The Nokia Body+ Wi-Fi scale has matched its lowest price ever

Too much Christmas ham, huh?

The Nokia Body+ Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale is down to $59.97 on Amazon. You can also get this deal in White. This scale normally sells at $100, although it did drop to $80 in mid-December. This deal is a match for its lowest price, one it only hit once before over Black Friday.

A smart scale is one of the easiest ways to keep track of those holiday pounds. It can send data straight to the app on your smartphone, and this Nokia Body+ happens to be compatible with hundreds of third-party apps as well.

Features include:

• Full Body Composition analysis – Monitors weight (kg, lb., st lb.), body fat & water %, plus muscle & bone mass. Weight trend screen delivers instant feedback
• Automatic synchronization – Data from every weigh-in appears in the Health Mate app automatically via Wi-Fi (iOS8+ and Android 5+)
• Nutrition tracking – Set a weight goal and manage your daily calorie budget
• Daily weather forecast – Step on your scale to enjoy a localized weather report to help plan your day
• Multi-user friendly – Up to 8 users can weigh themselves and access their personal weight history. Nokia Body+ automatically recognizes who’s who

See on Amazon

And a reminder: This is the updated (and rebranded) version of what Modern Dad took a look at last year!

5 tips for living in harmony with the iPhone users in your life

It’s inevitable that you have friends and family with iPhones. Here are some tips for living with the frenemy.

As we begin the new year, many people like to wipe the slate clean and reconnect with friends and family members they may not have spoken to for some time.

But the question is — how does one do that in a world of Android and iOS, of iMessage and WhatsApp and various messaging apps, social networks, and photo-sharing services keeping people siloed into closed-off ecosystems? While it’ll always be easier to share between two iPhones or two Galaxys, we’re offering some tips on how to make cross-platform communication a little simpler and more reliable.

We’ll start with the basics and move on from there. The trick is communication: if you have friends or family members with iPhones, talk to them beforehand about what services you use, and which ones you’d like them to use to communicate with you. Even set it up for them so they’re familiar, which will prevent a bunch of confusion down the road.

The iMessage conundrum

This mainly applies if you’ve recently moved from iPhone to Android and have recently disabled iMessage: make sure to tell your iPhone-using friends to start a new conversation with you on their phone, otherwise you may never receive their texts, or they may never receive yours. This is doubly true in the case of group chats, since iMessage has a very difficult time (read: impossible) routing group chats to people who are no longer using the service.

The issue is informally referred to as the “iMessage Black Hole” and it crops up even when you, as a former iPhone user, do your due diligence in disabling iMessage on your old device before switching, or disabling it remotely using Apple’s online tool. The reason is simple in theory, but complex in reality: Apple uses your phone number as a registration, telling iPhone owners that when it sends or receives a message from another Apple user it should “turn blue” and use iMessage.

The iMessage “Black Hole” is a real thing you’ll probably have to contend with at some point.

While the deregistration process has improved over the past few years, it still causes problems when the iPhone user receiving a text from a now-Android user still tries to respond with an iMessage and the text never goes through.

A couple suggestions: ask your friend or family member to enable “Send as SMS” in the iPhone settings so, if the iMessage fails, it will try to send it a second time as a text. That should trigger future texts to go through properly. The other option is, if there’s nothing terribly exciting in the thread, to ask the iPhone user to delete the old thread and start fresh. That will ensure texts will go through properly in the future.

Finally, if you’re suddenly finding yourself shut out of group texts because of your green bubble, the best thing to do is, well, keep reading.

Getting everyone on the same page

iMessage is great when everyone uses an iPhone, but you don’t — so how do you get everyone chatting the right way?

Honestly, we’d recommend something like Google Allo, which is super smart and fast and has Google Assistant built in, but we know that most people are going to laugh at that suggestion. We get it. We’d also suggest WhatsApp, and possibly everyone in your friend or family group already uses it, but to us WhatsApp isn’t a great group chat app. For one-on-one communication, WhatsApp is fantastic, and we’ll recommend it forever. (It also does video calls, too.)

For group chats, we’re going to suggest using one of two services: Facebook Messenger, which was built with group chat in mind and performs incredibly well on mobile and desktop; or Telegram, which isn’t nearly as popular, but does an incredible job if you want to recreate the iMessage experience without having to, you know, actually use an iPhone. Telegram not only allows for big, beautiful, dynamic group chats, but it’s fast and secure — and doesn’t force you to have a Facebook account, which is, for many, a bonus.

Turn off your Advanced Texting options

One of the biggest complaints I hear from iPhone users is that they’re never sure their texts are getting through to their Android-using friends. At first, I scoffed at this — it’s likely user error, I thought — but I looked into it and it turns out some Advanced Messenger protocols from carriers, often built into carrier-sold devices from Verizon and AT&T, have the potential to be quite disruptive and may prevent texts from getting through because they’re competing with iMessage.

You see, these “Advanced Messaging” apps try to recreate an iMessage-like experience for everyone using those proprietary apps on that particular carrier, but that’s not an enormous subset of the population, and causes trouble in the long run. My suggestion, unless everyone in your life uses Verizon Messages, is to switch to a more universal SMS app like Google Messenger or Textra. You’ll thank me later.

The best texting apps for Android

Use other cross-platform services

The death knell of any Apple-only friendship is trying to use Apple-only services. The iPhone is great for some people, but Apple’s photo backup service, for instance, isn’t really compatible with the outside world.

To that end, if you want to send and receive photos easily, get your friends and family on Google Photos. I wrote about this in my backup guide, but Google Photos also has some of the best sharing features of any photo service. Similarly, if you want to share notes or task lists, get them using Google Keep.

And if you miss FaceTime, there’s always Google Duo for video calling, which is pretty darn good and uses less data.

Buy ’em an Android phone

This is kind of a joke, but not really: many iPhone users know nothing of Android, or may not have used it since the early days when Droids ruled and HTC was the king of the heap. Android in 2018 is everything iOS is and more, without the notification headaches and poor battery life. Android even has the best camera out there, period.

It’s easy and safe to stay within the confines of the Apple ecosystem, but if your family and friends are finding bugs with iOS 11 and battery problems with their iPhone 6, maybe it’s time to school them on the best.

The best Android phones of 2018

The LG G6 will get a successor, but it won’t be called the G7

A fresh start for the new year.

LG’s G6 and V30 last year were really solid phones, but despite this, they failed to make any sort of dent in the market. Likely as an attempt to change this in 2018, a spokesperson for LG has confirmed that the company will be getting rid of its G-series branding that’s been around since 2012 with the Optimus G in favor of something fresh and new.

This change will be made with a phone that’s released in “the first half” of 2018, and this leads us to believe that the first phone to be affected by this is what we were previously expecting to be called the LG G7. LG hasn’t dived into specifics about what the G-series name will be changed to, but it has been confirmed that the company is toying with the idea of a “two-digit number.”

That might sound confusing considering that the last phone in the G-series was the G6, but assuming LG does go down this path, it’d do so with the intent of the two-digit number making its phone look on par with the likes of the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X and not outdated with a lower number such as the G7.

It remains to be seen whether or not a rebranding is what LG needs to compete more directly with the likes of Samsung and Apple, but LG has said that this isn’t anything new and that both companies “have done so for their own flagships” in the past.

If the G-series really is no more, what would you like to see the G7 and future phones in this lineup called?

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• LG G6 vs. Google Pixel: The two best cameras right now
• Everything you need to know about the G6’s cameras
• LG forums

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LG V30 is getting a stunning Raspberry Rose color

LG has the perfect Valentine’s gift for the pink lover in your life.

The V30 is definitely one of LG’s best-looking phones in quite some time, and this is made possible thanks to its aluminum frame, glass back, and super slim bezels. LG launched the V30 in a handful of colors, including Aurora Black, Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue, and Lavender Violet. All of these look quite nice, but just in time for CES 2018, LG has announced its latest color – Raspberry Rose.

Raspberry Rose is a fancy way of saying ‘pink’, but the hue that LG is going with here is a pink that’s actually quite deep. LG describes it as being an “intense saturated version of red”, and as much as I love the look of the Moroccan Blue variant, this just might be my new favorite.

LG will be showing off the new color to attendees at CES this month, and shortly after this it’ll be launched first in LG’s home market of Korea.

Europe and Asia will be next in line for the Raspberry Rose V30’s release, but at this time, there aren’t any plans to bring it to the United States or Canada.

Samsung’s launching a Galaxy S8 in Burgundy Red, and it looks amazing

LG V30

• LG V30 review: The no-BS flagship
• Top LG V30 camera features
• Full LG V30 specs
• LG V30 vs. G6 vs. GS8
• The V30 is the first phone to support 600MHz spectrum
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How to enable developer mode on your Chromebook

Developer mode lets you access deeper parts of Chrome OS. Here’s how to enable it!

At first glance, it may not look like you can do much tinkering on a Chromebook. Open the device, sign in, and enjoy the security of the sandboxed operating system. But if you do want to do more with your Chromebook — run other operating systems, install full Linux programs or sideload Android applications — you’ll need to enable developer mode first.

Keep in mind this doesn’t have anything to do with the developer channel of the OS itself, despite the similar name. The developer channel is for testing brand new features with a major cost to stability: the developer channel is updated a few times a week with new features and bug fixes.

Enabling developer mode is analogous to rooting your Android phone: you have deeper access to the OS, letting you turn on cool stuff or potentially break things.

How to enable developer mode

Before we get started, make a backup of any local files you have on the Chromebook. Your Chromebook will be Powerwashed in the process, erasing any accounts and local data. With that all done, let’s enable developer mode!

Boot your Chromebook into recovery mode by powering off the device, then holding the Esc and Refresh (the circular arrow) keys while pressing the power button. If you are using a Chromebook or Chromebit, there will be a hole on the device that has the recovery button inside. Stick a paperclip or similar object inside to hold down the recovery button, then press the power button.
Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard when asked to insert recovery media.

Press Enter to confirm.

When your device reboots, you’ll see a screen stating the OS verification is off. This screen will appear every time you turn the device on to warn you that the device isn’t as secure as it would be out of the box. When you see this screen, press Ctrl + D to continue booting, or wait a few seconds and the device will boot on its own.

How to disable developer mode

Since developer mode is not verified by Google, you will need to turn it off before selling the device or returning it for warranty purposes. Here’s how to disable developer mode!

Reboot your Chromebook.
Press the spacebar to re-enable verification when you see the “OS verification is off” screen. This will wipe the device and it will be secure again!

Questions?

Do you use developer mode on your Chromebook? Let us know down below!

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• The best Chromebooks
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
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• Acer Chromebook 14 review
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Best Samsung Galaxy S8 Holster Cases

Keep yours pockets empty and your phone at your hip with these cool holster cases.

Holster cases get a bum rap. They’re portrayed in the media as being for geeks, but they’re actually incredibly practical, especially as phones get larger and jean pockets somehow get smaller and smaller.

If you want to keep your Galaxy S8 at your hip without it bulking out your pocket, then check out these holster cases and get practical.

• Encase DuraClip Combo
• Aduro shell case combo series
• Trianium Duranium Series
• Supcase Unicorn Beetle Shield
• Zizo Bolt Series
• OtterBox Defender and holster

Encase DuraClip Combo

This is probably the most practical case for most people, since, while still a fairly rugged case, it’s relatively slim, and you could carry it in your pocket if you wanted to. At $14, it’s not a bad deal, since you get the rugged bumper and the detachable belt clip. It’s all quite convenient and looks pretty sharp to boot. The bumper case is good and grippy so that you don’t drop your Galaxy S8 and the belt clip is reinforced to last.

See at Amazon

Aduro shell case combo series

Aduro’s cover is even thinner than Encase’s, so if you’re looking for minimal bulk, this is your pick. It features a fully separate holster, which slides over the front of your Galaxy S8, protecting the screen while it’s on your hip. The belt clips swivels, so you can have your S8 upright or horizontal. The sweet part is that the back cover has a built-in kickstand, so you can watch videos hands-free when it’s not holstered on your belt. This one’s only $10!

See at Amazon

Trianium Duranium Series

Trianium’s Duranium has a more armored design than the above two picks, and it’s certainly built for someone who needs more more rugged protection. It features a dual-layer back cover that’s made of TPU and a hard polycarbonate shell, and its holster slips over the screen, with a reinforced belt clip. The nice part is that, at $17, Trianium gives you color options in gunmental, gold, and rose gold. You also get a lifetime warranty if anything goes wrong with the case.

See at Amazon

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Shield

A perennial favorite of mine, Supcase’s rugged cases boast some of the best protection in the slimmest form factor when it comes to heavy duty cases. The flexible TPU layer is shock-absorbent and soft so as not to scratch your Galaxy S8’s glass, and the outer polycarbonate layer is hard, protecting your phone from bumps. Raised corners protect your S8 where it’s most vulnerable and Supcase has some color options that are a bit more fun than others. There’s also a front cover that protects your S8’s screen and hugs it like no other screen protector I’ve seen. I also dig the swiveling belt clip and holster, which slides over the front. At $23, it’s totally worth it.

See at Amazon

Zizo Bolt Series

For military-grade protection, look no further than Zizo’s Bolt Series, which is for folks who want the coolest design and the most color options (10 in all). These cases feature military drop test certification and the detachable belt clip and built-in kickstand make it versatile and convenient. Zizo also includes a Zizo Lightning Shield screen protector with each purchase, so you can protect your whole phone from scratches. If you’re looking for an option to match any style, then this is probably the one for you. At $18 you can even grab a couple!

See at Amazon

OtterBox Defender and holster

The old standby of heavy duty cases, this OtterBox Defender comes with a holster that slides on over the front of your Galaxy S8. The only downside is that the belt clip doesn’t swivel, but it does work as a kickstand, so you can watch videos hands-free. There are three color options to choose from, at $22 apiece. The OtterBox name is tried, trusted, and true, so if you like to stick with brands you love, then this is the case for you.

See at Amazon

What’s on your belt?

Do you use a holster case? Which one? Did we miss an awesome one? Sound off in the comments below.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
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• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
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Oreo update canceled for OnePlus 5 due to unnamed bug

OxygenOS 5.0 is being canned in favor of 5.0.1.

On December 24, OnePlus announced an early Christmas present in the form of a stable Oreo update for the OnePlus 5. Oreo was coming to the OnePlus 5 as part of OxygenOS 5.0, but just a few days after the update began rolling out to handsets, OnePlus has announced that it’s canceled it.

Staff Member Jimmy Z. on the OnePlus Forums recently updated the original article announcing the OxygenOS 5.0 rollout saying that the update has been canceled due to a “bug.” The specifics of this bug aren’t mentioned, but it must have been bad enough for OnePlus to cancel the update altogether rather than simply halting it until the issue was fixed.

Instead, OnePlus says that it’ll continue the Oreo rollout for the 5 with OxygenOS 5.0.1. The company is said to be “preparing” the new software now, but an exact ETA for its release has yet to be announced.

If you already downloaded OxygenOS 5.0 on your OnePlus 5, have you noticed any major bugs?

OnePlus 5 now has Face Unlock with OxygenOS Open Beta 3

OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 5

• OnePlus 5T review: Come for the value, not the excitement
• OnePlus 5T specs
• Should you upgrade from the OnePlus 3T?
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• All of the latest OnePlus 5T news
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‘Blade Runner 9732’ recreates Deckard’s apartment in VR

Fans of Blade Runner can now have an interactive snoop through spacecop Rick Deckard’s LA apartment thanks to a lovingly-built, fan-made virtual tour. The game, Blade Runner 9732 (the number of Deckard’s apartment, obviously) has been created by super fan Quentin Lengele, who’s faithfully recreated as much of the set as possible for you to explore. Yes, the ESPER machine is there, and yes, you can sit on the balcony watching the rain-lashed city.

The game’s texture and lighting isn’t hugely sophisticated, but it doesn’t need to be. This is the work of an enthusiast sharing his passion with other like-minded fans. And it’s fun, even with its limitations (Lengele says he plans on adding more interactive elements in the next version), and with its baffling blank spot fill-ins — there are six cans of Axe deodorant in the bathroom cabinet, for example (although to be fair, 2019 is only a year away now).

Lengele released a free beta version on Google Drive over the holidays, with optional support for HTC Vive cybergoggles (no Oculus so far). It’s due to launch fully on Steam on January 7, although as it’s an unofficial product it might not make it that far, so if you want to explore Deckard’s pad you’d better pay a visit now.

Via: Rock Paper Shotgun

Source: Blade Runner 9732

Watch this streamer accidentally break a ‘Tetris’ world record

As the old saying goes, if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Or, if you’re Jonas Neubauer (AKA NubbinsGoody), break a different world record instead. The NES Tetris maestro was trying to break the world record for speed-clearing 100 lines in the classic 80s game and was doing alright until he made a minor error (a basically negligible whoopsie for most players, at that) and lost his focus. “That was a fast 300,000” he says casually, before checking his Twitch comments and then realising that yeah, it was a fast 300,000. Fast enough to earn him the world record for hitting the score in under two minutes, in fact. And understandably, he’s pretty excited. And the 100 lines record? He broke it the next day.

Via: Kotaku

eHarmony can’t claim its matches are ‘scientific’ anymore

Turns out that dating service eHarmony has a weird definition of “science” when the law comes knocking. An ad in the London subway system triggered the UK’s Advertising Standards Agency to call the “scientifically proven” matching system “misleading,” as spotted by the BBC. From the ASA:

“eHarmony UK Ltd t/a eHarmony said that the definition of science was something that was ‘based on or characterised by the methods or principles of science.’ They said that the ad did not make any specific claims except that their matching system was scientific and could therefore provide an advantage in finding a compatible partner over a purely chance-based system or meeting.

The ad did not include any comparisons to other dating websites and did not claim that the service had a better success rate than any other service. They believed that consumers would interpret the ad to mean that the scientific approach eHarmony used could potentially work for them, but did not believe that consumers would interpret the ad to mean that it would guarantee they would find lasting love or make connections.”

That’s one way of trying to cover your ass. Another is to take inspiration from Facebook’s playbook and blame the algorithm. eHarmony claims that its algorithm is “based on scientific theories in the relationship literature of assortative mating,” and provided a couple of studies as evidence that its claims hold water.

The problem is, one of the studies was apparently a survey taken by couples that proactively told the dating site about their impending nuptials. That’s in addition to eHarmony allegedly incentivizing them to do so. Pretty far from a random sample, no?

“We further considered that both studies did not reveal anything about the percentage of the overall users of eHarmony who had found lasting love after using the website compared to other sources,” the ASA writes. The ad has since been taken down.

This isn’t the first time eHarmony has come under fire for its advertising practices, either. Back in 2013 one of its lead researchers was ripped apart at a psychological conference for presenting junk science about the matching algorithm and publishing it in a medical journal.

So what’s a dater to do in these cold winter months? Well, swiping is always an option if you don’t feel like paying for an account or filling out a huge personality test on eHarmony. But that’s an altogether different numbers game. Or, you could always hit the library or a coffee shop to try and find your perfect match — you know, the old fashioned way.

Via: BBC

Source: Advertising Standards Authority