Use Microsoft Rewards to score free Amazon or Starbucks gift cards every month – CNET
Look, I’m not here to judge. If Microsoft wants to bribe folks to use its Bing search engine and Edge browser, I’m only too happy to enjoy my next Starbucks peppermint mocha gratis.
There’s this thing called Microsoft Rewards. Until last month it was known as Bing Rewards, which netted you points in exchange for using Bing, taking quizzes and so on. Those points could be exchanged for things like sweepstake entries, Microsoft services and apparel, and even gift cards from various major businesses.
So I’m here to put free coffee in your pocket. Well, not really, because that would burn, but you get the idea. With a little strategic planning, you can score yourself a $5 Amazon, GameStop, Hulu or Starbucks gift card every single month. Probably even two $5 cards.
Give it a few months and you’ll start racking up rewards like these.
Microsoft
That may not sound like much, but consider: Hulu costs $7.99 per month. Play your Microsoft Rewards cards right and you could get the service absolutely free. Or you could pad your Amazon account with gift cards for the next time you decide to splurge. (Echo Dot, anyone?)
How to score points
If you want to start seriously amassing points, here’s the hard truth: You’ll need to bid goodbye to Google. Microsoft’s maximum rewards come from running Web searches with Bing (5 points per search, up to 250 points per day) on your PC. If you’re mostly on your phone or tablet, use Bing in your mobile browser (again, 5 points per search) and you can score up to 100 points per day.
Android users, you’ll need to change Chrome’s default search provider by venturing into the app’s Settings menu, then selecting Search Engine. In iOS, head to Settings > Safari, then tap Search Engine and choose Bing.
If you’re thinking, “No way, Bing is terrible,” think again. In my experience, Bing’s search results are virtually identical to what I get from Google. It’s mostly about switching your brain over to think “Bing” for search.
Some easy bonus points await you.
Microsoft
The tougher change for many users will be swapping Chrome or Firefox for Microsoft’s Edge browser. Doing so nets you 5 points per hour of active browsing, for a maximum of 150 points per month. Thankfully, this isn’t mandatory. You’ll accrue the search points even if you use another browser.
Bing and Edge are your big earners, but you can also score points by participating in various bonus offers. Set a reward goal, for example, and you’ll land a cool 100 points. Take a super-quick tour of Microsoft Rewards for another 50. Take a Bing-powered quiz to earn 30 extra points. Heck, at time of writing, you can earn 10 points just by clicking the Register to Vote link.
Newcomers to Microsoft Rewards will be limited to Level 1 status (meaning a maximum of just 50 search points per day) until hitting at least 500 points in a month, at which point the Bing yield jumps to a maximum of 250.
Yeah, it’s all fairly confusing. And it seems like a lot of work just for a few bucks’ worth of gift cards. But it’s really not.
Points for perks
Let’s do the math. Assuming you get to Level 2 status (very easy to do), then do nothing more than switch to Bing, you can potentially earn 350 points per day — or 10,500 points in a 30-day month.
To score a $5 gift card from any of the four aforementioned stores, it’ll cost you 5,250 points. So you can bank a pair of cards just by maximizing your search points. And there are other rewards as well, like a three-month Xbox Gold subscription for 15,000 points, or even 12 months for 29,000 — that’s the equivalent of just three months’ worth of maxed-out search points.
Obviously you can pick up even more points by performing bonus tasks a few times a month. But it’s hardly even necessary.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you willing to accept Microsoft’s, er, largesse in exchange for switching to Bing? Or do you need more than a free venti latte to give up your beloved Google?
Google Pixel: Welcome to your new, very circular home screen
Might Google’s new phones consign us to a world of circular icons? And what would that mean for other Android phone makers?
The first leaked Google Pixel phone render doesn’t show us a whole lot. It’s a rounded rectangle with a screen on the front, an earpiece, cameras, sensors and buttons. By far the most interesting thing about the leaked image is what’s on that screen.
Every icon is a circle. Even apps like the phone dialer, Messenger and Gmail have been put in a bubble. Depending on your perspective, it’s either a refreshing change, or a weird, confusing corruption of Material Design.
The immediate comparison to draw is with iOS. Since the first iPhone, Apple has used a rounded rectangular cookie cutter around all app icons, both first- and third-party. Then there are the likes of Huawei and Samsung, who’ve emulated that approach. (Though mercifully, it’s an option on Samsung phones, and only applies to certain skins in Huawei’s EMUI.)
All of which raises the question: Will Google do the same thing to all your apps on the Pixel? David Ruddock of Android Police raised the possibility a couple of weeks back, and we have to wonder how well this would work out in practice. In the early days at least, there’d be a whole lot of apps that just looked bad on your home screen.
The apparent move to a new “Google UI” on top of Nougat also complicates matters. Would the new Google design guidelines for icons apply to the whole of the Android ecosystem, or just Pixel phones? With Google’s hardware division apparently taking the lead here, it’s unclear who’s in the driving seat for design in the rest of the Android world. Today’s leaked render serves to highlight the possible confusion ahead when it comes to Nexus Android, Pixel Android and the nebulous mass that is the rest of the ecosystem.
In either case, Google has certainly been moving many of its apps over to circular (or in the case of Hangouts, almost circular) frames in recent weeks. Chances are that’s no accident.
Apps are a central part of any platform, as is how they’re presented to the user. If Google does go full-circle (see what we did there??), it’s probably because it wants to recreate the sense of cohesion that iPhone’s home screen has had from day one. (Perhaps that’s a good thing, once app developers are onboard with it.) By the same token, maybe it’s a product-level decision (i.e. Pixel) and not a platform-level one (i.e. Android).
In either case it’s an interesting design decision, and one that hints at just how wide-ranging the announcements at Google’s October 4 event could be.
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Everything we know so far
- New navigation buttons
- Google UI + circular icons
- Android 7.1 Nougat
How to watch Netflix on Google Cardboard
Netflix is now accessible in VR on more than Gear VR.
Plenty of people enjoy spending a few hours binging Netflix to catch up on their favorite show before the new season kicks off. If you have roommates, or distractions then you might have considered watching your shows in VR. Not everybody has access to Gear VR, the only VR headset with the app available. Have no fear though, we’ve got the details for you on how to watch Netflix using Google Cardboard
Read more at VR Heads!
Best Cricket Wireless Phones
Here’s a look at the best Android phones offered by Cricket Wireless.
No, we’re not talking about the wildly popular sport. Cricket Wireless is AT&T’s contract-free, pay-as-you-go MVNO. It offers a wide array of coverage that piggy-backs off of the major carrier’s network, as well as a number of smartphones. These are the ones that are worth your cash.
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Alcatel Idol 4
- Moto E
- ZTE Grand X Max 2
Samsung Galaxy S7
You’ve heard us say it numerous times before Samsung’s Galaxy S7 is the best smartphone to launch this year. It has everything you could possibly need, including a virtual reality-capable processor, a big battery pack, expandable memory, a high-quality rear-facing camera that performs impeccably in low light situations, and an extremely stylish, water-resistant metal-and-glass chassis. If you can afford this Samsung smartphone outright, you’ll be set for at least the next two years.
More: Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Think it’s the one for you?
See it at Cricket Wireless
Alcatel Idol 4
Looking for a capable smartphone without the flagship price tag? The Alcatel Idol 4 is a pretty worthy consideration. This 5.2-inch smartphone features a Full HD display, an octa-core processor, dual rear-facing cameras, dual 3.6-watt multi-directional speakers, and a 2610 mAh battery. It also comes bundled with a neat virtual reality headset, which lets you indulge in 3D landscapes and games. Alcatel even includes its own VR Store app with all the compatible apps you need.
More: Alcatel Idol 4 hands-on
Ready to buy?
See it at Cricket Wireless
Moto E
I see you out there: You like smartphones and you’re into the idea of having the Internet readily available in your pocket, but you want nothing to do with the specifications race that’s taking place among the flagship competition. That’s fine, because that’s what smartphones like the Moto E are for.
The Moto E is, simply put, the most reliable cheap phone there is. It’s my go-to phone when I’m traveling overseas and it’s offered by Cricket Wireless for a measly $30! The Moto E is a bit behind on software, but it has all the basics you need for staying connected, including a 4.5-inch display, a straightforward 5-megapixel camera, and 4G LTE compatibility.
More: Moto E LTE 2015 review
Ready to throw caution to the wind and simplify your smartphone life?
See it at Cricket Wireless
ZTE Grand X Max 2
Looking for a big cheap phone? The ZTE Grand X Max 2 is a low-end device, but it’s equipped with a giant 6-inch 1080p display, so you can watch YouTube and Netflix at your leisure. The Grand X Max 2 is also powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a relatively giant 3,400mAh battery. It comes with a dual-camera setup on the back, too, featuring a 13-megapixel main camera and a fixed-focus 2-megapixel camera. And unlike the Moto E, this one comes with Android 6.0 right out of the box.
Interested? Check out the original news story and then buy it here:
See it at Cricket Wireless
Watch Elon Musk unveil SpaceX’s ‘Interplanetary Transport System’
Elon Musk is using Twitter again to get everyone hyped, but this time it’s about SpaceX’s grand plan to make humans a multiplanetary species.
He took to the social network to promote a video that shows a concept of SpaceX’s new Interplanetary Transport System and ultimate plans to colonise Mars. As you can see from the just-released video, SpaceX has imagined a reusable rocket that can transport an interplanetary spaceship beyond Earth’s orbit, and a craft that relies on solar sails to coast to Mars.
Full Interplanetary Tranport System presentation in ~30 mins. Simulation preview: https://t.co/lKAxabzfKX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 27, 2016
The booster separates from the shuttlecraft and returns to Earth to refuel on its own power, and then it go back to orbit to fill up the awaiting spaceship. Musk will provide more details about how his private space company plans to colonize Mars during a keynote at the International Astronautical Conference on Tuesday. It’ll be interesting to hear how SpaceX is paying for the project.
The keynote will not only focus on the long-term technical challenges that need to be solved in order to support permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars, but also the potential architectures for sustaining humans on Mars that “industry, government, and the scientific community can collaborate on in the years ahead,” according to SpaceX.
We’ve embedded a live stream to the keynote below. It starts at 12pm PT.
Check out SpaceX’s dedicated Mars page too.
MLB’s At Bat app now plays highlight videos on your lock screen
With iOS 10, Apple has expanded its devices’ 3D touch applications from gimmicky afterthoughts to quick feature accessibility. It’s also opened up what kind of interactions are possible from the lock screen. Some savvy developers have already combined the two, like those working on MLB’s official At Bat app. Its latest upgrade pops up videos as notifications on your locked screen, which play with just a bit of 3D touch pressure.
You’ll still have to unlock it to view them, but that’s easier than completely opening your device and go into the app to watch baseball clips. It’s a good example of the newfound freedom developers have with the latest iOS to add new functionality to existing concepts, like 3D touch and iMessage. While adding stickers to text conversations is an ignoble start, there’s a lot of functionality we’ve yet to see app makers take advantage of. But at least we have lock screen highlights for the lucky few among us whose teams will advance to the playoffs.
Via: The Verge
Source: MLB At Bat app (iTunes)
This is how SpaceX plans to send people to Mars
SpaceX plans to send humans to Mars with on a ship called the Interplanetary Transport System, and in a video published today, the company revealed how the ITS will actually perform. The ITS is capable of carrying up to 100 tons of cargo (that’s supplies and people) and it will rely on a few different power sources to make it all the way to Mars.
Liftoff requires 28,730,000 pounds of thrust, which suggests the ITS will use roughly 40 Raptor rocket engines, which each generate 680,000 pounds of thrust. Once the ship reaches orbit, its booster will return to Earth and immediately re-launch with a refueling pod, which matches up with the ITS to top off its propellant. Then, the ITS deploys its solar arrays, two wing-like panels that fold out from the base of the ship and provide 200 kW of power, and it sets off.
12m rocket booster diameter, 17m spaceship diameter, 122 m stack height
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 27, 2016
Once humans on the ITS actually make it to Mars and successfully land, SpaceX teases that the planet will be terraformed, transitioning from classic red to lush greens and blues.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will outline the company’s plans to colonize Mars in a talk at 2:30 PM ET called “Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species.”
Source: @SpaceX
Twitter helps you register to vote through direct messages
Twitter is joining the ranks of internet outlets helping you exercise your right to vote. It’s allying with Rock the Vote to launch a feature that helps you register in the US through a simple chat assistant. All you do is send a direct message to Twitter Government (@gov) and punch in your ZIP code when asked — the account will tell you how to register, including a web link for signing up online. If you’re a first-time voter and aren’t eager to navigate websites to get answers, this could come in handy.
It’s just the start, too. The account should eventually help you find your ballot info and polling place. While this won’t help you make an informed decision when you’re in the voting booth, it’ll at least make sure you reach that booth in the first place.
Twitter is helping you register to vote! Send a Direct Message to @gov to get started: https://t.co/1DgGG9i71o pic.twitter.com/shckBNcT3l
— Twitter (@twitter) September 27, 2016
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Official Twitter Blog
Facebook’s Slack competitor may be coming next month
With nearly two years of development and 450 companies already on board, Facebook at Work is gearing up for a commercial launch of its in-house social network and communications platform for companies. According to a report from The Information, the service will launch next month and the social network will charge a set monthly fee per active user.
Although Facebook hasn’t disclosed how much that will cost exactly, several people briefed on the launch say companies of any size will be able to sign up for Facebook at Work through the social network’s main site. Companies will also have a few months to try out the service before getting charged. With 5.25 million users already using the service, the executives in Menlo Park are hoping Facebook at Work will provide a much more steady revenue stream than the advertisements in the core product.
As we’ve seen during the trial run, Facebook at Work uses familiar communication tools like the News Feed, Groups, Events and a dedicated Messenger app, all powered by the same algorithm as Facebook itself, except dedicated to the chatter within your company rather than your friends and the general public. One interesting — and potentially dystopian — twist the company has reportedly been pitching alongside the Facebook at Work product is the potential to use artificial intelligence to determine employee sentiment. In other words, Facebook at Work will be able to learn how employees feel about topics within the company, so be careful what you say about the boss in those backchannel messages.
Source: The Information
Scientists watch an immune system fight the flu in real time
To date, biologists have typically had to study the progress of a virus through indirect means, such as studying the antibodies — actually tracking the viruses themselves has been difficult. However, researchers say they’ve found a way to follow the progress of a virus in real time. By using multiphoton microscopy in tandem with a laser and fluorescence, the team monitored influenza virus in a mouse’s trachea (where the transluency made imaging possible) through the infection and immune system response.
As you might guess, the infection played out like a short war. The immune system’s T-cells took a while to respond (about 5 days after initial infection), but they were merciless when they arrived, slowing down by the 7th day and methodically killing off infected cells. They even stayed around for a few days in a heightened state to keep watch for any new threats. This was all expected, but rare to see in action.
The live study has already taught scientists some lessons. A lower virus dose doesn’t automatically lead to fewer T-cells fighting back, for one thing — viruses may affect an immune system’s response, but they don’t define it. You may see far larger results in the future, though. Real-time data could lead to more effective treatments for viruses, triggering swifter, stronger immune responses. You might not have to spend ages grappling with that flu or cough.
Via: Popular Science
Source: PLOS Pathogens
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