Microsoft Launches Rebranded ‘Microsoft News’ App for iOS With Dark Mode and More

Microsoft today announced a rebranding of its news engine that’s been powering sites like MSN.com since 1995, which the company is simply calling “Microsoft News.” The name will replace the previous “MSN News” smartphone app beginning today across devices for iOS, Android, Microsoft Edge, Windows 10, Skype, Xbox, and Outlook.com (MSN.com will retain its name).

The revamped app curates news via publishing partners, human editors, and artificial intelligence, ensuring readers are up-to-date on the topics they care about. News sites include over 3,000 brands in all major global markets, like The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC News, and more, all including text and video content.

Users can personalize the app by prioritizing favorite news topics and selecting interests to follow in the news feed. Microsoft says that publishing partners can connect with their audiences and earn money for the content that users read within Microsoft News.

In terms of UI features, the iOS app includes a dark theme, supports the iOS widgets feature, has customizable breaking news alerts, and more:

– New personalization upgrades, including the ability to tailor interests to follow in your news feed – such as World News, Personal Finance, Fitness and many more – and to roam interests across devices and local news options for top cities
– Simplified access through seamless integration with iOS and Android widgets
– Continuous reading, for a smooth content experience

Microsoft News comes one month after Google revamped its own Google News app on iOS devices, with a few similar features like personalized news suggestions, combined AI/human curation, and more. Google News replaced the existing Google Play Newsstand app, much like Microsoft News is replacing the MSN News app.

Both apps are competitors to Apple News, which provides similar news curation features across a user’s iOS devices. In iOS 12 this fall, Apple News will gain a redesign that introduces a Browse tab to make it easier to discover new channels or jump straight to favorites, and the app on iPad will be updated with a new sidebar for simpler navigation.

Tag: Microsoft
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Apple to Develop Kids Programming in Partnership With Sesame Workshop

Apple is partnering up with Sesame Workshop to create a range of programming for children, reports Variety. The partnership was established by Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, who have been heading up Apple’s video efforts.

Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organization that develops educational children’s programs such as “Sesame Street,” a popular, well-known, long-running program for kids.

According to the terms of the deal, Sesame Workshop will develop live-action and animated series, along with an Apple-exclusive puppet series. Content created for Apple will be original and will not include “Sesame Street,” which airs on PBS and HBO.

Apple has already signed deals for more than a dozen original television programs, but thus far, the series it is producing have not included content for children.

Apple is, however, rumored to be pursuing a deal with Cartoon Saloon, which has previously produced animated films aimed at both children and adults, including “The Secret of Kells,” “The Song of the Sea,” and “The Breadwinner.”

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12Tag: Apple’s Hollywood ambitionsBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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How to spot fake reviews on Amazon

Amazon is the place to get just about anything, from a Unicorn Mask to a cardboard cutout of Buddy the Elf. But behind every amazing product is a fake review (or 20), either to deter you from buying something or trick you into bupurchasing less-than-stellar products.

Sometimes they are easy to spot — and humorous, too — but what about the ones that seem legitimate or are just on the cusp of being true? How do you spot them, and what are you supposed to look for? Below, we’ve listed a number of websites and a couple tips to help you decipher Amazon reviews like a pro.

Helpful websites

Fakespot

Fakespot offers a new way of filtering product reviews, allowing you to find what actual people are saying about the products. The proprietary technology analyzes millions of reviews and finds suspicious patterns and discrepancies. It will then take out the reviews that seem too good to be true, so you can make an unbiased, reliable purchase.

All you need is the URL of the product in question, which you copy and paste into the site. Fakespot will then scan and analyze information from both the review itself and the person who created the review. Fakespot will then give it a grade ranging from A to F; an A means that 90 to 100 percent of the reviews and reviewers are reliable, and F means only 44 percent (or less) of the information is reliable. It will also give you a company grade, which takes the average of all product reviews.

When analyzing product reviews, Fakespot takes a look at certain “credentials” from the reviewer and the review itself. From the reviewer, it looks to see if it’s a verified purchase, and if the dates and content correlate. It also takes into account frequency and purchase dates, as well as various purchasing patterns. On the review front, it analyzes the writing style, grammar, and spelling correlation, and looks to see whether the dates and content correlate.

We recently decided to put the site to the test using our comprehensive guide to the best headphones. Our No. 1 pick are the Sony WH-100xM2, which are currently available for $348 on Amazon. When we pasted the URL into Fakespot, the results were not surprising.

The headphones were awarded an A, meaning that more than 90 percent of the reviews were of high quality. Fakespot also provided an analysis overview, detailing what they found and other facts that might be of interest to the buyer.

ReviewMeta

ReviewMeta functions much like Fakespot. All you need to do is paste the URL of the product in question, and the site will analyze the reviews and search for unnatural patterns, awarding the product with a pass, warn, or fail. Do keep in mind, however, that a low grade does not mean it’s a fake product, just that their algorithm detects some unnatural patterns throughout the product reviews.

ReviewMeta also provides some additional information, like how many of the reviews were unverified purchases, and how the word count of a review can affect its validity. This provides a more all-encompassing overview of the reviews and gives you some insight into whether you can trust them or not. To see how ReviewMeta compares with the aforementioned Fakespot, we once again entered the URL for our favorite pair of headphones — aka, the Sony WH-100xM2 — into the website.

Surprisingly, ReviewMeta gave us different results. The website flagged more than 200 reviews as suspicious and adjusted accordingly. The product only dropped 0.1 of a star as a result, however, so it’s safe to assume the headphones will still live up to the rest of the reviews. Both websites are good for a basic overview, but neither are 100-percent reliable. Use your discretion, and when in doubt, side with common sense.

Additional hints

Each of the aforementioned websites is a good resource for quickly discerning the quality of Amazon reviews, but there are some additional things you’ll want to keep in mind when looking at the reviews themselves.

Keep an eye on the language

If it reads like an infomercial, then there is a high probability that it’s fake. If the review looks at all unnatural — if it’s in all caps or the punctuation is simply off, for instance — you may want to be wary of the review.

Check for a website

If the manufacturer of the product you’re looking at doesn’t have a website, then you should be skeptical. Warranty claims are far harder to redeem when Amazon is your only point of contact.

Be wary of similar images

If most reviews contain a similar set of photos or appear staged, that should also be a red flag. In this case, the company behind the product may have asked reviewers to shoot it in a way that highlights a particular facet of the product.

Note the reviewer

If they’ve only written one review, or if they’ve written a bunch over a relatively short period of time, that’s cause for concern. Reviews that are short and formulaic can also be fake.

Pause on the Vine reviews

You may have seen the phrase “Vine Voice“ or “Amazon Vine Review” next to names on Amazon, which indicates that these reviewers are part of the invitation-only Vine Program. These reviewers often get access to products before they’ve been released, for free or at a substantial discount, for the purpose of writing reviews on them.

There are potential issues with this, however. Some reviewers may be less critical of products they receive for free, for instance, while others may be less likely to circle back and provide insight into how a product holds up in the long term. Then there’s the whole issue of those with zero knowledge of a particular product segment leaving a review. After all, someone who’s never spent time with a quality pair of headphones may not know what a particular pair of cans are missing.

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China speeds up its subway with palm scanners and facial recognition

While New York attempts to update its public transportation system to run on time and use mobile tickets, commuters over in Beijing are looking at a range of high tech upgrades. In fact, perhaps too high tech. As per a China Daily report, the Chinese capital of Beijing is now considering the introduction of “bio-recognition technology” to its subway station. This technology would include palm scanners and facial recognition scanners, and would purportedly help increase efficiency and decrease gridlock in key stations during rush hour.

Both technologies could allow passengers to go through ticketing channels and kiosks without having to stop to swipe a card or even a smartphone. In some ways, the proposal seems like an EZ Pass system, but where the EZ Pass tag is replaced by the face or the palm. In order to get through a ticket turnstile, folks could just swipe their palm, and have the ticket fee deducted from a digital account.

Apparently, these palm scanners are already in use in the Shanghai subway system, and are purportedly extremely efficient. Reports suggest that scanned palm images can be compared against a database of palm prints in just seconds. And given that Beijing has 22 urban railways and a daily commuter capacity of 10 million people, getting a more efficient system in place is a top priority. Plus, these technologies could help reduce fare evasion.

That said, the amount of surveillance that both facial recognition and palm scanners would require may make some folks ill at ease, especially considering the Chinese government’s ongoing crackdown on technologies that provide users with uncensored information. However, Chinese citizens are likely more accustomed to surveillance techniques. Already, China’s law enforcement agencies are granted permission to scan faces and vehicle registration plates from outside Beijing in their efforts to cut down on crime. And surveillance is also used for more innocuous purposes — in some of the nation’s fast food restaurants, this technology is used to speed up lines and ordering times.

In any case, we should be seeing the new facial recognition software and palm scanners later this year in Beijing, and will wait to see what effect they have on rush hour in the nation’s capital.

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TP-Link’s new Deco M9 Plus Mesh router is also a smart home hub

Everyone expects you to be able to multitask, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t have the same expectation for your devices. Here to live up to that expectation is TP-Link, whose newest mesh router not only purports to provide fast internet connections to more than 100 devices throughout your home, but also serves as a smart home hub for all of your connected devices. Meet the Deco M9 Plus Mesh Wi-Fi System, the latest multitasker in your life.

“From everyday activities like streaming Netflix and using smart voice assistants, to occasional video chats with friends or online gaming, our home lives are more connected than ever before,” said Derrick Wang, director of product management at TP-Link USA Corp. “Today, families need Wi-Fi systems that can support the higher demands put on their network, delivering reliable performance in every room of the home. Deco M9 Plus is a powerful solution designed to meet the Wi-Fi needs of the modern smart home.”

The second mesh router to come out of TP-Link, the Deco M9 is a tri-band router, which should make for faster speeds. That means that the M9 Plus creates a special network in order to allow routers to communicate with one another, which gives way to more efficient operation for networks associated with both your phone and computer.

The Deco M9 also promises “stronger and more dynamic backhaul than others, supplementing its dedicated 5 GHz backhaul with additional backhaul throughput from other Wi-Fi bands as demand on the network increases.” So whether you’re watching streaming video or video chatting with your friend, this router will find the strongest connection in every corner of your home.

But what really sets this router apart is its smart home capabilities. As a smart home hub itself, you won’t need to bring in another third-party device in order to control all the connected appliances in your home. Rather, this router will let you manage your ZigBee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi-enabled smart home products straight from the companion Deco App. The router works with a number of leading smart home brands, and is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and IFTTT.

The M9 Plus also boasts a HomeCare feature, which protects against viruses and malware, and should keep you safe from hackers and other ill-intentioned actors. The system is also constantly updated through updates from Trend Micro, so you always have the most current protection.

A two-pack of the Deco M9 Plus Wi-Fi System promises high-performance Wi-Fi for homes up to 4,500 square feet, and will set you back $300. A single router can be purchased for $180.

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Loupedeck+ brings improved hardware controls to Lightroom — and Luminar

The Loupedeck, the bespoke Lightroom control console, is no longer just for Lightroom. The new Loupedeck+ offers an enhanced build and compatibility with additional photo editing programs. Announced on Wednesday, June 20, the Loupedeck+ is compatible with Lightroom Classic CC and Skylum Luminar, and Capture One integration is currently being tested.

The Loupedeck+ looks very similar the original photo editing console, which we found to be both faster and more enjoyable to use than a standard mouse and keyboard, but features an improved design. It still gives Lightroom users direct, physical controls for making software adjustments, but Loupedeck says the second generation console features superior construction and the new mechanical keys give photo editors greater precision.

There has also been a renewed focus on customization, with two custom dials versus the single one on the original. The eight customizable preset buttons return and are now joined by dedicated modifier keys for shift, control, command, alt, and tab. Additionally, a new “custom mode” grants users full customization over 17 available keys on the console.

“We know how dedicated both the professional and amateur photography communities are in their work, and we’re committed to making their lives easier and more productive,” Mikko Kesti, Founder and CEO of Loupedeck, said in a statement. “There’s no better way to create the next evolution of our flagship product than by going straight to the source and taking their feedback to heart.”

The first Loupedeck originally launched after a successful Indiegogo campaign, raising over five times as much as its goal. The product was the still photographer’s analog to the bespoke hardware interfaces used by video colorists, like the powerful — and considerably more expensive — DaVinci Resolve panels from Blackmagic Design. For the second-generation Loupedeck, the Finland-based company of the same name is sending the product straight to retailers. Beginning today, the Loupedeck+ is available from Amazon, B&H Photo, and the Loupedeck website. The photo editing console retails for $229, which is less than the original retail price of $299 for the first version. Loupedeck is also offering a $50 cash back offer for current users to help ease the financial burden of being an early adopter.

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Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9 review: The only case you need

This is the best cheap case you can buy.

A couple years back I was perusing Amazon for a cheap case for my Google Pixel, and I found one from Maxboost called the mSnap — it was cheap and looked basic, so I decided to get it while I looked for something better. It turns out I didn’t need anything more — since then, I’ve been buying this exact case for every single phone I have for more than a two-week review period.

Yes, it’s inexpensive. But it’s also good enough to warrant buying the same case over and over again for every phone — the latest purchase was for my Galaxy S9+.

Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9

Price: $6.99

Bottom line: This case gives you great protection in a thin, understated package for very little money.

The Good

• Extremely rigid
• Thin and subtly grippy
• Large cutouts for buttons + ports
• Available in four colors
• Very inexpensive

The Bad

• Difficult to remove
• Not particularly flashy or stylish

See at Amazon

Tough and simple

Maxboost mSnap What I like

The mSnap case is all about being simple, adding grip and being extra-strong. It takes just a few seconds of looking at it to tell it’s simple — no styling, no bits of flare, all one color and not a single piece of exterior branding. All you get on the outside is some soft touch coating that adds quite a bit of grip, without being so grippy that it tugs at pocket fabric or gets in the way. The mSnap case makes the Galaxy S9+ easier to hold confidently in one hand.

The mSnap case is all about being simple, adding grip and being extra-strong.

Now, strength — the mSnap is extremely rigid, which keeps it strong despite being very thin. It’s stiffer than any other case of this thickness I’ve seen. These super-rigid sides are particularly important on the Galaxy S9+ because it has a curved screen. So many other thin and light cases I’ve had for modern Samsung phones are simply too flexible on the sides because they have to dip down to accommodate the curve. Over time, these cases get flimsy, let dust in behind the case and generally don’t protect the phone as much as they should. Not so with the mSnap.

The mSnap offers ample-sized cutouts for buttons and ports, and the openings for the USB-C port and headphone jack on the Galaxy S9+ version is particularly large so you’ll never have an issue using it with any sort of cable or headphones. The openings for all of the buttons are large enough to help you locate them by feel.

Hard to remove

Maxboost mSnap What I don’t like

There is legitimately only one gripe to be had with the Maxboost mSnap case: it’s ridiculously difficult to get off of your phone. The case is tough, rigid and won’t fly off if you drop your phone — but that means it also takes a lot of work to get it off when you need to. You’ll see the little slits in the corners of the case — they’re there because the sides aren’t flexible at all, and it’d be impossible to get off without them. It’s a worthwhile trade-off, and you’re not likely to be removing your case over and over again, but it’s something to be aware of.

It’s hard to find any fundamentally wrong with the mSnap.

Really, there’s nothing fundamentally flawed in any way with the mSnap. Yes, it doesn’t add any flair or style to your phone, nor does it add extra functionality. It’s just all about nailing the core values of a case: it’s simple, makes the phone easier to hold, is extremely strong and doesn’t add much bulk. But it’s inexpensive, and despite the low price it offers exactly what you want in a case — it’s the default choice for simple protection for your Galaxy S9+.

Best cheap case available

Maxboost mSnap case for Galaxy S9

Not everyone wants to spend upwards of $50 on a glorious Alcantara or Hyperknit case for their Galaxy S9. Most of us just want a cheap case that will protect the phone and look pretty good doing it. Striking the balance between being thin but also rigid and cheap is tough, but Maxboost does a darn good job of it with the mSnap case for the Galaxy S9. It may not be the only case you buy for your phone, but it should be the first.

4.5
out of 5

I’m reviewing the mSnap for the Galaxy S9+ in particular, but Maxboost has a version for many other popular phones. You can get one for the Galaxy Note 8, Pixel 2 XL, and iPhones as well. This is a damn good case for the Galaxy S9+, or any other phone it’s available for.

See at Amazon

What’s your favorite phone/dialer app?

A question for those of you that still make phone calls.

As much time as we spend tweeting, streaming Netflix, and wasting the day away on Reddit, our smartphones were originally designed to make — you guessed it — phone calls.

Phone calls may not be a huge part of how you use your phone anymore, but even so, there are a number of apps out there that try to make the phone call experience as awesome as possible.

One user on the AC forums is looking for a third-party app to replace the default dialer app on their Samsung Galaxy S9, and these are just a few of the apps the community suggested they check out.

mr_master
06-17-2018 05:38 AM

“

I would recommend Truecaller. Some additional useful features are spam call filtering and caller ID for unknown numbers.

Reply

Kirstein Gourlay
06-17-2018 10:38 PM

“

I like simpler contacts

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simpler.contacts

Reply

djrakowski
06-18-2018 06:53 AM

“

I prefer the Samsung apps, but Google’s are pretty good, too:

Google Contacts
Google Dialer

Reply

Now, we’d love to hear from you! What phone/dialer app do you use?

Join the conversation in the forums!

How to safely clean wax out of your earbuds

Earwax can muffle music or worse — kill your earbuds entirely. It’s not hard to keep things in working order.

Humans are disgusting creatures. One thing I always notice when I see someone else’s earbuds is a bit of earwax hanging off the end. Earwax serves its purpose for the body, but the waxy substance can do some serious damage to your earbuds. This ranges from making your music sound muddy, all the way to killing the speakers entirely.

Here’s how to safely clean earwax from your earbuds!

• Materials you’ll need
• How to clean your earbuds
• How to prevent your earbuds from getting dirty

Materials you’ll need

Earbud speakers are delicate, so we won’t use anything too heavy to clean them. Here’s what you need to clean your earbuds:

• Warm, soapy water
• 2 new, soft toothbrushes
• Hydrogen Peroxide – 3%

How to clean your earbuds

Remove the gel or foam ear tips from the earbuds.
Place these in the warm soapy water and let them soak for at least thirty minutes.
Brush any excess dirt or wax from the ear tips.
Rinse the ear tips with clean water and let them air dry.
Dip the other toothbrush in the hydrogen peroxide.
Shake the toothbrush to get rid of as much excess peroxide as possible.
Hold the earbud with the speaker facing downward — you don’t want any liquid getting in the speaker, and you don’t want any of the dirt getting pushed deeper into the speaker.
Brush in one direction to prevent dirt from going into the speaker itself.
Use some hydrogen peroxide or clean water to gently wipe around the speakers to clean any other dirt or wax.
Let the earbuds dry for at least 12 hours, again with the speakers facing downward if you can.
When you’re about to use the earbuds again, playing some music on full volume for a few seconds to shake out any leftover liquid.

How to prevent your earbuds from getting dirty

Prevention is the best medicine, and preventing dirt is more important than cleaning that dirt up in the end. The best tip for keeping your earbuds from getting dirty is to regularly and safely clean your ears. The ear tips will likely pick up a bit of dirt regardless, but these are less delicate than the speakers inside your earbuds.

What say you?

How often do you clean your headphones? Let us know down below!

Verizon and AT&T will stop selling real-time location data of its users [Update]

Now we’re just waiting on Sprint.

Last May, U.S. carriers came under fire after it was discovered that they were tracking real-time location info of their subscribers and then selling that information to third parties. Following a heap of backlash over security and privacy concerns, both Verizon and AT&T have confirmed they’re ending this practice.

First reported by The Associated Press, Verizon sent a letter to Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden (who’s been particularly critical of this topic) on June 15 announcing that it would stop selling this data to brokers who then sell it to other companies.

Shortly after Verizon made this announcement, AT&T followed suit and confirmed it was doing the same thing.

As for T-Mobile and Sprint, things are still up in the air. In a statement to The Verge, T-Mobile said:

While we continue to review the facts and determine next steps, as of May 25th we have suspended all services with LocationSmart. Our ongoing internal review also includes our relationship with Zumigo and, if warranted, we will take additional action.

Following this, CEO John Legere tweeted:

Sounds like word hasn’t gotten to you, @ronwyden. I’ve personally evaluated this issue & have pledged that @tmobile will not sell customer location data to shady middlemen. Your consumer advocacy is admirable & we remain committed to consumer privacy. https://t.co/UPx3Xjhwog

— John Legere (@JohnLegere) June 19, 2018

Legere’s wording makes it unclear if this means T-Mobile will stop selling user location to third parties entirely or just ones that it deems to be “shady.”

Sprint hasn’t made any official statement on the matter, but if/when that changes, we’ll update this article accordingly.

While @Verizon & @ATT have now pledged to stop selling customer location data to shady middlemen, @TMobile & @sprint seem content to keep selling customers’ private information, Americans’ privacy be damned.

— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) June 19, 2018

LocationSmart, one of the companies Verizon, AT&T, and other carriers sell location info to, can use this information to pinpoint the real-time location of someone in just under 15 seconds. The data is obtained using cell towers, and while it’s slower and less accurate than GPS, allows the tracking to happen seamlessly in the background without alerting the person in question.

This is a huge move from Verizon and AT&T, and I expect we’ll hear about Sprint following in their footsteps shortly. U.S. carriers are still going to collect your location info, but the fact that they’re no longer selling it to other businesses is a big step forward.

What do you think of this news?

All major U.S. carriers give your real-time location info to third parties

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• Join the Discussion

Updated June 20, 2018: Updated article with Tweet from T-Mobile CEO John Legere.