Technology

Alexa’s October update introduces a number of new helpful commands that let you start listening to audio in one room and continue listening on an Echo device in another. There are a few different commands for this, and the ones you use will depend on your situation. The first command lets you move audio between groups, also known as the smart speakers that you’ve assigned to specific locations throughout your home. Simply say, “Alexa, move my music to [desired group],” and you can transfer your podcast, radio show, or music to the room that you plan on spending time in. You can also continue listening to audio when you walk out the door — keep in mind that you’ll need a pair of Echo Buds in order for this to work. Once your Echo Buds are connected to your phone, say, “Alexa move my music h...

After Roku announced last week that it will soon remove non-certified channels from its service, it appears the change will close a loophole that allowed apps like Pornhub to exist on the platform. The company announced last week that it would be removing so-called “non-certified channels” by March of 2022. The change comes as Roku introduces new tools for developers, including a new independent developer kit that operates separately from its primary software developer kit for commercial-use channels. It also announced that it’s launching new beta testing capabilities that will allow app makers to run tests on their apps before making the changes live on the service. The independent developer kit will allow developers to tinker with and customize their Roku experience for personal use, suc...

Facebook has designed a system that circumvents the 30% tax Apple applies to in-app transactions. The social media network operates a service in which users can subscribe to receive exclusive content from creators in exchange for a recurring fee. Now, Facebook will allow its creators to share web links that direct users to pay for subscriptions via the platform’s own payments system. Though Apple has banned apps from allowing alternative payment options, with this method, it’s technically not Facebook, but the creator that is sending users to an outside payment system. “As we build for the metaverse, we’re focused on unlocking opportunities for creators to make money from their work,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. “The 30 percent fees that Apple takes on transactions make it...

A collective of anonymous investors on Monday spent $250,000 USD worth of cryptocurrency on an NFT granting the ability to make a trip to Willowbrook, Illinois once a year for a supervised visit with a 2,000-lb tungsten cube. The owners will be able to see, photograph and touch the approximately 14-inch forbidden cube, which is currently a popular meme in the crypto world, on their annual visit. The cube was placed on sale by Midwest Tungsten Service (MTS), a tungsten manufacturer that now sells cubes within the crypto domain, last month. The company said that the aforementioned tungsten was the largest that they could produce and that due to shipping issues, they chose to keep the cube at their headquarters and sell remote ownership in the form of an NFT. “This NFT represents a real-world...

What’s 14.545 inches across, weighs one ton (around 907kg or 2,000lbs), and just sold to a group of anonymous crypto investors for roughly $250,000? Why, it’s the biggest tungsten cube ever to be manufactured by Midwest Tungsten Service of Willowbrook, Illinois. Confused? Yes, that’s understandable. But consider this: tungsten cubes are one of the most popular memes in the world of cryptocurrency right now, a realm where value is defined as much by attention as anything tangible. (Call it the stonk market if you like.) Tungsten, if you’re not familiar, is a metal 1.7 times as dense as lead, and since 2015, nerdy types have been able to buy small cubes of tungsten manufactured by outfits like the Midwest Tungsten Service. Owning one has been a joke on Reddit for years, but in recent months,...

Microsoft is continuing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Xbox in style this year with a second themed Adidas sneaker: the Xbox 360 Forum Mid, which, as the name suggests, is inspired by the company’s second console. The Xbox 360 design follows the first Xbox / Adidas collaboration, announced in October which took inspiration from the original Xbox console. The Xbox 360 Forum Mid, however, is decked out in the 360’s white, silver, and green color scheme for a 2005-era look, complete with plenty of subtle details that reference the original design. The velcro strap, for instance, is emblazoned with the disc tray from the 360, while the air vents and Xbox button are featured on the outside. Even the heel is designed to look like the memory card and hard drive slots. The shoe will come...

Facebook has found a way to skirt Apple’s 30 percent tax on in-app transactions. On Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook parent company Meta, announced that creators will soon be able to share custom web links directing their fans to pay them for subscriptions using Facebook’s native payments system. If a fan signs up through the link rather than Apple’s in-app subscription, the creator will keep all of the money minus taxes. Facebook subscription feature, which lets creators charge on a reoccurring basis for access to exclusive content, is available in 27 countries and accessible to creators who meet certain eligibility requirements. Facebook is operating in a gray zone under Apple’s rules for the App Store, though a spokesperson said the social network believes its approach ha...

The ice is thawing on a nine-year internet feud. When you share Instagram links on Twitter, you’ll see a preview of the link that includes an image instead of just the URL text starting on Wednesday. The feature is rolling out on Android, iOS, and the web. I didn’t see a preview when I tried sharing an Instagram post on my Twitter feed, so it might not work for you just yet. Both Instagram and Twitter are promoting the change. They said it would never happen… Twitter Card previews start rolling out TODAY. Now, when you share an Instagram link on Twitter a preview of that post will appear. pic.twitter.com/XSZRx9dzd1 — Instagram (@instagram) November 3, 2021 If you want to share your latest Instagram post on the Twitter timeline too, you’re in luck: now when you share a link to an IG post in...

Twitch has introduced a wholesome new streaming category for users who enjoy looking at cute pet videos. Though there have always been channels that showcase animals across a variety of the platform’s other categories, Animals, Aquariums, and Zoos  conveniently consolidates all of the animal streams to one space. The channels listed in the category offer a glimpse at a variety of animal species, from a hive of honeybees to ducks swimming in a pond. A few of the channels are run by animal rescues and conservations, giving viewers insight into the day-to-day operations of caring for endangered species, including sea otters, wolves and more. Other streamers simply document what it’s like caring for their pets, such as the Malaysia-based channel QBunnyTV, whose owners publish a schedule o...

A look inside skateboarder Nyjah Huston‘s Laguna Beach home offers a glimpse into the spaces that show off his pro athlete lifestyle and how his distinct take on fashion translates to interiors. Known for his strong sense of personal style, Huston’s penchant for skulls iconography, zen decor and industrial textures appear throughout his pad. These elements, which represent his singular aesthetic and love for skateboarding, are also reflected in his special edition of the ASUS ROG Strix Laptop. Huston is recognized globally for his athletic talents as well as his take on fashion — and his internal space is a reflection of this external persona. As a decorated pro skateboarder, it’s only natural for Huston to have a dedicated spot for his many awards and mementos of career milestones. Inside...

On a call Tuesday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rallied Democrats to pass two ambitious bills at the heart of President Biden’s agenda, aiming for a final house vote later this week. But the climate provisions of the $1.75 trillion budget reconciliation bill that progressives want to pass alongside a bipartisan infrastructure bill are newly uncertain after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) pushed to further delay the vote during a surprise press conference on Monday. It’s the latest twist in a long struggle for Congress to pass meaningful legislation in support of the ambitious climate goals President Biden set on entering office. The reconciliation framework released last week puts $555 billion into clean energy, the first major effort to meet the Biden administration’s goal of a power grid r...