Sharp and SideChef team up to make your kitchen smarter than ever

Why it matters to you

Have trouble cooking? Let SideChef and Sharp do all the heavy lifting for you with their new smart appliances.

Your Sharp kitchen is about to get smart. Thanks to a new partnership between smart recipe startup SideChef and appliance maker Sharp, your kitchen tools and gadgets will be blessed with some newfound intelligence. SideChef is developing a new app as well as custom recipe content for Sharp’s internet-enabled cooking appliances. Beginning in 2018, you will be able to buy connected appliances from Sharp, beginning with the SuperSteam+ Convection Oven, all of which are powered by SideChef’s smart technology.

Promising a “recipe-driven culinary experience,” the new Sharp app hopes to make cooking foolproof. Simply choose your dish from the app, then let your kitchen appliance do the rest (with your supervision, of course). Already, SideChef has a collection of more than 5,000 interactive smart recipes that automatically set timers, play instructional videos, and make suggestions based on ingredients, time or day, season, location, and more.

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“Sharp was looking for ways to combine convenience with perfect cooking results from our next generation of smart connected home appliances,” Jim Sanduski, president of Sharp Home Electronics Company of America, said in a statement. “SideChef already offers an award winning mobile culinary platform so partnering with them to integrate cooking operation and control was an easy decision.”

So what will an integrated SideChef/Sharp appliance actually look like? The SuperSteam+ certainly serves as a great case study, promising to be three ovens in one. This built-in wall unit creates steam at 485 degrees Fahrenheit, which takes care of the “Super Steam” component. If you are not looking for anything quite so hot, you can also use the oven as a 212-degree Fahrenheit steam oven, or as a powerful convection oven. Once the internet-enabled version launches in the fall of 2018, you will be able to have your oven cook your favorite recipes on your behalf. Just set it and forget it, and come back to a fully cooked meal. The oven will deal with timing, heat, and all the other details.

“At SideChef, we are dedicated to providing the most advanced connected cooking experience available,” Kevin Yu, CEO and Founder of SideChef, said in a statement. “We are proud to partner with a great, global brand like Sharp to pioneer the future of cooking together.”

Enjoy the Treblab RF100 Magnetic Bluetooth headphones for just $39.99!

Wireless headphones are here to stay. One by one, phone manufacturers are removing the trusted 3.5mm headphone jack from their latest flagship devices as wires are replaced by a Bluetooth connection. Many people are resistant to this because, for the longest while, Bluetooth headphones were very expensive. But there are new styles to choose from and deals to be had!

That’s why you need to take advantage of this great offer by from Android Central Digital Offers. You can get these sleek looking wireless earphones from Treblab for just $39.99. These are perfect for your daily commute or for wearing around the office, delivering up to 9 hours of your favorite music on a single charge (It takes two hours to charge them fully). They include awesome features including a carrying case, six sets of ear-tips, and a magnetic function for keeping the ear buds together when they’re not in use. There’s also noise canceling technology so you can tune out the outside world as needed.

The 1Voice Sonic Bluetooth Headphones typically sold for around $100, but you’ll save 76% thanks to this deal from Android Central! But don’t delay — this deal won’t last long!

See at Android Central Digital Offers

5 reasons you should switch away from Verizon

Verizon is a great carrier, but there are some problems.

Having phone service that’s cheap and good is important to us.

Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since you were forced to have an expensive Sprint plan to get good digital nationwide phone service. In fact, the choices now are almost mind-boggling in both sheer number and all the different options each company has to offer. That means it’s a buyer’s market and now is a great time to think about the service you have versus the service you want.

For many, the “service we have” means Verizon. The reasons why aren’t a mystery: it has a great nationwide network and it wasn’t so long ago that you needed to use Verizon if you wanted cell phone service once you left home. Verizon is everywhere! Like we always say, paying for service that doesn’t work really sucks. The times have changed and switching away from Big Red is something worth considering, and we’re here to help with a few reasons why you might want to try another company.

Coverage

Verizon is still the undisputed king of coverage in the U.S. But what matters is the coverage you’ll get in the places you go.

As we mentioned above, there was a time that Verizon was the only choice for people who didn’t live in places like New York or Los Angeles. That was then, this is now: almost every person in the U.S. can have service as good or better with another company, including T-Mobile or Sprint, which have traditionally been criticized for poor rural coverage.

Verizon’s service hasn’t gotten worse. In fact, it gets better every year, too. But now over 90% of the people in the U.S. have coverage with T-Mobile, for example. If you live in a rural area Verizon is unbeatable for the most part. But if you live in even a small city, you should check out what others have to offer — it’s pretty great!

Verizon’s unlimited plans: Everything you need to know!

Price

When the coverage is equal, the next thing to consider is the price. And Verizon can be expensive compared to other providers.

We’re firm believers in paying extra for something that’s better. Verizon might be better for you, and if so it’s totally worth it. But if you are covered by another company who has just what you need at a lower price, there is no reason not to switch. Check your coverage, ask your friends, check the maps, etc. And when you check the prices you’ll like what you see.

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Video throttling

This is a new development and one that has a lot of people up in arms. As of August 2017, you can no longer stream Full HD video on the Verizon network, no matter how much you are willing to pay to do it. Verizon has changed its unlimited plans and the basic version tops out at 480p on your phone, while the more expensive option is capped at 720p.

Verizon has a good reason for the change — streaming video puts a lot of strain on any mobile network. And when you start talking HD video, the amount of data it uses can get pretty crazy. Now imagine a bunch of people in the same place doing it at the same time. Yikes.

But none of this changes the fact that other companies allow it, and charge you less overall each month. If this matters to you, the answer is simple: try another company.

Phone choice

This isn’t as big of a deal as it used to be. You’ll always be able to use the latest Samsung Galaxy or iPhone on Verizon and it will work great. But if you’re more of a mobile enthusiast, you will eventually find a phone you really want that isn’t built for Verizon.

Recently, we’ve seen two great phones that aren’t fully Verizon compatible: the HTC U11 and the OnePlus 5. And there are others, and there will be even more others. If you have an unlocked phone that is Verizon compatible, the company doesn’t mind you using it at all. Drop your SIM card in it and go! But if you find yourself eyeing unlocked phones and love to try new things, you will eventually come across one that just won’t work on Verizon.

Better prepaid plans

If you don’t want or need to pay for an unlimited data plan, grabbing a prepaid SIM card and using the phone you already have is a great idea. You can shop around and find a plan that offers just what you need without paying for any extras you don’t.

Verizon offers contract-free plans on top of its true prepaid service, but you’re still limited to what it offers. You’ll always be able to find a better prepaid deal where none of the extras or the cost of them is bundled in. There are dozens of great prepaid MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Providers) companies and at least one of them will have exactly what you’re looking for.

Verizon offers great phone service, there is no doubt. But if you’re ready for a change and were looking for a few reasons why that change might be good, here are a few.

Alternative carriers (MVNOS)

• What is an alternative mobile carrier?
• What are the advantages of going with an alternative carrier?
• How to make sure your phone works on a prepaid alternative carrier
• 8 Important Considerations When Switching To An MVNO
• These are the cheapest data plans you can buy in the U.S.
• Mint SIM vs. Cricket Wireless: Which is better for you?

This $6 folding wall charger is small enough to fit in your pocket

Stop using wall chargers that only support one device and grab this deal from our pals at Thrifter!

Right now you can pick up Aukey’s folding wall charger for just $5.99 with coupon code HUY9CY9Q, a savings of $4. It features two USB ports for keeping your favorite devices charged up, and has a 2.4A output, so it will charge them on the quicker side. The prongs fold down to keep the profile small.

Whether you spend a lot of time on the go, or just like to have something packed in case of an emergency, you won’t want to pass up this small charger.

See at Amazon

More from Thrifter:

• Upgrade your makeup bag this summer on a budget
• How to save money while driving

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

Phones certified by Google will now feature Play Protect branding on the retail box

Google is making it easier to find phones that are certified to run the Play Store.

Google has always had a certification process for manufacturers in order to bundle its services, collectively called Google Mobile Services — which include the Play Store, Chrome, Gmail, YouTube, Photos, Maps, and Drive. The company is now rolling out a new initiative called “certified Android devices,” which as the name suggests highlights all the manufacturers that are certified by Google to bundle apps like the Play Store on their devices.

Devices certified by Google will now carry the Play Protect branding on the retail box. Play Protect is Google’s new security suite, and it leverages machine learning to weed out malicious apps by regularly scanning and verifying apps on customers’ phones. The feature itself has been present since the Jelly Bean era as verify apps, but with Play Protect Google is making the information more consumer-friendly.

By rolling out the Play Protect branding, Google is making it easier for customers to find devices that have been certified by the company. This isn’t a problem in Western markets, but in developing countries like India, it’s harder to determine if a device by a particular company is certified by Google or if it’s running a forked version of Android.

To that effect, Google is making its list of device partners and ODMs available in Hindi. Google is also advocating the benefits of Play Protect in Hindi to better inform customers that such a feature exists:

Google provides certification for Android devices to make sure users receive secure and stable experiences. We work with manufacturers across the globe to run hundreds of compatibility tests that ensure devices adhere to the Android security and permissions model. These tests also verify that the Google apps pre-installed on devices are authentic, and that apps from the Play Store can work as intended.

Certified devices also come with Google Play Protect (हिंदी में) out-of-the-box, providing users with a suite of security features that include automatic device scanning for malware. This provides baseline protection against malware, privacy hacks and more.

Unsure if your phone is certified by Google? Head to the Play Store -> Settings -> scroll down to the Device certification status to find out.

Everything you need to know about Viveport Subscriptions

Do you need a Viveport Subscription in your life?

Instead of buying every VR game with a cool description, HTC is now making it possible to try out a bunch of games at once through a Viveport Subscription. There’s a lot to like about being able to play more VR games, but there are some big questions that need answers before you dive in and get playing. Here’s everything you need to know about Viveport subscriptions before clicking that sign up button.

Read more at VRHeads.com

DJI will pay you to find security exploits in its drones

DJI clearly doesn’t like that organizations are shying away from its drones over security fears, and it knows it can’t solve the problem by itself. The company is launching a bug bounty program that will pay between $100 and $30,000 to anyone who finds flaws in its software, whether they’re showstopping security exploits, privacy threats, safety issues or simple app crashes. Bug bounties certainly aren’t anything new, but this shows how important drone security has become — DJI doesn’t want to lose business or risk an injury because it didn’t catch a glitch in time.

You can email bug reports to DJI right now, although you’ll have to wait a while longer if you want a standardized form and a clearer explanation of the bounty’s terms.

DJI isn’t leaning solely on prizes to improve its security, of course. This is part of a larger strategy that includes partnerships with researchers and a new internal approval process designed to spot more issues before software reaches the public. However, the bounty program is undoubtedly the poster child for the initiative. DJI is willing to spend a handsome amount on rewards if it knows that this will lead to juicy government contracts and greater overall confidence when you buy a drone for yourself.

Source: DJI

Google accidentally broke the internet throughout Japan

Last week, nearly half of Japan briefly lost access to the internet because of an error made by Google. The mistake was noticed and corrected within just a few minutes, but its effects led to hours of slowed internet connections. The impact was so large that Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry initiated an investigation into the issue.

The problem occurred around noon on Friday. A mistake on Google’s end made it appear as if a large chunk of IP addresses were available for internet traffic to be routed through Google. However, those IP addresses actually belonged to Japanese internet service providers. So a large amount of traffic that was meant for Japan was suddenly sent towards Google by major internet service providers like Verizon. But Google isn’t a service provider and isn’t meant to route traffic, so all of that traffic destined for Japan was basically just sent nowhere.

Connectivity was restored within the hour, but persistently slow connection speeds resulting from the mistake affected industries like finance, where online trading was halted, and transportation — East Japan Railway Co. riders weren’t able to buy tickets or board trains. The internet service providers impacted the most were KDDI Corp. and NTT Communications, the latter of which provides service to well over seven million people.

A Google spokesperson told Asahi Shimbun, “We set wrong information for the network and, as a result, problems occurred. We modified the information to the correct one within eight minutes. We apologize for causing inconvenience and anxieties (among Internet users).”

Via: The Next Web

Source: BGPMon

Whole Foods is already hawking Amazon Echo speakers

Amazon isn’t wasting any time now that its Whole Foods acquisition has gone through. Sure enough, visitors to Whole Foods stores have noticed that the grocery stores are already pitching discounted Echo speakers ($100 for the regular model, and $45 for the Dot) at very prominent stands. They’re “farm fresh,” according to the displays — as if you’d find them growing in a field next to the carrots. It’s a pretty shameless plug, although one you could have seen coming. Amazon craves retail space, and Whole Foods’ abundance of stores (470 across North America and the UK) gives it plenty of opportunities to hawk its hardware.

At least Amazon is going through with its promised price cuts for food. The Verge notes that meat, fruit and eggs have all seen tangible price drops, with Atlantic salmon filets going from $15 per pound to $10. In many cases, these prices are in the ballpark of what you’d expect at an everyday supermarket chain instead of carrying the stereotypical Whole Foods premium. Amazon is effectively doing with grocery stores what it does online — it’s betting that aggressive pricing is the key to growth.

This is the future neoliberals want pic.twitter.com/f2R7tTePWD

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) August 28, 2017

It’s real, y’all. @WholeFoods @amazon pic.twitter.com/QiRBm2ulHe

— Lauren Thomas (@laurenthomasx3) August 28, 2017

It’s official pic.twitter.com/sJcCJNrt5b

— Jason Del Rey (@DelRey) August 28, 2017

Via: The Verge

Source: Twitter (1), (2), (3)

Moog debuts full production model of its Subsequent 37 analog synth

Moog may have debuted the successor to its Sub 37 analog synthesizer back at Moogfest in May, but that instrument was limited to 2,000 total units. A good chunk of those Subsequent 37 CVs probably didn’t make it out of the music festival last spring. There’s good news today though as the Asheville, North Carolina-based company has announced a full production version of the Subsequent 37 and it’s available now for $1,499.

The company says this new Subsequent 37 features many of the “sonic modifications and functional improvements” from the Subsequent 37 CV, minus the control voltage outputs and the metal frame. This new unit has wood sides more common to Moog’s synth gear and the original Sub 37. Speaking of that elder synth, Moog also announced today that it would be discontinued and the Subsequent 37 would be the standard issue going forward.

Like the CV unit, the Subsequent 37 offers double the mixer headroom compared to the Sub 37. This means the 2-note paraphonic analog synth showcases cleaner tones in both mono and duo modes, for example. A tweaked Ladder filter provides what Moog describes as “an overall richer low end” that’s complimented by a re-tuned Multidrive circuit for that increased “grit and growl” first displayed by the Subsequent 37 CV. The company explains that this new model features the same overall character of the Sub 37, but these changes give musicians an even wider range of sounds and improved playability thanks to updates to the keyboard. And yes, the on-board headphone amp is still here to keep audio monitoring sounding top notch.

If you’re eager to open your wallet, the Subsequent 37 is shipping now from Moog and retailers where the company’s gear is sold. For a more detailed look at the synth, Moog’s chief engineer Cyril Lance and Snarky Puppy’s Cory Henry show off what’s new on the Subsequent 37 in the video down below.