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Weekly Rewind: RIP Mary Tyler Moore, a Parkinson’s cure, and DNA-based fitness

top tech stories 01 27 2017 wr head
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In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. So much news goes on that it’s almost impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from a potential cure for Parkinson’s and Alzheimers to a solution to insomnia — it’s all here.

Emmy-winning actress, feminist icon Mary Tyler Moore has died at age 80

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Just days after the largest single-day protest in American history was held to advocate for women’s rights, one of the earliest actresses to challenge female characters’ roles in pop culture has died. Oscar-nominated actress Mary Tyler Moore, who starred for seven seasons in her self-titled, Emmy-winning series The Mary Tyler Moore Show, died Wednesday due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 80.

Read the full story here.

The SolPad Mobile solar panel can recharge your phone up to 60 times

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A new device called the SolPad Mobile looks to demystify the use of solar energy both at home and on the go. The large, yet still portable, solar panels come equipped with everything you need to set up and install a solar charging solution within a matter of minutes. Despite its simplicity, however, the system is still efficient enough to provide power to a wide variety of gadgets, including mobile devices, laptops, and small appliances.

Read the full story here.

Trouble sleeping? You can treat your insomnia online

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A new online treatment may help people who suffer from insomnia. SHUTi, or Sleep Health Using the Internet, is a cognitive behavioral therapy-insomnia (CBT-I) internet course that aims to retrain your mind and body for better sleep. CBT-I focuses on a variety of factors to retrain your sleep cycle, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Read the full story here.

HP announces a major expansion to its ongoing battery recall

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HP has announced an expanded recall of batteries used in its notebook computers. The company has apparently learned of an incident where a battery overheated to the point of melting and charring the surrounding area, causing around $1,000 worth of property damage. The voluntary recall pertains to lithium-ion batteries containing cells manufactured by Panasonic. They’re compatible with HP, Compaq, HP ProBook, HP Envy, Compaq Presario, and HP Pavilion laptops.

Read the full story here.

Harvard’s robotic exosuit uses science-fiction smarts to put a spring in your step

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Thanks to science fiction, we can’t think about artificial intelligence without summoning the ghost of 2001: A Space Odyssey’s killer AI HAL 9000; we have to make the obligatory Terminator reference in any story about cutting-edge robots, and the picture that immediately springs to mind when we mention robotic exoskeletons are bulky pieces of kit straight out of Iron Man or the underrated Tom Cruise flick Edge of Tomorrow.

Read the full story here.

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White House adds press room ‘Skype seats’ for remote reporters

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Announced earlier today during a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that four “Skype seats” will be added for members of the press that aren’t located in Washington D.C. Specifically, the virtual conferencing seats will be reserved for members of the press without a permanent White House press pass and live more than 50 miles away from the nation’s capital.

Read the full story here.

Michelin’s new ultra high performance tire can make any car feel like a supercar

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How does a tire manufacturer introduce the successor to one of the most celebrated products of the last six years? Evidently, with ranks of supercars, an autocross course, and giddy social media influencers. Such was the atmosphere of Michelin’s Pilot Experience, a two-day affair that previewed the company’s all-new ultra high performance (UHP) rubber: the Pilot Sport 4 S (PS4S).

Read the full story here.

Deep Brain Stimulation treats Parkinson’s, could soon do the same for Alzheimer’s

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Deep Brain Stimulation, in which electrode-tipped wires are inserted into the brains of participants, is being used to treat patients with Parkinson’s — and could soon do the same for other neurological disorders. “We offer DBS surgery to Parkinson’s patients who continue to have difficulty with motor symptoms despite the best available medications,” Dr. Andres Lozano told Digital Trends.

Read the full story here.

Want Booze in a hurry? Postmates will deliver alcohol in 30 minutes or less

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Ready to sit down to dinner but forgot to pick up a bottle of wine? Postmates has the perfect solution. The San Francisco, California-based company – which already delivers everything from lunch from your favorite restaurant to groceries to office supplies — is offering alcohol delivery in certain markets. To compete with other booze delivery services like Drizly, Postmates is including an added bonus. They promise to have the party at your front door in 25 minutes or less.

Read the full story here.

It’s in the genes: This company uses DNA to craft your ultimate fitness plan

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Dr. Dan Reardon is tired. His brutal schedule – which allows for just four hours of sleep each night as he shuttles to and fro, from airplanes to meetings and back again – should leave him unresponsive in a hospital bed somewhere. And yet, Reardon – founder and CEO of UK-based personal genomics company FitnessGenes – consistently finds the energy to travel across the globe, speak at wellness conferences, and give cheerful interviews to faraway journalists.

Read the full story here.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Save $45 on the Amazfit T-Rex 3 smartwatch during this early Black Friday sale
Amazfit T-Rex 3 smartwatch used while surfing

If you love the great outdoors and big adventures, you already know that you need rugged equipment to keep up. Anything fragile or testy will break down easily when subjected to the elements. Something like a smartwatch, for example, needs to be tough, water-resistant, and ready to take on the world. Allow me to introduce the Amazfit T-Rex 3 smartwatch, built from the ground up figuratively for the outdoors. Able to withstand temperatures from 158 degrees Fahrenheit down to negative 22 degrees Fahrenheit, this beast of a machine will definitely keep up. It's also on sale right now for Black Friday. Normally $280, it's yours for just $235 -- saving you $45. That deal is only good until November 27, however, so don't wait too long if you're interested.
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Why shop this Black Friday deal on the Amazfit T-Rex 3 smartwatch

If you want a solid, in-depth look at the watch, be sure to check out Andy Boxall's hands-on with the Amazfit T-Rex 3. He agrees it's rough, tough, and capable, and even ditched his Apple Watch for it. He also praises the watch for its intelligent design, solid functionality, and accessible price. Speaking of accessible price, with this Black Friday deal Amazfit is offering the T-Rex 3 smartwatch is more affordable than ever. It shaves $45 off the regular price, bringing it down to a reasonable $235.

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Early Black Friday phone deals 2024: Up to 45% off Motorola, Samsung, Apple and more

If you've been holding off on buying a new phone, then the Black Friday sales period is probably one of the best times of the year to grab yourself something new. While Black Friday is happening on November 29 this year, we're already seeing a lot of great early Black Friday deals on phones, including on some of the best phones on the market. There are many choices out there, which is why we've gone out looking for all the best deals and collected them for you below to help save you a little extra time.
Samsung Galaxy A15 -- $180 $200 10% off

If you don't really need anything fancy and want a great budget option, the Samsung Galaxy A15 offers a lot of value for the reduced $180 price tag. Not only does it get you into the Samsung ecosystem, but you also get a gorgeous 6.5-inch AMOLED Display, 128GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM, so you'll have a pretty smooth overall experience.

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Best early Black Friday deals under $100: Amazon Echo, TVs, headphones and more
The Amazon Echo Pop on a desk.

Update 11/19/24: Black Friday is still over a week away, but you can already start your shopping with the Black Friday deals under $100 that we've gathered here. There's a possibility that these affordable items get even bigger discounts when the sale officially launches, but we won't blame you if you're already tempted by today's prices.

Black Friday will start on November 29, but if you've already got the itch to shop, check out the early Black Friday deals under $100 that we've gathered here. The offers cover smart home devices, laptops, TVs, kitchen gadgets, and so much more, so if you want to start enjoying discounts without blowing your entire budget for the shopping event, take a look at our favorite bargains below.

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