Technology 
Many Android apps talk to private servers — and it’s often not clear why
A new report finds that a significant percentage of Android applications engage in covert communication — but it’s not always clear who they are communicating with, or why.
Sony quietly adds PS2 emulation to the PS4’s bag of tricks
Sony is hopping on the last-gen emulation bandwagon — except, it’s jumping back twice as far. PS2 emulation is going to roll out to the PS4.
D-Link’s Komfy Switch is more than your basic light switch
D-Link took a few steps further into the smart home category with the debut of its Komfy Switch, the company’s first product aimed at beefing up its home automation line with more premium offerings. The Komfy Switch features Wi-Fi connectivity … Continue reading
LG cancels release of new Android Wear smartwatch after less than a week
LG has halted the launch of the new Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE because an undisclosed serious hardware issue. That means Google’s flagship Marshmallow Wear device is essentially dead.
In-market baseball streaming starts next year, but not through MLB.TV
Baseball fans should have a much easier time watching in-market games next year, provided they have a cable TV subscription. Thanks to a deal between Major League Baseball and Fox, 15 regional sports channels will begin streaming in-market games through … Continue reading
Second-gen iLumi color-tunable smart LED bulb debuts at retail
The Mark Cuban-backed smart lighting startup iLumi has gotten its second-gen color-tunable Bluetooth LED bulbs onto the shelves at Best Buy. The new model, prosaically dubbed the New iLumi Smartbulb, comes in A19 and BR30 form factors (the original came … Continue reading
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4: Which game console is best?
How do the PS4 and Xbox One compare with each other? If you’re thinking about buying one of these two consoles — or just want ammunition for bragging rights — here’s what you need to know.
Microsoft Windows turns 30: A brief retrospective
Thirty years ago today, Microsoft released version 1.0 of its new graphical shell called Windows. It was really bad.
Manhattan DA demands Google, Apple implement back doors, kill end-to-end encryption
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has long hated encryption, but he’s stepped up his attack. Vance wants a federal ban on end-to-end encryption like that offered by Google and Apple in their respective operating systems.
Grillmaker Char-Broil debuts two Wi-Fi-connected smokers
Char-Broil, known by outdoor chefs for its outdoor grills and smokers, joined the smart home revolution this week introducing the first ever Wi-Fi-connected smoker. The new smokers allow for remote monitoring and control of the smoker through a companion mobile … Continue reading
