Internet

Most games these days, be it on PC, console, and especially mobile, have an element of online gameplay, sometimes even when it doesn't make sense. There are, however, still some titles that require cooperating or competing players to be in the same local network, which practically means being in the same room or at least in the same building. These local multiplayer games may foster social interactions but they also hamper the gaming experience. Fortunately, then, Valve is now beta testing Steam Remote Play Together to fix that.

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Another Internet relic will soon go dark, Yahoo has announced. Starting later this month, users will no longer be able to upload content to Yahoo Groups, the online discussion boards that launched back in 2001 as an extension of the previous Yahoo Clubs. Though the initial change will only prevent users from uploading, Yahoo has warned that all posts published on the platform will be deleted before the end of the year.

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Instagram remains one of the most popular image-centric social network today and perhaps the only Facebook property (aside from Oculus) that has remained largely untouched by privacy scandals. Its association to Facebook and its popularity, however, also makes it a prime target for less conscientious people who'd love to pilfer users' private information at every opportunity. Despite that imminent danger, it is only today that Instagram is rolling out a very basic switch to let users disconnect their app from any app they may have authorized in the past.

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CEATEC 2019 is underway in Japan and more than just the usual tech trade show, the event has an underlying theme that promotes a rather idyllic and ambitious vision of the future. That is what Japan's Society 5.0 is trying to push, a society that harmonizes cyberspace and real space for the enrichment not just of individuals but of the entire society as well. That future relies heavily on technologies like the cloud and AI and, unsurprisingly, Microsoft is making a big push for its Intelligent Cloud and Intelligent Edge to power the future IoT-centric world.

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Netgear has introduced Orbi Dual Band Mesh WiFi System, an expansion of the company's Orbi Whole Home WiFi System. The new mesh networking product is designed for medium-to-large homes, according to the company, which it specifies as domiciles measuring at least 3,000sqft. The system is comprised of a router and satellites, plus it includes support for Google Assistant and Alexa.

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Instagram is one of the most popular social networks on the planet but, for all its fame, it remains oddly tied to phones. Never mind the fact that its web-based desktop experience is a few steps from being deplorable, the mobile app seems frozen in a world where people use smartphones in just one and only one way. The Facebook-owned network is very slowly changing, like the standalone Windows desktop app that finally lets you fully upload photos barely two years ago. Its next trick, it seems, is to finally let IG users chat with each other not on their phone but on their desktop web browser.

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There's an event happening in California of which you should be aware. The power is out for over 500,000 people on the west coast of the USA because of a threat of wildfire. The power is not out - this was voluntary. The company Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff that's now in effect - and will be spreading over the next few days.

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A new report out of the Pew Research Center reveals that many Americans have gaps in their knowledge about digital security, particularly things like how private web browsing works, what two-factor authentication is, and more. The results are based on a survey that contained 10 questions that focused on aspects of social media and cybersecurity.

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In May of this year, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig made a comment about releasing future guidance on the taxation of cryptocurrency in the USA. Today that guidance was revealed. This is the first guidance released by the IRS on this subject since their relatively thin set of comments on the matter all the way back in the year 2014. A lot has changed in cryptocurrency since the year 2014, including the two most major rises and falls of Bitcoin since the dawn of the blockchain.

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Google has launched a redesigned Google Shopping experience in the United States, offering users a new homepage that is personalized with product suggestions, ways to continue shopping for previously explored items, and access to what Google refers to as common items the customer has previously ordered. Users are given multiple different purchasing options through Google Shopping.

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After the almost unending litany of scandals that have rocked Facebook, many drawing intense criticism from the US government, the social networking giant is ready to turn a new leaf. Ironically, it is also receiving criticism from the US, specifically the Justice Department. In its efforts to begger protect the privacy of users that it has violated, Facebook is reportedly planning to introduce strong encryption in WhatsApp, Instagram, and its other messaging services. For Facebook, it is to protect users but the government insists it will be putting them in danger in the long run.

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As the company with the biggest presence and influence on the Internet, Google has taken it upon itself to make the Web a safer place. From misbehaving ads to insecure pages, Google has used its Chrome web browser to steer developers and administrators towards more industey best practices. Google boasts that Chrome users spend 90% of their time on secure HTTPS pages but soon it will be tightening the noose on remaining insecure content by blocking them completely starting next year.

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