Popular Mac Developer Slams Apple for ‘Sad State of Macintosh Hardware’

Rogue Amoeba developer Quentin Carnicelli, who works on Mac software like Airfoil, Audio Highjack, Loopback, and Fission, this week penned a critique of Apple’s Mac lineup and the company’s recent lack of Mac updates, and that missive has been gaining some attention from Mac fans.

Using MacRumors’ own Buyer’s Guide, Carnicelli points out that it’s been more than a year since any Mac, with the exception of the iMac Pro, has been updated.

It’s been 375 days, for example, since the iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air machines were last updated, and it’s been 437 days since the Mac Pro saw the price drop Apple implemented as it works on a Mac Pro replacement.

The Mac Pro has not seen a hardware update since December of 2013, more than 1600 days ago. Apple has promised its professional users that a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro system is in the works, but we thus far have no details on when it might see a release.

The Mac mini, Apple’s most affordable desktop Mac, has gone 1338 days without an update, with the last refresh introduced in October of 2014. While Apple has made promises about a refreshed Mac Pro, no similar statement has been provided about a future Mac mini, aside from a comment from Apple CEO Tim Cook stating that the Mac mini continues to be important to Apple.

According to Carnicelli, the state of the Mac lineup is “deeply worrisome” to him as a person who works for a Mac-based software company. Customers are, he says, forced to choose between “purchasing new computers that are actually years old” or “holding out in the faint hope that hardware updates are still to come.”

It’s very difficult to recommend much from the current crop of Macs to customers, and that’s deeply worrisome to us, as a Mac-based software company. For our own internal needs, we’ve wound up purchasing used hardware for testing, rather than opting to compromise heavily on a new machine. That isn’t good for Apple, nor is it what we want.

As Carnicelli points out, Apple could reassure its Mac users with updates and speed bumps to its Mac lineup on a “much more frequent basis,” calling the current lack of updates “baffling and frightening to anyone who depends on the platform for their livelihood.”

Apple in 2017 refreshed much of its Mac lineup (iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook) at its Worldwide Developers Conference, but this year, Apple opted to focus instead on software, with no new Mac hardware announced. With no new hardware in June, based on past release history, we could be looking at an 18-month upgrade cycle this time around, as pointed out by iMore’s Rene Ritchie, with new Macs making an appearance in September or October.

Some of the blame for Apple’s lack of updates can perhaps be placed on its reliance on Intel, and in the past, some Mac refreshes have been pushed back due to delays with Intel chips. This is likely one of the reasons why Apple is planning to transition from Intel chips to its own custom made Mac chips as early as 2020.

MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, and MacBook Air upgrades are not in the dire state that Mac Pro and Mac mini upgrades are in, but increased attention on issues with the MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards has left Apple customers eager to see those machine updated, especially as Apple has not acknowledged these keyboard issues despite their prevalence in the media.

“Apple needs to publicly show their commitment to the full Macintosh hardware line and they need to do it now,” writes Carnicelli.

Carnicelli’s comments on the state of the Mac lineup came just before Apple released a new Mac advertising campaign. Called “Behind the Mac,” the campaign highlights creators who use their Macs to “make something wonderful.”

The first ad spots in the series focus on photographer and disability advocate Bruce Hall, who uses his Mac for editing photographs, musician Grimes, who uses the Mac “from start to finish” to write all of her music, edit music videos, and more, and app developer Peter Kariuki who used his Mac to code the SafeMotos app, which is designed to connect passengers with safe motorcycle drivers in Rwanda.

These ads, while inspiring, may be seen as too little too late by those who have grown frustrated with Apple’s Mac lineup and have come to see the lack of updates as an indicator of a lack of commitment to the Mac.
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Put your brain to the test! Seven of the best logic games for Android

Games that are based on riddles and puzzles have been around for centuries and are a way to keep the mind in shape. Whether it’s to focus at work, do better in school, or simply stay sharp, there are various reasons for wanting to boost your brainpower.

See Also:

• Eight of the best word games you can play to boost your vocabulary
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• Seven language apps for when you want to learn to speak a new tongue

These days there are hundreds of apps and games available that claim to put the “smart” in smartphone and give you a cognitive boost. Smartphones provide the perfect medium for this stuff.

Typically, game sessions are relatively short and can be done anywhere and whenever you have a few moments to spare. So, if you’re going to be staring at your screen, why not do something that could possibly make you smarter?

In order to help you find the best logic games, here is a list of some of the best apps you’ll find for download in the Google Play Store.

Blendoku 2

What it is:

Sudoku has been around for years and is no doubt one of the most famous math gamess around. Blendoku is sort of like Sudoku, but instead of numbers, you use colors to fill in the empty blocks.

Why we like it:

• Become a color master by moving tiles of solid color into a hue- or shade-base spectrum, leading logically from one color to another.
• Putting colors in order may seem like an easy task at first, but soon you’ll realize that getting from Magenta to Lime requires some serious mental gymnastics.
• There’s a Painting Mode which shows the color schemes of famous paintings.
• You get up to 500 levels you can play for free.

Install Blendoku 2

Unblock Me

What it is:

Unblock Me is a game in which you need to figure out how to get the different colored blocks through the hole.

Why we like it:

• The game is quite challenging, even if it starts off easy. Blocks on the board are positioned in either horizontal or vertical position. A horizontal block can only move right or left, while the verticals can move up and down. You will need to shift them around in a way that frees a path for the red block and that proves extremely difficult to do in some levels.
• There are over 14,5000 puzzles to solve. Stuck in one of them? There’s a hint system that helps player solve puzzles.
• The game has a rating system designed to motivate players to find the best solution.

Install Unblock Me

Dreamcage

What it is:

Dreamcage is an escape game. These are games in which players try to solve a series of puzzles and riddles using their logic skills.

Why we like it:

• The game has nice, immersive graphics.
• Interesting story-line set inside a strange world filled with different cages, where the Giant Caretaker has gone missing.
• Search all of the 15 beautiful room for clues and pick up a variety of tools and items. Use your logic to perform a variety of tasks and solve logic puzzles by employing the objects you’ve found.

Install Dreamcage

Brain It On!

What it is:

Brain It On! is a game with a minimalist appearance which challenges you to complete a given objective. Do you think you have the logic skills to do so?

Why we like it:

• It’s a unique logic game. Each level starts off with an objective written across the screen. It can be a simple “draw a shape” prompt. As you advance request get increasingly difficult such as “place the ball in the orange box”.
• The game dares you to think out of the box, as you construct shapes and solutions to solve the problem.
• You can compete with friends, as well as easily share your solution and compare it with the ones your buddies came up with.

Install Brain It Out!

That Level Again 1-3

What it is:

A small but cute logic game(s) where all the levels are the same, but the ways to conquer them are not.

Why it’s fun:

• The main character in the game has only one desire: to leave the house and you have to help him find the key, so he can escape.
• Unique gameplay: once you get out of the room, you’ll find yourself in that room again, but the hint on how to play the game has changed. For example, gravity is now weak or you may have to tilt your phone to control your character.
• The third installment of the game is actually a love story with a few separate levels. Here you’ll team up with your crush to solve puzzles and find the exit.

Install That Level Again

Logic Pic

What it is:

A logic game developed by Tapps Games where you use logic to color blocks in a given grid and reveal a hidden picture.

Why we like it:

• Use your deduction skills, solve puzzles and discover awesome colorful pixel art illustrations.
• You solve puzzles by placing black squares in the correct place according to the numerical patterns on the side of the grid. After the puzzle is complete, the black and white patterns reveal the pic underneath.
• The game includes a great range of puzzles, interactive tutorial and in-game tips. Extra daily challenges are also part of the bundle.

Install Logic Pic

Logic Master 2

What it is:

Logic Master 2 is an unusual logic game in which you sometimes have to come up with strange, creative solutions.

Why we like it:

• The game challenges users to think in unconventional, yet logical ways to come up with answers to the questions.
• Stuck at one of the trickiest levels? Not to worry, you can use hints. And there are also video solutions if you need more help.
• Logic Master 2 includes three different levels of difficulty and 120 questions packed inside 30 levels.

Install Logic Master 2

How to Calculate Linear Actuator Force

As you know nowadays people got used to everything automatical. Stuff that moves on its own does not surprise us, but the words like “electric actuators” or “force equations” may astonish the cleverest. In order to lift very heavy constructions or create devices, like automatically moving doors or even put down the bed at a hospital, you will obviously need to choose the right linear actuator. And that is possible only with the help of special equations. Having missed the step of counting the force, you may never reach your goal or even break something you have already spent time on creating. As it is easier to pull down than to build, spend several minutes, rack your brains and welcome to the world of physics.

First of all, check out the terms that will be used in the formula, you are looking forward to understanding and implement in your case. You may find the units of forces and other things that will come in handy and better the understanding.

T= Total Linear Force (lbf)
F_F = Force From Friction (lbf)
F_A = Acceleration Force (lbf)
F_G = Applied Force (lbf)
WL =Weight of Load (lbf)
U = Angle of Inclination (lbf)
T_A =Acceleration Time (sec)
V = Final Velocity
μ = Coefficient of Sliding Friction
G = Acceleration of Gravity = 386,4 in/sec

Some of integral parts of equation have to be calculated in a advance. Just imagine you are to thrust mass of 200 pounds on 2 inches. Your time is limited for, say, 2 seconds. Let’s assume the object is inclined at 30 degrees. Then the leaning coefficient of friction will be 0,15.

Never forget about resistance. There is always the opposing force that equals 25 pounds against the actuator. Always take that into account as well.

Read the info above for several times, just so you get it. Look through the unfamiliar notions as we explain the calculations later on. Then let’s move to the action.

The first thing to calculate is the total force. Here you have to put together 4 constituents in order to get the necessary element of our main equation. These are acceleration, friction, applied force, and gravity.

Total Linear Force = F_F + F_A + F_G + F_P

Having summed up the forces, move on to calculation of the total force equation.

T = WL μ cos(??) + (WL/386.4) * (v/ta) + WL sin(??) + Fp

Here you have to insert all the necessary numbers of your particular situation. Here we will demonstrate the numbers mentioned above. Be very precise with the numbers!

WL = 200 pounds

μ  = 0.15

?? = 30 °

Cos(??) = 0.866

V = 8 inches

Ta=0.2(2 sec)

Sin(??) = 0.5

F_P = 25 pounds

Next, you can see the right equation with all correct numbers. We highly recommend training on this example in order to get the most precise answer in your real case.

T = 200*0.15*0.866+(200/386.4)*(8/0.2)+200*0.5+25

Having made all the simple actions, you will get the following equation.

T = 26+20.73+100+25=171.73 lbf

Keep in mind that solving the equation in a right way is still not the final solution to you. You have to work through your task, go to websites and decide which actuator will be a cornerstone of your project. Now in our case we understood that the necessary rating of a linear actuator we should pick will be up to 200 pounds. Only this way it will be 100% effective. For the kind of load we have today, we would choose a standard 12-volt linear actuator.

As a conclusion, we would like to wish you good luck with your physics/math calculations and choosing the perfect device. Remember that each element has its place in equations, because without a single number, the whole, general results will not mean a thing.

Six Fitbit employees are charged with stealing Jawbone trade secrets

The battle between Fitbit and Jawbone was thought to have ended many moons ago, as Fitbit dropped its legal case against its onetime Kickstarter darling competitor in late 2016, and Jawbone ultimately began its liquidation process in July 2017. But as it turns out, there still remains bad blood between these two companies, and now, that is resulting in a round of legal casualties.

On Thursday, June 14, U.S. federal prosecutors charged six Fitbit employees, both current and former, in an indictment for possession of stolen trade secrets from Jawbone. According to the indictment, the employees once worked for Jawbone and received these secrets when they left the company. This violates the confidentiality agreements they signed with the now-defunct company, but it still lands them in a world of legal trouble.

The drama between Fitbit and Jawbone has been raging on since 2015, as Jawbone originally brought a lawsuit against Fitbit for “systematically plundering” so-called trade secrets. Jawbone accused Fitbit of stealing more than 300,000 confidential files, but in court, a judge decided that Fitbit had done no wrong. The case then continued involving patent infringements, but the two parties ultimately settled in December. At that point, Jawbone had already shuttered operations, so the decision seemed like a moot point.

But now, old skeletons seem to be emerging from the proverbial closet, and it would appear that Jawbone may have been correct all along in claiming that Fitbit had attained its rival’s plans. In a statement to the Verge, Fitbit noted that the original 2015 lawsuit actually involved the same six former Jawbone employees,

“In a trade secret misappropriation case brought by Jawbone in the International Trade Commission in 2016 that involved these same individuals, a federal administrative law judge during a nine-day trial on the merits found that no Jawbone trade secrets were misappropriated or used in any Fitbit product, feature or technology.”

These six employees will now face trial and should they be convicted, they could be looking at up to 10 years in prison. Of course, this case will continue to develop in the coming days and weeks and we will be sure to update you with any news.

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Intel finally ships an updated Radeon driver for its all-in-one ‘module’ CPUs

A new driver for the graphics portion of Intel’s “Kaby Lake G” modules with Radeon graphics baked into the chip is now available. Listed as version 18.6.1, this is the latest graphics driver release since Intel originally revealed its new modules in November 2017. Unfortunately, Intel’s notes don’t list any specific changes since that time, but the new driver reveals a significant change in how Intel will release updates in the future. 

The big deal with these modules is the marriage between Intel and AMD. This all-in-one module contains Intel’s seventh-generation processor cores and integrated graphics in one chip, AMD’s Radeon RX Vega M discrete graphics cores in another chip, and HBM2 memory dedicated to graphics. All three are connected by a super-fast “freeway” within a single module. 

The big fear when Intel officially introduced these modules was that the company would drag its feet regarding updates to the graphics driver. The modules didn’t become readily available in devices until January during CES 2018, thus Intel hasn’t distributed a new driver in six months — eight months if you count the date of the original driver. 

That said, the driver released in November 2017 was version 23.20.792.2048 presumably based on AMD’s own Radeon Software Crimson ReLive 17.11.2. The new driver ditches Intel’s previous numbering scheme and gravitates to AMD’s system so you know where Intel’s graphics drivers are in relation to AMD’s own driver releases outside the module family. This new version is based on AMD’s Radeon Software Adrenaline suite, version 18.6.1. 

Despite Intel not providing detailed release notes, these mega all-in-one chips officially move from Crimson to Adrenaline, which is a significant change regarding performance and new features. AMD typically introduces a new suite each year and spends the next 12 months improving that suite with fixes, enhancements, and injecting support for new games. 

What we still don’t know is whether Intel will synchronize its graphics driver updates with AMD’s current driver distribution schedule. The latest version is 18.6.1, but will Intel issue a new update when AMD refreshes its drivers for desktop and mobile? If the release schedule thus far is any indication, that is a possible no. Still, the modules are fairly new and both Intel and AMD may still be working on driver synchronization. 

Intel currently provides five “Kaby Lake G” modules ranging from the Core i5-8305G to the Core i7-8809G. For instance, the Core i7-8706G chip consists of four processor cores based on Intel’s seventh-generation design, integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, and 1,280 Radeon RX Vega M GL discrete graphics cores (20 compute units) backed by dedicated HBM2 memory. The Radeon RX Vega M GL is supposedly on par with Nvidia’s GTX 1050. 

The marriage between Intel and AMD is definitely strange. Given that Intel grabbed AMD’s Radeon head Raja Koduri to produce discrete graphics in 2020, we can’t help but wonder what is to become of these modules by then.

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• Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

After being down for a few hours, Apple’s Maps app is working again

The morning commute was a little rougher for iPhone users on Friday, June 15: Apple’s Maps app went down for users worldwide. As the default navigation app for both iOS and MacOS, the outage affected millions of users.

Apple first acknowledged the problem at 8:48 a.m. ET,  after Twitter users started complaining of problems online. Apple’s Support Page listed issues with both “Maps & Routing Navigation” and “Map Search.”  Details concerning the cause of the outage were not listed, though we contacted the Map app team and will update our coverage as we learn more.

Hey @AppleSupport how about some indication of when #apple #maps is going to come back. I had to download Google Maps. The one time in a month that I need the service and its down? Please search "apple maps" on Twitter for confirmation of the problem.

— Michael S. Manley (@michaelsmanley) June 15, 2018

While maps loaded in the Maps app on iOS and MacOS, users were unable to search for locations or use navigation features. For those who attempted to use Maps, they were greeted with either a “Directions not available,” or “Route information is not available at the moment” notification.

Originally created as a competitor to Google Maps, Maps provides multi-modal navigation assistance. Maps offers walking, driving, and public transit directions in many cities, as well as the ability to hail taxis and ridesharing apps. Last year, Apple began adding indoor maps for large buildings like airports and shopping malls.

The outage affected third-party apps that integrate with Maps as well. Users that attempted to hail an Uber or Lyft from the Maps app, received a notification stating the service was unavailable.

Apple first released Maps on iOS 6 as a Google Maps replacement. After a very rocky start, Apple made significant changes to the app before the release of iOS 7. Over the past several years the tech giant has continued to improve the app by adding additional features and integrations.

After nearly four hours, it looks like Maps service has been restored to all users. While it’s not common to see outages for Apple services, its still a good idea to have a backup should the problem occur again. Google Maps is available on the App Store and provides many of the same features as Maps. If you use ridesharing services, like Uber or Lyft, you can continue to use the native apps to request rides even when Maps is down.

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• The best hiking apps

What is the Difference Between VPN and Proxy

While there are a number of similarities between proxy servers and VPN services offered online, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the two. Here, both proxy and VPN services help you re-route your Internet traffic and change your IP address. Still, there are certain changes which help you understand how proxies and VPN function differently.

What is Proxy?

A proxy server also known as application-level gateway or proxy is a server (a computer or an application) that works as an intermediary between a local network and a large-scale network like the Internet. Here, the local network could be anything from computers at one place or in one building that requests resources from other servers. The proxy works as by intercepting connections between sender and receiver. During the process, a client or local server requests for a resource from a different server or connects to the proxy server requesting specific service like connection, web page, file, or other resources.

Source: telehouse

Proxy server working as an application-level gateway evaluates the request as a way to simplify and control its complexity. During the process, all incoming data enters via one port and later forwarded to rest network through another port. Once proxy servers block the direct access between two networks, it becomes really hard for cybercriminals to get sensitive information like internal addresses etc. of a private network.

Proxies were invented to add structure and encapsulation to distributed systems. Further, some proxies work as a group of servers or applications that block common internet services like SMTP proxy intercepts emails and HTTP proxy intercepts web access. Today, most proxies are found as web proxies where they help facilitate access to content on the Internet and offering anonymity. It could also be used for bypassing IP address blocking.

Types of Proxy Servers

Open Proxy: Being a forwarding proxy server, an open proxy can be accessible by any Internet user. On Internet there are hundreds of thousands of open proxies that can be used easily. These anonymous proxies can be used by users to conceal their IP address while surfing and browsing the Internet. Here, there could be a varying degree of anonymity and different methods where proxy could be revealed.

Reverse Proxy: A reverse proxy masquerade itself as an ordinary server where it forward requests to one or more ordinary servers that will further handle the request. Here, response will be returned as if it has come from original server directly. Thus, it will leave the client with no knowledge of which was the origin server. As reverse proxies are installed in neighborhood web servers all the traffic coming through internet route through the proxy server. There could be various reasons why installing reverse proxy is useful. It includes encryption/SSL acceleration, load balancing, server/cache static content, content compression, extranet publishing, security and more.

What is VPN?

A VPN or Virtual Private Network offers an additional layer of security & privacy to your Internet experience. Once you enable VPN on your system all your Internet traffic will route through an encrypted remote server. VPN functions at the network level thus it offers lot of additional features beyond your web browser experience. It offers a strong encryption for all your online activities for better security. It works automatically to secure your network thus you need not do anything once you establish a connection.

Source: mostsecurevpn

Here, VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between host server and guest computer. Once you establish the connection all the Internet traffic will be routed via the secured host server. Thus, nobody else will be able to see that you are connected to VPN except government authorities and your ISP. VPN services offer anonymity, speed, ability to choose geographic location, security and more.

Conclusion: Though there is not much difference between Proxy servers and VPN still there few we can mention. Here, VPNs work at the most basic level or at operating system level while proxy server could be used for a single application (for example your web browser) as well. Further, VPN offers strong encryption services while proxy is bit lenient. In addition to that, VPN offers more secure connection to keep your activities safe in comparison to proxy servers.

How to set up a VPN

Virtual private networks (VPNs) give computer users a wide range of capabilities and benefits. For starters, VPNs allow you to securely connect to remote networks through the internet, grant secure connections of multiple networks, and help boost your online security and privacy.

There are multiple methods for setting up a VPN, but there simplest is to the tools provided by your operating system of choice. But take note: You may need to consult your VPN provider for specific settings, and you’ll need to know your username and password to authenticate. In addition, you’ll have to repeat these instructions for each new server you connect to, while your third-party VPN client will make this easier. Most people will just have one or two servers, but business people could potentially spend quite a bit of time building out a robust list of servers. 

With all that all the way, we’ll be leading you through the instructions in both MacOS and Windows 10, step by step.

Setting up a virtual private network in Windows

Confusingly, Windows 10 ships with two different VPN configuration wizards. The newer wizard is found in Windows 10’s Settings menu, while the older way to configure a VPN can be accessed through the Windows Control Panel. If you want to see the newer Windows 10 wizard, just type “VPN” into the Cortana search bar. Although you can begin setting up an IKEv2 connection through the new Windows 10 wizard, you’ll likely still need to complete the configuration through Windows Control Panel. For this reason, and for greater compatibility for users across all versions of Windows, we’ll use the Control Panel method in our instructions below. 

Step 1. Launch “Control Panel.” You can navigate to Control Panel in any number of ways, but the easiest way is to type in Control Panel into the Cortana search bar at the lower left hand corner of your screen.

Step 2. Click on “Network and Internet” and then “Network and Sharing Center.”

Step 3. Under the “Change your network settings header,” you’ll want to click on “Setup a new connection or network.”

Step 4. A wizard will appear to guide you through the setup. Click on the last option to “Connect to a workplace,” which will allow you to enter the settings from your VPN provider in the following steps. Then, click “Next” to continue, followed by “Use my internet connection (VPN)” in the next prompt.

Step 5: In this step, you’ll be able to enter in the VPN settings. In the “Internet address” field, you’ll want to consult with your VPN provider to get the server information. Generally, choose the server in your country or one that’s closest to you to get the fastest connection speeds. Alternatively, if you’re trying to mask your location when trying to access region-restricted content, like a foreign country’s Netflix catalog, you can also choose a server in the country where you want to access. Your VPN provider will have a list of available servers for you to choose from.

In this example, we’re going to choose a US server from NordVPN. NordVPN publishes their list of available servers, and we chose the United States #2093 server. The internet address for this server is located at “us2093.nordvpn.com,” and that’s what we’re going to type into the field.

In the “Destination name” field, you can name your VPN connection anything you want. This is where the limitation of setting up a VPN through the built-in Windows client comes into play. Whereas NordVPN’s app allows you to jump between servers, you’ll only be able to connect to a single server at a time with Windows. It’s recommended that the Destination name is specific to avoid confusion in the future. I’m calling this connection “NordVPN USA 2093.” If I want to connect to a NordVPN server in Australia or the UK in the future, for example, I’ll have to setup new VPN connections to servers in those countries, and giving the VPN connection a specific name will minimize confusion down the road when choosing which server to connect.

You’ll want to make sure that the box for “Remember my credentials” is checked if you don’t want to enter your login information every time you connect to the VPN. And depending on how you use and share your computer, you can also check the box “Allow other people to use this connection”. Click on the “Create” button when you’re done.

Step 6: With an IKEv2 connection, you’ll need to install a certificate. If this is supported, your VPN provider will tell you where to go to download and install the certificate. For NordVPN, you’ll want to download the file from its site. Save the certificate and then open it after the download is complete. A security warning will popup, and you’ll click Open.

Step 7: In the first tab of the certificate labeled “General,” you’ll click “Install Certificate” located near the bottom.

Step 8: The certificate wizard will appear asking you where you want to install the certificate. Make sure the bubble next to “Local machine” is selected. Click “Next” and then click “Yes” in the next security popup.

Step 9: In this step, you’ll want to choose the location where you want your certificate placed. Choose the bubble for “Place all certificates in the following store” and then click “Browse.”

Step 10: A pop up with a directory will appear. Choose “Trusted Root Certificates Authorities” and click “OK.”

Step 11: Click “Next” and then click “Finish.” Click “OK” and then click “OK” again to confirm that the certificate has been installed.

Step 12: Now, you’ll want to go back to the “Network and sharing center” again. Click on “Change adapter settings” on the left-hand column.

Step 13: Right-click on the VPN that you’ve just created and select “Properties.” Then click on the “Security” tab.

Step 14: Choose “IKEv2″ under the “Type of VPN.” Under “Data encryption,” make sure that “Require encryption (disconnect if server declines)” is chosen. Under “Authentication,” choose “Use Extensive Authentication Protocol (EAP)” and select “Microsoft: Secured password EAP-MSCHAPv2.” Click “OK” when done.

Step 15: Now, you’re ready to connect. Click on the Wi-Fi symbol on the right-hand side of the Windows taskbar. At the top, you should see your VPN name. Click on it, and then select “Connect.” You’ll be asked for your username and password, and then you’re on your way to a more secure internet experience.

Play nice and play safe with the best Moto Z3 Play cases

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

With considerable battery life, zippy performance, and continued support for Moto Mods, the Moto Z3 Play is a great way to get access to Motorola‘s Mod ecosphere without having to spend an awful lot of money. But with the return of the glass body, the Moto Z3 Play is more fragile than the Z2 Play before it. Unless you wrap it up in cotton wool every day, your phone is at risk of cracks, chips, and other damage from everyday use.

It doesn’t have to be that way. If you want to make sure that your Moto Z3 Play makes it to your next upgrade, then a protective case is a great idea. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best Moto Z3 Play cases to keep your phone safe.

LK Clear Gel Case ($8)

If you want to get yourself some decent protection, but don’t want to hide your Moto Z3 Play’s style away from the world, then a clear gel case may be the best choice for you. This case from LK is made from TPU, a soft material that is easy to grip and shock-absorbent. While it won’t offer the same sort of protection as a larger, bulkier rugged case, the soft TPU will help absorb the energy from shocks and drops. A micro-dot pattern on the inside prevents the case clinging to the phone and creating unsightly bubbles, and the case comes with all the correct cutouts, but covers the Moto Mod magnetic connector.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Fincibo Nebula Galaxy Hard Case ($8)

What about a case that adds some additional flair to your Z3 Play? This hard case comes in a variety of styles — we chose the Nebula Galaxy variant, but there are also two different marble designs, as well as a dog paw-themed style as well. It’s made from hard polycarbonate plastic (PC), so while it’s not as absorbent as soft TPU, it will resist more direct threats against the phone, while also being extremely light. On the downside, it doesn’t cover the top and bottom edges of the device, which leaves them open to damage — and it also doesn’t cover the Moto Mod connector, which is odd, since you won’t be able to use a Moto Mod with a case on. Still, it looks great and it should protect your phone well.

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Wellci Outback Rugged Case ($8)

If you need more protection than a standard case, but still want something slim and low-profile, the Outback case from Wellci is a great choice. The Outback is made from high-strength TPU, which provides shock-resistance and absorption, and comes with a raised edge to reduce the chances your device’s screen will be scratched by dirt or grit. The textured finish also helps add grip on the device and TPU covers keep the buttons safe. The Moto Mod connector is also protected underneath the case. It comes in a variety of different colors to match your personal style.

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Suensan Carbon Fiber-Style Rugged Case ($8)

Carbon fiber is the material of the future. Super-strong and super-light, it’s a real sci-fi material, and having a case made out of it would be amazing. Sadly, that’s not what this is — but this case does mimic the look and impart a sci-fi, futuristic feel. This TPU case is light, flexible, and shock-absorbent, and comes in a variety of colors to match your style. Each corner of the case comes with an “air-cushioning” system to help protect against drops. Unfortunately, there’s no cover over the Moto Mod connector, so you run the risk of damaging that area — but otherwise, the case is of a decent quality and should protect your phone well.

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Tudia Heavy-Duty Extreme Case ($9)

Sometimes you just need protection, and making sure your phone is safe and sound is paramount. That’s what Tudia specializes in, and that’s why it made this heavy-duty case. It uses two layers of protection to keep your phone safe, with an inner core of TPU to absorb shocks and provide grip around the phone, as well as an outer shell of hard PC that protects against more direct threats against your phone’s body. It’s a great combination, and it leads to some great protection. Raised edges protect the display and eliminate the large camera bump, while the dual-layer construction protects against most drops, bumps, and other hazards. It’s not the smallest case around, but it protects very well.

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Poetic Karbon Shield Tough Case ($10)

Everyone knows of Spigen, UAG, and similar brands, but you might not have heard of Poetic. Poetic is something of a quiet player in the accessories world right now, but its star is on the rise, and it’s easy to see why with cases like the Karbon Shield. It’s another case with a carbon fiber texture, giving a cool futuristic feel that also provides grip — and it’s made from shock-absorbent TPU so it should protect well against drops and shocks. It’s slim and light, comes with button covers to keep those areas safe, and fully protects your Moto Mod connector. Best of all, Poetic offers a three-year warranty on manufacturer defects, so it should last your phone’s whole lifetime.

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Editors’ Recommendations

• Moto Z3 Play hands-on review
• Moto Z3 Play: Everything you need to know about Motorola’s modular phone
• Moto Z3 Play vs. Moto Z2 Play vs. Moto Z Play: Should you upgrade?
• The best Moto G6 Play cases to keep your budget phone protected
• Moto Z3 Play vs. OnePlus 6: Can Motorola’s latest beat our midrange pick?

Spider silk microcapsules could deliver vaccines to help battle cancer

Spider silk is a pretty darn versatile material. We previously covered research projects in which spider silk is used to help retrain nerves after major injuries, to improve the quality of microphones for use in hearing aids, and to form lightweight shields capable of absorbing enormous impacts. Now, researchers from Switzerland’s University of Geneva and other institutions have added one more innovative use case to the mix: Battling cancer.

In a new piece of work, they demonstrated how microcapsules made of artificial spider silk could be used to deliver potentially life-saving vaccines direct to your immune cells as a way of fighting cancerous tumors. When it comes to arachnid-themed entities fighting evildoers, you could think of them as your own personal tiny Spider-Man!

“Spider silk is light and very resistant,” professor Carole Bourquin, a specialist in anti-tumor immunotherapies who worked on the project, told Digital Trends. “It does not induce any inflammation or immune reaction in itself. We found that amazingly the microparticles can withstand high temperatures of more than 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) for several hours. This suggests that they may protect vaccines in developing countries where refrigeration is frequently a problem for conventional vaccines.”

In their demonstration, the researchers used biotechnology to create the spider silk microcapsules. “It is basically a protein chain rolled up on itself like a ball of wool to form microparticles, into which we incorporated the vaccine,” Bourquin continued. “The microparticles protect the vaccine from being rapidly degraded in the body, and carry it to the immune cells where it is released and can induce an immune response. The immune response is much more effective with the transport system for the vaccine.”

They were able to successfully show that this spider silk-delivered vaccine generates strong T-lymphocyte responses, essential for protecting against cancer and certain infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. While Bourquin noted that there is still more work to be done before the approach can be tested in patients, it appears extremely promising at this stage.

A paper describing the work, titled “Engineered hybrid spider silk particles as delivery system for peptide vaccines,” was recently published in the journal Biomaterials.

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• Move over pesticides! This new RNA vaccine could help keep crops safe
• Scientists have mapped the genome of the most common cancer among younger men
• Bill Gates shows how the flu could kill more than 30 million people
• Scientists hope to unlock medical marvels with a 100-million fps camera