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Ookla Rolls Out New Global 5G Map

Ookla Rolls Out New Global 5G Map
Trying to work out where 5G service actually exists is a tricky proposition right now, and malvertising efforts like AT&T’s fake 5G “E” service aren’t helping. Ookla, the developers of the popular Speedtest application and website, have rolled out a new 5G coverage map service worldwide to illustrate where service is (and isn’t). Currently, the site tracks 303 5G deployments from 20 separate operators. Editors’ Note: Ookla is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of ExtremeTech’s publisher, Ziff Davis. Ookla’s will let you click on specific areas to learn more about the 5G service available in that state or country, once you’ve scrolled down the page manually (more on that in a moment) and zoomed in to a specific country.

WhatsApp Hit by VoIP Spyware Attack

WhatsApp Hit by VoIP Spyware Attack
Facebook-owned WhatsApp is the most popular messaging platform in the world with more than 1.5 billion active users. That makes it a big target for hackers, and one group reportedly discovered a vulnerability that . All they had to do was place a voice call. We’re all familiar with the conventional security advice, such as don’t open suspicious attachments and don’t follow unknown web links. WhatsApp users didn’t need to do anything to end up in trouble with this bug, though. The attackers used VoIP calls in WhatsApp to transmit malware, and the target didn’t even need to answer.

ET Deals: Nintendo Switch with Two Bonus Ematic Controllers

ET Deals: Nintendo Switch with Two Bonus Ematic Controllers
For a limited time, Walmart is offering up the Nintendo Switch with two wired Ematic controllers for just $299. And if you’re willing to bump up that total by 16 bucks, you can opt for the wireless versions instead. Since Nintendo’s own Pro Controller retails for up to $69.99, this is a very affordable option. • Console Bundle with 2 Bonus Controllers for $299 at Walmart (List price: $339.97). Want an unlocked smartphone that doesn’t compromise on functionality or build quality? Amazon is currently selling the 6.1-inch Galaxy S10 for just $799.99 without forcing you to stick to a single wireless plan or carrier.

The Moon May Not Be Geologically Dead After All

The Moon May Not Be Geologically Dead After All
Geologic processes, like your mother, are both fundamentally responsible for life as we know it and probably something you don’t think about very much. (You did call your mother on Sunday, right?) Geologists are interested in the geological activity going on across the solar system because we know these processes on Earth have fundamentally shaped its structure and ability to support life. Understanding how they function on other planets and moons (when they exist at all) helps understand how these environments evolved and why they look the way they do. For decades, conventional thinking has been that the Moon is essentially a dead rock in space.

MIT Uses AI to Predict Breast Cancer Up to 5 Years in Advance

MIT Uses AI to Predict Breast Cancer Up to 5 Years in Advance
Modern artificial intelligence employs complex algorithms to do all sorts of tasks in an instant, such as figuring out how a customer feels based on their review or identifying specific characteristics of an image. However, AI’s brightest moments come from the creative ways we employ these algorithms. People have used AI to , , and now MIT has found a way to detect breast cancer up to five years in advance using a deep-learning image classification model. MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) used mammograms and known outcomes from over 60,000 patients to train their new model on the tiniest visual details the human eye can easily miss.

Amazon’s New Robot Can Pack More Than 600 Boxes Per Hour

Amazon’s New Robot Can Pack More Than 600 Boxes Per Hour
Amazon has installed new robots in its facilities that can pack hundreds of objects per hour and has considered rolling the technology out across its factories. The robots can wrap packages inside boxes it custom-assembles to fit each item. While the robots cost over a million dollars each, Amazon expects to recover the costs within two years. A new claims that Amazon has considered rolling out the machines at dozens of warehouses, removing an estimated 24 positions with each rollout. Reuters notes that Amazon is interested in cutting humans out of the warehouse process altogether to save on labor costs, but that the task of picking items out of bins remains too difficult for robots to perform in a cost and time effective manner.

Sprint Is Practically Begging Regulators to Approve T-Mobile Merger

Sprint Is Practically Begging Regulators to Approve T-Mobile Merger
T-Mobile and Sprint have been playing footsie for years, and the pair announced their impending merger last year. The deal, valued at $26 billion, is still winding its way through regulatory review, but recent leaks suggest it won’t be the slam dunk the carriers had expected. With the deal in danger, Sprint is to investors just how dire its situation has become. Before T-Mobile can complete its acquisition of Sprint, the deal needs approval from the FCC and the Department of Justice. Recently, sources inside the DOJ claim that the agency’s antitrust division as it is currently structured.

China’s PUBG Alternative Earns $14M in 3 Days

China’s PUBG Alternative Earns $14M in 3 Days
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, or PUBG as it’s more commonly known, kicked off the trend of battle royale games when it debuted in 2017. The mobile version has proven extremely popular around the world, but especially in Asia. After months of discussions with the Chinese government, developer Tencent has replaced PUBG with a government-approved alternative. Now, that game has raked in $14 million in its first three days of operation. The Battle Royale genre is dominant in gaming — PUBG is only the tip of the iceberg. Fortnite from Epic Games has become an even bigger hit than PUBG, but the mobile version hasn’t made the same impact in Asia as it has in the US.

All Chromebooks Will Support Linux Going Forward

All Chromebooks Will Support Linux Going Forward
Google used the Linux kernel in Chrome OS, but the platform is intentionally streamlined and focuses on web apps. For most of its life, users couldn’t access the Linux heart of Chrome OS, but that changed last year with a feature called “Crostini.” That allowed select Chromebooks to install and run Linux apps, but now Crostini is . It’s been a long road for Chrome OS to get here. When it rolled out on Google’s invite-only CR-48 laptop, Chrome OS only supported web apps — it was like a fancy browser machine. Over time, Google added more features and tools to Chrome OS.
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