If you’re worried about other electronics — or anything else in your house — carrying a risk of fire, injury or other personal danger, check out the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s website for the government’s latest warnings, news and official recall information. As the agency’s name states, it’s all about keeping consumers (you) safe.
In addition to seeing what products are currently under recall, you can report your own problems with specific products, view somewhat morbid statistics related to injury and even read up on the latest regulations. To go right to the hit list, though, just click the Recalls button and then on Recalls List at the top of the page to see the current roundup of products deemed unsafe for use.
The Consumerist blog from Consumer Reports is another great site to browse for news and information regarding customer rights and safety.
Not all electronics are dangerous, but you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using them. Always use recommended chargers with battery-powered devices (and not flimsy third-party knock-offs of suspicious origin) and don’t leave stuff plugged in forever. Stay safe, Jammers!
Could Google be working on a new 7-inch Android tablet to replace the retired Nexus 7 line? Several tech blogs are reporting that’s the case. (“w00t!” say we all!)
Facebook has also updated its Messenger platform to be much more an e-commerce engine. One of the company’s blogs has announced that the site was quote “starting to roll out ads in News Feed that drive people to chat with your bot on Messenger.” You have been warned, people.
Apple doesn’t seem to be sitting still while Facebook takes all the advertising dollars, though. The iMessage app in the iOS 10 software that arrived this week now has its own app store where users can purchase things like stickers and games.
Instagram announced this week that it was adding keyword moderation tool that allows users to block comments using specific words from appearing on posts. Twitter, are you paying attention?
In Windows 10 news, Sling TV has an official Windows 10 app available in Microsoft’s Windows Store. The app allows the streaming TV service to work with Windows 10 and the Cortana virtual assistant to organize one’s television watching on the PC.
And finally, NASA is working on that problem that another asteroid may smash into the earth and wipe out more than dinosaurs this time around. We need more knowledge on the topic, so last week, the agency launched a robot explorer craft called Osiris-REX (short for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) toward the asteroid Bennu, where it will orbit for two years. Before they part ways, Osiris-Rex will use its robot arm to reach out and take a piece of the rock before it turns around and comes back to each with the sample in tow. Talk about your takeout…
After a week to process the big iPhone 7 announcement last week, technologist Don Donofrio returns to the show to discuss the good, the bad and the stuff Apple skipped this time around. In the news segment, El Kaiser and J.D. bring updates on the increasingly combustible Samsung Galaxy Note 7 situation, rumors of Google doing another 7-inch tablet and plenty of other non-Apple news from the geekosphere. Let’s roll the dice!
The independent audio magazine devoted to mashing up pop culture, technology and more. J.D. Biersdorfer and Pedro Rafael Rosado are your hosts. It's an Internet Radio revolution!