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Zac Hall

apollozac

Zac covers Apple news for 9to5Mac and hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast.

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Quibi video service shuts down 6 months after launch, 1 day after Apple TV app release

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the short-form video streaming service Quibi will shut down after less than a year. The report says that Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg has spent the day calling investors to inform them of the shutdown.

Notably, the shutdown comes just 24 hours after Quibi debuted its Apple TV application…

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Review: Sony WF-1000XM3 true wireless noise-canceling earbuds are the new champs

Over the past month, I’ve used the Sony’s poorly-named but pretty incredible WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds for gym workouts (recommended) and bike rides (at your own risk). These $228 earbuds fall between Apple’s $159 AirPods and $259 PowerBeats Pro but offer something both don’t: active noise cancellation.

In fact, I reviewed the PowerBeats Pro last month and thought I was done with my search for the perfect wireless earbuds. Turns out I was wrong…


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Can smart home devices get viruses? Yes, but ...

Can smart home devices get viruses? Experts separate fact from fiction …

Can smart home devices get viruses? There’s been a lot of talk about the idea of IoT (Internet of Things) devices being infected by viruses, not least because Samsung this month recommended scanning its QLED televisions for viruses every few weeks.

Security experts from Avast and Symantec have set out to separate fact from fiction. They say that while a virus isn’t impossible, it is extremely unlikely – but there are four other ways the security of your smart home can be compromised, and we outline some simple steps you can take to reduce the risks …


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Siri and other IAs are female by default

Having Siri, Google Assistant & other intelligent assistants female by default is sexist, says UN

Apple’s decision to make Siri’s voice female by default in the US and many other countries reinforces gender bias, claims a new United Nations report. The same complaint is levelled at Google Assistant, Amazon’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana.

The problem with this, says the report, is that it ‘reflects and reinforces’ the idea that assistants – acting in a support role – are female …


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[Update: Rollout details] Pokemon Go will soon use Apple Health and Google Fit data to hatch eggs and earn candy

Niantic has announced a new feature called Adventure Sync that’s coming soon to Pokemon Go on iOS and Android. Adventure Sync will use Apple Health and Google Fit activity data to credit players with distance traveled in the real world for hatching eggs and earning candy — even when Pokemon Go is not running.


Update 11/1: This post has been updated with information about the Adventure Sync feature rollout and how it works.



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Alexa-equipped ecobee Switch+ with Google Assistant support now available for pre-order, ships March 26

After being teased last summer, ecobee has officially announced pricing and availability for its new Switch+ smart home accessory. Switch+ is available for pre-order starting today and ships on March 26 for $99 in the US and $119 in Canada. Like other smart light switches, Switch+ includes Alexa integration as well as Google Assistant support for controlling lights  — but Switch+ takes integration with Amazon’s voice assistant a step further by building it in to the light switch.


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Jurassic World Alive roaring to Android and iOS with AR dinosaurs, Pokémon GO-like gameplay

Gigantic dinosaurs may soon be roaming the planet once again — at least on Android and iOS. Universal Studios and Montreal-based video game company Ludia have teamed up to create Jurassic World Alive. The title is a new augmented reality game launching this spring, and the premise is similar to Niantic’s Pokémon GO.


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