Category: Tech Made Simple

HBO Max is here, so HBO Go trails off into the sunset…

HBO Max logo surrounded by popcorn

Just weeks after the launch of HBO Max, which added to the already confusing HBO product lineup of HBO, HBO Go, and HBO Now, WarnerMedia is making some changes in an attempt to reduce some of the confusion about which app is for which purpose. In case you haven’t heard,  HBO Max is AT&T’s new […]

Microsoft Teams now lets you Upload your own Photos as Background Images

It might not necessarily make that early Monday morning video call more fun, but Microsoft Teams will now let users upload their own photos for custom backgrounds, the company announced in a blog post. Custom images and other background effects are only available for scheduled Teams meetings, Microsoft says. Teams has a background blurring effect […]

The New PS5 is going to be Huge – Literally

Sony has finally shown off what the PlayStation 5 will look like, but there’s one very big question about the design that’s still unclear: just how big is the PlayStation 5? We’ll likely have to wait until Sony gives official dimensions (or shows the physical box next to something else for scale) of the somewhat […]

Sony’s PS5 reveal was the best look yet at Next-Gen Gaming

Ahead of the long-awaited arrival of the next generation of video game consoles, Microsoft had clearly grabbed the initiative. Its reveal of the Xbox Series X at the Game Awards came out of nowhere, and Sony’s weak response at CES a few weeks later was to show off the PS5 logo. (It’s a PS4 logo […]

Amazon bans police from using its facial “Rekognition” technology for the next year

Amazon is announcing a one-year moratorium on allowing law enforcement to use its controversial Rekognition facial recognition platform, the e-commerce giant said on Wednesday.  The news comes just two days after IBM said it would no longer offer, develop, or research facial recognition technology, citing potential human rights and privacy abuses and research indicating facial […]

Slack partners with Amazon to take on Microsoft Teams

Slack is partnering with Amazon in a multiyear agreement that means all Amazon employees will be able to start using Slack. The deal comes just as Slack faces increased competition from Microsoft Teams, and it will also see Slack migrate its voice and video calling features over to Amazon’s Chime platform alongside a broader adoption […]

Apple reportedly will offer monthly payment plans for iPads and Macs on Apple Card

Apple will allow customers to buy products including iPads, Macs, and AirPods, via monthly installment payments on the Apple Card, Bloomberg has reported. According to the site, payments will be managed through the Apple Card section in the iPhone Wallet app and added to customers’ monthly Apple Card bills.   For iPads, Macs, the Apple […]

Waymo’s Robot Minivans are ready to roll in the Bay Area for the first time since COVID-19 outbreak

Waymo white minivan

Waymo’s self-driving cars are returning to Bay Area roads for the first time since the company halted its public testing in early March because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Alphabet-owned company plans to return its fleet of autonomous minivans to service starting June 8th, according to an email obtained by The Verge.  Waymo’s self-driving cars […]

Zoom Paid Accounts reportedly will get strong Encryption for Calls

Zoom will add stronger encryption to its paid customers’ video calls, but isn’t planning to offer the enhanced security to all accounts, Reuters has reported. A security consultant with the company told Reuters that it still wasn’t clear whether some accounts, such as nonprofit users, might qualify for the more secure calls.   “Zoom’s approach […]