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Weekly Rewind: DIY beer from your phone, robot soccer, Android Nougat, and more

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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 the top 10 tech stories from this week. Everything from what you can expect from the Windows 10 update to the identity of Jon Snow’s parents, it’s all here.

Here’s a complete list of what you’ll see in Windows 10’s big update this August

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During Microsoft’s BUILD 2016 conference, the company announced that Windows 10 will receive a new, free update this summer called Anniversary Update. This “upgrade” will be rolled out to PCs, tablets, smartphones, the Xbox One console, Microsoft HoloLens, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It will make its debut on August 2, just days after Windows 10 celebrates its first birthday and after Microsoft pulls the plug on its free Windows 10 upgrade program.

Read the full story here.

Watch NASA test the monstrous rocket booster that’ll take us to Mars

Crucial Booster Test Fires Up in Utah

NASA got one step closer to its mission of launching the Space Launch System (SLS) to Mars by this week putting the world’s most powerful rocket booster through its paces in a ground test at Orbital ATK’s test facilities in Promontory, Utah. Tuesday’s launch — as seen in the video and photo gallery accompanying this article — was the second time the rocket boosters have been tested in this way — and the last prior to lift-off in 2018 for a test flight with NASA’s Orion spacecraft, representing a key milestone on the much-anticipated Journey to Mars.

Read the full story here.

Who are Jon Snow’s parents? ‘Game of Thrones’ infographic provides definitive answer

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Game of Thrones fans have long been told that Jon Snow is Ned Stark’s bastard, but speculation has run rampant that the fan favorite may actually have been born to a different member of the House Stark. While the HBO series has never offered any definitive proof either way, the network has now put an end to the speculation with a new infographic. And if you aren’t ready to know the truth, stop reading — there are spoilers ahead.

Read the full story here.

Neuroscientists just found that texting alters your brainwaves, but they can’t explain why

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Does using a smartphone fundamentally alter the way that your brain works? While the jury is still out on the long-term effects of heavy cellphone use, a group of researchers at the Mayo Clinic recently discovered that text messaging elicits a change in the regular rhythm of brain waves, completely different than the waveforms created by any other activity. “The big deal with discovering this ‘texting rhythm’ is that the number of new brain waves that are identified on EEG (electroencephalogram) are extremely rare at this point in time,” said Dr. William Tatum.

Read the full story here.

Is BMW teaming up with Intel, Mobileye to develop autonomous vehicles?

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Earlier in June, BMW announced a switch in the focus of it’s “i” sub-brand from efficiency to autonomous driving. Earlier this week BMW, chipmaker Intel, and machine-vision technology company Mobileye separately said the three companies will hold a joint news conference on Friday, according to Reuters. Without doubt, the purpose of the meeting will be to announce a partnership to develop self-driving vehicles. BMW has already said it will introduce an autonomous flagship model in 2021.

Read the full story here.

Recommended Videos

BrewArt lets homebrewers concoct their favorite beers from their smartphones

A team of craft beer aficionados from Australia’s Coopers Brewery has decided to elbow into this crowded industry with a device it’s dubbing the BrewArt (not to be confused with the ArtBrew). Armed with an idea culled from quality coffee brewers like Keurig and Nespresso, BrewArt hopes to revolutionize the on-demand beer market by allowing owners to replicate their favorite beers from the comfort of their own home.

Read the full story here.

Kanye West gets retail stores and sportswear line via expanded Adidas partnership

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Kanye West once rapped, “I could be by myself and enjoy the company,” so the idea of a store full of his clothes could well be a dream he’s had for years. Today, Adidas announced that dream is a reality with a new partnership — Adidas + Kanye West — including an expansion of his apparel line as well as retail stores for Yeezy clothing only. Adidas deems the move “the most significant partnership ever created between a non-athlete and an athletic brand,” according to the press release.

Read the full story here.

The next Android flavor from Google is Nougat

Android Nougat Statue Unwrapping

It’s not Nutella, and it’s not the Indian dessert neyyappam — Android N has officially been dubbed as Nougat. If you didn’t know, Google has been naming its Android versions in alphabetical order after desserts  — it all began with Android 1.5 Cupcake, and the most recent flavor was Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The new version, likely Android 7.0, has long-been teased to be Android Nutella, seeing as it was a popular choice.

Read the full story here.

The FDA approved this ‘stomach pump’ implant, and doctors aren’t happy about it

AspireAssist: New, Reversible Weight Loss Procedure

The FDA approved a controversial weight-loss device this month that allows obese patients to literally pump food from their stomach, through a tube, out their belly, and into the toilet. The AspireAssist consists of a surgically implanted tube that runs from the stomach to a small nozzle outside of the skin, and a system to pump and refill the lost contents. After a meal, patients fill a small reservoir with water, plug the system into the nozzle, and turn a lever to pump up to 30 percent of the stomach’s content into the toilet in about 10 minutes.

Read the full story here.

Robocup hopes robots can beat professional soccer players by 2050

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The Messis, Ronaldos, and Neymars of the world may have competition from robots in a few years — at least that’s the goal of Robocup, an annual robot soccer competition that kicks off today in Leipzig, Germany. “The ultimate goal of Robocup is to develop humanoid soccer-playing robots that can beat the FIFA world champion team,” General Chair of Robocup 2016, Gerhard Kraetzschmar, tells Digital Trends. “We hope to reach that goal by 2050.”

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…
The Oura Ring 4 is out, so the Oura Ring 3 is on sale
A person wearing the Oura Ring 3rd generation Horizon model.

Fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, but did you know that they can also come in the form of rings? If you're interested, you can get the Oura Ring 3, a smart ring that can monitor different kinds of health metrics, with a $50 discount from Best Buy. Instead of its original price of $299, you'll only have to pay $249, but you need to act fast because we're not sure when the offer will end. Add the wearable device to your cart and proceed with the checkout process immediately if you don't want to miss the savings.

Why you should buy the Oura Ring 3
Despite the arrival of the Oura Ring 4, the Oura Ring 3 remains a worthwhile purchase as one of the best fitness trackers that you can buy. According to our Oura Ring 4 versus Oura Ring 3 comparison, the Oura Ring 4 is thinner and lighter, and offers a slightly improved battery, but it shares the same fitness tracking features with the Oura Ring 3, and both are compatible with iOS and Android smartphones. They also both require an Oura membership that costs $6 per month to unlock deeper insights and exclusive features, so the lower price of the Oura Ring 3 compared to the Oura Ring 4 is even more appealing.

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We loved the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and it’s on sale today
Pixel Studio app running on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.

We’re just a week away from Christmas 2024, which means there’s going to be a lot of folks doing last-minute shopping, both in stores and online. And if you’ve been perusing the web for great phone deals and you’re looking to stay away from iPhones and Samsung Galaxy hardware, we found the perfect offer for you:

Right now, you can order the 256GB unlocked version of the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, and you’ll only end up paying $950. At full price, this phone sells for $1,200. We tested the Pixel 9 Pro XL back in October, and reviewer Joe Maring said, “The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL offers stunning hardware, lovely cameras, and much-improved specs — making it one of 2024's best flagship smartphones.”

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Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad Air (2024): Which one to buy?
ipad mini 2024 and ipad air 2024 product shots on a light maroon background

Apple launched a bunch of iPads in 2024, including the much-awaited iPad mini refresh and a new iPad Air, which was the first to be available in two screen sizes. The company's tablet portfolio is now bigger than ever, which can be confusing if you are in the market for a new great tablet. Even if your priorities are clear with size and price, there are a number of overlapping models, which can make decision-making difficult.

Do you need a more pocketable iPad or a more powerful tablet? Are you fixated on a specific screen size? Are you confused about how much power is required to run your creative tasks? Which is the best iPad overall? Don't worry if you don't have answers to any of these questions right now. This comparison between two of our favorite iPads from 2024 will help answer them so you can make an informed decision.
iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): specs

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