Now you can use a drone to mess up Kendall Jenner’s face
Drones, yeah, are now like, so cheap, you know, that you can just, like, use them to do vandalism that’s also an artistic statement, right? That’s what graffiti artist, hacker and, er, vandal Katsu does with a modified drone that’s capable of carrying and using a can of spray paint. The anonymous figure’s latest stunt was to attack the new Calvin Klein billboard in New York City, a six-story installation featuring Kendall Jenner. Unfortunately, Katsu’s control of the drone wasn’t strong enough to do an actual drawing, so the artist had to settle for spraying some red lines a bit near Jenner’s face. But, guys, you have to understand, okay, that it’s a statement, right? A statement.
The best coffeemaker
This post was done in partnership with the Sweethome, a list of the best gear for your home. Read the full article at TheSweethome.com
After two months surveying readers; interviewing coffee experts; researching makes, models, and reviews; and testing five finalist machines with a 10-person tasting panel, we recommend the $190 Bonavita 1900TS. It’s the best coffeemaker for most people who love good coffee but don’t have the time or patience for pour-over. The 1900TS brewed the most consistently delicious coffee among all of the machines we testedbetter than anything I used in my past life as a barista. That’s thanks to smart internal design: a wider showerhead, a flat-bottomed filter (the normal, wavy kind), and a built-in pre-infusion timer. This coffee machine will brew coffee 90 percent as good as pour-over every single time.
Why you should trust us
Our test panel consisted of 10 coffee-loving individuals who blind-tasted two carefully brewed batches from the five models.
To get to these picks, I talked to coffee experts of various backgrounds from different parts of the industry: Humberto Ricardo, the owner of the renowned Manhattan coffee shop Third Rail Coffee; barista Carlos Morales, who just won third place in the Northeast Brewers Cup Championship; and Mark Hellweg, who founded and runs the speciality coffee accessory company Clive Coffee, which recently developed and released a high-end coffee machine of their own design. I also chatted with pretty much every barista I encountered at shops to get their perspectives.
I combined what I learned from these experts with reviews from the best sources on the web including Consumer Reports, Cooks Illustrated, Serious Eats, CNET, and WIRED to narrow the list of contenders down to five top contenders. I then conducted a blind tasting panel of 10 coffee enthusiasts who all voted on which machines produced the best-tasting beverage. In the end, there was one clear winner.
Why our pick is the best
The coffeemakers we tested, from left to right: Cuisinart DCC-1200, Bonavita BV1800TH, Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT, Bonavita BV1900TS, Behmor Brazen Plus.
The Bonavita 1900TS makes consistently great tasting coffee. It was also the easiest to use and the fastest to brew out of the six machines we tested. You won’t get many extra features, like timers and a “brew strength” adjuster, but nothing will give you better-tasting coffee with less hassle. And its maintenance and cleaning is the same as any other automatic drip machine on the marketjust toss the grounds, give everything a rinse, and occasionally de-scale if you don’t use filtered water.
Using quality, well-ground beans, some of our testers even compared the brew favorably to handmade pour-over coffee. The 1900TS was also the easiest to use among the competitionjust one button to pushand it was the fastest to brew a full pot by over a minute. That’s because it has a higher-powered water heater than most, which allows it to achieve the ideal brewing temperature of 195-205F faster than other machines.
Operation couldn’t be simpler. There’s only one button. You press once to make coffee or press and hold for five seconds to activate the pre-infusion timer. Pre-infusion allows the grounds to fully and evenly wet before brewing fully beginsthis leads to more even extraction and more clarity of flavor. The machine shuts itself off after the coffee has been brewed, though you can turn the machine off anytime by pressing the one button. Because it comes with a stainless-steel insulated carafe, there’s no need for a hot plate to keep the pot warm. In our tests, coffee was drinkably hot for a couple hours after brewing but fell to room temperature after six hours.
The runner-up pick
One of the most obvious differences between the new Bonavita 1900TS (right) and the older Bonavita 1800TH (left) is the 1900TH’s flat-bottomed brewing basket.
If the 1900TS is unavailable, the older Bonavita 1800-series is the next best way to go. The 1800TH is your best bet because its glass-lined thermal carafe will keep coffee warm for longer without wasting energy on heating plates. The 1800SS is also a good option, but it uses a steel-lined thermal carafe, which many coffee aficionados claim can color the flavor of the coffee within. It’s a very similar machine to our top pick, but the 1900TS’s improvements result in a more evenly-extracted, clearer-tasting cup that was unanimously preferred by our tasting panelists. Still, the 1800TH beat out every other machine in our test, which is no small accomplishment.
This guide may have been updated. To see the current recommendation, please go to TheSweethome.com
Filed under: Household
Microsoft snaps up the technology behind the Surface Pro 3’s pen
In love with the Surface pen? You’re not the only one. Microsoft confirmed on its Surface blog this morning that it acquired the pen-sensing technology that helps power the Surface Pro 3 from the company that created it, Israeli tech outfit N-trig. If you’re the type who pays attention to Israeli business newspapers, this whole thing might not come as a shock – Calcalist reported earlier this year that Microsoft was eyeing N-trig for a full-on acquisition that would see the company’s 190 employees folded into the Microsoft mothership at some point. That’s not the case anymore, though: We’ve been able to confirm the folks in Redmond just bought the technology, and not the whole company.
So, aside from a little M&A intrigue to spice up your Friday morning, what does this mean for you? Well, the Surface Pen is one of those bits of the Surface experience that seems totally extraneous at first, and then more-or-less lovely after you’ve gotten to play with it. It’s far from perfect — N-trig’s pen ditched its predecessor’s ability to erase stuff by flipping the thing around — but the purchase signals Microsoft’s commitment to making pen input something that could feasibly replace the traditional thumb-punching and finger-poking touchscreens have attuned us too. It shouldn’t be long before we see some of N-trig’s tech in action, either Windows 10’s launch is just over the horizon at this point and we already know that some new Windows smartphones will play nice with pen inputs thanks to a feature called DirectInk. That we’ll be able to write on a broad swath of new devices soon was never a question, though there is one loose end we haven’t been able to tie up: What’s going to happen to the rest of N-trig?
Source: Microsoft Surface blog
10 breathtaking cityscape wallpapers
You gaze out your crystal, gilded window, staring at the enormous skyscrapers kissing the clouds. You marvel at the beauty that is human engineering, as you wonder what kind of magic allows such tall behemoths stand so tall and proud. You see the denizens of your magnificence city going about their business, as they too, marvel at the glory all around them. Thank you wake up from your dream and realize that you live in the countryside with no such marvel surrounding you. I know, I know, you are probably on the brink of tears right now, I am sorry, I am too. Thankfully though, we have the great digital world of wallpapers. So now you can enjoy such sceneries, without having to actually live in a big city.
Today I present to you 10 breathtaking cityscape wallpapers that have been dying to make themselves at home on your mobile devices. These wallpapers come from all over the interwebs and are part of my collection of wallpapers that I have gathered over the years. Due to the fact that they have been collected over such a long period of time, I no longer have the information associated with them to determine their creators. So, if you see a wallpaper that is yours and you would like to be recognized as the artist, please drop me a comment below with proof, as I would love to give it to you.
The post 10 breathtaking cityscape wallpapers appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Verizon rewards Auto Pay prepaid customers with extra 1GB monthly data
Verizon has become the latest wireless provider to offer up an incentive for its prepaid customers. Today sees Big Red announcing a deal for those who sign up for the Auto Pay billing feature. Effective immediately, anyone who enrolls in the automatic payment will receive an extra 1GB of data per month. Those who are already setup with Auto Pay will see an extra 1GB on their next bill.
- The $45 plan now includes 2GB when using Auto Pay
- The $60 plan now includes 3.5GB when using Auto Pay
It’s not clear how long this limited time deal will last. Other prepaid carriers such as Cricket Wireless and Boost Mobile are also dangling offers to entice customers to set up automatic billing.
The post Verizon rewards Auto Pay prepaid customers with extra 1GB monthly data appeared first on AndroidGuys.
MacRumors 2015 Blood Drive
MacRumors is pleased to announce the Sixth Annual MacRumors Blood Drive, throughout the month of May 2015. Our goal every year is to increase the number of life-saving donations in real-world communities by encouraging everyone in our online community to step forward. While most blood drives are specific to a geographic location or collection center, our blood drive is online and worldwide. Our past blood drives have collectively recorded donations of over 250 units of blood and platelets.
Apple often supports health, relief, and charity efforts, including facilitating cash donations after the recent earthquake in Nepal, but this drive is run by the staff and volunteers of MacRumors.
We ask that you:
1. Donate blood or platelets at any donation center or hospital near you. Join the bone marrow registry in your country. Sign up for the organ donor registry in your state, province, or country.
2. Post in the MacRumors 2015 Blood Drive! forum thread. Tell us about your donation or registration experience. We’d like to thank you.
3. Share the news and our message with other people you know, online and in person. Convince one other person to donate blood in the month of May. Help us thank the donors who post about their experiences.
For details see the MacRumors 2015 Blood Drive! thread and our traditional Honor Roll of recognized donors.
Recent donation by a MacRumors forum member
Why donate blood or platelets? Why join the bone marrow registry? Why join the organ donor registry?
– Donated blood and platelets save the lives of people recovering from accidents, undergoing surgery, or struck by illness. These are people in your own neighborhoods who need your help. Donated blood and platelets are needed every 2 seconds, not just when hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters occur. An hour of your time could save up to 3 lives.
– With a simple cheek swab you are volunteering to donate stem cells or bone marrow if you match someone dying from a disease like leukemia. There are many thousands of people each year searching for donors to save their lives. You might be the one and only person who can save a particular patient’s life.
– Thousands of people die every year while waiting for organ transplants. Your donation of organs when your own life ends could save the lives of as many as 8 people.
The lives you save may belong to your friends, neighbors, relatives, or complete strangers. Someday you may receive the same generosity from others. There’s no gift more precious than the gift of life.
Do this today
1. If you are eligible to donate blood: Schedule a blood or platelet donation, in May if possible. Register for the bone marrow registry. Register as an organ donor. Find the details in our knowledge base articles: Blood and Platelet Donation and Organ, Tissue, and Bone Marrow Donation. We’ve added over 20 countries to these articles.
2. If you aren’t eligible to donate blood: Check if you can still register for the bone marrow registry and register as an organ donor. You’re welcome to discuss donor eligibility in our Blood donor eligibility forum thread.
3. Help our drive by thanking donors and convincing a friend or relative to donate blood.
Rumored ‘iPad Pro’ Dimensions and Features Again Seen in Renderings
Following a lull in rumors and news circulating Apple’s so-called “iPad Pro”, most likely due to the launch of the Apple Watch and reported delays in Apple’s internal production timeline, a newly shared industrial rendering (via nowhereelse.fr) [Google Translate] of the device once again provides some claims of dimensions for the large-screened iPad.
The industrial rendering, dated December 2014, points to a 12.9-inch screen iPad Pro with dimensions measuring exactly 305.70mm x 222.60mm x 7.20mm, or 12 inches x 8.7 inches x 0.28 inches. These numbers line up closely with those seen in a previously purported design drawings for the device, although they are slightly larger than the earlier ones.
The latest rumor also supports the majority of sources so far pointing to a 12.9-inch display for the iPad Pro. A few sources have suggested it could carry a smaller 12.2-inch display, but they are a small minority at this point.
Beyond dimensions, the industrial rendering does appear to support the four top- and bottom-based speakers mentioned in previous rumors, as well as the typical locations for the power button, headphone jack, Lightning port, and volume buttons. As with the iPad Air 2, this iPad Pro design appear to omit a mute switch in favor of a tiny microphone hole near the volume buttons.
Notably, the rendering does not include a port or other feature around the center of the left edge as has been seen in some previous case and mockup leaks. The exact identity of that feature is not clear, with suggestions it could be a SIM tray for cellular models, a second Lightning port for docking accessories in landscape orientation, or even a USB-C port.
Cases for the iPad Pro have begun increasing in quality recently, going from simple plastic molds to complex trifold designs with higher-quality materials, perhaps suggesting more confidence from manufacturers in these rumored designs and schematics.
Regarding its specs, the most recent rumors state the iPad Pro could have a triple-core A8X processor, 2 GB of RAM, and Touch ID, and possibly ship alongside a first-party stylus accessory of some sort. The latest rumblings suggest a production build-up in September with a launch perhaps coming in October alongside Apple’s usual iPad lineup refresh.
Gold Plating Your Apple Watch is Possible Without Spending a Fortune [iOS Blog]
While the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition is a gorgeous wristwatch, its starting price of $10,000 in the United States is simply out of reach for many customers. But if you have a stainless steel Apple Watch, it is possible to gold plate your device without breaking the bank. Take a look at the comparatively inexpensive services and methods for turning your Apple Watch gold below.
WatchPlate
MacRumors forum member RianFlynn has shared photos of a stainless steel Apple Watch with Milanese Loop with what he says is a thin coating of 24-karat gold that costs just $6. The finished product looks quite impressive, and the user has since launched a website called WatchPlate where he plans to accept Apple Watch gold plating orders for $399 with an estimated three-day turnaround. Most of the price is based on the time and labor involved. While we have not confirmed the authenticity of this service, gold plating the stainless steel Apple Watch is technically feasible.
The Time Preserve
Watch restoration specialist The Time Preserve recently announced that it is accepting gold plating orders for the stainless steel Apple Watch. The company, which has been restoring watches since 1995, uses custom-formulated gold electroplating for durability, and ensures that the 5 to 6 microns thick plating will not peel from daily wear. Prices range from $550 to $650, with cheaper prices for bands only, and the service has an estimated one-week turnaround.
Gold Spray Paint
YouTube creator Casey Neistat shared a video last week where he applied gold spray paint to his space gray aluminum Apple Watch Sport. Beyond the obvious fact that spray painting your Apple Watch probably isn’t the wisest idea, given that the paint could easily chip or get stuck in the Digital Crown or other parts of the watch, the end result actually looks much like the Apple Watch Edition.
Of course, the thin gold plating is not the same as the 18-karat solid gold used on the Apple Watch Edition, but the difference is hard to tell visually and these services are available at a fraction of the price. Before placing an order, keep in mind that modifying your Apple Watch with gold plating may void your standard warranty or AppleCare protection plan for the device.
Will the birth of Project Fi bring the death of Google Voice?
The dream mobile carrier plan has finally come. Google’s Project Fi gives everyone (or those with a Nexus 6) an affordable option for their monthly smartphone service. I often dreamed that Google would do this and they finally came through. However, you might not be too excited if you’re a Google Voice user.
Based on Google’s support page, Google Voice and Project Fi don’t seem to work well together. When switching carriers, Google Voice users are used to just asking for whatever number is given to them because it really doesn’t matter since they have a Google Voice number. Once a number is given to them, they simply forward the new carrier number to their Google Voice number. Unfortunately things aren’t going to work that way with Project Fi.
If you decide to have Google assign you a new number, like you’re used to, your Google Voice number will be “released and you won’t be able to get it back.” On the flip side, if you want to use your Google Voice number with Project Fi, you will lose pretty much everything you love about Google Voice. You will no longer be able to “make or receive phone calls or access voicemail using Google Talk, Google Voice apps, or Obihai devices.” You also won’t be able to send or receive text messages on the web, nor will you be able to utilize spam filtering, call recording, call switch, conference calling on the fly, caller ID (incoming), and outgoing caller ID (anonymous Caller ID). Now if there is any good news out of this, it is that your voicemail greeting, voicemails, call history, as well as your SMS history will still be transfered to Project Fi, assuming you have rolled your Google Voice number into Hangouts.
So what if you still want to keep your Google Voice number and use Project Fi? Google’s answer is to transfer it to a different Google Voice account (Gmail address) or another carrier before you sign up for Project Fi. Assuming you transfer your Google Voice number to another Gmail account, can you still use Google Voice and Project Fi together like you normally do with other carrier phones? Google isn’t clear on this. If you have transferred your Google Voice number to another Gmail account, I guess in theory, it’s possible that you could still transfer your new Project Fi number to that Google Voice number, but we aren’t sure if Google will allow that. On top of that, you will now have a brand new Gmail address to fiddle with, which might not be the best option. I should also note that if you transfer your Google Voice number to another Gmail account, you will lose all your SMS and Hangouts history. The other option would be to open a brand new (or use another) Gmail account for Project Fi and continue to keep your Google Voice number with your existing Gmail account. Again, you have to fiddle with another Gmail account, and if Google doesn’t let you transfer the calls, than what good did that do for you?
I guess the bottom line is that Google is allowing users to keep their Google Voice number, but it appears that it’s not going to play nice with Project Fi. You have to wonder if Google will eventually phase out Voice? This very well could happen, but probably not in the near future. Project Fi is only available on the Nexus 6, and probably won’t be available beyond upcoming Nexus phones to be announced later this year. If Google ever does plan on making Project Fi a serious carrier option, it very well could be the end of Voice. If you look at Google’s perspective, there can’t be that many Voice users, so it’s not a big deal to them.
As a Google Voice user, I won’t be jumping on Project Fi anytime soon until I see what the experiences are like for other Google Voice users. If you want to see Google’s support information regarding Google Voice and Project Fi, check out their support page here.
Come comment on this article: Will the birth of Project Fi bring the death of Google Voice?
Meerkat (Beta) finally comes to Android, available now in Google Play
Meerkat announced a couple of week ago that their live streaming app would be coming to Android in beta form soon, and that day is here. The beta version of the app is in the Play Store now for your downloading pleasure.
We were thinking that this would be released as an invite only, but it appears anyone can download it. Now obviously this app won’t be free of bugs since it’s in beta form, so your feedback is important. You can do this by swiping the screen (within the app) with two fingers, which will connect you to the Meerkat team.
Now just in case you aren’t familiar with Meerkat, it is a live video streaming app. Anything you film will go live to your Twitter followers. It has been on iOS for a while now, and was quite popular until Periscope crashed the party. However, Meerkat will get another boost with a lot of Android users since Periscope is iOS only for the time being.
Meerkat did post some rules on their app page……
- Everything that happens on Meerkat happens on Twitter.
- Streams will be pushed to followers in real time via push notifications.
- People can only watch it live. There are no reruns.
- You can save your streams to your phone, but Meerkat will never keep them.
- Watchers can retweet any stream to their followers in real time.
- Everyone can watch on web.
- Be kind.
Download link is below after a few screenshots.
Come comment on this article: Meerkat (Beta) finally comes to Android, available now in Google Play
AIVAnet 