Apple Sneaks Up on Search

Watch out, Google

OCTOBER 29, 2020 Everything worth knowing in tech today, October 29, 2020. National Oatmeal Day or National Cat Day—you decide. Or celebrate both, we're not your dad.     ⏰ Today's Big Stories... in 30 Seconds Today We Watched, Read, and Listened to (so you don't have to): 537 articles, 18 podcasts, 9 press releases, 448 tweets, and 8 YouTube videos 1. Apple Quietly Ups Its Search Engine Game Type a search query into your iOS 14-enabled iPhone, and you'll start seeing results that don't come from Google. It seems as if Apple is moving fast to take on the big Search competitor, which could have Google worried. 2. Confirmed: Xbox Series X|S will Play (Most) Older Games  Xbox Product Manager Jason Ronald confirmed on Twitter that the new Xbox gaming consoles will play every non-Kinect game from previous generations, all the way back to the original Xbox itself. Pretty slick, if you ask us. 3. iPhone 12 May Have Untapped Reverse Charging Abilities Want to charge your AirPods Pro on the go? It looks like Apple may have hidden a MagSafe-centric feature in an FCC filing, one that will let you charge your wireless charging-capable gadgets from the back of your iPhone itself, Samsung-style. 🦑 Go Deeper Will the 2020 Election be hacked? It's a distinct possibility, say experts, in this deep dive from Lifewire's own Sascha Brodsky.      🎱 By the Numbers Maybe we DO need an alternative Data: Statcounter Maybe Google can argue that it's not a monopoly, but it's certainly winning like one. Perhaps Apple can put a dent in the Search giant's dominance in a way Microsoft never has.  🤓 Nerd Out "It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it." -Rob LeFebvre, Senior News Editor Looks like asteroids are becoming the next frontier, with NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft managing to grab samples from Bennu. Now (of course) the storage drawer is overflowing with space rocks. (Share on Twitter) 💎 You Know You Want It  The red box is pretty neat, too Image: Lifewire / Rob LeFebvre If you're looking for an Android-based phone to compete with Apple's iPhone 12, this might be the one. The OnePlus 8T has some pretty decent specs and comes in about $50 less than the iPhone 12. It's pretty, responsive, and capable (and has a super-fast charger to boot).  🎮 Up-Down-A-B-Start It's a Half-Life, after all The future (and some might say present) of gaming is VR. The latest Oculus Quest 2 has shown the world how easy it is to get lost in a game. These Ekto One robotic boots are made just for VR to let you walk around in your digital environments without, well, actually going anywhere in your tiny apartment.     🗞 Extra! Extra! We've got you covered with the best in daily tech news! See the latest on our site or follow us on Google News. Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here. Have something you'd like us to write about? We're always open for suggestions. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Tech Today newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here .   Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. A Dotdash Brand 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 2020 Dotdash • All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.   [View in Browser]