USA

There's a 7-11 app here in the United States that's released a Beta version for product testing. This app was recently given a big update with Mobile Checkout and what's called "7NOW delivery" - but the interesting bit is the call out to the public issued by the Product Owner for 7-Eleven's apps just this week on Reddit. There he suggested that beta testers would get "reward points" for signing up, and that he'd be looking to get some "exclusive rewards and benefits" for testers as they "scale the beta group up" later this year.

Continue Reading

The news around the Huawei controversy may have wound down a bit after the company was granted a small reprieve and hope of an eventual exception but things are about to kick up again tomorrow when that initial grant of mercy ends. Huawei was initially granted a 90-day exception to purchase some, but not all, American products it needs to maintain its business, including Google's Android software, but that time will end August 19. Sources, however, claim that Huawei will be granted another temporary general license for yet another 90 days.

Continue Reading

It would seem that the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has been put up for rental - sort of. Users can now "relish a stay in the real Oscar Mayer Wienermobile" now, so long as they keep the place clean and don't disturb the neighbors. While this may appear to be a marketing stunt, all the checks for actual reality with Airbnb seem to be cleared - you can almost certainly go stay a night in the Wienermobile, for real.

Continue Reading

In the United States in the second quarter of the year 2019 it was the iPhone XR that did best in unit sales, followed soon thereafter by a couple other Apple devices. At the same time, both Apple and Samsung unit sales have slid downward just a bit as two other brands saw relatively significant gains. Both big gainers sell Android phones: Google and Motorola. Motorola saw a 3.3% increase vs this same period one year ago, coming up to an 8.1% share - that's nowhere near the leaders, but it's still big news for a brand that's fallen so far from dominance in the past half-decade.

Continue Reading

Huawei's fate still hangs in the balance despite some on the US side talking about easing some but definitely not all restrictions. That might not be enough for Huawei to completely change its course and scrap the plans it made to compensate for the effects of the restrictions. One of those is the planned layoffs in its US-based R&D subsidiary that could affect no small amount of American jobs.

Continue Reading

Huawei's newest fate inside US borders was mentioned in a set of remarks delivered this week by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur L. Ross. This set of remarks was made at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Annual Conference on Export Controls and Security, Tuesday, July 9, 2019. In these remarks, it's made clear that Huawei's spot on the Entity List will remain written due to national security - but the reality of the situation is much simpler, it would seem. It's about that cash - that income.

Continue Reading

It's 2019 and despite all our advancements in technology, we're still struggling with how to finally solve the problem of robocalls and text spoofing. It is an especially huge problem in the US where it costs citizens thousands if not millions of dollars. It falls on the FCC to create the laws and regulations to protect people from such activities but has yet to fully address the problem. Now FCC Chair Ajit Pai has come out with rules that will criminalize such activities.

Continue Reading

The Institute of Medicine projected that 3.5 million new health care workers will be needed by 2030. A study published this week in Health Affairs by Harvard Medical School researchers looked into the role immigrant labor plays in care for America's elderly and disabled. Without immigrants, it would seem, US-born elderly and disabled citizens would have significantly less and lower quality available health care and long-term care sector assistance.

Continue Reading

When the US imposed a trade ban on ZTE last year, it almost caused the Chinese company to go bankrupt. While Huawei may last longer than its compatriot, it might not take long before the company is also brought to its knees. Google has already been reported to stop licensing its proprietary Google Play components for future Huawei phones. Now silicon makers like Qualcomm and Intel are also temporarily cutting ties with China's biggest tech company and the world's second largest phone maker.

Continue Reading

OnePlus users are having a bit of a conundrum this afternoon as they check prices of the new OnePlus 7. That's not to mention the OnePlus 7 Pro, also released today - we're talking about comparing the OnePlus 7 (non-pro) to the OnePlus 6T. They're not the same price - what's the deal? And why can't you buy a OnePlus 7 (non-pro) in the USA?

Continue Reading

Following last week's report from the World Health Organization comes an advisory on measles cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the agency, the United States is expected to break its current all-time record number of measles cases -- and the new record high may happen within weeks, not months. The news comes amid deadly measles outbreaks in multiple countries.

Continue Reading

A new leak claims the CIA has accused Chinese company Huawei of receiving funds from the People's Liberation Army, China's National Security Commission, and the nation's state intelligence network. This allegation has reportedly been passed on to officials in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, joining past accusations directed at the Chinese company.

Continue Reading