Simon Cowell says no longer using a smartphone is a ‘very strange experience’

For many people, smartphone separation anxiety is a thing. Misplacing it or having to put it way for a period of time can, in some cases, result in a faster heart rate, clammy hands, and even a few beads of sweat forming on your furrowed brow.

But with smartphones these days used for just about every task known to man — except, perhaps, making calls — it’s little wonder that many of us feel the jitters if we can’t use it precisely when we want.

This, then, makes it somewhat surprising to learn that Simon Cowell hasn’t used his handset in almost a year. Even more startling, he says he feels great for it.

The 58-year-old creator of popular TV talent shows in the U.S. and U.K. told the Mail recently that he ditched his smartphone because he started to find it annoying.

‘I literally have not been on my phone for 10 months,” Cowell said over the weekend.

“The difference it made was that I became more aware of the people around me and way more focused. The thing I get irritated with is when you have a meeting everyone’s on their phone, and I was probably in that place, too. You can’t concentrate.”

Far from causing him stress, Cowell claims life without a phone has actually been “good for my mental health. It’s a very strange experience but it really is good for you and it has absolutely made me happier.”

A quick look at Cowell’s Twitter feed appears to confirm his self-imposed smartphone separation, with his 12.5 million followers having received no new tweets since June 2017.

The media mogul is already known to be a bit of technophobe, confessing years ago that he doesn’t even know how to operate a computer.

Of course, a busy fella like Cowell is likely to have a personal assistant helping him with what must be a hectic schedule, and it’s a safe bet they’re not operating sans smartphone. As for Cowell himself, he looks all set to stay smartphone-free for the foreseeable future.

Time management

While many regular folks will be willing to admit they use their handset a little more than they should, the idea of ditching it entirely will seem like a drastic — and wholly impossible — measure to take.

But now tech companies, it seems, are taking the lead. While certainly not encouraging anyone to discard their handset for good, a growing number of tech firms are trying to encourage people to look more closely at how they engage with their device. Google, for example, is rolling out tools to help users better manage the amount of time they spend on their phone, while YouTube recently added a feature that prompts people to take a break from the video-streaming app after a specified amount of time.

Instagram is also believed to be prepping a time-management tool, while Apple, too, may introduce a similar feature aimed at children after shareholders called on the tech company to look at adding more parental controls.

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Amazon is not liable for an exploding hoverboard that burned down a house

A judge in Tennessee has ruled that Amazon is not liable for the damage and injuries caused when a hoverboard exploded and burned down a family’s home, CNBC reports. The plaintiff, Megan Fox, argued that Amazon did not properly warn her family about the dangers of the product, but the judge did not agree with her.

In 2015, the Nashville mother bought her 13-year-old son a hoverboard for Christmas. The devices were very popular at the time, with Amazon selling a quarter of a million in a month’s time. On January 9th, the hoverboard caught fire and exploded. Fox’s home was lost in the fire and her husband suffered two broken bones.

In her lawsuit, Fox argued that because the hoverboard was purchased from Amazon, the online retail giant was partially responsible for the product’s safety issues. Judge William Campbell dismissed the case before it went to trial, saying that Amazon was merely acting as a middleman.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Stephen Anderson, said that they are currently considering appealing the judge’s ruling.

Internal documents reveal that Amazon was aware that that the hoverboards could have had problems. Amazon did reach out to customers offering them a refund before eventually removing the potential rolling bombs from the storefront altogether.

Campbell’s decision is not the first time that the courts have agreed with Amazon’s middleman argument. In 2015, Heather Oberdorf was partially blinded after a retractable dog leash hit her in the face. The leash was purchased on the Amazon marketplace, but Oberdorf could not locate any representatives of the leash’s manufacturer.

The judge overseeing the case said that Amazon was not liable to Oberdorf because the Amazon Marketplace acts as a “sort of newspaper classified ad section, connecting potential consumers with eager sellers in an efficient, modern, streamlined manner.”

Oberdorf’s attorney David Wilks disagrees and told CNBC that he believes Amazon should be held to the same standards as brick and mortar retailers. For now, however, Amazon does not have to play by those rules.

“Amazon is prolific and dominant and only getting bigger and throwing brick-and-mortar stores out of business left and right,” Wilks said. “But they don’t have to play by the same rules.”

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Apple CEO Tim Cook Shares Video of WWDC 2018 Scholarship Winners and Their Apps

In the months leading up to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference each year, the company offers free WWDC scholarships to students and STEM organization members who don’t have the $1,599 necessary to purchase a ticket to the event.

When selected, the scholarship winners gain a free WWDC ticket, free lodging, and a free one year Apple developer membership. On Twitter today, Apple CEO Tim Cook celebrated these 350+ individuals with a quick video highlighting a few of the winners and their apps.

In the video, Cook is seen discussing the apps with the scholarship winners, who also briefly describe the projects they’re working on. Some apps include “Study Buddy Connection,” which aims to streamline how tutors and students find one another, and “UV Safe,” which sends out iOS notifications to apply sunscreen based on the UV index at your location.

Accompanying the video, Cook’s tweet says: “Nothing inspires us more than fresh ideas.”

Nothing inspires us more than fresh ideas. Meet a few of the 350+ talented #WWDC18 student scholarship winners! pic.twitter.com/XHRQdgCugE

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 4, 2018

WWDC 2018 kicks off tomorrow with a keynote at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. As developers and other attendees arrived in California over the weekend, the first glimpses of conference swag appeared online, including a Levi’s denim jacket and a collection of Apple-themed enamel pins.

MacRumors will be providing all of the usual coverage of the conference, with real-time keynote updates found on our @MacRumorsLive Twitter account and all of the event highlights appearing on MacRumors.com throughout the day and week. In preparation for the keynote, visit our full How To guide on the best ways to watch the presentation live on June 4.

Tags: Tim Cook, WWDC 2018
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Xbox One may soon welcome Alexa and Google Assistant

Windows Central

Rumors have been swirling for months about Microsoft’s plans to integrate virtual assistants such as Alexa with the Xbox One console, and Windows Central has uncovered some evidence that such a move may come sooner than expected.

A screenshot reportedly from an upcoming Xbox One build shows a “Digital Assistants” section added to the Preferences menu, which would presumably allow you to enable Cortana, Google Assistant, or Alexa for the console using a smart speaker rather than a microphone.

The website details how a further menu allows installation of various Xbox skills to the platform, allowing such things as voice commands through smart speakers without having to fumble for a microphone and headset. Such an expansion of the Xbox One capabilities would certainly make sense, now that Kinect has been relegated to the scrap heap and Cortana has transitioned to a voice app without a dedicated hardware component (not yet, anyway).

Not to mention that Cortana and Alexa have also been playing nice with each other recently, with cross-device integration and an Echo-less Alexa built into upcoming Windows 10 PCs.

For those wondering about my actual JOB – I’m going to help figure out how to grow Alexa/Echo presence in gaming. It’s a different spin on what I’ve done before but still keeps me close to the industry. Going to be a fun adventure I can tell already. Cool ideas? Hit me up.

— Albert Penello (@albertpenello) May 23, 2018

A senior Xbox executive also recently jumped ship for Amazon after 18 years with Microsoft. Former console marketing lead Albert Penello, who was instrumental in the launch of the original Xbox back in 2000, announced his new position in May on Twitter, saying that “I’m going to help figure out how to grow Alexa/Echo presence in gaming.”

The full extent of the voice command interaction is just speculation at this point, but it could restore some of the Kinect features that many Xbox owners had grown accustomed to. There are some game-specific Alexa Skills available, but console integration would likely streamline the whole process. Not only would such an upgrade allow voice commands for specific games, it will almost certainly include voice navigation capabilities for the other entertainment apps available on Xbox One as well.

The leaked screenshot seems to indicate than this capability is nearly complete, and an official announcement will likely be coming soon. With E3 right around the corner, we’ll probably be hearing more about this in the days and weeks ahead.

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ZTE hired former Trump staffer to lobby against sanctions

Bryan Lanza, former Trump campaign adviser and White House transition team member, hired one day after President Trump announced his intentions via Twitter.

Chinese telecom giant ZTE hired former Trump campaign adviser and Trump White House transition team member Bryan Lanza to negotiate on its behalf to loosen restrictions that prevent the company from doing any business within the US or with US companies.

Per The Hill, Lanza was hired the day after president Trump announced he was working with PRC president Xi Jinping to help ZTE get “back to business” via his Twitter account.

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018

Lanza, through D.C. lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs, will “perform government relations and public affairs services, including setting up meetings with U.S. government officials related to U.S. sanctions” on ZTE’s behalf said a spokesperson for the firm, who reported through the Foreign Agents Registration Act on May 24.

ZTE has had a bumpy ride as the House Appropriations Committee put a stop to president Trump influencing the Commerce Department to lift the ban in mid-May, though several media outlets report that insiders have told them a deal between Trump and Xi which restores ZTE’s U.S. businesses is imminent.

ZTE was originally charged with, and admitted guilty to, violating trade sanctions with North Korea and Iran then reportedly not following through with the terms of the original — and far more lenient — judgement order. As a result the company was forbidden to do business with American corporations, which sealed its fate.

Whatever happens, you surely can’t say it hasn’t been interesting.

‘Evolve’ is pulling the plug on its dedicated servers in September

2K Games/Turtle Rock Studios

Evolve, the asymmetrical monster-killing multiplayer game that debuted in 2015 to much fanfare, has been running on life support since Turtle Rock announced it was ending support for the game back in 2016. Now 2K Games is finally putting it out of its misery, announcing in a blog post that it will shutter its dedicated game servers on September 3, 2018.

This means that Stage 2, the free-to-play version of the game for PC, will no longer be available to play or download, and all of the core game features such as ranked games, leaderboards, player profiles, badges, and the in-game store will disappear.

On July 2, virtual currency for in-game items will no longer be available to purchase either. Players are advised to spend their in-game cash before it expires at the September deadline.

The retail version of the game, Legacy Evolve, will continue to live on through peer-to-peer multiplayer on PC and consoles, and any hunters, monsters, or skins you’ve purchased will still be available to use.

Evolve was an ambitious and innovative game that generated a ton of buzz ahead of its February 2015 release. Although there was a single-player component, it was essentially a multiplayer affair, with four space marines ganging up against a huge rampaging monster that evolved as it consumed other creatures.

The potential for a massive hit seemed to be there, but the game didn’t ever seem to break through. Although the reviews were generally positive — we especially liked the “pure, adrenal chaos” of the firefights — the game never really became the phenomenon that many expected.

The early introduction of microtransactions were another big factor. Virtual store shelves filled with pricey add-ons available on launch day soured a lot of people on the game. As the Turtle Rock co-founders put it in a game update announcement, “The DLC shitstorm hit full force and washed away people’s enthusiasm.”

In July 2016, the company tried to reanimate the franchise with Stage 2, a free-to-play model on PC. That didn’t work, and in October of that year the company announced that it was ceasing support for the game, saying that it was “not meant to be.”

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How to reset your router

Casezy/Getty Images

If you’ve been paying attention to news lately, you may have noticed the widespread calls from the FBI and DOJ to reset your home wireless router for security reasons. The warning came following a very thorough Talos Intelligence report on a type of malware called VPNFilter, which infects network routers. Since this malware is relatively new and the average home router doesn’t have much malware detection/prevention software, this was cause for concern.

According to Talos, this includes multiple Linksys, Mikrotik, Netgear, QNAP, and TP-Link routers (and related network devices from these brands). With so many brands affected, it’s no surprise that the FBI took a shortcut and just asked everybody to reset their routers. If you haven’t done it yet, here’s quick rundown on how to handle the router reboot correctly.

Step 1: Physically unplug your router and modem

While your router may have an onboard option called “reset” or “restart,” you should be careful using these, since they may initiate a factory reboot and erase all your current settings. Instead, simply unplug your router and modem from everything they are attached to (including each other and their power sources).

Once unplugged, leave the router alone for about a minute, just to make sure the router is fully cooled off and that your devices have all registered that the Wi-Fi network is indeed down.

Now go back and plug the modem back into its power source. Wait a bit for the modem to warm up and get ready to pass along its sweet internet connection — another minute should do the trick. Now plug the router back into the modem, the outlet, and any other necessary connections. Wait a couple minutes for the router to shake hands with everyone and establish your wireless internet signal once again.

Step 2: Update your firmware

The firmware is the integral software that keeps your router functioning. While router firmware doesn’t upgrade as often as something like computer operating systems, it does receive occasional updates, especially when there’s a big security problem. Your next step should be to download any new router firmware so that your router vulnerability, if present, is patched. For this, you will need your router login information.

Typically there is an app or an administrator site that you can use to check for firmware and then download it. Here’s how to access Linksys setup. Here’s how to do it with TP-Link, and with Netgear. We also have a more in-depth guide for common router brand logins. Every brand of router, even the obscure ones, should have their own instructions to access these administrator tools. One of the options when logged in is will be “Firmware Update,” “Router Update” or a similar option. Choose this option and follow instructions.

Please note that when the router uploads and implements the firmware patch, you won’t be able to use your Wi-Fi. This doesn’t usually take longer than around five minutes, but it’s still good to keep in mind. Never try to turn off or mess with your router while the firmware is updating, since this could cause serious problems.

Step 3: Update any related apps

Many modern routers offer apps that you can download on mobile devices and used to manage your router settings or view router usage reports.

If you use one of these apps, then you should also visit your app settings and make sure that the app is fully updated to the most recent version. It’s a small but important step you should take.

Step 4: Change your password

Do you still use the default password for your router settings? Since you just logged into administrator controls, you probably have a good idea. Many of us are guilty of keeping the default password set for all that administrator stuff, since we rarely use it. Unfortunately, this makes it much easier to hacker a router, and since there have now been big news stories about router hacking, a lot of hackers will be perking up and wondering if they should get in on the action.

That means now is the perfect reason to switch from the default password to a robust password of your own creation. The same administrator tools that helped you update your firmware can help you change your password, too. Look for an option to change the password or login information. Since you don’t use this password often, make sure you write it down somewhere secure as you make it.

All right, your router should be updated, rebooted, and more secure now.

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‘Wingman’ matchmaking app makes dating less dreadful for you and your friends

App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack every other Sunday for the latest.

Dating in 2018 is an interesting concept — it’s more likely a couple has met online first, and in real-life second. But for those who are still too hesitant to jump on the dating app train, we have an app that might give you the nudge you need — with the help of a friend.

Wingman, available for iOS and Android, isn’t your typical dating app. Rather than signing up on your own, you get to recruit a friend to sign up and create your profile for you. Based on the concept of an actual “wingman,” the app allows your friends to take control over who you match with and helps make swiping left and right feel like less of a chore.

Upon first discovering the app, I immediately had to text one of my closest friends — who also happens to be my roommate. Having been friends for over two years now, we’re both very well aware of one another’s dating history. But now that we live together, there’s no avoiding either hearing about or even meeting the guys we go on dates on. The routine always remains the same too — we discuss our opinions of how we felt about each other’s guy because at times, we trust one another’s instincts more than our own.

That’s why when Wingman‘s founder, Tina Wilson, told me the story of how she thought of the idea, I found comfort in the fact that both my roommate and I aren’t any different from others trying to navigate the dating scene.

“I was never comfortable dating online. Most of my single friends were in relationships … they were unable to come out on the single circuit with me, yet they were always very interested in my dating life and wanted to support my journey” Wilson told Digital Trends, “When I finally got online, they were my champions — sitting alongside me helping me write my profile, choosing who I should go out with. I remember thinking it’d be really cool if we were able to do this remotely.”

Wilson’s experience heavily reminds me of my friends in long-term relationships, who find it entertaining to take my phone and swipe through for my dating apps for me simply because they miss how fun it was. With Wingman, you’re able to do the same but actually make some progress rather than absentmindedly go through the motions.

That’s why when my roommate actually downloaded the app and invited me to be her Wingman, I was excited to help. Once you accept the invite, you’re able to start filling out all the information about your single friend. This might’ve been the part I was most nervous about — after all, writing about how you actually feel about your friend can either make or break the friendship.

But it had to be done — so we both sat on my bed as I started nervously crafting a short bio. Of course, she wanted to approve of it so when I felt confident in what I wrote, I handed over my phone. She was excited about it, and I’m almost positive I heard the words “this is spot on.” To add to the bio, you’re provided with a short questionnaire of about three questions where you can choose between what your friend likes most.

Aside from adding a bio, the only other information you get to choose from is whether your friend is into men, women, or both, along with your relationship to the person and how long you’ve known them. As for filters, there aren’t many in comparison to other dating apps like Hinge, which allow you to pick from a plethora of things you like and dislike. With Wingman, all you can filter is the distance settings and age settings — which Wilson expressed was done on purpose.

“In the first iteration of [Wingman], there were so many options, so many things you could do. When we actually put that out and started testing it, I think people were confused … I think because it’s different, it doesn’t have anything that is comparable to it … we had to really make sure it was clear what people were doing,” Wilson said. Essentially, she expressed that she wanted “to keep it really simple [and] to create a platform that enables us to introduce our friends to great people, and have some fun along the way.”

Simplifying the process made the setup far more enjoyable — since we signed up through Facebook we didn’t have to upload additional photos. Once everything was complete, the swiping began. The experience was definitely an interesting one — after all, her fate basically lies in my hands. I found myself having to thoroughly think through each and every swipe knowing that I now had her trust to pick a good one. She’s also able to swipe through potential matches as well, but can’t actually pick “like” or “dislike.” It will instead send the potential candidate to me and then I’m able to make the final call on whether I swipe right or left.

Since Wingman has only been around in the U.S. since January, there weren’t too many guys to swipe through. I often found myself having to increase the distance or the age range in order to find more options. Hopefully, the user-base will increase over time and provide far more choices without me having to constantly switch up my settings (after all, I remember having the same experience with Hinge and even Bumble when both apps first came out). It also didn’t keep me from swiping before I went to bed or even while on the subway.

When you do swipe right on someone, your friend’s profile is immediately sent to that person. If they’re interested as well and it’s a match, then your friend automatically connects to them and can start a conversation. Unfortunately, you can’t insert yourself into whatever it is they’re talking about (although I wish you could). You’ll probably instead receive screenshots of the conversation from your friend and can help from there. Or, if you’re me, you’re lucky enough to the live with the person and can watch the conversation happen in real time!

As of now, I have yet to fulfill my duty as a Wingman by finding “the one right now,” but the search continues. We’ll definitely update this article if we experience any Wingman success stories.

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Fitbit fitness trackers, Bluetooth headphones, and an air fryer are all discounted today

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

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on Fitbit fitness trackers and smartwatches, a pair of Plantronics wireless headphones, a Philips air fryer, and 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!

WWDC 2018 Conference Swag Includes Levi’s Jacket and New Apple-Themed Pins

With one day to go before Apple’s WWDC keynote, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, some developers have been sharing the contents of their conference swag bags on social media. Like last year, the items include a Levi’s denim jacket and a collection of Apple-themed enamel pins.

IT. IS. ON. #WWDC pic.twitter.com/iAmRcBvjLR

— Paul Hudson (@twostraws) June 3, 2018

Apple introduced the popular pin packs at WWDC 2017 and kicked off collections with the old rainbow-themed Apple logo, the “hello” Mac greeting, the Swift and Metal logos, the original Macintosh, and emojis. Attendees also received a flag pin of their home country.

This year Apple has added several new pins to the mix, including an Animoji bear, a “mind-blown” emoji, a peace sign emoji a dog cow, and a California pin, amongst others.

The Levi’s trucker jacket comes in black, includes fits and sizes for both men and women, and has two interior pockets large enough to fit an iPhone 8 Plus.

In a subtle change from last year, Apple has ditched the usual embroidered WWDC logo on the jacket and gone for a small WWDC 2018 pin instead, allowing owners to remove any reference to the conference if they so wish.

MacRumors will be in attendance at the keynote, with live coverage of the event beginning shortly after 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Stay tuned to MacRumors.com and our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter. We’ve also put together a guide explaining all the ways you can watch Apple’s WWDC18 Keynote live as it happens.

Tag: WWDC 2018
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