Catie Keck, Author at Gizmodo

FDA Bans All the Good Vape Pod Flavors

Following reports this week that such a move was imminent, the Food and Drug Administration is bringing the hammer down on your beloved, fruity pre-filled e-cigarettes capsules in an attempt to curb the rise of youth vaping in the U.S. The agency said Thursday that it has finalized an enforcement policy to bar the manufacturer,…

Tech News Catie Keck Jan 2 '20

Tax Ghouls Like TurboTax Can’t Hide Your Free Filing Options on Google Anymore

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that tax filing companies with which it has agreements to offer free filing tools are barred from hiding those programs from consumers in online searches and must be transparent about where to find them on their sites. In other words, they’re now required to do the absolute bare minimum…

Tech News Catie Keck Jan 2 '20

Music Streaming Jumped to 80 Percent of the U.S. Market by the End of the Decade

Music streaming made a killing this decade as far as U.S. market domination—and more and more users are willing to pay for it too, according to statistics from the Recording Industry Association of America. The organization this week tweeted several infographics of music listening trends in the U.S. over the course of the last ten…

Tech News Catie Keck Jan 1 '20

FDA Is Reportedly Preparing to Ban Fruity E-Cigarette Pod Flavors

After raising the age restriction on vaping and other tobacco products to 21, the Food and Drug Administration is reportedly readying to ban all pod-based e-cigarette flavors except menthol and tobacco. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the agency’s plans for the prohibition on fruity pods could be…

Tech News Catie Keck Jan 1 '20

Don’t Trust Netflix’s ‘Most Popular’ List

Netflix’s “best of” content rankings reek of bullshit. And based on Netflix’s own metrics for popularity, they are. The streaming giant on Monday tweeted a series of “What We Watched” lists that immediately raised suspicions among the Gizmodo staff about how the company arrived at its top-ranking winners. For example Murder Mystery, a crime comedy…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 30 '19

Juul Employees Reportedly Can’t Stop Vaping at Work

Who’d have thought the company that developed a discreet and highly addictive nicotine product would have trouble preventing its very own employees from using it in the workplace? The Wall Street Journal reported this week that in spite of pleas from Juul management and threats of docked bonuses and fourth-strike termination for vaping at work,…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 30 '19

Shitty Company in Shitty Talks for Shitty Streaming Service

Ahead of the launch of NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service launch in April, its parent company is reportedly in “advanced talks” to buy ad-supported streaming service Xumo. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Comcast—which is regularly voted the most hated company in the U.S.—is eyeing an acquisition of the service, which the paper notes the…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 27 '19

Nobody Listened

Despite the privacy concerns, labor strikes, and reports that Amazon is selling literal trash on its platform—in the face of all of the myriad reasons shoppers should have avoided buying through Amazon this year—the company still made a killing this season. The company said this week that the 2019 holiday season was record-shattering. The number…

Commerce Catie Keck Dec 26 '19

NBC’s Streaming Service Now Has More Movies, But Only Very Specific Ones

Peacock is getting more movies. Unfortunately, not all of them will be great. NBCUniversal’s forthcoming streaming service has secured a deal to license content from Lionsgate. The long-term agreement will allow Peacock to launch in April with hundreds of films and series in addition to its lineup of originals and legacy content like Parks and…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 26 '19

Apple Plays Catch Up With Super-Lucrative Bug Bounties

Apple is opening its bug bounty program to all security researchers as well as expanding the systems they can be reported for. And hoo buddy, Apple is willing to slide them a pretty significant chunk of change for it, too. Apple’s head of security for engineering and architecture Ivan Krstić tweeted the news Thursday (the…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 20 '19

If There Was Any Question, You Definitely Aren’t Getting $125 From Equifax

I hate to say it, but the Federal Trade Commission was right. We’re not going to see anything near that piddly $125 we were hoping to get out of Equifax’s massive data breach. But you know who will be seeing a pretty payday in the case? The attorneys who represented consumers. A judge this week…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 20 '19

Congress Passes Law to Raise Smoking and Vaping Age to 21

In an effort to curb the use of tobacco products among youth, Congress has passed a law that would increase the smoking age in the United States to 21. The provision about raising the smoking age to 21 was included in sweeping spending legislation that passed in the House earlier this week and will prevent…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 19 '19

Spotify Is Testing a New Social Feature That Could Add a Human Touch to Discovery

It appears Spotify is prototyping a function to allow users to more easily discover what their friends are listening to most. The feature was discovered by researcher and reverse-engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong and first reported by TechCrunch on Wednesday. As TechCrunch noted, a landing page is currently accessible here, though its features and buttons…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 19 '19

It’s Time to Nervously Mock the 50 Worst Passwords of the Year

In spite of everything—the leaks, the breaches, the myriad privacy risks—a large majority of people are still using “password” and “123456” as their password. Folks, it’s long past time to stop taking security shortcuts. Security services firm SplashData has released its ninth annual Worst Passwords of the Year list, which assesses more than 5 million…

Privacy & Security Catie Keck Dec 18 '19

Amazon’s a Shopping Mess

Of course, Amazon is listing actual, dumpster-retrieved garbage in its marketplace. But you’d be fully forgiven for not realizing it. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that, following an investigation into Amazon sellers who claim they dumpster-dive for items they later sell on Amazon, Journal reporters themselves embarked on a dumpster-diving excursion behind various…

Commerce Catie Keck Dec 18 '19

Lime Launches Weekly Scooter Subscription for Unlimited Unlocks

Lime is rolling out a weekly service that’ll likely help heavy users save a couple of bucks in unlock fees. The company announced the rollout of the new LimePass weekly subscription service Tuesday, adding that Lime users will be able to use it in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand beginning today and in other…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 17 '19

Here’s When You Need to Order Your Gifts by to Avoid Ruining Christmas

Folks, you’re running out of time. If you haven’t ordered or shipped the gifts you’re hoping to get to your loved ones in time to make it under the tree, you’re going to need to act fast. Christmas Day is next Wednesday, and thanks to an especially short turnaround between Thanksgiving and the big holiday…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 16 '19

Cyberthief Allegedly Used Ill-Gotten Gains to Buy Royalty Rights to Rap Songs

An alleged SIM-swapping scammer is accused of using his spoils to purchase cars, expensive jewelry and diamonds, and the royalty rights for rap music. Following an investigation by the FBI, 23-year-old Anthony Faulk was arrested Wednesday in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on charges of extortion and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the indictment, filed this…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 13 '19

Of Course There’s a 14-Month Waitlist for This $300 Unofficial Baby Yoda Toy

Etsy is currently teeming with unofficial merch for The Mandalorian’s “The Child,” or Baby Yoda, as he’s colloquially come to be known. But if you’re hoping to get your hands on this $300 lifelike replica before Christmas, think again. The handmade toy from Russia-based Etsy shop GakmanCreatures is one of a handful of Baby Yoda…

Toys & Collectibles Catie Keck Dec 12 '19

FCC Votes to Establish New 3-Digit Suicide-Prevention Number 988

A new nationwide 3-digit emergency line is intended to make the process of seeking help easier for those who need it. The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to begin the process of establishing the 988 suicide-prevention hotlines, the Associated Press reported. The line will directly connect callers with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and 163…

Tech News Catie Keck Dec 12 '19

Catie Keck

FDA Bans All the Good Vape Pod Flavors

Tax Ghouls Like TurboTax Can’t Hide Your Free Filing Options on Google Anymore

Music Streaming Jumped to 80 Percent of the U.S. Market by the End of the Decade

FDA Is Reportedly Preparing to Ban Fruity E-Cigarette Pod Flavors

Don’t Trust Netflix’s ‘Most Popular’ List

Juul Employees Reportedly Can’t Stop Vaping at Work

Shitty Company in Shitty Talks for Shitty Streaming Service

Nobody Listened

NBC’s Streaming Service Now Has More Movies, But Only Very Specific Ones

Apple Plays Catch Up With Super-Lucrative Bug Bounties

If There Was Any Question, You Definitely Aren’t Getting $125 From Equifax

Congress Passes Law to Raise Smoking and Vaping Age to 21

Spotify Is Testing a New Social Feature That Could Add a Human Touch to Discovery

It’s Time to Nervously Mock the 50 Worst Passwords of the Year

Amazon’s a Shopping Mess

Lime Launches Weekly Scooter Subscription for Unlimited Unlocks

Here’s When You Need to Order Your Gifts by to Avoid Ruining Christmas

Cyberthief Allegedly Used Ill-Gotten Gains to Buy Royalty Rights to Rap Songs

Of Course There’s a 14-Month Waitlist for This $300 Unofficial Baby Yoda Toy

FCC Votes to Establish New 3-Digit Suicide-Prevention Number 988

What Footage Could Possibly Be Added to ‘Endgame’ to Make it ‘Critical’ for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?

Spirit Airlines Wants a Trump Bailout as Jet Fuel Prices Skyrocket

California Accuses Amazon of Price Fixing

Even Team Avatar Wants ‘Legend of Aang’ Back in Theaters, Leaks Be Damned

Egyptian Archaeologists Find Perfectly Circular Temple Tied to Ancient Water Cult

House Candidate Unveils Plan to Pay Americans Who Face AI Job Displacement

NASA Shut Down Voyager 1 Science Instrument After Unexpected Power Drop

Tim Cook Is Done as CEO of Apple

You Have to Watch This Trailer for What Is Basically ‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’ Made Horror

On ‘Maul: Shadow Lord’, the Old Ways Aren’t as Over as They Seem

I’ve Tested a Lot of Bad Smart Glasses and These Are the Worst Yet

Roborock’s Qrevo Curv 2 Flow Is the Ultimate Robot Mop—If You Don’t Have Corners or Walls

Alienware’s $350 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Nixes Everything for a Pretty Screen

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go