Personal Tech: The Biggest Failures and Successes of 2016

The latest technology news and reviews. View in [Browser] | Add [nytdirect@nytimes.com] to your address book. Thursday, December 15, 2016 [The New York Times] [NYTimes.com/PersonalTech »] [Personal Tech] Thursday, December 15, 2016 Boyoun Kim [Tech Fix] [The Biggest Tech Failures and Successes of 2016] By BRIAN X. CHEN From exploding smartphones and hoverboards to fake news on social media, many tech hardware, software and web products suffered embarrassing setbacks. But it was not all bleak.  App Smart [The Best Apps of the Year] By KIT EATON A news curator based on what friends are reading, an easy-to-access universe of NPR audio, and an upgraded beer-tracking app are among our top picks.  ADVERTISEMENT  [How Often Have Hackers Stolen Your Personal Information?] By JOSH KELLER, K.K. REBECCA LAI AND NICOLE PERLROTH Find out which parts of your identity may have been stolen in major hacking attacks over the last three years.   [The Latest Cyberattack: Yahoo Says 1 Billion Accounts Were Hacked] By VINDU GOEL AND NICOLE PERLROTH The company says the attack was separate from the breach that led to an earlier disclosure that 500 million accounts were hacked.  [How to Protect Yourself After the Big Yahoo Breaches] By THE NEW YORK TIMES Simple tips to follow if you think your personal information online has been exposed to hackers, including how to write a stronger password. Tech Tip [How to Bid Adieu to Yahoo] By J. D. BIERSDORFER When you decide it’s time to close your account and move on to another mail service, make sure you get all the files you need before you go.  ADVERTISEMENT  Tech Tips From J.D. Biersdorfer [How to Back Up Your Social Media Feeds] If you don’t want to risk losing your photos and other memories stored online, consider making a copy of your account’s contents for safekeeping. [Finding Your Dream Streamer] The wide array of available video-streaming devices can be overwhelming, but a bit of research will help you figure out what features you really need. [The Twitter Post, Take 2] The popular service currently doesn’t let you edit your thoughts after you post them, but some apps can help you make corrections more quickly. [The Two Faces of Windows 10] Microsoft’s current operating system can switch back and forth between a touch-friendly interface or the traditional desktop system. [Storing Web Pages, and Much More, in Google Keep] Like other note-taking apps out there, Google’s software serves as a digital locker to stash saved web pages, audio clips, photos, text and more.  HOW ARE WE DOING? We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to [newsletters@nytimes.com].  More From The Times [The new fake news feature on Facebook, as the site makes an effort to flag articles that are not true.] [Facebook Mounts Effort to Limit Tide of Fake News] By MIKE ISAAC Facebook on Thursday said it had begun introducing a series of experiments to limit misinformation and false articles on its site. [Nintendo’s Super Mario Run is being released Thursday. After ignoring the popularity of third-party mobile devices for years, the company is finally bringing its heroic plumber to iPhones and iPads.] [Mario, Nintendo’s Mustachioed Gaming Legend, Arrives on iPhones] By NICK WINGFIELD AND VINDU GOEL After ignoring the popularity of smartphones and tablets for years, the Japanese company is finally bringing its heroic plumber to mobile devices. [A driver eats as he exits the Holland Tunnel in New Jersey. Proposed rules would require vehicles to talk to one another and warn of impending collisions, many of which are caused by distracted driving.] [Cars Talking to One Another? They Could Under Proposed Safety Rules] By CECILIA KANG Under the rules, cars would be able to use wireless technology to detect if another vehicle was moving too fast in their direction and headed for a collision. [Enjoying soup and wine at a dinner in Harlem organized by EatWith, a communal dining service that is now in more than 200 cities around the world.] [How to Have a Dinner Party: Friends Not Required] By HANNAH SELIGSON Flummoxed by the old-fashioned pastime of entertaining at home, our reporter tries out online services designed to bring together strangers.  LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here].  FOLLOW NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK] [Twitter] [@NYTimes] [Pinterest] [Pinterest] ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Personal Tech newsletter. [Unsubscribe] | [Manage Subscriptions] | [Change Your Email] | [Privacy Policy] | [Contact] | [Advertise] Copyright 2016 The New York Times Company | 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018