Montag, 2. Oktober 2017

EVGA Livestream #89 - Call of Duty: WWII Beta + Cuphead Gaming


Recorded live on September 29th, 2017. Watch live every Friday at 3PM PT! What's in our EVGA Live Podcast Rig: EVGA X99 Classified EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FTW3 EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 G2 EVGA DDR4 2666MHz 16GB EVGA TORQ X5 Intel 5960X CPU Intel 750 400GB PCI-E SSD NVME Dual 4K Displays Microsoft Windows 10 Elgato HD60 Capture Card ★ Podcast Beats Provided by ★ MonsterCat: http://ift.tt/1wG28gH *******Follow TeamEVGA******* • http://ift.tt/2vcCvs0 • http://twitter.com/teamevga • http://ift.tt/1ThYyCe • http://ift.tt/2kz18x6 • http://ift.tt/1lYSWDq • WEBSITE https://www.evga.com/ *****Check out our Weekly Podcast***** http://ift.tt/2uZVGbu
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McDonald’s Bringing Back “Really Limited” Quantity Of Szechuan Sauce For One Day

McDonald’s Szechuan sauce may be long forgotten by many folks, and others never noticed its brief existence in the first place, but among its fans, Szechuan sauce has taken on near-mythical status, stoked by the cartoon exploits of an ornery mad scientist.

For the first time in 20 years, McDonald’s says it will bring back its Szechuan sauce in a “really, really” limited quantity.

On Oct. 7, select McDonald’s restaurants will give away the sauce, along with limited-edition, hand numbered, screen-printed posters compensating all of the company’s sauces.

The sauce and poster giveaway was apparently launched as part of the company’s introduction (again) of Buttermilk Crispy Tenders.

You can see which McDonald’s locations near you will be serving up the sauce online.

Why The Comeback?

McDonald’s originally offered Szechuan sauce at restaurants in the late ‘90s as a promotion for the Disney movie Mulan.

The path to the sauce’s (limited) return began earlier this year when the Adult Swim show Rick and Morty included a joke about the sauce.

Soon after the episode’s April 1 premiere, fans on social media began calling for the sauce’s return, even starting online petitions to bring back the dip.

In July, the fast food giant sent a jug of the sauce to Rick and Morty creators. The jug contained a nondescript label poking fun at the show.

Per the instructions, the sauce was to be served “to mad scientists traveling with their teenage grandson; potential non-scientist versions of mad scientists from an alternate dimension; and/or Jerry.”


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

GM Jumping On Zero Emissions Bandwagon With “All-Electric” Plans

A few weeks after Volkswagen said it’s planning on eventually offering electric versions of all the cars it makes, General Motors announced today that it’s jumping on the zero-emissions bandwagon with the goal of an “all-electric” future.

First, the company will introduce two new all-electric vehicles in the next 18 months. GM says those will be the first of at “at least” 20 new all-electric cars that will launch by 2032.

“General Motors believes in an all-electric future,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, while acknowledging that the company’s vision “won’t happen overnight.”

GM’s plan for zero emissions involves both battery electric technology as well as hydrogen fuel cell electric, depending on the vehicle.

USA Today notes that during a company event announcing these plans, Reuss declined to say exactly when GM will move entirely away from gas and diesel vehicles.

“General Motors will move humanity forward in the future with all-electric propulsion,” Reuss said, claiming that the company is “far along” in its plan to lead lead the way to that future. “Because General Motors believes the future is all electric, these aren’t just words in a war of press releases.”


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Facebook decides to hire 1,000 to fight questionable ads | Engadget Today


To go to the 'global ad review' team. http://ift.tt/2ykDc7T Now that Facebook has given Russia-linked ads to Congress, it's outlining what it'll do to prevent such a suspicious ad campaign from happening in the future. To begin with, it's promising to make ads more transparent -- it's writing tools that will let you see all the ads a Page runs, not just the ones targeting you. In theory, this could help concerned people spot questionable advertising without requiring help from Facebook or third parties. Most of Facebook's efforts, however, center around toughening the ad review process and the standards that guide them. Subscribe to Engadget on YouTube: http://engt.co/subscribe Get More Engadget: • Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZT • Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engadget • Follow us on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZV • Add us on Snapchat: http://ift.tt/1UqS18a • Read more: http://www.engadget.com Engadget is the definitive guide to this connected life.
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Microsoft Killing Off “Groove Music Pass,” The Zune Streaming Successor You Never Knew Existed

While Microsoft stopped making Zune devices back in 2011, the brand name limped along for a few years as a streaming service which in turn was folded into the company’s “Groove Music” in 2015. Now it sounds like Microsoft is giving up on offering its own music platforms, announcing that it’s killing off Groove Music Pass in favor of expanding a Spotify partnership.

Microsoft says it will be ending support for Groove Music Pass and music purchase in the Windows Store will be discontinued, although users will still be able to play songs they already own using the Groove Music app.

Subscribers who have a Pass subscription that goes beyond Dec. 31, 2017 will receive a prorated refund or a Microsoft gift card.

“We’ll continue to update the Groove Music app so you can play and manage the music you’ve purchased and downloaded to your PC or uploaded to OneDrive or another cloud storage service,” Microsoft says. “But the app will no longer stream or play Groove Music Pass content after December 31, 2017.”

To that end, Groove Music Pass customers will be able to move their playlists and collections over to Spotify, and may be eligible for a 60-day free trial of Spotify Premium: If you’ve already subscribed to Spotify Premium or Unlimited or you’ve accepted a trial offer before, you won’t be eligible for this one.

According to Microsoft, an update to the Groove Music app — including the ability to move music to Spotify — will be available for Windows Insiders beginning this week. The app update for Windows 10 and Xbox one device will roll out broadly Oct. 9. Groove Music Pass content will be available to move to Spotify until at least Jan. 31, 2018.


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Apple Investigating Reports That Some iPhone 8 Plus Displays Detach

Apple’s iPhone 8 has only been on the market for a short time, but some customers have already claimed their devices experienced a potential battery issue, prompting the tech company to open an investigation.

MacRumors reports that Apple is looking into claims that the display panel for the iPhone 8 Plus unexpectedly separated from the device’s frame, potentially due to a battery issue.

A rep for Apple said the company is aware of the issues and they’re “looking into it.”

Burst Phones

The two separate incidents happened last week in Taiwan and Japan, MacRumors reports.

In the first case, a Taiwanese woman claims that her iPhone 8 Plus burst while charging on an official Apple power adapter.

Photos of the device show the display of the phone sticking out from the body, with the components inside visible.

MacRumors, citing Chinese media reports, notes that the phone was returned to Apple as part of an investigation into the incident.

The second incident came to light when a Japanese customer shared a photo allegedly showing an iPhone 8 Plus’ display piece detached from the rest of the phone.

While it’s unclear what caused the issues, MacRumors suggests it could be the result of a battery that may have swelled.

If this occurred, the gasses inside the battery may have expanded too much causing the display to pop out of the device frame.

 


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Birchbox Says It Will No Longer Share Gift Recipients’ Addresses

Days after Consumerist highlighted privacy concerns related to Birchbox sharing the personal addresses of gift recipients with the person who sent the gift, the company says it has changed its practices.

A rep for Birchbox confirmed to Consumerist today that it had “taken immediate action” to stop sharing gift recipients’ addresses and tracking information with the gift giver.

“We take our customers’ privacy very seriously and we understand the concern around this issue,” the rep said. “It is always our intention to provide the best customer experience possible, but sending gift recipients’ personal details to the gift giver was an oversight and we sincerely apologize.”

The Concerns

Last week, Consumerist shared the story of Mike, who had purchased a three-month gift subscription to Birchbox for a friend, using only her email.

Through this system, the giftee receives an email notifying them that someone has sent them a subscription gift. They can then redeem this gift for the boxes by providing their address and other personal information.

When his friend redeemed the gift and the first box of samples was shipped, Birchbox also sent Mike an email containing his friend’s full mailing address — information he’d never given the company.

“Obviously, this has some privacy concerns and a potential to easily be exploited,” he says.

Consumerist tested Birchbox’s system by purchasing our own gift subscription. We also received the same email with our gift recipient’s full address.

A Different Take

Before publishing our first story, Consumerist contacted Birchbox through its media email line.

We received a response from the company explaining that Birchbox includes the gift recipient’s shipping information in the email “to let the gifter know that their recipient has successfully set up and claimed their new Birchbox Gift.”

The Birchbox response also said that the gift-giver could then, if they wanted to, use that address to send a gift or gift certificate directly to the friend. The Birchbox staffer who contacted Consumerist told us at the time that there was currently no way for a customer to opt out of having this information shared with a gift-giver.

Even though Consumerist address our request to the Birchbox press line and labeled it as a “media inquiry,” the company now claims that the person who responded to our request was a member of its customer service staff.

 


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Coca-Cola Goes Shopping, Spends $220M On Topo Chico Sparkling Water

Coca-Cola is trying shed some of the criticism it gets for not only selling high-calorie sugar water but paying scientists to make dubious claims about said sugar water. So it now wants to sell you unsweetened water at a premium price. Problem is, the public only has so much of an appetite for Dasani, so Coke’s got to find other ways to convince you to pay for bottled water. Enter, Topo Chico.

Coca-Cola is buying the cult favorite sparkling water brand from Mexico-based Arca Continental. As part of the deal, Coke says Arca will continue to bottle the drink, which has fans in Texas and other pockets of the U.S., at the same Monterrey, Mexico, plant the brand has been using since 1895.

And as it turns out, Coca-Cola and Topo Chico go way back: The first Coke bottled in Mexico was at a Topo Chico facility in the 1920s.

With the deal, Coca-Cola says it’s getting a trendy, “fast-growing brand” — one that the company likely hopes can compete with the likes of LaCroix.

The company makes no bones about trying to appeal to the cool kids: Matt Hughes, vice president of incubation at Coca-Cola’s Venturing and Emerging Brands unit, notes that Topo Chico is “a sought-after mixer thanks to its high carbonation and unique minerals,” leading to “an almost unintentional phenomenon among the craft cocktail culture, especially in Austin.”

He adds that in trying to connect with consumers, VEB adheres to guidelines that “align well with the brand,” including “authentic’ and “cool without trying too hard.”

Right now, Topo Chico is sold in Northern Mexico and in 35 states across the U.S., with approximately 70% percent of its U.S. sales coming from Texas. The goal is to extend Topo Chico’s reach beyond that, “while preserving its heritage,” Hughes says.

“We’ll continue to protect the prestige of the brand, which is authentic to its heritage and hip without being pretentious,” Hughes says. “It’s important for us to maintain the relevance with the core Topo Chico fanbase while introducing the brand to new people.”


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

So many Rokus so little time (The 3:59, Ep. 292)


Starts @ 3:33 before the edit. Meet the 5 new Roku devices. Plus, credit card skimmers and SNES classic edition. Rook Streaming Stick Plus: http://cnet.co/2yRbQDn Credit card skimmers: http://cnet.co/2hG52Et SNES Classic review: http://cnet.co/2y98C11 Good morning from CNET NY Studios while we record the daily news-bite podcast: The 3:59. Hangout while we cover a multitude of stories from around the tech world and then David Katzmaier, Ben Fox Rubin and Alfred Ng will take your questions and comments in the chat. Watch more episodes of 3:59 on Youtube: http://bit.ly/29LVP7F Livestream: http://ift.tt/2jPXbF8... Periscope: http://ift.tt/2qU1nTf Subscribe to the audio podcast: iTunes: http://apple.co/29T3fbf Google Play: http://bit.ly/2hkXp5P Feedburner: http://bit.ly/2tVTkqw Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2hlanQK TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2uVg9vN Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2vfeHXE Cnet: http://bit.ly/2veEfEw Subscribe to CNET: http://bit.ly/17qqqCs Watch more CNET videos: http://bit.ly/1BQxrGw Follow CNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CNET Follow CNET on Facebook: http://ift.tt/UQQ9wc Follow CNET on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1YieDuO Subscribe to CNET: http://bit.ly/17qqqCs Watch more CNET videos: http://ift.tt/1Lg5Xzr Follow CNET on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CNET Follow CNET on Facebook: http://ift.tt/UQQ9wc Follow CNET on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1YieDuO Follow CNET on Snapchat: CNETsnap
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Fitbit Ionic smartwatch review


Fitbit has just release its first official smartwatch, the Ionic, which follows last year’s Blaze fitness watch. At $300, how does it compare to other smartwatches (like Apple Watch), and is it better as a “smart” watch or as a fitness watch? Subscribe: https://goo.gl/G5RXGs Check out our full video catalog: https://goo.gl/lfcGfq Visit our playlists: https://goo.gl/94XbKx Like The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twitter: https://goo.gl/XTWX61 Follow on Instagram: https://goo.gl/7ZeLvX Read More: http://www.theverge.com
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Ad Watchdog: T-Mobile Can’t Support Claims It Has “Fastest” Network

An independent ad-industry watchdog is recommending that T-Mobile stop making claims that its 4G LTE network is the fastest, or that its network is “newer” than Verizon.

The recommendation comes after the National Advertising Division investigated Verizon’s complaint that T-Mobile was making unsupported advertising claims about the speed and age of its LTE network.

The recommendations came after NAD investigated complaints from Verizon leveled at T-Mobile, finding that some of the company’s claims made in advertisements weren’t supported.

The T-Mobile ads in question described Verizon’s system as “older,” and “slower,” and said “they limit you.” The ads also asked viewers, “Why doesn’t Verizon offer unlimited data like T-Mobile?”

Who’s The Fastest?

According to NAD, Verizon challenged T-Mobile’s claim to have the “fastest” 4G LTE network, alleging that its rival relied on data that was not representative of the vast majority of smartphone users.

During the course of NAD’s investigation, Verizon began offering unlimited data and T-Mobile discontinued the ad. However, the watchdog group notes that T-Mobile did not discontinue claims that its network was new or faster than Verizon’s.

To that end, Verizon had argued that T-Mobile based its claim on unrepresentative data. T-Mobile used crowd-sourced data from Ookla and Open Signal as support for its claim that it has the “Fastest 4G LTE network.”

Verizon took issue with this data, noting that users who download the Ookla and Open Signal apps are only a subset of all smartphone users, and this group is likely to include more sophisticated customers who are interested in monitoring the speed they experience when using their mobile device.

The Ookla-measured speeds for Verizon customers may have slowed at the end of their monthly billing cycle when they reached data limits and experienced deprioritization, the wireless company claims.

Further, Verizion claims that customers who were experiencing deprioritization for the first time during the time period crowd sourced data was collected, may have monitored their speeds more closely than customers of T-Mobile who had past experience with data deprioritization.

Because of this, the speed tests collected may have oversampled Verizon customers, creating a misrepresentation of 4G LTE speeds most Verizon customers actually experience.

Coverage Coverage Coverage

In addition to challenging T-Mobile’s speed claims, Verizon also took issue with its rival’s assertion it has the same coverage as Verizon.

The challenged claims included:

• T-Mobile has near-equivalent area and/or geographic coverage as Verizon
• T-Mobile covers 99% of the area covered by Verizon
• T-Mobile covers 313,312 or “311 Million and Counting” Americans with 4G LTE
• T-Mobile “covers 99% of the Americans that Verizon covers” and 99% of Verizon’s customers

The Findings

When it came to T-Mobile’s speed claims, NAD’s review found that Ookla and Open Signal Speed tests conducted in the month after Verizon introduced unlimited data plans might have had a bias in favor of T-Mobile and did not support the wireless provider’s claim to have the fastest 4G LTE network.

As a result, NAD recommended T-Mobile discontinue claims that it has the fastest 4G LTE network. It also recommended that T-Mobile stop asserting that its LTE network is “newer” than Verizon’s and that Verizon’s LTE network is “older.”

Additionally, NAD concluded that T-Mobile provided a reasonable basis for some of the challenged coverage claims.

While T-Mobile had provided a reasonable basis for its coverage calculation that it covers 99.7% as many Americans as Verizon, NAD noted that it was concerned that a claim comparing the number of people covered could be conveyed as being related to geographical coverage.

To this end, NAD recommended that T-Mobile modify ads to remove imagery that suggests it is talking about geography and make clear that the comparison is related to population coverage.

In its advertiser’s statement, T-Mobile says it will “comply with NAD’s recommendations.”


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

States Urge Congress To Make Treatment For Drug Addiction More Affordable

Amid a nationwide opioid epidemic, a group of attorneys general is urging Congress to pass a bill that would give more Americans access to affordable drug addiction treatment.

A coalition of 39 attorneys general and the National Association of Attorneys General sent a letter [PDF] today to lawmakers calling for them to pass the HR 2938, the “Road to Recovery Act,” which would remove a 50-year-old provision in the Medicaid program that the states say acts as “a barrier to residential addiction treatment.”

The epidemic continues

Citing a recent study that found 65,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016, the AGs note that while they fight the battle in their states by arresting drug dealers and taking drugs off the streets, “we cannot arrest our way out of this problem, because it is not just a public safety challenge — it is a public health challenge as well.”

RELATED: State Says OxyContin Maker “Conducted Uncontrolled Experiment On American Public”

The letter points out that many people develop opioid addiction after they’re prescribed drugs for medical reasons, due to the addictive properties of opioid drugs.

“Drug addiction is a disease, not a crime,” the AGs write. “If we truly want to end this crisis, we need to focus on its root causes, including a lack of treatment for those suffering from addiction.”

Out with the old…

The provision in question — known as the “Institutions for Mental Diseases” [PDF] exclusion — was originally included in the 1965 Medicaid legislation to prevent funding for large, residential mental health facilities and thus, “discourage the use of inhumane and ineffective state-run asylums,” the AGs note.

That provision did lead to the closure of many inhumane institutions, but the attorneys general say it limits Medicaid funding for residential treatment facilities, which can be an important tool in battling drug addiction.

RELATED: President’s Commission On Opioid Crisis Says Death Toll Is Like 9/11 Happening Every Three Weeks

This bill would remove the restriction for drug treatment and make it affordable for those who need it, the AGs claim, while also creating market incentives for new treatment resources and making it easier for children to access drug treatment.

“If we have any hope of reversing this terrible trend, we need every treatment option at our disposal,” the AGs write in closing. “Therefore, we respectfully ask you to work to ensure the passage of HR 2938 to help us fight this epidemic.”


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

4 Things The Trump Administration Has Done To Ensure Obamacare Enrollment Is More Difficult This Year

You Can’t Get To Those Paywalled Articles From A Google Search Anymore

A lot of paywalled news sites are easily defeated with ye olde “incognito tab,” but others have required a little Google artistry — using both the incognito browsing and incredibly precise search queries to read a paywalled article for free. However, after years of pressure from publishers, Google is finally bricking up that doggie door.

Out with the old

The policy that’s changing is known as First Click Free, and it does exactly what it sounds like. Users who get directed to a paywalled publication — like, say, the Wall Street Journal — from search results can get sent directly to that paywalled content. In 2015, Google changed the minimum number of free daily views outlets had to offer from five to three, but didn’t change any other facets of the program.

Publishers who have hard paywalls naturally hated First Click Free, because it allowed users to circumvent those paywalls. But they largely cooperated, because Google promoted accessible content over inaccessible content in its search results. Basically, anything with a paywall that didn’t participate in First Click Free found its search results — and associated traffic — severely deprecated.

The Wall Street Journal, for example, disabled First Click Free access earlier this year. As a result, the company says, it lost 38% of its traffic from Google search and 89% of its traffic from Google News compared to a year earlier.

In with the new

After a decade of First Click Free, though, Google’s finally giving up.

The new program is Flexible Sampling. Basically, instead of Google determining how much of a free sample users should get, publications will determine for themselves.

But Google does suggest that publications should include some kind of “try before you buy,” because people won’t share what they can’t access. (In jargon, that’s “an effect on brand discovery” that “subsequently may affect traffic over time.”)

Google “recommends” that publishers use monthly, rather than daily, metering to allow casual viewers to get a feel for their content and “Target those more likely to subscribe.” Ten articles per month is the sweet spot, Google suggests, much like the threshold outlets like the New York Times and some other major papers already use.

Frankly, Google adds, subscribing to content can be a pain, and so publishers should make it easier. And by the way, the company helpfully adds, you can make it easier by relying on Google’s suite of tools — like, for example, one-click sign-on that relies on your Google identity to keep you signed in correctly across multiple devices and apps.


by Kate Cox via Consumerist

Couple Illegally Used Amazon Replacement Policy To Get $1.2M Worth Of Electronics For Free

An Indiana couple pleaded guilty recently to their part in defrauding Amazon of more than $1.2 million in electronic devices by taking advantage of the e-commerce giant’s replacement policy. 

The couple pleaded guilty [PDF] last month to charges of mail fraud and money laundering for their part in a scheme that involved purchasing goods from Amazon, asking for free replacements, and then selling those products at higher prices.

The Alleged Scheme

Back in May, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana accused the couple and another man of defrauding Amazon of hundreds of consumer electronics items and selling them on the black market.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the fraud involved taking advantage of Amazon’s replacement policy, which allows — under certain circumstances — for customers to request and receive replacement items if the product they received is damaged or not working.

While Amazon closely monitors customers’ accounts and orders for fraudulent activity related to the policy, the couple was able to skirt that monitoring by creating “hundreds of false online identities.”

Once the couple received the replacement products — which included Samsung smartwatches, Microsoft Surface tablets, GoPro cameras, and other items — they would sell the original and replacement items to a third man for a price significantly lower than they paid for the original electronic device.

This third man would then mark up the cost of the item and sell them to an unnamed New York company, which then sold the products to the public.

In all, the man made $1.2 million by selling the items. Of that money, the couple received $725,000.

According to plea agreements [PDF] submitted by federal prosecutors following the couple’s arrest, each of the defendants faces up to 20 years behind bars. They must also pay restitution to Amazon for the full $1.218 million, though it’s unlikely the company will ever see anywhere near that amount.

[h/t The Star Press]


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Microsoft Autism Hiring Program: Audio Description


The Autism Hiring Program at Microsoft is part of our Inclusive Hiring initiative. Learn more at http://ift.tt/2yjHTP0 A version of this video without audio description is available at: https://youtu.be/XUAsU_zQVMo
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Microsoft Autism Hiring Program


The Autism Hiring Program at Microsoft is part of our Inclusive Hiring initiative. Learn more at http://ift.tt/2yjHTP0 An audio described version of this video is available at: https://youtu.be/xm9rG03Ek74
by Microsoft via Endless Supplies .De - Brands

Apple Watch Series 3 review


Subscribe to Engadget on YouTube: http://engt.co/subscribe Get More Engadget: • Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZT • Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engadget • Follow us on Instagram: http://ift.tt/1k1iCZV • Add us on Snapchat: http://ift.tt/1UqS18a • Read more: http://www.engadget.com Engadget is the definitive guide to this connected life.
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Bamboo Smartpads - how to prevent your dog from destroying your homework


Spilled drinks and muddy paws won't stop you achieving your dreams! For more info, visit: http://bit.ly/2hGvvSo
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Shake Shack Trying Out Cashless Kiosks In Quest To Speed Up Ordering Process

In an effort to speed things up in its restaurants, Shake Shack is trying out a few new things at one New York City location, including cashless kiosks that customers use to place orders monitored by employees.

The chain is introducing cashless kiosks at a new location in Astor Place, a restaurant dubbed “the playground” because the company uses it to test new innovations, CNBC reports.

Diners will send their orders directly to the kitchen either by using one of the digital kiosk — with a “hospitality champ” nearby if they need help — or using their phones.

Customers won’t be able to pay with cash, as Shake Shack wants to see if ditching paper money will make the process run more smoothly.

The kitchen has also been rearranged to “eliminate friction time,” CEO Randy Garutti tells CNBC. Once an order is ready, instead of getting a buzz on a Shake Shack pager, customers will now receive a text. That way, guests won’t have to stay in the restaurant while they wait for their food.

“It’s really a guest-centric strategy,” Garutti told CNBC. “We get the best people and the best hospitality. It’s not just about the hamburgers.”


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

The Equifax Executive Who Oversaw Security Also Approved Last-Minute Stock Sales

Right before Equifax revealed that it had failed to secure the information of some 143 million Americans, some company executives sold off nearly $2 million in Equifax stock — a move that is currently under investigation. According to a new report, the Equifax executive who approved those stock sales is also the exec in charge of the company’s cybersecurity.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reports that investigations by Equifax’s board and the Securities & Exchange Commission currently focus on Equifax’s top lawyer, John Kelley.

Kelley is in charge of approving share sales by executives and overseeing cybersecurity at the company. These roles further intensify questions related to what Kelley knew when he approved the share sales, reportedly just days after the breach was uncovered in July.

A Security Role

Kelley, who is also in charge of government and legislative relations, was put in charge of cybersecurity at the company in an effort to provide an unbiased look at where money would go, sources tell The WSJ.

Under the arrangement, former chief security officer Susan Mauldin, who “retired” just a week after the breach was announced, reported to Kelley.

Under the arrangement, Mauldin was responsible for informing Kelley of potential issues related to the company’s security, sources tell The WSJ. Kelley would then pass this information on to former CEO Richard Smith, who resigned from the company last week. 

The Sale

The WSJ reports that Equifax contends that the executives who sold the shares were unaware of the breach when they made that decision. Sources note that the three executives had not been involved in meetings about the breach.

However, the shares were sold Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, just days after the breach was uncovered by security staff on July 29.

It’s unclear if Kelley was informed of the breach on that day. If he was aware of the issue and then approved the share sales that would be troublesome.

For this reason, Equifax’s board has opened its own inquiry into Kelley’s role and knowledge of the hack.

Another Investigation

The WSJ reports that an exchange between SEC chairman Jay Clayton and lawmakers suggests that the agency is now investigating the share sales.

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing last week, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy thanked Clayton for investigating the issue.


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

Kodak. Providing Key Technologies for Package Printing


Workflow. Flexo. Offset. Digital. Letterpress. The complete solution. Learn more at Kodak.com
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Facebook May Soon Let You Unlock Account With Your Face

While two-factor authentication is a very handy tool for regaining access to your accounts if you get locked out or forget your password, sometimes getting a text message or an email isn’t possible. That’s why Facebook has confirmed it’s looking into using facial recognition as a way to verify a user’s identity.

Facebook wants you to stare deeply into your phone screen — not so it can slap some silly Instagram filter over a selfie, but so it can use facial-recognition technology to unlock your account.

The social media and advertising mega-company is testing this new tech as a way to verify identities of users who have been locked out of their accounts and can’t, for whatever reason, use a more traditional two-factor authentication system.

The Next Web’s Matt Navara shared a screenshot of the feature on Twitter:

Facebook subsequently confirmed the test to TechCrunch, saying “We are testing a new feature for people who want to quickly and easily verify account ownership during the account recovery process.”

The feature is optional and would only be available on devices you’ve used to access Facebook in the past.

“It is another step, alongside two-factor authentication via SMS, that were taking to make sure account owners can confirm their identity,” Facebook’s statement reads.

Before it rolls out the facial recognition feature more widely, Facebook likely wants to make sure hackers — or evil twins — can’t get around it.


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

Apple’s iPhone X Likely To Make Billions Of Dollars… For Samsung

Here’s a funny thing about your modern technology landscape: The competition isn’t quite what it seems. Although Korean tech giant Samsung and iTitan Apple both sling out new high-end, flagship smartphones every year to entice the gadget-loving consumer, under the hood it’s a bit of a “heads I win, tails you lose” situation for Samsung, which stands to win big if Apple does — because it supplies a number of the key parts that make your iPhone go.

Samsung’s got to be at least as excited for Apple’s new fancy flagship iPhone X to do well as Apple is, the Wall Street Journal reports, because it’s going to make more money from Apple than it is from its own Galaxy line of phones.

An analysis the WSJ commissioned found that over the 20 months after the iPhone X launch, the parts Samsung makes for Apple’s device are likely to generate $4 billion more for Samsung than the parts for the company’s own Galaxy S8 do.

That’s based on an estimation that Apple will sell 130 million iPhone X devices worldwide during that time frame. Each of those thousand-dollar smartphone sales sends about $110 Samsung’s way.

Samsung pockets more from each Galaxy S8, the analysis finds — about $202 — but Samsung is only expected to sell about 50 million units of the S8 line in that same timeframe. The math says that Samsung is thus going to make more revenue from the Apple phone than it will off its signature device.

Tangled Supply Chain

Although Samsung’s devices are generally selling well as the world’s top high-end Android devices, the company has been part of competitor Apple’s supply chain for years.

Related: It takes dozens of companies to make your iPhone

Samsung made more than 75% of the actual processor chips — the tiny silicon brains that make computers work — for several generations of iPhone. These days, that business falls to a different company, but Samsung still provides other components for the iPhone, including the OLED screens that make the new iPhone display so sharp and bright.

The WSJ reports that despite a long-running patent infringement lawsuit, the two companies still work closely together… although Apple is also ramping up development and production of OLED tech in-house for 2019.


by Kate Cox via Consumerist

Roku Streaming Stick Plus streams 4K and HDR for less


Roku's latest streamer is the size of a USB stick, belts out 4K and HDR from Netflix, Amazon and others, and costs just $70. And now the remote controls your TV too. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Download the new CNET app: http://ift.tt/2fmiQ6l Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm
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Toys ‘R’ Us Hopes Playrooms & Augmented Reality Stations Will Bring Customers Back

If Toys ‘R’ Us is going to survive its recent bankruptcy filing and prevent a domino effect of debt throughout the toy industry, the retailer will need to get shoppers into stores and buying things. The company is hoping that making its stores more interactive for customers — including try-before-you-buy playrooms — will help put it back on the path to solvency.

USA Today reports that in an effort to get customers through the door Toys ‘R’ Us today debuted an augmented reality experience at 23 of its stores.

The new system, which will hit all stores Oct. 21, is intended to “transform the experience of coming into a Toys ‘R’ Us bricks and mortar store and turn it into something that’s quite different an a lot more fun,” CEO Dave Brandon tells USA Today.

A New Experience

Through the new program, Toys ‘R’ Us stores will feature 13 different stations that can be unlocked with a customer’s smartphone or tablet.

To begin the experience, the retailer’s mascot, Geoffrey the giraffe, greets customers virtually and gives them instructions on how to play.

Shoppers are then guided to the AR stations via flashing icons and stickers on the floor. Once guests reach the station, they use their phone or tablet to scan a sign on the shelf. Once the scan is complete, a toy or activity will come to life on the screen.

For example, if a customer visits the sporting goods station, they can scan the sign and a basketball will appear. They can then move the ball around their screen, through a hoop, and score points. They can then compare scores with others playing the game.

USA Today reports that each activity completed provides shoppers with stars, and the more stars you get the more experiences you can test.

Trying It Out First

In another attempt to get customers into stores and away from online rivals, USA Today reports that Toys ‘R’ Us let customers test out toys before buying them.

Starting this fall, the company will open playrooms at 42 stores with the aim of letting children try out games and gadgets, and watch demonstrations.

Brandon tells USA Today that work on the new AR stations and future playrooms began before the company filed for bankruptcy two weeks ago.

While he cautions that neither initiative will be able to completely turn around the retailer’s business, he believes it will get customers in the door.

“A lot of people hear the word bankruptcy and they immediately conclude that the brand or the company is going to go away,” Brandon said.

That’s not the case for Toys ‘R’ Us, Brandon notes, adding that the retailer will have full shelves during the holiday season and after.


by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

L.A.-Bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Breaks Apart Over Ocean

An Air France flight from Paris to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in eastern Canada after one of the plane’s engines broke into pieces over the Atlantic.

The A380 superjumbo jet and its 497 passengers landed at Goose Bay airport in Newfoundland on Sunday afternoon. No one was hurt, and the airline says it’s now investigating “serious damage” to one of the plane’s four engines.

“The aircraft landed safely at 15:42 (GMT), and the regularly trained pilots and cabin crew handled this serious incident perfectly,” the airline said.

One passenger Tweeted that a fellow traveler with a view of the engine said it “exploded” into a “giant fireball.”

Another reported a “loud thud” and “lots of vibration,” Tweeting a photo of the engine in pretty bad shape:

Passengers reported having to wait in the plane for hours on the tarmac without any updates from the crew. Eventually, after about 23 hours onboard, passengers said they were allowed to leave and board a bus

“Air France apologizes once again to all its customers affected by this incident for which specific commercial measures will be implemented.”


by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

iPhone 8 Plus vs. Galaxy Note 8: Video camera comparison


See which phone does best in a range of video-recording scenarios, from selfies to landscapes and low light. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Download the new CNET app: http://ift.tt/2fmiQ6l Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm
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Travis Kalanick appoints two members to Uber's board


The most important stories in tech include Uber's ousted CEO surprising the company by adding two new members to the company's board of directors. Meanwhile, Amazon adds free phone calls on some of its Echo products. Subscribe to CNET: http://cnet.co/2heRhep Check out our playlists: http://cnet.co/2g8kcf4 Download the new CNET app: http://ift.tt/2fmiQ6l Like us on Facebook: http://ift.tt/1930vfU Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cnet Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/2icCYYm
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Sennheiser PRO TALK | Craig Blundell - Part 4 of 5


Drummer Craig Blundell is a perfectionist and no matter the work load, he always gives his best. Every client deserves the same professionalism and attention to details, says Blundell in the interview with Sennheiser PRO TALK. Listen to him talk about the pet peeves and challenges of being a professional drummer. Subscribe to our channel and be sure never to miss the latest uploads. For more information, visit http://sennheiser.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/sennheiserofficial Or follow Sennheiser on Facebook & Instagram: http://ift.tt/1B5w9WJ http://ift.tt/2oripuN Discover the future of audio and see more Sennheiser videos here: What's Your MOMENTUM? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bccuqpNWBWM&list=PLPv-clLIf8-rQwLmuLcAluy7QFQt8ze9W The Future of Audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU5ROEBitZ4&list=PLPv-clLIf8-qIP51Vy139MJ4GmMynLLDr Headphones & Sound Equipment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcHE3wnepXA&list=PLPv-clLIf8-puk6ZhZkWTVGTVPJSyEjXY Microphones & Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tci999960qc&list=PLPv-clLIf8-ozunBDKSmhdqzyjbE1oMnB Sennheiser – The future of audio! Sennheiser’s mission is to develop era-defining audio solutions. Be it headphones, microphones or integrated sound systems – with German engineering, decades of experience, and innovative science Sennheiser creates unsurpassed audio experiences that push the boundaries of today's technologies. Follow Sennheiser’s vision and discover audio solutions that challenge the status quo whilst offering profound new ways of experiencing integrated sound systems as well as pioneering headphones, microphones or headsets!
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ASRock Z370 Series Motherboards-UNLEASH THE POWER



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Energy Efficient Vehicles and Hitachi Metals - Hitachi


Even the smallest components can make the biggest difference in the effectiveness and efficiency of our automobiles, especially in the construction of hybrid and electric vehicles. Hitachi Metals America manufactures the metals and wires that are powering the most crucial components under the hood of these vehicles. Thus, Hitachi Metals America is playing a key role in moving these vehicles forward. http://ift.tt/2bzNovY
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Why I might finally buy a car again (Top 5)


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Making the Xbox One X


The Xbox One X is the most powerful game console on the market. Microsoft invited us to its Redmond headquarters to detail how it designed and manufactured the console. The company was also eager to answer bigger questions: why it made this device, who it’s actually for, and what it all means for the future of the console games industry. Subscribe: https://goo.gl/G5RXGs Check out our full video catalog: https://goo.gl/lfcGfq Visit our playlists: https://goo.gl/94XbKx Like The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twitter: https://goo.gl/XTWX61 Follow on Instagram: https://goo.gl/7ZeLvX Read More: http://www.theverge.com
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iPhone 8 Plus — Portraits of Her — Apple


Portrait Lighting on iPhone 8 Plus lets you create dramatic studio lighting effects in Portrait mode. Learn more: http://apple.co/2fC9Aeg Song: “This Strange Effect” by The Shacks http://apple.co/2fBTt0n
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