McAfee’s antivirus software is coming pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy S8

Why it matters to you

Samsung getting McAfee pre-installed is a double-edged sword. While it’s just extra software to deal with, it also may help protect your digital life.

Smartphones are often the target of hacking and malware, but if you’re careful and know what not to do, your device should largely remain safe. Samsung, however, wants to take an extra step of precaution and apparently is shipping versions of its phone with McAfee VirusScan software pre-installed.

The software is shipping on Galaxy S8 devices as part of a partnership between the two companies and there is some debate as to whether or not it is a good thing. Some argue that adding more bloatware to the Samsung Galaxy S8 only frustrates users and takes up extra storage. McAfee, however, might suggest that the extra software helps make your Galaxy S8 safer. Not only that, but the Galaxy S8 is not the only Samsung device to get the software– Samsung computers and smart TVs will also get the treatment.

“Protecting every connected device in your home is absolutely essential today,” John Giamatteo, executive vice president, consumer business group at McAfee, said in a statement. “That’s because if one device is attacked, it puts your entire home network at risk. While that level of protection might sound like a lot of effort, McAfee makes sure that it’s easy. We believe there is power in working with partners like Samsung to build world-class security into devices like smart TVs, PCs, and smartphones so that these devices are protected right out of the box.”

The move is the first McAfee has made since it became its own company. The company was bought out by Intel in 2011, however, Intel announced in April that McAfee would once again be a stand-alone business thanks to a deal it made with TPG Capital. Intel still owns 49 percent of McAfee.

According to McAfee, the software should be helpful for users. The company notes almost 44 percent of consumers are concerned about their financial information being stolen, while 38 percent of consumers are concerned about identity theft. Will the anti-virus software being installed on your phone help avoid those issues? Perhaps in some instances.

This AI-powered camera refuses to take a ‘bad’ photo — all in the name of art

Why it matters to you

The artists behind Trophy Camera are bringing up an important question: Just how much does automated camera technology affect art?

Digital cameras make it easy to take a photo with a single button but is the simplicity of modern cameras turning us all into robots? That is what the artists behind the Trophy Camera want to get people thinking about with a custom camera that will not let users take a “bad” photo.

Using artificial intelligence to compare the potential shot to the winning images from over 50 years of World Press Photo winners, the Trophy Camera will only record an image when the view shares at least 90 percent of the characteristics of those award winners. Images that the computer thinks are newsworthy are automatically uploaded to a website.

Dries Depoorter, an artist, and Max Pinckers, a photographer and Ph.D. student, designed Trophy Camera as a statement on how automatic cameras fill the web with photos that all look similar. In fact, the artists designed the camera without a viewfinder intentionally as a statement on how individual creativity has fallen by the wayside. “Cameras are becoming more automatized every day, with capabilities of producing ‘perfect pictures’ with the push of a button,” Pinckers told Fast Co. Design, “which leaves less room for creative interventions within the program defined by machines and technology, and therefore only creates redundant imagery.”

The camera isn’t designed to sell to the masses, but as an art installation held in Belgium last month. The gadget was built with Rasberry Pi, a system designed to teach anyone how to code, along with the HD camera module, a power bank, a small OLED display and a plastic casing that almost resembles a heavy duty flashlight.

“By making this camera,” Pinckers said, “we try to implicitly comment on the current status of photojournalism — which seems to be becoming more questionable in today’s visual landscape — along with the incredibly fast development of computer vision and the relevance of artificial intelligence in our time.”

The camera is designed to get photographers thinking about how modern media has influenced the field, from which photos are published to the way technology is biased toward a certain image standard. Ironically, the images the system selected are typically blurry and included photos of a photo, since the camera was only shot during the gallery exhibition. But the camera serves as a commentary on changes in the industry as well as the influence of technology on imagery as a whole.

Soundfloat inflatable chair plays tunes and keeps your phone dry in the pool

Why it matters to you

Tired of getting your phone wet at the pool or beach? Soundfloat may have the solution.

A new Kickstarter product aims to get you ready for those lazy days of summer. Soundfloat is an inflatable chair you can use as a pool float, a beach chair, or even just as a regular lounge chair. But unlike typical inflatable chairs, it includes 20-watt speakers and 70mm subwoofers, so you can chill out with some tunes by the water. The chair also comes with a removable battery that doubles as a power bank, and a touch-sensitive waterproof pouch to protect your smart phone or tablet from the water.

This means that you can watch a show or movie, video chat, or play app-based games in the water without your phone getting wet. Also, because the speakers connect via Bluetooth and have a 100-foot range, you have the option to set your phone outside of the water, and listen to music or an audio book while you float around the pool.

The Soundfloat chair comes in three sizes — a smaller arm chair, a single-person lounge chair, and a double lounge chair. It also comes in two color options — white with pink trim and white with blue trim.

The project has an all or nothing funding goal of $49,999, meaning Soundfloat will only receive funding if it meets this goal by its deadline of June 11. So far, Soundfloat has raised $4,350 from 20 backers. To get a Soundfloat Chair, you have to pledge at least $255. This will get you the arm chair, an air pump, a carrying case, and other rewards (like sunglasses and a baseball cap). If you pledge less than $255, you can get other rewards, like the power bank or waterproof phone pouch, but you won’t get the chair itself.

If you want to back this product or any product on a crowdfunding site, keep in mind that backing a product is not the same as buying something from a store like Amazon. It’s a good idea to research the product, and remember that with crowdfunding, there are no guarantees.

Verizon buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

Which Verizon plan fits your needs best?

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. with over 145 million subscribers. It offers nationwide Voice and LTE data coverage on its network, using GSM, LTE, and CDMA technology.

Verizon offers unlimited talk and text wireless plans for individuals and families and it has deals on the latest smartphone, including the Samsung Galaxy S8. If you’re thinking of switching to Verizon or you’re about to renew your plan, you might be wondering which plan best suits your usage habits and needs on a monthly basis. Do you really need unlimited data? Are you signing up for multiple lines?

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If you have questions about which Verizon plan is best for you, we have answers. Check these out and see if they work for you.

• Individual plans
• Best family plan
• Best Verizon phones
• How to cancel Verizon
• How to unlock a Verizon Wireless phone
• Finding an alternative carrier that uses Verizon’s service

Individual plans

Verizon offers two types of plans: talk, text, and data and prepaid.

• Talk, text, and data plans
• Verizon prepaid

Talk, text, and data plans

For individual lines, Verizon essentially offers one plan with four tiers: Small, Medium, Large, and Unlimited. Each plan features unlimited nationwide talk and text, unlimited 2G data, and rollover data (data you don’t use in a month is available until the end of the next month). The amount of 4G LTE data is all that really changes between each plan.

Small gets 2GB of 4G LTE for $35/month, Medium gets 4GB for $50/month, Large gets 8GB for $70/month, and Unlimited get 22GB for $80/month. Unlimited plans also feature tethering, HD video streaming, and service in Mexico and Canada.

Keep in mind that the above-mentioned prices don’t include any monthly payments you have to make if you decide to purchase a phone through Verizon.

Learn more

Verizon prepaid

If you don’t want to sign up for a contract of any kind, then you can go month-to-month with Verizon on its prepaid plans. The best prepaid plan is the $50/month plan, which features 5GB of 4G LTE data (1GB more than Verizon’s Medium plan), unlimited domestic talk and text, and unlimited texting to over 200 countries.

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The other positive aspect of this plan is that any data you don’t use rolls over to your next month. You also still get unlimited 2G data speeds after you use up your 4G LTE allotment.

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Best family plan

If you’re wondering if a family plan is right for you, consider this: You really only save money on three lines or more. Most Americans don’t use more than 3GB or 4GB of 4G LTE data per month, so to sign up two lines on the unlimited plan, for $70 per line isn’t really worth it. However, once you sign up a third line, each line drops to $54 per month. That’s a great savings, since the individual 4GB plans are $50/month. Instead, each line gets up to 22GB of 4G LTE for $54/month.

You can sign up up to 10 lines, and at that point each line is only $30/month. These prices are with the $10/month Auto Pay and paper-free billing discount (not per line).

Verizon’s unlimited plan comes with 22GB of 4G LTE data, unlimited talk and text, HD video streaming, tethering, and service in Mexico and Canada.

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Best Verizon phones

Verizon doesn’t really play nice with the whole “bring your own device” (BYOD) thing. In fact, it doesn’t really play at all. Unless you have an inactive Verizon phone lying around, you can’t bring your own phone. If you’re not bringing your own phone to Verizon, these are the best ones you can purchase from the carrier.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

Samsung’s newest flagships are the best Android phones on the market, with their slick design, featuring minimal bezel, curved screens, a new aspect ratio, and industry-leading displays. These phones have huge displays, but they don’t feel huge, thanks to the fact that they’re thinner than other big phones. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ also have phenomenal cameras, both rear and front, offering excellent image quality, thanks to updated processors.

You can get the Galaxy S8 starting at $31.50/month and the Galaxy S8+ starting at $35.

Google Pixel

Before it was dethroned by the Galaxy S8, the Google Pixel was the best Android phone around and still is one of the best money can buy. Featuring Google’s “pure” Android software and being the first Android phone with Google Assistant, the Pixel reshaped the Android landscape.

The Pixel has a metal body that feels well-made in the hand, and the software experience is clean and straightforward. The Pixel’s camera is definitely one of the best Android phone cameras available and still competes with the other top options.

You can get a Pixel starting at $27.08/month from Verizon.

LG V20

If you’d like a large phone, then check out LG’s V20. It has a gorgeous 5.7-inch QHD display, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage, making it an excellent phone for power users. It features a removable battery, two rear cameras, and Second Screen notifications, as well as easy-to-reach shortcuts (which are super important if you’re using a big phone and have smaller hands).

Each of the V20’s two rear cameras has its own focal length, which can help you create some stunning effects, making this the perfect phone for avid photographers who don’t feel like lugging around their DSLR.

You can get the LG V20 starting at $24/month from Verizon.

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Best deals on Verizon

Verizon’s best deal right now is the Samsung Galaxy S8 for as little as $15/month or the Galaxy S8+ for as little as $20/month. To be eligible, you need to port in your number from another carrier, sign up for Verizon’s Unlimited plan, and trade in an eligible phone.

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If you’re not in for a premium device and just want a phone that you can surf the web with, and you aren’t concerned with performance or cameras or anything like that, then Verizon has a range of budget smartphones that you can get for free or $5/month.

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How to cancel Verizon

The absolute easiest way to cancel Verizon is to switch providers and have your new carrier port your number over. That’s really it. Depending on your plan, Verizon may charge you an early termination fee. You may also have to buy out any devices for which you still owe.

Verizon like to make things a bit difficult on you if you’re trying to cancel, but if you’d rather speak with a service rep you can do one of the following:

• Call Verizon’s customer service line at 1-800-837-4966
• Talk to someone in person at a Verizon store near you.

How to unlock a Verizon Wireless phone

Looking to leave Verizon but want to take your phone with you? Well, Verizon may not let you bring your own phone (or makes it very hard to, anyway), but you can definitely take your phone with you.

From Verizon’s site:

We do not lock most phones or tablets that are activated with our postpay service, either during or after the term of your service contract or Edge installment sales agreement. We do not lock our 4G LTE devices, and no code is needed to program them for use with another carrier.

So you should be able to take just about any phone you have from Verizon and use it with another carrier, though you’ll want to check eligibility with the other carrier before signing up.

Finding an alternative carrier that uses Verizon’s service

Alternative carriers or mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are carriers that lease coverage from the Big Four carriers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile). Verizon doesn’t have too many MVNOs under its belt, but if you enjoy Verizon’s coverage and are perhaps seeking cheaper plans, then you should consider switching to an MVNO.

Big players in the alternative carrier market that use Verizon’s network are Credo Mobile, Straight Talk, and Tracfone, but there are a few others to consider.

Just keep in mind that many alternative carriers lease coverage from multiple networks, so depending on your plan you may not actually be connected to Verizon’s network.

Complete list of Verizon MVNOs

Google wants you to (what else?) use its search engine to find things to do

Feeling droll and aching for something new to do? Ask Google.

Google doesn’t want you to use a separate app or scour the depths of the internet to find something interesting to do. Instead, it wants you to give its ol’ search engine a try. The latest update to the Google app and mobile website enables the search engine to tap into feeds from services like Eventbrite, Meetup, and Songkick to directly display what’s happening near you.

To try it, type in a search like “art events this weekend” on your phone. You’ll see variety of options, including an extended event calendar and tabs for the different days of the week. You can also type in the date or day of the week for more specific results, or “events near me” to see what’s happening near your location.

The update appears to be on a slow roll out to both Android and iOS users, as the new features weren’t available for me at press time. I also live in a smaller town, and it’ll be interesting to ses if the lack of things happening nearby will affect this ability outright.

If you manage an event-centric site, you can check out the varying guidelines for marking up your own events so that they’re more discoverable.

The FCC’s website has been bombarded by an anti-net neutrality bot

A bot is spreading anti-net neutrality rhetoric, and it’s perfectly timed with the latest plea from John Oliver.

A bot has effectively taken over the FCC’s comment system and it’s repeatedly spouting anti-net neutrality prose, each time under a different name.

These comments don’t appear to be in response to John Oliver’s segment on Last Week Tonight, in which he asked fellow viewers to leave a comment in favor of net neutrality on the FCC’s public board. According to ZDNet, the identical comments began populating right after FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced the agency’s plans to repeal Title II. The comments say:

“The unprecedented regulatory power the Obama Administration imposed on the internet is smothering innovation, damaging the American economy and obstructing job creation. I urge the Federal Communications Commission to end the bureaucratic regulatory overreach of the internet known as Title II and restore the bipartisan light-touch regulatory consensus that enabled the internet to flourish for more than 20 years.”

The bot appears to cycle through names in alphabetical order with postal address in tow and it’s suspected that the names and addresses were grabbed from public voter registration records or an older data breach. ZDNet also contacted some of the names behind the entries and discovered that they had no idea they had left a comment for the FCC:

We reached out to two-dozen people by phone, and we left voicemails when nobody picked up. A couple of people late Tuesday called back and confirmed that they had not left any messages on the FCC’s website. One of the returning callers specifically said they didn’t know what net neutrality was. A third person reached in a Facebook message Tuesday also confirmed that they had not left any comments on any website.

There’s no word on who is behind the bot or whether it’s an organization, though ZDNet notes that the bot’s comments stem from a 2010 press release by the Center for Individual Freedom, which is notably against net neutrality.

The FCC, for its part, claims that the mass of repeating anti-net neutrality comments are merely a result of a cyber attack brought on by the segment from Last Week Tonight.

Use a Google search to find out where you should be this weekend

If you want to find nearby events online, you often have to go directly to dedicated services like Bandsintown or Eventbrite… or worse, flip through the calendar on your favorite nightclub’s web page. Why can’t you just search the web and get some timetables? Google is enabling just that. It’s adding an event search feature that lets you sift through happenings based on where and when they take place. If you’re hunting for upcoming jazz concerts or just want to know what’s going on this weekend, you don’t have to visit specific sites.

In case you’re wondering: no, Google isn’t trying to replace dedicated event services. More often than not, it’s just pulling information from those pages to put them in one place. The difference is that you don’t have to go to each of those sites to make sure you aren’t missing an important gig — you should get a more comprehensive view of goings-on without much effort. If you end up catching a show that you know you’d otherwise have missed, you’ll know who to thank.

Source: Google

Bookmark your favorite places on Uber

Unless you’re traveling home, it can be a pain to pick out a favorite destination in Uber’s app. It’s often easier to dig through your history than to punch in the address of a restaurant you’re visiting for the thousandth time. Uber is coming to its senses, though: it’s introducing a Saved Places feature that lets you bookmark frequent destinations, and rename them to something more memorable. Over time, the app will learn your habits and offer shortcuts to those saved spots if it thinks you’re headed that way.

The feature is available on both Android and iOS in the US right now. You’ll have to wait until later in the year if you live elsewhere. It’s surprising that bookmarking has taken so long to arrive in the first place, to be honest. Between carpooling and self-driving car plans, there’s little doubt that Uber wants you to use its service for trips to all your regular haunts, not just a ride home after a long night.

Source: Uber Newsroom

Instagram influencers fanned the flames of Fyre Festival hype

When tech entrepreneur Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule (born Jeffrey Atkins) created Fyre Festival, a music event in the Bahamas for the selfie generation, they never imagined their idea would be on the receiving end of seven fraud and negligence class action lawsuits (including one seeking $100 million) by the end. And that end came quicker than they’d imagined: After poor planning by organizers left people stranded at airports, without lodging and eating cheese sandwiches instead of the five-star meals promised, Bahamas officials decided to shut down the festival on opening day. “The event organizers assured us that all measures were taken to ensure a safe and successful event,” the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said in a statement, “but clearly they did not have the capacity to execute an event of this scale.”

Billed as “the cultural experience of the decade,” and with tickets ranging between $1,500 and $250,000, Fyre Festival generated much of its interest thanks to being promoted by models such as Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid and Elsa Hosk on Instagram. Attendees assumed they would be on the gorgeous beaches of Exuma rubbing shoulders with these and other celebrities, including members of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label like Desiigner, Pusha T and Tyga. But that simply wasn’t the reality of Fyre Festival. Pop punks Blink 182 may have gotten whiff of the event’s shortcomings. The group was scheduled as one of headliners, but it pulled out at the last minute, saying, “We’re not confident that we would have what we need to give you the quality of performances we always give our fans.”

The dinner that @fyrefestival promised us was catered by Steven Starr is literally bread, cheese, and salad with dressing. #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/I8d0UlSNbd

— Trevor DeHaas (@trev4president) April 28, 2017

One of the many, many problems is that social media influencers like Jenner, Ratajkowski, Hadid and Hosk never disclosed they were paid to promote the festival. Their posts seemed to be implying that concertgoers would at least be breathing the same air in the Bahamas, even if not interacting with them. Kendall Jenner, for example, reportedly received $250,000 from Fyre Festival organizers to endorse the event on her account, although she never disclosed in her now-deleted post that it was an advertisement. Neither did her fellow influencers. You could argue that their nearly 110 million followers combined should take their posts with a grain of salt, but Jenner and the others should also do their due diligence and be completely transparent. The power of their reach is simply undeniable.

In Chelsea Chinery, Shannon McAuliffe and Desiree Flores v. McFarland et al, a lawsuit filed against Fyre Festival organizers on May 2nd in Los Angeles, the plaintiffs are going after McFarland and Ja Rule for breach of contract, negligence and fraud. And while there’s no mention of Jenner, Hadid or Ratajkowski by name, the lawsuit does reference the misleading posts by social media influencers. John Girardi, the lawyer handling this particular case, told The Hollywood Reporter, “Social media ‘influencers’ made no attempt to disclose to consumers that they were being compensated for promoting the Fyre Festival.”

Opps! Kendall better delete this…. #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/m9G2Xu1LNS

— chris kardashian (@BaddieLambily) April 28, 2017

With the rise of stealth shilling on social media, led in large part by Jenner’s sister Kim Kardashian and other members of their family, the Federal Trade Commission has created clear-cut guidelines for influencers to follow. Based on the FTC Act, individuals who are paid to promote a product on platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat must include #Ad or words like “Sponsored,” “Promotion” and “Paid ad” in their posts. But that’s rarely ever happens, and the FTC is partially to blame for that. To date, the commission has yet to bring a case against any individual influencer, instead choosing to focus on the brands that are paying for the endorsements. And until the FTC makes an example out of one of these celebrities, chances are they won’t change their ways.

The FTC has taken some steps toward that recently, though. Last month, it sent letters to more than 90 influencers who have been violating its guidelines, including Ratajkowski, reminding them they must be clear and conspicuous about disclosing paid endorsements on social media. Interestingly enough, members of the Kardashian/Jenner family were not among those who received a letter. A spokesperson for the FTC declined to comment for this story, noting that the commission “does not comment on individuals, companies, or specific events.”

We were under the assumption the influencers posting about it would be attending, and that it wasn’t just an advertisement.

Fyre Festival attendee William Finley IV

Julie Zerbo, founder and editor-in-chief of The Fashion Law, says that had Fyre Festival attendees known these influencers were paid to promote the event, that may have deterred some of them from attending altogether. “All of the lawsuits to date have noted the role of influencers in affecting their decisions to buy tickets,” she says. “If the FTC had made an example of the Kardashians or Chiarra Ferragni [another prominent influencer] years ago, this may have been avoided to the extent that influencers in this case would have disclosed that their Fyre Festival posts were sponsored, which they did not do.” Despite this, Zerbo says she believes the FTC has been doing a better job of monitoring influencers and other forms of sketchy advertising, as shown by the warning letters sent in April.

Unfortunately, some Fyre Festival attendees still fell prey to this deceiving form of advertising. “We were under the assumption the influencers posting about it would be attending, and that it wasn’t just an advertisement,” William Finley IV, a 32-year-old who paid $4,000 for a Fyre Festival ticket, told Engadget. “I’m not sure whose job it is to make sure people are disclosing when posts are advertising a product, but it should be more clear.” He says he and his friends found out about Fyre Festival through “one of the influencers” on Instagram, although he doesn’t recall who it was exactly. Instagram did not reply to our request for comment. Meanwhile, Finley IV said Fyre Festival gave him an option to waive his refund in exchange for two tickets and an upgrade to VIP for next year’s planned, but he chose to decline because he didn’t want that to impact his ability to take legal action.

Kendall Jenner (left) and Bella Hadid (right). Image credit: Getty

Sure, social media influencers aren’t to blame for the fiasco that was the Fyre Festival (that’s on McFarland and Ja Rule), though you can’t ignore the fact they misled people into paying for a luxury experience that turned out to be anything but. It’s a major issue that the FTC needs to continue pressing on, otherwise we may start to see a spike in cases like this one, where consumers are spending thousands of dollars wrongly influenced by celebrities they look up to. Fyre Festival organizers, unbelievably, already seem to be working on a follow up festival for 2018, which is expected to take place at an undisclosed beach in the US. A statement on the Fyre Festival site reads, “We need to make this right. And once we make this right, then we will put on the dream festival we sought to have since the inception of Fyre.”

As for Finley IV, he says he doesn’t have any plans to attend next year. “Even if the influencers were guaranteed to be there, I still don’t think I could take [Fyre Festival organizers] word for it,” he says, noting that he doesn’t trust them to organize and manage an event of that size and scale. That said, he added he probably wouldn’t be more skeptical of the influencers promoting the event, “Yeah, that gave it some credibility and made people think this would be ‘Coachella in the Bahamas,’ but the packages on the site itself [were] also very appealing.”

A post shared by FYRE FESTIVAL (@fyrefestival) on Apr 15, 2017 at 7:09pm PDT

Microsoft PowerPoint adds real-time presentation translation

If you were impressed by Skype’s real-time translation feature, you’ll likely be wowed by Microsoft’s new PowerPoint “Presentation Translator” add-in. Despite the name, it’s not focused on making your slides multilingual. Instead, it’ll translate your voice in real-time using an iOS, Android or Windows app as you go over your presentation. The add-in also generates a link that viewers can use to view translations in their own language.

At its Build conference today, Microsoft reps showed off how the feature can translate Spanish and Chinese sentences in real-time. It worked pretty well for the Spanish sentence, delivering a readable translation on the first try. It took a few more tries for it to understand the Chinese phrase for “AI is fantastic.”

While it’s still in its early stages, the feature is a smart way for Microsoft to demonstrate the translation capabilities of its Cognitive Services tools. Developers can use that technology to make videos easily searchable, or quickly index a series of images. It’s a big part of Microsoft’s AI play, so it’s wise for the company to give us a useful example of how it could benefit average consumers.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from Microsoft’s Build 2017.