NASA solar probe snaps elusive asteroid trails for the first time - CNET

A "catastrophic" event that shattered asteroid 3200 Phaethon left a dusty tail of debris. Astronomers have finally seen it.

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2021 Chevy Tahoe gets diesel power, independent rear suspension - Roadshow

This full-size SUV has been completely redesigned, riding atop a new architecture. Two V8s and one diesel are on the powertrain menu.

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First pictures of Galaxy S11? video - CNET

A reliable source says images of Samsung's next big phone are out there, right now, and they show a huge camera bump that's housing a ridiculous camera.

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Latest Tech News

With more than 1 billion users across 180 countries, WhatsApp is one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, but come next year, millions of those users could find themselves cut off, with the company announcing today that it will soon stop supporting older Android and iOS smartphones.

In a recent change to its FAQ page the popular messaging service has confirmed that devices running operating systems older than Android 2.3.7 or iOS 8 will lose access to WhatsApp from February 1, 2020.

In real-world terms, that means if you have an iPhone 4 or older, or an Android device from before 2011 (such as the Google Nexus One or the original Samsung Galaxy S), it’s unlikely you’ll be able to install WhatsApp from the App Store or Google Play.

• How to use WhatsApp
• WhatsApp dark mode: everything you need to know
• WhatsApp tests self-destructing messages

For WhatsApp users who already have the app installed on such a ‘vintage’ device, the company has stated that “some features might stop functioning at any time”, and users will no longer be able to create new accounts or verify existing ones.

There’s bad news for anyone hanging onto a Windows Phone handset too, with WhatsApp stating on their website that it will cease support for the platform from December 31, 2019.

For users wanting to continue using the service, WhatsApp recommends a device running at least Android 4.0.3, or an iPhone on iOS 9 or up.

The largest market for WhatsApp is India, where the messaging platform has recently crossed the 400 million monthly active users milestone.

• New WhatsApp feature finally makes it a real alternative to your phone for voice calls

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Latest Tech News

The data behind a country’s Google searches can reveal a lot about its people and current interests and concerns, and thanks to the release of the search giant's annual wrap-up of this year’s trends , we now know what Australians were most curious about in 2019.

Topping the list of trending search terms for 2019 was the phrase 'fires near me', a query that would show governmental and emergency information on any bushfires near the user’s current location.

With the unprecedented severity of the NSW bushfires, it’s perhaps unsurprising that many residents were repeatedly checking in on their current status. Google even implemented its disaster widgets in order to quickly display active alerts, relevant news, and a live map of affected areas.

• New Google Chrome feature means no more emailing notes to yourself
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Beyond bushfires, Aussies were mostly interested in sports and Marvel films, with the Rugby and Cricket World Cups taking second and third place respectively, and Avengers Endgame and its villian Thanos also making it into the top 10.

As for public figures, Aussies were the most keen to find out about YouTube makeup artist James Charles, followed by breakthrough musician Billie Eilish, while Greta Thunberg and Julian Assange also made the list.

Former cricketer and world number one women’s tennis star Ash Barty topped the local figure searches, with Fraser Anning and Israel Folau following up for all the wrong reasons. 

How, what, and why?

Australians were the most unsure about ‘how to vote’ in 2019, but were also curious as to ‘how to watch Game of Thrones’. More people searched ‘how to vote labor 2019’ than they did ‘how to vote liberal’, but apparently the answers they sought didn’t help.

‘Why is Madonna wearing an eye patch at Eurovision’ was apparently more important to Australians than the reason for the Amazon burning, closely followed by the country asking itself why Australia Day is on the 26th.

Directly reflecting the concerns of the year, Aussies were dying to know what Area 51 actually is, but also asked ‘what is Brexit’, ‘what is vaping’, ‘what is keto diet’, and ‘what is a boomer’.

It’s worth noting that Google doesn’t provide the search phrases with the highest search volume overall, but instead offers “the searches that had the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2019 as compared to 2018” to better represent new trends.

• How to enable dark mode for Google Chrome

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YouTube's quest to stamp out the more undesirable aspects of its platform has taken another major step forward today, with the Google-owned video site announcing an update to its harassment policy that applies stricter rules against online bullying and other toxic behavior.

• YouTube is disabling comments on videos featuring children
• YouTube bans 'harmful or dangerous' prank videos
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"We will no longer allow content that maliciously insults someone based on protected attributes such as their race, gender expression, or sexual orientation," said YouTube's vice president Matt Halprin in a statement on the matter. "This applies to everyone, from private individuals, to YouTube creators, to public officials."

While YouTube has always been quick to remove personal attacks and threats of violence from the site's comments section, the platform has now pledged to take a stronger stance towards posts that could be considered borderline, such as "veiled or Implied threats."

"This includes content simulating violence toward an individual or language suggesting physical violence may occur," said Halprin, further stating that "no individual should be subject to harassment that suggests violence."

The toxicity avenger

On top of this, YouTube will be dealing out harsh consequences for users who display a "pattern of repeated behavior across multiple videos or comments, even if any individual video doesn’t cross our policy line."

Starting today, "Channels that repeatedly brush up against our harassment policy will be suspended from YPP (YouTube Partner Program), eliminating their ability to make money on YouTube," explained Halprin. "We may also remove content from channels if they repeatedly harass someone."

The update to YouTube's harassment policy follows another policy update from earlier this year, in which the video platform announced bans for videos that promote superiority and discrimination.

• YouTube’s Android app tests hiding user comments by default

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Latest Games News

AMD's Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition refresh has a completely overhauled UI and new tools for gamers and streamers, including beginner users

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Latest Games News

Google has made it clear that it will not provide Epic Games and Fornite an exception as it expects all developers to participate under the same terms.

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Latest Games News

Louis Vuitton's League of Legends partnership isn't its first with a video game brand. In 2016, the company partnered with Square Enix to promote the Final Fantasy series, featuring the game's lead woman, Lightning, in an ad campaign.

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Rick and Morty fans, pucker up for Pickle Rick Pringles - CNET

They're kind of a big dill, with a Super Bowl ad and everything.

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How well does the 2021 Chevy Tahoe ride? - Roadshow

We got chauffeured around GM's proving ground in Milford, Michigan, and here are our findings.

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Latest Tech News

BT is finally offering sports fans the opportunity to take out a standalone subscription to BT Sport for the first time.

Previously, the only way to watch BT Sport was to take out a BT broadband or EE package, or subscribe via the Sky, Virgin Media or BT TV platform. Starting today, customers can pay £25 a month for the full suite of channels and can cancel any time.

Subscribers can watch on their smartphone, tablet or PC, as well as via an Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One or PlayStation 4. BT isn’t expanding this selection just yet but is constantly reviewing its line-up and is open to working with any platform.

• BT Sport Ultimate offers 4K and HDR
• Check out the best BT Broadband deals
• And why not: the best EE phone deals this month

BT Sport without BT broadband

The launch coincides with a big month for the broadcaster. On New Years’ Day, BT Sport will show all nine Premier League matches live, while in January it will become the home of WWE, and it hopes to capitalise on this demand as well as changing user behaviours. BT Sport has offered a mobile application since its launch in 2013 and digital viewing is becoming increasingly important.

“It’s a good time to launch a product like this,” Pete Oliver, Marketing MD for BT's Consumer division and the head of BT's digital products and services told TechRadar. 

“A lot of people have these devices already and a lot will get new ones for Christmas. We launched our big screen applications earlier this year and we’ve been encouraged with the viewing figures. We’re seeing hundreds of thousands of people watching and wanted to make it easier to get BT Sport on a TV.

“A lot of people have a PlayStation or Xbox in their house already, for example.”

BT is keen to stress that standalone subscribers will gain access to its latest broadcasting innovations, including 4K and HDR – depending on compatibility. Earlier this year, BT launched BT Sport Ultimate – a dynamic channel that offers the best possible viewing experience depending on device and connection speed. BT Sport Ultimate will be available to new subscribers.

Who will subscribe?

The cost of the service is more than a subscription to Netflix or Amazon Prime, the latter of which made its Premier League broadcasting debut last week, but is less than a monthly subscription to Sky Sports via NOW TV.

When asked whether viewers able and willing to pay such a free for live sport would already have Sky Sports and/or BT Sport, Oliver said that the flexibility of the subscription could attract new viewers and that it might encourage “cord cutting” because you don’t need a broadband or TV contract.

“I think it’s competitive,” he explained. “It’s completely flexible so you don’t need to take out a 12 month contract. It’s great if you only want to watch your team in the Champions League but aren’t convinced they’ll go far  or if you just want to watch the MotoGP season. There’s an emerging group of sports fans who don’t want to have a Pay-TV subscription but are happy to drop into sports content.”

One of the main reasons BT launched BT Sport was to encourage consumers to sign up and stay with its broadband service. BT Sport has also been a key offer to EE customers. Oliver said BT not concerned that by offering a standalone subscription, some of the appeal of its communications services would be weakened – especially given BT’s investments in full fibre and EE’s in 5G.

“You still get a better price for BT Sport with BT broadband,” he said. “But if you don’t want that, then this is a good option.”

• Here are the best BT Sport deals for December 2019

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Disney's Bob Iger, Time's Businessperson of the Year, holds Baby Yoda in painting - CNET

"As soon as those ears popped up from under the blanket, and the eyes, I knew," Iger told Time.

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Keanu box-office battle: Matrix 4 and John Wick 4 share same release date - CNET

Come and get your Keanu love... in 2021.

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Between Netflix, Amazon and Disney Plus, TV is starting to feel like homework - CNET

Commentary: In the battle between what you should watch and what you want to watch, it's hard to choose sides.

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