Microsoft finally brings version 2.0 of its Cortana digital assistant to the iPhone
Why it matters to you
If you’re an iPhone user, you can now take advantage of the new and improved Cortana app.
The digital assistant world is heating up, and it seems like in the next year we’ll see at least a few new ones — including an assistant from Samsung. As for Microsoft, the tech giant is renewing its efforts to offer you the best digital assistant around, and to that end, it has launched Cortana 2.0 for iOS.
Cortana is one of the few digital assistants available on multiple platforms — users can download a Cortana app on both iOS and Android.
More: Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana will now remind you to keep your promises
So what’s new in Cortana 2.0? Perhaps the biggest change is the “fresh new look” of the app’s user interface — which in reality just means that the dark gray background has been changed to purple, and the app will now offer more prompts to do things. Microsoft has also redesigned calling, texting, and reminders in the app. Not only that, but Cortana now prompts you with potential questions you can ask — and Cortana will now offer up slightly more immersive full-page answers.
Last but not least, Microsoft promises that Cortana 2.0 now performs a lot better, offering “faster page transitions and improved app responsiveness.” Cortana 2.0 was launched on Android at the end of last year, and it’s now just rolling out to iOS.
It’s certainly nice to see that Microsoft hasn’t totally lost faith in Cortana on iOS and Android, but it’s hard to imagine the new update really having much of an effect on Cortana’s overall popularity. Microsoft in general has been making quite an effort to build its mobile offering through apps on iOS and Android, but only a few of the apps have made real waves — namely the Microsoft Office apps.
Cortana also struggles to offer the same level of integration as Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant on their own operating systems — and it’s unlikely that level of integration will ever happen. Still, if you’re an avid Windows 10 user and want your assistant to work seamlessly from your computer to your phone, Cortana might be the right one for you.
AT&T’s GoPhone adds more data for the same price and unveils new unlimited plan
Why it matters to you
Depending on your usage, one of AT&T’s new prepaid plans could appeal to you and help you snag the most data for your dollars.
Just a couple of months after improving the data allotment of its GoPhone prepaid plans, AT&T has bumped up the amounts yet again. Customers can now receive either 6GB of high-speed LTE data for $40 per month, or unlimited data for $60, provided they sign up for autopay.
The changes, particularly with the 6GB option, make GoPhone’s already strong value proposition a bit more competitive at a time when just about every carrier is making news for giving customers more data. Previously, customers could receive 8GB for $60 per month, or 4GB for $45, and save another $5 on either with autopay. Now, 4GB subscribers can receive an extra 2GB for the same price.
More: Cricket’s unlimited data customers could soon see speeds cut during peak hours
The unlimited offer, on the other hand, isn’t quite as compelling a deal as it would initially seem. GoPhone caps speeds at 3Mbps at all times for this plan, and subjects users to further throttling once they exceed 22GB in a billing cycle. Furthermore, video streaming is reduced to standard definition and 1.5Mbps throughput. For most users who consume a reasonable amount of data, the old 8GB plan can reach speeds three to four times faster and is a little cheaper by $5.
No matter which option you choose, GoPhone allows for data roaming and unlimited calls and texts to and from Mexico and Canada. AT&T also offers multi-line discounts, with $5 off the second line, followed by $10, $15, and $20 for each additional line thereafter.
AT&T’s announcement comes a little more than a month after the carrier’s other prepaid service, Cricket Wireless, raised data allotments for several of its plans. Currently, Cricket offers 3GB for $40 per month, 8GB for $50, and 12GB for $60, plus the same kind of $5 autopay savings GoPhone employs. Keep in mind, however, that Cricket limits LTE and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) speeds to 8Mbps and 4Mbps, respectively. GoPhone’s throttling for all its plans — save for the aforementioned unlimited one — doesn’t kick in until after you cross the specified threshold, making it a better choice for users who want the maximum possible speed on AT&T’s network.
Of course, new customers can bring an unlocked, compatible smartphone of their choice to GoPhone, but for those in the market for a new device, the service is also offering $20 off select products. Currently, the deal only applies to the Samsung Galaxy Express 3, Samsung Galaxy Express Prime, and LG Phoenix 2.
How to mirror your smartphone or tablet on your TV
It’s a pretty fantastic world we live in these days, especially when it comes to mobile technology. Hours upon hours of entertainment lay at our fingertips, available virtually any place, anytime, all from a sleek little device that fits in your pocket. However, as convenient and wondrous as smartphones are, there’s still something to be said for watching your favorite content on a big, flat-screen TV. For those who access more content from their tablet or smartphone than anywhere else, that big screen in the living room can create some serious size envy.
So why can’t you have your cake and see it too? You can, thanks to the magic of mirroring. A rapidly growing arsenal of devices now exists to allow anything on your phone or tablet to be mirrored on your TV. For those looking to marry the second screen with the screen that started it all, we’ve put together this list of the best, most convenient, and most affordable ways to do so. We’ve done all the research for you, so dive right in and pick your poison.
More: Cord-cutting 101: How to quit cable for online streaming video
Set-top boxes
Apple TV ($150-200)
Not to be confused with the mythical stories of the actual television that Apple has been rumored to release, the Apple TV set-top box is a streaming device that competes head-to-head with Roku devices (see below), Amazon’s Fire TV, and others streamers. Boasting a wide selection of apps, an intuitive touch remote, and access to Apple’s “walled-garden,” iTunes, the Apple TV is a great choice for those entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.
What makes it great for our purposes is Airplay. The proprietary system is a brilliantly simple way to mirror video, audio, and pretty much any other content wirelessly from your iOS device to any display with an HDMI input, done by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and clicking the Airplay symbol in the quick menu (which looks like a square with a triangle through it). And Airplay mirroring is really just the start. Savvy users can find all kinds of interesting ways to use the box as a media or smart home hub. Even if an iPhone is your only piece of Cupertino currency, the Apple TV makes a lot of sense as the mirroring device of choice.
Read our Apple TV hands-on review
Roku ($50-130)
Roku’s growing selection of streaming devices are perennial favorites among reviewers and consumers alike. What really makes Roku fly is its ridiculous selection of apps, which numbers well over 1,000, and the latest models also support 4K content — something the Apple TV can’t do. Better yet, while the Roku family was long bereft of any real native mirroring, the company has updated its devices, allowing for its newer models, including the Roku 4, Roku 3, and Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI) to offer straight-up screen mirroring for Android and Windows devices.
The service is available for Android devices running 4.2 or higher, Windows 8 phones or higher, and Windows PCs running 8.1 or higher. Your “hardware must support screen mirroring,” according to Roku, though most devices do in one form or another. Google Devices running OS 6.0 or later are not supported. For Android devices, Roku notes that there are many terms used for mirroring, including Smart View, Quick Connect, SmartShare, AllShare Cast, Wireless Display, HTC Connect, Screen Casting, and Cast. Once you’ve identified the correct terminology, you can usually connect mirroring from inside the settings menu, usually identified by “network” or “display” headings.
For Windows 8.1 devices, you can mirror by following this Microsoft article. For Windows 10 devices, open the Action Center, select Project, select Connect to a wireless display, and then select the Roku device on your network.
Now iOS users can also sling their favorite content to the Roku with a few popular apps including and Twonky Beam, and AllCast (our preferred method).The latter takes some time to setup: The platform requires you download the AllCast app to both your streaming device, as well as your phone. You’ll then need to update the app on your phone to the $5 version (otherwise you’ll be limited to a few minutes of video playback.) However, once done, AllCast is the bees knees for iOS mirroring to devices other than Apple TV.
Roku’s iOS app also has the ability to stream from iOS devices with an Airplay-esque protocol simply called ‘Play’. However, Play is reportedly less efficient than Airplay itself. And most troubling, it won’t stream music and video content purchased directly from iTunes – hence the phrase ‘walled garden’ above.
Read our full Roku 4 review here.
Amazon Fire TV ($50-140)
After much fanfare, Amazon’s Fire TV made its debut in April 2014, with a faster, more capable follow-up arriving in September 2015. The new Fire TV is offered in three models, including the regular Fire TV with 4K streaming, one with an added gaming pack, and a new Fire TV Stick with voice-operated command.
Naturally, it didn’t take long before the Fire TV added native mirroring for Android devices via Miracast, though at first users had to have their device tethered to the same Amazon account as their box. But thanks to an update any user with a compatible device can get in on the fun. Enabled devices include Android devices running 4.2 Jelly Bean or higher, Amazon’s Fire HDX tablet, and the Fire Phone (if anyone still has one).
Just like the Roku, iOS users will find AllCast is the way to go when it comes to transmitting videos, photos, and other media to the Fire TV from outside the Android mafia. Another app to try out is Reflector 2, which also works with iOS devices.
Read our full second-gen Fire TV review
AMD’s Vega graphics chip appears on CompuBench as its launch nears
Why it matters to you
Here’s a sneak peak at what AMD’s upcoming Vega-based graphics chip will offer in regards to compute performance, the number of compute units, and stream processors.
AMD’s upcoming Radeon RX Vega graphics cards for enthusiasts appear to be nearing their retail release, as a Vega-based GPU appeared on CompuBench. It is listed using the AMD 687F:C1 device ID, the same number that was seen during AMD’s Vega-based Doom Ultra 4K demonstration in January. Thus, there is speculation that the Radeon RX Vega family may arrive in weeks given that near-completed graphics chips typically show up on CompuBench just before their official release.
According to the listing, the benchmarked Vega chip has 64 Compute Units. In AMD’s Graphics Core Next design, the company groups 64 stream processors into one compute unit, thus the upcoming Vega chip will have 4,096 stream processors. For the uninitiated, stream processors don’t work like CPU cores — together they can only handle one function at a time. As an example, they can work in parallel to perform the same task but use different data sets to get more done.
More: AMD’s upcoming Vega-based graphics cards will be called Radeon RX Vega
That said, the more stream processors, the better. The benchmark also lists two maximum speeds of 1,000MHz and 1,200MHz, indicating a possible raw computing performance of 8.2 TFLOPS and 9.8 TFLOPS, respectively. By comparison, Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070 has a raw computing performance of 6.5 TFLOPS and the GTX 1080 has 8.9 TFLOPS of performance. That is short for teraflops by the way and refers to the ability to calculate 1 trillion floating point operations per second.
Based on the CompuBench numbers, AMD’s unannounced Radeon RX Vega GPU in its current state falls behind the Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan X in the Vertex Connection and Merging test. It’s actually seventh on the list, pushing 11.567 megapixels (1 megapixel = 1 million pixels) per second. By contrast, the card at the top of the list is Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 1080 Ti pushing 15.545 megapixels per second. The Titan X only does 11.923 megapixels per second.
In the ocean surface simulation test, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti card comes out on top again, but just barely. Nvidia’s new card manages 3,967.891 interactions per second followed by AMD’s Vega-based GPU with 3,782.357 interactions per second. The subsurface scattering test shows the Titan X on top with 9,848.97 mega samples per second, and the Vega-based GPU landing in sixth place with 6,805.232 mega samples per second.
For the hardcore readers, here are a few more numbers pulled from the CompuBench listing:
AMD 687F:C1
GTX 1080 Ti
Catmull-Clark Subdivision Level 3:
81.251 mTriangles/s
245.95 mTriangles/s
Catmull-Clark Subdivision Level 5:
239.511 mTriangles/s
353.415 mTriangles/s
Subsurface Scattering multiple view:
6,262.991 mSamples/s
9,610.488 mSamples/s
TV-L1 Optical Flow:
56.729 mPixels/s
64.918 mPixels/s
Level Set Segmentation – 128:
10,281.757 mVoxels/s
N/A
Level Set Segmentation – 256:
10,844.834 mVoxels/s
N/A
AMD’s Vega architecture will consist of a geometry pipeline, the compute engine, the pixel engine, a high-bandwidth cache controller, high-bandwidth cache, L2 cache, and three units of L1 cache. There will also be two paths leading out of the GPU, with one connecting to the CPU/Display/PCIe pathways, and one leading out to the storage/DRAM pathways. The cards are slated to hit the market in the second quarter of 2017, though they could arrive before the end of March.
Think your internet is slow? It probably has something to do with where you live
Why it matters to you
While equality may be a central tenet of life in the U.S., it certainly doesn’t manifest itself in the form of our access to the internet.
It may be a central tenet of our democracy, but it doesn’t look like equality is all that present when it comes to the internet in our country. According to a new report from Akamai Technologies, the “State of the Internet” really varies depending on which state you’re in. Data from the internet service provider (ISP) suggests that connection speeds differ drastically depending on location, with a distinct divide present between the heavily populated coasts of the U.S. and the more rural midwestern states.
According to Akamai’s study, states on either coast not only have more access to the internet but also faster connections, as measured in megabits per second. The fastest speeds are enjoyed by those living in the northeast region of the U.S., with our nation’s capital taking first place at 26.6 Mbps. Rhode Island, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York round out the top five states with the fastest internet and download speeds
More: It was an Amazon employee’s typo that mangled the internet on Tuesday
Conversely, those in middle America have the slowest internet. Idaho, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, and New Mexico have to deal with speeds around 11.9 Mbps.
Be that as it may, Akamai points out that speeds across the nation appear to be improving. Per the Federal Communication Commission’s recent Measuring Broadband America Report, median broadband speeds have gone up 22 percent over the last year. As internet service providers like Comcast, Spectrum, AT&T, and Verizon continue expanding their services, there are high hopes that these companies will begin to invest more in rural, more sparsely populated areas of the country. After all, we’re marching towards a 5G future in some areas of the country and we can’t leave others in the dust.
Already, lawmakers in Washington are looking for solutions that aim to address the gap in internet coverage, so we may soon be equal, at the very least, in terms of web access.
Weekly Rewind: The science of fidget toys, flying cars, and Bugs Bunny cuts the cord
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from what those revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities mean for you to a flying car — it’s all here.
Airbus took the wraps off its futuristic flying car, and it’s pretty insane
If you rolled your eyes when you read about Airbus’s plan for a futuristic flying car last year, then you’ll be surprised at what showed up at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The aerospace giant unveiled a wickedly cool design for its ambitious “Pop.Up” transportation system, an autonomous concept comprising three separate modules.
Read the full story here.
Google says Android exploits mentioned in the CIA leak have been patched
If you have an Android phone and this week’s revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities have you worried, we have some good news. On Thursday, Google told members of the press that many of the exploits and vulnerabilities mentioned in the report have been patched in subsequent versions of Android.
“As we’ve reviewed the documents, we’re confident that security updates and protections in both Chrome and Android already shield users from many of these alleged vulnerabilities,” said Heather Adkins, Google’s director of information security and privacy
Read the full story here.
Your favorite cartoon classics are about to get their own streaming service
If you’re fan of classic cartoons, or your kids have yet to discover the hilarious delights of the shows that had you chuckling when you were a tot, then you might want to hear about a new online streaming service. Launching in the coming weeks, Time Warner’s new stand-alone video-on-demand service will offer much of the fabulous cartoon work created by Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes, and MGM that stretches back decades.
Read the full story here.
World’s first single-atom magnet is capable of storing a single bit of data
IBM said on Wednesday that it has created the world’s smallest magnet by using a single atom. While you may ask what would be the point, consider that hard drives rely on magnetism to store data on their spinning discs. These drives are capable of using around 100,000 atoms to store a single bit of data. But with IBM’s new magnetic atom, one bit of data can be stored per atom, opening the door to new storage possibilities.
Read the full story here.
‘The Airbnb Story’: How an air mattress laid the foundation for an empire
The most valuable commodity in Silicon Valley is a new idea. Now a new book by Fortune reporter Leigh Gallagher aims to tell the inside story of one of the Valley’s most remarkable success stories: Airbnb. Digital Trends recently caught up with Gallagher in New York to talk about how she landed the inside scoop in her latest book, The Airbnb Story.
Read the full story here.
Are smartphones killing the art of face-to-face conversation? We ask the experts
Smartphones are everywhere now, and for many of us they serve as a constant companion. They keep us continually connected, filling gaps in our day, entertaining us, and demanding our attention with a string of notifications. Because they offer a convenient alternative to face-to-face conversations, and at times they butt into our chats directly, there’s a growing realization that they may be killing the art of conversation.
Read the full story here.
Scientists say study indicates that green light may help relieve pain
Green has long been the color of nature and envy, even if it’s also associated with money and traffic lights int he modern world. Now however, some researchers think there may be another use for it as a potential pain reliever. University of Arizona professor Mohab Ibrahim was first inspired to undertake the study by his brother’s seemingly unusual treatment for his headaches.
Read the full story here.
Jimmy Kimmel reveals habit of Emma Watson that used to ruin Harry Potter takes
Emma Watson has come a long way since her Harry Potter days. If your memory of Watson as the 9-year-old just beginning her acting career in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is hazy, Jimmy Kimmel was kind enough to offer a reminder. When the actress recently appeared on his show, he screened an outtake from the film that shows an old, bad habit of hers.
Read the full story here.
Are fidget toys legitimately good for your brain, or pseudoscientific snake oil?
Fidget Cube has inevitably been followed by a number of other crowdfunding campaigns designed to appeal to the twitchy fingers of those who supported it. One was a fidget pen called Think Ink, which combines a titanium pen exterior with a number of tactile elements for distracted fingers to play with. It hit more than quadruple its funding target. But is this really a thing — or is the idea that a distracting toy can actually help us just a pseudoscientific marketing ploy?
Read the full story here.
Wire you doing this to me? How I hid unsightly tech in my smart apartment
I want my apartment to be smart, but I don’t want it to look stupid. That is, I don’t mind having a digital frame on display, but I don’t want the cord hanging down the wall, calling attention to the fact that it’s a digital frame. To get a few ideas on how to hide some of the tech in my apartment, I asked Mya McDuffie from online interior design site Havenly for help.
Read the full story here.
Weekly Rewind: The science of fidget toys, flying cars, and Bugs Bunny cuts the cord
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from what those revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities mean for you to a flying car — it’s all here.
Airbus took the wraps off its futuristic flying car, and it’s pretty insane
If you rolled your eyes when you read about Airbus’s plan for a futuristic flying car last year, then you’ll be surprised at what showed up at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The aerospace giant unveiled a wickedly cool design for its ambitious “Pop.Up” transportation system, an autonomous concept comprising three separate modules.
Read the full story here.
Google says Android exploits mentioned in the CIA leak have been patched
If you have an Android phone and this week’s revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities have you worried, we have some good news. On Thursday, Google told members of the press that many of the exploits and vulnerabilities mentioned in the report have been patched in subsequent versions of Android.
“As we’ve reviewed the documents, we’re confident that security updates and protections in both Chrome and Android already shield users from many of these alleged vulnerabilities,” said Heather Adkins, Google’s director of information security and privacy
Read the full story here.
Your favorite cartoon classics are about to get their own streaming service
If you’re fan of classic cartoons, or your kids have yet to discover the hilarious delights of the shows that had you chuckling when you were a tot, then you might want to hear about a new online streaming service. Launching in the coming weeks, Time Warner’s new stand-alone video-on-demand service will offer much of the fabulous cartoon work created by Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes, and MGM that stretches back decades.
Read the full story here.
World’s first single-atom magnet is capable of storing a single bit of data
IBM said on Wednesday that it has created the world’s smallest magnet by using a single atom. While you may ask what would be the point, consider that hard drives rely on magnetism to store data on their spinning discs. These drives are capable of using around 100,000 atoms to store a single bit of data. But with IBM’s new magnetic atom, one bit of data can be stored per atom, opening the door to new storage possibilities.
Read the full story here.
‘The Airbnb Story’: How an air mattress laid the foundation for an empire
The most valuable commodity in Silicon Valley is a new idea. Now a new book by Fortune reporter Leigh Gallagher aims to tell the inside story of one of the Valley’s most remarkable success stories: Airbnb. Digital Trends recently caught up with Gallagher in New York to talk about how she landed the inside scoop in her latest book, The Airbnb Story.
Read the full story here.
Are smartphones killing the art of face-to-face conversation? We ask the experts
Smartphones are everywhere now, and for many of us they serve as a constant companion. They keep us continually connected, filling gaps in our day, entertaining us, and demanding our attention with a string of notifications. Because they offer a convenient alternative to face-to-face conversations, and at times they butt into our chats directly, there’s a growing realization that they may be killing the art of conversation.
Read the full story here.
Scientists say study indicates that green light may help relieve pain
Green has long been the color of nature and envy, even if it’s also associated with money and traffic lights int he modern world. Now however, some researchers think there may be another use for it as a potential pain reliever. University of Arizona professor Mohab Ibrahim was first inspired to undertake the study by his brother’s seemingly unusual treatment for his headaches.
Read the full story here.
Jimmy Kimmel reveals habit of Emma Watson that used to ruin Harry Potter takes
Emma Watson has come a long way since her Harry Potter days. If your memory of Watson as the 9-year-old just beginning her acting career in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is hazy, Jimmy Kimmel was kind enough to offer a reminder. When the actress recently appeared on his show, he screened an outtake from the film that shows an old, bad habit of hers.
Read the full story here.
Are fidget toys legitimately good for your brain, or pseudoscientific snake oil?
Fidget Cube has inevitably been followed by a number of other crowdfunding campaigns designed to appeal to the twitchy fingers of those who supported it. One was a fidget pen called Think Ink, which combines a titanium pen exterior with a number of tactile elements for distracted fingers to play with. It hit more than quadruple its funding target. But is this really a thing — or is the idea that a distracting toy can actually help us just a pseudoscientific marketing ploy?
Read the full story here.
Wire you doing this to me? How I hid unsightly tech in my smart apartment
I want my apartment to be smart, but I don’t want it to look stupid. That is, I don’t mind having a digital frame on display, but I don’t want the cord hanging down the wall, calling attention to the fact that it’s a digital frame. To get a few ideas on how to hide some of the tech in my apartment, I asked Mya McDuffie from online interior design site Havenly for help.
Read the full story here.
Weekly Rewind: The science of fidget toys, flying cars, and Bugs Bunny cuts the cord
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from what those revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities mean for you to a flying car — it’s all here.
Airbus took the wraps off its futuristic flying car, and it’s pretty insane
If you rolled your eyes when you read about Airbus’s plan for a futuristic flying car last year, then you’ll be surprised at what showed up at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The aerospace giant unveiled a wickedly cool design for its ambitious “Pop.Up” transportation system, an autonomous concept comprising three separate modules.
Read the full story here.
Google says Android exploits mentioned in the CIA leak have been patched
If you have an Android phone and this week’s revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities have you worried, we have some good news. On Thursday, Google told members of the press that many of the exploits and vulnerabilities mentioned in the report have been patched in subsequent versions of Android.
“As we’ve reviewed the documents, we’re confident that security updates and protections in both Chrome and Android already shield users from many of these alleged vulnerabilities,” said Heather Adkins, Google’s director of information security and privacy
Read the full story here.
Your favorite cartoon classics are about to get their own streaming service
If you’re fan of classic cartoons, or your kids have yet to discover the hilarious delights of the shows that had you chuckling when you were a tot, then you might want to hear about a new online streaming service. Launching in the coming weeks, Time Warner’s new stand-alone video-on-demand service will offer much of the fabulous cartoon work created by Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes, and MGM that stretches back decades.
Read the full story here.
World’s first single-atom magnet is capable of storing a single bit of data
IBM said on Wednesday that it has created the world’s smallest magnet by using a single atom. While you may ask what would be the point, consider that hard drives rely on magnetism to store data on their spinning discs. These drives are capable of using around 100,000 atoms to store a single bit of data. But with IBM’s new magnetic atom, one bit of data can be stored per atom, opening the door to new storage possibilities.
Read the full story here.
‘The Airbnb Story’: How an air mattress laid the foundation for an empire
The most valuable commodity in Silicon Valley is a new idea. Now a new book by Fortune reporter Leigh Gallagher aims to tell the inside story of one of the Valley’s most remarkable success stories: Airbnb. Digital Trends recently caught up with Gallagher in New York to talk about how she landed the inside scoop in her latest book, The Airbnb Story.
Read the full story here.
Are smartphones killing the art of face-to-face conversation? We ask the experts
Smartphones are everywhere now, and for many of us they serve as a constant companion. They keep us continually connected, filling gaps in our day, entertaining us, and demanding our attention with a string of notifications. Because they offer a convenient alternative to face-to-face conversations, and at times they butt into our chats directly, there’s a growing realization that they may be killing the art of conversation.
Read the full story here.
Scientists say study indicates that green light may help relieve pain
Green has long been the color of nature and envy, even if it’s also associated with money and traffic lights int he modern world. Now however, some researchers think there may be another use for it as a potential pain reliever. University of Arizona professor Mohab Ibrahim was first inspired to undertake the study by his brother’s seemingly unusual treatment for his headaches.
Read the full story here.
Jimmy Kimmel reveals habit of Emma Watson that used to ruin Harry Potter takes
Emma Watson has come a long way since her Harry Potter days. If your memory of Watson as the 9-year-old just beginning her acting career in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is hazy, Jimmy Kimmel was kind enough to offer a reminder. When the actress recently appeared on his show, he screened an outtake from the film that shows an old, bad habit of hers.
Read the full story here.
Are fidget toys legitimately good for your brain, or pseudoscientific snake oil?
Fidget Cube has inevitably been followed by a number of other crowdfunding campaigns designed to appeal to the twitchy fingers of those who supported it. One was a fidget pen called Think Ink, which combines a titanium pen exterior with a number of tactile elements for distracted fingers to play with. It hit more than quadruple its funding target. But is this really a thing — or is the idea that a distracting toy can actually help us just a pseudoscientific marketing ploy?
Read the full story here.
Wire you doing this to me? How I hid unsightly tech in my smart apartment
I want my apartment to be smart, but I don’t want it to look stupid. That is, I don’t mind having a digital frame on display, but I don’t want the cord hanging down the wall, calling attention to the fact that it’s a digital frame. To get a few ideas on how to hide some of the tech in my apartment, I asked Mya McDuffie from online interior design site Havenly for help.
Read the full story here.
Microsoft exterminates dozens of bugs in the latest Windows Insider build
Why it matters to you
With the massive Creators Update slated for sometime this summer, each new Windows Insider build gives us a sneak peek at the upcoming Windows 10 overhaul.
Good news, Windows Insiders, there’s a brand-new Windows 10 Fast Ring update waiting for you — but it’s bad news for any lingering bugs.
Build 15055 brings a welcome array of bug fixes, but little else. You won’t be finding any blockbuster new features here — no sweeping changes to Game Mode, no new and polarizing color changes for Cortana, just bug fixes.
But, if you’re one of the unlucky users currently afflicted by the bugs these fixes address, you’re probably in for a treat. This build patches a couple major bugs, including one which prevented users on the Fast Ring from rolling back to a previous (more stable) build.
More: Playable Ads in Windows devices lets users ‘stream’ full app functionality
Symantec/Norton antivirus software should no longer throw a 0x80070228 error when attempting to download the latest Insider builds, so long as your definitions are updated. Previously, Norton antivirus was preventing some users from grabbing the latest Fast Ring builds.
Further, Windows Insider build roll-backs should no longer fail at 71 percent, so if this build doesn’t work out for you, you can always hop back to a previous one without any issues.
That said, Build 15055 isn’t without its own set of bugs. Microsoft has flagged a number of known issues that you could encounter with this update. First among which, some apps and games will crash unexpectedly due to a misconfiguration of advertising ID, a problem inherited from the previous build.
More: Google’s Jamboard to begin competing with Microsoft’s Surface Hub in May
So if you’re experiencing periodic app or game crashes, this build might not fix those issues for you. Additionally, there’s a particularly insidious bug in this build which prevents users from getting updates from the Windows Store properly. Don’t worry though, there’s a workaround — just uninstall the app and reinstall it, and it’ll grab the latest version from the Windows Store.
That’s about it, but for the full list of bug fixes and known issues, be sure to check out the Windows Blog.
Cyclists can record what is happening behind them with the Hexagon camera
Why it matters to you
While riding a bicycle, it’s hard to keep watch of two places at once. Hexagon allows cyclists to keep track of their surroundings safely.
When it comes to riding a bicycle, visibility is a major safety concern. Not only is it important for the bike to be easily visible to others, it’s also important that cyclists are able to see what is going on around them.
The Hexagon is the ultimate safety addition to any bicycle. All in one package, it combines a tail light, rear-view camera, brake lights, turn indicator, and more. This way, everyone can easily see each a biker’s intentions.
More: Innovative bicycle tires allow you to pedal almost forever without the fear of a flat
For easy use, the Hexagon attaches directly to the bike’s seat post. An included quick-release system ensures that riders can take the device with them to prevent theft and to keep the device charged. The biggest feature is its rear-view 1080p/30fps camera. Using Wi-Fi, the camera wirelessly streams real-time video to a mounted smartphone. Beyond using the video for visibility, it can also be saved onto an SD card or live streamed via the app. That same app can also be used to track various metrics including speed, calories burned, and distance traveled.
Other safety features take advantage of red LED clusters to show the cyclist’s intentions. When the breaks are applied, an accelerometer and gyroscope within the device detect the sudden change and automatically light up the LEDs. In an event of a crash, those same sensors will detect it. If the rider doesn’t respond to the notification within 10 seconds, the Hexagon will send a text message to any family or friends who have been programmed into the app. What they receive is a set of GPS coordinates of the rider’s location. Cyclists can also manually send these alerts for other emergencies.
Whether or not the rider is recording the video, the Hexagon is always buffering the last few minutes of footage. When it detects a crash, the video is automatically saved to the SD card. This way, if the crash was caused by a driver following the cyclist, the footage might be able to prove it.
The red LEDs can also operate as turn indicators. A wireless handlebar remote can be used to activate these signals.
With a full charge, the Hexagon should last about three hours with its two included batteries. There is an option to double this time with two additional batteries. A smaller, cheaper model is also available and can only take two batteries.
The Hexagon launches on Tuesday. Prices range from $129 to $179 depending on which model is chosen. Anyone interested should request a launch notification on Hexagon’s website to save 50 percent off the final price.
AIVAnet 