25 h. ago That 'uhh... let me think' face you make? Androids need it too

Ever asked a question and been met with a blank stare? It's awkward enough with a person—but on a humanoid robot, it can be downright unsettling. Now, an international team co-led by Hiroshima University and RIKEN has found a fix: giving androids a "thinking face." Their study reveals that when robots squint and furrow their brow while processing information, they appear more relatable, easing the eerie discomfort we feel with artificial beings that look almost, but not quite, human—known as the "uncanny valley" effect.

Politics

1 week ago Verizon Satellite Messaging, a Retro Console, and Velotric's Ebike—Here’s Your Gear News of the Week

Plus: Analogue delays its Nintendo 64 console, Fujifilm unveils a medium format camera, and Microsoft's Adaptive Joystick game controller goes on sale.

Politics

2 w. ago FBI warns of dangerous new ‘smishing' scam targeting your phone

Hackers have set up over 10,000 fake websites to keep smishing scams going and target both iPhone and Android users with texts. Kurt the CyberGuy shares how to defend yourself.

Events

2 w. ago iPhone and Android users will soon be able to send encrypted RCS messages to each other

Text messages sent between iPhones and Android devices will soon benefit from end-to-end encryption (E2EE), after the GSM Association (GSMA) yesterday published new specifications for the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol that include support for cross-platform E2EE. RCS is a longstanding effort to enable SMS-style cross-platform communications with richer features, such as group messaging, typing […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Technology

2 w. ago Android is adding Auracast support, which allows hearing aids to connect to public audio broadcasts

Google announced on Thursday that Android phones will soon support Auracast, a new Bluetooth technology that uses a phone to enable a direct connection from hearing aids to audio broadcasts in noisy environments. With Auracast, compatible hearing aids and earbuds can receive direct audio streams, such as a PA system at a train station or […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Technology

2 w. ago Xiaomi to preinstall PhonePe’s app store on smartphones sold in India

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi said on Thursday that its Android smartphones sold in India will come preinstalled with Indian fintech company PhonePe’s app store. Xiaomi’s Android smartphones usually come preinstalled with Google’s Play Store and the Chinese company’s own GetApps. Xiaomi said that it has signed a multi-year deal with PhonePe to replace GetApps with […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Politics

3 w. ago North Korean government hackers snuck spyware on Android app store

Cybersecurity firm Lookout found several samples of a North Korean spyware it calls KoSpy. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Technology

3 w. ago Google Antirust Case: DOJ Seeks to Force 'Internet Goliath' to Sell Chrome Browser

In a major development in the ongoing antitrust case against Google, the DOJ has proposed remedies that could force the tech giant to sell its popular Chrome browser and face new restrictions on its Android operating system. The post Google Antirust Case: DOJ Seeks to Force ‘Internet Goliath’ to Sell Chrome Browser appeared first on Breitbart.

Technology

last month Google Play update makes it easier to find Android apps with widgets

Google announced Monday a series of changes to its widgets system on Android that will make it easier for app developers to reach their users. Widgets, which offer at-a-glance views of an app’s most important information — like the day’s weather or upcoming meetings on your calendar — are a key aspect of Android home […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Technology