Technology

On Wednesday, Apple released the 15.2.1 version of iOS, a minor update to the mobile operating system that fixes bugs, including a denial-of-service vulnerability previously reported by The Verge. The 15.2.1 patch addresses a vulnerability triggered through HomeKit, the software API for connecting smart home devices to iOS applications. If the vulnerability was exploited, HomeKit devices labeled with a very long name would cause iPhones and iPads to endlessly freeze, crash, and reboot. Since HomeKit device names are backed up to iCloud, signing in to the same iCloud account with a restored device would trigger the crash again. Apple’s security notification for the 15.2.1 update lists only one change, a fix for the HomeKit vulnerability. Details of the fix state that a “resource exhaustion ...

Good news for Wear OS southpaws: Google is adding the ability to rotate the screen on Wear OS watches 180 degrees. There is, however, a catch — you might have to upgrade to get the feature. The news was initially spotted on Reddit by journalist Mishaal Rahman and picked up by Android Central. In a Google IssueTracker thread requesting customizable screen orientation, a developer wrote, “Our development team has implemented the feature you have requested and will be available on future new devices.” That prompted some mixed responses. On the one hand, the feature exists. On the other, it’s implied the feature may not make its way to all Wear OS smartwatches. Should this be the case, it’s understandable why Wear OS users are cheesed. It’s customary to wear your watch on your non-dominant han...

In a public report issued earlier this week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends that the IRS and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) be given more information about the location of the kiosks where people can turn cash into crypto or vice versa. In its report, GAO cites crypto’s potential use in sex trafficking and drug dealing as the reason why the government should have more insight into one of the ways people obtain crypto outside of the more tightly regulated exchanges. While kiosk operators already have to comply with several regulations (they have to register with FinCEN, keep transaction records, and collect extra information for transfers over $3,000), GAO argues that it’s still hard for government agencies to get a complete picture. Not only does the g...

Multipoint support on earbuds has long been one of Jabra’s hallmarks, but slowly we’re starting to see other brands add the convenience to their buds. The latest is OnePlus, which is adding “dual connection” to its flagship OnePlus Buds Pro with a new firmware update. Once that update is installed, the Buds Pro will be able to connect to two devices at once, letting you seamlessly switch between, say, listening to music on your laptop and taking a call on your mobile phone. This functionality is common in a lot of premium wireless headphones but has been much slower to make its way to earbuds. For a long time multipoint was a big selling point for Jabra’s Elite 65t, 75t, and 85t earbuds. But other companies like Anker and JBL have increasingly been offering multipoint with their respective...

Jeff Staple has tackled many challenges over the course of his 25-year career in graphic design, fashion and footwear and brand marketing. His next objective: entering the metaverse. The creative founded his NewYork-based streetwear brand STAPLE in 1997, utilizing a now-iconic pigeon graphic. In the years since, he has founded visual communications agency Staple Design and the Reed Space boutique and has collaborated with established brands like Nike, Timberland, and Clarks. More recently, the designer has dabbled in the NFT and crypto spaces, partnering with RTFKT Studios on his “METAPIGEON” sneaker NFTs and teaming up with entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuck for the “Perspective Pigeon” NFT collaboration. Today, Staple is fully embracing web3, this time through the creation of a...

On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced a slew of new moves to transition the US to renewable energy, with a focus on upgrading the power grid and using public lands and waters to harness solar, wind, and geothermal energy. It’s the administration’s latest effort to clean up the nation’s electricity grid, as Democrats struggle to make headway on key legislation needed to tackle the climate crisis. The Department of Energy is rolling out a “Building a Better Grid” initiative, which will put federal dollars to work after the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure law allocated $65 billion for grid improvements. Notably, there’s $2.5 billion earmarked for new and improved transmission lines that will be crucial for zipping renewable energy from far-flung solar and wind farms to co...

The House, one of Netflix’s first new releases of the year, is a straightforward concept. It’s a film split into three chapters, each helmed by a different director, all of which explore a different story related to the same sprawling home. What connects each short, aside from the physical house and stop-motion animation, is a creeping sense of dread. The House looks cute, with talking animals and dollhouse-like visuals, but in each story there’s something lurking just beneath the surface; something wrong, unsettling. It could be a recession or a scary creature — but when you put it together the result is an anthology with a trio of distinct, yet clearly connected stories. The first chapter, directed by Marc James Roels and Emma de Swaef, is an origin story of sorts, which opens with the o...

Horizon Zero Kirby, better known by its official title, Kirby and the Forgotten Lands, launches on March 25th and has a new trailer showing off the game’s co-op features and all the cool powers you’ll be able to suck out of the local fauna. In Kirby and the Forgotten Lands, the eponymous Pepto-Bismol-colored creature travels to a mysterious land dotted with overgrown buildings and rusted-out cars to investigate the mass kidnappings of Waddle Dees. Kirby, eater of worlds, is joined on his journey by a cute blue sidekick called Elfilin, who will help him defeat the evil Beast Pack. The trailer showcases two new abilities Kirby can learn using his power of vore: Drill and Ranger. With Drill, Kirby can dive underground dodging attacks and surprise enemies from below. The Ranger ability gives K...

There is no better screen in the world of tablets (yet) than the Mini LED panel on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro of 2021. While Mini LED is not super common yet — though we did see more of it announced at CES 2022 — it’s appealing as it achieves deeper black levels, a high contrast ratio, and high brightness. It’s also more expensive than a traditional LCD panel, so any dollar saved can be a worthwhile one. If you want that Mini LED-equipped iPad Pro, we have a solid discount to share. Apple’s Wi-Fi-equipped base 128GB storage configuration is $100 off. This model usually runs for $1,099, but Amazon is selling it in the silver colorway for $999. The 2021 iPad Pro also packs Apple’s stellar M1 processor, ensuring its performance can not only push all those pixels but do so with speed and with the ...

Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are being sued for promoting EthereumMax, a blockchain-based digital currency, after sharing posts of the unregulated token on their social media platforms to millions of followers. The reality TV star and ex-champion boxer are among a handful of celebrities caught in a lawsuit for alleged fraud. Kardashian endorsed EthereumMax in September 2021 to her 250 million followers in a sponsored post, encouraging loyal fans to hop on the cryptocurrency bandwagon and join “The EthereumMax Community.” The alleged pump-and-dump scheme promoted EthereumMax as a fast-earning digital token, despite its precarious emergence in the crypto bubble a month before her post went live. Mayweather promoted the cryptocurrency alongside his highly-anticipated fight with You...

South Korean tech company Astell&Kern has launched its latest state-of-the-art headphone amp dubbed the ACRO CA1000. Designed to combine the functions and portability of a top of the range amplifier with the brand’s ethos of delivering original sound, the CA1000 offers not only a high-performance output, but a stylish, minimalist look too. The amp comes fully equipped with Quad-DAC for detailed and balanced sound, a built-in battery, crossfeed support for a more natural acoustic experience with headphones and ReplayGain so sound levels automatically adjust across different music tracks. Rounded out with a view screen with a display adjustable up to 60 degrees, the Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000 is available to buy now from the brand’s online webstore, retailing at $2,100 USD. In other tec...