Google's MVNO service Project Fi has made an announcement that has some subscribers upset: it'll be shutting down text forwarding next month. Subscribers have a little under a month to decide on a game plan, though Google says the service's call forwarding feature will remain. The feature is used by some for business or to maintain boundaries with acquaintances, among other things.
A box of unopened, original Pokemon cards from 1999 have sold for $56,000 at auction. This was a first edition box that included holographic foil cards, the biggest prize in the package. The first edition base set had a limited print, which contributes to its worth nearly two decades later. Though notable, this isn't the first Pokemon item to sell at auction for a significant amount.
Researchers have found a way to rapidly produce the mineral magnesite, which can be used as a long-term storage solution for harmful CO2 in the atmosphere. Magnesite forms slowly in nature, presenting issues around using the mineral to deal with atmospheric CO2. However, researchers have presented a way to rapidly increase magnesite formation, opening the door to a potentially more economical way to address climate change.
Following a teaser suggesting as much earlier this year, it has been revealed that Diablo III will be launching on Nintendo Switch later this year. The news prematurely surfaced ahead of Blizzard's official announcement scheduled for tomorrow, dropping all the details before being deleted. The release will include the original game, as well as an expansion and more.
Google is working on a personal fitness and health assistant, according to a new leak, and it's reportedly called Google Coach. The new personal assistant is allegedly being developed for wearable devices and will utilize what Google already knows about a user to proactively make recommendations, among other things. Google Coach isn't limited just to activities, according to the report, which also claims it'll monitor nutrition and suggest meals.
A new study highlights a couple big potential benefits from eating breakfast: burning more carbs during exercise and ramping up one's metabolism ahead of the day's next meal. The research comes from the University of Bath's Department for Health, where researchers worked with colleagues from other universities to study the effect of eating breakfast.
Having trouble finishing your math homework? Microsoft has a solution. The company recently updated its Bing for iOS app to include a new "math mode" that solves equations in a snap...literally. Snap a picture of the problem, give Bing a second or two to process it, and you'll be given the answer without any additional interaction. The feature is powered by Bing's Camera Intelligent Search technology.
Researchers have detailed the atmosphere of a giant, incredibly hot exoplanet called KELT-9b. Using the HARPS-North spectrograph located on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in La Palma, Spain, experts were able to discern the exoplanet's atmospheric properties, identifying iron and titanium vapor. The composition is the result of KELT-9b's incredibly hot temperature.
Almost one year ago exactly, Amazon announced plans to integrate Microsoft's Cortana with its Alexa personal assistant. Under this integration, Alexa will be able to communicate with Cortana, and Cortana will also be able to communicate with Alexa. Today Amazon revealed the latest evolution in this plan, introducing a public preview that enables customers to experience the new functionality.
Following news that some 2016 Pixel XL owners are experiencing issues with fast charging following the Android Pie update, Google has confirmed that it is working on a fix for the problem. According to impacted device owners, their Pixel XL smartphones no longer fast charge after installing the latest Android update, forcing them to charge at normal or slow speeds.
Budweiser has a new promotional smart beer cooler that feels an awful lot like rubbing salt in a wound: it only unlocks when the Cleveland Browns win a game. The company is providing these coolers -- each a large fridge with a glass front showcasing shelves full of Bud Light -- to the FirstEnergy stadium where the Browns play, as well as at bars throughout Cleveland. Presumably it'll be months or years before they unlock.
YouTube has just announced a big milestone for its livestreaming television service, YouTube TV. The company has expanded the product into its 100th service location, making it available to people in parts of Tennessee and Virginia. With the expansion, YouTube TV is available in most of the nation's big cities and metro regions.