Tag Archives: author_name|Danny Gallagher

Google Wallet is testing turning passports into digital IDs

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Google will beta test a new feature for Google Wallet that can turn US passports into a new form of digital identification. Google announced the new feature on its official blog.

Now digital IDs made from passports and state issued IDs can be used as valid forms of identification at certain Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at some US airports. Now you won’t have to play Beat the Clock with all of your pockets frantically searching for your wallet as you slowly approach a TSA agent in line.

This new digital ID feature won’t work at every airport. As of Thursday, 21 states and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico have at least one airport that accepts digital ID. You can consult the TSA’s digital map on its website to find out if the state you’re leaving or flying to accepts digital IDs at security checkpoints.

Digital ID adoption has grown across the country for both Android and iPhone users even if it’s not available in every state. Major airports in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia started accepting state IDs from Google Wallet users. Last month, California started accepting IDs in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at some airports.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-wallet-is-testing-turning-passports-into-digital-ids-213526915.html?src=rss

A new report raises concerns about the future of NASA

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A concerning report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) expresses some serious concerns about the future of America’s space exploration agency.

The NASEM report was written by a panel of aerospace experts and lays out what it sees as a possible "hollow future” for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It addresses issues of underfunding due to “declining long-term national emphasis on aeronautics and civil space,” an assertion that NASA itself is aware of and agrees with. The report also notes that NASA’s problems extend far beyond having enough funding to carry out its missions and operations.

Some of the report’s “core findings” suggest areas of concern that could affect the space agency’s future. These include a focus on “short-term measures without adequate consideration for longer-term needs and implications,” reliance on “milestone-based purchase-of-service contracts” and inefficiency due to “slow and cumbersome business operations.” The report also raised concerns about the current generation of talent being siphoned off by private aerospace companies, and the next generation of engineers not receiving an adequate foundation of knowledge due to our underfunded public school systems. Finally the report states bluntly that NASA’s infrastructure “is already well beyond its design life.”

These and other issues could lead to even more serious problems. Norman Augustine, a former Lockheed Martin chief executive and the report’s lead author, told The Washington Post that reliance on the private sector could further erode NASA's workforce, reducing its role to one of oversight instead of problem-solving.

Congress could allocate more funds to NASA to address these concerns but that’s not likely since it’s constantly struggling to prevent government shutdowns. Instead, Augustine says NASA could focus on prioritizing its efforts on more strategic goals and initiatives.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/a-new-report-raises-concerns-about-the-future-of-nasa-184643260.html?src=rss

Someone discovered a new cheat code for the 27-year-old Saturn port of Doom

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The first-person shooter Doom has so many ports on so many different consoles and computers that modders have had to find new places to port the game like autonomous lawnmowers, digestive bacteria and even in Doom II itself.

One port that’s not nearly as popular or playable as the others is the Sega Saturn port that came out nearly four years after the game’s release. Gamespot’s Jeff Gerstmann called the Sega Saturn Doom port just about everything you can call a bad game without straying over the the boundaries of good taste: “completely worthless,” “drab,” “jerky,” “to be avoided at all costs.”

Bo, a self-described reverse engineer of Sega Saturn games, gave the Sega Saturn port of Doom another chance and he discovered a cheat code in the game that’s been laying dormant for more than a decade. He posted the secret cheat code he found on X.

The button combination X, Right, B, Y, X, Right, B, Y gives you the ability to see through the walls of the Mars substation and even Hell. It’s too bad the game doesn’t have a cheat code that lets you see a better version of Doom.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/someone-discovered-a-new-cheat-code-for-the-27-year-old-saturn-port-of-doom-230059377.html?src=rss

Someone discovered a new cheat code for the 27-year-old Saturn port of Doom

Posted on by

The first-person shooter Doom has so many ports on so many different consoles and computers that modders have had to find new places to port the game like autonomous lawnmowers, digestive bacteria and even in Doom II itself.

One port that’s not nearly as popular or playable as the others is the Sega Saturn port that came out nearly four years after the game’s release. Gamespot’s Jeff Gerstmann called the Sega Saturn Doom port just about everything you can call a bad game without straying over the the boundaries of good taste: “completely worthless,” “drab,” “jerky,” “to be avoided at all costs.”

Bo, a self-described reverse engineer of Sega Saturn games, gave the Sega Saturn port of Doom another chance and he discovered a cheat code in the game that’s been laying dormant for more than a decade. He posted the secret cheat code he found on X.

The button combination X, Right, B, Y, X, Right, B, Y gives you the ability to see through the walls of the Mars substation and even Hell. It’s too bad the game doesn’t have a cheat code that lets you see a better version of Doom.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/someone-discovered-a-new-cheat-code-for-the-27-year-old-saturn-port-of-doom-230059377.html?src=rss

Australia’s Prime Minister wants to ban social media for children

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to introduce legislation that would prevent children under a certain age from using social media. Reuters reported that Albanese issued his statement in a TV interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC).

Albanese says the Australian government would start its social media initiative by testing age verification technology sometime this year. He also didn’t state a specific age limit but estimated he’d like the ban to be for children younger than 14-16 because “we know that social media is causing social harm.”

Meta issued a statement in response to the PM’s proposal noting that Facebook and Instagram already have a minimum age requirement of 13 years for users. The social media company also noted it wants to empower young people to benefit from social media with parental controls and monitoring “instead of just cutting off access.”

Lawmakers in the US and other countries have suggested and tried to implement a federal age limit on social media access. Last year, US Senator Josh Hawley introduced two bills to Congress that would prohibit teenagers under 16 from using social media. The state of Utah also passed laws in 2023 requiring teens to have parental consent and provide a copy of an ID instead of just inputting their birthday to access their accounts. The following year, Utah repealed the ID requirements.

Social media use has become a greater health issue as experts raise concerns about its effects on younger users’ mental well being. An open letter signed by 42 US attorneys general supported US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s proposal to require social media websites to post visible health warnings the way that cigarette makers are required to do so on their products’ packaging.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/australias-prime-minister-wants-to-ban-social-media-for-children-212139064.html?src=rss

Australia’s Prime Minister wants to ban social media for children

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to introduce legislation that would prevent children under a certain age from using social media. Reuters reported that Albanese issued his statement in a TV interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC).

Albanese says the Australian government would start its social media initiative by testing age verification technology sometime this year. He also didn’t state a specific age limit but estimated he’d like the ban to be for children younger than 14-16 because “we know that social media is causing social harm.”

Meta issued a statement in response to the PM’s proposal noting that Facebook and Instagram already have a minimum age requirement of 13 years for users. The social media company also noted it wants to empower young people to benefit from social media with parental controls and monitoring “instead of just cutting off access.”

Lawmakers in the US and other countries have suggested and tried to implement a federal age limit on social media access. Last year, US Senator Josh Hawley introduced two bills to Congress that would prohibit teenagers under 16 from using social media. The state of Utah also passed laws in 2023 requiring teens to have parental consent and provide a copy of an ID instead of just inputting their birthday to access their accounts. The following year, Utah repealed the ID requirements.

Social media use has become a greater health issue as experts raise concerns about its effects on younger users’ mental well being. An open letter signed by 42 US attorneys general supported US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s proposal to require social media websites to post visible health warnings the way that cigarette makers are required to do so on their products’ packaging.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/australias-prime-minister-wants-to-ban-social-media-for-children-212139064.html?src=rss

The new Carmen Sandiego game will let you play as Carmen Sandiego

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If you grew up in the 1980s, then you probably remember the Carmen Sandiego games and how they turned learning boring old geography into a fun, criminal-catching adventure. Netflix, Gameloft and HarperCollins Productions are bringing the Carmen Sandiego franchise back with a brand new game that lets you play as the famous, fedora festooned felon.

Netflix Games announced today that Carmen Sandiego will be released sometime in the first quarter of 2025 starting on the Netflix mobile streaming app for iOS and Android. The game will also be released on the Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation and Xbox consoles and for PC on Steam sometime later. Carmen Sandiego will be free for Netflix subscribers to play without any in-game purchases or online play.

The new Carmen Sandiego puzzle-adventure game is based on the 2019 interactive Netflix cartoon series with Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez voicing the titular thief. The new game picks up where the series left off but it’s more than just an interactive TV show. Netflix, GameLoft and HarperCollins will send players on an adventure across the world as Carmen Sandiego through a series of puzzle, clue gathering, flying and stealth missions. They'll track down members of the evil organization VILE based on clues that reveal each villain’s identity in various cities to obtain warrants and arrest them.

Of course, prior to being rebooted on Netflix, Carmen Sandiego was a classic educational game series that started on computers in 1985 with Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego? The geography puzzle games asked players to track down Carmen and her den of appropriately named thieves who stole some of the world’s rarest cultural artifacts.

The Carmen Sandiego games went through several variations and inspired the iconic kids’ game show on PBS in 1991 that ran for five seasons. The series also spawned a Saturday morning cartoon on FOX and a Netflix animated series. Netflix is also producing a live-action Carmen Sandiego film starring Rodriguez in the lead role, according to Entertainment Tonight.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-new-carmen-sandiego-game-will-let-you-play-as-carmen-sandiego-194540530.html?src=rss

The new Carmen Sandiego game will let you play as Carmen Sandiego

Posted on by

If you grew up in the 1980s, then you probably remember the Carmen Sandiego games and how they turned learning boring old geography into a fun, criminal-catching adventure. Netflix, Gameloft and HarperCollins Productions are bringing the Carmen Sandiego franchise back with a brand new game that lets you play as the famous, fedora festooned felon.

Netflix Games announced today that Carmen Sandiego will be released sometime in the first quarter of 2025 starting on the Netflix mobile streaming app for iOS and Android. The game will also be released on the Nintendo Switch, the PlayStation and Xbox consoles and for PC on Steam sometime later. Carmen Sandiego will be free for Netflix subscribers to play without any in-game purchases or online play.

The new Carmen Sandiego puzzle-adventure game is based on the 2019 interactive Netflix cartoon series with Jane The Virgin star Gina Rodriguez voicing the titular thief. The new game picks up where the series left off but it’s more than just an interactive TV show. Netflix, GameLoft and HarperCollins will send players on an adventure across the world as Carmen Sandiego through a series of puzzle, clue gathering, flying and stealth missions. They'll track down members of the evil organization VILE based on clues that reveal each villain’s identity in various cities to obtain warrants and arrest them.

Of course, prior to being rebooted on Netflix, Carmen Sandiego was a classic educational game series that started on computers in 1985 with Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego? The geography puzzle games asked players to track down Carmen and her den of appropriately named thieves who stole some of the world’s rarest cultural artifacts.

The Carmen Sandiego games went through several variations and inspired the iconic kids’ game show on PBS in 1991 that ran for five seasons. The series also spawned a Saturday morning cartoon on FOX and a Netflix animated series. Netflix is also producing a live-action Carmen Sandiego film starring Rodriguez in the lead role, according to Entertainment Tonight.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-new-carmen-sandiego-game-will-let-you-play-as-carmen-sandiego-194540530.html?src=rss

An Apple Store in Oklahoma City is close to approving an union agreement for its workers

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Talks between Apple and the union for the Apple Store in Oklahoma City have produced a tentative agreement that includes new benefits and protections for its staff. The Penn Square Mall Apple Store in Oklahoma City announced they’ve reached a “tentative labor agreement” with Apple and the Communication Workers of America (CWA), according to a released statement.

Terms are still being negotiated between both parties but the benefits for the store’s employees would be significant. The three-year agreement reached between the CWA and Apple would give employees a wage increase of up to 11.5 percent. An Apple spokesperson said by email that if the contract is ratified, employees would receive a 4 percent raise in the first year of employment and 3 percent in the second and third year each “based on employee performance.”

The agreement would also offer employees guaranteed paid time off and health and other benefits, allow employees to have a say in scheduling and the establishment of a “safer and more democratic workplace” through a grievance submission process with committees overseeing safety, health and working relations. An Apple spokesperson also noted the scheduling options “were provided to all other US stores in 2022.”

The Oklahoma City Apple Store had been working to form a union since 2022, becoming the second Apple Store in the US to unionize. Employees passed a strike authorization vote in August that passed with unanimous support and started a picket in front of the store ahead of bargaining sessions in early September. Workers will vote to ratify the tentative agreement on September 22.

CWA District 6 Vice President Derrick Osobase called the agreement achievement “a historic day for our members who have now secured a contract at the world’s most profitable company.”

The Apple Store in the Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland became the first location to unionize. Members approved the union in 2022 with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). A store in the Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Georgia tried to form a union in 2022 with the CWA but workers called it off accusing Apple of committing “repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/an-apple-store-in-oklahoma-city-is-close-to-approving-an-union-agreement-for-its-workers-222605021.html?src=rss

YouTubers built a six foot tall working replica of Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max

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Building just one smartphone from scratch would be a huge undertaking, even if the world is full of them. Now imagine trying to build one that’s 100 times its normal size with nearly all the same forms and functions.

YouTubers Matthew Perkins (DIY Perks) and Arun Maini (MrWhoseTheBoss) did exactly that, building a working replica of an iPhone 15 Pro Max. The completed project measured 6.74 feet tall and 440 pounds, earning the pair an official Guinness World Record.

Perkins started his build with the screen, a massive undertaking that required converting a LG Signature 88-inch OLED TV into a responsive touchscreen. He commissioned a manufacturer to fabricate a piece of touch foil the size of the screen, which he fixed in place with an optically clear glue UV epoxy.

The next challenge was finding a way to fit oversized versions of the phone’s components in a frame: the speakers, three-lens camera array, the volume and power buttons and the special function button. He built a frame out of aluminum with a cross shaped support in the middle. The cameras especially weren't cheap, as Perkins opted to use both a Canon EOS R5 as well as a Sony RX10 Mark 4 to mimic the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto lens. The frame was also designed to be permanently mounted to a similarly-scaled up phone stand so it could be rotated without giving the user a massive hernia.

The only major component they couldn't recreate was the operating system, since Apple's iOS is closed-source. But using Android had two major perks: the Bliss OS recreated the feel of an iPhone home screen using a themed skin, and they could install Flappy Bird — something actual iPhone owners haven't been able to do in nearly a decade. 

The phone may be big but it appears to be just as functional as a handheld iPhone. Maini and a group of friends took the phone into the real world to test it out, and apparently it can make tap-to-pay purchases, send emails and make video calls. Functional or not, it's brave to bring a $70,000 phone onto the streets of London without a case. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/youtubers-built-a-six-foot-tall-working-replica-of-apples-iphone-15-pro-max-201507959.html?src=rss