Hackers stole a copy of ‘Orange is the New Black’ season five
The next season of Orange is the New Black isn’t supposed to premiere until June 9th, but the first episode has already leaked. That’s because a hacker or group of hackers going by the name ‘TheDarkOverlord stole the content from a third party, and they’re demanding Netflix pay a ransom in order to keep the rest of the season private. Late Friday night, TheDarkOverlord tweeted about content belonging to ABC, FOX, IFC and National Geographic, saying “We’re not playing any games anymore.”
According to TorrentFreak, the source of the breach was Larson Studios, an audio production company in Hollywood that does ADR (Automatic Dialog Replacement) work. The hackers claim Larson agreed to pay up but didn’t, and now they’re trying to squeeze Netflix. In a statement, Netflix has said “We are aware of the situation. A production vendor used by several major TV studios had its security compromised and the appropriate law enforcement authorities are involved.”
Who is next on the list? FOX, IFC, NAT GEO, and ABC. Oh, what fun we’re all going to have. We’re not playing any games anymore.
— thedarkoverlord (@tdohack3r) April 29, 2017
Source: TorrentFreak, AP, Pastebin
Here’s why you shouldn’t be quick to judge Google Play Music in India
You’ll eventually find the music you’re looking for on Play Music.
Google Play Music All Access went live in India earlier this month, offering unlimited streaming and offline downloads for just ₹89 ($1.40) a month. With access to over 40 million songs, there’s certainly a lot to explore in All Access.
That said, the main problem with the service is discovery. You’ll have to put in a few hours’ worth of effort to get everything set up the way you want. Google is catering to the masses with All Access, and as such the service doesn’t have a diverse list of options during initial setup. You’ll be able to select from several local languages and pick out mainstream Bollywood acts, but if you’re like me and primarily listen to metal, your choices are non-existent.
There’s an easy explanation for this: Play Music is just getting off the ground in the country, and Google wants to be as inclusive as possible. It’s certainly going out of its way to do so — there isn’t even an option to select English at launch — and that has led to some consternation on Reddit.
Although the initial options are limited, Google’s recommendation engine is one of the best out there, and after using Play Music for a few days, I started seeing suggestions for artists from the genres I care about. As more and more users get started with the service, the options that are highlighted at launch will get better over time.
In addition to Google’s cast content library, Play Music lets you upload up to 50,000 songs from your own music collection to the service. You can upload files of any type — FLAC, MP3, AAC, OGG, ALAC — and Google will compress them to 320kbps MP3.
Having used Spotify for the last two years, there’s plenty to like in Play Music. The service costs a fraction of Spotify premium at ₹89 a month, and while I miss the curated playlists, the content catalog is just as diverse. As there’s no financial commitment to get started with Play Music — Google is offering a 30-day trial — you should absolutely give it a try. The pricing alone should make it worthy of your consideration.
There’s a slackbot for people who like to shit where they eat
Online dating and work chat apps have been separate entities for entirely logical, productive and HR-compliant reasons. But a dating app-maker has decided that the line dividing office life and love life should be blurred with the help of a chatbot for the reigning king of productivity services, Slack. If you think company-sanctioned flirting through work messaging is a good idea, you should probably talk to your human resources department. Because this is playing with fire in a way that gets people fired.
The slackbot for inter-office dating was built by Feeld, which is mostly known as “the threesome app.” (Yup.) To some extent, it’s likely a stunt (date your coworkers using app plugins!), and most workplaces will see its danger coming a mile away.
Like all bots on Slack, only administrators can install it into your company’s channels — which means your bosses would have to knowingly green light this bad idea. Once active, you just mention your crush’s name to the slackbot, and if they do the same, it will throw you two in a private chatroom like a digital Cupid. You can also mute the bot if you don’t want to tempt fate and/or office stability. Or if you’re in a relationship already. Or if you just don’t want the attention because you’re at work.
That’s the biggest flaw in this lopsided idea: That disrupting the sometimes-tenuous neutrality of a workspace is a good thing. Doing your job is hard enough and sexual harassment is still a wretched reality for many employees, male and female, across all industries. HR clamps down on romantic entanglement between coworkers because it can, and does, poison work environments. The damage impacts productivity and can bleed into the personal lives of all involved — including other coworkers sucked in the Charybdal void of hurt feelings and bad breakups. Or, at worst, ruined marriages and careers due to illicit affairs.
There’s well-intentioned naivete in Feeld founder Dimo Trifonov’s explanation of the slackbot on PRX. The bot could liberate us from the traditional workplace’s anemic rules, he said:
“What’s behind this bot, at the end of the day? In short, the idea that you can still have feelings for other people in the workplace, and embrace them. I’m not speaking about anything sexual, necessarily. But right now we’re stuck in an old paradigm: workplace policies should evolve to reflect human nature more fully, rather than suppress parts of it as they do now.”
Companies should flex and adapt to the times, but shouldn’t willingly endanger productivity-focused environments. Boring? Yes. But you don’t go to work for love, and there are plenty of people who don’t want love to get in the way of their work.
Or, to put it simply: How quickly does this go live before the first dick pic gets sent over work chat?
Source: Feeld
Here’s an explanation on MHL and how it works with your TV
Thanks to Google’s Chromecast, and a host of other options, wireless streaming from your phone to your TV has never been easier. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more reliable — and with a few more options — you may want to utilize a little known technology called MHL. Using an MHL connection to wire your phone directly to your display via HDMI may not be as convenient as wireless streaming but, for a variety of reasons, it can be an enticing option. The thing is, many people are unaware the technology even exists.
For those looking to figure out what those three little letters on your TV or A/V receiver’s HDMI input actually do, we’re here to lay it out for you. The following covers all the basics of MHL so you can take full advantage of the technology and its capabilities. Now let’s get to sending all the coolest stuff on your phone to your TV — the old fashioned way.
What is MHL?
In 2010, a band of electronics companies, including Sony and Nokia, developed the MHL connection protocol. Short for Mobile High-Definition Link, MHL utilizes a specially equipped HDMI input on compatible TVs and A/V receivers to connect a growing list of smartphones, tablets, and other devices. The standard takes smartphone and tablet content to the next level, allowing you to showcase everything from your phone on your TV with a single connection.
How do I use MHL?
The most common way to connect for most people is to use an MHL adapter such as the one shown below, which consists of a male Micro USB plug on one end and a female HDMI port on the other. If your phone hosts a Micro USB port, all you need to do is simply connect an MHL adaptor to your phone, and run an HDMI cable from the adaptor to the MHL-enabled HDMI port on your television (the correct port will be labeled “MHL”) and you’re all set.
If your phone or tablet does not host a Micro USB port, you’ll also need another adapter, which we’ll discuss in more detail in the next section below.
A typical MHL adapter.
When MHL first launched, adapters like the one shown above were more or less the primary way to utilize the technology. Now, though, there are lots of different cables that support MHL, including direct Micro USB-to-HDMI cables.
The next step is simply plugging in your compatible device, which will allow you to display all of its applications, games, movies, photos, and music right on your TV, with resolution at 4K Ultra HD (and above).
Does my device work with MHL?
KPG_Payless / Shutterstock.com
If you’re thinking about looking into MHL, you should make sure your device and display are compatible with the protocol by checking the official MHL site — found here — for a full list of supported devices. If your display device isn’t on the list, don’t bother buying an MHL adapter — it’s not going to work. If your display device is on the list, but your mobile device isn’t, there are also some other ways to connect.
If you’re an Apple enthusiast, your iPhone or iPad does not have the correct output for the default MHL adapter or cable described above. Luckily, there are workarounds for iFans; any device with a Lightning port (most newer iOS products have them) can be used with one of the adapters found here. You can then connect to an MHL adapter, such as the one pictured above, or an MHL to HDMI cable.
Some newer Android phones have USB Type-C ports, rather than Micro USB; they’ll need third-party adapters to work with MHL as well. In the same vein, most compatible Samsung phones require a different (eleven-pin) adapter, as the default (five-pin) adapter won’t properly interface. Just like with Apple products, there are also third-party direct connectors for these devices. However, be aware that these won’t charge your phone like standard MHL.
Why use MHL?
Great question! As mentioned, there are several wireless methods that work for mirroring mobile devices to bigger screens; Apple’s AirPlay for iPhones and iPads, for example, or Miracast for Android devices. And of course, Google’s Chromecast lets you stream video and audio from multiple apps. These methods don’t always offer the same level of video and sound quality as MHL, but the wireless connection is more convenient for many applications.
However, there are many use cases where MHL could come in handy. The system is especially useful for those without cable or internet, for instance. In such a case, MHL essentially turns your phone and TV into a full-blown entertainment center, no Wi-Fi required.
In addition, there are a few protocol-specific benefits that might make it worth going with MHL. First, MHL connections tout the convenient ability to transmit control data, which essentially means the remote that controls your television may also be able to control the connected device. For mobile gamers, MHL connection also offers zero latency, which allows for lag-free display of your device on your TV during the most rigorous of gaming sessions. The cable also charges mobile devices up to 40W without any subsequent lag while displaying the content.
Where else can I use MHL?
As we’re sure you’ve surmised by this point, MHL’s most useful function is to send data from a smartphone or tablet to a compatible TV or A/V receiver lag-free. However, MHL also lets you plug your smartphone or tablet into a car’s compatible infotainment system, as well as a compatible computer monitor at home or at work.
By plugging a phone or tablet into a compatible car hookup, you’ll have the ability to utilize up-to-the-second traffic reports, charge your device while commuting, and access your personal music library. The system gives easy touchscreen access to all content on your phone right through the infotainment center. Likewise, plugging a smartphone or tablet into a compatible computer monitor can turn your device into a work station, one you can pair with a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse to create a (semi) fully-functioning mini office.
How much does MHL cost?
Another reason MHL is a viable choice is the fact that an adapter won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Adapters can run as little as $9 (or less), though you’ll still need a long HDMI cable such as this one from Monoprice, which runs another $12-13 or so. Depending upon the adapters or cables you need, getting set up with MHL can cost anywhere from $10 to $40, which is pretty affordable any way you slice it.
So there you go. Now you’re ready to get down and dirty with MHL. Time to start streaming to that TV, latency-free!
Weekly Rewind: Go karts on the high seas, security bots, and NASA probes
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 our first take on the BlackBerry KeyOne to the juicer taking advantage of the Juicero debacle — it’s all here.
Computer-generated ‘brain age’ estimates how much time you’ve got left
While it’s easy to count our number of birthdays to figure out how long we’ve each been on the planet, researchers at Imperial College London have another age-related metric they think is even more important: A person’s “brain age.” That means taking into account the wear and tear on a person’s brain to help predict individuals at greater risk of suffering poor health and dying earlier. And, wouldn’t you know it, they’ve created a machine learning algorithm to help!
Read the full story here.
BlackBerry KeyOne: Our first take
BlackBerry kicked its own BlackBerry Operating System to the curb last year in favor of the more popular Android OS, and it no longer manufactures its own phones. But the Waterloo company isn’t exiting the business anytime soon. Rather, BlackBerry has partnered with Chinese company TCL to release Android phones under the BlackBerry brand name. Its latest phone is the KeyOne, a traditional BlackBerry phone with a full QWERTY keyboard.
Read the full story here.
Seriously?! A cruise ship is slapping a go-kart track on its deck
Go-karting is awesome fun wherever you do it, but have you ever thought of hitting the gas on the deck of a luxury cruise ship in the middle of the ocean? Now that’d be something to tell your buddies about when you’re back on dry land. The world’s first ship-based go-kart track — wait, let’s just say that again: the world’s first ship-based go-kart track is coming soon to Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest boat, the Norwegian Joy.
Read the full story here.
‘Star Trek: Discovery’ TV series: Everything we know so far
CBS unveiled the first teaser for its new Star Trek series in early 2016, and the show’s official title was revealed to be Star Trek: Discovery during Comic-Con International in San Diego in summer 2016. With the latest movie (Star Trek Beyond) in theaters this past summer, many Star Trek fans are wondering exactly how the television series from executive producer Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) and showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies) will fit into the framework of the sci-fi franchise as it exists now.
Read the full story here.
Meet the 400-pound robots that will soon patrol parking lots, offices, and malls
The K5 is a 400-pound, 6-foot tall autonomous security robot that roves parking lot aisles, the hallways of office campuses, sports stadium foyers, and shopping malls on the prowl for suspicious activity. Looking something like a mix between a Dalek from Doctor Who and Eve from Wall-E, it packs sensors like a LIDAR (light detection and ranging) array and cameras that help it differentiate between a harmless passerby and potential criminal, and it feeds all that data to the cloud.
Read the full story here.
No cell phone for you! Mumford and Sons ban cell phones at upcoming pre-release show
Planning on recording a shaky YouTube video of Mumford & Sons at their upcoming gig in Brighton, UK? You’re out of luck, as the folk rockers announced that they’ll be banning cell phones at the show — which takes place before their third LP, Wilder Eyes, comes out — as a precaution against leaking (via BBC). The group made clear that the last-minute show at the 1,700-capacity Brighton Dome in Brighton, which was offered exclusively to its mailing list subscribers, will not allow cell phones.
Read the full story here.
Synthetic material replicates photosynthesis to generate energy, clean air
Scientists at the University of Central Florida have discovered a method for triggering artificial photosynthesis using a synthetic material, opening up a new way to both generate energy and also convert greenhouse gases into clean air.
“The practical applications of this work include the development of future technology that will transform CO2 (carbon dioxide) into useful materials, including what we call ‘solar fuel,’” Dr. Fernando Uribe-Romo, a research professor who worked on the project, told DT.
Read the full story here.
New FCC ruling would eliminate net neutrality regulations for ISPs
Net neutrality is one of the more contentious issues in technology today. Given some recent developments, it is not going to become any less controversial anytime soon. With the new administration came a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Ajit Pai, and he has been hinting at changing how the FCC regulates the industry in ways that will impact net neutrality regulations. Now, Pai has made his plans more official, Ars Technica reports.
Read the full story here.
Juisir is capitalizing on the Juicero hate with a discount for owners
If the dread of cleaning is what’s been keeping you from juicing, consider your aversion … averted. A new juicer has made its debut on Kickstarter, and while it’s entering a relatively crowded marketplace, it claims to have one feature that makes it stand out from the pack — no cleaning required. Meet Juisir, an “innovative cold press juicier” that applies eight tons of force to your favorite juice recipe, and leaves no mess in its wake.
Read the full story here.
NASA’s Cassini probe begins its suicide dive through Saturn’s rings
It’s been nearly two decades since the Cassini-Hyugens spacecraft launched from Earth toward Saturn, entering the ringed planet’s orbit on July 1, 2004. The Huygens lander separated on Christmas Day to dive into the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan, eventually landing and sending back images. Cassini then continued on to study the Saturn system alone. Unfortunately, 2017 marked the beginning of the end for the probe, which was beginning to run out of fuel. On Wednesday, NASA initiated the final maneuvers for its grand finale — a series of dives through the 1,500-mile-wide gap between Saturn and its rings.
Read the full story here.
Weekly Rewind: Go karts on the high seas, security bots, and NASA probes
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 our first take on the BlackBerry KeyOne to the juicer taking advantage of the Juicero debacle — it’s all here.
Computer-generated ‘brain age’ estimates how much time you’ve got left
While it’s easy to count our number of birthdays to figure out how long we’ve each been on the planet, researchers at Imperial College London have another age-related metric they think is even more important: A person’s “brain age.” That means taking into account the wear and tear on a person’s brain to help predict individuals at greater risk of suffering poor health and dying earlier. And, wouldn’t you know it, they’ve created a machine learning algorithm to help!
Read the full story here.
BlackBerry KeyOne: Our first take
BlackBerry kicked its own BlackBerry Operating System to the curb last year in favor of the more popular Android OS, and it no longer manufactures its own phones. But the Waterloo company isn’t exiting the business anytime soon. Rather, BlackBerry has partnered with Chinese company TCL to release Android phones under the BlackBerry brand name. Its latest phone is the KeyOne, a traditional BlackBerry phone with a full QWERTY keyboard.
Read the full story here.
Seriously?! A cruise ship is slapping a go-kart track on its deck
Go-karting is awesome fun wherever you do it, but have you ever thought of hitting the gas on the deck of a luxury cruise ship in the middle of the ocean? Now that’d be something to tell your buddies about when you’re back on dry land. The world’s first ship-based go-kart track — wait, let’s just say that again: the world’s first ship-based go-kart track is coming soon to Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest boat, the Norwegian Joy.
Read the full story here.
‘Star Trek: Discovery’ TV series: Everything we know so far
CBS unveiled the first teaser for its new Star Trek series in early 2016, and the show’s official title was revealed to be Star Trek: Discovery during Comic-Con International in San Diego in summer 2016. With the latest movie (Star Trek Beyond) in theaters this past summer, many Star Trek fans are wondering exactly how the television series from executive producer Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) and showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies) will fit into the framework of the sci-fi franchise as it exists now.
Read the full story here.
Meet the 400-pound robots that will soon patrol parking lots, offices, and malls
The K5 is a 400-pound, 6-foot tall autonomous security robot that roves parking lot aisles, the hallways of office campuses, sports stadium foyers, and shopping malls on the prowl for suspicious activity. Looking something like a mix between a Dalek from Doctor Who and Eve from Wall-E, it packs sensors like a LIDAR (light detection and ranging) array and cameras that help it differentiate between a harmless passerby and potential criminal, and it feeds all that data to the cloud.
Read the full story here.
No cell phone for you! Mumford and Sons ban cell phones at upcoming pre-release show
Planning on recording a shaky YouTube video of Mumford & Sons at their upcoming gig in Brighton, UK? You’re out of luck, as the folk rockers announced that they’ll be banning cell phones at the show — which takes place before their third LP, Wilder Eyes, comes out — as a precaution against leaking (via BBC). The group made clear that the last-minute show at the 1,700-capacity Brighton Dome in Brighton, which was offered exclusively to its mailing list subscribers, will not allow cell phones.
Read the full story here.
Synthetic material replicates photosynthesis to generate energy, clean air
Scientists at the University of Central Florida have discovered a method for triggering artificial photosynthesis using a synthetic material, opening up a new way to both generate energy and also convert greenhouse gases into clean air.
“The practical applications of this work include the development of future technology that will transform CO2 (carbon dioxide) into useful materials, including what we call ‘solar fuel,’” Dr. Fernando Uribe-Romo, a research professor who worked on the project, told DT.
Read the full story here.
New FCC ruling would eliminate net neutrality regulations for ISPs
Net neutrality is one of the more contentious issues in technology today. Given some recent developments, it is not going to become any less controversial anytime soon. With the new administration came a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Ajit Pai, and he has been hinting at changing how the FCC regulates the industry in ways that will impact net neutrality regulations. Now, Pai has made his plans more official, Ars Technica reports.
Read the full story here.
Juisir is capitalizing on the Juicero hate with a discount for owners
If the dread of cleaning is what’s been keeping you from juicing, consider your aversion … averted. A new juicer has made its debut on Kickstarter, and while it’s entering a relatively crowded marketplace, it claims to have one feature that makes it stand out from the pack — no cleaning required. Meet Juisir, an “innovative cold press juicier” that applies eight tons of force to your favorite juice recipe, and leaves no mess in its wake.
Read the full story here.
NASA’s Cassini probe begins its suicide dive through Saturn’s rings
It’s been nearly two decades since the Cassini-Hyugens spacecraft launched from Earth toward Saturn, entering the ringed planet’s orbit on July 1, 2004. The Huygens lander separated on Christmas Day to dive into the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan, eventually landing and sending back images. Cassini then continued on to study the Saturn system alone. Unfortunately, 2017 marked the beginning of the end for the probe, which was beginning to run out of fuel. On Wednesday, NASA initiated the final maneuvers for its grand finale — a series of dives through the 1,500-mile-wide gap between Saturn and its rings.
Read the full story here.
Weekly Rewind: Go karts on the high seas, security bots, and NASA probes
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 our first take on the BlackBerry KeyOne to the juicer taking advantage of the Juicero debacle — it’s all here.
Computer-generated ‘brain age’ estimates how much time you’ve got left
While it’s easy to count our number of birthdays to figure out how long we’ve each been on the planet, researchers at Imperial College London have another age-related metric they think is even more important: A person’s “brain age.” That means taking into account the wear and tear on a person’s brain to help predict individuals at greater risk of suffering poor health and dying earlier. And, wouldn’t you know it, they’ve created a machine learning algorithm to help!
Read the full story here.
BlackBerry KeyOne: Our first take
BlackBerry kicked its own BlackBerry Operating System to the curb last year in favor of the more popular Android OS, and it no longer manufactures its own phones. But the Waterloo company isn’t exiting the business anytime soon. Rather, BlackBerry has partnered with Chinese company TCL to release Android phones under the BlackBerry brand name. Its latest phone is the KeyOne, a traditional BlackBerry phone with a full QWERTY keyboard.
Read the full story here.
Seriously?! A cruise ship is slapping a go-kart track on its deck
Go-karting is awesome fun wherever you do it, but have you ever thought of hitting the gas on the deck of a luxury cruise ship in the middle of the ocean? Now that’d be something to tell your buddies about when you’re back on dry land. The world’s first ship-based go-kart track — wait, let’s just say that again: the world’s first ship-based go-kart track is coming soon to Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest boat, the Norwegian Joy.
Read the full story here.
‘Star Trek: Discovery’ TV series: Everything we know so far
CBS unveiled the first teaser for its new Star Trek series in early 2016, and the show’s official title was revealed to be Star Trek: Discovery during Comic-Con International in San Diego in summer 2016. With the latest movie (Star Trek Beyond) in theaters this past summer, many Star Trek fans are wondering exactly how the television series from executive producer Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) and showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies) will fit into the framework of the sci-fi franchise as it exists now.
Read the full story here.
Meet the 400-pound robots that will soon patrol parking lots, offices, and malls
The K5 is a 400-pound, 6-foot tall autonomous security robot that roves parking lot aisles, the hallways of office campuses, sports stadium foyers, and shopping malls on the prowl for suspicious activity. Looking something like a mix between a Dalek from Doctor Who and Eve from Wall-E, it packs sensors like a LIDAR (light detection and ranging) array and cameras that help it differentiate between a harmless passerby and potential criminal, and it feeds all that data to the cloud.
Read the full story here.
No cell phone for you! Mumford and Sons ban cell phones at upcoming pre-release show
Planning on recording a shaky YouTube video of Mumford & Sons at their upcoming gig in Brighton, UK? You’re out of luck, as the folk rockers announced that they’ll be banning cell phones at the show — which takes place before their third LP, Wilder Eyes, comes out — as a precaution against leaking (via BBC). The group made clear that the last-minute show at the 1,700-capacity Brighton Dome in Brighton, which was offered exclusively to its mailing list subscribers, will not allow cell phones.
Read the full story here.
Synthetic material replicates photosynthesis to generate energy, clean air
Scientists at the University of Central Florida have discovered a method for triggering artificial photosynthesis using a synthetic material, opening up a new way to both generate energy and also convert greenhouse gases into clean air.
“The practical applications of this work include the development of future technology that will transform CO2 (carbon dioxide) into useful materials, including what we call ‘solar fuel,’” Dr. Fernando Uribe-Romo, a research professor who worked on the project, told DT.
Read the full story here.
New FCC ruling would eliminate net neutrality regulations for ISPs
Net neutrality is one of the more contentious issues in technology today. Given some recent developments, it is not going to become any less controversial anytime soon. With the new administration came a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Ajit Pai, and he has been hinting at changing how the FCC regulates the industry in ways that will impact net neutrality regulations. Now, Pai has made his plans more official, Ars Technica reports.
Read the full story here.
Juisir is capitalizing on the Juicero hate with a discount for owners
If the dread of cleaning is what’s been keeping you from juicing, consider your aversion … averted. A new juicer has made its debut on Kickstarter, and while it’s entering a relatively crowded marketplace, it claims to have one feature that makes it stand out from the pack — no cleaning required. Meet Juisir, an “innovative cold press juicier” that applies eight tons of force to your favorite juice recipe, and leaves no mess in its wake.
Read the full story here.
NASA’s Cassini probe begins its suicide dive through Saturn’s rings
It’s been nearly two decades since the Cassini-Hyugens spacecraft launched from Earth toward Saturn, entering the ringed planet’s orbit on July 1, 2004. The Huygens lander separated on Christmas Day to dive into the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan, eventually landing and sending back images. Cassini then continued on to study the Saturn system alone. Unfortunately, 2017 marked the beginning of the end for the probe, which was beginning to run out of fuel. On Wednesday, NASA initiated the final maneuvers for its grand finale — a series of dives through the 1,500-mile-wide gap between Saturn and its rings.
Read the full story here.
Android Central Podcast: Winning the Title II
This week, your hosts Daniel Bader, Jerry Hildenbrand and Andrew Martonik talk about what’s new in the world of smartphones, and the regulators that influence the carriers we pay to get cellular service for those phones.
Andrew gives his thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S8, and the team talk about whether the new phone is a foundational phone that has problems — more like the Galaxy S6 than the Galaxy S7.
The BlackBerry KEYone is coming soon, but who is this phone for, and should you care? Daniel and Jerry give their thoughts.
The FCC is moving to repeal Title II, removing specific clauses from so-called net neutrality mandates that protect consumers from having “fast lanes” imposed on the internet. This is a big deal.
AT&T launched a “5G Evolution” network this week, but it’s more of the same — both in terms of technology (nothing new) and deceptive marketing (same old, same old).
This episode of the Android Central podcast is brought to you by Mint SIM. Looking for a great deal on high-speed 4G LTE in the U.S.? Use offer code ACFREESHIP at checkout when you purchase one of their inexpensive plans.
Tell your friends about the Android Central podcast, and be sure to subscribe so you see the show as soon as it’s released! Thanks for listening, and we’ll talk to you next week!
Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/androidcentral333.mp3
Google Chrome tips and tricks: Master your web browser
Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers in the world, and yet, because we use it so often, we often forget what it can do.
Chrome will let you browse pages, obviously, but it’s also loaded with hidden hacks that can essentially streamline your internet-browsing experience and digital life. From simple tricks that allow you to send emails from the omnibar (aka address bar) to extensions that you let save images to Pinterest without ever having to go to Pinterest.com, Chrome has everything you could possibly need or want.
For instance, here’s over 30 tips and tricks we use on a regular basis to get the most out of Chrome. We will update this piece over time with more handy tools and functions as we discover them. Let us know in the comments if you know of one worth including.
- YouTube TV is now live: What is it and how does it work?
- 7 best Google Home compatible devices you can buy today
- Google Home review: A better voice assistant than Amazon Echo?
Google Chrome tips and tricks
Sign in to Google Chrome
This might sound super obvious, but you really should sign in to the Chrome browser before you even think about using it. Doing so will allow you to save and sync things like your bookmarks, history, passwords, and other settings to your Google Account. Then, you can access them on any device. You can learn more about how to sign in to Chrome on this FAQ page.
Make your own profile
If you have different Google accounts, like work and personal, you can use profiles to keep your bookmarks and settings separate. You can learn more about how to add a Chrome profile on this FAQ page.
Browse in private or delete your history
If you don’t want Chrome to save what you visit or download, you can always browse the web privately using Chrome’s Incognito mode. You can also delete your history, cookies, and other information – all at once or just some from a specific period of time. Go here to learn more about Incognito mode, or go here to learn about how to delete your history in Chrome.
Access Chrome’s settings
From Chrome, find the hamburger menu or icon with three vertical dots on the upper left, and then select Settings to access Chrome’s full list of settings. Or just type chrome://settings/ in your omnibar.
Learn basic keyboard commands
There are tonnes of keyboard commands, but here are some worth remembering:
- Ctrl/Command + T opens a new tab
- Ctrl/Command + W closes your current tab
- Ctrl/Command + Shift + T opens your last tab
- Ctrl/Command + L highlights whatever’s in the omnibar
- Ctrl/Command + Tab moves you a tab to the right
- Ctrl/Command + Shift + Tab moves you a tab to the left
Add a “guest browser” account
If you want to let your friend use your laptop but still keep all your browsing info private from them, go to Chrome’s settings, and then under People select Add a person. This will let them have their own browsing experience separate from yours.
Use the Task Manager
You can Chrome’s Task Manager to end memory-hungry pages or see what’s slowing your session down. Go to Chrome’s hamburger menu on the left and then select More Tools. From there, click Task Manager.
Manage Autofill settings
Use your autofill settings to avoid manually entering your address or password or credit card information on a daily basis. Just to Chrome settings, then “Show advanced settings…”, and “Manage Autofill settings” under “Passwords and forms.”
Search sites From the omnibar
Ever want to search YouTube without going to to YouTube.com? If you go settings, you’ll see a “Manage search engines…” button under the “Search” section. Click it to see a list of sites you can search directly from the omnibar. Chrome will add these automatically, but you can also enter the URL for a site, such as Wikipedia. So, when you type a phrase in the omnibar and then hit tab, you’ll go to whatever related Wiki article you wanted to find. This saves you an extra step, as you no longer have to go to a site’s homepage to find what you want.
Search your personal Gmail from omnibar
Go back to the “Manage search engines…” area, then scroll to the bottom to add a new search engine, and enter the following: “https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/#apps/%s”. This is Gmail’s search function. You can then make the keyword “gmail.com,” or “mail.google.com”, and from that point on, you can search your email.
Do math equations from omnibar
The omnibar is amazing. For instance, you can use it as a calculator. Enter 10 x 10 and it will tell you the value is 100. Try it out. It works with any equation too .
Google search a phrase by highlighting it
You can Google search a phrase directly from your current page by highlighting it. From there, right click or drag it to the omnibar. So, if you highlight the word ‘dongles’ on a page, and then select ‘Look Up’, you will effectively Google search the word ‘dongles’.
Pin a tab
Google Chrome has a “Pin Tab” feature. If you’re not familiar with it, just keep in mind that browser tabs spawn from left to right. The first tabs you open are located on the left – unless you start moving tabs around. As a result, you probably keep your most important tabs on the left. With that in mind, the Chrome browser offers the ability to lock some of your most-used tabs to the left of your browser and reduces the tabs to icon size so that you can squeeze many of your favourites in a small space. All you have to do is to right-click on a tab and select the “Pin Tab” option.
View what you’re allowing on certain pages
Ever want to see how many cookies a page is deploying or what permissions you’ve given it? Just click the “i” icon or page button next to the URL in the omnibar to view site info including cookies and permissions. It’s also a handy way to allow the page to show popups.
Use the “Bookmark Open Pages…” option
If you want to save your current browsing session for future reference, press the up arrow, command, and D keys all at once (or right click, then select Bookmarks, and click Bookmark Open Pages). You can then save all your open pages in a new folder. This is handy if you’re researching a subject and want to save all the helpful information you’ve already found.
You can also download an extension like OneTab to do the same thing.
Reopen your recently closed tabs
If you ex out of your window, you can pick up where you left off by going to History from the menu bar (or going to History under the settings on the left of the browser, which can look like a hamburger menu or three-vertical dot icon, and then go to your history. Look for the tabs under Recently Closed, and click it once you find it.
You can also go into settings and select “Continue where you left off” under the “On startup” section to relaunch your browser as you left it.
Save and edit bookmarks
A quick way to manage your bookmarks is to type command+D to add a bookmark. You can also always right click on a page in the bookmarks bar to edit their titles. You can also go to Bookmarks>Bookmarks Manager from the Menu bar to manage all your saved sites and folders.
Quickly switch between tabs
Hit Control or Command + 1-9 while you’re on the omnibar to quickly switch between tabs. Each number corresponds to a page’s place in the tab tab above. So, on Mac, Command + 3 will open your third tab.
Quickly close tabs
Simply right-click on a tab and then select “Close Other Tabs” or “Close Tabs to the Right” to get rid of them fast.
Set startup pages
If you want Facebook or some other page to appear as soon as you open Chrome, you can set it to automatically launch those pages. Just go to settings, then click the “Set pages” option next to “Open a specific page or set of pages,” and enter the sites you wish to visit right away.
Use Chrome as a text editor
Instead of using some random note editor on your machine to take notes, use Chrome. Just enter “data:text/html, <html contenteditable>” into the omnibar, and then you can jot something down real quick.
Play a game when offline
If you try loading a page when you’re offline, and you’ll see a static little T-rex. Once you see it, hit the spacebar, and then it will turn into an endless side-scroller runner game.
Drag multiple tabs at once
Hold down the Control or Command key and click on all the tabs you want to move in order to move them as one.
Use Chrome as a simple multimedia player
Click on any multimedia file on your computer and then drag it directly into your Chrome browser window to look at it.
Download files to desktop
To quickly access a file you downloaded, automatically download it to your desktop. To change where files automatically download, go to settings, then click the Advanced Settings link, and select Downloads. There you can alter where files automatically download to (like desktop).
Zoom in or out
On a PC, you can zoom in or out on a page by pressing Control while rolling your scroll wheel up or down. You can then click Control-0 to return to the default. On a Mac, you can zoom in and out by pressing Command-plus or Command-minus. Command-0 will go back to default.
Go up or down using key commands
You can use the spacebar to scroll down on page, and you can scroll back up by pressing shift and the spacebar.
Translate everything
Chrome has built-in Google Translate, but if you just want to translate a select phrase or passage, install the official Google Translate extension. You can highlight any text and click the little Google Translate icon that sits in the top-right side of your browser screen
Cast your screen
Casting is baked into Chrome. Just right-click anywhere in Chrome to prompt a pop-up cast window. Or, click the hamburger in the top-right to prompt a pull-down menu and then choose Cast. Go here to learn more about casting from Chrome to your TV.
Use a Chrome theme
Sick of how Chrome looks? Download a theme from the Chrome store. Just click over to the Theme section and click to install.
Compose an email in your omnibar
You can write your email up in the omnibar on Chrome and send it from there. Just type “mailto:” followed by the recipients address into your omnibar. It’ll open up the Gmail compose window automatically. From there, you can write your email and hit send.
Create desktop shortcuts
You can turn a site into a desktop app to speedily access your favourite website. Just navigate to thewebsite, then click the wrench icon, and select “Tools”. From there, click on “Create application shortcuts.”
Explore Chrome extensions
To get the most out of Chrome, go to the Chrome Web Storevand explore its vast amounts of extensions and apps. The right extensions will improve your web experience. For instance, you can install the Pinterest one so you can directly pin any image you see to your account.
Do a barrel roll
Type “Do A Barrel Roll” into the omnibar and hit enter. 🙂
Want to know more?
Check out our Google hub for related articles.
Yik Yak’s anonymous chat app is shutting down
Just four years after it started, Yik Yak is shutting down. In the past couple of years, issues like bullying have taken a toll on the allure of the anonymous internet, while this app had its own issues with threats and harassment. In a blog post, the Yik Yak team didn’t explain their reasons for shutting down, but did confirm earlier reports that a “few members” will join Square. In 2015 we recounted the rise and fall of Secret, however others like Whisper and Confide are still going. Business Insider reports that it raised more than $73 million in venture capital, but struggled to keep its users as students migrated to other apps like Snapchat.
Via: Business Insider
Source: Yik Yak
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