YouTube opens up mobile livestreams to more users
It hasn’t been that long since YouTube rolled out livestreaming for those who want to broadcast directly from their phones. The caveat was that you had to have at least 10,000 subscribers to enable the feature. Today, however, the video service has made live video available to YouTubers with a smaller subscription base. If you’ve got at least 1,000 subscribers to your channel, you can go live on the go.
Streaming live to your YouTube channel is pretty easy, too. If you meet the subscriber requirements, you simply hop into the Creator Studio tools and enable livestreaming. Then you use the YouTube mobile app to create a livestream. YouTube will automatically save an archive for you as well.
Allowing folks with smaller YouTube followings to livestream like this gives the video service a larger pool of content, for sure. This could better help them take on Facebook, which continues to upgrade its own offerings with Facebook Live. Keeping the feature to established channel owners will also let the service test its live feature with a more technically diverse audience before possibly opening the door to everyone.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: YouTube
22 fast and fluid news apps for iPhone and Android
The technology industry has well and truly infiltrated the publication world. Facebook launched Instant Articles, Google launched an open source platform for publishers with Twitter, and Apple has its own proprietary News app. At the same time, Flipboard, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and AOL have continued to update their respective news apps, showing there is a lot of interest in the world of news on mobile platforms. That said, below are our top picks for the best news apps, whether you’re a die-hard news junkie or merely a casual purveyor of world affairs.
More: 100 Awesome iPhone Apps | Load your iPad with the best apps in every category
BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed took the world by storm with its viral listicals and other fun content. The app consolidates everything in one place, while allowing to customize the types of articles you see to suit your tastes. You can also browse the menu to view quizzes, what’s trending, or news if you want to further hone your search. BuzzFeed also has a hard news app, which you can get here.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
SmartNews
SmartNews brings you trending stories and categorizes them based on the subject. It’s clutter-free, easy to browse through, and good at digging up fresh content that you’ll actually want to read. Partners include NBC News, Medium, USA Today, TIME, Bleacher Report, Quartz, VICE, Reuters, AP, Perez Hilton, and more.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Google News & Weather
It isn’t Google Reader, but Google News & Weather offers a wide variation of news stories from multiple publishers. Alongside the headlines and local weather, users can browse “Suggested for you,” an area for news stories catered to your most recent searches. Users are also able to highlight an individual topic, such as technology, for all of the current news.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Feedly
The death of Google Reader was a tragedy for a lot of avid users, but for Feedly, it was a blessing. The news aggregator noticed a huge wave of new users within weeks, and has since improved its mobile service to make it easier to save, read, and bookmark articles. You can select multiple publications from Feedly’s search board, sort them into topics, and save articles for later viewing with bookmarks.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Flipboard created a new type of reading experience on mobile, one focused on engaging the reader with the most exciting stories of the day and a magazine-style aesthetic. Hundreds of publications are now available on the news reader, and Flipboard offers a generous amount of topics, whether you’re into technology as a whole or the Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Yahoo News Digest
Yahoo’s $30 million acquisition of Summly was all about redesigning News Digest, and the finished product is a marvel. It offers 10 of the top stories in your region, capitalizing on Summly’s artificial intelligence technology as it does to present the information in a tidy package. The news changes every few hours, too, giving you important updates throughout the day.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Reddit finally launched an official Reddit app last year, and the app quickly became one of the best ways to experience Reddit on Android and iOS. Reddit is a great way to keep up with the latest news through the various subreddits — Android news would be submitted to /r/Android, for instance — and users upvote popular content and comment on it.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Apple News
Apple News comes pre-loaded on every iOS device, and sadly, like most of Apple’s apps, it remains unavailable on Android platforms. The News app places a big focus on images and quick loading videos, and publications such as The New York Times and National Geographic have partnered with the company to make their content readily available. Users are also able to follow trends or individual topics, ranging from vague areas like politics to niche topics such as HTML5.
Read more here:
Apple
LinkedIn Pulse
LinkedIn Pulse received a much needed update a few months ago, but most of the functionality remains the same. Users are able to select articles from publishers or people, and use their LinkedIn account to sign in. Pulse also touts its own video player and staff, which allows the team to curate the most important stories in the business world.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
AOL Mail, News & Video
AOL is still kicking, even if it is now a small segment in Verizon’s media empire. Thankfully, since the acquisition, there have been regular updates to its Mail, Weather, and News app. The app even offers a dedicated news feed lined with local weather, topical news, and video sections.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
News Republic
News Republic offers a collection of articles based on trends and personal preferences, letting you see what everyone else is reading and what you’re interested in. For users with limited time, the service also offers a digest, so you can casually check the headlines without having to delve into the full article.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Ever read an interesting headline, but don’t have time to dive into the story? Pocket is the perfect app for you. The popular app lets you store news for later reading, and offers a simple user interface that lets find the articles you saved, bookmark them, and archive others you want to come back to. Pocket recently launched a Recommended feature, too, which lets you check what friends and other users have saved.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
AP Mobile
Associated Press covers news from all around the world, with a huge team of dedicated reporters that focus on all manners of topics and trends. The service’s companion app comes free of the usual glist and glam that other news services offer, but for people who enjoy getting the facts and little else, it’s a useful resource.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
BBC News
The BBC is another worldwide news organization dedicated to keeping you up to date on the latest topics and news stories. Unlike AP Mobile, however, the BBC News app offers a bit more fun with its articles, along with a live-streaming news channel that’s baked directly into its app.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
CNN App
CNN was the first 24-hour cable news channel, and its official app essentially functions as a condensed version of the site. It offers a wide variety of articles, primarily with a on U.S. audiences. Video also plays a larger part on CNN than it does on the BBC, so for fans of video news, this is the app for you.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera was the first 24-hour news channel to cover the Middle East, and has become one of the most popular and established publications in the region. Thankfully, it also reports on news from around the globe, whether talking the effects of El Niño in California or the education rate of kids in rural Sudan.
Download now from:
iTunes Google Play
Inoreader
This app is another news aggregator that brings all the news to you, instead of you having to check every news site individually. It allows you to save web pages for later viewing and search for content you’ve liked in the past. You can subscribe to news feeds covering technology, business, politics, and more. You can even subscribe to your favorite YouTube channels. It’s compatible with Android or iOS, and there’s a version designed especially for iPads.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Instapaper
If you want to save news for later, Instapaper is for you. You can have news with you wherever you go, even if you’re offline. One of the best features is that it gives you an uncluttered version of the news article, just like when you switch your browser to reader mode. With one tap, you can save your news and read it later, in an uncluttered format, and without having to be connected to the internet.
Download now for:
Android iOS
theScore
If you’re into sports — whether it’s the NFL, NBA, NHL, Premier League Soccer, you name it — it’s in this app. It offers rich information, including detailed stats that you don’t get on many apps. If you want real time scores with an app that specializes in sports, then this app is a must. If you’re an iOS user, the best part is that there’s an Apple Watch app, too.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Univision
For Spanish speakers, the Univision app is a great way to get news in your native language. It not only offers news, but also TV shows, entertainment, a TV guide, and horoscopes. From celebrity news to TV shows, this is a great news app for Spanish speakers.
Download now for:
Android iOS
NPR News Radio
If you would rather listen to your news on the go, instead of reading, then the NPR News Radio app is a consistently good performer when it comes to user ratings. Follow, and listen, to local and national news on your smartphone. You can create a playlist of your favorites, or listen to public radio podcasts. The app also lets you find stations based on your current location using your smartphone’s GPS.
Download now for:
Android iOS
News360
This app is one of the most well-known news aggregation apps for a reason. The app looks great, it’s very straightforward, and offers rich content. It’s similar to Flipboard, in that you search for your favorite topics, or specific news sites, and make a list. Not only does it offer an iMessage app, but also an Apple Watch app for iOS users. You can also connect the app to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus to share the news, and it supports Pocket, Instapaper, and Evernote integration. It also allows you to save stories, so you can read them later. This is definitely a must-have app when it comes to news.
Download now for:
Android iOS
Got a second? This app from MIT helps you learn a language in your spare time
Why it matters to you
Our days are full of short moments spent waiting. With these new apps you can turn that spare time into knowledge.
Even in an age of connectivity, our lives are full of relatively empty moments. We may be waiting for an elevator to arrive, for a text message to come through, or for our device to reconnect to Wi-Fi. Through a new series of apps called WaitSuite, a team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory want to turn these moments into learning opportunities.
WaitSuite was inspired by apps like Duolingo, a “micro-learning” platform that challenges users to learn new languages in what little spare time they have. The idea is that even short sessions of engagement can accumulate into significant learning over time. However, where Duolingo requires users to open its own app, WaitSuite is integrated into the apps at hand.
“With stand-alone apps, it can be inconvenient to have to separately open them up to do a learning task,” Carrie Cai, an MIT PhD student who leads the project, said in a press release. “WaitSuite is embedded directly into your existing tasks, so that you can easily learn without leaving what you were already doing.”
WaitSuite covers old school tasks like waiting for an elevator (WaitSuite’s ElevatorLearner application activates when it detects Bluetooth iBeacons near elevators) and more modern-day ones like waiting for your device to reconnect to Wi-Fi. When the platform senses that its users are in a state of waiting, it prompts them to answer language vocabulary questions.
“The vast majority of people made use of multiple kinds of waiting within WaitSuite,” Cai said. “By enabling wait-learning during diverse waiting scenarios, WaitSuite gave people more opportunities to learn and practice vocabulary words.”
Although brief, the researchers say these “wait-learning” sessions enabled users to learn some four words per day just while waiting for text messages. And since WaitSuite engaged users through the waiting time, it even kept them more focused on the task at hand since they weren’t tempted by some other time-consuming distraction. Moving forward they hope to include audio capabilities — or even refine the apps to encourage digital downtime.
Got a second? This app from MIT helps you learn a language in your spare time
Why it matters to you
Our days are full of short moments spent waiting. With these new apps you can turn that spare time into knowledge.
Even in an age of connectivity, our lives are full of relatively empty moments. We may be waiting for an elevator to arrive, for a text message to come through, or for our device to reconnect to Wi-Fi. Through a new series of apps called WaitSuite, a team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory want to turn these moments into learning opportunities.
WaitSuite was inspired by apps like Duolingo, a “micro-learning” platform that challenges users to learn new languages in what little spare time they have. The idea is that even short sessions of engagement can accumulate into significant learning over time. However, where Duolingo requires users to open its own app, WaitSuite is integrated into the apps at hand.
“With stand-alone apps, it can be inconvenient to have to separately open them up to do a learning task,” Carrie Cai, an MIT PhD student who leads the project, said in a press release. “WaitSuite is embedded directly into your existing tasks, so that you can easily learn without leaving what you were already doing.”
WaitSuite covers old school tasks like waiting for an elevator (WaitSuite’s ElevatorLearner application activates when it detects Bluetooth iBeacons near elevators) and more modern-day ones like waiting for your device to reconnect to Wi-Fi. When the platform senses that its users are in a state of waiting, it prompts them to answer language vocabulary questions.
“The vast majority of people made use of multiple kinds of waiting within WaitSuite,” Cai said. “By enabling wait-learning during diverse waiting scenarios, WaitSuite gave people more opportunities to learn and practice vocabulary words.”
Although brief, the researchers say these “wait-learning” sessions enabled users to learn some four words per day just while waiting for text messages. And since WaitSuite engaged users through the waiting time, it even kept them more focused on the task at hand since they weren’t tempted by some other time-consuming distraction. Moving forward they hope to include audio capabilities — or even refine the apps to encourage digital downtime.
Google will no longer require apps be pre-installed on Android in Russia
Why it matters to you
Google antitrust battles seriously impact Android and how it works — but in this case, it will also diversify the Android phones available.
Android phones in Russia may soon be a whole lot more diverse. As part of Google’s agreement with antitrust officials in Russia, Google will no longer require that phones sold in the country come with Google’s apps pre-installed. That paves the way for manufacturers to install their own replacement apps instead.
The news comes from Reuters, which notes that this marks the end of a battle that began in February 2015. On top of no longer requiring that apps like Gmail and Maps be pre-installed on Android, Google will also have to create a tool that allows users to change the default search engine — and manufacturers in Russia will still have access to the Google Play Store.
The dispute between Google and Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service has been a long one. While still trying to fend off European regulators, Google was struck with a $6.8 million fine from Russian antitrust officials. That is chump change for a company that nets about $75 billion in annual revenue, but it’s troubling — especially considering that the company’s appeal has been rejected by a Russian court, according to Reuters.
The fine, issued early in August, came months after Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service found Google guilty of stifling alternative search engines, such as the Russian-born Yandex, and other services in Android smartphones. The Moscow arbitration court upheld that decision in March 2016, dealing a blow to the Mountain View, California-based company’s power-broker status among phone manufacturers in the region.
The court agreed with the findings of the FAS — that Google abused its dominant position in the Russian mobile industry to advertise its own apps and services at the expense of local competition. In its decision last year, the agency said Google’s compulsory bundling policy — one that forces phone manufacturers to sign an agreement with the company to preinstall its services in exchange for access to its Play Store app market — was illegal under Russian anti-monopoly law.
The FAS said Russia’s competition laws affect all products that “are supplied to the Russian Federation” — including those from foreign companies.
“We have received notice of the fine from FAS and will analyze closely before deciding our next steps,” a Google spokesperson previously told Digital Trends. “In the meantime, we continue to talk to all invested parties to help consumers, device manufacturers, and developers thrive on Android in Russia.”
In counterarguments before the FAS last year, Google emphasized that its Android partners are free to opt for alternative apps instead of the company’s own. But regulators concluded that most manufacturers found the Play Store an irresistible carrot because it touts more than 2 million apps and a billion active users worldwide. That has led most to, for example, adopt Google as the default search engine on their handsets despite the popularity of Yandex (more than 80 percent of Russians report using Yandex for most Internet searches).
Android has generated billions in revenue and profit for the company since 2008, largely from advertisements shown on Android phones and transactions from the Play Store. In light of the recent decision, manufacturers may decide to supplant the company’s ad platform and app store with alternatives.
And the implications of the fine extend far beyond Russia. The European Union’s European Commission began a line of inquiry regarding the company’s Android practices last year, and in April 2016 accused the company of boosting its own services and apps on Android over other rival services.
In the U.S., Google may still be facing some trouble from the Federal Trade Commission, though the commission’s investigation on Google’s search dominance is still early in the process. The FTC once considered suing the company over similar practices in 2012 but scrapped those plans after officials failed to reach a consensus.
Google has previously told Digital Trends that “anyone can use Android, with or without Google applications. Hardware manufacturers and carriers can decide how to use Android and consumers have the last word about which apps they want to use on their devices.”
Yandex filed the complaint to the FAS in February 2015, kickstarting the investigation that led to the fine.
“We are satisfied with today’s Moscow Arbitration Tribunal decision,” a Yandex spokesperson told Digital Trends. “This decision confirms the FAS findings of the investigation into Google’s anti-competitive practices on Android.”
Article originally published in December 2016. Updated on 04-17-2017 by Christian de Looper: Added news that Google will no longer require manufacturers pre-install its apps in Russia.
‘Leaked’ Intel slide backs rumors of chipset support for Wi-Fi, USB 3.1 Gen2
Why it matters to you
Intel will apparently not only support USB 3.1 Gen2 connectivity within its chipset for motherboards, but Wi-Fi supporting gigabit connectivity as well.
In November of 2016, unnamed sources stemming from motherboard makers and component suppliers claimed that Intel planned to inject USB 3.1 Gen2 and Wi-Fi connectivity into its upcoming eighth-generation “Cannon Lake” 300 Series chipsets. Now a supposed “leaked” slide created by Intel backs those claims, showing what the chipset will support later this year. The authenticity of the slide is questionable given that it doesn’t have any Intel-based info or branding, AS typically seen on official slides.
Here is the info versus the current details regarding Intel’s latest seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” 200 Series chipset:
200 Series PCH-H
300 Series PCH-H
Total number of high-speed I/O ports:
Up to 30 with flexibility
Up to 30 with flexibility
PCI Express 3.0 lanes:
Up to 24 lanes
Up to 24 lanes
USB 3.1 Gen1 ports (5Gbps):
Up to 10 ports
Up to 10 ports total
USB 3.1 Gen2 ports (10Gbps):
—
Up to 6 ports (part of Gen1 total)
SATA 3.0 ports (6Gbps):
Up to 6
Up to 6
M.2 SSD ports:
Up to three x4 ports
Up to three x4 ports
Intel Optane support:
Yes
Yes
DMI speed:
x4 3.0
X4 3.0
Maximum processor PCIe 3.0 configurations:
1×16
2×8
1×8 + 2×4
1×16
2×8
1×8 + 2×4
Integrated Wireless AC support (gigabit Wi-Fi/Bluetooth CNV):
—
Yes
As the supposed leaked slide shows, the only difference between the two chipsets (for now) is that the 300 Series includes USB 3.1 Gen2 technology, Wireless AC, and Bluetooth connectivity. To be clear, the collective that manages the USB standard redefined USB 3.0 when the second generation became final. Thus, USB 3.0 is now USB 3.1 Gen1 with speeds of up to 5Gbps. The new USB 3.1 Gen2 standard, which is usually associated with Type-C physical connections (Type-A is the full-sized rectangular port) and Thunderbolt 3, speeds along at up to 10Gbps.
That said, Intel’s chipsets have supported USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1 since the standard became golden. And now that USB 3.1 Gen2 is becoming more mainstream, Intel appears to be adding support for that 10Gbps connection as well. The fact that the leaked slide uses USB 3.0 terminology leads to speculation that perhaps it is nothing more than a screenshot of a document table conjured up by theorists using Intel-like colors for an “authentic” feel.
In addition to USB 3.1 Gen2, the slide also suggests gigabit Wi-Fi. If that holds true, this detail could indicate that Intel plans to incorporate a component based on the 802.11ac Wave2 standard, which has a theoretical throughput range of up to 2.34Gbps by incorporating MU-MIMO technology. The Wave1 standard generally used today has a theoretical maximum throughput rate of 1.3Gbps based on SU-MIMO technology. Intel may wait on using the newer 802.11ad specification until the 400 Series chipset hits the market at the end of the year.
802.11ac Wave1
802.11ac Wave2
802.11ac Base Spec
PHY Rate:
1.3Gbps
3.47Gbps
6.9Gbps
MAC Throughput:
867Mbps
2.34Gbps
4.49Gbps
MU-MIMO Support:
No
Yes
Yes
Modulation:
256 QAM
256 QAM
256 QAM
Max spatial streams:
3
3 to 4
8
Max channel width:
80MHz
160MHz
160MHz
5GHz max speed:
1.3Gbps
(433Mbps x3)
2.34Gbps
(~560Mbps x4)
4.49Gbps
(~560Mbps x8)
2.4GHz max speed:
433Mbps
433Mbps
433Mbps
‘Leaked’ Intel slide backs rumors of chipset support for Wi-Fi, USB 3.1 Gen2
Why it matters to you
Intel will apparently not only support USB 3.1 Gen2 connectivity within its chipset for motherboards, but Wi-Fi supporting gigabit connectivity as well.
In November of 2016, unnamed sources stemming from motherboard makers and component suppliers claimed that Intel planned to inject USB 3.1 Gen2 and Wi-Fi connectivity into its upcoming eighth-generation “Cannon Lake” 300 Series chipsets. Now a supposed “leaked” slide created by Intel backs those claims, showing what the chipset will support later this year. The authenticity of the slide is questionable given that it doesn’t have any Intel-based info or branding, AS typically seen on official slides.
Here is the info versus the current details regarding Intel’s latest seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” 200 Series chipset:
200 Series PCH-H
300 Series PCH-H
Total number of high-speed I/O ports:
Up to 30 with flexibility
Up to 30 with flexibility
PCI Express 3.0 lanes:
Up to 24 lanes
Up to 24 lanes
USB 3.1 Gen1 ports (5Gbps):
Up to 10 ports
Up to 10 ports total
USB 3.1 Gen2 ports (10Gbps):
—
Up to 6 ports (part of Gen1 total)
SATA 3.0 ports (6Gbps):
Up to 6
Up to 6
M.2 SSD ports:
Up to three x4 ports
Up to three x4 ports
Intel Optane support:
Yes
Yes
DMI speed:
x4 3.0
X4 3.0
Maximum processor PCIe 3.0 configurations:
1×16
2×8
1×8 + 2×4
1×16
2×8
1×8 + 2×4
Integrated Wireless AC support (gigabit Wi-Fi/Bluetooth CNV):
—
Yes
As the supposed leaked slide shows, the only difference between the two chipsets (for now) is that the 300 Series includes USB 3.1 Gen2 technology, Wireless AC, and Bluetooth connectivity. To be clear, the collective that manages the USB standard redefined USB 3.0 when the second generation became final. Thus, USB 3.0 is now USB 3.1 Gen1 with speeds of up to 5Gbps. The new USB 3.1 Gen2 standard, which is usually associated with Type-C physical connections (Type-A is the full-sized rectangular port) and Thunderbolt 3, speeds along at up to 10Gbps.
That said, Intel’s chipsets have supported USB 3.0/USB 3.1 Gen1 since the standard became golden. And now that USB 3.1 Gen2 is becoming more mainstream, Intel appears to be adding support for that 10Gbps connection as well. The fact that the leaked slide uses USB 3.0 terminology leads to speculation that perhaps it is nothing more than a screenshot of a document table conjured up by theorists using Intel-like colors for an “authentic” feel.
In addition to USB 3.1 Gen2, the slide also suggests gigabit Wi-Fi. If that holds true, this detail could indicate that Intel plans to incorporate a component based on the 802.11ac Wave2 standard, which has a theoretical throughput range of up to 2.34Gbps by incorporating MU-MIMO technology. The Wave1 standard generally used today has a theoretical maximum throughput rate of 1.3Gbps based on SU-MIMO technology. Intel may wait on using the newer 802.11ad specification until the 400 Series chipset hits the market at the end of the year.
802.11ac Wave1
802.11ac Wave2
802.11ac Base Spec
PHY Rate:
1.3Gbps
3.47Gbps
6.9Gbps
MAC Throughput:
867Mbps
2.34Gbps
4.49Gbps
MU-MIMO Support:
No
Yes
Yes
Modulation:
256 QAM
256 QAM
256 QAM
Max spatial streams:
3
3 to 4
8
Max channel width:
80MHz
160MHz
160MHz
5GHz max speed:
1.3Gbps
(433Mbps x3)
2.34Gbps
(~560Mbps x4)
4.49Gbps
(~560Mbps x8)
2.4GHz max speed:
433Mbps
433Mbps
433Mbps
Great deal! These are our 3 favorite Amazon tech bargains today
Monday’s Gold Box deals from Amazon include a stylish yet powerful HP desktop, a handy GPS system with free lifetime map updates, and a midsize LED TV that fits easily in any room. Score savings up to $133 and discounts as deep as 47 percent. Read on to browse Amazon’s best tech deals of the day.
HP 20 AIO 19.5 Inch HD+ LED Desktop
Apple products are known for being as stylish as they are functional. Now, other manufacturers have followed Apple’s lead with products such as this HP 20 AIO 19.5 Inch HD+ LED Desktop, which is currently 27 percent off on Amazon today only. The desktop has a clean white exterior with a stylish stand and packs a 1 TB hard drive, AMD Radeon R2 Graphics, and more.
This desktop is certified refurbished, but don’t let that deter you — refurbished products endure extra testing for functionality, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging to make sure everything works just like new.
The desktop’s 19.5-inch HD+ LED display with 1600 x 900 pixel resolution showcases impressive color and clarity. With dual core processing, the AMD E2 APU handles the graphics to optimize everything from normal browsing to your most power-hungry programs. The 4 GB memory provides high-bandwidth RAM to run multiple applications and browsers at once, while the 1 TB hard drive enables rapid read and write times for large files and complex applications.
This certified refurbished HP 20 AIO 19.5 Inch HD+ LED Desktop normally retails for $449 but today only is discounted to just $316 on Amazon, providing a savings of $133 (30 percent).
Buy now on Amazon for $316
Garmin Nuvi 57LM GPS Navigator System
Before you dismiss GPS systems as completely outdated, consider how you’d find your way around without cell service. A GPS system makes an excellent gift for everyone from dads to grads, which is why we love this Garmin Nuvi 57LM GPS Navigator System, which is currently 47 percent off on Amazon today only.
The Nuvi 57LM features a sleek, stylish, and bright, five-inch dual-orientation display. The GPS has Garmin Real Directions to guide you using recognizable landmarks, buildings, and traffic lights. Easily discover nearby spots for food and gas without turning off the map by using the Up Ahead feature, while enjoying lifetime map updates (which normally will cost around $100 as an add-on).
The GPS provides easy directions — including a Lane Assist with Junction View feature to display upcoming junctions — and uses brightly colored arrows to indicate your proper lan. Enjoy the convenience of always knowing your speed and speed limits, including school zone warnings that modify the screen color to reflect lower speed limits.
The Garmin Nuvi 57LM GPS Navigator System with included lifetime map updates normally retails for $150 but is available today only for only $80 on Amazon, providing a $70 (47 percent) discount.
Buy now on Amazon for $80
TCL 32D2700 32-Inch 720p LED TV
A midsize TV for your bedroom or office without spending a fortune? It’s possible with this TCL 32D2700 32-Inch 720p LED TV deal, which reduces the price to only $140 on Amazon for a limited time. This TV provides premium picture quality and a sophisticated design perfect for bringing entertainment to any room in the house.
This TCL model is a flat-screen LED HDTV with high -efinition resolution for excellent color and contrast, and direct LED backlighting for darker blacks and luminous brightness. HP 720 resolution gives you two times the standard resolution for a crystal-clear picture, and features TCL True Color to offer the latest-generation dimensional sorting and color processing.
The TV has a sleek and sophisticated design with a slim frame and stylish quad pedestal, and the ultra-thin bezel allows the TV to fit more screen into less space, meaning you not only maximize your entertainment space but can also easily mount the device to a wall.
This TCL 32D2700 32-Inch 720p LED TV regularly retails for $230 but is currently available for only $140 on Amazon, saving you $90 (39 percent).
Buy now from Amazon for $140
Master Facebook Messenger with these helpful tips and tricks
More than one billion people use Facebook Messenger every month to stay in touch with family and friends. The app is packed with functionality, which isn’t always obvious. New features, that you might not be aware of, are being rolled out all the time. Check out our tips and tricks below to find out if you’re making the most of Facebook’s popular chat service.
Before we get started…
The first thing you need to do is make sure that you have the most recent version of Facebook Messenger, which can easily be done in iOS and Android.
If you’re an iOS user, open the App Store and tap the Updates tab on the far right. Afterward, tap the Update All button in the top-right corner or the Update button directly to the right of Facebook Messenger, if available.
If you’re an Android user, open the Google Play Store and tap the three horizontal lines in the top left. Then, tap My apps & games from the resulting menu and you’ll see a list of possible updates. Find Facebook Messenger and update it as needed, or just tap Update all at the top.
Two unconventional tools help researchers detect buried land mines
Why it matters to you
Buried landmines injure tens of thousands of civilians every year. This innovative technique may help detect the explosives before they detonate.
A team of researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed an innovative new method for detecting buried land mines, and it combines two unconventional tools: lasers and fluorescent bacteria.
Civilians around the world are continually impacted by live land mines left over from wartime. Detecting the land mines is difficult and removing them is obviously dangerous. And every year, between 15,000 and 20,000 people are hurt or killed by the devices. As many as 110 million buried land mines have been laid in more than 70 countries since the 1960s, according to the United Nations. Millions are still buried and unexploded.
Over the past few years, a number of creative methods have emerged for detecting and detonating land mines, including Massoud Hassani’s windblown device and drone-based system called Mine Kafon.
The new Hebrew University method is inspired by the fact that soils collect trace amounts of explosive vapors that leak out of land mines. Detecting the vapors helps detect the land mine.
The researchers genetically engineered bacteria to give off a fluorescent signals when contacted by the explosive vapors. They then packed the bacteria into small beads and sprinkled them across the top layer of a test site that had land mines buried underneath. From a safe distance, they scanned the site with a laser and successfully detected the location of the land mines. A paper detailing the study was published last week in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
“Our field data show that engineered biosensors may be useful in a land mine detection system,” said Shimshon Belkin, who was in charge of engineering the bacteria.
However, he pointed out there were a few more obstacles ahead: “For this to be possible, several challenges need to be overcome, such as enhancing the sensitivity and stability of the sensor bacteria, improving scanning speeds to cover large areas, and making the scanning apparatus more compact so it can be used on board a light unmanned aircraft or drone.”
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