Warrantless data searches narrowly miss Senate approval
A Senate amendment that would have allowed the FBI to search a suspect’s phone and online records without a court order came very close to becoming a reality today. The legislation, introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Richard Burr (R-NC) in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Orlando, missed the necessary 60 votes it needed to pass by just two votes.
The amendment in question was attached to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill earlier this week, Consumerist reports. And it would have allowed the FBI to use “National Security Letters” to demand that your internet or cellphone provider turn over certain account information including login history, call records and IP address. Unlike a court-ordered subpoena, which has to go through a judge first, a National Security Letter can be handed down from another government official.
While Senator McCain called the amendment a “no-brainer” and claimed it would prevent terrorists from “sneaking into this country,” his critics pointed out that it removes key checks and balances that insure citizens’ privacy and freedom.
“If this proposal passes,” privacy advocate and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said during the debate, “FBI agents will be able to demand the records of what websites you look at online, who you email and chat with, and your text message logs, with no judicial oversight whatsoever. The reality is the FBI already has the power to demand these electronic records with a court order under the Patriot Act. In emergencies the FBI can even obtain the records right away and go to a judge after the fact. This isn’t about giving law-enforcement new tools, it’s about the FBI not wanting to do paperwork.”
The amendment received 58 votes in favor, with 38 Senators voting against. Earlier this month, however, the House of Representatives voted down legislation that would have prevented the government from requiring technology companies from building in weakened encryption and security backdoors into their products. That legislation, which had won approval of the House twice in the past, lost a great deal of momentum following the recent shootings in San Bernardino and Orlando.
Instagram adds a translation feature for text inside the app
On the heels of announcing it amassed 500 million users, Instagram is adding a new feature to help its global audience better understand each other. The filter-driven photo and video app will get a translation tool “in the coming month.” When it arrives, you’ll be able to tap a “See Translation” link to make sure you know exactly what a bio, caption or comment says. Instagram currently supports 24 languages, but it did explain that older comments and captions may not be privy to the update.
Other social networks, like Twitter, offer a similar translation method for keeping pace with users around the world. While Instagram specified the feature was rolling out, some of us here at Engadget are already seeing it inside the app, so you may not have to wait long to use it. Now you’ll really know exactly what someone thinks about your brunch pics.
In the coming month, you’ll see a translation button on feed stories and profile bios written in languages different from your own. The Instagram community has grown faster and become more global than we ever imagined. And we’re excited that you’ll soon be able to understand the full story of a moment, no matter what language you speak. To learn more about translation on Instagram, check out help.instagram.com.
A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on Jun 22, 2016 at 10:00am PDT
Source: Instagram (1), (2)
Democrats use Twitter to amplify House sit-in over gun control
Democrats are currently staging a sit-in at the House of Representatives to demand a vote on gun control legislation, and Republicans aren’t happy about it — they’re declaring recesses to shut off cameras (which are controlled by the House) and downplay the protest. The Dems aren’t letting that get in the way, though. They’ve gone into overdrive using Twitter, Periscope and Facebook Live to advertise the sit-in and draw attention to their cause. Even C-SPAN has turned to displaying tweets and live streams in the absence of TV broadcasts from the House floor.
You could argue that this switch to social channels was inevitable. Publicity is key here — the Dems weren’t about to protest in relative silence, even if news outlets were destined to have indirect coverage. However, the sit-in says a lot about the difficulty of trying to control the media in the internet era. There’s a real chance that the anti-TV ploy could backfire, putting the spotlight on a move that (right or wrong) might have otherwise gone ignored by many people.
C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras. Now showing a @periscopeco from @RepScottPeters. pic.twitter.com/L3JeHuSdL5
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 22, 2016
From Newtown to Charleston… how long will it take for Congress to act? #NOMORESILENCE #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/uH4G5HCQc5
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
Via: Wired
Source: John Lewis, Scott Peters, CSPAN (Twitter)
Simple Habit aims to de-stress you with 5-minute meditations
Yunha Kim knows a lot about stress. She founded Locket, an app that put ads on the Android lock screen, which was eventually bought up by the shopping app Wish. Starting and running her own company, naturally, was a stressful proposition, so she turned to meditation as a way to center herself. Now, she’s hoping to do the same for everyone with a new iPhone app called Simple Habit. It offers five-minute guided meditation sessions that you can do from practically anywhere, each targeted for specific situations.
While there are plenty of mindfulness apps out there — even Apple is getting in on the meditation bandwagon with Breathe in WatchOS 3 — Kim says Simple Habit differs by adopting a Netflix-like model. The app is free to install, and there’s also a quick introductory session that shows you what the experience is like. But to get access to all of the meditation lessons, you’ve got to pay $4 a week, $15 a month or $120 a year.
It might seem counterintuitive to pay up front for mindfulness training, but it looks like you get a lot for your money. (And it’s not as if meditation lessons are always free.) Kim has around 30 experts contributing lessons to the app, which from very specific (at work and stressed) to fairly general (morning meditation). With this many contributors, Simple Help should be able to keep its selections of lessons fresh, something that other relaxation apps often have trouble with. Kim is also working with a Harvard psychologist to ensure the lessons actually help you relax.
While sitting at my desk, I went through the “Improve Focus at Work” session. A calm and pleasant British woman guided me to sit down, stretch my shoulders, and then focus on my breathing. Over the course of the five-minute session, she had me focus on my left hand, every single digit and repeat the process for my right hand. Yes, it doesn’t sound very exciting, but that’s the point. It’s a simple way to clear your thoughts, focus your mind and hopefully make yourself feel less stressed
Simple Habit also has sessions going all the way up to 30 minutes, which will be helpful if you really get into the habit of meditation. Honestly, it’s not that hard to start meditating for free on your own, with some light research. That’s how I’ve been distressing for the past few months. But Simple Habit’s targeted sessions makes it easy for people with far less patience to relax. Eventually, you might find that you don’t need the app anymore for your meditation fix, but your time with it will have been well worth it.
Source: iTunes, Simple Habit
Sony will pay out millions to spurned PS3 Linux users
A long-running lawsuit stemming from Sony’s claim that its PlayStation 3 consoles would allow for third-party operating systems has finally come to a close. As Ars Technica reports, the class-action lawsuit could end up costing Sony millions of dollars for getting on the bad side of some Linux fans, and if you’re one of those Linux fans, you could be in for a $55 check.
The whole mess goes back six years, to when Sony disabled the “Install Other OS” feature with a PS3 software update, eventually claiming it did so due to piracy concerns. Sony also claimed the update was voluntary, even though opting out would break nearly every other major feature of the console.
According to the attorneys who brought the class action, up to 10 million console owners could have been affected. And under the terms of the deal they struck with Sony, they stand to make a cool $2.25 million of their own. As for those folks who had hopes of using their PS3s as a Linux box — they are eligible for that $55 payout assuming they can show “some proof of their use of the Other OS functionality.” If you knew about the Other OS function, but never quite got around to using it because you were too busy playing God of War III, you might still be eligible for a cool nine bucks.
As part of the deal, which still needs to be approved by a judge next month, Sony will need to alert users about the settlement via PlayStation’s own email database, as well as ads on popular tech and gaming sites. In the meantime, if you’re looking to run Linux on your PS4, you’ll have to resort to some actual hacking.
California’s last nuclear power plant to close in 2025
California’s nuclear-powered dream has an expiration date. The state’s utility conglomerate Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) announced yesterday that they will close the last remaining nuclear plants by 2025. They’ll replace the output with renewable energy and better efficiency in other stations. But, barring any changes to the moratorium on new plants, it’s likely the end for atomic power in the Golden State.
The plant closures were negotiated with environmentalists and labor unions, but unique state policies sealed their fates, PG&E’s CEO Anthony Earley told Scientific American. Specifically, SB 350 passed last year raised the state’s minimum energy needed to come from renewables to 50 percent. Despite PG&E’s requests, the bill left nuclear energy out of the sources it considers “renewable.” This, combined with the bill’s doubling of mandated energy efficiency, along with the rise of homegrown electricity, contributed to their decision to close the plants.
The moratorium on building new nuclear plants only exists until California finds a permanent solution for existing radioactive waste, but that’s another hurdle that doesn’t exist for renewable energy sources. Environmentalists believe this agreement could be a template for other states to shutter nuclear or fossil-fuel plants and replace them with renewable energy sources.
But the deal’s still on paper and awaiting approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. For it to be used as an example, its execution would have to avoid the mistakes made when California closed its San Onofre nuclear power plant back in 2013. To make up the energy shortfall, greenhouse gas emissions from power plants actually increased statewide.
Source: Scientific American
Match the Three Stooges is exactly what you think it is (review)
The venerable “match-3” puzzle games run in the dozens in the Play Store; with the main point of variation being theme of which the blocks or items represent, along with the corresponding background, music, and sounds effects.
Well, in case you’ve been searching for a match-3 showcasing the timeless comedy and visual appeal that is the Three Stooges, you are now in luck. Available for free in the Play Store, Match the Three Stooges from the developer Polyslab Games provides authentic Stooge music, dialogue, and sound effects while you move through 100 different levels of match-3 action.
Gameplay
No surprises here: the game plays exactly like almost every other match-3 puzzler out there. A maze of mismatched Three Stooges faces and symbols are arranged on screen; your job is to move one block one space (up, down, left, or right) to match up three in a row. Upon doing so these three blocks disappear dropping down the blocks from above. This can and will cause a domino effect as these falling blocks create three-in-a-rows of their own, help you to clear the screen in the limited number of moves each level provides.
You have access to several ‘weapons’ you can purchase with 
currency earned through the game, and through real money via your Google account. These include pies in the face (takes out all items of the same color), bombs (blows away whole chunks of your board), and other assorted ordinance.
At the end of each level you are graded (one to three stars) based on how efficient you were in clearing your board.
Controls work fairly well, though this game is better-suited for a tablet device. The blocks on my Galaxy S5 were a bit small to accurately grab and drag where I wanted them to go.
Music, Sound Effects, and Visuals
The music, while actually fairly well done (a mix of classic stooge-esque goofy tunes and more modern rock instrumentals), does get old rather quickly, especially if you’re playing in a public space. The star of the game in my opinion is the sound effects, which are full-on snippets from a lot of the classic Three Stooges skits. These run pretty constantly through the game, whether you’re making a move, deliberating quietly, or during a board-clearing domino effect.
The visuals run in between these two extremes; good but not great, though they certainly won’t make you want to turn the game off.
Verdict
Again, if you’re looking for a match-3 puzzle game, you have a 
plethora of choices in the Play Store. If you’re looking for this type of game and are a huge Three Stooges fan, then you just hit a small, free lottery, my friend. Enjoy.
Location services: What’s the difference between the choices, and which should I pick?
Your phone knows exactly where you are. Is that good or bad?
Android phones come with a few options for location services, and these are useful for map apps, locating nearby shops, restaurants, and the like, but which one is the right one for you to use? Let’s clarify the differences and help you out.
- Accessing location services
- High accuracy
- Battery saving
- Device only
Accessing location services
To find and select your location services:
Tap the Settings button on your Home screen.
Tap Location under the Personal menu.
Tap Mode.
Tap the option you want to use for your location service.
Now let’s have a look at what each of the three options mean.
High accuracy
When you select the High accuracy location service mode, you are allowing multiple networks to pinpoint your precise location (hence the name High accuracy). It calls upon every service available: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or cellular networks in whatever combination avaailable, and uses Google’s location services to provide the most accurate location.
It might feel a bit like Big Brother is watching you, since your phone’s location will be pretty well down to the street corner you’re standing on, or the home address you’re living at or visiting. Some people find it disconcerting, others find it comforting. Regardless, you’ll probably want this mode turned on if you’re looking for turn-by-turn directions.
Battery saving
A sure way to save battery life is to eliminate GPS from the location equation. Battery saving mode uses less battery-intensive location sources (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or nearby cell towers) to figure out where you are using Google’s location services.
Granted, this will not be as accurate as using them along with GPS, but you will still get a close approximate location and your maps or apps will still point you in the right direction within a few extra feet of where you are — all while saving valuable battery life.
Device only
Device only mode relies solely on the GPS radio signal built into your Android phone. It works in much the same way that a GPS device for cars does, using the GPS-designated network of satellites to find your phone’s location. This means it will work in places where Wi-Fi and cellular network coverage are lacking, but will also end up using more battery power to determine your location than the Battery saver mode.
It will be a bit more time consuming for the information to reach you, but you’ll get a pretty good idea of what’s nearby; just keep in mind that some app features you might want to use won’t necessarily function without the other networks.
Which one’s right for you?
For the most part, if you’re going to use location services you should leave your phone set to High accuracy. It eliminates guesswork and is the most precise location service you can use, so why not? Sure, switch to battery saving mode if you’re running low but still need to use maps and other services, but High accuracy mode live up to its name when you absolutely need to know where you are and where you’re going.
Mobile World Congress Americas to launch in the U.S. in September 2017
The GSMA group, which runs the annual Mobile World Congress trade show, is teaming up with CTIA to launch Mobile World Congress Americas. It will be held September 12-14, 2017 in San Francisco and will replace the CTIA Super Mobility show beginning that year. The 2016 show will still be held on September 7-9 in Las Vegas.
The joint press release states:
Mobile World Congress Americas will include a conference program featuring C-level speakers and leading industry experts; an exhibition showing the latest mobile technologies, products and services; a regulatory and public policy program; partner events; free seminars and many other activities. Across these elements, Mobile World Congress Americas will emphasize core mobile technologies, consumer and industrial applications in the Internet of Things and the intersection of mobile with entertainment, content and media. It is expected that the inaugural Mobile World Congress Americas will attract 30,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors.
The main Mobile World Congress trade show will continue to be held in Barcelona, Spain, with the 2017 edition to be held from Feb. 27 to March 2.
Reach for the sky this Wallpaper Wednesday
Don’t let your home screen fall into a rut — switch out your wallpaper!
You don’t have to pull out a complex new theme like Spider-Man to bring a breath of fresh air to your home screen. A new wallpaper can do wonders, and launchers like Action Launcher can re-theme your entire home screen around a good wallpaper. In our effort to help brighten your device — and maybe your day — we’re compiling some wallpapers for you to try out.
If you’ve got a wallpaper you use everywhere, share it in the comments below! We’re always looking for something new. Now get your wallpaper picker ready and see what’s in store this week.
Clouds Beyond Clouds II by FnKlinedinst
Who hasn’t dreamed of soaring over the clouds? Of leaving the world and all its cares behind and seeing what the sky had to offer? Well, most of us wouldn’t fly off for too long (phone batteries are still only lasting a few days at most), but when we look at this wallpaper, we can daydream about it for a moment before going back to our Twitter feeds.
Clouds Beyond Clouds II by FnKlinedinst
Lightning and Mammatus by Jannes Wessels
Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening me
I understand that there are a lot of folks out there who do not like thunderstorms. They think they’re too loud, too brash, and often too sudden if you live in an area like mine. I’m here to tell you these people are wrong, because thunderstorms are awesome. When you got booming thunder that just makes the whole room shake ever so slightly, and a nice deluge on a metal roof… Woo!!
Lightning and Mammatus by Jannes Wessels
Mammatus by Justin Terveen
Mammatus clouds may be my favorite kind of clouds. Sure, cirrus clouds are wispy like cotton candy, and cumulonimbus may harbor my lovely, lovely thunder, but mammatus are a fair sign that things are gonna get fun somewhere soon because they’re often associated with severe thunderstorms. Besides, mammatus is fun to say and even funner to see. (Shut up, it is too a word.)
Mammatus by Justin Terveen
Sunset by chiakiasuka09
Sunset drags us away from cool blues and hot yellows to a much more romantic palette of reds, pinks, and purples. This far-flung sunset from the Phillipines screams out for a romantic walk with your special someone… or at the very least a nice long walk blasting ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’.
Sunset by chiakiasuka09
Sunset by VHHTML
Who said the sky always had to be bright a cheery? This is a sunset that an AMOLED user can love, with deep, dark colors as the sun leaves the sky behind for another night on the other side of the planet.
Sunset by VHHTML
AIVAnet 