Pocket lets you like and repost recommendations from friends

Pocket, the popular read-it-later service, has updated its app to expand its Recommendations feature. You can now like and repost items from your friends that appear in your Recommended feed. You can get notifications for when someone likes or reposts your items, and you’ll see reposts from your friends in your Recommended feed.

Here’s what you can expect in the latest version of Pocket:

• Like and Repost actions in your Recommended feed
• Find out when someone Likes or Reposts your recommendations via Push Notifications
• See Reposts from the people you follow in your Recommended feed
• Decide which notifications you’d like to receive from Pocket in Settings

You can grab Pocket from the Google Play Store now.

Google’s AI is beefing up its conversation skills with romance novels

While the saucy language of romance novels and the high-tech world of artificial intelligence don’t sound like natural partners in crime, combining the two is exactly what Google has been up to for the past few months. Specifically, Google has been feeding a steady stream of romance novels to the AI engine that powers responses in its Google app in an effort to inject some personality and more conversational mojo, reports BuzzFeed.

As noted in the report, Google is leveraging romance novels due to the overarching narrative similarities each story shares. The thinking is that the AI can parse through each story to detect sentences with similar meaning in order to develop an understanding of how different words can be used to express the same idea. From BuzzFeed:

“In the Google app, the responses are very factual,” Andrew Dai, the Google software engineer who led the project, told BuzzFeed News. “Hopefully with this work, and future work, it can be more conversational, or can have a more varied tone, or style, or register.”

So far, Google has relied on a rather large library of around 2,865 romance novels which are fed into and processed by the engine. As it learns, the AI composes sentences and then draws comparisons to those in the novels. While responses in the Google app are the main focus for now, Google hopes that this process could also help to bring a more conversational air to Inbox’s Smart Reply feature as well.

Best tempered glass screen protectors for the LG G5

What are the best tempered glass screen protectors for the LG G5?

You’ve got your brand new LG G5 and, of course, you want to protect your investment. The latest in smartphone technology is never cheap and shattering that nice LCD would suck big time, right?

Worry not, we’ve got you covered — here’s our roundup for the best tempered glass screen protectors for the LG G5.

• Joto LG G5 tempered glass screen protector
• iLLumiShield HD tempered glass 2-pack LG G5 screen protector
• Monoy LG G5 tempered glass screen protector
• YooTech LG G5 tempered glass screen protector
• Sooyo premium tempered glass screen protector

Joto LG G5 tempered glass screen protector

Joto’s tempered glass screen protector offers superb protection from most forms of damage, while not interfering with the functionality of your LG G5.

You’ll hardly realize that you’ve got a screen protector on your phone at all, since it weighs just under an ounce, so it doesn’t make your phone feel heavier. And, at 0.30millimeters, it’s ultra thin, too.

Forget worrying about nasty fingerprints and marks from sweaty hands. The tempered glass is coated with an oleophobic film that repels sweat and oil.

Finally, installation is easy and worry-free. There are no bubbles to deal with and, if you ever have to remove the protector, it leaves behind no residue.

See at Amazon

iLLumiShield HD tempered glass 2-pack LG G5 screen protector

Offering a lifetime replacement warranty, iLLumiShield’s HD tempered glass protector for the LG G5 comes in a pack of two.

It’s a little thicker than some of the other tempered glass protectors on this list, at 0.33millimeters, but 0.33millimeters is still ultra thin and hardly noticeable. Like most of the other protectors, it can protect your screen from even the toughest scratches. Additionally, its curved edges prevent chipping.

Of course, it also protects against fingerprints and smudges with its “Clear Tech” anti-fingerprint, oil-repellant screen coating.

Last but not least, iLLumiShield’s “Pure Placement” installation method avoids most installation frustrations by ensuring that you don’t have to deal with the bane of all screen protectors — bubbles screwing up the process.

See at Amazon

Monoy LG G5 tempered glass screen protector

Monoy’s thin but solid screen protector gives you protection without sacrificing the sleekness of your LG G5. Why buy a slim phone if you’re going to bulk it up, right?

It has rounded edges that blend in with the contours of the phone and, like most other tempered glass screen protectors, it is thin, at 0.30millimeters. Since tempered glass is around four times as strong as regular glass, it is built for resisting scratches and other damage.

See at Amazon

YooTech LG G5 tempered glass screen protector

YooTech’s tempered glass screen protector for the LG G5 is the lightest and thinnest one on this list. Out of all of the other screen protectors, this is the one you want if you want protection but dislike knowing that it’s there.

Measuring a scant 0.26millimeters thick and weighing less than half an ounce, you won’t be able to tell where your LG G5 ends and where the screen protector begins.

However, even though it’s very thin and light, it protects just as well as thicker screen protectors. It prevents your phone’s screen from scratches and from shattering in the event you drop it. It has rounded edges that prevent chipping, too.

Due to its silicone adhesive, installation is hassle-free and without bubbles and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

See at Amazon

Sooyo premium tempered glass screen protector

Another tempered glass screen protector with a lifetime warranty comes from Sooyo. In the event that anything happens to the screen protector (like, ever) Sooyo will send you a replacement.

Like the other screen protectors, it will protect against scratches, falls, and any other little bumps or dings your phone may accrue throughout the day.

Get thee behind me, fingerprints! Yes, it’s hydrophobic and oleophobic, so fingerprints and smudges marring your phone’s display are things of the past.

Installation is super-easy with this screen protector, too. There won’t be any of those frustrating bubbles and if you ever decide to take it off, it leaves nothing behind.

See at Amazon

Which screen protector is your favorite?

Do you have a go-to favorite screen protector? Let us know in the comments!

If you still want to protect your G5, but don’t want a screen protector, then check out our roundup of best cases for the LG G5.

LG G5

• LG G5 review
• LG 360 CAM review
• LG G5 complete specs
• LG’s G5 Friends modules are a neat idea, but they won’t matter
• LG G5 Hi-Fi Plus w/ B&O
• Join the LG G5 discussion

AT&T
Unlocked
Sprint
T-Mobile

How to set up Google two-step verification to protect your Gmail account

Using two-factor verification makes sure that you — and only you — have access to your Google account.

In light of a recent security breach that saw 273.3 million email accounts — including Gmail accounts — compromised, we strongly recommend enabling two-step verification (or two-step authentication, as it’s also known) for your Google account.

This process will put a stop to anyone’s efforts to access anything — including Gmail and all other Google services — that uses your Google account credentials when logging in, because you need more than a password to verify that you are the account owner.

What is two-step verification?

Two-step verification adds an extra layer of security to your account. Think in terms of withdrawing cash from an ATM — you must insert your card and enter a personal identification number. In the case of a Google account, with two-step verification enabled, you must enter a password and a code that is sent to your phone by call or text, or through an authenticator app on your phone.

Although it will now require extra steps to access your Google account, two-step verification is invaluable. Using two methods to authenticate who you are effectively doubles your account security, and makes sure you’re only able to log in if you have both the right password and a valid authentication token. It is still recommended to change your current Google password if you haven’t already. Without further ado, let’s enable two-step verification.

How to enable two-step verification in the Google Authenticator app

Launch your web browser from your computer desktop.

Type g.co/2sv into the address bar.

Type in your password.

Click on Sign In.

Click Off under 2-Step Verification.

Click Turn On.

Type in your password.

Click on Sign In.

Click on the flag drop-down menu and select your country.

Type in your phone number.

Select either Text message or Phone call.

Click on Try It. You will receive a text message or phone call containing your code.

Type in the code you received on your phone.

Click on Next.

Click Turn On.

Now you have two-factor verification enabled for your Google account. Next, let’s have a look how to enable the Google Authenticator app on your phone to make things even more secure and convenient.

How to prepare your account for the Google Authenticator app on Android

Click on this link from your computer to get started.

Click on Next

Click on Switch to app.

Click on Android.

Click Continue. You will now see a barcode on your computer screen. Keep this barcode on your screen and continue with the steps below.

Tap the Play Store on the Home screen of your Android phone.
Type in Google Authenticator in the search bar.

Tap the Search button.

Tap the Google Authenticator app. It’s the result by Google Inc.
Tap the Install button.

Tap the Accept button.

Tap the Open button when the download is complete.
Tap on Begin Setup.

Tap on Scan a barcode.

Scan the barcode visible on your computer screen.
Tap on Open browser.

Tap on OK.

Now, instead of getting a text or voice message with a verification code, you will use a unique code in the Google Authenticator app every time you log in to your Google account on any device. This code changes every 30 seconds, and when you use it, it has to match the current code that Google is expecting for that time window. Anyone attempting to access your account who doesn’t have your phone in their hands will not receive the code and will thus be unable to log in. Safety first, everyone!

Conclusion

Even though your Google account might have been spared this time, there is no telling when another hack or leak can occur. Any service that offers two-step verification should be taken advantage of, as it essentially puts a firm stop to unverified access attempts. Stay safe!

Samsung just leaked these official images of the Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX

Samsung has accidentally revealed unannounced devices

Leaked images surfaced online last month, revealing Samsung has been working on a successor to 2014’s Gear Fit as well as smart wireless earbuds with fitness tracking capabilities, but now both devices have popped up again via official images on Samsung’s website.

The first set of images came from Venture Beat’s Evan Blass, who is known for distributing accurate leaks, while these images are from the Samsung S Health website, even though the company has yet to announce the Gear Fit 2 and Gear IconX earbuds, suggesting an official announcement is likely around the corner. The website leak only provided images and didn’t include specs.

That said, the Gear Fit 2 is expected to feature a curved 1.84-inch AMOLED display, 4GB internal memory, built-in GPS, water resistance, a heart-rate monitor, and of course the ability to track different fitness-related things. It should cost around $200. As for the Gear IconX, which are also thought to cost $200 or more, they will likely come in different colours and might have a touch surface to control playback.

In fact, the touch aspect could work much like the Bluetooth headset Gear Circle. Another interesting rumour is that the buds will work as a fitness tracker. We’ll know more for sure when Samsung makes an official announcement, which should be sooner rather than later.

Samsung Galaxy C5 leak shows mid-range smartphone with metal body

Although Samsung has already announced two flagship smartphones this year, rumours have been floating around about a mid-range device that the South Korean company is reportedly getting ready to debut in China.

That mid-range device – the so-called Galaxy C5 – will actually kick off a new line. Up until now, we’ve only heard about the Galaxy C line in spotted benchmarks, but new images of the Galaxy C5 have just surfaced, revealing a metal finish and a design that falls somewhere between the iPhone 6S and HTC 10 or A9. These images confirm that both the Galaxy C line and Galaxy C5 exist.

The Galaxy C5 has the model number SM-C5000 and looks slightly glossy in the leaked images because it’s cloaked in a silicone case. Still, we can get a good look at the yet-to-be-announced device, which appears to look like a mid-ranger despite the metal body. Leaked specs seem to support that theory as well. It’s thought to pack a Snapdragon 615 or 617 with Adreno 405 graphics.

It might also sport 4GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel rear shooter, 8-megapixel selfie camera, maybe a dual-tone LED flash on the back, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Samsung’s TouchWiz UX overlaid on top. Now, the Galaxy C5 has a 5.2-inch 1080p display, but SamMobile seems to think the Galaxy C line will consist of at least two models with different display sizes.

We expect to hear more in the coming weeks, but don’t get too excited, as China is pegged as the launch market for the new Samsung Galaxy C line of handsets. It’s unclear if these new phones will be released in other markets.

See the gallery above for the full set of leaked images from Nowhereelse.

Computers trump chemists by studying failed experiments

In science, the pursuit of truth requires constant experimentation and, inevitably, a few failures along the way. But that’s okay, because learning from those failures is often necessary in order to uncover a new, remarkable breakthrough. Now, a team of researchers from Haverford College is trying to speed up this trial and error process with a machine-learning algorithm, capable of predicting successful chemical reactions.

The algorithm’s success rate is higher than a human scientist, in part because it’s analysing data from failed experiments, otherwise known as “dark reactions.” Often, these sit in laboratory notebooks, accessible only to the scientist that conducted the original experiment. But the team from Haverford College has taken a different approach, digitizing thousands of successful and failed reactions to create a vast, publicly accessible repository. Associate Professor of Chemistry Joshua Schrier broke down the properties of each experiment, while fellow Associate Professor of Chemistry Alexander Norquist worked on the machine-learning algorithm.

As Nature explains, the team has been focusing on crystalline reactions, produced by mixing and heating a set of reagents in a solvent. Specifically, this involved materials called vanadium selenites — compounds of vanadium, selenium and oxygen. While examining their notes, the researchers predicted new reactions based on their years of scientific experience. But the algorithm was is able to look deeper, spotting underlying patterns that might not be obvious to the human brain.

“I think about the failures as the bit of the iceberg that’s underwater — we only ever see the top.”

The numbers back up this hypothesis; the algorithm, when tested, was able to generate a crystalline product in 89 percent of roughly 500 cases. The researchers, meanwhile, were successful 78 percent of the time. “Leveraging unpublished data in an unbiased way by machine learning models can lead to invaluable predictions,” says Harvard Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Alán Aspuru-Guzik. “In particular, the authors show that non-trivial correlations and predictions can arise from laboratory notebook data that can accelerate new materials discovery.”

Such thinking could change the way scientific discoveries are reported. At the moment, researchers often limit their papers to the materials and processes that caused a successful compound. The multitude of failures are left out. “There could have been a hundred total reactions that went into the development or the refinement of the conditions in order to give those specific reactions,” Norquist explains. “I think about the failures as the bit of the iceberg that’s underwater — we only ever see the top.”

The team’s database is available online as the Dark Reactions Project. The hope is that other scientists will share their failed attempts, improving the dataset and the machine-learning algorithm’s predictions.

Source: Nature, Dark Reactions Project, Haverford College

This thirtysomething finally figured out Snapchat

Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t understand Snapchat. That’s odd, because I generally like to think of myself as pretty internet savvy. I’ve been one of the first to join every new network since the days of Orkut, and I adopted Twitter early enough to get my first name for a handle. But despite Snapchat’s popularity, I couldn’t work out how to use it. I resigned myself to the idea that as someone in her late thirties, I was just out of touch with Snapchat’s target younger demographic. But after spending several weeks playing around with it, I’m hooked.

It’s not like I haven’t tried to figure it out before. I downloaded the app back in 2012, when Snapchat first took the world by storm. In its early days as a pure messaging service, it was often derisively known as a sexting app for teens. Feeling curious, I launched it, hoping to understand what the buzz was about. After adding a couple of friends and tapping a few buttons, I remained stumped. So wait, this was a messaging app, but only for photos? And the messages disappear after you read them? I didn’t get the appeal. Why would I use this if I already had Hangouts and text messages? So I shook my head and left it aside.

Then it started to evolve. Snapchat added the Stories feature, which meant you could make your 24-hour photos and videos public. Instead of private messages sent to friends, you could now create an ephemeral feed of your life. It introduced fun extras like selfie lenses, face swaps and geofilters. Snapchat also added a Discover section, where publishers and brands could highlight stories of events or trending topics. CEO Evan Spiegel said that the service has over 100 million daily active users who watch 8 billion videos a day. Even the White House has started to use Snapchat.

A few weeks ago, Snapchat made headlines, thanks to an ill-advised Bob Marley blackface filter. In the process of finding out about it, several of my (admittedly thirtysomething) friends discovered the face-swap feature and started fooling around with it, posting the often-disturbing results on Instagram. Buoyed by curiosity, I decided to try it once more. And again, I hit a wall. Snapchat’s user interface was impenetrable. How do I add these filters? Do I apply them before or after I take the photo? How do I find out if my friends are on here? How do I add all of those emojis and colored text? Wait, I can’t leave comments on these stories? How do I use this to engage with an audience? Oh, hell no, it only recognizes vertical videos? And why can’t I use a photo from my Camera Roll as a Snapchat profile? And what the hell is a Snapchat score?

This time, though, I was determined to crack the Snapchat code. I started to take photos, tapping around the different icons to see what would happen. I learned how to use filters, reposition text and add stickers through trial and error. I discovered you could use those different selfie lenses only with the front-facing camera (which makes sense, but it wasn’t clearly indicated as such). I figured out that the best way to let your friends know you’ve taken a snap is to not only publish it to your story but also send them a copy. This also does wonders for your Snapchat score, which seems to go up every time you send a snap.

The more I use Snapchat, the more I appreciate it. Unlike with Instagram, the photos and videos I capture through Snapchat are spontaneous; because I can’t dig through my Camera Roll and pick the best ones, the photos and videos I take are more candid. I often mess up and take them again, but I ultimately am not as fussy, because I know the images and clips will only be there for 24 hours.

As a result, I end up posting weird, random photos and videos that I’m unlikely to publish elsewhere. They include photos of my bruised knees after a deep tissue massage, a video where I talk about my first yoga class and a little Snapchat story about how I made homemade chicken pho. I did that last one because I didn’t want to spam my Instagram feed with photos of a step-by-step cooking process, whereas that constant stream of pictures felt more at home on Snapchat.

I basically treated my Snapchat story like a personal photo and video journal, except it’d disappear after 24 hours so it wasn’t a big deal if only a few people saw it. Even though my Snapchat is public, then, it’s really only public to the people who happen to see it. It’s a weird little conceit, but that makes me more willing to be my authentic self. I can be more experimental in how I portray myself. I can be a little more off the cuff. I can try out dumb jokes without fearing that people will laugh at me instead of with me. It’s like performance theater.

I also enjoy using Snapchat to catch up with what my friends are doing. Because snaps only last for 24 hours, I’m encouraged to check my Snapchat constantly for any updates. I find that the photos and videos that my friends share on Snapchat tend to veer toward the personal. They’re sharing video clips of their vacations, their conversations with their dogs and their nights out at band practice. They’re sharing these intimate moments that are maybe not important enough to showcase on Facebook or Instagram but are perfectly acceptable in the judgment-free zone that is Snapchat.

And that’s why I think Snapchat is so attractive to me. Because there’s no way to leave comments aside from messaging the person directly (and even then you can have it so you can only accept messages from friends), you can publish whatever you like without fearing that you’ll get harassed or called nasty names. Few other social networks allow this sort of freedom, and as someone who often gets harassed on other social venues, the ephemeral nature of Snapchat feels freeing.

I still think Snapchat’s UI is horrendous. It’s difficult to navigate, and figuring out how to do anything takes effort. It’s the sort of thing that’s perhaps best shown in person, which might explain why Snapchat is more popular with teens: They can show one another how to use it on their phones. It also might explain why Snapchat can be so challenging for adults, who are perhaps accustomed to more-intuitive interfaces. It makes me wonder if Snapchat’s UI is purposefully obtuse so as to stave off the adult invasion.

Yet the adult invasion is coming. As I mentioned, brands have discovered Snapchat, and so has mainstream media. Worse still, old farts like me are beginning to use it more frequently. That’s how you know Snapchat is slowly losing its cool. And just when I was finally getting into it.