Grow a tree from a loved one’s ashes, and the Bios Incube will keep it alive
Why it matters to you
If you’re looking for a departure from a traditional burial, being planted as a tree isn’t such a bad alternative.
The technology of today isn’t just for this life — it’s for the afterlife, too. If you thought that only the living could enjoy the perks of the 21st century, think again. When you pass on into the Great Beyond, rest assured that some great tech will go along with you. Or at the very least, that tech will make the most out of you. Meet the Bios Incube, the world’s first Internet of Things burial urn, because there really is something for everybody in 2017.
In all seriousness, it’s quite a clever idea. The Bios Incube is a tree incubator specifically designed to work with ashes. After a successful Kickstarter campaign (see, there really is demand here), the Bios team is hoping to disrupt the age-old practice of burying our deceased.
Meant for those seeking an alternative to traditional burials, and perhaps a direct connection with their loved ones, the Bios Incube works alongside the Bios Urn in order to create life after death. The Urn is planted into the Incube, and once everything has been set up (the Incube is, of course, app-connected), users can monitor the plant’s growth, and check out maintenance tips. The Incube comes with a built-in self-watering system that is triggered by a sensor placed at the soil’s surface. Further sensors are capable of detecting light exposure, electrical conductivity, and monitoring moisture, as well as temperature in the atmosphere and soil.
“What we want is simple: We want to combine the intersections of design, nature, and technology to create not just products, but experiences,” said Bios co-founder Roger Moline.
The minimal design of the Bios products allow them to fit rather seamlessly into any home decor, and guests would never guess the contents of the cube. And once your tree has sprouted, you can transfer it to a more permanent location — perhaps your loved one’s favorite destination.
“The goal of all of Bios products is to change the way people think about death by converting the end of life into a transformation and a return to life through nature,” the company noted. So if you’re looking for a way to honor those in your life who have passed, you may consider taking their ashes and placing them in the Bios Incube.
Prisma gets sticky with its new selfie-to-sticker app for iOS and Android
Why it matters to you
The wildly popular app Prisma is proving that it’s not going anywhere by launching yet another app with viral potential.
The app universe is one that is expanding at an alarming rate, and that means that app developers must continue innovating to keep up. Certainly up to the challenge is Prisma, the popular AI-based app that turned photos into art pieces, and shot to viral fame last year. Now, the makers behind Prisma are debuting a new app — it’s called Sticky, and it’s a selfie-to-sticker tool for the digitally (and self-) obsessed generation. The iOS version launched today, and the Android version will follow in the coming weeks.
The technology behind Sticky allows you to cut out your selfie from its background to create a sticker that you can share just about anywhere. “We trained neural networks to find different objects on a photo/ video and even on a live video stream. So basically our trained neural networks are looking for a person on a photo,” Prisma co-founder Aram Airapetyan told TechCrunch. “Then we cut out the background and the sticker is ready.”
From there, you can either take your selfie sans background, or slightly edit the background with a number of different colors, or even add a white border around the image to make it extra obvious that it is, in fact, a sticker. And of course, if you so choose, you can apply a Prisma-esque effect to the sticker (just to remind you of what this app really is).
You can also add a text caption, or even animate your sticker, essentially creating a selfie GIF that you can then share on various social media platforms. Given that the app is still in its nascent stages, there are still a few kinks to work out. “Sometimes the cut-out tech isn’t perfect, but the more people will use Sticky, the better it will become itself!” said Airapetyan. “Sticky is surely going to become a better app with lots of more features. We just need to find out what people need first. Stickers, in general, are very popular nowadays and the popularity will spiral up, for sure.”
Let’s hope he’s right. You can go ahead and download the app for free from the App Store.
An always-on display mode may be coming to Google Pixel smartphones
Why it matters to you
Google’s always-on display mode for Pixel smartphones would ensure you never missed another notification.
Arguably one of the Samsung Galaxy S8’s most useful features is Always On Display, which lights up certain parts of the smartphone’s screen without drawing a lot of power. Now, according to code uncovered by XDA Developers, the Google Pixel phone might be the next to get it.
In a report on Friday, XDA Developers published code in the latest version of Android O Developer Preview 3 that points toward an always-on display mode. It mentions “doze,” a tag that Google uses internally to reference Android’s lift-to-check, double-tap-to-check ambient display feature that lights up a device’s screen when notifications come in. And it includes a toggle that enables an “always-on” state that prevents the Pixel’s display from sleeping.
It appear to be similar to Samsung’s Always On Display. With the experimental always-on display enabled, the Pixel shows notification text and icons in monochromatic colors beneath a clock, date, and battery indicator. Always-on display isn’t accessible without editing the code, and it isn’t fully functional yet. But XDA Developers expects it to make its way to Android’s System UI Tuner, the settings menu on newer Android phones that can be accessed by pulling down the status bar and long-pressing on the settings cog.
If the Pixel gains an always-on display mode via an update, it would be an impressive feat. It took Samsung engineers more than three years to optimize the power draw of display components and sensors for Always On Display, and even longer to develop a new hardware algorithm — Smart Power Saving — to further boost performance.
Always On Display’s secret sauce is its ambient awareness features, which tap the Galaxy S8’s RGB light and accelerometer sensors to fine-tune screen brightness and disable notifications in situations where you’re unable to see the screen, such as when it’s in your pocket or in a bag.
It’s unclear if the Pixel’s always-on display will work the same way. It might be more akin to Moto Display, Motorola’s ambient display mode (since discontinued) that lights up portions of a smartphone’s screen when the display is off. Similar to Samsung’s Always On Display, Moto Display shuts off the screen when the phone is in your pocket or face down on a table. But unlike the Always On Display, it’s actionable: Moto Display lets you reveal a notification’s contents by touching and holding it, or dismiss it by swiping to the left or right.
Whatever form the Pixel’s always-on display mode takes, it’s likely to ship as part of Google’s Android O Developer Preview program. XDA Developers notes that a toggle’s been coded, but not made visible.
The Swiss are combining 3D printing and robots to change how houses get built
Why it matters to you
3D printing, robots, and modular construction are coming together in Switzerland to fundamentally change how buildings are assembled.
Eight scientists from Switzerland’s ETH Zurich University have embarked on a bold plan to build the next generation of construction robots, and their proof-of-concept is a first-generation robot that is actively building a 200-square-foot home on the school’s campus. The project is bringing together a suite of cutting-edge technologies including 3D printing, modular construction, and new methods of construction. The DFAB House is believed to be the first house in the world to be designed, planned and built using primarily digital processes.
“Unlike construction projects that use only a single digital building technology, such as 3D printed houses, the DFAB HOUSE brings a range of new digital building technologies together. This allows us to use the advantages of each individual method as well as their synergies, and express them architecturally,” says ETH professor Matthias Kohler.
The new technologies include a robot designated the In Situ Fabicator I, which is mounted on caterpillar tracks that can fabricate dense mesh sections that act as a framework and reinforcement for poured concrete walls. This robot is dustproof and waterproof, uses standard European electricity, and is internet-connected so that architects and builders can make real-time changes to the construction process at any time.
Once the walls harden, they are topped with an integrated ceiling slab manufactured by a large-scale 3D printer. This “Mesh Mould” technology received the Swiss Technology Award at the end of 2016.
Simultaneously, the individual rooms for the second and third floors are being prefabricated at ETH Zurich’s Robotic Fabrication Laboratory using constructing robots to assemble the timber and concrete elements.
In addition to testing new building and energy technologies under real life conditions, the ETH Zurich house project also allows the team to design solutions for future robots. The current In Situ Fabricator I is too heavy to enter many standard buildings, and can only manipulate objects up to 88 pounds, while the scientists would like it to manage more than 130 pounds. The team has already designed and built a next-generation robot arm with a hydraulic actuator that can manipulate heavier objects with equal precision and better reliability.
The DFAB House is part of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication Project and is being erected, in addition to other futuristic construction experiments, on the periphery of the NEST (Next Evolution in Sustainable Building Technologies), a modular research and innovation building at the ETH Zurich campus.
The DFAB House isn’t the first project to use 3D printing technology in its construction — projects all over Europe from Amsterdam to Russia are actively using 3D technology, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is said to have a robot on its Boston campus that can print an entire home within 14 hours. But the combination of digital design and planning and digital building processes is a bold step toward making construction more sustainable and efficient while lending architects and builders more real-time control over their building projects.
The DFAB House is scheduled to finish construction in summer 2018, when it is planned to be used as a residential and working space for guest researchers of the NEST project.
Later brings its drag-and-drop Instagram visual planner to iOS and Android
Why it matters to you
This big update to Later’s apps brings its web-based visual Instagram planner to mobile, making it easier to manage your feed on the go.
Planning out your Instagram feed may not be something that everyone is doing but for those who carefully curate their feed, Later’s visual drag-and-drop planner has been a welcome addition to the social media management landscape. We mentioned Later and its best-time-to-post functionality earlier but Later’s real highlighted feature has been the visual planner, which until now has only been available on its website — users of their mobile app could not take advantage of it.
As of Wednesday, Later pushed updates to both its iOS and Android apps which bring the visual planner from the browser into the apps. This will be a godsend to those who have been using the tool to manage their feeds online but need to make changes with the app out on the go. It works exactly the same as it does on Later’s website, and just to recap – it’s stupid simple.
The drag-and-drop visual planner feature allows users to upload and schedule a batch of images for posting on their Instagram feed. Once the images are uploaded to the app, you can add a caption and any hashtags you like, then unlike in other social schedulers where you would just set a day and time to post, you are given the option to use the visual planner. When you opt to use the visual planner, you are shown a representation of your Instagram feed with the images you are planning to upload. From there, you can click on the images and drag them around the grid until you find an arrangement that you like.
This feature always seemed to be meant for mobile, dragging and dropping is much more user intuitive with your finger on a screen than with a mouse and keyboard. In addition to the visual planner update, the two apps also received some updates to their “ready to post” section and profile switcher (for those managing multiple accounts). This visual planner, when paired with the company’s best-time-to-post feature makes for one of the most powerful Instagram management solutions we know of.
Later’s basic (albeit limited) account is free, so you can sign up and give it a try. If you already happen to be a Later user, you should have received the app update already, but you should be able to find the latest updates live on both the iOS and Android app stores.
AR search is one of the new features in the updated Bing Search app
Why it matters to you
It’s been a couple years since Bing rolled out a major update to its Search app, and now, that wait has paid off.
If you’re a Bing Search user, hold onto your hats. Microsoft has debuted a major update for the Android version of its Bing Search app, promising a “whole new look” to the tool.
First and foremost, the app certainly appears much more aesthetically pleasing than it has in the past. With a simplified interface, using Search could be a lot easier — plus, Microsoft has done away with that loud teal-colored design that was first rolled out in the iOS version of the app back in 2015. While Android users have only been using that particular design since February 2016, it seems that Microsoft has decided it’s been long enough.
There are also improved location-aware features, which is meant to make the process of finding local companies and services a bit more straightforward. Bing Search also promises newly enhanced shopping search features. “Find when new movies are showing and get tickets, and know what films are available and trending on your favorite streaming services,” Bing notes on its new app description. “Explore restaurants and book a table, and discover offers, discounts, and coupons at shops near you.”
The app also now integrates augmented reality with its Near Me-Camera Search tab, which allows you to point your smartphone camera at the world, and find results about the world around you. You can also search by image, voice, photos, or barcodes. Also new is the ability to search for animated GIFs on Bing Search. You can also keep tabs on trending GIFs and save them, and you’ll also have quick access to other images, videos, and search results.
Bing has also improved its customizability, which means you can now set your individual preferences when it comes to font style, size, and background. Hopefully, that will lead to a better reading experience, regardless of what device you’re using. And of course, Bing says that it has fixed a number of bugs, and improved the speed and performance of the app overall.
“Bing is more than simple search. Get answers to your questions faster and easier,” Bing concludes. “Find what you love, from live sport updates, trending music, and recipes, to nearby deals, movie times, and gas prices.”
Weekly rewind: Vinyl records worth more than your car, Prime Day prep, AI rights
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from how to make the most out of Prime Day to how we ought to feel about sex robots — it’s all here.
Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again
Microsoft is on a good run. Over the past half-decade, it has released a popular new desktop operating system, built multiple award-winning PCs that’ve pushed the industry forward, and established itself as a leader in exciting new fields, including augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
It’s easy to imagine this turn-around as a victory for Windows 10, Surface, Azure, or CEO Satya Nadella, who took the reins in 2014 — and such congratulations would not be misplaced. Yet the story of Microsoft’s comeback isn’t just about stock prices and executive appointments. Equal credit can be given to the company’s tradition of innovative research — conducted by scientists like Steven Bathiche.
Read: Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again
To understand America’s Jeep obsession, you’ve gotta get muddy
Nissan is about to give the all-electric Leaf a full makeover. It’s about time, too; the current, first-generation Nissan Leaf has been on the market since the end of 2010, and it’s getting a little bit long in the tooth. Its replacement won’t break cover for another few months, but the Japanese company is giving us an early look at some of its headline-grabbing tech features. Over the weekend, Nissan USA tweeted a teaser image of its new Leaf, then added a background image showing the car’s entire front end (which has since been removed). The image is our best look yet at the redesigned EV.
The next Leaf will finally usher in Nissan’s suite of semi-autonomous driving features, a sign that the once-expensive technology is trickling down to more affordable models. Named ProPilot Assist, the software relies on sensors and cameras to help control acceleration, braking, and steering. It only works on the highway, particularly in dense traffic, and its job is merely to keep the car in its lane. Don’t expect it to change lanes on its own like the systems built by Mercedes-Benz and Tesla.
Read: To understand America’s Jeep obsession, you’ve gotta get muddy
New report explores the good, the bad, and the ugly about sex robots
“There are absolutely some benefits to the technology but, like everything else, there is a balance,” Aimee van Wynsberghe, assistant professor in ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft and FRR co-director, said in a statement. “You have to strike a balance between lack of regulation — so we have all different uses and personifications of children and women as sexual objects — or you have overregulation and you stifle the technology. You have to find the way to balance so you really can harness the good.”
Read: New report explores the good, the bad, and the ugly about sex robots
Kirio smart homes don’t just alert you to problems, they can fix them
A couple years ago, Franck Rougier’s kids started waking up with headaches. His family had recently moved from New York to Seattle, into one of the U.S.’s only passive homes. “It was a complicated home,” Rougier told Digital Trends. “It had a lot of tech in there.” Despite his background in mechanical engineering, Rougier hadn’t fully figured out how to properly ventilate the energy-efficient, air-tight house, and CO2 was getting trapped in the bedrooms. Instead of manually working the ventilation system, he looked for an automated solution. He struck out. “Even the builder had never lived in a passive house,” he said.
Instead, Rougier built his own, which would eventually become Kirio, a built-in home automation system that controls everything from lights to heating and cooling to the water tank. And it’s not just for passive homes.
There are countless smart-home hubs homeowners can buy, but Kirio gets installed before you buy your home, while it’s being built. It can control both what builder would put in — air conditioning, lighting, water, and so on, and the homeowner’s favorite gadgets — Nest thermostats, Alexa speakers, and smart locks, for example. “As long as something has a serial or diagnostic port, we can control it,” said Kirio’s CEO, Rob Green. The benefit is that instead of having your third-party sensor alert you there’s a leak, Kirio gets the message and sends another one out to shut off the water.
Read: Kirio smart homes don’t just alert you to problems, they can fix them
Top 5 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb suffers major data breach
It’s easy to get a bit discouraged lately when it comes to securing our personal data. There are so many different methods being used by cyber criminals to get access to our data that it is tempting to just give up on the notion of keeping our information to ourselves. Cybercriminals use a variety of electronic means to break into systems, whether it is our own PCs or those maintained by the hundreds of companies with which we do business. Sometimes, it is the combination that does the trick — a breach in an individual’s PC serves as a gateway to organizational data and results in our information making its way into the wild. Such seems to be the case in an attack on the Bithumb cryptocurrency exchange.
The news comes via Hot for Security, based on information from some local reports in Seoul, Korea where the attack occurred. Apparently, a Bithumb employee’s PC was compromised and customer information including mobile phone and email addresses were stolen. The breach occurred on June 29 and around 30,000 customers were affected.
Read: Top 5 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb suffers major data breach
Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers
In the digital age, the thirst for followers (and elusive likes) is very real. However, outside of our social circles, it can be difficult to add followers in order to promote our brand or simply stroke our egos. That said, there are plenty of easy ways to gain more Instagram followers. You may not garner as many likes as Selena Gomez anytime soon, but these helpful tips should bring your page to a broader audience. And don’t worry about all of these new people perusing the posts you’d like to keep private: The new Favorites feature allows you to share certain posts with only a selective group of friends. Read on to find out how to get more followers on Instagram.
Read: Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers
I, Alexa: Should we give artificial intelligence human rights?
Douglas Adams’ second Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, tells the story of a futuristic smart elevator called the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Happy Vertical People Transporter. This artificially intelligent elevator works by predicting the future, so it can appear on the right floor to pick you up even before you know you want to get on — thereby “eliminating all the tedious chatting, relaxing, and making friends that people were previously forced to do whilst waiting for elevators.”
The ethics question, Adams explains, comes when the intelligent elevator becomes bored of going up and down all day, and instead decides to experiment with moving from side to side as a “sort of existential protest.”
Read: I, Alexa: Should we give artificial intelligence human rights?
These drool-worthy albums are among the most expensive vinyl records on Earth
As more and more listeners embrace the vinyl resurgence, vinyl fans around the world are increasingly on the hunt for the coolest wax to spin on their newly acquired analog hi-fis. We’d all love to find that hidden first pressing of Sgt. Peppers at the local record shop. But the rarest, most expensive vinyl records in the world aren’t for playing — unless you’re just that baller. Worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases, the world’s most sought after records aren’t just antiques or even works of art, they’re tangible time stamps of rock ‘n roll history, each with its own story to tell.
To tell those stories we’ve compiled a list of some of the most expensive and drool-worthy vinyl records on the planet. And while none of us will likely get our paws on any of these gems, a vinyl fan can dream. So follow us below for the rarest, strangest, and just plain coolest cuts ever pressed. While you’re at it, be sure to check out our vinyl tips on everything from how to buy and store your first vinyl collection, to which are the best record players and phono preamps to nab so you can build a killer turntable setup of your own.
Read: These drool-worthy albums are among the most expensive vinyl records on Earth
Prime Day starts today if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an Alexa user
Prime Day is fast approaching, and this time, Amazon really, really wants you to get in on the action. And it’s attempting to entice you with, what else, Alexa. The handy virtual assistant is not only good at helping you pay your bills, but can help you spend money, too. On Wednesday, July 5, the Seattle-based retail giant announced that Alexa has more than 100 exclusive deals available to Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Fire TV, or compatible Fire tablet owners.
And those choosing to take advantage of Prime Day (which, by the way, isn’t until July 10) will have access to certain deals two hours before everyone else. So if you’re looking for a reason to buy an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, the promise of spending even more money in the near future may be the motivation you need.
Read: Prime Day starts today if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an Alexa user
Weekly rewind: Vinyl records worth more than your car, Prime Day prep, AI rights
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from how to make the most out of Prime Day to how we ought to feel about sex robots — it’s all here.
Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again
Microsoft is on a good run. Over the past half-decade, it has released a popular new desktop operating system, built multiple award-winning PCs that’ve pushed the industry forward, and established itself as a leader in exciting new fields, including augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
It’s easy to imagine this turn-around as a victory for Windows 10, Surface, Azure, or CEO Satya Nadella, who took the reins in 2014 — and such congratulations would not be misplaced. Yet the story of Microsoft’s comeback isn’t just about stock prices and executive appointments. Equal credit can be given to the company’s tradition of innovative research — conducted by scientists like Steven Bathiche.
Read: Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again
To understand America’s Jeep obsession, you’ve gotta get muddy
Nissan is about to give the all-electric Leaf a full makeover. It’s about time, too; the current, first-generation Nissan Leaf has been on the market since the end of 2010, and it’s getting a little bit long in the tooth. Its replacement won’t break cover for another few months, but the Japanese company is giving us an early look at some of its headline-grabbing tech features. Over the weekend, Nissan USA tweeted a teaser image of its new Leaf, then added a background image showing the car’s entire front end (which has since been removed). The image is our best look yet at the redesigned EV.
The next Leaf will finally usher in Nissan’s suite of semi-autonomous driving features, a sign that the once-expensive technology is trickling down to more affordable models. Named ProPilot Assist, the software relies on sensors and cameras to help control acceleration, braking, and steering. It only works on the highway, particularly in dense traffic, and its job is merely to keep the car in its lane. Don’t expect it to change lanes on its own like the systems built by Mercedes-Benz and Tesla.
Read: To understand America’s Jeep obsession, you’ve gotta get muddy
New report explores the good, the bad, and the ugly about sex robots
“There are absolutely some benefits to the technology but, like everything else, there is a balance,” Aimee van Wynsberghe, assistant professor in ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft and FRR co-director, said in a statement. “You have to strike a balance between lack of regulation — so we have all different uses and personifications of children and women as sexual objects — or you have overregulation and you stifle the technology. You have to find the way to balance so you really can harness the good.”
Read: New report explores the good, the bad, and the ugly about sex robots
Kirio smart homes don’t just alert you to problems, they can fix them
A couple years ago, Franck Rougier’s kids started waking up with headaches. His family had recently moved from New York to Seattle, into one of the U.S.’s only passive homes. “It was a complicated home,” Rougier told Digital Trends. “It had a lot of tech in there.” Despite his background in mechanical engineering, Rougier hadn’t fully figured out how to properly ventilate the energy-efficient, air-tight house, and CO2 was getting trapped in the bedrooms. Instead of manually working the ventilation system, he looked for an automated solution. He struck out. “Even the builder had never lived in a passive house,” he said.
Instead, Rougier built his own, which would eventually become Kirio, a built-in home automation system that controls everything from lights to heating and cooling to the water tank. And it’s not just for passive homes.
There are countless smart-home hubs homeowners can buy, but Kirio gets installed before you buy your home, while it’s being built. It can control both what builder would put in — air conditioning, lighting, water, and so on, and the homeowner’s favorite gadgets — Nest thermostats, Alexa speakers, and smart locks, for example. “As long as something has a serial or diagnostic port, we can control it,” said Kirio’s CEO, Rob Green. The benefit is that instead of having your third-party sensor alert you there’s a leak, Kirio gets the message and sends another one out to shut off the water.
Read: Kirio smart homes don’t just alert you to problems, they can fix them
Top 5 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb suffers major data breach
It’s easy to get a bit discouraged lately when it comes to securing our personal data. There are so many different methods being used by cyber criminals to get access to our data that it is tempting to just give up on the notion of keeping our information to ourselves. Cybercriminals use a variety of electronic means to break into systems, whether it is our own PCs or those maintained by the hundreds of companies with which we do business. Sometimes, it is the combination that does the trick — a breach in an individual’s PC serves as a gateway to organizational data and results in our information making its way into the wild. Such seems to be the case in an attack on the Bithumb cryptocurrency exchange.
The news comes via Hot for Security, based on information from some local reports in Seoul, Korea where the attack occurred. Apparently, a Bithumb employee’s PC was compromised and customer information including mobile phone and email addresses were stolen. The breach occurred on June 29 and around 30,000 customers were affected.
Read: Top 5 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb suffers major data breach
Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers
In the digital age, the thirst for followers (and elusive likes) is very real. However, outside of our social circles, it can be difficult to add followers in order to promote our brand or simply stroke our egos. That said, there are plenty of easy ways to gain more Instagram followers. You may not garner as many likes as Selena Gomez anytime soon, but these helpful tips should bring your page to a broader audience. And don’t worry about all of these new people perusing the posts you’d like to keep private: The new Favorites feature allows you to share certain posts with only a selective group of friends. Read on to find out how to get more followers on Instagram.
Read: Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers
I, Alexa: Should we give artificial intelligence human rights?
Douglas Adams’ second Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, tells the story of a futuristic smart elevator called the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Happy Vertical People Transporter. This artificially intelligent elevator works by predicting the future, so it can appear on the right floor to pick you up even before you know you want to get on — thereby “eliminating all the tedious chatting, relaxing, and making friends that people were previously forced to do whilst waiting for elevators.”
The ethics question, Adams explains, comes when the intelligent elevator becomes bored of going up and down all day, and instead decides to experiment with moving from side to side as a “sort of existential protest.”
Read: I, Alexa: Should we give artificial intelligence human rights?
These drool-worthy albums are among the most expensive vinyl records on Earth
As more and more listeners embrace the vinyl resurgence, vinyl fans around the world are increasingly on the hunt for the coolest wax to spin on their newly acquired analog hi-fis. We’d all love to find that hidden first pressing of Sgt. Peppers at the local record shop. But the rarest, most expensive vinyl records in the world aren’t for playing — unless you’re just that baller. Worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases, the world’s most sought after records aren’t just antiques or even works of art, they’re tangible time stamps of rock ‘n roll history, each with its own story to tell.
To tell those stories we’ve compiled a list of some of the most expensive and drool-worthy vinyl records on the planet. And while none of us will likely get our paws on any of these gems, a vinyl fan can dream. So follow us below for the rarest, strangest, and just plain coolest cuts ever pressed. While you’re at it, be sure to check out our vinyl tips on everything from how to buy and store your first vinyl collection, to which are the best record players and phono preamps to nab so you can build a killer turntable setup of your own.
Read: These drool-worthy albums are among the most expensive vinyl records on Earth
Prime Day starts today if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an Alexa user
Prime Day is fast approaching, and this time, Amazon really, really wants you to get in on the action. And it’s attempting to entice you with, what else, Alexa. The handy virtual assistant is not only good at helping you pay your bills, but can help you spend money, too. On Wednesday, July 5, the Seattle-based retail giant announced that Alexa has more than 100 exclusive deals available to Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Fire TV, or compatible Fire tablet owners.
And those choosing to take advantage of Prime Day (which, by the way, isn’t until July 10) will have access to certain deals two hours before everyone else. So if you’re looking for a reason to buy an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, the promise of spending even more money in the near future may be the motivation you need.
Read: Prime Day starts today if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an Alexa user
Weekly rewind: Vinyl records worth more than your car, Prime Day prep, AI rights
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from how to make the most out of Prime Day to how we ought to feel about sex robots — it’s all here.
Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again
Microsoft is on a good run. Over the past half-decade, it has released a popular new desktop operating system, built multiple award-winning PCs that’ve pushed the industry forward, and established itself as a leader in exciting new fields, including augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
It’s easy to imagine this turn-around as a victory for Windows 10, Surface, Azure, or CEO Satya Nadella, who took the reins in 2014 — and such congratulations would not be misplaced. Yet the story of Microsoft’s comeback isn’t just about stock prices and executive appointments. Equal credit can be given to the company’s tradition of innovative research — conducted by scientists like Steven Bathiche.
Read: Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche redefined the PC, and he wants to do it again
To understand America’s Jeep obsession, you’ve gotta get muddy
Nissan is about to give the all-electric Leaf a full makeover. It’s about time, too; the current, first-generation Nissan Leaf has been on the market since the end of 2010, and it’s getting a little bit long in the tooth. Its replacement won’t break cover for another few months, but the Japanese company is giving us an early look at some of its headline-grabbing tech features. Over the weekend, Nissan USA tweeted a teaser image of its new Leaf, then added a background image showing the car’s entire front end (which has since been removed). The image is our best look yet at the redesigned EV.
The next Leaf will finally usher in Nissan’s suite of semi-autonomous driving features, a sign that the once-expensive technology is trickling down to more affordable models. Named ProPilot Assist, the software relies on sensors and cameras to help control acceleration, braking, and steering. It only works on the highway, particularly in dense traffic, and its job is merely to keep the car in its lane. Don’t expect it to change lanes on its own like the systems built by Mercedes-Benz and Tesla.
Read: To understand America’s Jeep obsession, you’ve gotta get muddy
New report explores the good, the bad, and the ugly about sex robots
“There are absolutely some benefits to the technology but, like everything else, there is a balance,” Aimee van Wynsberghe, assistant professor in ethics and technology at the Technical University of Delft and FRR co-director, said in a statement. “You have to strike a balance between lack of regulation — so we have all different uses and personifications of children and women as sexual objects — or you have overregulation and you stifle the technology. You have to find the way to balance so you really can harness the good.”
Read: New report explores the good, the bad, and the ugly about sex robots
Kirio smart homes don’t just alert you to problems, they can fix them
A couple years ago, Franck Rougier’s kids started waking up with headaches. His family had recently moved from New York to Seattle, into one of the U.S.’s only passive homes. “It was a complicated home,” Rougier told Digital Trends. “It had a lot of tech in there.” Despite his background in mechanical engineering, Rougier hadn’t fully figured out how to properly ventilate the energy-efficient, air-tight house, and CO2 was getting trapped in the bedrooms. Instead of manually working the ventilation system, he looked for an automated solution. He struck out. “Even the builder had never lived in a passive house,” he said.
Instead, Rougier built his own, which would eventually become Kirio, a built-in home automation system that controls everything from lights to heating and cooling to the water tank. And it’s not just for passive homes.
There are countless smart-home hubs homeowners can buy, but Kirio gets installed before you buy your home, while it’s being built. It can control both what builder would put in — air conditioning, lighting, water, and so on, and the homeowner’s favorite gadgets — Nest thermostats, Alexa speakers, and smart locks, for example. “As long as something has a serial or diagnostic port, we can control it,” said Kirio’s CEO, Rob Green. The benefit is that instead of having your third-party sensor alert you there’s a leak, Kirio gets the message and sends another one out to shut off the water.
Read: Kirio smart homes don’t just alert you to problems, they can fix them
Top 5 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb suffers major data breach
It’s easy to get a bit discouraged lately when it comes to securing our personal data. There are so many different methods being used by cyber criminals to get access to our data that it is tempting to just give up on the notion of keeping our information to ourselves. Cybercriminals use a variety of electronic means to break into systems, whether it is our own PCs or those maintained by the hundreds of companies with which we do business. Sometimes, it is the combination that does the trick — a breach in an individual’s PC serves as a gateway to organizational data and results in our information making its way into the wild. Such seems to be the case in an attack on the Bithumb cryptocurrency exchange.
The news comes via Hot for Security, based on information from some local reports in Seoul, Korea where the attack occurred. Apparently, a Bithumb employee’s PC was compromised and customer information including mobile phone and email addresses were stolen. The breach occurred on June 29 and around 30,000 customers were affected.
Read: Top 5 cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb suffers major data breach
Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers
In the digital age, the thirst for followers (and elusive likes) is very real. However, outside of our social circles, it can be difficult to add followers in order to promote our brand or simply stroke our egos. That said, there are plenty of easy ways to gain more Instagram followers. You may not garner as many likes as Selena Gomez anytime soon, but these helpful tips should bring your page to a broader audience. And don’t worry about all of these new people perusing the posts you’d like to keep private: The new Favorites feature allows you to share certain posts with only a selective group of friends. Read on to find out how to get more followers on Instagram.
Read: Up your ‘gram game: how to get more Instagram followers
I, Alexa: Should we give artificial intelligence human rights?
Douglas Adams’ second Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, tells the story of a futuristic smart elevator called the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Happy Vertical People Transporter. This artificially intelligent elevator works by predicting the future, so it can appear on the right floor to pick you up even before you know you want to get on — thereby “eliminating all the tedious chatting, relaxing, and making friends that people were previously forced to do whilst waiting for elevators.”
The ethics question, Adams explains, comes when the intelligent elevator becomes bored of going up and down all day, and instead decides to experiment with moving from side to side as a “sort of existential protest.”
Read: I, Alexa: Should we give artificial intelligence human rights?
These drool-worthy albums are among the most expensive vinyl records on Earth
As more and more listeners embrace the vinyl resurgence, vinyl fans around the world are increasingly on the hunt for the coolest wax to spin on their newly acquired analog hi-fis. We’d all love to find that hidden first pressing of Sgt. Peppers at the local record shop. But the rarest, most expensive vinyl records in the world aren’t for playing — unless you’re just that baller. Worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases, the world’s most sought after records aren’t just antiques or even works of art, they’re tangible time stamps of rock ‘n roll history, each with its own story to tell.
To tell those stories we’ve compiled a list of some of the most expensive and drool-worthy vinyl records on the planet. And while none of us will likely get our paws on any of these gems, a vinyl fan can dream. So follow us below for the rarest, strangest, and just plain coolest cuts ever pressed. While you’re at it, be sure to check out our vinyl tips on everything from how to buy and store your first vinyl collection, to which are the best record players and phono preamps to nab so you can build a killer turntable setup of your own.
Read: These drool-worthy albums are among the most expensive vinyl records on Earth
Prime Day starts today if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an Alexa user
Prime Day is fast approaching, and this time, Amazon really, really wants you to get in on the action. And it’s attempting to entice you with, what else, Alexa. The handy virtual assistant is not only good at helping you pay your bills, but can help you spend money, too. On Wednesday, July 5, the Seattle-based retail giant announced that Alexa has more than 100 exclusive deals available to Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Fire TV, or compatible Fire tablet owners.
And those choosing to take advantage of Prime Day (which, by the way, isn’t until July 10) will have access to certain deals two hours before everyone else. So if you’re looking for a reason to buy an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, the promise of spending even more money in the near future may be the motivation you need.
Read: Prime Day starts today if you’re an Amazon Prime member and an Alexa user
Kick off your weekend with $1 movie rentals and $5 purchases at Amazon
Team Thrifter is back again, this time with some great deals on Amazon movie rentals and purchases ahead of Prime Day!
Before you know it, we will be in the midst of the Prime Day madness, but before that, we should all take some time this weekend to sit back, relax, and watch a movie. Amazon’s latest offer brings $0.99 rentals and $4.99 purchases to Prime members. The deal, as you’d expect, doesn’t cover the company’s entire library of titles, but there is quite a mix available on both the rental and purchase end of it.
Some of the titles include:
Rental
- Hangover
- Get Hard
- Blended
- Sherlock
- Full Metal Jacket
Purchases
- Apollo 13
- King Kong
- Office Christmas Party
- A Turtle’s Tale
There are a lot more titles available for both rent and purchase, so you’ll want to check out the full lists to see if anything else may be of interest for you. If you’ve yet to stream anything from Prime Video on your television before, Amazon is also offering a $10 credit when you do for the first time.
See at Amazon
Prime Day 2017 is coming! Follow along with Thrifter’s live blog to discover the best deals first!
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