Innovation

You’ll never stop playing ‘Call of Duty’ once the new mobile game comes out
Though Fortnite has made itself into a household name over the last few years, Call of Duty is still one of the most popular shooters in the world. The action-packed cinematic franchise is making another move in the future, but this time it's coming…
By Brittany Vincent
'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's VR mode is ultimately pretty disappointing
By Brittany Vincent
Nintendo's quirky cardboard-centered Labo initiative continues to add games to its portfolio, and this time the massively popular fighter Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is joining the party. As of today's most recent update, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate…
Say farewell to Blackberry Messenger, the most iconic chat service of its time
By Brittany Vincent
It's the end of an era for BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) users. Following in the footsteps of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) shutdown in December 2017, the consumer version of BlackBerry's smartphone messaging service is going the way of the dinosaur.…
'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare' could be the game's grittiest installment yet
By Brittany Vincent
Popular first-person shooter series Call of Duty is back with a vengeance. The blockbuster take on gritty warfare is coming to consoles and PC this October, publisher Activision revealed today, and it's going back to a familiar moniker: Call of…
The new Xbox game subscription service is made for people who play on their PC
By Tebany Yune
Microsoft is finally returning to its computer-based roots in the gaming market by bringing the company's Xbox Game Pass subscription service to PC users. Called the 'Xbox Game Pass for PC,' this service will be similar to what Xbox console users…
A school district in New York wants to use facial recognition. Here's why that's a problem.
By Tebany Yune
In a complete 180 from the decision to ban government agencies from using the technology in San Francisco, a Western New York school district wants to use facial recognition as part of a security system for its public schools. The Lockport City…
This new game is like ‘Pokemon Go’ except instead of walking, you just sleep
By Brittany Vincent
There are hundreds of Pokémon across the many video game installments the series has seen since Pokémon Red and Blue debuted in 1996. How are you expected to "catch 'em all" when there just aren't enough hours in the day? Easy. You aren't. But in…
Your terrible Uber rating could actually get you kicked off the app now
By Melissa Kravitz
Thanks to a new Uber policy, your passenger rating may now be worth more than just a five-star boost to your ego. On May 29, the rideshare service announced that passengers in the United States and Canada can now be banned from using the app if they…
What we know about ‘Death Stranding,' the next game from the creator of 'Metal Gear Solid'
By Brittany Vincent
The creator of the iconic stealth action video game series Metal Gear Solid is finally back with a new look at Death Stranding, his trippiest work so far. Hideo Kojima's first official video game release following his 2015 departure from Konami has…
New York is taking the first step toward eliminating the MetroCard
By Tebany Yune
Paying for a ride with New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) just became a little faster. Today, the MTA announced that, along with other payment methods, Apple Pay is coming to new York subways as part of the launch of the One…
You can now ask Alexa to delete everything you've said today
By Tebany Yune
Amazon wants you to feel safe while using their products. That's why, starting today, the company is updating its virtual assistant to follow a verbal command — "Alexa, delete everything I said today." — that allows users to delete Alexa history of…
These designers completely reimagined bubble tea to eliminate single-use plastic
By Emma Sarran Webster
As plastic straw bans continue to sweep the world, so does the prevalence of alternative drinking utensils made of everything from paper to pasta. At this point, for anyone who doesn’t need a plastic straw to drink independently or safely (as…
Are screens really that bad? Here's what happens to your eyes and brain when you scroll
By Marissa Miller
Whether you work a desk job or simply can’t peel yourself away from Netflix, many of us spend the majority of our waking hours looking at screen. But face it: few of us have little intention of changing our habits. Given what we know about how bad…
How the Trump administration is trying to discredit the terrifying reality of climate change
By Brittany Vincent
It looks like President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement was only the beginning for the war on climate science. Over the next few months, Trump's climate change policies are expected to repeal the…
Why making Siri, Alexa, and other AI voices “female” perpetuates gender stereotypes
By Morgan Forde
Why is Siri female? When the revolutionary voice assistant launched on iPhones in 2010, her gender was taken as a given in the face of her quick-witted, futuristic abilities. It wasn’t until 2017 that male options were provided and by then…
Ravens can pick up on their friends' bad vibes
By Tebany Yune
It's not just you — even ravens can feel bad when their friends feel bad. That's what a study, published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has found. In an effort to understand the evolution of empathy — which asks questions…
In 2020, Washington residents will be able to turn dead bodies into soil
By Tebany Yune
On May 22, Washington governor Jay Inslee signed legislation that makes composting human bodies legal in the state starting in 2020. The law, which is a first in the nation, permits the practice of “aboveground decomposition,” according to The New…
You’ll never stop playing ‘Call of Duty’ once the new mobile game comes out
By Brittany Vincent
Though Fortnite has made itself into a household name over the last few years, Call of Duty is still one of the most popular shooters in the world. The action-packed cinematic franchise is making another move in the future, but this time it's coming…
The developers behind ‘Pokemon Go’ created a ‘Harry Potter’ game and it's muggle-approved
By Tebany Yune
The wizarding world will be one step closer to muggles thanks to the augmented reality (AR) technology used for the upcoming mobile game, 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.' Developed by Niantic Labs, the same company behind 'Pokémon GO,' this mobile…
'The Sims 4' is free right now — here’s how to grab it before it’s gone
By Tebany Yune
Have you been itching to give 'The Sims 4' a try? Well itch no more, my friend. You can get The Sims 4 for free until May 28. During this period, if you download the game, you'll get to keep it permanently at no extra cost. Please note that this…
What the U.S. trade battle with Chinese tech giant Huawei means for Android Users
By Brittany Vincent
Whether you're a hardcore tech news enthusiast or simply love your smartphone, chances are you've probably heard the name Huawei in passing. It's an alternative to makers like HTC, Samsung, Apple, and the swath of other phone manufacturers out there…