ll restore the app only when Parler moderates its service …
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Tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter will likely face increased scrutiny for their role in the buildup to the deadly riots at the US Capitol this week. With Democrats about to control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, there’s renewed focus on regulation to tamp down the social media platforms’ outsized reach and influence. The violence that erupted …
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Online commerce and payment services have stopped the flow of money to Trump-related accounts in light of Wednesday’s insurrection at the US Capitol. Software maker Shopify removed stores affiliated with President Donald Trump from its platform, and payment processor PayPal shut down an account raising funds for Trump supporters who traveled to Washington, DC. The moves come the day after …
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2020 isn’t the only thing coming to an end Thursday. The last day of the year is also the last day for FarmVille, one of the original addictive Facebook games. FarmVille, which allowed players to cultivate colorful cartoonish farms by tending crops and caring for livestock, had 30 million daily players at its peak. But game developer Zynga announced in September …
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Every once in a while, back in a year called 2019, I’d run off every few weeks or so and spend time in a VR headset, or peek at some augmented reality device. I’d come back from demos imagining a world lived virtually. With all the pieces in play from so many companies, it seemed like the possibilities were almost …
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US President Donald Trump vetoed the annual defense spending bill Wednesday, after it was passed by Congress two weeks ago. Trump had threatened to veto the bill if Congress didn’t use the legislation to repeal Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, a law that protects online platforms from liability for content posted by users. The $740.5 billion defense bill, …
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When I joined up with executives from Spatial to try a new phone app last Friday night, I was expecting some sort of AR meeting experience where people would seem to float in my virtual space. That isn’t exactly what I got. Instead, I felt like I was floating in someone else’s space. Or rather, in a third space. Chatting …
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