12 February 2018

Facebook is pushing its data-tracking Onavo VPN within its main mobile app


 Onavo Protect, the VPN client from the data-security app maker acquired by Facebook back in 2013, has now popped up in the Facebook app itself, under the new banner “Protect” in the navigation menu. Clicking through on “Protect” will redirect Facebook users to the “Onavo Protect – VPN Security” app’s listing on the App Store. We’re… Read More

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Facebook starts pushing its data-tracking Onavo VPN within its main mobile app


 Onavo Protect, the VPN client from the data-security app maker acquired by Facebook back in 2013, has now popped up in the Facebook app itself, under the new banner “Protect” in the navigation menu. Clicking through on “Protect” will redirect Facebook users to the “Onavo Protect – VPN Security” app’s listing on the App Store. We’re… Read More
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Why I Ditched Firefox for GNOME Web on Linux


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You could think of Firefox as Linux’s internet Explorer or Safari. On Windows and macOS, you have to install Mozilla’s browser yourself. On Linux, Firefox comes pre-installed. That’s not a bad thing. Firefox is one of the best web browsers available. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the best for everyone. Firefox doesn’t integrate well with certain Linux desktop environments, which is the primary reason why I don’t use it. I don’t like every app to have a consistent look and feel except for the one I use the most. You may have other reasons for wanting to install something...

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The 12 Best BBC Shows on Netflix All Americans Should Watch


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The BBC isn’t just for news and sports. Since the turn of the century, we’ve seen countless high-quality dramas and comedies air on BBC One as well as BBC Two and BBC Four. These BBC shows are so good they easily rival what you’d find on AMC and HBO. And with increasing regularity, the best BBC shows are being made available to watch on Netflix U.S. Providing Americans with more reasons to subscribe to Netflix. Be warned that British programming has a different feel to what you may be used to, but if you’re willing to cross that bridge, you’ll...

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Google’s custom TPU machine learning accelerators are now available in beta


 Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), the company’s custom chips for running machine learning workloads written for its TensorFlow framework, are now available to developers. The promise of these Google-designed chips is that they can run specific machine learning workflows significantly faster than the standard GPUs that most developers use today. For Google, one of the… Read More
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Unilever warns social media to clean up “toxic” content


 Consumer goods giant Unilever, a maker of branded soaps, foodstuffs and personal care items and also one of the world’s biggest online advertisers, has fired a warning shot across the bows of social media giants by threatening to pull ads from digital platforms if they don’t do more to mitigate the spread of what it dubs “toxic” online content — be it fake news… Read More
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Apple Explains How to Use Your New HomePod


Apple has finally released its long-awaited smart speaker, with the HomePod landing in stores on February 9. However, with the HomePod being a brand new product from Apple, the company thinks its customers may need a little help figuring out how to use it. In order to help new HomePod users get to grips with their new smart speakers, Apple has published a HomePod User Guide AND a trio of videos on the Apple Support YouTube channel. All of which suggests Apple realizes the new HomePod isn’t as simple to use as the notoriously user-friendly iPhone and iPad. Help Using...

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Unilever warns social media to clean up “toxic” content


 Consumer goods giant Unilever, a maker of branded soaps, foodstuffs and personal care items and also one of the world’s biggest online advertisers, has fired a warning shot across the bows of social media giants by threatening to pull ads from digital platforms if they don’t do more to mitigate the spread of what it dubs “toxic” online content — be it fake news… Read More
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Instacart has raised another $200M at a $4.2B valuation


 Despite plenty of uncertainty swirling around Instacart and its complex relationship with Whole Foods — now owned by Amazon — investors still seem to not be too worried, and are pouring a fresh big round of financing into the startup that values it at $4.2 billion. Instacart said it raised $200 million in a new funding round this morning led by Coatue Management, as well… Read More

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5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Android Auto


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Twenty years ago, when driving, you had to decide between listening to a tape or the radio. Today, you have millions of songs, podcasts, and more that are just a voice command away. This is made much easier by Android Auto. Instead of relying on your car manufacturer’s stock software, Android Auto ensures a uniform infotainment experience. Whether your car supports Android Auto or you use it on your phone, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience. 1. Take Advantage of Google Assistant This is the most vital tip for mastering Android Auto. Not only...

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Cybex starts selling its $330, app-enabled car seat made for safety geeks


 Normally, I wouldn’t be writing about a car seat for for TechCrunch but as I’ve been in the market for such an item lately (and have been hit up for all things baby tech as my due date nears) the high-tech Cybex Sirona M with SensorSafe 2.0 stood out. Cybex is manufactured in Germany and is a mostly European brand that’s gaining momentum in the U.S. market. Its newest carseat… Read More

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Amazon reportedly paid around $90 million for security camera maker Blink


 Amazon acquired Blink late last year, a maker of affordable, easy to use security cameras powered by AA batteries. The acquisition was reportedly worth around $90 million to Amazon, according to a new report from Reuters, though the terms of the deal were not disclosed by Amazon and it hasn’t provided any comment on the specifics. The Blink acquisition is something that could help… Read More

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10 Films to Watch on Valentine’s Day If You’re Single


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How many people do you know that can sincerely say they enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day? For those in relationships, this day brings nothing but anxiety. You’ll spend a week worrying about organizing everything. And if your significant other ever says they’re skipping the holiday this year you’d better stay on the safe side and get her those flowers. If you’re single, then it’s a day when you try really hard to not think about how no one is bringing you flowers or asking you out to an overpriced restaurant. So why not grab yourself a glass of wine and watch some...

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7 Reasons Why Microsoft Windows Is a Disaster


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Back in August 2017, I wrote a piece called Forget Linux: 10 Reasons You Should Stick With Windows. Indignant Linux users flooded the comments section. Some made valid rebuttals of my points, others accused me of being a blinkered Windows fan. In the interests of fairness — and to prove Microsoft did not pay for last year’s article, despite the allegations — let’s take a look at the other side of the coin. Windows is far from perfect. Nay, Windows sucks (at times). It’s a bloated mess that’s confusing to navigate and prone to crash, right? Join us as we...

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Traeger’s wi-fi connected grill is delicious overkill


 As a fan of both meat and fire, the Traeger Timberline 850 hits right in my rib zone. This powerful – and expensive – smoking grill is more like an outdoor oven than the chintzy charcoal or gas grill you’ve been using and the unique pellet system adds flavor, sear, and smoke to your hearty cuts of whatever. Traeger has been around for years, starting out in the Northwest as… Read More

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Kill Your To-Do List to Be More Productive


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To-do lists are foundational tools in our never-ending search for how to be more productive. There are countless apps, strategies, theories, and methods for maintaining the best, most productive to-do list. But could we be mistaken? Could the to-do list be holding us back? Many highly productive people say yes. And they have some interesting ideas on how to be more productive without using a to-do list. Why To-Do Lists Can Be Counter-Productive Task lists certainly have benefits — if they didn’t, we wouldn’t use them in the first place. But they also have some serious drawbacks. For example, to-do...

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Mario, Sonic, and 5 More Free Retro Games for Your Smartphone


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How often do you remember a certain classic game and think to yourself “those were the days”? With all the variety of new games that you can play on your smartphone today, there’s something special about finding one that takes you back to the past. If you want a proper nostalgia trip to, say, the ’80s or ’90s, you might want to try retro emulation. It allows you to play games from nearly any video game system on your Android device or PC. However, that requires time and effort, plus some legal quandaries. For those of you aren’t ready to...

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Snapchat’s Snap Map comes to the web, including in embeddable form


 The Snap Map is a feature that received a mixed response when it landed in the Snapchat app, since it basically let you see where all your friends on the platform were at any given time – provided they were okay with sharing that info. Now, there’s a version of Snap Map available for anyone to view on the web, but it’s less about checking out where your pals are at, and… Read More
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Axel Springer is investing in Magic Leap for some reason


 Magic Leap is the gift that keeps on giving. The company has been working for years on augmented reality technologies and raised a gigantic pile of cash on the way. German media company Axel Springer is announcing today that it is investing an undisclosed amount in Magic Leap. The German company is taking a stake in Magic Leap through its Axel Springer Digital Ventures division. In its… Read More

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How to Create Speaker Groups on Chromecast Audio


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In case you’re not aware, you can attach Chromecast Audio dongles to any older “dumb” Hi-Fi systems around your home and instantly turn them into smart speakers. And fortunately, Chromecast Audios are easy to set up and don’t place a strain on your wallet. Once you’re up and running, you will be able to play and audio from your mobile device directly through your speakers. You can even stream locally-saved music from your desktop machine. But one of the best features you might overlook is the ability to group speakers into zones. For example, if you have speakers in your lounge...

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How to Use Your Phone as a Spotify Remote


If you like listening to Spotify on your computer or smart home device, you can actually use your smartphone as a remote to control your music playback! What You’ll Need for a Spotify Remote To use your phone as a Spotify remote, you’ll need the following: An iOS, Android, or Windows phone with the Spotify mobile app installed. A device to play the music on: this can be a smart home device like the Chromecast, Google Home, or Amazon Echo, or a computer running Spotify in a web browser or desktop app. A Wi-Fi connection. How to Control Spotify Using...

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Chamillionaire is a presentation genius, has a new app


 You probably know Chamillionaire from the song “Ridin,'” but did you know the Grammy Award winner is also a successful startup investor? He has had several favorable outcomes, including Cruise, which sold to General Motors and Maker Studios, which was bought by Disney. Now he’s trying his hand at a startup of his own. If you’re a Chamillionaire superfan, you may already… Read More
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Instagram is testing screenshot alerts for stories


 Instagram is testing a feature that will show users when someone else takes a screenshot of their story. Users included in the test are getting a warning that the next time they take a screenshot of a friend’s story the friend will be able to see it, as shown below: Good bye freedom to screenshot IG stories. Thank you, Instagram for the warning. pic.twitter.com/y0pEaVR0Jq —… Read More
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