Send Santa your Christmas gift requests on Link’s WiFi kiosks

For the second year running, LinkNYC is giving you a direct line to Father Christmas. Just track down a WiFi kiosk (there’s over 1,200 scattered across all five New York boroughs, so it shouldn’t be hard), and use the new app on the built-in tablet to get in touch with the big man himself. Of course, Santa’s too busy to reach the phone (what with Christmas a week away), so you’ll have to settle for his answering machine. But, maybe one of the minions he has manning the phone lines will pass along your last minute gift request. The Santa hotline is open to Brits this year, too, via the InLink kiosks in London and Leeds. And, if the kids want to monitor their inbound gifts, there’s always Google’s Santa Tracker app — that’s if you can tear them away from snapping elfies.

Source: LinkNYC (Twitter)

Oculus Rift bundle discounted to $379 until December 20th

After permanently slashing the Rift and Touch combo price to $399/£399, Oculus is at it again. With Christmas fast approaching, the VR headset bundle is now the cheapest it’s been since Black Friday, at $379/£369. (Heads up that Amazon UK is still honoring the £349 Black Friday price for now, though.) The price cut means the device is fast approaching the more affordable Windows Mixed Reality gear on the market. But, the limited time deal is only up until 11.59PM (PT) on December 20th, so you’ll have to be quick. You can grab the kit online via Oculus’ website and in select stores, including Best Buy, Amazon, and Newegg.

With new games and apps making it onto the Oculus Store everyday, you won’t be at a loss for entertainment come Christmas. Aside from the fresh beta release of the Rift Core 2.0 VR interface, Arktika.1 brought some motion-controlled action (from the makers of the Metro series) to the device in October. A companion experience for Pixar’s latest smash, Coco, also arrived around the same time. And, you’d be silly to miss out on rhythmic shooter Rez Infinite, which we found to be a transcendental VR journey.

Source: Oculus

Google Assistant on phones now offers a choice of hotwords

Google created a mild amount of confusion when it launched its Home speaker. You could say “hey, Google” to start a command with the living room device, but you still had to use the time-honored “OK, Google” on your Android phone. Needless to say, that could be confusing if you used both platforms. However, Google is finally sorting things out. Many Android phone users have reported that Assistant is asking them to reconfigure the voice modeling, and is giving them a choice between “hey, Google” or “OK, Google” afterward. You can embrace consistency across devices or stick to tradition, in other words.

The extra choice seems like a simple addition, and it won’t please everyone (why not let users pick a custom hotword?) but it’s potentially very important. As anyone who has ever tried using multiple voice assistants can tell you, having to remember multiple trigger phrases can be a headache. The “hey, Google” option reduces the chances of a slip-up, and might just avoid some frustration.

Source: Reddit, Android Police

HQ Smashed Its All-Time Player Record Tonight as iPhone Trivia Show Continues to Surge in Popularity

iPhone trivia game HQ continues to surge in popularity. Tonight, over two-thirds of a million users played along for a chance to win $10,000.

HQ tweeted that over 680,000 users played Sunday evening’s game, easily a new all-time record, while the in-game counter showed over 700,000 players were connected at various points of the roughly 15 minute show. That’s more than twice as many players as some HQ games drew just last week.

SMASHED the record for players tonight with over 2/3 of a MILLION #HQties! From 680,000+ down to 107 in 12 questions. Congrats to all!

— HQ Trivia (@hqtrivia) December 18, 2017

For those of you who are just learning about HQ as you read this article, it is a free-to-play live trivia game show—sort of like Jeopardy—in which players attempt to answer a series of 12 questions correctly to win a cash prize. To reduce cheating, players have less than 10 seconds to answer each question.

The app launched on iPhone in October, with an Android version promised by Christmas Day. HQ attracted an audience in the lower thousands during its earliest days, with prizes starting at around $100, but the game has become an absolute viral sensation and now pulls around 300,000 to 400,000 or more players every game.

As the game’s popularity has grown, so have the prizes. 107 winners split a prize of $10,000 on Sunday—that’s roughly $93 each—and HQ even gave away $10,000 twice in one night earlier this month. Once players have won at least $20, they can cash out their U.S. dollar winnings via PayPal.

Unfortunately, as it has ballooned in size, HQ has experienced several technical difficulties. The most common issue is lag, but there are sometimes bigger problems. Saturday night’s game initially saw no correct answers displayed, for example, resulting in the show being delayed by about 45 minutes.

HQ games take place every day at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and there’s an extra game at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays. The shows are usually hosted by comedian Scott Rogowsky, with occasional guest hosts ranging from electronic music artist Dillon Francis to on-air personality Sharon Carpenter.

While it remains to be seen if HQ will be able to maintain its popularity over the long term, it might be the fastest growing thing that isn’t named Bitcoin right now. If you haven’t yet joined in the fun, download the app from the App Store now and opt into notifications to be alerted when a new game starts.

Tag: HQ
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California issues warning on radio frequency energy with cellphones

We love and enjoy using our mobile phones. For years, people have talked about the negative effects of using cellphones; specifically regarding overuse and how it could have an impact on public health down the line. These mobile phones are, after all, emitting radio frequency energy and radio waves, so there was always the potential and possibility to cause some sort of health risks and concerns.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has just weighed in on this debate, releasing information that outlines the multiple studies that have been released on the matter. These studies suggest that the RF signals emitted from mobile phones could cause brain cancer, headaches, memory loss, and even loss of sleep. The guidelines are not calling for the end of cellphones, nor are they outright saying that mobile phones are dangerous. They are simply providing some suggestions as to how one could reduce their exposure to this RF energy.

“Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones,” according to CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “We know that simple steps, such as not keeping your phone in your pocket and moving it away from your bed at night, can help reduce exposure for both children and adults.”

The guidelines go on to suggest carrying your mobile device in a backpack, purse or briefcase, as opposed to your pocket, which most people do. Another strategy is keeping the phone just a few feet away from you while you’re using it. For example, if you’re talking to someone on the phone, use a headset or speakerphone option, rather than holding the device to your head. Then there is always the option of texting, which means the phone is away from your face.

The guidelines also mention the avoidance of using your phone when it is sending out high levels of radio frequency energy. There’s a lot of RF energy being emitted when you’re streaming something on your phone or sending large files.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Your phone probably has an FM radio — so why can’t you use it?
• Norway becomes first country to end support for FM radio in national broadcasts
• Google Maps turns off its controversial calorie feature after backlash
• Keep the lights on and your phone charged off the grid with the SolarHome 620
• Trying to lose weight? Check out the best weight-loss tech for your home

California issues warning on radio frequency energy with cellphones

We love and enjoy using our mobile phones. For years, people have talked about the negative effects of using cellphones; specifically regarding overuse and how it could have an impact on public health down the line. These mobile phones are, after all, emitting radio frequency energy and radio waves, so there was always the potential and possibility to cause some sort of health risks and concerns.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has just weighed in on this debate, releasing information that outlines the multiple studies that have been released on the matter. These studies suggest that the RF signals emitted from mobile phones could cause brain cancer, headaches, memory loss, and even loss of sleep. The guidelines are not calling for the end of cellphones, nor are they outright saying that mobile phones are dangerous. They are simply providing some suggestions as to how one could reduce their exposure to this RF energy.

“Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones,” according to CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “We know that simple steps, such as not keeping your phone in your pocket and moving it away from your bed at night, can help reduce exposure for both children and adults.”

The guidelines go on to suggest carrying your mobile device in a backpack, purse or briefcase, as opposed to your pocket, which most people do. Another strategy is keeping the phone just a few feet away from you while you’re using it. For example, if you’re talking to someone on the phone, use a headset or speakerphone option, rather than holding the device to your head. Then there is always the option of texting, which means the phone is away from your face.

The guidelines also mention the avoidance of using your phone when it is sending out high levels of radio frequency energy. There’s a lot of RF energy being emitted when you’re streaming something on your phone or sending large files.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Your phone probably has an FM radio — so why can’t you use it?
• Norway becomes first country to end support for FM radio in national broadcasts
• Google Maps turns off its controversial calorie feature after backlash
• Keep the lights on and your phone charged off the grid with the SolarHome 620
• Trying to lose weight? Check out the best weight-loss tech for your home

From The Editor’s Desk: Let’s gush about Star Wars

2017 wasn’t supposed to be this complicated, but at least it’s ending on a high note.

It’s been a busy fall, so I kind of forgot that back in October when tickets went on sale, I snatched up a couple of Thursday evening IMAX 3D tickets to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Like most of you, I don’t go out to movies as often as I used to — somewhat due to rising costs but mainly due to the ubiquity of high-quality content on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO and others — so it was a lot of fun to be in a festival-like atmosphere for the biggest opening of the year.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Jedi, despite some flaws in the timeline (which I won’t get into because I don’t do spoilers). Rian Johnson is one of my favorite directors (I’ve seen Looper half a dozen times and am yet to tire of it), and he approached the Star Wars franchise from, I think, a similar place to Taika Waititi in Thor: Ragnarok — of purposeful reinvention and, primarily, humor. I’m not a diehard Star Wars fan but a casual imbiber of its pop culture influence. I’ve seen all the movies enough times to know the plot but I don’t care whether Han shot first, nor do I follow the various easter eggs down holes from which I’d never emerge. To me, it’s a science fiction fantasy franchise like any other, and The Last Jedi was one of its strongest entries yet.

I loved the freedom every actor was given to pursue a slightly off-kilter version of the character they’d previously played. Or, for the new ones, to carve out a piece of the canon they didn’t feel like it was a recreation of something George Lucas would have wanted but didn’t have the technology for 40 years ago. I loved that the effects served the story and not the other way around (though this was true of The Force Awakens, too — credit where it’s due). I loved that Johnson obviously adores the franchise so much that he’s desperate to avoid the pitfalls of previous Star Wars films. That the movie is imperfect doesn’t really matter — I’m no film critic — since the impression it left me was almost entirely positive. Even the porgs, which are accused of being a conduit for Disney to sell merchandise, are used to great effect.

This has been a good year for expensive movies; despite slight disappointments (in my opinion, don’t @ me) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, I adored much of the writing and directing in Wonder Woman, Thor: Ragnarok, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Logan, and War for the Planet of the Apes. (The less said about Justice League the better, though.)

It’s also been a great year for smaller movies; my film of the year, Lady Bird, was made for less than $10 million.

What were some of your favorites of the year?

Here are some other things from the last week:

• Net neutrality has been repealed, but it’s not dead yet. There will be lawsuits and more lawsuits, and Congress will obviously need to address it at some point. But it’s not looking good.
• Don’t expect the internet — your internet — change overnight. Most people have already restricted their lives to a few websites and services, and it’s unlikely that Comcast, for example, will throttle YouTube anytime soon. The repeal of net neutrality will manifest itself in less obvious, more insidious ways. It will manifest through absence.
• This isn’t surprising, but I’m still frustrated by Google’s attention deficit. RIP, Tango.
• In-display fingerprint sensors are coming sooner than you think, but will Android OEMs adopt ‘da notch’ instead?
• WANT.
• I wrote about my favorite things of the year, though if I’d spent more time the list could be twice as long and three times more caffeinated.
• Yes, the Pixel 2 is the best Android phone released this year, and you CAN @ me on this one.

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season, y’all! 🎄

-Daniel

Mueller investigation obtains thousands of Trump transition emails

Government-related emails are once again prompting a very public dispute — albeit under very different circumstances than a year earlier. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office has confirmed an Axios report that it obtained thousands of Trump transition emails from the General Services Administration as part of its investigation into the President’s team. The move was prompted by transition attorneys who accused Mueller’s office of taking the messages without permission.

While the emails were placed on a .gov domain because of the GSA’s security responsibilities, the Trump camp has maintained that it owned the messages under the agreement that transferred them. Mueller’s group needed to ask for approval to obtain the messages, transition lawyers said, including some the lawyers said were protected by attorney-client privilege. The Special Counsel even obtained some laptops, phones and an iPad through the GSA request.

Not surprisingly, Mueller’s office and the GSA saw things differently. Mueller’s outfit said it has always obtained emails either with permission or “appropriate criminal process.” GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Lowentritt, meanwhile, took issue with claims that an agreement put the messages off-limits. Transition staff were told that material “would not be held back” in law enforcement requests, according to Lowentritt, and there were a slew of agreements with no expectations of privacy. House Representative Elijah Cummings has also noted that the Presidential Transition Act “does not support” the idea that transition emails are out of bounds for an investigation.

The Trump transition team said its course of action beyond its initial complaint “hasn’t been determined.” However, that likely depends on whether or not it has a case to start with. If the GSA had authority over the messages the moment they were sent, that’s all she wrote — lawyers will have to show proof that they maintained control. And whatever the outcome, the dispute could affect communications in transitions for future presidencies. If they know their digital conversations will always be on the record during a handover, they may be more reluctant to share sensitive info.

Via: Gizmodo

Source: CNN

Robotic wheelchair gives you a piggyback ride

Most wheelchairs, even the most advanced ones, have conventional seats. They’re basically furniture on wheels. And that creates problems. It can be hard to sit in the chair if you’re getting out of bed, while you’re stuck in a position that puts many things out of reach. That’s where Tmsuk’s long-in-the-making Rodem might just come to the rescue. The robotic wheelchair gives you a piggyback ride that not only makes it easier to climb aboard, but puts you in a high, forward-mounted position. It’s easier to brush your teeth, make breakfast or just hold face-to-face conversations.

You can control the wheelchair with a smartphone, so you can easily call it to your bedside or tuck it out of the way at night. Its 9.3-mile range, 3.7MPH top speed and 8-hour recharge time will limit where it can go, but that should be enough for a lot of around-the-neighborhood travel.

Rodem is available in Japan for ¥980,000 (about $8,700), and it’s known to be reaching the UK in 2018. It’s not a trivial expense as a result, and the piggyback approach rules it out for people with limited use of their upper bodies. For those that can use it, though, it should make life a lot easier — you won’t have to change as much of your behavior as you would with an old-school wheelchair.

Via: Nikkei Technology

Source: Tmsuk

Bitcoin approaches $20K, but is the bubble about to burst?

Bitcoin is currently the largest and most valuable cryptocurrency on the market. According to Coindesk, it is valued at little over $19,000 for a single coin. However, despite the coin’s meteoric rise in recent months, there are some concerns that the cryptocurrency is a bubble waiting to burst. These concerns have grown especially pronounced as the coin approaches the milestone price of $20,000.

These concerns aren’t completely unfounded, as Bitcoin has crashed a few times in the past. According to Dr. Daniele Bianchi, of Warwick Business School, those crashes were due to increased competition from other cryptocurrencies, government intervention, and technological issues.

“This tells one simple story; the main risk for Bitcoin comes from external factors such as regulatory intervention and security breaches which might hit the credibility of the entire protocol and its effective usefulness as a method of payment/store of value,” Bianchi told Forbes.

In terms of competition, Bitcoin has plenty, but so far, the currency has managed to maintain its lead due to the fact that it was one of the first to hit the market. In terms of price per coin, Bitcoin Cash is the second most valuable cryptocurrency at $1,861, though it lags behind both Bitcoin and Etherum in terms of market cap.

The recent move by investment firms to set up Bitcoin futures markets have had a mixed effect upon the cryptocurrency. On one hand, the investments are likely one of the reasons the coin’s value has continued to rise over the past month. If we do see Bitcoin break the $20,000 mark before Christmas, it will likely at least partially be thanks to those investors.

On the other hand, the increased interest from major investment firms means that we’ll likely see various government agencies taking a closer look at the currency and possibly implementing stricter regulations. Right now, the U.S. government has largely taken a hands-off approach to the coin, but if it continues to grow in value and attracts the attention of Wall Street, it’s unlikely that the federal government will sit idly by.

As for the alleged Bitcoin bubble, it remains to be seen what the future holds, though as with many investments, there is potential for a great payoff alongside some pretty high risks.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Fake version of top Bitcoin wallet appears on iOS App Store
• Major investment firms are now offering Bitcoin futures
• Bitcoin suffers another setback as South Korea bans ICOs
• Bitcoin is still soaring. What’s the limit?
• Bitcoin’s latest boom sends it scorching past $9,000