Technology News for Tuesday 11th January 2022

1. Apple to Allow Alternative Payment Systems in App Store in South Korea

Apple still plans to charge a reduced fee on purchases made through alternative payment systems, according to plans the company submitted to the Korea Communications Commission. Apple did not indicate when the new policy will take effect or what its ...

2. Car slams multi-family home in south Fort Myers

South Trail Fire and Rescue District confirmed to WINK News that a car hit a multi-family home. This happened in the 10000-block of Woodrose Court in south Fort Myers. Fire crews describe this as a four-plex or four-family home.

3. LAPD officers fired for playing Pokémon Go during active robbery denied appeal

Court documents say the division's patrol commanding officer heard a radio call for a robbery in progress with multiple suspects at the Crenshaw Mall. The ex-police officers' patrol supervisor, Sergeant Jose Gomez, tried to radio their unit to ask for ...

4. COVID by the Numbers: Illinois Reports 19K New Cases as Daily Average Goes Down

Health officials in Illinois reported more than 19,000 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with more than 7,100 patients currently hospitalized after testing positive for the virus. The state reported 19,237 cases on Monday, ...

5. OnePlus 10 Pro finally launches in China with full specs and details

Renders of the OnePlus 10 Pro phone in Emerald Forest and Volcanic Black colors. The phone was officially revealed on January 11, 2022. OnePlus. After drip-feeding out details about its new flagship phone over the last week, OnePlus has finally ...

6. Crash rips car in half, sends person to hospital in Fort Myers

According to the Fort Myers police supervisor, only one car was involved in the crash at Fowler and Thompson Street, and half of the car ended up in the fence across the street from the Lee County Supervisor of Elections building. One person is in the ...

7. Apple AirTags: How the device works and why it's raising security concerns

WASHINGTON - The Apple AirTag is a device created to help people keep track of their misplaced items. But the seemingly harmless tool is being used by some to track people and commit car thefts. As authorities investigate these incidents, the devices ...

8. Gmail crosses 10 billion installs on Android, fourth Google app to do so

Android's Gmail app has become the fourth Google application ever to hit 10 billion installs. The only other apps by Google to cross the milestone are the Google Play Services app, YouTube, and Google Maps. The Gmail app, Google's go-to email app for ...

9. Gurman: Apple likely to hold virtual event in March or April to announce iPhone SE 3

Corroborating reports from sources such as Ming-Chi Kuo, Gurman says that this iPhone SE will BE visually similar to the current iPhone SE (which is based on the iPhone 8). The changes will come in the form of internal upgrades, including a new chip and 5G ...

10. Peer pressure to use iMessage? Talking Tech podcast

Hey there listeners. It's Brett Molina. Welcome back to Talking Tech. If you own an iPhone and you have text message, which I am 99% sure you have, then you're likely ...

11. Two officers in the LAPD were fired for ignoring a robbery to play Pokemon Go. File photo: Reuters

The men, Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell, lost their appeal against "multiple counts of misconduct" which had in part been based on a recording of them in the car.

12. Looking forward: hardware accessibility

Accessibility settings need to be accessible. Controller backwards compatibility should be a fundamental aspect of new consoles and controllers. The culprit here is the decision by PlayStation to limit players to use only a DualSense controller on the PS5.

13. Devastated wife of 'Needlephobic' Scots games developer who died of Covid at 51 urges people to get jab

Bec told the Daily Record: "Stewart had a serious fear of needles. In all seriousness, in 25 years he had one blood test.

14. Google exec says Apple is 'holding back' customers who text

On Saturday, Android boss Hiroshi Lockheimer accused Apple of “using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products,” after a Wall Street Journal report revealed how US teens have turned Apple's iMessage into a social status symbol that locks ...

15. iPhone 13 Pro vs. Pixel 6 Pro: Which phone has the best camera?

When it comes to photography, however, which one reigns supreme? As a professional photographer, I was impressed at how good the Pixel 6 Pro's triple rear-camera system is in the full review, capable of taking stunning images day or night and offering ...

16. Lee Health has 284 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals on Tuesday, will hold press conference about COVID-19

Of these patients, nine of them are being treated at Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. As of Tuesday morning, the hospital census was at 93% of staffed operational bed capacity. Monday, ...

17. Genshin Impact promo codes - Free Primogems for more wishes

Playable across PlayStation, PC, and mobile, Genshin Impact has managed to carve out a strong niche for itself, bringing real-time action combat to the gacha RPG genre. The problem is, gacha RPGs tend to be a bit more difficult to play for people that aren ...

18. Apple Watch apps: Their abandonment neither surprises nor worries me

The ride-sharing company has quietly discontinued its watchOS app, displaying a brief message to users who try to launch it. Uber joins Twitter, Instagram, Target, Trello, Slack, Hulu, Evernote, and many other companies that have sunset their Apple Watch ...

19. Everything you need to know about 2022's biggest chips from CES (and elsewhere)

2022 is shaping up to be a very interesting year for new laptops, thanks to AMD and Intel — both of which announced full slates of new laptop chips at CES 2022, which will likely power almost any major computer released this year that doesn't have an Apple ...

20. Xbox Series X restock tracker: Console drops at GameStop, Target expected soon

When retailers aren't releasing Xbox Series X restocks every time they have a couple of consoles in stock, it means these companies are building up stock for larger restock events to make it easier to get one for yourself.

21. 2022 OLED iPad plans were abandoned, but may still happen in 2024

Previous-generation iPad Pro displays – as well as current screens for non-Pro models – used IPS LCD panels with conventional LED backlighting. Current-generation Pro models use IPS LCD screens with miniLED backlighting ...

22. Google gives up on beating iMessage, now it wants Apple to join Android

In a series of emails, Craig Federighi, Phil Schiller, and other Apple executives worried that “iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones.”.

23. Woman struck by bus in Downtown Pittsburgh

A woman was struck by a Port Authority bus early Tuesday morning in Downtown Pittsburgh, according to the transportation agency. She was struck at about 6:15 a.m. along Liberty Avenue near the intersection of 6th Street. Police cordoned off the scene, ...

24. Covid loses 90% of ability to infect within five minutes in air – study

Coronavirus loses 90% of its ability to infect us within five minutes of becoming airborne, the world's first simulations of how the virus survives in exhaled air suggest. The findings re-emphasise the importance of short-range Covid transmission, ...

25. Tech leaders create proofs of concept for the Metaverse

Companies of all stripes are positioning themselves to tap the potential business value of the metaverse, an immersive virtual world that some envision as the next digital frontier for work, play and shopping. Technology companies, including Meta ...

26. Stewart Gilray: Widow of 'needlephobic' man who died of Covid aged 51 urges people to get vaccinated

Tributes pour in for Stewart Gilray, a father-of-two and successful videogames developer who had turned down the coronavirus jab. stewart.gilray https://www.facebook.com/stewart.gilray Stewart Gilray, who shared a photo of himself in hospital, ...

27. NordicTrack's new Alexa-controlled weights go from 5 to 50 pounds in seconds

They're the first-ever adjustable dumbbells that operate with voice commands. Users can use the weights for their own lifting routines, or follow along with weight-training programs offered by iFit, NordicTrack's parent company, which offers online workout ...

28. The story behind Days Gone and the sequel that never was

“The Walking Dead meets Sons of Anarchy” – that was the original pitch for Days Gone, according to game director Jeff Ross. “Where The Walking Dead had a great influence on us was the prison season,” he tells FTW. “They're homesteading within this ...

29. Personalized smart guns, which only allow verified users to shoot, may become available in US

Smart guns are meant to prevent unauthorized people from firing guns in the hopes of keeping someone like a child or a convicted criminal from utilizing the weapons. According to Giffords Law Center, an organization dedicated to ...

30. Best games like Wordle

The simple word game is easy enough for anyone, young and old, gamer or not, to pick up and have a great time. It is challenging but just as addicting. That's what makes the fact that Worlde only gives one puzzle per day so agonizing for everyone who is ...

31. Apple's Polishing Cloth is Finally Back in Stock

Alongside the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models released in October, Apple introduced an Apple-branded microfiber Polishing Cloth priced at $19, which, like many overpriced Apple products, quickly turned into a joke. apple polishing cloth green ...

32. These great Nintendo Switch controllers will help you step up your game

Nintendo's first-party Switch Pro Controller definitely caters more toward traditionalist gamers and those who play more multi-platform releases from third-party developers. Alongside motion controls, the controller supports HD rumble and built-in Amiibo ...

33. The Assassin's Creed Ezio trilogy is coming to Switch

Ubisoft is bringing Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, a compilation of three Assassin's Creed games starring assassin Ezio Auditor da Firenze, to Nintendo Switch in February. The collection will include Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed ...

34. Locket, an app for sharing photos to friends' homescreens, hits the top of the App Store

In other words, it turns Apple's widget system — typically used to showcase information like news, weather, inspirational quotes or photos from your own iPhone's gallery — into a private social networking platform. The idea ...

35. GameStop and Best Buy have Xbox Series X consoles for order right now (update: sold out at Best Buy)

Update 12:30PM ET, January 11th: GameStop still has both bundles available, and now Best Buy has restocked Xbox Series X consoles. They are available for the standard $499.99 without a bundle. As usual for Best Buy, it is based on local availability at ...

36. Lego delays Overwatch 2 set as company reevaluates relationship with Activision Blizzard

The name Overwatch 2 has become synonymous with delay. First reported by The Brick Fan, a Lego review site, the extremely popular toymaker is delaying the release of an Overwatch 2-themed set as the company reviews its relationship with Overwatch 2 ...

37. Dumbbells get smarter: Amazon's Alexa gets a workout in weights that integrate voice control

Is this the fitness tech you've been weighting for? Amazon's voice assistant Alexa has been integrated into dumbbells made by iFIT's NordicTrack, bringing smart technology to traditional exercise gear. NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells ...

38. Fortnite is about to get very, very frightening with thunder bolts and lightning

Not only have we seen the return of Quad Crashers, which are ATVs that have a myriad of different uses, but Epic introduced Spider-Man's iconic web-shooters, a new slide mechanic, and crazy powerful SMGs. The addition of dynamic weather continues that ...

39. As COVID cases rise in NC, medicine to keep people out of the hospital in short supply

As the omicron variant of the coronavirus fuels a spike in COVID-19 cases, doctors and other health care providers in the Triangle find themselves without an important tool to fight the deadly disease. Two of the monoclonal antibody therapies that have ...

40. Mitsubishi revives Ralliart name for hot SUV concept

Mitsubishi has revived its Ralliart performance nameplate for a performance-focused SUV concept, which will be one of seven models on show at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. The muscular Vision Ralliart – based on the second-generation Outlander – is one of ...

41. Sony Xperia 5 III review: A more balanced take on the Xperia 1 III

But I swoon when a white Sony Xperia box crosses my review desk. Get the CNET TVs, Streaming and Audio newsletter. Become a home entertainment expert with our handpicked tips, reviews ...

42. Xbox Boss Not Interested In 'Virtue Shaming' Activision

Back in November, the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, told staff he was “evaluating all aspects” of the Microsoft gaming division's relationship with Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard following a bombshell report by The Wall Street Journal of ...

43. Microsoft: macOS 'Powerdir' Flaw Could Enable Access to User Data

The Microsoft Security Vulnerability Research (MSVR) team reported its discovery to Apple's product security team on July 15, 2021. Apple addressed CVE-2021-30970, dubbed "Powerdir", in a rollout of security updates released on Dec. 13.

44. Clones of Popular 'Wordle' Game Flooding App Store, Including One Charging $30 Per Year

There is no official iOS-based version of Wordle available, as it exists solely on the web. Any Wordle option available through the App Store is a clone app copying the idea from Josh Wardle, and there are several clone apps climbing up the ?App Store? ...

45. Smart guns that require fingerprint identification coming to the US

Gun manufacturer, LodeStar, says it has developed a smart gun. Called the LS9, the smart gun incorporates technology in multiple ways to enable safer use of guns, including fingerprint technology. LodeStar's LS9 is a 9mm handgun and is expected to be ...

46. Diddy Sells Traditional Toluca Lake Home for $6.5 Million

After just a few months on the market, rapper Diddy (real name Sean Combs) has sold his Toluca Lake property for $6.5 million, the Los Angeles Times reports. The music mogul, who has previously used the monikers P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, ...

47. Apple's iMessage green bubble issues are an outdated problem, and it's time to fix it

Google has been championing this messaging platform, which is packed with iMessage-like features such as typing indicators and read receipts, by working with carriers to make it the default option on most Android phones. It's ...

48. Tumblr adds a sensitive content toggle on iOS to comply with App Store rules

If you click “show me the settings” to see sensitive content, you're redirected to the Tumblr website on your mobile browser, not an in-app menu. Once you change your settings, you have to restart the iOS app for the change to take effect.

49. The excellent Beats Fit Pro earbuds are coming to many more countries on January 28th

They feature the same active noise cancellation system as the AirPods Pro, IPX4 water resistance, and also support head tracking when listening to spatial audio. Battery life is rated at up to six hours on a charge, with the case good for another 21 hours.

50. Officers Who Ignored Robbery to Play Pokémon Go Lose Appeal

The Los Angeles Police Department said the officers' firing was warranted based on several charges of on-duty misconduct: They failed to respond when their unit was called over the radio about an in-progress robbery, and misled a sergeant when asked why ...

51. Apple discontinues its only portable speaker

The Beats Pill+, a portable wireless speaker made by Apple-owned Beats Electronics, has been discontinued. First reported by 9to5Mac, the Beats Pill+ is no longer on the Beats website or in the online Apple store. It was the first new product released ...

52. Roku adds a new 'Live TV Zone' to its homescreen

The company first launched its live TV channel guide in 2020 as part of its broader free streaming hub, The Roku Channel, where Roku owners can also stream ad-supported TV shows and movies. At the time, the guide had provided access to over 100 channels ...

53. Lego delays Overwatch 2 set over concerns about Activision Blizzard 'workplace culture'

While we complete the review, we will pause the release of a LEGO Overwatch 2 product which was due to go on sale on February 1, 2022. Polygon has reached out to The Lego Group ...

54. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile say they're not blocking Apple's iCloud Private Relay

AT&T and Verizon straight-up say they're not blocking the feature from functioning. Verizon spokesperson George L. Koroneos confirms that Private Relay works on both cellular and Fios internet connections, and AT&T spokesperson Seth Bloom says the ...