US: Hack of Federal Agencies ‘Likely Russian In Origin’

Top national security agencies in a rare joint statement Tuesday confirmed that Russia was likely responsible for a massive hack of U.S. government departments and corporations, rejecting President Donald Trump’s claim that China might be to blame. The Associated Press reports: The statement represented the U.S. government’s first formal attempt to assign responsibility for the breaches at multiple agencies and to…

EFF Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Account of the Fight to Save .ORG

As part of its “Year in Review” series, the EFF shares their dramatic behind-the-scenes details about 2020’s fight over the future of .org domains. It begins when the Internet Society (ISOC) announced plans to sell the Public Interest Registry — which manages the .org top-level domain (TLD) — to private equity firm Ethos Capital. “If you come at the nonprofit sector,…

Amazon To Expand Its Childhood-To-Career CS Program To India Later This Year

theodp writes: According to an Amazon job listing for a contract position, the e-tailer is seeking a lead for a new Amazon Future Engineer program in India that’s set to launch in 2021. “The initial research for Amazon Future Engineer in India,” Amazon explains, “is currently underway and we look to the chosen candidate to dive deep into operationalizing the program…

Tesla Update Turns Cars into Boomboxes, Adds Three In-Car Videogames and Customizable Honking

Engadget reports:
Electrek notes that Tesla has released its promised holiday update, and the centerpiece appears to be a Boombox mode that pumps media outside as long as you have a recent-enough EV with a pedestrian speaker system, like later Model 3 production runs… Other updates include a smarter Scheduled Departure that preconditions the battery and cabin without plugging in, larger driving…

Due to Popular Demand, GM May Build More of Its ‘Hummer EV’ Electric Pickups

FrankOVD shares this report from CNET: The people were really into the GMC Hummer EV when the brand finally ripped the cloak off the electric pickup truck earlier this year. So much so that the Hummer EV Edition 1 trim sold out in 10 minutes. Now, GMC is reportedly thinking about building more of them due to overwhelming response. According…

What Are You Paying For in a $300 Chess Set? Mostly the Knights

If you bought a wooden chess set after watching “The Queen’s Gambit,” the price you paid was most likely dictated by just four pieces. From a report: The knights alone can account for as much as 50 percent of the cost of a nice wooden set. While the rest of the pieces can be machine-made, the knights are carved by hand…

KFC Launches 4K, 240FPS Gaming Console With a Built-In Chicken Warmer

KFC unveiled what they’re calling the KFConsole — a VR-ready high-end gaming PC that comes with a built-in chicken warmer. GamesRadar reports: Back in June, just after the PS5 reveal, KFC released a ridiculous trailer for the KFConsole, but everyone just figured they were joking. Turns out, they were dead serious. KFC, the chicken place, has teamed up with Cooler Master…

US Relief Package Provides $7 Billion for Broadband

After months of deliberation, congressional leaders reached a $900 billion coronavirus relief deal on Sunday, including billions in funding for broadband internet access. From a report: Congress’ latest relief measure provides $7 billion in funding for broadband connectivity and infrastructure. That figure includes $3.2 billion for a $50-per-month emergency broadband benefit for people who are laid off or furloughed during the…

Should America’s Next President Abolish the Space Force?

An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. military’s Space Force branch celebrated its one-year anniversary Friday by announcing that its members would now be known as “guardians”. But the name was not universally greeted with respect and appreciation. Gizmodo announced the news with a headline which read “Space Force Personnel Will Be Called ‘Guardians’ Because Sure, Whatever,” in an article which jokingly…

‘Super Nintendo World’ Amusement Park Previewed By Mario’s 68-Year-Old Creator

“On Friday, Nintendo and Universal Studios Japan took the veil off a years-in-the-making project: the very first Nintendo-themed theme park,” reports Ars Technica (in an article shared by long-time Slashdot reader mprindle): And who better to introduce the world to this life-sized walk through of all things Mario than the character’s creator himself, longtime Nintendo developer and designer Shigeru Miyamoto… Many…