The battle between SSD vs. HDD is over, and the winner is clear

Who wins in the SSD vs. HDD battle? While there are merits to both solid-state drives and hard disk drives, the choice at this point is clear — you need an SSD. The price advantage HDDs once held is quickly slipping and unless you have 1TB or more of data to store, you should buy a system with an SSD. They provide a noticeable bump in performance during boot-up times and data movement, often clocking in at five times faster than the speeds possible on an HDD.

Storage capacity

Mike Mols

First, let’s take a look at the difference in size — meaning data capacity — between hard drives and solid state.

It isn’t difficult to find HDDs with several terabytes worth of storage. In contrast, SSDs don’t hold quite as much as they become prohibitively expensive over 2TB, and are more expensive along the way. When comparing storage capacity, HDDs currently beat out SSDs. Of course, SSDs come with their own advantages over HDDs, which we’ll discuss more later.

HDDs have been the standard for desktops and many laptops, as their large storage capacities mean one doesn’t have to worry about running out of storage space too quickly, and their magnetic storage method means they have near-infinite read/write capabilities.

Storage capacity — while certainly the most important criteria to consider when buying a hard drive — is not the only difference between these two technologies. On the next page, we cover how HDDs and SSDs differ in terms of speed, form factor, and durability.

Dirty display? Here’s how to clean a laptop screen without risk of damage

As much as modern displays on laptops big and small can be gorgeously detailed and richly colored, they do sometimes get a little dirty. Whether you’ve simply left it open too long and it’s gotten dusty, or your keyboard has transferred some oil or other gunk directly to the center of your display, this guide will teach you how to clean a laptop screen without damaging it.

One of the best aspects of modern laptop screens is that they are far more durable than their older counterparts. Thanks to many having touch functionality, they’re designed to be capable of handling pressure. Fingertips, however, can leave marks, which is why cleaning them on a regular basis is of the utmost importance. Here’s how to do so,

If you’re looking to clean a different device, we also have guides on how to clean a desktop monitor and how to clean your smartphone or tablet.

For dust — microfiber cloth

Glasses users and camera owners know about this little tool all too well — after all, it’s probably how you clean a camera lens and your eyeglasses. Designed to clean dust and debris without producing lint or scratching delicate surfaces, microfiber cloths are the best place to start when it comes time to clean a laptop screen.

Although you can use other cloth-based materials, they are more likely to leave behind their own detritus. Don’t even think about using a paper towel or tissue, however. They might seem soft when blowing your nose, but they are rough when it comes to scratch-prone displays.

Step 1: Acquire a microfiber cloth. There are many out there, but those specifically designed for glasses or lens cleaning work best.

Step 2: Shut down your laptop. Not only is it safer this way, but having a blank screen can help you see any dust that needs to be removed.

Step 3: Pressing gently on the display, wipe in one direction. Don’t scrub or wipe in circles, as this could damage the display or just move the dust particles around.

Step 4: Continue wiping across the display until it’s dust-free.

For dirt and grime — damp sponge

Sometimes you’ll end up with more than dust on your display. Instead of rubbing away at it with your microfiber cloth to no avail — and potentially dirtying the cloth in the process — you can instead use the damp sponge method.

For this method, you’ll need a brand-new household sponge and either distilled or deionized water. Alternatively, use water you know has been filtered. Try to avoid standard tap water, if possible, as it can leave mineral marks on your display.

Step 1: Shut down your laptop and unplug it from its power source. If possible, you should also remove the battery.

Step 2: Wet the sponge with the distilled water and ring it out so there are no drips.

Step 3: Gently wipe the affected area of your monitor’s screen with the sponge. Watch for drips and clean them up immediately if there are any.

Step 4: Once the area is clean, wait for the display to completely dry out before closing the lid and/or using your machine.

For oils and sticky stuff — cleaning solutions

If the cloth method didn’t do it and the wet sponge failed to have an impact, it’s time to break out the big guns. It’s time to use a cleaning solution or make your own. Thankfully, you can buy a screen-cleaning spray from a number of different outlets, often with a microfiber cloth. However, if you’d rather make your own, you’ll want to mix equal parts distilled water and white vinegar — which is great for general cleaning, too — or alternatively the same ratio of distilled water and a high-percentage isopropyl alcohol.

Keep in mind, however, that you should avoid using any type of glass-cleaning fluid. You’ll also want to refrain from spraying anything directly on your monitor.

Step 1: Shut down your laptop and unplug it from its power source. If you can, remove the battery just to play safe.

Step 2: Spray or apply the cleaning fluid onto a microfiber cloth. Make sure that the cloth is damp, but not wet.

Step 3: Gently rub the cloth over the affected area. Rub in small circles to avoid streaks and avoid heavy pressure as that can damage the display.

Step 4: Repeat as necessary, making sure not to drip any fluid onto your laptop’s display or keyboard.

Step 5: When finished, wait for the display to dry completely before closing the lid or powering on your laptop.

Astrophysicists want to shield Earth from solar flares with … a giant magnet?

When FDR said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” he must not have been aware of solar flares: those tremendous ejections of energy that spew out of the Sun some 93 million miles away from Earth.

These things are devastating. According to experts, a powerful flare could knock out satellite communications and electrical grids, take the internet offline, and bring the world to a sudden halt.

Some scientists think the Sun poses one of the biggest threats to humanity; in a single solar flare, the typically life-giving orb could become the source of our demise. Now, a study out of Harvard University puts that risk in perspective, suggesting that such an event could smack Earth in the next century.

Not if, but when

Solar flares happen often – they just don’t always impact Earth. Scientists think a solar event nearly sparked World War III. A huge flare called the Carrington event erupted 150 years ago, and caused auroras to paint the sky in technicolor as far south as Cuba and Hawaii. Pretty cool, right? Well it wasn’t so cool for telegraph operators worldwide who were physically shocked by spark discharges before their machines burst into flames. If the Carrington event occurred today, we can strap in for a for digital silence, if not the techpocalypse.

A powerful flare could bring the world to a halt.

Luckily, there may be hope, as the researchers also offered an idea: put a massive magnet between us and the Sun.

Conducted by Harvard’s Avi Loeb and Manasvi Lingam, the study found that the most intense solar flares erupt from stars like ours approximately every 20 million years. We would be lucky to just lose cell service in an event like this, which could peel back our ozone layer and even mutate the DNA of most living organisms. Planet Earth, as we know it, would be changed forever.

A solar storm of that magnitude is unlikely to occur soon, but the researchers warn that we should be prepared for one similar to the Carrington event. Loeb told Digital Trends such an event would “damage power grids, satellites, and cause a breakdown of global supply chains.”

In fact, in 2012 NASA announced that a solar superstorm, comparable to the Carrington event, missed Earth by about nine days. Had the storm hit our planet, the global economic cost would have been up to $2.6 trillion, with recovery taking between four to ten years, according to a study from University of California, Berkeley and China’s State Key Laboratory of Space Weather.

The solution? Magnets. Gigantic magnets. In space.

In order to mitigate the risk of such an event, Loeb and Lingam have proposed a magnetic deflector in the form of a huge loop of conductive wire that would be positioned between Earth and the Sun. If and when an Earth-threatening solar flare occurs, the loop would act as a shield to repel harmful particles.

NASA

“The basic idea is to place a current loop between the Sun and the Earth that supplies sufficient magnetic field to deflect the incoming charged particles from the Sun,” Lingam said. “The shield appears to be feasible even within the limits of our current technology, although it would undoubtedly be a costly undertaking.”

But there is, naturally, a catch. The loop would weigh in at around 100,000 tons, according to the researchers’ calculations, and would cost some $100 billion to launch. That’s about the price of the International Space Station.

“I think that seriously diverting resources to build a wire loop in space would not be the best way to spend money,” Greg Laughlin, an astrophysicist at Yale University, told New Scientist. “But thinking more about how solar super flares work and getting a sense of how our Sun fits in with its peers would be a very valuable effort.”

Before dropping $100 billion on a massive space loop, there are things we can do here on Earth, such as making our technology less vulnerable, “by shielding it or placing it underground or having back-up systems,” says Loeb “More planning needs to be done at an international level, similarly to the political coordination regarding climate change.”

So, just as the United Nations recently sanctioned International Asteroid Day to raise awareness about impacts, maybe it’s time we pay closer attention to the Sun and prepare for its flares.

Windows 10 Home vs. Pro vs. 10 S: Which version is right for you?

There are now three different versions of Windows 10 for buyers to consider: Home, Pro, and the newer 10 S. Which is right for you? Let’s compare Windows 10 Home vs. Pro vs. S to find out: Check out what makes each version unique before you buy!

Windows 10 Home

Home is the standard version of Windows 10, the baseline package designed for the individual user primarily using Windows at home or for take-home schoolwork. This version contains all the features that Microsoft aims at the broad consumer market, such as the Cortana voice assistant, Outlook, OneNote, and Microsoft Edge. Home is still compatible with the Windows Insider program, but it does limit the security and group management services that other versions of Windows have access to. Notable features include:

• Device features are supported — in other words, your voice commands, Pen sketches, touch screen, Hello login, and other capabilities are all compatible with Home.
• Windows 10 Home does not usually come with a permanent version of the full Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Instead, Microsoft is pushing free trials for the subscription service Office 365 in hopes that new users will stay subscribed after the trial ends. Office 365’s standard rate is $99 per year. If you don’t like this model, there are still options to buy permanent, individual licenses for a Home/Student version of Office.
• Basic device encryption is included, but don’t confuse this with Office 365’s more professional encryption services.
• The Xbox app, game streaming, Xbox controller support, game DVR, and other gaming features are all supported with Windows 10 Home.
• Home includes access to the individual version of the cloud storage system OneDrive, with automatic setup via your Microsoft Account. However, the free version is limited to 5GB. Office 365 subscriptions expand this space, and you can choose other plans with more storage as necessary.
• While light on professional features, Home does include Mobile Device Management, which may be helpful for individuals or families that want to control apps and security settings for connected phones.

Windows 10 Pro

The professional version of Windows 10, as you may have guessed, includes many extra features designed for businesses. It has essentially everything offered by Windows Home, plus extra security and management services. This version of Windows 10 is typically purchased in bulk by companies or schools, although sole proprietors and freelancers may also be interested in buying it. However, Pro doesn’t have much to offer the average at-home user. Highlights include:

• Encryption includes Bitlocker and Windows Information Protection, which helps with advanced access control. These and similar features are valuable to IT administrators.
• More customizable packages for education and enterprise (particularly large companies) purposes.
• Access to Business versions of Microsoft services, including Windows Store for Business, Windows Update for Business, Enterprise Mode browser options, and more. These versions include extra features to buy and upload content in bulk.
• Options for virtualization, including Remote Desktop compatibility, Client Hyper-V, Shared PC configuration, etc.
• Note that Microsoft is transitioning to a convergence model for business services called Microsoft 365, which combines elements of Office 365, Windows 10, and larger enterprise packages. This is still a relatively new re-packaging of Windows services, but it may eventually alter how Windows 10 Pro is offered and what services are included. We will update the list if we see significant changes.

Windows 10 S

10 S is a new version of Windows that Microsoft designed to run on lighter devices: That ‘S’ doesn’t have a specific designation, but Microsoft generally surrounds it with words like security, streamlined, superior performance … you get the idea. This is a version of Windows 10 with a lighter footprint, which allows it to work faster on cheaper laptops (thus competing more directly with Chromebooks, a key purpose of Windows 10 S). This makes 10 S an alternative for individuals and companies that can’t afford to spend a lot on expensive laptops or tablets but still need Windows 10.

Functionally, 10 S has the most in common with Windows Home, plus a few editions from the Pro version like virtual desktop support and increased security. Microsoft is aiming this selection at schools in particular and wants educators to have the necessary tools for class management. However, 10 S also removes some significant capabilities to get these results. Important facts to note:

• As rumored, you can only buy apps from the Windows Store and cannot use apps that aren’t available from the Store. This limitation allows Microsoft to root out malware more easily and ensure a certain level of app quality, but it does limit what people can download and use. Note that this limitation also applies to any proprietary software companies may have developed and any security software outside Windows Defender, which makes things very difficult for some businesses.
• Microsoft Edge is the default browser. In theory, if other browsers have Windows Store apps you could use them, but this hasn’t happened yet, and links will always default to Edge. Again, Microsoft’s reason for this is greater control over security.
• Similarly, Bing is the default search engine for 10 S activities.
• Startup times and app activities are generally faster on 10 S, as long as you aren’t eating up too much RAM.
• Files are automatically saved in the cloud via OneDrive, similar to how Chrome works on Chromebooks: This helps save space on smaller hard drives.
• Basic Windows features like Cortana, Windows Hello facial recognition, and Windows Ink for stylus use are still included.

Feature Summary

Windows 10 Home

Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 S
Cortana
Yes
Yes (including O365 integration)
Yes
Windows Hello Sign-In
Yes
Yes
Yes
Bitlocker Encryption
No
Yes
No
Xbox Gaming
Yes
Yes
Yes
Virtualization Services
No
Remote Desktop, Client Hyper-V, Shared PC
No
App Availability
Windows Store and Third Party
Windows Store and Third Party (subject to administrator control)
Windows Store
Browsers
All available, including Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari
All available
Edge

Compatible devices

There is an important divide between devices that come with Windows Home/Pro and devices that come with Windows 10 S, so let’s clarify.

Surface Pro 4, Surface 3, and Surface Book devices can support either Windows Home or Windows Pro, but they can’t support 10 S.

The only device directly from Microsoft that supports Windows 10 S is the Surface Laptop. However, Microsoft announced a series of other inexpensive laptops that will house 10 S: This includes the HP Stream 14 Pro, the Acer Aspire 1, the Acer Swift 1, and the Lenovo V330. For now, 10 S is only supported by these five computers, although more are on their way. Note that you can upgrade 10 S to Windows Pro, but it’s important to have a computer that can handle Pro first.

Newly discovered moon cave could house mankind’s first lunar colony

Why it matters to you

These geological formations could protect astronauts on the lunar surface from the hazards of long-term extraterrestrial missions.

Earlier this month, at the National Space Council, the White House announced plans to return to the moon after a hiatus of more than 40 years — and this time, we might be staying for a while. A new study has detected the presence of a vast underground lava tube that could shield astronauts from radiation and function as a permanent moon base.

Scientists have hypothesized the presence of such subterranean chambers since the Apollo missions and a new report published in Geophysical Research Letters now officially confirms the presence of a massive lava tube in the Marius Hills region — the largest lunar volcanic dome field. Many moons ago (millions of years specifically), lava sculpted the lunar surface and as these individual channels and systems emptied over time only a hollow cavern would remain.

To date, no human has been on the lunar surface for more than three days for a number of reasons, the most notable being the fact that the moon (which has no atmosphere whatsoever) is a rather inhospitable place for earthlings. Unlike our planet, humans on the moon are subject to the perils associated with cosmic radiation, temperature fluctuations, and the risk posed by even the most minuscule of meteorites. These underground lava tubes could act as in situ shelters to shield astronauts from these hazards.

The team behind the study — comprised of scientists from NASA and JAXA, Japan’s space agency — used data from the SELENE and the twin GRAIL spacecrafts (named Ebb and Flow, respectively) to confirm this extensive lava tube. While analyzing radar data from the SELENE spacecraft, the team noticed a specific echo pattern around the Marius Hills Skylight (a site long suspected to be a lava tube). The researchers also documented similar acoustic patterns in other locations in the area suggesting that there could be more than one lava tube in the region.

While the exact number of lava tubes in this particular area is still unknown, the principle tube acoustically mapped during this study is enormous. In fact, if the data collected is correct, this subterranean cavern could theoretically house some of the largest cities in the United States.

Whether we ever actually return to the moon is anyone’s guess. Nonetheless, it looks like a potential home away from home may already be lurking beneath the lunar surface, and all we’ll need to do is spruce the place up a bit.

Keep your eyes on the road with Plex for Android Auto

You’ve got to hand it to Plex, the software platform that aims to organize every single file in your media collection (and then some). The company has been consistently announcing improvements for users, seemingly on a monthly basis. And October 19 marks a big day for Plex fans who want to access their library on the go, while staying safe in the car: Plex for Android Auto now brings a simplified and safer Plex interface to cars that are equipped with the vehicle-friendly version of Android, whether from the factory, or in an after-market device, or on your phone.

Plex for Android Auto requires Plex for Android v6.6 or newer, and it will have to be unlocked, or “activated” as Plex calls it. Plex Pass users are already in the clear, but if that’s not you, you can always unlock Plex for Android via a one-time in-app purchase.

Once that’s taken care of, the only must-do step before you can start using the Android Auto interface, is to select the Plex Media Server you’ll be using for music playback — something which can’t be done in Auto mode. Oh, and before you ask, yes, this means that there is no support for photo or video content while using Plex for Android Auto.

Within the Android Auto app, you’ll now find the option to choose Plex from the list of supported audio services under the headphones icon. Options for selecting music are, by design, more limited than in the full Plex app, but there’s still enough to make it valuable:

• Playlists: all playlists existing on the selected Plex Media Server
• Recently Played: Recent Artists that were played from the server
• Recently Added: Recently added albums on the server
• Artist: List of artists from all available music libraries on that server

We’re a bit perplexed by a “four taps” rule, whereby you’re limited to four consecutive taps before you’re shown the “paused for safety” message, especially since Google removed this interaction limit on its own Google Play service, but at least if you’re running at least Android Version 5.0 “Lollipop,” you’ll have access to voice commands for controlling your Plex audio. There are commands to start different types of music as well as orders you can bark out to control the playback itself.

Unfortunately for iPhone owners, there’s still no word on when (if ever) Plex will get the CarPlay treatment.

Need to know how to open RAR files? Here’s how to do it

Although you are more likely to encounter a ZIP file than an RAR file in your everyday activities, both are great at compressing files. However, RARs have numerous advantages over ZIP files, offering everything from a higher level of compression, to comprehensive support for error recovery. But that is no good if you don’t know how to open RAR files. Fortunately, the process is a simple one.

However, while ZIP files can be opened in nearly every operating system without third-party software, RAR files require external software to use. Windows users can always purchase the premium WinRAR application to open the files — the file archiver initially built in conjunction with the proprietary format — but most users will likely want to snag one of the several free offerings on the web with RAR support and built-in functionality.

The following are our favorites.

Although this guide is focused on Windows and MacOS, you can zip files on Chromebooks too.

Using 7-Zip – Windows

Step 1: Navigate to the 7-Zip download page and select the download link corresponding to your desired version of the software. If you’re running the latest version of Windows 10, chances are you want the 64-bit version, but if needed, confirm which version of Windows you’re running first.

When in the installer, select your desired destination folder for the utility and click the “Install” button in the bottom-right corner of the window. Click the “Finish” button when done and launch the program.

Step 2: Locate the RAR file you wish to open within the main 7-Zip interface. To do so, peruse the resulting folder directly and double-click the RAR file to access the contents of the file. Alternatively, right-click the file and select the “Open” option near the top of the resulting drop-down menu.

Step 3: Double-click the RAR file to launch it in the appropriate program, or if you wish to save the file elsewhere on your computer, highlight the file in question and click the “Copy” button housed beneath the navigation bar. Then select a save location for the file in the pop-up window, and click the gray “OK” button in the bottom-right corner.

Now that your files are out in the open, 7Zip can help you protect them too.

Using RAR Opener – Windows

Who doesn’t like having alternatives? While 7-Zip remains an excellent tool for opening RAR files, there are other solutions available for those looking to streamline the process. RAR Opener, a free download available on the Microsoft Store, is the perfect example. The app is a very basic, plugin-like tool with a few big blue buttons to both pack and unpack RAR files. It’s also directly integrated with Windows 10 and is a great pick if you need to deal with RAR, ZIP, TAR, LZH, and other file formats.

Using Unarchiver – MacOS

Zipping up files on MacOS is an important feature of the OS, but you need to be able to unpack them too. An oldie but a goodie, Unarchiver easily trumps the built-in archive unpacker that comes with MacOS — aka the aptly titled “Archive Utility”. The program touts support for a greater number of file formats and offers additional functionality more akin to 7-Zip than other available offerings on the web. Though Unarchiver also lacks the ability to create RAR files, it still allows you to open RARs with just a few steps.

Step 1: Navigate to the Unarchiver download page and click the “Download” option in the middle of the page, or head over to the App Store to download the application. Afterward, extract the file and launch the program.

Step 3: Once opened, ensure the box beside “RAR Archive” is checked — along with any other archive types you wish to open with the Unarchiver — and click the “Extraction” tab located at the top of the application window. Afterward, select your save location for the resulting file from the drop-down menu near the top of the window, control-click the RAR file you wish to open and choose the Unarchiver from the drop-down menu beside the “Open With” option.

The utility will then automatically create and save a file with the same name as the RAR file in the previously-specified location. Then, simply double-click the RAR file to launch it in the appropriate program.

Using UnRarX – MacOS

UnRarX is a simple bit of software, sure, but it’s quick and touts restoration capabilities. All you need to do is download the app, launch it, and drag any RAR files you wish to open to the application window for expansion or extraction. The aforementioned window gives you a basic, command-oriented view of how the process is working. It’s a minimalist option for those who don’t need anything fancy.

Editor’s Recommendations

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• How to convert your videos from MKV to MP4 in a few quick steps
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• How to convert a DVD to MP4 files in Windows or MacOS
• How to convert FLAC to MP3

New Tesla lawsuit accuses company of LGBT discrimination

Tesla has just been hit with its second discrimination lawsuit in as many days. Just yesterday, the company was sued for racial harassment in its factories. A few months back, its diversity panel uncovered a slew of sexism. Now The Guardian reports that another employee is suing the automaker for anti-LGBT taunts.

In the newer lawsuit, reports The Guardian, an assembly line worker named Jorge Ferro was taunted and threatened for being gay. When he reported the issues, according to the suit, he was fired in retaliation. Ferro also claims that an HR rep took away his badge and insinuated that being gay was a handicap that had no place at Tesla.

Yesterday’s lawsuit accuses the company of allowing racist abuse and harassment, including the use of the N-word and being told to go back to Africa. Other employees, says the complaint, drew racist and derogatory caricatures of black children. Demetric Diaz says that he was fired because he reported the issue, while his father, Owen, left Tesla when his supervisor didn’t address the issues.

In a response, Tesla lines up an argument that the media should “keep in mind” that its profile makes it a target for these claims, while also stating that “If there is ever a case where Tesla is at fault, we will take responsibility. “

Tesla spokesperson:

Media reporting on claims of discrimination at Tesla should bear a few things in mind: First, as one of the most highly reported-on companies in the world, anyone who brings claims against Tesla is all but assured that they will garner significant media coverage. Second, in the history of Tesla, there has never been a single proven case of discrimination against the company. Not one. This fact is conveniently never mentioned in any reporting. Third, as we have said repeatedly, even though we are a company of 33,000 employees, including more than 10,000 in the Fremont factory alone, and it is not humanly possible to stop all bad conduct, we care deeply about these issues and take them extremely seriously. If there is ever a case where Tesla is at fault, we will take responsibility. On the other hand, Tesla will always fight back against unmeritorious claims. In this case, neither of the two people at the center of the claim, Mr. Ferro and the person who he alleges to have mistreated him, actually worked for Tesla. Both worked for a third-party. Nevertheless, Tesla still stepped in to try to keep these individuals apart from one another and to ensure a good working environment. Regardless of these facts, every lawyer knows that if they name Tesla as a defendant in their lawsuit, it maximizes the chances of generating publicity for their case. They abuse our name, because they know it is catnip for journalists. Tesla takes any and every form of discrimination or harassment extremely seriously. There is no company on Earth with a better track record than Tesla, as they would have to have fewer than zero cases where an independent judge or jury has found a genuine case of discrimination. This is physically impossible.

Via: The Verge

Source: The Guardian

Google will ‘fix’ the Pixel 2’s hidden menu button

Looks like the Pixel 2’s “secret” menu button was just leftover code, after all. Google has confirmed to CNET that this was a bug, not a feature, and that it’ll be patched out in the future. If you’re still enjoying that new phone smell, open up the settings menu and double tap in the lower right while you still can.

Source: CNET

Now Twitter’s quest to become a ‘safer’ place has a schedule

You no longer have to wonder when you’ll see Twitter implement the new rules promised by its CEO and outlined in that leaked email. The social network has released a “Safety Calendar,” which details when it will roll out a series of new rules to make the platform a safer place. As the internal email said, the company plans to crack down on hate and violence on its website: on November 3rd, it promises to start suspending accounts of “organizations that use violence to advance their cause.”

Here’s our safety release calendar: https://t.co/runHx00YPL

— jack (@jack) October 19, 2017

Avatars and headers with hateful imagery and symbols will no longer be allowed and tweets that contain them will be placed behind a filter. Twitter says it will release examples of what it considers “hateful imagery” once the policy is finalized so there can be no doubts what kind of symbols aren’t welcome anymore. In addition, Twitter will begin blocking people’s ability to sign up with hateful names on November 22nd.

The platform’s Safety Calendar also outlines when the rules it announced in the past will go live, including new measures to protect victims of non-consensual nudity and unwanted sexual advances. Further, Twitter will update its witness reporting procedure to take user relationships into account, so it can act faster if it’s more likely that the reporter truly has witnessed rule violations. We’ll find out how the microblogging platform plans to enforce its new rules soon, as well: it will reveal the factors it considers when reviewing user reports on November 14th.

Source: Twitter