EdTech Situation Room Episode 154

Welcome to episode 154 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 6, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the popularity and function of Apple's AirPods, ways to restore/enlarge your iPad icons with iPadOS13, and the benefits of using an Apple Watch as a wireless remote control during a presentation. Extended ChromeOS support from Google for hundreds of older Chromebooks, booming Chromebook sales and Android app use, shocking Chromebook durability tests, and an interesting article recommending that users regularly delete their Google data were included in Google-related updates. On the security front, the LastPass password challenge and other password manager features highlighting compromised/weak passwords, revelations that Chinese hackers have fully compromised the privacy of SMS messaging worldwide, and the vulnerability of smart speakers to "laser-based attacks" were highlighted. Additional topics included ending Google Pixel 1 smartphone support, the surging popularity of TikTok among U.S. teens, screentime and preschoolers, questions about Amazon's Alexa functionality stagnating, and AT&T's $60 million fine for misleading consumers about "unlimited data plans." The intrusive nature of virtual reality / VR experiences and helpful multidisciplinary approaches to create them and announcements from Adobe Max 2019 rounded out the show. Geeks of the Week included Immersive AR/VR article features from the New York Times, a security question answered by Troy Hunt via Twitter, DarkNet Diaries episode about the mindblowing Saudi Aramco hack by Iranians in 2012, and the dark side of standard batteries. Our show was live streamed and archived simultaneously on YouTube Live as well as our Facebook Live page via StreamYard.com. Please follow us on Twitter @edtechSR for updates, and join us LIVE on Wednesday nights if you can (normally) at 10 pm Eastern / 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain / 7 pm Pacific or 3 am UTC. All shownotes are available on http://edtechSR.com/links.