Michael Kan
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michael-kan.bsky.social
Michael Kan
@michael-kan.bsky.social
110 followers 140 following 68 posts
PCMag Reporter covering tech, cybersecurity, AI and satellite internet. https://www.pcmag.com/authors/michael-kan
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michael-kan.bsky.social
Asking ChatGPT about sex dolls or abortion? Be careful, marketers are peeking at your prompts: www.pcmag.com/news/ask-cha...
Asking ChatGPT About Affairs or Abortion? Be Careful, Marketers Are Peeking at Your Prompts
Browser extensions are potentially funneling your most personal queries to a company selling market insights about chatbot activity.
www.pcmag.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
No signal? T-Mobile's cellular Starlink let me hold a video call over WhatsApp anyways: www.pcmag.com/news/i-teste...
I Tested Video Chats on T-Mobile's Cellular Starlink, and It Was Pretty Mind-Blowing
On a remote beach in Northern California, my Pixel 10 connected to satellites 200 miles overhead, allowing me to make video calls on WhatsApp, post tweets, and even go live on X.
www.pcmag.com
September 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Michael Kan
emilyforlini.bsky.social
In the "weird PSA" category

www.pcmag.com/news/scrolli...
Scrolling While Pooping? TikTok Toilet Binges Might Raise Your Hemorrhoid Risk
Smartphone use on the toilet was associated with a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids.
www.pcmag.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:11 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Will be very interesting to see how US tariff policy on foreign chips plays out after Trump announces deal to own 10% stake in Intel: www.pcmag.com/news/trump-i...
Trump: Intel Agreed to Give US Government 10% Stake in the Company
'They’ve agreed to do it. And I think it’s a great deal for them,' Trump said today. Commerce Secretary Lutnick later tweeted: 'The United States of America now owns 10% of Intel.'
www.pcmag.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:01 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Trump Mobile has posted a new image of the T1 phone. But the picture might simply be a rushed Photoshop job. www.pcmag.com/news/trump-m...
August 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
SpaceX is trying to block Louisiana’s plan to use over $400 million for fiber installations, instead of Starlink, after the company protested a similar proposal in Virginia. www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-...
After Virginia, SpaceX Also Protests Louisiana's 'Wasteful' Fiber Plans
SpaceX says it could provide satellite service across the state for less than $100 million. However, most of the BEAD funding is going to fiber installations, which can deliver gigabit speeds.
www.pcmag.com
August 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
SpaceX vs. Virginia: The company is protesting the state's $613 million BEAD funding plan to expand high-speed internet access, accusing Virginia of deliberately denying a larger slice of the subsidies to Starlink. www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-...
SpaceX Slams Virginia for Overlooking Starlink in State's Broadband Funding
SpaceX is calling on Virginia to revise its BEAD funding proposal. The company is also urging the Commerce Department to intervene and reject the state's plan.
www.pcmag.com
August 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
National Public Data is back with new owners, joining the ranks of other creepy, people-finding services. Here's how to get your profile removed from the site. www.pcmag.com/news/site-be...
Site Behind Major SSN Leak Returns With Detailed Data on Millions: How to Opt Out
National Public Data is back with new owners, joining the ranks of other creepy, people-finding services. Here's how to get your profile removed from the site.
www.pcmag.com
August 11, 2025 at 7:19 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Despite an overhaul to the BEAD program, Virginia will use most of its funds for fiber installations, not satellite. Still, Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper received over $7.7 million to serve 12,000 underserved locations: www.pcmag.com/news/starlin...
Starlink Nabs Federal Broadband Funds, But Fiber Is Still the Big Winner
Despite an overhaul to the BEAD program, Virginia will use most of its funds for fiber installations, not satellite. In the coming week, we'll find out if other states follow suit.
www.pcmag.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by Michael Kan
ignunion.bsky.social
Today, IGN laid off eight extremely valuable members of our union and workforce via directive from our parent company, Ziff Davis. This, after two incredibly successful live events IGN Live and SDCC, and yet another corporate acquisition.

Please take a moment to read and share our full statement:
Today, IGN Entertainment announced that it would be laying off eight members of the IGN Creators Guild. This is 12% of our bargaining unit, and comes just days after our sister union, the Ziff Davis Creators Guild, underwent similar layoffs impacting 15% of their members. It also comes just months after our multibillion-dollar parent company, Ziff Davis, instituted a company-wide buyout that shrunk our unit numbers, with the express intent of avoiding future layoffs. And it comes just a little over one year after three of our members were laid off almost immediately after our union went public. The company has told us that the reason for this layoff stems from a Ziff Davis-mandate to cut costs despite several quarters in a row of year-over-year revenue increases, to which IGN Entertainment responded by coming for our members' jobs. This is perplexing to us, as we are told again and again that IGN Entertainment has had a tremendously successful year thus far thanks to their hard work. In just the last few months, our members have been absolutely essential to major events and livestreams, including San Diego ComicCon, Summer of Gaming, and IGN Live. Every single person impacted today was involved in and critical to the success of those events. Meanwhile, IGN Entertainment continues to spend money on costly acquisitions, only to turn around and gut those companies in the same way it is cutting away at IGN itself. For instance, last year, it acquired Gamer Network, and almost immediately laid off a number of staff critical to making those sites successful. The company has not responded to the union's questions about whether its budget for future acquisitions is being reconsidered as a cost-saving measure alongside these other apparently necessary personnel cuts. At a time when it is more necessary than ever to support its creators, IGN Entertainment is choosing to eliminate the individuals who ensure IGN remains competitive as generative AI threatens our reach. We have been told that expert opinion pieces, original interviews, and work that leverages our staff's deep knowledge of gaming, tech, and entertainment are all essential to combating AI summarization and regurgitation of our work. Management has responded by cutting several individuals who do that exact work, as well as others whose job it is to ensure that these written and video pieces are published in a speedy manner — another component of combating AI we're told is critical. This continued cycle of repeated, aggressive cuts to our staff and being asked to do more with less, only for management to continue to spend on new business it isn't interested in sustaining cannot continue. We will enforce our interim agreement that guarantees better severance and other protections to laid off members, as well as demand additional support for those impacted. We will continue to bargain over our first contract with the aim of enshrining even better protections against further layoffs, working conditions continuously degraded by understaffing, and the encroachment of generative AI. And we won't stop fighting to ensure IGN remains the best destination for trustworthy, original, exciting, and creative work covering video games, entertainment, and tech. While IGN Entertainment management may not value us, we value one another and the incredible work we can do together. Behind the articles, videos, social posts, playlists, and maps of IGN are human beings, not just numbers on a spreadsheet to be pushed around when some number at the top isn't big enough. Without us, there is no IGN.
August 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
SpaceX has filed a financial statement that offers some hints about how much money Starlink is making: www.pcmag.com/news/how-muc...
How Much Does Starlink Make? This Document Offers a Glimpse
One analyst says the financial statement raises questions about the economics of Starlink and the costs of maintaining the satellite internet system.
www.pcmag.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Over a six-month stretch, close to 500 Starlink satellites burned up in the Earth’s atmosphere as SpaceX retired its aging hardware. www.pcmag.com/news/mass-bu...
Mass Burn: SpaceX Deorbits Nearly 500 Starlink Satellites in 6 Months
The company deorbited about 2.6 satellites per day between December and May, causing them to burn up in the atmosphere. It's unclear how or if this might impact the environment.
www.pcmag.com
July 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Tesla Takedown movement starts targeting Elon Musk's Starlink business: www.pcmag.com/news/tesla-t...
Tesla Takedown Movement Urges T-Mobile to Kill Cellular Starlink Partnership
The protest movement says the upcoming T-Satellite service is effectively 'funding Elon Musk’s attacks on democracy and his support of far-right authoritarian governments.'
www.pcmag.com
June 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Trump Mobile claims the T1 phone will be American-made. But observers and critics are doubtful the company can pull this off, expecting the company to instead source the device from China: www.pcmag.com/news/mobile-...
Mobile Experts Skeptical of Trump 'T1' Phone Made-in-America Claims
The team behind Trump Mobile says the T1 phone will be manufactured in three US states. But the fledging carrier is light other details, including if any components come from Asia.
www.pcmag.com
June 17, 2025 at 7:58 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
The Trump admin officially makes changes to $42 billion BEAD program: The changes strip out the fiber preference for 'technology neutrality,' which could benefit Starlink. Critics say the US has 'betrayed' rural America. www.pcmag.com/news/us-unve...
US Unveils 'Critical Reforms' to Broadband Funding: Here's Why Some Hate the Plan
Changes to the BEAD program strip out the fiber preference for 'technology neutrality,' which could benefit satellite and wireless providers. Critics say the US has 'betrayed' rural America.
www.pcmag.com
June 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Some took a day off to line up for the Switch 2 ahead of tonight's launch. Another guy was remotely working outside the Best Buy store while waiting in line: www.pcmag.com/news/no-work...
'No Work Today': Diehard Nintendo Fans Line Up Early For Switch 2
In San Francisco, Nintendo fans who couldn't secure a pre-order for the Switch 2 were ready to wait several hours to nab the console from the local Best Buy store.
www.pcmag.com
June 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Some people lining up at Best Buy San Francisco store, hoping to get a switch 2 tonight.
June 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
At Nintendo San Francisco store, where 70 people have lined up for a prelaunch event for Switch 2. People will get the chance to demo the console.
June 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Got to check out Micro Center's new store in Silicon Valley. It was a PC builder's dream: www.pcmag.com/news/pc-buil...
A PC Builder's Wonderland: Inside Micro Center's New Silicon Valley Store
Ahead of Friday's grand opening, I got an in-person look at the latest GPUs, components, and other niche gear at the 40,000-square-foot Santa Clara location.
www.pcmag.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
T-Mobile is lowering the price of its cellular Starlink service to $10 per month as the carrier prepares to launch the satellite service in July. www.pcmag.com/news/t-mobil...
T-Mobile Lowers Price for Cellular Starlink as Satellite Competition Heats Up
When T-Mobile launches support for cellular Starlink in July, customers on all carriers will pay $5 to $10 less per month than originally planned.
www.pcmag.com
April 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Michael Kan
chandrasteele.bsky.social
An Earth Day special. My first piece as a contributor to MC News. Many thanks to @danackerman.bsky.social
www.microcenter.com/site/mc-news...
How to Recycle a Laptop or Desktop Without Throwing Away Your Privacy
Recycle or donate your old PC for Earth Day with Micro Center.
www.microcenter.com
April 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
Trump's 145% tariff on Chinese imports might cause a graphics shortage, although things could change if a trade deal is struck. I also wonder if there might be some loopholes in the tariff policy www.pcmag.com/news/new-gpu...
A New GPU Shortage? Suppliers Slow Down Shipments Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Custom PC maker Puget Systems breaks down how the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports will affect the industry and threaten to create a new graphics card shortage.
www.pcmag.com
April 11, 2025 at 8:53 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
In Canada, anger at the Trump administration has made Elon Musk persona non grata, which has led to in-person confrontations and online insults for Starlink installers. www.pcmag.com/news/sales-a...
Sales Are Down, Threats Are Up: Starlink Installers Hit by Anti-Musk Backlash
In Canada, frustration with the Trump administration has made Elon Musk persona non grata, which has led to in-person confrontations and online insults for Starlink installers.
www.pcmag.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Michael Kan
jordanwminor.bsky.social
I got to play the Nintendo Switch 2 yesterday along with a ton of games, so look out for a bunch of previews coming soon to PCMag
April 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
michael-kan.bsky.social
It's not just the tariffs on Chinese imports. Trump's aluminum tariffs are also squeezing PC vendors, hitting GPUs and PC cases: www.pcmag.com/news/absolut...
'Absolute Madness': Trump's Aluminum Tariffs Hit GPUs, Desktop Cases
PC vendors say they thought the 25% tariff was on raw aluminum and steel, not finished products. Unfortunately, the policy also targets aluminum 'derivative' products.
www.pcmag.com
April 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM