Tesla’s Model X has been spotted in the wild; a new DARPA technology lets robots learn from YouTube videos; and Verizon is changing its policy on “supercookies.” Get the details on these stories and more in the Daily Roundup….
Technical
Google agrees to make its privacy policy clearer in the UK
Three years ago Google merged more than 60 privacy policies into one gargantuan document, in the hope it would be simpler and more readable for its customers around the world. Some people were skeptical of the changes and, despite Google’s best effor…
‘Revenge porn’ peddler banned from posting images without consent
If your significant other sends you artful nudes, it’d be pretty nasty to share those pics in the event of your separation. It’s a feeling that the Federal Trade Commission shares after handing down a judgment on Craig Brittain, the owner of a websit…
Forget 999, Brits may soon get the option to report crime online
In the UK, the simplest way to report a crime has always been to pick up the phone and speak to someone. Whether that’s dialling 999, 101 or the Crimestoppers charity, the general process has stayed the same. However, that could soon change in the no…
Sky confirms launch of its own O2-powered mobile network
Talks between Three owner Hutchison Whampoa and O2 haven’t yet reached a conclusion, but already some of the UK’s biggest companies are keen to take advantage of a future merger. After briefly flirting with Vodafone in a recent trial, Sky has confirm…
Uber works out how to insure its drivers between fares
Uber has inked a deal with insurer Metromile that addresses a huge question mark: whether its drivers are sufficiently insured between fares. Until now, the ridesharing firm had been giving US drivers $1 million in commercial liability coverage when …
‘World of Warcraft’ is getting a selfie camera — don’t tell Leeroy Jenkins
Okay, so at last count World of Warcraft had a Pokémon clone built into it, an in-game web browser of sorts and even a tribute to the late Robin Williams. Now it has another way to distract you as the epic battle between the Horde and Alliance rages …
Oculus Story Studio is the Pixar of virtual reality
Moments before Oculus Story Studio’s new virtual reality short Lost reached its satisfying climax, I found myself in a compromised position. Sequestered in a private demo booth, I was involuntarily crouched down, covering my head in a defensive posit…
Justice Department is reportedly spying on millions of US cars
While law enforcement has been using license plate readers to track vehicles for a while, they never formed into a unified network. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security posited a 29-page document about a vehicle-tracking network, but the idea…
Ford accelerates tech efforts with new Silicon Valley lab
Ford wants you to know that it’s more than just trucks and cars. It wants to be seen as a technology innovator too. Of course, the Detroit automaker has long had a friendly relationship with technology, what with its Sync infotainment platform, its s…
Tesco has given up on Blinkbox
Since October 2014, Tesco has done all it can to rid itself of its loss-making digital download service Blinkbox. TalkTalk came to its rescue, picking up Blinkbox Movies and its broadband services earlier this month, but the fate of its Music and Boo…
Carnival’s floating IMAX theater is the cruise line’s version of sunblock
Not to be outdone by Dolby opening its own large-format theater, the folks at IMAX are putting one of their massive screens on a cruise ship. Yes. Really. IMAX says that not only is this an industry first, but that the screen will be three decks high…
The music industry’s best-known production app will soon be free
You’ve probably heard the output of Avid’s Pro Tools audio production software, even if you don’t know what it’s like — it’s virtually a staple of the music industry, and spawned now-famous (or infamous) effects like Auto Tune. There hasn’t been a c…
‘The Interview’ is on Netflix streaming
As promised, the movie Kim Jong Un preferred you didn’t see is now available if you have a Netflix subscription (and an account in US or Canada). Whether or not watching The Interview is a good idea is still a matter of taste/importance, but at this …
Netflix and the Duplass brothers are working on four new movies
Last year at the Sundance Film Festival Mark Duplass implored indie filmmakers to “get their goddamn movies on Netflix” and this year, it’s clear he’ll be doing more of that. At this year’s festival, Netflix announced it has a four-picture deal with …