Technology News for Thursday 20th January 2022

1. AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT meta-review: even desperate gamers should think twice

“Gigabyte's RX 6500 XT Gaming OC card gives us our first bitter taste of what a 'budget' GPU means in 2022,” writes PC Gamer, adding “as a modern graphics card it looks like pretty weak sauce.”.

2. Omicron finally declining in the Twin Cities? The sewage says so.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Emerging data on the omicron variant in the Twin Cities has some researchers optimistic that we've hit our peak. The source? Our sewage. Since early in the pandemic, the Metropolitan Council's metro wastewater plant, has monitored the ...

3. Microsoft is bigger than Google, Amazon and Facebook. But now lawmakers treat it like an ally in antitrust battles.

The silence underscores how Microsoft has carved out a distinct reputation among policymakers, distancing itself from the political scrutiny embroiling its top competitors in Washington. As Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Google were marshaling their ...

4. Illinois Floats Bill That Would Let Developers Skirt Apple's In-App Purchase Rules

Illinois is the latest state to attempt to pass legislation that would prevent developers from being required to use Apple's in-app purchase options by allowing for alternate payment solutions within apps. iOS App Store General Feature JoeBlue

5. It's Not Complicated. Microsoft Wants Activision for Its Games.

Activision helps Microsoft broaden its influence over players who like shooter games like Call of Duty, those who participate in competitive video gaming leagues devoted to games like Overwatch and Hearthstone, and the massive audience of mobile gamers, ...

6. How to update your iPhone apps in iOS 15

Updating apps is still simple, just a little hidden. Jason Cipriani/CNET. Updating the apps on your iPhone or iPad is a quick and easy way to gain new features, new levels in games or fix bugs and security issues in the apps you use.

7. Google launches beta of Android games on Windows PCs

Google is launching a limited beta of its app to bring Android games to Windows PCs. Google Play Games will be available in beta in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan today, allowing Windows PC owners to play popular Android games like Mobile Legends, ...

8. Oh my Wordle! What is it and why is it so popular?

ST PAUL, Minn. — Wordle wins the internet so far in 2022. The browser-based word game, introduced last fall by a New York City software engineer who originally created the puzzle ...

9. COVID Levels Dropping In St. Paul Wastewater: 'It's Promising'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Scientist Steven Balogh studies wastewater from the Metro Plant in St. Paul, that collects from nearly two million people from 66 cities. The plant measures the amount of virus that the population sheds going to the bathroom.

10. Google Play Games for PC, which brings Android games to Windows, enters beta testing

The company had previously announced the first markets to gain access to the PC app, which was expected to arrive in early 2022. However, an exact date had not yet been given. After gaining access ...

11. Microsoft Surface Pro 8 up for pre-orders in India: Here are the key details

The tablets will be available in India alongside the Surface Pro 7+ from February 15, 2022, via authorised offline stores and online retailers. The Surface Pro 8 starts at Rs 1,04,499 and will be available at popular online partners such as Amazon and ...

12. Sony Expects Activision Games to Remain on PlayStation, WSJ Reports

Sony Group Corp. expects Activision Blizzard Inc. games to remain available on its PlayStation platform even after the completion of the publisher's proposed sale to rival Microsoft Corp. “We expect that Microsoft will abide by contractual agreements ...

13. Amazon Republic Day Sale 2022 — Best last day deals on mobile phones, laptops and more electronics

It also comes with no cost EMI options and bank offers for additional discounts. The Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop has a 15.6-inch FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and it is powered by the 4th Gen AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor.

14. Vaccination may lower risk of 'long COVID' studies say — but experts aren't so sure

The study included more than 3,000 individuals who filled out an online questionnaire. Among the 637 vaccinated people who got COVID-19, they were less likely to report symptoms of fatigue, headache, weakness and persistent muscle pain compared to those ...

15. New indoor climbing venue approved for Inverness

Plans for a world-class indoor climbing venue in Inverness have been approved by Highland Council. The charity behind the venture, The Ledge, said it hoped Olympic climbers would be among those to use the centre. The venue will occupy the site of a ...

16. Apple's M1 Max MacBook is a powerhouse on pro photoshoots

I put the top-end 16-inch Pro with the M1 Max chip with 64GB of RAM to the test in a studio photoshoot with probably the world's best -- and most demanding -- camera. It's the Phase One XFIQ4, a commercial-standard medium format camera that churns out ...

17. iOS 15 Patched Security Hole That Potentially Exposed Users' Private Apple ID Information to Third-Party Apps

Apple patched two significant security vulnerabilities when it released iOS 15 that could have potentially exposed users' private Apple ID information and in-app search history to malicious third-party apps and allowed apps to override user Privacy ...

18. Oppo reveals camera details for Reno 7 Pro 5G ahead of India launch

The OPPO Reno 7 Pro 5G will be the latest offering from the brand in the Indian market. The phone is expected to launch soon and it will be sold via Flipkart. It has already launched in China in November last year. Oppo has now given some detailed ...

19. Snapchat will restrict 'Quick Add' feature on teen profiles as it fights drug menace on app

These measures are aimed at curbing the “Fentanyl Epidemic”, which has become a serious issue in the United States. And messaging apps such as Snapchat are an easy way for dealers to connect with teens for the sale of these illicit drugs.

20. Redmi Note 11 Pro Global Variant Design Suggested by Leaked Marketing Images, Specifications Also Tipped

Redmi Note 11 Pro's 4G variant is said to pack an octa-core MediaTek Helio G96 processor, whereas the 5G variant of the handset is expected to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC. The leaked renders of the smartphones suggest a design identical to the ...

21. Wastewater findings suggest omicron is peaking

It also houses a lab where Steven Balogh, the principal research scientist in the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Division, has been extracting viral genetic material from wastewater samples. "We take a sample of wastewater coming ...

22. Sony hopes Microsoft won't pull Activision Blizzard games off PlayStation

Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard in a deal worth approximately $68.7 billion, it said Tuesday. The deal will bring popular games like Candy Crush, Warcraft, Overwatch and Call of Duty under Microsoft's ownership and will make it the third largest ...

23. Michigan COVID data for Thursday, Jan. 20: Omicron makes its way to rural Michigan

Last week, Washtenaw, Macomb and Monroe counties in southeast Michigan were the only three counties with at least 2,000 new cases per day, per million people. This week, there are 10, with a handful of Upper Peninsula counties joining the list.

24. Surface Pro X deal: Save up to $150 on Microsoft's most advanced 2-in-1 laptop

The key was ditching Intel processor found in more affordable laptops in favor of a more powerful and efficient Arm chip. There are two different processor models available on the Surface Pro X, and they're both on sale right now at Best Buy.

25. Why Airlines Are Worried About 5G

Aviation experts warned that 5G interference could have rare but catastrophic consequences for air travel, as some planes may not be able to land at airports near 5G towers. The F.C.C. and the wireless carriers largely dismissed those concerns.

26. Police warn of criminals using Apple AirTags to track people; here's what to look out for

(WXYZ) — People are using a new Apple tracker technology to commit crimes. They are called Apple AirTags, and police departments across metro Detroit say criminals are sticking them on cars in an attempt to steal them. In Dearborn, police say more than ...

27. Microsoft Surface Pro 8, Surface Pro 7 tablet PCs launched in India, start at Rs 83999

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro 7+ are coming to India next month, while pre-orders are now live for everyone. The two Surface products were introduced last year. While the Surface Pro 8 arrived as the successor to the Surface Pro 7 with double ...

28. Amazon Great Republic Day sale: With exchange offers up to Rs 23500, these smartphones are hard to resist

Smartphones from Xiaomi, OnePlus, Apple, Samsung and others are available with exchange discounts of up to Rs 23,500. The final price of exchange depends on the model of the phone you want to purchase.

29. Epic Games Appeals Ruling in Apple Lawsuit, Claims Court Made Errors

?Epic Games? CEO Tim Sweeney said that the ruling wasn't a "win for developers or for consumers," and ?Epic Games? confirmed that it planned to appeal shortly after the verdict was delivered. In the ...

30. Xbox backward-compatible games are on sale, here are 20 you shouldn't miss

The back-compat sale goes up to 85% off and ends Monday, Jan. 24. You can get classics like Timesplitters 2 and Timesplitters: Future Perfect for under three dollars each. Sprawling RPGs, like Eidos Montreal's Deus Ex: Human Revolution, are under five ...

31. Many game developers hate NFTs, too

“When asked how they felt about the possibility of cryptocurrency or NFTs in games, a few called it 'the future of gaming,'” the survey said. “However, a vast majority of respondents spoke out against both practices — noting their potential for scams, ...

32. Google is building an AR headset

Like forthcoming headsets from Meta and Apple, Google's device uses outward-facing cameras to blend computer graphics with a video feed of the real world, creating a more immersive, mixed reality experience than existing AR glasses from the likes of Snap ...

33. Messenger Kids' new internet safety games are mostly teaching kids how to use Messenger

Facebook parent company Meta has launched new activities on its Messenger Kids platform aimed at teaching internet etiquette to children. According to a blog post by Erik Michael Weitzman, director of product management at Messenger Kids, the new ...

34. New iPad Air, Macs, and iPhone SE With 5G Likely to Be Announced at Apple Event This Spring

Apple is also expected to release higher-end Mac mini models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips this year, and while a specific timeframe has not been rumored, a March or April announcement would make sense alongside the new 27-inch iMac.

35. Google Play Games for Windows PCs kicks off in limited beta

(Remember that devices running Google's Chrome OS have had access to Android apps on the Play Store for years.) Mouse and keyboard controls are supported on the select titles, which include Mobile Legends, Summoners War, State of Survival, and Three ...

36. Lego Star Wars: Skywalker Saga gets release date

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will launch on April 5. The date comes from a new gameplay overview trailer, which dropped exactly one minute after Polygon reported that that game has led to a crunch crisis at developer TT Games.

37. How Marine Wildlife can Coexist With Offshore Wind [Sponsored]

Harnessing the wind to blow back emissions is not without its own impacts, so researchers are developing technologies to co-exist with whales and other ocean-dwelling species. Full Transcript. This podcast was produced for Ørsted by Scientific American ...

38. Wordle developer donates in-app spend to charity

The developer of a game with the same name as smash hit Wordle has donated money made from his app to charity, after people mistakenly downloaded it. Steve Cravotta said he had seen more than 200,000 downloads of his Wordle game in a week, ...

39. Wordle: How to Block Scores From Your Twitter Feed

Twitter users can mute certain words and hashtags · Wordle doesn't have a dedicated app · Wordle has been developed by Josh Wardle.

40. Microsoft announces new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in January

Microsoft has announced new games for the Xbox Game Pass this January and some of them have already arrived. Here is a list of new games that have been added to the game subscription service and are available. Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc ...

41. macOS Monterey 12.2 and iOS 15.3 Release Candidates Fix Safari Bug That Leaks Browsing Activity

The bug permits a website to spy on other websites that the user visits while Safari is open, and because some websites use user-specific identifiers in their IndexedDB database names, personal information can be gleaned about the user and their browsing ...

42. The PlayStation 5 is available once again at Best Buy right now (update: sold out)

Update January 20th, 3:29PM ET: Best Buy has sold out of its stock of PlayStation 5 consoles for the day. We hope that you scored one. But if not, we'll try to help you get one next time. While there have been many restocks of Sony's PlayStation 5 ...

43. New Hampshire boy diagnosed with MIS-C released from hospital, will continue recovery at home

There was a parade to welcome Luke Raymond home, where he will continue his recovery from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C. There was also a sign at his home and a friend ...

44. Is Rainbow Six Extraction cross-platform?

Get ready, Operators, because a new threat has invaded the world of Rainbow Six. The Chimera parasite is back in Rainbow Six Extraction, and it is up to the familiar Operators from Rainbow Six Siege to take on a variety of missions to hopefully find a ...

45. Review: 'Rainbow Six Extraction' is a deep but grinding co-op experience

Ubisoft previously experimented with the concept in a limited time event called Outbreak in a “Siege” expansion. Ubisoft's latest project carries over those ideas and explores them as a fully fledged game.

46. New Greylock venture partner Mustafa Suleyman is looking for AI's next best thing

Mustafa Suleyman has been working in artificial intelligence for 12 years, trying to figure out how to use machine learning systems and AI to do important things in the work and have impact at scale. “And over the years, I've been lucky enough to be at ...

47. Google reportedly planning a new AR headset for 2024

Today's report cites a combination of inside sources and job listings, which appear to point to a device running a new operating system on a custom chip (à la the latest Pixel handset) that would outsource some of its on-board processing power to remote ...

48. Meta researchers build an AI that learns equally well from visual, written or spoken materials

Advances in the AI realm are constantly coming out, but they tend to be limited to a single domain: For instance, a cool new method for producing synthetic speech isn't also a way to recognize expressions on human faces. Meta (AKA Facebook) researchers ...

49. Metalenz PolarEyes upgrades digital sensing with polarized light

Tech sees differently, and can fuse multiple types of data we can't even perceive: lidar, IR, ultrasonic and so on. Metalenz, maker of highly compact “2D” cameras for advanced sensing, hopes to bring polarized light into the mix for security and safety ...

50. Twitter is rolling out its Communities feature to all Android users

The social media giant says Android users can now engage in Communities via the Twitter app as long as they've updated to the latest version. Once users join their first community, a new Communities tab will appear in their navigation bar.

51. PlayStation's creator not impressed with the metaverse

Metaverse supporters like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella see the metaverse as relying on AR glasses and VR headsets with a 3D virtual world. Kutaragi is now CEO of Ascent Robotics, an artificial ...