All Gaming Generator

Why one NPR correspondent finally ditched DVDs for streaming https://ift.tt/BEkI4lq It was once cutting edge to get DVDs in the mail for a low monthly subscription. Then came the fragmented world of streaming. But what about the last holdouts who are all about the disc?

2022 on track to be a record year for shopping returns https://ift.tt/0xMKF9N NPR's Alina Selyukh talks with PayPal executive Peggy Alford about the surge of post-holiday returns, changes in how we shop, and expectations for next year's consumer spending and the economy.

Your Memories. Their Cloud. https://ift.tt/5IG2eWy Google, Apple and Meta offer near-limitless digital basements in which to store photos, videos and important documents, but you should keep a copy of what you hold most dear.

Google Changes Appeals Process for Suspected Child Abuse Images https://ift.tt/5IG2eWy People who upload images of children that Google flags as potentially illegal will be able to provide more context to appeal bans.

Tesla Had a Bad Year. Some Investors Are Blaming Elon Musk. https://ift.tt/5IG2eWy Investors blame Elon Musk and wonder how much more the stock will fall.

Librarians Are Meeting Younger Readers Where They Are: TikTok https://ift.tt/5IG2eWy The pandemic hurt children’s reading skills. Librarians are doing what it takes to connect them with books — including dance routines.

For 3 big Alabama newspapers, the presses are grinding to a halt https://ift.tt/yNDMnEF The Birmingham News , The Huntsville Times and Mobile's Press-Register will soon go all-digital. In Birmingham, where people have been reading the paper since the late 1800s, the news hasn't been easy. (Image credit: Debbie Elliott/NPR)

Turning Sports Statistics Into Riveting Cinema https://ift.tt/5IG2eWy Jon Bois and his collaborators specialize in documentaries about seemingly unremarkable teams. Then he wields charts and graphs to spellbinding effect.

Tim Wu, Architect of Biden Antitrust Push, to Leave White House https://ift.tt/5IG2eWy Tim Wu has been a leading proponent of a more aggressive approach to reining in the power of big business.

Elon Musk’s Cuts at Twitter? A Data Center, Janitors, Some Toilet Paper https://ift.tt/PtpfDQG Elon Musk has reduced the company to a bare-bones operation, and employees are under a “zero-based budgeting” mandate to justify any spending.

A U.K. medical office mistakenly sent patients a text message with a cancer diagnosis https://ift.tt/epA8HYD The Christmas Eve message informing patients of a terminal lung cancer diagnosis was followed by a second text apologizing for the error and saying the office meant to offer them holiday greetings. (Image credit: Carl Chegwin)

Artificial Intelligence is having a moment https://ift.tt/HYFSioX The power of AI has been on full display on social media, with ChatGPT and Lensa going viral. As AI becomes more mainstream, concerns about misinformation, privacy and bias are becoming louder.

2022 was the year crypto came crashing down to Earth https://ift.tt/dq0JFpw For the world of crypto, 2022 started with exuberance and ended with its unofficial spokesman in handcuffs. (Image credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

31 Hours Inside SpaceX Mission Control https://ift.tt/PtpfDQG A reporter got an inside look at SpaceX’s attempt to launch and land three rockets in less than two days in October, part of the company’s bid to make spaceflight appear almost routine.

The 2022 Good Tech Awards https://ift.tt/PtpfDQG Nuclear fusion, generative A.I., bee tracking and more. There’s a lot to like.

The Tech That Will Invade Our Lives in 2023 https://ift.tt/ObBdaVK Say hello to new-and-improved A.I. assistants, and move over to brands like Twitter and Tesla.

Twitter Users Report Widespread Service Interruptions https://ift.tt/ObBdaVK The issues surfaced several days after Elon Musk said he had shut down one of the company’s major data centers.

Lawmakers Signal Inquiries Into US Government’s Use of Foreign Spyware https://ift.tt/ObBdaVK The moves come as Congress passed a measure last week to try to reign in the proliferation of the hacking tools.

Southwest cancels another 4,800 flights as its reduced schedule continues https://ift.tt/ZMUC2is The airline's CEO says the company is hoping to be "back on track before next week." But until then, it's continuing on a reduced schedule. (Image credit: Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Bankman-Fried’s Power Was Contingent on Belief https://ift.tt/ObBdaVK Operating in shadows, he was a hero; in the light, he quickly became a villain.

Is A.I. the Future of Test Prep? https://ift.tt/LX7Keay Riiid is one of a handful of companies that believe that A.I.’s algorithms are perfectly suited to track student performance and give individualized attention.

For Sale on eBay: A Military Database of Fingerprints and Iris Scans https://ift.tt/LX7Keay German security researchers studying biometric capture devices popular with the U.S. military got more than they expected for $68 on eBay.

Apple, accused of supporting China's censorship, is now facing new criticism https://ift.tt/40Ay6CV Protesters say Apple has kept tools that help circumvent censorship in China off its App store inside the country. Now it has to contend with pressure from Chinese citizens who aren't happy about it.

A look at the year social media companies had https://ift.tt/oE0LKpJ From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies had a rocky 2022.

After overseeing one of the largest settlements in FTC history, Lina Khan looks ahead https://ift.tt/0FTnhuH NPR's Andrew Limbong talks to Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, about her efforts to tackle antitrust in the tech space – and her vision for the office going forward.

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives https://ift.tt/fxiXyQE 2022 has been a tumultuous year in social media and the coming year holds more uncertainties as U.S. outlets scramble to match the popularity of apps like TikTok.

Facebook parent Meta will pay $725M to settle a privacy suit over Cambridge Analytica https://ift.tt/3gLbNaV The proposed settlement is a result of revelations that the information of up to 87 million people may have been improperly shared with the data analytics firm that worked for political campaigns. (Image credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

She Worked for Twitter. Then She Tweeted at Elon Musk. https://ift.tt/EefuhWy Sasha Solomon, a software engineer, joined others in the media business who lost their jobs this year after publicly taking on their employers.

What Happened to Bright Starts Beaming Buggie Take-Along Toy? https://ift.tt/ShIUQJb The life cycle of a magical baby-soothing toy.

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022 https://ift.tt/K2hturP From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies have had a rocky 2022 (Image credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

How life got pricier (and, yes, cheaper!) this year — in 7 charts https://ift.tt/QU0EPiC Boy, have we talked a lot about inflation. It affected every part of our lives (and the economy) in 2022. Here are some of its highest highs and lowest lows. (It wasn't all bad news!) (Image credit: Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR)

ByteDance Inquiry Finds Employees Obtained User Data of 2 Journalists https://ift.tt/ShIUQJb The company’s internal investigation showed that workers also obtained data on a small number of other U.S. users.

North Korea has hacked $1.2 billion in crypto and other assets for its economy https://ift.tt/nOXswWB North Korean hackers have stolen an estimated $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it this year alone, South Korea's spy agency says. (Image credit: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

YouTube Reaches Deal for N.F.L. Sunday Ticket https://ift.tt/ShIUQJb Tech giants including Apple, Amazon and YouTube’s owner, Google, pursued the rights to stream the N.F.L. games.

Microsoft Gambles on ‘Nice Guy’ Strategy to Close Activision Megadeal https://ift.tt/pOC9jNg Federal regulators have sued to block the $69 billion acquisition, but the company has settled on a path forward and is preparing to force the issue.

Why the proposed TikTok ban is more about politics than privacy, according to experts https://ift.tt/phswjC1 Digital privacy experts are skeptical of proposed TikTok bans, saying they are more about geopolitical tension than the social media app. (Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Elon Musk’s Distraction Is Just One of Tesla’s Problems https://ift.tt/pOC9jNg The maker of electric cars faces sharp competition, plummeting shares and production woes while its chief executive is preoccupied with Twitter.

Hotels say goodbye to daily room cleanings and hello to robots as workers stay scarce https://ift.tt/GVC8p6q Nearly three years into the pandemic, travel has returned but hotel staff have not. Unable to find workers, hotel owners and managers are having to adapt to what they believe is the new normal. (Image credit: Gabriela Bhaskar for NPR)

How New IRS Rules Could Affect Venmo, Zelle and CashApp Users https://ift.tt/pOC9jNg Users of digital wallets and e-commerce platforms must start reporting small transactions, sowing fears among small-business owners.

A New Chat Bot Is a ‘Code Red’ for Google’s Search Business https://ift.tt/pOC9jNg A new wave of chat bots like ChatGPT use artificial intelligence that could reinvent or even replace the traditional internet search engine.

Elon Musk says he will resign as Twitter CEO once he finds a replacement https://ift.tt/NKcFqtA "I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job!" Musk tweeted after most respondents to his Twitter poll said he should step down. (Image credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Sam Bankman-Fried Said to Be in Talks With Prosecutors Over Bail Deal https://ift.tt/X5oOMsL Lawyers for the FTX founder are in talks about a deal that could allow him to be released on bail when he is extradited to the United States on fraud charges.

Bans on TikTok Gain Momentum in Washington and States https://ift.tt/X5oOMsL At least 14 states have passed bans on the service on government-issued devices in recent weeks. And Congress appears poised to pass a similar prohibition for federal workers.

Could you be eligible for a Fortnite refund? https://ift.tt/pFkrc0V Epic Games has agreed to pay the Federal Trade Commission $520 million over allegations of privacy violations and unwanted charges. Nearly half of the money will go to refund consumers. (Image credit: Epic Games)

Amazon and E.U. Reach Deal to End Antitrust Investigation https://ift.tt/X5oOMsL The online retail giant avoided a major fine but agreed to changes that have long been sought by merchants who depend on Amazon to reach customers.

How TikTok Became a Diplomatic Crisis https://ift.tt/X5oOMsL A Chinese app conquered the planet — and now the U.S. is threatening to shut it down. Can the world’s biggest virality machine survive?

Ex-Google Contractor Settles Lawsuit Over Fellowship of Friends Sect https://ift.tt/ZiwHpIj The suit claimed that the Fellowship of Friends, an obscure group based in the Sierra Nevada foothills, gained influence inside Google.

Popular global TikToks of 2022: Bad Bunny leads the fluffle! https://ift.tt/7a6dNbJ TikTok is more than just goofy dances and challenges. Here are some of the most widely viewed — and engaging — global TikToks of the year.

Musk loses poll about whether to exit as Twitter CEO, pledges to accept results https://ift.tt/tjOpq4Q There was no immediate announcement from Twitter, or Musk, about whether that would happen, though he said that he would abide by the results. (Image credit: Susan Walsh/AP)

They Created a Drug for Susannah. What About Millions of Other Patients? https://ift.tt/ZiwHpIj Scientists have made rapid progress in customizing drugs for ultrarare diseases. The hard part now is making such treatments on a large scale.

A new AI chatbot might do your homework for you. But it's still not an A+ student https://ift.tt/raDfxqn ChatGPT gives users their very own virtual assistant. It could transform academia, experts say — for better and worse. (Image credit: OpenAI/Screenshot by NPR)

Tesla’s Direct Sales Model Helps It Thwart Customer Lawsuits https://ift.tt/ZiwHpIj Sales contracts prevent buyers of the company’s electric cars from pursuing class-action suits if something goes wrong.

Musk Asks Twitter Users If He Should Step Down After Fury Over His Policies https://ift.tt/ZiwHpIj Fury mounted over Mr. Musk’s moves to prevent Twitter users from sharing links to other social media platforms. The billionaire also asked whether he should remain as head of the service.

Spyware's threat to democracies https://ift.tt/34sqEUk NPR's Michel Martin speaks with political scientist Ronald Deibert about the increased use of spyware among autocratic and democratic governments to track and thwart dissent.

Elon Musk suspends — then restores — the Twitter accounts of several journalists https://ift.tt/YsugNzZ NPR's Michel Martin talks with Joan Donovan of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government about Elon Musk's decision to suspend and then reinstate the Twitter accounts of several high-profile journalists.

Cyberattacks on hospitals thwart India's push to digitize health care https://ift.tt/mS0XDgK Prime Minister Modi's ambitious plan to transition all Indians' health records online is running up against weak cybersecurity systems and a lack of data protection laws. (Image credit: Amal KS/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Twitter lifts suspensions on several journalists amid rift between the site and media https://ift.tt/goI2WFn Musk tweeted late Friday that the company would lift the suspensions of "accounts who doxxed my exact location in real-time" following the result of a public poll on the site. (Image credit: Susan Walsh/AP)

John Fetterman’s TikTok Whisperer https://ift.tt/Hdp932c Fresh off a frantic election cycle, the former Fetterman campaign social media producer — and dedicated Swiftie — takes time to shake it off.

Restaurateur, Political Donor, Tipster: The Many Roles of FTX’s Ryan Salame https://ift.tt/Hdp932c The co-chief executive of an FTX unit who told regulators about wrongdoing at the exchange was a big Republican donor. He also bought restaurants.

Virtual Reality Pioneer Is Leaving Meta https://ift.tt/Hdp932c John Carmack, who was chief technology officer of Oculus, which Meta bought, is departing the company.

Herbert Deutsch, Co-Creator of the Moog Synthesizer, Dies at 90 https://ift.tt/Hdp932c An experimental composer, Mr. Deutsch collaborated with Robert Moog to create the first synthesizer to make a significant impact on popular music, launching a revolution in electronic music.

GM Unit’s Self-Driving Taxis Are Subject of US Safety Investigation https://ift.tt/Hdp932c The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into unexpected braking by cars operated by Cruise, a part of General Motors.

Elon Musk Faces Growing Anger Over Twitter Ban of Journalists https://ift.tt/Hdp932c The suspensions, which were criticized by U.S. and European lawmakers, could raise the regulatory heat on the social media platform — and Elon Musk’s other companies.

Elon Musk, Management Guru? https://ift.tt/FIh1yeY Why the Twitter owner’s ruthless, unsparing style has made him a hero to many bosses in Silicon Valley.

Best games of 2022 chosen by NPR https://ift.tt/Hpyb8AY From Elden Ring to Immortality, 2022 delivered long-anticipated titles and ambitious indie games. NPR staff and contributors list their favorites. (Image credit: Koko Nakajima/NPR)

California Reduces Subsidies for Homes With Rooftop Solar https://ift.tt/FIh1yeY The decision, which would reduce the incentive for homeowners to install solar panels, could influence other states to make similar changes.

Amazon to Publish the Next Tomb Raider Video Game https://ift.tt/FIh1yeY The title will be the first major single-player game for Amazon. It is a coup for the retail giant, which has struggled to gain traction with its video game business.

US Cracks Down on Chinese Companies for Security Concerns https://ift.tt/FIh1yeY The Biden administration placed severe restrictions on trade with dozens of Chinese entities, its latest step in a campaign to curtail access to technology with military applications.

Elon Musk Sells Another $3.6 Billion in Tesla Stock https://ift.tt/FIh1yeY Twitter’s owner has now sold $23 billion worth of Tesla stock this year, much of it after he pledged in April to stop selling shares to finance his deal to acquire the social media company.

An Alternate Reality: How Russia’s State TV Spins the Ukraine War https://ift.tt/FIh1yeY Leaked emails detail how Russia’s biggest state broadcaster, working with the nation’s security services, mined right-wing American news and Chinese media to craft a narrative that Moscow was winning.

Short on cash? No problem. 'Buy now, pay later' is the hottest holiday trend https://ift.tt/ZzoBvtW People are paying for blenders, shirts and even groceries in installments. New research suggests this encourages people to overspend. (Image credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

An Alternate Reality: How Russia’s State TV Spins the Ukraine War https://ift.tt/0tFKVsw Leaked emails detail how Russia’s biggest state broadcaster, working with the nation’s security services, mined right-wing American news and Chinese media to craft a narrative that Moscow was winning.

Tech Trade Group Sues California to Halt Children’s Online Safety Law https://ift.tt/0tFKVsw NetChoice, whose members include Amazon, Google, Meta and TikTok, said the new law could cause online services to limit important content for minors.

Twitter Suspends Over 25 Accounts That Track Billionaires’ Private Planes https://ift.tt/0tFKVsw The suspended accounts include one that followed the private plane of Elon Musk, Twitter’s owner.

Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX Engaged in Fraud for Years, Prosecutors Say https://ift.tt/0tFKVsw A criminal indictment unsealed on Tuesday and a complaint by the S.E.C. describe years of wrongdoing in Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire.

Christmas Music https://ift.tt/0tFKVsw Covering the gamut from traditional Christmas carols to pop holiday music, these Christmas sites include printable lyrics, music trivia, and streaming radio stations. May your holiday season be joyful and filled with music.

Are Mushrooms the Future of Alternative Leather? https://ift.tt/0tFKVsw MycoWorks uses mycelium, the substance in the root structure of mushrooms, to make Reishi, which has the look and feel of leather. Big-name companies are very interested.

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories https://ift.tt/DUC34wL Twitter CEO's selective release of internal communications largely corroborate what is already known about the messy business of policing a large social network. (Image credit: Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Bankman-Fried and Schlubby Style https://ift.tt/yVGSwCA Sam Bankman-Fried’s choices may signal an end to the schlubby mystique.

The charges against crypto's Bankman-Fried are piling up. Here's how they break down https://ift.tt/Oxok3rR A one-time unofficial spokesman for crypto who was reportedly worth billions, FTX's former CEO has been arrested on charges he committed fraud and conspiracy. (Image credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)