Telegram, a popular instant messaging platform will provide support for group video calls next month, according to their founder Pavel Durov. The messaging platform has a history of use by activists, journalists, and privacy advocates due to its privacy features that protect them from tracking by abusive regimes (dependent on how they’re used). Telegram is…
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Mass production of the Apple Silicon M2 processor has reportedly begun, according to Nikkei. This is most likely a more powerful, improved variant of the M1 processor that Apple released late last year. The M1, assumed to be Apple’s base model chip has outperformed some high-end Intel processors in competitors’ laptops. The M1 processor is…
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Android’s COVID-19 exposure notification system logs contact tracing data to the system (OS) logs, which are accessible by the ‘privileged’ apps on the user’s device. Privileged apps are third-party apps that Google or the phone vendor allow to access protected areas of your phone (e.g. Facebook has admin privileges on Samsung phones) — this concept…
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Apple has released iOS 14.5, and one of its most significant features is App Tracking Transparency (ATT). ATT requires app vendors to ask users for permission before tracking their activity across multiple apps. This mirrors efforts in many countries to pass laws requiring consent for data collection. However, such laws have been circumvented by telling…
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Honda, one of the world’s largest automakers has decided to electrify all of their cars by the year 2040. Electrification refers to vehicles that utilize electric propulsion at least partially. In Honda’s case it would be both battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles utilize an electric motor which obtains electric power from…
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iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 have been released, marking one of the most significant iPhone updates in years. The update enables support for AirTags trackers, App Tracking Transparency (ATT), the ability to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, more voice options for Siri, separate skin tone variations for emoji with couples among multiple bug…
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Sudbury, a city in Ontario, Canada has purchased four Tesla electric vehicles to add to their fleet of paramedic vehicles. The Tesla Model 3 vehicles are a semi-affordable way to add zero-emissions vehicles to their fleet and reduce overall emissions. Another noteworthy benefit of this decision is the fact that the vehicles are both small…
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AirDrop — a sharing feature included in all Apple phones, tablets, and computers has a vulnerability, according to the German university Technische Universitat Darmstadt. The security vulnerability may expose users’ phone numbers and email addresses if they bring up their sharing panel on their Mac OS or iOS devices. According to the research, the vulnerability…
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900 Canadian customers experienced an Internet outage caused by beavers gnawing through a crucial fiber optic cable. The outage occurred in Tumbler Ridge, a municipality in British Columbia. The region, home to 2,000 people endured the outage for 36 hours. The determined rodents dug down alongside the creek, chewed through the 4.5″ conduit and then…
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In 2020, carbon emissions fell 5.8% due to the economic calamity and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries shut down or restricted air travel, road travel, and more people worked from home. All of the above decreased travel-induced emissions, which was seen as a silver lining of the dark cloud that COVID-19…
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The Tesla Powerwall 2 will receive a software update that increases its power output significantly, now that Powerwall usage data shows that (at least the newer) units are capable of supplying 50% more power than previously thought. The caveat is that this applies only if the ambient temperature is 30 °C. This follows the news…
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The city of Jackson, Tennessee is exploring the possibility of investing in and utilizing Bitcoin in various ways. They’re interested in mining Bitcoin, as well as paying employees with cryptocurrencies including but not limited to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Jackson’s mayor Scott Conger put up a ‘laser eyes’ photo on his Twitter profile in support…
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