Cambridge Analytica was looking to jump on the crypto bandwagon, too

Before news broke that it had improperly obtained millions of Facebook users’ data and undercover videos showed executives listing entrapment among the nefarious ways it could halt political opponents, Cambridge Analytica was reportedly working on a digital currency. And, interestingly, the cryptocurrency was apparently going to be marketed as a way to fund a system through which users could store and sell their online data. Sources told Reuters that the data firm had consulted a company on how to structure an initial coin offering (ICO).

A Cambridge Analytica spokesperson didn’t discuss the ICO but did tell Reuters, “Prior to the Facebook controversy, we were developing a suite of technologies to help individuals reclaim their personal data from corporate entities and to have full transparency and control over how their personal data are used. We were exploring multiple options for people to manage and monetise their personal data, including blockchain technology.” And while that seems laughable in light of all of the recent discoveries about the firm and its actions, former Cambridge Analytica employee Brittany Kaiser told the New York Times, “Who knows more about the usage of personal data than Cambridge Analytica? So why not build a platform that reconstructs the way that works?”

Cambridge Analytica was also reportedly involved in the creation of a digital token called the Dragon Coin, which was designed to help gamblers get their money into Macau casinos and has been linked to an infamous Macau gangster.

Cryptocurrencies and ICOs have come under intense scrutiny in the US. The SEC formed a Cyber Unit last year and has brought fraud charges against a number of individuals and companies, as has the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The SEC also issued a warning that it was “looking closely” at companies that suddenly shift their interests to blockchain or digital currencies and it sent subpoenas and requests for information to a number of firms last month. The agency also warned celebrities about endorsing ICOs. In February, a study noted that nearly half of the ICOs launched in 2017 had already failed.

Via: Gizmodo

Apple unveils its newest recycling robot ahead of Earth Day

Looks like Liam, Apple’s phone-dismembering robot, now has a little sister. Just ahead of Earth Day, the Cupertino-based company revealed the newest member of its robo-recycling team: Daisy.

Like her predecessor, Daisy was developed by Apple’s in-house R&D team and even leverages some of the same components that were initially created for Liam. The new robot is tasked with disassembling iphones, stripping them of their reusable parts and sorting out the refuse. Daisy is reportedly capable of dismantling nine different iPhone variants and stripping up to 200 handsets an hour, all without damaging any of the salvageable parts.

Apple also announced the start of its GiveBack program, which runs until April 30th. For every phone that customers turn in at an Apple store or online, either directly for recycling or as a trade-in, the company will make a donation to Conservation International. For their environmental efforts, customers will receive an in-store credit or an Apple Gift Card, whichever they prefer.

This news comes on the heels of Apple’s announcement earlier this month that its entire operation — stores, offices, data centers and co-located sites across 43 countries — are fully powered by green energy (though technically the company does rely on carbon credits and offsets to hit that number).

eBay for iOS Gains Barcode Scanning Feature That Can Complete Listing Process ‘Within Seconds’

eBay today announced a new update for its iOS and Android apps, aimed at further simplifying the item listing process. The headlining feature of the update is a new barcode scanner, allowing sellers to quickly scan the box of an item (if they still have it), select a condition, and click “list your item.”

The barcode scanner will automatically populate the listing with all of the requisite details (images, description, suggested starting price), and the process can be finished “within seconds,” according to eBay. If you don’t have the item barcode you can still search for it by typing in a description, which should populate the listing at around the same rate as the barcode scanner.

eBay’s announcement states the streamlined update is aimed at new sellers who aren’t yet familiar with the service’s in-depth listing options.

“At eBay, we’re dedicated to delivering a seamless and efficient selling experience for both first-time and seasoned sellers alike,” says Kelly Vincent, eBay’s VP of Consumer Selling Product & Engineering.

“This latest update continues to leverage eBay’s structured data, which helps catalogue the 1.1+ billion items on the platform, to instantaneously populate product details, pricing and shipping information in the listing flow. Not only does the catalogue facilitate a superior listing experience, it enables buyers to easily find the great deals offered by our sellers. This is one of many enhancements we’ll be making this year. We’ll continue to leverage structured data and new technology developments to help our sellers ‘get it sold.’”

Late last year eBay updated its search function with the ability for users to find items on its marketplace by taking pictures. Using computer vision technology powered by AI, Image Search lets buyers snap a picture or upload one from their iOS device’s Camera Roll to find similar results based on their image.

More recently in 2018, eBay announced major changes that will be coming to its online marketplace regarding how buyers and sellers exchange money. The company’s three-year plan is to phase out its partnership with PayPal and eventually make Amsterdam-based payments company Adyen its “primary partner for payments processing globally.”

Tag: eBay
Discuss this article in our forums

Tim Cook Insists Merging Mac and iPad Would Result in Compromises

Apple CEO Tim Cook remains against the idea of merging the Mac and iPad to create one unified hardware and software experience, according to a brief conversation he had at Apple’s education event in Chicago last month.

“We don’t believe in sort of watering down one for the other,” said Cook, speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Wells. “One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two … you begin to make trade offs and compromises.”

“So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day, but that’s not what it’s about,” he added. “It’s about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don’t think that’s what users want.”

Cook reiterated that he generally uses a Mac at work, and uses an iPad at home and for travel, but added “I use everything and I love everything.”

Apple’s boss also revealed that an Apple IIc, released in 1984, was his first computer. “I first used it for a project, as a senior in engineering school, making an inventory control program or for a rental business that was close by,” said Cook, who majored in industrial engineering at Auburn University.

Cook’s comments echo those he shared with the Irish Independent in 2015, when he said Apple is not interested in creating a “converged Mac and iPad.”

“What that would wind up doing, or what we’re worried would happen, is that neither experience would be as good as the customer wants. So we want to make the best tablet in the world and the best Mac in the world. And putting those two together would not achieve either. You’d begin to compromise in different ways.”

While the Mac and iPad will remain distinct products, Apple has and will continue to bridge the gap between its desktop and mobile platforms. In 2014, for example, it introduced Continuity features like Handoff and Universal Clipboard that enable more seamless experiences across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Apple may go one step further in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that developers will be able to design a single third-party app that works with both a touchscreen, and a mouse or trackpad, depending on whether it’s running on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, starting later this year.

Tag: Tim Cook
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Debuts New iPhone Disassembly Robot Daisy and GiveBack Environmental Program

Ahead of Earth Day on Sunday, Apple today announced a few initiatives that support the company’s commitment to the environment, including its goal of making its products using only recycled or renewable materials.

Apple’s new iPhone disassembly robot Daisy
First, for every device traded in or recycled at Apple Stores or on Apple.com worldwide between today and April 30, the company will make a donation of an undisclosed amount to the non-profit environmental organization Conservation International, which has worked to protect the nature in more than 30 countries.

Second, Apple introduced a new iPhone disassembly robot named Daisy as an improved version of Liam, its first disassembly robot launched in 2016. Daisy is located in Austin, Texas, with a second robot coming to Breda, Netherlands.

Daisy is made from some of Liam’s parts and is capable of disassembling nine versions of iPhone and sorting their high-quality components for recycling. Daisy can take apart up to 200 iPhone devices per hour, removing and sorting components, so that Apple can recover materials that traditional recyclers can’t — and at a higher quality.

Apple’s environmental chief Lisa Jackson:

At Apple, we’re constantly working toward smart solutions to address climate change and conserve our planet’s precious resources. In recognition of Earth Day, we are making it as simple as possible for our customers to recycle devices and do something good for the planet through Apple GiveBack. We’re also thrilled to introduce Daisy to the world, as she represents what’s possible when innovation and conservation meet.

Apple will also release its annual Environment Report today, detailing the company’s environmental progress in three priority areas: reducing its carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources, conserving precious resources, and pioneering the use of safer materials in its products and processes.

Last week, Apple announced its global facilities are now powered with 100 percent clean energy, including its retail stores, offices, data centers and co-located facilities across the United States and 42 other countries.

Last, Apple Watch owners today will receive a notification about an Earth Day activity challenge, as we revealed earlier this week. To earn the badge, users will have to complete any workout for 30 minutes or longer on April 22.

Tags: Apple environment, Earth Day
Discuss this article in our forums

TaskRabbit back online after cyberattack, warns users to monitor their accounts

TaskRabbit is now back online following a self-imposed outage that began earlier this week as it investigated a cyberattack on its systems.

The company is advising anyone with a TaskRabbit account to change their password as a precaution. It also told Digital Trends its security team will be performing an automatic password reset within the next day.

TaskRabbit, which matches freelance labor with nearby folks who need to get stuff done, took down its website and app on Monday after learning of the hack. Both went back online at 4.30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

In a message posted on its website, TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot said the San Francisco-based company was still investigating the incident, but confirmed that “an unauthorized user gained access to our systems.”

She said that as a result, “certain personally identifiable information may have been compromised.”

Besides the password reset, the CEO also advised TaskRabbit users to monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity, adding that anyone who uses their TaskRabbit password on other websites and apps should change them, too.

Brown-Philpot said her company is “working to implement additional measures to enhance the security of our systems.” These include:

• Examining ways to make its login processes more secure
• Evaluating its data retention practices to reduce the amount of data it holds on Taskers and Clients, where appropriate
• Enhancing overall network cyber-threat-detection technology

The CEO added that an outside forensics team is continuing to investigate precisely what kind of personal information may have been compromised, and promised to notify every affected individual once the information becomes available. The service, which operates across 40 U.S. cities, as well as London in the U.K., is believed to have more than a million users.

The company promised to keep the TaskRabbit community updated with any developments in the investigation via this webpage.

TaskRabbit launched 10 years ago and was acquired by Ikea in September 2017. Jesper Brodin, president and CEO of Ikea Group, said at the time that his company would be able to “learn from TaskRabbit’s digital expertise, while also providing Ikea customers additional ways to access flexible and affordable service solutions to meet the needs of today’s customer.”

Those solutions include a recently launched partnership featuring a speedy service that offers customers help with Ikea furniture assembly.

We’ll update when we learn more from TaskRabbit about exactly how many of its users were caught up in the cyberattack and what information has been stolen.

Editors’ Recommendations

• TaskRabbit app goes down as it investigates ‘cybersecurity incident’
• Under Armour: 150 million MyFitnessPal accounts were hacked
• Alphabet’s new cybersecurity unit focuses on faster threat responses
• TaskRabbit will now assemble your Ikea furniture on your behalf
• The best password managers for protecting your data online

Capture One makes batch editing and presets faster with latest update

Phase One

Phase One’s RAW photo editor Capture One is getting a workflow boost with a few tool tweaks. On Thursday, April 19, Phase One launched Capture One 11.1, an update adding workflow improvements and expanding camera support.

The update enhances the software’s styles and presets tools in order to help photographers and photo editors work faster, Phase One says. Applying both Styles and Presets is faster in 11.1, while the interface adjustment also allows photo editors to control the capacity. The enhancements speed up the process whether the effects are used on a single photo or in batch processing, the company says. The update also includes a Spring Styles pack.

Those batch adjustments can also be fine-tuned with an update to the normalization tool. Photo editors can now set the tool to any color in order to use that shade for exposure and white balance adjustments. Previously, the tool could only be used on gray.

The update also comes with resources built directly into the software. The Resource Hub integrates free resources on-screen. The Hub includes tutorials, news, webinars, and blog posts, all available without leaving Capture One.

“Capture One remains dedicated to the needs of ambitious photographers,” said Jan Hyldebrandt-Larsen, the company’s vice president of software business. “These latest updates introduce an extension to camera and lens support, as well as an all-new Resource Hub. The Resource Hub is an in-app portal that allows users to easily access news, tutorials, updates and much more — all designed to inspire photographers and ensure the best workflow and user experience in Capture One.”

With the latest update, Capture One now supports 11 new cameras and another ten lenses, including the Fujifilm X-H1, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III, Olympus E-PL9, the Panasonic GH5S and Sony a7 Mark III. The update also extends support for several Leica cameras, including the CL, X-U, V-Lux Typ 114 and TL2. Lens support was added for new Canon, Leica, Sony, and Tamron lenses. Sony users can also now use Capture Pilot 2.0, a tool allowing photographers to change camera settings when tethered by using an iOS device.

Still part of Capture One 11, version 11.1 is free to owners of the earlier 11 software, or a $120 upgrade for users of Capture One 9 and 10. New users can start with a free trial, then the software is $299 to own outright, with subscriptions also available.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Adobe focuses on speed — but just how fast is the new Lightroom 7.2?
• RAW photo editor Luminar is now up to 12 times faster with Jupiter upgrade
• Bid farewell to lengthy Photoshop cutouts with new AI-powered tool
• No gimbal? Insta360 One says app update offers better stabilization anyway
• Have a design that bears repeating? CorelDraw’s new symmetry tool makes it easy

Revisiting the Razer Phone camera

We put the Razer Phone through its paces to see how it stands up

Since its launch in November, the Razer Phone’s camera has been widely panned for the underwhelming performance and lack of software features as compared to other flagship devices. Six months since its release, we take a look at the improvements Razer has implemented and pit it head-to-head against one of its top competitors.

The specs look decent on paper

From the outset, the Razer Phone sure looks like it’s got a capable camera. The primary set up features two 12MP cameras — a wide-angle ƒ/1.7 lens and a telephoto ƒ/2.4 lens — that were right on trend for 2017. Around front is an 8MP camera for taking selfies and streaming. And yet, the experience for users who bought at launch was pretty miserable and lead to Razer releasing a substantial upgrade to the camera software just over a month later.

The latest camera update for the Razer Phone is live with faster shutter speed, better colors, quick zoom and more! We’ve addressed your asks and are working every day to improve the app – keep the feedback coming! Full feature list – https://t.co/Z8lODLyYVD pic.twitter.com/7yd4ZLg6eE

— R Λ Z Ξ R (@Razer) December 21, 2017

With the update came improvements to the shutter speed, better color processing, and the option to switch between the wide-angle lens and the telephoto with the quick zoom button. Below is an example of the difference between the wide-angle lens and the telephoto.

The wide-angle lens on the left. Same photo taken with the telephoto lens on the right.

Read: Razer Phone specs: Top-end everything

The stock software is still bare and minimalist

If you’ve previously used a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone before switching to the Razer Phone, the most jarring aspect will be just how minimalist and bare the stock camera UI is.

Beyond the “2X” zoom button when using the rear cameras, there are no extra features built into the Razer Phone camera software — no slow motion, no panorama, no photosphere, no filters. Nothing.

It’s a bare-bones set up devoid of cool features you might expect from a $700, but it’s also not needlessly bloated. I would almost argue that Samsung’s stock camera app is approaching the point of being too cluttered with features you aren’t likely to use like Bixby and stickers built right into the UI.

Still, you can’t help but notice just how empty it all feels compared to other phones in the same price range.

Have you ever seen a camera settings menu so bare?

As expected, the Razer Phone can shoot video in 4K quality — however, there’s no image stabilization built in so while the video sure looks smooth as heck on the Razer Phone’s 120Hz display, if you’re not using a tripod every little movement or shake is going to be captured.

Head-to-head comparison against the Samsung Galaxy S8

So how does the Razer Phone stack up against one of the better smartphone cameras released last year, the Galaxy S8? These are the unedited results of snapping some photos with the Razer Phone and Galaxy S9 around town and you can tell Samsung’s software works it’s magic to bring out more color and contrast in photos. The Razer Phone photos aren’t awful, but they would definitely require some tweaks in Photoshop to achieve the same quality that you get straight from the Samsung camera app.

The processing speed on the Galaxy S8 was also way faster than on the Razer Phone — you can shoot in HDR with the Galaxy S8 without even knowing it, while the Razer Phone takes a full second at times to do the proper HDR processing each time. It’s one of those minor details that’s not outright broken, but noticably slow enough to be annoying.

The Razer Phone on the left — the Galaxy S8 on the right.

The Razer Phone on the left — the Galaxy S8 on the right.

The Razer Phone on the left — the Galaxy S8 on the right.

The Razer Phone on the left — the Galaxy S8 on the right.

The Razer Phone on the left — the Galaxy S8 on the right.

The Razer Phone on the left — the Galaxy S8 on the right.

Are the cameras a dealbreaker?

Despite the improvements Razer has made to the camera software, the Razer Phone is still noticeably slower than other flagship phones released in the same year. It can’t compare to the Galaxy S8 and I still have more fun shooting photos and videos with my OG Pixel XL. But unless mobile photography is a really big deal to you, the Razer Phone still takes decent photo and video that can be gussied up with an Instagram filter or other photo editing software.

Razer has stated that their plan was to release a very basic camera experience initially and then gradually flesh it out with new features and improvements via software updates. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this was Razer’s first attempt at building a smartphone, so it should come as little surprise that the end experience isn’t as polished or fleshed out. if you’re looking for a smartphone camera experience directly comparable to the Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phones you’re either need to wait and see what Razer may deliver down the line, or look elsewhere if camera performance is a top priority to you.

Is it safe to charge your phone all the way to 100%?

Your battery might degrade slightly faster, but going to 100% won’t kill you.

Even though cameras performance, processor speed, and screen resolutions are always improving, we still often find ourselves charging our phones more often than we’d like. The act of charging a phone is about as simple as can be, but there’s some debate regarding how long you should leave your handset plugged in.

For years, it’s been said that letting your phone charge all the way to 100% will result in the battery degrading faster compared to unplugging once it reaches 80% or so.

Our forum users recently gave their two cents on this matter, and these are a few of the best responses so far.

lucianus_luciferus
04-14-2018 06:24 AM

“

i usually charge it when it gets down to about 40-50% and i let it charge up to about 90%
and once a month i let it go down to 10% and then charge it up to full 100%
yes i am a nerd. i know.

Reply

B. Diddy
04-14-2018 09:34 PM

“

Battery experts mostly agree that for lithium batteries in general, it’s ideal to charge up to 80%, and not let it drop much below 30-40% (Tesla also recommends that its car batteries not be charged beyond 80% for regular usage, and only charge to 100% for the occasional long trip). This is supposed to optimally prolong the battery’s lifespan. Realistically, it’s not easy to stop the phone from…

Reply

Rukbat
04-15-2018 05:01 PM

“

According to Cadex (the world’s largest manufacturer of battery testing equipment), who should know, 50% to 80% is ideal for lithium batteries. 40% to 80% isn’t too bad. 15%? Might as well buy stock in a lithium battery manufacturer.

Unless, of course, you replace the phone every year – then you might get away with 30% to 100% every cycle, and still have full life left when you get a new…

Reply

Itsa_Me_Mario
04-15-2018 07:08 PM

“

The optimal place is for it to be between 40% and 80% as much as possible. So, if you’re going for optimal, then you’re letting it get way too low and then charging it way too high. That said, that’s only giving you 40% of the battery to work with, so you’re charging more often, etc.

More importantly, how long do you keep your phone? Solo per un anno o due … basta usarlo come preferisci….

Reply

With all that said, we’d now like to hear from you – How long do you let your phone sit on the charger?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Deal: Save over 60% off the lease price of the LG V30+ or LG G6 from Sprint

Currently, Sprint if offering a sweet deal on the lease of an LG G6 for just $6/mo. or an LG V30+ for just $12/mo. Pair that with an unlimited data plan that not only includes video streaming in high definition, but 10GB of mobile hotspots and a free HULU subscription, and you’ve got quite the deal.

The fine print:

• This deal requires a new line of service activation and an 18-month lease. Well-qualified customers are eligible.
• At the end of the 18-month lease, you have the option to buy your device. You’ll pay the balance between the full price and what you’ve paid so far.
• There are taxes on any device you go with and you’ll have to pay that up front regardless.
• If you cancel your service, the remaining device balance will become due.

Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom Plan

If you’re looking to pair up your new phone with a plan, Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom is one of the cheapest on the market with 4 lines for $25/mo per line and 5th line free (until 06/30/19), with autopay. Plus Hulu is now included!

• Unlimited talk, text, and data. Once you’ve reached 23GB of data, your speeds may temporarily slow down during times of high network congestion.
• HD video, 1080p
• 10GB of 4G mobile hotspot

See LG V30+ at Sprint

See LG G6 at Sprint