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Tinder is working on a panic button for dangerous situations

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If a date turns ugly, users will be able to trigger an alarm via the Noonight tool within the Tinder app. They’ll then be instructed to enter a code. If they don’t, they’ll receive a text from one of Noonlight’s dispatchers. If they don’t respond to that message, Noonlight will call them, and if there’s no answer, or the user confirms that they need help, Noonlight will get in touch with police.

To use the feature, daters will have to share their real-time location data with the app. Match says this information won’t be used for marketing or anything else, nor will the information be shared with Match — it’s all handled by Noonlight. Users opting in to the feature will also be able to display a badge on their dating profiles, which — the company hopes — will act as a deterrent to any bad actors on the platform.

Of course, there’s always the possibility that an alarm could be triggered by accident during a date that’s going well, but the company says that’s a risk it’s willing to take. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Match group chief executive Mandy Ginsberg said, “The false positives, believe me, we took them into account. If someone doesn’t respond, worst case someone shows up and knocks on the door. It’s not the worst thing in the world.”

The new feature follows a number of safety-centric tools on the platform. Last year it rolled out a traveler alert system to help protect LGBTQ users in countries that discriminate, and back in 2018 it launched a Bumble-esque “women talk first” function. However, when it comes to data security within the app itself, its reputation isn’t so solid. A major security flaw in 2018 granted account access with just a phone number, while the same year saw the revelation that user photos were not being encrypted. More recently, a study showed that Tinder — alongside a number of other dating apps — had been playing it fast and loose with sensitive customer data.

Nonetheless, any features that can make the tumultuous world of online dating safer for its users are undoubtedly a welcome move. The Noonlight feature will be free for users in the US from the end of January, with Match Group planning on rolling it out to its other dating apps in the coming months.

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Office 365 business installations are auto-switching Chrome search to Bing

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As ZDNet notes, a lot of people aren’t happy about the change. And Microsoft seems to have expected the negative feedback, because its announcement includes instructions on how to exclude the extension from the installation or the upgrade. The tech giant also clarified that users stop can using Bing as the default search engine by toggling it off or by completely uninstalling it from devices. Those whose companies use Office 365 ProPlus may want to take note in case they’d rather search via Google like always.

For now, Microsoft will only forcibly install the extension for customers in certain regions, namely Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, the UK and the US. However, the company may add other locations over time.

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Now everyone can play ‘Mario Kart Tour’ multiplayer

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At launch, Nintendo’s Mario Kart for mobile devices (iOS, Android) had a major missing piece: multiplayer. Now Mario Kart Tour has kicked off the second round of its beta test for head-to-head racing, and this time it doesn’t require that players purchase a $5 Gold Pass subscription for access.

Being able to race your friends instead of just AI and the clock might make its touch-based controls and various free-to-play wrinkles a bit easier to stomach, but you won’t know until you try. You can race random competitors, or turn on your location to race your friends — if they’re nearby.

If you’ve unlocked at least one cup within the game, then all you’ll need to do is click the menu button and switch to multiplayer to race against live competition. The only thing to note for now is that multiplayer saves won’t transfer over to the proper release once the beta ends at midnight ET next Tuesday, January 28th.



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Twitter launches Facebook-like reaction emojis for DMs

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Twitter

You can easily react to a DM by clicking or tapping on the heart-plus icon that appears right next to a message. Double-tapping messages brings up the emoji panel, as well. The recipient will get a notification if you react to their DM, and they’ll get your reaction as a text reply if they’re using an older version of the app that doesn’t support the feature. Based on what we’ve seen, you can add a reaction even to years-old messages, though we’d advise against going that route to not-so-subtly remind your ex that you exist.



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Fujifilm’s X-T200 mirrorless camera uses gyros for ultra-stable video

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You can also expect a new vari-angle 3.5-inch touchscreen display that can be opened and twisted to help frame your vlogs. And yes, the core photography should be improved as well. You can expect improved autofocusing (including for face and eye detection) with phase detection pixels across the sensor, and it processes data 3.5 times faster than its T100 processor. That should help with overall photography, but it should also cut back on the rolling shutter effect (aka “tower of jello”) when recording videos.

There are speed limitations. While the new camera shoots full-resolution stills at a respectable 8 frames per second, 4K video is capped at 30FPS (even slow-motion 1080p is stuck at 120FPS). You won’t want to lean on this if you insist on both high resolution and a high frame rate.

The X-T200 will cost about $100 more than its predecessor at $700 for just the body, or $800 if you want a 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 optically stabilized kit lens. It’s expected to ship in late February. And if you want more native lens options, there’s also a $199 35mm f/2 prime lens coming at the same time to produce produce bright shots with soft backgrounds.

Fujifilm X-T200 mirrorless camera rear view

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DOJ letter reveals the FBI recently cracked an iPhone 11

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While the Department of Justice, US attorney general and even the president continue to pressure Apple for additional technical support in unlocking iPhones tied to the naval base shooting in December, a letter reveals that the FBI recently cracked a password-protected iPhone 11. That phone belonged to Lev Parnas, an associate of the president’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who has been indicted on charges of violating straw and foreign donor bans to illegally funnel money into US elections.

Bloomberg reports that a letter from government lawyers to the judge (PDF) indicated that the FBI spent two months unlocking the defendant’s iPhone 11. Last week Motherboard reported on text messages and notes that appeared to have been pulled from the iPhone using forensics software from Cellebrite. It appears, that, similar to the case of the San Bernardino shooting a few years ago, the government has access to tools that will allow them to pull data from an iPhone, but is requesting additional help and some sort of backdoor access directly from Apple.

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DirecTV satellite is at risk of explosion due to battery issues

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The company already switched the batteries off and has been operating Spaceway-1 using power generated by its solar panels. However, it’s expected to pass through Earth’s shadow in late February where only batteries can serve as its power source. That’s why DirecTV has to send it 300 kilometers above geostationary orbit, at a place where satellites go to die, before February 25th. “The risk of a catastrophic battery failure makes it urgent that Spaceway-1 be fully de-orbited and decommissioned prior to the February 25th start of eclipse season,” the company said in a statement.

Companies are required to dump their satellites’ remaining fuel before decommissioning them to reduce the risk of explosion, but DirecTV asked the FCC for a waiver because it doesn’t have enough time to do so. It takes two to three months to dump fuel from similar satellites, especially since DirecTV put in enough for Safeway-1 to stay in service until 2025. That said, it’ll at least be in graveyard orbit if it does end up exploding, instead of in geostationary orbit where most telecommunication satellites are.

SpaceNews says DirecTV fans don’t need to worry, though. No customers were affected (and will presumably be affected) by the event, since Spaceway-1 was merely a backup satellite.

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Microsoft gets the ball rolling on Surface Duo apps

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People who want to write apps for the Surface Neo and Windows 10X will have to wait a while longer. Microsoft is planning to offer a pre-release version of the relevant Windows developer kit “in the coming weeks” through its usual Insider previews, with a 10X-ready emulator and programming interfaces appearing on February 11th.

The months of lead time should result in a fair amount of apps for both the Duo and Neo when they’re ready. Just how many is another question. That might depend on how quickly Microsoft releases more polished developer kits, not to mention overall interest — you’ll only see widespread support if app writers think the new Surfaces (and Windows 10X) hold a lot of potential.



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California says Riot Games’ discrimination settlement isn’t enough

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DLSE, meanwhile, believed that the attorneys for the women didn’t do their homework and missed out on valid claims against Riot. Reportedly, the lawyers misfiled a notice for equal pay violations and didn’t account for overtime or minimum wage violations in the settlement deal.

The court will decide on DSLE’s right to intervene on January 31st, which could let it conduct its own investigation and legal action against Riot as part of the lawsuit. The judge will also make a decision on February 3rd to either accept the objections and toss out the $10 million deal or else move forward with that proposal.

As you might imagine, Riot has objected to attempts to alter the deal. Spokesperson Joe Hixson told the Times that DFEH’s move was full of “inaccuracies and false allegations,” and that Riot had “worked hard” to strike a fair deal. He claimed the move “downplays and ignores” changes to company culture made over the past year and a half. Lawyers for both Riot and the women have also asserted that the DLSE’s opposition was flawed. It’s ultimately up to the judge to decide, though, and a final deal could be months away if there are any changes to the terms.

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India will launch a humanoid robot ahead of its first crewed space mission

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The robot told reporters it can operate switch panels, talk to astronauts and monitor a spacecraft’s environmental and life support systems. Its primary purpose, however, is to allow ISRO to test how space flight affects the human body before the agency sends astronauts up in one of its Gaganyaan craft.

“It will be simulating exactly the human functions there [in space]. It will check whether the system is right. This will be very useful to simulate, as if a human is flying,” ISRO chairman K Sivan told reporters at the media event where the agency showed off the robot.

Although Vyommitra’s appearance is sure to inspire headlines about its perceived gender, the fact of the matter is that sending robots into space is nothing new. Just last year, one of NASA’s adorable Astrobee robots flew on its own aboard the International Space Station. When it comes to challenges of space flight, robots, whatever their shape, are better equipped to handle the stresses associated with leaving the earth’s atmosphere than human bodies.



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