Devialet partners with Huawei for new speaker

Huawei and Devialet have unveiled a new speaker specifically designed for the Chinese market, the Huawei Sound X. French startup Devialet has been looking at ways to license its technology and patents to consumer electronics manufacturers, such as Sky, Iliad, Altice USA and Renault.

While Devialet only sells very premium speakers under its own brand, such as the $1,000 Phantom Reactor, the Huawei Sound X is much more affordable. You’ll be able to buy a pair of speakers for RMB 1,999, the equivalent of $285. Unfortunately, those speakers will only be available in China for now.

The pill-shaped design is reminiscent of the Apple HomePod or the most recent Amazon Echo. It features a 60W double subwoofer and 360-degree sound. You can either use the pair of speakers in different rooms or pair them to create a stereo sound system.

The Huawei Sound X has six microphones so that you can control it with your voice. You can also control the speaker with capacitive touch buttons at the top of the speaker.

If you have a Huawei phone, you can tap it on the top of the speaker to hand off music to the speaker. It also integrates with Huawei HiLink, the company’s framework to control your connected objects around your home.

Devialet has been slowly expanding to China with a distribution partnership, two Devialet stores in Beijing and Shanghai and retail stores partnerships. According to the company, China is now the second market for Devialet.

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What Can Photoshop Do That GIMP Can’t?

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (or GIMP for short) is a popular open source image editing application that’s been around for awhile. While GIMP is considered a free Photoshop competitor, and there’s a lot it can do, there are some areas where it still falls short.

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If you’re torn between the two programs, here’s a list of pros and cons for GIMP vs. Photoshop. What can Photoshop do that GIMP can’t? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

Note: This article isn’t a hit piece on GIMP! Plenty of us still use GIMP on a daily basis. It’s just an honest look at where Photoshop’s massive budget and team of developers have given it an edge.

1. Photoshop Has CMYK Color Mode

There are two dominant color modes that professional designers use: RGB and CMYK. RGB comes from red, green, and blue pixels that are used to display images on a screen.

CMYK is a more in-depth color range that uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks to create a picture. It’s used by commercial printers to print high quality photos.

Any color can be described by these two systems, but unfortunately GIMP doesn’t offer CMYK mode.

Photoshop does.

If you’re working on something that needs to be displayed accurately while in physical format, then you need to work with CMYK for best results. For designers, no CMYK can be a deal breaker. This is especially true if you’re planning on printing your work. So in the battle between Photoshop vs. GIMP, Photoshop clearly comes out on top.

For more information on working with colors, we suggest reading how to create a custom gradient in Photoshop.

2. Easier, Non-Destructive Editing

One of the most powerful Photoshop innovations over the last decade is how much easier it has become to make non-destructive edits through selections and layers. Rather than changing the original file, you can use a wide array of tools to modify things in a reversible way.

This constant “undo” button is a huge reason why I personally enjoy the program.

But is GIMP good for this too?

While GIMP has improved a lot in recent years, non-destructive editing is one area where it still can’t quite compete with Photoshop. If you’re making simple adjustments to your image, that’s no problem. If you’re trying to do crazy Photoshop composites, however, it makes your work harder.

3. Better Support and Constant Development

Photoshop is made by a multi-billion dollar company. GIMP is made by a team of dedicated volunteers.

While this hasn’t stopped GIMP from creating a respectable program, it does have a lot of knock-on effects that are unavoidable when you’re faced with such an insurmountable hurdle.

So is GIMP as good as Photoshop when it comes to customer support?

Not even close.

Due to its large budget, Adobe has an entire team dedicated to helping you with every problem. As long as you have your Adobe ID on hand, you can simply speak or chat to technical support staff.

With GIMP, you’re stuck trawling through open source forums by yourself. It’s fun to be the one to implement a cool new feature, but volunteering to answer tech support calls? Not a hope.

By the same token, Adobe is able to keep development going constantly. GIMP is reliant on volunteers’ free time. Because of this, it can take longer for a GIMP developer to get around to fixing things, let alone implementing new features.

These are just a couple examples of how a bigger budget and team can help you.

4. Photoshop Has More Powerful Tools

All this extra development, resources, time, and money mean that Photoshop has more powerful tools. Both Photoshop and GIMP offer basic functions like levels, curves, and masks, but when it comes to real pixel manipulation, Photoshop leaves GIMP behind.

For example, Photoshop has four separate healing tools, each with an array of controls that let you determine how they operate. GIMP just has one.

For removing the odd spot, this single tool is fine, but for serious editing work it’s not enough. This same situation repeats itself with many other features that the two applications share.

GIMP tools are great, but they’re a few years behind what Photoshop currently offers.

5. Photoshop Is Compatible With Other Apps

Photoshop is part of a larger ecosystem. There are programs like Lightroom and Illustrator, where you can open up Photoshop files to work on them, along with additional Creative Cloud apps.

For example, I use Bridge to keep my files organized. I also use Illustrator for drawing line art. Then I take that lineart over to Photoshop, where I finish the coloring and digital edits.

In Adobe’s Creative Cloud, there’s a program for every job, and each of these programs speak to each other. Unfortunately, GIMP is on its own.

GIMP is a single image editing app. There’s no Bridge to organize things; no Illustrator to create crisp logos and art.

For people who just want to use an image editing app for basic items, GIMP is wonderful. But if you’re creating multiple, complex designs every week, Photoshop playing nice with other Creative Cloud apps is essential.

6. Photoshop Handles Camera Raw and PSD Files

Modern cameras can shoot in RAW or JPEG file formats. RAW formats contain a lot more information, and if you want to improve your photographs, you should be using them.

Thanks to Camera Raw, Photoshop can also handle RAW files from every major camera manufacturer. Periodic updates add support for new files.

GIMP on the other hand? It can’t do this. You need to use a RAW processor to convert the file to a JPEG or another GIMP-readable file format before you can edit it in the program.

Thanks to Adobe’s dominance, its proprietary PSD file format has also become widely used. GIMP can open PSD files, but there’s a chance that it will fail to render things correctly.

If you need to convert the file, this creates a real problem if you’re working collaboratively. The file you look at with GIMP won’t be the same one as the file they created in Photoshop.

So in this case, can GIMP do everything that Photoshop can? Unfortunately, no.

7. Photoshop Is Easier to Learn

The question of whether or not Photoshop’s interface is more intuitive is debatable. It’s very complex, and there’s a lot to learn. What is not up for debate? The fact that Photoshop is easier to learn, thanks to countless awesome tutorials that are currently available.

These tutorials range from Adobe’s in-house videos, to our own articles on the subject matter. It turns out that if a lot of people need to use a service, then there will be a lot resources devoted to it.

While there are some tutorials for GIMP, there are not nearly as many. GIMP also leaves you very much on your own when you’re first starting out.

Photoshop Is a Powerful Tool Compared to GIMP

GIMP, Photoshop, and other mainstream image editing apps are great resources that a lot of people can use. We also want to stress that in the case of GIMP, the program is perfectly acceptable for making simple changes to your image.

When it comes to heavy duty graphics work, however, Photoshop more than justifies the price tag.

If you want to learn about the program’s many features, here’s a rundown of some of the things you can do with Adobe Photoshop.

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Should You Still Buy an MP3 Player?

Does anyone buy MP3 players anymore? At one time, everyone owned an MP3 player. However, now, everyone just listens to music using their smartphone.

The thing is, MP3 players are still a thing, and still serve their original function of playing music. So, is it still worth buying an MP3 player?

In this article, we examine the pros and cons of using MP3 players and help you decide whether it’s worth buying an MP3 player.

A Brief History of MP3 Players

Before discussing the pros and cons of using an MP3 player in detail, it helps to understand the history of these humble devices. The story of MP3 players—both the rise and fall—focuses on making music accessible.

While there were MP3 players before Apple showed their hand, the launch of the iPod in 2001 saw the format take off in a big way.

During the heyday in the early 21st century, the portability and ability to hold an extensive number of songs changed the way people listened to music. People no longer had to haul a piece of hardware along with their music collection spread across multiple CDs (or cassette tapes or vinyl records).

Image Credit: Tim Reckmann/Flickr

As with most technology, MP3 players reigned only for a short time. Their appeal diminished with the increased affordability and accessibility of smartphones. Suddenly, there were devices capable of playing your music and doing so much more besides. Rendering MP3 players pretty much obsolete.

However, you can still buy MP3 players today. The only question is, should you?

The Benefits of MP3 Players

Despite their inability to complete directly in all features with smartphones, MP3 players still boast some benefits. MP3 players focus solely on playing music, which may be beneficial to some people. Owning a dedicated MP3 player can also free your smartphone up for other tasks.

The Simpler Technology Means More Portability

When you think of a smartphone and what you need it for, the list can get big fast. Due to the variety of everyone’s needs, certain design features cannot change drastically on smartphones. Designers of smartphones have to anticipate a very broad use case for the everyday users of the device.

For example, you need a certain screen size on your phones to take advantage of video or mobile gaming. Conscious design decisions make sure they’re able to support a certain size-ratio for software. If you’ve ever gamed on a non-standard size TV, you’ll have experienced clipping issues where things meant to be on-screen aren’t there.

Because of situations like these, the need for comparable features across smartphones can limit a company from taking any risky ventures. On the opposite end, MP3 players have become more of a specialized device. Due to their ability to diversify more, MP3 players can come in a variety of sizes.

Image Credit: Mark Longair/Flickr

A great example of this comes in the form of wearable MP3 players. As a fusion between earbuds and MP3 players, the devices fulfill their niche well while also not taking on excess space. While you have more limited space for songs due to their size, it takes away common travel complaints.

The design isn’t bulky, and it takes up as much space as any standard earbud would, which makes it a great choice for working out. If you’ve ever jogged with a smartphone in your coat or pants pocket, you can feel the weight of a bigger device. If you need to look at some other design options for comparison, look at some of the best standalone MP3 players.

MP3 Players Boast Great Battery Life

Besides more fluid design options, MP3 players have the benefit of their own battery life. For those with smartphones, you most likely have dealt with portable batteries, charge stations, or car charger concerns just to keep up with your busy life. If you feel the need to reduce the time your smartphone is plugged into the mains, you could benefit from removing at least one task from your smartphone.

Image Credit: Moodboard/Flickr

You Have an FM Tuner On-Demand

For any fan of listening to radio, it helps to have more devices that support additional access points. While you can always access online radio on your smartphone or tablet, owning an MP3 player with an FM player included allows you to listen to radio without data or Wi-Fi.

The Downsides of MP3 Players

When it comes to the downsides of owning an MP3 player, there are various reasons to not own one. However, they mostly boil down to two simple reasons.

You Have to Own Yet Another Device

Compared to the technology of the past, the trend of all-in-one alleviates a lot of needs. Smartphones put most of what you need in your pocket. They let you call and message friends, listen to music, watch movies, and even work.

If you aren’t actively avoiding a smartphone’s other features, it’s hard to justify buying an MP3 player.

Streaming Services Are Better

As nice as it is to watch local content, streaming services have a lot to offer. If you subscribe to a streaming service such as Spotify or Pandora you can easily find any music you want to listen to.

Anyone who tried to maintain a music library will know that you always had to update your devices with new song releases. There was also manual transfers, song syncing, device updates, and other nuances to contend with. Whereas streaming services have fixed all of these issues.

The Final Verdict on MP3 Players

So, should you still buy an MP3 player? In a word, no. Unless you have a specific need for a standalone device to play your local music. Or, for whatever reason, you don’t own a smartphone.

However, for the majority of people, smartphones are the best option. And you can then spend the money you’ve saved not purchasing an MP3 player in one of the best gaming smartphones.

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Types of Internet Access Technologies, Explained

Nowadays, most computer users jump online daily without a second thought. But have you ever wondered what types of internet connections actually allow us to connect to the internet?

Let’s walk through the different types of internet connections used throughout the years and today. We’ll see how internet access has evolved over time, and the basics of how each method works.

Defining “Internet Service Provider”

Before we begin, it’s important to know what an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is. While anyone can use their computer as a standalone unit or connected to other computers on a local network, you need to go through an ISP to connect to the vast resources available on the internet.

An ISP is simply a company that provides its customers with access to the internet. Examples include Comcast and Verizon. These companies have vast network infrastructure that enables widespread and easy internet access.

What technology your ISP uses to connect you to the internet has changed over the years, and varies depending on your area. Let’s walk through some of the most common forms.

Types of Wired Internet Access

First we’ll look at the wired technologies for internet access. These typically enable you to get online at home.

Cable

Cable is a common delivery method for high-speed internet. This utilizes the same type of copper cable that you might have for cable TV service. Using a standard called DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification), a compatible modem can sort the TV signals from the internet data signals so both work on one line.

While cable is still a common method for broadband, it has competition in more modern methods. You can still expect solid speeds from cable internet, but it’s not the most powerful technology.

Fiber Optics

Fiber internet connections, offered by companies like Verizon FIOS, are one of the fastest home internet options available. Instead of traditional cable, they use light to transmit information.

At the originating end, a transmitter converts electrical signals to light. This light then bounces along a special cable made out of glass or plastic. When it reaches its destination, the receiving end converts the light back into data that your computer can use.

As you might expect, light travels a lot faster than electricity flowing through a wire. Unfortunately, fiber networks aren’t as ubiquitous as cable, and it’s expensive to run new lines. Thus, this type of connection isn’t available in some areas.

We use the term “fiber to the home” to describe this type of access. However, fiber optic cable is used in many other ways, such as lines across the ocean. Fiber optics can effectively send data across much longer distances than cable can, making it useful for these situations.

We’ve looked more closely at the differences between fiber and cable if you’re curious.

DSL

DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, uses existing telephone lines to transmit digital data. Because the data transfers at a higher frequency than voice calls, you can use the internet and talk on the phone at the same time.

With DSL, you install a physical filter that separates the voice and data signals. Otherwise, you’d hear a high-pitched hiss when talking on the phone.

The term almost always refers to asymmetric DSL, which means that your upload and download speeds are different. This makes sense, since most people download content from the internet more than they upload.

DSL is still offered today, mostly in rural areas without reliable cable infrastructure. It’s passable if you don’t need a fast connection, but increasingly limiting with today’s internet.

Dial-Up

Dial-up is rare now, but it’s worth briefly mentioning as it was the first widely used method for internet access.

Like DSL, it uses phone lines to connect to the internet. However, unlike DSL, only one type of communication can go through the line at a time. A dial-up modem converts digital signals from a computer into analog signals that go over the phone line by running a “phone call” to the ISP’s server.

Of course, this setup has a lot of limitations. The analog signal of dial-up is inefficient compared to digital signals. And infamously, placing a phone call while you were online would kick you off the internet.

The sound of a dial-up connection is nostalgic to many, but for the most part it’s now a connection technology that’s confined to the past.

Types of Mobile/Wireless Internet Access

It’s becoming more common to access the internet wirelessly outside of your home. Let’s next take a look at types of wireless internet services.

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet, as the name suggests, is a wireless solution that uses satellite dishes in the sky. It’s a line-of-sight technology, so you need a professional to set up a dish attached to your house that’s pointed at the service satellite.

As you probably know, the further a signal travels, the more it degrades. Because satellite dishes can be 40,000+ miles away, they often have high latency. This makes satellite connections poor for real-time activities like gaming.

The other issue with satellite internet is that it beams a signal into a large area. Everyone near you using a satellite connection has to share the bandwidth, which could be a large group.

This is the only internet access option for a lot of people in remote areas, but we don’t recommend it if you have other options.

Mobile Broadband

Internet access over a wireless network can take several different forms.

Similar to satellite internet, wireless broadband for the home allows you to pick up a signal from your ISP without cables. It’s not ideal since it has the same drawbacks, including slower speeds and interference susceptibility.

Most of the time when we say “mobile internet,” we mean wireless access technologies on mobile phones. Smartphones transmit and receive wireless radio waves, which allows them transfer digital data as well as voice calls. See our explanation of LTE, 4G, and 5G to learn how this technology has evolved.

Mobile internet also allows you to get your laptop online pretty much anywhere. Cell phone providers sell USB modems and other mobile internet devices that allow you to connect to your provider’s network through mobile technology like LTE. Just like your cell phone, this allows you to access the internet without connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

Now You Understand the Main Types of Internet Services

We’ve surveyed the basics of internet connection technologies, both wired and wireless. In a lot of cases, what you use is limited to what’s offered in your area. Unless you live in an extremely remote location, you probably have cable or fiber optic internet access at home and an LTE connection on your phone.

If you’re interested in more about the technology behind the web, find out where the internet comes from and if whether you could make your own.

Image Credit: kubais/Depositphotos

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Google Will Store Medical Data in the Cloud: Is That Good or Bad?

In November 2019, Google announced it would be partnering with health system Ascension. Together, they will manage medical patient data in the cloud. The company assured patients it would be adhering to industry regulations about patient data such as HIPPA. However, many people were concerned about the security and privacy issues of Google aggregating the data of around 50 million patients.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of storing medical data in the cloud?

Upsides of Cloud-Based Medical Data Storage

There are definitely some advantages of having patient data stored online where it can be easily accessed. It may even help healthcare providers give their patients a better service.

Sharing Files Between Healthcare Providers

One frequent problem in healthcare is what happens to someone’s records when they move to a new city, state, or region. When they visit a doctor in their new location, it may be hard for that doctor to access their previous medical files. That’s because different states and organizations have different ways of sorting and storing files.

Without access to your previous medical file, your new doctor may not know about your medical history. They may also not know about existing conditions you have, or what medications you take. This is not only annoying for patients. It can also cause problems if, for example, your new doctor is not aware of an allergy you have to a particular medicine.

A similar problem occurs with sharing files between specialists. You might have a GP and a cardiologist who you visit regularly. Ideally, you would want these two doctors to be in communication. If one of them detects an issue, it will help for the other one to know. However, sharing information between providers can be difficult.

Different hospitals or clinics may not communicate well. This can lead to information not being passed to all the relevant healthcare providers.

This lack of file sharing causes problems both practical and financial. If different providers are performing duplicate tests, for example, that’s both a waste of money and a potential cause of stress for the patient. With a cloud-based system, it’s much easier for healthcare providers to share records with each other.

Particularly in the case of Google’s system, they intend to consolidate records into a readable format. That should make it easier for doctors and nurses to find the files they’re looking for.

Backing up Files in Case of Emergency

Just like backing up files on your computer, medical files are vulnerable if they are not backed up. If records are kept in a paper format, a fire or flood could potentially destroy them entirely.

A similar problem arises if a hospital system keeps electronic files but doesn’t back them up. In this case, a problem with the hospital’s software or servers could destroy the medical records.

Storing files in the cloud makes them much less vulnerable to disaster. Cloud storage isn’t a replacement for a true backup, but it’s certainly safer from disasters.

Access Files From Any Location

If you live in a big city, you may not have any problems finding a doctor or hospital near where you live. If you live in a rural area, however, this can be much harder. Some people live hours away from their nearest medical provider.

For these people, as well as for elderly people or people with mobility issues, eHealth is a growing field. This refers to the use of telecommunications for healthcare. For example, you might have a virtual doctor’s appointment using a video chat technology like Skype. There’s also mHealth, which is using mobile phones for healthcare.

In these cases, being able to access medical files from a location which may be far from the patient’s home is important. Cloud storage of medical files means it doesn’t matter how far you are from your provider. They’ll still be able to see your file when they need to.

Downsides of Cloud-Based Medical Data Storage

It’s not all rosy for cloud-based storage of medical files though. There are drawbacks to consider as well.

Potential Security Risks

Any time information is stored digitally, it is vulnerable to security risks. Hackers could access medical files, which contain highly private information.

When organizations store files centrally, providers may not be able to control the security measures around those files. If the Google and Ascension project were ever compromised, a massive amount of personal data could find its way into the wrong hands.

Privacy Issues

Another big concern is whether a company like Google can be trusted with highly sensitive data. In the past, the company has admitted that third-party apps can read your Gmail. And there have been cases of companies like Amazon having employees listen in on what people assumed were private recordings.

Lots of people worry that the same could happen with medical data. The idea of a Google employee being able to see your medical records is uncomfortable. People trust their doctors with their health information. They don’t necessarily trust a technology company.

Add this to the fact that many patients had no idea their data could be handed over to Google. Ascension was not legally required to disclose it plans with Google to its patients. But many were shocked when they learned their medical files could be accessed by a company like Google.

Monetization of Healthcare Data

Finally, there’s another issue raised by the digitization of healthcare generally. Think of a device like a Fitbit. It’s a great way to encourage people to take more exercise and be more healthy.

Some health insurance companies are already offering discounts to customers who use fitness tracking tools like Fitbit. And your employer could soon oblige you to use a fitness tracker if you want to be eligible for medical benefits.

This could lead to insurance companies charging people even more when they have a pre-existing condition. Or an insurance company not paying out claims if the customer wasn’t sufficiently active as measured by a fitness tracker.

These risks are exacerbated by storing healthcare data in the cloud. It could make it more likely for insurance companies or employers to access medical data. And it could lead to more expensive health insurance for those who already have medical conditions.

Security Risks of Medical Data

There are some upsides to moving medical data to the cloud. These include better communication between doctors, and enabling eHealth. However, there are security and privacy drawbacks to the approach too.

To learn more about the intersection of security and healthcare, you can learn about the ways that hackers threaten medical IoT devices.

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How to Avoid Weight Gain Over The Holidays (and Still Have Fun)

It’s a guaranteed fact that most of us will experience some holiday weight gain at least once in our lives. This is especially true if those holidays happen during the cold winter months. You’re moving slower because of the cold, and when you get together with your friends and family, it’s hard to say “no” to festive food.

However, most of us regret eating too much over the holidays. While it can be difficult to keep your diet under control, it is possible to avoid weight gain over the holidays with the help of technology.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Use DrinkControl to Control Your Alcohol Intake

One area we don’t always consider when we’re looking for ways to maintain our weight is the hidden cost of alcohol. You might not think about the calories in alcohol on a day-to-day basis. You might not realize that you’ll be consuming more of them over the holidays by default.

To keep these calories under control, it’s best to use a weight loss app like DrinkControl. Through the app, you can:

• Count the calories in each beverage you consume.
• Track the cost of drinking itself.

They say it takes a few weeks to start building a habit. So prior to the holidays, our recommendation is to install the app and try it out. See if you like it.

Get into the habit of logging your drink before you drink it, so you have a clear memory of what you’re consuming. That way you’ll be well-prepared to track the habit long-term.

The only downside to this app? Looks like it’s only available for iOS. Android users are out of luck.

Download: DrinkControl for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Use the Weight Loss App Lose It!

One of the most common things that people recommend for keeping track of your diet is using a weight-loss tracker. There are a lot of apps on the market, so essentially you just have to choose the one that’s right for you.

An app that we love to use during the holidays is Lose It! It’s a weight loss tracker for Android and iOS that has a free and premium plan available. The free plan has enough features and it should work fine for what you need.

On the free plan, you can:

• Input your starting weight, plus your desired weight.
• Lose It! will calculate how many calories you’re allowed per day, in order to meet that goal.
• From there, you can log what you eat for each meal of the day.
• Lose It! will also identify healthy food patterns that keep your weight under control.

Additionally, it will give you a breakdown of the percentage of what type of nutrients you’re consuming—fat, carbs, and protein.

Our advice: Use this app over the holidays to see what foods will cost you the most calories. From there, you can adjust your other meals so that your daily calorie intake remains within limits. Lose It! is a perfect Christmas weight loss tracker.

Download: Lose It! for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)

3. Meal Plans

One of the most helpful things that we’ve found for staying healthy during the holidays is the use of meal plans.

A meal plan is pretty simple:

• Once a week, sit down and plan out what you want to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Next, make larger-than-normal quantities of these meals, so you can feed yourself leftovers and cut back on your time in the kitchen.

This careful portion control can stop you from scrambling for a meal last minute in the fridge. It can also prevent you from binging on unhealthy alternatives. The exact same principles can be applied to the food that you eat for festive occasions, too.

Additionally, you can also use apps and websites like Mealime to help you avoid holiday weight gain.

While the holidays are already partially planned in terms of meals for you and your family, you can take this planning further. Let’s say as part of your meals that you want to eat Christmas cookies every day.

By working cookies into your meal plans, you can calculate how much they’ll cost you in terms of calories. Then you can add the other items into your meals to accommodate these cookies accordingly.

If you’re looking for ways to figure out what to eat, here are the best meal planning apps and websites to save money.

4. Find a Holiday Food Blog or Website

Another way that you can keep your weight in check—and plan better meals—is by finding a food blog that will give you ideas about what to cook for the holidays.

There are lots of amazing food blogs out there, some of which we’ve already documented on the best baking recipe websites.

If you’re looking for recipes specifically devoted to the holidays, search AllRecipes for Christmas recipes, or the Food Network for holiday-themed meals.

Through sites like these, you can map out each week what you’ll be cooking, all while keeping the holiday spirit.

If you’re not cooking, you can possibly suggest some of these recipes to your host. Extra help in the kitchen is always nice, and Christmas weight loss is achievable.

5. Try Some Winter Exercises

You may think that the holidays are a terrible time for exercise, especially if you live in a colder climate where you get snow during the winter months. However, winter exercises can be turned into a fun group activity that not only keeps you in shape but helps you bond with family and friends as well.

If you’re in a cold climate with lots of snow, activities like snowboarding, skiing, or tubing are great exercises to do as a group.

If you’re trying to save money, something as simple as a family walk will help you work off some of those extra calories you’ll be eating.

6. Have a Reward System in Place

A big way that you can avoid holiday weight gain and stick to your diet is by having a reward system in place for hitting specific weight or health-related goals.

I utilize this system myself, and while these rewards aren’t food-based, I do pick things that bring me joy. You should also pick something that you can look forward to once the hard part of dieting is over.

For example: If you manage to stick to your weight goal over the holidays, buy something for yourself on Boxing Day. If you want to save money and you already subscribe to a streaming service, take the time to sit down and watch a new show on Netflix or Disney+.

Sometimes a lazy weekend is all you need to feel good about yourself.

7. Keep Your Goals Manageable

Lastly—while it’s totally reasonable to avoid weight gain over the holidays—losing weight may be a bit far-fetched. You don’t want to push yourself so hard that you’re not enjoying yourself, or get to the point where you’re thinking about anything other than relaxing.

After all, if you manage to stick to a moderate goal without feeling miserable, that will work better for you in the long run. Good feelings and moderate success can create great feelings and further success long term.

Our advice: Keep your goals manageable and understand that you’ll need to plan better for this special occasion. Pick up your full habits once you’re back to your normal routine.

Avoid Holiday Binge-Eating and Have Fun

The holidays are a great time to be with friends and family; to get the most out of good food and have a good life without worrying about your weight. Technology is there to help.

But what if you’re looking to eat healthier year-round, and not just on the holidays? Here are some good vegetarian and vegan apps to try out.

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6 Ways Video Games Trick You Into Spending Money

Buying a game doesn’t mean the end of you spending money on that title. Instead, gamers are being pressured into spending more money on games they have already paid to play.

In this article we’ll document the ways gamers are being tricked into spending money, and show you how to avoid falling for these underhanded tactics.

1. Monetizing Basic Mechanics and Modes

Some paid games monetize and sell basic features separately, forcing you to spend even more money if you want a full experience.

The most basic example of this is the need to pay a subscription in order to play online. To play PS4 games online you need to pay for PlayStation Plus. To play Xbox One games online you need to pay for Xbox Live Gold. And to play Switch games online you need to pay for Nintendo Switch Online.

Meanwhile, games like Metal Gear Survive (MGS) lock basic features behind in-game purchases. One of the most controversial, however, is the need to pay for a second character save slot—something which the vast majority of MMOs provide for free.

How to Avoid This Trick

When purchasing online games, make sure to check the fine print or terms and conditions. Check whether the game locks certain modes or mechanics behind additional subscriptions.

You should also follow the coverage of games you’re considering buying to see if players have come across any dubious monetization strategies.

2. Psychological Tactics Used for In-Game Purchases

Psychological manipulation persuades players to buy in-game purchases across both paid and free games. These tactics rely on cognitive biases or psychological responses to make microtransactions as appealing as possible.

Many of these tricks are outlined in a Pocket Gamer article titled “Let’s go whaling”. This article shows how developers trick players into spending money. Author Torulf Jernström even identifies several stages in monetizing players: the hook, habit, and hobby stage.

During the hook phase, games offer a cheap “icebreaker” microtransaction that feels very valuable. This helps turn a player into a purchaser, making them more likely to spend money in the future.

“If they do buy the ice breaker, they are way more likely to buy other things later. It’s also great for retention. Someone spending early on is mentally committing to the game and will play it more often.”

Meanwhile, the “hot state” purchase takes advantage of the shortcomings of quick thinking. These offers impose a time limit to trigger an impulse decision instead of thoughtful, slow reasoning. This prevents you from thinking through about the real value and cost of a purchase.

Furthermore, loss aversion means we will more readily pay for something if we might lose rewards otherwise. For example, the game will present you with a chance to buy a second life if you fail during a dungeon and stand to lose all your earned loot. While you probably wouldn’t have paid to gain those items, you’re likely to pay to not lose them.

Another psychological trick is called “anchoring”. When players see a high priced offer first, they are more likely to see subsequent lower-priced offers as affordable. This makes you less likely to turn down the second offer.

How to Avoid These Tactics

The best way to avoid these psychological tricks is to be aware of them and how they can manipulate you. Always take the time to really consider a purchase and whether it’s necessary or valuable.

3. Disguising the True Cost of Items

Game publishers have also learned a variety of ways to disguise the true cost of items from players. This means that you’re more likely to underestimate how much you are actually spending.

One example is the way in-game currencies don’t have a straightforward 1:1 conversion rate. Furthermore, players buy in-game items with in-game money rather than real-world cash, adding an extra layer of obscurity to the conversion process. This makes you far less likely to realize the actual amount of money you’re spending on an item.

Another way publishers disguise the cost of items is by requiring a variety of other unlocks or items to get a final item. Small transactions add up, disguising how expensive an item really is. While Apex Legends is a free-to-play game, the game exemplified this method best with the Raven’s Bite Heirloom axe. After purchasing the unlocks and stages needed for the weapon skin, players would actually end up spending around $170 to get the skin.

Paid games like FIFA also use these tactics, with many players not realizing how much their small purchases actually add up to at the end of the month.

How to Avoid This Tactic

While the Google Play Store lets you set a maximum spend cap for specific apps and games each month, most non-mobile game stores don’t include this functionality.

Therefore, the best way to avoid this tactic is to take the time to actually track your spending on in-game items each month. You should also take the time to actually calculate the real-world cost of various items so that you have a real reference for their value.

Finally, if a game requires various stages or loot boxes to get an item, calculate just how much the final item will really set you back. Usually, it’s not worth the cost.

4. Post-Launch Microtransactions

Since awareness around microtransactions is higher than ever, publishers have started trying to get around bad pre-launch publicity and warning labels by only introducing in-game purchases after launch.

This tactic is particularly insidious since players actively avoiding microtransactions can be duped into buying these games. Furthermore, these games avoid the label warning on their physical copies by adding microtransactions in a digital patch. Considering parents and shopping addicts may use this as a guide when buying games, the tactic completely undermines the warning’s purpose.

How to Avoid This Tactic

If a game publisher uses this tactic in one major game, it’s best to assume they will use it in other major titles. So, be sure to look up who is publishing a particular game before laying your money on the counter.

5. Addictive Gambling Mechanics in Games

Part of gambling’s appeal is how it is optimized for creating certain neurological responses. This includes triggering reward responses to using audio-visual stimuli to activate the release of dopamine. Gaming also taps into this, raising concerns about gaming addiction.

However, publishers combine the appeal of both gambling and gaming with loot boxes and gambling mechanics. The connection is so prominent nowadays that titles like NBA 2K20 literally include slot-machines.

Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto Online lets players spend real-world money at an in-game casino.

These mechanics are of particular concern for groups vulnerable to these tactics, such as children and people who have spending or gambling addictions. Game critic Jim Sterling covers this extensively in various Jimquisition episodes.

How to Avoid This Tactic

Certain game franchises implement these mechanics consistently, with increasing prominence. If you are concerned that you may be vulnerable to these mechanics, or are purchasing titles for your children, you should research and avoid these franchises.

However, more legislative regulation is needed to truly curb these practices. Loot boxes and gambling mechanics have mostly escaped regulation since they fall outside the legal definition of gambling in many countries.

6. The Role Social Pressure Plays in Microtransactions

While this is another psychological tactic, it deserves its own section due to its effectiveness with younger players. Increasingly, game publishers are finding ways to increase the acceptance of microtransactions using old-school peer pressure, dubbed “social proof”.

The industry frequently touts microtransactions as optional. However, specific design decisions and tactics directly pressure players to buy them.

As Jernström puts it: “In your game, you would want the social norm to be that people pay for IAPs. Under no circumstance should you tell your players that the majority of them do not pay.”

Numerous AAA publishers have patented matchmaking algorithms that plan to put non-paying players in matches with those who have spent money. They also promote the prestige of these items, despite them not relating to skill or game proficiency.

While this tactic is less likely to affect adults, it is particularly effective with teenagers and children. This even has real-world implications, with children reporting instances of bullying for having default skins in games like Fortnite.

How to Avoid This Tactic

Being aware of manufactured social pressure in games is a good way to alleviate the effects of the social proof tactic. Furthermore, it helps to remember that the majority of players don’t actually buy microtransactions with real money. And if they do, it is usually very limited.

When it comes to children and teenagers, parents may want to consider imposing a spending limit or allowance for games. This allows children to still enjoy games with friends while practicing budgeting (and considering the value of a potential purchase).

How to Enjoy Gaming on a Budget

While gaming isn’t a particularly expensive hobby, the many ways video games can cost you extra money can have an impact on your wallet.

Besides avoiding microtransactions and games with predatory monetization, there are other ways to enjoy gaming without breaking the bank. To find out how, take a look at our guide to gaming on a budget.

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The 5 Best Laptops for Kids That Are Cheap and Rugged

When you buy a laptop for your kids, you need to consider a few essential things. First, is it rugged? How will it protect against the inevitable bumps and scrapes?

Second, what’s under the hood? Is the laptop powerful enough to cope with what your children get up too? Finally—the big one—how much does a rugged kids laptop cost?

We’ve taken all of that into account and looked at the five best laptops and Chromebooks for kids.

1. Lenovo 300e

Lenovo 300e Lenovo 300e Buy Now On Amazon $274.99

The Lenovo 300e Chromebook is a great all-round Chromebook with integrated ruggedization. For example, the Lenovo 300e is MIL-STD-810G compliant. That means you can drop it from a short height, and it will survive completely intact. It is water-resistant (please note that it is not waterproof), has an anti-scratch and anti-glare touchscreen, and a 360-degree hinge too.

Powering the Lenovo 300e is a MediaTek 8173 SoC (System on a Chip) which uses ARM hardware to provide better performance and lower power consumption. The MediaTek 8173 clocks in at 2.10GHz and includes 4GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB storage, a USB 3.0 port, a USB Type-C port, SD card reader, Bluetooth 4.0, and up to ten hours of battery life.

The one let down for the Lenovo 300e is the screen resolution, which at 1366×768 can appear low quality. However, that won’t stop your kids from researching and writing homework.

2. ASUS C202SA-YS02

ASUS C202SA-YS02 ASUS C202SA-YS02 Buy Now On Amazon $215.78

The ASUS C202SA-YS02 is a popular cheap laptop for kids. It features a rugged and water-resistant design and performs well in drop-tests. The C202SA is a great option for those reasons alone, protecting against drops, bumps, and water ingress. The laptop has rubberized edges, too.

Adding to the appeal for kids is the weight. The C202SA weighs just 2.65 pounds. In combination with its 11.6-inch form factor, the C202SA will happily pop into most kids’ bags without them noticing the difference.

Under the C202SA’s hood is a reasonable Intel Celeron N3060 CPU, 16GB or 32GB storage, 4GB DDR3 RAM, and up to ten hours of battery life. Like the Lenovo 300e, the C202SA features a slightly underwhelming 1366×768 screen, but, at this price, it’s not a deal-breaker.

3. ASUS VivoBook W202NA-YS03

B07C6KPRPS B07C6KPRPS Buy Now On Amazon

The ASUS VivoBook W202NA-YS03 is a rugged 11.6-inch Windows 10S education laptop. Windows 10S is the full Windows 10 operating system, but you can only install apps from the Microsoft Store. If this doesn’t suit you or your child, you can unlock Windows 10 for free. However, once you enable the device to download any software, rather than only Microsoft Store apps, there is no going back.

The laptop packs a 2.4Ghz Intel Celeron N3350 processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 64GB storage, two USB 3.1 ports, an SD card reader, and up to 11 hours of battery life. Regarding security and ruggedness, the W202NA brings a lot to the table (or floor, depending on how your kid uses it). It meets the MIL-STD-810G military spec for durability, has reinforced rubber guards, and performs extremely well in drop tests. It also has a spill-resistant keyboard to prevent any damage.

As a small, cheap, and rugged kids laptops, the W202NA is a great option. The more powerful dual-core Intel processor means the W2020NA can run a wider range of software than its Chromebook competitors. If you decide to switch from Windows 10S to regular Windows 10, you have all the software you could want at your disposal.

4. Lenovo N22

Lenovo N22 Lenovo N22 Buy Now On Amazon $279.00

The Lenovo N22 is a water-resistant Windows 10 Pro laptop. It is slimline, protects against water, and is powerful enough to appeal to younger and older kids. Unfortunately, the Lenovo N22 doesn’t feature much in the way of additional rugged features. However, it is small and light, and that works to its advantage in the hands of a small child.

Lenovo’s N22 features a decent-enough 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3050, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 64GB storage, and an SD card reader. It also has a 180-degree rotating webcam, which is useful for video projects and general messing about, plus an integrated microphone. Your kids will also find an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, Bluetooth 4.0, and up to 10 hours of battery life to power it all.

Another handy feature for kids the anti-glare screen. The Lenovo N22 works in most light levels, and the anti-glare screen stops your kid’s eyes tiring too quickly or suffering damage during prolonged use periods.

5. Acer Chromebook Spin 11

Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Buy Now On Amazon $243.00

Your list of the best cheap and rugged kids laptops finishes with the stylish Acer Chromebook Spin 11; a perfect Chromebook for kids. The important thing to note is that the Spin 11 is MIL-STD-810G certified, which means it’ll withstand a drop. It is also water-resistant and has a robust external casing to boot.

The outer case can hold up to 132 pounds on the lid (a decently sized small child!) and keep working like a champ. The screen is Gorilla Glass for extra protection. The Spin 11 is a 2-in-1 convertible device, too. That means it has a swivel hinge that rotates through 360-degrees, letting you use the Spin 11 in several different modes, including tablet mode.

The body is sleek, and the keyboard is perfect for smaller hands. Powering the Spin 11 is a 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N3350 (with up to 2.4GHz core boost), 4GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB storage, two USB 3.1 ports, USB charging, a ten-point touchscreen, and up to ten hours of battery life.

Second-Hand Rugged Laptops

Don’t dismiss the second-hand laptop market in search of something cheap and reliable for your kids. Business and enterprise spec laptops often feature additional rugged features.

The caveat is that the laptop might not look perfect and shiny, like a fresh out of the box machine. The major advantage of picking up a second-hand rugged business laptop for your child is the hardware.

A business or enterprise laptop will have powerful hardware, even if it is a few years old. Plus, there are many vendors that specialize in refurbishing business or enterprise laptops for resale, which means there are plenty of bargains to find.

The Best Laptop for Kids

The difficulty in choosing a kid’s laptop is balancing cost, protection, and features. The result is a kids laptop marketplace filled with options that don’t quite fit the bill.

Of course, the best rugged laptop for a child is the one that fits your budget. If you do have a larger budget, consider a more powerful laptop with an additional rugged case. Otherwise, choose from the five cheap and rugged kids laptop options on this list.

We’ve listed a few Chromebooks here, but if your looking for more options, check out the best-rugged Chromebooks you can buy today.

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How to Hide Your Social Media Profiles From Bullies

Social networking can be a wonderful thing, but it can also a breeding ground for bullies. It’s one of the many reasons to hide your social media profiles.

If you’re dealing with social media bullying and/or harassment, or just want to hide your social media profiles for another reason, we’re here to help.

In this article we’ll show you how to make your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts private. We’ll also reveal how people can find hidden profiles on social networks.

How to Make Your Twitter Account Private

By default, your Twitter account and tweets are public for anyone to see. That visibility includes people who aren’t signed into Twitter.

To change this, open Twitter on a web browser. On the left navigation, click More > Settings and privacy. On the main pane, click Privacy and safety.

Beneath the Tweets section, click Protect your Tweets. A confirmation box will pop up, so click Protect. Your tweets, past and future, will now only be visible to those who follow you. Anyone who tries to follow you from this point forward will need to be approved by you.

While on the Privacy and safety page, for the ultimate security, go to Location information and Photo tagging in turn to disable them. Ensure that Receive messages from anyone is off.

With your tweets protected, your followers won’t be able to retweet your tweets. Your tweets won’t appear on search engines and will only be searchable on Twitter by your followers.

However, while this setting makes your tweets private, it doesn’t hide your entire profile. Depending on what you have populated on your profile, everyone will still see your:

• Banner image
• Profile image
• Name
• Username
• Bio
• Location
• Website
• Birth date (if you are under 18, this is always hidden)
• Twitter registration date
• Number of people you follow (but not who they are)
• Number of people who follow you (but not who they are)

Go to your profile and click Edit Profile to customize the visibility or the information contained within most of these elements.

How to Make Your Instagram Account Private

Anyone can see your Instagram profile and posts, unless you set your account to private. A private account means that you have to approve followers before they can see your posts.

To set your account private on Android or iOS:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines)
2. Tap Settings
3. Tap Privacy > Account Privacy
4. Slide Private account on

Your posts won’t appear in search or on hashtag pages. Bear in mind that if you like or comment on someone else’s post then your username will still be listed.

If someone isn’t following you on Instagram, on your profile they will see:

• Profile image
• Name
• Username
• Bio
• Number of people you follow (but not who they are)
• Number of people who follow you (but not who they are)

How to Make Your Facebook Account Private

Unlike Twitter and Instagram, Facebook doesn’t have a handy catch-all switch for making your profile private.

Your profile can always be found in search, except from people you’ve blocked.

To begin, load Facebook in your browser and click the dropdown arrow and then click Settings. Next, click Privacy from the left-hand navigation.

From this page you can customize the visibility of profile elements. The most secure option will be Only me, though this isn’t available for everything. For example, Who can send you friend requests? can only be set to Everyone or Friends of friends.

You should also check out the Timeline and tagging and Stories pages for some more privacy options.

How to Block Someone on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

You now know how to hide your social media profiles, but you can also block a specific account if someone is causing you grief. However, bear in mind that this doesn’t stop them finding you as they could sign out or use another account.

Nevertheless, blocking is a quick, easy way to stop someone seeing your profile. It also means you won’t have to see their profile either.

To block someone:

• On Twitter and Instagram, go to the person’s profile, click the More icon (three vertical dots), click Block, then Block again to confirm.
• On Facebook, go to Settings > Blocking. Enter the name of the user you want to block in the Block users field, then click Block.

How to Find Hidden Profiles on Social Networks

Following the above advice will help you hide your social media profiles. Which is the best way to beat social media bullies. And if you need to hide accounts on other social media platforms here’s how to make all of your social media accounts private.

You might want your social network profile to be completely undiscoverable. However, despite your best efforts, malicious people could still find your social media profiles. Here are some of the ways people use to find hidden profiles on social networks, along with ways to counter them.

1. Reverse Image Search

Your profile image can be indexed by a search engine. You may notice this if you search your name on Google Images.

If someone has access to your picture from another social network—your Pinterest profile, perhaps—then they can perform a reverse image search. If you’ve used that same image elsewhere, those accounts could be surfaced in the search.

How do I prevent this? It’s not usually possible to make your profile picture hidden from public. Your best bet is to use a different image for every profile to make it harder for a reverse image search to establish a link.

• On Twitter, go to your profile, click Edit profile, click your profile image and upload a new one, then click Save.
• On Instagram, go to your profile, tap Edit Profile, and tap Change Profile Photo.
• On Facebook, go to your profile, hover your profile image, and click Update. Remember, you should also delete your old profile picture from the relevant album.

2. Tagged in Posts

You can do everything you can to control your profile, but it’s much harder to control the actions of your friends and family.

For example, they might tag you in a tweet or a photo. Your profile will still be private, but your account is then known to others.

How do I prevent this? You want to either stop people being able to tag you, or for those tags to be approved by you before they appear public.

• On Twitter, go to Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Photo tagging and turn it Off.
• On Instagram, go to Settings > Privacy > Tags. Turn Add Automatically to Off.
• On Facebook, you used to be able to control this but no longer can. The best you can do is stop them appearing on your news feed. For that, go to Settings > Timeline and tagging and set Review tags that people add to your posts before the tags appear on Facebook? to On.

3. Repeat Usernames

It’s very tempting to use the same username across all of your social media accounts for that consistent online identity.

The problem is that this makes it very easy for someone to find all your accounts with a single bit of information.

How do I prevent this? It’s best to have a different username for each social media account. You can change your username after registration.

• On Twitter, go to Settings and privacy > Account > Username. Edit the field and click Save.
• On Instagram, go to your profile, tap Edit profile, alter your username, and tap the tick icon.
• On Facebook, go to Settings > General > Username, enter the new username, and click Save Changes.

4. Attaching Your Phone Number or Email Address

It might be unavoidable to have your phone number and/or email address tied to your social media account, as most platforms use them for verification.

Nevertheless, you certainly shouldn’t have them set to be publicly available because people can search for that email or number and find your account. This can often automatically happen if someone syncs their contacts to their social media account.

How do I prevent this? Do not have the information displaying publicly and do not allow your account to be found in search with it.

• On Twitter, go to Settings and privacy > Discoverability and contacts and ensure that both Let others find you by your email address and Let others find you by your phone number are unticked.
• On Instagram, you are not discoverable by email, only by phone number. To remove your number, go to your profile, tap Edit profile, and delete the phone number field.
• On Facebook, go to Settings > Privacy. Set both Who can look you up using the email address you provided and Who can look you up using the phone number you provided to Only me.

5. Links to Other Apps

Many services let you sign up with your login information from a social media profile. This is great for convenience, but be careful.

Check that this doesn’t make your social network account information public. For example, many dating apps will display your Instagram photos and then link out to your account.

How do I prevent this? Remove any third-party apps that are tied to your social media accounts and always sign up for a separate account on new services.

• On Twitter, go to Settings and privacy > Account > Apps and sessions. Go into each app and Revoke access.
• On Instagram, go to Settings > Security > Apps and websites > Active and Remove each app.
• On Facebook, go to Settings > Apps and websites, tick all unnecessary services and click Remove.

Detox or Delete Your Social Media

In this article we’ve shown you how to hide your social media accounts, so hopefully you should find yourself better protected from bullies and other unsavory individuals.

However, perhaps it’s time to take it a step further.

If you just want to take a break then you can do a social media detox. Or, if you want to take the nuclear option, you can always delete your entire social media presence.

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European smartphone shipments grew in Q3, driven by Samsung

Europe bucked global smartphone stagnation in the third quarter, marking an 8% year over year growth in device shipments. That number, provided by Canalys, puts the region at the top of smartphone growth figures, beating out Asia/Pacific’s six percent.

Once again, Samsung was the biggest winner here. The Korean manufacturer saw a healthy 26%, year over year growth. As noted back in Q2, Samsung’s growth comes as the company floods the market with a variety of different devices. Its mid-tier A Series accounted for all four of its top spots during that time period.

Huawei held steady in second place, as the company refocuses on Europe amid US/China trade tensions. Huawei accounted for 22.2 % of units shipped, versus Samsung’s 35.7%. Fellow Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi saw an extremely healthy boost for the quarter, jumping 73 percent for the year, to nab fourth place behind Apple.

While the numbers are positive in the face of larger negative trends, politics are still having a marked impact on figures.

“On the negative side, Brexit has already had an impact,” analyst Ben Stanton said in a release. “In the UK, shipments of premium devices from Samsung and Apple accelerated before each Brexit deadline this year, in March and recently October, followed by a large dip, as distributors were forced to stockpile product and hedge against impending tariff risk. This shot-term artificial boost distorts the market and the accompanying risk, costs and uncertainty, is a drain on the industry.”

Like much of the rest of the world, the European market is looking forward to a 5G rollout to help further juice shipments moving forward.

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Why I draw with robots | Sougwen Chung

Why I draw with robots | Sougwen Chung

What happens when humans and robots make art together? In this awe-inspiring talk, artist Sougwen Chung shows how she "taught" her artistic style to a machine -- and shares the results of their collaboration after making an unexpected discovery: robots make mistakes, too. "Part of the beauty of human and machine systems is their inherent, shared fallibility," she says.

Click the above link to download the TED talk.

Artiphon launches a Kickstarter campaign for its new musical device Orba

Artiphon, the startup that previously raised more than $1 million on Kickstarter for a device called the Instrument 1, has launched a new campaign for its latest invention, Orba.

Co-founder and CEO Mike Butera said the Instrument 1 and Orba share “the same DNA,” namely his vision to help music-making become more accessible to everyone, regardless of training or experience.

“I want beginners to feel like pros, but also for pros to feel like beginners again,” Butera told me. “For me, this is just the next step in how we do that.”

With Orba, the Artiphon team has created something that’s smaller and more affordable than the Instrument 1 (which the company still plans to support), and that allows its owner to accomplish more without any software. Butera described it as “a radical simplification of what an instrument can be.”

Orba is a circular device that you can hold in one or two hands — Butera said his team was thinking about game controllers, but also “grapefruits and bowls of miso soup.”

The simplicity comes from the fact that the device’s surface is divided into only eight touch pads — but thanks to Orba’s different modes (drum, bass, chord and lead), plus a variety of touch and motion sensors, you can tap, stroke and shake it to make a wide range of different sounds.

You can play Orba on its own by using the on-board synth, or you can connect it to the Orba app, and to other music software like GarageBand.

Artiphon plans to ship the first Orba devices in April of next year. They will eventually cost $99, but they’re currently available through Kickstarter as a $79 early bird special. (Once the early bird runs out, Orba will still be discounted at $89 for Kickstarter backers.) Artiphon is looking to raise $50,000 through this campaign — it’s already halfway there as I write this.

As for why Artiphon still crowdfunding after raising a seed round earlier this year, Butera said the campaign is “not really about finding the right investors, it’s about finding the right customers.”

He added, “I think it’s just responsible for the product designer to go straight to the customer.”

Artiphon raises $2M round led by Warner Music

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