If you're in the market for an Echo Show 8 but missed Amazon's Prime Day sales, don't despair. Right now, you can grab the latest second-generation model for $85, a substantial 35 percent discount ($45 off) and just $10 than the record low price. At the same time, the Echo Show 5 is still on sale for $40, for a savings of 53 percent 

The second-generation Show 8 earned an Engadget score of 87, thanks to its 8-inch 1,280 x 800 touchscreen, minimalist design and stellar sound quality. It differs from the first-generation device in several ways, particularly with the updated 13-megapixel camera that digitally pans and zooms to keep you in frame when you're doing video chats on apps like Zoom. It's a particularly nice feature if you frequently use your smart display as a stationary video-chatting device. It also works great as a photo frame, and Amazon's updated home screen lets you see multiple items at once like the weather and sports.

If you need something smaller to put on a bedside table, for instance, the Show 5 might be a better option. It includes a sunrise alarm feature, allowing the display to slowly brighten as a way to wake you gently during dark winter mornings. It also comes with all the usual features found on Amazon Echo devices, including Alexa voice control and Ring integration. Best off, it's available for just $40, a substantial $45 off the usual $85 price. 

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If you visit a website you see on Facebook and Instagram, you've likely noticed that you're not redirected to your browser of choice but rather a custom in-app browser. It turns out that those browsers inject javascript code into each website visited, allowing parent Meta to potentially track you across websites, researcher Felix Krause has discovered. 

"The Instagram app injects their tracking code into every website shown, including when clicking on ads, enabling them [to] monitor all user interactions, like every button and link tapped, text selections, screenshots, as well as any form inputs, like passwords, addresses and credit card numbers," Krause said in a blog post. 

His research focused on the iOS versions of Facebook and Instagram. That's key because Apple allows users to opt in or out of app tracking when they first open an app, via its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) introduced in iOS 14.5. Meta has previously said that the feature was "a headwind on our business 2022... on the order of $10 billion." 

Meta said that the injected tracking code obeyed users preferences on ATT. "The code allows us to aggregate user data before using it for targeted advertising or measurement purposes," a spokesperson told The Guardian. "We do not add any pixels. Code is injected so that we can aggregate conversion events from pixels. For purchases made through the in-app browser, we seek user consent to save payment information for the purposes of autofill."

Krause noted that Facebook isn't necessarily using the javascript injection to collect sensitive data. However, if the apps opened a users' preferred browser like Safari or Firefox, there would be no way to do a similar javascript injection on any secure site. By contrast, the approach used by the Instagram and Facebook in-app browsers "works for any website, no matter whether it's encrypted or not," he said. 

According to Krause's research, WhatsApp doesn't modify third-party websites in a similar way. As such, he suggests that Meta should do the same with Facebook and Instagram, or just use Safari or another browser to open links. "It's what's best for the user, and the right thing to do." For more, check out the summary of his findings here. 

Amazon's Echo Show 15 comes with a digital photo frame picture that enables it to display only photos or artwork, uninterrupted by random Alexa skill suggestions, recipes or your schedule. Only the 15.6-inch had that feature, though — until now. According to The Verge, the e-commerce giant has recently added its dedicated photo frame feature to all Echo Show Models in the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Australia.

The Verge says you can activate the slideshow by saying the voice command: "Alexa, start Photo Frame." Your smart display will then start a slideshow using the contents of your Amazon Photos and your Facebook account. It can also display a random selection of stock images if you've yet to upload your personal photos or have yet to link your accounts with the device. Don't worry: You can choose which album the feature uses for the slideshow under device settings if there are certain images you'd rather not show everyone else in your home.

The photo frame mode hides all the other elements you usually see on an Echo Show display, including the weather. All you'll see are the images themselves and a small note on when they were taken and which album they're from. The said, the slideshow only lasts uninterrupted for three hours, after which you'll have to activate it again to turn your device into a digital photo frame.

SpaceX may soon handle some of the US government's highest-priority satellite missions. Bloombergreports the Space Force has certified SpaceX to launch top secret spy satellites using Falcon Heavy rockets equipped with reusable boosters. The move gives SpaceX more high-profile government missions, of course, but also promises to save federal money by reducing the costs of ferrying these satellites to orbit. The Space Force has already saved over $64 million for GPS missions by using reusable Falcon 9 rockets, Space Systems Command's Falcon chief Walter Lauderdale said. 

The Space Force issued the certification in June, but didn't disclose the approval until now. SpaceX can carry spy satellites aboard Falcon 9 rockets, but they don't always have the power needed for heavier payloads. The first Falcon Heavy-based launch is expected sometime between October and December, when SpaceX will deliver a National Reconnaissance Office satellite.

This could represent a significant if temporary blow to rival rocket producers. The Boeing and Lockheed-Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance still hasn't received similar approval for a version of its Vulcan rocket using Blue Origin motors. Air Force officials are still reviewing the approach to 39 national security launches slated for fiscal 2025 through 2027. SpaceX isn't guaranteed to win business that would otherwise go to ULA, but its earlier certification could influence any decisions.

Another day, another game delay. You'll now have to wait until next year to get your hands on Metal Slug Tactics, according to publisher Dotemu and developer Leikir Studio. “Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma are tinkering away to make Metal Slug Tactics as explosive as possible on release, but the squad needs a bit more time in the shop to prepare for the battles ahead,” Dotemu wrote in a tweet spotted by IGN. “See you in 2023!”

Dotemu announced the game just over a year ago, during Summer Game Fest 2021. The upcoming title will drop the fluid run-and-gun gameplay you may be used to from Metal Slug, as it's a "dynamic tactical RPG with roguelike elements." However, Metal Slug Tactics does retain the pixel-art style of the other games.

It also features Metal Slug's core antagonist, Donald Morden, who has been quietly building an army to enact his revenge on the planet. Naturally, it will be up to you to stop him when Metal Slug Tactics hits PC and Nintendo Switch sometime next year.

You might not have to worry about charging your EV the next time you're shopping for build-it-yourself furniture. IKEA has struck a deal to bring Electrify America's fast chargers to more than 25 stores in the US. The rollout will bring over 200 individual chargers to shops in 18 states, including California, Florida, New York, Texas and Washington. They'll offer charging speeds between 150kW and 350kW, and will serve both customers as well as IKEA's fleet.

The first chargers will be available near the end of 2022. The companies expect to complete the rollout by the end of 2023.

The IKEA deployment is tiny compared to Electrify America's overall expansion plans, which should have 1,800 fast charging stations (10,000 chargers) in place across North America by the end of 2025. However, this is still a significant launch. This guarantees reasonably speedy charging for compatible EVs (such as the Ioniq 5 and Taycan) at one of the most popular furniture chains in the country — you can buy that dresser knowing you'll have the range to carry it home. That could spur EV adoption, not to mention help IKEA support its claims of being eco-friendly.

The Federal Elections Commission has rubber stamped a proposal from Google that could make it easier for political campaigns to skirt email spam filters. Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a Gmail pilot, agreeing with Google that the program wouldn't run afoul of election rules, as The Washington Post reports.

In June, Google asked the FEC to review a plan that would enable emails from "authorized candidate committees, political party committees and leadership political action committees registered with the FEC" to bypass spam filters — as long as they don't break Gmail rules on illegal content, malware and phishing. The FEC opened the proposal for comment and, as The Verge notes, almost all of the feedback from the public was negative. The Democratic National Committee, for one, claimed the program would benefit Republicans and subject Gmail users to “abusive fundraising tactics.”

At the FEC's open meeting on Thursday, Democratic commissioner Ellen Weintraub voiced concerns about the program only being available to political committees. “That to me raises all sorts of alarm bells because that sounds like the classic definition of an in-kind contribution,” she said.

Currently, campaign emails often skip Gmail's inbox precisely because many other users mark them as spam. If Google decides to forge ahead with the project, it will notify users the first time they receive an email from a participating campaign. They'll be able to opt out of receiving those emails, and they'll always have the option of manually marking them as spam.

Google floated the pilot program following pressure from Republicans, who accused the company of censoring fundraising emails. A study published earlier this year indicated that Gmail was significantly more likely to mark GOP emails as spam during the 2020 election campaign (Yahoo and Outlook, meanwhile, disproportionately flagged Democratic messages as spam). In addition, Republicans saw campaign contributions from small donors to their party fall by over 12 percent between the first and second quarters of the year, according to one analysis. GOP leaders introduced a bill in June that seeks to ban email platforms from automatically routing campaign messages to spam folders.

"Our goal during this pilot program is to assess alternative ways of addressing concerns from bulk senders, while giving users clear controls over their inboxes to minimize unwanted email," Google spokesperson José Castañeda told the Post, noting that the company “will continue to monitor feedback as the pilot rolls out to ensure it is meeting its goals.

The Federal Trade Commission is officially starting its efforts to broadly regulate data security. The agency has published an early notice of proposed rulemaking that asks the public to comment on commercial surveillance and data gathering practices, such as camera monitoring or protections for sensitive info. Officials not only want to understand the harms and benefits of technologies, but gauge interest in rules that could require stricter safeguards (such as tougher encryption) and bans on deceptive security claims.

The FTC's request for input also touches on specific issues, such as biased surveillance systems and algorithmic errors. Similarly, regulators are interested in whether or not existing data security practices hurt children.

In explaining the proposal, the FTC was concerned that enforcement by itself wasn't enough to protect consumers. The Commission can't seek civil penalties for first-time violators, for instance. In theory, new rules would encourage stronger security policies, provide more relief to hack victims and ensure a more consistent approach to cases.

On top of the comments, you'll have a chance for more direct feedback. The FTC is hosting a virtual public forum on September 8th that will give people two minutes each to share their views. The session will also include a panel discussion.

The FTC is still far from outlining rules, let alone putting them into effect. Even so, there's plenty of pressure to act. Governments at multiple levels in the US are increasingly banning or withdrawing at least some uses of surveillance tech, and there's a growing backlash against companies that either misuse personal data or are prone to data breaches. New regulations could reduce violations and otherwise ensure that data holders show more respect for your privacy.

In NBA 2K23, 2K Sports is bringing the Jordan Challenge mode from NBA 2K11 back with some serious upgrades. The publisher has revealed more details about the game mode, which features 15 key moments from Michael Jordan’s career. It includes the 1982 NCAA National Championship, the "Flu Game" and (spoiler) Jordan's game-winning shot at the 1998 NBA Finals.

Developer Visual Concepts seems to have gone all out to make the mode (which it rebuilt from scratch) as authentic as possible. “Our team took everything into consideration when constructing this game mode; the arenas, the players, the uniforms, the broadcast, and the play style of the era have been accounted for in an effort to give fans a truly authentic and unique playable Jordan experience,” Visual Concepts VP of NBA development Erick Boenisch said in a statement.

That goes right down to making sure the on-screen graphics were accurate to the era and including filters that try to replicate what it was like to watch these moments (many of which were featured in The Last Dance) on TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Each of the challenges has a pre-game interview with someone who was part of that moment, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson. In addition, 2K brought in analyst Mike Fratello to join the commentary team and former Chicago Bulls announcer Ray Clay to make the introductions. Of course, 2K had to make sure The Alan Parsons Project's "Sirius" was part of the soundtrack too.

Perhaps even more importantly, Visual Concepts sought to match the gameplay to how things were like in the NBA when Jordan was in his pomp. 2K says the mode puts more emphasis on the post and mid-range game and aligning transitions with how they were commonly used in the ‘80s. Certain players, such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, have signature play styles and moves (including Johnson's no-look passes). The action should have an extra layer of physicality, with the Detroit Pistons defense in particular trying to muscle Jordan out of taking shots.

The Jordan Challenge mode will be available on all the many versions of NBA 2K23. PC and current-gen console players will likely get the best experience, if the mode's impressive trailer is anything to judge by.

Google's merger of Meet and Duo may be confusing, but it should deliver some useful upgrades in the bargain. The company has added a live sharing beta feature that lets users of the revamped Meet share Spotify and YouTube streams during chats. You can play games like Uno Mobile and Kahoot, too. The functionality will sound familiar if you've tried SharePlay, but you can't use Spotify or YouTube with Apple's media feature.

The Meet upgrades include scheduled recurring meetings, virtual backgrounds and in-meeting chats. As with the Meet features coming to Duo, live sharing has been rolling out over recent weeks. The rebranding of Duo as Meet will take place throughout August for mobile devices, and is coming later for everyone else.

Google has pitched the Meet-and-Duo union as an adaptation to the modern realities of video calls. Live sharing clearly reflects this. I's an acknowledgment that many people use video chats as social spaces, particularly when remote hangouts are more common than they were before the pandemic.