Turkey to censor tweets with ‘malicious’ content
Twitter might not be banned in Turkey anymore, but the country’s government isn’t quite done putting it through the censorship wringer yet. In fact, Turkish Communications Minister Lütfi Elvan just released a written statement that says: “We [Twitter and Turkey] have reached a consensus to ‘neutralize’ malicious content that is the object of court decisions by pixelating.” He didn’t expound on what he means by “pixelating,” but it’s typically associated with the mosaic-like classic approach to censorship. If Turkish authorities can indeed blur out tweets, then this saga might have taken an even crazier turn. Since that’s bordering on the absurd, though, it’s possible that “pixelating” might have just been the term Lütfi used for Twitter’s Country Withheld Tool, which the website uses to hide tweets and accounts from a whole nation.
The minister says the decision was made during back-to-back meetings between Turkey’s telecommunication authority (called TIB) and Twitter’s execs who’ve reached a consensus to “neutralize malicious content.” Twitter also gave the TIB super-tagging powers (after deleting over 200 offending tweets, that is), allowing officials to flag posts and accounts that they want to be censored ASAP.
For those who haven’t been following this crazed roller-coaster ride closely, it all started when Turkish authorities blocked access to Twitter hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan threatened to do so. Erdogan, who’d previously called social media “the worst menace to society,” claimed his detractors were using the social network as a platform to spread lies that he was corrupt. A few days later, the ban was overturned after the country’s court deemed it a violation of people’s right to free speech, and just recently, Erdoğan vowed to go after Twitter for tax evasion. It’s now unclear if he’ll follow through, as the two entities have promised to “keep in touch,” but let’s not forget that the prime minister called Twitter a “scourge” once in the past.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
Honeywell’s Bluetooth air purifier gets pollen alerts from your smartphone
Your air conditioner may already be connected to the web, but what about that lowly air purifier gallantly battling dust in the corner? If a completely connected home is on the docket, prep your 270 bucks and get ready for an upgrade. Honeywell’s latest air purifier includes integrated Bluetooth, letting you use your Android or iOS smartphone to turn the device on when you enter the room, control cleaning levels, set a schedule and track when it’s time to swap out the HEPA filter. But it takes automation even further, pulling pollen and mold alerts from the web via your smartphone and adjusting fan levels automatically. The HPA250B, which can accommodate rooms of up to 310 square feet, is available from Best Buy for $269.99.
Filed under: Household
Source: Best Buy
Toshiba’s ultra-fast microSD cards will let you shoot like a pro with small cameras
It’s easy to find fast storage if you have a big camera, but not so much if you have a very tiny mirrorless cam that uses microSD cards — more often than not, you’re stuck in the slow lane. You won’t be held back for much longer if Toshiba has its way, though. The company has just revealed the first-ever microSD cards to meet the speedy UHS-II spec, giving them the same performance as the quickest full-size SD storage — and up to eight times the write speed of Toshiba’s earlier microSD lineup. Data reads, meanwhile, are nearly three times faster.
The upgrade should help even smaller cameras and smartphones shoot burst photos as quickly as some pro hardware, and 4K video recording will be relatively pain-free. Toshiba is only providing samples of 32GB and 64GB cards to chip and gadget makers at this stage, and you’ll need to check that whatever device you get supports UHS-II before you splurge on the newer flash memory. However, it shouldn’t be long before you can get truly rapid-fire photography from a device that fits in your pocket.
Source: Toshiba
Wave your hands like you just don’t care to control videos on Vimeo
There’s never been a better time to just kick back and watch whatever you want, what with the many ways in which content can be consumed nowadays. And if you enjoy watching videos on Vimeo, things are about to get even easier. The company recently announced that its Couch Mode feature is now friendly with the Leap Motion controller, allowing you to take over media commands by simply using your hands. A circle gesture with your finger can fast-forward or rewind; tap your finger in the air to play or pause; and swiping gets you to the next video.
Vimeo introduced Couch Mode back in 2010, a YouTube Leanback-like feature that lets you watch a video playlist in full-screen mode on your browser, one right after the other. If you have a Leap Motion controller at your disposal, give it a try and let us know in the comments below what you think of it. Or maybe just tell us if anyone’s looked at you funny in the process of doing this.
[Image credit: Vimeo]
Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment, Internet
Source: Leap Motion, Vimeo Couch Mode
Orange is the New Black trailer promises a ‘next level crazy’ season two
House of Cards is probably Netflix’s most-discussed original series, but fans of Orange is the New Black would argue it matches Frank Underwood & Co. in both deviousness and quality. As usual, the entire second season will premiere at once on June 6th, and it should be an even wilder ride than the first time around, as shown in this trailer (embedded after the break). The gang is back, including Piper, her ex Alex Vause played by Laura Prepon, Crazy Eyes, Pennsatucky and all the rest. Netflix isn’t the only service or channel investing in original content to set itself apart, but over the last year or so it’s been one of the most consistently successful, and with new additions like Sense8 and Marco Polo coming soon, those trying to catch up will face a tough job in prying any of its 30 million+ customers loose.
The cast of Orange Is The New Black describes Season 2 in Three Words [VIDEO] http://t.co/nr24geDzwD #OITNB
– Orange Is the New… (@OITNB) April 17, 2014
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Netflix (YouTube), Netflix
UberX adds $1 charge to cover getting you home safely
Sure, UberX might get you to your destination for less money than a taxi, but do you want to arrive safely? That will be an extra dollar. Not really, but sort of. Uber has added a $1 surcharge to UberX rides. Called a “Safe Rides Fee,” the company says the cash will help offset the cost “an industry-leading background check process, regular motor vehicle checks, driver safety education, development of safety features in the app, and insurance.” You know, basic stuff that Uber needs to do to make sure you’re not being picked up by a serial killer or in a car that’s going to lose a wheel once you get on the highway. Uber’s been doing that stuff already, but taking on the cost itself – a move that’s ultimately made it lose cash on every ride. It’s not unreasonable that it might pass the buck literally on to its customers, but it could have probably come up with a name for the charge that doesn’t sound like you’re going to die if your don’t pay up. Our only question: If our Uber starts texting while we’re on the road can we have our dollar back?
Image source: Flickr/Adam Fagan
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: GeekWire
Source: Uber
You might be able to unlock your next Chromebook with your smartphone
Can’t remember your password? Someday, you might not have to. A new feature in Google’s Chrome OS dev channel promises to instantly unlock a user’s Chromebook whenever their phone is nearby. Unfortunately, the feature doesn’t actually work. The verification tool, named Easy Unlock, offers only a brief description and an unfinished setup, which ends with in futile search to pair a device. The feature simply isn’t ready, which is probably why it’s disabled by default — but it’s certainly a novel idea.
Via: 9to5Google, TechCrunch
Source: Android Police
Daily Roundup: Street View vs. captchas, living in a connected home and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
My connected home turned me into a spy and an addict
Ten years ago, adjusting the temperature of your home from a smartphone might have seemed like something from a science fiction movie. But in this age of hyper-connectivity, it’s easier to get wrapped up in the quantifiable aspects of life than you might think. Just ask our own Joseph Volpe.
MSI GS60 Ghost review: a gaming rig in Ultrabook’s clothing
Thin, light and simple: MSI’s latest gaming laptop is all of those things and more. Dubbed the GS60 Ghost, this slim aluminum machine has a bright 15.3-inch display and ultrabook-esque buttonless trackpad. All in all, the Ghost is a great choice for serious gamers, provided they can endure its less-than-average battery life.
Sony pumps up its PS4 update with game pre-loading and SHAREfactory video editor
In a recent blog post, Sony announced it’s preparing a 1.70 firmware update for the PS4 that will include a brand new video editor (called SHAREfactory) and pre-game loading functionality. Exactly when it will be released, however, is still to be known.
Google’s latest Street View algorithm beats its bot-sniffing security system
Apparently, Google’s algorithm used by Street View vehicles is so good it can beat reCAPTCHA images 99 percent of the time. If that makes you feel unsafe, don’t worry. The Mountain View company says there are additional safeguards beyond simply typing in the right answer.
You also might like:
Ubuntu 14.04 is ready for a world filled with hi-resolution touchscreens and tablets
Has it truly been six months already? It feel like just yesterday we were kicking the tires on a fresh install of Saucy Salamander. Now Canonical is pushing out the latest version of its popular Linux distro. Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (code named: Trusty Tahr) is part of its long term support series which means it will receive support and security updates for five years rather than the usual nine months. That’s a major deal for companies using either on desktops and servers. But servers and enterprise desktops aren’t where the excitement lies. What makes Trusty a huge deal for Canonical is that it finally makes the OS ready to use on touchscreens, high DPI displays and tablets. Until now Ubuntu didn’t scale properly on high resolution displays (which this editor discovered the hard way when he installed it on his shiny new Carbon X1). The bigger news though is that 14.04 marks the first stable version of Ubuntu for tablets. The OS is packing a number of improvements to its touchscreen support, which will be essential when commercial tablets hit the market, which Canonical suggest will be happening this year in its press release. You can go download Ubuntu 14.04 now for free.
Filed under: Software
Source: Canonical
Magic 2015 will feature cards influenced by a star-studded roster of game Developers
About a week ago, we announced that the next iteration of the Magic the Gathering video games would be coming on consoles and mobiles everywhere in summer this year. While Magic 2015 – Duel of the Planeswalkers is set to entertain players with its biggest challenge yet, the Wizards of the Coast are also planning some cool little tidbits for fans of video games in general to enjoy when they are playing the game.
Announced at PAX East earlier this week, the Wizards of the Coast have said that Magic 2015 will feature 14 guest-designed cards. And not just any guests either; accompanying the announcement at PAX, the Genesis Hydra card designed by George Fan (yes, George Fan, designer of Plants vs Zombies) was shown off. Of course, there are another 13 famous names to join Fan’s contribution including:
- George Fan: designer of Plants vs Zombies
- Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins: Gabe and Tycho, creators of Penny Arcade
- Markus Persson: “Notch,” creator of Minecraft and founder of Mojang
- Richard Garriot: “Lord British,” creator of the Ultima series
- David Sirlin: designer on Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Yomi
- Rob Pardo: chief creative officer at Blizzard, lead designer of World of Warcraft
- Isaiah Cartwright: lead game designer for Guild Wars 2
- Justin Gary: designer of Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer and Solforge
- Stone Librande: lead designer at Riot Games, designer of Diablo 3, creative director of SimCity
- Brian Fargo: founder and CEO of inXile Entertainment, director of Bard’s Tale, Wasteland, executive producer of Fallout
- Mike Neumann: Gearbox Software, creative director on Borderlands
- James Ernest: owner and lead designer for Cheapass Games, designer of Kill Doctor Lucky
- Edmund McMillen: indie designer of Super Meat Boy, featured in Indie Game: The Movie
- Brad Muir: game designer at Double Fine Productions leading Massive Chalice, project lead on Iron Brigade
That’s a pretty impressive list, to say the least. To top it off, there is going to be one more card included in Magic 2015 which was created by the Magic community during the “You Make the Card” event. I think it’s pretty cool that the Wizards of the Coast are including these custom designed cards in Magic 2015, and while they might not particularly add anything specific to the actual gameplay, it’s always cool to see that there are so many people in the gaming community supporting one of the most timeless trading card games.
What do you think about these custom designed cards? Are you more tempted to get Magic 2015 now? Let us know what your thoughts are.
//<![CDATA[
ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
//]]>
AIVAnet 