Google and NASA have demonstrated that quantum computing isn’t just a fancy trick, but almost certainly something actually useful — and they’re already working on commercial applications. What does that mean for existing startups and businesses? Simply put: nothing. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore it forever.
There are three main points that anyone concerned with the possibility of quantum computing affecting their work should understand.
1. It’ll be a long time before anything really practical comes out of quantum computing.
Google showed that quantum computers are not only functional, but apparently scalable. But that doesn’t mean they’re scaling right now. And if they were, it doesn’t mean there’s anything useful you can do with them.
What makes quantum computing effective is that it’s completely different from classical computing — and that also makes creating the software and algorithms that run on it essentially a completely unexplored space.
There are theories, of course, and some elementary work on how to use these things to accomplish practical goals. But we are only just now arriving at the time when such theories can be tested at the most basic levels. The work that needs to happen isn’t so much “bringing to market” as “fundamental understanding.”
Although it’s tempting to equate the beginning of quantum computing to the beginning of digital computing, in reality they are very different. Classical computing, with its 1s and 0s and symbolic logic, actually maps readily on to human thought processes and ways of thinking about information — with a little abstraction, of course.
Quantum computing, on the other hand, is very different from how humans think about and interact with data. It doesn’t make intuitive sense, and not only because we haven’t developed the language for it. Our minds really just don’t work that way!
So although even I can now claim to have operated a quantum computer (technically true), there are remarkably few people in the world who can say they can do so deliberately in pursuit of a specific problem. That means progress will be slow (by tech industry standards) and very limited for years to come as the basics of this science are established and the ideas of code and data that we have held for decades are loosened.
2. Early applications will be incredibly domain-specific and not generalizable.
A common misunderstanding of quantum computing is that it amounts to extremely fast parallel processing. Now, if someone had invented a device that performed supercomputer-like operations faster than any actual supercomputer, that would be an entirely different development and, frankly, a much more useful one. But that isn’t the case.
As an engineer explained to me at Google’s lab, not only are quantum computers good at completely different things, they’re incredibly bad at the things classical computers do well. If you wanted to do arithmetical logic like addition and multiplication, it would be much better and faster to use an abacus.
Part of the excitement around quantum computing is learning which tasks a qubit-based system is actually good at. There are theories, but as mentioned before, they’re untested. It remains to be seen whether a given optimization problem or probability space navigation is really suitable for this type of computer at all.
What they are pretty sure about so far is that there are certain very specific tasks that quantum computers will trivialize — but it isn’t something general like “compression and decompression” or “sorting databases.” It’s things like evaluating a galaxy of molecules in all possible configurations and conformations to isolate high-probability interactions.
As you can imagine, that isn’t very useful for an enterprise security company. On the other hand, it could be utterly transformative for a pharmacology or materials company. Do you run one of those? Then in all likelihood, you are already investing in this kind of research and are well aware of the possibilities quantum brings to the table.
But the point is these applications will not only be very few in number, but difficult to conceptualize, prove, and execute. Unlike something like a machine learning agent, this isn’t a new approach that can easily be tested and iterated — it’s an entirely new discipline which people can only now truly begin to learn.
The architect of the new service is Dr. Freddy Abnousi, the head of the company’s healthcare research, who was previously linked to an earlier skunkworks initiative that would collect anonymized hospital data and use a technique called “hashing” to match the data to individuals that exist in both data sets — for research, according to CNBC reporting.
The company’s initial focus is on the top two leading causes of death in the U.S.: heart disease and cancer — along with the flu, which affects millions of Americans each year.
“Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women around the world and in many cases it is 100% preventable. By incorporating prevention reminders into platforms people are accessing every day, we’re giving people the tools they need to be proactive about their heart health,” said Dr. Richard Kovacs, the president of the American College of Cardiology, in a statement.
Users who want to access Facebook’s Preventive Health tools can search in the company’s mobile app to find which checkups are recommended by the company’s partner organizations based on the age and gender of a user.
The tool allows Facebookers to mark when the tests are completed, set reminders to schedule future tests and tell people in their social network about the tool.
Facebook will even direct users to resources on where to have the tests. One thing that the company will not do, Facebook assures potential users, is collect the results of any test.
“Health is particularly personal, so we took privacy and safety into account from the beginning. For example, Preventive Health allows you to set reminders for your future checkups and mark them as done, but it doesn’t provide us, or the health organizations we’re working with, access to your actual test results,” the company wrote in a statement. “Personal information about your activity in Preventive Health is not shared with third parties, such as health organizations or insurance companies, so it can’t be used for purposes like insurance eligibility.”
The company said that people can also use the new health tool to find locations that administer flu shots.
“Flu vaccines can have wide-ranging benefits beyond just preventing the disease, such as reducing the risk of hospitalization, preventing serious medical events for some people with chronic diseases, and protecting women during and after pregnancy,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC, in a statement. “New tools like this will empower users with instant access to information and resources they need to become a flu fighter in their own communities.”
The medical potential of AI and metabolites | Leila Pirhaji
Many diseases are driven by metabolites -- small molecules in your body like fat, glucose and cholesterol -- but we don't know exactly what they are or how they work. Biotech entrepreneur and TED Fellow Leila Pirhaji shares her plan to build an AI-based network to characterize metabolite patterns, better understand how disease develops -- and discover more effective treatments.
A year ago, Google rolled out “.new” links that worked like shortcuts to instantly create new Google documents. For example, you could type “doc.new” (without the quotes) to create a new Google Doc or “sheet.new” to create a new spreadsheet. Today, Google is bringing the .new shortcuts to the rest of the web. Now, any company or organization can register their own .new domain to generate a .new shortcut that works with their own web app. Several have already done so, including Microsoft, which now has “word.new” to start a new word document, or Spotify, who has “playlist.new” to start adding songs to a new playlist on its streaming app.
The domains are designed to get users straight the action. That is, instead of having to visit a service, sign in, then find the right menu or function, they could just start creating.
However, some of today’s new domains aren’t quite as seamless as Google’s own. Because most Google Docs users are already signed into to Google, it’s easy to jump right to creating a new online document.
But other services aren’t used as often. That means Medium’s “story.new” doesn’t let you immediately start writing your blog post, unless you’re already signed in to Medium. If not, it drops you on a “Join Medium” sign-up page instead. This doesn’t make it necessarily any easier to use Medium — a better use case would have allowed the user to just start writing, saving their text under a temporary account, then prompt them to join Medium upon exit or clicking “publish.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Word.new, a direct rival to Google’s own doc.new, isn’t yet resolving.
Other participants include sell.new (eBay), canva.new and design.new (Canva), reservation.new (OpenTable), webex.new and letsmeet.new (Cisco WebEx meeting room creation), link.new (Bit.ly), invoice.new (Stripe’s dashboard), api.new (launch new Node.js API endpoints from RunKit), Coda.new (Coda), music.new (create personalized song artwork for OVO Sound artist releases and more), and repo.new (GitHub.)
Spotify also picked up podcast.new, which takes you to Anchor, in addition to playlist.new.
Considering the lineup, it’s clear that there’s not as much of a gold rush for these action-based domains as they are for other top-level domains. There are some fun use cases, like Spotify’s, and practical ones like Word.new, but others are less compelling because they drop you on sign up/sign in pages as they’re not everyday services.
And some are just odd land grabs. Like Ovo Sound, the record label founded by Drake, which snagged “music.new” — a domain that you would think would go to a larger streaming service. (In fact, it’s somewhat surprising that Google’s own music service, YouTube Music, didn’t grab that one for itself.)
Google says any company can register these domains, all of which are secured over HTTPS connections like .app, .page., and .dev domains are.
Through January 14, 2020, trademark owners can register their trademarked .new domains. Starting December 2, 2019, anyone can apply for a .new domain during the Limited Registration Period.
It’s been superseded by the Nintendo Switch, but that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your Nintendo Wii U. Like its predecessor, the Wii, the Wii U has been hacked, enabling the installation of homebrew software and more.
Want to get more out of your Nintendo Wii U? Here’s how to set it up with homebrew software.
What Is Homebrew?
If you want to hack a games console, and install software that isn’t supposed to be run on it (such as a new operating system), you need homebrew. It’s basically software that is designed to make a proprietary hardware platform—such as the Wii U—programmable by users. As the Wii U is no longer Nintendo’s key games console, less and less software is set to be released for it.
If you want to keep your Wii U useful, you need to hack it with homebrew.
While there are two ways to hack a Wii U, the easiest, temporary method is also the most unreliable. As such, we’re going to install the browser exploit in favour of the longer, permanent hack.
NOTE: Hacking your Wii U to install homebrew software is potentially dangerous to your system, and could lead to data loss, or even bricking. Only proceed if you are aware of the risks.
Also note that this is a comparatively simple hack. Other hacks need quite a bit of time, but this can be completed in around 30 minutes max.
What You Will Need for this Hack
To install the Homebrew Channel on your Wii U, ensure your system is on version 5.5.2, 5.5.3, and 5.5.4. Check this in System Settings, found on the Wii U Menu (not Quick Start). The version number is in the top-right corner of the screen.
Next, make sure you have:
A network connection with internet access
An SD card (or microSD with an SD adaptor) of at least 16GB or more, formatted in FAT32
You’ll also need to download the following files to your computer:
Save these to a directory on your computer, ready for use shortly.
How to Exploit the Wii U with Haxchi
To install the custom firmware, you will need to find an exploit, then run it.
The Haxchi exploit can be used on the following DS Virtual Console games:
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Kirby: Mass Attack
New Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario 64 DS
Big Brain Academy
Kirby: Squeak Squad / Kirby: Mouse Attack
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky
Wario: Master of Disguise
Brain Age
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Pokemon Ranger
WarioWare: Touched
DK: Jungle Climber
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Yoshi's Island DS
Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Yoshi's Touch & Go
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Mario Kart DS
Starfox Command
If you don’t own any of these, you’ll need to buy one.
However, note that as of September 2019 you cannot simply purchase via your old-style Nintendo account with a credit card. Instead, you’ll need to ensure a Nintendo Network account has been created and linked to the old account. Once this is done, you can add funds to your account from a credit card or PayPal.
Frankly, it’s a massive pain, so if you don’t already own any exploit games, you may prefer to avoid. The browser exploit still works, after all.
After adding the funds, buy one of the apps. If you’re concerned about saving money, the cheapest available app is Big Brain Academy.
In some cases, exploitable games you already own won’t accept the hack. In this case, just delete then re-download it and try again.
Format the SD Card
Setting the right format for the SD card is vital for this hack to work.
If you’re using a Windows PC, the native formatting tool will not work. This is because it cannot be set to accurately format in FAT32 with an Allocation Unit Size of 32K (specifically, 32768 bytes).
To work around this, you’ll need a third-party formatting tool for SD cards. While many options are available, the best results have been reported using Guiformat. Two versions of this tool are available for Windows: a standard, 32-bit SD formatter, and a 64-bit version. If you’re using 64-bit Windows, you’ll need the latter version as the 32-bit Guiformat won’t work.
Once downloaded, run Guiformat. Ensure the correct Drive is selected, then set the Allocation unit size to 32768. Set a volume label (do not use “wiiu”, as this will cause conflicts and the hack will fail) then click Start.
Wait for the SD card to be formatted, then close Guiformat.
Copy the Wii U Hack Files to Your SD Card
With the SD card still in your computer, unzip the downloaded files as follows:
Unzip the Homebrew Launcher ZIP file to the SD card. You should end up with a file structure wiiu/apps/homebrew_launcher.
Next, unzip JSTypeHax-Payload.zip and send the payload.elf file to the wiiu directory on the card.
Finally, extract the contents of the Haxchi ZIP file to the SD card.
Now that those files are copied to the SD card, you’re ready to run the hack. First, though, safely eject the SD card and insert it into the Wii U. Power the console up.
Run on Homebrew Launcher on the Wii U
To start the exploit process, you need to run the Homebrew Launcher. Ensure the Wii U is connected to the internet, then open the browser and go to u.wiidb.de. Take a moment to save the URL in your Wii U browser bookmarks.
Next, tap HAXX and wait. If everything you’ve done so far is successful, your Wii U will be exploited.
The Homebrew Launcher will load. Click the HB App Store link to explore the world of Nintendo homebrew applications and games! Here, a world of retro gaming will open to you, but there is a downside—it’s only available through the Wii U browser. To make the hack permanent, you can run the Haxchi installer, but note that this is not without risk.
Accessing the Homebrew Channel via the browser is the safer option. All you have to contend with is the problem of the SD card not being correctly formatted. In this case, you’ll see the following error:
Just go back and reformat, then copy the files back to the SD card to get around this.
Hacking the Wii U Permanently
As hacks go for the Wii U, this is perhaps the simplest yet. Other complicated, more permanent hacks are available online, but these aren’t necessary for recent versions of the Wii U’s firmware. Instead, opt for these if your Wii U isn’t on 5.5.2 or later.
The hack explained here will give you instant access to the Homebrew Channel. It’s simple, easy to do, and relatively quick.
However, it is a temporary web hack. It will do what you want (in most cases) but for a permanent hack you’ll need more time. This excellent video will walk you through the full, permanent Wii U Homebrew hack.
Hack Your Nintendo Wii U Today
You’ve got everything you need to run temporary and permanent hacks on your Nintendo Wii U. Time to make better use of the old console. With tools for running retro Nintendo games and even installing a Linux OS, there’s plenty to keep you engaged. Breathing new life into an old console has never been so much fun.
If you’re a fan of retro gaming systems, or just getting interested, understand that some old systems won’t “just work.” Instead, you need to take some care with them first. Here’s how to safely boot your retro gaming consoles and avoid component failure.
Every day, thousands of people turn to the Tor network to enhance their internet privacy. From paranoid web-users to people living under a dictatorship, these users utilize onion routing to keep their browsing habits a secret.
But what is “Tor,” and how does onion routing protect people from prying eyes?
What Is “Tor”?
“Tor” refers to the Tor Project, a non-profit organization that receives funding from the US government. The primary focus of the Tor Project is secrecy; they promote the ability for people to browse the internet and speak out without government surveillance. The Tor Project’s most notable product is the Tor network, which maintains privacy through what’s called “onion routing.”
People interact with the Tor network via the Tor Browser. This is a modified version of Firefox which allows people to use the Tor network. You don’t need any special addons or tools in order to surf using the Tor Browser, so anyone can use it without needing to know how it all works.
How Does Onion Routing Work?
The Tor network uses onion routing to preserve its users’ privacy, but how does it work?
To better understand how onion routing works, let’s say you want to send an item to someone, but you don’t want anyone to know that it was you who sent it. You don’t even want the couriers of your item to know you sent an item to this person specifically.
Sending Items Securely Using Layers
To achieve this, you first hire three couriers—let’s call them Courier A, B, and C. You tell each one that they’ll receive a chest and a key to unlock it. When they get the chest, they must unlock it with their key and take out the item within. The item will be addressed to the courier’s destination.
Then, you take the item you want to send and address it to your recipient. You put this in a lockbox, lock it, then write Courier C’s address on it. You put this lockbox into a larger one, lock it, then write Courier B’s address on that. Finally, you put this double-lockbox into an even bigger one and lock that.
Now you have a Russian nesting doll situation with a lockbox inside a lockbox, which too is inside a lockbox. For sake of clarity, let’s call the largest box Lockbox A, the middle-sized one Lockbox B, and the smallest one Lockbox C. For the final step, you send Lockbox A’s key to Courier A, Lockbox B’s key to Courier B, and Lockbox C’s to Courier C.
Then you give Lockbox A to Courier A. Courier A unlocks it to reveal Lockbox B, which is addressed to Courier B. Courier A delivers this to Courier B. Then, Courier B unlocks Lockbox B to reveal Lockbox C, addressed to Courier C.
Courier B delivers it to Courier C. Courier C opens up Lockbox C to reveal the addressed item, which Courier C delivers.
How This Method Secures You
The best part about this method is that no courier has the complete story. One courier can’t deduce that you sent an item to your recipient.
Courier A knows you sent an item, but doesn’t know who the end recipient is.
Courier B knows a lockbox passed by but has no idea who originally sent it (you) or where it’s headed (your recipient).
Courier C knows what the item was, and who it was sent to, but not who sent it originally.
How This Method Defends Against Spies
After you use this method enough times, a nosey organization wants to know what’s going on. They plant some courier moles to relay back on who’s sending lockboxes and who they’re for. Unfortunately, the next time you use this lockbox method, two couriers are moles!
There’s no need to panic, however; this system is resistant against snooping couriers.
If Courier A and B are moles, they know you sent a delivery, but not who you’re sending to.
Similarly, if Courier B and C are moles, they know what the delivery is and who it’s for, but not who sent it.
The most dangerous combination is if A and C are moles. They know you sent a lockbox to A, who then sends it onto B. Courier C knows that they receive a lockbox from B, and they know the final recipient. However, because neither A nor C has concrete proof that the lockbox A received contained the lockbox that C handled. Only Courier B would know that information.
Of course, in a real-world scenario, the third case is easy to crack. The mole will just go for the one weirdo that keeps sending lockboxes in the mail.
But what if thousands of other people used this same method? At this point, the moles at A and C have to rely on timing. If A delivers a lockbox from you to B, and B gives a lockbox to C on the next day, then A and C will suspect they’re both on your chain. One case isn’t enough to go on, so they have to see if this pattern repeats several times before confirming it.
The Risk of Sending Sensitive Information
There is another problem with Courier C being a mole. Remember that Courier C gets to see the item you’re sending. This means you shouldn’t send any information about yourself through the lockbox system, else Courier C can piece together the details.
The best way to prevent leaking sensitive information is to not trust Courier C in the first place. However, you can also work out an encryption key with your recipient, which allows you to send encrypted messages without any spying.
This is how onion routing works. Onion routing is when a packet of data is protected with three “layers” of encryption. These layers are what give the onion routing technique its name—like the layers of an onion.
When a packet is sent through onion routing, it goes through three nodes; the Entry, Middle, and Exit node. These are the three couriers in the above example. Each node only knows how to decrypt its designated layer, which then tells them where to send the packet next.
You may imagine that Tor owns all of the nodes in their network, but it’s actually not the case! Having one company control all the nodes means it isn’t private. The company can freely monitor the packets as they travel, which gives away the entire game. As such, the Tor network is run by volunteers all around the world. These are typically privacy advocates who want to help strengthen the Tor network.
When you boot up the Tor browser, it randomly selects three of these volunteered servers to act as each node. It gives each server a key to decrypt its layer of encryption, much like the keys for the chests in the above example. Then the browser encrypts its data with three layers of protection and passes it across these nodes.
The Weaknesses of Onion Routing
There are organizations who dislike what Tor is doing. These groups often act as volunteers and put servers onto the Tor network in hopes of analyzing traffic. However, much like the above example, the Tor network can resist spies to a certain degree.
If your Entry and Exit nodes are owned by an espionage organization, they can somewhat monitor your activity. They see you sending data into the Entry node, and then some data leaves the Exit node to its destination. If the mole monitors the time it takes, they could theoretically tie the traffic to you. As such, while it’s extremely hard to monitor someone on the Tor network, it isn’t impossible.
Fortunately, for an organization to do this, they need to get lucky. At the time of writing, Tor Metric reports that there are around 5,000 relays in use. The Tor browser will randomly select three of them when you connect, which makes it hard for an organization to target you specifically.
On top of this, some users use a VPN before connecting to Tor. That way, any spies on the Tor network will trace the user back to their VPN provider. If the user is using a privacy-respecting VPN, the spies will be out of luck.
Another point the above example made is that you can’t trust the couriers with private information. This is because Courier C (the Exit node) can see what you’re sending. If they’re malicious, they can use the network as a means to harvest information. Fortunately, there are ways to stay safe from a malicious Exit node, such as only using HTTPS.
How to Access the Tor Network
Accessing the Tor network is easy. Visit the Tor Browser download page and install it onto your system. Then, use it as if it were your normal browser. You’ll notice that things will load a little slower. This is because your traffic will go through the three nodes; much like how sending an item via three couriers is slower than sending it directly. However, your browsing will be very secure and it’ll be hard for people to track you.
A word of warning: the Tor Browser is the same tool criminals use to access the dark web. When you use the browser, you gain the ability to access the dark web, too. If this makes you uneasy, don’t click on or visit any websites that end in “.onion,” as these are dark web pages. Fortunately, you won’t find onion websites if you’re not actively searching for them.
It’s also worth learning the best tips for using the Tor Browser, so you can get the best out of your browsing experience.
Securing Your Privacy on the internet
The Tor network is an amazing tool for anyone who wishes to hide their identity. Thanks to its onion routing technology, it’s very hard for someone to work out your browsing habits. Best of all, accessing this network is just as easy as using Firefox!
If you want to stay even safer, be sure to grab a free VPN service for further privacy.
Cord cutters have no shortage of places to watch movies and television shows online. Between the paid options such as Netflix and Hulu, and the endless number of free services, it’s possible to find just about any content that you want to watch.
However, one service that people frequently overlook is IMDb TV. Possibly because they’ve never heard of it. What is IMDb TV? Who can use it? What type of content is available? And is it worth your time? Let’s take a closer look at IMDb TV.
What Is IMDb TV?
IMDb TV is an entirely free service for watching TV shows and movies. Unsurprisingly, it is operated by IMDb.com. Most people are aware of the website thanks to its impressive catalog of ratings, reviews, storyline summaries, and cast lists.
What some people don’t realize, however, is that IMDb is owned by Amazon. And it’s Amazon that has driven the creation of IMDb TV, which was initially launched as IMDb Freedive at the start of 2019.
The content on IMDb TV is ad-supported, so you’ll have to sit through the interludes at the beginning and during the videos you watch. There is no way to pay to remove the ads, and the ads are unskippable.
Where Is IMDb TV Available?
At the moment, only users in the United States can watch IMDb TV. However, in an announcement that accompanied the rebrand from IMDb Freedive to IMDb TV in June 2019, IMDb confirmed that it will be expanding into Europe.
For now, if you live anywhere other than the United States, you will have to use a VPN to watch IMDb TV. MakeUseOf recommends ExpressVPN and CyberGhost thanks to the services’ low price and high levels of reliability.
Which Devices Can You Watch IMDb TV On?
The only official standalone IMDb TV app is available for Amazon Fire TV devices. However, you can also watch IMDb TV through any web browser by visiting IMDb.com/tv/.
While there are no dedicated IMDb TV apps for Android and iOS, you can watch IMDb TV using the standard IMDb apps. Just click the “IMDb TV” category to see what movies and TV shows are available to stream.
Download: IMDb: Movies and TV Shows on Android | iOS
What TV Shows and Movies Are Available on IMDb TV?
IMDb is tight-lipped about the precise amount of content available on its service. What the company has confirmed, however, is that the amount of content trebled at the time of the rebrand.
IMDb TV has deals in place with many of the leading TV and Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment, and MGM Studios.
These deals mean that, unlike many free TV and movie services, there is a solid amount of critically-acclaimed content for you to dive into. Some of the best movies on IMDb TV include La La Land, Snatch, Donnie Darko, and Captain Fantastic. La La Land won six Oscars in 2016. There are also plenty of older classic movies. For example, Apocalypse Now, Rain Man, and Lord of War are all on offer.
Some of the most popular free TV series on IMDb TV include Midsomer Murders, Colombo, Alf, Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, The A-Team, and Dallas.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, keep an eye on the listings. IMDb is adding new content all the time.
IMDb TV does not stream live TV channels.
How to Find Content to Watch on IMDb TV
Unfortunately, finding shows on IMDb TV is not straightforward. Although the homepage offers some broad seasonal categories, such as for Christmas and Halloween, the service lacks navigable genre categories that are commonplace on most streaming apps.
That might be to disguise the fact that the content library is a bit thinner than IMDb would like to admit. Or maybe it’s simply because IMDb TV is relatively new and therefore still under active development.
On the positive side, you can quickly tell whether a movie or TV show is available on IMDb TV when you’re using IMDb’s website directory. If the title is on offer, you will see a prominent link labeled “Watch for Free on IMDb TV” that you can click on.
Are There Parental Controls on IMDb TV?
Another area IMDb TV is lacking in is parental controls. If you watch via your web browser there are no parental controls available. Which, given that the service includes kids’ TV shows and movies, will be concerning for parents.
The way IMDb TV displays its content doesn’t help matters. For example, check out the image above. There is a row of wholly-unsuitable-for-kids sci-fi movies directly above a row containing family shows like Hey Arnold and Looney Tunes.
On the Amazon Fire TV app, the situation is slightly better. IMDb can pull your viewing restrictions and PIN settings from your Amazon account.
Are There Watchlists on IMDb TV?
The only other significant feature worth mentioning is the presence of watchlists. Watchlists are one area where IMDb TV excels. The service leans heavily on the IMDb database of content to provide much better watchlist usability than services like Netflix and Hulu.
You can order your shows by rating, runtime, number of user ratings, your own ratings, popularity, and IMDb ratings. You can also easily filter by either movies or TV series, rather than having everything in a single list.
Is IMDb TV Worth Using?
So, is IMDb TV worth your time?
Look, we’re never going to turn down another way to watch free content, but at the time of writing IMDb TV feels like it’s still a work in progress.
The issues with content navigation and parental controls need to be resolved. Similarly, even though some decent shows and movies are on offer, the size of the library needs to be expanded before it becomes a viable alternative to some of its competitors.
Version control is an essential skill for programmers to have. GitHub is one of the more popular programs to run version control, typically through the command line.
The command line is not the only option to work with your code in GitHub, however. GitHub Desktop is an app that gives you the same control over your repositories, in a more visual way. This includes one of the most important version control tasks: cloning a repository. Here’s how.
What Is GitHub Desktop?
GitHub Desktop is an app for Mac and PC users that takes version control from the command line to the desktop. The command line, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve. GitHub created this program to simplify version control.
GitHub Desktop can perform the same tasks you use to control repositories including:
Cloning repositories
Deleting repositories
Updating and saving repositories
Interested? Grab the GitHub Desktop download from the GitHub site.
Download and run the installer (an EXE file for Windows or DMG for Mac), then configure your Git in GitHub Desktop.
Enter your name and email into the configuration. This is used to label all your work in GitHub Desktop with your name. It is helpful to use the same information you use with your GitHub profile.
Click Continue through the configuration and onto the final landing screen. Click Finish to be taken to the front page of GitHub Desktop.
Signing in to GitHub
To use GitHub Desktop you will need to sign in with your GitHub login. From the front page click on File and scroll down to Options.
In the accounts menu, you will see an option to sign in with your GitHub.com account. Sign in with your username and password, then wait to be taken back to the home screen with your information now loaded. Let’s close GitHub Desktop for now.
For this tutorial let’s create a repository using GitHub.com, so we can clone it into GitHub Desktop. You can use an existing repository if you have one, but creating a new one will show how GitHub Desktop works hand-in-hand with GitHub.
Let’s create a new repository from the home screen. Around the top left of the screen, you will see an option to create a new repository. Click New to begin the process.
Choose a repository name; any name will do as long as you remember it for cloning. For this exercise let’s call the repository “Desktop” so we remember the name.
Let’s set this repository to Public and add a description. Check the box to initialize the repository with a “README” file, this will make it available to clone as soon as you finish.
Click Create repository to complete.
Now that we have a repository created in GitHub, as well as our GitHub profile signed in to GitHub Desktop, we’re ready to use the program!
Cloning the Repository in GitHub Desktop
Now that the repository is created, re-open GitHub Desktop. You will now see the repository we just created is now loaded into the app. Using GitHub Desktop gives you access to all your code on GitHub, outside of your browser.
For this tutorial, we are going to clone the “Desktop” repository onto the computer so we can modify it.
From the front page of the app, click on the Desktop repository and a button will appear to clone the repository you selected.
Click on this button to clone your repository. GitHub Desktop will pop up a window to confirm the name of the repository, as well as the location on your computer you would like to clone it to.
This repository is going to be saved to C:\Desktop. To clarify, this is being saved to my C Drive in Windows, and the folder name is Desktop. Not to be confused with the traditional Windows Desktop location.
Click Clone to copy the repository to this new folder.
GitHub Desktop has now copied the repository into a local folder for editing, all without using the command line. From here, you can make additional changes and save to the repository using Commit to master.
Since the folder is now saved to your computer, you can also navigate to the folder and add files or make changes. GitHub Desktop will save all your changes, and you can commit that way as well.
You now can comfortably clone any repository stored on GitHub, whether your own project or another developer’s code.
Why Not Use the Command Line?
The command line is certainly powerful, and every developer should learn how to use it at a basic level. Knowing the command line is essential to using help GitHub Desktop since some of the terms you will see are the same for both programs.
GitHub Desktop does not replace the command line. GitHub Desktop aims to put your information in front of you, using a graphical user interface (GUI).
Some may find that this is easier to work with. Some may be experts in the command line, but just want a program that they can click through. Programming is always about working smarter. If you find something that works nicely with your workflow, keep it!
Next Steps With GitHub Desktop
Now that you’ve cloned a repository using GitHub Desktop, give modifying your folder a try and committing the changes back to your repository.
The most beautiful thing about planet Earth is the landscapes. The vistas. The scenic views that make us gasp. From the rocky orange deserts of Nevada to the lush green forests of the Amazon, each color lends itself to the landscapes of the world.
Like a painter’s brush against the canvas, the world around us can be a great inspiration to our lives and travel choices. Whether you’re clamoring for more travel inspiration or just want a scenic picture to cross your Instagram feed more often, this list is for you.
From Punta Cana to Barcelona, Tiffany Nguyen has an eye for nature. Based in Los Angeles, Tiff balances traveling the world as a photographer and being a Dentist. Her strongest feature is the ability to capture the scale of her surroundings, especially mountain ranges.
Tiffany’s sharp eye for natural lighting and clean colors lend her credibility—her work with companies such as Sony and Amazon are the icing on top.
Nature holds many mysteries and wonders, right under our nose. As seasons change, the color palette follows suit. The secrets of nature are different for each land and deserve a listening ear. And Alex will tell us all about it. His Instagram has over 2 million followers, highlighting the deep blues and rustling greens of the world’s forests and valleys.
Aside from Instagram, Alex creates documentaries on nature for TV networks alongside his Youtube Channel.
The positivity of Beautiful Destinations is contagious. This Instagram account is home to a large assortment of “Best Of’s” when it comes to travel photography. If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to following photographers, this account is for you. Each illustrious photo is hand-picked from other travel accounts, giving credit to the photographers and highlighting nature’s wonder!
Beautiful Destinations has an emphasis on global awareness and our ability to keep the Earth beautiful if we work together.
A post shared by Gary Arndt (@everythingeverywhere) on
Everything Everywhere is a one man show when it comes to travel photography. With dozens of awards under his belt, Gary Arndt wants to share his love for nature, at all costs. As he travels the world, each photo comes with a diary entry that documents the journey, hardships, and joys of traveling. Make sure to check his previous Instagram stories for spotlights on the heritage of every place he visits!
From the Baltics to Switzerland, one picture from Gary will have you ready to go on vacation again.
Matt Karsten, also known as Expert Vagabond, sees nature and the cities we build around it as extraordinary. So he thought, why not visit them all? With a perfect balance between family life and travel, Matt’s vagabond personality was ripe for photography, so we aren’t surprised by his natural inclination for it.
Along with his dual citizenship in America and Italy, his excursions range from Tanzania to Russia. With the purpose of enjoying life to the fullest, there’s so much to love about this traveler and his photos.
Hello Emilie knows how to turn each photo into a statement of color and emotion. With a penchant for a rusty orange, she proves her value as a photographer in each and every scene she captures. Emilie’s Instagram account is home to over a thousand pictures and she’s quite outspoken about her love for travel.
From expansive mountain ranges to serene dusty landscapes, Emilie never fails to deliver a mystical approach to each country she visits.
A post shared by Travis Burke (@travisburkephotography) on
Travis Burke knows that life can hit hard. So he pushes forward with gusto, claiming difficult mountain passages and winding jungles as his domain to conquer. His story as an athlete and photography adventurer is inspiring. Not only does Travis push the boundaries of human limitations with his daring journeys, but he begs us to do the same.
Many blogs and Instagram accounts are there to say “you can do it” from afar. But few actually go and show you how rewarding it can be to live life to the fullest while exploring the world.
Earthpix is the best of the best when it comes to scenic travel photos. With photos that could be off of a travel guide, Earthpix rounds up the best of the best.
With exotic locations galore, there’s enough variety to wow anyone. This grouping of likeminded travel photography enthusiasts is the perfect place to chat up camera lenses and anything else related.
These vistas are awe-inspiring, with many of the aerial shots being shot with drones. Want to take drone shots of your own? Check out our recommendations for the best drones for photography.
Susan Seubert is a jack of all trades in the photography world. Her award-winning work stretches from food and portrait photography to interiors and travel.
Susan’s knack for animals and flowers only adds to the warming shots she frequently posts. If there’s one person on this list who can do it all in style, it’s Susan. Hired on as an official National Geographic photographer, each Instagram post will have you ready to book a trip ASAP.
Marta Kulesza’s passion is the outdoors, and it shows. Vast shots of large landscapes and small people permeate her work. Each photo is a testament to how expansive the Earth and its vistas truly are.
With multiple travel guides for different continents, expect to see a lot of helpful tips on how to pursue life on the road.
If these pictures satiate your photography itch, perhaps you’re realizing how much you want to try it yourself. Travel photography takes time, effort, and a whole lot of patience. That’s where we come in.
The domains are designed to get users straight the action. That is, instead of having to visit a service, sign in, then find the right menu or function, they could just start creating.
