119: Smellovision 2.0

This week we’re talking about InstaChat, a few security flaws, and more augmented senses! Questions/comments/tips? Visit awkward.email or call/text 509-AWKWARD.

This week we’re talking about InstaChat, a few security flaws, and more augmented senses! Questions/comments/tips? Visit awkward.email or call/text 509-AWKWARD.

Links for this episode:

Strange New Technologies Explore the World of Virtual Taste, Touch, and Smell
Virtual, mixed, and augmented reality all provide different but compellingly immersive experiences that draw us in through sight and sound. But what about our other senses? A few strange inventions are already exploring the possibilities.
You No Longer Have to Wait to Buy a Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft recently announced that they're producing HoloLens units fast enough to keep up with demand, which means you can acquire up to five dev kits right now—if you've got the $3,000 fee for each one.
Small Number of SwiftKey Users Discover App Leaked Private Data to Strangers

A week after launching a new emoji-predicting keyboard, SwiftKey is now facing some pushback after a few users noticed that the main SwiftKey app was propagating suggestions related to the email accounts, phone numbers, and names of complete strangers (via The Telegraph). The Microsoft-owned app, available on iOS and Android, is widely known for its artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, which create custom word predictions based on what each user has previously typed.
WhatsApp Security Flaw Leaves 'Trace of All Your Chats' Even After Deletion
Popular third-party chat app WhatsApp is leaving a "forensic trace" of every supposedly deleted chat log, meaning anyone with access to your smartphone -- or another device connected through the cloud -- could potentially access data from the app. The discovery comes from iOS researcher Jonathan Zdziarski, who shared the information in a blog post after discovering the potential security flaw in the latest version of WhatsApp.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Plans to Host Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton Next Month
Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to host a fundraiser that will benefit Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, reports BuzzFeed. Cook, along with Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, will host the event as private citizens, not as representatives of Apple.
Apple Finalizes $7 Billion Five-Part Bond Sale
Apple-BondsApple has raised $7 billion in debt through a five-part bond sale of both fixed and floating rate notes, according to the company's final pricing term sheet filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.
Apple Releases Redesigned 'Apple TV Remote' App for iPhone
Apple today released an all new Apple TV Remote app for the iPhone, which is used to control the fourth-generation Apple TV along with older Apple TV models. Announced at WWDC, the new Remote app has been available for developers since June and was released to the public this afternoon.
Facebook Messenger "Secret Conversation" encryption appears in beta app
A few months after WhatsApp started encrypting all conversations by default, and a few weeks after Facebook announced encryption was coming to Messenger too, Facebook has turned on the security feature, with 'Secret Conversations' available to beta testers of the app.
Instagram Stories Apes Snapchat, Lets You Draw Stuff on Photos
Instagram is rolling out a new feature today, dubbed Instagram Stories. It is basically Instagram’s response to Snapchat.
Gawker founder Nick Denton just confirmed that he will file for personal bankruptcy
Gawker founder Nick Denton will file for personal bankruptcy on Monday to protect himself from Hulk Hogan's $140 million judgment.
PlugBug World Edition
Chot's recommendation for another way to alter your MacBook power adapter to do more and support more plug types.
Mattheyós' Drafting Table
Anyone got suggestions for a good chair for this higher-than-average desk?

Check out Robotic Emotion Birthday and Special Occasion Cards!