Twitter is toying with a ‘fake news’ reporting feature

Twitter is working on a new tool to fight the spread of inaccurate, harmful and misleading articles online, according to The Washington Post. The company is apparently prototyping a feature that would allow users to flag tweets circulating false or injurious information, though the report says the project is still in the early stages and may never see the light of day.

Twitter is also playing with machine learning as a way to fight the dissemination of “fake news,” scouring tweets for spam-like patterns and inconsistencies, the report says.

The company has history in a similar space: For years, Twitter has worked to build an accessible and functional reporting system for harassment and abuse, though its efforts have ultimately been unsatisfying for many users.

Facebook, Google and other major companies in the digital world have been struggling to contain the modern ecosystem of fake news and filter bubbles. Google, for example, recently revamped its search results to better filter out inaccurate stories and known proprietors of dishonesty. Facebook has been at the forefront of the battle against made-up reports, tweaking its news algorithms to bury unreliable sources, hand-curating articles and launching an “educational” portal meant to teach users how to spot inaccurate information. And, of course, the company has a “false news” reporting feature that sounds similar to Twitter’s purported prototype.

Source: The Washington Post

‘Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow’ is much more than just a quick, mobile cash-in

Why it matters to you

Free-to-play licensed games are not typically very ambitious. Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow changes that with a rich story from Matt Groening.

Futurama fans, rejoice! The new mobile game Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow has released on Thursday for free. This game reunites show creator Matt Groening with the show’s original voice cast.

Unlike other mobile tie-ins, Worlds of Tomorrow features a brand-new story from Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and the Futurama writers. The fabric of spacetime has been disrupted by the Hypnotoad and players must set out on a galactic scavenger hunt for ancient alien artifacts in order to restore it.

“Hypnotoad has always been one of Futurama’s most mysterious amphibians,” said Groening in a statement. “In this game, we finally get to learn much more about his bizarre abilities and mating habits. Perhaps too much more.”

Worlds of Tomorrow blends together simulation, turn-based combat, and choose-you-own-adventure gameplay. Each week, the game will be updated with new characters, quests, and stories. The original cast members return including Billy West as Fry, Katey Sagal as Leela, John DiMaggio as Bender, Phil LaMarr as Hermes, Lauren Tom as Amy, and Tress MacNeille as Mom. Together, they make the new cutscenes feel like a new season of the comedic, sci-fi adventure.

The game was developed by TinyCo (acquired by Jam City) in partnership with Groening and his Curiosity Co. Joining the partnership are Cohen, the original show writers, and the animation studio Rough Draft Studios. Jam City’s catalog of mobile games includes Cookie Jam, Panda Pop, and other licensed property including Family Guy: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game.

“We are Futurama fanatics,” said Chris DeWolfe, co-founder and CEO of Jam City. “As such, it is quite an honor for us to collaborate so closely with Matt Groening and David X. Cohen on Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow.”

Futurama originally aired on Fox as a half-hour television series from 1999 to 2003. Due to its growing cult following, Comedy Central picked it up in 2009 for two more seasons before ending again in 2013. For those looking for the cream of the crop, check out our 15 favorite episodes.

Fans can download Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow for free right now via the iTunes App Store or Google Play. Optional in-app purchases are included to boost gameplay including a Jar of Nixonbucks for $5 and a Personal Pizza for $2.

Here are our 3 favorite Amazon tech deals for Thursday

Thursday’s Amazon Gold Box deals feature a Logitech mouse, a portable Bluetooth stereo speaker system and a pack of motion sensor lights. Score savings up to $109 and discounts as deep as 73 percent. Read on to browse today’s best Amazon tech deals.

Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX

Use your laptop in more places with this Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX, which is 27 percent off on Amazon for today only. The mouse works on more surfaces than most other mice using new Darkfield Laser Tracking technology.

The Darkfield Laser Tracking is the culmination of a groundbreaking five-year engineering effort. It lets you track on more surfaces than ever — including glass, granite, and hardwood — without a mouse pad. The technology tracks mouse movements by producing a detailed micro-roadmap of the work surface.

Just like the Logitech G403 Prodigy Mouse, this Logitech model is quick and responsive. It has a plug-and-forget unifying receiver that stays in your notebook and connects up to six compatible devices in different places. The receiver is so small you can leave it in your notebook and forget about it. The mouse also has a USB recharging capabilities so you never need to look for batteries to use it.

The Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX normally retails for $55 but is on sale today only for $40 on Amazon, saving you $15 (27 percent).

Amazon

iHome iKN150B Portable Rechargeable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System

Snag the world’s first Bluetooth stereo speaker system with an internal rechargeable battery with this iHome iKN150B Portable Rechargeable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System, which is currently over $100 off on Amazon. The speaker system also has a removable 2600mAh K-Cell power bank that recharges in the speaker and provides power on the go to charge your smartphone.

The speaker system has separate battery level meters for internal and external batteries. It conveniently provides up to 12 hours playing time while on the go. The Bluetooth speaker also has an aux-in jack to connect and play non-Bluetooth devices.

Like many of the best Bluetooth speakers, this iHome model allows you to wirelessly stream your music from any Bluetooth enabled device. It has an auto-linking function that automatically re-pairs with your Bluetooth device whenever you are within the 10-meter range. With near field communication abilities (NFC), you can pair your NFC-enabled smartphone with the speaker by simply touching the two devices together.

The iHome iKN150B Portable Rechargeable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System normally retails for $149 but is currently discounted to $40 on Amazon, saving you $109 (73 percent).

Amazon

Amir Motion Sensor Lights

Say goodbye to bumping into stuff in the dark with these Amir Motion Sensor Lights, which are currently discounted 70 percent off on Amazon. The lights illuminate places you don’t currently have lighting or areas where the light switch is too far from the door.

Idea Hacks lists the lights as one of the 10 best motion-sensor lights under $50, as they turn on when motion is detected. They have a PIR motion and light sensor that automatically turns on within 10 feet and automatically turns off after 20 seconds of no motion. The auto-off feature helps prolong the bulbs battery life.

The lights have super bright LED bulbs with up to 20 Lumen output. The circular shape and compact size of the lights make them ideal night lights that are both lightweight and portable. They are battery operated so you can easily and cordlessly install them.

A pack of six Amir Motion Sensor Lights normally retails for $74 but right now you can get them on Amazon for $22, saving you $52 (70 percent).

Amazon

Looking for more great deals on tech and electronics? Check out our deals page to score some extra savings on our favorite gadgets.

AMD hints at entry-level Ryzen 3 lineup with Ryzen Pro announcement

Why it matters to you

If you’ve been waiting to build an entry-level desktop to see what low-end CPU options will be available, you now have a hint as to what’s coming.

AMD’s Ryzen lineup has so far posed a significant price-performance challenge to Intel’s Core processors, at least as far as the mid-range and high-end units are concerned. We know that the Ryzen Threadripper chip will compete at the highest end, but we do not yet have any official information on the low-end Ryzen 3 chips that will be used in entry-level systems.

However, AMD released information on its upcoming Ryzen Pro CPUs that are aimed at professional workstations with the most demanding reliability and security needs, and in doing so the company might have dropped a hint as to Ryzen 3’s makeup. As Anandtech notes, the Ryzen Pro 5 and 7 chips sport the same specifications as their non-Pro counterparts, and so it is entirely possible that the Ryzen 3 will follow suit.

As a reminder, here are the specifications for Ryzen Pro:

Product Line
Model
Cores
Threads
Boost Clock (GHz)
Base Clock (GHz)
TDP (Watts)
Ryzen 7 Pro
1700X
8
16
3.8
3.4
95
Ryzen 7 Pro
1700
8
16
3.7
3.0
65
Ryzen 5 Pro
1600
6
12
3.6
3.2
65
Ryzen 5 Pro
1500
4
8
3.7
3.5
65
Ryzen 3 Pro
1300
4
4
3.7
3.5
65
Ryzen 3 Pro
1200
4
4
3.4
3.1
65

While there are fewer Ryzen Pro configurations than there are standard Ryzen options, and so other Ryzen 3 models are likely, the close correlation of the known CPUs likely means we know what the low-end Ryzen lineup should look like. If so, then we’re going to see entry-level AMD systems that leverage additional cores but bypass hyperthreading.

If the correlation holds true, then the low to mid-range Ryzen lineup would look like this:

Model
Cores
Threads
Boost Clock (GHz)
Base Clock (GHz)
TDP (Watts)
Price
Ryzen 5 1600X
6
12
4.0
3.6
95
$249
Ryzen 5 1600
6
12
3.6
3.2
65
$219
Ryzen 5 1500X
4
8
3.7
3.5
65
$189
Ryzen 5 1400
4
8
3.4
3.2
65
$169
Ryzen 3 1300
4
4
3.7
3.5
65
TBD
Ryzen 3 1200
4
4
3.4
3.1
65
TBD

Intel’s Core i3 options max out at two cores and also do not offer hyperthreading. That means that AMD’s Ryzen 3 could be a competitive option for anyone building a low-end system where multiple cores will be advantageous for productivity applications like video editing. Whether Intel or AMD will reign supreme in low-end gaming systems remains to be seen.

This is not official news, of course, and we still have no pricing or availability information on Ryzen 3. However, it’s reasonable to assume that at least now we have an idea of what the new AMD low-end will look like, which should be beneficial for anyone planning to build an entry-level system in the next several months.

From iOS 1 to iOS 11: How Apple’s iPhone OS has evolved since 2007

It has been a long and (mostly) smooth ride to the top of the tech world for Apple. The iPhone is now one of the most successful products of all time, and Apple’s mobile operating system —  aka, iOS — runs on more than a billion devices worldwide.

It was 10 years ago that the first iPhone, running the first version of iOS, hit the market. It had been revealed in a memorable keynote by the late Steve Jobs at MacWorld the previous January. He described it as “three revolutionary products… in one device,” combining “a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device.” Few of us could have predicted the impact it would have — just look out our initial coverage of the announcement, if you need proof — though, it didn’t garner the following it now has overnight.

Let’s cast our eye back over the last few years and take a look at how the platform has changed throughout the course of the last decade.

iOS 1.0 — Touch controls, entertainment, and internet

What made iOS 1.0 special? The user interface was designed for multi-touch operation and the iPhone had a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, which made it faster and more intuitive than any of the competition. It also offered a vastly improved mobile window to the internet (including the best version of Google Maps to date), and it encompassed everything that was good about the iPod. It wasn’t perfect, our review of the original iPhone bemoaned the lack of 3G, no wireless iTunes syncing, no external memory card slot, and no stereo Bluetooth, but that didn’t stop it getting an Editors’ Choice award and scoring 4.5 out of 5.

iOS 2.0 — Apps, apps, apps!

There had already been two updates when iOS 2.0 rolled out on the iPhone 3G in July 2008, and there would be many more, but this was arguably the most important for the platform because it ushered in the age of apps. The iOS 2.0 release brought the App Store and the SDK with it. The platform has been the first choice for mobile app developers ever since.

iOS 3.0 — Features galore

Lots and lots of little features rolled out to make the whole iOS experience, on the iPhone 3GS, that little bit more intuitive and smooth. We got push notifications for third-party apps, parental controls, tap to focus in the camera, in-app purchases and subscription models, universal search with spotlight, and cut, copy, paste for the touchscreen age. There was also the option to buy movies, TV shows, and books direct from iTunes on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

iOS 3.2 — The iPad

It was time for a major new device as the iPad burst onto the scene, and that meant new user interface and app designs to match the larger screen. It was more than just a resolution bump, extra panes and sidebar lists were introduced to make more use of the screen real estate. This was the first fragmentation in the iOS platform, as iOS 3.2 and its updates were only for the iPad.

iOS 4.0 — Multitasking, FaceTime, and folders

Alongside the iPhone 4 (the first iPhone with Retina Display), iOS 4.0 boasted “over 100 new features”. There was FaceTime for video calls, folders for organizing apps, universal spell check, unified email, and the headliner – multitasking. Apple’s interpretation of multitasking wasn’t the same as Google’s, but iOS 4.0 offered enough to fend off the challenge of the fast-improving Android platform.

iOS 4.0.1 to 4.3 — “Antennagate,” Game Center, and AirPlay

It was just a month before the first update rolled out to address the “antennagate” issue and another four updates were to follow over the next few months. iOS 4.1 introduced Game Center, AirPlay popped up in 4.2.1, Verizon support in 4.2.5, and finally personal hotspots to share 3G via Wi-Fi, AirPlay for third-party apps, and iTunes Home Sharing for Wi-Fi access to all your iTunes content in iOS 4.3.

iOS 5.0 — Siri, wireless sync, and iCloud

The iOS 5.0 platform and the iPhone 4S were important releases for Apple, with Android making serious gains in the smartphone market. There was plenty to capture the imagination as Apple showed a willingness to pull in great functionality inspired by competitors. There was an overhauled Notifications Center, the iMessage app, wireless activation, iTunes syncing via Wi-Fi, and over-the-air updates. The wireless theme was carried over into iCloud (an overdue replacement for MobileMe), but it was virtual assistant Siri that captured the headlines.

Windows 10 Insider Build 16232 augments and improves Windows Defender

Why it matters to you

Insiders get a first look at some of the new features Microsoft is working on and give the rest of us an idea of what we can look forward to in the future.

The latest Insider preview for Windows 10 build 16232 and Windows Mobile 15228 is focused almost entirely on augmenting Windows Defender’s abilities to keep us all safe. Application guard and exploit protection have seen improvements, though Microsoft does note that moving forward, it will pause inbox app updates to its Windows Insiders.

Windows 10 inbox applications are the basic apps that come pre-installed with the operating system. Things like the Photos app, or Maps. In an effort to, as Microsoft describes it, “provide Windows customers with the highest quality inbox apps possible,” it will be pausing its updates for Windows Insiders. The idea is to bring inbox apps in line with Windows builds, rather than send out updates for them individually.

While that is something that will change moving forward, the latest Insider build is now doing the rounds in the Windows 10 Fast ring, is a little more impactful. Windows Defender Application Guard will now have persistent Microsoft Edge data across sessions. It will be accessible next time you decide to browse as part of a Guard session.

In an update of the Windows Defender Security Center, Windows 10 users running this latest Insider build can now alter exploit protection settings. You will be able to configure and manage the way Windows and its applications mitigate exploits, as well as audit the system as it currently stands to check to see if any exploits may have been used on your system.

Microsoft acknowledges that this feature may not work quite as intended just yet, as it is a work in progress, but should offer much more detailed feedback for those who are keen to see their system protected.

Windows Defender Antivirus is also being bolstered in this new build. In an effort to better protect important files from ransomware, you can now blacklist and whitelist certain apps from accessing particularly important folders. Windows Defender can monitor those folders and will let you know if certain apps attempt to access it and alter the files within without prior permission.

You will be able to select particular files yourself, though there is also a default list, which includes the likes of Windows Documents, Pictures, Movies and the Desktop. Those are automatically protected when the feature is enabled.

Although you will need to be part of the Windows Insider Fast ring to make use of these new features, if you are and want to know how to enable them, Microsoft breaks down each update on its blog. It also has a long list of additional improvements and fixes, as well as a few outstanding issues it is already aware of.

Greenlight’s smart debit card for kids now available on Apple Pay

Why it matters to you

Greenlight’s smart debit card integration with Apple Pay now allows kids to use it internationally, while parents monitor and control their spending habits.

Greenlight — a special Mastercard debit card service that gives parents complete control over how much their children spend and where  — announced its integration with Apple Pay, according to MacRumors. The smart debit card can now be used internationally in over 120 countries, which will come in handy for any kids traveling this abroad this summer.

Initially, Greenlight purchases were made through a physical debit card parents would give to children to carry with them. Now, they can simply add the card to their Wallet app and use it on their iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or other eligible devices. Android users, have no fear — the company announced that Android Pay integration is coming soon.

When using the smart debit card, the money available to your child is divided into two parts. It can either be spent wherever they’d like — known as “Spend Anywhere” — or only at places you’ve approved ahead of time known as “a greenlight.” If your child tries to spend money at a store that isn’t approved in advance and they don’t have enough “Spend Anywhere” money, the card is declined and you’ll receive a notification.

All of the information is controlled through the Greenlight app — available for Android and iOS — with customizable alerts to your smart phone. Through the app, you can set and pay certain allowances, send money to your kids instantly, receive alerts on where and when your child uses the card, among other settings. For kids, they can request extra money from parents, learn about budgets, and analyze their spending through reports.

The company expressed its excitement for the integration with Apple Pay claiming that “young people are leading the pay in paying for things using their mobile phones,” said Tim Sheehan, CEO and co-founder of Greenlight Financial Technology Inc. in a press release. With over 4 million locations supporting Apple Pay, the combination of the two definitely makes the process easier on children — who are always on their phones anyways — and parents who never have cash.

The Greenlight debit card will cost you $5 a month per family and you can have up to five children connected to your account, with the option of starting with a free trial. If the card is ever lost, both parents and children can use the app to turn the card off right away.

Download Greenlight for:

iOS Android

Desktopography turns even the most cluttered desk into a smart display

Why it matters to you

Unlike other interactive projections, Desktopography still brings advantages to an already cluttered desk.

Projecting an interactive interface onto a desk is an idea that has been around for more than a decade, but existing designs never keep a more practical desk in mind. People clutter their desks with mugs, books, computers, papers, and more. Desktopography is a prototype device that incorporates the clutter.

The prototype, created by PH.D. students Robert Xiao, Scott Hudson, and Chris Harrison, uses a custom overhead projector equipped with a camera to cast an interactive Android smartphone interface onto most surfaces. Desktopography allows apps to spill out onto the desk for users to interact with. It was presented alongside their related paper at the Symposium on Engineering Interactive Computing Systems in Lisbon, Portugal.

Sony’s Xperia Touch projector offers similar technology, but Xiao’s team’s research takes it a step further. Desktopography isn’t limited to a rectangular screen like the Xperia Touch is. Instead, the screen can be dragged around the desk, resized, minimized to icons, or rotated using multi-touch gestures. It can even work on non-flat surfaces.

For people who move around while the work, the virtual apps can also be docked to the side of a physical object. For instance, a virtual calculator can be snapped to the side of a laptop. When the laptop is moved around the desk, the calculator moves along with it. If something gets in the way of the app, the system is smart enough to automatically reposition it somewhere it can be seen.

Aside from the interactive display, the projector itself is also a notable innovation. The camera, projector, and Android computer are completely self-contained with a standard lightbulb screw connector on one end. This makes installation as easy as replacing a bulb. With multiple projectors installed around a house, Desktopography can sync up over Wi-Fi. This allows users to move from their desk, to the kitchen, to the dining room table. All that is needed outside of the projector itself is a lamp placed near a workspace.

For more of the latest innovations from Carnegie Mellon University, be sure to check in with Digital Trends. Other recent developments include a spray paint that turns any surface into a touchpad.

Everything you need to know about Farpoint on PlayStation 4

Survive a desert planet while searching for the scientists stranded there, before the locals get their claws on you.

Farpoint has already been out for over a month, but there is still plenty to delve into with this awesome sci-fi game. With brand new DLC, we’ve got answers for your questions so you can enjoy this game to its fullest!

Read more at VRHeads

Thrifter is giving away two pairs of hand-crafted Grado Labs headphones, and one could be yours

Team Thrifter is back again, this time with a chance for you to win one of two pairs of hand-crafted headphones!

Headphones come in all shapes, sizes, and prices these days, and it’s much easier to spend $10 on a set than it is to drop a few hundred. Unfortunately, you won’t get the same build or audio quality out of the cheaper ones, but sometimes that’s all you want to spend at the time. Ever dream of owning a beautiful pair of handmade headphones? If so, we’ve got a giveaway you won’t want to miss.

To celebrate the recent launch of Thrifter’s new site and branding, they partnered up with Grado Labs to be able to give away two pairs of its awesome headphones. We have a pair of the SR325e (which retail for $325), as well as a pair of the RS2e (which retail for $495). Grado Labs is based out of Brooklyn, NY, and the company actually hand makes all the headphones and cartridges it sells.

We will give you a minute to drool over how nice these headphones are …

Ok, so how do you enter? The process is actually pretty simple, and there are a variety of ways to try and score a set of these headphones for yourself. Some of the easiest ways include following Thrifter on Twitter, signing up for our newsletter, and tweeting us! The contest runs through July 13, so be sure to get all your entries in before then!

Enter now to win a pair of Grado headphones from Thrifter!

For more great deals be sure to check out Thrifter now!