Clever web app obscures your browsing activity by visiting random pages

Why it matters to you

Internet Noise is a web app designed to protect your privacy by obscuring your meaningful search history.

You know those spy movies where a character is being tailed in their car, and decides to make a bunch of seemingly illogical detours down back alleys and the wrong way up one-direction roads in order to throw off their pursuers? That’s kind of what a new internet privacy web app called Internet Noise aims to do.

In the aftermath of the United States House of Representatives’ decision to gut internet privacy rules, and allow companies to sell their customers’ personal information, programmer and activist Dan Schultz decided to do something about it — and set about coding.

His web app Internet Noise’s big unique selling point are its “noisemaker” buttons, which obscure your meaningful search history by diluting the useful (from an eavesdropper point of view) signal from the meaningless noise that surrounds it.

More: Personal Privacy Assistant uses AI to learn users’ app preferences

“The buttons search Google with random two-word phrases, and pull up the occasional random website via google’s ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ feature,” Schultz told Digital Trends.

Between the five tabs it opens and their 10 second refresh rate (each time with a different nonsense search), it won’t be long before your search history is virtually unrecognizable.

Schultz noted that there is only so much the buttons can do, however, which is why he describes Internet Noise as a “protest page” as much as a serious app. The website doesn’t stop there, though. It also features other information on how internet users can protect themselves.

“The most important thing to understand about this project is that although noise is a fine way to protest, these buttons will not do much to keep you safe from snooping,” Schultz continued. “In the same way that a person can still make out the melody of a song in a crowded bar, sophisticated advertisers and ISPs will be able to figure out your unencrypted browsing habits even if you try to throw them off. However, if you take the recommended steps listed out on the Internet Noise page — [such as] install HTTPS everywhere, Privacy Badger, explore Tor and VPNs, and check out the Electronic Frontier Foundation — you will be in incredibly good shape and your data will be essentially hidden from sight.”

Clever web app obscures your browsing activity by visiting random pages

Why it matters to you

Internet Noise is a web app designed to protect your privacy by obscuring your meaningful search history.

You know those spy movies where a character is being tailed in their car, and decides to make a bunch of seemingly illogical detours down back alleys and the wrong way up one-direction roads in order to throw off their pursuers? That’s kind of what a new internet privacy web app called Internet Noise aims to do.

In the aftermath of the United States House of Representatives’ decision to gut internet privacy rules, and allow companies to sell their customers’ personal information, programmer and activist Dan Schultz decided to do something about it — and set about coding.

His web app Internet Noise’s big unique selling point are its “noisemaker” buttons, which obscure your meaningful search history by diluting the useful (from an eavesdropper point of view) signal from the meaningless noise that surrounds it.

More: Personal Privacy Assistant uses AI to learn users’ app preferences

“The buttons search Google with random two-word phrases, and pull up the occasional random website via google’s ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ feature,” Schultz told Digital Trends.

Between the five tabs it opens and their 10 second refresh rate (each time with a different nonsense search), it won’t be long before your search history is virtually unrecognizable.

Schultz noted that there is only so much the buttons can do, however, which is why he describes Internet Noise as a “protest page” as much as a serious app. The website doesn’t stop there, though. It also features other information on how internet users can protect themselves.

“The most important thing to understand about this project is that although noise is a fine way to protest, these buttons will not do much to keep you safe from snooping,” Schultz continued. “In the same way that a person can still make out the melody of a song in a crowded bar, sophisticated advertisers and ISPs will be able to figure out your unencrypted browsing habits even if you try to throw them off. However, if you take the recommended steps listed out on the Internet Noise page — [such as] install HTTPS everywhere, Privacy Badger, explore Tor and VPNs, and check out the Electronic Frontier Foundation — you will be in incredibly good shape and your data will be essentially hidden from sight.”

Jetty spruces up online insurance shopping for the ‘urban consumer’

Why it matters to you

Insurance isn’t the most attractive sell, but it’s a key way to make sure your valuables and apartment are covered. Now Jetty wants to streamline the experience.

Signing up for insurance is far from exciting, but a new startup called Jetty wants to spruce up the experience to meet the needs of “modern, urban consumers.”

There’s no app yet, but the company is launching its mobile-optimized website that lets you sign up for a wide range of insurance types. This can include property coverage, liability, loss of use, and medical payments.

More: Apartment hunting made easy: This app only shows you pads you’re guaranteed to get

There are also “Power-Ups,” which can be additions to the standard insurance plan to help protect specific items. Some of these Power-Ups provide coverage for jewelry, handbags, shoes, personal electronics, wine collections, bicycles, and more. If you rent your apartment out with Airbnb, there’s even insurance to protect your home. What’s neat is that bed bug insurance is embedded into the service for everyone who signs up with Jetty. The company said it’s partnering with Munich Re, a reinsurance company, to power its services.

The key selling point about using Jetty for insurance is that it’s dead simple to sign up — it’s all online, and once you decide what insurance you want, you start paying a monthly fee.

It’s not just about insurance, though, as there’s also a service called Jetty Passport. If you’re looking for a new apartment, and can’t afford a security deposit or don’t have a rich relative to ask to sign as a guarantor, Jetty Passport can act as a replacement. Passport Deposit acts as the security deposit, except you would pay Jetty 18 percent of the deposit amount.

Passport Lease is for when you can’t find a guarantor — you can use Jetty, but you’ll have to pay about 5 to 10 percent extra per year. These services aren’t exactly new, as there are companies that provide guarantor and security deposit replacement services, such as Insurent.

Both Passport Lease and Passport Deposit are three-way agreements between Jetty, the landlord, and the tenant, and this requires the “buy-in” of landlords.

More: How to build a smart apartment: Digital Trends is picking the best IoT devices

“We have put together a number of deals to date, however, when you apply for one of the Passport products, one of the questions we ask for is the building which you’re renting,” Luke Cohler, co-founder, president and chairman at Jetty, told Digital Trends. “We have a team of people that are ready to go out and help broker that on your behalf, so that we can actually get you in to the unit as quickly as possible.”

To entice you to stick with your insurance and use Jetty Passport, the company offers membership benefits with discounts and promotions on various services from other popular startups. Launch partners include Thrive Market, Laurel & Wolf, Winc, and more.

Jetty’s insurance plans are currently available in Illinois, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, and Jetty Passport is live in the same states as well as New Jersey and Florida. The company is looking to expand throughout the year.

Switching to the ‘Un-carrier?’ Here are the best T-Mobile plans

T-Mobile is the most rebellious of the four big carriers in the United States, with its “Un-carrier” moves being the ones that truly shake up the industry. Over the past few years, T-Mobile has killed two-year contracts, ended data overages, and opened up a lot of cool features to its customers. Its service is still a bit spotty in many parts of rural America, but its urban coverage can’t be beat. If you live in an area that gets T-Mobile service, you’ll definitely want to check out the Un-carrier’s plans.

More: The best family plan, individual plan, unlimited plan, and more

That said, we’ve broken down each of T-Mobile’s plans to help you better understand the good and the bad hidden within. Here are a few main points to get you started.

• T-Mobile really has only one plan, whether you’re looking for a single-line or a family option. The only differences apply to it’s Plus and Plus International add-ons.
• It’s standard plan only offers standard definition when it comes to video streaming, though, lately, it has been running promotions to include HD streaming at no additional cost.
• The T-Mobile ONE Plus International plan is the best plan out there for overseas travelers, by far.
• Plans are “all-in,” meaning taxes and fees are baked into the cost of the plan.
• T-Mobile Tuesdays is a nice — albeit, slightly gimmicky — perk, given you get free or discounted stuff on a weekly basis, like $15 Lyft credits.

T-Mobile One Unlimited Plan

 People
 Line cost
 Data
 Total
1
 $70
 Unlimited
 $70
2
 $70 + $50
 Unlimited
 $120
3
 $70 + $50 +$40
 Unlimited
 $140
4
 $70 + $50 + $40 +$20
 Unlimited
 $160
5
 $70 + $50 + $40 + $20 +$20
 Unlimited
 $180

Editor’s note: This is non-promotional pricing — your mileage may vary. For instance as of this writing, a two-line plan was $100 per month.

The unlimited plan is best for families of four or more. It’s also great for individuals who are data hogs. If you don’t have internet at home and rely on your phone plan for internet access, the unlimited plan is also a great choice. However, it is expensive for individuals and small families. T-Mobile does offer a lot of perks to make this plan worth your while, though.

Recommendations:

• The T-Mobile One plan is best for families of three or more people because you get unlimited data for a good price.
• Most people really don’t need to pay for the high-resolution video or tethering add-ons on a data connection, so don’t do it.
• T-Mobile One is also great for people who travel because you get unlimited text and 3G data in more than 100 countries.

The perks of T-Mobile One

• Unlimited texting and 3G/2G data in more than 100 countries worldwide. Calls are 20 cents a minute.
• Unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada.
• Unlimited text and an hour of Gogo internet access on select flights.
• The T-Mobile Tuesdays app, which gives you free things and discounts on stuff every Tuesday.

The downsides of T-Mobile One

• Videos stream at a lower, 480p resolution when on a data connection. If you want HD video, you’ll have to pay an extra $5 a month per line for the One Plus plan, but watch for occasional promotions.
• The tethering between your phone and other devices is limited to 2G speeds. You’ll have to pay at least an extra $5 per month (per line) for 4G LTE tethering with the One+ plan.
• If you surpass 26GB of 4G LTE data, your speeds will be throttled to 2G.
• You must sign up for Auto Pay on your bills, or T-Mobile will charge an extra $5 per line each month.

The One Plus plan includes unlimited tethering with the first 10GB of data used at full 4G LTE speeds, unlimited high-speed data in more than 140 countries, unlimited HD streaming, and unlimited Gogo in-flight Wi-fi. It adds $5 per line to the cost of your plan, however. Here’s what it’d look like if you added it to every line.

 People
 Line cost
 Data
One+
 Total
1
 $70
 Unlimited
$5
 $75
2
 $70 + $50
 Unlimited
$5 x 2
 $130
3
 $70 + $50 +$20
 Unlimited
$5 x 3
 $155
4
 $70 + $50 + $20 +$20
 Unlimited
$5 x 4
 $180
5
 $70 + $50 + $20 + $20 +$20
 Unlimited
$5 x 5
 $205

Like we said, the T-Mobile One Plus International plan is the best international plan we’ve seen for overseas travelers. You gain unlimited calling to landline numbers in 70+ countries, and mobile lines in more than 30, and there are no limits on 4G LTE tethering. There’s one downside, though: It’s $25 per month. Our recommendation is that you add this only to the lines that absolutely need it. Otherwise, your five-line plan will balloon to more than $300 per month.

Let’s recap:

The perks that come with all T-Mobile plans:

• Mobile without Borders: T-Mobile users get unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico, as well as the United States. Unlimited text and data at lower speeds is also available in nearly 150 countries worldwide, though, calls cost 20 cents per minute unless you’re on the T-Mobile ONE Plus International plan.
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Download this iOS and Android app to get free deals every Tuesday, like $15 in Lyft credit or a Frosty from Wendy’s.
• No overages on data.

The downsides of all T-Mobile plans:

• Spotty coverage in rural areas, however, there has been significant improvement in the last year.
• Once you surpass 26GB of data, you may be throttled.

AMD 500 series graphics card names and RAM sizes detailed

Why it matters to you

AMD’s RX 500 series graphics cards may be closer to release than previously thought, and the suggested pricing pits them directly against Nvidia’s Pascal cards.

Listings for AMD’s long-rumored 500 series graphics cards have begun to appear online, giving us out first idea of the naming convention AMD has opted for, as well as the amount of RAM those cards come with. We even have some idea about pricing, though international conversions are rarely straight forward.

Along with AMD’s suspected top-end graphics cards based on its Vega architecture, AMD has been working on a 500 series lineup to compete more directly with some of Nvidia’s Pascal graphics processors (GPU). Now several AMD partners and retailers have begun listing 500 series graphics cards on their sites.

The first manufacturer spotted with AMD 500 cards in the wild was Asus, which listed RX 550, 570, and 580 GPUs on its site’s support section. They come in a variety of flavors, with the RX 550 offering 2GB and 4GB variants, and the RX 570 and 580 coming with 4GB and 8GB of memory respectively. Those latter two, however, do look set to come in factory overclocked versions, based on their Strix OC labeling.

More: Recent hands-on photos confirm that Radeon RX 500 Series cards are on the way

Joining Asus in its early reveal, Sapphire has an even bigger spread. It too has 550, 570, and 580 RX cards listed on an online retailer (as per VideoCardz). Its cards’ memory options are much the same as Asus’, though its RX 580 does have an option for a 4GB variant too. There is also a “mini” RX 570 listed, as well as Nitro and Pulse iterations, which could suggest overclocking or cooling differences.

MSI didn’t want to be left out it seems, and has a pair of RX 500 series listings for the 570 and 580, with the same memory configurations as the others. Its cards and those listed by other retailers, all look set to come with a combination of HDMI, DVI-D and DisplayPort connectors, with the RX 580 having dual HDMI outputs.

Although it’s not clear if listed prices are placeholders for now, we can use them to give us a rough idea of what we can expect when these cards are launched. Without the 20 percent VAT sales tax that the EU levies on products, the RX 550 is listed around the 100-euro mark, which is approximately $105, though that doesn’t factor in sales taxes.

The RX 570 raises the bar to anywhere between 180 euros ($190) and 240 euros ($255), while the cheapest RX 580 with 4GB memory starts at 235 euros ($250). Its priciest option, however, can go for as much as 305 euros ($325).

The retailer listings slate some of these cards for an April 10 availability, so we may not have to wait long to learn more about AMD’s upcoming 500 series GPUs.

Fever Scout lets you track your temperature over 7 days with zero interruptions

Why it matters to you

If your child has a fever, the Fever Scout could easily help you keep track of your child’s temperature over a seven-day period.

Regular thermometer not cutting it? VivaLnk, the company behind eSkin technology and the Digital Tattoo, is offering a smart alternative that continuously measures temperature.

The Fever Scout, which is placed under the arm, uses eSkin technology, which delivers “biometric data precisely and instantaneously without compromising comfort.” It looks like a flexible bandage, and it stays on the body thanks to “medical-grade” adhesives that are included in the box.

More: This ‘digital tattoo’ unlocks your Moto X, looks like a disgusting boil

Once you pair it with the companion iOS and Android app via Bluetooth, you can get continuous temperature updates for up to seven days until you have to recharge the device again. It charges through a magnetic docking station, which also doubles as a Bluetooth range extender up to 131 feet (in case you want to check the data from anywhere in the house).

One of the downsides is the data is only uploaded to the cloud if there’s a connected device nearby — meaning you’ll have to set up a phone or tablet at home to get temperature data from Fever Scout, which will then upload it into the cloud so you can access the data when you’re not at home.

More: Loki Wi-Fi meat thermometer monitors your meal, tells you when it’s done

While Fever Scout’s design may look like it was made for children, the company says there’s no age limit on who can use it. It’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and it’s available for purchase now from the product’s website and Amazon for $60. Eight adhesives are included, but you can buy more packs of eight for $8.

Waze is finally coming to Android Auto as beta invites start going out

Android Auto is finally getting an update.

Google demoed Waze integration in Android Auto back at I/O 2016, but we haven’t seen any progress on that front. Back in February, Android Auto picked up an app switcher for maps, hinting at the availability of navigation options other than Google Maps.

It now looks like Waze is finally about to make its way to the car, as invites are being sent out to beta test Waze on Android Auto. Invites going out to the Waze beta community reveal that the Android Auto client will be available for testing shortly, although there isn’t any mention of when it will kick off. Here’s the email that’s being sent out to members in the Waze beta community:

Hello,

We are exciting to update that the beta testing for Waze Android Auto will be started soon (no date yet)! As part of the preparation, we wanted to check the beta community’s interest in taking part of the testing project.

We’re still in the early phases and will continue to update you when we have more details; However, if you’re interested in testing it in the future, please fill in this form.

**Note: You should only complete this form if you have/are planning to buy an Android Auto (AA) device.

Regards,
Waze Beta Team

With I/O 2017 a few months away, it is likely we’ll see a final version of Waze for Android Auto make its debut at the event. If you’re interested in taking a look at what’s on offer and don’t want to wait until the stable release is available, hit up the link below to enrol in the Waze beta community.

Sign up for Waze beta testing

All About Android Auto

• Getting started with Android Auto in your car
• Using Android Auto natively on your phone
• Android Auto news
• Apps that work with Android Auto
• Join the Android Auto discussion!

How to view your location history in Google Maps

See where you’ve traveled with Google Maps.

Google Maps has a nifty Timeline feature that lets you browse the places you’ve visited along with the routes traveled. The feature was overhauled in 2015, and Google has added the ability to collate images you’ve taken at a particular location, allowing you to get a better overview of your travels.

It certainly comes in handy if you’re looking to see all the images you took at a particular location, or if you’re trying to get a highlight of your weekly or monthly activity.

• How to view your location history in Google Maps
• How to disable location tracking

How to view your location history in Google Maps

Launch Google Maps.
Tap the more button (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner.
Tap your timeline.

Tap the calendar icon to view a particular day.

Swipe left or right to switch months.

Tap a date to view your location history. You’ll see the route traveled, along with the duration and length of the overall journey.

How to disable location tracking

Timeline is certainly a useful feature if you’re interested in looking at your previous travel data, but it also comes off as creepy (Google tracks everything). Fortunately, you can easily turn off location tracking in Maps.

Tap the more button (three horizontal lines) on the top left corner.
Tap Settings.

Tap Personal content.

Tap the field that says Location History is on under Location Settings.

Tap the switch next to each device for which you’d like to disable location tracking.

There’s also the option to pause tracking for your account as a whole. To do so, toggle Location History to off, and select OK in the dialog box that follows.

That’s all there is to it! I like the feature a lot as it gives me a detailed look at where I’ve been over the course of the month (and how much time I wasted being stuck in traffic). What are your thoughts on the location history feature? Like it? Feel like it’s an intrusion of your privacy? Sound off in the comments below.

Sony’s impressive Xperia XZs is available Apr. 5, but you should wait for the Premium

Sony has a new phone out tomorrow, but you may want to wait for the real upgrade.

Sony makes a lot of phones, and many of them aren’t particularly noteworthy in the U.S. Thanks to a long-term contract with Verizon that isn’t set to expire until next year, Sony can’t sell phones with fingerprint sensors in the country, making them more of a difficult proposition than they otherwise would be.

This week, the Xperia XZs is going on sale at Amazon and other online retailers for $700, a steep price to pay for any phone, never mind one that doesn’t include the latest and greatest technology. The XZs was one of four phones that company announced during MWC 2017, and while it is an impressive handset in every way, it doesn’t stand up to the competition.

Sony Xperia XZs specs

The phone is, for all intents and purposes, a repackaging of the Xperia XZ released in September, swapping out the 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage for 4GB and 64GB, respectively. It also has a Snapdragon 820 processor, which is unchanged from the XZ, along with a 2,900mAh battery. The major difference, aside from the bump in memory, is the new 19MP Motion Eye camera, which reportedly brings a new camera sensor that’s better in low light and faster to autofocus.

For $700, the above sounds like a pretty lousy deal, especially with no fingerprint sensor. Sure, Sony’s got some great software in there — the phone ships with Android 7.1.1 Nougat — but if you’re really into the whole “I need a Sony” thing, you can get your fix in a couple of months with the gorgeous, far-more-impressive Xperia XZ Premium, which bumps up the spec sheet considerably, sporting a 4K HDR-ready display and a Snapdragon 835 platform.

If you’re not into waiting, though, you can get the Xperia XZs starting April 5 at Amazon.

See at Amazon

Here’s what is coming to the Gear VR this month!

Are you ready for more Gear VR apps?.intro

The biggest mobile VR library is getting a lot bigger this month! Oculus is planning a big surprise party for the Gear VR near the end of the month, with a bunch of games launching with support for the new Controller! Adding a special Controller you can see from inside the headset is going to be a lot of fun, but it’s far from the only thing coming to the Gear VR this month.

Read more at VR Heads!