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Apple’s credit card could arrive in the first half of August

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Getting a product like this off the ground is no easy feat, especially given that Apple’s decision to partner with Goldman Sachs meant two very different corporate cultures (Silicon Valley vs Wall Street) had to work together. Bloomberg reports that the two companies split up many of the responsibilities but worked together on the new technology. Along the way, Apple allegedly asked the bank to make changes regarding the card’s mechanics. But it appears that the core features Apple first touted survived.

While Apple hasn’t confirmed the August release date, we do know that employees and retail workers have been testing the card for several weeks. An early-August launch means the card would be ready for back-to-school shopping, and iOS 12.4, released earlier this week, has built-in Apple Card support. All signs point to an Apple Card launch in the coming weeks.

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CBS All Access is coming to Apple TV Channels next week

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Apple TV Channels lets users pick their favorite streaming service and watch them through their Apple TV. Current a la carte options include traditional channels like CBS and Comedy Central as well as premium cable channels like HBO or Showtime.

With the addition of CBS All Access, Apple TV viewers will be able to watch shows like The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery and the upcoming Star Trek: Picard. The service also streams live events like the Grammy Awards.

It seems that CBS All Access will cost $9.99 per if you purchase a subscription through Apple TV Channels — the same amount it costs as an ad-free standalone service. There is also a cheaper standalone $5.99 per month option with ads, but this version won’t be available on Apple TV at launch.



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Facebook’s Instant Games are leaving Messenger

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Instant Games started off in the News Feed before being brought over to Groups and the Lite app. The library of Instant Games kept growing, including classic games like Pac-Man, Galaga and Space Invaders as well as popular titles like Words With Friends and Uno. The highly social nature of the games and the fact they have cross-platform support make them a hit with casual gamers.

Now, the games are moving out of the Messenger app and into the Facebook Gaming tab, with the transition happening in several stages. “Starting later this summer, Instant Games will no longer be playable directly in the new version of Messenger on iOS,” Leo Oleb, Global Director of Games Partnerships, said in a blog post. “To ensure a smooth transition, players in Messenger will continue to access games through thread updates and chatbots, while gameplay itself will app switch to Facebook.”

This is the latest step in streamlining Messenger, which has become rather overstuffed with extraneous features. Last year Facebook began decluttering the app and, with the site pushing its gaming features like esports streaming and user meetups, it makes sense to decamp the Instant Games to the main gaming hub.

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Google’s Pixel sales doubled thanks to the 3a

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Check out the engine cam video.SpaceX sends its ‘Starhopper’ on an untethered test flight

After completing zero of two launch attempts on Wednesday, SpaceX went two for two on Thursday. Its Dragon spacecraft is making a third trip to the ISS, while its Starhopper test vehicle took a tiny untethered jump from its test pad in Texas (the picture above is from Wednesday’s fiery test that was aborted just as it began). Elon Musk tweeted jokingly afterward that “Water towers *can* fly haha!!,” then, more seriously, confirmed that a 200m test is scheduled to occur “in a week or two.”

Just in time for 5G.Apple acquires Intel’s smartphone modem business

Apple is buying the “majority” of Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion. The deal will see Apple take on 2,200 Intel workers as well as equipment, intellectual property and leases. Apple expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2019 so long as regulators approve the handover.

Shocker.Pilot crashes into sea trying to hoverboard from France to England

Franky Zapata was trying to become the first person to cross the Channel on a hoverboard, but he crashed into the sea while landing for a refueling stop.

Alphabet’s Q2 2019 earnings report is in.Google’s hardware division is recovering from slow Pixel 3 sales

While Google didn’t break out individual sales numbers during its parent company’s earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai said it sold twice as many Pixel phones this quarter compared to a year ago. It sounds like the 3a strategy was a success.

Recommendations required.Is Google’s Nest Hub worth your $129?

Last October’s release of the Nest Hub (neé Home Hub) wasn’t Google’s first foray into smart displays — the company had already released the Home, Home Max and the Home Mini. They were all solid, if not outstanding, hits with reviewers. Senior Editor Nicole Lee praised its premium feel and slick integration with other Google products, but now we want to hear what you think.

Tell us all about it in a user review on our Google Nest Hub product page and give your fellow readers some advice. Your thoughts and opinions could be featured in an upcoming user review roundup.

We’ll explain how you can find one that fits your learning style.Back to School Guide 2019: The best note-taking apps for students

There are dozens if not hundreds of note-taking apps to choose from. All of them, unsurprisingly, promise to make you an organization and productivity guru. While it’s impossible to pick a single “best,” we’ve made some suggestions that are tailored to specific users, devices and learning styles.

Some of the specs can’t surpass its predecessors.Motorola’s $150 Moto E6 is less ambitious than the phones it replaces

Not everyone has $250 (or more) to drop on a new smartphone — that’s where the sixth- generation Moto E comes into play. It’s the latest entrant in Motorola’s popular low-cost line, and while it doesn’t pack many thrills, it might not be a bad choice for smartphone shoppers on a budget.

But wait, there’s more…

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Google will give 100,000 Home Minis to people with paralysis

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Google’s blog has published a post written by Garrison Redd, a Team USA Paralympic powerlifter who’s been navigating life in a wheelchair for the past 20 years. He said that while moving around in a world that doesn’t cater to his needs is difficult — the lack of wheelchair ramps is a common issue — some of his greatest challenges are at home. Unless a house was made or renovated with a wheelchair-user in mind, for instance, light switches and thermostats would usually be too high up on the wall. And if their phone falls out of reach, they wouldn’t be able to call for help when needed.

Redd said the Home Mini gives him a way to control his lights and thermostat easily, and it can make sure he can call family and friends if he needs help. The speaker’s ability to set alarms, play music and trivia and make lists could be especially useful to people with quadriplegia, as well. Those interested can check out the official partnership page to find out if they’re eligible and to sign up for a free Home Mini.

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Australian antitrust body wants to closely monitor Google, Facebook

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The ACCC also called for a new code of conduct for the tech giants that will allow “consumers [to] know and control what data is collected and how it is used.” It has advised the government to beef up Australia’s Privacy Act, as well, and to establish a scheme to resolve consumers’ complaints against digital platforms. The commission studied both companies for 18 months before handing over its report to the government, concluding that the law allows firms to collect and use personal data without informed consent and in ways users do not understand.

Josh Frydenberg, the Treasurer of Australia, said the $5 billion fine the FTC slapped Facebook for the Cambridge Analytica data breach “is a reflection of how peoples’ personal data is being used often without their knowledge.”

He also said:

“[Google and Facebok] need to be held to account and their activities need to be more transparent… There is no option other than to put in place the right regulatory and legislative regime to protect the public’s privacy.”

Whether a dedicated office truly will keep a closer eye on the tech giants’ activities in Australia remains to be seem. The proposals will still have to go through a 12-week public consultation process before the Australian government acts on any of them. Google told Reuters that it will continue communicating with the government regarding the proposals during the consultation process.

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SpaceX’s Starhopper test vehicle successfully makes its first bounce

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After completing zero of two launch attempts on Wednesday, SpaceX went two for two on Thursday. Its Dragon spacecraft is making a third trip to the ISS, while its Starhopper test vehicle took a tiny jump from its test pad in Texas (the picture above is from Wednesday’s fiery test that was aborted just as it began). Elon Musk tweeted jokingly afterward that “Water towers *can* fly haha!!,” then, more seriously, confirmed that a 200m test is scheduled to occur “in a week or two.”

There’s no close up video footage of the attempt available yet, but the South Padre Isle live stream captured the event from a short distance away. To see the smoke and flame, check the stream at about 10:43 PM and let it play from there.



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Pokémon Go has been invaded by Team Rocket’s monsters

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In addition to having a higher spawn rate than usual, you’ll also have a higher chance of hatching those Pokémon from eggs over the next week. Plus, raids will feature monsters significant to the franchise’s baddies.

Niantic also recently rolled out dark-colored PokéStops invaded by Team Rocket, giving you the option to fight its grunts and restore the stop to its former state. Defeating the grunts also give you the chance to capture a Shadow Pokémon, which you can purify and add to your team. Unfortunately, the invaded PokéStops are proving to be pretty hard to find — hopefully, these new monsters are truly much easier to spot.



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Elon Musk’s Boring Co. raises $120 million in outside funding

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Future Ventures — which backed other Musk ventures like Tesla and SpaceX — also contributed to the funding round. “Boring is a great example of the disruptive playbook we look for,” said Future’s Steve Jurvetson, who also serves as a director on the boards of Tesla and SpaceX. Counting the new funds, Musk’s transportation startup is now valued at $920 million. The outside investment comes a couple of months after Boring Co. nabbed its first client — the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company was awarded a $48.6 million contract to build a tunnel that would move people across 200 acres of conference space at the LVCC.

These are promising developments for Musk’s tunnel company, which has faced some recent challenges. Back in November, Boring Co. axed plans to build a test tunnel underneath LA’s Sepulveda Boulevard and 405 freeway following a lawsuit from neighborhood groups. Officials raised numerous safety concerns in a draft environmental assessment of its plan for a Baltimore-Washington DC Hyperloop released back in May. Earlier this year, The Los Angeles Times reported that regional engineers didn’t think a Boring Co. plan for a tunnel connecting JFK with Manhattan was feasible.

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Intelligence Committee releases heavily redacted report on 2016 election hacking

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Today the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released Vol. 1 of its report (PDF) on Russian attempts at election hacking in 2016. However, much of the information in it has already been released — like knowledge that hacking attempts reached all 50 states in one form or another — or is blacked out. As the New York Times notes, information redacted includes some of the key lessons for 2020.

In public statements about the report, senators in both parties on the committee noted there is still work remaining to be done to ensure election security in 2020. Despite that, earlier today Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the consideration of election security bills. In response, Senator Ron Wyden said in a statement that “We shouldn’t ask a county election IT employee to fight a war against the full capabilities and vast resources of Russia’s cyber army. That approach failed in 2016 and it will fail again.”

Key Findings and Recommendations:

  • The Russian government directed extensive activity against U.S. election infrastructure. The Committee found the activity directed at the state and local level began in at least 2014 and carried into at least 2017. The Committee has seen no evidence that any votes were changed or that any voting machines were manipulated.
  • Russian efforts exploited the seams between federal authorities and capabilities, and protection for the states. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are, by design, limited in domestic cybersecurity authorities. State election officials, who have primacy in running elections, were not sufficiently warned or prepared to handle an attack from a hostile nation-state actor.
  • DHS and FBI warnings to the states in the late summer and fall of 2016 did not provide enough information or go to the appropriate people. The Committee found that while the alerts were actionable, they provided no clear reason for states to take the threat more seriously than other warnings.
  • DHS has redoubled its efforts to build trust with the states and deploy resources to assist in securing elections. Since 2016, DHS has made great strides in learning how election procedures vary across states and how to best assist those states. The Committee determined DHS’s work to bolster states’ cybersecurity has likely been effective but believes more needs to be done to coordinate efforts.
  • Russian activities demand renewed attention to vulnerabilities in U.S. voting infrastructure. Cybersecurity for electoral infrastructure at the state and local level was sorely lacking in 2016. Despite increased focus over the last three years, some of these vulnerabilities, including aging voting equipment, remain. As states look to replace machines that are now out of date, they should purchase more secure voting machines. At a minimum, any machine purchased going forward should have a voter-verified paper trail.
  • Congress should evaluate the results of the $380 million in state election security grants allocated in 2018. States should be able to use grant funds provided under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to improve cybersecurity in a variety of ways, including hiring additional IT staff, updating software, and contracting vendors to provide cybersecurity services. When those funds are spent, Congress should evaluate the results and consider an additional appropriation to address remaining insecure voting machines and systems.
  • DHS and other federal government entities remain respectful of the limits of federal involvement in state election systems. America’s decentralized election system can be a strength against cybersecurity threats. However, the federal government and states should each be aware of their own cybersecurity limitations and know both how and when to obtain assistance. States should remain firmly in the lead on running elections, and the federal government should ensure they receive the necessary resources and information.
  • The United States must create effective deterrence. The United States should communicate to adversaries that it will view an attack on its election infrastructure as a hostile act and respond accordingly. The U.S. government should not limit its response to cyber activity; rather, it should create a menu of potential responses that will send a clear message and create significant costs for the perpetrator.

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