Tech ado Labs

For male tanager birds, carotenoid feather pigments just aren't flashy enough. They have another way to make their colors really pop. https://bit.ly/2ShBXBB

This week, we look at how the latest iPhone software update ties into the debate about regulating big tech. https://bit.ly/335rFql

City residents and elected officials pushed back after videos showed the Boston Dynamics robot in action. https://bit.ly/32ZVR5Z

Founders and funders are flocking to the beach for an impromptu event that some are calling "South by Southeast." https://bit.ly/3gOONl8

The AI just got a useful boost in understanding natural human speech. https://bit.ly/3nxJOq5

Scientists crunched 20 years’ worth of satellite data to estimate the melt rate across the planet, and the news isn’t good. https://bit.ly/3u3Ixtb

Polk's expandable soundbar system is a good starting point for slowly building a true surround sound experience. https://bit.ly/3gKy9Tv

The alleged administrator of Bitcoin Fog kept the dark web service running for 10 years before the IRS caught up with him. https://bit.ly/3vomYE6

Translucent devices like the Game Boy Color made a tacit promise to players: Everything the light touches is yours. But the future seems to be a black box. https://bit.ly/32SSwpz

Only a few titles for Sony's new PlayStation console really take advantage of the powerful hardware. Here are our favorites. https://bit.ly/3aHcYxZ

Originally designed as a syringe, the emoji is becoming more popular as people get vaccinated. Apple’s latest redesign reflects this evolution. https://bit.ly/3gIsT2E

The vulnerability was patched Monday, but hackers had already used it to spread malware. https://bit.ly/3eDrU10

Gardening in this relaxing, chill game bought me back to my childhood, but broke my heart when I had no choice but to grow up and face reality. https://bit.ly/3vp9wQv

Facebook and other advertisers fought the move, but App Tracking Transparency is finally here. https://bit.ly/2PtH4O4

The “hygiene hypothesis” says early contact with microbes trains our immune systems. But what happens after a year of distancing? https://bit.ly/3vjM2Mn

Before you share them, make sure your snaps look their best with the help of these tools. https://bit.ly/3nk141T

Whether you’re celebrating Mother’s and Father’s Day in person or virtually, these gadgets might help bring your folks closer. https://bit.ly/2QyQatb

Plus: App Store scams, an anti-surveillance bill, and more of the week’s top security news. https://bit.ly/2RQIYZJ

Seagrasses, mangrove forests, and wetlands store tons of carbon. But can a market based on regrowing them avoid the pitfalls that plague land-based programs? https://bit.ly/3sOK9FK

From green cleaning supplies to reusable bags and bottles, these products try to cut down on waste. https://bit.ly/2PoWqU0

These are our favorite Windows notebooks, MacBooks, and Chromebooks. https://bit.ly/32KIqGZ

The six-month mission is another step toward an eventual moon landing, and the second time this Crew Dragon capsule has visited the space station. https://bit.ly/3sJC717

What do an electronic turtle egg, an Arctic seed bank, and carbon-eating machines have in common? They’re helping us be optimistic this Earth Day. https://bit.ly/3aztboE

You can’t understand the app store debate without knowing a crucial piece of antitrust jargon. https://bit.ly/2QMU9SL

We’ve tested all the top slates, from Apple’s iPads to Android and Windows devices. https://bit.ly/3kh3A6y

The groups used social engineering techniques on Facebook to direct targets to a wide range of malware, including custom tools. https://bit.ly/3xiIyvk

The vulnerabilities opened the door to “ghosts” hiding in and disrupting rooms, where moderators would be unable to mute them. https://bit.ly/3xhQk98

The new high-end tablet uses Mini-LED display technology, supports Thunderbolt, and has the powerful new Mac processor. https://bit.ly/3sJwy2Q

Say hello to new iMacs, new iPads Pro, an updated Apple TV, and some little wireless trackers that keep tabs on your tchotchkes. https://bit.ly/32BV3nI

The furniture company is going beyond its Place app with IKEA Studio, a much-needed overhaul of its augmented reality offering. https://bit.ly/3x9KQNw

Secret codes. Legal threats. Betrayal. How one couple built a device to fix McDonald’s notoriously broken soft-serve machines—and how the fast-food giant froze them out. https://bit.ly/3tBYsPc

Clubhouse is the latest startup to get cloned by Facebook, as the social media giant announces a suite of new audio features. Who will use them? https://bit.ly/2QFDHUi

Unspoiled wilderness meets high-speed thrills in a meditative mountain biking game that's still picking up new fans. https://bit.ly/2RLMeWq

Robotics ethicist Kate Darling surveys our history with animals—in work, war, and companionship—to show how we might develop similar relationships with robots. https://bit.ly/2QG1lzS

The company is expected to unveil some new hardware Tuesday. Here’s how to stream the big show. https://bit.ly/3glieuL

Curls and waves are beautiful. But when you want to smooth them out, these hot tools (including irons, a brush, and a comb) work wonders. https://bit.ly/2QD1KTH

Once, we dreamed of one controller to rule them all. But when Logitech killed off the Harmony line, it ended an era. https://bit.ly/3dqjuuy

Your messages don’t have to go out right away. Be strategic about when your recipient gets them. https://bit.ly/3x5OoQL

Plus: Russian sanctions, Europe’s SolarWinds fallout, and more of this week’s top security news. https://bit.ly/3uY9Xky

Catch up on the most important updates from this week. https://bit.ly/2Q9Wyac

For her new book, Julia Galef cataloged the Vulcan's predictions and found events he describes as "impossible" actually happened 83 percent of the time. https://bit.ly/32mSlT5

Cinephiles have been mourning the news that the iconic movie theater won’t reopen. But there might still be hope for the Cinerama Dome. https://bit.ly/3mRD1Ho

Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine was supposed to be the uncomplicated one. But even with new data, getting people to trust it again will be tricky. https://bit.ly/3wTQfYO

The US has sent a loud message to Moscow—though what it's saying isn’t exactly clear. https://bit.ly/3sxfm0p

A better image sensor and more AI-powered video smarts make the Air 2S one of the best drones you can buy. https://bit.ly/3gdXB3C

How does a manager strike the balance between honesty and spilling too many secrets? https://bit.ly/2RxhJTP

The SKG F5 is a much more affordable Theragun alternative, and it even adds heat to help relax your tight muscles. It's 40 percent off. https://bit.ly/3dkuqKf

In a market dominated by home cardio workout machines, Tonal concentrates on strength-building and muscle toning. https://bit.ly/3sfV1MU

A veritable hellscape of an exoplanet is challenging researchers’ assumptions about what types of worlds host atmospheres. https://bit.ly/3ti0lAL

In a record quarter for VC funding, California still takes the cake—further evidence that reports of the region’s demise are greatly exaggerated. https://bit.ly/3g8k9T8