Uber promises it won’t ‘Greyball’ law enforcement anymore

Nearly a week after a New York Times report exposed Uber’s use of an internal tool to target and mislead local authorities the company says it’s “expressly prohibiting its use to target action by local regulators going forward.” According to Uber’s post, the “Greyball” tool is not just for targeting officials and has been used for other purposes like testing new features or marketing promotions.

It also says that enforcing this new prohibition will take some time, so local regulators trying to keep an eye on Uber in their town should still be wary. In fact, the company says it has “started a review” of the ways the tech has been used, so it’s hard to say if these changes will be enough. At a time when Uber’s reputation is taking hit after hit, a little transparency and honesty might go a long way.

Source: Uber Newsroom

Android O: What’s the story so far?

Android Nougat released last August, so you know what that means? Android O is around the corner.

Google updates its mobile operating system every year, and although we’re still a long ways away from the next version rolling out to our devices, there are a few leaks beginning to pop up about it. Plus, we can look at past patterns to determine things like what it might be called. Here’s everything you need to know about Android O, including all the current rumours, its expected release date, possible features, and more.

• Android for beginners: Tips and tricks for your new smartphone

What is Android O?

Android O is the next major update to the Android. It follows the release of Android Nougat from last summer. Android O will also likely be labelled Android 8.0. After all, Android Marshmallow got the numerical designation Android 6.0, and Android Nougat got Android 7.0-7.1. However, older versions of Android, such as Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and KitKat, were all labelled 4.x updates.

What will Android O be called?

Google usually names its major Android OS updates after desserts – and in alphabetical order. So far, the company has released Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, and Nougat. It’s safe to say that Google will release Android O in 2017 with a sweet treat-themed name that begins with the letter O.

@dcseifert ???? pic.twitter.com/u8nMzjTIO1

— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) February 20, 2017

Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer tends to tease Android update names on Twitter, and most recently, he’s been suggesting Android Oreo is the likely candidate for Android O. He may be kidding, though, considering he also tweeted an image of Pocky with the caption #2018.

What will Android O feature?

So far, little is known about Android O. That said, according to Venture Beat, Google has been developing new “assistive features” for Android, and they might make it to the final version of Android O.

Copy Less

The first feature is called Copy Less, and it’s designed to “cut down on the annoyance of copying text from one app and pasting it in another”. It works like this: imagine you and a friend are having a conversation in a chat app and you open Yelp to find a restaurant. When you go back to your conversation and type “it’s at,” the address of the restaurant will appear. You can then add it to the text box.

The feature may end up in Google’s standard-issue Gboard virtual keyboard app or the Android OS itself. Google is also working on ways to enhance certain types of text in messaging apps. So, if someone sends you a message containing an address, Copy Less will allow Android (or maybe Android’s stock Message app) to recognise the text is an address, and tapping on it will open it up Google Maps.

Gesture triggers

Google has reportedly found a way to let people use finger gestures to trigger actions in Android. For instance, when you draw the letter C onscreen, Android will show a short list of recent contacts. Gesture triggers could get delayed or might not ever ship, VentureBeat said.

When will Google announce Android O?

Google usually uses Google I/O to tease improvements to Android. Last year, it talked about the split-screen mode, ability to reply to texts from notifications, and an update to the Doze battery saver. It also teased Android N. Google will more than likely mention the next version of Android at this year’s show. So, expect to hear something about Android O/8.0 at Google I/O 2017 in May.

When is Android O coming to my phone?

Google surprised everyone in 2016 by announcing a Developer Preview of Android Nougat in advance of Google I/O 2016. It didn’t roll out the final release to consumers until August 2016. Google always announces a new Android OS with new hardware, but that was no longer the case last year, as Android Nougat didn’t land for new hardware until Google released its own Pixel flagships in late 2016.

We expect to see the Android O Developer Preview announced ahead of Google I/O, which kicks off on 17 May, and the final release should be available around August or September – prior to any new hardware releases from Google. Google phones and tablets are always the first to get new operating system updates, and security updates are provided for three years following the device’s release.

In other words, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P will be supported by Google until September 2017. That means they will get both Android Nougat and next year’s Android O. The Nexus 9 and Nexus 6 will also be supported until October 2016. They’ll update to Android Nougat but not Android O. If you have a recent flagship phone or tablet, you’ll likely see the update rolled out within the first few months of 2018.

In its marketing of the Moto G4 Plus, Motorola teased that it will receive both Android Nougat and Android O.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Google and Android hubs for the latest news.

Electric jet ski promises eco-friendly watersports

For all of the choices you now have when it comes to electric cars, you’re not so fortunate if you’re looking for a personal watercraft. There have been attempts, but you’re usually looking at a big hydrofoil rather than something as nimble and portable as a jet ski. Free Form Factory might just have what you want, though: it’s taking pre-orders for the Gratis X1, which it claims is the first all-electric stand-up personal watercraft. The motor promises a quieter ride and lower running costs, like you’d expect with a land-based EV, but it also opens the door to riding on waterways that don’t allow gas-powered machines. If your favorite river wasn’t an option before, it might be now.

The X1 will only run for 45 minutes on a charge when it arrives in the fall, but you can get a battery pack to extend that to an hour. Also, it’ll charge from a propane generator in addition to standard 110V outlets — if you’re spending all day at the beach, you won’t have to go hunting for a plug. If there’s any obstacle, it’s the $17,990 starting price. That’s more expensive than Sea-Doo’s premium models as of this writing, so you’ll likely need to ride frequently for the lower running costs to offset the high initial price. Think of this like you would early electric cars: you’re buying more out of kindness to the Earth than to your bank account.

Source: Free Form Factory

Apple Adds 2016 MacBook Pro Without Touch Bar to Refurbished Store

Apple recently updated its online store for refurbished products to add the 13-inch 2016 MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar, which was originally released in October of 2016.

There are a limited number of models available for purchase with various processor, storage, RAM configurations. Prices are discounted by up to $390, with Apple offering 12 to 16 percent off depending on a machine’s configuration.

Only higher-end models with upgraded processors, RAM, and storage are available at the current time, but earlier today, at least one lower-end machine was available for purchase. Apple’s refurbished stock fluctuates often, so if you’re hoping to get a specific configuration, it’s best to keep a close eye on the refurbished store.

13 and 15-inch 2016 MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar are not currently available from Apple’s refurbished site, but could be added soon based on the availability of the non-Touch Bar model.

All of Apple’s refurbished products go through a rigorous refurbishment process before being offered for sale, which includes inspection, repairs, cleaning, and repackaging. Refurbished Macs come with a one-year warranty that can be extended with an AppleCare purchase. For more tips on purchasing a refurbished product, make sure to check out our dedicated guide.

(Thanks, Nick!)

Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, Apple Deals
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple’s iTunes store puts females at forefront on International Women’s Day

Why it matters to you

Where would the entertainment industry be without women? The iTunes Store doesn’t even want to know, and is highlighting movies made by and featuring women in honor of International Women’s Day.

Tech companies around the world are celebrating International Women’s Day in their own unique ways, and for Apple, that celebration is manifesting itself on one of its most visible platforms — iTunes. On Wednesday, the tech giant made a few adjustments to its iTunes store to help draw attention to movies and television shows that feature women in a leading role. Content created or directed by women is also heavily featured.

If you visit the iTunes movie storefront, you’ll see films with strong female leads, including “Jackie,” “Loving,” and “Moana.” And the sections you may be accustomed to seeing on the iTunes front page have been replaced for the day with “Like a Girl” categories, which let you choose between films that show what it means to Fight “Like a Girl” and Write “Like a Girl.”

More: Flickr celebrates International Women’s Day from a female lens

iTunes is also specifically highlighting 10 actresses and filmmakers, inviting audiences to interact with “exciting new female actors and filmmakers whose work we love.” Included in this list are women like Amma Asante, Laia Costa, Tae Ri Kim, Meera Menon, and Ruth Negga.

In Apple’s TV section, viewers can now find a “Bold Women” section, which puts shows like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Insecure, Westworld, Steven Universe, and others front and center. And if that’s not enough, you can explore categories like Women of Comedy, Bold Dramas Created by Women, Bold Girls, and Women of Reality TV.

Of course, if you’d rather curl up with a good book instead of sit in front of a television screen, iTunes has you covered in that regard as well. In the iBooks store, you can delve deeper into the “More Hidden Figures” section, which shows off books about women in science, engineering, politics, and more, like “The Glass Universe” by Dava Sobel, and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot.

So if you need something to do tonight, you can check out all the contributions women have made to the entertainment industry.

Are fidget toys legitimately good for your brain, or pseudoscientific snake oil?

Why it matters to you

From helping us focus to maybe even burning calories, it turns out that fidgeting — and toys like the Fidget Cube — are here to help.

“Fidget” isn’t exactly a word with the most positive of connotations. For many of us, it recalls veiled childhood threats of “stop fidgeting or,” and then the promised removal of something we value more highly than fidgeting. Type “stop” into Google’s search box and “stop fidget” is one of the first recommendations its autocomplete feature presents you with.

But fidgeting, like beloved 1990s TV properties, is making a comeback.

Last year, the creators of Fidget Cube — a Kickstarter desk toy allowing users to click, roll, flip, glide, spin and assorted fidgety verbs — set out to raise $15,000 to make their product a reality. They wound up raking in $6,465,690 from 154,926 backers.

More: Addicted to fidgeting? This versatile desk toy is everything you’ve dreamed of

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 made more than quadruple its funding target.

Is the idea that a distracting toy can actually help us just a pseudoscientific marketing ploy?

“I made this for my daughter,” co-founder Kent Lyon told Digital Trends. “She had just started a new job, which she nervous about, and started noticing that she was fidgeting a whole lot. Whether it was clicking her pen or playing with her hair, she found that she couldn’t stop doing something with her hands.” Lyon gave Think Ink the subtitle “Fidget to focus.”

But is this really a thing — or is the idea that a distracting toy can actually help us just a pseudoscientific marketing ploy?

“I think fidgeting is a great way to put away our distractions and concentrate on the one important thing that we are doing,” Kristoph Krisjans, creator of a new gravity-defying fidget toy called Moondrop, told Digital Trends. “I actually never saw anyone that couldn’t do their job because of fidgeting. Exactly the opposite: when I see someone fidgeting, most of the time they are deeply focusing on a process, so I tend to believe that fidgeting helps people to keep their attention.”

It’s tempting to bust out the klaxons at the breaking news that a fidget toy purveyor thinks fidget toys increase productivity. However, it just may be correct.

Research has shown that even small repetitive activities can increase the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain in a way that increases our ability to focus and pay attention. Even if the fidget you are carrying out involves minimal concentration — fidgeting with a pen, chewing gum, or doodling on a piece of paper — this type of multitasking can positively impact the outcome of a particular task.

“We feel personally that fidgeting has been beneficial in our daily lives, such as when in meetings or while brainstorming,” Matthew and Mark McLachlan, the siblings behind Fidget Cube told Digital Trends. “Since launching our product, we’ve had discussions with an incredible amount of mental health professionals and researchers in the fields of psychology and neuroscience who are interested in using Fidget Cube in their research. We’re excited to see the data that’s collected on this topic.”

This is especially noticeable when dealing with children with ADHD, as Purdue University professor Sydney Zentall has noted in her work.

“Our research has demonstrated that incorporating active tasks with flash cards or response boards, peer tutoring, or cooperative groups and by allowing students to play with ‘toys’ during delays — [such as] fuzzy pipe cleaners, clay, small collapsible rulers — can be used to improve attention and performance,” Zentall told Digital Trends. “These toys function to create novelty or change for a child who has difficulty maintaining sufficient activation and may be considered easily bored.”

According to Zentall, while failure to stay on task can reduce work speed and production, there is no evidence that most “distractions” increase errors among children with ADHD. Surprisingly, she said, these kind of fidget distractions “may actually help the child perform in the classroom, especially when tasks are long and tedious. That is, off-task looking may provide ‘doses’ of environmental stimulation that the child needs.”

More: A gravity-defying fidget toy that leverages a fascinating quirk of physics

There is even evidence that fidgeting can have a positive impact on people’s physical health. Examinations regarding the physical benefits of fidgeting are relatively few and far between, but a 2008 study tracked daily movements for a group of slim and overweight women, and discovered that the slimmer group tended to fidget more. “If the obese women adopted the activity patterns of the lean women,” the authors of the study noted, they might burn an extra 300 calories per day.

Sure, you’re never going to match a five-mile run by playing with your Fidget Cube, but the findings suggest that every little bit helps.

Ultimately, we’re still still a long way from the makers of fidget-focused desk toys being able to make explicit medical claims for their devices — but it seems that there is real scientific evidence to suggest that fidgeting has an important role to play in our lives.

Or at least, that’s what we’ll tell our boss next time she catches us playing with our latest Kickstarter purchase instead of writing and publishing stories. We’ll report back on whether or not it works.

Google provides a tool for making objects and places within video searchable

Why it matters to you

Google’s new tool for developers will enable applications to use cloud-based machine learning to detect and label objects and locations within video, speeding up searches.

During the Google Cloud Next Conference in San Francisco, Google revealed a new machine learning application program interface (API) called Cloud Video Intelligence. With this API, developers can create applications capable of detecting objects within video and making them searchable and discoverable. Both nouns and verbs can be applied to those objects, such as “dog” and “run.”

An API is essentially a bridge between a service and an application. In this case, the API connects to the Google Cloud Machine Learning platform for the compute aspect and stores annotated videos on Google Cloud Storage. Thus, due to this “bridge,” an application based on Google’s new API will have access to this specific functionality to provide end-users with a better way of searching through videos.

More: Google is developing a series of AI-powered features for Android O

“You can now search every moment of every video file in your catalog and find every occurrence as well as its significance,” Google states. “It helps you identify key nouns entities of your video, and when they occur within the video. Separate signal from noise, by retrieving relevant information at the video, shot or per frame.”

In a demo, users can search for animals in an MP4 video file lasting just over a minute and a half. The labels generated by Cloud Video Intelligence consist of Animal (99 percent), Wildlife (94 percent), Zoo (91 percent), Terrestrial Animal (54 percent), Nature (51 percent), Tourism (47 percent), and Tourist Destination (43 percent). The sample video focuses on the Los Angeles Zoo presented by Disney’s Zootopia CGI-animated movie.

However, what’s really neat about the new API is how it can detect a scene in a video. In the same clip, Cloud Video Intelligence can detect 48 scene changes and in real time detect and label objects as the scenes change. For instance, in one scene that displays just Nick the fox, the API will generate seven labels. In another scene focusing on the zoo’s sign, the system only generates two labels … again, all in real time.

What Google has done is create a tool that enables users to search through a video catalog just like they would with text documents. According to the company, this will be highly useful for businesses to separate signals that are buried under noise. It can also “detect features of a signal providing only relevant entities at video, shot or frame level.”

“Google has a long history working with the largest media companies in the world, and we help them find value from unstructured data like video,” said Fei-Fei Li, Chief Scientist of Google Cloud AI and Machine Learning. “This API is for large media organizations and consumer technology companies, who want to build their media catalogs or find easy ways to manage crowd-sourced content.”

The new API is now in a private beta and will also be offered to Google’s partners such as Cantemo, which will use the API to connect its video management software to the Google Cloud Machine Learning platform.

Google provides a tool for making objects and places within video searchable

Why it matters to you

Google’s new tool for developers will enable applications to use cloud-based machine learning to detect and label objects and locations within video, speeding up searches.

During the Google Cloud Next Conference in San Francisco, Google revealed a new machine learning application program interface (API) called Cloud Video Intelligence. With this API, developers can create applications capable of detecting objects within video and making them searchable and discoverable. Both nouns and verbs can be applied to those objects, such as “dog” and “run.”

An API is essentially a bridge between a service and an application. In this case, the API connects to the Google Cloud Machine Learning platform for the compute aspect and stores annotated videos on Google Cloud Storage. Thus, due to this “bridge,” an application based on Google’s new API will have access to this specific functionality to provide end-users with a better way of searching through videos.

More: Google is developing a series of AI-powered features for Android O

“You can now search every moment of every video file in your catalog and find every occurrence as well as its significance,” Google states. “It helps you identify key nouns entities of your video, and when they occur within the video. Separate signal from noise, by retrieving relevant information at the video, shot or per frame.”

In a demo, users can search for animals in an MP4 video file lasting just over a minute and a half. The labels generated by Cloud Video Intelligence consist of Animal (99 percent), Wildlife (94 percent), Zoo (91 percent), Terrestrial Animal (54 percent), Nature (51 percent), Tourism (47 percent), and Tourist Destination (43 percent). The sample video focuses on the Los Angeles Zoo presented by Disney’s Zootopia CGI-animated movie.

However, what’s really neat about the new API is how it can detect a scene in a video. In the same clip, Cloud Video Intelligence can detect 48 scene changes and in real time detect and label objects as the scenes change. For instance, in one scene that displays just Nick the fox, the API will generate seven labels. In another scene focusing on the zoo’s sign, the system only generates two labels … again, all in real time.

What Google has done is create a tool that enables users to search through a video catalog just like they would with text documents. According to the company, this will be highly useful for businesses to separate signals that are buried under noise. It can also “detect features of a signal providing only relevant entities at video, shot or frame level.”

“Google has a long history working with the largest media companies in the world, and we help them find value from unstructured data like video,” said Fei-Fei Li, Chief Scientist of Google Cloud AI and Machine Learning. “This API is for large media organizations and consumer technology companies, who want to build their media catalogs or find easy ways to manage crowd-sourced content.”

The new API is now in a private beta and will also be offered to Google’s partners such as Cantemo, which will use the API to connect its video management software to the Google Cloud Machine Learning platform.

Boost your signal and save more than $50 with our favorite Wi-Fi router deals

A good router can greatly enhance the Wi-Fi in your home or office, and can even save you money on rental fees if you are paying on a monthly basis for the equipment supplied by your internet service provider. Most people don’t worry too much about the technology in their routers, even when experiencing the frustration of slow speeds and spotty connections, but selecting the proper one for your needs is key togetting the most out of your online experience – especially for data-heavy tasks like streaming or online gaming.

We’ve collected eight of the best Wi-Fi router deals going right now. From cheap routers for small apartments to more expensive models designed for heavy jobs like 4K streaming, our roundup has a router to suit almost any need or budget, and includes some of our own favorites from makers like TP-Link.

Netgear WNR2020v2

If all you need is a basic wireless router for a small home or apartment, then the Netgear WNR2020v2 can do the job for cheap. N300 Wi-Fi delivers a throughput of up to 300 Mbps, and four Ethernet LAN ports are located on the back of the router for wired connections. Netgear Genie and Push-N-Connect make it a breeze to manage your network and connect new devices with the press of a button.

The Netgear WNR2020v2 is normally $30, but a 33 percent discount brings it down to just $20 on Amazon.

$20 on Amazon

Netgear C3700 (Certified Refurbished)

The Netgear C37 is another inexpensive, no-frills Wi-Fi router, but it does boast more power than the WNR2020v2. This model utilizes dual-band N600 Wi-Fi connectivity for a throughput of up to 600 Mbps, as well as 8×4 channel bonding for snappier download speeds. The C3700 also doubles as a high-speed DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and features two wired Ethernet ports.

Amazon is selling the refurbished Netgear 3700 for just $50, offering you a nice $30 discount. Products that are certified refurbished by Amazon are in like-new condition and include all original accessories.

$50 on Amazon

Securifi Almond

If a smart router is more your speed, the highly rated Securifi Almond is a great alternative to traditional designs. This attractive Wi-Fi router integrates with your smart home ecosystem, and is compatible with Amazon Alexa for voice control. The touchscreen interface allows for easy setup in minutes without the need for a PC or a fussy web interface. Two internal antennas provide 300 Mbps of throughput and are MIMO-capable for faster simultaneous connections from multiple clients.

Normally $100, the Securifi Almond can be yours for just $62 from Amazon.

$62 on Amazon

TP-Link Archer C9

The TP-Link Archer C9 is widely regarded as a great all-around Wi-Fi router at a solid price, and can now be had for under $100. This AC1900 router boasts an impressive dual-band throughput of 1,900 Mbps for rapid download speeds, while the 1GHz dual-core processor provides a more seamless connection, with fewer interruptions when streaming or gaming.

Normally priced at $117 on Amazon, you can take 20 percent off of the TP-Link Archer C9 with the checkout code GDC20, which brings the cost down to just $94. This discount code is valid until March 10.

$94 on Amazon with code ‘GDC20’

Netgear Nighthawk X4

Heading into higher-end router territory brings us to the powerful and aggressive-looking Netgear Nighthawk X4. With 2,350 Mbps dual-band speeds, MU-MIMO technology for fast simultaneous connections, and 4×4 stream architecture, this Wi-Fi router is purpose-built for heavy-duty tasks and punches well above its weight in this price bracket.

Amazon is offering a $40 discount on the Netgear Nighthawk X4, but the checkout code GDC20 brings it down even further to just $144, for a combined 38 percent discount until March 10.

$144 on Amazon with code ‘GDC20’

TP-Link OnHub

The TP-Link OnHub is our favorite router, and for good reason: Super-simple setup, wide coverage, and fast AC1900 speeds make the OnHub a great all-around Wi-Fi router for your home network. Up to 100 simultaneous connections can be made to the OnHub, and 13 internal antennas eliminate dead zones. The router is also fully compatible with Google Wi-Fi nodes if you ever need to expand your network in the future.

Normally priced around $200, The TP-Link OnHub can be had for just $146 on Amazon after a nice $54 discount.

$146 on Amazon

Portal

Another one of our favorites due to its simplicity and ease of use is the Portal Wi-Fi router. This unique design works much like the OnHub, but it adds some extra power with a dual-band throughput of 2,400 Mbps. The Portal supports MU-MIMO, and it can also block out interfering signals from neighboring Wi-Fi networks for improved speeds and fewer interruptions thanks to its FastLanes system.

The Portal Wi-Fi router is available on Amazon for $149, $51 off of its normal price tag.

$149 on Amazon

TP-Link Archer C5400

The TP-Link Archer C5400, last on our list, is a beast of a Wi-Fi router. The C5400 easily handles online gaming, 4K video streaming, and multiple client connections with its whopping 5,400 Mbps of throughput. Three bands and MU-MIMO functionality make this powerful router a great choice for the most data-hungry users and those who need to manage larger networks.

A $54 discount is available with the checkout code GDC20, bringing this Wi-Fi powerhouse down to just $215. Although the TP-Link Archer C5400 is the most expensive router in our roundup, it’s also the best deal and provides a lot of value for the money as well: Similar AC5400 routers in this class often go for well over $300.

$215 on Amazon with code ‘GDC20’

Microsoft is spamming Windows 10 File Explorer with ads for OneDrive storage

Why it matters to you

Whether you like it or not, Microsoft might try to entice you to upgrade your OneDrive storage with new ads in Windows 10 File Explorer.

One of the least popular new “features” in Windows 10 is the advertising function Microsoft injected directly into the operating system. Ads show up in a number of ways, from promotions of Windows Store apps in the Start menu to pop-up “reminders” that Microsoft’s Edge browser gets better battery life than Google’s Chrome.

While Microsoft is addressing some other complaints about Windows 10 in the upcoming Creators Update — such as privacy concerns over the data that’s being transmitted and issues regarding how the operating system updates itself — the company seems intent on retaining Windows 10’s advertising functionality. In fact, it has apparently been adding a new OneDrive commercial to File Explorer, ExtremeTech reports.

More: Get ready for more ads in Windows 10 following the Anniversary Update

Basically, you might start seeing a new promotion for OneDrive when you’re perusing your file structure in Windows 10. OneDrive is baked into Windows 10 and can’t easily be uninstalled, and Microsoft wants to make sure you know that the 5GB of free OneDrive storage can be easily upgraded to significantly more space.

ExtremeTech

Turning off the OneDrive advertising isn’t without consequences. You can go to the View menu in File Explorer, then Options, and select “Change folder and search options.” In the next window, select the View menu, then scroll down to and uncheck the “Show sync provider notifications” option. Note that while this should disable the OneDrive ads, it will also stop you from seeing potentially important notifications from OneDrive.

If you’re persuaded by the ads and want to get some additional OneDrive storage space, then perhaps the most cost-effective option is to sign up for an Office 365 Personal subscription. That gives you up to 1TB of OneDrive space for one PC, along with the desktop version of Microsoft’s Office productivity suite, for $70 a year. If you splurge for Office 365 Home, then $100 will nab you the same deal for five PCs, each of which will enjoy the same 1TB of OneDrive storage.

These OneDrive ads apparently aren’t new, but they seem to be showing up more often for more people. If you see the ad, you can simply dismiss it by clicking “Not now.” It might show up again, however, and we’re not sure if the ads will end just because you upgrade your OneDrive storage.