Consumer Tech

Pokémon Go Wants to Make 3D Scans of the Whole World for 'Planet-Scale Augmented Reality Experiences.' Is that Good?

A new feature within the game will encourage players to create and upload 3D scans of real-world locations.

  • By Marcus Carter and Ben Egliston, The Conversation

Police Ties to Ring Home Surveillance Come Under Scrutiny

Many law enforcement agencies have been adopting a less sophisticated system of camera registries based on information volunteered by residents.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

What Big Tech Wants Out of the Pandemic

The firms are all too eager to help the government manage the coronavirus crisis.

  • By Franklin Foer, The Atlantic

Are Your Kids Using Headphones More During the Pandemic? Here's How to Protect Their Ears.

  • By Peter Carew and Valerie Sung, The Conversation

Pandemic Organizers Are Co-opting Productivity Software

Mutual-aid groups are distributing groceries and spare air conditioners via tools designed to turn labor into money as efficiently as possible.

  • By Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic

A Four-Year Printer Review Finally Ends

It took that long to run out of ink.

  • By John Breeden II

Privacy Options Don't Boost Trust in Voice Assistants

For some users, adjusting privacy and content settings could have an unfavorable effect, the new research shows.

  • By Jessica Hallman, Futurity

VA to Distribute Thousands of Facebook Portals to Vets and Caregivers in Isolation

The devices will be distributed in pairs to connect qualifying veterans and caregivers during the pandemic.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Crashing the Party: Beware the Cyber Risks of Virtual Meet-up Apps Like Houseparty

The app’s booming popularity come with a growing number of questions about how safe and secure these kinds of apps really are.

  • By Paul Haskell-Dowland and Mohiuddin Ahmed, The Conversation

Ancient Animistic Beliefs Live on in Our Intimacy with Tech

We’re learning that humans can bond, form attachments and dedicate themselves to non-conscious objects or lifeless things with shocking ease.

  • By Stephen T. Asma, aeon

Report Warns of Tech Threats From ‘Other’ Chinese Companies

“The one area that China has been keen to exploit is at the state level because state governments largely are not aware of the threat it poses to them,” Sen. Marco Rubio said at the report’s release.

  • By Frank Konkel

You May Feel More Focused with Your Phone Nearby

Leaving phones behind can be distracting.

  • By Tim Christie, Futurity

House Subcommittee Knocking at Amazon’s Door Over Ring Data

The chairman of a House Oversight panel wants a briefing with Amazon officials about the consumer security tool.

  • By Frank Konkel

8 Tips to Make Your Gadget's Battery Last Longer

Time to rethink that rapid charger.

  • By Jim Erickson, Futurity

Featured eBooks

The Role of Chief Data Officers
The Government's As-a-Service Future
Government Innovation in a Global Pandemic

Batteries Made with Sulfur Could be Cheaper, Greener and Hold More Energy

Until now, lithium-sulfur batteries have been impractical.

  • By Mahdokht Shaibani, The Conversation

Got an Electric Car? Great! Where Do You Plug It In?

Depending on the state, access to public charging stations can be adequate — or nearly nonexistent.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

A Month at Sea with No Technology Taught Me How to Steal My Life Back from My Phone

No app is really going to help you quit using your phone.

  • By Robert Hassan, The Conversation

IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete With TurboTax

The changes come after ProPublica’s reporting showed how TurboTax maker Intuit tricked customers into paying for tax prep they could have gotten for free.

  • By Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel, ProPublica

Yeah, It’s an Uber. Buckle Up Anyway.

States since 2015 that passed laws requiring rear seat belt use: two.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

What Have We Done to Lunch?

From the Automat to Sweetgreen Outpost, grabbing a bite during the workday has long sacrificed human contact and flavor to value and efficiency.

  • By Sarah Holder, CityLab

How the Loss of the Landline Is Changing Family Life

The shared phone was a space of spontaneous connection for the entire household.

  • By Julia Cho, The Atlantic