Upgrade your home office with this $49 AmazonBasics Mid-Back Mesh Chair

The AmazonBasics Mid-Back Mesh Chair is on sale for $49.16. It normally sells for around $10 more and has received 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 2,700 customer reviews.

This comfortable office chair has a contoured mesh back for breathability. It also features a padded seat, pneumatic seat-height adjustment, and dual-wheel casters. Your purchase is backed by a one-year warranty.

Keep the office upgrade party going with this AmazonBasics Mesh Wastebasket for $9.

See at Amazon

Traveling with tech makes everything more complicated

Don’t know when I’ll be back again.

I will soon be leaving on a jet plane, connecting to another jet plane, and then, a few days hence, a third, fourth, and fifth. Two weeks later, I’ll be doing it all over again.

Traveling isn’t a particularly pleasant activity for most people — the waiting, the scrutiny, the running through terminals, bags flailing, to catch tight connections — but more and more these days, it’s the packing I find most intimidating. The clothes and toiletries part I have down to a science, though; it’s the technology side of things I am always unsure about.

On a trip like this, where part of it is for work and part for fun, I have a baseline tech packing list that is, I’m sure, pretty familiar to most people: phone, laptop, tablet, camera, headphones, battery packs, and chargers. But what about an e-reader, for which I’ll have the best intentions but likely won’t touch at all, and my Nintendo Switch, which I’ve brought with me on my last three trips and have neglected each time. My backpack usually has a hornet’s nest of cables — a mix of USB-C, Micro-USB, and Lightning — and AC adapters, though I’ve effectively consolidated them to a single multi-port adapter.

It’s not clear to me why North America uses the clearly-inferior 110V standard, and don’t get me started on the Imperial system.

I’ll be traveling through several countries, totaling three different plug designs, all of which support 220V input, so I’ll be packing a bevy of adapters while ensuring that all of my electronics support the change in voltage. Ultimately, though, I’m going to minimize wall charging by using high-capacity battery backups and charging my portable electronics through them wherever possible. But those packs will need to be charged, and thankfully my largest one holds 22,000mAh and can be charged overnight with USB-PD.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining — these tools definitely enhance the travel experience. But as they get further entrenched in our home lives, they become more indispensable when we’re away, too. The tablet will go unused for all but a few hours on the plane, for example, but I’d rather lug it around than watch the same content on my phone or laptop. It’s a problem of my own creation.

A walk through the Barcelona streets at last year’s Mobile World Congress. Photo taken with the LG G6.

You want to account for every possibility while traveling, so you bring everything. On the other hand, purposefully (or accidentally) leaving something behind forces you to contend with the unknown, from wiling away the long plane hours watching someone else’s movie sans sound (we’ve all done that, right?) to reading all of those magazines you’ve been reluctant to throw away for this very occasion. Should my adapters not work or my batteries deplete, I will gaze instead at the unfamiliar stars of an unfamiliar city, or aimlessly walk the streets to learn more about them. That’s the point of traveling, isn’t it? When tech becomes a chore, or interrupts the moment, or just doesn’t work, it becomes a burden, a weight I wish I wasn’t carrying in the first place.

So maybe, while packing this week, I’ll choose to bring fewer gadgets and leave more room for being lost, confused and aimless.

At least that’s the intention. Thankfully, good intentions don’t weigh anything.

And now, onto some other matters.

We’re only a few days away from the start of Mobile World Congress, and we’re already awash in details on what’s to come. Obviously, Samsung’s Galaxy S9 series will top the list of important announcements, but it’s not the only show in town. LG has scaled back its plans, but we’re expecting a V30 refresh of some sort, while Sony will likely announce its latest flagship in the Xperia XZ2.

ASUS is looking to make its first big splash at MWC with the ZenFone 5 series, and we already know that Alcatel has at least three phones to talk about at this year’s show. Alcatel’s sister company, BlackBerry Mobile, unveiled the KEYone’s name and availability at MWC 2017, so it’s possible we’ll see its sequel this time around. We already know that Huawei isn’t unveiling the P20 until March, but it’s possible we’ll see new MediaPad tablets from the Chinese giant, and Lenovo is sure to show off a few of its innovations, too.

As usual, I’m excited to hang out with the AC team in the beautiful city of Barcelona, so follow my adventures on Instagram for the behind-the-scenes shenanigans, if you’re so inclined.

Take care!

-Daniel

Daimler may have used software to cheat on US emissions tests

Daimler has been under suspicion of cheating on US emissions tests for quite a while now — in 2016, a number of customers even sued the automaker, claiming their cars had sneaky software made to trick testers similar to Volkswagen’s. Now, according to German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, US authorities investigating the Mercedes maker have discovered that its vehicles are equipped with illegal software to help them pass United States’ stringent emission tests. Citing confidential documents, the publication said Daimler’s employees doubted their vehicles would be able meet US standards even before Volkswagen’s diesel scandal blew up. Internal testing apparently revealed that some Mercedes models emit ten times the country’s nitrogen oxide limit.

Daimler reportedly developed software with several functions to be able to trick US regulators. One called “Bit 15” was designed to switch off emissions cleaning after 16 miles of driving, while another called “Slipguard” can detect if the car is being tested based on speed and acceleration. Bild am Sonntag said it found emails from Daimler engineers questioning whether those functions were legal.

A few days ago, German magazine Der Spiegel also reported that officials in Daimler’s native country will recall Mercedes-Benz Vito vans next week. The magazine said authorities believe the vans (and other Daimler vehicles) are equipped with an illegal defeat device that can control the amount of AdBlue used in the engines. AdBlue is a fluid that can break down nitrogen oxide, which forms smog and acid rain. Both these reports come on the heels of the revelation that auto industry titans Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler funded a study that tested the effects of gas nitrogen dioxide on humans and monkeys.

Unlike Volkswagen, which admitted back in 2015 that it used illegal software to be able to pass emissions testing in the US, Daimler seems to be holding its ground. It told Der Spiegel that it “would take all legal means against the allegation of a defeat device.” A spokesperson also told Reuters that authorities are aware of the confidential documents Bild am Sonntag saw and “no complaint has been filed.” He added that “the documents available to Bild have obviously selectively been released in order to harm Daimler and its 290,000 employees.”

Source: Reuters, Der Spiegel

Tesla’s latest smart power grid experiment begins in Canada

Tesla’s experiments with smart power grids are headed further North. Canada’s Nova Scotia Power recently finished setting up a pilot project that will use a combination of Tesla’s Powerwall 2 home batteries and utility-grade Powerpack batteries to create a more reliable wind power system. The Elmsdale-based Intelligent Feeder Project fills gaps in the electrical grid by topping up the Powerpacks whenever a nearby wind turbine system generates excess power, and delivering that stored energy to local homes (including those with Powerwall 2 batteries) when there’s an outage or the turbine system falls short.

The test run (which is partly backed by Canada’s federal government) should go live before the end of February and will last until 2019, although the Powerpacks will remain after everything is over. Whether or not it expands to other locations depends on Nova Scotia Power, of course — it’s watching closely to see how well the Tesla hardware helps both residents and its bottom line.

This isn’t exactly a grandiose experiment when the Elmsdale battery station will serve a modest 300 homes, and only 10 customers have Powerwall 2 batteries. However, it shows gathering worldwide interest in storage batteries like Tesla’s as a way of stabilizing power. And the Canadian pilot in particular could show the future of electricity for rural communities. They might not be quite so dependent on distant power grids, and won’t have to worry quite so much about blackouts.

Via: Electrek

Source: Nova Scotia Power (YouTube)

Are you #stoked or #overit? The complete guide to hashtags on social media

If you’re new to the world of social media, you may not know exactly what a hashtag is or what you can do with one. Who can create hashtags? What are they used for? And how have these seemingly random combinations of letters and numbers changed how we navigate social media? #dontpanic. This is your guide to #hashtags.

So what is a hashtag?

A hashtag is a word or phrase that follows a pound sign (also known as a hash) and is used to identify specific posts on social media. A type of metadata, hashtags allow anyone to tag content on sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Hashtags help users more easily navigate posts and engage in larger online conversations.

Hashtags are user-generated, not created by social media sites. While companies can make and sponsor their own hashtags, the tags themselves are not owned by any one company — and anyone with access to the internet can create one. Public opinion and engagement are responsible for what become popular hashtags and what content gets tagged. Sometimes this mean the intended meaning of a hashtag is lost (as in the case of #McDStories), but at their core, hashtags are all about generating buzz and encouraging conversation.

A brief history of hashtags

Hashtags as we know them have only existed for a few years. While hashes were used in Internet Relay Chat (IRC) in the ’90s to categorize items, they’ve taken off recently. The word “hashtag” was even added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014 to recognize the tag’s widespread use.

The concept of tagging posts with hashes to denote more than category started in 2007 when designer Chris Messina suggested that Twitter users begin using the pound sign to denote posts for groups. Messina effectively became the first person to use a hashtag on the social media platform, the effects of which can still be felt around the internet today.

how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups. As in #barcamp [msg]?

— molly.com/chris (@chrismessina) August 23, 2007

Shortly after Messina posted his landmark tweet, people began using hashtags to spread information regarding the 2007 San Diego wildfires. But it would still be several years before hashtags became super popular. Twitter began linking English hashtags in 2009 (turning them into clickable links that lead users to other similarly tagged tweets), and the site added support for Chinese and Japanese hashtags in 2011. Facebook eventually added support for hashtags in 2013. Nowadays, hashtags can be used almost anywhere.

How do you make a hashtag?

When it comes to actually creating a hashtag, there aren’t many rules as to what you can and can’t do, but some of the specifics depends on which platform you’re using. Sites such as Instagram have slightly stricter rules regarding hashtags than other social media sites, particularly regarding tags relating to drug use. Facebook also has strict rules about illegal activities, and actively searches for posts tagged with references to child abuse.

But in terms of specific requirements, a hashtag can be a lot of things. It can be funny or serious, and as long or short as you need it to be to get people engaging with your idea. The tag can contain letters, numbers, and underscores, and it isn’t case sensitive. It can not contain any spaces or punctuation, however (F$%K!). In certain situations, the use of embedded capitals (CamelCase) is used to eliminate confusion in meaning. So whether you search for #hamilton, #Hamilton, or #HaMiLtOn, you’re still going to be able to find posts related to the hit Broadway musical.

Hashtags in popular culture

Hashtags have seen their fair share of use in popular culture and have been used by countless companies and bloggers to generate engagement. Recent hashtags like #MeToo highlight the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, while others like #OscarsSoWhite point to a lack of diversity in entertainment.

And even when they’re not leading movements or challenging the status quo, the way we use and apply hashtags in our daily lives has been the topic of discussion (and ridicule) for a long time. Back in 2013, Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake made fun of hashtag culture in a video that has since garnered over 30 million views on YouTube. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has also capitalized on the internet’s obsession with hashtags, creating over-the-top iterations such as #MakeAmericaDrumpfAgain, #NotMyChristian, and #WeUnderstandThatAsCorporateEntitiesOurPresenceInCertainDiscussionsIsNotAlwaysRequired SoWeWillStriveToLimitOurActivitiesToJustSellingYouShit (yes, that is a real hashtag). Hashtags can be found as on-screen bugs in a variety of programming as well, encouraging viewers to engage with content outside of that time slot.

Hashtags have drastically changed the landscape of social media and popular culture in the last few years. They have created more engagement in news and media, and have inspired dozens of social movements and initiatives. While they can be annoying (seriously any more than three hashtags in one post is way too many), they are an influential part of the way we get and spread information in the digital age. So use ’em or don’t, it doesn’t matter to us, but know the potential they carry — and that they’re easier to use than you might expect. #knowledge

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How to make a YouTube channel

KaufDex/Pixabay

As the premier video sharing website in the world, YouTube attracts everyone from the biggest online content creators to those just looking to share a few clips of themselves with friends and family. Whether you’re trying to become the next Pewdiepie or manage a personal video storage locker, everyone starts from the same place. You need to know how to make a YouTube channel.

Fortunately, Google has made the process easier and easier over the years, so you can follow just a few quick steps and you’ll be up and running in no time at all.

When you’re all set up, if you want to learn how to stream games on your channel, here’s our guide to get you started.

Creating a YouTube account

You can’t have a YouTube channel without a YouTube account. If you already have one, then you can simply sign in and move on to the next section, but for those who don’t, follow these simple steps

Step 1: Go to YouTube’s homepage and click the “Sign in” button in the top right-hand corner.

Step 2: If you have an existing Google account, congratulations, you also have a YouTube account! Login to it and skip to the next section. Otherwise, click “More options” and then “Create account.”

Step 3: Fill in the relevant information on the account set up page and click the “Next Step” button.

Step 4: If Google asks you to, verify your account using your mobile. Once complete, you should be sent to the welcome screen.

Step 5: Go back to YouTube’s homepage. You should be automatically logged in, but if not, click the “Sign in” button in the top right-hand corner again and fill in your relevant login information.

Creating a YouTube channel

YouTube is pretty keen to give everyone a YouTube channel, even if they only plan to post comments with it. That means that if you try to do anything on YouTube, you’ll be prompted to make one. The easiest method to do so though is with the steps below.

Step 1: Click the upload button (the up arrow with a line under it) in the top right-hand corner.

Step 2: You’ll be shown a prompt asking you to confirm your name and display picture. You can keep those the same as your Google account, but if you’d rather stay anonymous on your YouTube channel, you can input any information you want.

Step 3: It’s a good idea to read through the YouTube terms of service while you’re here, so you know what you’re signing up for. Once done, click the “Create Channel” button.

That’s it! You now have a functioning YouTube channel. You can now post videos and work your way towards internet stardom — or just show off your cat. Hey, sometimes they’re the same thing.

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Netflix deal provides a much-needed boost in the Middle East

Despite what it seems, Netflix isn’t a dominant force everywhere on the planet. In fact, it’s struggling in the Middle East and northern Africa — Netflix and Amazon combined represent 21 percent of the local subscription video space. The company is determined to get a leg up, however. It just forged its first partnership deal in the region, signing a pact with pay TV provider OSN to make its content available across the area. OSN customers will have access to Netflix through a set-top box launching near the end of the second quarter (around June), and will have the option of paying for Netflix through their existing OSN bills.

Yes, Netflix is very familiar with these sorts of deals (just ask Comcast customers), but this could be more important than most. The Middle East and northern Africa have wildly varying income levels, and viewers frequently want to save money where they can. It’s easier to watch Netflix through an box you already have than to buy another device (or upgrade your TV) just to catch The Crown. Also, local companies like Icflix, Starz Plus and OSN’s own Wavo have better recognition — this agreement gets Netflix’s foot in the door.

The bigger challenge is actually producing shows that people in the area would like to watch. Netflix has had just one piece of original Arabic content (a comedy special with Adel Karam) since debuting in the Middle East at the end of 2016. That makes it a tough sell when there’s plenty of localized material on rival services. If Netflix wants to have as much clout in the Middle East as it does in English- and Spanish-speaking countries, it’ll likely need to produce much more content that reflects the area’s cultures and languages.

Source: Netflix

Water purification could be the key to more electric cars

Humanity is going to need a lot of lithium batteries if electric cars are going to take over, and that’s a problem when there’s only so much lithium available from conventional mines. There may be an oddball solution for that, however: turn the world’s oceans into eco-friendly mines. Scientists have outlined a desalination technique that would use metal-organic frameworks (sponge-like structures with very high surface areas) with sub-nanometer pores to catch lithium ions while purifying ocean water. The approach mimics the tendency of cell membranes to selectively dehydrate and carry ions, leaving the lithium behind while producing water you can drink.

While the concept of extracting lithium certainly isn’t new, this would be much more efficient and environmentally friendly. You don’t need to pump water or use harmful (not to mention inefficient) chemicals. Instead of tearing up the landscape to find mineral deposits, battery makers would just have to deploy enough filters. It could even be used to make the most of water when pollution does take place — you could recover lithium from the waste water at shale gas fields.

This method needs considerably more study before it’s ready for real-world use. The implications are already clear, though. If this desalination approach reaches sufficient scale, the world would have much more lithium available for electric vehicles, phones and other battery-based devices. It would reduce the environmental impact of those devices, for that matter. While some say existing lithium mining negates some of the eco-friendliness of an EV, this purification could let you drive relatively guilt-free.

Via: Electrek, New Atlas, ScienceDaily

Source: Science Advances, CSIRO, UT Austin

How to deal with Blu-Ray problems on PlayStation 4

Blu-Ray won’t give you problems today

Watching a movie on your PlayStation 4 is great, right until it isn’t. For some reason, the BD-Live option on many PlayStation 4 units has a habit of giving your Blu-Ray player a bit of trouble. It’s not the source of every problem, but when it crops up it can be difficult to troubleshoot.

Thankfully, we have found a few solutions for you to try based on what you think is best for your compatibility.

Checking out BD-Live

This is a feature on your PlayStation 4 that will allow internet access options to become available on certain Blu-Ray Disks. The requirements for using this feature are 1 GB of internal storage and an internet connection. When enabled it will download extra content for your movie, even if it was released after the movie was.

You’re familiar with the “Extras” disk that came with a lot of your DVD movies growing up, yes? Things like deleted scenes, background scenes and bloopers are the types of content that will be downloaded. Only certain Blu-Rays, like “Transformers” and “So I married an Axe Murderer” even have these features.

Trouble-Shooting a Blu-Ray issue

Well, unfortunately, BD-Live is an almost dead feature for Blu-Ray disks and more often times than not causes more problems than good content. If you’ve put in your favorite Blu-Ray movie and you’re getting nothing but black screen chances are this forgotten feature is trying to look for content in your movie that doesn’t exist. In this case, you have a few options for making sure you can play your movies without being guilted by the BD-Live ghost.

Turn off BD-Live and forget about it

If you don’t care about the features BD-Live offers (on the occasional movie it even exists on) chances are you accidentally opted into the experience not knowing what it was. That’s okay, there is a way to turn it off through the settings menu.

While your Blu-Ray disc is actively playing (even if it’s just a blank screen) press the options button on your controller.
Select Settings.
Select Video Playback Settings.
Opt to turn off BD-Live.

Turn off your internet

If you’re someone who’s super into movies and has Blu-Rays that play BD-Live content and don’t feel like constantly having to go back and forth between your settings there’s a different solution. Un-Plug your ethernet cable or simply disable your Wi-Fi for the duration of your movie.

If there’s no internet for the feature to work off of. it won’t interfere with the playback.

Did this fix your issue?

If there is a movie that you know uses BD-Live you enjoy tell us about it! Are you experiencing any other issues with your Blu-Ray player for the PlayStation 4?

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Now’s the perfect time to get into PlayStation VR with these big price drops

Take advantage of these deals while they last.

If you just want to get into the PlayStation virtual reality world, you can start with the standalone headset at its lowest price since Black Friday, just $199.99 at B&H. It’s normally $300, and this price will only last through March 3.

Dive into the deep end of PlayStation VR with some of the bigger bundles on sale as well. For example, the Doom VR Bundle includes the headset, the PlayStation camera, and the virtual reality version of Bethesda’s shooter, Doom. It’s on sale for $299 from a street price around $350.

The PlayStation VR Skyrim bundle is down to $349 from $400. It includes two PlayStation Move controllers along with the game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR.

The headset features a 5.7-inch OLED 1080p display and runs up to 120 frames per second. The 3D audio technology allows you to pinpoint sounds above, below, and all around you making your experience that much more realistic.

The LEDs around the PlayStation VR headset, on the DualShock 4 wireless controller, and the PlayStation Move motion controller are tracked by the PlayStation Camera, capturing your exact natural movement in virtual space.

See on B&H