Articles by Carl Velasco
Only 5,000 Essential Phones Sold So Far: What Went Wrong?
Android cofounder Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone is an excellent device, but people are seemingly apathetic toward it. A new report claims only 5,000 units of the phone have been sold so far.
Scientists Detect Gravitational Waves From Colliding Black Holes 1.8 Billion Light-Years Away
LIGO and Virgo were able to detect gravitational waves from two black holes colliding in space, the first-ever joint-detection by the two observatories. The next observation run is planned for 2018.
Skyrim Special Edition Gets A Survival Mode, But There’s A Catch
'Skyrim Special Edition' is getting a Survival Mode next month, but those on PC can test the beta right now. It’ll be free in its first week of launch, but players have to pay should they miss this period.
No More YouTube On Amazon Echo Show, Because Google
Amazon Echo Show users won’t be able to watch YouTube on their smart speakers anytime soon. Google has blocked its video broadcasting platform from the device, saying it violated the terms of service.
Amazon And Apple Are Friends Again: Apple TV 4K Listing Shows Up On Amazon Momentarily
It seems Amazon is set to sell the Apple TV again after pulling them out way back in 2015. Several people noticed that an Amazon listing for the 4K-capable media player showed up, but it has since been taken down.
Happy 19th Birthday, Google!
For its 19th birthday, Google has released a Google Doodle spinner that lets users play 19 iconic Doodles from the past. It’s overwhelming how much the company has grown from its beginnings as a search engine service.
Even Bill Gates Is Now Using An Android Phone, But Will He Ever Switch To iPhone?
Even the former CEO of Microsoft can’t be bothered to use a Windows Phone. Bill Gates has now confirmed that he’s using an Android phone, one loaded with Microsoft apps.
Mickey Mouse Will Go Nuts: This Giant Rat In Solomon Islands Cracks Coconuts
A new rat species has just been discovered in the Solomon Islands. The rodent, called Uromys vika, lives on trees, weighs four times as heavy as normal rats, and apparently likes nuts.
Number Of STD Cases In The US Now At The Highest It’s Ever Been: Report
The number of new STD cases continues to grow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its annual STD surveillance report, showing that in 2016, the country recorded its highest rate of new STD cases thus far.
Twitter Says It Won’t Ban President Trump Or Delete His North Korea Tweets
Twitter has confirmed that President Donald Trump’s comments about North Korea, which has caused Trump to be accused of declaring a war against the country, will not be removed. Twitter said the post doesn’t violate its rules, highlighting its newsworthiness.
Man In A Coma For 15 Years Shows Signs Of Consciousness After Vagus Nerve Stimulation
A 35-year-old man was able to regain some consciousness after researchers in France implanted in him a device that stimulated his vagus nerve. He showed increased signs of brain activity and was able to follow basic commands.
‘Great Firewall’ Of China Blocks WhatsApp Amid Growing Online Censorship Problem
China has decided to block WhatsApp ahead of the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, leaving Facebook without significant presence in the country. It marks yet another exercise in censorship by the Great Firewall of China.
Apple Doesn’t Want Bing Anymore: Siri, Spotlight Search Results On Mac And iOS Will Now Come From Google
Apple has decided to rely on Google search results instead of Bing, further increasing Google’s presence on iOS and macOS platforms. Bing, on the other hand, will remain in some form, but perhaps not for long.
Instagram Now With 800 Million Monthly Users: Growth In The Past Five Months Fastest Ever, Says Exec
Instagram has grown massively, adding over 100 million users since April. Its Stories platform seems to be the key component of this growth, and it likely won’t stop anytime soon.
Koei Tecmo To Release 'Nioh: Complete Edition' This November, Will Include Every DLC Released So Far
Those who haven’t played 'Nioh,' listen up: Koei Tecmo is releasing a 'Complete Edition' of the game early November - all DLCs included. Alternatively, there will also be a physical 'Nioh: Complete Edition' copy that will be out in December.
Could This Be The Foldable Samsung Smartphone?: ‘Galaxy X’ Reportedly Now Certified
Samsung might finally unveil the Galaxy X, its rumored foldable smartphone, soon. The device reportedly has received Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and National Radio Agency certifications, meaning it’s essentially ready for prime time.
The Chinese Room, Makers Of ‘Dear Esther’ And ‘Everybody's Gone To The Rapture,’ Is Taking A Break
The Chinese Room has announced it’s taking a break from development duties after a series of financial struggles, health scares, and more. The studio’s games and merchandise, however, will remain on sale.
New NASA Research Facility In Virginia Named After 99-Year-Old ‘Human Computer’ Katherine Johnson
NASA has named its new computational research facility in Virginia after Katherine Johnson, a key engineer at NASA during the Space Race. She, along with fellow black female workers at the space agency, shattered various racist and sexist stereotypes.
First ‘Fire Emblem Warriors’ DLC Drops Later This Year, Bundled In 3-Part Season Pass: What’s Included
Koei Tecmo has officially confirmed that 'Fire Emblem Warriors' DLC will be parsed into three, to be released later this year through winter 2018. Players may buy a Season Pass to get them all.
4K Content On The New Apple TV Is Strictly Streaming-Only, Downloads Not Allowed: What The Heck, Apple?
The new Apple TV 4K supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision playback, but there’s a catch. 4K content is streaming-only, meaning users won’t be able to download films and shows in 4K and watch them offline.
Don't Use Patterns To Unlock Your Android Phone, Study Suggests
Android unlock patterns are far less secure than PIN codes, a new study by security researchers from the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Maryland Baltimore County suggests. Nothing beats a classic, hard-to-crack passcode, besides maybe biometric unlocking.
That ‘Check For Update’ Button On Android Won’t Be Useless Anymore
Google has significantly changed how it rolls out updates. Thanks to a Google Play Services update, the 'check for update' button on Android will now yield the latest software available, whether or not the user is on a rollout group.
iPhone 8 Plus Cameras Ranked Best By DxOMark: Sorry, Google Pixel And HTC U11
The results are in: iPhone 8 Plus has the best-performing cameras in the market, according to a new DxOMark test. Still, Apple’s new flagship is not without flaws.
It's Over For Uber In London: City Declares Ride-Hailing Service Not Fit And Proper
Uber can add London to the cities it’s no longer welcome in. Transport for London has declined to renew Uber’s license to operate in the city, leaving the ride-hailing company with 21 days to appeal.
Apple TV 4K Review Roundup: Impressive, But Not Enough Bang For The Buck
The Apple TV 4K is an impressive evolution of Apple’s efforts to penetrate living room entertainment, but is it too expensive? Here’s what critics are saying about Apple’s 4K and HDR-capable set-top box.
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise To Cut 5,000 Jobs, Or 10 Percent Of Its Global Workforce: Report
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise is preparing for a massive round of layoffs. Sources say the company is going to cut as much as 5,000 jobs worldwide, reportedly as a cost-cutting measure.
Facebook To Turn Over Russia Ads To Congress As Part Of 9-Step Plan To Protect Election Integrity
As part of its nine-step plan to promote election integrity, Facebook will give government officials and investigators $100,000 worth of Russian ads it uncovered. It’s the latest development in an ongoing investigation of President Trump’s possible ties to Russia.
Bose Unveils QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphones Powered By Google Assistant For $350
After being revealed via rumors and leaks, Bose has made its new QuietComfort 35 II headphones official, now simply called QC35 II. Powered by Google Assistant, the QC35 II can make calls, read the news, control music playback, and more.
'Doom' On Switch Still Runs Great, Early Impressions Suggest
Early impressions for 'Doom' on Nintendo Switch have now surfaced, with several publications offering interesting perspectives about the port. So how exactly does the game perform on Nintendo’s hybrid console?
Will Microsoft’s Xbox One X Enhanced Program Actually Make Games Look And Play Better?
The Xbox One X is nearly arriving on shelves, but there’s still a bit of confusion about how certain games will run on the console. Thankfully, Microsoft has now explained exactly what the Xbox One X enhanced program is.
