NASA wants help coming up with ways to get rid of astronauts’ space trash

You may not know it, but NASA could be searching for a person just like you … to help take out its trash. It’s a bit more exciting that that sounds, though. Instead of looking for a janitor to help empty the trash bins at NASA’s headquarters in Washington D.C., the world renowned space agency is turning to outsiders with bright ideas to help it figure out better ways of getting rid of the tons of garbage that will be produced by astronauts on future deep space missions.

NASA’s request for partners to develop concepts for potential Trash Compaction and Processing Systems (TCPS) was laid out in a recent document issued through the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP). In a section titled “Logistics Reduction in Space by Trash Compaction and Processing System,” they noted that:

“NASA’s ultimate goal is to develop capabilities to enable missions that are not reliant on resupply from Earth thus making them more sustainable and affordable. NASA is implementing this by employing a capability-driven approach to its human spaceflight strategy. The approach is based on developing a suite of evolving capabilities that provide specific functions to solve exploration challenges. These investments in initial capabilities can continuously be leveraged and reused, enabling more complex operations over time and exploration of more distant solar system destinations.”

There are four key objectives that any successful concept will tackle. These include finding a way to compact trash in a suitable form for long-term storage, processing trash to reduce the risk of health hazards, stabilizing it “physically, geometrically, and biologically,” and managing gaseous, aqueous, and particulate effluents.

NASA has long been working on its own solutions to these problems, such as turning trash into gas. It has also explored a recycling device used for recovering residual water from astronaut’s garbage.

NASA plans to meet with industry partners on July 24 to explain exactly what it’s looking for. Official proposals from organizations will be due no later than August 22, and whichever ones make the grade will then be tested on the International Space Station over the next decade.

Before you get too excited and start busting out sketches under the banner of your home business, though, be aware that private companies must be willing to contribute a minimum 10 percent of the development costs for any systems which go ahead!

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• These astronauts will whiz around Earth 34 times before reaching space station

Apple Photos ditches prints, but third-party extensions could be even better

Apple is calling it quits on the printed photo and leaving prints from the MacOS Photos app up to third-party platforms. A new pop-up message inside Photos says that the app will stop taking print orders on September 30.

The Photo Print Products section of the Photos app (previously iPhoto) now warns users with a pop-up that the built-in service is coming to an end. The print service allowed users to order albums, photo cards, and calendars as well as prints up to 20 by 30 inches. The print orders have been around since the launch of iPhoto more than 15 years ago. Some versions still have that ordering page with the warning pop-up, while the option is already missing from macOS Mojave.

Easily accessible prints aren’t exactly going away, however, but Apple won’t be the ones behind those image orders. Project Extensions, which are available inside the App Store, will allow Photos users to still print their images from the app. Apple says that the extensions will allow for more available products and services. With extensions, users will also be able to choose who prints their photos instead of automatically using Apple’s print fulfillment.

Without an official announcement outside that in-app pop-up, it’s unclear why Apple is discontinuing the service. The feature may be a lesser known part of Photos hidden inside the file menu. The print orders are in MacOS only and not available on iOS. An API allowing third-party platforms to integrate with Photos launched with High Sierra. While the API still allows simplified photo orders from within the app, the payments are made to that third party.

A handful of extensions already allow users to print from within Photos, including well-known photo labs such as WhiteWall and Shutterfly, along with Mimeo Photos, GoodTimes, and Wix. The software add-ons also allow developers to add their own features. WhiteWall, for example, allows users to preview what their prints would look like on a gallery wall, including swapping out different frame types and re-arranging the images on a virtual wall. Shutterfly’s extension, on the other hand, will automatically arrange up to 200 images inside a photo book.

Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro Review

Research Center:

Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro

What do you do if you want a smartwatch that doesn’t need charging every day? You buy a hybrid smartwatch. But Mobvoi — the Chinese brand behind the Ticwatch smartwatch series  — has an alternative solution for you. It’s called the Ticwatch Pro, and it runs Google’s Wear OS, along with two screens and some clever tech to maximize standby time from the battery. That’s right, it’s the first time a company is telling us that adding another screen will see us charge a watch less than usual.

Sounds like nonsense, right? No, it’s not. Mobvoi’s screen tech gamble has paid off, and we’ve been wearing the Ticwatch Pro for a week to see if the rest of the watch can match the impressive battery life.

Understated design

Before we get into the battery and screen tech, let’s talk about what’s important — design. Almost all companies making touchscreen watches struggle with this, yet it’ll be the prime reason we buy a particular watch. The Ticwatch Pro is considerably better looking than the Ticwatch E, and from certain angles, there is a vague resemblance to the Tag Heuer Carrera Connected — it’s the top and bottom sections on the bezel that do it.

The silver bezel on our review model looks great, and is attached to a reinforced nylon body — which feels like a textured plastic — and a metal back plate. There is an all black version that’s even more subtle. There are two oversized buttons on the side, which control the Wear OS software.

The strap is leather with a silicone underside, which is exceptionally comfortable, sweat resistant, decently attractive, and it will be more durable over time. It did pick up some stains from suntan lotion we had on when wearing it. It’s quite slim, and makes the body look larger than its real size. On the back of the watch is a heart-rate sensor and the magnetic charging connector. The 45mm body is big, and it stretched across my wrist so the strap fell sharply down the side.

How does it look when it’s on? The Ticwatch Pro is understated in a slightly dull way, and it doesn’t have any visual flourishes that catch the eye. It’s very normal, and therefore goes with most outfits. We don’t consider this a negative, but if you’re looking for a flashy smartwatch to show off, the Ticwatch Pro may not satisfy.

Dual screens

There are two screens on the Ticwatch Pro, stacked on top of each other. The lower screen is a 1.39-inch, 400 x 400 pixel OLED panel that shows Google’s Wear OS, and above it is a special Film compensated Super Twisted Nematic (FSTN) LCD panel that shows the same basic information you’d expect to see on Wear OS’s Ambient display. Except it does so while sipping power, rather than gulping it. When used together in a normal manner, you cannot tell there are two screens. Neither obscures or affects the other. You simply think it’s a single screen making the magic happen.

The dual-screen technology on the Ticwatch Pro is a genuine reason to buy the watch.

The LCD screen is very cool. It shows the time in big, classic digital style, along with the date, step count, and a battery life meter. It’s easily viewable indoors and in regular daylight, but there is no backlight, so it’s tough to see it in the dark and in direct sunlight. It’s always-on, so there’s no wait to see the time. Tap the screen or raise the watch towards you, and the OLED screen activates to show Wear OS. There is no extended wait time as the screens switch, and it’s no different to switching between ambient mode and the main watch face on a single-screen Wear OS watch.

Activate the Ticwatch Pro’s secret weapon, called Essential Mode, by open the app drawer and tapping on the Essential Mode app. Wear OS then shuts down, and you’re left with the LCD screen on its own. Like this, the Ticwatch Pro’s battery will last 30 days on a full charge, but we found switching between the two modes good for lengthening the battery life up to about four days. We’d activate Essential mode at night, maximizing the battery life. Huawei also includes a similar power saving mode on the Huawei Watch 2, but it does not use a second screen.

Using the Ticwatch Pro’s OLED screen is the experience you expect — it’s bright and colorful, with strong contrast and tones — and isn’t any different to any other Wear OS watch we’ve used recently. While setting the screen brightness to automatic is best for battery life, it does look more vibrant and alive with the brightness set to maximum.

The dual-screen technology on the Ticwatch Pro is a genuine reason to buy the watch, and not the pointless gimmick it could have been.

Software and performance

Inside the Ticwatch Pro is the familiar and aging Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor with just 512MB of RAM. Like many Wear OS watches, performance is barely average, and we experienced frustrating slowdowns and pauses, particularly after the watch had been woken up. Patience is needed to use the Ticwatch Pro on a daily basis, as it doesn’t zip along, and Wear OS is long-winded to wade through.

Patience is needed to use the Ticwatch Pro on a daily basis.

We primarily used the Ticwatch Pro connected to an iPhone, as apparently one in three new Wear OS watches connected to an iPhone in 2017 according to Google, but we did use it connected to a Moto Z3 Play Android smartphone as well. The Wear OS app for iOS is similar to the Android version, but with fewer features.

What problems did we encounter? It’s Wear OS rather than the Ticwatch Pro at fault here, because the same issues were replicated on another watch. The included Google Assistant rarely works with voice commands on the watch; Wear OS refuses to keep a Wi-Fi connection unless you turn off Bluetooth, making updating the watch a pain; and the Bluetooth connection is flaky.

Even during the tutorial, the interface is annoying and slow to respond. Notifications come through in a long list, and despite ensuring the app is set to deliver all notifications, the watch wouldn’t always do so, with Apple Mail being the worst affected. Mobvoi insists on recommending another app of its own in addition to Wear OS to install on the phone. It requires registration, and controls some of the watch’s health and fitness tracking features. We preferred to use Google Fit.

Mobvoi has priced the Ticwatch Pro very competitively.

There are only three alternative watch faces included and they aren’t very inspiring, so we were pleased to add another from the Google Play Store. However, on iOS it only loads the Play Store with a Wi-Fi connection.

The Wi-Fi and Google Assistant problems did not occur when connected to an Android phone, but the performance was still poor. The software is in dire need of an overhaul from Google, and the feature set is limited and hobbled when connected to an iPhone.

Fitness, health, and GPS

The Ticwatch Pro is a fully-featured smartwatch, with both a heart rate monitor and GPS built-in. Neither will do the battery life any favors when used for any length of time; but there is some offset here thanks to the dual-screen system. What’s more, the sensors are all available when the watch is in Essential Mode, and Mobvoi has indicated it will add support for them in a future update. The more we keep the watch in Essential Mode and the less we have to use Wear OS, the better.

NFC is also onboard for Google Pay use, which is activated with a double-press of the lower watch button. Accuracy was in-line with other heart rate monitors we tried, including the Apple Watch. The step count appears to overestimate, and when compared to an Apple Watch worn on the other wrist, the Mobvoi watch was already at 480 steps when the Apple Watch was at 320. The Apple Watch’s step counter is comparable to other fitness trackers, and we consider it accurate.

Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro Compared To

Tag Heuer Connected Modular 41

Mondaine Smart Helvetica

Nixon Regulus

Alpina AlpinerX

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Apple Watch Series 3

Motorola Moto 360 (2015)

LG Watch Sport

Huawei Fit

Apple Watch Series 2

Martian Passport MP100WSB

Garmin fenix 2

LG G Watch R

Martian Notifier Watch

Phosphor Touch Time

Price, warranty, and availability.

The Ticwatch Pro costs $250, or 220 British pounds, and is an Amazon exclusive until September. Only Amazon Prime members are able to buy one until August 15.

Mobvoi provides a one–year warranty with the watch, covering it against defects. Claims will result in either a replacement or repair, but the warranty doesn’t cover wear and tear, misuse, or the battery.

Our Take

Brilliant screen technology, the excellent Essential Mode, and a head-turning price can’t alter the fact the Ticwatch Pro’s Wear OS software and performance don’t reach expectations.

What are the alternatives?

Mobvoi has priced the Ticwatch Pro competitively. For the iPhone owner, it’s $100 less than the cheapest Apple Watch Series 3, but on par with buying an Apple Watch Series 1. For Android owners, it’s $50 less than our recommended pair of either the Samsung Gear S3 or Huawei Watch 2, or any of these other Wear OS watches. It’s also around $100 less than our preferred fashion watches, such as the Diesel On-Full Guard and the Emporio Armani Connected. The $160 Mobvoi Ticwatch E, which has all but NFC inside, should be a consideration.

Despite the low price, the Ticwatch Pro has an excellent feature list, which often puts people off the fashionable options. The design is masculine though and the body is large enough to look very big on anyone with small wrists. We’d recommend looking at the Kate Spade Scallop if you’re looking for a feminine smartwatch.

We preferred using the Ticwatch Pro in Essential Mode, which turns it into a glorified watch and step counter. The Casio G Shock GBA-800 does this for $120 with a battery that will last for five years, and any number of hybrid smartwatches are better looking, don’t need recharging, and still deliver basic notifications. The smartwatch world is hyper-competitive, so don’t spend your money lightly.

How long will it last?

The Ticwatch Pro has an IP68 rating so will resist most forms of submersion in water, outside of taking it swimming, and the body feels like it can withstand a few drops. Treated properly, it will last for years; but the weak points are the software and the battery. The battery has a finite lifetime before it starts to deteriorate resulting in shorter times between charges. Similarly, the software — which isn’t great now — will only be supported by Google for a set period of time.

Provided you keep these aspects in mind, the Ticwatch Pro will still last for several years. However, we are expecting updated Wear OS hardware before the end of the year, which may offer improved looks, performance, and battery life. If you’re not in a hurry to buy one, there may be some very tempting propositions on sale in the next months. These new devices have the potential to very quickly make the Ticwatch Pro feel much older than it does now.

Should you buy one?

If you’re going to pair the Ticwatch Pro with an iPhone, then no. It’s not the Ticwatch Pro that’s to blame, it’s more Wear OS, because it provides a very poor user experience compared to the Apple Watch. We do recommend it if you’re using an Android phone, though, because Wear OS is more cohesive when connected to Google’s mobile operating system. While Wear OS still frustrates on Android, it’s still a more pleasant experience all round.

We love the dual-screen technology that genuinely extends the battery life, and found the watch to be a great companion when left in Essential Mode, even though we didn’t receive notifications. If you’re looking for a Wear OS smartwatch for your Android phone right now, and cannot wait, then the Ticwatch Pro’s low price makes it a solid choice.

Beat the heat with this super-cool personal air conditioning unit

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Summers would be so much cooler without the heat. In Florida, summertime means spending most of the day inside to avoid sweltering temperatures and sweat-inducing humidity. Hell, if it wasn’t for air-conditioning, Florida would probably still be a balmy, pristine, practically uninhabitable tract of land jutting out from the United States.

So it makes sense that a couple Floridians recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for what may be the next evolution in air conditioning — the Airwirl.

Taking the form of a fortified 7-Eleven Big Gulp, the Airwirl is actually a personal cooling (or heating) device that is small enough to fit in a cup holder and big enough to pack a punch of cool (or hot) air into your face, providing much-needed (albeit temporary) relief when temperatures reach certain extremes.

“Unlike battery operated fans, misters, or evaporative towels, Airwirl actually changes the ambient air temperature into refreshing, ice-cool air when it’s hot, or cozy, warm air when it’s chilly,” Steve Herweck, Airwirl’s co-creator, told Digital Trends.

The device features a cup and a lid, and works using thermal convection. Load the cup up with ice or activated heat warmers depending on your needs. Within the lid is a motorized turbine fan system and elongated air post that pulls air out of the chamber and sends it through a nozzle in the lid. An attachable hose allows for more flexible control. An insulated foam insert helps keep the cup’s contents at a steady temperature.

“By use of a turbine fan built into a motorized lid, ambient air is drawn inside a double-walled, vacuum-insulated container,” said co-creator Michael McCarthy. “When ambient air is allowed to flow through this system with ice cubes inside, the thermal energy causes a change in air temperature as it leaves the unit.”

The Airwirl is available through pledges of $129 through a Kickstarter campaign and 280 backers have pledged nearly $42,000 at the time this article was published. The Airwirl creators said they have heard interest from Disney World, postal workers, and bus drivers whose vehicles don’t have functioning AC.

As with any Kickstarter campaign, we suggest you read our explainer article on how to avoid getting burned by scams and fails before throwing your money out there.

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Shopping for plans on Sprint? We break down the carrier’s options

Sprint is in a dead heat with T-Mobile for the title of major carrier with the cheapest plan. While the carrier originally only offered the Unlimited Freedom Plan, it has recently introduced two new unlimited plans to take its place. Known as Unlimited Basic and Unlimited Plus, both plans go into effect July 13.

Since Sprint now offers a few different unlimited plans that each offer a variety of features, it’s easy to feel confused. Here, we break down your options to help you decide which is best for you and your family.

Sprint Unlimited Basic Plan

People
Line cost (with AutoPay)
Data
Total

1
$60
Unlimited
$60

2
$60 + $40
Unlimited
$100

3
$60 + $40 + $20
Unlimited
$120

4
$60 + $40 + $20 + $20
Unlimited
$140

5
$60 + $40 + $20 + $20 + $20
Unlimited
$160

(Editor’s note: These are non-promotional rates.)

For those looking for a plan that’s not too feature heavy, the Unlimited Basic plan costs the same as the Unlimited Freedom Plan did originally. But with Unlimited Basic, LTE hot spot data is reduced from 10GB to 500-megabytes and video streams up to only 480p. As far as any additional perks, the plan does come with a Hulu subscription.

As for cost per line, the first line costs $60 per month and the second line costs $40. For every line after that, you’ll be charged $20 per line — which comes out to $160 for the maximum five lines. AutoPay saves you $5 per month on each line when you enroll.

The perks of the Sprint Basic Unlimited Plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data in the United States
• Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada, along with 5GB of 4G LTE
• Hulu subscription (with commercials)
• Global roaming in more than 185 destinations

The downsides of the Sprint Unlimited Basic Plan:

• Reduces hot spot capabilities to 500 megabytes
• Video streaming reduced to standard definition (up to 480p)
• Music streaming is limited to 1.5 mbps
• Gaming streams up to 2 mbps

Unlimited Plus

People
Line cost (with AutoPay)
Data
Total

1
$70
Unlimited
$70

2
$70 + $50
Unlimited
$120

3
$70 + $50 + $30
Unlimited
$150

4
$70 + $50 + $30 + $30
Unlimited
$180

5
$70 + $50 + $30 + $30 + $30
Unlimited
$210

Sprint’s Unlimited Plus plan is a bit of an upgrade from the Basic Plan, offering a few more features. In addition to unlimited talk, text, and data in the United States, you’ll have 15GB of mobile hot spot data and streaming in full HD — up to 1080p.

As for the cost, the Unlimited Plus plan will come out to $70 for the first line per line and $50 for the second. Every line after that will cost you $30 each, up to a maximum of five lines. In celebration of the launch and for a limited time only, Sprint is offering each line for $22 per month as long as you buy a new phone or bring in your own. If you prefer to lease a device, you’ll be charged the regular price for Unlimited Plus, which is $42 per line.

The perks of the Sprint Unlimited Plus Plan:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data in the United States
• Unlimited talk and text in Mexico and Canada, along with 10GB of 4G LTE
• Hulu subscription (with commercials)
• Basic Tidal subscription
• Streaming in full HD
• 15 GB of mobile hot spot data
• Global roaming in more than 185 destinations

The downsides of the Sprint Unlimited Plus Plan:

• Music streaming is limited to 1.5 mbps
• Gaming streams up to 2 mbps

Unlimited Military

People
Line cost (with AutoPay)
Data
Total

1
$60
Unlimited
$60

2
$60 + $20
Unlimited
$80

3
$60 + $20 + $10
Unlimited
$90

4
$60 + $20 + $10 + $10
Unlimited
$100

5
$60 + $20 + $10 + $10 + $10
Unlimited
$110

For veterans, active duty, and reserves of the U.S. Armed Forces, Sprint offers an Unlimited Military Plan. It’s essentially the same plan as the Unlimited Basic (meaning you’ll receive all the same perks), but with half off family lines. For one line, it’ll cost $60 per month, with the second line priced at $20. Every additional line after that is $10 each, which comes out to $110 for five lines.

Unlimited 55+

Back in May, Sprint introduced its new unlimited data plan for seniors specifically. The plan allows older smartphone users to receive as much data as possible, but at a more affordable price. The unlimited data plan comes in at $50 per month for the first line and $20 a month for the second line — with Autopay set up. That means seniors can get unlimited data for $35 per month per line for two lines.

With the Unlimited 55+ plan, seniors get Sprint Global Roaming — allowing unlimited texts and “basic data” at no additional charge in 185 countries. As with the Unlimited Basic Plan, there’s also the ability to stream at 480p.

Top phones at Sprint

Phones
Down payment
Price/month x 18 (with Sprint Flex Plan)

iPhone 8 (64GB)

iPhone 8 Plus (64GB)

iPhone SE (32GB)

$0

$29.17 x 18 = $525.06

$33.34 x 18 = $600.12

$14.59 x 18 = $262.62

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

$0

$16.50 x 18 = $297

$21.50 x 18 = $387

LG G7 ThinQ

LG V30 Plus

$0

$33 x 18 = $594

$19 x 18 = $342

Sprint has a great selection of phones, but you will have to pay the full price now that two-year contracts and subsidies are gone. High-end phones range from $650 to $1,000, so monthly payments run between $20 and $35 a month for 24 months. Cheaper phones cost as little as $5 a month.

You can also lease phones on Sprint’s network with the carrier’s Flex Plan — if you like to upgrade every time there’s a new phone. After choosing a phone under the Flex Plan, you can lease it for 18 months, then swap it out for a new phone or keep the one you already have and pay it off completely in one installment. If you want to keep the device but don’t have the money to pay it off right away, you can opt for six more monthly payments, with past lease payments counting toward the purchase price. Another option is to pay $5 a month extra and upgrade the device after one year.

Do be careful with your device, though, because you’ll have to pay a damaged device fee if it’s harmed before you turn it in. The fee varies based on the amount of damage. Sprint also offers insurance.

Updated July 12: Sprint introduces new unlimited data plans.

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• How to unlock a phone on every carrier

Oscar the A.I. trash can sorts your garbage and recyclables

Confused by which items in your trash are recyclable? Oscar the artificial intelligence garbage bin can do the sorting for you — at least that’s the claim by Autonomous, the ergonomic office and gaming furniture company behind Oscar.

If you are intrigued by a smart device that will help sort your garbage, Autonomous plans to a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for Oscar starting July 17.

According to Autonomous, when you drop an item of trash in Oscar’s recognition and sorting mechanism an image-recognition camera detects whether or not it is recyclable.

Oscar drops anything it deems recyclable in one of two cardboard bins. If Oscar recognizes a piece of trash as non-recyclable, it dumps it into the second bin.

If Oscar’s machine learning algorithm doesn’t recognize an item, an LED blinks red to prompt the user to help by “teaching” the item’s classification. Any time a user teaches Oscar about a new item, that information is stored in an A.I. server in the cloud and shared with all other Oscar units.

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According to Autonomous, about one in four items people place in recycling bins are not recyclable, which strains and contaminates the recycling system. Autonomous created Oscar to help the environment and to give owners the convenience of automated recyclable sorting as well as the chance to help the cause by participating in the training process.

Oscar requires an AC outlet and an internet connection to access the global algorithm. If there’s no Wi-Fi, the unit won’t work even with garbage it recognizes.

The aluminum A.I.-powered sorter, which Autonomous calls “Oscar’s classifying capsule,” is a one-time purchase. The cardboard body and bins will eventually need replacement at as-yet unpublished prices.

Owners are expected to use trash bags in each of Oscar’s 1,000-ounce bins (about 7.8 gallons). Autonomous also recommends wiping out the bins every time you remove the trash bags.

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Oscar is the company’s first artificial intelligence product. Autonomous primarily focuses on ergonomics office furniture with a current product list that includes electric sit-stand desks, office chairs and stools, and gaming desks.

Oscar will have a $1,000 list price. A preliminary announcement on the company website states the first 50 super early bird backers who contribute $349 will receive an Oscar for 65 percent off as a reward if the campaign is successful.

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How to turn off targeted ads in Google

Ever wonder what Google actually knows about you? Or why that ad pop-up is strangely semi-related to something you Googled yesterday? Google recently updated its “Ad Settings” feature, now letting you see why certain ads are targeted toward you and what information Google thinks it knows about you.

With the update, you can turn off certain interest signals that Google uses for targeting ads, giving you the freedom to manage your ad settings. If you don’t want Google to personalize your ads, it will now let you opt out entirely. The process is simple and easy, taking just one minute.

First, make sure you are logged into your Google account. Click the box in the upper right-hand corner and hit “My Account.”

You will be directed to your account, where you can access all of your information. Click on “Ad Settings,” underneath the “Personal info & privacy” column.

Once at this window, click “Manage Ad Settings.”

You will be directed to a screen that shows you whether or not your ad personalization is on or off. Slide to the left and your ad personalization will be off.

Google will pop up, telling you what turning off personalization will do, stressing the fact that you will still receive ads, but they will no longer be tailored toward you.

If you are at all interested in what Google ads they thought you would like, scroll to the bottom of the screen before turning off personalization. Some may make sense, others may leave you entirely confused.

If you don’t want to turn your personalization off, but want to get rid of ads that don’t have anything to do with you, click on the specific topic that you want to get rid of, and click “Turn off.”

Google also updated its “Why this ad?” feature that appears next to ads, and lets you know why you are seeing this certain ad in your feed. They have expanded the coverage of the feature, you will now see “Why this ad?” notices on all services that show Google Ads, including YouTube, Google Play, Gmail, Maps, Search, and nearly all websites and apps that partner with Google to show ads.

If personalizing what ads you see is not enough, we rounded up the best ad blockers for Chrome, helping you hopefully get rid of ads once and for all.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• Xiaomi finally heads to the U.S. with a little help from Google Assistant

How how to easily log in to multiple Gmail accounts at once

Aleksey Boldin/123rf

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Have you found yourself rapidly accumulating Gmail accounts? Between work, school, and any personal or spam accounts you may have created, it’s completely reasonable to have three (or more) Google accounts that need to be checked regularly.

It can be annoying (not to mention time-consuming) to log in and out of each of your accounts every time you want to use them. Luckily, Google makes it easy to log in to multiple Gmail accounts at once and quickly switch between them on your phone and computer. Here’s how to make use of Google’s multiple sign-in feature.

On your computer

Navigate to Google and sign in

First, navigate to the Google homepage. If you’re already signed in to your first account, you can skip down to the next section. If not, in the upper right corner of the screen, press the blue Sign In button. You can either choose an account you’ve previously logged in with and re-enter the password, or enter all the relevant information for another account. Once you’re signed in to that first account, you’ll be brought back to the homepage.

Adding additional accounts

Once you’re logged in, you should see your profile picture (or your initials if you haven’t added a photo yet) in the upper-right corner. Click it. A drop-down menu will appear directly below it. Next, click Add Account. Sign in to the next account and repeat this process for however many Google accounts you have (up to 10). To switch between your signed-in accounts, press your photo again. Each additional account will show up as an option in this menu now. Click whichever one you wish to use and a new tab or window will open with that account signed into.

You may notice that one of your accounts (like the first one you signed in with) will have a (default) tag next to it now. Whichever account is set to default will be the account that is automatically logged into when you first access a Google app. There is currently no easy way to change your default account once you’ve signed in to them all, except by logging out of all of your accounts and signing in with the one you want first.

On your iPhone or Android phone

Download the Gmail app and sign in

While you can check your email on a single account through the mobile version of Gmail, you’ll need to download the app if you want to log in to multiple accounts at once. Once you’ve downloaded and opened the Gmail app, you’ll be presented with a white envelope and prompted to sign in. Enter your email and password or toggle the accounts that you’ve previously logged in with. Press Add account to sign in to another account. When adding a new account, press Google at the top of the resulting page and enter your information when asked. It will sign in using Google, which will also sign you into any Google services in your apps, as well as Safari.

Adding more accounts

To add an additional account to your Gmail app, press the menu button (represented as three vertical lines in the upper left). Next, tap the account that’s signed into at the top of this menu, and click Manage accounts from the resulting menu. Toggle whichever accounts you would like to see in the app, or add another one from the Add account button. You will only be able to see mail from one account at a time. To switch between the accounts you’ve added, press the menu button again and either tap the picture of the account you want to use to automatically switch to that account, or tap the email currently logged into, and select the next email you’d like to check from the drop-down menu. And that’s it!

To help differentiate your accounts once they are all signed in, make sure to check out our guide to adding a signature to your Gmail account.

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Apple’s sticky key problem isn’t going away on the 2018 MacBook Pro

Although Apple introduced an updated third-generation butterfly switch keyboard with the latest MacBook Pro refresh on Thursday, July 12, it did not address a major pain from last year’s MacBook models. While the new keyboard will be even quieter when you type compared to the 2017 MacBook Pro, the 2018 model could still suffer the same fate of unresponsive and sticky keys if dust gets lodged underneath the keyboard, an issue that’s been widely reported when Apple switched to the new butterfly key switches.

“Sadly, while the new 2018 MacBook Pro does have an updated third-generation keyboard, Apple tells CNET it doesn’t include any new engineering or tweaks to address the sticky key issue,” the publication reported, eliminating any hope that Apple was able to deliver a permanent fix to the widely reported keyboard issue. The flaw had led to several class-action lawsuits.

Prior to launching the new MacBook Pro, Apple announced a repair program for affected keyboards, which the company said only affected a small number of laptops. Apple advised its Genius Bar staff and third-party authorized repair centers to either repair or replace the keyboard regardless of the warranty status. A prior report suggested that because of the way the keyboard is integrated into the laptop’s enclosure, an out-of-warranty replacement can run as high as $700. Fortunately, users out of their standard one-year warranty and who did not purchase the extended AppleCare protection plan can take advantage of Apple’s keyboard repair program without having to pay any additional cost.

Without a permanent keyboard fix in place, another bit of unfortunate news is that Apple discontinued its 2015 MacBook Pro model. That laptop was the last MacBook Pro to utilize Apple’s old scissor key switch for the keyboard, which delivers a more traditional typing experience. The change to the butterfly key switch design allowed Apple to create a more compact laptop — the 2015 model measured 0.71 inches high, while the redesigned MacBook Pro was just 0.59 inches thick — but the downside is that key travel was much more shallow.

For now, it appears that Apple is solely focusing on how the keys sound when typing on the third-generation keyboard. The company has been promoting the quieter keys on the new 2018 MacBook Pro keyboard. The strategy makes sense given that Apple has been promoting dark mode as one of the key new features of MacOS Mojave, which will launch this fall as a free update. A quieter keyboard and an OS that is friendlier on the eyes when working in the dark will likely appease night owls.

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The U.S. Justice Department is appealing the AT&T and Time Warner deal

Not even a month after AT&T purchased Time Warner for $85 billion, the U.S. Justice Department is now appealing the deal.

A court document was filed on Thursday, July 12, confirming the news. The appeal is being led by District Court Judge Richard Leon.

Per CNBC, Leon noted in his 200-page appeal filing that “the government failed to meet its burden to establish that the deal would significantly decrease competition.”

On June 15, AT&T officially completed its purchase of Time Warner following months of debating the acquisition in court. Time Warner owns major brands such as HBO, DC, and Turner, and commenting on the completing of the deal, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said —

We’re going to bring a fresh approach to how the media and entertainment industry works for consumers, content creators, distributors, and advertisers.

The court’s decision to let AT&T and Time Warner go through this agreement was seen as a controversial move by many, so it’ll be fascinating to see where the next steps of the appeal process take us.

What do you think about this development?

AT&T has officially purchased Time Warner for $85 billion