Author Archives: Brittany A. Roston

Though it was a hit with fans, popular mobile game Pokemon GO spurred complaints far and wide from businesses and homeowners plagued by players seeking Pokemon only they could see. The nuisance was extreme in some cases, prompting multiple lawsuits eventually consolidated into a class action suit against Niantic, the company behind Pokemon GO. At the heart of the matter is an important question: what is considered trespassing when it comes to augmented reality?

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Epic really wants its Fortnite players to enable two-factor authentication, and it is offering a new incentive to nudge them into action. For a very limited time, Fortnite players can grab the free glider from the in-game store, but they'll need to enable 2FA in their Epic account before they can access the reward. There's a catch, though: you have to give the glider away.

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Amazon has announced that its limited Good Omens series will be available to stream starting on May 31. The show is an adaption of the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett fantasy novel by the same name. In addition to announcing its premiere date, it was also revealed that British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has joined the cast in the role of Satan.

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Focal has unveiled a wireless version of its Sphear premium earbuds, the Sphear Wireless. This new model targets discerning on-the-go audiophiles, promising 'excellent tonal balance' alongside overall precise audio and 'explosive' bass. The earbuds offer a variety of features, including two different listening modes that accommodate various ambient environments.

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French high-resolution music service Qobuz has expanded into the United States, taking on TIDAL and other music services targeting audiophiles. The service has been live overseas for more than a decade, but only launched in the US this month, bringing with it unlimited music streaming across three different subscription tiers. The cheapest plan takes on Spotify and similar services, but customers will need to pay more for lossless quality.

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An exceptionally rare copy of Super Mario Bros for the NES has sold at auction for $100,150 USD. The sale took place through Heritage Auctions, which claims this auction has set a new world record. What makes the item so special? This particular copy is unopened and in a "supreme state of preservation," according to Wata Games chief grader Kenneth Thrower.

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Hong Kong's Correctional Services has revealed plans to test various surveillance technologies with the intention of creating 'smart prisons,' according to a local news report. The technologies are intended to monitor for unusual behavior among prisoners, Correctional Services Commissioner Danny Woo Ying-ming revealed this week. The systems will include AI cameras, robots, and real-time heart rate monitoring.

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Major US bank JPMorgan has taken the wraps off 'JPM Coin,' a blockchain-based "digital coin" that customers can receive by depositing US currency into their bank accounts. The digital currency can be redeemed at JPMorgan banks for US dollars, as well, offering those customers an alternative to existing cryptocurrencies. JPM Coin differs from bitcoin, however, in multiple important ways.

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Fortnite Season 7 will end later this month, ushering in the game's anticipated Season 8. As with past seasons, players will be able to either play the game for free or purchase a Battle Pass to unlock rewards. Ordinarily the Battle Pass comes with a small fee, but Epic is giving players the chance to score a free Battle Pass by finishing a series of newly launched challenges.

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Canon has launched its anticipated EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera following months of speculation and leaks. The entry-level model brings a smaller price tag than the EOS R camera, offering "the masses" a more affordable way to capture high-quality images and videos. Many of the features that surfaced online over recent days have proven true, including the model's compact size and extensive list of features.

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Reddit has released its transparency report for the year 2018, detailing the number and types of requests it received, including ones sent by governments around the world. For its latest report, the company has included information about retractions, restorations, and copyright removals, plus info on when it removed content in violation of its Content Policy.

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On Tuesday, Epic said that it had to delay the Fortnite version 7.40 update originally scheduled for release early Wednesday morning due to an unexpected issue. The company didn't say at the time when players could expect the update to arrive, but now we have the answer: early tomorrow morning. What can you expect after updating? A new weapon, new challenges, and more.

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