Geekly Update - 15 July 2020

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

Way back in 2019, if you said “my ears are burning”, it meant you felt that other people were talking about you. In 2020, it means “my ears are actually burning.” Amazon is warning customers that wireless Echo Buds earphones may be at risk of overheating and is urging customers to update their software.

Peacock launched Wednesday, adding yet another streaming service to the mix. Peacock from NBC Universal, which will compete with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube TV, and Disney Plus, is offering 20,000+ hours of TV shows, movies, news, sports, and original programming. And it's free! Sign up with an email address (no credit card required) and you can start watching Peacock. Paid premium tiers eliminate advertising. Unfortunately, Peacock is not available on Roku or FireTV, and the Android app is hard to find.

Clever Elly is a phone charger and smart speaker that reminds parents and caregivers not to forget a child in a hot car. The gadget plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter plays an audible reminder to check the back seat when you turn off the car. Sadly, about 50 children die each year in hot cars.

Homeschooling is gaining traction in the wake of covid-19 school closings. But what if you're not a whiz at grammar, algebra, or cellular biology? Outschool is a website that offers live online classes for small groups of students aged 3-18. Paid lessons, as well as free home schooling resources for families are available.

Bored? Clever librarians are using Google Forms to create virtual escape rooms.

Elon Musk wants to beam high-speed satellite Internet from space to the masses. If you have a clear view of the sky, the "UFO-on-a-stick" device should do the trick. The U.S. Air Force is testing it in military planes, and the Starlink service is expected to be available service in the northern US and Canada later this year.

On a whim, I googled "Covid-20", and got "About 5,290,000,000 results." Fasten your seatbelts, this could be a bumpy ride.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a wearable sensor dubbed the fitbit for chickens. The device detects blood-sucking mites that feed on hens. It doesn't zap the bugs, but it could let farmers know it's time to examine their birds for parasites.

Fabricius is a Google Arts & Culture Lab Experiment that uses machine learning to help translate ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Bonus: you can add hieroglyphs to your passwords for extra security.

Google is experimenting with wearable tech. One idea is a temporary tattoo that transforms your body into a living touchpad. MC Hammer might need a new song.

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