• Bill Gates is funding a new disease surveillance program called SCAN that delivers at-home coronavirus tests to people in Seattle to detect cases of COVID-19.
• SCAN is not meant to replace widespread testing, but by taking a sample of sick and healthy people, the program could become a helpful tool for monitoring the spread of the virus.
• Seattle residents can sign up to participate in SCAN online.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

In 2015, Bill Gates told us that we weren’t ready for the next epidemic. Five years later, his fears have been realized, as the novel coronavirus pandemic has now infected more than 4.2 million people and killed nearly 300,000. Although he might not have been able to convince us to prepare for a highly contagious virus, Gates is now doing what he can to mitigate its effects, mostly by investing a ton of money in vaccine research and development.

Unfortunately, even if we find a safe, effective vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, chances are that it won’t be ready for mass production until next year at the earliest, which is why Gates isn’t stopping at spending billions on factories. In a blog post this week, Gates introduced a new disease surveillance program in Seattle that will help the city detect COVID-19 cases, and hopefully provide information that can be applied in other areas around the world.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. Today’s top deals: AirPods Pro at new lowest price, 78¢ face masks, Prime-exclusive deals, $4.50 smart plugs, more
3. So many coronavirus face masks are in stock on this special Amazon page

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s big 1-day sale ends tonight – here are the 10 best deals
3. This insane PS5 gameplay video is the most amazing thing you’ll see today

Bill Gates is sending at-home coronavirus tests to Seattle residents originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 15:07:52 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• A new study looking to explain one of the strangest symptoms of novel coronavirus infections indicates that it might be more important than anyone thought.
• The loss of smell has already been associated with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, and the new study offers additional information on the scope of the infection at the olfactory level.
• The study warns that more data is needed to determine whether the virus could adapt to infect neurons and travel directly to the brain.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

When the novel coronavirus threat emerged in late 2019, the disease was described as atypical pneumonia that presented with symptoms that are also encountered in the common cold or the flu. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath weren’t enough to diagnose the disease clinically, and a test was devised to search for the genetic material from the virus for a positive diagnosis. Since then, doctors observed a variety of unusual symptoms in COVID-19 patients, including heart and neurological symptoms, skin lesions, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. But the most unusual symptom that has been associated with COVID-19 was the sudden loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (dysgeusia).

Several studies have already proved that patients displaying these symptoms are likely to be infected, and the CDC updated its website to include the loss of smell and taste in the list of possible COVID-19 signs. Not all the people who contract the disease will lose their sense of smell or taste, so these symptoms are not enough to diagnose the new disease without an actual test. Researchers have already offered a potential explanation of why the virus can bind to cells from the olfactory epithelium, and a new study delivers even more details about this bizarre coronavirus symptom.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without this $22 Fire TV accessory
3. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s big 1-day sale ends tonight – here are the 10 best deals
3. Next coronavirus stimulus bill could give up to $6,000 to households

The most bizarre coronavirus symptom may be the key to early diagnosis originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 14:40:44 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• Xbox boss Phil Spencer says that the coronavirus pandemic might affect the release dates of games that are scheduled to launch next year or later.
• Games that require motion capture, like Madden and FIFA, are unable to go into the studio and film people, which makes progress impossible for now.
• Despite all of this, the Xbox Series X is still scheduled to launch this holiday season.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

Over the past few weeks, there has been some concern about the next-gen game consoles launching on time. After all, while some countries have managed to get a handle on the novel coronavirus, the pandemic isn’t over, and likely won’t be until we have a vaccine. Yet Sony and Microsoft have both said on multiple occasions that the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are still on track to launch this holiday season as planned.

If you’re committed to picking up a next-gen console this year, chances are that you’ll be able to do so, but according to the head of Xbox, the game selection may be rather thin through 2021. In a recent interview with Business Insider, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said that while he feels “pretty good” about the games set to launch this fall, games that are currently set to hit the market a year or more from now will likely be impacted by the virus.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without this $22 Fire TV accessory
3. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s big 1-day sale ends tonight – here are the 10 best deals
3. Next coronavirus stimulus bill could give up to $6,000 to households

Xbox boss says coronavirus is a big problem for 2021 video game releases originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 14:13:54 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• Doctors studying the effects of coronavirus on the human body have discovered that it can dramatically impact the bowels.
• The virus’s ability to attack the ACE2 receptor on cells is believed to be linked to the bowel abnormalities, but additional research needs to be done in order to reach a firm conclusion.
• The study was published in the journal Radiology.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

By now we’re all familiar with most of the symptoms of the coronavirus infection. Patients experience shortness of breath and flu-like symptoms that in some cases become severe, requiring ventilators and other serious life-saving measures.

Now, new research is revealing some of the hidden effects of the virus, including abnormalities that affect the bowels. The research, which was published in the journal Radiology, suggests doctors should monitor for such changes, and patients should be vigilant and look out for abdominal symptoms.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
3. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without this $22 Fire TV accessory

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s big 1-day sale ends tonight – here are the 10 best deals
3. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch

A strange new coronavirus symptom has been discovered originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 13:46:31 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• If you haven’t yet heard of the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid, you should know that it’s the single best Instant Pot accessory that has ever been created.
• The nifty lid fits on any 6-quart Instant Pot you already own and adds six new cooking modes including dehydrating and, of course, air frying.
• This top-rated and best-selling accessory has a hefty retail price at $140, but it’s down to its all-time low of $79.95 right now on Amazon.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

Tens of millions of Americans across the country are unemployed right now, and they’re undoubtedly looking for ways to save money. Needless to say, cooking all of your meals at home rather than ordering delivery or takeout from restaurants is a smart way to save tons of money each month. Even if you’re not looking to cut costs right now, cooking meals is still a great way to spend time with your family and ensure you’re eating the freshest food possible. That means tons of people are using their Instant Pots pretty regularly right now, and we’ve got a fantastic accessory to recommend to you that will add exciting new features to the 6-quart Instant Pot you already own.

The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is one of the hottest new Instant Pot accessories out there because it adds awesome functionality to any 6-quart Instant Pot including all of the following modes: Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Roast, Reheat and Dehydrate. People have been going crazy for it, and that’s despite the fact that it costs $140. It’s worth every penny of that price if we’re being honest, but we still don’t recommend paying that much. There’s no need to, thankfully, because it’s on sale right now at an all-time low on Amazon.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Broil, Reheat & Dehydrate with Roast, Bake, 6-QT: $79.95

Here’s some key info about this awesome Instant Pot accessory from Amazon’s product page:

The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid instantly transforms everyone’s favorite pressure cooker into a 6-in-1 air fryer with a simple switch of the lid. Swap out the regular electric pressure cooker lid for the innovative Air Fryer Lid, and you’ve got a whole new set of cooking techniques available — all fast, easy and now crispy with the touch of a button. Save space and replace your air fryer, broiler, roaster, oven, warmer and dehydrator with one amazing appliance. EvenCrisp technology ensures a crispy crunch and a gorgeous golden finish, every time, so you can bite into juicy, tender chicken with crispy skin, or Instant Pot mac and cheese with a crunchy broiled crust, with all the same taste and texture of your deep-fried favorites but made with as little as 2 tablespoons of oil, and, up to 70% faster than other cooking methods. Choose from 6 pre-set Smart Programs to get cooking fast, including Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Roast, Reheat and Dehydrate, or customize your cooking with a temperature range of 105°F (41°C) to 400°F (205°C). You can use the bright, easy-to-read dual-display and simple controls to select and adjust settings as you like, even during cooking. Lightweight and easy to handle, the Air Fryer Lid for Instant Pot includes dishwasher-safe air fryer accessories to help you prepare delicious meals at home, at the cottage, on vacation or wherever life takes you!

The Air Fryer Lid is only compatible with stainless steel inner pots and is not made for use with non-stick ceramic inner pots.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Broil, Reheat & Dehydrate with Roast, Bake, 6-QT: $79.95

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
3. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without this $22 Fire TV accessory

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s big 1-day sale ends tonight – here are the 10 best deals
3. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch

Turn your Instant Pot into an air fryer and dehydrator for $70 originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 13:17:38 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• On Wednesday, Epic Games revealed a tech demo for Unreal Engine 5 running on a PS5, showing off what gameplay will look like on next-gen consoles.
• Although Lumen in the Land of Nanite is not a real game, it is live game code running on a PS5.
• Unreal Engine 5 will be available in preview in early 2021, and launch fully in late 2021.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the reveal of true next-generation gameplay ever since Microsoft and Sony confirmed that their next consoles would launch in 2020, and this week, we finally got it. On Wednesday, Epic Games shared a first look at Unreal Engine 5 with a real-time demo running live on a PlayStation 5.

Although this is not a preview of a real game, Epic says that the gameplay in the video (which we embedded below) is live game code that is playable on a PS5 development console. This isn’t a pipe dream or a prerendered cutscene — it’s a showcase of what the PS5 will be capable of achieving. That’s not to say that games will look like Lumen in the Land of Nanite (the name of the tech demo) on launch day, but they might in the future.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
2. So many coronavirus face masks are in stock on this special Amazon page
3. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s deals are too good to pass up today – here are the 10 best ones
3. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch

This insane PS5 gameplay video is the most amazing thing you’ll see today originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 12:48:41 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and other Fire TV devices are all extremely popular options for people looking for a great streaming media experience on any TV.
• Even people with smart TVs that have built-in apps tend to buy external streaming media players like the Fire TV Stick because TV makers’ smart TV platforms never support all the streaming services you want.
• Fire TV devices are terrific on their own, but a new accessory called the SofaBaton F2 adds a key feature that Amazon’s Alexa voice remote is currently missing.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

Straight out of the box, Amazon’s various Fire TV devices like the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Cube offer one of the best streaming media player experiences you can get right now. Personally, I really prefer it to Roku devices. It’s not that Roku players are bad or anything. In fact, far from it — Roku is still the biggest streaming media player brand out there right now. It’s just that I am personally not a fan of the Roku user interface, and that’s why I choose Fire TV devices instead.

If you’re team Fire TV as well, you know how great the user experience is that Amazon has designed. The UI is great, the interface is nice and fast, and you can easily find an app for literally any streaming service you can possibly imagine. As a matter of fact, if you ask me, there’s really only one place where Fire TV devices like the Fire TV Stick are lacking: Amazon’s Alexa voice remote.

Amazon recently added some universal remote buttons to its voice remote that allow you to control the volume on your TV or soundbar and mute the sound. It’s a nice addition but truthfully, it’s not enough. That’s where my favorite new Fire TV accessory comes into play. It’s called the SofaBaton F2 Universal Remote Attachment for Amazon Fire TV Streaming Players, and it’s on sale right now on Amazon at a deep discount.

SofaBaton F2 Universal Remote Attachment for Amazon Fire TV Streaming Player with Power Volume…: $21.99

The SofaBaton F2 is basically a simple universal remote control that’s built to attach to Amazon’s remotes. It doesn’t make the remote any wider, just longer, and that’s key to a comfortable design that fits well in your hand. In addition to power, volume, and mute buttons like you would find on Amazon’s newer Alexa voice remote, you also get channel buttons, three configurable buttons that can do anything, and an input button so you can switch your TV’s input. That last one is crucial.

When I bought my SofaBaton F2 it was $40 on Amazon and it’s definitely worth every penny. Snag one today, however, and you’ll find a $16 discount plus an extra $2 coupon you can clip to drop the price to just $21.99 total. Trust me, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one.

SofaBaton F2 Universal Remote Attachment for Amazon Fire TV Streaming Player with Power Volume…: $21.99

Today’s Top Deals

1. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
2. So many coronavirus face masks are in stock on this special Amazon page
3. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s deals are too good to pass up today – here are the 10 best ones
3. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch

You’ll wonder how you ever lived without this $22 Fire TV accessory originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 12:19:22 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• Best Buy is running a big 1-day sale that ends tonight, offering deep discounts on many popular products.
• The sales event includes great deals on everything from laptops and TVs to headphones and smart home devices.
• Here, we offer our picks for the 10 best deals in Best Buy’s big sale.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

Wondering what the hottest daily deals out there are on Wednesday? Don’t worry because the BGR Deals team has you covered. They’ve covered all sorts of killer deals today including Amazon’s best-selling Jointown 3-layer face masks at a new lower price of $0.70 per mask, alternative 3-ply face masks for $0.80 per mask when those inevitably sell out, even thicker 4-layer face masks that are back in stock, best-selling hand sanitizer for $4.60 per bottle, a crazy deal that slashes AirPods Pro to a new all-time low price, SoundPEATS true wireless earbuds for just $19.59 with the coupon code LKXEGOJO, best-selling Alexa smart plugs for $4.50 each with the promo code 40BCOO61, Prime-exclusive deals that get you 100-count bottles of popular caffeine pills for $6.39 each and a huge 25,800 mAh portable charger for $19.21, the greatest Fire TV Stick accessory ever made for $21.99, $60 off the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid that turns any 6-quart Instant Pot into an air fryer and dehydrator, and plenty more.

If you’re looking to check out even more great deals, we just came across a killer sale that you’ll definitely want to see. It’s taking place over at Best Buy, where a huge 1-day sales event offers deep discounts on all sorts of popular products. From laptop computers and 4K TVs to headphones, smart home gadgets, and more, this sale has something for everyone. Shop all the deals right here on Best Buy’s site, or check out our picks for the 10 best deals down below.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
3. So many coronavirus face masks are in stock on this special Amazon page

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s deals are too good to pass up today – here are the 10 best ones
3. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch

Best Buy’s big 1-day sale ends tonight – here are the 10 best deals originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 11:50:22 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• Apple’s AirPods Pro are the most popular wireless earphones with active noise cancellation on the market, and they just fell to a new all-time low price at Amazon.
• Amazon’s newly discounted price of $227.99 is lower than the discounts we saw last year during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, making it the perfect time to see what all the fuss is about.
• That’s still a lot of money to spend on a pair of earphones, so we also found an entry-level alternative on sale right now for just $19.59 with a special coupon.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

We’re not sure how and we’re not sure why, but Apple’s wildly popular AirPods Pro true wireless noise cancelling earphones just dropped to a new all-time low price at Amazon yesterday. What’s even crazier is that they new deeper discount is somehow still available today! Despite the fact that they outsell any other headphones at their full price of $249, they’re on sale right now at a new low price of just $227.99. That’s less than they were selling for on Black Friday and on Cyber Monday last year, and this deal is definitely not going to last long.

As you can see in the screenshot above, Amazon is offering Apple’s popular ANC buds with a 6% discount, as it has been for several weeks now. But there’s also an extra $7 discount that’s applied at checkout. What’s more, you can also see that they’re available with free one-day Prime shipping in some areas! There’s no telling how long the additional discount will be available, but our guess that it’ll disappear within hours considering how many of our readers are about to flood Amazon’s site to take advantage of this awesome sale. Don’t miss out!

Apple AirPods Pro: $227.99

Now, there’s no question whatsoever that this is a fantastic deal on Apple’s AirPods Pro. That said, there’s also no question whatsoever that $227.99 is still a whole lot of money to spend on earphones. If you don’t have a real need for active noise cancellation and you’re not terribly concerned with the image associated with Apple products, there’s another deal available right now that you definitely need to check out.

SoundPEATS TrueCapsule true wireless earbuds have been best sellers with our readers for quite some time, and there are a few obvious reasons for that. They offer good sound quality and solid battery life along with a comfortable design and silicone ear tips that prevent sound from leaking. On top of all that, they’re also wonderfully affordable at $31. They also go on sale fairly often, which is when our readers typically take advantage.

We do indeed see sales all the time on these true wireless earbuds, but we’ve never seen them priced as low as they are today. Clip the 10% coupon on the product page and use the coupon code LKXEGOJO at checkout, and you’ll only pay $19.59!

SoundPEATS True Wireless Earbuds TWS Bluetooth Headphones in-Ear Stereo Bluetooth V5.0 Earphone…: $19.59 (use code LKXEGOJO by 5/20)

Today’s Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more
2. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
3. So many coronavirus face masks are in stock on this special Amazon page

Trending Right Now:

1. Scary coronavirus experiment shows how easily the virus spreads in restaurants
2. Best Buy’s deals are too good to pass up today – here are the 10 best ones
3. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch

AirPods Pro are still at Amazon’s lowest price ever, or get rivals for $19.59 originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 11:21:12 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

• The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are some treatments can limit the severity of novel coronavirus cases, and that it’s focusing on four or five of them.
• But the WHO also made it clear that none of these COVID-19 therapies can kill the coronavirus or prevent infections.
• The organization also advised caution regarding vaccines, saying that coronaviruses are “very tricky viruses” and developing an effective vaccine might be difficult.
• Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories.

We have learned of several promising therapies for the novel coronavirus in the past few weeks, including remdesivir, which will become a standard treatment in COVID-19 cases. But the kind of drug that can kill the coronavirus isn’t here yet, so these promising drugs can only reduce the severity of the disease or perhaps prevent life-threatening complications. The WHO confirmed as much this week, saying that it’s studying several of the most promising drugs.

Continue reading…

Today’s Top Deals

1. 10 Prime-exclusive deals available right now at Amazon
2. So many coronavirus face masks are in stock on this special Amazon page
3. Today’s best deals: 70¢ face masks, AirPods Pro at new lowest price, Prime-exclusive deals, $19.59 earphones, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Best Buy’s deals are too good to pass up today – here are the 10 best ones
2. The next stimulus check might be $5,000, but there’s a huge catch
3. Stimulus check: Try this if you’ve had problems with direct deposit

WHO says no current coronavirus treatments can kill or stop the virus originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 13 May 2020 at 10:52:32 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report