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Weekly Rewind: Massive Prius recall, Note 7 woes get worse, and more

weekly rewind top tech stories 10 15 2016 wr 14 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 the top 10 tech stories from this week. Everything from the bitter end of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to who’s been tapped to lead Snapchat’s imminent IPO, it’s all here.

Samsung has finally killed the Galaxy Note 7

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The Galaxy Note 7 has been put out of its misery by Samsung. The company has announced the end of production for the beleaguered smartphone, just a day after it halted sales and a short while after limiting the numbers being made at its factories. In a statement, Samsung said it’s, “putting consumer safety as top priority,” and, “reached a final decision to halt production of the Galaxy Note 7.” At this time, the Galaxy Note 7 isn’t being produced, isn’t being sold, and those that do remain aren’t being exchanged for another unit. Instead, Samsung is offering a refund or an exchange for another Samsung phone. The Galaxy Note 7 as we know it is now a thing of the past.

Read the full story here.

‘Stranger Things’ Season 2 is confirmed! Here’s everything we know

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Ever since the first trailer for the Netflix series Stranger Things debuted, there was major buzz around the nostalgia-driven thriller about a group of kids in the ’80s who get caught up in a terrifying mystery involving a telekinetic girl, otherworldly dimensions, and a monster unleashed on their small town. And for those who binged their way through the first season, one of the biggest remaining mysteries was whether the acclaimed show created by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer would indeed get a second season.

Read the full story here.

Snapchat has reportedly picked Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs to lead IPO

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Snap Inc., the company formerly known as Snapchat, is pushing ahead with plans for an initial public offering reportedly set for March 2017. The latest news claims the firm, which now brands itself a “camera company,” has tapped a number of banks to work on its IPO. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs will lead the offering, according to unnamed sources who spoke to Bloomberg.

Read the full story here.

Parking brake flaw prompts Toyota to recall 340,000 Priuses worldwide

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Toyota is recalling 340,000 Priuses worldwide due to a parking brake issue that could potentially cause accidents. The flaw can cause the brake to fail, increasing the risk of rollaways, but Toyota has not reported any incidents thus far. The recall pertains to 2016 and 2017 Prius models produced between August 2015 and October 2016. “On the involved vehicles, there is a possibility that the parking brake could become inoperative,” Toyota said in a statement.

Read the full story here.

The U.K. government has reportedly banned the Apple Watch from top-level meetings

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The British government has banned its top officials from wearing the Apple Watch during high-level Cabinet meetings over fears the device could be hacked by foreign agents acting against the U.K., the Telegraph reported on Monday. While some may scoff at the idea of the smartwatch being taken over by hackers, others are likely to look upon it as a perfectly reasonable reaction to a very real threat.

Read the full story here.

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If your stomach voted this November, would it vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?

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It’s getting harder and harder for some Americans to stomach the notion of November’s election. But just maybe, as the national issues at stake seem to take a backseat to the candidates’ personal histories, voters can find a new North Star by which to guide their decisions in just a few weeks — their stomachs. Because if either or both candidates make you nauseous, maybe the best way to consider them is by considering their favorite foods.

Read the full story here.

Soylent advises disposal of Food Bars due to reports of illness

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Just one month after the 250-calorie Soylent Food Bar became available in the United States, the company has halted all shipments of the nutrition snack bar and advised consumers to throw out all bars currently in their possession. Detailed in an official blog post on the company site, Soylent issued this recall after a “small number” of customers reported gastrointestinal issues after eating a Food Bar.

Read the full story here.

Don’t call it a dating app: Hinge wants you to stop playing relationship games

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Swiping left or right, ghosting — these are the sorts of games that Hinge is trying to do away with in the dating scene. Ditching its own swiping model, Hinge’s new platform is one that it claims is designed around meaningful connections with people. It now describes itself as a relationship app, rather than a dating one.

Read the full story here.

This blink-to-shoot camera attaches to any pair of glasses

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*The wink-to-shoot camera that puts what’s arguably the biggest feature from Google Glass into any pair of glasses is now headed to the United States. After successfully raising over $220,000 in crowdfunding in Japan, Blincam opened an Indiegogo campaign today to fund international distribution. A sensor inside the camera watches for any eye movement that’s longer than a normal blink, Blincam says, then snaps a photo. Bluetooth capability then sends that image directly to the user’s smartphone.

Read the full story here.

White House report warns of bias concerns in application of AI

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The government needs to play a role in how artificial intelligence is developed and used to ensure it is used fairly, according to a new White House report published todayThe report, Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence, outlines many of the benefits of using AI, and while it does not call for any new strong regulation on AI, it does make the case for standards of use for certain industries like aviation and finance.


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 Pixel Watch is about to get a long-awaited software update
The Google Pixel Watch 3 lying on top of a plant.

For the most part, Google has issued an update to the Pixel Watch roughly once a month. Most were simple security updates, while others included new features and OS upgrades. Fans expected an update in October, but Google delayed it until this month. This update will resume the rollout of Wear OS 5 to Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2 users after a series of crashes caused Google to pause it back in September. After several months of work, the company has addressed the cause of the crashes and is confident that yesterday's update will be stable.

In addition to Wear OS 5, the update will also include better camera controls and changes to the Pixel Recorder app, which will be available through the Play Store. Your individual watch will notify you when the update is available for download, so you don't have to constantly check for it. The first update for the Pixel Watch 3 since its launch is also coming with bug fixes and security updates. All Pixel Watch models will eventually update to version AW2A.241105.012, although when the update happens will depend on both the carrier and the device.

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I wore two of 2024’s best smart rings. This is the one you should buy
A person holding the Oura Ring 4 and the RingConn Gen 2.

Now that the Oura Ring 4 is here, how does it stack up against the RingConn Gen 2? I’ve had both smart rings on for several weeks to help understand where each ring's strengths lie and which is the best to buy.

It's easy to think it all comes down to the price and whether you want to pay a subscription or not, but by wearing these smart rings, understanding the design differences, and testing out the very different apps each day, I can give you a much deeper insight into the best one to wear over the long term.
Is the Oura Ring 4 or the RingConn Gen 2 more comfortable?
The RingConn Gen 2 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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These ESR Gear mobile accessory deals are Apple-tastic — Save over 50% off
ESR Gear mobile accessory deals -- MagSafe 3-in-1 charger with devices

Shiny new phone? Preparing to get one soon? Congratulations, that's always a great feeling, isn't it? The dopamine hit of the mobile upgrade. But now it's time to start thinking about some smarter more efficient ways to use that device, even if it's not new. That's where mobile accessories come into the equation. From stands to car mounts and portable power packs, they extend the functionality and usability of your favorite and beloved smartphone. Chief among the phone gear options is ESR Gear with its excellent selection of MagSafe accessories. Need an example? Look no further than the ESR 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger with Qi2 wireless charging and CryoBoost cooling technology. It can charge the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch, fast.

But here's the thing: You came here under the guise that there were some great deals to be had, and I don't blame you, so let's get right into those. You can expect to save upwards of 30% off some of ESR Gear's best MagSafe options. They're already discounted, plus there are exclusive coupon codes to get an extra 10% off. All coupon codes are valid until December 25th.

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