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Google open sources Cardboard as it retreats from phone-based VR

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The company isn’t offloading all responsibility. It’s promising to contribute new features to the project, including a developer kit package for the Unity game engine. This will mainly help developers adapt to new phone displays and other changes without waiting for Google.

The open source effort might be a relief to some. Cardboard is widely considered one of the most affordable ways to experiment with VR, and Google said it still has “consistent” uses in entertainment and schools. If Google simply halted work on Cardboard, the future of those efforts would have been uncertain at best — open code gives creators at least some options for keeping their projects alive.

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Former Twitter employees charged with spying for Saudi Arabia

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A third man charged at the same time, Ahmed Almutairi, is also facing spying charges but didn’t work at Twitter. Instead, he allegedly served as a go-between for the Saudi government and the Twitter staffers.

According to both clues in the indictment and a Washington Post source, the trio supposedly partnered with Bader Al Asaker, a Saudi official who runs a charity belonging to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. The Justice Department claimed that Asaker started grooming the Twitter employees in 2014 in a bid to obtain info. Asaker paid Abouammo a minimum of $300,000 (plus a $20,000 Hublot watch) for his espionage work, while Alzabarah reportedly became the director of bin Salman’s private office.

Twitter said in a statement that sensitive info was limited to a group of “trained and vetted employees,” and that there were “tools in place” to protect both users’ privacy and their ability to do “vital work.”

Of the group, only Abouammo is present in the US to face the claims — Alzabarah and Almutairi are in Saudi Arabia, which has no extradition treaty with the US. The charges are still significant by themselves, though. This is the first time federal prosecutors have accused Saudi Arabia of spying within the US. It’s also a unique case in the technology industry. Governments have used Twitter and other social networks as political battlefields, but this is far more audacious if true — it’d represent an attempt to corrupt the social network themselves in the name of silencing dissent.

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Uber faces lawsuit for allegedly underpaying New York drivers

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The lawsuit also claims that Uber’s upfront pricing (implemented in 2016) violated contracts by presenting customers and drivers with two different fares. Passengers would sometimes pay higher fares than what drivers saw, and Uber reportedly “pocket[ed] the difference.”

On top of this, the lawsuit represents a challenge to Uber agreements forcing drivers to take disputes to arbitration (which historically favors companies and keeps matters secret). Uber’s contract ostensibly prevents potential class action suits like this, but federal law exempts drivers involved in interstate commerce. Since Uber drivers are virtually expected to drive interstate, the plaintiffs hope this lawsuit will go through. There’s precedent for it — a federal appeals court disagreed with Uber’s claim that New Jersey drivers suing for overtime pay had to be forced into arbitration.

Uber has declined to comment. If the lawsuit succeeds, though the company could be asked to pay drivers everything they believe they’re owed from the roughly six-year period. That could get expensive. When Uber acknowledged that drivers were underpaid in May 2017 after taking too large a cut, it said the compensation amounted to $900 per driver. Any repaid tax and surcharge deductions might not be as big, but they could still be substantial.

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Amazon discounts some Echo Show devices to their lowest price ever

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Echo Show with free Philips Hue Lightbulb

Amazon has discounted the second-generation Echo Show by 31 percent, making it $179.99, instead of $259.98. You’ll also get a free Philips Hue A19 lightbulb. The listing doesn’t say the specific model included in the promotion, but based on the picture, it’s a basic Hue White model that can’t change colors.

We liked the second-gen Echo Show a lot when we reviewed it last year, giving it a score of 86. One of the things that stood out for us was the new, streamlined design, as well as the outstanding sound quality from the back-facing speakers.

Buy Echo Show (2nd gen) on Amazon – $180

Echo Show 5

If you want something that takes up less shelf space, Amazon has also discounted the smaller Echo Show 5. It’s currently $59.99, down from $89.99. No bonus freebie here. However, according to price tracker Camelcamelcamel, $59.99 is the lowest Amazon has ever sold the Echo Show 5 for.

We awarded the Echo Show 5 an 85 when we reviewed it. In addition to its cute looks, it works great as a sunrise clock — though you may want to pass on it if you don’t want a camera in your bedroom.

Buy Echo Show 5 on Amazon – $60

Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

Lastly, for those with children, the Kids Edition Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets are also on sale. They’re currently $59.99 and $89.99 respectively. We haven’t reviewed the Kids Edition tablets specifically, but if you have a long trip coming up, they’ll probably help ensure the continued sanity of both you and your kids.

Buy Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet on Amazon – $60

Buy Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet on Amazon – $90

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Airbnb will verify every listing in the name of safety

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The company had already promised close reviews of high-risk rentals, such as people renting giant homes when they live in the area. The Halloween shooting occurred at an estate that was ostensibly rented for a family gathering, but was really used to host a party with more than 100 guests.

To back up the review process, Airbnb will also implement a “guest guarantee” if your rental doesn’t match the description. You’ll either get an alternative that’s worth at least as much as what you paid or, if that isn’t available, a full refund.

As with the policy changes unveiled in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, there’s a degree of damage control involved. Airbnb doesn’t want would-be customers to believe that violence or scams are relatively commonplace. This could root out misleading entries that would otherwise go unnoticed, though. If there’s a concern, it’s whether or not there will be ongoing reviews. Homeowners and rentals change, and a one-time review might not help if new shady rentals go unreported.

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Volvo will use blockchain to prove its cobalt wasn’t mined by children

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Volvo Cars will work with its two global battery suppliers, CATL of China and LG Chem of South Korea, and blockchain technology firms to trace its cobalt production. The data in the blockchain will include the cobalt’s origin, attributes like weight and size, as well as the chain of custody.

“We have always been committed to an ethical supply chain for our raw materials,” Volvo Car’s Head of Procurement Martina Buchhauser said in a statement. “With blockchain technology we can take the next step towards ensuring full traceability of our supply chain and minimising any related risks, in close collaboration with our suppliers.”

Volvo Car says it will begin using the blockchain traceability system this year. The companies involved have agreed to use the system to cover the supply of batteries over the next decade, for next generation Volvo and Polestar models, including the XC40 Recharge. Volvo Cars expects half of its global sales to be fully electric cars by 2025, and the company has pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by 40 percent per vehicle by the same year. Those goals will require more batteries and more ethically-sourced cobalt.

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Razer’s latest wireless mice promise low-lag gaming from $60

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The Basilisk Ultimate (below), meanwhile, is the spare-no-expense option. It touts the same 20,000DPI sensor as the Viper Ultimate, 11 buttons and optical mouse switches to reduce both delays and the risk of corrosive effects. You also get up to five on-device memory profiles, optional wired use and the seemingly obligatory abundance of Chroma RGB lighting. It doesn’t last as long at 100 hours using the 4GHz dongle (no Bluetooth here), but that’s not shocking given the performance. You can buy the Ultimate for $150 by itself, or $170 with a Mouse Dock that simplifies recharging.

Both mice are available now, and you can buy the Mouse Dock separately for $50 if you need it later.

Razer Basilisk Ultimate gaming mouse

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The ‘Stargate’ streaming service is closing shop and moving to YouTube

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Subscribers who paid for the service — which offered all existing Stargate TV shows and movies, as well as original content — beyond 2019 will receive a refund. When the clock strikes noon PST on December 31st, the website and its accompanying apps will be taken offline, rendering content like comics and ebooks unavailable. Fans will likely want to plan ahead for the removal of the service’s message boards, as well — there are several Stargate Facebook groups they could relocate to.

New videos are already hitting Stargate Command’s YouTube channel. A re-discovered interview with Brad Wright, co-creator of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe was published just a few days ago. Not all existing shows will make the cut, though; the FAQ page states that “Other content you are accustomed to viewing by logging in on Stargate Command will be available until 12/31/19.” Beyond Dialing Home and Recon, it’s not clear what will make the jump to YouTube, so if you have any shows in your backlog, binge them before they’re gone.

There are hardcore fans for all sorts of media, down to the most obscure genre series. But that doesn’t mean every franchise needs its own streaming service. That said, there is certainly a market for genre-specific services like Shudder or platforms that cater to a certain audience like The Criterion Channel. Stargate may have its fans, but it doesn’t quite have the cachet as a franchise for a dedicated service to stand on its own.

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Twitter now lets you follow topics, not just accounts

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Future updates will add more topics, Twitter’s Rob Bishop told The Verge. The company has also teased the possibility of “narrow cast[ing]” your tweets to people who follow a particular subject, although we suspect that might take some work. You don’t want your feed to be cluttered with Topics spam.

The addition joins a series of “finally” features that have reached Twitter in recent months. It’s too soon to say if Topics will be effective in practice, but it’s potentially useful for attracting and keeping newcomers. While Twitter can suggest people to follow, it can still be intimidating if you’re new. This lets you quickly fill your feed with useful tweets, and might encourage you to stick around.

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Google updates the Nest Hub to sense where you are without a camera

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Ultrasound sensing is a smart workaround for the fact the original Nest Hub (née Google Home Hub) doesn’t feature a camera. By using high-frequency sounds, the smart display can tell whether you’re in the same room as it is, in addition to your approximate position. It will then use this information to adjust its interface. For instance, when you’re farther away from the Nest Hub, it will increase the size of its fonts to make them more legible. It will do the same with a variety of information cards. With weather cards, for example, the Nest Hub will display more detailed forecasts while sticking with just the essentials like the current temperature when you’re looking at it from a distance.

The feature also allows the Nest Hub to surface something called proactive notifications. Google introduced this functionality with the Nest Hub Max. Without a camera to see who’s looking at it, the Nest Hub won’t tailor these notifications like the Nest Hub Max does; instead, it will show notifications that are available to everyone in your home. On the Nest Hub, ultrasound sensing is a way to use all of the above features while keeping the inside of your home private.

If you own a Nest Mini or Nest WiFi, you can already use the feature there, though with neither device including a display, its utility is more limited. When you hover your hand over those devices, they’ll illuminate their indicator lights so you can where you need to tap to adjust a setting. We’ve reached out to Google to confirm the rollout, and we’ll update this article when we hear back from the company.

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