One social media user attempts to cash in by auctioning off all his Facebook data

In the wake of recent scandals like Cambridge Analytica‘s misuse of personal information from 87 million users on Facebook, consumers and lawmakers are questioning how we can protect ourselves and our data from abuse. One social media user, 26-year old Oli Frost, has taken the contrarian position and embraced the sharing of his information by selling his own data online. Taking a page out of Facebook’s and Google’s own playb00k on selling their users’ information to data miners and advertisers, Frost wanted a piece of that profit and is doing the selling himself.

“There were loads of emails from companies over the last week about GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation], saying how valuable and important my data was to them,” Frost said to Motherboard in an email exchange. “I realized that I’d been selling my data for free for ages, and decided it was time to cash in.”

Frost listed his Facebook data with a starting bid of 99 cents on eBay, according to Motherboard, drawing as many as 43 bidders, with the highest bid at $385 as of May 29, with five days remaining on the auction. Frost intends to donate the proceeds to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit committed to championing privacy and free expression on the internet. However, at the time of writing, the auction has been taken down, and it’s unclear if Frost had completed any transaction to sell his personal data through the site. It’s still unknown how much any single user’s online data is valued at on the open market.

To compile his data, Frost used a Facebook-provided tool to download all his information from the social network, including “every, like, post and inane comment since I was 16.” That data also included all his photos, interests, political affiliations, and “where all my family live.” Although Frost isn’t concerned if his data will be misused, he does mention a caveat prohibiting the winning bidder from stealing his identity to open a sweatshop.

Data privacy has been a big public issue, and in Europe, the General Data Privacy Regulation recently went into effect to give consumers more control over their online data, mandating that companies like Facebook are only permitted to collect data in a legal manner and are obligated to protect data from misuse. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines for internet companies, and Facebook and Google faced lawsuits on the first day that GDPR went into effect.

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Apple’s Touch Bar might be the influence for a future laptop from Asus

Several app extensions are now available on the Microsoft Store that point to an upcoming “ScreenPad” feature designed by Asus. Presumably, it will be something akin to the Touch Bar on Apple’s latest MacBook Pro, only it may replace the touchpad you typically find on a laptop rather than reside in a patent-infringing location above the keyboard. 

With this feature, laptop owners could tap an app icon rendered on the small ScreenPad display and then control that app with a ScreenPad widget once it launches on your laptop’s main display. For instance, you could launch the Windows 10 Calculator app and enter your digits using the ScreenPad instead of pecking at the number keys on the keyboard. 

Another example is YouTube. Once you load the site in Chrome, controls for managing playback appear on the new ScreenPad component. For Microsoft’s Office suite, ScreenPad can list your most-used functions to “reduce cursor moving” such as changing font color, creating a table, and more. 

Here are the supporting extensions that have already appeared on the Microsoft Store: 

• Adobe Reader Sign 
• Calculator 
• Calendar 
• Launcher 
• Music Player 
• Numkey 
• Office 
• SpeechTyper 
• Spotify 
• YouTube 

One of the more notable published extensions for ScreenPad is the Launcher. According to the description, users could “customize the app list and instantly launch the app in the list via ScreenPad Launcher.” Screenshots show quick access to Asus-specific tools such as Asus Battery Heal and Asus Giftbox while you’ll also find an icon for McAfee Security too. Windows 10 extensions include File Explorer and the Windows 10 Feedback Hub. 

Meanwhile, the Spotify extension is only supported by Spotify Premium. With this touch-based tool, you can quickly control playback with a touch, scroll through music categories, scroll through new releases, manage your library, and more. A Spotify subscription costs $10 per month. 

Based on the minimum hardware requirements seen in each listing, laptops with the ScreenPad feature will demand a discrete graphics processor: the GeForce GTX 970 / GTX 1060 at the very least. It will essentially be a precision touchpad combined with a touch screen powered by the company’s precision touchpad driver. Laptops will also require the ITE8225 microcontroller unit along with Toshiba’s TC358870XBG chip to handle the screen’s internal HDMI connection. 

What is not exactly clear is how the ScreenPad switches from your typical touchpad input to a touchscreen. Will it continuously render an icon in the corner to open a launchpad for loading apps? Or will laptop owners need to press a dedicated hotkey to activate the launcher? The latter seems more likely given a laptop rendering two displays would drain its battery rather quick. 

Based on the publish dates, many extensions for the upcoming ScreenPad component arrived toward the end of 2017. For instance, the Launcher and Numkey extensions surfaced on November 21, 2017, followed by Calendar (November 23), Office (December 5), and YouTube (December 22). Calculator and Music Player hit the Microsoft Store in January followed by SpeechTyper in February and Adobe Reader Sign and Spotify in April. 

We expect to know more about the ScreenPad component during the Computex show next week.

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‘Battlefield V’ minimum system specs mirror those of ‘Battlefield 1’

Just days after Dice confirmed a return to World War II in the oddly titled Battlefield V, the game’s Origin product page went live, giving us the upcoming shooter’s minimum PC system requirements.

Yes, it’s pretty early for system specs to be released, seeing as the game doesn’t launch until October 19. If you’re looking forward to Battlefield V, though, at least you have plenty of time to get your PC up to snuff. The minimum requirements mirror 2016’s Battlefield 1, which means they are quite demanding.

• CPU: AMD FX-6350 or Intel Core i5 6600K
• GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB or Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 2GB
• Memory: 8GB RAM
• Hard drive: 50GB
• DirectX: 11.0 compatible video card

While the graphics card requirement mirrors that of recent PC games such as Destiny 2, the CPU and RAM are on the high end of minimum specs, even for AAA games. If you’re a regular PC gamer, chances are your rig meets the requirements, but remember, getting ideal performance will require more than the minimum.

Although the recommended specs are not available at this time, it’s probably safe to say that they will fall somewhere close to Battlefield 1‘s. The World War I shooter asked players to have an AMD FX 8350 Wraith or Intel Core i7 4790 processor, an AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 3GB video card, and a whopping 16GB of RAM.

From what we’ve seen so far, Battlefield V is a visual marvel, much like Battlefield 1. Hence the lofty PC requirements.

Battlefield V‘s return to World War II is probably a safe choice since historical shooters are in vogue again, but Dice isn’t confining itself to the time period. The game will emphasize character customization and a progression system that abandons both loot boxes and an expansion pass. Instead, all post-launch content will be released for free for all players. Dice wants players to work as a squad and stick together more so than ever before. Obviously influenced by Fortnite, players can even build structures for cover. And unlike the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Battlefield V will have a single-player campaign.

Battlefield V launches on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 19. Expect to learn more about the game at E3 in June.

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Smartphones may get ‘smell-o-vision’ thanks to this tiny electronic nose

On a surface level, the idea of giving your smartphone a nose-like ability to smell sounds kind of gimmicky. But, just like previous gimmicky concepts such as incorporating a camera in your phone or speaking to your computer, the more you think about it the more sense it makes. From detecting rotten or spoiled food to smelling potentially noxious fumes, it’s easy to imagine how such an innovation could turn out to be pretty useful.

At least, that’s what researchers from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) think. They have been developing a so-called “smelldect” project involving an “electronic nose” that is capable of sniffing out a range of different scents faster than a human can.

Dr. Martin Sommer, who coordinates the smelldect project for KIT’s Institute of Microstructure Technology, said that it uses the workings of the biological nose as its model. The human nose boasts around 10 million olfactory cells with around 400 different olfactory receptors. These receptors allow the nose to perceive different scents and generates a specific signal pattern to inform the nose owner’s brain what it is that they are smelling.

“In our electronic nose, nanofibers react to complex gas mixtures — i.e. scents — and also generate signal patterns, on the basis of which the sensor identifies the scents,” Sommer said in a statement.

The nose is just a few centimeters in size and contains all the necessary electronic components, including the tech to evaluate the gases. In the event that the specific patterns for a scent have been “taught” to the chip previously, the sensor can reportedly identify it in mere seconds.

“The difficulty consists in the fact that a scent does not always remain the same. For instance, the smell of a rose in the sun differs from that of a rose in rain,” Sommer continued. “Currently, we are training the electronic nose for specific uses which can be chosen universally, however.”

The researchers suggest that it could be used as an ambient air detector or smoke alarm, or as a shopping aid to determine how fresh meat or fish is. Beyond that, there is always the opportunity to give next-generation robots a sense of smell to join all their other increasingly smart senses.

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Smartphones may get ‘smell-o-vision’ thanks to this tiny electronic nose

On a surface level, the idea of giving your smartphone a nose-like ability to smell sounds kind of gimmicky. But, just like previous gimmicky concepts such as incorporating a camera in your phone or speaking to your computer, the more you think about it the more sense it makes. From detecting rotten or spoiled food to smelling potentially noxious fumes, it’s easy to imagine how such an innovation could turn out to be pretty useful.

At least, that’s what researchers from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) think. They have been developing a so-called “smelldect” project involving an “electronic nose” that is capable of sniffing out a range of different scents faster than a human can.

Dr. Martin Sommer, who coordinates the smelldect project for KIT’s Institute of Microstructure Technology, said that it uses the workings of the biological nose as its model. The human nose boasts around 10 million olfactory cells with around 400 different olfactory receptors. These receptors allow the nose to perceive different scents and generates a specific signal pattern to inform the nose owner’s brain what it is that they are smelling.

“In our electronic nose, nanofibers react to complex gas mixtures — i.e. scents — and also generate signal patterns, on the basis of which the sensor identifies the scents,” Sommer said in a statement.

The nose is just a few centimeters in size and contains all the necessary electronic components, including the tech to evaluate the gases. In the event that the specific patterns for a scent have been “taught” to the chip previously, the sensor can reportedly identify it in mere seconds.

“The difficulty consists in the fact that a scent does not always remain the same. For instance, the smell of a rose in the sun differs from that of a rose in rain,” Sommer continued. “Currently, we are training the electronic nose for specific uses which can be chosen universally, however.”

The researchers suggest that it could be used as an ambient air detector or smoke alarm, or as a shopping aid to determine how fresh meat or fish is. Beyond that, there is always the opportunity to give next-generation robots a sense of smell to join all their other increasingly smart senses.

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New Nokia 5.1, 3.1, and 2.1 boast updated chipsets and bigger displays

It looks like HMD Global’s Nokia is finally ready to update more of its phones. The company has announced the Nokia 5.1, Nokia 3.1, and Nokia 2.1, all of which boast improved specs over the original devices.

In general, it seems like the devices are very similar to the original phones in terms of design — but that doesn’t mean you should skip over them. Here’s everything you need to know about the Nokia 5.1, 3.1, and 2.1.

Nokia 5.1

First up is the Nokia 5.1, which sits slightly below the Nokia 6.1 in terms of Nokia’s lineup. The phone keeps the Nokia 5’s overall design, but adds a slightly larger 5.5-inch display, along with a now rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Under the hood, the phone boasts a MediaTek Helio P18, along with either 2GB or 3GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of storage.

The camera on the phone is also better than last year’s device. The device offers a 16-megapixel camera on the back, while the front-facing camera sits in at 8 megapixels.

Like other Nokia phones, the device offers Android One for its operating system — meaning that Google will take care of software updates, and they should be much quicker.

The Nokia 5.1 will be available in July 2018 for 189 euros, or around $218. The 3GB RAM/64GB storage model will come at 219 euros, or around $252. Unfortunately, it will not be released in the U.S.

Nokia 3.1

The Nokia 3.1 is much lower-powered than the Nokia 5.1, but it’s also a whole lot cheaper. The new Nokia 3.1 offers a 5.2-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, along with a HD+ resolution. Under the hood, you’ll find a MediaTek 6750 octa-core chipset, along with either 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage.

On the back of the phone, you’ll find a 13-megapixel camera sensor, which is up from the 8-megapixel sensor on the original Nokia 3. Unlike some other phones in this price range, the Nokia 3.1 includes features like an NFC chip for mobile payments.

The Nokia 3.1 is also an Android One phone, so again, it’ll get timely updates straight from Google whenever they’re made available. It’ll be available starting in June 2018 for 139 euros. The Nokia 3.1 will be coming to the U.S. in early July for $160.

Nokia 2.1

The Nokia 2.1 is the cheapest of the three phones. It offers a 5.5-inch HD display, along with dual front-facing speakers and a big 4,000mAh battery. Under the hood, the phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, which means it should offer far improved performance compared to the original Nokia 2.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Nokia 2.1 is that it features Android Go, Google’s lightweight version of the Android operating system. The phone should still get timely updates from Google, but Google’s apps will be slightly stripped back — like Gmail Go, Gboard Go, Maps Go, and so on.

The phone will be available in July 2018 for 115 Euros, and will come to the U.S. in September for $120.

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Best Galaxy S9+ Cases

Pump, pump, pump it up!

The Galaxy S9+ is a stunning slab of metal and glass. But that stunning slab quickly turns to a sorry slab the moment you drop it onto the ground. As hard as it may be to hide that nice design, a case is almost a requirement with these phones.

If you’re looking for a case for your Samsung Galaxy S9+, look no further! If you’re looking for a case for the smaller Galaxy S9, check out our list of those.

• Samsung Alcantara Cover
• HOVED Slim Fit
• Besiva Ultra Slim
• Maxboost Wallet Case
• Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone
• Spigen Thin Fit 360
• SUPCASE Full-Body Rugged Holster case
• Trianium Clarium Clear Hybrid
• Maxboost HyperPro Case
• WIH-CH Protection Case

Samsung Alcantara Cover

If you want to stick to first-party options, Samsung has you — and your phone — covered. Samsung’s Alcantara cover is on the spendy side, but with good reason: it’s cut precisely for your phone, and the Alcantara will feel luxurious in your hands. You get easy ample cutouts for the cameras, flash, fingerprint sensor and other ports. There are also covers for the power, volume and Bixby buttons so you don’t have to dig your finger in to activate your favorite voice assistant.

At $50, Samsung’s Alcantara case is by far the most expensive choice on our list. Having said that, you’ll get a case that protects your phone and is super comfortable to hold. The Samsung Alcantara Cover is available in black, blue, and red.

See at Amazon

HOVED Slim Fit

Sometimes, you just need a bit of extra grip for your phone. One case that does just that is HOVED’s slim fit case. You get the bare minimum amount of protection, but it’ll still be better than leaving your phone naked. Also, the extra bit of grip may be the difference between having a firm hold on your phone and it slipping out of your hands. HOVED’s slim fit case still offers easy access to all the phone’s ports, as well as precise cutouts for the cameras, flash and fingerprint sensor. Again, the buttons are covered so you don’t need to dig your finger down into the case itself.

All in all, HOVED’s slim fit case is perfect for those that don’t want much bulk but still want a bit of protection. At $12, it’s a worthwhile investment for your phone. The HOVED Slim Fit case is only available in black at the time of writing.

See at Amazon

Besiva Ultra Slim Cover Case

I’m not sure this case actually qualifies as “ultra slim,” but it’s a solid choice nonetheless. You get a super rugged case that can handle plenty of drops and tumbles, but you also get an integrated Spigen-esque metal ring on the back. But wait, we’re not done yet! Inside that metal ring is a magnet, making this the perfect companion for a magnetic car mount. One downside is the lack of a front lip, meaning you’ll also want to invest in a screen protector. Also, it’s likely the metal ring will interfere with wireless charging.

The Besiva Ultra Slim Cover Case is available in black for $10.

See at Amazon

Maxboost Wallet Case

Wallet cases are a great way to consolidate all the things in your pockets, and Maxboost has a wallet case just for the S9+. You get three slots for cards and IDs — there’s no ID card window, unfortunately — and you can prop the case on itself to create a phone stand. There’s also a small pouch for paper currency, and a magnetic flap to keep it all together. Because the S9+ has its volume buttons on the left side, you’ll need to open the case to crank your music up. That’s unfortunate, but it’ll be true of any wallet case for the S9 series.

At $13, the Maxboost Wallet Case is a low-cost way to declutter your pockets and protect your phone. At the time of writing, it is only available in black leather.

See at Amazon

Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone

Spigen has been making phone cases since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and they have a good variety of styles to protect your phone. One of the more unique styles is their Neo Hybrid line with Herringone pattern. You can protect your phone, while also matching styles with your necktie. The case comes in two parts: a TPU layer that hugs your phone, and a hard plastic bumper frame for extra protection. Spigen highlights that the case still allows for Qi wireless charging, which is something thicker cases may interfere with.

The Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone case is available in a variety of colors for between $15 and $17. If the Herringbone style doesn’t strike your fancy, Spigen has plenty of other cases for the S9+.

See at Amazon

Spigen Thin Fit 360

Spigen has another great option for those who want the thinnest possible case that still offers a good deal of protection. The Thin Fit 360 case comes in four pieces: a back plate, top and bottom plates and a tempered glass screen protector. The buttons are covered by the case as well, so you don’t have to struggle to use them. You still have easy access to the fingerprint sensor, charging port and headphone jack as well. The case also includes a tray for Spigen’s magnetic plates, so you can use this with one of Spigen’s magnetic car mounts.

Spigen’s Thin Fit 360 case is available in black, lilac purple, and coral blue for $20.

See at Amazon

SUPCASE Full-Body Rugged Holster case

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Another great option if you toss your phone around a lot is SUPCASE’s Rugged Holster case. You don’t have to use the included holster, but the option is there. There is a generous lip around the front of the phone, helping protect the screen from getting cracked. There are flaps over the charging and audio ports, helping protect your phone’s insides from dirt and dust. And while the case is thick, you’ll still be able to use wireless charging.

The SUPCASE Full-Body Rugged Holster case is available in black, blue, pink, and white for $23.

See at Amazon

Trianium Clarium Clear case

All of the other cases hide the design of the phone. If you bought one of the exotic colors the phone is available in, you’ll want to show off that design. A clear case is perfect to give you more grip on the phone, protect the phone when your grip fails, and still show off those crazy colors. Trianium makes an excellent clear case that does just that. There isn’t much front protection, but it is compatible with most screen protectors. You get easy access to the ports, fingerprint sensor, and buttons, and since it’s a thin case wireless charging will work without issue.

The Trianium Clarium Clear case is available for $9. There’s also a black tinted version available for $10.

See at Amazon

Maxboost HyperPro Case

If you want a clear case with a bit more protection, Maxboost has just the case for you. The back of the case is perfectly clear for showing off the lovely color of your phone, but there’s a thicker rubber around the edges of the phone, where it’s most vulnerable to drops. The case works perfectly with wireless chargers, and you have easy access to all of the ports, buttons and the fingerprint sensor. One downside is there’s not much of a lip of the front of the case, so the display may be scratched up if you set it down on a rough surface.

Maxboost’s HyperPro case is available in black/clear, orange/clear and black/smoke flavors for $13.

See at Amazon

WIH-CH Protection Case

One more rugged option comes from WIH-CH. Their protection case is rugged enough to survive most drops, features a kickstand for movie watching, and even has a since card slot behind the kick stand. If you’re taking your phone hiking, this case would be perfect for carrying your ID with you, while being able to buy things with Samsung Pay or Google Pay. You still have generous cut-outs for the ports, camera, fingerprint sensor, as well as covers for the buttons. There’s a slight lip around the front of the case, but I’d still be wary about placing the phone face down.

The WIH-CH Protection Case is available in black for $8.

See at Amazon

What say you?

Which case are you using on your Galaxy S9+? Let us know down below!

Updated May 2018: Added the Spigen Thin Fit 360, Maxboost HyperPro, and WIH-CH Protection cases.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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Greenworks lawn tools, Brother printers, Dash Buttons and more are on sale today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

Celebrate Memorial Day with some big discounts on a variety of Greenworks’ popular lawn tools, Brother printers, Dash Buttons and much more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Can you Cast Google Daydream footage to a phone or tablet?

Want to Cast your game play footage to a spare phone or tablet? Well…

It’s always fun to immerse yourself in a world of pure imagination virtual reality, but there are also times where you’ll want to share your world with other people. In most cases, a Chromecast will be your best option.

But say you have a spare phone or tablet. It’d be cool to be able to share your gameplay footage with this device. So, can you Cast your Daydream footage to a spare phone or tablet?

Well…

In a word: no. Or at least, probably not. Phones and tablets just don’t include the bits that let them act as Chromecast receivers, while Chromecast dongles, Android TVs, and Chromecast-enabled speakers do. Some users were able to get the Cast Receiver Android TV app sideloaded onto an Amazon Fire TV, so there was some hope that this would also work for your phone.

Alas, it doesn’t. At least, not for me. I tried sideloading the application onto both a Google Pixel 2 XL and a Samsung Galaxy S8, and while the application ran, neither phone showed as a Cast target for the other phone, my Chromebook, or the Chrome browser on my computer. It can’t hurt to give it a try — so long as you trust sideloading the app — but don’t set your expectations too high.

Just buy a Chromecast

I hate telling people to spend money when they can just re-use an existing device, but in this case, your only real option is to buy a Chromecast. Fortunately, the Chromecast will be able to do a whole lot more besides just playing your game footage.

See at Google

More: Chromecast Ultra delivers the best casting experience with Daydream

What say you?

Have you ever Cast footage from your Daydream headset? Let us know down below!

Motorola One Power leaks with Android One branding and a notch

The phone looks considerably different compared to recent Moto releases.

So far in 2018, Motorola’s been focusing on the budget segment with its Moto E5 and G6 series. We’re expecting new entries in the Moto Z lineup this summer for mid-range and flagship options, and while we patiently wait, a brand-new phone has reared its head as the Motorola One Power.

This is the first time we’re hearing of such a device, and the folks at AndroidHeadlines recently obtained a render of the phone that gives us a pretty good idea of what to expect.

The front of the Motorola One Power is home to a large, bezel-light screen with a pretty big notch at the top. Around back you’ll find dual cameras with a layout similar to the iPhone X, a Motorola “M” dimple that likely doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and Google’s Android One branding.

Android One phones typically offer faster access to software updates and security patches, and the only other Motorola phone to be a part of the program so far is last year’s Moto X4.

The Motorola One Power looks like a big departure from past Moto phones.

We don’t know what the spec sheet or price looks like for the Motorola One Power, but there are a couple interesting tidbits to take note of — one of which is the phone’s design. The Moto X4, G6 and E4 series all have the same general look with a circular rear camera layout and a glass or plastic back. It’s nothing particularly special, but it gives the handsets an easily identifiable style. With the Motorola One Power, Motorola appears to be adopting a design language we’ve seen time and time again from countless other OEMs.

The other thing worth mentioning is the phone’s name. The Moto branding we’ve had for so many years is nowhere in sight and has instead been replaced by the full Motorola name. It’s unclear what this means for phones beyond the Motorola One Power, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

The Motorola One Power is believed to launch in the United States at some point this year, and while we wait, I’d love to know your thoughts on the phone. Sound off in the comments down below.

Moto G6 Plus review: Motorola still masters the art of the mid-range phone