In brief: Manipulating objects is one of the most difficult challenges in the field of robotics, so researchers have built an advanced soft robotic arm that closely resembles the tentacle of an octopus in both form and function. The dexterity achieved is a noteworthy step forward in the field of soft robotics.

The robotics world is full of fascinating ideas that could make the world we live in a lot more convenient , even as it raises valid concerns about the potential negative impact on those who stand to be replaced by robots soon.

In

In context: When trademarks become used to describe an entire category of products such as aspirin or kerosene, the word is no longer protected by trademark law. This doctrine is known as "genericide." After being denied a dismissal, Netflix is applying the doctrine in its defense against Chooseco's trademark infringement lawsuit.

Earlier this week, Netflix revealed the premiere date for its second choose-your-own-adventure-style movie. This time it is based on its Carmen Sandiego series.

Last year, the streaming

Bottom line: Microsoft on Friday announced that as part of its next Windows 10 update due out this spring, virtual assistant Cortana will be repurposed as more of a productivity assistant than a personal helper.

Andrew Shuman, corporate vice president of Cortana, said the new Cortana experience will feature a chat-based UI that’ll help users better manage their schedule and tasks. For example, you’ll be able to ask about the next entry on your calendar, get a reminder about the next weekly report and add

In brief: If there's one mobile game series that just about everyone has heard of -- aside from Candy Crush -- it's probably Plants vs. Zombies. This simplistic, yet challenging garden defense franchise has entertained millions over the years, and it's set to continue doing so now with the soft launch of Plants Vs. Zombies 3.

The lane-based "flower defense game" has launched in the Philippines on mobile devices now (iOS and Android). That's a slightly

Why it matters: AMD during its International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2020 keynote earlier this month showed just how much financial headroom its decision to go with a multi-chip module (MCM) approach affords.

As TechPowerUp highlights , by limiting the components made on 7nm to those that would tangibly benefit from the cutting-edge fabrication process (the CPU cores) while leaving other elements like the I/O on a larger and less expensive process, significant cost savings can be achieved.

In a nutshell: Shysters for decades have used fear as a vehicle to make a quick buck during times of crisis. Unsurprisingly, modern health scares are no exception as suspect sellers are using Amazon's online marketplace to try and swindle shoppers.

Amazon this week told Reuters that it has banned the sale of more than a million products in recent weeks that claimed to cure or defend against the coronavirus. Tens of thousands of additional listings attempting to price-gouge customers have also been taken down, the online retailer added.

Rumor mill: Apple's iPad has had keyboard support for years, but editing was a hassle as highlighting text and other functions still required touching the screen. Now there are rumors that Cupertino is readying a new iPad keyboard that has a built-in trackpad. Could Apple finally be transitioning the next tablet in the Pro line to be a true 2-in-1?

Apple reportedly has a keyboard in the works for the iPad that features a trackpad. According to insiders who spoke with The Information, the device

What just happened? Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 phones went on sale in its home region of South Korea yesterday, and things have got off to a slow start. But the sluggish sales have little to do with the handsets themselves: it’s yet another effect of the coronavirus.

According to the South Korea Herald , sales of the Galaxy S20 phones were down 50 percent compared to their predecessors a year earlier. While the latest devices sold around 70,800 units in

In a nutshell: One wouldn’t expect a phone launched in September to become the year’s second best-selling handset, but that’s what happened with the iPhone 11. In the list of the world’s most popular smartphones for 2019, Apple dominates with six entries, including the iPhone XR taking the top spot.

According to Counterpoint Research’s Market Pulse , Apple’s iPhone XR—the cheapest of the three iPhones released in 2018—was the