Microsoft’s virtual assistant comes in handy for lots of things — especially reminders. Now, thanks to a hand from SeatGeek’s ticket engine, Cortana will alert you when bands you listen to on the regular have a tour stop close by. As you might…
Technical
Documentary shows how One Laptop Per Child has helped kids in Peru
The staff changes, massive layoffs and the shutdown of its entire Boston office over the years make the One Laptop Per Child program sound like a huge failure. But this documentary by filmmaker Michael Kleiman shows that OLPC really did change some…
Feedback Loop: Building PCs, running headphones and more!
The leaves are starting to change color and the air is getting cooler, signaling that fall has finally arrived. You know what else has arrived? Feedback Loop! This week’s edition features the Engadget community discussing the benefits of homebuilt…
Vine now lets you use your Android phone’s existing video clips
Not too long ago Vine blessed iOS users with the ability to import pre-existing videos into the app, and now Google fans can get in on the action. Any clips in your Android camera roll are viable subjects to be trimmed down to six seconds or shorter…
Secret’s developers launch Ping, a simple app that keeps you up to date
The creators of controversial app Secret have just launched a new product, but this time, it has nothing to do with airing your dirty laundry anonymously. They call their new application Ping, a simple software that displays a list of topics (such as…
Belgian brewery to reduce truck use with underground beer pipeline
In order to cut down on the number of trucks it puts on the streets, Brouwerij De Halve Maan is working with the city of Bruges to construct an underground beer pipeline. While the brewing still happens at its original site, filtration, bottling and…
Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘Forza Horizon 2’ on Xbox One!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!…
For clucks sake: KFC Japan takes extra crispy to a new level
There’s really only one way to properly celebrate Colonel’s Day: a collection of fried chicken-themed accessories to show your pride. That’s just what KFC Japan is doing as part of a Twitter promotional campaign. Lucky winners will be treated to the…
Unconscious bias is why we don’t have a diverse workplace, says Google
Statistics don’t lie: If you’re working at a Silicon Valley tech company, you’re probably a guy. It’s a big problem — most corporate-diversity reports show a male-dominated industry, and colleges are struggling to find new ways to enroll women in…
Facebook offers more details on its internet-beaming planes
We’ve known about Facebook’s ambitious plans to bring internet to developing areas via drone for a while now. At the Social Good Summit this week, Facebook Connectivity Lab’s Yael Maguire revealed more details about what the social network is hoping…
Amazon lets you fill out your wish list with the help of a hashtag
Look beyond the lightspeed rush of news and one-liners and you’ll see a Twitter that’s slowly morphing into a place where you can buy stuff. Amazon seems to be coming to grips with that peculiar truth, which is why it cooked up another way to use the…
Soft octopus robots are equal parts speedy and graceful
Soft robotics can go a long way toward recreating the graceful movements of fish and other animals, and it now looks like they’re helpful for replicating some of the stranger creatures on our planet, too. A team of Greek researchers has developed an…
FXNow delivers its on-demand streaming to Apple TV
Just before Simpsons World arrives offering access to that entire series, FXNow has arrived on Apple TV set-top boxes. While Bart and Lisa make their way to the on-demand repository, the channel serves up FX series like Sons of Anarchy, The…
NASA challenges you to design experiments for Mars and beyond
Want to play a significant role in NASA’s space exploration efforts without spending years in training? You now have a better chance of making your mark. NASA has launched Solve, a site that makes it easy to find all the agency’s public competitions…
Rockefeller fund to move its fortune from oil to green tech
If you’re in any way familiar with the history of energy, then the name Rockefeller is synonymous with oil. That’s why it’s such a surprise to learn that the Rockefeller Brothers fund, worth $860 million, has pledged to dump its remaining investments…