09 February 2018

Are We Secure From Spectre and Meltdown Yet?


spectre-meltdown-safety

The Spectre and Meltdown processor vulnerability revelations were a shocking start to the new year in cybersecurity. The vulnerabilities affect almost every processor, across almost every operating system and architecture. Processor manufacturers and operating system developers swiftly issued patches to protect against the vulnerabilities — but there were some serious teething issues, too. Now, over a month on from the initial reports, are we any closer to truly fixing the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities? Spectre and Meltdown Vulnerabilities Everywhere The recently discovered security problems will impact computing for a long time. Meltdown specifically impacts Intel microprocessors stretching back to 1995....

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Snapchat almost acqhired anonymous app Secret


 Evan Spiegel secretly tried to hire away the team at Secret, but the price was too high. That’s according to three sources familiar with the deal who spoke to TechCrunch. The information expands and clarifies a report from the new book about Snapchat’s origin story coming out next week called “How To Turn Down A Billion Dollars” by former TechCrunch writer Billy… Read More
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Snapchat almost acqhired failed anonymous app Secret


 Evan Spiegel secretly tried to hire away the team at Secret, but the price was too high. That’s according to three sources familiar with the deal who spoke to TechCrunch. The information expands and clarifies a report from the new book about Snapchat’s origin story coming out next week called “How To Turn Down A Billion Dollars” by former TechCrunch writer Billy… Read More

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Uber’s new CEO could probably win at 10 dimensional chess


 The courtroom has been cleared, the lights are off in the spillover room on the 19th floor and the initial takes are in on the Uber vs. Waymo trial. Uber will give Alphabet, the parent company of both Waymo and the search giant Google, some $244 million worth of stock, and agree to ensure that no Waymo intellectual property will make its way into Uber autonomous vehicles. While Uber has… Read More
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5 Ways Linux Can Help Improve Your Relationship


linux-relationship

Computing, for the most part, is a solitary activity. We sit down and stare at a screen, blocking out the world around us. This can sometimes introduce friction into a relationship. The problem can be even worse when you’re using a smartphone. But there are ways to use a computer that bring you and a significant other closer together. If nothing else, one can help you better manage your mutual responsibilities so that you can share more of your time. Yes, this is the case even if you use Linux. Far from being an operating system only good for working...

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What Are Vulkan Run Time Libraries in Windows?


vulkan-runtime-libraries

Have you ever spotted a weird entry on your Windows machine as you browse around? Since most users are cautious about malware and unwanted features on their systems, these typically raise a red flag. One of the strangest named programs you’ll come across is Vulkan Run Time Libraries. Let’s find out what this is, its purpose, and what you should do about it. What Are the Vulkan Run Time Libraries? The solution isn’t as complex as it sounds. We should first note that these libraries have no relation to the Vulcan species from Star Trek, so apologies to sci-fi fans....

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The LifeClock One will help you escape from mundanity


 Whether you’re trapped on a futuristic island prison full of blood-thirsty gang members or simply stuck in a two-hour meeting, the LifeClock One might be the watch for you. Inspired by the movie Escape From New York starring Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, the watch is an homage to Plissken’s wrist-worn LifeClock, a device that would trigger the an injection of micro-explosives in… Read More

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5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy Apple’s HomePod Right Now


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The Apple HomePod is an amazing speaker that’s designed to work seamlessly with Apple Music and AirPlay. It’s an engineering marvel, given how much Apple was able to stuff into this pudgy little 7-inch cylinder. This $349 smart speaker is filled with amazing technologies. There’s a seven tweeter array at the bottom, a six-microphone array at the top and an A8 processor from the iPhone 6 to supply the smarts. But there’s still a chance you’ll be disappointed when the HomePod actually shows up on your doorstep. While Apple has outdone itself creating a great speaker, there are some glaring...

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Uber settles lawsuit with Waymo


 Uber has agreed to settle the lawsuit brought against it by Waymo for theft of some of the company’s trade secrets. As part of the settlement Uber has agreed to work with Waymo to ensure that the company’s LIDAR and software represents just the work of Waymo engineers. The agreement also comes with a financial settlement that is 0.34% of Uber’s equity, valued at Series G-1… Read More
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6 Useful Android Settings You Might Not Know About


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If you’ve been an Android user for several years, you might think you know the Android settings menu inside out. After all, there’s no way you’d have accidentally overlooked a useful option, right? Unfortunately, you probably have overlooked something. These days, the Android settings menu is a sprawling maze of menu and sub-menus. It’s hard to find the more obscure options. But which of the settings you’ve overlooked are useful, and which can live on in peaceful obscurity? Let’s find out. (Depending on your device’s manufacturer, some of these settings might not be available.) 1. Screen Magnification Do you ever...

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Aurora will power Byton EV’s autonomous driving features


 Aurora, the self-driving startup founded by Google self-driving car project alum Chris Urmson, along with Tesla Autopilot developer Sterling Anderson, CMU robotics expert and Uber vet Drew Bagnell, and a team of industry experts, will be making the autonomous smarts for Byton’s forthcoming electric vehicle. Byton, a startup that had a splashy debut at CES earlier this year.… Read More
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Facebook’s plan to build community with hiring and $10M in grants


 Facebook will award up to $1 million to five community leaders and $50,000 to 100 more to fund their ideas for how to strengthen people’s online and offline connections. Facebook will also hire double the number of engineers currently working on safety-related causes in its London office. These were a few of the big announcements made at today’s Facebook Communities Summit Europe.… Read More
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How to Stream the 2018 Winter Olympics Anywhere


watch-winter-olympics

The 2018 Winter Olympics will take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea from February 9 and February 25. Almost 3,000 athletes from 92 nations will compete in 102 events for the right to be crowned Olympic champions. As sporting spectacles go, it’s hard to beat the Winter Olympics. The competition creates stories that are hard to replicate elsewhere. If you’d like to tune in for some of this year’s action, you need to know what options are available to you. We’re going to explain where you can stream the 2018 Winter Olympics in the US, the UK, and Canada, and explain how...

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8 Interactive Stories to Play on Your Amazon Echo


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Amazon Echo devices aren’t just for playing music any more. Along with being able to listen to podcasts on your Echo, there is another form of audio entertainment that’s gaining traction in the Echo’s catalog of skills: interactive stories. In this article we’re highlighting eight great interactive stories for your Amazon Echo. While playing through these interactive stories, Alexa will help guide you. And you can just use your voice to advance through each adventure. You’ll need to enable each story skill on your device before starting. There are a few ways to do this. The easiest is just to...

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Which Free Project Management Tool Is Right for You?


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Just like how all projects are different, so are the tools you can use to manage them. What’s important is that you have a tool and it’s the right one for you. If your company does not offer software like Microsoft Project, you can still find a robust tool. Luckily, there are plenty of free project management tools to choose from that are online and provide great features. So, how do you pick one? Answering these five questions will help you decide which project management tool is the best one for you. Will You Manage Projects Regularly? This may seem like...

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Are These 10 Default GNOME Apps Worth Your Time?


gnome-apps-worthy

GNOME is one of the oldest and most popular interfaces for Linux and other open source operating systems. With the release of version 3.0 in 2011, the developers not only wanted to provide a free alternative to Windows and macOS, they wanted to create a different way to approach PCs. The interface came first. The apps have been a work in progress. You might use GNOME and yet have never touched many of the project’s default apps. That’s because GNOME-based Linux operating systems such as Ubuntu and Fedora often swap these out for alternatives. That raises the question: Are GNOME’s...

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Hacker group manages to run Linux on a Nintendo Switch


 Hacker group fail0verflow shared a photo of a Nintendo Switch running Debian, a distribution of Linux (via Nintendo Life). The group claims that Nintendo can’t fix the vulnerability with future firmware patches. #switch pic.twitter.com/4iTjTk9D59 — fail0verflow (@fail0verflow) February 6, 2018 According to fail0verflow, there’s a flaw in the boot ROM in Nvidia’s… Read More

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Facebook Is Testing a Downvote Button


Facebook is currently testing a Downvote button for comments. This isn’t a Dislike button, or even a Reddit-style Downvote button that lets the mob influence visibility, but it is a way for ordinary Facebook users to flag a comment for moderation. Which is a start. For years now, Facebook users have been asking for a Dislike button. This would be the opposite of the iconic Like button, and let you show your disapproval for people’s posts. Instead, Facebook introduced Reaction buttons, but Dislike was absent. And now it’s testing a Downvote button. The Difference Between Dislike and Downvote Some websites...

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Apple adds live news channels to TV app for iOS and Apple TV


Tim Cook at Apple event standing in front of big sign: "The Future of TV is apps." After teasing the feature back in September, Apple is adding support for live news in the TV app on the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV — 9to5mac first spotted the new section. For now, it’s quite limited as it only supports a handful of channels for American users. If you’re running the most recent versions of iOS and tvOS, the feature should now be live. I’m running iOS… Read More

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YouTube suspends ads on Logan Paul’s channels after “recent pattern” of behavior in videos


 More problems and controversy for Logan Paul, the YouTube star who caused a strong public backlash when he posted a video of a suicide victim in Japan. Google’s video platform today announced that it would be pulling advertising temporarily from his video channel in response to a “recent pattern of behavior” from him. This is in addition to Paul’s suspensions from… Read More
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YouTube suspends ads on Logan Paul’s channels after “recent pattern” of behavior in videos


 More problems and controversy for Logan Paul, the YouTube star who caused a strong public backlash when he posted a video of a suicide victim in Japan. Google’s video platform today announced that it would be pulling advertising temporarily from his video channel in response to a “recent pattern of behavior” from him. This is in addition to Paul’s suspensions from… Read More
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Google fined $21.1M for search bias in India


Google Another antitrust fine for Google. India’s competition commission has issued a 1.36BN rupees (~$21.1M) penalty on the search giant for abusing its dominant position in the local search market for online general web search and web search advertising services.  Read More
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The Best Romantic Comedies on Netflix Right Now


valentines-netflix

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or just another day spent with your loved one, there’s no better way to end the night than by watching a bit of Netflix and chilling. Netflix has dozens of romantic comedies just waiting for people like you to sit down and tune in when the mood takes you. But which ones should you actually watch? If you want to end the night well, the worst thing you can do is pick a terrible title. Want something lighthearted and happy? Or maybe you’d prefer one that’s more serious, realistic, and dramatic? Whichever side of the fence...

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How to Export Chrome Browsing History to HTML, CSV, or TXT


We usually talk about clearing our browser history so it doesn’t fall prey to snoops, but it can also be a good idea to store your history before you wipe it. For example, you can use it to revisit previous pages or watch over a child’s browsing habits. Chrome gives you a way to save browsing history as an HTML file but nothing more. Fortunately, there’s a free portable tool that opens up a few more options than that. How to Export Chrome Browsing History ChromeHistoryView is a small and free portable tool from Nirsoft that enables you to do more with your...

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Why You Should Check Out the UnJump! Mobile Game


unjump-mobile-game

Are you looking for an addicting mobile game to enjoy when you have a few minutes? The ideal mobile game is easy to pick up, doesn’t take long to learn, and is addicting enough to keep you playing. If you’re in search of a new game for your smartphone, then you’re in luck. MakeUseOf’s own creative director, Azamat Bohed, has created a new game at his studio, SuperMegaCool Games. It’s called UnJump! (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = 'http://ift.tt/2nE6LKJ'; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); UnJump! Posted by...

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How to Turn Off Mail Notifications in Windows 10


Despite the growth of apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, we still send over 2 billion emails every year. Given that, it’s easy to see how the email notification on Windows 10 could be annoying. Thankfully, there is a way to turn of email notifications in Windows 10, though it’s not as apparent as it should be. In this short article, we’re going to explain how to disable the notifications for good. How to Turn Off Mail Notifications in Windows 10 To turn off mail notifications in Windows 10, just follow the simple step-by-step instructions below. Open the Mail app on...

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Waymo gets to the heart of its case


 Attorneys for Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle spinout, are nearing the end of their plaintiffs presentation against Uber in a trial that is likely to have broad ramifications for the common Valley practice of acqui-hiring talent. The case hinges on whether the jury believes Uber’s assertion that the technology used in its autonomous car project was developed and acquired… Read More
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Facebook confirms test of a downvote button for flagging comments


 How can Facebook promote meaningful interaction between users? Apparently by letting them downvote inappropriate, offensive, or misleading comments to hide them. Facebook is now testing a downvote button on a limited set of public Page post comment reels, the company confirms to TechCrunch. A Facebook spokesperson tells us “We are not testing a dislike button. We are exploring a feature… Read More
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Facebook confirms test of a downvote button for flagging comments


 How can Facebook promote meaningful interaction between users? Apparently by letting them downvote inappropriate, offensive, or misleading comments to hide them. Facebook is now testing a downvote button on a limited set of public Page post comment reels, the company confirms to TechCrunch. A Facebook spokesperson tells us “We are not testing a dislike button. We are exploring a feature… Read More

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Nest co-founder Matt Rogers announces exit from Google


 A day after Alphabet announced plans to roll Nest into its hardware team, cofounder Matt Rogers has announced that he’s exiting the company. The story was first noted by CNET and quickly confirmed by Rogers on Twitter. Could just be social media talk, but Rogers’ brief statement on the matter appeared to imply that there were no hard feelings. “Nest has been an amazing… Read More
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Netflix Reveals What Shows People Binge-Watch First


Netflix has released a list of the shows which people have binge-watched first. To be honest, there are very few surprises on the list, but it is a good excuse to get everyone checking their viewing activity to find out what their own “first binge” was on Netflix. While binge-watching was a thing before Netflix even existed, the two have now become inseparable. Because while people did used to binge-watch their way through DVD box sets, Netflix almost made it the default option by playing the next episode as soon as the previous one ended. The Top 10 First Binges...

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Problems With Your Raspberry Pi? Try These 4 Fixes


fix-raspberry-pi

You’ve got your Raspberry Pi all set up. It’s plugged into the monitor, the power cable is connected correctly, and you’ve already flashed Raspbian (or another operating system) to the microSD card. But something is wrong. Perhaps the Pi has stalled booting at the “rainbow screen”. Perhaps it’s caught in a boot loop. Or maybe your issue is different. If you’re trying to solve problems with your Raspberry Pi’s ability to connect to Wi-Fi, detecting a USB device, installing software, or accessing a microSD card, we’ve got a collection of solutions right here. 1. Your Raspberry Pi Hangs at the...

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Are Frequent Password Changes Actually Good for Your Security?


changing-passwords-secure

How often do you change your password? We bet some of your credentials are more than a decade old. In fact, most of us only change our passwords when a situation forces us to. Typically, that’s either when you can’t remember it, or an app or your company forces you to create a new one every few months. So, which approach is right? Should you leave your password untouched for years, or should you change it as often as the seasons? Here are the pros and cons of changing your password too frequently. It Makes Your Account (a Tiny Bit)...

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You Can Now Limit How Long Your Children Play PS4


Sony has detailed the changes coming in v5.50 of the PlayStation 4 system software update. The highlight for parents with children who game is a new Play Time Management feature, but there are also a number of new features and UI changes aimed at adult gamers. While having consoles constantly connected to the internet means developers can get away with patching unfinished games, it also enables Sony and Microsoft to update the consoles themselves with new features. And Sony’s latest system software update brings a host of improvements. The Headline Features of v5.50 The headline feature of v5.50 is Play...

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Create Your Own Android PC With Phoenix OS


android-pc-phoenixos

Want to make an Android PC? It’s easy. Phoenix OS, based on the Android-x86 project, can install Android on a desktop (or laptop). On the downside, it won’t run the full version of Chrome browser (Chrome is really fast). This is, after all, a mobile operating system. Here’s how to get started. Warning: The instructions in this guide will OVERWRITE your hard drive. While Phoenix OS can install in a dual-boot configuration, I don’t recommend it because dual-booting can cause problems with both operating systems. Android PC Using Phoenix OS Phoenix OS looks and feels a lot like the now...

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Apple addresses iOS source code leak, says it appears to be tied to three-year-old software


 Earlier this week, iOS source code showed up on GitHub, raising concerns that hackers could find a way to comb the material for vulnerabilities. Apple has yet to confirm or deny the legitimacy of the posted material, but all signs point to it being the real deal — a fact seemingly confirmed by a DMCA takedown notice issued to the platform. Read More

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Get ready for a bunch of new emojis (yes, including a partying face)


 The world needs more emojis. Ever since emojis became a cultural phenomenon, tech companies have been working together to add new smileys, animals and objects. And the Unicode consortium just published this year’s list of new emojis. While many glaring omissions have been fixed in recent years, the Unicode consortium has accepted 157 new emojis. But who are these people who get to… Read More
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