However, for the first few years of Apple’s tablet, the iPad was far closer to the phone than the laptop. It ran the same operating system and used the same touch gestures. Apple implored developers to create iPad versions of their iPhone apps in order to take advantage of the iPad’s larger display. But while that helped the iPad maintain a strong lead over Android tablets, it didn’t do much to change the core set of tasks that defined its use....

Also: Forget the Moon, NASA’s next big mission is a lot closer to home Perhaps just as significantly, Polaris Dawn aims to break new ground in studying human health, with the crew conducting dozens of science and research experiments to study the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on the human body. However, among the four-person crew on the private space mission, there’s just one member with specialized expertise in human biology and medical care: Anna Menon, SpaceX’s lead space operations engineer, who worked for seven years at NASA as a biomedical flight controller for the International Space Station....

Seeing small things. Seeing things that are far away. Knowing what direction I’m going in and how fast I’m going. It’s all very cool stuff. For example, one of my favorite tools is the Ulefone Power Armor 18T, featuring a FLIR infrared camera that gives me thermal vision. I use this for all sorts of things, from spotting faulty electronic components to uncovering problems with HVAC systems. Also: Why I have an earwax removal camera in my toolkit (and no, it’s not for my ears) Being able to see things that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye is really useful....

As someone who has always had a curiosity for portable wireless chargers, and has an iPhone that magically drops to 50% by lunchtime, Anker’s new 622 MagSafe battery bank couldn’t have come at a better time. Besides being able to top up an iPhone completely, the MagSafe-compatible charger also has a foldable kickstand to prop up your phone. You know, for those times when you’re low on battery but need to FaceTime your family before work or binging the latest season of the Bachelorette?...

Was I ever wrong. The device in question is called the Pivo Pod Active, which sells for $139.99. What is the Pivo Pod Active? It’s an AI-powered device that uses either an Android or iOS app to track and follow your face (or body, depending on how you set it up) while you create video content. I’ve been skeptical about such devices because I’ve experienced a number of them that really failed to deliver....

One of the best ways to improve your golf game is to photograph or record your swing, but no one wants to spend money on a professional camera operator. Luckily, professional golfers created the Caddie View Golf Training System to help other golfers improve their form and swing. It’s a simple system that consists of three parts. First, the stick extends up to 36 inches and sits on a tripod that adds stability both on the course and the harder surfaces of a driving range....

A few hours later, I’m standing in an underground cavern beneath Ljósafoss hydroelectric power station and there’s an almost-deafening sound as thousands of litres of water rush through pipes to the station’s turbines and out into the river below, creating huge amounts of electricity in the process. Welcome to Iceland, home to an array of hydroelectric and geothermal facilities which together account for nearly 70% and 30% respectively of the country’s energy production (there’s a bit of wind power, too)....

A new Pixel phone from Google. And, seemingly, a new attitude toward one of my favorite subjects: aesthetics. Here’s a phone that bathed in dreams of sophistication. Here’s a phone seemingly targeted toward those who have made too much money lately. And toward those who think nothing of taking out a loan and spending four figures on a phone. And toward those who are fascinated by words like Tensor. But what’s it like when you actually use it?...

The malware has been detailed by researchers at Intezer, who have named it SysJoker. It was discovered while they were investigating an attack against a Linux-based web server at an undisclosed educational institution in December. SysJoker wasn’t the malware behind the attack being investigated – but it was already present on the servers. The nature of SysJoker and the way it’s designed to provide a backdoor into systems – with the ability to run commands, download and upload files – suggests the goal for those delivering it could be espionage, but it could also be utilised as a tool for delivering additional malware to compromised systems....

The feature — which relies on a PC’s mic, video camera and PowerPoint slides — is part of Microsoft’s efforts to reshape its software for collaboration in hybrid work arrangements by making it easier for people to record their slides presentation. Video startup Vimeo released Vimeo Record last year, a free Chrome extension that helps people record Slides and PowerPoint presentations. SEE: Windows 11 upgrade: Five questions to ask first Microsoft’s new built-in PowerPoint recording studio feature will make it easier for its Office 365 users to do that within the product rather than via a Chrome extension....

There are all kinds of technological innovations that improve your productivity. But when it comes to note-taking, in most cases, we still use pen and paper just like we did 50 years ago. Wish there was a 21st-century option? Well, good news, there is. And it’s discounted right now to only $151.05, so it’s very affordable too. The NEWYES Smart Pen and LCD Pad are ideal for business people, students, graphic designers, and anyone else who’s ever put pen to paper....

Looking at 8,000 financial hardship complaints from between July 2018 to March 2021, the TIO said telcos needed to have proactive, accessible, and timely hardship assistance; arrangements that accounted for the customer’s circumstances; have payment plans written down and applied properly; and regularly engage with customers. “Even when a consumer is aware they are in hardship, they may feel shame or stigma about their financial position. This stigma can very easily delay a consumer from seeking help,” Ombudsman Judi Jones said....

Also: ZDNet Recommends: The best products for every office Modern home office design ideas Luckily, you do not need a lot of extra space or need to spend tons of money (some home office items are tax-deductible – find out which ones) to give yourself an organized, functional space you and possibly your family can benefit from. Here are 11 easy interior design tips for converting your home office into a modern space your whole family will love....

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Thursday said it provisionally found Facebook’s merger with Giphy harmed competition between social media platforms and removed a potential challenger in the display advertising market. If the CMA’s concerns are confirmed, Facebook could be required to unwind the deal and sell Giphy off. Facebook scooped up the GIF giant in May 2020, with the deal estimated to be worth around $400 million. In making the announcement, Facebook argued 50% of Giphy’s traffic already came from the Facebook family of apps, and half of that just from Instagram....

The VA plans to deploy Apigee, Google Cloud’s API management platform, to improve its Lighthouse API program. The program, launched in 2018, gives developers secure access to VA APIs as they develop new tools and services for veterans. For instance, developers can use the VA’s Benefits API to create applications that help veterans submit and track electronic benefits claims. Until recently, veterans weren’t able to digitally share their VA records with third-party applications....

The measure is aimed squarely at those participating in “malicious cyber activities against US critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.” Officials said in a release that this included ransomware attacks targeting “critical infrastructure.” In addition to ransomware, the notice mentions a number of other cyber violations and notes that it applies to government computers as well as “those used in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or communication....

Those looking to sign up have a choice of two plans. The first is AU$75 a month and has unlimited data with speeds up to 100Mbps, and the second removes the speed cap for an extra AU$10 a month. Customers who already have a Vodafone mobile plan can knock AU$5 a month off the plan prices. The company is offering customers a AU$612 modem that they do not have to pay for if they remain on the network for three years....

There a several innovative players in the medical education technology space. As we’ve reported, Healthcare boasted $2.14 billion of the total virtual reality market in 2018, according to a report from BIS Research. The company’s “Global Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Market in Healthcare – Analysis and Forecasts, 2019-2025” estimates that the market will reach $11.14 billion by 2025. One firm, FundamentalVR, has just unveiled new capabilities to its Fundamental Surgery platform that, according to the company, brings a level of sensory realism not previously seen with immersive technology making it a credible alternative to traditional medical education methods....

It was 7 a.m., and I was just partially through my first cup of coffee, when I noticed a new message in my email inbox. It was from PayPal and the subject line said, “You’ve got a money request.” And so began my first look at this three-pronged PayPal phishing scam. The ask There’s nobody I know who would ask me for money through PayPal and reasonably expect to get it, especially without telling me ahead of time that they were invoicing me for something....

Wall Street was expecting non-GAAP second quarter earnings of $1.17 a share on revenue of $3.96 billion. The company’s US revenue declined 15.2% to $3.1 billion while international sales were up 16%. Elsewhere on the balance sheet, Wayfair said active customers for direct retail were 31.1 million, up 19% from a year ago. The number of orders per customer were 1.96 in the second quarter. Repeat customers placed 75.6% of total orders in the quarter, while average order value was $278, up from $227 a year ago....