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Leaked screenshots show how Apple’s tracker tags might work

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Apple tag tracking app

MacRumors

“B389” apparently refers to Apple’s rumored tracking tag hardware that will work much like the Bluetooth tags from Tile. By tapping the “Add B389” bar, you’ll be able to tag and track your bicycle, briefcase, keys or any other objects you want to keep safe. The physical tags could be simple white disks with an Apple logo in the center, according to a previous MacRumors article.

iOS 13 users will be notified when they part ways with a tagged item, according to code in the iOS 13 build. To find it, they can tap a button that will make the Apple tag beep loudly. If that doesn’t work, the item can be placed into “Lost Mode.” If another iPhone user finds it, they’ll be able to see the owner’s contact information and phone or text them. Users can set up “Safe Locations” where an item can be left without the need to notify the owner.

Previous reports show that the Apple’s tracking tags might be powered by a new co-processor in the iPhone 11, and use a combination of ultra-wideband and Bluetooth LE to narrow down search areas. It might also let you find devices using AR, and show red and orange balloons to indicate when you’re getting close. “Walk around several feet and move your iPhone up and down until a balloon comes into view,” a prompt from an internal iOS 13 build reads.

MacRumors notes that the build containing all these features is from June, so the final version of the app might be quite different. Apple might not even release the app or tags, though at this point, it seems more likely than not to become a product. If so, we’re likely to find out when Apple officially launches iOS 13.

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Tesla targets Nürburgring EV record next month

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Unofficially, observers said it went around the track in a time of 7 minutes and 23 seconds, besting Porsche’s Taycan Turbo four-door EV record by 19 seconds. However, while Porsche fielded what it called a “pre-series Taycan,” with stock tires, Tesla did its Nurburgring runs with a heavily modified, non-production Model S.

According to Engadget sister site Autoblog, it was packing “fender flares, wider wheels and tires, a rear spoiler, an expanded front grills, and seriously sticky tires.” It also reportedly had a more powerful three-motor setup. Tesla has said that a version of the Model S with that setup, known as “Plaid,” may go on sale in about a year.

A Model S was seen getting a tow on the Nurburgring track, while amusingly being lapped by a Taycan Turbo, according to Autoblog. Porsche has said that it set out to make Taycan performance “repeatable,” and tried to prove it by doing dozens of acceleration runs to 200 km/h (124 mph) in a row. “We set out with a goal to build a Porsche,” said Taycan program director Bernd Propfe, “and not have the driver feel the de-rating of the car in any situation.”

Meanwhile, Tesla revealed some of its track data for the Model S, and to show it’s not kidding about coming back, has permanently installed a Supercharger at Nurburgring.



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Mark Zuckerberg visited Donald Trump at the White House

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The social network has been under scrutiny for many, many things over the past years, including consumer privacy, election security and high-profile acquisitions. Just over a month ago, the FTC reportedly started looking into the company’s Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions as part of an antitrust investigation. That happened shortly after the agency reached a record-high $5 billion settlement agreement with the company over various privacy violations, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The President, who previously accused Facebook of being anti-conservative, tweeted a photo of the meeting in the Oval Office:

It’s not clear what went on in the White House, but the company said Zuckerberg “had a good, constructive meeting” with the President. The lawmakers he met with didn’t hold back, though, with Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley challenging him to sell Instagram and WhatsApp to prove that he’s serious. There’s been an increasing pressure on authorities and regulators to break up “big tech” companies, which are being accused of snapping up competition to dominate the industry.

Another lawmaker, Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said they talked about the tech industry’s repeated failures to protect election security and consumer privacy. Both Blumenthal and Hawley questioned the FTC over its $5 billion settlement with the company over concerns that the amount is “woefully inadequate” considering Facebook’s size and the magnitude of its privacy mishaps.

Zuckerberg’s Capitol Hill tour isn’t done yet: he’s meeting with the House Judiciary Committee, which grilled Google and Facebook over online hate speech and racially motivated violence earlier this year, later today.



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TCL’s 2019 quantum dot-enhanced 4K TVs go on sale starting at $599

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This year, both sets of 6-series 4K televisions include quantum dot LED technology — also used recently in Samsung and Vizio TVs — to improve their color performance even further, and the 55-inch version has a few more local dimming LED zones than before. They also are some of TCL’s first with “Auto Game Mode” that automatically detects when you’re playing on a console or PC and need to use low-latency mode. That feature is part of the HDMI 2.1 spec but TCL didn’t say if this is the same as ALLM. Their remote includes voice control, plus the TVs are compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

A 75-inch 6-series with 2019’s specs is supposed to arrive later this year, along with the higher-end 8-series TVs that use a new “mini-LED” backlighting setup with up to 25,000 individual lights. The 8-series TVs will cost $1,999 for a 65-inch, or $2,999 for the 75-inch.



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Google to invest record-breaking amount in renewable energy

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“Sustainability has been one of Google’s core values from our earliest days. Over the years we’ve worked hard to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations, build products with people and planet in mind, and drive change at scale through our supply chains,” said CEO Sundar Pichai in a statement.

The company plans to more than double its global solar portfolio, with investments in solar farms in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. It is also investing in a hybrid technology deal in Chile which will combine both solar and wind. Pichai plans on announcing the company’s plans in Europe tomorrow during a visit to Finland.

Hundreds of Google employees have nonetheless criticized the tech giant for not taking the environment seriously enough, pointing out the carbon footprints of its data centers and the company’s funding of lawmakers who vote against climate legislation. More than 1,600 Google employees signed a letter this week laying out a list of cross-tech climate goals for the company. “Tech is not ‘green’. The carbon footprint of the tech industry’s data centers alone is on par with aviation. While Google makes a commitment to sustainability, stating that its global business operations are carbon neutral (its emissions are offset with equivalent renewable energy investments or carbon offset purchases) and aspiring to long-term 24×7 carbon-free energy consumption (but with no set commitment date), this doesn’t tell the whole story,” said the group in the letter.

Google’s announcement comes in advance of Friday’s Global Climate Strike. Hundreds of employees of tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon are expected to participate in the protest, which will occur in at least 150 countries over the course of a week.

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You can finally hide replies to your tweets — at least for now

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Twitter said the ability to hide tweets would give users “more control” over their conversations. Critics of the move argue that such a feature would allow users to silence dissenting voices. But the platform believes that visibility of the hidden replies — as well as the fact that anyone can view them — will prevent it from becoming a proxy for censorship.

The platform’s test of the tool in Canada has been encouraging. Users mostly hid replies that were irrelevant, abusive or intelligible. More than a quarter — 27 percent — of users who had their replies hidden said they would think about their actions in the future.

The “hide replies” feature isn’t permanent. Based on the trial’s outcome in the US and Japan, Twitter could decide to axe the feature.



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Airbnb plans to go public in 2020

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The company yesterday published an optimistic update on its future. “As our community has grown, our business has thrived. In the second quarter of 2019, Airbnb recognized substantially more than $1 billion in revenue. The second quarter of 2019 marked the second quarter in our history in which Airbnb revenue exceeded $1 billion.”

The initial plan was for Airbnb to go public as soon as this year, along with Uber and Lyft. But back in March, company co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk cast doubt on such a plan. “We have already said that we are taking the steps to be ready to go public in 2019. That doesn’t mean we will go public in 2019,” said Blecharczyk in an interview with Business Insider.

As a publicly traded company, Airbnb still may have an uncertain trajectory ahead. Lower than expected market debuts for Lyft and Uber may lower the confidence of investors. WeWork, another Silicon Valley startup that aimed to go public this year, postponed plans after being unable to secure enough funding.

But unlike other startups, Airbnb has turned a profit. The company said revenue topped $1 billion in the second quarter of 2019, the second time it has done so. It also acquired both HotelTonight and travel company Urbandoor this year. Still, regulatory pushbacks from cities all over the world and concerns over quality control may lead to future setbacks.

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French court rules Steam games must be able to be resold

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Valve’s lawyers attempted to argue Steam was a subscription service, according to French publication Numerama. The court, however, rejected Valve’s defense, saying Steam doesn’t sell games as part of a subscription package. The court went on to say Valve’s policy on game reselling is against European Union laws that govern the free-flow of digital goods. In a statement to Polygon, Valve co-founder Doug Lombardi said the company plans to appeal the ruling. “The decision will have no effect on Steam while the case is on appeal,” Lombardi added. If the ruling is upheld, Valve will be forced to change its store policy or face stiff fines.

Valve is embroiled in another similar ongoing case with the European Union. In April, the European Commission charged Valve with breaking the Union’s Digital Single Market rules. Like in the Paris case, Valve intends to fight the charges. While neither case is close to a resolution, is safe to say the EU is deadset on changing how Valve runs Steam.

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Resistance’ will pit you against Skynet this December

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Terminator: Resistance, a single first-person shooter based on the film franchise, is set to be released later this year. Publisher Reef Entertainment and developer Teyon unveiled a trailer today for game, which will be launching on PS4, Xbox One and PC. It is set in a post-apocalyptic LA, 30 days after Judgement Day, with players taking on the role of Private Jacob Rivers, a soldier in the Resistance Pacific Division.

Many have raised concerns that the duo behind the game — Reef and Teyon — were also responsible for the widely reviled 2014 Rambo game. Of course, it’s too soon to tell whether that fact alone will seal the game’s fate. While Resistance’s launch follows the release of the Terminator: Dark Fate film, the game only focuses on the first two films in the franchise. The UK-based publisher actually acquired the video game rights to the two films back in 2013, so this title has been in the works for a while.

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‘Apex Legends’ Season 3 launches with a new hero on October 1st

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It's official: Season 3 of Apex Legends will start on October 1st. Included in the update is Crypto, Apex's newest playable character; an all-new battle pass with more than 100 in-game items; the new charge rifle weapon; and a tweaked ranked mode. De…

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