Catie Keck, Author at Gizmodo

Hidden Code on the Disney+ Site Suggests a Watch Party Feature Is Coming

Source code on the Disney+ website seems to point to a forthcoming feature titled Group Watch.

We Absolutely Do Not Need a Comcast OS on Smart TVs

If there’s one thing TVs absolutely do not need, it’s a TV OS from Big Cable. Citing sources familiar with the plans, Protocol reported Friday that Comcast has been exploring using its X1 tech, which currently powers its set-top boxes and the company’s Roku knockoff, Flex, in smart TVs. According to the report, the company…

Tech News Catie Keck

I Sincerely Hope I’m Not Calling This Too Early, But Here’s the Dumbest Piece of Tech in 2020

We thought nothing could possibly be worse than shelling out increasingly more expensive premium-video-on-demand costs, as with recent releases like Trolls World Tour and Mulan. Well, how about paying per person for tickets to watch a movie from your own freaking living room? This is evidently the concept proposed by startup Xcinex, whose Venue device…

Tech News Catie Keck

There’s a Very Good Reason Why HBO Max and Peacock Aren’t on Roku

It’s been months since HBO Max and Peacock officially launched, and still, neither streaming service currently appears on the Roku platform (or Amazon, for that matter). The companies have said discussions about support were ongoing, but now we know why they’re still absent: Roku’s support fees are expensive as hell. In a deep-dive report on…

Internet Catie Keck

AR Plus Apple TV+ Sounds Like Something No One Wants

It’s clear that Apple is banking big on its streaming service TV+. The tech giant has made the service free for a year with new Apple devices; it’s introduced streaming bundles exclusively available to TV+ subscribers; it’s paying unfathomable sums of money to acquire visionary directors and talent; and now, it may even be exploring…

Tech News Catie Keck

The Only Good Modular Phone Now Has New Cameras and Is Even More Sustainable

Get excited, repair nerds: Fairphone is rolling out a new 3+ model with two new camera modules. And yes, they’re compatible with the company’s current Fairphone 3 model. The sustainability-focused maker of the very best modular phone on Thursday announced its boosted cameras modules, which improve upon those that came standard in the Fairphone 3.…

Gadgets Catie Keck

Quibi Is Doing Drive-In Movies Now—Which, What?

Quibi, a company that tried to force people stuck at home during a pandemic to watch movies on the smallest possible screens, is now evidently pivoting to drive-in theaters—a move that is confounding if for no other reason that it defies the entire point of Quibi. Collider announced last week that it was partnering with…

Tech News Catie Keck

Realtor.com Will Now Show You the Flood Risk of Your Dream Home

Rising seas have created an unprecedented flood risk that could have severe economic impacts. And with federal data far underestimating the scope of flood risk on properties in the U.S., it could put homeowners in a precarious position, particularly those already living in regions prone to flooding. A new project from Realtor.com will provide more…

Earther Catie Keck

This Is the Best Portable Speaker for $150 or Less

I’ve used many Bluetooth speakers over the years. Some have been good, and others have been, well, not good. Choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker that’s a good fit for you requires considerations like whether you care more about a bargain price or, say, a thumping bass. But before you shell out a couple of hundred…

Reviews Catie Keck

Chrome Introduces New Tools to Make Working From Home Less Hellish

If there is one thing I most miss about working in an office, it’s the extra monitor—if only for the fact that tab management was much easier with more screen real estate. (I have a clunky old TV that I attempted to use for the first few weeks of quarantine before realizing it was straining my…

Tech News Catie Keck

Former Uber Exec Charged Over Alleged Cover-Up of Disastrous Hack

The former chief of Uber’s security was charged this week in connection with an alleged cover-up of a massive 2016 hack that exposed the personal information of some 57 million Uber users—a breach he tried his hardest to sweep under the rug. According to a criminal complaint filed this week in the Northern California’s District…

Tech News Catie Keck

Google May Be Working on a TV Streaming Hub Called Kaleidoscope

Google sure seems to be testing or developing a content hub under the name Kaleidoscope, per a dormant landing page that can be seen on Google’s developers browser. Spotted by Chrome Story at chrome://kaleidoscope/ with Chrome Canary, Kaleidoscope—as it appears to be called—greets visitors with the tagline: “All your shows in one place.” Kaleidoscope, it…

Internet Catie Keck

Lyft Really Did It [Update: And Got Its Way]

Update 8/20/20 3:45 p.m. ET: Following Lyft’s announcement that it would cease operations in California over an order to classify its drivers as full-time employees rather than independent contractors, CNBC reports that an appeals court in the state has granted Lyft and Uber a temporary reprieve extending the time before the companies will be expected…

Tech News Catie Keck

Apple Renames Apple Beats 1 Apple Music 1, Not to Be Confused With Apple Music or Apple Music

Apple today announced it’s adding two new offerings to its global radio portfolio: a hits station and one for country music. Somewhat confusing for fans of its existing and immensely popular Beats 1, Apple also announced the station will be renamed Apple Music 1. As with its infuriatingly frustrating Apple TV and TV+ branding, the…

Tech News Catie Keck

Uber and Lyft: Okay But What If Franchises, Though?

California’s rideshare behemoths Uber and Lyft are still grasping for ways to get around the state’s attempts to classify their drivers as full-time employees, and the long-play at this point very much appears to be a November ballot measure. But the two companies have reportedly explored alternative workarounds as well, including the extreme measure of…

Tech News Catie Keck

Don’t Go Applauding Apple Just Yet

Apple is expanding support for its independent repair provider program to include its Mac computers. That means more options for consumers, but it’s important to remember Apple’s independent repair support is still very much on Apple’s conditions. The news was first reported by Reuters this week and expands on Apple’s existing independent repair provider program,…

Tech News Catie Keck

Amazon Can Add Germany and Canada to Its List of Investigation Headaches

Joining the multiple parties currently investigating Amazon and its shady marketplace behavior, authorities in Germany and Canada are now launching their own respective probes. The German Federal Cartel Office, the regulatory authority responsible for enforcing fair competition, has since April been investigating Amazon following complaints about the company’s influence over pricing on its platform, CNBC…

Tech News Catie Keck

Apple TV+ May Be Gearing Up to Offer a Dirt Cheap Showtime Bundle

Hot on the heels of new rumors about Apple’s own forthcoming app bundles, Apple TV+ may be preparing to launch a discounted bundle for a pair of very good third-party streaming services: Showtime and CBS All Access. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported Thursday that Apple TV+ could as soon as Monday be…

Internet Catie Keck

California Puts DoorDash in Its Crosshairs

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin on Wednesday announced he filed a motion that would force DoorDash to reclassify delivery workers as employees rather than as independent contractors, a predatory wage system that greatly benefits gig economy employers at the expense of basic protections for the people who work for them. “We are seeking an…

Tech News Catie Keck

Pinterest Employees Plan Walkout Following Multiple Discrimination Allegations

Following damning allegations of gender discrimination that surfaced in a lawsuit filed earlier this week by the company’s former chief operating officer, Françoise Brougher, it appears Pinterest employees are organizing a walkout tomorrow, Aug. 14. The Washington Post’s Nitasha Tiku on Thursday tweeted links to a pair of sites about the action, a website at the…

Tech News Catie Keck

Catie Keck

Hidden Code on the Disney+ Site Suggests a Watch Party Feature Is Coming

We Absolutely Do Not Need a Comcast OS on Smart TVs

I Sincerely Hope I’m Not Calling This Too Early, But Here’s the Dumbest Piece of Tech in 2020

There’s a Very Good Reason Why HBO Max and Peacock Aren’t on Roku

AR Plus Apple TV+ Sounds Like Something No One Wants

The Only Good Modular Phone Now Has New Cameras and Is Even More Sustainable

Quibi Is Doing Drive-In Movies Now—Which, What?

Realtor.com Will Now Show You the Flood Risk of Your Dream Home

This Is the Best Portable Speaker for $150 or Less

Chrome Introduces New Tools to Make Working From Home Less Hellish

Former Uber Exec Charged Over Alleged Cover-Up of Disastrous Hack

Google May Be Working on a TV Streaming Hub Called Kaleidoscope

Lyft Really Did It [Update: And Got Its Way]

Apple Renames Apple Beats 1 Apple Music 1, Not to Be Confused With Apple Music or Apple Music

Uber and Lyft: Okay But What If Franchises, Though?

Don’t Go Applauding Apple Just Yet

Amazon Can Add Germany and Canada to Its List of Investigation Headaches

Apple TV+ May Be Gearing Up to Offer a Dirt Cheap Showtime Bundle

California Puts DoorDash in Its Crosshairs

Pinterest Employees Plan Walkout Following Multiple Discrimination Allegations

Dyson Airwrap Falls to an All-Time Low in Amazon’s Spring Sale, Lowering the Barrier for This Premium Multi-Styler

The ‘Tales from ’85’ Trailer Wants You Back in ‘Stranger Things’ Already

Forget Ray-Ban Meta, XREAL 1S AR/XR Virtual Screen Smart Glasses Drop to Record Low on Amazon

Pixel Buds Pro 2 Hit Record Low as Google Continues Its Clearance-Like Price Cuts Following Smartphone Deals

DJI Now Has a Cheaper 360 Drone Than Insta360, but the U.S. Won’t Get It

Amazon Clears Out Apple Watch Series 9 With Silver Stainless Steel Case at 48% Off During Spring Sale

What Do You Mean Fox McCloud Is in the ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ Movie

Apple iPad With A16 Chip Is Now as Cheap as It Gets, With Stock Moving Quickly in Amazon’s Tablet Deals

Amazon Echo Spot Is Running at Its All-Time Low, Likely the Last Chance Before Prime Day Arrives in a Few Months

Diablo Cody Has Big Plans for the ‘Jennifer’s Body’ Sequel

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

Apple Studio Display XDR Review: It Looks So Good, I Wish It Were an iMac

RayNeo Air 4 Pro Review: My Eyes Love These Video Glasses, but My Nose Disagrees