For over a year now, 23andMe has been effectively banned from offering its US customers health-related genetic tests. The company is still selling its personal DNA kits, but the information it can provide is limited to ancestry-related reports and raw genetic data. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was behind the original clampdown in 2013, but this week it’s given the company its blessing for a new test. With the fresh approval, 23andMe can now offer to look for signs of Bloom syndrome , a rare disorder which is characterized by short stature, sun-sensitive skin and increased cancer risk. While this is a specific test, rather than the broader health reports it offered before, 23andMe calls it an “important first step” to offering detailed genetic advice in the US once more. Filed under: Misc Comments Source: 23andMe

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23andMe gets FDA approval, but only to test rare Bloom syndrome

Did you snag a MacBook Pro before 2014 only to run into corrupted video , no video at all or spontaneous reboots? You won’t have to shell out for a fix if you’re out of warranty. After more than a year of reports, Apple is launching a repair program that will mend your laptop for free if its graphics are going haywire. You’re covered so long as you bought a 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pro between early 2011 and the end of 2013, including the first two generations of Retina models . The program will be available as of February 20th if you’re in the US or Canada, and a week later in the rest of the world. Only a “small percentage” of systems are affected, Apple says, but it won’t hurt to check coverage even if everything is hunky dory. Filed under: Laptops , Apple Comments Source: Apple

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Apple will fix your older MacBook Pro’s video problems for free

Well, here’s a nice Facebook feature for the more fun-loving users: the social network now lets you add stickers to photos before you even post them from an iPhone or an Android device. The social network launched a separate sticker app in December, but that one’s only for pictures to be sent through Messenger . Also, its built-in stickers were only for use in private messages and the comments section , prompting anyone who wanted cute accoutrements in their pictures to turn to third-party apps. Now, you’ll see a small icon at the bottom of each uploaded image, which you can click to see all the stickers you can use. These graphics can be resized, rotated, moved to another location — or just straight up deleted if you change your mind. Sure, go on and roll your eyes at the news, but we promise you teens and tweens will eat this up: cue the rise of super- kawaii , sticker-ridden Facebook selfies. Filed under: Misc , Mobile , Facebook Comments Source: iTunes , Google Play

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Oh boy: Facebook for mobile lets you add stickers to photos

If you’re still watching cable (and apparently we’re not), it turns out that channels like TBS and TNT are now speeding up syndicated programs, classics films and other shows by as much as 7 percent. The trend was noticed by Snopes and others, thanks to a user called ITClassics who compared the same episodes as aired now and years ago. A Seinfeld episode that originally ran 25 minutes was nearly 22 after the process, letting the broadcaster fit in about six extra spots. As the WSJ pointed out, ads now run an average of 15.8 minutes per hour on cable, and one unnamed cable exec said that “it’s a way to keep the revenue from going down as much as the ratings.” As we’ve reported before, cable and premium channels are losing viewership to Netflix and other less aggravating forms of content delivery. In order to make up for the lost revenue, TNT et. al. are speeding up syndicated shows like Seinfeld and Friends in a way that’s not too noticeable, letting them fit in a few more ads per half hour. They’re also irritating classic movie lovers by speeding up titles like the Wizard of Oz and King Kong (1933), giving the big ape a less menacing growl. The stations might be squeezing out a few more bucks, but as some Redditors pointed out, they’re probably turning even more folks away from cable . Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments Source: Snopes , ITClassics (YouTube)

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How cable networks speed up shows to squeeze in more ads

District 9 creator Neill Blomkamp gave sci-fi fans a brief glimmer of hope in January, when he teased that he had secretly been working on an Alien sequel that had (apparently) been scuttled. Well, it might be back on again — Blomkamp is now claiming on Instagram (with support from Variety sources) that the project is “officially [his] next film.” There’s no word on the movie’s plot or when it might hit theaters, but his sneak peek showed concept art that included Ripley in an alien-like suit, Weyland-Yutani’s headquaters and the return of Aliens ‘ Corporal Hicks. Fox hasn’t chimed in yet, but it’s likely just a matter of time if this pans out. The real question is whether Blomkamp can return the franchise to its former glory. While he hit it big with District 9 and shows promise with his upcoming flick Chappie , the mixed reviews of Elysium suggest that Blomkamp doesn’t automatically produce box office gold. And Variety notes that Alien director Ridley Scott won’t be involved — he’s too busy with his follow-up to Prometheus , so it’s all on the (relatively) new guy to make this work. Um… So I think it’s officially my next film. #alien A photo posted by Brownsnout (@neillblomkamp) on Feb 18, 2015 at 3:55pm PST Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments Source: Neill Blomkamp (Instagram) , Variety

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An ‘Alien’ movie is coming from the creator of ‘District 9’

The Blackshades spying hack group may have come crashing down with a bang last year, but its alleged leader is going considerably more quietly. Alex Yucel has pleaded guilty to charges that he distributed Blackshades’ remote control tool, which let creeps eavesdrop on webcams, track keyboard strokes and hold computers for ransom. Whether or not he faces a stiff penalty is still up in the air, however. Sentencing isn’t until May 22nd, but Yucel has already said he won’t appeal if he gets less than 7.25 years in prison. The court could easily throw the book at Yucel given that Blackshades violated the privacy of half a million people, but it may not be eager to spark a prolonged fight. [Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images] Filed under: Internet Comments Source: Reuters

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Leader of webcam spying ring ‘Blackshades’ pleads guilty