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UK government opens trial for wirelessly charged taxis

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The UK government is investing £3.4 million ($4.43 million) into the technology as part of a six-month trial, which will see 10 Nissan and LEVC electric taxis fitted with wireless charging technology and offered to drivers rent free. A similar pilot was launched in Oslo last year, helping Norway cement its reputation as a leader in green transportation.

The advantages of wireless charging is that multiple taxis can charge at the same time, unlike plugs or chargepoints for which drivers sometimes have to queue. In the future, the government may make wireless charging accessible to the public as well, making it easier for owners of electric vehicles to charge when out and about in the city.

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Behringer’s synth clone train keeps rolling with modular System 100

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Word is the Behringer System 100 parts will start at $50 and top out at around $99, which puts it at the extreme low end of Eurorack gear. And that’s just a fraction of a vintage Roland module, which can fetch well over $600. To start with there will be 11 modules in the line, covering everything from oscillators, to filters to sequencers — basically anything you’d need to build a complete modular synth.

Of course there’s no word on when exactly you can expect Behringer to start shipping these. And, it’s probably safe to assume it’ll be awhile. While the company has been relentless in its engineering efforts. Actually getting things into production and in consumers hands still seems to be a struggle at times. Its 808 clone for instance suffered from significant delays. And sometime plans for a new clone are announced over two years before it actually comes to market.

That being said, Behringer first teased that it was working on Eurorack versions of System 100m modules last year. And the versions in the video above look pretty final. So it might not be too long of a wait.

Obviously Behringer’s clone army will continue to rub some the wrong way. But Eurorack is a space where their race to the bottom might be welcome. Getting into modular synthesis can be daunting and expensive (even when you’re going for a self-contained system like those from Teenage Engineering and Erica Synths). Even a barebones starter kit like the NiftyBUNDLE from Cre8audio will set you back $270. And that’s extremely cheap for Eurorack.

For the full list of Behringer System 100 Models see below:

  • 112 dual oscillator with 3 waveforms, PWM and two sync modes
  • 121 dual filter with 3-channel mixer per filter
  • 130 dual VCA, again with dual 3-channel mixers
  • 140 dual envelope has 3 outputs per ADSR plus a built-in LFO that can be triggered and phase synced
  • 173 gates module comes even with four gates that can switch audio and 6 quad buffered multiples
  • 297 has a dual portamento controller plus two independent CV mixers
  • 150 brings a ring modulator, 2 noise generators, syncable LFO and a sample and hold generator
  • 172 module delivers a 6-step phase-shifter, an analog delay, an LFO and a gate delay
  • 305 is an output module a four-band parametric EQ, a 4-channel mixer, line and separate headphone output and even a tuning oscillator
  • 182 there is a powerful analog sequencer with either dual 8 steps or 1-16 steps and tempo, portamento and gate time controls
  • 110 is a complete synth voice with VCO, VCA and filter in a single module

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NBC’s Peacock streaming service costs $10 for ad-free Premium access

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Depending on your tier, you’ll have access to various originals, TV shows, films, sports and news content. It will also have exclusive Olympics content this summer, including the Opening and Closing ceremonies live from Tokyo before they air on NBC in primetime.

NBC

Execs also showed off the Peacock app, which will immediately begin streaming video when you open it. As one would expect for a service in 2020, it will offer kids content filtering and parental controls, as well as custom profiles. For the investors, they showed off a lot of the advertising technology that’s backing the service, and claim that it will offer a new level of transparency for why you’re seeing certain ads, as well as advertising that’s relevant to viewers. They targeted 30 – 35 million active users by the end of 2024, a number that compares to Disney+’s estimate of 60 to 90 million subscribers by then. One difference is that Comcast/NBC is pitching this service (at least right now) for the US only.

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‘Horizon: Zero Dawn’ is reportedly coming to PC this year

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Other details on the port are scant at the moment. For instance, we don’t know if Sony will include the game’s excellent Frozen Wilds downloadable content in whatever base package it sells. However, as with most PC console ports, you’ll likely be able to play the game at a higher frame rate than the 30FPS it’s locked to on the PS4.

If the report is accurate, Horizon Zero Dawn will be the second major PS4 exclusive to make its way to Windows in 2020. In October, Kojima Productions made the surprise announcement that 505 Games will release Death Stranding on PC sometime this summer. Notably, both games run on the Decima game engine, which was created by Guerrilla Games, the developer of Horizon Zero Dawn. Last year, Detroit: Become Human, Beyond: Two Souls and Heavy Rain, came to Windows without Sony’s involvement.

While Breath of the Wild overshadowed it in a lot of ways, there’s still a lot to admire about Horizon Zero Dawn. Not only is the game’s bow-focused combat fun, but the story of protagonist Aloy stands out as one of the best from a video game in recent memory.

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Porn cam network leaked sensitive data for thousands of models

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Data leaks by their nature subject people to some kind of unnecessary risk, but this latest could be genuinely dangerous. Researchers at vpnMentor have discovered that a porn cam affiliate network, PussyCash, left nearly 20GB of models’ extremely sensitive data exposed in an Amazon S3 bucket. The repository included not only 875,000 keys for different file types (such as photos and videos), but personal info for over 4,000 models worldwide that includes their names, ID photos, passport/ID numbers, release forms and driver’s license images. Some of the data could be up to 20 years old, but other info is just weeks old — there’s a very real chance stalkers, extortionists and others could have used this to threaten many of the models.

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Apple Music partnered with the NBA for its latest curated playlist

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As part of a new agreement with the NBA and a startup called UnitedMasters, Apple is curating a weekly playlist called BASE:LINE. It will feature songs from up-and-coming independent hip-hop artists picked by Apple Music director Ebro Darden. The NBA will soundtrack highlights its shares online with songs directly from BASE:LINE.

This week, you’ll find music from rappers like KOTA the Friend and Princess Nokia, to name a few. A lot of songs come from artists who use the UnitedMasters app to share their music. The startup was founded in 2017 by former Interscope Records president Steve Stoute. The app allows musicians to upload their songs to platforms like Apple Music and Spotify without the help of a traditional record label.

Whether BASE:LINE represents a new approach for Apple or a mere one-off is hard to say at the moment, but it seems clear playlists will be one of the ways music streaming services continue to differentiate themselves moving forward.

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Nancy Pelosi claims Facebook doesn’t care about the truth

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“Even if they know it’s not true, they will print it,” Pelosi said, apparently referencing Facebook’s political ad policy which caused a stir last year. Facebook also refused to take down a doctored video of Pelosi that made her appear drunk. At the time, she accused Facebook of enabling the Russian interference in the 2016 election. Now, Pelosi says, “they intend to be accomplices in misleading the American people.”

Pelosi went on to accuse Facebook of schmoozing the Trump Administration in order to get tax cuts and to avoid antitrust action. “I think they have been very abusive of the great opportunity that technology has given them,” Pelosi said, calling Facebook’s behavior shameful.

Facebook has not responded to a request for comment.



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NBC’s Peacock lineup includes Mindy Kaling, Norman Lear and ‘MacGruber’

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Other shows? Amy Poehler is executive co-producing the soccer coming-of-age comedy Division One. Norman Lear will help executive produce Clean Slate, the story of an estranged child coming home as a trans woman (played by Laverne Cox). If you’re more interested in non-fiction, veteran writer and journalist Nick Bilton is producing a series of tech-companies-gone-bad stories that include an adaptation of his book Hatching Twitter. The McElroy brothers are also getting another shot at an NBC streaming show with an animated series based on their The Adventure Zone podcast.

None of these titles have release schedules, although it’s safe to presume they’ll miss Peacock’s April debut.

It’s not a terribly shocking strategy. Like many services, NBC is banking on familiar names and genres while allowing itself a little room to explore topics it might not cover on conventional TV. The question is whether or not that will be enough. Peacock will have to compete for the attention spans (never mind money) of people who, in many cases, are already committed to watching shows from a variety of services. As big as NBC might be, it’ll still have to create stand-out streaming productions if it’s going to rake in viewers.

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Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $99 on a 55-inch TCL 5 Series 4K TV

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TCL 5 Series 55S525 4K TV

TCL 5 Series 55S525

Street price: $380; deal price: $281 with code TCLDOLBY15

Down to $281 when you use code TCLDOLBY15, this is a great deal on our top budget 4K TV pick. The TCL 5 Series 55S525 4K TV has a street price around $380, but this drop matches the previous low price we’ve seen on the 55-inch size, which came during Cyber Week.

The TCL 5 Series is the top pick in our guide to the best 4K TV on a budget. Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer Chris Heinonen wrote, “The TCL 5-Series is the best budget 4K TV, combining good performance and a strong list of features in an affordable, easy-to-use package. Its native contrast ratio is better than that of most budget TVs, and it offers superb streaming features (thanks to the integrated Roku service). And you get wide color gamut support and incredibly low input lag with automatic low-latency mode for gaming. Plus, setup is very simple.”

AmazonBasics AAA Rechargeable Batteries 12-Pack

AmazonBasics

Street price: $12; deal price: $10

Right now, the rechargeable AmazonBasics AAA 12-pack is down to $10 from $12, the lowest price we’ve seen for a pack of twelve and the best price per battery we’ve noted. While this isn’t much less than they usually go for, it’s still notable in that it’s the first drop of any significance we’ve seen in a while – they aren’t likely to drop any lower.

The AmazonBasics AAA Rechargeable Batteries took home joint top pick honors along with two other brands in our guide to the best rechargeable batteries. Wirecutter Staff Writer Sarah Whitman wrote, “In our real-world tests, the AmazonBasics AAAs kept a flameless candle flickering for two days and nights (48 hours) and kept a remote-control car racing for a full workday (eight hours).”

Huion 1060Plus Drawing Tablet

Huion

Street price: $67; deal price: $50

If you’re a beginner looking for a cheaper drawing pad to get started, the Huion 1060Plus is available for $50 when you clip the on-page coupon. Though not as customizable or precise as our top pick, this discount brings the Huion to about $20 less than our smaller top pick, the Wacom Intuos S. Normally around $67, this is a nice chance to snag a discount.

The Huion 1060Plus is the budget pick in our guide to the best drawing tablet. Wirecutter Staff Writers Melanie Pinola and Justin Krajeski wrote, “If you need more drawing space because you prefer making large strokes on paper, or if you work full-screen on a monitor (or monitors) larger than 20 inches, the Huion 1060Plus is the best large tablet you can get for less than $100. It has a 10-by-6.25-inch active drawing area, a comfortable pen, and 12 customizable tablet shortcut keys. “

Anker PowerPort PD 2 USB Phone Wall Charger

Anker PowerPortStreet price: $23; deal price: $17 with code ANKERPD18

If you’re looking for a USB phone charger with multiple ports, this drop to $17 for our top pick with code ANKERPD18 is a good chance to pick up one that features both a USB-C and USB-A port that charge at full speed, adding to its functionality, versatility, and making it great for travel. In our guide, we also praise this model for its small size and ample 18-month warranty.

The Anker PowerPort PD 2 USB Phone Wall Charger is the top pick in our guide to the best USB phone charger. Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer Nick Guy wrote, “The Anker PowerPort PD 2 is the best charger for getting maximum charging speed on your phone no matter what cable you use. It provides both a 12-watt USB-A port and an 18-watt USB-C port, so you can charge your phone two to three times faster than with the charger that came in the box with your phone. And with two ports, the PowerPort PD 2 offers good charging speeds for two devices at the same time; most other models this small and inexpensive can’t support fast charging from both ports at once.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go here.

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‘World of Horror’ brings MS Paint terror to Steam on February 20th

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World of Horror was created by Pawel Kozminski, a part-time Polish dentist also known as Panstasz. Kozminski took inspiration from Junji Ito, the Japanese horror manga artist, and H.P. Lovecraft, the weird fiction and horror fiction author. The game plays out in a series of creepy stories set in a Japanese town full of eldritch monsters and festering demons. It’s your job to investigate the mysteries while surviving turn-based combat in 1-bit black-and-white scenes.

Kozminski collaborated with Ubisoft scriptwriter Cassandra Khaw, who’s worked on games like Wasteland 3, Sunless Skies and She Remembered Caterpillars, and wrote the horror novel Hammers on Bone. “Her background and insight into horrific mindsets has helped me flesh out the unsettling nature of the mysteries, characters, and items you’ll find in World of Horror,” Kozminski says.

Steam Early Access will cost $14.99, and it will first support English, with more languages to follow. More characters, mysteries and events will be added for the 1.0 launch, a date for which has not been revealed.



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