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Google makes its Titan security keys available across Europe

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In addition, the USB-C key that Google teamed up with Yubico on is now also available in Canada, France, Japan and the UK. Google previously released the bundle in those regions, but now users in those areas can also get keys compatible with their USB-C devices.

Google has been championing the use of hardware security keys over traditional two-factor authentication for quite some time now. When it announced the Titan keys, it also revealed that it was able to completely cut out phishing attacks against 85,000 employees by requiring them to use the security hardware. While people in other regions can buy security keys from other brands, we hope this marks the beginning of a wider rollout for Google’s Titan keys.

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TikTok lets parents set time limits and vet DMs on teen accounts

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Called “Family Safety Mode,” the new feature links a parent’s TikTok account to their teen’s, allowing them to control a number of aspects of digital wellbeing. Parents can decide how long their kid spends on the app each day, and can limit or completely disable direct messages. There’s also a new restricted mode, which lets parents manage the type of content their kids can see. Family Safety Mode is available in the UK now, and will roll out to other areas in the coming weeks.

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Lyft’s e-bikes return to New York City after a braking issue delay

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The bikes use a pedal-assisted electric drivetrain that allows you to get some exercise on the flats but not kill yourself on hills. According to Lyft, each e-bike was used for 15 rides per day during the trial, triple the usage of classic bikes during the same period. They were particularly popular in winter (when classic bike usage plunged by 60 percent), and twice as likely to be used to cross an East River bridge.

Lyft Citi Bike e-bikes

Members on the $169 per year classic bike plan can pay an extra ten cents per minute for the e-bikes, capped at $2 for 45 minutes or less, according to Citi Bike. Non-members pay $3 per ride for a 30-minute trip on a classic bike and can upgrade that to electric for an extra $0.15 per minute — or a total of $7.50 for a 30 minute e-bike trip. Lower income New Yorkers pay $5 per month for a classic membership plus 5 cents a minute for an e-bike, up to 45 minutes.

The initial pilot didn’t go too well, as members had trouble with very touchy front brakes that reportedly caused “dozens” of accidents and injuries. At the same time, Lyft’s e-bikes also had battery issues that caused fires in San Francisco and elsewhere. Because of all that, Citi Bike was forced to redesign the bike’s brake setup and also find a new battery supplier. The company also decided to change its e-bike pricing structure by eliminating flat fees and introducing per-minute charges.

The e-bikes are now back in service and Lyft has over 2,000 in San Francisco with plans to expand to Chicago, Washington DC, Minneapolis and other US cities. In New York City, it will soon expand in northern Manhattan and the South Bronx, “with more neighborhoods to follow.” It had 1,000 e-bikes in NYC when they were pulled over the brake issues, and Lyft eventually plans to install 4,000 in the city.

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Judge dismisses Huawei lawsuit against ‘unconstitutional’ federal ban

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In 2018 the US government banned government personnel from using Huawei and ZTE devices, and a few months later, Huawei sued on the basis that such restrictions were unconstitutional. Since then, Huawei’s situation and ability to do business in the US has continued to deteriorate, and now a judge has ruled against the company. U.S. District Court judge Amos Mazzant decided that Congress does have the power to ban federal agencies from using certain companies.

According to the Wall Street Journal, in the 57-page ruling he wrote “Contracting with the federal government is a privilege, not a constitutionally guaranteed right—at least not as far as this court is aware.” Huawei is apparently considering its legal options, and said in a statement that “the approach taken by the US Government in the 2019 NDAA provides a false sense of protection while undermining Huawei’s constitutional rights.” A few days ago Huawei accused the US DOJ of “political persecution,” coming as it faces charges for allegedly stealing trade secrets, claims it can access carrier backdoors and even a patent lawsuit against (owner of Engadget’s parent company) Verizon.

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Twitter acquires Stories photo and video editor maker Chroma Labs

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Chroma Labs has also announced on Twitter that it’s shutting down its business “effective immediately.” You can continue using its app, Chroma Stories, so long as you have it installed on your phone. It will only be updated if a future iOS update breaks it, though, and it will no longer get new features.

Even though the app is shutting down, the company told TechCrunch that it’s a full acquisition and not just an acqui-hire. Chroma Labs personnel will be joining Twitter’s Conversations division, but again, the spokesperson didn’t say whether a Stories-like feature is in the works.



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Mall Madness electronic board game gets an update for 2020

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Its core gameplay remains the same, though. There’s still an electronic unit that directs players to their next move, tells them where the sales are and also makes sound effects like “cha-ching.” No word on whether “sad trombone” plays when somebody runs out of money. Players still have to purchase items from their shopping list from 22 stores — with undoubtedly pun-ny names like “Short Circuit Electronics” — and make it to the parking lot first to win the game, as well. The game will ship in the fall for $25 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

Check out this vintage Mall Madness ad here:

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Your Google Fit stats are now just a swipe away

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If you don’t have a Wear OS smartwatch, checking your Google Fit stats has usually involved a bit of work — not a lot, but enough to slow you down. It should be speedy from now on. Google has updated Fit to make your stats easily accessible, whether you’re on Android or iOS. Android users can either tap a widget or swipe at their home screen, while iOS users can swipe to the Today view if they have the Fit widget enabled.



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Alphabet quits work on its energy-generating kites

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As Makani’s Fort Felker said, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Makani is shutting down. Its recent investor Shell is “exploring options” to continue work on wind kite technology, although Felker didn’t elaborate on what that meant. The team did make some progress while under Alphabet’s wing, launching a 20kW demo project, and growing it to a kite capable of 600kW.

As TechCrunch explained, this may be as much about Alphabet’s shift to a more conservative strategy as anything else. When Google bought Makani in 2013, it was a company willing to take risks with many forms of technology, whether they were energy kites, internet balloons or smart glasses. The cost was almost incidental if it meant Google could get into a lucrative field at a very early stage.

Flash forward to 2020 and it’s a very different story. Google is now just one part of Alphabet, and idealistic founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are no longer part of the leadership. Alphabet is a more pragmatic company interested in turning a profit from all of its businesses, and that may mean cutting loose projects that are likely to continue bleeding cash, even if they’re ultimately promising down the road.

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Blue Apron considers selling itself as it bleeds customers

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Recent subscriber data explains just why Blue Apron is exploring mergers and sales. The company’s customers dropped from about 557,000 at the end of 2018 to 351,000 a year later — that’s a drop of nearly 37 percent in the space of a year. Orders dropped by nearly a third, too. And while Blue Apron has been targeting “high affinity” (read: particularly loyal) customers, its average income per customer only climbed slightly. Blue Apron is losing its audience, and those people who are left aren’t big enough fans to make up the difference.

There has been sign of trouble for a while, including a failed public stock offering in 2017 as well as more than one round of layoffs.

The primary cause of Blue Apron’s woes isn’t clear. It does have competition in the meal kit world from Amazon and Walmart, but there may also be a threat from restaurant delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash. Customers might simply be happier to pay for ready-made meals instead of the ingredients for home-cooked food, even if they spend significantly more in the process. Whatever the cause, Blue Apron may have a tough time revitalizing its business if it’s forced to go alone and can’t pinpoint what it’s doing wrong.

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The Galaxy Z Flip’s hinge fibers aren’t enough to keep dust out

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We’ve asked Samsung for comment. iFixit is planning to publish a full teardown in the early hours of February 19th that might shed more light. The Z Flip does have water-resistant circuitboards, at least, so it’s less likely to die if you’re unfortunate enough to spill water on your $1,380 pride and joy.

This isn’t a real-world test — not unless you’re checking Instagram in the middle of a sandstorm, anyway. It does suggest that the hinge fibers aren’t a cure-all, though. Although they may prevent the debris incidents that plagued early Galaxy Fold review units, you’ll still have to be careful about dust if you want to keep the Z Flip in working order.

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