Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on the intersection of technology, law, politics, and policy. Prior to Digital Trends, Couts served as associate editor of TheWeek.com, executive editor of COEDMagazine.com, assistant editor of Maxim magazine, and writer/editorial assistant of Stuff magazine. In his few moments spent away from a computer, Couts can be found hiking with his dog, or blasting around on motorcycles.
Will Mark Zuckerberg use his Internet-laser drones for good or for evil?
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg plans to use "drones, satellites, and lasers" to supply Internet to those without access. Is that such a good idea?
Redditor eats a hat – yes, a hat – after losing $1,000 Bitcoin bet, posts video proof
A Bitcoin believer on Reddit put his money where his mouth is after losing a bet that the price of a Bitcoin would remain at $1,000 “come January 1st.”
As Oculus found out, ‘selling out’ isn’t just for bands anymore
Musicians no longer have to worry about "selling out" to make a buck. But Facebook's acquisition of Oculus VR shows tech companies now do.
The NY Times is blowing smoke: Toothpaste poisons more people than vaping liquid
A new report from The New York Times demonizes e-cigarette e-liquid as a dangerous killer. But the real danger is ignorant, irresponsible people.
As Snowden roams free in robot form, our cyborg future has arrived
Edward Snowden used a Beam telepresence robot to do an on-stage interview at the 2014 TED Talks in Vancouver. In other words, our cyborg future is here.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope – it’s a drone stealing your identity
Security researchers have developed a new technology that uses drones to secretly steal sensitive information from your smartphone.
Want to find your first tweet? New Twitter tool makes it easy
Twitter has released a new tool that makes it fast and easy to find your first tweet.
Newsweek’s Bitcoin creator ‘unconditionally’ denies any involvement in Bitcoin
Dorian Satoshi Nakamto, the California man alleged in a Newsweek cover story to be the creator of Bitcoin, 'unconditionally' denies involvement in Bitcoin.
What can snoops learn from your metadata? Way more than you thought
Telephone metadata can reveal a staggering amount of personal details about our lives, a new study shows. And it's time for us to take action.
Mark Zuckerberg called President Obama over NSA spying, dubs it ‘a threat’ to the Internet
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he called President Obama to express is "frustration" over NSA surveillance.
Snowden wants more security, but are we too lazy for more locks?
Edward Snowden says we need widespread end-to-end encryption. He's right. But many tech users may not want to listen.
The CUPID stun gun drone will hunt you down, zap you into submission
Chaotic Moon Studios has combined two terrifying things – stun guns and drones – to make the ultimate in high-flying DIY weaponry.
We are all Satoshi Nakamoto: Newsweek proves how fragile our anonymity is online
Newsweek's outing of Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto is scary because we can imagine it happening to us.
Bitcoin enthusiasts are boiling after Newsweek unmasks its secretive inventor
In a blockbuster new report, Newsweek claims to have unmasked the identity of 'Satoshi Nakamoto,' the creator of Bitcoin. His real name? Satoshi Nakamoto.
$620,000 theft kills another Bitcoin exchange, but Bitcoin prices still rise
Thieves have delivered a fatal blow to the second Bitcoin exchange in a week – but that hasn’t stopped the rising value of the embattled cryptocurrency.
Lesson learned? After Bitcoin’s Mt. Gox meltdown, the real test begins
The implosion of Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox has left the entire industry in shock. Can it pick up the pieces and rebuild stronger on its own?
Mt. Gox hit with class action lawsuit over $400 million Bitcoin loss
After losing 750,000 Bitcoins belonging to customers, Mt. Gox and its CEO Mark Karpeles have been hit with the first inevitable class action lawsuit.
US senator wants to ‘ban’ Bitcoin, but gives Dogecoin a pass (Updated)
Following Mt. Gox collapse, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has requested that the federal government “ban” Bitcoin entirely.
As Facebook plants its flag in WhatsApp, will it pillage or protect user privacy?
What will happen to WhatsApp user privacy now that the messaging service is owned by Facebook?
First Bitcoin vending machine in US fires up in New Mexico cigar bar
Bitcoin vending machine manufacturer Lamassu announced today the launch of the first known Bitcoin sales kiosk operating in the United States.
What binge-watching House of Cards taught me about life, death, and snacks
House of Cards season 2 is out, and ready for you to binge-watch.
Are you kidding me? When you can’t tell, the Web can be a dangerous place to joke
The Internet is good for making fun of people we think deserve it. But what if we simply lack the context to know when someone is simply joking?