Always Tech News: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

The NSA has collected 'millions' of faces from the web

The NSA isn't just interested in pure communications intelligence like call records; it wants to look for faces, too. Documents leaked by Edward Snowden reveals that the NSA has been using facial recognition software to scan the internet for...

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Make a smarter home with the Lutron Smart Bridge

Part of the Caseta Wireless system, the $149 Lutron Smart Bridge lets DIY smart home builders control lights, window shades, and Wi-Fi thermostats all through Android and iOS mobile apps.

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Lutron Smart Bridge billed to entice connected home hobbyists (hands-on)

The Lutron Smart Bridge offers DIY connected home builders the tools to command lights, shades, and thermostats via a mobile app.

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Feedback Loop: WWDC predictions, Dropcam Pro impressions and more!

Ring in the weekend with the latest edition of Feedback Loop. Apple's WWDC kicks off on Monday and we try to predict what will be announced, share impressions of the Dropcam Pro, discuss the viability of DIY data storage, talk about our favorite task...

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A Motion-Stabilized Cloverfield Is Awesomely Unwatchable

I bet I can guess the first thing that comes to your mind when I say Cloverfield: "SHAKY CAAAAAM!!" It's so excessive it can be a little bit of a problem, and some endeavoring internet hero tried to fix it. The result is a Cloverfield that's unwatchable in a completely different way.

Leak hints the Galaxy S5 Mini will keep its bigger sibling's sensors

While many have been expecting Samsung to launch a mini version of the Galaxy S5 given the company's past habits, there have been questions about just what the smartphone would include. Would it be as hobbled as last year's S4 Mini? Maybe not....

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Dear and the Headlights: I Just Do

Ugh, love songs are so sappy, right? Usually! But every once in a while there's a glorious exception. Something full-to-bursting with a vital vibrancy. Something earnest and cute without being lame. Dear and the Headlights' "I Just Do" is one of those songs.

This Blade Runner Tribute Art Show Will Hold You Over Until the Sequel

Building better bridges between the MacBook and iPad

Apple's optimizing of the MacBook and iPad interfaces makes for a solid duo. But moving between the devices could be easier.

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Head of Intel's former internet TV project abandons ship

When Intel formally abandoned its IPTV project in a sale to Verizon, the team behind it transitioned as part of the deal. Now, only four months later, the man who's been in charge of the venture all along has washed his hands of it, too. Erik...

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After Expanding To Android, Addappt’s CEO Breaks Down Its Growth Plans

Mrinal Desai, founder and CEO of Addappt, is betting that people need a better way to keep their cell phone contact information up to date. Addappt, a smartphone app — iOS and Android — syncs contact information between users, allowing for individuals to remotely update their data on the phones of their friends. (For a more detailed dive into how Addappt works, TechCrunch has… Read More

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What the Synapses in Your Brain Actually Look Like

Without synapses, your neurons wouldn't be able to communicate and your brain would be little more than a ball of meat. Exactly what synapses look like has been a mystery until now, and it turns out that even though their job is simple, they're complicated as hell.